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WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 • 5 Jumada II 1436 • Volume 20 Number 6380 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir visits Sri Lanka 150 dead as German Joint e-govt plane crashes
SEYNE, FRANCE: A plane operated by the budget carrier of Germany’s Lufthansa crashed portal for GCC in a remote area of the French Alps yesterday, killing all 150 on board in France’s worst avia- tion disaster in decades. With the cause of the accident a complete mys- tery, authorities recovered a black box from the launched Airbus A320 at the crash site, where rescue efforts were being hampered by the mountainous terrain. Local MP Christophe Castaner, who flew over the crash site, said on Twitter: “Horrendous images Services include customs, traffic in this mountain scenery.” “Nothing is left but debris and bodies. Flying DOHA: The GCC states yes- links the GCC e-government over the crash site with the interior minister — a terday launched their first joint networks. horror — the plane is totally destroyed.” e-government portal that ena- The Minister of Information Budget airline Germanwings said the Airbus bles them to provide unified and Communications Technology plunged for eight minutes but French aviation offi- electronic services to citizens H E Dr Hessa Al Jaber chaired cials said the plane had made no distress call before and expatriates and facilitate the meeting, which was attended crashing near the ski resort of Barcelonnette. easier and faster exchange of by her counterparts in other “A black box was found and will be delivered information. member states and the GCC to investigators,” Interior Minister Bernard Citizens and expatriates in Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena Cazeneuve said. AFP the member countries can avail bin Rashid Al Zayani. in Colombo yesterday. After wrapping up a short visit to the island nation, the Emir arrived in See also page 9 of various services at the por- Hassan Al Sayed, assistant sec- New Delhi in the evening for the last leg of his three-nation tour. tal, especially those related to retary general for government customs, traffic department and programmes at the ministry said transport , establishment of busi- that the GCC electronic portal ness and companies , participa- has two versions- internet and tion in tenders, among others, a smart phones. Customs duo rewarded Yemen rivals to hold talks in Doha senior official has disclosed. The first phase includes infor- The portal will be instrumental mation about e-government pro- DOHA: Rival Yemeni factions have agreed in principle to hold rec- in the GCC plan to unify the vari- grammes and a direct link to onciliation talks in Doha, but no date has yet been set, a foreign ous government services that are electronic services provided by for narcotics seizure minisstry source said. The source spoke to Reuters after Aljazeera provided electronically. Services the official portals of the mem- television quoted UN Yemen envoy Jamal Benomar as saying the on the portal are expected to ber countries in areas like health, DOHA: Two young customs an Arab country for possessing discussions would be held in Qatar and that any subsequent agree- include those provided by the education, work and tourism. It officials, including a woman, sta- large quantities of prohibited ment reached would be signed in Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Interior, Ministry of will also provide information tioned at Hamad International materials—some 3,213 pills of The Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Education, Ministry of Health about important events and news Airport (HIA), have been given Tramadol, said the department. Attiyah yesterday hold telephone calls with the British Secretary of and Ministry of Environment. in all GCC countries. awards for huge drug hauls they On the other hand, the same State Philip Hammond, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and The common electronic net- In a press statement yesterday, made the same day. day, a male customs official US Secretary of State John Kerry, separately on the latest develop- work would eventually enable citi- Al Sayed said the electronic link The consignments caught by caught 5kg of marijuana and ments in Yemen. zens and expatriates to pay traffic between the GCC states aims to the two officials included 5kg of 107grammes of heroin powder. A Meanwhile, the US military has pulled its remaining personnel fines and renew their travel and link e-governments of the mem- marijuana, 107 grammes of heroin passenger from an Asian country out of Yemen due to the deteriorating security situation, the State residency documents from any of ber countries through a secured and 3,213 pills of the banned tab- was carrying the drugs. Department said. The evacuation involved about 100 Special Operations the member countries. and reliable data network. This let, Tramadol. A packet inside the bag of the forces members from the Al Anad airbase, sources in the region famil- The portal was launched at a will allow easy and safe exchange “The seizure of narcotic pills passenger was wrapped in unu- iar with the situation told CNN. The State Department called it a meeting of the GCC e-Govern- of information to provide various was an effort of our woman sual way and looked suspicious, temporary relocation. ment Ministerial Committee e-government services to citizens inspector,” the customs depart- said Ajab Manzur Al Qahtani, Those evacuated, which include Navy SEALs and members of the which concluded here yesterday. and expatriates. ment of HIA said in a release Acting Customs Director at HIA. Army’s Delta Force, were the last American forces stationed in the The committee also inaugurated Continued on page 3 yesterday. The woman inspector Continued on page 5 Arab nation, which is home to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the the e-Security Network that THE PENINSULA caught a passenger coming from THE PENINSULA terrorist group also known as AQAP. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Emir arrives in India Visited Pakistan, Sri Lanka as part of South Asian tour
NEW DELHI: Emir H H his visit will contribute to the expressed happiness over the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad development of cooperation Emir’s visit and praised strong Al Thani yesterday evening between both countries for the relations. arrived in India on a two-day welfare and the best interest of The Emir also expressed delight state visit. the two peoples. India is the last over the visit and stressed that On arrival at Palam Air Force leg of the Emir’s tour of South both sides look for more coopera- Base Airport, the Emir was wel- Asia which covered Pakistan and tion in the economic and invest- comed by Minister of State for Sri Lanka. ment fields and thanked Sirisena Information and Broadcasting The Emir and his delegation for the reception. Rajyavardhan Singh, Qatari arrived in New Delhi from Colombo Talks focused on enhancing Ambassador to India Ahmed following a day’s visit. In Colombo, cooperation in all fields as well as Ibrahim Al Abdullah, Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs regional and international issues. Ambassador to Qatar Sanjeev Mangala Pinsiri Samaraweera, The Emir’s delegation and sev- Arora and senior Indian officials Minister of Highways, Higher eral Sri Lankan ministers were and Arab ambassadors accred- Education and Investment present. The Emir was bid fare- ited to the country. The Emir Promotion Kabir Hashim, Minister well at the airport by Hashim, is accompanied by a high-level of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Almerri and Palipane. delegation. Ranatunga, Qatari Ambassador to The Emir sent a message to The Emir wished President Sri Lanka Rashid Shafie Almerri the president, expressing thanks Pranab Mukherjee, Prime and Sri Lankan Ambassador to for the good reception and said Minister Narendra Modi, the Qatar Jayantha Palipane wel- his visit contributed to exchang- government and people further comed the Emir and his delega- ing views on issues of joint inter- progress and prosperity. tion at Bandaranaike International est and enhancing cooperation He highlighted historic friend- Airport. in various fields. He also wished Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is welcomed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting ship and cooperation between The Emir expressed congratu- the people of Sri Lanka further Rajyavardhan Singh and other officials at Palam Air Force Base Airport in New Delhi. Qatar and India and affirmed lations to President Maithripala prosperity. commitment to continue support- Sirisena on his election and Earlier in the morning, the Minister Mohammad Nawaz The Emir sent cables to and cooperation between both ing bilateral relations in various wished Sri Lanka further pros- Emir visited the Shakarpariyan Sharif, Minister of Petroleum President Memnon Hussein and countries in various fields for the fields. perity and development. Garden in Islamabad and planted and Natural Resources Shahid Sharif, expressing thanks and welfare and interest of the two He said he looks forward to He stressed Qatar’s keenness to a pine tree. Khaqan Abbasi, Qatari appreciation for the hospitality peoples. The Emir wished the meeting the President and the enhance cooperation in all fields At the conclusion of his visit Ambassador to Pakistan Saqr and good reception accorded to president and the prime minis- Prime Minister to exchange views to serve the interest of the people to Pakistan, the Emir and his Mubarak Al Mansouri, Pakistani him and his delegation. He said ter good health and happiness on issues of common interest. of both countries. delegation were seen off at Ambassador to Qatar Shahzad his visit contributed to promot- and the people of Pakistan further He expressed confidence that During talks, Sirisena Noor Khan Air Base by Prime Ahmed and other officials. ing and developing brotherhood progress and prosperity. QNA
Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena witness the signing of an agreement by the foreign ministers of both countries in Colombo and (Right) the Emir plants a pine tree in the Shakarpariyan Garden in Islamabad.
Qatar to build Ashghal cleans rainwater drainage networks world’s largest
DOHA: Ashghal has carried cleaning works in coordination infrastructure, roads vulnerable water reservoirs out regular cleaning of some with municipal authorities and to water-logging were identified 45,000 rainwater drainage net- the Supervisory Control and Data to tackle emergencies. DOHA: Qatar is building the works to prevent water-logging Acquisition (SCDA) Centre. “This helped reduce the prob- world’s largest water reser- and yet the problem remains All pumping stations were lem of water-logging in these voirs to stock the precious in several areas two days after linked to SCADA as part of areas,” Ashghal said in the utility for emergency, with a intermittent rains. efforts to develop an early warn- release. “Our integrated plan for total capacity of 160 million The Public Works Authority ing system for emergencies or the rainy season 2014-15 was a imperial gallons — enough said in a statement yesterday disaster management. success.” to fill up 300 giant, Olympic the cleaning of storm water or Before rains led to water-log- However, some people rejected Games-size swimming pools. rainwater drainage manholes in ging and flooding in several areas the claims and said hollow tank- The 18 existing reservoirs in “vulnerable” subways prevented in and out of the city, Ashghal ers were still seen in several areas Doha are being demolished for water-logging in these locations. said it had tested the readiness of pumping rain water yesterday. reconstruction, said Mohamed There were problems due to all pumping stations (installed at In the Industrial Area, for Salem Al Mansoori, Head, water-logging in a subway on several vulnerable spots), rainwa- instance, tankers could be seen Water Projects, Kahramaa, the Salwa Road during rains last ter networks, manholes and pipes busy pumping water accumulated utility distributor. year. connected to subways. on a road early last evening. Once completed, they will One of the water pumps. Ashghal said it carried out In areas that lack proper THE PENINSULA be the world’s largest concrete potable water reservoirs, Al Mansoori told a MEED confer- ence here recently. He said some two million cubic metres of cement will be used in making the reser- Traffic diversions on Dukhan voirs and the project will cover 600km of pipelines of 900mm to 1,600mm diameter. Between now and 2018, three Highway from March 27 reservoir pumping stations will be built in Mekeines (on the DOHA: The Public Works Roundabout and the interchange in accordance with the highest outskirts of Doha), Zikrit and Authority (Ashghal) has opposite Al Wajba Palace. standards and requirements due Hazm Abal Jihh, with a total announced traffic diversions on A three-lane alternative road to the magnitude of work that capacity of 18 million imperial Dukhan Highway from March will be provided north of Dukhan will go into the construction of gallons. 27 for renovation works. Road to serve traffic from Bani Dukhan Road, including excava- Al Mansoori said 40km of Traffic on Dukhan Road will Hajer Roundabout towards the tions that will stretch over many transmission pipelines will be be diverted to an alternative interchange opposite Al Wajba kilometres, said Ashghal. installed during this period. three-lane road to facilitate Palace. Stage 2 is expected to be Four signalised junctions will The reservoirs have been Dukhan Highway East con- implemented by the middle of be used during the diversion designed to keep the water fit struction project, Ashghal said next month details of which will to control traffic and enhance for human consumption all the yesterday. be announced later. safety for motorists using alter- time by keeping it fresh using Works will be implemented in As part of the planning proc- native roads. circulation pumps and chlorina- two stages: Stage 1 will be car- ess, Ashghal assessed the current The Dukhan Highway East tion. Supplies will comply with ried out during the early hours road use to develop alternative project, part of Expressway World Health Organisation and of Friday and will include the routes and reduce the impact of Programme, includes the con- local standards, Al Mansoori closure of a 1600-metre two- diversions on traffic. struction of about 10km dual lanes in each direction with sections of the road. said in a statement yesterday. lane road between Bani Hajer Diversions have been designed carriageway comprising four service and auxiliary roads along THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA HOME WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03
PM meets GCC communication ministers
Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday met GCC Ministers of Communication who took part in the fourth meeting of the GCC e-Government Ministerial Committee in Doha. GCC strategy on Deputy Premier meets Carter e-government DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet results in many Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud yesterday met former US president Jimmy Carter, who is also Founder of Carter joint initiatives Centre, and his delegation. Talks dealt with issues of joint interest. Continued from page 1 Qatar chairs GCC meet on risk control Addressing the meeting, Dr Al Jaber said the GCC strategy ABU DHABI: The third meeting of the GCC Risk Management document on e-government has Committee began yesterday under the chairmanship of Brigadier resulted in joint initiatives and Abdullah Mohamed Al Suwaidi, Director, General Directorate of Civil projects. Defence. Brigadier Al Suwaidi praised the GCC General Secretariat’s She noted that the fruit of this preparations for the meeting. The meeting ends today. cooperation is the launch of the GCC e-government portal and Scattered rains forecast today inauguration of the e-security network. DOHA: There are chances of scattered rains in some parts of the She said Qatar has finalised country today and the weather is expected to be a bit dusty, the technical procedures for the GCC Meteorology Department said in its routine forecast for the day. electronic network project. The wind direction will be northwesterly, turning northeasterly by The committee also discussed night, with speeds ranging from 15 to 18 knots. Doha is likely to wit- a UN survey on the readiness ness a minimum temperature of 17 degrees C at night, while the day of the GCC states to implement will be hotter with the mercury soaring to 29 degrees. e-government. In the report, GCC states Minister hosts farewell event for envoy ranked first in the Arab coun- tries, among the first 10 countries DOHA: Assistant Foreign Minister H E Mohammed bin Abdullah in Asia and among 50 countries in Al Rumaihi yesterday hosted a farewell ceremony for Philippine the world out of 195. Ambassador Crescente R Relacion. Members of diplomatic missions and THE PENINSULA officials from the ministry were present. THE PENINSULA/QNA WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Carter visits QF Some Central Market stalls double as homes CMC sees photos of workers’ tents to cook, sleep at night BY YASIN ABU TAQIU put on the ground near the logged indicate roads which do not accept water and cars parked knee-deep trucks and inspectors to imple- DOHA: Some stalls at the in water. The photographs exposed ment these rules,” he said. Central Fruits and Vegetables the hollow claims of authorities “Violating truckers should be Market double as workers’ about pre-rain measures taken to booked and repeated violations accommodation at night, the prevent water-logging in differ- should carry serious penalties Central Municipal Council ent areas. like non-renewal of the truck’s (CMC) said yesterday and asked “There need to be immedi- licence.” authorities to take corrective ate efforts to rectify violations in Al Henzab said violating trucks measures. this place, it’s a shame that it is were more visible in the Industrial A team of CMC members vis- happening in this country,” said Area where they carrying loads of ited the market, reviewed the situ- Councillor Mohammed Al Dosarri. almost 40m tonnes on roads. ation and took photographs. “We always see municipal inspec- Councillors also showed pictures Former US president and Carter Centre President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn yesterday visited Qatar The members belonged to the tors checking hotels and restau- of damaged roads they had taken. Foundation (QF) as part of their visit to Qatar. Carter was briefed on QF’s vision and objectives, projects, social civic services committee and rants. Where are they? Why can’t The CMC recommended the projects and scientific research and shown a 3D model of QF’s premises. He signed the guest book and was showed the photographs to fellow they stop these violations?” setting up of a technical commit- presented with a commemorative souvenir by QF President Engineer Saad Ebrahim Al Muhannadi. members at an open discussion on The CMC has recommended tee of officials from the Ministry the bad shape of the market. that civic officials reorganise and of Municipality and Urban Some photographs showed how allocate proper places outside the Planning, Ashghal, the Ministry some stalls were changed into market to build stalls for fruits of Transport and others to study tents to double as living quarters and vegetables, in compliance with the impact of heavy vehicles on Second phase of home numbering soon for workers at night. The workers public health standards. roads and suggest permanent even cooked food there and ate in They also asked authorities solutions. It agreed on recom- DOHA: Soon all villas, including door-to-door postal services could be buildings were numbered. violations of laws and safety rules. to send more inspectors to the mendations tabled by the Public those part of huge or small com- a possibility. The move is part of the Now, internal portions of The CMC wondered how such market, remove illegal tents and Utilities Committee to solve the plexes, residential apartments, second phase of a home numbering buildings and residential things were allowed to happen at ensure that traders have licences. problem of partitioning villas into office units in buildings and shops project the Ministry of Municipality and business complexes the market where municipal and In the presence of senior small accommodations which will be assigned numbers to pin- and Urban Planning calls ‘Unwani’ like apartments, offices, consumer department inspectors Ashghal officials, the CMC also has become common across the point their location. (My Address). shops will be numbered. visits regularly to check the mar- discussed the impact trucks were country. Once the numbering is done, In the first phase, some 125,000 The project is a brain- ket’s operations. making on roads. The committee asked the child of the Geographical “Some people have set up tents Councillors said several roads municipality to acknowledge Information System to sleep as if they were their home, were being damaged by trucks that the growing number of expatri- (GIS) Department of something civilised and not repre- did not comply with the specified ates bringing over their families the ministry. Its Head, sentative of Qatar’s development,” carriage weight and this cost the and make adequate planning and Amer Al Humaidi, said in said Jassim Al Malki, Deputy government millions of riyals in housing where low- and moder- the present phase some Chairman, CMC. repair every year. ate-income expat families can stay 300,000 units will be num- A picture showed a stall trans- Saud bin Abdullah Al Henzab, at affordable rent. It asked the bered over the next two formed into a tent with a blue Chairman, CMC, said trucks were municipality to consider making years. Once this is done, cover sheet, and a cooking stove visible on all roads, even internal ‘row houses’ which are cheaper, all homes, offices and shops and pairs of shoes outside. roads despite the opening of the affordable and similar to those for and other units could be Other pictures included those Temporary Truck Route (TTR- workers in other developed coun- located with help from of flooding in and around the mar- Lusail Road). tries that rely on migrant workers. GPS on a smartphone. ket, during the recent rains, goods “We need more signposts that THE PENINSULA This will help ambu- lances to locate a caller’s place, and exact addresses will be available for use by Demolition people and departments. He said the real estate registry (real estate regis- tration department) at the Ministry of Justice will also benefit. The project has been launched with state agen- cies, including Kahramaa, Civil Defence, statistics officials, postal department and Lekhwiya. Al Humaidi said survey- ors involved in the project are keying in data using iPads. The GIS department has developed a special application for it. Data will be fed to a central server at the GIS department. The numbering will be useful for FIFA 2022 World Cup projects and industrial and commercial activities, he New World Centre, a 25-year-old shopping complex near Sword Signal, being demolished to pave the way for said without elaborating. development works. ABDUL BASIT THE PENINSULA QIB offers chance to win 4.5m ‘Qmiles’ DOHA: Qatar Islamic Customers will be eligi- Bank (QIB) has launched ble for the draw every time a one-of-a-kind finance they obtain QR25,000 of campaign, encouraging new financing. customers to apply for The No. 1 winner finance products, includ- will receive one million ing personal, auto, or ‘Qmiles’, four winners will home finance and qualify receive 250,000 ‘Qmiles’ for a chance to win a total each and 25 winners of 4.5 million Qmiles dis- 100,000 ‘Qmiles’ each. tributed across 30 win- Customers can also ners in addition to other apply for QIB’s award benefits. winning Qatar Airways The campaign runs until co-brand card, with sub- April-end and includes 30 scription fees waived for prizes to be awarded via the first year. electronic raffle. THE PENINSULA Aljazeera to host 2016 IPI World Congress DOHA: Aljazeera will IPI, Aljazeera’s Acting host International Press Director-General, Dr Institute’s (IPI) World Mostefa Souag, said: “As Congress in Doha from part of our ongoing com- April 30 to May 3, 2016. mitment to press freedom, IPI is a network of edi- Aljazeera is delighted to be tors, media executives and hosting the event alongside journalists, dedicated to our colleagues at IPI. enhancing and safeguard- “It’s important that the ing press freedom, protec- event will be held in the tion of freedom of opinion Middle East as it will help and expression, promotion further the cause of press of free flow of news and freedom and improvement information, and improve- of standards in the region.” ment of the practice of The 2015 congress will be journalism. held in Yangon, Myanmar, During the signing from March 27 to 29. of an agreement with THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05
Leaders send New facility for jail greeting cables Sheikha Al Mayassa opens inmates to meet to Sultan Qaboos their spouses DOHA: Prison authorities have DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh opened a new facility where Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inmates can meet their spouses has sent a cable of congratula- International Food Festival in privacy for hours. tions to H M Qaboos bin Said Local Arabic daily Al Raya BY RAYNALD C RIVERA of Oman on his safe return to reports that two small fully fur- his country after a successful nished villas with kitchenettes treatment abroad. DOHA: The sixth annual have been added to a facility that The Emir wished him the Qatar International Food comprises two rooms that have best of health and the Omani Festival (QIFF) took off to a been there for long. people further progress and spectacular start yesterday, Prisoners serving varying prosperity under his wise delighting hundreds of visitors terms have been meeting their leadership. with an equal fusion of food spouses in these rooms ever since. Deputy Emir H H Sheikh and entertainment. Visiting spouses can spend four Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani Organised by Qatar Tourism to five hours or a day in the villas. sent a similar cable to Sultan Authority (QTA) and Qatar Qaboos. Airways (QA), the five-day event Building sold Prime Minister and Interior at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Park is the longest edition yet to for QR560m bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani bolster food tourism as a vital also sent a cable of congratula- component of the growing tour- DOHA: In a record of sorts, tions to Sultan Qaboos. ism sector. a building covering an area H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint of 5,500sqm in Bin Mahmoud Condolences sent Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has been sold for QR560m — at Chairperson, QM, opened the QR102,000 ($28,000) per sqm. to Germany, Spain festival along with Minister The building is mixed use of Culture, Arts, and Heritage and at prime location and that DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz explains its price. Real estate Tamim bin Hamad Al Al Kuwari, QTA Chairman Issa transactions have been picking up Thani yesterday sent cables bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, after FIFA announced that the of condolences to German Turkish Ambassador Ahmet 2022 World Cup will be held here President Joachim Gauck and Demirok and QA Chief in November-December. Weekly Chancellor Angela Merkel on Commercial Officer Marwan transactions from March 15 to the victims of the German Koleilat. QTA Chief Marketing H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson, QM, with Minister of Culture, Arts, and 19 totalled QR1.64bn ($500,000), plane that crashed over the and Promotions Officer Rashed Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and other officials touring the festival. show real estate registry figures Alps in South France. Al Qurese, QTA Chief Tourism of the Ministry of Justice. The Emir also sent similar Development Officer Hassan cooperative ties with public and performers. entertainment activities suiting cables to King Felipe VI of Al Ibrahim, QA Senior Vice- private sector partners such A breathtaking five-minute all family members,” added Al Saudi woman dies Spain and French President President Commercial – Qatar as QA to attract regional and fireworks display added colour Mohannadi. Francois Hollande. Ehab Amin and QA Senior international visitors,” said Al and vibrancy to the event. The QA Group CEO Akbar Al in road accident Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Vice-President Marketing and Mohannadi. pyrotechnic display will be held Baker said: “We are proud to Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani Corporate Communications Hundreds of enthusiasts every night at the festival. be co-organisers of the festival, DOHA: A Saudi woman died also sent condolence cables Salam Al Shawa were also queued at stalls to try out afford- “Qatar’s entertainment and along with QTA. We are con- and her husband and two chil- Gauck, Merkel, King Felipe VI present. able food and beverages offered cultural tourism sector is wit- fident that it will witness an dren suffered serious injuries and Hollande. “This year’s festival is unique by five-star hotels and renowned nessing a surge in the number unprecedented turnout, espe- after their car turned turtle on Prime Minister and Interior in terms of form and content. outlets. They also enjoyed enter- of visitors. For this reason, we cially due to entertainment Salwa Road on Sunday. Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Such events contribute to sup- tainment from Turkish stilt- exert efforts to support the sec- activities targeting all family They were rushed for emer- bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al porting QTA in its efforts to walkers and Chef Orchestra’s tor by promoting Qatar as an members.” With 48 stalls in nine gency medical care. Thani sent cables of con- develop a sustainable tour- classical musicians and singers in international hub capable of zones, the festival is open to the The accident took place at dolences to Merkel, Spain’s ism sector. QTA seeks to carry addition to Ardha and multicul- providing tourists with authen- public from 1.30pm to 10.30 until about 4.30pm when it was raining. Prime minister Mariano Rajoy out its mission by establishing tural dancers and break dance tic experiences, thus offering Saturday. THE PENINSULA Local Arabic daily Al Raya said and French Prime Minister yesterday the vehicle was moving Manuel Valls. at a high speed, the driver lost Meanwhile, in a state- control and the car skid. ment, the Foreign Ministry “The driver’s hands slipped expressed Qatar’s condolences from the steering wheel,” said the and stressed Qatar’s full sym- Narcotics packet was hidden in food container daily. THE PENINSULA pathy with the bereaved fami- lies. Emir gets message from Ghani
DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday received a written message from Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Assistant Foreign Minister H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi met Afghan Charge Senior officials with the two customs officers who were rewarded for their d’Affaires Mohammed Kasim efforts. (Below) Part of the drug seized. who presented the message. Foreign Ministry officials were Continued from page 1 present. The packet was in a food container. The passenger was FM hold talks scanned and a packet containing 107 grammes of heroin was recov- with counterparts ered from a secret pocket. The customs officer who seized DOHA: Foreign Minister H the marijuana said: “I noticed that E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed the contents of the bag looked dif- Al Attiyah yesterday held ferent from the usual ones and separate telephone talks with got some indication from the British Secretary of State X-ray machine. I alerted my col- Philip Hammond, French leagues that there are suspicious Foreign Minister Laurent things in the bag. When it was Fabius and US Secretary of opened, the nefarious materials State John Kerry. were found,” he added. Talks dealt with latest devel- Ahmad bin Ali Al Mohannadi, opments in Yemen. Head, General Customs Authority, QNA presented awards to both officials. THE PENINSULA
Doha Bank attends career forum
Doha Bank attended the 9th Career Forum organised by Qatar University at College of Business & Economics from March 9 to 12. The bank received a large number of applicants who showed interest in working with it. It also provided career consultation to graduate and undergraduate students. Last month the bank took part in a career fair at Education City. WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME
QNB offers prizes for global fund transfers Arab ‘region lacks clear R&D strategy’ DOHA: Qatar National Bank has launched a new campaign, DOHA: The Arab region lacks a and other conditions. providing customers with a clear strategy for research and Experts at the symposium chance to win prizes when mak- development (R&D), according stressed the need to pay atten- ing international bank trans- to a healthcare expert. tion to environment issues which fers through QNB Internet In the Arab region, research effect human health. Banking, QNB Mobile Banking, is mostly done at an individ- “Effects of the environment on or by visiting any QNB branch. ual level and not at institu- health are critically important,” Every international transfer of tional level, Dr Ahmed Alaskar, said Dr Graham Parker, from over QR1,000 will give custom- Executive Director, King Division of Paediatric Neurology, ers a chance to win. The first Abdullah International Medical Wayne State University, winner will receive a 2015 Jeep Research Centre (KAIMRC), said Michigan, US, in his presenta- Grand Cherokee and the second yesterday. tion on ‘Stem cell research — A winner a weekend package for In a presentation at the Middle worldwide Endeavour.’ two people to Dubai. Ten win- East Stem Cell Symposium, Dr He said the world has been ners will each receive 100,000 Alaskar said Turkey and Iran lead waiting with increasing impa- Life Rewards points. The cam- in research in the region, followed tience for long-promised develop- paign begins today and runs until by Egypt and Jordan. FROM LEFT: Dr Ahmed Alaskar, Dr Graham Parker and Dr Sergio Rutella speaking at the Middle East Stem Cell ments of regenerative medicines. June 7 in recognition of the trust The two-day symposium is Symposium. “To this end we must move clients place in QNB’s services. It being held at Crowne Plaza under from laboratory phenomena and is part of efforts to put customers the theme ‘Opportunities and discovery to scientific rigor and first as they use QNB’s services to challenges in stem cell research vision, exchange ideas and exper- Dr Sergio Rutella, Executive stem cells to treat or prevent a then responsible and properly balance today’s needs with tomor- and therapy development’ tise, foster communications and Director, Clinical Research, Sidra, disease or condition. designed clinical trial testing,” row’s aspirations. in collaboration between BD facilitate collaborations among said their research also focus on Bone marrow transplant is the said Dr Parker. The winners will be selected Biosciences, Sidra Medical and individuals and institutes in the immune modelling interventions most widely used stem cell ther- The symposium also featured in a raffle draw on June 14. With Research Centre, and KAIMRC. region. and individualisation in cancer apy, but some therapies derived presentations on ‘Call based QNB’s eServices, customers can The symposium brings highly Experts from Sidra Medical therapy. from umbilical cord blood are also treatment for regenerative ther- conveniently and safely access recognised speakers from and Research Centre high- A stem cell is an immature cell in use. Research is underway to apy might be the future of mul- their accounts for transactions Northern America, Europe and lighted the institute’s mandate that has the potential to become develop sources for stem cells, and tiple degenerative disease’, and and enjoy the most comprehensive the Middle East and provides a to develop personalised medi- specialised into different types of to apply stem cell treatments for ‘Promises and perils with stem online banking experience in the platform for scientists involved in cines. In his presentation titled cells throughout the body. neurodegenerative diseases and cell therapies’. Mena region. THE PENINSULA stem cell research to share their ‘An overview of stem research’, Stem cell therapy is the use of conditions, diabetes, heart disease THE PENINSULA ISL hosts World Scholar’s Cup Doha Round
DOHA: Over 200 stu- dents from 10 schools attended the World Scholar’s Cup Regional Round, hosted by International School of London (ISL) Qatar on Friday and Saturday. This year’s theme was ‘The World Unbound’ that focused on topics in all seven subjects studied. For the first time, the round was held over two days, first at ISL Qatar campus and then at Qatar National Convention Center. The event focused on critical thinking, prob- lem-solving and collabora- tive skills of students and their prowess at debating and persuasive writing. The World Scholar’s Cup is one of the fastest- growing extracurricular activities. This year, over 15,000 students will participate in 50 regional events in 30 countries in six continents. It is a celebration of learning rather than a Officials with some of the students. competition as all partici- pants have the opportunity platform for applying, analys- problem-solving activity with a are community-building events, to excel in their areas of ing and evaluating information game show feel to it; and schol- such as a forum discussion led by interest, and are supported related to the themes and for cre- ar’s challenge, a critical thinking, speakers nominated through the by team members as they ativity in each of the four events. decisionmaking experience which debate rounds and an optional collaborate to explore Events include team debate; draws on all reading, discussion talent show in which scholars can new subjects and practise collaborative writing; schol- and thinking that has gone before. entertain their peers. new skills. It provides a ar’s bowl, a fast-paced group Rounding out the schedule THE PENINSULA New Hala Nigeria Key offers lowest global calling rate
DOHA: In its lat- Hala Nigeria Key, avail- est move to offer more able for one month, aims value on its bigger, faster to help the expatriate network, Ooredoo has community talk more for expanded its portfolio of less as they stay connected Hala International Keys with friends and family with the launch of Hala across the globe. Nigeria Key. Customers can also Priced at QR1 a week, enjoy similar interna- Hala Nigeria Key offers tional saving options with customers the lowest call- keys for Egypt, India, ing rates in Qatar for calls Bangladesh and the to Nigeria for 30 dirhams Philippines, along with per minute. International Saver Key With the latest key, for 121 countries. customers can save 15 Previously, customers dirhams per minute with wishing to call Nigeria the new 30 dirhams per could subscribe to Hala minute rate. International Saver Key Customers wishing to for QR0.45 per minute, subscribe to the service and QR0.45 per SMS — can activate Hala Nigeria one of the best rates in Key for QR1/week by Qatar. sending SMS ‘NGA’ Ooredoo offers inter- (English] and ‘?’ (Arabic) national calling saving to 121. options on Qatar’s big- Subscription will auto- ger and faster network matically renew every for customers wanting week, so customers can to adapt their Hala or continue to enjoy benefits Shahry services to better of subsidised international suit their monthly needs. calling rates. Visit www.ooredoo.qa for To cancel the serv- details of service plans and ice, customers can SMS international call rates. ‘STOP NGA’ to 121. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07
Tunisia unrest Saudi to reward Hadi fighters inspectors for uncovering labour law violations check Houthi DUBAI: Saudi Arabia is tight- ening a crackdown on illegal foreign workers in the kingdom, giving the Ministry of Labour more powers including the right push to Aden to distribute financial rewards to i ns p e ct ors who tu rn up v iol ations . The decision is one of a string of adjustments to economic regula- Loyalists retake two towns tion and the policy-making apara- tus since the Custodian of the ADEN: Forces loyal to Yemeni and heavy artillery, forcing them Two Holy Mosques King Salman President Abdrabuh Mansur to withdraw northwards, military bin Abdulaziz Al Saud took the Hadi drove Houthi fighters officials and residents said. throne in January. Earlier this from two towns they had seized Hadi’s forces also counter- month, King Salman said creat- hours earlier yesterday, resi- attacked in Dhalea town, revers- ing private sector jobs for young dents said, apparently checking ing the Houthis’ first inroads Saudis was one of his main goals. an advance by the Shia fighters into the territory of the formerly To achieve this, the government towards his refuge in Aden. independent south. The town has has since 2011 been trying to limit But other Houthi units over- for years been the centre of an the number of foreign workers in night entered the Red Sea port of armed movement to secede from the country — about 10 million — Al Mukha, security officials said, the Yemeni capital Sana’a. and press companies to hire more placing the Iranian-backed fight- A Houthi official expressed con- local citizens through measures ers a short drive from the Bab Al tinued mistrust of Hadi, saying he Participants at the World Social Forum being held in Tunis march down a boulevard near the Bardo museum such as a quota system and fees. Mandeb strait, a sealane vital to had allied himself with Islamist in Tunis yesterday. The museum delayed a planned reopening after the attack due to security concerns. It has had some success; the oil shipments. militant forces. But but added the number of Saudis working in And in Taiz, soldiers and Houthi forces had no designs on the private sector jumped to 1.5 Houthi gunmen shot dead at Aden or any other region. million by the end of 2013 from least four people as demon- “We are not targeting Aden, 681,481 in 2009, according to the strators took to the streets to the South or any other region, government, and well over a mil- protest against the Houthi take- just takfiri groups that are in lion illegal foreign workers have over of the central highland city, some areas allied with various Kiir’s term extended by three years been forced to leave the country. medical officials said. political forces,” Houthi official The latest powers given to the Fighting has spread across Mohammed Al Bukhaiti said by JUBA: South Sudan’s parlia- that the government’s proposal to signalled their intention to fight labour ministry suggest King Yemen since last September when telephone. “What is going on now ment voted yesterday to extend extend its mandate “was passed on. Kundu, however, said the Salman wants to intensify the the Houthis seized the capital we consider self-defence and the President Salva Kiir’s mandate overwhelmingly”. extension of Kiir’s mandate was pressure on employers. The min- Sana’a and advanced into Sunni defence of our society.” by three years, an official said, Elections in the bitterly divided designed to give the government istry will now have authority to Muslim areas. Hadi has been The entry of Houthis into Al formally ditching any plans for nation had been due to be held time to reach a peace deal. prevent work permits from being holed up in Aden since he fled Mukha took them to within 80km elections this year in the civil before July 9 — the end of the par- “All these amendments were ini- renewed if companies do not fol- Sana’a in February. north of Bab Al Mandeb strait, war-torn country. liament and president’s mandate tiated by the President in order to low guidelines on hiring more His forces have stationed tanks which links the Mediterranean The move has been seen as going under a provisional constitution. give peace a chance. These (extra) Saudis, the Saudi Gazette quoted and artillery on a number of roads Sea and Indian Ocean via the against peace efforts by regional But international donors and three years are in order to give us a an official statement as saying. linking north and south Yemen. Suez Canal and Red Sea. mediators, who have been pushing civil society groups have opposed chance to get prepared... so we can If firms close down or halt the An array of tribesmen, militiamen The US ambassador to Yemen, President Kiir and rebel leader any polls, arguing that any vote conduct free and fair elections,” he specific activity for which a foreign and army units loyal to him are speaking in Washington on Riek Machar to share power in a held in the midst of civil war would insisted. He said Kiir would sign worker was hired, work permits resisting the southward advance Monday, said he believed a politi- transitional government. be a sham. Instead they pushed in off today on the parliament’s vote. will be considered as terminated — of the Houthis. cal power-sharing agreement The rebels quickly accused Kiir vain for the two sides to strike a Rebel spokesman Lony a step to prevent firms from hiring Skirmishes have escalated between the rival factions was still of being a “dictator”, although his peace deal and put an end to a Ngundeng said the extension to foreigners on a pretext and then since the weekend and yesterday’s possible but the United States and allies insist the president is seek- worsening humanitarian crisis. Kiir’s mandate was proof of his transferring them elsewhere. fighting showed the fluidity of the its allies need to make decisions ing to avoid a power vacuum fol- Peace talks held in neigh- unwillingness to share power. Kiir Also, the ministry was author- military contest. The northern- quickly. “Political dialogue won’t lowing the collapse of peace talks bouring Ethiopia collapsed ear- was elected in April 2010, one ised to give financial rewards to based Houthis had seized Kirsh, work if Hadi is overrun and cap- and would push for peace. lier this month after the rivals year before the country split from officials who detect labour law a town about 100km north of tured, and Aden falls, which could “The tenure of the office of failed to agree on a proposal former civil war enemies in north violations during inspections. Hadi’s base in Aden. But army happen very quickly,” Ambassador the president is extended by 36 that would see the rebel leader Sudan. Elections have never been Total rewards should not exceed units, tribesmen and militiamen Matthew Tueller said. months,” said parliament official restored to the position of vice held in South Sudan as an inde- 25 percent of fines collected, the pounded the fighters with rockets REUTERS Thomas Wani Kundu, adding president. Both sides have since pendent country. AFP statement said. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com US accuses Israel of spying on Iran N-talks All the information we gathered was from another entity, not the US: Lieberman; Boehner ‘shocked’ by report
WASHINGTON: The US has of Israeli security. Intelligence in the negotiations, from western honour any agreement reached. Lieberman said: “All the infor- fact that it is happening is less accused Israel of spying on analysts suggested that the leak Europe, Russia, China or Iran. US “It is one thing for the US and mation we gathered was from worrying than that it was leaked. international negotiations over reflects the degree of anger in intelligence had previously pro- Israel to spy on each other. It is another entity, not the US.” He Also, any intervention by Israel in Iran’s nuclear programme and Washington at Netanyahu’s vided help to the Israelis to spy another thing for Israel to steal added: “We reached a decision a the inner working of American using the intelligence gathered actions, and could mark a more on the Iranians, the report said. US secrets and play them back long time ago not to spy on the US politics is wrong. If this report is to persuade Congress to under- serious blow to the already tot- The US also conducts intelli- to US legislators to undermine and I haven’t come across anyone true and Netanyahu’s interven- mine the talks, according to a tering relationship. gence operations against Israel, US diplomacy,” the Wall Street who has violated that instruction tion used intelligence material, report on Tuesday. The leak has come exactly and learned of the Israeli spying Journal quoted a senior US offi- in several decades.” then it is just making it worse.” The Wall Street Journal cited a week before a deadline for operation when it intercepted cial as saying. Ronen Bergman, an expert on Yuval Steinitz, the strate- senior administration officials the US-Iranian negotiations in communication between Israeli Israel has categorically denied the country’s intelligence agencies gic affairs minister and close as saying the Israeli espionage Lausanne to produce a framework officials exchanging classified the allegations that it spied on at the Yedioth Ahronoth newspa- Netanyahu aide, told Israel’s operation began soon after the agreement. information that US intelligence closed-door nuclear negotiations per, said: “Whatever you think of Channel 2 that the reports were US opened up a secret channel According to the report, the US believed could only have been between Iran and the US, how- Netanyahu’s position on the Iran “intended to damage the strong of communications with Tehran has long been aware that Israel acquired by espionage. ever it did not deny that such talks, if he thinks that Israel’s ties between the US and Israel, in 2012, aimed at resolving the is among the shortlist of coun- However, what appears to information had been obtained. national security is at stake, he despite our differences on the decade-long standoff over Iran’s tries with the most aggressive have upset administration offi- “I think the report is wrong, has the right to order the intelli- Iran issue”. nuclear aspirations. intelligence operations targeting cials more than the spying is the it is inaccurate,” the outgoing gence community to find out what The top Republican in Congress The apparent decision by the America, alongside Russia, China use of the classified intelligence Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor is happening.” said yesterday that he was White House to leak the allega- and France. It said American acquired to brief members of the Lieberman, told the country’s But Bergman – whose book, A “shocked” by the report. “Frankly tions is the latest symptom of diplomats attending the talks in US Congress and to persuade Army Radio yesterday morning. History of the Israeli Mossad, will I was a bit shocked, because, there the growing gulf between Barack Austria and Switzerland were them to torpedo the talks. “The State of Israel obviously has be published next year – added: was no information revealed to Obama’s administration and briefed by US counterintelligence After Netanyahu addressed various security interests and we “What worries me and what me whatsoever,” said House Benjamin Netanyahu’s govern- officials about the threat of Israeli Congress this month, 47 have excellent intelligence serv- should be of high concern to the Speaker John Boehner, who will ment over the Iran talks, in which eavesdropping. It also raised the Republican senators wrote an ices, but we are not engaged in leaders of Israel is that this is visit Israel in coming weeks fol- the Israeli leader suspects US offi- possibility that Israel gathered open letter to the Iranian lead- espionage against the United ample proof that the relations at lowing Prime Minister Benjamin cials of being ready to make too intelligence about the US position ership, warning it that a suc- States.” He did not, however, large between the US and Israel Netanyahu’s re-election victory. many concessions at the expense by spying on other participants cessor to Obama could refuse to deny information was obtained. are sustaining an earthquake. The THE GUARDIAN/AFP
UN unveils proposals Prospects of two-state deal to end Libya crisis dim: Obama
TRIPOLI: The United Nations with the foreign minister, WASHINGTON: US President unveiled yesterday a six-point (Mohamed) Al Dayri, at the air- Barack Obama said yesterday proposal aimed at ending the port who has been in contact with that it was difficult to envision violence plaguing Libya by estab- the House of Representatives, and how a Palestinian state could be lishing a transitional government they sent a positive message.” formed following Israeli Prime to rule until a new constitution is The proposals speak of a unity Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s adopted and elections held. government headed by a presi- negative comments during his Envoy Bernardino Leon, who dent and a presidential council of recent re-election campaign. has been shepherding peace talks independent figures, along with a Netanyahu has sought to walk between Libya’s rival parliaments, parliament representative of all back comments made before presented what the UN mission Libyans and a high state council. the election campaign that a (UNSMIL) described as the A national security council and Palestinian state would not be “basis from which the parties can a municipalities council would established on his watch. Obama work” towards a solution. also be created. An existing con- Syrian President Bashar Al Assad with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari (left) in Damascus yesterday. Al said that even after that “correc- The proposal was delivered at stitutional drafting committee Jaafari announced that Iraq was ready to cooperate with Syria in breaking ‘the siege’ imposed on the war-torn tive”, the prospects of a two-state meetings in Tripoli and Tobruk, will also be part of the transi- state and work together to combat the unrest in both countries. deal appeared dim. where the rival parliaments are tional period. All will operate Obama said that his disagree- based. In latest violence, a suicide for a “transitional period whose ment with Netanyahu over how to car bombing in the country’s second duration will be agreed on by the IS ‘trains’ 400 child soldiers in Syria pursue a Middle East peace deal city Benghazi killed seven soldiers parties and will end with new was substantive, not personal. yesterday, military sources said. elections that will come after the BEIRUT: The Islamic State sandy brush as part of military used to man checkpoints or to “I have a very business-like rela- UNSMIL said Libya risks approval of the constitution and group has trained more than training. The footage also shows gather intelligence from areas tionship with the prime minister,” “widespread confrontation and referendum,” UNSMIL said. 400 children in Syria as fight- children gathered around a table outside IS control, as children can Obama said. “He’s representing deeper division in which terror- The mission noted that the ers in 2015 alone, the Syrian studying religious texts. typically pass unnoticed through his country’s interests the way he ism and its expansion will become proposals are “first and foremost Observatory for Human Rights Once the boys turn 15, they these neighbourhoods, Abdel thinks he needs to, and I’m doing a serious threat to the country Libyan and formulated after wide monitor said yesterday. are given the option to become Rahman said. the same. So the issue is not a mat- and the region”. It “cannot afford discussions” that address the con- Calling them “Cubs of the full-fledged fighters with sala- But some children are recruited ter of relations between leaders. to wait any longer before there is cerns of all sides and call on the Caliphate,” the jihadist group pro- ries, said Observatory head Rami for more violent purposes. A video “The issue is a very clear, sub- a settlement that could restore sides to “make concessions”. vides intense military and religious Abdel Rahman. “IS officials try to released by IS this month depicted stantive challenge. We believe security and stability and end the Libya has been in turmoil since training to children throughout woo children with money, weap- a boy, who appeared to be no more that two states is the best path suffering of the people”. the 2011. It has had two parlia- its areas of control in Syria, the ons and teaching them how to than 12, executing a hostage by forward for Israel’s security, for Samir Ghattas, a spokesman ments and governments since Britain-based monitor said. drive cars,” he said. He said the shooting him several times with a Palestinian aspirations and for for UNSMIL, said: “The visit to Tripoli was seized in August 2014 Sleek videos published by children aren’t forced to fight, pistol. Abdel Rahman said IS had regional stability. That’s our view Tobruk was good. The objective by the Fajr Libya militia coalition IS-affiliated accounts show boys but “since there are no (non-IS) already used at least 10 children as and that continues to be our view. was to pass on the message to the and the internationally recognised — some appearing to be as young schools, no work, this is what kids suicide bombers in Syria and had And Prime Minister Netanyahu speaker and that was fulfilled. government fled to the country’s as eight years old — loading and do during the day.” put together all-child battle units. has a different approach.” “There was a long conversation far east. AFP firing guns and crawling through The child soldiers are often REUTERS REUTERS/AFP
Oman denies bail for activist DUBAI: Human Rights Watch criticised Oman yesterday for refusing to grant a rights activist bail pending an appeal of his conviction using the Internet to sow unrest in the sultanate. Blogger Saeed Jaddad, 48, was jailed this month for three years on charges of undermining the status and prestige of the state, inciting rallies via social media ahead of the anniver- sary of February 2011 protests and calling for what could undermine public order. He was also fined 1,000 rials ($2,600), HRW said. Jaddad’s family paid the fine and posted bail, but “the court refused to release him citing separate charges before another court for his online activities,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and Africa director. Israel jails Hamas fighter
JERUSALEM: An Israeli court yesterday jailed for 15-and-a-half years a Palestinian caught fighting in Gaza during last summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. A transcript of proceedings in the Beersheba district court, in southern Israel, said that Mohammed Abu Zaraj, born in 1991, was one of a squad of the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, lying in ambush for advancing Israeli troops on July 27. “The accused and members of the squad set explosive charges and waited to detonate them on the arrival of the soldiers,” it said. Teacher beats student over hijab
CAIRO: An Egyptian elementary school teacher has been arrested for allegedly beating a girl and cutting off a lock of her hair because she was not wearing a hijab, an official said yesterday. The staff member, who teaches religion in the Fayum province west of Cairo, was detained on Monday for a period of four days pend- ing an investigation, the prosecution official added. The teacher allegedly beat the fifth grade student before using scissors to cut off some hair because she turned up to class without the Muslim headscarf, which is not part of the uniform in state schools. A teacher in Cairo beat a schoolboy to death earlier in March. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 150 dead in plane crash in French Alps
FROM LEFT: Family members of a victim at Barcelona’s El Prat airport. A screen grab taken from an AFP TV video shows search and rescue personnel at the crash site in the French Alps above the southeastern town of Seyne. French President Francois Hollande (left)) meeting with Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at Elysee Palace in Paris following the crash. Nothing is left but debris and bodies at the snow-clad mountainous terrain as plane is totally destroyed
SEYNE: A plane operated by assumption the crash was an the history of Germanwings, and airline tragedy. We will deter- flights to the crash site. the budget carrier of Germany’s “accident”. the deadliest on the French main- mine what caused the crash,” Authorities commandeered Lufthansa crashed in a remote “Anything else would be specu- land since 1974 when a Turkish Hollande said. a large meadow with dozens of What caused area of the French Alps yester- lation,” Lufthansa vice president Airlines plane crashed, killing The dead included Germans, helicopters taking off to head day, killing all 150 on board in Heike Birlenbach told reporters 346 people. “It is a tragedy, a new Spaniards and “probably” Turks, to the crash site. Valls said one the crash? the worst aviation disaster on at Barcelona’s El Prat airport Hollande said, while Belgium helicopter had been able to touch French soil in decades. from where the plane took off. said at least one of its nationals down at the site of the accident PARIS: A technical fault, With the cause of the accident She said the 24-year-old Airbus was on board. Denmark also said but locals described the diffi- pilot error, or an act of terror a complete mystery, authorities A320 had passed its last routine one of its nationals was on board. cult terrain that awaited rescue — there are many theories recovered a black box from the check on Monday. Germanwings said 67 teams. over the mysterious crash. Airbus A320 at the crash site, The aircraft, carrying 144 Germans were believed to have “Ground access is horrible where rescue efforts were being mainly Spanish and German pas- been on board while Spain said ... it’s a very high mountainous What does lack of a hampered by the mountainous sengers — including two babies — 45 people with Spanish-sounding area, very steep and it’s terrible terrain. Local MP Christophe and six crew, was travelling from names were on the flight. to get there except from the air distress call mean? Castaner, who flew over the site, Barcelona to the western German One of the first victims iden- during winter,” local resident “The crew did not put out a said on Twitter: “Horrendous city of Duesseldorf when it came tified was opera singer Oleg Francoise Pie said. Mayday call. It was air traffic images in this mountain scenery. down. German authorities said Bryjak, of the Duesseldorf opera Another local official, Gilbert control that decided to declare Nothing is left but debris and 16 German teenagers on a school house. Sauvan, said: “The only possi- the plane in distress after los- bodies. “A horror — the plane is trip were on board the doomed “We have lost a great art- ble access was by helicopter and ing contact with the crew,” totally destroyed.” plane, as tearful relatives rushed ist and a great man ... We are people had to be winched down said civil aviation authorities. Video images from a govern- to the airports in the two cities shocked,” said Christoph Meyer, because the choppers couldn’t “It was the combination of the ment helicopter flying near the anxiously seeking information general director of the opera land.” A separate mountain loss of radio contact and the area showed a desolate snow- about loved ones. house. rescue team left on foot but descent that caused the con- flecked moonscape, with steep French President Francois A crisis cell has been set up in they would take “three hours ... trol room staff to send out a ravines covered in scree. Hollande said he would meet his the area between Barcelonnette because it’s very steep and you distress call at 0930 GMT.” Budget airline Germanwings German and Spanish counter- and Digne-les-Bains along with need crampons,” he added. said the Airbus plunged for eight parts at the crash site today. an emergency flight control cen- French civil aviation authori- minutes but French aviation offi- It was the first fatal accident in tre to coordinate the chopper ties said they lost contact with What are the main cials said the plane had made no 600 the plane and declared it was in distress call before crashing near Worst air disasters 300 distress at 10:30am (0930 GMT). theories? 100 fatalities the ski resort of Barcelonnette. Commercial airliner crashes* with fatalities over 100 people since 1970. Mar. 24, 2015 Germanwings flight 4U9525 “The crew did not send a “For the moment, it could be “A black box was found and WORST FIVE Plane shot down carrying 150 people crashes in France Mayday. It was air traffic con- a technical problem, a non-tech- will be delivered to investiga- trol that decided to declare the nical problem, a poor reaction tors,” Interior Minister Bernard 1970’75 ’80 ’85 ’90 ’95 2000 ’05 ’10 ’14 plane was in distress because by the crew to an emergency Cazeneuve said. there was no contact with the situation,” said an expert. Weather did not appear to be crew,” an official said. a factor in the crash, with condi- In 1981, a plane crashed on the Can we rule out a tions “calm” at the time. “There French island of Corsica with was no cloud at the plane’s cruis- Worst airliner crashes in 2014 180 people on board. terrorist attack? ing altitude”, winds were “light to Fatalities 346 583 329 520 349 Date Operator Location Fatalities The world’s worst air disas- “If a plane explodes in mid- moderate” and there was no tur- Date March 3, 1974 March 27, 1977 June 23, 1985 Aug. 12, 1985 Nov. 12, 1996 March 8 Malaysia ** 239 ters remain the March 27, 1977, air, the debris are spread Airlines bulence that could have contrib- Aircraft(s) DC-10 Boeing 747 (2) Boeing 747 Boeing 747 Boeing 747/Ilyushin 76 collision of two Boeing 747s on across several kilometres as 298 uted to the crash, French weather Location July 17 Malaysia Ukraine the runway at Tenerife in the was the case with the Malaysia France Canary Islands Atlantic Ocean Japan India Airlines officials said. Operator(s) Canary Islands, killing 583 peo- Airlines plane that was shot Turkish Airlines Pan Am/KLM Air India Japan Airlines Saudi Arabian Airlines/ July 24 Air Algerie Mali 116 Prime Minister Manuel Valls Kazakhstan Airlines ple, and the August 12, 1985 down over Ukraine.” That does 162 said there were no survivors. Dec. 28 AirAsia Indonesia crash into a mountainside of a not rule out the possibility that German flag carrier Lufthansa * Excludes crashes involved in the 2001 Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S. Boeing 747 belonging to Japan the plane was hijacked by peo- said it was working on the Sources: Reuters; Flight Safety Foundation ** Flight MH370 presumed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, wreckage yet to be found Airlines, killing 520 people. AFP ple on board prior to the crash. That will only be ruled out by inspection of the wreckage and the black box recorder. Tearful crash victims’ relatives gather at airports Was the age of the BARCELONA: Tearful rela- let out a wail of grief as a young was going to leave.” screen greeted passengers with the This affects the whole school,” said tives of passengers of the woman escorted her. Spanish officers were taking message: “A Germanwings plane to Pujol. aircraft a factor? German airliner that crashed in An elegantly dressed man in his genetic samples from relatives in Duesseldorf has crashed!” Spain’s King Felipe VI and his It is not the age of an air- the French Alps gathered griev- 60s tried to hide his tears behind order to help identify the bodies Relatives of the passengers there wife Letizia happened to be in craft that determines its vul- ing at Barcelona and Duesseldorf sunglasses. Another man walked of those killed, a police spokesman were ushered by airline staff out of France on a state visit, which they nerability — it is the quality airports to learn that none of the with his arm round a teenage boy said. the way of waiting reporters. immediately cut short. of the maintenance. Leading 150 people on board survived. with a stricken expression. Psychologists and social work- In the town of Llinars de Valles French Prime Minister Manuel aviation companies submit to Several dozen relatives, some Among those grieving were ers were attending to the families north of Barcelona, local mayor Valls said the authorities “can’t stringent, frequent checks and wailing and crying, arrived at three men who said their friend at Barcelona airport, Red Cross Marti Pujol said pupils were in rule out any theory” on the cause pilots inspect the planes ahead Barcelona’s El Prat airport after and colleague was on the plane spokeswoman Irene Peiro said. shock at a local high school where of the disaster. of every flight. This particular news that the flight which took to Duesseldorf for a meeting on “When they are told the news 16 of the passengers on the plane Lufthansa is working on the Airbus A320 of Germanwings off there in the morning for company labour relations. “He was they have grief and trauma and we had just attended an exchange assumption that it was an acci- underwent full maintenance Duesseldorf had crashed. They about to retire,” said one of three, try to minimise as much as pos- programme. “We have the Red dent, the airline’s vice president in summer 2013, said the were taken to a room set up for who would not give his name. “The sible these traumatic, anxious and Cross and psychologists there. for sales and services in Europe, head of the company Thomas them by police officers, who kept other day he told me that as soon uncertain moments,” she said. The teachers were in the school Heike Birlenbach, told reporters Winkelmann. AFP journalists at bay. One elderly lady as the negotiations were over he At Duesseldorf airport, a giant and are looking after the children. in Barcelona. AFP
Obama hosts Science Fair participants Russia gives broadcast licence to CNN MOSCOW: Russia said it had tightened rules on advertising for criticism in Russia last year with issued a fresh broadcast licence cable channels. MPs threatening it with a ban to CNN after the US news CNN until recently was an after it lightheartedly claimed channel went off air last year, option on cable and satellite pack- that a memorial in Belarus to blaming restrictions on foreign- ages in Russia, where it began Soviet soldiers who fought in owned media. broadcasting in the early 1990s. World War II was among the A spokeswoman for Russia’s Its reporters did not leave Russia ugliest monuments in the world. media watchdog Roskomnadzor after the channel went off air. The channel apologised. As part confirmed an order was given In January this year, CNN of a propaganda campaign to sup- to issue CNN with a licence to began talks with the media port Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, broadcast nationwide for 10 years. watchdog on returning to the Russian media has frequently CNN went off air in Russia airwaves in Russia. It was not accused Western outlets of delib- on December 31 last year, with immediately clear what, if any erately distorting news cover- its owner, Turner, a division of conditions, Russia has set for age to promote an anti-Russian TimeWarner, saying the shut- CNN to begin broadcasting again. agenda. down was prompted by “changes However Alexander Zharov, the State television news harshly in media legislation” in Russia. head of Roskomnadzor, told the criticised CNN’s coverage of US President Barack Obama poses with a group of six-year-old Girls Scouts from Tulsa Oklahoma who Russia last year passed a law Izvestiya daily that the outlet the murder of opposition leader designed a battery powered page turner to help people who are paralysed or have arthritis, at the 2015 limiting foreign ownership of was “following exactly the agree- Boris Nemtsov last month, say- White House Science Fair at the White House in Washington. Obama tries an attachable lever that can make media to 20 percent, a move that ments” reached in talks with the ing a commentator had blamed wheelchair movements easier and less tiring that was created by Kaitlin Rees. affected numerous print media watchdog. President Vladimir Putin for the and television channels. It also CNN came under fierce killing without proof. AFP WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 10 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 Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Cruz-ing into history ED Cruz has jumped into the US presidential race. Money rules vote in Nigeria, And with a splash typical of a Conservative. On Monday, he invoked his faith while speaking to TRepublican supporters at Liberty University. It looked more like a freewheeling speech delivered on the round. lawmakers out-earn Obama The Republican’s plunge into the White House race BY DULUE MBACHU seems to be the beginning of a warm up session for the most and Development, or CDD, said in a revenue, with the national government celebrated democratic exercise in the world. From the rival phone interview. “Money plays such a receiving 52.7 percent, the states 26.7 camp, the ultra-famous and flamboyant Hillary Clinton has HEN lawyer Okey Onwa huge role and the political process is percent and local councils 20.6 percent. been at it for long, but wouldn’t say it. The ubiquitous Hillary decided to run for a seat very expensive, making it for the richest Of the 36 states, only Lagos, which has yet not officially announced her candidature for the in Nigeria’s House of and not the best. Essentially, the god- generates 75 percent of its own revenue, Representatives, a ruling fathers are the ones that control the could survive without the monthly cash Democratic nomination though she is already neck-deep into W party leader laid out the terms. parties and determine candidates.” allocations from the central govern- an email controversy that threatens her purported choice. He would have to pay 2 million naira Both Jonathan, 57, a southern ment by trimming spending or selling Cruz’s arrival on the Republican presidential stage follows ($10,048) as an expression of interest Christian from the oil-rich Niger bonds, according to National Bureau of that of Jeb Bush, son of 41st US president George H W Bush and sign post-dated cheques, forfeiting River delta, and his main opponent, Statistics data. and brother of 43rd president George W Bush. The former half of his income as a lawmaker to gain Muhammadu Buhari, 72, a northern Since more than 70 percent of the the support of the party boss, commonly Muslim and former military dicta- federal budget is spent on recurrent Florida governor has been striving to shore up resources with known as a “godfather” in Nigeria. tor, have pledged to fight corruption expenses, such as the salaries and ben- mother Barbara Bush even trying to raise money for her son’s “When I complained, he told me this and make the petroleum industry efits of about a million public officials, White House bid, even though he has not officially kicked off was business, that I can try going it more transparent. Corruption has there’s little left for capital investments his campaign. alone if I wanted,” Onwa, 52, said in an dogged Nigeria’s political system since in infrastructure, health and education. Texas Senator Cruz has launched his campaign at a time interview in Awka, capital of the south- independence from Britain in 1960. Many people who would’ve been Hillary is close to announcing her bid — or has she, almost? eastern state of Anambra. He said he Transparency International ranked it entrepreneurs in business or indus- decided against running because he 136th out of 174 countries assessed in try seek political office “as a much The 44-year-old has thrust himself into the spotlight when knew that on his its 2014 Corruption Perception Index. quicker way to make money,” Clement Hillary is in the glare of a controversy that threatens to own, he couldn’t Former central bank Governor Nwankwo, executive director of Abuja- haul her over the coals. Bitter Republicans are pressing raise the 100 Lamido Sanusi was suspended by based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, House Speaker John Boehner for million naira he Jonathan last year after he alleged said in an interview. With the major- a Congressional grilling of the Corruption has needed for the that the Nigerian National Petroleum ity of the population poor and without Ted Cruz’s former Secretary of State who campaign. As hadn’t remitted about $20bn in oil rev- education, “it’s difficult for citizens to dogged Nigeria’s Africa’s biggest enue to the government. Highlights of a understand the role of the elected offi- campaign has took on Barack Obama during oil producer pre- PricewaterhouseCoopers audit into the cial,” he said. “They measure candidates the 2008 presidential campaign political system. pares to elect a NNPC said it should refund a minimum by how much they pay.” turned the US but was vanquished by the lesser- president and of $1.48bn, with the state-owned com- This year’s races are set to be the known but more formidable Illinois Transparency parliament on pany claiming the report had absolved tightest ever, with both parties having presidential Senator. March 28, at it of Sanusi’s allegations. The full PwC 42 percent support among likely vot- International stake for most audit hasn’t been released. ers, according to an Afrobarometer poll Hillary and her husband, former race tepid. It ranked it politicians is the “Anyone who has state power controls released January 27. About 68 million US president Bill Clinton, are power to dispense everything,” said Jideofor Adibe, a politi- people are registered to vote, the elec- would hot up known to set the rules and have 136th out of and receive cash cal science lecturer at Nassarawa State toral agency said. weathered many a storm in their and patronage University in the city of Keffi, 60km east The vote is being held at a time when once Hillary is personal and professional lives. She 174 countries rather than com- of the capital, Abuja. “The group that cash is especially tight, with the price met Obama at the White House peting ideologies. produces the president can reward itself of crude having declined more than half officially in. assessed in its The main oppo- and punish the others. You can make since June, falling below budget projec- on Monday and also spoke at a sition party, the a billionaire out of an ordinary man tions. Brent crude, which compares journalism awards event. Not yet 2014 Corruption All Progressives overnight.” with Nigerian oil grades, fell 0.7 per- out of the woods over the email Perception Index. Congress, has Candidates use funds for their pub- cent to $55.54 per barrel as of 8.41am controversy, Hillary made light of her relationship with the said it will main- licity campaigns as well as to influence in London, down 52 percent from last press. Not the one to be cornered easily, the wily Democrat tain many of the “opinion leaders” and potential voters, year’s peak on June 19. was on the defensive at an earlier event days ago while fielding economic policies of President Goodluck said Gozie Agbakoba, who lost his bid to With ideology less important than the Jonathan’s ruling People’s Democratic return to the House of Representatives battle to control resources, elections can media queries. Party. in 2011 for the Action Congress of sometimes be no-holds-barred battles The US presidential race will see Americans elect a new With annual salaries and benefits Nigeria, which is now part of the APC. with candidates and parties employing leader next year to replace Barack Obama, who has historical of as much as $2m a year, Nigeria’s “I lost because I didn’t share money,” armed thugs to bludgeon supporters of achievements to his credit as the American president. The lawmakers earn more than four times Agbakoba said in an interview in Abuja. opponents, snatch ballots and rig results. Nobel Peace laureate was behind the decision to eliminate Barack Obama’s salary as US president. “It’s difficult to win an election in In 2011, about 800 people were killed and Whoever wins the presidency has a crit- Nigeria without providing inducements at least 75,000 forced to flee their homes Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in his lair, and his health ical say in dispensing about $70bn a year to voters, be it rice, other gifts or cash.” after Jonathan’s victory was announced. insurance plan for citizens is considered path breaking. in state revenue, more than two-thirds Apart from the 109 seats in the “The big challenge now facing Nigeria is Cruz has been a bitter critic of Obama. His 21-hour of which comes from oil and gas exports. Senate and 360 in the House of how to make the welfare of people the filibuster against Obama care in 2013 was one of the longest “There’s no country in the world that Representatives, candidates are also purpose of politics,” said Onwa. “Right on the Senate floor. It remains to be seen how the campaign has that kind of remuneration for its vying for the state governorships and now, for the average politician it’s all turns once other Republicans and Democrats jump on to the lawmakers,” Jibrin Ibrahim, director of places in regional legislatures. Each about how to make money.” the Abuja-based Centre for Democracy level of government shares in the oil WP-BLOOMBERG juggernaut. The other side Quote of Singapore’s visionary leader the day
F NOBODY is afraid of me, chewing gum. Lee did not blink when Singapore has made the city-state a of Southeast Asia’s highest levels of I’m meaningless,” Lee Kuan other governments sought leniency model for several developing coun- foreign direct investments and tourist Yew memorably said as toward foreigners sentenced to death tries. Despite criticism of Lee’s human arrivals. “Ihe admitted agreeing with or caning in Singapore, insisting that rights record, his compatriots sup- From a pirate haven and post- Niccolo Machiavelli’s choice between the law must be equally applied to all. ported his endorsed successor, who colonial backwater, Singapore was being loved and being feared. And Yet under his watch, Singapore was replaced a decade later by Lee’s transformed by Lee Kuan Yew into The European indeed Singapore’s founding father also developed a reputation for son. a modern economic powerhouse. inspired fear when he ruled his tiny upholding the rule of law, for reliable In just five decades since its bit- In his final years as elder statesman, Union is death, city-state with an iron fist. efficiency in public services, for clean ter split from Malaysia, Singapore he saw the erosion of public support With that fear, however, came government, and a society where has become one of the world’s most for his political party. Still, the crowds the death of our respect. Under Lee’s three dec- people rose on merit rather than prosperous nations. While it contin- now visiting the presidential palace economy, our social ades of authoritarian rule, Singapore connections. Lee was one of Asia’s ues to rank low in press freedom and to bid their founding father a final became known as the world’s strongmen who firmly believed that human rights indicators, Singapore farewell are there not to revile Lee welfare system and “finest”city – with stiff fines imposed economic rights and national secu- has consistently topped international Kuan Yew but to pay tribute, show- even for misdemeanors including jay- rity took precedence over certain civil surveys on national competitiveness, ing what comes close to love for a our identity. walking, littering, failure to flush pub- liberties. ease of doing business, and trans- strong, visionary leader. Marine Le Pen lic toilets and, most notoriously, for The economic success of parency in governance. It has one The Philippine Star French far-right leader WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Why citizens are favoured in top judicial posts In Qatar, the citizenship clause has been left open. In accordance with that, if Qatari citizens do not BY DR HASSAN meet the criteria, a ALBOHASHIM ASSAYED judge of any other ne of the requirements for becoming a judge Arab nationality is citizenship, which Ocontributes to a very can be appointed. important principle, that of inde- pendence of the judiciary. It is often the case that a nationality of another state. resident has left his country to Article 152 of the Syrian improve his standard of living, Constitution of 2012, for exam- which is linked to the state where ple, states that “no person who he is working on a temporary holds another nationality other basis. Tempting him could simply than Syrian Arab nationality can mean extending his work permit, assume the position of President, and the opposite could obviously Vice President, Prime Minister represent a threat to him. or his deputies, minister, a mem- The judicial system is a mani- ber of the People’s Assembly festation of the sovereignty of or member of the Supreme the state, and the constitutional Constitutional Court.” court represents the pinnacle of Article 61 of the Jordanian the judicial system. Constitution of 1952 states that Many constitutions explicitly a member of the Constitutional mention the requirement of citi- Court must be Jordanian, and zenship for those chosen as judges shall not have the nationality of in the Constitutional Court. another country. Article 1/174 of the South Some countries not only African Constitution of 1996 require single citizenship for a stipulates that “the person person to become a judge of the designated to work in the Constitutional Court, but also The Kuwait National Assembly. When Kuwait passed a law establishing the Constitutional Court, only Kuwaiti advisers were selected from the Courts Constitutional Court must stipulate that the citizenship of Cassation and Appeal. be a citizen of South Africa.” must have been acquired by birth Article 119 of the Russian and not naturalisation, confirm- Article 433 of the Ecuadorian by common law, that one who constitution for a person to be This is justified by the desire Federation Constitution of ing that the person is a citizen Constitution states that to be holds the post of judge must be a member of the Constitutional of the legislature not to restrict 1993 states that “judges must who was born in that country appointed a member of the a citizen. Court. However, when it the scope of selection. The non- be citizens of the Russian and enjoys political rights such Constitutional Court, one must The law may stipulate an passed the law establishing the requirement of Qatari nationality Federation,” which applies to as to vote and get elected, which be an Ecuadorian citizen enjoying exception that qualified individ- Constitutional Court, only Kuwaiti may also be justified by appointing all judges, including the ones are granted only to citizens. his/her full political rights. uals from other countries may advisers were selected from the judges from countries that estab- for the Constitutional Court. In the Colombian Constitution In contrast, the constitutions assume a judge’s position because Courts of Cassation and Appeal. lished a constitutional court before Due to the importance of of 1991, for example, Article 147 of some countries don’t explic- of a lack of availability of quali- In Qatar, the citizenship clause Qatar, thereby providing the ben- this position, some constitu- specifies that to become a judge itly state the nationality clause fied persons among the citizens has been left open. In accordance efit of their experience in this field. tions require not only citizen- in the High Court of Justice of for a person chosen as a member of that country. with that, if Qatari citizens do So when will the Qatari court ship but also emphasise that the Constitutional Court or the of the Constitutional Court, as Kuwait is one of the countries not meet the conditions, a judge see the light of day? the judge of the Constitutional State Council, one should “be this may be considered a self- that does not explicitly spec- of any other Arab nationality can The author is an academic and Court shouldn’t hold the a Colombian citizen by birth.” evident requirement, confirmed ify the citizenship clause in its be appointed. a researcher We must help the transparency Qatarisation of the press he Qatari media organisa- tion plays a vital role in The Qatari media authority achieve its goals Timproving the media in Qatar, specifically television and organisation was aspect of its performance or any and the citizens in another. radio. This was noticed when it related information. There is no doubt the citizen implemented the 2011-16 national established with the The Emir may give general wishes to see procedures put in strategy, and it is working on guidance on what the body must place to promote integrity and Qatar National Vision 2030. aim of promoting do in relation to public policy. The transparency in all government The organisation focuses on chairman of this new body is H E sectors, especially with regard improving media outlets, includ- professionalism and Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, to management of state funds, ing private and national media who has previously served as which will require an iron fist organisations, since they have Minister of Education but didn’t and transparency in tendering a great influence on the Qatari efficiency in media get the opportunity to show his and auctions. community. BY DR RABIA BIN SABAH creativity due to the limited We also request speeding up Of course, Qatarisation of the outlets. AL KUWARI period he stayed in office. the preparation of the charter of press is not the duty of just the He has an enormous responsi- integrity of public officials, con- Qatari media organisation; it is terrestrial antennas and satellites. BY KHALID ABDULLAH bility, which he is most qualified tractors and suppliers. This is a a process in which many par- - Owning the copyrights to and investing in activities related AL ZIYARA for, and will initially define the core function of the Authority. ties play a role, including private TV and radio programmes. This to fields that match the nature of objectives of the Authority, which Of course, the decree didn’t media organisations, the Ministry is besides having the right to these resources. was created to achieve the highest forget the role of the press and of Culture, Art and Heritage, civil broadcast art festivals, sports - Starting up and owning inde- hen the new level of integrity and transpar- other media in highlighting issues society groups, non-government tournaments and related local or pendent or shared companies, Administrative Control ency in the public sector and fight related to corruption. They should organisations, businessmen and international activities. whether at home or abroad, to Wand Transparency corruption. help the Authority uncover what private sector organisations that - Concluding contracts, agree- do business within the scope of Authority begins reporting According to the decree, the is hidden. serve the community. ments and memorandums of the jurisdiction of the institution directly to the Emir, it will no Authority will circulate infor- The press is the mirror that The high-level decision to understanding that are necessary after obtaining the approval of doubt give us more confidence in mation about its commitment to reflects reality and reveals the establish the Qatari media organ- for carrying out certain activities the Cabinet. its performance. integrity and transparency. It will truth by removing the falsehood isation was aimed at promoting in coordination with the compe- The role of Qatari media organ- In the coming days we will facilitate access to such informa- covering it. I believe it is worth professionalism and efficiency in tent authorities. isation is clear today in relation witness major improvements tion for certain individuals, who researching how the press deals media outlets, especially radio - Producing and broadcasting to the Qatarisation of the press in the authority’s activities and we hope will be from the general with complaints or investigations and TV stations. This requires commercials, and dealing with and for producing press material performance after the issuing of public. into cases of official neglect, mis- the following: different services related to TV that is at least 30 to 40 percent Emiri Decree No. 6 of 2015, which The decree provides for direct management or exploitation. - Providing radio and TV serv- and radio programmes and mate- Qatarised. reorganises this body by appoint- channels of communication with We need a nationwide effort to ices locally and abroad, and help- rial while taking into considera- This won’t isolate our press ing a chairman who will report the public to receive suggestions combat and eradicate corruption ing develop state organisations tion the society’s customs and from the general message of the directly to the Emir. and complaints about corruption by preventing it in the public and with modern scientific methods. traditions. media as the press is part of the The Emir will monitor the and dishonesty. private sectors. - Planning, developing, produc- - Administering its resources Qatari media organisation. activities of the Authority by We request the new chair- We must all stand as one to help ing, documenting and presenting requesting its chairman to sub- man to give this high prior- the Authority achieve its objec- local and international radio and mit reports on the administrative, ity because without direct tives since we are all accountable TV programmes, other mate- financial and technical issues the communication with the public to God and the Emir, may God rial and services, and promoting body deals with, including any the body will be in one world protect him. them by selling or giving permis- sion to broadcast them locally and internationally. - Signing contracts with pri- vate and government bodies, and international, Arab, and Gulf organisations for producing, exchanging and promoting radio and TV programmes and other material. - Owning all fixed and mov- able assets necessary for estab- lishing and running TV and radio stations. - Getting permission for TV and radio material and produc- tion through digital media. - Broadcasting, receiving and reporting radio and TV news, programmes and services via WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA Uganda paid China shrugs off Taiwan President’s US PR firm to visit to pay last respects to Lee TAIPEI/SINGAPORE: Taiwanese comment on Ma’s visit. China’s Foreign President Ma Ying-jeou flew to Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying Singapore yesterday to pay his said that Lee always upheld a “One clean up image respects after the death of the city- China” policy while he was alive and state’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan also did a lot of work to improve cross Yew, a diplomatically sensitive visit strait relations, which China appreci- given China’s stance that Taiwan is a ates. “We believe that the Singapore Negative publicity after anti-gay bill renegade province. side will act in accordance with the Ma visited the Istana, the site of the ‘One China’ principle to carefully and KAMPALA: A row over a Aston Kajara, a state minister, Singapore prime minister’s official resi- appropriately deal with the relevant law banning homosexuality in was also quoted as saying that the dence and where Lee’s family is holding issue related to Taiwan,” Hua said at a Uganda has been reignited after fall-out from the controversy had a private wake, shortly after 5 pm (0800 daily news briefing. it emerged that the government resulted in President Museveni GMT). “Ma wanted to express his con- The city-state faces a diplomatic bal- paid a US public relations firm having trouble finding a hotel dolences to Lee’s family face-to-face,” ancing act keeping all of its allies happy to offset negative publicity, a room in Texas in September last Mao Chi-kuo, the Taiwanese premier in its preparations for Lee’s funeral. report said. year, when he visited the US state told parliament. Singapore maintains a close, informal Uganda’s Observer newspaper to drum up investment. Ma is unlikely to attend Sunday’s relationship with Taiwan and the two said the government had spent “There were campaigns against invitation-only state funeral for Lee countries signed a free trade pact in 614m shillings ($206,000) “to the government of Uganda to the to avoid an awkward encounter with 2013. Taiwan is not recognised interna- prop up Uganda’s image” after extent that even the hotel they China’s representatives, given the like- tionally by most nations due to Chinese it was “tarnished by the Anti- had booked for him had to change. lihood of a top Chinese leader attending. pressure, though China does not object Homosexuality Act”. We engaged consultants to inter- China, which maintains a close rela- to purely economic exchanges. Lee oper- It said that many MPs in the east vene and stem the hostility against tionship with Singapore, holds that ated as an intermediary between China African nation’s parliament, where the president on behalf of Uganda,” there is only “One China” and Taiwan and Taiwan, helping to achieve the first Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou at Taoyuan airport, northern Observer support is strong for tough anti-gay the quoted him as saying. is part of it. Singapore’s foreign min- direct talks between the two in 1993. Taiwan, yesterday before boarding a plane to Singapore. legislation, were now refusing to The anti-gay bill, under which istry did not respond to a request for REUTERS approve the government’s payment gays could have been jailed for life, to Scribe Strategies and Advisors, was signed into law by Ugandan a Washington-based lobbying firm. President Yoweri Museveni in “It’s quite unbelievable that the February 2014, but was struck Ministry of Foreign Affairs could down six months later by the con- Lee’s death generates use this money to clear Uganda’s stitutional court on a technicality. image, yet us as Ugandans we are The law drew widespread inter- fancy for key numbers against this issue of homosexu- national condemnation, with US ality,” Florence Nebanda, one of Secretary of State John Kerry lik- SINGAPORE: Some Singaporeans are capitalising several reportedly furious MPs, ening it to anti-Semitic legislation on the demise of Lee Kuan Yew by picking four-digit was quoted as saying. in Nazi Germany. lottery numbers based on his time of death, or other Fox Odoi, an MP who opposed Since then MPs have proposed combinations associated with the former prime min- the legislation, confirmed that the another law criminalising the ister. Most numbers linked to Lee’s death — including foreign ministry had informed “promotion” of homosexuality, his date of birth and the digits on the licence plate parliament that the cash was paid although activists say it would of the hearse that carried his remains to the Istana to the firm to lobby a bipartisan be equally repressive. Prominent state complex for a wake — have been sold out, a reg- congressional caucus. He said the Ugandan gay rights activist ular punter said. firm was paid “to clear the image Frank Mugisha said he hoped Lee died on Monday in hospital at 03:18am. His birth of Uganda”. the new row over spending would date is 16/09/1923 and the hearse’s number plate was “The expenditure shows the make parliament think twice 8898. “Your bet cannot be processed. The board is sold financial loss the country suf- before pushing through any new out,” said an automated message when a reporter tried fered as a result of the reckless legislation. to place a bet on the number combination “0318”, using a behaviour of parliament,” he said. “It would have been cheaper phone keyboard. Number combinations relating to Lee’s “That was not the only loss. and the government wouldn’t have birth date and day of death were also sold out. Several development partners needed to spend that money if our Some Singaporean motorists habitually stop or slow withheld funding to several govern- parliament was not passing laws down during traffic accidents to note the licence plate ment agencies. A number of com- that are controversial and affect- People queuing up at dusk to pay their last respects to the late Lee Kuan Yew outside numbers of the cars involved — and then place bets on panies also refused to do business ing our economy and international the Istana Presidential Palace in Singapore yesterday. them. AFP with and in Uganda,” he added. relations,” he said. AFP
China province Booker International finalists announced Nigeria court bars army CAPE TOWN: The final- published fiction either originally (Argentina), Hoda Barakat says graft ists for the prestigious Man in English or whose work is gener- (Lebanon), Maryse Conde Booker International Prize were ally available in English. (Guadeloupe), Mia Couto around polling stations probe leaves announced in Cape Town yester- The Man Booker International (Mozambique), Amitav Ghosh day, with 10 authors from around Prize is significantly different from (India), Fanny Howe (US), LAGOS/ABUJA: The Nigerian is likely to use that fact to dis- the world contending for the the annual Man Booker in that the Ibrahim al-Koni (Libya), Leszlo federal high court in Lagos pute the result should it lose the 300 jobs empty £60,000 prize. judges consider a writer’s body of Krasznahorkai (Hungary), Alain has barred the military from parliamentary and presidential The prize is awarded every work rather than a single novel. Mabanckou (Congo) and Marlene deploying around polling sta- ballot. BEIJING: A sweeping graft two years to an author who has The finalists are: Cesar Aira van Niekerk (South Africa). AFP tions during March 28 national The military’s role in the elec- probe in the northern Chinese elections, the lawyer for the toral process, including pressing province of Shanxi has left the parliamentarian who brought for the vote to be delayed, has government with almost 300 the case said. alarmed some Nigerians, remind- jobs to fill, including several Protest in Manila against US Opposition leader Femi ing them of the bad old days of senior positions, state media Gbajabiamila had argued that any dictatorship, which included the said, giving details of the practi- such deployment would violate annulment of a 1993 vote by a cal impact of the investigations. the constitution, lawyer Ijeoma military government. Coal-rich Shanxi has emerged Njemanze said, amid opposition The case was brought after an as one of the front lines in fears that soldiers could be used outcry over the heavy deployment President Xi Jinping’s battle to intimidate voters. of troops in southwestern Ekiti against deep-seated graft, with The ruling by Justice Ibrahim and Osun states last year. Reports Vice Premier Ma Kai earlier this Buba does not affect troops in the press alleged that soldiers month describing the problem already dispatched to northeast had conspired to intimidate vot- there as “like a cancer”. Nigeria, where they are needed ers and rig a by-election in Ekiti The most senior Shanxi- to battle an Islamist insurgency, — a charge the military and ruling connected official to fall to date she added. party declined to deny or confirm. has been Ling Jihua, once an aide The tight election pits Electoral officials said on to former president Hu Jintao. President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday about 82 percent of Shanxi’s top official, Communist against former military ruler Nigerian voters had collected Party boss Wang Rulin, said there Muhammadu Buhari. It was the cards they need to present were nearly 300 vacancies in the meant to take place on February at polling stations to take part provincial government, including 14, but was delayed by six weeks in Saturday’s election, leaving three city party chiefs, 16 county because the military said it could 18 percent of registered voters party chiefs and 13 county heads, not guarantee security, especially disenfranchised. state news agency Xinhua said. in the northeast, where Islamists After the decision to postpone The province punished 15,450 have waged a six-year insurgency. the vote from February, there has officials in 2014, including seven Jonathan is seeking a second been a concerted push against from the top leadership, the elected term, in the closest-fought Boko Haram militants, especially report said. While Xinhua did Protesters from the Gabriela women’s group trying to reach the United States embassy are blocked by police election since the end of military by neighbours Chad and Niger, not mention this, the government in Manila. The protesters slammed the US government’s alleged attempt of plea bargain deal and offered rule in 1999. chasing them out of much of the and party can find it hard to fill 21m Philippine pesos ($477,000) if they agree to a lesser crime of homicide. The murder trial of a US Marine If the military deploys despite territory they had previously con- posts which have a reputation for accused of killing a transgender Filipina began on Monday. the court order, the opposition trolled. REUTERS being prone to investigation, or for being in particularly difficult parts of the country. The government has acknowl- edged a problem of officials try- ing to keep their heads down and Six out of 10 in Philippines want divorce legalised not doing much work as they try to avoid being caught up in the investigations. The report MANILA: Most Filipinos back rose across society in the mainly 100 million strong population are The survey showed a support said. De Jesus said a divorce law said Shanxi had now managed divorce and support is growing Catholic Asian nation, regardless Catholic, and which also bans for divorce had grown rapidly in would uphold Filipina women’s to appoint several senior officials in the largely Catholic nation, of sex and marital status, accord- abortions and same-sex unions. recent years, from the 50 percent rights, particularly those who to help plug the gap, noting this the only one in the world along- ing to the survey of 1,800 adults Women who commit adultery that backed it in March 2011 and are subjected to domestic abuse was “a major step in rebuilding side the Vatican that does not nationwide. “This is a recogni- can be punished with a six-year 43 percent in May 2005. or abandoned wives left to fend the province’s corruption-plagued allow the dissolution of failed tion that there is this need. The jail term, while husbands can be A divorce law would have vir- for their children. officialdom”. marriages, a survey has found. state should give those involved jailed up to four years for hav- tually no chance of being passed She said unhappy Filipino cou- Shanxi, as one of China’s top coal Sixty percent of adults polled in irreparable marriages the ing a mistress — although these without the support of the ples often resort to asking courts producing provinces, has seen its by Manila-based Social Weather opportunity to move on,” House laws are rarely enforced. De Jesus Philippines’ bachelor President to allow them to split their con- economy boom on the back of soar- Stations in November said of Representatives member said she hoped the poll would give Benigno Aquino, who has declared jugal properties, or to have their ing energy demand over the past divorce should be legalised in Emerenciana de Jesus said. fresh impetus for a change in that changing the law is not a pri- wedding declared invalid. The lat- decade, one of the reasons state the Philippines, up 10 percentage Marriage vows are a lifetime marriage law, including a divorce ority. “That issue has not been dis- ter is allowed in some instances, media has given for its pervasive points from three years earlier. commitment in the Philippines, bill she co-authored that has lan- cussed at cabinet level,” Aquino’s including “psychological incapac- corruption problem. REUTERS Support for a change in the law where some 80 percent of the guished in parliament for years. spokesman Herminio Coloma ity” by either partner. AFP WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13
Pakistan officials Obama, Ghani ran racket that freed prisoners: Minister discuss troop ISLAMABAD: Officials in several government ministries in Pakistan ran a crime racket that helped to free 15 prisoners convicted of murder and drug withdrawal offences, Pakistan’s interior minister said yesterday. The minister’s statement is a rare US plans to reduce troops by 5,000 official acknowledgement of the corruption in Pakistan’s govern- WASHINGTON: President has embraced US calls for ment and dysfunctional crimi- Barack Obama held intensive Afghanistan’s 350,000 security nal justice system. White House talks yesterday personnel to lead the fight against “Drug money is involved in with his Afghan counterpart the Taliban. But the 2014 April- this racket. I have given ten days Ashraf Ghani, who is seeking October “fighting season” was for this inquiry and it will be “flexibility” on the pace of US one of the most bloody on record, made public,” Interior Minister troop withdrawals from his exposing their poor command, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a war-torn nation. insufficient training and a lack news conference. “Those respon- In the Oval Office for his first of crucial equipment. sible for this will not sit in the face-to-face meeting with Obama In a stark reminder of the vio- ministry. Their place is jail.” since becoming president, Ghani lence still wracking Afghanistan, The minister said he had is expected to seize upon warmer gunmen killed 13 bus passengers launched an investigation last relations to call for slower US in a province close to Kabul early year after receiving a note from troop reductions. yesterday. With the 2015 fighting a British minister expressing Obama has made it a priority season now looming, Ghani wants U S President Barack Obama with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the Oval Office at the White House in concern that a prisoner had been to end America’s longest-ever some breathing space. Washington yesterday. freed. All those freed had been war, which has been raging for Obama is “actively considering convicted abroad and returned to more than 13 years and cost more that request,” Secretary of State and tolerant of corruption. leader John F Kennedy. “And phase in relations. Pakistan. Four men were found than 2,200 American lives. John Kerry said on Monday, after Before going to the White that means we are going to put Kerry the trip had brought guilty of drug offences and mur- Under current White House a day of talks in the presidential House, Ghani undertook a deeply our house in order,” he told sol- “productive talks,” and said the ders in Britain and returned under plans, the number of US troops woodland retreat of Camp David symbolic visit to Arlington National diers and senior US officials at a two countries shared “a commit- a prisoner exchange programme. in Afghanistan would be halved in Maryland. Cemetery. Earlier, he warmly Pentagon ceremony. ment to security and peace and a Nine others were returned to around 5,000 by the end of Ghani’s visit is designed to thanked US troops for more than Ghani diplomatically refused desire to promote prosperity and after being convicted of drug this year. The remaining person- turn the page on years of dis- a decade of sacrifice since the 2001 to be drawn when asked how social progress.” offences in Thailand; the minis- nel would largely be confined to trust during the presidency toppling of a Taliban government many soldiers he would like to Defense Secretary Ash Carter ter said it was unclear how they Kabul and Bagram airbase. of his mercurial predecessor by a US-led invasion. see remain. also praised Ghani’s remarks returned. The news that officials By early 2017, when Obama Hamid Karzai. “We do not now ask what the “The question on numbers is a which “underscored the extent were involved in crime will sur- leaves office, only a handful of US Karzai repeatedly criticised US United States can do for us. We decision for the president of the to which the United States now prise few in Pakistan, a nuclear- troops would remain. officials for what he called inter- want to say what Afghanistan will United States, and that decision has a revitalized partnership with armed nation of 180 million people Ghani, who took charge six ference in his country, while aides do for itself and for the world,” will solely be made by President Afghanistan’s new unity govern- plagued by crime, militancy and months ago after protracted in Washington privately raged said Ghani, turning around a Obama,” Ghani said. US officials ment.” corruption. But Nisar’s vow to power sharing negotiations, that Karzai was feckless, paranoid famous phrase of former US have been quick to herald a new AFP publicly hold to account the offi- cials involved was unusually can- did for a government that often seems impervious to criticism and slow to reform. Gunmen kill 13 bus passengers in Kabul “Those who are part of this mafia as per law we will take them to jail. And this mafia which KABUL: Gunmen killed 13 Afghanistan’s still-bloody conflict. Ataullah Khogyani, the spokes- were behind yesterday’s attack, Both officials said the motive is not limited to the ministry of passengers travelling on a Ghani is due to meet US man for the Wardak provincial though the district where it hap- for the attack was still under interior but is spread in other bus in Afghanistan yester- President Barack Obama yes- governor, said a group of gunmen pened is known to have a stong investigation. It was unclear if ministries as well,” he said. Of the day, underlining the country’s terday to discuss the pace of the opened fire on a bus around 1:00 militant presence. The Taliban anyone from the bus escaped the four men convicted in Britain, two fragile security situation as American troop withdrawal after am (2030 GMT Monday), killing often deny attacks that involve a attack. were recaptured in Pakistan, one President Ashraf Ghani holds more than a decade. 13 people including one woman. high civilian death toll. Last month, masked gunmen in Dubai and one in Ecuador, he talks with the United States in With the spring fighting season The bus was heading for the Mohammad Ali, the deputy abducted 30 Shiite Muslims from said. The nine men arrested in Washington. about to begin, Ghani has asked restive southern city of Kandahar, governor of neighbouring Ghazni the Hazara ethnic group from a Thailand on drug charges were The attack in Wardak prov- the US for “flexibility” as it pulls once a bastion of the Taliban. province, confirmed the incident bus in Zabul province. They have also recaptured, he said, and ince, which lies close to Kabul, out its remaining 10,000 troops by The Taliban’s chief spokesman, and said the gunmen picked their still not been recovered. would be sent back to Thailand. is the latest to hit civilians in the end of 2016. Zabihullah Mujahid, denied they victims and shot them one by one. AFP REUTERS
Police officials US drone strike kills fired for justifying nine Pakistani militants mob attack PESHAWAR: A US drone strike in eastern Afghanistan has killed KABUL: Afghanistan’s inte- nine militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban in an area close to rior ministry fired the spokes- the countries’ rugged border, officials said yesterday. man for Kabul’s police chief o for The strike came in the Nasyan area of the eastern Afghan province Facebook comments that seemed of Nangarhar, close to the border with the Pakistani tribal district of to try to justify the mob killing Khyber. Pakistani security officials said the militants belonged to the of a 27-year-old woman falsely Lashkar-e-Islam, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Abdullah accused of burning a Quran. Azam Brigade militant groups. Interior Minister Noorul A Nato spokesman in Kabul confirmed the strike and said it was Haq Olomi said that 20 officers, carried out on Monday, but gave no details on the number of causalities. including the police chief of the “We can confirm there was a US precision strike during an operation district, had been dismissed over in Nasyan district, Nangarhar province, 23 March,” the spokesman said. the case. The strike is the latest evidence of increasing cooperation between “It is clear there was a failure the two neighbours and US-led forces in combating TTP militants to carry out police duties,” Olomi who have fled across the border from a Pakistani military operation. said in a statement, promising a AFP full investigation and prosecutions if warranted. Hashmat Stanekzai, the spokesman for Kabul’s police Jinnah’s August 11 speech to be chief, was also fired for state- ments made on his personal included in school curriculum Facebook page the day after the killing, Olomi said. Stanekzai KARACHI: A speech of Pakistan’s founding father Quaide-Azam called the woman an “unbeliever” Mohammad Ali Jinnah that he delivered Aug 11, 1947 to be included and said people like her hoped to in the curriculum of classes eight to 10 in Pakistan’s southern Sindh gain US or European citizenship province. The decision to include the speech made by the Father Afghans shout slogans during a protest against the killing of Farkhanda, in front of the Supreme court in Kabul with shows of blasphemy. of the Nation in his address to the first Constituent Assembly of yesterday. AFP Pakistan on Aug 11, 1947 was taken by the provincial senior minister for education and literacy on the direction of former president of Pakistan and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. EU raps Kabul Protest against lynching of woman The speech “You are free, you are free to go to your temples, you are BRUSSELS: The EU free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this State denounced yesterday the of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or cast or creed that has dangers faced by women in KABUL: Hundreds of pro- Shariah. Her brutal killing should protected her if they wanted to.” nothing to do with the business of the State Now I think we should Afghanistan and called for the testers shouting “Down with bring a big change.” The demonstration followed keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of attackers who lynched a woman ignorance!” urged the Afghan Women’s rights activist Soraya another protest by scores of peo- time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be who allegedly burned the Quran government yesterday to bring Parlika added: “This is the first ple on Monday, demanding the Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith to be brought to justice. to justice the killers of a woman time in Afghan history that we killers be brought to justice. of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State” Farkhunda, 27, was beaten, lynched by a mob for allegedly have witnessed such brutality. President Ashraf Ghani has in which the Jinnah spoke of giving equal rights and freedom to the thrown from a roof and run over burning the Quran. This is such an inhumane and condemned the killing as “hei- religious minorities will be made a part of the curriculum in its entirety. by a car outside a Kabul mosque Farkhunda, 27, was beaten with unIslamic act against a woman.” nous” and ordered an investiga- in Kabul on March 19 before her sticks and stones, thrown from a Some carried banners calling tion into her death. body was set ablaze while several roof and run over by a car outside a for the resignation of the city’s Interior Minister Noorul Haq Pakistan plans blocking TV channels police looked on. mosque in Kabul last Thursday. The police chief. Ulumi told parliament on Monday “The killing of Ms Farkhunda... mob then set her body ablaze and In downtown Kabul, mean- that Farkhunda had not in fact broadcasting ‘unwanted’ content is a tragic reminder of dangers dumped it in the Kabul river while while, residents of the Afghan burnt a Quran. women face from false accusa- several police officers looked on. capital planted a tree near the “The accusation against her ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan is mulling the option tions and the lack of justice in Demonstrators gathered in the site of Farkhunda’s killing to is completely invalid. Farkhunda of blocking transmission of TV channels to cable operators and tel- Afghanistan,” a spokeswoman rain outside the supreme court mark the brutal assault. was a religious girl, she was not evision sets to stop the broadcast of ‘unwanted’ content. for European Union foreign policy in Kabul, demanding justice and “I feel as if they have killed and involved (in burning the Quran), For this, the government has discussed a possible amendment to the chief Federica Mogherini said in shouting, “Down with ignorance! burnt my daughter,” said one tear- she was innocent,” the minister Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Act 2007. a statement. We want justice for Farkhunda.” ful woman at the tree-planting. said. “It is very painful that we It was learnt that the amendments would empower the Authority “We all hope that (those) “She was our sister,” said “All those people are cowards, were not able to protect a pious to ‘de-link’ the signals of a specific television channel towards any satel- responsible can be brought to Ahmad Zia, one of the protesters. they should have protected her,” young person. We hope this will lite, which would ensure that no cable operator or television set gets the justice,” the EU statement added. “The people who killed her had no the woman, who declined to be not be repeated again.” broadcast. In order to do this, Pemra would require the help of the Space AFP respect for women, for law or for identified, said. “They could have AFP and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. INTERNEWS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Supreme Court upholds free speech on Internet Top court strikes down law that gave authorities powers to jail people for offensive online posts
NEW DELHI: The Supreme what is considered objectionable in its entirety,” the court said. Skariah of Kottayam, editor of Minister Mamata Banerjee. putting up something because of Court quashed the much- material by the government and Freedom of speech and expres- an online portal against whom The apex court, in fact, was the fear going to prison.” denounced Section 66A of the its agencies. sion is guaranteed under Article 22 cases were registered, or Ravi moved in 2012 by petitioner The social media found the Information Technology Act “Section 66A of the IT Act is 19(1)a of the Constitution. Srinivasan of Puducherry who Shreya Singhal, an astrophysi- Congress party’s reaction curious, after finding it violative of the struck down in its entirety,” said The people’s ire was mainly was arrested in 2012 based on a cist who comes from a family of since the entire law was drafted freedom of speech guaranteed the apex court bench of Justice because Section 66A sought complaint by Karti Chidambaram, lawyers, after the arrest of two when it was in power. by the Constitution, triggering a J Chelameswar and Justice imprisonment for up to three son of P Chidambaram, former young women Shaheen Dhada The reaction from the gov- frenzy of laudatory posts in the Rohinton Fali Nariman, adding years for a person who posts infor- finance minister in the Congress and Renu Srinivasan for posting ernment was no different. “We social media within minutes of that there was no nexus between mation on the Web world that is government. “Technically I am a comments critical of the Mumbai welcome the decision. The gov- the far-reaching judgment. public order and discussion — or found to be “grossly offensive” or free man now. I am very happy,” shutdown after the death of Shiv ernment is committed to free The apex court also read down, of dissemination of information has a “menacing character”. It said Srinivasan who is also an Sena leader Bal Thackeray. speech. India is a democratic or found meaningless, Section causing any annoyance. “Our also applied where an informa- Aam Aadmi Party leader. “I’m ecstatic. It was grossly country. Free flow of ideas should 79(3)b of the act, which seeks to Constitution provides for liberty tion, known to be false, is posted Similarly, a professor of offensive to our rights, our free- be respected. We don’t seek to assign liabilities on “intermediar- of thought, expression and belief. for causing “annoyance, danger, Jadavpur University, Ambikesh dom of speech and expression curtail any right,” IT Minister ies” like Twitter and Facebook, In a democracy, these values have obstruction or insult”. Mahapatra, was arrested under and today the Supreme Court Ravi Shankar Prasad said. for failing to remove expeditiously, to be provided within the consti- Those at the receiving end this section in 2012 for e-mails has upheld that,” Singhal said. India has 302 million Internet while preserving the evidence of, tutional scheme. This law is vague heaved a sigh of relief, like Shajan mocking West Bengal Chief “Nobody should have any fear of users. IANS
Delegation from Kerala to visit Kuwait over nurses recruitment India, China agree to foster border peace NEW DELHI: India and China but bloody war in 1962 but an THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A delegation from Kerala will agreed to foster peace along agreement on their border remains visit Kuwait to discuss about recruitment of Indian nurses, state their Himalayan border after elusive, with each side regularly minister for diaspora KC Joseph said. Joseph said he and Minister wrapping up two days of talks accusing the other of sending sol- of Labour Shibhu Baby John held talks over this issue with Chief designed to resolve a long-fester- diers to encroach on territory. Minister Oommen Chandy. “The Kuwait government has entrusted ing boundary dispute. Tensions peaked last September the job to recruit nurses on us. We will send a delegation of offi- In comments issued after the when hundreds of Chinese troops cials there next week to discuss it with the Indian embassy and the round of talks in the Indian capital, allegedly moved into the Himalayan Kuwait government. We expect governments of other Middle-East the governments of both countries territory just as Xi arrived in India countries to approach the Indian mission for the recruitment of stressed their common desire to on a landmark visit, casting a nurses,” said Joseph. maintain calm and to press ahead shadow over his talks with Modi. A directive from the ministry of overseas Indian affairs issued last with further negotiations. While there was no details on week, entrusting the task of recruitment from April 30 to state-owned “Both sides agreed to take nec- how the negotiators were pro- Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants and essary steps to maintain peace and gressing, the Indian foreign min- Roots-Norka, the agency that looks after the welfare of Kerala diaspora. tranquility in the border areas, istry statement said both countries John said that around 20,000 nurses are able to find jobs abroad which is a pre-requisite for contin- had “agreed to further expand every year. “We foresee an expense of around Rs50,000 which nurses ued growth of bilateral relations,” such contacts as these constitute will have to bear as the cost of recruitment,” said John. the Indian foreign ministry said. important confidence-building Chandy informed ministers in the meeting that he got a letter from And the Chinese foreign minis- measures for maintaining peace the external affairs ministry which requested to ensure no nurses be try said both sides had agreed to and tranquility”. send to Libya and Iraq, said John. IANS make “joint efforts to safeguard Speaking at a briefing in Beijing, peace and tranquility of the border Chinese foreign ministry spokes- area,” which has been the scene of woman Hua Chunying said that several recent military standoffs. Yang and Doval “spoke highly of National Herald case: Sonia China’s special representative the progress we have achieved”. Yang Jiechi and Indian national “They agreed to bear in mind Gandhi says summons ‘illegal’ security adviser Ajit Doval led the national interests and the ben- their respective delegations at efits of the two peoples, follow the NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi told the Delhi the talks, which were first agreed right path and press ahead with High Court that the summons issued against her by the trial court during President Xi Jinping’s visit the framework negotiations,” Hua in connection with the acquisition of the Associated Journals Ltd. to India last year. The talks that added. (AJL) by the Young Indian Ltd. (YIL) was illegal. started on Monday were part of a Doval last October said India Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Gandhi, sought to quash the push to make progress on the bor- would strive to fix the border State Councillor and Chinese Special Representative on India-China proceedings initiated by a lower court here against her, party vice presi- der dispute before Modi’s expected problem with China, but without Boundary Question Yang Jiechi (left) shakes hands with Prime Minister dent Rahul Gandhi and four others. Sibal told Justice Sunil Gaur that visit to China in May. compromising on its own national Narendra Modi at a meeting in New Delhi. not a single person was cheated during the acquisition of the AJL, the China defeated India in a brief security and territory. AFP publisher of the now defunct National Herald newspaper, by the YIL. Sibal said the trial court order summoning Gandhi was “full of ille- gality”. He said that due to the emotional attachment with the AJL, as it was supported by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi dur- Teachers protest in Srinagar ing the Quit India movement, the Congress helped it by issuing loans Frugal Mars amounting to Rs90 crore over a period of 50 years. He said there was no illegality in the YIL taking over the AJL as mission per the Companies Act. IANS extended by IAS officer’s death: Karnataka six months govt transfers probe to CBI BANGALORE: India’s BANGALORE: The Karnataka government handed over the famously frugal Mars mis- probe into the mysterious death of IAS officer DK Ravi to the CBI. sion has been extended by In a notification here, the government informed the union home around six months thanks ministry to ensure the probe by the country’s premier investiga- to a surplus of fuel on board tion agency would commence in three months of the order issued. the spacecraft, the country’s “We have sent the notification to the union home ministry, with a space agency said. request for an early CBI probe into the ‘unnatural’ death of Ravi The Mars Orbiter Mission here last week (March 16),” a state home ministry official said. spacecraft had been sched- Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament on March 19 uled to wrap up its mission that the central government would allow a CBI inquiry into Ravi’s this month after India in death if Karnataka agreed to it. September became the first Ravi, 36, was found dead in his apartment in the city by his wife Asian nation to reach the Kusuma on that fateful day after he did not attend to her phone calls. Red Planet, all on a shoe- City police commissioner MN Reddi, however, termed Ravi’s death string budget. But scientists prime facie a case of suicide on the basis of evidence gathered during said the unmanned spacecraft the preliminary investigation. IANS Policewomen detain temporary teachers during a protest in Srinagar yesterday. The teachers, whose services would remain in orbit to study were discontinued by the government, demanded continuation of their temporary jobs. the planet’s atmosphere and its surface after burning less fuel than expected over the last six months. “As the... Mars Orbiter has Toddler sets national archery record VK Singh denies offer sufficient fuel to last longer than it was intended earlier, its mission has been extended NEW DELHI: A two-year- Pradesh, where the successful for another six months,” said old Indian girl groomed from record attempt was made. to resign over tweets Devi Prasad Karnik, director birth to be an archery cham- “It’s a record which will be dif- of the state-run Indian Space pion after the tragic death of ficult to break.” NEW DELHI: Facing flak over his tweets after attending the Research Organisation. her older siblings set a new Dolly’s parents said they had Pakistan Day function, Minister of State for External Affairs “The five scientific instru- national record yesterday, arrows specially made for her General (retd) VK Singh said the messages were directed at sec- ments on board the spacecraft according to the India Book of out of carbon when she was first tions of the media which misinterpreted his presence at the event, will continue to collect data Records. learning the sport to ensure she and refuted speculation that he had offered to resign. and relay them to our deep Dolly Shivani Cherukuri was could carry them. VK Singh addressed a late evening press conference yesterday follow- space network centre here for conceived through surrogacy “When we came to know ing the controversy over his tweets and said he was a “loyal member” analysis,” Karnik said. after the death of her brother, an that the baby was on her way of the Bharatiya Janata Party. India’s successful mission to international archer and coach, we decided to mould her as Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit again met Kashmiri Mars, all on its first attempt, in a road accident in 2010. The an archer,” said her father separatist leaders, the third time in three days. Singh, a former army is a huge source of national couple’s eldest daughter had died Cherukuri Satyanarayana, who chief, had on Monday evening attended the Pakistan Day function, pride, while the government in 2004. runs an archery academy. “The which was also attended by separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz has heralded the project as Yesterday — nine days before preparations started when she Omar Farooq and Yasin Malik. an example of Indian-made her third birthday — she became was in the womb itself,” he said. While there were questions over the government sending a former capability. the youngest Indian to score 200 Pictures showed the toddler army chief as its representative for the function, Singh’s tweets cre- The mission cost just points over five and seven-metre posing for photographers with ated a controversy. He had tweeted about “duty” and “disgust” after $74m, which Prime Minister distances according to Biswaroop her golden medal and certificate the event on Monday night. His messages on the social media were Narendra Modi has quipped Roy Chowdhury of the India after she fired 72 arrows in all seen in some sections of the media as a signal of his sense of unease was less than the estimated Book of Records. in 24 attempts over the 5-metre at attending the event. Under the hashtag “Duty”, he posted three $100m budget for the sci- Dolly Shivani Cherukuri takes aim “She has become the young- and 7-metre distances. tweets: “A job or service allocated”, “The force that binds one morally fi Hollywood blockbuster during a world record target attempt est in the country to achieve the India boasts a strong record of or legally to one’s obligations”, “A task or action that a person is bound “Gravity”. AFP at The Volga Archery Academy. feat,” Chowdhury said Andhra success in archery. AFP to perform for moral or legal reasons”. IANS
WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK
PRAYER TIME The Great Gatsby
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Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Sunny Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Moderate temperature
High: 29° High: 29° High: 26° daytime and Low: 17° Low: 22° Low: 20° slight dust and scattered clouds and chance of scattered rain at places. DOHA - SUN & SEA
SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:33 17:48 07:45 & 21:15 02:45 & 14:00 05-15/18 KT Cuban dancer Javier Torres (right) and Canadian dancer Dreda Blow perform a scene from the Northern Ballet production of ‘The Great Gatsby’ at Sadler’s Wells theatre in central London during a press preview yesterday. The show will run at the theatre until March 28, 2015. THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW
HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER MUSCAT 33/26 Partly cloudy 34/26 Sunny Huge meteorite MAKKAH 36/24 Partly cloudy 37/27 Sunny KUWAIT 26/16 Mostly sunny 26/15 Partly cloudy impact area BAHRAIN 24/19 Showers 26/21 Scattered showers Robot racing draws SANAA 25/12 Scattered T-storms 27/12 Mostly sunny found in Australia RIYADH 28/18 Partly cloudy 28/18 Scattered showers DUBAI 28/20 Partly cloudy 28/21 Sunny WASHINGTON: A massive BAGHDAD 24/12 Partly cloudy 24/11 Sunny impact area from a huge mete- US pupils to science orite that struck Earth millions THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW of years ago has been found in WORCESTER: A hefty robot four classmates were working on lower-tech, said Debbie Theobald, central Australia, scientists said HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER designed for search-and-rescue their entry, nicknamed “Walrus,” the company’s chief executive. yesterday. ATHENS 16/13 Rain 18/14 Rain and a spindly four-legged rival for Water and Land Remote “To keep the barrier for entry The study found signs of the WASHINGTON 13/11 Cloudy 24/07 Showers that bounds along on hydraulic Unmanned Search. really low for this year, the robots 400-kilometre-wide impact area SYDNEY 28/13 Partly cloudy 26/13 Sunny limbs will face off next month The 36-kilo device features four don’t have to be autonomous,” deep inside the Earth’s crust, along with more than a dozen tracked flipper-like appendages Theobald said. Australian National University LONDON 11/03 Partly cloudy 11/01 Showers other entrants in the debut that allow it to swim, climb stairs Worcester’s other team will be scientists said. PARIS 11/01 Cloudy 09/04 Showers Vecna Robot Sprint Challenge or muster a brisk walking pace on entering a robot named the Hydro A surface crater from the strike ISTANBUL 14/07 Mostly sunny 17/09 Partly cloudy outside Boston. flat ground. Dog, which will bound over the is long gone, but by drilling over a MANILA 31/23 Partly cloudy 32/22 Partly cloudy The robots, designed by stu- “We think we can expect to do course on four legs powered by mile deep into the earth in eastern DHAKA 34/24 Isolated T-storms 33/24 Sunny dent teams at the Worcester (the 100-metre race) in about a what assistant research professor and central Australia, scientists DELHI 34/21 Mostly sunny 35/22 Mostly sunny Polytechnic Institute, will be rac- minute and a half,” McLeod said. Marko Popovic called “artificial were able to determine where the ISLAMABAD 29/16 Mostly sunny 30/16 Partly cloudy ing a line-up ranging from com- The robot, which features three muscles.” massive rock hit Earth. mercially available machines cameras, has enough processing The rubbery tubes fill with Scientists believe the meteorite weighing hundreds of pounds to power to navigate the parking-lot water and then release it, using broke into two halves just before it remote-controlled cars jerry- course on its own and is so solidly the change in shape that results to hit Earth 300 to 600 million years rigged by teenage hobbyists. built that team advisor Michael move the 16-kilo, knee-high robot’s ago in what would have been a YouTube debuts videos for The 100-metre out-and-back Gennert, who directs the school’s aluminium legs. The four students devastating impact. course, where the robots will robotics engineering programme, working on the Hydro Dog, how- “The two asteroids must each accept a cup full of confetti at the joked that it could run over a ever, were still determining what have been over 10 kilometres second music awards turnaround, has no ambitions of smaller entrant that stopped in speed it might achieve. across — it would have been cur- attracting competitors on a par its way. Senior Thane Hunt, 23, said tains for many life species on NEW YORK: YouTube on showcased artists with sizable yet with those in the US Defence The Walrus was designed he was looking forward to trying the planet at the time,” said lead Monday premiered videos from still niche followings, with videos Department-funded Defence as a senior project well before their creation in the contest and to researcher Andrew Glikson from 14 musicians as it tried a new, driven by narratives rather than Advanced Research Projects Cambridge, Massachusetts-based seeing what strategies other teams the university’s archaeology and virtual-only format for the sec- just performances. Agency Robotics Challenge, where Vecna Technologies decided to host had come up with to navigate the anthropology department. ond edition of its music awards. British trip-hop singer FKA some of the world’s top minds in the event. Other entrants will be course. REUTERS Analysis showed the crust had The giant video-sharing site twigs directed the video for her the field will show off creations fractured under intense heat had searched for a new approach own “Glass & Patron,” which that cost tens of millions of dollars. and pressure at depths of more after a mixed reaction to its inau- depicts a pregnant woman pulling Rather, the competition spon- than 12 miles, according to the gural event in 2013, which fea- a scarf from her womb before the sored by robotics company Vecna findings published in the journal tured a live streamed show from song builds into an abstract dance Technologies is part of a growing Tectonophysics. New York that appeared aimed at in the woods. Other artists who breed of lower-key robot races Magnetic modelling of the area creating a new-media rival to the premiered videos included dance sprouting up across the United showed deep swells in the crust MTV Video Music Awards. music singers Charli XCX and States that experts contend could where the large strike had pulled For the second try, YouTube Shamir, Norwegian DJ Kygo and play a powerful role in attracting up rock from the Earth’s iron and dispensed with the physical world the rising rapper Action Bronson. young students into the fields of magnesium-rich mantle. entirely and announced the win- The 50 artists who were earlier science, technology, engineering The impact would have sent ners ahead of time and instead declared winners -- chosen for the and mathematics. massive clouds of ash and dust used Monday’s “awards” day to growth in interest for their videos Competitions also help spin into the atmosphere, changing premiere new videos. on YouTube -- included Sheeran off new ideas that can grow into the planet’s temperature and pos- They included “El Perdon,” a as well as a number of massive practical inventions, experts said. sibly causing the death of different collaboration between Spanish artists including Beyonce, Drake, The fleet of self-driving cars that species. superstar Enrique Iglesias and One Direction and Nicki Minaj. Google Inc has been testing relies There is no indication that the reggaeton artist Nicky Jam, as While the vast majority of on ideas generated at an earlier meteorite discovered in Australia well as a song featuring English award winners were Western, DARPA race, for instance. was as devastating as the one singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran they also included the South On a Friday afternoon at thought to have hit the earth 66 and the electronica-influenced Korean girl group 2NE1, who Worcester’s campus about 64 Undergraduate seniors lift the top cover from their amphibious robot million years ago, causing the band Rudimental. enjoy an especially large follow- km west of Boston, 22-year-old “Walrus” at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. extinction of dinosaurs and other But the debuts mostly ing in Japan. AFP senior Brendan McLeod and species. AFP Pinball paradise lives on in Budapest basement
BUDAPEST: Glistening signs, according to the popular travel A handful of arcade games, such during his university years study- flashing lights and non-stop website Tripadvisor. as “Space Invaders” or “Mortal ing economics, saying with a smile: tinkling lure scores of tour- Most machines are usually Kombat” are also available. “I had a lot of time back then.” ists in Budapest to Europe’s available, and visitors are encour- Only a fifth of the machines He said the price of a pinball largest pinball museum, where aged to play as long as they want were bought in Hungary. The rest machine can range from €500 a passionate collector is bent for an €8 entrance fee. Palfi located and shipped from 16 up to €10,000 for rarities — such on reviving the once-popular On busy weeks an average of countries, including the United as an ACDC limited version or pastime. 400 people show up, losing them- States, Belgium and France. “Medieval Madness” — depending In the basement of a nonde- selves in the maze of games and Hungary itself never produced on the title, production year and script apartment house, Balazs mesmerised for hours. More than pinball machines. The only known popularity of the game. New ones Palfi displays a unique collection half of the visitors are foreigners. game in Hungarian was adapted usually cost about €4,000. of over 140 working machines that The oldest piece in the collec- from a Spanish game and is called The museum — where only the has turned into pilgrimage site for tion dates back to 1871, when the “Mesevonat” (Tale Train) and is machines’ tinkle fills the air — pinball enthusiasts. ball had to make its way through on display at the museum. even hosts a tiny workshop where “Video games cannot replace dozens of pins on a wooden board. Each item is neatly labelled, repairmen, collectors themselves, them,” insisted the 42-year-old Flashing vintage machines just like in a real museum, with rebuild flipper games. Hungarian on a busy Saturday from the 1980s and 1990s feature its production date, the name of Of the 20,000-odd machines at in his museum. “Since the 1990s, popular rock bands like Guns the manufacturer, the designer, work in the mid-90s, Palfi esti- pinball machines have disap- N’ Roses and ACDC or movies the artist and number of units mates that barely 300 can be Visitors play in the pinball museum in Budapest. peared from most bars. But there like Indiana Jones or Star Wars. produced. found in pubs and cafes today, is now a renaissance of pinball Horror and space themes nota- The soft-spoken Palfi started to casualties of slot machines — culture. museums and collectors,” he said. success. Open to the public five bly are in vogue, with tourists collect pinball games six years ago more lucrative for bar owners, “From bars and pubs, Launched less than a year ago, days a week, it has become a top and hipsters flocking to the noisy on an auction website. He loved tougher regulations and other the pinball scene moved to Palfi’s museum became a quick attraction in Hungary’s capital, cave-like setting. the games as a kid and played a lot new distractions. AFP Wednesday 25 March 2015 5 Jumada II 1436 Volume 20 Number 6380 Price: QR2
Qatar Rail to host global conference
Business | 18
www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Egis awarded UK energy dynamics to benefit Qatar Um Alhoul Gas to be main source of British electricity production by 2020: Energy secretary Economic BY SACHIN KUMAR are coming to the end of their demand as the UK imports 90 and the meetings have yielded working lives so they will have percent of its LNG (Liquefied positive signals. Zone contract DOHA: Qatar is set to benefit to come off stream in the 2020s,” Natural Gas) from Qatar. “The principal purpose of being from the change in dynamics Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent “I suspects in the first place here is to cement and reinforce DOHA: Egis, an international of energy consumption in the Secretary, Department of Energy that coal will be replaced by the ties UK has with Qatar who group offering engineering, United Kingdom (UK). Britain and Climate Change, UK told The gas that would be most likely has been very important trading project structuring and opera- uses coal, gas and nuclear power Peninsula. thing to do. Renewable energy and energy partner for us over tions services, has been awarded plants to generate electricity. It “The coal fired power stations is intermittent, sometimes wind many years,” said Lovegrove. “We design and construction super- is looking to reduce usage of will all have to stop working as does not blow, sometimes the got projects for new gas fired vision contracts for Um Alhoul coal for electricity generation well by 2020 because European sun doesn’t shine and nuclear power stations, which obviously Economic Zone, south of Doha. in a bid to move towards clean legislations say we got a lot of power stations take a very long would be great deal of interest With several major infrastruc- energy while its nuclear power generating plants which will time to build. The quickest way to Qatar with their marvelous ture projects planned and the plants will complete their work need to be replaced, and that of making sure that your energy reserve of liquid natural gas. preparation of the 2022 World life cycle by 2020, leaving gas as will be replaced by new nuclear needs are met is through gas,” There is potential investments Cup, Qatar wishes to encourage the major source for electricity plants, new gas stations renew- he said. in Renewable energy which we private sector investment and generation. able plants,” he said. The UK is expected to invest are very keen to pursue there promote the diversification of its “We are in the process of try- This change in energy con- around 100bn pounds in its elec- are even investments in Nuclear economy by creating three world- ing to change the whole way in sumption dynamics is likely to tricity system in next 10 years. energy side which might be suit- class industrial and logistic zones. which energy is used and elec- boost demand for gas for gen- Lovegrove is in Doha to attract able for some partners here,” he This strategic project is part tricity in particular is generated erating electricity. Qatar will be investment from Qatar to UK and added. of Qatar National Vision 2030. in UK. Nuclear power plants the biggest beneficiary of rising discuss issues of mutual interest THE PENINSULA Stephen Lovegrove The first two zones, Ras Bufontas and Al Karaana, will be located south of Doha airport whilst the third (QEZ 3), Um Alhoul, will be implanted in the port city of Al Waqrah, south of the capital. QPMC cement silos to be Extending over an area of 27sqkm, Um Alhoul will bring together a number of activities related to metallurgy, petro- operational by year-end chemicals, construction materials, logistics and marine industries, BY MOHAMMAD maintain the qual- also benefitting from sea access SHOEB ity of cement intact thanks to a dedicated canal. for a longer period Manateq, the state company DOHA: The upcom- of time,” said Marc responsible for promoting and ing cement stor- Stordiau, (pic- operating these economic zones, age and conveying tured) Managing awarded the construction manage- plant (silos) being Director of ‘Rent ment of this third zone to Egis. Over developed by Qatar A Port’, a Belgium- five years, the teams from Egis will Primary Materials based engineer- be tasked with auditing the mas- Company (QPMC) ing consultant ter plan designs already drawn up, in Mesaieed will be specialising in delivering detailed plans, carrying completed by this port design- out specific design studies and the year-end, according ing and logistics supervision of construction works. to a senior official of operations. THE PENINSULA a consultancy associated with Stordiau, in an interview with the project. this newspaper, added: “Although US consumer The facility has been designed the plant has been designed 100 to discharge 1.8 million tonnes of percent to handle cement, but it inflation firming cement per year into the 12 silos can also be used to store gypsum (circular structure for storing and clinker (cement in lumps or WASHINGTON: US consumer bulk materials) with the total nodules) with minimal modifica- prices rebounded in February storage capacity of 60,000 cubic tion.” He said that the cement as petrol prices rose for the first metres. silos project was one of the big jobs time since June, and there were Once operational, the plant his company designed and tendered also signs of an uptick in under- equipped with the cutting edge so far. A general view of the cement facility in Mesaieed. lying inflation pressures, keeping technology, will be able to load “We put a lot of efforts to cor- the Federal Reserve on course to 1,000 tonnes of cement per hour rect the numerous errors in the cost efficiency and handling unloading-conveying-storage stored in silos can also be dis- raise interest rates this year. in trucks, which will significantly initial design of ‘the lowest bid- capacity of the port significantly terminal is also equipped with charged from it directly into the The economy also received a reduce the truck loading time to der’ which was not stable with as the latest technology will help smaller silos which have been Barges using pneumatic systems boost from other data on Tuesday about 90 seconds per truck. the high wind speeds in Qatar. unload a vessel with 60,000 cubic designed to load up to four trucks to take the material to projects showing that new home sales “Once completed the facil- But now we are in full agreement metres of cement within a day, simultaneously, taking the total sites through sea route easing surged to a seven-year high in ity will help Qatar importing or about the project which is going instead of 10 to 15 days without loading capacity to 40 trucks per pressure on road traffic. February and manufacturing storing more cement than what to be completed in November. It the conveyor belts and silos facili- hour or 20,000 tonnes per day. In future, the asset can also be activity gained some momentum in it is able to do today. In case the is something we as well as QPMC ties. The high rate of discharge The facility will also provide used by regional traders and pro- March. The sturdy new home sales local producers have a surplus could be proud of,” he said. capacity from ships will also be importers with multiple options ducers as a storage hub of cement and factory data came despite output, in future, they can also The plant, according to reducing ships waiting time. to import and store different for re-export in other countries. harsh weather and a strong dollar. use the storage facility which will Stordiau, will also improve the The cement types of cements. The materials THE PENINSULA REUTERS
Art of Auto in Bangkok Global demand to help oil prices: Opec
RIYADH: Stronger-than- Oil prices are expected to fluc- Ibrahim Al Nuaimi said yester- expected global oil demand tuate around $55-$60 a barrel day the top oil-exporting coun- should help support crude prices through April, when they may try is producing around 10 million at around $55-$60 a barrel in come under pressure because of barrels per day (bpd), indicating the next two months despite seasonal refinery maintenance higher demand is helping the some signs of a growing glut in and rising stocks in the United kingdom claw back market share. the United States, a senior Gulf States, the Gulf Opec delegate The Gulf Opec delegate said ris- Opec delegate said yesterday. said. International benchmark ing production reflects increasing The comments appear to coun- Brent crude was trading above exports to meet global demand as ter some market forecasts that $55 yetserday. well as growing local needs. the US oil glut may push prices Underlining brimming US sup- “Increased production is due to to as low as $20-$30 and are a plies, crude stocks rose nearly two reasons: sales for the interna- sign that the core Gulf Opec three times as much as expected, tional market reflecting stronger members remain confident about as storage at the Cushing, demand from customers, not any- their strategy of defending mar- Oklahoma oil hub reached a new thing else, and local needs with ket share. record, a government report the new refineries online,” the “Global demand is definitely showed last week. Gulf delegate said. growing much stronger than “There are still uncertainties, Saudi Arabia tends to raise expected. In December, January, prices will stay fluctuating around production in the summer and especially February it was 55-60 dollars,” the delegate said. months, when the kingdom uses beyond what forecasts antici- “If you look at the U.S., it’s more crude in local power plants pated,” the delegate said. really tough, stockpiling is ris- to meet air-conditioning needs. Low oil prices may have encour- ing. But if you look at the inter- Official data showed Saudi aged demand to pick up particu- national market, stocks are on crude exports rose in January Visitors having a look at vehicles displayed at the 36th Bangkok International Motor Show in Bangkok, larly in the United States but also the higher side but they are still to 7.474 million bpd, the highest Thailand, yesterday. The show runs till April 5 under the theme ‘Art of Auto’. in Asia, the Gulf delegate, who within the five-year average.” since at least April 2014. declined to be identified, added. Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS
Cambodia sees growth boost Britain sees QE extends no inflation in February for first time on record gains after LONDON: British infla- tion vanished last month, hit- ting zero for the first time on record, official figures showed yesterday. jittery session The annual rate of consumer price inflation dropped to zero percent, from 0.3 percent in Abu Dhabi exchange edges up January, the Office for National Statistics said, keeping a rate rise DOHA: The Qatar Exchange real estate sector fell by 1.13 by the Bank of England firmly off (QE) benchmark index extended percent weighed by Ezdan and the table for now. its gains yesterday, after a vola- Barwa. The decline was bigger than tile trading session. The main Elsewhere, the main Saudi economists had expected and index fell below 11,550 levels index inched up 0.1 percent marked the first time there has during intraday trade before as food maker Savola Group been no growth in consumer settling at 11673.45 points or extended its rebound, jumping 2.9 prices since comparable records 1.32 percent up from the previ- percent. Dubai’s index edged up began in 1989. ous session. Foreign investors 0.3 percent as local stocks were Sterling weakened slightly were the net buyers. mixed. Dubai Islamic Bank, up 2.0 against the dollar after the data QIB, Masraf Al Rayan, percent, was the main support. Labourers work at a construction site in Phnom Penh yesterday. Cambodia’s economy is projected to expand and economists said that inflation Vodafone Qatar and Qatar Builder Arabtec rose as much as by 7.3 percent in 2015, up from 7 percent in 2014. was likely to dip below zero next National Bank were the top gain- two percent after winning a $283m month — though they stressed ers. Zad Holding, Ezdan, MPHC contract from Saudi Aramco to that Britain was at much less risk were the top losers. build 380 villas in Saudi Arabia, but of entrenched deflation than the QIB surged 4.5 percent and then came under renewed pressure euro zone. Masraf Al Rayan leapt 3.6 per- and closed 1.2 percent lower. Morocco keeps key interest rate flat “We still think that deflation in cent as QNB jumped 2.4 percent. On Sunday, Arabtec said it had the UK will be a ‘good’ develop- Zad Holding shed 2.2 percent and swung to a net loss of Dh94.4m ment, giving household incomes a Ezdan declined 1.9 percent, while ($25.7m) in the fourth quarter RABAT: Morocco’s central forecast of 4.4 percent and against been expanding across the Middle welcome boost and supporting the MPHC fell 1.3 percent. of last year. It also proposed no bank kept its benchmark inter- 2.5 percent in 2014, the bank East and elsewhere. economic recovery this year,” said International Islamic advanced cash dividend, offering a 5 per- est rate flat at 2.5 percent said, as farm output expands. Morocco plans to revise the Vicky Redwood, chief UK econo- 1.96 percent and Commercial Bank cent bonus share issue instead, yesterday, saying that infla- Agriculture accounts for more weightings of its currency bas- mist at Capital Economics. increased 2.26 percent. Qatar Fuel Reuters reported. tion remained under control than 15 percent of GDP. ket in an effort to reduce its The unchanged cost of liv- and Industries Qatar were up 1.3 Abu Dhabi’s bourse edged up and economic activity was The bank, which has cut its dependence on the euro, which ing will be appreciated by many percent and 1.1 percent. Electricity 0.2 percent as Aldar Properties improving. main interest rate twice in the has recently hit a two-year low Britons in the run-up to a and Water gained 2.1 percent, jumped 2.6 percent ahead of a The bank, known as Bank Al last two quarters by a total 50 against the US dollar. “We have national election on May 7, espe- while Doha Bank fell 0.8 percent. dividend registration deadline Maghrib, also announced plans basis points, is preparing to completed work on revising the cially as annual wage growth Vodafone, Barwa, Ezdan and and after announcing it had sold for an Islamic interbank market launch an Islamic finance indus- basket weightings,” Jouahri said, slipped to 1.8 percent at the start Commercial Bank were the top all 281 land plots at its new Al to help stimulate an economy that try as part of efforts to stimulate adding that the changes would not of the year. movers. Total traded volume of Merief development in just one has suffered years of slowdown the economy and attract more take effect before the end of April. But the further inflation falls Vodafone rose to 1.1million shares, week, which will generate 600 due to the eurozone debt crisis foreign investment. Morocco’s budget deficit was 4.9 below the Bank of England’s 2 up 2.29 percent from Monday. million dirhams of revenues in and turmoil related to the ‘Arab Central bank governor percent of GDP in 2014 and had percent target, the more specu- Industries Qatar (IQ) was the the coming quarters. spring’ uprisings. Abdellatif Jouahri told reporters reached 13.4bn dirham ($1.4bn) lation there is likely to be on value leader yesterday. Total Oman’s bourse rose 1.2 per- “Inflation will remain subdued, that in the new Islamic interbank at the end of February 2015, down whether low price growth risks traded value of IQ stood at cent, its biggest daily gain in with balanced risks,” the bank market banks would be able to set 5.6bn dirham from a year earlier. becoming entrenched. QR55m. more than two months. Egypt’s said in a statement. Moroccan up agreements known as ‘wakala’ The current account deficit Last week the BoE’s chief econ- Sector-wise, the banking and market inched down 0.1 percent inflation accelerated to 1.5 per- to ensure liquidity. would decrease to about four omist said the central bank was financial services was the best in a lacklustre session. Ezz Steel cent on average in the first two Morocco has already approved percent of GDP in 2015 from 5.9 as likely to need to cut rates as performer. The sector rose 2.56 tumbled 4.8 percent to 14.56 months of the year after coming plans to create a sharia board of percent in 2014 due to the fall in to raise them in the immediate percent. Of the 12 total banking Egyptian pounds after two bro- in at 0.4 percent in 2014. Islamic scholars to oversee the global oil prices. The bank’s fore- future, though for now that view stocks, just three fell. A total of kers cut their fair value estimates Moroccan gross domestic prod- Islamic finance industry. Islamic casts are based on $60 a barrel in appears not to be shared by other 2 million shares worth QR152m for the stock. uct (GDP) will grow five percent banks ban interest payments and the international market. policymakers. exchanged hands yesterday. The THE PENINSULA this year, up from a previous pure monetary trading and have REUTERS REUTERS
No signs Russia Qatar Rail to host international meet on railway inter-operability might leave DOHA: Qatar Railways developments in optimising inter- in Qatar and will form part in the and help us establish an effective WTO, says Company (Qatar Rail) national cross-border rail trans- planned GCC railway network link- rail network in our region”. will be hosting the 1st UIC port. Over 100 industry leaders ing the six countries together. By joining forces, OTIF, CIT and RAME “International will be participating at the event, Engineer Abdulla Abdulaziz UIC aim to address all determining Director General Conference on Railway Inter- including VIP guests, UIC experts, Al Subaie (pictured), Managing interoperability issues in the tech- operability, Standardisation, and members from the manage- Director of Qatar Rail said: “The nical, operational, legal and regula- RIGA: Russia shows no signs Harmonisation for the Middle ment team at Qatar Rail, as well long distance rail network is tory fields, including the following: of wanting to leave the World East”, organised by UIC and as decision makers from Siemens. planned over a length of approx- transport law, regulations, agree- Trade Organisation, WTO chief UIC Middle East, and taking Qatar Rail is on the list of imately 510km and proposed to ments, contracts aiming to facili- Roberto Azevedo said yester- place on March 30 and 31 2015. main speakers. The company will be developed in distinct phases tate cross-border operations and day, despite tensions with the The high-level conference is present its vision on cross-border to meet commitments made to international wagon use, trans- West over the Ukraine crisis being planned in close cooperation operations discussing its project of GCC and domestic passenger and ports of dangerous goods, progress and disputes with other mem- with OTIF (Intergovernmental Long Distance Rail Network for freight demands. We hope this in railway standardization and ber states. Organization for International Passengers and Freight and the distinguished conference hosted harmonization in traffic manage- Some Russian parliamentar- Carriage by Rail) and CIT Interoperability between the GCC by Qatar Rail in coordination ment, safety management systems, ians have called for their coun- (International Rail Transport Member States systems. This Qatar with renowned organisers in the asset management, and operations try to pull out of the WTO less Committee) to provide a unique Rail project will connect major cen- railway sector will successfully on international corridors. than three years after it acceded opportunity to discuss the latest tres of population and industries discuss cross-border operations REUTERS because, they say, membership is damaging Russia’s economy. But Azevedo said during a visit to Latvia that he had never heard RMB hub in Canada of any moves by Russia to leave. “Never, neither officially nor Eurozone businesses unofficially or any other way,” he told a news briefing. “Russia has been a party to disputes in the WTO and I think every single ramp up activity member of the WTO including Russia knew that would be the LONDON: Eurozone busi- jumped to a near four-year high case.” nesses ramped up activity this of 54.1 from February’s 53.3. “Russia is a big economy, it month, just as the European That beat the highest predic- is going to be a very well moni- Central Bank starts printing tion in a Reuters poll — well above tored economy because of its size, money to spur growth and infla- the median forecast for a mod- because of its importance, because tion, while a slowdown among est rise to 53.6 — and was its 21st of its relevance,” he added. “And it Chinese factories has fuelled month above the 50 level that sep- is inevitable that big players will calls for more stimulus there. arates growth from contraction. be at one point in time challenged A disappointing Chinese sur- The surveys pointed to first- in the WTO dispute settlement vey of manufacturing added to quarter growth of 0.3 percent, mechanism.” signs the world’s second biggest Markit said, matching the previ- The European Union and the economy has lost momentum ous three months but shy of the United States have imposed eco- despite two interest rate cuts 0.4 percent median forecast in nomic sanctions on Russia over since November, alongside other a Reuters poll taken earlier this its role in the Ukraine crisis policy easing measures. month. although Moscow denies sending By contrast, Tuesday’s surveys A sub-index measuring prices weapons and troops to support showed signs of an economic charged rose to an eight-month separatists fighting government pickup in the troubled euro zone, high of 49.0, but it has now spent forces in eastern Ukraine. BMO Co-Head of Global Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities C J Gavsie poses after the first ever just as ECB policymakers unleash three years below the breakeven REUTERS Canadian Dollar to Renminbi (RMB) trade through the new North American RMB Hub at the Bank of Montreal a roughly 1 trillion euro quantita- level, suggesting inflation won’t (BMO) trading floor in Toronto, yesterday. tive easing plan. be making any sudden leaps from “I wouldn’t want to give QE February’s -0.3 percent. too much credence at this stage. Oil prices have tumbled over The ECB has only been buying for the past nine months and infla- a couple of weeks and QE takes tion rates across the world have China manufacturing at lowest in nearly a year a long time to have any impact followed suit. Data from Britain - if at all,” said Peter Dixon at earlier on Tuesday showed prices Commerzbank. “The outright QE didn’t move last month for the HONG KONG: China’s manu- HSBC’s preliminary manufac- below 50 indicate contraction in and employment. It was the first itself has had zero impact, growth first time on record. facturing fell to the lowest level turing index based on a survey activity. report since the Lunar New Year was already happening.” With little, if any, upward pres- in nearly a year as new orders of factory purchasing managers The numbers signalled a “slight holiday, which tends to distort Markit’s Eurozone Composite sure on prices economists may shrank, according to a report dropped to an 11-month low of deterioration” in Chinese manu- economic data because it falls Flash Purchasing Managers’ push further back forecasts for yesterday that underscored 49.2 in March from February’s facturing, said the report, which at a different time in January or Index (PMI), based on surveys when the Bank of England finally the weakening outlook for the 50.7. The index is based on a 100- found decreases in sub-indexes February each year. of thousands of companies and hikes borrowing costs. world’s second biggest economy. point scale on which numbers for new orders, new export orders REUTERS seen as a good growth indicator, REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19
UAE central Pound swing spells uncertainty for business bank expands British currency caught between dollar surge and euro slump; relief for mortgage holders Islamic banks’ access to funds LONDON: The British pound the euro since the end of 2007. should not raise interest rates percent. So the economic pain of opposition Labour Party. Because is getting caught between the For British consumers, the soon but cut them — doing so the pound’s appreciation against no party is expected to achieve a DUBAI: The United Arab dollar’s surge and the euro’s impact is straightforward: it will could boost economic activity and the euro is set to more than offset majority, deals with smaller par- Emirates central bank said it slump, and its swings are shak- make summer holidays in the raise inflation. any of the gains made in the US. ties will likely be needed to form was making it easier for Islamic ing things up for business just as eurozone, such as the beaches of Though few economists think On top of that, the pound’s fall a government. banks to access its special lend- uncertainty grows over a poten- Greece and Spain, cheaper than a cut is likely, the fall in inflation against the dollar is likely to make One scenario that could prompt ing facility by expanding the tially tight general election. before. At the same time, it will has eased expectations that UK companies’ production costs rise volatility is the prospect of a ref- range of collateral they can use. Caught in the crossfire of devel- make any shopping spree on Fifth borrowing rates will rise this year since the dollar is used to price erendum on Britain’s member- From April 1 Islamic banks, opments in the United States Avenue more expensive. — to the relief of mortgage hold- most commodities — essential raw ship in the European Union. The which account for roughly a quar- and the 19-country eurozone, the On the whole, the British stand ers as well as businesses. materials like oil and copper. The Conservatives have said they will ter of banking assets in the UAE, pound has dropped to a 5-year low to gain as they travel more to Beyond the potential for lower pound’s weakness, for example, hold one in 2017 if they form a will be allowed to use Shariah- against the dollar but pushed to a Europe than they do to the US. interest rates, the pound’s move- means fuel prices are higher than government after the election. compliant securities other than seven-year high against the euro. The pound’s gyrations may ments are complicating life for they otherwise would be. The small U.K. Independence central bank-issued Islamic cer- Against the dollar, it is trading also help households by delaying British businesses. The situation is “generally an Party may demand an earlier one tificates of deposit to borrow below $1.50, its lowest since 2010, the moment UK borrowing rates In theory, British export- unappetising and unfortunate if they end up propping up the overnight from the central bank’s largely due to expectations that start rising. ers stand to gain in the US, mix” for British companies, says Conservatives. Collateralised Murabaha Facility. the Federal Reserve will start Because most British imports where their goods will be rela- Howard Archer, chief European With many potential permu- The expansion of the collat- raising interest rates this year. originate from the eurozone, the tively cheaper for consumers. economist at IHS Global Insight. tations, the uncertainty over eral will permit Islamic banks Higher rates tend to bolster a pound’s rise against the euro Conversely, the same exports will Though the pound has been Britain’s economic course could to obtain central bank liquidity currency’s value. means inflation will be lower become relatively more expensive buffeted by developments outside cause further volatility in the in the same way that conven- At the same time, the pound than expected. Figures yester- in the eurozone. its borders, its future perform- pound — and headaches for tional banks do from the Interim has perked up against the euro day showed inflation at zero in The net effect is not even, ance could hinge on domestic business. Marginal Lending Facility, which amid concerns over the euro- February for the first time on though — Britain’s trade with matters. “Political uncertainty is likely was launched last July, the central zone economy that prompted record, raising the spectre of defla- the US is dwarfed by that with The general election on May 7 to continue to build in the com- bank said in a statement yesterday. the European Central Bank to tion, a prolonged period of falling the eurozone. In 2014, the US was is expected to be tight. Opinion ing weeks as the election cam- From April 1, eligible collateral launch a ¤1.1 trillion government prices that can choke an economy. Britain’s single biggest export polls show the Conservative paign gets into over-drive,” said will range from sukuk issued by bond-buying stimulus program. That’s why Bank of England market at 12.7 percent. However, Party, the main party in the cur- Kathleen Brooks, research direc- foreign governments, which must The pound this month rose above Chief Economist Andy Haldane that was way short of the euro- rent coalition government, is tor at Forex.com. have a minimum long-term credit ¤1.40 to the highest level against recently suggested the bank zone’s collective total of around 45 neck-and-neck with the main AP rating of A, to UAE corporate entities and even some sukuk which are rated below investment grade or do not have ratings, at the central bank’s discretion. Sagging rupiah drives up Fitch cautions Turkey against trying Indonesia car market too hard for growth JAKARTA: The rupiah’s of their emerging market sales. ISTANBUL: T u rkey ’s nex t gov- descent to a 17-year low is build- Japanese car manufacturers, fac- ernment could focus too much ing the case for Japanese auto ing a lack of growth at home, have on spurring economic growth makers to focus on rolling out big plans for Indonesia, which has after a June general election, cheaper, locally made sedans surpassed Thailand as Southeast credit-rating agency Fitch said and multi-purpose vehicles Asia’s largest auto market. yesterday, after months of ten- (MPVs), rather than fighting for Japanese companies are bet- sion between President Tayyip a bigger slice of Indonesia’s lan- ting on the long-term prospects Erdogan and the central bank. guid market for imported cars. in the world’s fourth-most popu- Erdogan has repeatedly urged At just under 7,600 units, lous nation and are willing to ride official interest rates cuts to boost Indonesian car imports came in out what they see as a temporary growth in the run-up to ahead of below 10,000 in February for the slump in sales. Monthly domestic the election, unnerving financial 11th consecutive month, the latest sales, while off the highs of more markets and helping send the lira data from Indonesian auto asso- than 100,000 units in the first half to record lows. The pressure has ciation Gaikindo shows. That’s of 2014, are still twice the volume called into question the govern- less than 10 percent of overall new seen during the lows of the 2008 ment’s commitment to rebal- car sales. Imported cars are losing global crisis. ancing the economy away from their appeal as the rupiah plunges PT Honda Prospect Motor, the credit-led growth which to its weakest against the dollar the official distributor for Honda has driven up Turkey’s current since the Asian financial crisis in Motors Co Ltd in Indonesia, account deficit and left it exposed the late 1990s and as Southeast expects sales to fall in the first to swings in global capital flows. Asia’s largest economy grows at half of 2015, but will maintain Deputy Prime Minister Ali a slacker pace. monthly production of 14,000- Babacan, highly respected by for- The lacklustre import sales 15,000 in anticipation of a pick-up Workers weld part of a Honda Freed’s body at a PT Honda Prospect Motor’s factory in Karawang industry district, eign investors, has defended the are a signal to overseas manu- in the second half, Jonfis Fandy, Indonesia West Java province. independence of Central Bank facturers such as Toyota Motor marketing and after-sales service Governor Erdem Basci in recent Corp, Nissan Motor Co Ltd director, said. capacity of 240,000 vehicles. Aside Thailand, the Detroit of the East. on Tuesday. “So we have to local- weeks. But there are questions and Mitsubishi Motors Corp to Mitsubishi is spearheading a from local sales, it is also aiming “The Indonesian rupiah is very ise our components here, so that over whether Babacan will return speed up their local expansion $600m investment to build an to export to nearby countries like weak,” Mitsubishi CEO Osamu we have the chance to export to to office after the election, while plans and sell cheaper models Indonesian factory that could the Philippines and Vietnam — Masuko told Reuters on the side- other countries.” Basci’s term is due to expire in 2016. in a market they see as a pillar eventually have an annual a strategy that it has adopted in lines of a Jakarta media briefing REUTERS AGENCIES
888 hands out special dividend, eyes acquisitions Schlumberger urges
LONDON: Online gambling taxes in some markets. “We are He would not say if the firm, across continental Europe. These firm 888 Holdings, which ended constantly appraising opportuni- which ended 2014 with no debt are expected to spark a period of prudence over shale talks on a takeover by larger ties,” 888 Chief Executive Brian and a $163m cash position, was consolidation in the gambling sec- rival William Hill last month, Mattingley said yesterday after close to any deals. tor as small competitors struggle WASHINGTON: The US shale spending on exploration and pro- said it was looking at acqui- announcing a 33 percent rise in Britain’s PoC tax came into and larger ones look to support oil industry may have forever duction to drop by 10 to 15 per- sitions of its own to bolster 2014 earnings and a special divi- force in December. It taxes profits growth. abandoned its heavy-spending cent in 2015, continuing a trend growth. dend of 7 US cents. from bets made by British-based Shares in 888 were up 2.5 ways in the face of sliding crude seen last year. 888, which offers casino, poker “Infill acquisitions are some- customers, closing a loophole percent to 156.5 pence at 1120 prices, Schlumberger Ltd, the He said this is related to a and bingo games and is expand- thing that, if you are a company of that had allowed companies GMT after it said 2014 core world’s No.1 oilfield services “sharp reduction” in deepwater ing its sports betting business, has our size in the industry, you need to cut their bill by basing their earnings rose by a third to provider, said yesterday. exploration activity that could enjoyed strong growth as gam- to get critical mass, and to buy operations offshore in places like $101m, ahead of an average Spending cuts already delay the sanctioning of new blers increasingly move online. back some of the core earnings Gibraltar. forecast of $91.9m, according announced by producers — to the developments, adding that the However, it and rivals expects lost to UK Point of Consumption The industry is also braced to Reuters data. tune of 25 to 60 percent — have company is seeing lower activity to see profits clipped by higher (PoC) Tax.” for tax changes in other markets REUTERS dropped the rig count by 45 per- and pricing pressure in the Gulf cent since late 2014, and output of Mexico. will soon decline or flatten out so That means, he said, “the global prices can recover, Schlumberger oil market is clearly heading for Thailand slashes rates Chief Executive Paal Kibsgaard a tightening ... in the second half said. of this year.” Google names US oil prices have fallen by 50 The rebalancing would come percent since June to below $50 in part from less supply but also finance chief to per barrel as growing supplies of stronger demand in a market cur- tight oil from shale and oil sands rently oversupplied by about one replace Pichette in North America overwhelm million barrels per day. weak global demand. Schlumberger, which has seen SAN FRANCISCO: Google The Organisation of the its share price fall by about a yesterday named as its new Petroleum Exporting Countries third since July, would be posi- chief financial officer Ruth has refrained from cutting output tioned to take advantage of any Porat, who will move from a to lift prices, a move Kibsgaard uptick in demand for its range of similar position at the invest- said may be part of an effort to oilfield services, from drilling to ment banking giant Morgan test the resilience of higher cost fracking, Kibsgaard said. Stanley. producers. He emphasized that Porat will replace Patrick At the time of $100 oil, some Schlumberger has been gen- Pichette, who announced his highly-leveraged US players were erating more free cashflow retirement this month after known for their intensive capex than its two main competitors, nearly seven years. budgets. That has changed. Halliburton Co and Baker Hughes Porat has been at Morgan “Going forward, we believe Inc, which are in the process of Stanley since 1987 and has financial prudence, where invest- merging. But he also acknowl- been vice chairman of invest- ments are limited to the cash flow edged that the industry is going ment banking, global head of the generated by production, will be through a rocky downturn. financial institutions group and the new normal for US tight-oil “In the short term, activity co-chief of technology investment developments,” he said at the visibility still remains limited as banking. She has been the lead Scotia Howard Weil Energy con- many of our customers are mak- banker for big tech firm financ- ference in New Orleans. ing drastic and sometimes unpre- ing, including for Amazon, eBay, A ferry carrying passengers past the Wat Arun temple on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. Thailand’s Outside of North America, dictable cuts to protect margins Netscape, Priceline and VeriSign. central bank cut its benchmark interest rate in a surprise move to boost the kingdom’s economy. Schlumberger expects the oil and cash flow,” he said. AFP and gas industry’s international REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS
French yacht industry Aabar to raise Saudi real estate up to €2bn via UniCredit bonds MILAN: Abu Dhabi’s Aabar shares tumble Investments could raise up to ¤2bn ($2.2bn) by launching bonds exchangeable into shares of Italian bank UniCredit, to on tax decision raise funds and help buy back a Daimler exchangeable bond. Aabar, which owns just over five percent of UniCredit, said Policy to push land out into market in a statement it would sell two tranches of bonds worth ¤750m RIYADH/DUBAI: Saudi down its price, hurting the bal- each, with an option to increase Arabian real estate shares ance sheets of real estate devel- that amount by a further ¤250m tumbled yesterday after the opment companies which own per tranche. cabinet approved a proposal to large land banks. Shares in major At the same time it said it tax undeveloped land in urban property developer Dar Al Arkan would repurchase a previous 2016 areas — a policy that could sank 6.5 percent yesterday morn- bond exchangeable into shares of shake up investment incen- ing, while Emaar Economic City the German car maker. tives in the kingdom and help to dropped 6.60 percent. Aabar said it had entered resolve a housing shortage. While there is no official data derivatives deals in relation to Much urban land in the king- on land prices, advertisements on the 2016 bond, some of which dom is owned by wealthy indi- popular Gulf classifieds website were still in place and would be viduals or companies who prefer Dubizzle suggest Riyadh residen- partially or fully ended in parallel holding it as a store of value, or tial land prices are roughly on a with the buyback. trading it for speculative profits, par with Dubai, where the prop- A general view shows the shipyard site of La Ciotat, near Marseille, Southern France. The Semidep, port This would result into Daimler to the process of developing it. erty market has just undergone a authority and economic development corporation, was constituted in 1995 to create shipyards with a main- shares being sold by the deriva- Some analysts have estimated 40 major inflationary cycle. tenance and refit service for the luxury yacht and superyacht industry. tives counterparties, possibly or even 50 percent of space inside For instance, a 375 square significantly boosting trading big cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah metre land plot in the Saudi capi- volumes in the stock. and Dammam is undeveloped. tal, just enough to build a house, “Aabar remains fully commit- The cabinet’s decision, is offered for SR1.5m ($400,000). ted to its long-term investment in announced on Monday night and After social discontent UniCredit as underscored by the the first big economic policy ini- prompted uprisings elsewhere Kingfisher casts doubt on company’s preference to settle the tiative since new king took the in the Arab world in 2011, the bonds in cash,” the fund said in a throne in January, aims to change government announced a plan to statement. that pattern by pushing more build 500,000 homes over several Aabar, which first bought into land out into the market, where years, earmarking some $67bn Mr Bricolage takeover deal UniCredit in 2010 and is the sin- it can be developed. of state funds for the plan. But gle largest shareholder in Italy’s The tax is politically sensitive progress has been slow, partly LONDON: Kingfisher’s ¤275m group that owns 41.9 percent of agreement, remained committed biggest bank by assets, is a subsid- because it may hurt the interests because of the difficulty of obtain- ($302m) takeover of France’s the French firm’s equity. to the deal. iary of the United Arab Emirates’ of influential people. But a lack of ing land. Shares in the construc- Mr Bricolage has been thrown “Kingfisher has been made Last April, Kingfisher struck sovereign wealth fund and is run affordable housing has become a tion and building supplies sector into doubt, after the British aware that both the majority of a deal with the ANPF and the by the Abu Dhabi government. major social problem in the king- climbed on Tuesday on expec- DIY firm said the majority of the Board of Mr Bricolage and Tabur family to buy their holdings On Monday a source familiar dom, and the tax could make more tations that the land tax would the board and the largest share- the ANPF, a major shareholder for 15 euros a share. The agree- with the matter said Aabar had land available for home building. stimulate more activity. holder of the target company of Mr Bricolage, have reservations ment was binding, subject only to been preparing a bond exchange- “Saudis always say, ‘the land Major builder Abdullah Abdul had reservations. in relation to the transaction,” it regulatory clearance. able into UniCredit shares. does not eat or drink,’ but now Mohsin Al Khodari and Sons Kingfisher, Europe’s biggest said in a statement. Shares in Subsequently Kingfisher was Aabar said the proceeds of the it will eat and drink, so owners gained 1.9 percent, Saudi Cement home improvement retailer, said Kingfisher were down 1.3 percent to make a mandatory offer to offering would be used for general will eventually have two choices: Co added 3.3 percent, and Red last April it had agreed a deal to at 368 pence at 1055 GMT. buy Mr Bricolage shares held by corporate purposes including the sell or develop the land,” said Sea Housing Services, a maker buy Mr Bricolage to beef-up its “The implications for the trans- minority shareholders. repurchase of the Daimler bonds. Turki Fadaak, head of research of modular buildings, rose 2.1 position in France, its most prof- action are currently uncertain. The deal with the major share- Deutsche Bank is sole global and advisory services at Al Bilad percent. The overall Saudi stock itable market, where it already Kingfisher will update investors holders was submitted to anti- coordinator on the deal and is Investment in Riyadh. market index climbed 0.4 percent. trades as Castorama and Brico in due course,” the company said. trust authorities on January 26. also joint lead arranger with BofA The cabinet gave no details of Mazen Al Sudairi, head of Depot. Shares in Mr Bricolage were Mr Bricolage declined to com- Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas. the likely size of the tax, how it research at Al Istithmar Capital in However, it said yesterday it suspended in Paris on Monday at ment. The situation is a headache would be implemented, or a timeta- Riyadh, said rising prices and limited had yet to receive clarification the request of the company pend- for Kingfisher’s new chief execu- Shah gas targets ble for introducing it. An economic availability of land had dampened of the positions of the majority ing a statement. tive Veronique Laury, who suc- council will make proposals to the many areas of Saudi business activ- of the Mr Bricolage board and Kingfisher said the founding ceeded Ian Cheshire on Dec. 8 and full capacity in Q2 Shura Council, a top advisory body. ity, so the tax could have a broad, of the Association Nationale des Tabur family of Mr Bricolage, is scheduled to present 2014-15 But some investors fear a positive effect on the economy. Promoteurs de Faites Le Vous- which owns 26.2 percent of its results on March 31. ABU DHABI: The Shah gas greater supply of land will force REUTERS Mene (ANPF), a franchisees equity and is a signatory to the REUTERS project which began operations this year in the United Arab Emirates will achieve full pro- duction in the second quarter, earlier than expected, a top company official said yesterday. “Initial production from the Pirelli boss attacks nationalist China deal critics field started in January and cur- rently we are in the process of ROME: The boss of Italian be strengthened. helped revitalise flagging auto- to revive a stagnant economy and ChemChina is paying for its stake. ramping up production to full tyremaker Pirelli yesterday “Some of the outdated kneejerk mobile industries. cut unemployment from current Prime Minister Matteo Renzi capacity, which we expect to accused those against the com- reactions worry me,” Tronchetti “Why are there these problems record levels. has yet to comment publicly on achieve during quarter two,” Saif pany’s takeover by a Chinese said when asked about citicism of in Italy? The response cannot be Analysts have hailed the the deal, but Tronchetti revealed Ahmed al Ghafli, chief executive firm of masking nationalist the deal from labour unions. a nationalist approach dressed up ChemChina tie-up as a perfect fit he had been briefed on the eve of of Al Hosn Gas, told an industry objections in calls for a change “A real industrial policy is as industrial policy,” Tronchetti for the Italian tyremaker, predict- the signing. “He grasped that it conference in Abu Dhabi. of industrial policy. about creating the conditions to said. ing that the strength of the Pirelli is a great opportunity for Pirelli,” Al Hosn Gas is the Shah gas Defending a ¤7.4bn ($8.07bn) attract investment which creates ChemChina’s deal with Pirelli’s brand combined with low-cost the CEO said. development joint venture in accord which paves the way for jobs, encourages training and bol- largest shareholder represents the production in China and a greatly Renzi has made closer eco- which the Abu Dhabi National state-owned ChemChina to take sters technological development, biggest single move yet in what is enlarged market footprint would nomic ties with China a priority Oil Company (Adnoc) holds a control of one of Italy’s indus- leveraging the excellence that for- a growing trend for Chinese com- strike fear into the hearts of rivals of his term and has urged Italy to 60 percent share and US-based trial icons, Pirelli CEO Marco tunately still exists in this coun- panies to acquire Italian assets. such as Goodyear, Michelin and be more open to investment. He Occidental Petroleum the other Tronchetti said the deal was good try,” he said in an interview with That trend was highlighted by Continental. chose Beijing for his first foreign 40 percent. for the company and for Italy. Corriere della Sera. the media on Tuesday but reac- That view has helped to bol- trip after coming to power last In January the chief executive He insisted that jobs, the Tronchetti said Italy was lag- tion to the Pirelli deal has been ster shares in the group, which year and has defended a series of of Adnoc said the project was company’s base and high-tech ging behind countries such as muted, reflecting acknowledge- continued to rise Tuesday on the labour market reforms as vital to expected to reach full capacity research and development activi- Britain, Germany and Spain, ment across the political spec- Milan bourse and are trading at attracting foreign capital. by end-2015. ties would stay in the country and where inward investment has trum that Italy needs investment a premium to the purchase price AFP AGENCIES
Panama Canal Expansion New RBS chairman defends record in setting up regulator
LONDON: Incoming Royal FSA was ever a light-touch regu- highly diversified banks on a Bank of Scotland Chairman lator in capital terms. It imple- highly international basis are very Howard Davies has defended mented internationally-agreed difficult to manage,” said Davies. his role in setting up the finan- capital standards,” he added. “No Fears of a repeat of the crisis cial regulator that presided over one has ever demonstrated that meant banks were adopting an the near meltdown of Britain’s there was any kind of blind eye approach of “prudence and cau- banking system. turned to capital requirements”. tion”, awarding risk managers Davies was a surprise appoint- Davies, a former deputy gover- higher status, he said. ment to succeed Philip Hampton nor of the Bank of England, set up “The balance of power between as chairman of state-controlled the FSA in 1997 and ran it until the front line of the business and RBS after the Financial Services 2003. He will take over as RBS risk management has changed. Authority (FSA) he set up in the chairman in September. Chief executives of boards are 1990s was widely criticised for In a recently published book much more inclined to take notice inadequate supervision of banks ‘Can Financial Markets Be of what risk managers say than in the run-up to the 2007-9 finan- Controlled?’, Davies said banks they used to before,” he said. cial crisis. The FSA was subse- around the world would continue Davies said there was also a quently disbanded. to cut back on investment banking greater fear of regulatory interven- Davies said the FSA was not a and operate in fewer countries. tion, particularly at the top of insti- “light-touch” regulator and was RBS said in February it would tutions where new rules have been not to blame for the failure of shrink its investment banking introduced to make top bankers banks such as RBS, which cost drastically, pulling out of 25 coun- accountable for breaches in rules taxpayers £45bn ($67bn) to rescue. tries across Europe, Asia and the or procedures that happen on their “The big problem during the Middle East. Barclays and UBS watch. Those rules include a new An aerial view of the construction site of the Panama Canal Expansion project is seen during an organised crisis was that banks didn’t have have also reduced their invest- criminal charge of reckless miscon- media tour by Italy’s Salini Impregilo, one of the main sub contractors of the Panama Canal Expansion project, enough capital. It had nothing to ment banking activities. duct, or causing a UK lender to fail, in Panama City. The expansion project area will allow bigger ships to transit, with two new sets of locks, one do with light-touch regulation,” he “I expect simplification of which carries a prison sentence of on the Pacific side and one on the Atlantic side.a said in an interview on Monday. banks generally because I think up to seven years. “There’s no sense in which the there is mounting evidence that REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21
Battle for African Internet Oil reserves to help Iraq find users stirs freedom fears
BY JOE BROCK buyers for global bond sale
BY ARCHANA NARAYANAN OOGLE and Facebook are at the forefront of a scramble to 8.5-9m b/d by 2020. This target may be oil has become more stable above $50. And and KARIN STROHECKER to win over new African Internet users, offering freebies over-optimistic given security worries, poor Zebari has put together a complex plan to they say give a leg-up to the poor but which critics argue infrastructure, and shortages of cash and handle this year’s projected $21bn budget Gis a plan to lock in customers on a continent of 1 billion OCKED in a war against Islamic water. But Iraq’s giant oil fields are in the deficit; among many measures, he plans to people. Africa’s Internet penetration will reach 50 percent by 2025 State militants, its finances rav- Shia-dominated south, which is relatively introduce taxes on imported cars and SIM and there are expected to be 360 million smartphones on the con- aged by the plunge of oil prices, safe from Islamic State attacks. cards, to save $2bn by trimming allowances tinent by then, roughly double the number in the United States Iraq can nevertheless count on Buyers of Iraq’s bonds will bet that even to better-paid state employees, and to raise currently, Mckinsey Consultants data shows. the promise of its oil reserves to if the expansion plans are not full imple- $1.8bn by using Iraq’s Special Drawing Africa had 16 percent Internet penetration and 67 million smart- attract buyers to its first inter- mented, production will increase enough Rights at the International Monetary Fund. phones in 2013. This growth is attracting interest from Internet Lnational bond sale in nine years. in coming years for Iraq to service its debt If such steps can keep the government companies such as Google, Facebook and Wikipedia, which are Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told comfortably. afloat while oil output rises further, state striking deals with service providers such as Vodacom, MTN, Reuters last week that the central govern- “Iraqi oil production ambitions are high finances will be in much better shape in a Bharti Airtel and Safaricom to offer users free, or ‘zero-rated’ ment was discussing with Citibank and and provide a positive catalyst for Iraqi debt,” few years. Iraq is currently earning around access to their sites and services. Deutsche Bank a possible issue of $5bn of said Bryan Carter, portfolio manager at $50bn annually from its oil exports; if oil Facebook, through its Internet.org programme, offers a stripped- five-year, US dollar-denominated bonds to Boston-based Acadian Asset Management. prices stay flat, an increase of only 50 per- down version of its social network and some other sites for free in help cover its budget gap. “Among oil credits we favour those with cent in production could add some $25bn what it says is an exercise to “connect the two thirds of the world Many fund managers think Iraq will be room for adjustment. Some countries can of income, fully covering the budget deficit. that doesn’t have Internet access”. unable to sell such a huge amount of bonds adjust expenditures (Angola, Ecuador), while Kevin Daly, portfolio manager at Aberdeen Google, in partnership with Kenyan mobile phone firm Safaricom, at one time, especially since it doesn’t have a others like Iraq can expand production. In Asset Management for the Aberdeen is rolling out its “free zone” in Kenya, where email and the Internet credit rating from a major agency — getting that sense, increased oil production is a posi- Emerging Markets Debt Fund, said Iraq’s are available with no data charges, providing users stay within one could take months. Backing the bonds tive sign when compared to countries like upcoming bond would be attractive if it paid Google apps. Google has said its “free zone” is aimed at a billion with specific oil revenues would boost inves- Nigeria or Bahrain, which rely heavily on oil a yield of around 9 percent for a 10-year people without the Internet in the developing world. tor demand, but the government has not said income but are constrained on both fronts.” issue. “We would be looking at that. There France’s Orange is offering free access to a pared-down version it will do this, and it may be reluctant to tie Secondary market trade in Iraq’s out- will definitely be demand for Iraq, and even of Wikipedia in some African countries, while South Africa’s Cell-C its hands in this way. standing US dollar bond maturing in 2028 more so if they get a credit rating.” gives its customers free use of WhatsApp, a messaging service So a smaller issue may be conducted in suggests that after panic selling late last The very low correlation of Iraq’s out- owned by Facebook. coming weeks, perhaps between $1bn and year as oil prices plunged, investor confi- standing bonds to other emerging mar- Critics, however, say big service providers and Internet compa- $2bn. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that dence in the country has partially returned. ket debt makes the country an attractive nies are luring African users into using their services, giving them Iraq can still access the international debt The yield on the bond jumped to a record investment to some funds, especially with opportunities for greater advertising revenue. market when it wants. Its oil reserves are high of 10.49 percent in mid-December the approach of a US interest rate hike over- “It’s like a drug pusher giving you a small amount and saying: so large, and its plans to bring them into from around 7.2 percent in September, but hanging emerging market bonds in general. ‘If you want more, you have to come and buy it’,” Africa Internet production are so ambitious, that it is an has since dropped back to 8.54 percent. Fund managers also noted that Iraq’s access specialist Mike Jensen said. attractive credit for some funds willing to Several factors are behind the recovery. outstanding bond was attractively priced Giving Africans free access to some Internet sites may also stunt trade political risk for a high yield. Iraqi government forces have made some compared to the 2023 dollar bonds of innovation and limit the opportunities for African entrepreneurs, Opec’s second-biggest oil producer boosted gains against Islamic State in the last few Nigeria, which faces big political and making online technology another industry on the continent domi- its output to 3.40m barrels a day in January months and Baghdad no longer looks in security problems but is trading 165 basis nated by big foreign companies. from 3.05m b/d a year earlier. Baghdad immediate danger. points tighter. In Nigeria, 9 percent of Facebook users say they don’t use the has said it aims to lift its overall capacity After hitting a low of $45 a barrel, Brent REUTERS Internet, mobile service survey site Geopoll says. “You are giving people the idea that they are connected to this free open world of the Internet but actually they are being locked up in a corporate digital prison,” Niels ten Oever, head of digital at rights group Article 19, told Reuters. “Where will the African Mark Zuckerberg come from when they have no chance to compete?”
REGULATION There are also concerns that regulators in Africa lack the capac- ity to track how telecoms companies allocate bandwidth. Telecoms firms sometimes limit Internet speeds for some content, known as “throttling”. Telecoms operators say self-regulating bandwidth usage is impor- tant to ensure heavy data users, such as people who download movies, don’t clog up bandwidth for lower Internet users. The United States passed rules in February to ensure greater “net neutrality”, intended to make sure all content managed by service providers in the US is treated equally on the Internet, despite opposition from telecoms companies. But African countries don’t have tough rules on “net neutrality”, meaning some services could be given faster access than others, which some activists say could give bigger companies an advantage over new market entrants. The 24 sub-Saharan African countries tracked by Internet moni- toring site WebIndex have “evidence of discrimination” in the allocation of bandwidth and have “no effective law and regulations” on Internet freedom. “There is little transparency into the Internet operators’ deals so it is hard to see where conflict of interests might be,” Jensen said. “You’re left just having to trust them.” Despite concerns about limited regulation and an uneven playing field, many experts argue that any improvement in Internet access in Africa should be welcomed, given it could improve education, grow businesses and alleviate poverty. High speed broadband costs up to 100 percent of average per capita income in Africa, compared to less than 1 percent in devel- oped countries, according to WebIndex. “Would you tell someone who is hungry: ‘Don’t eat that greasy burger, it’s bad for you. Wait for something healthy?’” said Stephen Song, an Internet researcher for the Network Startup Resource Centre. “I’m not a fan of ‘zero-rated’ services but there is an argu- ment to say: ‘something is better than nothing’.” REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Stock build at Cushing isn’t the whole oil market BY JOHN KEMP Tank farms at Cushing are of November. As oil when the futures market struc- Having moved into a substan- now 77 percent full, the EIA said markets have moved ture is favourable for storage plays. tial contango since July 2014, the RADERS do not appear on Monday. But the stock build into a steady contango Other locations in the rest of the price difference between June worried that rising oil at Cushing does not represent structure, where the Midwest and in the major refining and December 2015 futures con- stocks in the United the storage situation across the prices of longer-dated centres along the US Gulf Coast tracts for both US crude futures States will cause stor- United States as a whole or the futures contracts trade have seen much smaller propor- and Brent futures has remained age space to run out in state of the global oil market. above those for near- tionate builds in crude stocks over largely unchanged since the end Tthe next few months, despite the A closer look at the structure of term delivery, traders the last 15 weeks. of January even as reported crude rapid accumulation of inventories futures prices suggests the market have bought up surplus Cushing is enormously impor- stocks have continued to climb. at Cushing in Oklahoma. as a whole is much less concerned oil and shipped it to tant from a logistical point of If the market was concerned The term structure of futures about oil stockpiles hitting “tank Cushing to store. view for anyone trying to make or about space at Cushing and contracts has remained broadly tops” in the next few months. “Cash and carry”, as take physical delivery of US crude onshore more generally, the con- stable since the end of January. Cushing’s oilfield was discov- the strategy is known, against NYMEX futures and has tango would have widened even Stocks “may soon test storage ered in 1912 and over the next 50 storage space which has been exploits differences between the been the source of some famous further as stocks rose to make it capacity limits”, the International years it produced more than 430 built in the area available for hire implied cost of storage, financing squeezes and market manipula- profitable to use more expensive Energy Agency worried in its lat- million barrels of crude. But the to third parties. Since the end of and insurance embedded in the tions in the past. offshore storage. est monthly Oil Market Report. tiny township owes its modern November 2014, stocks at Cushing term structure of futures con- But it is not really representa- However the term structure “That would inevitably lead to importance to its central position have risen 30.5 million barrels tracts and the actual cost traders tive of the supply and demand of futures prices has remained renewed price weakness,” it added. on the US pipeline network and (128 percent) compared with 79 pay to borrow funds and secure situation for the country as a essentially unchanged for the past The view is shared by many the proliferation of tank farms million barrels (21 percent) across tank space. whole let alone globally. If the two months - implying traders are bearish hedge fund managers and which have sprung up nearby for the country as a whole. In principle, once all the compo- tank farms at Cushing reach full not particularly concerned about oil analysts, who have watched the storing oil. Cushing accounted for just 6 nents of a cash and carry strategy capacity, there are plenty of other storage issues and do not fore- steady climb in US oil inventories Cushing is the delivery point for percent of nationwide stocks at are in place it is a riskless source options for storing oil in other see the need for more expensive for 15 consecutive weeks. oil delivered in physical settlement the end of November and still of arbitrage profit. For conven- parts of the country. options like floating storage. Crude stockpiles at the of US light crude futures under accounts for just 12 percent even ience, however, and to eliminate The structure of futures prices Markets are not infallible: The Cushing storage hub (pictured) rules established by the New York after the concentrated build up. one potential source of risk, trad- suggests traders are not worried current view about storage space hit a record 54 million barrels on Mercantile Exchange, now part of Crude stocks along the US Gulf ers prefer to store oil close to the about running out of onshore stor- and inventories could prove to March 13, according to the latest CME Group. Coast, which accounts for half of NYMEX delivery point in case they age space and see little need to have been complacent. But right Weekly Petroleum Status Report Cushing owes its special status unrefined oil storage nationwide, decide to make physical delivery. explore more expensive options now physical traders do not seem from the US Energy Information to its NYMEX designation and have risen by just 33 million bar- Cushing therefore attracts for storing oil offshore on board worried about storage space run- Administration (EIA). the large amount of speculative rels (17 percent) since the end crude more than other locations tankers. ning out. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET
QE Indices Summary QE Total Return Index 18,011.05 1.32 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,246.42 1.23 % QE All Share Index 3,111.99 1.20 % RATE QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,196.4 2.56 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low Services QE All Share Industrials 3,764.69 0.76 % GOLD Buying Selling QE All Share Transportation 2,410.11 0.20 % All Ordinaries 5934.535 13.502 0.23 5962 5248.5 QE All Share Real Estate 2,344.47 1.13 % QR139.9441 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Insurance 4,211.65 1.49 % Cac 40 Index/D 5070.03 15.51 0.31 5106.04 4076.16 SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4036 QR 5.4797 QE All Share Telecoms 1,330.33 1.34 % Euro ...... QR 3.9773 QR 4.0326 QE All Share Consumer Goods & Dj Indu Average 18116.04 -11.61 -0.06 18288.6 15855.12 6,900.26 0.94 % QR 1.9940 Services CA$ ...... QR 2.8917 QR 2.9487 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,836.09 0.30 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24399.6 -94.91 -0.39 25101.96 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7850 QR 3.8381 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 6103.41 -45.81 -0.74 6212.11 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0302 QR 0.0308 Aus$ ...... QR 2.8483 QR 2.9054 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 31310.73 -489.53 -1.54 35055.94 31338.29 CRUDE OIL 24-03-2015 23-03-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0580 QR 0.0591 Index 11,673.45 11,521.29 Nikkei 225 Index 19713.45 -40.91 -0.21 19778.6 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0354 QR 0.0361 Change 152.16 3.81 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0807 QR 0.0824 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2119.59 1814.36 % 1.32 0.03 $ 55.71 SL Re ...... QR 0.0270 QR 0.0276 YTD% 4.98 6.22 Straits Times/D 3413.26 3.13 0.09 3458.14 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0473 Volume 8,077,731 7,647,841 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0362 QR 0.0369 Value (QAR) 403,811,720.60 360,722,722.58 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3049 QR 0.3110 Trades 4,729 5,039 $ 53.44 Up 24 | Down 12 | Unchanged 05 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01
QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 24-03-2015
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 B G Infra-T/D 176.5 6.1 14922 Cimmco-B/D 96 -4.85 7571 Hcl Infosys-B/D 52.05 -0.6 463735 Kalyani Stel-T/D 134 -2.9 67743 Onward Tech-B/D 46 -1.8 3355 Centrica/D 254.927 -3.8 11414096 A C C-A/D 1582.95 -0.1 16437 Cipla-A/D 709.9 8.65 102903 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 14.9 -0.8 1765278 Kanoria Chem-B/D 39.5 0.6 35781 Orchid Chem-B/D 52.4 -1.55 122578 Gkn/D 371.5 4.2 2455014 Aarti Drugs-B/D 626.25 -47.38 136900 City Union Bk-/D 96.65 2.05 40015 Himat Seide-B/D 80.95 -0.85 19636 Kg Denim-B/D 21.3 -0.35 13393 Orient Hotel-T/D 20.25 0.35 1896 Hsbc Holdings/D 578.6 -0.1 7161178 Aban Offs-A/D 433.55 -7.7 202838 Cmc Ltd-A/D 1940.75 -9.2 3395 Hind Unilever-/D 887.65 -14.35 45275 Kilburnengg-T/D 45.4 -0.35 16010 Orient.Carb.-T/D 408.1 -4.1 4582 Imperial Tobac/D 3181 16 534378 Aegis Logis-B/D 582.9 11.6 19228 Colgate-A/D 2057.4 77.6 16534 Hind Motors-T/D 6.22 -0.28 67459 Kinetic Eng-B/D 44.2 -0.75 1743 Oudh Sugar-B/D 20.1 0.6 41485 Kingfisher/D 367.826554 -4.5 2891791 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 215.4 -8.2 1898755 Container Cor-/D 1561.4 -3 10374 Hind Org Chem-/D 13.95 0.25 17291 Kopran-B/D 44.95 -1.7 89744 Pacific Indu-B/D 146 -4 1117 Land Secs Grou/D 1284 9 422433 Alembic-B/D 33.9 0.4 164286 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 70 2 4169 Hind.Petrol-A/D 631.8 9.85 146587 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 303.9 -13.7 3986 Patspin India-/D 6.94 0.09 74327 Legal & Genera/D 293.62 0.8 2829396 Alkyl Amines-B/D 285.1 -15.3 26636 Dhampur Sugar-/D 35.4 0 71390 Hindalco-A/D 133.2 -2.55 401666 Lakshmi Mill-B/D 2130 150 1362 Punjab Chem.-B/D 148.4 7.1 35057 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 80.5622 0.09 35098337 Alok Indus-A/D 6.96 -0.02 3356354 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3512.95 59.8 31068 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1359.6 15.35 561232 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 39 0.25 2011 Radico Khait-B/D 88.3 0.95 34648 Marks & Sp./D 539 3 1093276 Next/D 7246.0633 30 297561 Apollo Tyre-A/D 161.65 -0.3 227645 E I H-B/D 102.55 0 13356 I F C I-A/D 33.55 -0.05 504178 Lgb Broth-B/D 514.5 12.25 841 Rallis India-A/D 211.5 1.5 51316 Pearson/D 1506.75 15 613807 Asahi I Glass-/D 141 3.5 9580 E.I.D Parry-A/D 164.15 -1.25 25863 Idbi-A/D 73.45 0.45 484446 Lloyd Metal-B/D 8.08 -0.02 3329 Reliance Indus/D 400.25 -3.25 43647 Prudential/D 1746.605 5 1321299 Ashok Leyland-/D 67.5 -1.15 999234 Eicher Motor-A/D15513.65 -329.55 4285 Ifb Agro-B/D 245 -14.1 5529 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 9.49 0.26 55597 Ruchi Soya-B/D 43.8 -0.65 756957 Rank Group/D 189 1.5 19181 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 610.65 0.6 16339 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1290 -8.7 1074 Eimco Elecon-T/D 386 -9.7 1457 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 575.5 1.75 6437 Lumax Ind-B/D 340 11.4 6870 Rentokil Initi/D 141.7 0.9 460491 Ballarpur In-B/D 13.29 0.05 359399 Electrosteel-B/D 17.55 -0.1 144083 India Cement-A/D 91.85 0.05 123040 Lupin-A/D 2011.15 89.6 74981 Salora Inter-B/D 36.55 0.05 1495 Rolls Royce Pl/D 990 3 2285748 Bata India-A/D 1160 -1.75 16889 Emco-B/D 33.5 -1.35 395143 India Glycol-B/D 75.65 -1.95 19317 Lyka Labs-T/D 47.2 -0.55 35699 Saur.Cem-B/D 53.05 3.65 547364 Rsa Insrance G/D 439.1 1.3 376526 Beml Ltd-A/D 1063.5 19.8 33066 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.05 -0.21 21787 Indian Hotel-A/D 105 0.25 38220 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 147 -3.3 1073 Sterling Tool-/D 256 -12.5 1067 Sainsbury(J)/D 271.822 -1 1535154 Bh Electronic-/D 3243.25 59.7 28565 Escorts-A/D 130.85 -0.15 115098 Indo-Tcount-T/D 376.5 9.6 5786 Mah.Seamless-B/D 200.7 -2.75 5683 Timexgroup-T/D 16.5 -0.15 50290 Schroders/D 3333 16 95843 Bhansali Eng-T/D 21.95 0.1 62934 Essar Oil-T/D 108.65 -1 41888 Indusind-A/D 875 -11.8 43738 Mangalam Cem-B/D 252.7 -6.3 5318 Tinplate-B/D 56.4 -0.85 46516 Severn Trent/D 2094.25 13 304206 Bharat Bijle-B/D 610 -0.25 2888 Eveready Indu-/D 261.2 0 38634 J.B.Chemical-B/D 192.35 -0.05 36164 Maral Overs-B/D 26 0 12851 Ucal Fuel-B/D 100.8 4.1 34885 Smith&Nephew/D 1173 10 708432 Bharatgears-B/D 70 -0.6 3403 F D C-B/D 157.4 0.4 4744 Jagson Phar-B/D 26.25 -0.15 17526 Mastek-B/D 395.1 5.3 122704 Ultramarine-B/D 61.4 -1.8 15363 Smiths Group/D 1209 -1 191197 Bhel-A/D 239.5 2.65 334299 Federal Bank-A/D 133.9 -1.4 113905 Jbf Indu-B/D 191.3 -3.5 57413 Max India L-A/D 438.2 -7.7 27239 Unitech P -A/D 16.85 -0.55 12672259 Standrd Chart /D 1128.5 -12.5 3413750 Bom.Burmah-B/D 443.4 -2.1 59478 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.47 0.33 46746 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.42 -0.02 11101 Mrpl-A/D 63.25 -0.4 69146 Uppergsugar-T/D 38 -0.6 3302 Tate & Lyle/D 605 -7 460351 Bombay Dyeing-/D 64.5 -1 244124 Fgp Ltd-B/D 2.15 -0.11 1201 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.86 -0.02 312779 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 20 0.3 1080 Tesco/D 244.317 -2.25 6895637 Camph.& All-B/D 248.5 -0.3 3191 Finolex-A/D 275 -3.2 8857 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 6.17 0.29 96508 Nahar Spg.-B/D 83.2 -2.35 17285 LONDON Unilever/D 2925.25 21 691502 Canfin Homes-B/D 557.5 -6.5 6497 Forbes-B/D 1704.5 -41.5 1398 Jik Indust-T/D 0.92 0 29511 Nation Alum -A/D 44.65 0.15 212413 United Util Gr/D 962 4 423132 Caprihans-B/D 68.65 -2.05 2750 Gail-A/D 390 6.2 109981 Jindal Drill-B/D 166.4 -3.7 1517 Navneet Edu-B/D 99.9 -1.55 19892 3i Group/D 508 3 328811 Vodafone Group/D 228.1 0.45 10396135 Castrol India-/D 472.4 -5.2 33448 Galada Power-T/D 20.55 -1.05 1 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 101.35 -0.35 106231 Nepc India-T/D 2.41 0.04 31368 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2934 -77 442316 Whitbread/D 5375 25 121406 Century Enka-B/D 147 -5.1 17593 Gammon India-T/D 18.35 -0.75 111971 Jmc Projects-T/D 176.2 -4.4 5248 Neuland Lab-B/D 327.1 -4.4 8553 Barclays/D 257.7719 0.65 13340531 Century Text-A/D 558.5 -5.85 112228 Garden P -B/D 25.6 -0.7 17996 Kabra Extr-B/D 75.2 0.25 2930 Nrb Bearings-B/D 134.6 -0.6 1419 Bg Group/D 885.15 -5.3 1964409 Chambal Fert-B/D 66.2 1.15 49292 Godfrey Phil-B/D 444.45 -10.75 2098 Kajaria Cer-A/D 789 7.8 6703 O N G C-A/D 314 -0.55 406804 Bp/D 448.05 0.15 10205535 Chola Invest-B/D 571.75 -4.3 1518 Goodricke-B/D 152 -0.4 5984 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 115.6 -1.3 3501 Ocl India-B/D 450 -0.2 2164 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3712 8.5 813857 Chowgule St-T/D 26.35 0.9 13541 Goodyear I -B/D 521 5.75 19441 Kalpat Power-B/D 209.25 -1.2 12229 Oil Country-B/D 28 -1.65 8080 Bt Group/D 466.4 1 5735552 WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23
NBA: Rockets’ Harden hits 44, The bike family ready for Pacers lose sixth in a row
INDIANAPOLIS: NBA scor- ing leader James Harden struck season’s opening battle for 44 points yesterday to power the Houston Rockets over Indiana 110-100, delivering the The 2015 MotoGP Championship starts at Losail Circuit tomorrow Pacers their sixth consecutive defeat. Harden, who scored a career- DOHA: The MotoGP pad- high 50 points against Denver dock will arrive at the Losail just four days earlier, connected International Circuit this week on 10-of-21 shots from the floor, for the start of the 2015 season. including 3-of-8 from 3-point After months of waiting the Jorge Lorenzo (left) range, and hit 21-of-22 attempts first round is upon us and what from the free throw line. Valentino Rossi (below, a season it promises to be, as The Rockets improved to 47-23 right) will battle defending already during preseason test- with their fourth victory in five ing a few surprises have been champion Marc Marquez games, bouncing back from a loss thrown up with some big stories (bottom, left) for the Saturday at Phoenix to keep the making the headlines. MotoGP title at the third best record in the Western Ducati have dramatically come opening race at Qatar’s Conference and fourth-best in the back with a competitive machine Losail International Circuit league overall. for 2015, with the Luigi Dall’Igna this Sunday. The season’s Houston, which hit 13-of-24 designed Desmosedici GP15 domi- first free practice sessions from beyond the 3-point arc, nating the final preseason test in in MotoGP, Moto2 and kept pace with Southwest divi- Qatar. Moto3 will take place sion leader Memphis, remaining The new machine is not only tomorrow at the same two games off the pace of the fast, but the Italian factory team venue. Grizzles, who won 103-82 at New seemed to have finally cured the York yesterday. understeer problem that affected Rockets reserve Josh Smith previous versions of the bike. added 18 points, Donatas While the GP15 has shown Motiejunas scored 17 and Trevor good pace since it debuted at the Ariza grabbed a game-high 11 second test in Sepang, it will be rebounds for the Rockets, who interesting to see how it performs remain without injured center over the race distance under the Dwight Howard but confident floodlights at the Losail Circuit in they can make a deep run in the the hands of the Ducati Team rid- playoffs. ers Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea “I feel like we could do some- Iannone. thing special this year when we Suzuki have returned to get everybody healthy,” Smith MotoGP with an all new fac- said. tory squad, featuring riders “We’re trying to build some- Aleix Espargaro and class rookie thing heading into the playoffs. Maverick Vinales. They have been We feel like we have the talent to developing the GSX-RR machine do it. We’re ready to emotionally over the last year, and already it sacrifice for each other to do it has proved competitive, plus the and to get to that level.” team believes there is a lot more C J Watson came off the bench potential to unlock in the bike to score 23 points to lead Indiana throughout the season. while George Hill scored 20 and On the subject of comebacks, Roy Hibbert added 18 points and Aprilia have also returned to the 10 rebounds. REUTERS MotoGP grid for 2015, although this year will be more of a sea- son-long test for riders Alvaro NBA Results Bautista and Marco Melandri, as Houston 110 Indiana 100 they look to develop the RS-GP Boston 110 Brooklyn 91 bike to be competitive in 2016. determination this season, spec Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc Forward Racing Yamaha’s of a total of 18 titles between them, Memphis 103 NY Knicks 82 Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez the Movistar Yamaha team VDS Racing Honda, the Tech 3 Stefan Bradl & Loris Baz. will line up under the lights in Chicago 98 Charlotte 86 will be looking to defend his title will be looking to claim the Yamaha’s of Bradley Smith and Plus Jack Miller, the runner-up Qatar to compete in the first Minnesota 106 Utah 104 once more, having claimed back- Championship once more. Pol Espargaro plus the Pramac in the Moto3 Championship last round, along with 4 rookies to to-back championships in the Rossi experienced a resurgence Ducati’s of Yonny Hernandez and year, will be looking to impress on the class in the shape of Viñales, Golden State 107 Washington 76 past two seasons. The young last season, having made some Danilo Petrucci all set to do battle the Open spec CMW LCR Honda, Miller, Laverty and Baz. Spaniard believing that the seri- changes behind the scenes, while in Qatar. In the Open class it was while Alex de Angelis is on the The schedule for the ous challenge for the title will not his teammate Lorenzo ended the Karel Abraham who ended on top Octo Ioda Racing ART Machine. Commercial Bank Grand Prix of NHL Results come from Ducati, but his own season brilliantly, after a disas- at the final preseason test, but it In 2015 the number of riders Qatar differs from other rounds in Los Angeles 3 New Jersey 1 teammate Dani Pedrosa and the trous start to 2014 effectively cost should prove to be an interesting competing in the MotoGP class that it is spread over 4 days, with Chicago 3 Carolina 1 Movistar Yamaha’s. him any chance of the title. season-long battle between the has increased to 25 - up from 23 two days of free practice com- Minnesota 2 Toronto 1 Valentino Rossi and Jorge There is also the interest- Drive M7 Aspar Honda RC213V- in 2013 - and this season there mencing on Thursday, qualifying Ottawa 5 San Jose 2 Lorenzo will be desperate to ing battle of the satellite teams RS’s of Nicky Hayden and Eugene will be more riders on the grid on Saturday, and the MotoGP™ Dallas 4 Buffalo 3 wrestle the title form Marquez’s with riders Cal Crutchlow on Laverty along with the Avintia that have won Grand Prix World race scheduled to start at 9pm Calgary 3 Colorado 2 grasp, and with 11 world titles the CWM LCR Honda RC213V, Ducati’s of Hector Barbera and Championships than ever before. local time on Sunday night. between them plus a renewed Scott Redding on the factory Mike Di Meglio, and the Athina Twelve riders, who have won AGENCIES Winnipeg 4 Edmonton 1
Nadal returning to Queen’s Tennis: Surging Djokovic takes for Wimbledon warm-up
LONDON: Rafa Nadal (pictured) will return to his old routine in a bid to recapture the Wimbledon crown later this year, confirming he aim at March title double has entered the traditional warm-up event at Queen’s Club. The Spaniard has played at Queen’s five times and on each occasion MIAMI: World number one Novak Djokovic “Sometimes with losses like I had few times went on to reach the Wimbledon final will try to put extra distance between him- in the last couple of weeks, maybe you are a few weeks later, winning the grass- self and the chasing pack, taking confidence going down, but is not my case. I think every court major in 2008 and 2010. from his weekend title in California into the week I am better,” Nadal said. Since his last visit to the Queen’s Miami Open. “Every week I am more competitive. Every Club lawns in 2011, however, Nadal’s Djokovic won the Indian Wells trophy for week I feel stronger, quicker on court again. luck at Wimbledon has run out, losing a second consecutive year by beating Roger My movements are good again.” in the second, first and fourth rounds. Federer 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 and will try to Murray, who won the title at his training The world number three adds repeat his March trophy double from last year base city in 2009 and 2013, is coming off a semi- to an already strong cast at Aegon at the ATP and WTA hardcourt event, which final hammering by Djokovic in California and Championships at the select west begins today. looking for a first title since last autumn. London club where former home With Federer not playing Miami by choice US Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan favourite Andy Murray, defending and instead taking his family skiing before a takes the fourth seeding ahead of Canadian champion Grigor Dmitrov and US fortnight’s training back home in Switzerland, Milos Raonic, beaten by Federer in the Indian Open holder Marin Cilic are already the way is open for Djokovic, second seed Wells semis. committed to play. Rafael Nadal and number three Andy Murray Swiss Stan Wawrinka is sixth. Spain’s David “I’m very happy to be back. Queen’s to add ranking points before the switch to Ferrer takes the seventh seeding ahead of is a great event, I always enjoyed it, European clay next month. Czech Tomas Berdych. I had some great feelings there, the With more than half a decade of rivalry Serena Williams will again be queen of atmosphere of the club -- a real ten- between the “Big Four,” any edge is welcome the women’s draw at her home tournament, nis club -- is very special, the courts in the heated competition among the elite. although the 33-year-old may have a late fit- are unbelievable and I’m very happy “We still keep on pushing and moving the ness worry after withdrawing prior to her to be back,” Nadal said in a statement borders,” said Djokovic, winner of eight Grand Indian Wells semi-final with eventual cham- yesterday. Slam titles to 17 for Federer, 13 for Nadal and pion Simona Halep due to a knee injury. “I enjoyed Halle but the results have not been perfect for me in Halle, two for Murray. “We still keep on improving, Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the trophy Williams said that a few days of rest should so I want to try Queen’s again where the grass courts are a little bit all of us. after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland put her right, but if she does take her place in more similar to Wimbledon.” “We are playing better than we did a few in the final at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in the field, the 19-time Grand Slam winner till Britain’s tax laws were cited as one reason nine-times French Open years ago, and it’s because of these rivalries. Indian Wells, California, USA, on Sunday. be a top target for second-seeded rival Maria champion Nadal decided to stop playing at Queen’s. That’s something that is special in our sport.” Sharapova and Halep. Tournament director Stephen Farrow said it was great to have the The Serb will be pleased to meet up again Dane Caroline Wozniacki is seeded fourth, 28-year-old back. with coach Boris Becker and will make sure Djokovic to play the winner between Martin ahead of Ana Ivanovic and Canadian Eugenie “Rafa is one of the greatest tennis players of all time and he is uni- he lets his German mentor know that he has Klizan and Paolo Lorenzi. Bouchard, who suffered a collapse in form in versally popular, so this is fantastic news for the Aegon Championships now won 50 career titles to Becker’s 49. Number two Nadal was unable to impress a fourth-round Indian Wells loss to a quali- and our spectators,” he said. “I’ve got to look forward to get to Miami and at Indian Wells, with the Spaniard a constant fier, sixth. “We have stayed in contact with Rafa and his team over the years have a dinner with Boris. I think it’s on him complainer about the balls being used. But Poland’s seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska and we always hoped he would return one day.” this time. I surpassed his 49th title, so that with a 2014 final run to defend, he will need also has ground to make up after a third- This year’s Queen’s tournament has been upgraded to an ATP 500 gives a little bit of special spice to this title.” to bury his worries if he hopes to win his first round exit in California. Russian Ekaterina and will begin on June 15, a week later than usual to allow players more All 16 men’s seeds open with byes, with Miami crown. Makarova is seeded eighth. REUTERS of a grasscourt swing. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT
Ali Al Hitmi, President of Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), addresses a press conference ahead of this week’s FIG ART World Challenge Cup which kicks off at Aspire Academy today.
Aspire Zone Foundation Top gymnasts set sights partners with QGF in new software deal on 2016 Olympic Games DOHA: Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) and Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) signed an FIG ART World Challenge Cup starts at Aspire Academy today agreement that will enable QGF to utilize AZF’s Qatar- developed event management BY RIZWAN REHMAT Popular gymnasts system, ‘Bridge’, for its upcom- Diana Bulimar ing competitions. DOHA: Top gymnasts Diana The signing ceremony was held of Romania and Bulimar of Romania and at Aspire Dome, and was attended American star Dalton ‘Jake’ Jacob of the US by Ali Mohamed Al Kubaisi, AZF launch their bids for medals Dalton ‘Jake’ Chief Corporate Services Officer, at the World Challenge Cup in Jacob are seen and Ali Al Hitmi, QGF President. Doha today, knowing their 2016 during a press This agreement comes within Olympic Games preparations conference at the context of AZF’s ongoing sup- also start in the Qatari capital Aspire Academy port for all sport entities in the this week. in Doha yesterday. state of Qatar. Bulimar, 19, famously partnered Bulimar and The online platform ‘Bridge’ Catalina Ponor, Larisa Iordache, Dalton will feature was designed and developed by Sandra Izbasa and Diana Chelaru at the three-day Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) on way to winning the artis- FIG ART World according to international IT tic team bronze at the London Challenge Cup standards and best practices. Olympic Games in 2012. which begins ‘Bridge’ provides a wide range Dalton, 23, missed out on a today. of services for managing events, medal along with American team including accreditation, workforce in London but wants to redeem management, transportation, himself with a medal in Brazil VIP and other logistical support next year. Training starts services. “The only thing is I know that at 9:00am Additionally, ‘Bridge’ can be 500 days are remaining to the Rio used for the large scale manage- Games,” Bulimar said yesterday. today while ment of tournaments and other “All the gymnasts are preparing qualifying sporting and non-sporting events, for the Games,” she added. and is able to support up to five “Yes we are training as a team begins at events concurrently. in the gym,” Bulimar said when 2:00pm During the signing ceremony, asked if the quartet would be Ali Al Kubaisi, AZF’s Chief resuming training together. at Aspire Corporate Services Officer, said: “It will be good to compete Academy. “We in Aspire Zone Foundation together again,” the diminutive spare no effort to enhance sports Romanian said. “Hopefully we will and athletic performance and compete like we did at London support everything that serves Games,” she added. would be the way to go out,” the Gymnastics Federation (QGF) “I don’t think three years is a This time I will compete in two sport entitles, as an essential Bulimar, however, said the American added. “That would be President Ali Al Hitmi said. long time for gymnasts,” Leyva apparatus.” part of our mission. We seek to week in Doha would be a case of the ultimate thing to do,” Dalton Altogether 128 gymnasts, 84 said. “Who knows what will hap- Farah’s compatriot Mahmoud do this either through the use of taking things gradually without said. “I expect a great competition males and 44 females, will par- pen but I would like to give it a Al Saadi said: “For sure I am our facilities to host and organ- having to push full throttle from in Doha. I had never been here ticipate in the event which will try,” he added. nervous because this is my first ise the various local, regional day one. before. That’s why we have come be held at Aspire Academy from If not good form, then Aspire competition after injury. This is and international events, or “I had an injury on my knee a little bit earlier so that we get March 25-27, Al Hitmi confirmed. Academy’s ‘amazing’ interiors my first competition in more than through sharing our expertise and I want to see how well I do used to competition arena, the The Qatari capital will be the would attract Leyva to Doha one year. I was injured last year with other sporting entities for after recovering from injury,” lights and everything else,” Dalton second stop of the 2015 World again. during the warm-up. I was in the their use. We are delighted at the Bulimar said. said yesterday. Challenge Cup series, he added. “We can see that in 2018 it’s hall but couldn’t compete.” confidence given by QGF, which Dalton, who is on his maiden “I don’t like to think too much The first event was held in going to be a good venue for the Gymnasts from Armenia, chose our ‘Bridge’ system to sup- trip to Doha, echoed Bulimar’s on how I do. I want to do some- Cottbus, Germany, from March 19 worlds,” the American said. “It’s Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, port its management of various sentiments. thing new.If I can do that, it will to 22. The third event will be held beautiful. We get to compete here Brazil Bulgaria, China, Croatia, tournaments.” “We have the Olympics next be cool,” he said with his trade- from April 3 to 5 in Ljubljana. so it’s amazing,” he added. Czech Republic, Finland, He added: “Bridge is one of year so that’s obviously is the big mark smile in place. Zanetti, who won the gold One of three Qataris set to Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, AZF’s self-developed platforms. one. We were close to winning a Brazilian ring specialist Arthur medal in rings exercise at the feature at the three-day meet, Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, We use it constantly for enhanc- medal in London but we had a few Zanetti will lead the star cast 2012 Summer Olympics in Farah said: “It was a great expe- Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Mongolia, ing the management of our own issues. I am definitely looking at at the eighth FIG ART World London, will be joined by 28-year- rience last year as I got to see the Netherlands, Norway, New events. We are happy to go into a lot of redemption,” Dalton said Challenge Cup, organisers said. old floor exercises superstar Diego great gymnasts competing here. Zealand, Portugal, Puerto Rico, this partnership that will enable two days ago. The three-day gymnastics Hypolito. I hope I can do my best in this Qatar, Romania, Singapore, QGF to take advantage of the cut- “We have the team to do it, to event — the second leg of a Dalton’s Cuban-born com- competition.” Slovenia, Switzerland, Taipei, ting-edge capabilities and proven win a medal. We have a lot of work six-stop international series — patriot Danell Leyva yesterday She added: “I have to say I still Turkey, USA, Uzbekistan, functions of the platform.” to do. I’d love to finish my career will also feature Qatar’s Farah said he could be back at the same have nerves. It is normal for any- Venezuela and Vietnam will take Hailing AZF’s new technology, with an Olympic medal. If we can Mahmoud, Ahmed Al Dayani venue that will host the 2018 one to have nerves. It is hard. Last part in the competition. Ali Al Hitmi, QGF President get to the top of the podium, that and Mahmoud Al Saadi, Qatar World Championships. year I competed in one apparatus. THE PENINSULA said: “AZF’s development of the ‘Bridge’ platform according Holger Albrecht, to international standards has the Chairman of the offered special features that will Judges Committee really enhance the professional at the 8th FIG and world-class management of Artistic Gymnastics events.” He added: “We are really proud Challenge Cup, to have a national institution and the member of Qatari capable of developing such an the FIG Technical gymnast advanced platform. We are also Committee, Farah delighted to partner with the attended a meeting Mahmoud is Aspire Zone to take advantage of for judges at Aspire seen during their expertise in this area at a Academy in Doha. a press time when QGF is gearing up, as Zhou Qiurui of conference you know, for the 8th edition of China, member of at Aspire the Gymnastics Challenge Cup, the FIG Judges Academy which will be held from March Committee, and in Doha 25 to 27 at Aspire Dome with three Qatari female yesterday. the participation of Olympic and judges including world champions from 33 coun- Amal Yahya, Fatima tries. This tournament was one Al Mohannadi and of the cornerstones of Qatar’s Badriya Yaqoub successful bid to host the 2018 also attended the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.” meeting. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25
Qatar prepare for Algeria friendly at Lekhwiya Stadium tomorrow: Kick-off time: 7:00pm
Qatar football players jog during a training session prior to hitting the gym (right) ahead of their friendly game against Algeria at Lekhwiya Stadium tomorrow. The match starts at 7:00pm, Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced yesterday. Qatar, coached by Djamel Belmadi, take on Slovenia on March 30 at the same venue. PICTURES: FADI EL ASSAD Injured Robben set to miss Platini triumphs at UEFA, Bayern’s Porto clash BERLIN: Arjen Robben is set to miss Bayern Munich’s Champions League quarter-finals against FC Porto next month amidst reports he is out for six to eight weeks with torn stomach muscles. attacks FIFA boss Blatter The 31-year-old was taken to hospital after suffering the injury in the first-half of Bayern’s shock 2-0 German league defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday. A hat-trick of victories for the French football legend It was Bayern’s first home defeat of the season and only their third in all competitions after losing to Manchester City in the Champions League’s group phase and at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. VIENNA: Football legend football, for the good of the 209 The Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) has confirmed Robben Michel Platini yesterday scored national associations worldwide, will miss Saturday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Turkey and next a hat-trick of victories for the and for the good of FIFA.” Tuesday’s friendly against Spain. presidency of UEFA and made Earlier, Blatter won only a German daily Bild claim Robben will be out for up to eight weeks an immediate attack on Sepp polite applause from the UEFA with Bayern facing Porto away on April 15 before the return leg at Blatter’s leadership of world audience when he made an appeal the Allianz Arena on April 21 for a place in the Champions League’s body FIFA. for the “unity and this solidarity semi-finals. The 59-year-old Frenchman which exists as the foundations The fleet-footed Dutchman will definitely miss Bayern’s next secured unopposed a third four- of football.” German league match at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday April year term running one of the The 79-year-old Blatter refused 4 and their German Cup quarter-final at Bayer Leverkusen four world’s richest sports federations. to address UEFA’s Congress with days later. UEFA But within minutes of taking his three rivals for the FIFA He has scored 17 goals in 21 Bundesliga matches, making him the applause of the 54 member leadership -- Prince Ali bin Al President Bayern’s top scorer this season, and has netted twice so far in their federations, and with Blatter sat Hussein of Jordan, a FIFA vice Michel Platini Champions League campaign. in the audience, Platini launched president, Dutch federation chief smiles as he “World-class is hard to replace,” said Bayern’s director of sport new criticism of FIFA’s scandal- Michael van Praag and former delivers his Matthias Sammer. plagued leadership. Portugal star Luis Figo. speech at “You have to deal with setbacks. That is the feature of a winner FIFA is to hold a presidential He spoke to the UEFA meeting the Ordinary and we want to be winners.” election on May 29. at the start of he day in his role UEFA With France winger Franck Ribery also currently suffering from Blatter is favourite to win but as FIFA president. Congress an ankle injury, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will have to dig deep for the first time faces three rivals “Together with Europe, we in Vienna, in his star-studded squad. for his post. Europe is leading need to build this unity on the Austria, “The (Gladbach) defeat was not a pleasant evening for us, but what the campaign against the Swiss inside and on the outside of your yesterday. is even more unpleasant is that Arjen is injured, that’s just as bad official. respective organisations,” Blatter as the defeat,” admitted Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “We do love FIFA dearly. said. Europe’s entire football commu- The FIFA battle overshadowed nity loves FIFA dearly. It is pre- Platini’s success in winning a new Germany’s Neuer ruled out of cisely because we love and respect term and his early message that it that we want it to be perfect,” Europe faces a return to the Australia clash Platini said. “dark days” of football hooligan- The UEFA boss also sought to ism unless governments act. BERLIN: Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been ruled out win over the heads of the Asian, Platini said Europe’s govern- of the world champions’ friendly against Australia today with a North America, South American ments had to stop a return to knee injury, coach Joachim Loew has confirmed. and Oceania confederations who the 1980s when “hooligans and Loew said the 28-year-old, voted the best goalkeeper at last year’s likewise were at the European all manner of fanatics called World Cup, will sit out the match at Kaiserslautern’s Fritz Walter body’s annual congress. the shots” in many European 2015-16 when it will organise the for countries is also being Stadion with a light infection of the meniscus in his knee as a ‘pre- Without naming anyone, stadiums. European Championships for reformed. Euro 2020 will be cautionary measure’. Platini said: “Certain people are The former football star high- countries and the Champions played in 13 cities in 13 differ- His place will go to either Borussia Dortmund’s Roman perhaps trying to turn us against lighted the 30th anniversary of League for clubs, it predicted ent countries. A Nations League, Weidenfeller or Hanover’s Ron-Robert Zieler, but Neuer’s injury each other, seeking to divide and the 1985 Heysel stadium disaster earnings of 4.6bn euros ($5.05bn). which offers qualification for the boosts Australia’s hopes of pulling off another upset after their 2-1 rule. They are trying to isolate the in Brussels, when 39 people died In eight years leading UEFA, European Championship finals, win in 2011, which was the Socceroos first win over Germany at the supposedly arrogant and selfish and he was playing for Juventus Platini has reinforced the stand- will from 2018 replace most of fourth attempt. The Bayern Munich shot-stopper is expected to Europeans.” against Liverpool in the European ing of the Champions League, now the friendlies played by European play in Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier away to Georgia, with Germany He added: “Do not believe eve- Cup final. one of the world’s most valuable countries that get little attention. joining second in their group behind leaders Poland and level with rything that you hear. Yes, we “Europe is seeing a rise in sports brands which will earn Platini, who won the 1984 Ireland and Scotland. know that we are in a privileged nationalism and extremism the more than 2.2bn euros ($2.4bn) European Championship with “We have decided that Manuel won’t play on Wednesday, he has a position. Yes, we know that we like of which we have not wit- a season from 2016 to 2018. France, considered running light infection which will get better quickly with rest and we didn’t make mistakes and are not nec- nessed for a very long time,” He has forced Europe’s top against Blatter but finally decided want to risk him,” explained Loew. essarily any better than anyone Platini said. clubs to rein in their profligate to stay with UEFA, though he has “We haven’t decided who will replace him against Australia, but else. You should know that we are When Platini took over spending under Financial Fair said he could consider a run at the there is no risk against Georgia. We wanted to give him the time to willing to work with you, hand in 2007, UEFA earned 895m Play rules. FIFA presidency in the future. recover so that he will be fit.” REUTERS in hand, for the good of world euros ($980m) in revenues. For The European Championship REUTERS Goal-king Klose plans coaching career Carrick impressed with Kane BERLIN: Germany’s record World Cup goal-scorer Miroslav Klose LONDON: Manchester United and improved. That’s a really good plans to become a coach, as he contemplates retiring, and harbours midfielder Michael Carrick sign. It by no means looks like it’s dreams of working in the Bundesliga again. described Harry Kane as “the a one-off season. He looks like the “The Bundesliga will be my goal, because I can’t imagine that I’ll real deal” yesterday after the real deal and I’m sure he’s got a always be a youth team coach,” Klose, who retired from international Tottenham Hotspur striker big, big future ahead of him.” footballer after the World Cup, told German magazine Kicker. trained with the England squad One England player who knows “When I work towards my coaching licence I will really go for it, for the first time. all about Kane is centre-back just like most things I do. Kane, 21, has been called up by Gary Cahill, who was on the “Coaching at the German Football Association (DFB) is one England manager Roy Hodgson wrong end of a bravura perform- possibility. after scoring 29 goals to date ance from the Spurs frontman England’s “Hansi Flick (the DFB’s sports director) and I will certainly sit this season and could make his in Chelsea’s 5-3 defeat at White Harry Kane is down and talk. debut in Friday’s 2016 European Hart Lane on New Year’s Day. seen during a “I have seen many of Germany’s national youth teams play and it Championship qualifier at home Kane scored twice that day and team training would be exciting to work with them.” to Lithuania. joined up with the England squad session at The 36-year-old set a new record of 16 World Cup goals when he “The progress he’s made has after claiming his first Premier St George’s scored in Germany’s historic 7-1 win over the hosts in the semi-finals been sensational, right from the League hat-trick in Spurs’ 4-3 win Park of Brazil 2014 and is the first player to have appeared in four consecu- start of the season to the level he’s over Leicester City on Saturday. yesterday. tive World Cup semi-finals. at now. He’s gone up two or three “He’s a real handful, a fantas- Having played for Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Bayern levels,” Carrick told reporters at tic talent,” Cahill said. “He’s not Munich in Germany’s top flight, Klose currently plays for Italian side England’s St George’s Park train- just somebody who can hold the Lazio but his current contract expires at the end of the season and he ing base. ball up; he can run in behind, he’s is considering retiring from all football. “The thing that’s impressed me got two good feet. For me he’s got “It will be a spontaneous decision, I will talk to my family first, as most is as the spotlight’s grown all the attributes. To score a hat- always, and there are a few other things to consider,” he said. and the expectation’s grown with trick leading to his first meet-up, “Lots of things are possible, maybe even a return to the Bundesliga, it, he seems to have grown and his confidence must be sky-high. but there has been no specific contact.” REUTERS his performances have improved He’s a top player.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Shot heard round the world
New Zealand’s Grant Elliott hits South African bowler Dale Steyn (not pictured) for a six to win the World Cup semi-final at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. Elliott’s six brings Kiwis epic victory New Zealand beat South Africa by 4 wickets in thriller to book spot in World Cup final
AUCKLAND: South Africa- by taking a wicket and conced- up for a big finish with heavy hit- born Grant Elliott’s brilliant 84 ing only one run in the 38th over Scoreboard ters in hand only to be denied Social media not out, capped with a stunning and by the start of the 43rd, and seven overs when rain swept in six off the penultimate ball, saw final, over New Zealand required SOUTH AFRICA B McCullum c Steyn b Morkel ...... 59 when they were 216 for three in reaction to New Zealand to a four-wicket 12 to win. H Amla b Boult ...... 10 K Williamson b Morkel ...... 6 the 38th over. win over the Proteas in a cliff- They started with a bye, a single, Q de Kock c Southee b Boult ...... 14 R Taylor c de Kock b Duminy ...... 30 He produced a rapid 65 not amazing hanger World Cup semi-final at a four to Daniel Vettori, another F du Plessis c Ronchi b Anderson ...... 82 G Elliott (not out) ...... 84 out and, following the rain break, Auckland’s Eden Park yesterday. bye and then Johannesburg-born R Rossouw c Guptill b Anderson ...... 39 C Anderson c du Plessis b Morkel ...... 58 David Miller’s boundary-laden semi-final Elliott’s winning six, off injured Elliott, who turned 36 last week- A B de Villiers (not out)...... 65 L Ronchi c Rossouw b Steyn ...... 8 49 from 18 deliveries got South D Miller c Ronchi b Anderson ...... 49 D Vettori (not out) ...... 7 South African fast bowler Dale end, smacked Steyn high into the Africa up to 281 for five Social media again was abuzz with the voices J P Duminy (not out) ...... 8 Extras (B-6, LB-2, W-5) ...... 13 Steyn, took New Zealand into the stands as New Zealand, after los- De Villiers was in command in of legends past and present who reacted with Extras (B-1, W-13) ...... 14 Total (for 6 wkts in 42.5 overs) ...... 299 World Cup final for the first time ing all six of their previous World the lead up to the near two-hour varying degrees of heartbreak, joy and eve- Total (for 5 wkts in 43 overs) ...... 281 Did not bat: T Southee, T Boult, M Henry. and they will play the winner of Cup semi-finals, completed a rain disruption cracking 60 off rything in between following New Zealand’s tomorrow’s second semi, between thrilling win. Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-31, 3-144, 4-217, Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-81, 3-128, 4-149, 38 balls, but when the weather incredible semi-final win over South Africa. Australia and India in Sydney, South Africa, struggling to 5-272. 5-252, 6-269. cleared and play resumed he could “Bloody love Cricket ...” in Sunday’s showpiece match in throw off their unwanted “choker” Bowling: Southee 9-1-55-0 (w1); Boult 9-0- Bowling: Steyn 8.5-0-76-1 (w1); Philander only stand and watch as Miller — Former England captain Michael Melbourne. tag, have now failed to win all four 53-2; Henry 8-2-40-0 (w1); Vettori 9-0-46-0 8-0-52-0; Morkel 9-0-59-3 (w1); Tahir 9-1-40- took charge. Of the 65 put on in Vaughan New Zealand faced a World Cup semi-finals they have (w2); Williamson 1-0-5-0; Elliott 1-0-9-0; An- 0 (w1); Duminy 5-0-43-1 (w2); de Villiers 3-0- the five overs after the resump- “Bloody hell #GrantElliot is a stud 4 New revised target of 298 under the contested. derson 6-0-72-3 (w5). 21-0. tion, Miller scored 49. Zealand! My god what a finish! & no offense Duckworth/Lewis method after As McCullum flung his bat at NEW ZEALAND Result: New Zealand won by four wickets. Earlier, South Africa won the but nice “injury” timeout from Steyne @ South Africa made 281 for five in the start of New Zealand’s run M Guptill (run out-Amla/de Kock) ...... 34 Man of the match: Grant Elliott (NZL). toss and elected to bat, gaining cricketworldcup.” 43 overs, which included a near chase, South Africa captain AB de early momentum when edges — Retired Australian tennis player two-hour rain stoppage. Villiers was forced to take three two sixes and three fours off his out against the West Indies in last raced to the short boundaries. Rennae Stubbs Black Caps skipper Brendon of his frontline bowlers out of the third over. weekend’s quarter-final, looked in New Zealand wicket-keeper McCullum made a typically attack. The return of fast bowler fine touch making 34 before being Luke Ronchi dropped Quinton “Grant Elliot - take a bow!” quickfire 59 off 26 balls at the Vernon Philander, replacing Morkel paid immediate dividends. run out in a mid-pitch mix-up de Kock on six and Trent Boult — Kevin Pietersen on his fellow South head of the innings. Kyle Abbott in the side, gave up He undid McCullum who plopped with Ross Taylor. missed a difficult chance to catch African Then came a valuable 103-run 14 runs to McCullum with his a simple catch into the hands of Taylor did not last much longer Hashim Amla. partnership between Elliott and first over and was immediately Steyn at mid-on and in his next before he was caught behind and But left-arm paceman Boult, “What a game. Whats the 1st thing you when Corey Anderson and the Kiwis replaced by Morkel. over he bowled Kane Williamson. New Zealand were 149 for four the tournament’s leading bowler u win a semi? Everyone cleans there boots for Oz customs.” appeared to have the game in Morkel also lasted one over After nine overs, New Zealand when Elliott and Anderson set up with 21 wickets, added to his tally — New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor hand with six overs to go. that cost 14 runs but came back were 81 for two. camp before the latter was out by dismissing Amla and de Kock But Morne Morkel regained from the other end after Steyn Martin Guptill, looking to back for 58. on his way to figures of two for 53. “Holy moly! Shot of the tournament?! #AB.” the initiative for South Africa was spelled when McCullum hit up his World Cup record 237 not De Villiers had set South Africa AFP — Pietersen after AB de Villiers carts a huge six off Corey Anderson just a ball after being dropped on 38 That ball was going over the Proteas falter again “Sit back wherever you are and just enjoy the greatness of @ABdeVilliers17 .. This guy is a freak... #NZvSA#AB#CWC2015.” — Former England captain Michael ropes, no matter what: Elliott at critical moment Vaughan “5 slips???!!!” AUCKLAND: Grant Elliott come into effect if the scores were AUCKLAND: South Africa South Africa’s leading strike — British golf star Lee Westwood on had not premeditated the shot tied. The ball, however, sailed deep faltered yet again at the criti- bowler Dale Steyn was smashed Brendon McCullum’s early attacking that propelled New Zealand into the bottom tier of the south- cal moment of a cricket World all round the field by Brendon fields into their first cricket World ern stand at Eden Park sparking Cup yesterday when New McCullum at the start of the Cup final yesterday, but he was a massive roar from the 41,000- Zealand snatched a semi-final innings and then conceded a four “I wonder if SA will read their Duckworth Lewis sure the ball was going over the plus crowd. victory which had appeared to to Daniel Vettori and the six to sheet correctly this time? #hopenot.” boundary no matter what. “I know it means a lot to the be beyond their grasp for much Elliott which gave New Zealand — Former New Zealand player Scott Dale Steyn bowled a full length team but you could see the emo- of a rain-affected match at their dramatic victory. Styris delivery and Elliott blasted a six tion in the stands,” he said. “It Eden Park. De Villiers was in tears at the “That was as good as sport gets. Don’t think over long-on to finish on 84 not means a lot to a lot of people.” It looked like the pre-tour- post-match news conference the SA boys will be sending Mr Duckworth and out as New Zealand chased down Johannesburg-born Elliott was nament favourites had put the after overseeing another South Lewis a Xmas card anytime soon.” their Duckworth-Lewis adjusted considered a surprise selection to demons of the past behind as African defeat on the big stage. — Former Australian Test player Ed target of 298 from 43 overs with the World Cup squad after having they demolished Sri Lanka in “It’s a tough one,” he said. “We Cowan four wickets and a ball to spare. not played for the national side the quarter-finals, their first had our chances in the second “I was looking to hit that ball for more than 14 months and that knockout win at a World Cup. half of the game but we didn’t “What an unbelievable game. So proud of the for six or four,” Elliott told report- decision is paying off for coach However, as man-of-the- take them. It’s difficult to say the @BLACKCAPS and what they have achieved. ers. “I was just going to line it up Mike Hesson and chief selector match Grant Elliott and Corey kind of emotions I’m feeling.” Also feel the raw pain of @OfficialCSA on an and wherever it was, it was going Bruce Edgar. Anderson systematically chased De Villiers said the team had amazing day.” over the boundary.” Elliott’s composure was none down a victory target of 298 from badly wanted to take the World — Ex-New Zealand captain Stephen The situation of the match had more evident as he and Corey 43 overs, signs of panic began to Cup back home. Fleming obviously played a massive part in Anderson resurrected New creep in. “I guess life moves on, the sun “Still proud of my boys, good fight thru out Elliott’s decision, but he had also South Africa’s JP Duminy (right) Zealand’s run chase from 149 for Anderson received a let-off comes up tomorrow,” he said. the game. Great game of cricket by u bug- been told by fellow 36-year-old consoles team-mate Dale Steyn four to get to 252 for five with five when captain AB de Villiers “We had a lot of fun in this gers. U can stand up tall and b proud of ur Daniel Vettori that it was down after their loss to New Zealand overs remaining. made a total mess of a run-out tournament and I’m proud of the perfomance.” to him to “bring it home”. in the World Cup semi-final in “I really did feel the pressure. opportunity, knocking the bails guys. It hurts quite a bit, we had — South Africa international Lonwabo Elliott was the more estab- Auckland yesterday. It was stressful towards the end,” off without securing the ball our chances and we didn’t take Tsotsobe lished of the pair but Vettori had Elliott said. in his hand with the batsman them.” also just urged every sinew of his that I had two balls to take us “It was unfortunate that we left stranded. He agreed that the missed “What a semi final! I feel for the SA boys. Well body to sprint to the non-striker’s home,” Elliott said. it, we needed 11 off the last over. Elliott was dropped when JP run-out chance had been one done to NZ.” end after gambling on wicket- He had also assessed that four “It would have been nice to get Duminy crashed into substitute of the opportunities to win the — Sri Lanka’s recently retired batting keeper Quinton de Kock missing runs would be enough to send it with an over to go but credit fielder Farhaan Behardien who game. “I guess if you want to star Mahela Jayawardene the throw at the stumps. New Zealand into the final, hav- to South Africa, they’re a world had lined up the ball and was see it that way that I cost us the “How we doing back home?” “Dan said we weren’t going to ing secured the better record in class team and they played a very poised to secure the catch. game,” he said. REUTERS — Ex-South Africa captain Graeme Smith run to the keeper again so I knew the pool phase, which would have good game.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27
Pietersen Waqar fears agrees IPL Pakistan’s retiring ‘death’ of release, eyes Pakistan England cricket return SYDNEY: Waqar Younis yes- LONDON: Kevin Pietersen Misbah slams critics terday warned that cricket could announced yesterday that he die out in Pakistan if rival teams has agreed a release from his continue to boycott the country Indian Premier League con- I was being pinpointed for everything, says skipper where international tours have tract, as he bids to earn an not taken place since 2009. England recall by rejoining There has been no interna- English county Surrey. LAHORE: Pakistan’s normally words that are way below the the media blamed me,” he said. tional cricket in Pakistan since Axed by England in February mild-mannered cricket cap- basic standard of ethics”. When Pakistan lost their open- the militant attacks on the Sri 2014, the 34-year-old batsman tain Misbah-ul-Haq yesterday “Pakistan’s media houses ing World Cup games to India Lankan team in Lahore in March hopes to end his international launched a blistering tirade should have some rules for people and the West Indies, effigies of 2009 which killed eight people and exile by playing county cricket against his critics as he con- appearing on television screens Misbah were burned in the street injured seven visiting players. and has drastically whittled firmed his retirement from one- or at least some basic training, in Lahore. “The biggest hurt is that we down his IPL commitments day internationals. because it seems that anyone who The phlegmatic Misbah led are not able to stage international with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. After patiently enduring years can’t find a job in the country Pakistan through some of its matches,” Pakistan head coach “I’m hugely grateful for all of abuse for almost every fail- becomes an expert or analyst on toughest years, taking over the Waqar said. the support and understand- ing by the perennially mercurial TV screens,” he told reporters in captaincy after the spot-fixing “I fear the game might die out ing I’ve received from everyone Pakistan team, the 40-year-old Lahore. scandal of 2010 that saw three as we lack talent at junior level at the Sunrisers and the IPL,” said he was ready for a rest. Critics dubbed Misbah “tuk- key players banned. and it’s tough to indulge kids Pietersen said in a statement He said he had no intention tuk” after the slow-moving He has also never led his side in cricket. It’s a very important on his personal website. of changing his mind about one- rickshaw because of his dogged, in a home series. International aspect, we have to bring inter- “My focus is now very much day cricket but would continue patient batting style. cricket in Pakistan was aban- national cricket back and the on the upcoming season in to play Tests, in which format He was also regularly lam- doned after the 2009 militant government has to help in this England and I’m absolutely he is Pakistan’s most successful basted for supposedly negative attack on the Sri Lankan team regard.” determined to score as many captain. tactics as captain and contrasted bus and the side play all their The Pakistan Cricket Board runs as possible.” Misbah captained Pakistan unfavourably with the swash- “home” games in neutral venues. managed to bring minnows Kenya The agreement allows in their recent World Cup cam- buckling, big-hitting all-rounder “I can take responsibility for a short one-day series last Pietersen to miss the Sunrisers’ paign which ended in a battling Shahid Afridi. to a certain limit but I am not year and are negotiating with entire league programme, but quarter-final defeat to hosts “I was being pinpointed for eve- the devil, I did not attack the Zimbabwe for a visit in May this he will be recalled if they reach Australia. rything: when the batting failed, Sri Lankan team, I did not end Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq speaks year. the IPL knockout phase, which He said it was disappointing to the media blamed me, when the international cricket in Pakistan. during a press conference in Waqar believes Pakistan’s quar- runs from May 19-24. see former stars on television lay- bowling failed, the media blamed Why blame me for everything?” Lahore yesterday. ter-final exit from the World Cup Pietersen, England’s all-time ing into the team, “using abusive me and when the fielding failed, he said. AFP at the hands of Australia showed leading run-scorer in all for- there is a lot of hard work to be mats, added: “I’ve never made done on the country’s cricket set- any secret of my overwhelm- up and infrastructure. ing desire to once again rep- I’ll sledge India if Warner won’t: Johnson “If we want to save Pakistan resent England and I’m going cricket we have to lift our domes- to do everything in my power SYDNEY: Fast bowler Mitchell The 33-year-old slugged 88 off tic game because there was a big to earn a recall to the interna- Johnson says he is considering 93 balls to help rescue Australia’s difference in standards at the tional set-up. taking on the role of Australia’s first innings and then took three World Cup. We were well behind “To once again put on that Sledger-in-Chief for tomorrow’s wickets in a dazzling spell of bowl- other teams. England shirt would be a privi- World Cup semi-final against ing and finished with figures of “We can’t delay it, we need lege and an honour, but now I India at the Sydney Cricket 4-61 as Australia won the match power-hitters like there are in have to focus on performing Ground. by four wickets. other teams and players who can domestically and give myself Outspoken opener David “I love it. The more that comes score 300-plus runs,” said Waqar, the best possible chance of Warner has been on his best my way, the better,” he said at the whose team only crossed the 300- meriting selection.” behaviour at the World Cup time. mark just once in seven games Pietersen is reportedly close after getting into hot water over As well as Warner, Indians at the World Cup — against the to agreeing a return to Surrey, a series of spats with the Indian Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma amateurs of the United Arab who de-registered him at the side during the test series over and Virat Kohli were fined for Emirates. end of last season. the New Year. clashes during the test series. “Cricket is changing fast and He has drawn encourage- The fiery exchanges continued we have to keep pace with that, ment from incoming England into the Tri-series and Warner Wahab, Watson if not we will be left far behind.” and Wales Cricket Board was fined for asking India’s Rohit Waqar stressed Pakistan (ECB) chairman Colin Graves’s Sharma to “speak English” during call truce needed good batsmen. comments that a return to a slanging match in a one-dayer SYDNEY: Pakistan fast bowler “Bowling has never been our county cricket would improve at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Wahab Riaz and Australian all- problem,” said Waqar, himself his chances of an England in January. rounder Shane Watson called a a great fast bowler. “I think we return. “I heard Davy said he wasn’t truce yesterday after their com- should feel proud of our bowling But other figures in the going to get involved in all that pelling World Cup quarter-final at the World Cup. England hierarchy have stuff,” paceman Johnson told Fox tussle. “But it’s the batting where we played down the prospect of TV yesterday. Wahab won widespread plau- have been struggling for a long a comeback for the outspoken “Someone’s got to do it and dits for a fierce spell of fast bowl- time now and after Misbah-ul- batsman. I might put my hand up. It’s ing which forced Watson to duck Haq and Younis Khan — when- National selector James part of the game and what hap- into and under a series of short- ever he quits — we will have a big Whitaker said last week that pened the other day with Shane pitched deliveries in the game at vacuum. Pietersen was “not part of (Watson) and Wahab (Riaz) was the Adelaide Oval. “It is a matter of putting things our plans”, while captain exceptional. Wahab even applauded the in order. It’s not only about win- Alastair Cook described the “I thought it was great enter- Australian and blew him a kiss ning the World Cup but also chances of his former team- tainment and I think you’re going as Watson survived on his way improving our ranking by lifting mate making a comeback as to see more entertainment in this to helping the co-hosts to a six- our standards.” “very unlikely”. game.” wicket victory. Waqar said strict rules on Pietersen was dropped Watson had the last laugh on “It was a good battle on the field. bowling actions badly affected after England’s 2013-14 Ashes Pakistan paceman Wahab after U played well. @ShaneRWatson33 Pakistan’s build-up for the World series whitewash in Australia, their compelling duel in the . Wishing u best of luck for the Cup. with ECB managing director quarter-finals last week when semi’s . #Respect,” tweeted “Just before the World Cup, Paul Downton citing his “dis- he helped steer Australia to vic- Wahab, who was fined 50 per cent the International Cricket Council engagement” with his team- tory. Both players were later of his match fee for his exchanges launched a crackdown and mates during the last Test in fined. with Watson. because of that we lost Saeed Sydney. Johnson has some history with “Special spell from @ Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez,” He subsequently released India in the sledging stakes and WahabViki the other night. Very said Waqar of his two key spin- an autobiography in which he made them pay for having the lucky to have come out unscathed ners who were suspended due to alleged that a bullying culture temerity to lampoon him after #Nohardfeelings #Respect,” illegal actions. had taken root in the England he went wicket-less in the first tweeted Watson, who was docked Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson exercises during a training “But now is the time we should changing room. AFP innings of the second test at the 15 per cent of his fee. session at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. lift ourselves because cricket has Gabba last December. AGENCIES been our pride.” AFP Match-winner Elliott dedicates Indian star Kohli seeks SCG win to long-suffering fans inspiration for semi-final
AUCKLAND: Johannesburg- Skipper Brendon McCullum SYDNEY: India’s star batsman But the elegant right-hander fired-up Rubel Hossain and was born Grant Elliott dedicated made a 26-ball 59 to also help the Virat Kohli returns to the scene justified Dhoni’s assessment of caught behind by Mushfiqur New Zealand’s thrilling four- Black Caps to their rain-adjusted of one of his most memorable his vice-captain being a big- Rahim. wicket win to long-suffering target of 298. Test innings hoping to redis- match player by striking a As India prepare for the semi- Kiwi fans after his undefeated “These boys, I am so proud of cover batting form for tomor- match-winning 107 in their World final against the tournament co- 84 steered the Black Caps into them. A lesser team would have row’s World Cup semi-final Cup opener against arch-rivals hosts, Kohli will be expected to a first World Cup final after six laid down today. To see Grant against Australia in Sydney. Pakistan in Adelaide on February live up to his reputation as one previous semi-final losses. come in and be as calm as he was... It was at the Sydney Cricket 15. of the most dominant batsmen of “It is great. I don’t think this we’ve given ourselves a chance of Ground (SCG) in January that Kohli followed that with 46 his generation. win is for myself, or the team, it the big prize,” said McCullum. Kohli, captaining India after against mighty South Africa at Skipper Dhoni was confident is for everyone here. The support “Credit to South Africa, they the shock retirement of skipper the Melbourne Cricket Ground a match-winning innings from has been amazing,” said Elliott, gave as good as they got. I feel Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the in the next match, helping the his star batsman was around the who smashed Dale Steyn into the for them at the moment. But our longer format, hit 147 and 46 to defending champions to the sec- corner. stands for the match-clinching boys were outstanding. And it was lead his team to a creditable draw. ond of seven straight wins in the “I don’t think he has batted six. a great semi-final.” It was his fourth century in tournament so far. badly,” Dhoni said, pleading with “We just wanted to take it as De Villiers was distraught as the four-Test series and pre- But as India cruised along, fans to tone down their expecta- deep as we could. Corey Anderson South Africa, who’ve yet to reach vented Australia from making it Kohli found runs hard to come tions every time Kohli goes out (58) batted well and we timed the a World Cup final, once again 3-0 after the hosts had piled up a by, making identical scores of 33 to bat. innings to perfection. came up short. mammoth 572 for seven in their against the United Arab Emirates “No one can score a century “When you have 40,000 fans “It’s really painful but we have first innings. and the West Indies, an unbeaten every time. But he is such a good screaming at you every ball, it has no regrets. We left it all out on Kohli’s form dipped alarmingly 44 versus Ireland, 38 against player that people expect him to been an absolute pleasure playing the field. We had opportunities in the subsequent tri-series that Zimbabwe and three in the quar- do it in every innings. at Eden Park and playing in front and it will take us a long time to New Zealand’s captain Brendon also featured England, with scores ter-final against Bangladesh. “He is a dominant batsman who of the home crowd. We have had a get over this,” he said. McCullum applauds the crowd of nine, four, three and eight as The 26-year-old’s lack of bat- likes playing shots. A big one is good run, this is the first final we “All the best to New Zealand after the semi-final at Eden Park India failed to make the final and ting touch came to the fore just around the corner because have been in and we will approach — they played a great game,” De in Auckland yesterday ended the bilateral tour without against Bangladesh when he big players always score in big it as any other match.” Villiers added. AFP a win. chased an away-swinger by the games.” AFP Wednesday 25 March 2015 5 Jumada II 1436 Volume 20 Number 6380 Sport Price: QR2
Platini New Zealand reelected as enter maiden UEFA President Cup final
Sport | 25 Sport | 26
www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 FIFA Under-20 World Messi fit for Argentina Cup groups finalised friendlies
DOHA: Qatar has been paired BUENOS AIRES: Fears up with Mali, Colombia and U-20 World Cup that Argentina captain Lionel Portugal in Group C of the Messi had sustained a foot FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be Groups injury during Barcelona’s 2-1 played in New Zealand in June win over Real Madrid in the Group A: Myanmar, New Zealand, Ukraine, USA this year. Liga Clasico on Sunday were The draws were finalised on Group B: Argentina, Austria, Ghana, Panama allayed on Monday by his club. Sunday at the end of qualifying Group C: Mali, Colombia, Portugal, Qatar Barcelona said Messi was events in Africa. Group D: Senegal, Mexico, Serbia, Uruguay fit to remain with Argentina Nigeria, the newly crowned Group E: Nigeria, Brazil, Hungary, Korea DPR in Washington for their Copa African champions, have been Group F: Fiji, Germany, Honduras, Uzbekistan America warm-up friendly handed an easy group in the pre- against El Salvador on liminary stages of the May 31 to Nigeria’s first game will be against Saturday. June 20 event. Brazil at the Stadium Taranaki, “FC Barcelona’s medical Nigeria will face five-time New Plymouth on June 1. staff in consultation with their champions Brazil, Hungary and The USA team, which is cur- counterparts at the Argentine Korea DPR in Group E of the pre- rently on a week-long training Football Federation confirm liminary rounds in New Zealand. trip to England, features five MLS that the tests carried out on The Flying Eagles defeated players. Leo Messi whilst on interna- Senegal 1-0 to emerge as African San Jose Earthquakes attacker tional duty with the Argentine champions in a keenly contested Tommy Thompson, LA Galaxy national side in Washington African Youth Championship forward Bradford Jamieson IV, D.C. show that he has no final. Sporting Kansas City defender injury to his right foot where Hosts New Zealand were zoned Erik Palmer-Brown, Toronto FC he received a blow in his last in Group A against Myanmar, midfielder Marco Delgado and league match with the blau- Ukraine and the United States of Orlando City SC defender Conor granas against Real Madrid,” A Chinese player tries to kick the ball during a match America. Ghana will face a stiff Donovan were called to Tab the club said on their website. of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 – AFC challenge in Group B, having been Ramos’ squad, which will began Argentina, preparing for the Qualifier Qatar, at Katara Beach in Doha yesterday. zoned against Argentina, Austria training on Monday ahead of Copa America in Chile from RIGHT: A moment from the match between Bahrain and Panama. friendlies against the Tottenham June 11-July 4, have another and Qatar at Katara beach in Doha yesterday. Last edition’s runners-up U-21s on Friday and against the friendly against Ecuador in PICTURES: SALIM MATRAMKOT Uruguay will battle Senegal, England U-21s next Sunday. next Tuesday. REUTERS Mexico and Serbia in Group D. THE PENINSULA Oman, Japan, UAE and China in last 8 Bahrain inflict heavy defeat on hosts Qatar
DOHA: Oman, Japan, UAE and China secured quarter-final berths at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 – AFC Qualifier Qatar yesterday as hosts Qatar suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Bahrain. The last round of group matches to decide the remaining four quarter-finalists will be held at Katara beach today and the Maroons have one last chance to delight the local fans when they face Oman. Bahrain were clinical in their 6-1 rout of Qatar, never allowing the hosts to mount a significant counter attack. Both sides began tentatively but an early goal lifted the Bahrainis, who then domi- nated possession. Good goalkeep- ing from both sides meant no more goals were scored in the first period, which ended 1-0. The second period was a scrappy affair with neither side being able to assert their domi- nance until Rasheed doubled the lead for the Reds. Bahrain drove through the Qatari defense one more time in the period and went A Japanese player and a Vietnamese player vie for the ball during a match into the third and final period 3-0 at Katara Beach in Doha yesterday. ahead. The Reds scored in the opening In another match yesterday, experience, some gifts by Power minute of the final frame, push- China willed themselves to a 4-3 Horse, and a new favourite sport ing the lead to four goals but the victory in an exciting encounter — beach soccer. Maroons did not stop pressing against Kuwait. THE PENINSULA and created some of their best The Dragons will want to earn chances, albeit a little too late. another three points against old Yesterday’s Results The open nature of play meant rivals Japan today. Uzbekistan 6-5 UAE (Group C) plenty of goals came during their But for Kuwait it was the sec- Laos 3-8 Oman (Group A) period and Bahrain soon ham- ond close defeat in as many days. Kuwait 3-4 China (Group B) mered in their fifth. A rocket They will now face Vietnam and Vietnam 2-3 Japan (Group B) from captain Jafal gave Qatar hope to register their first victory. Bahrain 6-1 Qatar (Group A) their solitary goal. Rashed scored Meanwhile, some of the stu- a sixth for Bahrain and completed dents from Doha’s Sherborne Thailand 2-3 (aet) Lebanon (Group D) his hat-trick. School had the time of their lives Today’s Matches After yesterday’s win, Bahrain yesterday as they got a chance to 12.30pm: Uzbekistan vs Iraq (Group C) are on three points and it means train and play with some of the 1.45pm: Vietnam vs Kuwait (Group B) that their match today against stars of the Iranian beach soc- 3pm: Bahrain vs. Laos (Group A) Laos, who also have three points, cer team, the defending Asian 5.30pm: Japan vs China (Group B) will determine who goes through Champions. to the quarters, along with Oman, The students left the 6.45pm: Qatar vs Oman (Group A) from Group A. Katara beach with a great 8pm: Iran vs Thailand (Group D)