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Sunday 9 March 2014 8 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5998 Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emiratis, Saudis OPINION Why did GCC in Qatari media states pull their envoys?

ast week, Saudi Arabia, face restrictions the UAE and Bahrain Lwithdrew their ambas- sadors from Qatar accusing UAE asks Jazeera journalists to quit Doha of not implementing a GCC agreement not to DOHA: The tensions created GCC countries including Qatar. interfere in by the surprise recall of ambas- “ Politics is like a ghost chas- each other’s sadors of three GCC countries ing us (the Arabs) unfortunately,” internal — Saudi Arabia, the UAE and said a posting in reaction to the affairs. The Bahrain — from Qatar seem to report posted on an Arabic web- move was be escalating, with the UAE ask- site about the resignation of the necessary ing all its citizens working with Al Jazeera journalists. “The rift ‘to protect Qatari media outlets to resign has started,” commented another. our secu- from their jobs immediately. Meanwhile, an Arabic news rity and Khalid Al Sayed The ban is specifically directed agency — Quds Press — quoted a stability’, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF at all UAE citizens working with Qatari source as saying that the they said. Al Jazeera network, Al Sharq decision of the three GCC coun- Reacting to this unprece- reports. tries will not change the Qatari A relative of a passenger on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries as she talks on her mobile phone at the dented move, Qatar’s cabinet In a related move, Saudi foreign policy , nor force it to with- Beijing Capital International Airport yesterday. said the action had “noth- Arabia’s Ministry of Information draw from the Gulf Cooperation ing to do with their national has issued a decision banning Council, according to Al Sharq. interests and security and Saudi writers and columnists The source also assured that stability, but there are differ- from writing for Qatari newspa- the issue will not reach that level Airliner missing, 239 feared dead ences of opinion on a number pers, said the daily. because the main difference is of issues outside the Gulf In an immediate fallout of the about the stand on the develop- KUALA LUMPUR: A were no indications of sabotage His mother, Renata Lucchi, told Cooperation Council”. UAE order, two Emirati journal- ments in Egypt. Qatar is only Malaysia Airlines flight carry- nor claims of a terrorist attack. Reuters his passport was pre- Actually what has hap- ists of Al Jazeera sports channel complying with its principles ing 227 passengers and 12 crew Vietnam said its rescue planes sumed stolen, in Thailand in 2013. pened is a repercussion of — Fares Awad and Ali Al Kaabi about hosting people and per- was presumed to have crashed had spotted two large oil slicks, John Goglia, a former board the Arab Spring. The situ- — have cancelled their work con- sonalities who seek shelter in the off the Vietnamese coast yes- about 15km long, and a column member of the National ation in Bahrain is not get- tracts with the channel. Both country, said the source. terday, and European officials of smoke off its coastline. Transportation Safety Board, ting better, with more people have been working for the chan- Such principles exist in all the said two people on board were But the passenger manifest the US agency that investigates dying and the reforms going nel for long. GCC countries, added the source. using false identities. issued by the airline included plane crashes, said the false very slow; Saudi has no role in “Ten years of work in a pro- For instance, the UAE hosted There were no reports of bad the names of two Europeans — identities of the two passengers the Arab Spring except their fessional environment with you supporters of Mubarak regime weather and no sign of why the Austrian Christian Kozel and strongly suggested the possibil- involvement in Syria; and the will remain in my heart for ever. and Saudi Arabia hosted Zine El Boeing 777-200ER would have Italian Luigi Maraldi — who, ity of a bomb. “That’s a big red UAE has been overreacting Goodbye colleagues,” Al Kaabi was Abidine Ben Ali (former Tunisian vanished from radar screens according to their foreign minis- flag,” he said. to activities of its own people. quoted as saying in a posting on president). Those in Qatar are about an hour after it took off tries, were not in fact on the plane. The airline said people of 14 In this context, the recall his Twitter account. not political leaders. They entered from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Austrian police had found the nationalities were among the 227 decision is a calculated move Several Qataris and other GCC the country long before the mili- By the early hours today, there man safe at home. The passport passengers, including at least 152 to take the region back to the citizens have expressed shock over tary takeover in Egypt. Qatar will were no confirmed signs of the was stolen two years ago while Chinese, 38 Malaysians, seven pre-Arab Spring days because the latest development because the never change its stance on what plane or any wreckage, well over he was travelling in Thailand. Indonesians, six Australians, five Saudi Arabia has lost its lead- three GCC states had said in their is going on in Arab countries, the 24 hours after it went missing. Rome said no Italian was on the Indians, four French and three ership role in the Middle East. joint statement that they cared source was quoted as saying. Operations will continue through plane either, despite the inclu- Americans. REUTERS Continued on page 7 about the welfare of people of the THE PENINSULA the night, officials said. There sion of Maraldi’s name on the list. See also page 12 SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Rota to interview Empower Youth meet candidates 975 register for this year’s conference

Ashraf Al Aryan from Family Consulting Centre giving a lecture during the Empower Interview workshop.

DOHA: Reach Out To Asia Empower 2014 expects to ensure talented youth are taking (Rota) has received a record attract up to 450 youth between advantage from this participa- number of online registration the ages of 16 and 26 with a tion. For this, Rota launched, for applications for the 6th Empower three-day conference focusing the first time since five years, the Youth Conference 2014 to on Leadership, Service Learning interviewing process that helps be held at Qatar Foundation and Global Citizenship. In par- conducting efficient interviews Student Centre from March 27 ticular, organisers will be inte- with the students registered to 29. To cope with more than grating Sports, Environment, for the conference. This process 975 youth who have registered Skills Development and the aimed at choosing the most dis- for this year’s conference, Rota, Arabic language as key themes of tinguished students to participate has introduced, in collabora- the Empower 2014 programme. in Empower 2014”, he added. tion with the Family Consulting “Empower 2014 is a unique plat- “Through a combination of semi- Centre, an interviewing process form for youth to discover their nar, panel discussion, power speech, to screen every applicant. voice, realise their potential to small group workshops, off-site vis- Rota recently hosted an inter- make a positive contribution and its, and a youth panel, our youth, view workshop to train and equip develop their skills, understand- coming from different backgrounds, the Rota youth advisory board on ing and attitudes to take an active will be able to share ideas, expertise, interviewing skills. These youths leadership role within their com- knowledge and common grounds will interview all applicants munities,” said Rota Executive while improving their talents and before being accepted and attend Director Essa Al Mannai. “Rota abilities,” Al Mannai noted. the yearly conference. is working harder this year to THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Project Qatar exhibition to begin on May 12 Event to feature International Stone Technology show

DOHA: Project Qatar will exhibition is getting ready to wel- are delighted to be taking part in be back from May 12 to 15. come more than 2,100 participat- Project Qatar’s 11th edition.” Building on a history of 10 years ing companies and guests from Project Qatar attracts key in Qatar, this event has grown more than 50 countries. industry leaders and understands exponentially in the region, As a natural gateway to the the role that technology and inno- both in terms of exhibitors and GCC countries, Project Qatar vation are increasingly playing in visitors. provides companies with a strong the global infrastructure and con- The 11th International business-to-business matchmak- struction environment. Construction Technology and ing platform to connect industry As commercial, residential Building Materials Exhibition, leading partners. and industrial infrastructure which will be taking place at V S Narayanan, Oriental developments in Qatar increase the Qatar National Convention Trading Company Managing in line with the requirements Centre (QNCC), a new venue Director, said: “This is the 7th of delivering the 2030 Qatar with new state of the art features. year we are participating in National Vision and the 2022 Organised by IFP Qatar Project Qatar. As the Qatar con- FIFA World Cup, this year’s (International Fairs & struction industry continues to event will be held concurrently Promotions), Project Qatar is one attract major investment oppor- with two specialised exhibitions: of the Middle East’s most impor- tunities, this renowned exhibi- “Qatar Stone-Tech” and “Heavy tant exhibitions for construc- tion offers the best exposure in Max”, as well as hosting two Work in progress at the Sheraton intersection. tion, sustainability and building the region for discussing integral specialised conferences organ- materials. Covering 27 pavilions topics and solutions, meeting ised by Advanced Conferences & spread across 41,500sqm of indoor contacts and conducting busi- Meetings; “LightingTech Qatar” and outdoor exhibition space, the ness related to the sector. We and “HVACTech Qatar”, the Sheraton intersection to be inaugural events of the PQ Conferences Series. These additional events partially opened from today have expanded Project Qatar’s exhibition to showcase new products, DOHA: The Sheraton rounda- to access Al Fundoq Street at addition to the side roads to the technical equipment and bout, which is being converted the Sheraton junction, the Public right of signals. technologies, delivering into a signalised intersection, Works Authority (Ashghal) said The work also includes creat- added value to visitors and will be partially open for traffic yesterday. Alternatively, drivers ing a signalised pedestrian crossing exhibitors alike. from today. from Al Fundoq Street will not be between the two intersections to Qatar Stone-Tech 2014 is The street between Post Office able to turn left in the direction access the new Qatar International the 3rd International Stone junction and Dafna Roundabout of Dafna, but they should drive Exhibition Centre and other gov- and Stone Technology show. will be open in both directions right till the Post Office Junction ernment buildings located in this Qatar’s need for new and with no traffic signals. and make a U-turn. area without a need to make a innovative solutions makes Commuters using the road lead- The Sheraton intersection is U-turn from Al Dafna intersection. it a perfect market to intro- ing from the Post Office junction part of a project consisting of Ashghal has previously com- duce unique products. to Dafna roundabout cannot turn three lane dual carriageways on pleted converting roundabouts on The size and scope of hun- left to enter Al Fundoq Street and the Corniche street including Al Corniche Street, Al Markhiya dreds of tertiary develop- Al Taawon junction. They rather three lanes towards City Center Street and Al Bidaa Street to sig- ments that will pop up to have to head towards Dafna Mall and three lanes towards nalised intersections. support the infrastructure Roundabout and take a U-turn Omar Al Mukhtar Street, in THE PENINSULA boom, whether hotels, hospi- tals, schools, convention cen- tres or otherwise, is a very enticing reason for the world’s best stone industry profes- sionals to exhibit in Qatar. Huge demand for Language Centre courses Qatar Stone-Tech is organised in collabora- tion with Veronafiere, DOHA: The Language English and Mandarin by fall of from each other and enrich each the organizer of the Centre at the Translating and 2014. other. We are here to nurture and renowned Marmomacc Interpreting Institute (TII) of Interested students are serve our participants by provid- held annually in Verona Hamad bin Khalifa University strongly encouraged to regis- ing opportunities for learning and — Italy, and Confindustria (HBKU) had the largest number ter for the upcoming summer exchange”, Mounir Ouanaimi. Marmomacchine of registered students yet, with semester. The summer course at Director of the Language Center (Associazione Italiana 150 students enrolled in the TII involves a study aboard com- at TII also commented. MARMOMACCHINE), various programmes, especially ponent for Spanish and French Classes at TII not only teach the Italian Association of in Arabic courses, this fall. language learners. students a language but prepare manufacturers and users of The Language Centre recently Dr Amal Al Malki, Executive students for a world outside of machinery and equipment launched daytime Arabic and Director of TII said: “The a classroom by placing a clear for natural stone processing. Spanish classes for Juniors on Language Centre at the emphasis on the integration of HeavyMax 2014, the 11th Saturdays to accommodate Translation and Interpreting language and culture in both International Exhibition younger students, making the Institute is growing steadily. The learning and teaching. for Heavy Machinery, is courses more accessible for the vision and mission of the Institute The Language Centre is a the leading international student population with the aim of have been designed carefully and core component of TII’s mis- exhibition for construction creating lifelong learners. And as is supported at the highest levels sion to build professional lin- equipment, plant, machin- part of its continued growth, the of HBKU and Qatar Foundation.” guistic capacity in Qatar and ery and vehicles. Language Centre also has plans “The interest of the Qatari the broader region. HBKU’s TII QNA to introduce new programmes in community in foreign languages delivers advanced translation and and cultures is simply interpreting education, high-level phenomenal. Our training in a range of languages, diverse offerings also and translation and interpreting create an interesting services that meet and exceed the community of par- highest international standards. ticipants who learn THE PENINSULA Man Utd soccer camp this week

DOHA: Commercial Bank yesterday announced that customers who applied for and used their Manchester United Credit Cards were selected to receive a price- less Manchester United experience — a place for their child to attend the special Manchester United-run soccer camp being held here for the first time this week, said a press statement yesterday. Children aged seven to 16 are set to take part in the soccer camp with Manchester United Soccer Schools coaches being flown in from the United Kingdom to pro- vide the training. The kids will undergo a mixture of technical, physical and mental challenges at the soccer school. The aspir- ing young footballers will learn techniques related to Manchester United first team players and how to train their bodies for the demands of the game in different player positions. Mental training involves understand- ing tactics, developing a winning mentality and how to behave off the pitch, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet. Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, Commercial Bank CEO, said: “Customers with Commercial Bank Manchester United Credit Cards not only benefit from our generous rewards programme but fans can also win a once in a lifetime experience for their child at a Manchester United Soccer School. It’s the first time this unique experience has been in Doha, and we are delighted our customers and their children can benefit.” Commercial Bank has a five-year exclusive partnership with Manchester United and offers a range of Manchester United financial products, including a Current or Savings Account with a Debit Card and two types of Manchester United Credit Card. THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME SEC reappoints over 800 Qatari school staff 200 told to decide on whether to return

DOHA: Giving a major boost to its Qatarisation drive, the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has reappointed more than 800 Qatari school teachers and administrative employees They are part of who had been away from their jobs for more than five years. more than 1,200 They are part of more than employees who 1,200 Qatari employees who had had been laid off The winners with officials during the awards ceremony. been laid off temporarily and placed in “Band Al Markazi” temporarily and (Central Clause). As per govern- placed in “Band Al Aspire Zone awards winners of SIH in Campuses ment rules, they had been getting Markazi” . As per their salaries over all these years, without working anywhere. government rules, DOHA: Aspire Zone Foundation in the challenge. The College of at Aspetar, said: “Speed is an “Media plays an important role They have now been re- they had been (AZF) recognised the the North Atlantic won the sec- essential part of our modern and consolidates our efforts to appointed in teaching and admin- Community College of Qatar ond place and Community College world and everything is accessi- reach out to the community, their istrative jobs at Independent getting their salaries as the winners of ‘SIH in the of Qatar female campus won the ble with a simple push of a but- support is crucial for the success schools across the country as over all these years, Campuses’ in an official award third place. ton. Therefore, we have developed of our various programmes. This well as the SEC offices, the Qatar without working ceremony. The winners of the Dr Al Kuwari emphasised the a state-of-the-art application for support endorses our mission of News Agency reported yesterday. competition, which was part of role of Aspire Zone Foundation the ‘Step into Health’ programme engaging the community in regu- “The SEC has re-recruited anywhere. AZF’s wider ‘Step into Health’ in advocating physical activity to be used on mobile phones that lar physical activities to promote 805 teachers and administrative (SIH) initiative, were honoured among members of society. He will satisfy the expectations of the health and well-being.” staff and placed them in differ- by Dr Mohammed Ghaith Al said: “Preserving the health of younger generations. This is the Last November, AZF launched ent departments of the SEC and Kuwari, the Director of Healthy our youth is vital. They represent first application in Arabic which its ‘SIH in Campuses’ challenge in the Independent schools, accord- education reform initiative. Lifestyle programme at Aspetar a wealth of intellectual resources counts steps just like a pedome- five different universities under the ing to the relevant provisions of The source said, another list — member organisation of AZF, and will one day be the drivers of ter. It provides regular health and slogan, ‘Support your University the Human Resources Law (No of 403 former employees had and a number of deans and our economy and prosperity.” nutritional advice to users and it and Participate in the Challenge’. 8) of 2009 and administrative been sent to the Ministry of professors from participating Dr Al Kuwari continued, also counts calories burnt during The effort was designed to include regulations (human resource) for Administrative Development to universities. “Overall, we were very happy exercise.” all sectors of society and encour- Independent school employees,” take the necessary action, because This initiative included par- with the energy that the students, “The participation of students age students, professors and staff the agency said, quoting a SEC the SEC couldn’t find jobs that ticipants from five universities, faculty members and employees from different universities in our to walk more and change their source. suit their previous jobs or their including the Community College brought to the ‘Step into Health’ initiative and the launch of our daily routines. To prepare for the The move aims to benefit qualifications didn’t meet the SEC of Qatar (male and female), The initiative. Our success is depend- new application is a significant challenge, teams held special ses- from the long experience of large requirements. College of the North Atlantic - ent on the positive mentality that milestone for this programme. At sions at the participating univer- number of teachers and other Another 200 employees, who Qatar, Qatar University (male members bring to programmes AZF, we are constantly looking for sities to introduce the ‘Step into employees (1,208 in total) who had also fall in the same category and female), University of Calgary that encourage people to exer- opportunities to help members of Health’ initiative, which included been transferred to the General have been asked to take a decision in Qatar and Stenden University cise regularly. We would like to our society enjoy a healthy and presenting the benefits of the ini- Secretariat of the State Cabinet, whether to return to work or go Qatar. celebrate and honor the leaders happy life,” he added. tiative, and explaining how to use said the source. for voluntary retirement. The winning team took first and pioneers of this program, past, During the ceremony Al both the pedometer and the new They have been trained to The source said the SEC will place after averaging 292,000 present and future, who strive Mohannadi honoured journal- smartphones application. upgrade them with skills and provide all support to those who steps during the three-month to educate others on the impor- ist Smail Telai for his award Aspire Zone Foundation knowledge to meet the standards have returned to work to utilise challenge. In total, more than 392 tance of leading a healthy, active received from the Council of Arab launched the 2nd edition of ‘Step set by the Independent schools, their long experience in the edu- million and 405,000 steps were lifestyle.” Ministers of Health on his article into Health’ in parallel with three that were established more than a cation sector. taken by participants from all Abdullah Saeed al Mohannadi, “Step into Health: a dose of moti- new initiatives. decade ago as part of the country’s THE PENINSULA the universities who participated a Health Promotion Researcher vation”, Mohannadi commented, QNA

Minister arrives Exciting events lined up for Welsh Culture Week in Muscat MUSCAT: Minister of DOHA: The Welsh government and Wales. Different event will Manager (Mena) at The Welsh arts and culture and a selection of Renaissance Hotel today. Administrative Development H E celebrates its heritage with be held at the British Embassy Government, commented: “We exciting performances and exhibi- Tomorrow Qatar British Dr Issa Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi Qatar by hosting ‘Welsh Culture in Doha, Renaissance Hotel, opened our office for the Middle tions are taking place throughout Business Forum (QBBF) arrived yesterday in Muscat on Week, by showcasing cultural, Qatar University and Virginia East and North Africa (Mena) on the week’s festivities. Reception will be held at the an official visit to Oman. trade and tourism events. Commonwealth University in March 1, 2004, so it seems poign- A collection of portrait pho- British Embassy in Doha. At the invitation of Omani The Welsh Government’s Qatar. ant to commemorate this with a tographs by Cambridge Jones a Welsh National Opera will per- Minister of Civil Service Sheikh MENA office yesterday The event will showcase a range week of events to showcase the celebrity photographer who has form at the British Embassy on Khalid bin Omar bin Said Al announced a number of exciting of unique and traditional Welsh close relationship that has pros- worked with Hollywood stars, Wednesday. Marhoon, Al Nuaimi and Al events will take place from today customs and achievements across pered over the past decade. British Prime Ministers and A series of lectures will be held Marhoon will discuss scopes of to March 13. arts & culture, higher education “It is a pleasure to celebrate members of the British Royal at Qatar University, College of bilateral cooperation in the field The week of events, that is a and trade & foreign direct invest- the success we have achieved Family will be on show at the Law until Wednesday. of administrative development. part of the British Festival 2014, ment, joining up with existing together and we are excited at Renaissance Hotel tomorrow and Archaeological Exhibition The Minister of Administrative will commemorate Welsh tradi- partners and developing long- the prospect of building new Tuesday. “Lines in the Sand” at Virginia Development was greeted on tions, as well as celebrate the term discussions and bonds with relationships for future endeav- Also an alumni Event for Qatari Commonwealth University Qatar arrival at the airport by the strong ties that have blossomed new partners. ours between Wales and Qatar.” Welsh University Graduates will between Wednesday and Friday. Minister of Civil Service and over the years between Qatar Lee Jennings, Regional Wales has a rich heritage in be held at Marriot Courtyard/ THE PENINSULA the Charge d’Affairs of Qatar Embassy in Oman Mohamad Rashid Mohamad Al Humaidi. Labour Ministry’s Qatar urges forming Delni campaign Relocation of labour camps hits groceries UN development DOHA: Several neighbour- affect them more as rents have credit to keep customers. situation for us to handle.” agenda post-2015 concludes hood shops and eateries com- been increased. “Some workers don’t pay us on a Law No. 15 of 2010 bans labour DOHA: In the presence of plain that relocation of labour Mohamed Walid an Indian eat- daily basis but only once a month,” lodgings in areas where families NEW YORK: The State of Minister of Labor and Social camps and restricting workers ery operator in Myther area said, said a grocery shop keeper. live also differentiates between Qatar underlined the urgent Affairs H E Abdullah Saleh in residential areas has affected “Majority of our customers were Also several shop keepers in labourers and single workers. need for building momentum and MubarekAl Khulaifi, the activi- business. labourers. Now only few custom- the Al Rayyan area too complain However, single workers not accelerating the pace of efforts ties of Delni Campaign organ- Some shop keepers claim say ers are coming, as many workers about heavy loses in their bus- employed as labourers with a con- to develop and formulate the ised by Ministry of Labour and that their business has decreased have left the area.” “They come sienss. “We have lost at least struction company are not cov- United Nations (UN) develop- Social Affairs came to a close by 50 percent, reported an Arabic early in the morning for breakfast, half of the income after the ered under the law. ment agenda for post-2015 with yesterday. daily yesterday. some buy even lunch and dinner labourers left the area,” said a If a labour camp is identified by a focus on the contribution of The Minister inspected the Other shopkeepers say that from us, now all of them have shop keeper. civic inspectors the camp opera- women, youth and civil society. exhibition held by schools partici- majority of their customers were moved from here” he added. Another said, “We are tor will be given 30 days to vacate The came in the statement pating in the 2013-2014 campaign laborers and get very few custom- Some shopkeepers also sell loosing business and rents the place. delivered by Qatar’s Permanent which aims at promoting the con- ers. They say this has started to items for labourers on a monthly are increasing, it’s a difficult THE PENINSULA Representative to the United cept of responsibility through val- Nations Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin ues such as Islamic and National Saif Al Thani before the high- Identity. Al Khulaifi honoured level meeting of the UN General agencies and partners support- Assembly on the contributions of ing the campaign. the youth and civil society in the While extending his thanks to the HMC, QU host world nuclear technology meet development plan. Supreme Education Council for its Despite the contributions of support, Assistant Undersecretary women, youth and civil society in for Social Affairs at the Ministry of DOHA: The Occupational of healthcare, industry and radia- accepted 64 participants to attend will stimulate discussions and a the preparation of the develop- Labour and Social Affairs Ahmed Health and Safety (OHS) tion protection an opportunity to the program in Qatar. Forty per- multitude of ideas pertinent to ment agenda for post-2015, there Al Nasr said that the campaign has Department at Hamad Medical benefit from an intensive overview cent of the participants are from radioisotope application,” she are still many existing challenges achieved its objectives in enhancing Corporation (HMC), in collabo- of nuclear technologies worldwide. Qatar and the rest are from 28 added. for full and effective participa- students’ national and Islamic iden- ration with Qatar University The WNU-RT school is organ- different countries around the Some of the topics that will tion in the comprehensive and tities through its various activities (QU), is hosting the third World ised every two years by WNU world,” said Dr Huda Al Naemi, be covered during the school sustainable development, said carried out by the schools. Nuclear University School Coordinating Centre in London, Executive Director of OHS at include: development of nuclear Sheikha Alia, explaining that Director of Social Protection on Radiation Technologies under the auspices of several lead- HMC. technologies in the Gulf region, these challenges are represented Department at the Ministry of (WNU-RT), until March 20, ing institutes of nuclear education “This is a very exciting opportu- international safety regime and in the discriminatory practices, Labour and Social Affairs Naji Al at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical and training. The school is pro- nity for selected HMC physicians, lessons learned from past radi- inequality, marginalisation and Aji pointed out that the number City. vided technical support from the radiologists and specialists, as well ological accidents, security of poverty. These challenges hinder of the students taking part in this The two-week leadership pro- World Council on Isotopes as well as other local healthcare profes- nuclear materials and nuclear the capabilities of these categories campaign has jumped from 20,000 gramme is being held in Qatar as scholarships from International sionals in the radiation field, as facilities, and setting up radio- to participate as genuine partners in the last years to 42,000 students for the first time and will provide Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). they will not only attend a world isotope production and applica- in the comprehensive develop- this year. selected local and international “This year the scientific com- class radiation program, but also tion programme. ment efforts, she added. QNA radiation professionals in the field mittee of WNU-RT school gain from a unique platform which THE PENINSULA QNA SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Red twins in the sky EU foreign Egypt issues policy chief Ashton in presidential Iran for talks TEHRAN: EU foreign pol- icy chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, election law arrived in Tehran yesterday, media reported. Her visit comes amid a recent Tough norms for candidacy thaw in Iran’s strained relations with the West following last year’s CAIRO: Interim Egyptian foreign nationality, or whose par- election of moderate Iranian president Adly Mansour prom- ents or spouse have. President Hassan Rowhani and ulgated yesterday a law set- It also stipulates that candi- over its controversial nuclear ting the stage for an election dates need to secure the signa- programme. later this year to replace ousted tures of 25,000 voters from 15 Rowhani vowed to “construc- Islamist president Mohamed provinces to qualify. tively engage” with the West, and Mursi. And it sets a 20 million a historic interim nuclear deal The election is seen as a major Egyptian pounds ($2.8m) ceiling struck in November came into step in a roadmap outlined by the for campaign spending ahead of force in January. interim authorities after the mili- the first round and five million The interim deal requires that tary deposed Mursi in July. pounds in case of a run-off. the Islamic republic curb its Army chief Abdel Fattah In January, voters approved by nuclear activities for six months Al Sisi, who has emerged as 98.1 percent a new constitution in exchange for some sanctions Egypt’s most popular political that grants the military exten- relief. figure, has not yet announced his sive powers but lacks much of Negotiators are aiming to reach candidacy but aides say he has the Islamist-inspired wording of Britain’s Breitling Wingwalkers display team performs over Kuwait City yesterday during a promotional event a comprehensive agreement by decided to stand. the 2012 charter adopted under to mark the opening of the first dedicated store of the Swiss luxury brand, Breitling, in Kuwait. July 20, when the interim accord Officials close to Sisi told Mursi. is due to expire. AFP that he would step down as Under the charter, Egypt is to “Ashton and her political and defence minister after the law start procedures for parliamen- economic delegation arrived was promulgated. tary elections within six months in Tehran and were officially The law sets out the basic of its adoption. Palestine women join riot police welcomed by Deputy Foreign qualifications for candidacy and The decision to ban appeals Minister Abbas Araqchi,” official includes a measure criticised in was taken, in part, to speed up IRNA news agency said. some quarters that make all deci- the electoral process given “the JERICHO, PALESTINIAN instructors, Lieutenant Naama “The idea behind training this Araqchi is Tehran’s chief sions by the electoral committee nature of the transitional period TERRITORIES: Instructors Shalalfat. unit goes back to 2009, when a nuclear negotiator in the talks before and after the vote final and the country is going through and bark orders to a column of “Law enforcement is not women’s demonstration in the with world powers. not subject to appeal. the security and economic crisis,” Palestinian women recruited reserved for men,” she told AFP. streets of Hebron (in the West Deputy Foreign Minister With the adoption of the law, Awad added. More than seven to an anti-riot unit, part of an The recruits, who are taking Bank) degenerated into acts Majid Takhte Ravanchi said the electoral committee can now months after Mursi’s overthrow, effort to tackle problems caused classroom lessons to supplement of vandalism, while the police that bilateral ties between Iran set a date for the election sched- Egypt remains battered by pro- by conservative attitudes in the the training exercises, belong to couldn’t intervene because we live and European Union as well as uled for this spring, presidential tests and militant attacks that West Bank force. a new all-female anti-riot unit, in a conservative society,” Awad nuclear issue were on Ashton’s adviser for constitutional matters have damaged its vital tourism Decked out with helmets, which will be made up of 220 said. agenda. Ali Awad told a press conference. industry and scared off investors. assault boots, batons and shields, members and will be deployed Lieutenant Osama Awda, 28, “Ms Ashton travels to Iran as It stipulates that presiden- Many Egyptians, weary of the the students at the Jericho police across the West Bank when it is says he is “training police offic- the EU foreign policy chief, and tial candidates be university three years of turmoil since the school weather a barrage from operational. ers of both sexes in martial arts discussing bilateral ties between graduates at least 40 years 2011 toppling of Hosni Mubarak, stone throwers, before rushing to Colonel Ramadan Awad, deputy and self-defence before moving on Iran and European Union is on of age who have completed view Sisi as a strong hand who arrest the “troublemakers”. police chief for the West Bank, to law enforcement”. her agenda... naturally the nuclear their military service and have can restore stability. But the ban “There is no difference between says the unit was formed in He says that with his three col- issue will be raised too,” he said. Egyptian parents. on appealing electoral commit- the training for men and women response to problems caused by leagues, two men and a woman, he Ashton’s visit is the first to Iran It bans any candidates who tee decisions has already drawn for combat abilities and searching old attitudes towards women in trains 500 female recruits every by an EU policy chief since 2008. have themselves acquired a criticism. AFP cars and houses,” said one of the the territory. year. AFP AFP Saudi trying to play leadership role

Continued from page 1 blaming Qatar for its failure in the region back to square one, Also, Saudi and Bahrain were Syria and even for the instabil- and also damage the freedom of not happy with the agreement ity in Egypt. And more impor- expression and human rights. between Iran and West, and tant decisions are awaited, for Ultimately, it’s not about Qatar, could not understand “why the example, a tighter federal union Al Jazeera and Brotherhood. US rushed toward Iran, despite between Saudi and Bahrain or a Much more is at stake. the negative policies of Tehran in core union of at least three Gulf It must also be noted that the the region and toward regional countries. The Saudi foreign min- diplomatic action shows a weak- states”. It’s also important that ister had announced last week ness in dealing with the changes this decision has come before the that a decision on the much- after the Arab uprisings. People visit of President Barack Obama anticipated GCC union would be in the GCC are ready for reforms to Saudi Arabia, and before the announced before the bloc’s next and are ready to face all chal- elections in Egypt. summit later this year. lenges, but it’s unfortunate that Saudi has been trying to play a The joint action by the three some GCC states want to take leadership role not only in Syria countries will affect political the region back to where it was but also in Egypt and has been reforms in the GCC and take 30 years ago. THE PENINSULA

Arms ship escorted to Israel port

EILAT, ISRAEL: A ship allegedly carrying advanced rockets from Iran to Gaza that was intercepted by the Israeli navy was escorted into the Red Sea port of Eilat yesterday. Israeli naval comman- dos seized the vessel on Wednesday in the Red Sea between Eritrea and Sudan, with the military saying it was carrying an Iranian shipment of M-302 rockets destined for the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The Panamanian-flagged Klos-C was escorted into Eilat port by two Israeli warships. Thousands of Israelis gathered on a hill over- looking the port broke into applause when the ship came into view. “We will dismantle all the containers to verify if they contain other weap- ons,” an army spokesman said, adding that a news conference will be held at the end of operations late tomorrow. Israeli radio said that ambassa- dors and military attaches posted to Israel as well as “prominent Israeli figures” would be invited to view the weapons. AFP SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial Ashton’s moment in Iran Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE European high priestess of foreign policy, Catherine Ashton, arrived in Iran yesterday amid high expectations after the breakthrough talks last year Tmade it look like Iran was ready for some compromise over its nuclear programme. Ashton, who mediated the nuclear Russia doesn’t respect borders; talks between World Powers and a recalcitrant Iranian regime, enjoys a good working relationship with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the mild-mannered trusted diplomat neither has the US educated in the West. The Iranian regime has been making conciliatory noises over BY HAROLD MEYERSON its nuclear programme, the development of which was seen very much included, Russia’s move into Crimea should come as no great sur- by the West as a dangerous signal for world peace. President n light of Russia’s military move- prise. Putin’s casus belli may be one he Hassan Rowhani told a US television network days before he ment into Crimea, it’s a good thing manufactured largely by himself, but so was going to speak at the United Nations in New York, that Iran that the United States repudiated was George W Bush’s case for going to Russia could even had “time and again said that under no circumstances would Ithe Monroe Doctrine. war in Iraq. we seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear In 1823, to deter European powers America’s perma-hawks — the politi- plausibly argue that from military or political intervention in cians and pundits who beat the drums weapons.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is on record Crimea — the longtime the emerging nations of Latin America, for intervention in Iraq and now criti- saying that nuclear weapons are inconsistent with Islamic values. President James Monroe announced a cise President Obama for insufficient home of Russia’s Black Ashton’s visit started yesterday with the news that Israel had policy implying that that region was bellicosity about Ukraine — need to escorted to the Red Sea port of Eilat a ship allegedly ferrying our sphere of influence, not Europe’s. explain why the infinitely self-serving Sea Fleet and many Syrian-made rockets from Iran to Gaza. Tehran has denied the The United States invoked the Monroe doctrine of “preventive war,” which Muscovites’ vacation allegation, which saw Israel accusing the regime of carrying out Doctrine, along with the imperatives they used to justify our Iraq adventure, of the Cold War, to justify some of should be reserved for us alone. Russia’s dachas — was appended subversive activities in disguise. However, the clever diplomat its own interventions there: in Cuba, military installations in Crimea, Putin to Ukraine in 1954 only that she is, Ashton is expected to sidestep the news and focus on Panama, Nicaragua, Chile, Grenada, the has said, were threatened by Ukrainian more pressing issues — the nascent thaw in relations between Dominican Republic — it’s a long list. revolutionaries. When power needs a by the whim of Nikita Iran and the West. But as the Obama administration has threat to justify its exercise, power Khrushchev and that it is The EU The West, led by the United tried to point out to Vladimir Putin, this invariably finds one. States, has targeted Iran with is the 21st cen- Besides, by the standards of the really more Russian than tury, and the age Monroe Doctrine, Russia’s move into foreign policy crippling sanctions for quite a long when nations had Crimea looks normal. In addition to the Ukrainian. chief’s visit time after reports emerged that spheres of inter- threat to its naval base, Russia has cited Tehran was enriching uranium Russia’s military est is over. affronts to its almost-compatriots: In its to Iran has for developing a nuclear weapon. Yet for the first hours in power, the new Ukrainian for sovereignty, stability and the avoid- The hubris-laced and arrogant installations in United States, the parliament passed legislation banning ance of mayhem — even if many nations, Monroe Doctrine the use of Russian in governmental the United States included, honor the potential approach of former Iranian president Crimea, Putin isn’t exactly a institutions, even though it is the native those norms far more in theory than of charting a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had fanned has said, were musty relic. tongue of many eastern Ukrainians. in practice. That’s why Russia should the fire and relations with the West, In fact, the US Russia could also claim it was pay a price in diplomatic and economic new course for especially ties with Washington, threatened government did responding to geo-strategic threats: sanctions. Tehran’s ties dived to an all time low. After the by Ukrainian not pronounce Over the past two decades, even dur- But Americans should realise that we election of Rowhani as the new the doctrine dead ing the tipsy, pro-Western reign of Boris pay a price, too, when we violate those revolutionaries. until November, Yeltsin, NATO expanded to Russia’s norms. The admiration in which many with the West. president and the stewardship of the When power needs when Secretary of borders — a move that probably made held us was gravely damaged by the war Foreign Ministry by Zarif, things a threat to justify State John Kerry, Russia feel more insecure than made in Iraq, just as it has long been damaged have been looking better. Ashton in a speech to the Eastern Europe feel secure. (NATO in Latin America by U.S. interventions would have underscored the improvement in ties with Tehran its exercise, power Organization of can’t accurately be described as an in the affairs of nations we claimed were and the continued momentum building up in relations with the invariably finds American States, effective coalition of the willing: NATO in our sphere of influence. West as areas of priority in her dossier. The astute diplomat has proclaimed, “The or no, Europe had to be dragged kicking As we have paid a price, so now will one. era of the Monroe and screaming to provide some of the Putin. His Eurasian Union will either the hard but achievable task of creating a milieu for sustainable Doctrine is over.” forces that kept Serbia from gobbling up be stillborn or held together at gunpoint improvement in ties. She would have to balance the flaws in the From procla- its neighbors.) Russia could even plau- — a rickety, glum mini-empire flanked Iranian approach with the weaknesses of the West’s foreign policy mation to renunciation, that era lasted sibly argue that Crimea — the longtime by a more democratic Europe on one vis-à-vis Tehran. The result that she achieves should be able to 190 years. home of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and side and a more dynamic China on the outsmart glitches and kinks that might occasionally show up in I say all this to put in perspective many Muscovites’ vacation dachas — other. Russia’s limited claim on the Russia’s move into Crimea. This is not to was appended to Ukraine in 1954 only world’s regard will last only so long as the Islamic Republic’s relationship with western powers. suggest that the US government should by the whim of Nikita Khrushchev its natural gas exports continue to flow. The political and economic delegation arriving with Ashton decline to sanction Russia for sending in and that it is really more Russian than As the Monroe Doctrine won the United is likely to open wide-ranging talks that can chart a historical forces or not provide economic assist- Ukrainian. States few friends, so Putin’s version course in ties between Tehran and the 28-nation European ance to Ukraine and support its bid Even if most Crimeans end up sup- will win him even fewer. Union. Brussels should look optimistically at the new window to join Europe. Rather, I’m suggesting porting Russia’s intervention, Putin’s Meyerson is editor-at-large of The that has opened in bilateral ties with Tehran and plan to that, according to the norms adhered action violates norms by which nations American Prospect. to by major powers, the United States should conduct themselves — respect WP-BLOOMBERG leverage it for better economic and trade relations. The other side Quote of Thar’s plight the day

T IS appalling that in the modern age, far from satisfactory. Large numbers by the Sindh administration have not lawmakers from Thar were not aware around 40 children have reportedly of livestock have also perished due yet arrived, while observers say even of the situation on the ground. Or is died in Sindh’s Tharparkar district to the severe climatic conditions. If this quantity of food is insufficient to it that death and dislocation caused Idue to malnutrition as a famine-like reports are to be believed, it is media meet the people’s needs. by predictable natural disasters is situation prevails in the remote desert coverage that has finally prompted It is not as if the phenomenon of accepted as ‘normal’? The displaced Protecting our region. It speaks volumes about the the Sindh government’s machinery to drought in Thar has come out of the Thari families, as well as residents still apathy of the state when it comes swing into action in response to the blue; the region experiences drought in the area, need the full support of the environment and to the well-being of this country’s unfolding disaster. PPP head Bilawal every two to three years. Yet planning state until the situation stabilises. This meeting the challenge hapless population. Around 175,000 Bhutto-Zardari has ordered the ahead for such extreme climatic condi- includes proper access to food, water of global climate change Thari families have left their homes provincial administration to launch relief tions is obviously not part of the state’s and shelter. If money is a problem, the due to the drought, heading towards efforts, while the Sindh chief minister priorities. The PPP remained in power federal government or donors need is a critical mission for other districts. Tharparkar’s reservoirs has initiated a probe into the children’s for five years in Sindh and retained the to be approached. Equally important me as our country’s are nearly all dry and the shortage deaths. Yet all this seems to be a case of provincial administration in last year’s is the need to learn from this debacle of food is critical. What is more, the too little, too late. For example, 60,000 general election. It is hard to believe and ensure such a catastrophe does top diplomat. health facilities in the region are very wheat bags promised to Thar’s people the party’s provincial and national not recur. DAWN John Kerry US Secretary of State SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Both sides getting it wrong on Ukraine

war of words over Ukraine – with Putin It’s possible to casting himself as the defender of the besieged Jews of that country. It is quite condemn Vladimir true that Svoboda’s leaders once claimed Ukraine was ruled by a “Moscow-Jewish Putin’s invasion mafia” – quite something, given that Jews make up an estimated 0.15 percent of the country’s population – or that they lam- – and to believe basted the Ukrainian-born actress Mila Kunis as a “dirty Jewess”. True too that that Kiev’s new synagogues have been on the receiving end of Molotov cocktails and that one com- munal leader was frightened enough to government is no suggest that Jews get out of Ukraine for their own safety. place for fascists. Yet it’s also true that young Jews were themselves active in the Maidan BY JONATHAN FREEDLAND protests, even forming their own combat group against the now-ousted govern- ment. True too that when Jewish leaders n debates about affairs far away, asked Kiev’s new authorities for protec- “both” seems to be the hardest tion for key community buildings, they word. Ukraine has been a case in got it instantly. Nor can one ignore the point, the discussion reduced to a Jewish leaders who believe some of these slanging match of binaries, each antisemitic attacks were performed by Iside hurling false dichotomies at the pro-Russian provocateurs, bent on dis- other – insisting that every aspect of crediting Kiev’s new masters, just as one this unfolding crisis can be reduced to cannot dismiss Thursday’s letter to Putin an either/or choice, when in fact the truth from the Ukrainian Jewish leadership, very often comes down to both. telling the Russian president to back off So one side loudly condemns Russia for and accusing him of both exploiting the its armed incursion into Crimea, thereby issue of antisemitism and hypocrisy, given violating Ukrainian sovereignty. What his country’s own record. hypocrisy, cry their opponents. How dare Nothing, in other words, is as clear as the west criticise Russia when the US, Anti-war protesters hold placards and shout slogans during a rally on a road in Simferopol yesterday. the antagonists and their cheerleaders Britain and its allies invaded Iraq 11 years abroad would like. It is true that Crimea ago. That’s the choice. Either Russia is in if you like over Libya or the continuing Ukrainian civilians who had popped to commemorating Stepan Bandera, hailed was part of Russia until 1954, and that the wrong or the west is in the wrong. US drone warfare, but the specific exam- the local fancy dress shop to stock up on a hero of Ukrainian independence despite it is a quirk of history that it is part You can’t have it both ways. ple of Iraq does not make his position Russian military uniforms. His charm- his wartime collaboration with the Nazis. of Ukraine – and yet also true that to Except you can. It’s perfectly possible on Crimea hypocritical. It makes it con- ingly retro claim that Russian forces had Yet it should be possible to face the invade it still breaches international law. for a westerner to oppose both Russia’s sistent. To ignore that fact, to hold the been invited into Ukraine by the latter’s truth of both these situations, to condemn Just as it is true that the Russians have action in Crimea and the invasion of Iraq current administration responsible for ousted president – just as Soviet troops Putin’s de facto dictatorship in Moscow not fired a shot in anger, while the inva- – indeed, to oppose both for the same the sins of its predecessor – as if Obama were invited into Hungary in 1956 and and to be appalled by the presence of fas- sion of Iraq left hundreds of thousands reason: as unmerited violations of sover- and Bush are simply the interchange- invited again into Czechoslovakia in 1968 cists in a 21st-century European govern- dead – but that doesn’t make Putin’s eignty. Admittedly, that might be tricky able faces of permanent US power – is – had one commentator suggesting Putin ment in Kiev. Yet too often the warring action OK. for John Kerry, given his Senate vote in to ignore the cardinal principle that in had lost his mind. camps close their eyes to one even as they It used to be said of Tony Blair that he 2002 giving George W Bush the author- democratic societies governments change. Standing against them is the opposing denounce the other. This goes not only came to prefer foreign affairs to matters ity to use military force against Saddam Perhaps not in Russia, where Putin has camp, which urges you to look instead for commentators and pundits, slugging domestic because they afforded a moral Hussein – a record that should have given been in charge since Bill Clinton was in at the new forces ruling Ukraine. This it out online and on air; John Kerry and certainty missing at home. him pause before denouncing Vladimir the White House – but in the democratic camp notes the influence of far right- European Union foreign ministers should I’ve written before of the way some Putin for acting “in a 19th-century fash- world, that’s how it works. ist groups Svoboda (which traded origi- realise that it would not undermine their outsiders follow the Israeli-Palestinian ion by invading another country on a That’s far from the only empty choice nally under the historically resonant stance against Russian interference in conflict as if it were a clash of two rival completely trumped-up pretext”. offered up in the Ukraine debate. One name of the Social-National party of Ukraine if they were to condemn the rac- football teams, mine always right, yours But it’s silly to throw the Iraq prec- camp slams the crudity of Putin’s lies Ukraine) and the Right Sector, now ist thugs who played a role in the Maidan always wrong. edent back at Barack Obama. He is and deceits – his press conference this rewarded with seats in Ukraine’s govern- uprising and have won a slice of power. It But the world is not like that. It is president of the United States, in part, week recasting him as a Kremlin ver- ment, and of the fascistic paramilitaries is possible to hold both positions at once. rarely black vs white. It usually requires because he opposed the 2003 invasion. It sion of “Comical Ali”, hilariously defy- patrolling the streets of Kiev wearing Indeed, to do otherwise is to deny that us to hold two apparently contradictory was his stance on Iraq that helped him ing the facts as he insisted that the swastika armbands and parroting anti- reality is always stubbornly, maddeningly thoughts in our head at once. defeat Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Russian troops everyone could see with Jewish slogans. They alert you to the complex. Take the question of antisemitism, Life is not either/or. It is both. nomination. You can condemn Obama their own eyes in Crimea were in fact torch-lit parade of ultra-nationalists which has become a battleground in the THE GUARDIAN

Military spending is integral part of capitalism Where did the Marshall

By the same token, it is not clear One thing whether Japan’s rise to becoming a Islands just go? major global economic power would about military have been possible had its military BY J DANA STUSTER commitments not been constitu- tionally limited. he Marshall Islands are a leading advocate of international spending that Nonetheless, there is some action on climate change. If you ever needed an illustration complex evidence of arms spend- for why, this is it. became clear ing increasing growth. Barry T This week an unusually high tide, sometimes called a king Rundquist and Thomas Carsey’s tide, swept through the island nation’s capital city, Majuro. Even some- study of military procurement in thing as modest as a swelling tide can have an outsize effect in the is that it is the United States demonstrates Marshalls, which comprises low-lying islands in the Pacific Ocean that this has a distributive aspect. -- the highest elevation in the entire island chain is just 10 metres. never just about Such spending in the US helps “Around 1,000 people were displaced as a result of the king tide, already wealthy, booming locales and a number of family homes were completely wiped out by the become even wealthier, but it encroaching seas,” Marshall Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs conflict. does not tend to make poor areas Phillip Muller told FP by email. Muller said it was the worst king tide wealthier and nor does it reduce to hit the Marshalls in decades. “On Tuesday, the cabinet declared a BY RICHARD SEYMOUR A frontier soldier from the People’s Liberation Army jumps through a ring of fire as part of training in Heihe, Heilongjiang province on Wednesday. unemployment. This is quite sig- state of emergency, and government agencies are now in high gear to nificant, because one of the major help the communities in Majuro to deal with the situation. But the hina’s surge in military arguments governments offer for cleanup has only just begun, and many of the Marshallese affected spending gains headlines, In a very general sense, mili- In the context of the second protecting military spending is will never fully recover.” partly because of the omi- tarisation could be seen as an world war, and then in the sub- that it protects jobs – the one The tide washed through a landfill, picking up trash and sewage, Cnous implications regard- integral aspect of capitalism. sequent cold war, one thing about situation in which governments and a cemetery, jostling grave sites. It also damaged buildings and ing its regional contest with Japan, One of the central ambiguities military spending that became almost always feign an interest homes. “We are hopeful that those houses that are far away enough but it’s the deeper structures of of capitalism is that it is neces- abundantly clear is that it is in employment. There is actually from the shoreline that they may be able to be repaired in such a way military spending in general that sarily a global system, with pro- never just about conflict. As in little evidence for this claim. that a similar tide within the next five to 10 years can be staved off,” are far more compelling. duction and exchange extending the conduct of wars themselves, That brings us to a final point. Marshall Islands Climate Change Minister Tony de Brum said, but he There are few surprises about beyond national boundaries; yet the institutionalisation of mili- There is no way to discuss the stressed that the king tide will have lingering effects. “When the king the distribution of military spend- at the same time, units of capital tary spending quickly becomes real dimensions of military com- tides come, the salt inundates, it doesn’t go away. . . . The salt remains ing: for all the current focus on (corporations, etc) tend to be con- entangled in a series of incentives petition without looking at how in the soil and in the groundwater.” China’s growing military outlays – centrated within national states that are entirely tangential to the this is represented for particu- The Marshall Islands are periodically inundated by high tides like and it is significant that they have where they are afforded an infra- ostensive motive. lar audiences. One thinks of the this. The country last suffered severe tidal flooding in June 2013, when embarked on a sequence of dou- structure, a labour force, and a First of all, states that do way in which struggles over tides washed over storm walls and flooded the Majuro airport and the ble-digit increases as a percent- great deal of primary investments. embark on large scale military arms spending in the US become home of the president. “The president tells me that he has since added age of GDP – the United States Even the process of globalisation investment quickly assume stra- inflected with evocations of exter- another foot to the height of his protective sea wall,” Muller says. “Such still accounts for 40 percent of presupposes the investment and tegic command of core sectors of nal threats, which help consoli- is the new reality of climate change in the Pacific.” such expenditures. However, the guidance of national states. The the economy, allowing for a degree date domestic power blocs. The The tide this week “is a combination of a little bit of everything,” distribution is not the only thing more deeply companies are inter- of planning and co-ordination, a Reaganite-era neo-conservative Steven Gill, a senior scientist at NOAA National Ocean Service’s Center that matters; it’s the sheer scale twined with national states, the level of state capacity that might bloc was impossible without an for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, told FP. The of such investment – $1.756tr in more they rely on those states otherwise be deplored by busi- elevated Russian “threat”. So, highest tides, like this one, are associated with the alignment of the 2012. The “peace dividend” from to fight their competitive battles ness as “socialism”. Quite a lot particularly in states with an sun and moon during perigee -- the point at which the moon’s orbit the end of the cold war has long on a global stage. Maintaining a of the major US technological imperialist role, military spending passes closest to Earth. since bitten the dust. Global military advantage is arguably an advances made under the rubric can become complexly bound up That’s also being exacerbated by changes in sea level. “What we’re military spending has returned intrinsic part of this. of “free enterprise”, including not only with state-building strat- noticing is that it really depends on what’s going on with the sea levels,” to pre-1989 levels, undoubtedly a However, once this rather particularly Apple’s innovations, egies and agendas for regional Gill said. He noted that “it can’t be said it is entirely a matter of global legacy of the war on terror and abstract principle is established, owe themselves originally to state economic growth, but also with warming,” citing variations in sea level around the Pacific and seasonal the returning salience of military the question still remains unan- investments organised under the domestic hegemonic strategies in variation, but said that “over the long term, there’s an increasing sea competition in its context. In fact, swered. After all, there is no banner of “defence”. which the legitimacy of govern- level trend in that area.” by 2011 global military spending inherent reason why geo-eco- Second, military investment ments hinges upon their ability The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that, on was higher than at any year since nomic competition should lead is not just an effect of economic to project violence. average, sea levels could rise between 28 and 98 centimetres over the the end of the second world war. to defence spending consuming growth, but often a lever in To this extent, to really under- next century, which would put much of the Marshall Islands under- So, what is the explanation trillions of dollars of value each enhancing it. This is a complicated stand world arms spending it is water. “While we are doing what we can,” Muller says, “even the most for such huge investments? Is it year. Part of the answer has to be story in itself. Post-war US growth necessary to penetrate beneath conservative estimates of sea-level rise, including from the latest US simply the case that states are located in the way that high levels was probably enhanced by arms the generalities about sui generis National Climate Assessment, suggest that RMI [the Republic of the power-maximising entities, and of military spending became such spending, but the levels of spend- state behaviour, as power-maxim- Marshall Islands] will literally be wiped off the map some time before that as soon as they have access to an entrenched part of the global ing required during the Vietnam isers and so on, and delve into the the end of the century, given the appalling lack of effort by big emitters enough taxable income they start landscape in the aftermath of two war sapped too much capital away messy politics of militarism in each to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.” dreaming war? world wars. from other profitable investments. society. THE GUARDIAN WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Libya warns ship against exporting oil North Korean tanker held by rebels TRIPOLI: Libya threatened parliament ... were too busy with yesterday to bomb a North themselves and didn’t even dis- Korean-flagged tanker if it tries cuss our demands,” Abb-Rabbo to export oil from a rebel-con- Albarassi, self-declared prime trolled port east of Tripoli, in minister of Libya’s eastern auton- a major escalation of a standoff omy movement, told the station. over the country’s petroleum “If anyone attacks, we will wealth. respond to that.” The rebels, who have seized Officials at state-run National three major ports since August to Oil Corp (NOC) confirmed the demand more autonomy, warned North Korean-flagged tanker Tripoli against staging an attack had docked, but it was unclear to halt the oil sale after the whether the vessel had loaded tanker docked at Es Sider export any crude. terminal. Any independent shipment The oil standoff is one part of would be a blow to the govern- deepening turmoil in the North ment. Tripoli had said it would African OPEC member, where destroy tankers trying to buy oil the government is struggling to from Ibrahim Jathran, a former control militias who helped top- anti-Gaddafi rebel who seized the ple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but port and two others with thou- kept their weapons and are chal- sands of his men in August. lenging state authority. Jathran had commanded a bri- A local television station con- gade of former rebels paid by the Artists perform while holding up figures depicting the likeness of a couple during a sit-in in front of Beirut’s national museum against domestic violence trolled by protesters showed state to protect petroleum facili- against women, marking International Women’s Day, yesterday. footage of pro-autonomy rebels ties. He defected with his troops, holding a lengthy ceremony and however, to take over the ports. slaughtering a camel to celebrate In January, the Libyan navy their first oil shipment. fired on a Maltese-flagged tanker In the distance, a tanker could which it said had tried to load oil Lebanese women protest for their rights be seen at what the station said from the protesters in Es Sider. was Es Sider, one of Libya’s big- The North Korean-flagged BEIRUT: A few thousand pro- number at least 3,000 — large for Chakra, who was reportedly poi- witness statements led authori- gest export terminals. Morning Glory, which was pre- testers took to the streets of a politically independent event in soned with chemicals, amplified ties to release her husband. Prime Minister Ali Zeidan viously flagged in Liberia, had B ei r ut ye s t erd ay t o dem a nd th at Beirut. public outrage in Lebanon. “I want justice,” Laila told appeared hours later on several been circling off the Libyan coast politicians approve Lebanon’s Lebanon, known for its night- Last year’s death of Rola Reuters. “You can’t kill my daugh- television channels to warn the for days. first law against domestic vio- clubs, stylish boutiques and lib- Yacoub, whose family said was ter and six months later go free.” tanker’s crew. “The tanker will be The vessel had tried to dock at lence in a non-partisan display eral social norms, offers women beaten to death by her husband KAFA first proposed legislation bombed if it doesn’t follow orders Es Sider on Tuesday, when port rarely seen in Lebanon’s highly freedoms denied to many in the in front of their children, first in 2007 to establish penalties for when leaving (the port). This will workers still loyal to the federal politicised climate. Arab world, but campaigners say brought the issue to the fore. domestic violence and provide be an environmental disaster,” government had told the crew to Organisers harnessed popular one woman a month is killed by Zoya Rouhana, director of protection orders. The bill polar- Zeidan said. turn back. outrage over the deaths of two domestic violence in the country KAFA (Enough), a group sup- ised politicians and was amended “They are now trying to Storage tanks at Es Sider and Lebanese women in suspected of 4 million. porting abused women, said the by parliament after lobbying from load oil,” he said, denouncing it other seized ports are full, accord- domestic violence cases which Many Lebanese took to social taboo surrounding domestic vio- Lebanon’s powerful religious as a criminal act. Authorities ing to oil sources. struck a nerve in a country where media following the deaths last lence was lifting. establishment. have ordered the arrest of the It is extremely unusual for an regular car bombs and rocket month of Manal Assi and Cristelle “People used to hide such Sethrida Geagea, a Christian tanker’s crew. oil tanker flagged in secretive attacks have desensitised many Abou Chakra to condemn a crimes, even the parents of the lawmaker and one of only four There was no immediate sign North Korea to operate in the to violence. seven-month delay in passing the victim, as if it was a scandal,” she women in the 128-member par- of the country’s nascent armed Mediterranean region, shipping “The people want the passage domestic violence law, held up by said. “But now people are talking liament, said she, like yesterday’s forces moving towards the port. sources said. of the law,” protesters chanted political disagreements and back- more and the media is shedding protesters, wanted to roll back Analysts say the military, still in A spokesman for NOC said the outside the Ministry of Justice, log of bills linked to the Syrian light on these issues.” some of the amendments in order training, would struggle to con- Morning Glory was owned by a invoking one of the most popu- civil war. “How many wives must Yacoub’s mother, Laila, said to focus the bill on women and to front rebels battle-hardened from Saudi company. It had changed lar slogans of the Arab Spring die assaulted by their husbands neighbours tried to intervene criminalise marital rape. the eight-month uprising against ownership in the past few weeks uprisings. before the state passes the law to when they heard screaming “The people affected by (domes- Gaddafi. and previously been called Gulf The demonstration, called protect women?” said one tweet. from her daughter’s house but tic) violence today are mostly “We tried to reach a deal with Glory, according to a shipping to coincide with International The deaths of Assi, bludg- were told it was a private mat- women, not men or children,” the government, but they and source. REUTERS Women’s Day, appeared to eoned with a pressure cooker, and ter. Inconclusive autopsies and she said. REUTERS

Roses from Erdogan Poll candidate Yemen appoints new among 13 killed in interior, oil ministers SANA’A: Yemen appointed new infrastructure are often bombed oil and interior ministers on by militants or disgruntled Iraq attacks Friday, state news agency Saba tribesmen. reported, after a series of lethal In January, Yemen’s political BAGHDAD: Attacks across attacks on security targets and factions wrapped up 10 months Iraq killed 13 people yesterday, oil facilities. of national reconciliation talks including a parliamentary can- Saba said Khaled Mahfouz by agreeing to turn Yemen into a didate and four children, offic- Bahah had taken the energy port- federal state and outlining prin- ers and medical sources said, folio and Abdou Hussein Al Tarb ciples for a new constitution, on as the country suffers its worst the Interior Ministry. A new head the basis of which new elections violence in years. of the Political Security Agency, are expected next year. Iraq has been hit by a year- the domestic intelligence service, “The next stage is more dan- long surge in bloodshed that has was also named. gerous than the previous one and reached levels not seen since 2008, Impoverished Yemen, a US a strong government is needed driven principally by widespread ally, has seen political turmoil to ensure that the resolutions of discontent among its Sunni Arab and violence since veteran leader the national dialogue are imple- minority and by the civil war in Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down mented, especially in the south,” neighbouring Syria. in 2012 following months of mass said Yemeni analyst Hatem In Sharqat, north of Baghdad, protests against his rule. Bamehrez. gunmen shot dead Mohammed Interim President Abd-Rabbu “Failure of the government to Hussein Hamid, who was stand- Mansour Hadi is struggling with implement the resolutions of the ing in parliamentary elections an Al Qaeda insurgency, demands dialogue will have serious con- scheduled for next month on by southern separatists for inde- sequences.” The nation’s politi- Deputy Prime Minister Saleh pendence and an armed offensive cal factions gave Hadi, who was Al Mutlak’s list. Hamid was the by Shia Muslim Houthis to extend elected in February 2012 for a second parliamentary candi- their control over the north. two-year interim period. date to be killed this year, after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tosses flowers to his female supporters during a rally to mark Oil pipelines and the power REUTERS gunmen murdered Hamza Al the International Women’s Day in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. Shammari last month. Election candidates have been targeted in the past, with nearly 20 killed ahead of April 2013 pro- vincial council elections. Syria troops take back village; FSA appoints new chief In Samarra, also north of Baghdad, a shooting at a check- BEIRUT: Syrian government The village of Al Zara, west of complete control over the village operations”, it said. published online by activists point killed two secondary school forces seized a village in the the city of Homs, fell after “heavy and killed and captured a “large Syria’s civil war has killed over purportedly showing members students and a policeman, while central Homs province yester- clashes” between government and number of terrorists”, using state 140,000 people since it started of the Al Qaeda splinter group a roadside bomb blast in a village day, state media and a monitor- rebel forces, the Britain-based media’s customary term for rebels three years ago as a peaceful pro- the Islamic State of Iraq and the south of Sharqat killed two chil- ing group said, as part of a push Syrian Observatory for Human fighting to overthrow President test movement against four dec- Levant (ISIL) executing eight dren. Gunmen attacked a check- for control of areas along the Rights said, although the number Bashar Al Assad. ades of Assad family rule. prisoners. point in Sharqat, killing a police Lebanese border. of casualties was not immediately The victory gave government The conflict has become In the video, fighters in fatigues major and a policeman, while a Meanwhile, the rebel Free clear. forces control over a route con- increasingly tangled as rebel line up the prisoners inside a roadside bomb in Khales killed Syrian Army has confirmed the Al Zara is inhabited mostly by necting central Syria to the groups — including many hardline building and force them to kneel army Lieutenant Colonel Abbas appointment of its new chief, Sunni Muslims from the ethnic Mediterranean coast and which Islamist factions — have turned before shooting them from behind. Al Rubaie and another soldier. Brigadier General Abdel Ilah Turkmen minority, it added. had been used as “a primary route on one another, leading to clashes Some of the men in the video Iraqi soldiers and police are fre- Al Bashir, after former head In a statement on state news for terrorist groups coming from that have killed thousands of peo- speak Russian with marked quently targeted in bombings by General Selim Idriss had initially agency SANA, Syria’s armed Lebanese territory to neighbour- ple this year alone. Caucasian accents and speech anti-government militants. AFP refused to step down. forces said they had established ing areas to carry out criminal Separately, a video was patterns. REUTERS SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Clare’s law rolled out across England, Wales Domestic violence disclosure scheme to let women know if partners have abusive past

LONDON: Women will be able by imposing conditions that can sadness but we have got what we Horley, chief executive of Refuge. barely breathe and said that if the scariest ten days of my life, I to find out if their partners have immediately prevent contact. were fighting for – to bring pro- “What will happen if a woman is I moved he would kill me,” she would phone the police in tears an abusive past as the domestic “Protection for victims is tection into the country for half told that her partner does have said. “Then he put a knife to my but they just didn’t care.” violence disclosure scheme — improving but sadly there are still the population,” he said. a history of violence? Will she be throat but I managed to grab my After the bail hearing, no known as Clare’s law — is rolled too many cases where vulnerable But while some organisations expected to pack her bags and phone, barricaded myself in the charges were made. “The supervi- out across every police force people are let down, said the home welcomed the scheme, others leave straight away? We know bathroom and call the police.” sor said: ‘He seemed like a decent across England and Wales. secretary, Theresa May. “I am feared it could leave women more that it isn’t that simple. And if When officers arrived the man guy and I believed him.’ It was The scheme, named after Clare determined to see a society where vulnerable. According to Refuge women do leave, where are they admitted what he had done and like thinking someone had your Wood, who was murdered five violence against women and girls is two women are killed by a current supposed to go? Refuges are clos- was released on bail on condition back, and turning around to find years ago by her former part- not tolerated, where people speak or former partner every week, but ing up and down the country he didn’t contact Felicity, didn’t they’d gone - it was a very lonely ner, was announced last year out, and where no woman or girl 77 percent of domestic violence because of huge funding cuts.” return to the property and paid place.” Since then Felicity has left and piloted by four police forces. has to suffer domestic abuse.” cases are never reported to police, According to a recent Women’s for the damage. Within days he her course and moved back to From Friday anyone who fears a Clare Wood, 36, was strangled so if a vulnerable woman seeks Aid survey of 150 organisations, had broken all three conditions. her parents, and is paying of the partner is abusive, or may have an and set on fire by her ex-boy- information she may be left with 112 specialist posts were lost in “The first officer who dealt with debt caused by the damage her ex abusive past, will be able to go to friend George Appleton at her a false sense of security, or feel- 2013/2013 , while on one “snap- me was brilliant, but then her caused, which he has never paid for. police and ask for any past convic- home in Salford. He had a history ing that her own fears have been shot” day — June 27, 2013 — 155 supervisor took over, and hon- She thinks that without a com- tions to be revealed. of violence against women, includ- undermined. women and 103 children were estly — he just wasn’t bothered. plete change in attitudes to domes- To mark International ing kidnapping an ex-girlfriend “If a woman inquires about her turned away from the first ref- He said his bail would be up in tic violence, Clare’s law will not Women’s Day the government at knife-point. Wood’s father, partner she may be told that he uge they approached. Felicity, three days, and just to wait it out.” help, and could be dangerous. “If a also announced the introduction Michael Brown, said he was has no history of violence, she now 23, was studying law in The partner would call Felicity woman asked about my ex-partner, of domestic violence protection absolutely delighted that women may then believe that she is safe, London when she was attacked and ask why she wasn’t home so there would be no records against orders (DVPOs), designed to had been given the right to know but this does not necessarily mean by her then partner. “He she knew he was watching – she him — but that wouldn’t mean they provide protection for women in their partner’s history. “It’s tinged that she will be safe – possibly smashed up the house, grabbed was terrified because police had were safe, far from it,” she said. the initial aftermath of an attack with a bit of emotion and a bit of quite the reverse,” said Sandra me by the throat until I could not confiscated his keys. “It was THE GUARDIAN

US, Mexico and Gunfire keeps foreign Guatemala form monitors from Crimea anti-crime alliance GUATEMALA CITY: The governments of the United as Russia ups threats States, Mexico and Guatemala formed a special body on Friday SIMFEROPOL: Pro-Kremlin in May. The culturally-splintered to fight drug trafficking and militia fired warning shots as ex-Soviet nation of 46 million peo- organised crime. unarmed foreign observers ple has been in upheaval since The Trilateral Security Desk tried to enter Crimea yesterday three months of deadly unrest evaluates intelligence and border while Russia stepped up its Cold brought new pro-European lead- risks to combat human traffick- War-style standoff with the ers to power in Kiev in February ing and the smuggling of illegal West over Ukraine by threat- and sent ousted president Viktor weapons and drugs in the region, ening to keep Washington from Yanukovich into hiding in Russia. Guatemalan Interior Minister checking on its nuclear arms. Russia says it has stepped up Mauricio Lopez told reporters. The dangerous escalation in protection of its naval base in During the group’s first meet- the flashpoint Black Sea penin- Crimea and is working together ing, at a hotel in Guatemala City, sula that Russia effectively seized with local self-defence units but officials set a roadmap to meet from Ukraine last week saw 40 refuses to acknowledge deploy- security objectives. gunmen in balaclavas and mili- ing extra troops. But Ukrainian “The important thing is that we tary fatigues fire warning shots Border Guards General Mykola are discussing joint problems. This above a car moving in front of a Kovil said on Friday that there trilateral work strengthens our convoy of 57 civilian and military were now 30,000 Russian soldiers relationships and creates a new observers from the Organisation in Crimea — 5,000 more than shared vision,” said US Assistant of Security and Cooperation in the contingent allowed under an Ukrainians together with Crimean Tatar’s women hold placards reading ‘Crimea is Ukraine!’ and shout slogans Secretary of International Affairs Europe (OSCE). existing agreement with Kiev. during a meeting in support of the ‘Single Ukraine’ on the Independence Square in Kiev yesterday. and Chief Diplomatic Officer for A source with the monitor- The escalating tensions the Department of Homeland ing mission said “probably three prompted Polish Foreign Minister punitive measures would strike gunmen and the peninsula a code in the virus suggested that Security Alan Bersin. shots” were fired as the OSCE Radoslaw Sikorski — a top pro- back like a “boomerang” against replace several federal channels it was created in the same time- To fight crime together, offi- buses tried and failed for the ponent of Ukraine’s EU integra- Washington. Those warnings based in Kiev with Russian state zone as Moscow. cials from the three countries third successive day to check tion — to announce on Twitter became more concrete when broadcasts. The Crimean parliament’s deci- agreed their police forces should on the frozen conflict that has that Warsaw was evacuating its a Russian defence official said And Lavrov expressed “espe- sion to secede from Ukraine and establish protocols on informa- pitted overpowered Ukrainian consulate in the Crimean port Moscow was considering halt- cially deep concerns” that two stage a March 16 referendum on tion exchange and the flow of troops against what they say are of Sevastopol that houses the ing foreign inspections of its Russian television crews were joining Russia has been also been migrants. Guatemala is suffer- Russian Black Sea Fleet soldiers Russian fleet. nuclear arsenal in response to reportedly turned away at the picked up in industrial eastern ing from a wave of violence that and Kremlin-backed militias. Russia’s decision to flex its mili- “threats” from the United States Donetsk airport by Ukrainian regions such as Yanukovych’s has caused about 6,000 deaths, Russia blamed the OSCE on tary muscle for the first time since and the North Atlantic Treaty border personnel. home base of Donetsk. “We want nearly half of them attributed Friday for making its earlier it waged a brief war with Georgia Organization (Nato). Britain’s BAE Systems defence to join Russia because we know to drugs and the operations of attempts “without considering in 2008 has prompted Washington The arms inspections are car- and security company meanwhile their standard of living is well powerful Mexican cartels sup- the opinions and recommenda- to slap visa bans and asset freezes ried out in line with the historic reported that Ukraine has been above what we have here,” said ported by local drug lords. tions of the Russian side (and) on top Moscow officials while also 2010 Strategic Arms Reduction striken by a powerful computer retiree Larisa Kukovina. AFP without waiting for official invi- halting various forms of military Treaty (START) with the United virus whose likes had not been seen The seat of the region’s power tations from the Crimean side”. cooperation. States and the Vienna Document since the Stuxnet malware pro- has flown both Russian and Pope picks finance The monitoring mission is an The European Union has fur- of 2011 on confidence-building gramme wrecked havoc on Iran’s Ukrainian flags after being repeat- instrumental part of a three- ther threatened to toughen eco- measures between OSCE mem- uranium enrichment programme edly raided in the past week by experts, economists pronged push for peace by US nomic sanctions against Russia ber states. in 2010. BAE said the Snake virus irate protesters from both sides. President Barack Obama that should it fail to immediately open The military standoff and dip- first emerged in 2006 but made Police said about 4,000 protesters to Vatican body also includes a call on Russia to talks with Ukraine. lomatic wrangling have translated Ukraine into its main target once also gathered on Saturday for a pull back its Crimean troops to But Russian Foreign Minister into an information war that has the political crisis in Kiev acceler- similar rally in the nearby Russian- ROME: Pope Francis named top their barracks and for Ukraine to Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary seen Western and Ukrainian ated at the start of the year. speaking city of Kharkiv. laymen from the worlds of finance hold early presidential elections of State John Kerry that any journalist threatened by Crimean The British defence group said AFP and economics on Saturday to a new Vatican Council for the Economy, intended to improve scrutiny of the Holy See’s scan- Spring in Brussels dal-plagued accounts. Kenyan president The creation of the 15-member US near ‘tyranny’ under council is a major step in bring- takes 20pc pay cut ing lay people into the Vatican, and reflects a drive by Francis NAIROBI: Kenyan President Obama, says Republican to make changes to an establish- Uhuru Kenyatta has announced ment often seen as murky and he and his deputy William Ruto NATIONAL HARBOR: National Security Agency was secretive. will be taking a 20 percent pay Senator Rand Paul, a potential scooping up most Americans’ The seven non-religious figures cut and ministers’ salaries will Republican White House con- phone records, he sued the presi- in the council include Maltese be reduced by 10 percent in a bid tender in 2016, electrified con- dent in an effort to end the secret economist Joseph Zahra, former to rein in the country’s soaring servative activists on Friday by programme. “What you do on director of the Central Bank of public wage bill. warning that President Barack your cellphone is none of their Malta, and France’s Jean-Baptiste The pay cuts will take place Obama was taking America damn business,” he bellowed to a de Franssu, chairman of merg- “with immediate effect,” Kenyatta down the road to tyranny. standing ovation. ers and acquisitions advisory said in a speech, adding that the “Imagine a time when the At least four other potential firm INCIPIT and former head current spending levels were White House is once again occu- White House candidates addressed of the European Fund and Asset unsustainable. The government pied by a friend of liberty,” the CPAC — Senator Ted Cruz, New Management Association. will also limit foreign travel to libertarian-leaning lawmaker told Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Spanish University of Madrid only the most essential trips, the Conservative Public Action Texas Governor Rick Perry and economist Enrique Llano Cueto, according to Kenyatta. “Wastage Committee (CPAC), where he is former senator Rick Santorum — German former McKinsey in my government will be signifi- hugely popular with small-gov- as the race slowly but steadily heats & Company partner Jochen cantly reduced,” he said. ernment Tea Party Republicans. up for who will replace Obama Messemer, and Italian University of “We are spending 400bn shil- The son of longtime congress- when his second term ends. Messina Business Administration lings ($4.6bn) every year paying man and former presidential It was Paul who perhaps most professor Francesco Vermiglio salaries; it leaves us only from our candidate Ron Paul, the libertar- effectively drew listeners to the were also named members. own resources a figure of 200bn ian-leaning senator is an unapolo- issue of the Constitution and how George Yeo, a former Singapore shillings to transform Kenya,” getic defender of constitutional Obama is putting its personal Finance Minister, was named Kenyatta said. “This is why we liberties and advocate for reduc- protections under threat. “A great alongside retired oil executive are saying that is the ratio which ing the role of US government in president would have protected us John Kyle. The council includes is not sustainable... We need to Americans’ daily lives. from the prying eyes of the NSA,” eight prelates from around the deal with this monster if we are Paul raised his profile a year ago he said. “A great president would world, coordinated by Munich to develop this nation.” when he gave a 13-hour speech on have proclaimed I will not abide it, and Freising Cardinal Reinhard The president urged the coun- the Senate floor railing against the Constitution will not abide it.” Marx, known for speaking on try’s lawmakers to follow suit and the Obama administration’s use Paul insisted the White House socio-economic issues in Germany also lower their salaries, ranked People take pictures and enjoy spring temperatures near the Atomium of drones and how they might be is abusing its power, and warned and one of the eight cardinals among the highest in the world monument in Brussels yesterday. used to kill Americans abroad. Obama that Republicans would charged with re-organising the and long a source of discontent His stock soared when, in the throw down the gauntlet to “bat- Vatican administration, the Curia. among ordinary Kenyans. AFP aftermath of revelations that the tle you at the ballot box”. AFP REUTERS SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Fury as relatives wait for news of plane 153 Chinese on board; missing jet a big blow for struggling Malaysia Airlines

BEIJING: Tearful and angry, 20-year-old woman who had gone changed, to “cancelled”. the friends and relatives of to the airport to meet a college Malaysia Airlines has long been passengers on board missing friend said the passenger’s fam- a respected name in regional avia- Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ily still had not been told by the tion, enjoying an enviable safety lashed out at the company yes- airline she was on board. record. terday as journalists besieged According to Malaysia Airlines, The incident will be a major them in a Beijing hotel. 153 of the 239 people on board the blow to the airline, which has Many were taken there by the missing flight — a codeshare with struggled to remain profitable airline after going to the Chinese China Southern Airlines — are recently against a host of nimble capital’s airport to meet the Chinese citizens. competitors, particularly the rise flight, scheduled to land at around Scores of family members of budget airlines. 6:30am. spoke to airline officials in small Malaysian Airlines flies about A press conference was groups in a room on the hotel’s 37,000 passengers daily to 80 expected at the same location, and second floor. destinations across Asia, and to when others arrived later, they Security at times struggled Europe and the United States. It had to run the gauntlet of scores to hold back the huge throng of operates more than 250 flights a of Chinese and international reporters crowding outside the day. reporters shoving microphones door and making it difficult for The carrier has suffered few and cameras in their faces. relatives to enter or exit. incidents in its history and has a “They should have told us Hundreds of journalists from solid safety record. something before now,” said one across China are currently in Its worst accident came in 1977, visibly distressed man in his 30s, Beijing for the annual session of when a hijacking and subsequent from the Chinese city of Tianjin. the National People’s Congress, crash in southern Malaysia killed A man in his 20s struggled to the Communist-controlled parlia- 93 passengers and seven crew. help a grieving older woman, pos- ment, and many of those present The airline has a fleet of 88 sibly his mother, into a quiet room wore badges from the event. aircraft including Boeing 747- Malaysia Airlines’ senior official Dr Hugh Dunleavy (left) and a member of the airline’s crisis management team, as journalists shouted questions One woman in her twenties 400s, Boeing 777-200s and Airbus Ignatius Ong, face the Chinese media after arriving in China to deal with the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing at her. entered the room frantically cry- A380-800s. 777-200 plane, in Beijing, yesterday. “They are useless,” he said of ing, ignoring questions from the The plane that disappeared the airline. “I don’t know why horde. Saturday somewhere over the But the Asian financial crisis unfortunate time for the airline afloat with cash injections of tax- they haven’t released any infor- A man in his 60s wiped tears South China Sea — believed near that rocked the region in 1997 which is undergoing a transfor- payers’ money rather than launch- mation. We waited for four hours from his eyes with a handkerchief Vietnam airspace — was a Boeing pushed the airline into the red, mation to return to profit,” said ing painful and necessary reforms. and all they told us was the very as he entered the room. He hit a 777-200, considered one of the forcing it to undertake a series Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst with Analysts also blame poor man- few details they released at the cameraman in the face who tried safest planes in the industry. of steps including cutting unprof- Standard & Poor’s Equity Research agement, government interfer- media conference.” to film him as he walked by, as a First formed in 1947 as Malayan itable routes and reducing costs. in Singapore. “It will further aggra- ence, a bloated workforce, and At the press conference, a security guard shouted “Don’t you Airways, the airline went through The company subsequently see- vate its road to profitability.” powerful, change-resistant unions Malaysia Airlines staffer read all have families?” a series of organisational changes sawed between profit and loss, Malaysia Airlines has drawn for preventing the airline from out a statement that had already In the evening a group of about culminating in its 1972 re-launch with its balance sheet looking derision from some observers and remaining competitive. been given in Kuala Lumpur — 10 family members made their under its current name. increasingly shaky. analysts with its announcement of In 2011, it chalked up a record and which the passengers had way into the room to meet airline The flag carrier’s steady expan- It has bled red ink in recent a series of “recovery” plans aimed 2.5bn ringgit ($767m) loss, due in read online — in chaotic scenes as officials, sobbing into their hands. sion gained pace in the 1980s, years as its struggles to fend off at steering it back into the black part to rising fuel costs. Its man- scores of cameramen fought and At the airport, for hours after benefiting from the Malaysian competition from rivals such as over the years. agers admitted in 2012 the airline barged each other out the way to the flight should have landed, the economy’s rapid export-led fast-growing Malaysia-based None has succeeded, and crit- was in “crisis”, implementing yet get clear shot. digital arrivals board described growth. Its fleet and route system budget airline AirAsia. ics have accused the government another cost-cutting campaign. Fighting back tears, a it, in red, as “delayed”. Then it grew rapidly. “This incident comes at a most of keeping the state-linked airline AGENCIES

Six drug mules dead in firefight China warns N Korea it won’t allow war on peninsula with police BEIJING: China declared a war or instability on the Korean Western countries and inde- for a resumption of the talks to Nazi-era atrocities. “red line” on North Korea yes- peninsula,” Chinese Foreign pendent experts have accused between North Korea, South China has rejected what it said BANGKOK: Six suspected terday, saying that China will Minister Wang Yi told reporters China of failing to implement Korea, the United States, Japan, was “unreasonable criticism” of drug dealers were shot dead not permit chaos or war on the on the sidelines of China’s annual properly UN sanctions on North Russia and host China. Beijing in the UN report, but during a firefight with Thai Korean peninsula, and that largely rubber-stamp parliament. Korea, including punitive meas- “Confrontation can only bring has not said directly whether it security forces who seized peace can only come through Wang called upon all parties to ures adopted after Pyongyang’s tension, and war can only cause would veto any proceedings in illegal amphetamines at the denuclearisation. “exercise restraint”, adding that third nuclear test in February disaster,” Wang said. “Some dia- the Security Council to bring scene, police said. China is North Korea’s most “genuine and lasting peace” on the last year. logue is better than none, and bet- Pyongyang to book. The clash occurred late important diplomatic and eco- peninsula was only possible with North Korea has forged ahead ter early than later.” The team also recommended Friday evening in a mountain- nomic ally, though Beijing’s denuclearisation. with its nuclear development UN High Commissioner targeted UN sanctions against ous border area in the Mae patience with Pyongyang has been US Secretary of State John after declaring the so-called six- for Human Rights Navi Pillay civil officials and military com- Sai district of northernmost tested after three nuclear tests Kerry visited China last month party talks dead in 2008, over- urged world powers last month manders suspected of the worst Chiang Rai province -- part of and numerous bouts of sabre rat- and said after talks in Beijing that turning its commitments made to refer North Korea to the crimes. North Korea is already the Golden Triangle region. tling including missile launches. China and the United States were under a 2005 disarmament deal prosecutor of the International subject to UN sanctions for refus- “Six bodies were found at “The Korean peninsula is right discussing specific ways to press aimed at rewarding it with eco- Criminal Court following a UN ing to give up its atomic bomb clash site along with seven bags on China’s doorstep. We have a North Korea to give up its nuclear nomic incentives. report documenting crimes programme. of methamphetamine,” Colonel red line, that is, we will not allow programme. Wang reiterated China’s calls against humanity comparable REUTERS Nattawut Yuwan, commander of the Mae Sai police, said by telephone. No nuke Taiwan “We suspect they were hill- tribe (Muser) people,” he said, adding the suspects had been travelling by foot and the clash Sri Lanka warns happened quite close to the border with Myanmar. Clashes between police and drug traffickers are fairly com- developing nations mon in Thailand’s remote bor- der regions. Thailand has seen a marked increase in seizures of meth- over UN censure amphetamine -- which is relatively cheap and easy COLOMBO: Sri Lanka yester- Colombo, denouncing the US-led to make -- often smuggled day warned that US efforts to censure move at the UNHRC. from neighbouring Myanmar force an international investi- International rights groups and where armed rebels use profits gation into alleged war crimes UN experts have said there are from narcotics to fund their on the island could have an “credible allegations” that up to operations. “adverse impact” on all develop- 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed ing nations. after government forces ordered Plane wheel The Colombo government told them into a no-fire zone in 2009. the ongoing UN Human Rights The US-led resolution asks catches fire Council (UNHRC) in Geneva Pillay to give an oral report on that a draft resolution against progress to the council at its 27th KATHMANDU: A rear Sri Lanka could set a “bad session in September, and provide wheel of an Airbus A320 Tens of thousands of residents in raincoats and umbrellas took to the streets and marched across Taiwan for an precedent”. a written report by March 2015. operated by an Indian budget annual anti-nuclear protest amid rainfall yesterday. The US has given notice of a The draft also called on Sri airline caught fire after land- resolution backing UN rights Lanka to investigate allegations ing at Nepal’s international chief Navi Pillay’s call for an of military excesses and expressed airport in Kathmandu yes- external probe into charges that “serious concern” over continu- terday, officials said. Manila won’t rush pact for Obama visit Sri Lankan troops killed up to ing reports of human rights vio- All 176 passengers and six 40,000 civilians while crushing lations five years after the end of crew on board the IndiGo flight Tamil rebels in 2009. the decades-long separatist war. from New Delhi were evacu- MANILA: The Philippines China Sea. Asked by reporters if “The outcome of the dialogue “Being intrusive, politicised The council is expected to vote ated through the emergency said yesterday it would not rush the accord would be completed affirms the principles underpin- and in clear contravention of on March 28 on the resolution, doors and are safe, Airport to complete a defence accord before Obama’s visit, Coloma said, ning the strategic partnership accepted principles of conduct in the third in as many years against General Manager Rishikesh with the United States just so “the government’s priority is not between the two countries,” he said. the council, the resolution sets Colombo. Sharma said. There were no it can be sealed by the time with a timetable or with rushing Many observers believed the a bad precedent, and can in the Sri Lanka has already rejected reported injuries. President Barack Obama visits something”. agreement would be completed medium-to-long term have an Pillay’s call for an international Sharma said one of the rear next month. “In our view, it is not deadlines ahead of Obama’s visit to the adverse impact on all develop- probe as an “unwarranted wheels of the plane caught fire President Benigno Aquino’s but the quality and content of the Philippines as part of an Asian ing countries in the council,” Sri interference”, and President as the aircraft was heading to spokesman Herminio Coloma said agreement that is more worthy of tour in April. Lanka’s envoy in Geneva, Ravi Mahinda Rajapakse has accused the parking bay after landing. there was no timetable to com- attention,” he added. The Philippines has been hop- Aryasinha, said. Washington of treating Colombo A statement by IndiGo said plete the agreement which would Coloma also hailed the just- ing for increased US assistance In his statement to the council, like Muhammad Ali’s “punching the fire was only noticed after allow more US troops and equip- concluded Philippine-US bilateral for its poorly-equipped military a copy of which was released in bag”. parking. ment access to the Philippines. strategic dialogue in Washington amid growing territorial tensions Colombo, Aryasinha said the draft At least 100,000 people were The cause of the fire, that The agreement, which the two where both sides expressed con- with China. resolution was also a violation of killed in the 37-year battle for was quickly doused, was not close allies have been discussing cern for “recent developments” China claims virtually all of the Sri Lanka’s sovereignty as well as a separate homeland for eth- immediately clear, Sharma said for several years, is seen as part in the South China Sea as well as South China Sea, a major ship- its constitution. nic minority Tamils before refusing to say how big the fire of a Philippine effort to counter the need to respect international ping lane that is also a rich fish- Dozens of pro-government Rajapakse’s troops crushed the was. China’s aggressive moves to back law and freedom of navigation in ing ground and is believed to sit women staged a demonstra- Tamil Tiger rebels. AGENCIES its claims to most of the South those waters. on vast mineral resources. AFP tion outside the US embassy in AFP SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Magnetic bomb kills Afghan district head Vehicle explosion also kills governor’s bodyguard

JALALABAD: A magnetic “Unfortunately, district governor and another bomb detonated,” bomb attached to a district Noor Agha Kamran was martyred Sarhadi Zwak, Laghman gover- governor’s vehicle exploded in along with his one bodyguard, and nor’s spokesman, said. eastern Afghanistan yesterday, several passersby were wounded No one immediately claimed killing the governor and his in the attack,” he added. responsibility for the attacks but bodyguard, provincial authori- Nangarhar governor spokes- Taliban insurgents regularly use ties said. man Ahmad Zia Abdulzai said five roadside bombs to target Afghan The attack in Nangarhar prov- bystanders were slightly wounded. security forces and Nato-led ince highlights the security threat They were discharged from the US troops as part of their fight surrounding presidential elections hospital after treatment. against Karzai’s US-backed in a month’s time, when voters In another attack in neigh- government. will choose a successor to Hamid bouring Laghman province, four Nangarhar is one of the 34 Karzai. Afghan soldiers and two police- provinces of Afghanistan in the “Today 9.00am, a mine attached men were killed while defusing a east of the country. Its capital is to the vehicle of Nazyan district roadside bomb. the city of Jalalabad. The popula- governor Noor Agha Kamran was “Today 8.00am, Afghan secu- tion of the province is 1,383,900, detonated in the city of Jalalabad,” rity forces went to the outskirts consisting of ethnic Pashtuns, Police inspect the destroyed vehicle of Nazyan district governor Noor Agha Kamran after it exploded in Jalalabad Nangarhar police spokesman, of Mehtarlam provincial capi- Arabs, Pashais, Tajiks and others. yesterday. Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said. tal to defuse a roadside bomb, AFP

Interior minister Beijing offers Kabul Army not to dictate talks with rebels intervenes to ISLAMABAD: A top repre- Khurshid Shah, who, while dis- with the emerging situation. There settle Umar case help to fight violence sentative of the Pakistan Army, carding the proposal of having the would be no blame game, he said. if inducted in the new commit- army nominee in the committee, While concluding nearly a ISLAMABAD: Federal BEIJING: China said yes- Afghanistan and other neighbours tee to be constituted by Prime had argued that if the dialogue dozen peace accords with the Interior Minister Chaudhary terday that it will work with to resolutely fight all terrorist Minister Nawaz Sharif, will conducted by such a body failed militants since 2004, the army Nisar Ali Khan played concili- Afghanistan to fight terror- forces," he said. be an important part, but not to achieve the desired result, the had almost been solely taking atory role in patch-up between ism, after it blamed a deadly China will host a foreign minis- the sole decision-maker but blame for the outcome would fall decisions. cricketer Umar Akmal and train station attack on extrem- terial conference on Afghanistan will be one among other senior on the military. The civilian leaders of the likes Lahore police warden who ists from its western Xinjiang in August to encourage "a move delegates. “The army would not be solely of Zafarullah Jamali, Shaukat booked him in offence of traffic region, which shares a short toward lasting peace", Wang said. “In the past, the army clinched responsible for the positive or Aziz, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja violation and in the process they border with the war-torn Wang last month visited several agreements with mili- negative result of the dialogue Pervez Ashraf and Asif Ali had a scuffle. It led to registra- nation. Afghanistan as US and allied tants single-handedly, mostly process. Rather, the entire new Zardari had not been much con- tion of criminal case and Umar Beijing has become increas- troops prepare to draw down their to the exclusion of the civilian committee and its appointing cerned with such negotiations Akaml had to face detention in ingly concerned about security forces after more than 12 years of governments. authority, the prime minister, since 2002. judicial lock up briefly. in restive Xinjiang, where it says fighting Taliban extremists. But this time, a military officer would have to own the outcome,” The army was obviously the Later Umar Akmal filed suit Muslim extremists receive help China has been stepping up its would be a major part of the larger the source said. most dominant player even in against the warden in a local from militants in neighbouring engagement with other regional body that would consist of those He explained that unlike the political matters during these court. Both the cases were pend- countries. China says separa- players in recent months in picked up from the government,” past, the government and the tenures, and the civilian govern- ing as Umar Akmal had gone to tists from the region, home to a Afghanistan, Beijing-based dip- said a credible source, privy to army were working in harmony. ments were too weak to prevent Dhaka to play Asian ODI cham- large Muslim Uighur minority, lomats say, mainly out of concern the developments relating to the Any agreement and the question it from doing so. pionship. The trial court issued launched a terrorist attack in that the Nato-led force's pullout prospective peace talks with the of putting blame on any one side The source said that it was now arrest warrant of Umar last week. the southwestern city of Kunming may spawn instability that could Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). for any repercussions of the nego- a different ball-game - the civil- Federal Interior Minister last week, killing at least 29 peo- spill into Xinjiang. Not many top leaders of the tiations would not arise. ian government is in the driving Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan was ple and injuring about 140. Many Uighurs in the energy- government including even the “The Pakistan army is not seat, the army is being compre- approached by Umar’s brother China will work with the inter- rich region, which borders ex- cabinet ministers are in the loop independently engaged in the hensively consulted every now Kamran Akmal early this month national community for political Soviet Central Asia, Afghanistan, over the composition of the new peace process with the Taliban and then, and decisions are taken when he came to Islamabad for reconciliation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and India, chafe at committee by the prime minis- and is doing what is agreed with only when a consensus emerges. playing a match that was also support reconstruction, Foreign Chinese restrictions on their cul- ter. Only Nawaz Sharif, Interior the government after a thread- On the other hand, JUI-F chief played by Chaudhary Nisar Ali Minister Wang Yi said at a press ture and religion. More than 100 Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali bare discussion.” Maulana Fazlur Rehman is in Khan. briefing during an annual session people there have been killed in Khan and the military top brass The source said that if the talks favour of opting for the army gen- Chaudhary asked the admin- of China's largely rubber-stamp unrest in the past year, according fully know what is going on. fail or meet with success, both the eral. He says it is imperative to take istration to put up efforts for parliament. to Chinese state media reports. The source rebutted the argu- government and the military will the military leadership on board. dignified settlement without com- "We will also work with REUTERS ment of leader of opposition accept its responsibility and deal INTERNEWS promising any law. INTERNEWS

USAID promises International Women’s Day $81m fund for 25pc of govt schools in Islamabad dam Rawalpindi rent buildings LAHORE: The United States Agency for International ISLAMABAD: The serious- parents on self-help basis. Development (USAID) has ness of the Punjab government Sources in education depart- committed to provide a grant towards education could be ment said every year each school of $81m to Pakistan Water gauged from the fact that more was released development budget and Power Development than 25 percent government of Rs50,000. However, the amount Authority (Wapda) for the primary and elementary schools is too meagre to pay the rent of construction of stage-I of in Rawalpindi city are in small a building. Kurram Tangi Dam. rented buildings. Deputy District Education Kurram Tangi Dam is a Classrooms in most of the Officer (female), Noreen Khalid, component of the federal gov- schools are congested and with- who is supposed to run the affairs ernment’s least-cost energy out adequate ventilation. of girls’ schools, said, “I agreed generation and water storage These schools lack proper play- that most of the schools in rented development strategy. The grounds and education-friendly buildings are very small and lack strategy aims to improve the environment as most of them proper ventilation. However, now ratio of hydroelectric power in have been built on four to six we are trying to merge the schools the system to provide relief to marla land. with nearest government schools.” the people, in addition to devel- According to officials docu- Replying to question, she said oping water storage capacity ments, there are 76 boys and girls that development budget could for agriculture. primary and elementary schools not be utilised for the upgradation The Executive Committee of in Rawalpindi city. and extension of rooms in rented the National Economic Council Of them, 20 are being run in buildings. (Ecnec) approved stage-I of small buildings on a rent ranging Deputy Director Malik Sarfraz Kurram Tangi Dam costing between Rs6,000 and Rs12,000. admitted that some rented schools Rs12.662bn in its meeting held Interestingly, the rent of four of were not conducive to education. on Thursday. Female Italian soldiers shake hands with an Afghan policewoman (right) during an event to mark International the schools is paid by teachers and INTERNEWS Women's Day at a military base in Kabul yesterday. Huge progress has been made in women's rights since 2001 19 militants US-led invasion brought down the Taliban regime that banned girls from going to school and women from working. killed in raids KABUL: 19 armed Taliban Deadline for automation CCTV cameras to be installed in KP militants were killed, six wounded and seven oth- ers arrested in several joint of land records extended PESHAWAR: The Khyber The spokesman said the step Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Restriction anti-terrorist operations Pakhtunkhwa government has was taken in line with the provi- of Rented Buildings (Security) by Afghan army and police ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Islamabad’ was originally decided to install the ‘access sions of the recently-promulgated Ordinance 2014 was examined forces in various provinces of government has extended the approved by CDWP on 27 control system’ at all sensitive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sensitive during another high-level meet- Afghanistan during the past deadline up to June 2014 for November 2006 and continued to installations in the provincial and Vulnerable Establishments ing at the central police office 24 hours. the completion of computerisa- remain pending till the PML-N capital to ensure foolproof secu- and Places (Security) Ordinance (CPO). A statement issued by the tion of land records of all the government took office after May rity of the people. 2014. While presiding over the meet- Afghan Interior Ministry in remaining Revenue Estates in 11 elections. The system comprises bio- He said the sensitive installa- ing, Durrani said under the law, Kabul today said the opera- the Islamabad Capital Territory According to statement issued metric system and closed-circuit tion include the Supreme Court, it was obligatory on all landlords tions were carried out in Kabul, (ICT). by Ministry of Information television cameras, according to high court and provincial assem- to produce the details of their Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, The Public Sector Development Technology here yesterday, the police spokesman Riaz Ahmad. bly buildings, Judicial Complex, tenants in their respective police Kandahar, Herat, Paktika and Programme (PSDP) IT Project government actively pursued the The decision to install the Civil Secretariat and Peshawar stations. Helmand provinces and some titled ‘Establishment of Land project. Before the present gov- ‘access control system’ at sensi- prison. The meeting was told that land- ammunition was also recovered Revenue Records Management ernment; only 8 Revenue Estates tive installations was taken on All these buildings are located lords had failed to produce the from the militants. Information System (LRRMIS) out of 112 ICT Land Records the recommendation of provincial adjacent to each others. requisite details by the March 6 AGENCIES in the Rural Areas of Islamabad (Mauzas) had been scanned in the Inspector General of Police Nasir Also in the day, the implemen- deadline and therefore, they could Capital Territory (ICT), past 5 years. INTERNEWS Khan Durrani. tation of the recently promulgated face legal action. INTERNEWS SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Polls: Congress down, BJP far from Mission 272 Ink attack on BY AMULYA GANGULI cannot claim that it is led by the Congress. No such extraordi- this score. Even if, for argument’s success of the Congress’s student AAP leader widely acclaimed leaders. Neither nary circumstances — suppres- sake, the National Democratic wing in the Gujarat university EXT month’s general Sonia Gandhi nor Rahul Gandhi sion of civil rights or a tragic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP polls where it routed the BJP’s elections may prove have the appeal and commanding death — exist now. wins 200-odd seats, the party’s affiliate. Yadav’s face to be the most sig- personality of Indira Gandhi, or The common people are no chances of attracting allies from If the BJP can only expect to NEW DELHI: A young man Nnificant ever because the charm and modern outlook longer enamoured of official sops outside the NDA which can enable be the largest party in the Lok yesterday smeared ink on they can determine the fate of the of Rajiv Gandhi till he was tarred and subsidies. Instead, they look it to reach 272 are not very high. Sabha with the NDA falling well Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Congress’ first family. It is open by the Bofors howitzer scandal. to economic growth and increased So far the BJP has only been short of the majority, the other leader Yogendra Yadav’s face to question whether in the event There is another disadvan- opportunities for their livelihood. able to bring the Lok Janshakti challenger to the Congress, the after springing from behind of the party’s defeat, as is antici- tage for the Congress this time. However, there is a silver lining Party to its side, but it is a poor so-called Third Front, may not him at a party rally here to pated, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty Its 1977 defeat was at the hands for the Congress. It is the scene compensation for the Janata Dal- be able to get off the ground at mark International Women’s can continue to play its present of a hastily assembled group of reminiscent of 1977 and 1989 and United which left the NDA on the all. AlreadyTamil Nadu Chief Day. Yadav later requested dominant role. parties ranging from disgruntled also the period between 1996 and Modi issue. The group of minor Minister Jayalalithaa’s ties with police not to take any action True, the family has survived Congressmen like Morarji Desai, 1998, when there was no stable Tamil Nadu parties which have the Left parties have collapsed against the 35-year-old other setbacks, notably in 1977 angry over Indira Gandhi’s rise government at the centre. joined the BJP cannot add much and the Janata Dal-United’s attacker who was identified and in 1989. But it had the advan- in the party, to the Jana Sangh Although the Bharatiya Janata to the NDA’s final tally. Sharad Yadav has said that he by police as Sagar Bhandari, tage in those days of being headed (now BJP) which merged with the Party’s Narendra Modi is well Besides, L K Advani has reit- has low expectations from the a native of Assam. Yadav by charismatic leaders. That was newly-formed Janata Party. ahead of Rahul Gandhi in the erated his old reservations about formation. also wrote a letter to Delhi the reason the Congress survived Moreover, the latter’s inability prime ministerial race, according Modi by saying that the party has As in 1977 and 1989, the inabil- Police that said: “I would the crushing blows it received in to provide a semblance of effec- the opinion polls, there is still no become a one-man show while ity of the Congress opponents to wish to request you that no 1977 to return to power in 1980 tive governance revived Indira certainty that the BJP will be able Sushma Swaraj, another of the get their acts together can boost case be registered against by raising its tally of Lok Sabha Gandhi’s image even as the to accomplish its “Mission 272- earlier detractors, has been dis- the party’s prospects for the next that misguided person. If he seats from 153 to 353. Four years popular anger against her emer- plus”, as it highlighted at a recent pleased with the wooing of what general election a year or two later. is detained, he may please be later, its tally went up to 415 gency rule of 1975-77 subsided. In convention. she calls tainted individuals. (Amulya Ganguli is a political released. If possible, I would under another popular leader, 1984, a sympathy wave over her It will be happy if it can reach Evidently, the scene is not as analyst. The views like to get an opportunity Rajiv Gandhi. assassination, coupled with Rajiv the 182-mark which it did in 1998 hunky-dory as the BJP may wish expressed are personal.) to speak to him.” Bhandari, This time, however, the party Gandhi’s Mr. Clean image, helped and 1999, but there are doubts on even if one ignores the surprising IANS wearing the trademark white AAP cap, leaped onto the stage where Yadav was seated and talking to the media. Passing out parade Before Yadav or the AAP members around him could realise what was happening, he repeatedly smeared ink Sonia, Rahul in on Yadav’s face, temporar- ily blinding him. It took four or five seconds before others came to Yadav’s rescue, push- ing away the attacker who Congress’ first was then roughed up. Police quickly intervened and took him away. A police officer said Bhandari was apparently a list of 194 disgruntled AAP worker and worked at the party office in the Shalimar Bagh area. BJP releases second candidates list Five Indians on board missing airliner NEW DELHI: Congress presi- Yeddyurappa from Shimoga in dent Sonia Gandhi (Rae Bareli) the state and Rajya Sabha MP KUALA LUMPUR: Five and vice-president Rahul Chandan Mitra from Hooghly in Indians are among the 239 Gandhi (Amethi) figure in the West Bengal. passengers on board the first list of party candidates The BJP announced 52 can- Malaysia Airlines plane that for the Lok Sabha elections didates in its second list includ- went missing when it was on released here yesterday. ing five from Assam, 20 from its way from Kuala Lumpur Apart from the two Gandhis, Karnataka, three from Kerala, to Beijing early yesterday. the list has 192 more names five from Odisha, two from According to the passen- including Unique Identification Tripura and 17 from West Bengal. ger manifesto, the Indians Authority of India Chairman Apart from Yeddyurappa, on board are Vinod Kolekar, and Infosys co-founder Nandan party candidates from Karnataka 59, Chetana Kolekar, 55, Nilekani, who has been fielded include former chief minister New recruits of the Jammu Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment (JKLIR) march in formation during a passing out Swanand Kolekar, 23, from Bangalore South, and crick- D V Sadananda Gowda from parade at an army base on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday. The 256 recruits were formally inducted into Chandrika Sharma, 51, and eter Mohammad Kaif has been Bangalore North and party gen- the Indian Army’s JKLIR after finishing their training. Kranti Shirsath, 44. fielded from Phulpur in Uttar eral secretary Ananth Kumar IANS Pradesh. from Bangalore South. The list Former prime minister Atal of 52 candidates includes many Behari Vajpayee’s niece Karuna sitting MPs, former ministers and Shukla, who joined the Congress party office bearers. last month, has been fielded from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. LJP CANDIDATES RSP walks out of LDF alliance in Kerala Among the sitting union min- LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan isters fielded: Sushil Kumar and his son Chirag Paswan fig- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: party’s national general secretary was also and hence we decided that we will leave the Shinde will contest from Solapur ure in the first list of party can- Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), a a party to it. “This decision has been taken LDF,” said Premachandran. (Maharashtra), Kamal Nath didates who will contest the Lok constituent of the Left Democratic Front at the state level and when a decision at This decision is going to bring cheers to the from his traditional Chhindwara Sabha election in Bihar. Ram (LDF) in Kerala, yesterday walked out of the national level has to be taken, it would UDF as the Oommen Chandy government has (Madhya Pradesh), Mallikarjun Vilas Paswan will contest from the alliance after it was denied a Lok Sabha be taken. Our national party secretary T J just a three seat margin in the 140-member Kharge from Gulbarga Hajipur and his son from Jamui. seat, saying it was fed up with the overbear- Chandrachoodan was also present (when the assembly. The RSP has have two legislators (Karnataka), Girija Vyas from The senior Paswan’s brother, ing attitude of the CPI-M. decision was taken),” he said. and as and when they decide to join the UDF, Chittorgarh, Jyotiraditya Scindia Ramchander Paswan, will be Addressing reporters, after day-long delib- Asked if the UDF had approached it, Azeez the margin goes up by five. from Gwalior), R P N Singh from fielded in Samastipur. erations at the RSP headquarters here, its said: “ Yes, we have been sounded by the “Please don’t forget that we were one of the Kushi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh “I will contest from Hajipur state secretary A A Azeez also indicated the United Democratic Front and we both will Left parties that supported the first UPA gov- and Preneet Kaur from Patiala. where I lost in the last Lok Sabha party was open to joining the ruling United sit down and begin talks on how we can go ernment, so even though we have been critical Other prominent names in the election,” Ram Vilas Paswan told Democratic Front (UDF). ahead together. The coming days will reveal of the present UPA government, our decision list include Lok Sabha Speaker the media. The LJP has fielded “We have been for long demanding from the how and what our association would be with to move out of the LDF now is not going to Meira Kumar (Sasaram - Bihar), Rama Singh, a former legislator CPI-M that they return the Kollam Lok Sabha the UDF,” he said. be seen as political opportunism,” said Azeez. Naveen Jindal (Kurukshetra), with a criminal past, in Vaishali constituency. But sadly, the CPI-M did not even The RSP also decided to field former Reacting to the development, Congress’s Mukul Wasnik (Ramtek - and Veena Singh, wife of Suraj call us for any talks and arbitrarily announced parliamentarian and state minister N K state unit president V M Sudheeran said that Maharashtra), Vilas Muttemwar Bhan Singh, who too faces crimi- that they will not give us the Kollam seat. We Premachandran from Kollam, from where the they are open to talks with the RSP and at (Nagpur), Meenakshi Natarajan nal charges, in Munger. have decided to leave the LDF and we will put Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) the opportune time, will meet up with them. (Mandsour) and Amita Singh Party spokesperson Satyanand up our candidate at Kollam,” he said. The RSP have more or less decided to field legislator “Maybe tomorrow (Sunday) itself, we will sit (Sultanpur - UP). Sharma will be the candidate in was in the LDF for the past 39 years. and politburo member M A Baby and the offi- down with the RSP to talk things out,” he told Meanwhile, the BJP released Nalanda. The LJP joined the BJP- On whether the parting of ways would cial announcement is expected shortly. reporters here. However, senior Communist its second list of Lok Sabha led National Democratic Alliance be applicable to West Bengal where RSP is “We had no option because the very organ- Party of India (CPI) leader C Divakaran said candidates, fielding former last month, after a gap of 12 years. part of the Left Front, Azeez said this is a isational existence of our party has been that all is not lost and there is time still left Karnataka chief minister B S IANS decision of the state committee, though the affected by the arbitrary decision of the CPI-M for a patch up. IANS

On Women’s Day, housewife-led Rise up the ladder: Modi to women dance troupe wins IGT 5 trophy NEW DELHI: BJP’s prime ministerial can- as well as in police. “One of the big problems is MUMBAI: It couldn’t have been a better day for their victory — didate Narendra Modi yesterday urged the discrimination. There is one attitude towards Raagini Makkar and her troupe Naadyog picked the “India’s Got women to graduate from being home-makers the son and another towards the daughter. To Talent 5” trophy here on International Women’s Day yesterday. to becoming nation-makers as they have both end this discrimination, there is need of social Raagini is a housewife and a kathak dance teacher and she runs the potential and the capacity to change the awareness,” he said. her family institute called Naadyog, which is 25 years old and has destiny of the country. Modi also talked of changing the life of rural 360 students. The kathak group is unique due to its ability to show Emphasising on health and education of people, to a query on his priorities as prime different forms and formations involving the classical dance. women, Modi stressed they should have the minister, by providing them uninterrupted As winners of the talent-based reality show, the group, which right to take decisions on the matters concern- electricity, water, toilets, smoke-free kitchens has women aged 18-32, has been awarded Rs50 lakh, a brand new ing their lives, such as career choices, timing of and other basic facilities as also schools and car and the trophy. The other finalists for the finale were 13-year- marriages and size of families. primary health centres. He called for an end old musical talent Saei Jamshed, dance group Beat Breakers and The Gujarat chief minister was interacting to the open air toilets women have to use today Subhreet Kaur, 25, who dances despite one amputated leg. with women from 1,500 places in India and in the villages. The finale was graced by Gulaab Gang stars Madhuri Dixit and abroad, on the occasion of the International He said there should not be any “compromise” Juhi Chawla, while megastar Amitabh Bachchan added more star Women’s Day, through video conferencing from on issues concerning women. “(They) should power to the show. The 10 finalists of the season paid a special tribute the BJP headquarters in his second edition of have freedom of birth, freedom of education... to the iconic actor by singing and dancing on some of his best hits. the Chai Pe Charcha programme. freedom to choose time of marriage, freedom to He even shook a leg with the contestants. “If we educate women, we are educating not choose career. They should have a say in decid- “India’s Got Talent” is the Indian franchise of the hugely successful just a family but educating also the genera- ing size of family,” he said. “Got Talent” series. The fifth season of the show went on air January tion,” said Modi while stressing importance of Reminding women of their immense power, 11, 2014 with Kirron Kher, Malaika Arora Khan and Karan Johar as women’s education. To a question in the wake Modi urged them to turn out in large numbers its judges. One highlight of the fifth season was seven-year-old boy of recent attacks on women, he said safety and on the polling day, and asking them to associate Akshat Singh, a huge Salman Khan fan, who is good at B-Boying, security of women is the joint responsibility of with the Election Commission’s voters aware- Hip-Hop, contemporary and Bollywood styles of dancing. He became A female karate exponent demonstrates her the administration and the police. ness campaign. “If women of India decide to a rage following his performance on “India’s Got Talent”, and he was skills during International Women’s Day, in Noting that discrimination was a big prob- shape future of the country by playing an effec- also invited as a guest on The Ellen DeGenres Show in Los Angeles. Amritsar yesterday. lem faced by women, Modi salso suggested that tive role during the elections, no vote-bank poli- IANS there should be more women in legal profession tics will succeed,” he said. IANS

SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK

PRAYER TIME Woman dead for six years Fajr (Dawn) 4:34 found only after Shorook (Sunrise) 5:50 Zuhr (Noon) 11:45 money runs out Asr (Afternoon) 3:08 MICHIGAN: For six years the Maghrib (Sunset) 5:41 bills were paid, the grass was Isha (Night) 7:11 cut and no one noticed the body of the dead woman sitting in the back seat of a car in a garage of a residential Pontiac, Michigan WEATHER neighbourhood. Her mummified body was Weather finally found this week by some- Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: one dispatched to check on the Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Mostly cloudy property that fell into foreclosure Hazy to misty at after the money ran out of her first becoming account and the mortgage pay- relatively hot ments stopped, police said. High: 29° High: 29° High: 28° “It is kind of the perfect storm for Low: 20° Low: 22° Low: 23° and partly cloudy. a mysterious set of circumstance and a challenge because of the extreme degradation of the body,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard DOHA - SUN & SEA said in a telephone interview. The woman has not yet been pos- SUN TIDE SEA itively identified, but it is thought she is a person who stopped work- WIND SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW ing in 2008 and had set up all of 05:51 17:37 09:00 06:45 & 16:15 03-12/16 KT her bills to be paid automatically from her bank account. THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW She is also thought to have worked as a contractor in the HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER financial department for a major automobile company. MUSCAT 28/21 Partly cloudy 29/22 Partly cloudy A neighbour cut her lawn, her MAKKAH 33/27 Chance of rain 34/23 Partly cloudy mail was sent to the post office KUWAIT 28/21 Partly cloudy 29/21 Cloudy and there was no family living BAHRAIN 28/21 Partly cloudy 28/22 Partly cloudy nearby, Bouchard said. “The last SANAA 26/08 Partly cloudy 26/10 Partly cloudy withdrawal from her account was RIYADH 31/21 Mostly cloudy 30/21 Partly cloudy in March 2013,” he added. DUBAI 31/22 Partly cloudy 32/22 Cloudy Neighbours said the woman had BAGHDAD 31/21 Chance of rain 26/15 Chance of storm family in Germany and would be gone for days or weeks at a time. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW When she was back home, she kept to herself, local broadcaster HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER WXYZ reported. REUTERS ATHENS 10/07 Chance of rain 10/07 Chance of rain WASHINGTON 10/03 Clear 16/07 Partly cloudy SYDNEY 27/19 Chance of storm 27/19 Chance of storm LONDON 17/07 Clear 17/06 Mostly cloudy PARIS 19/08 Clear 19/09 Partly cloudy ISTANBUL 12/06 Rain 08/06 Chance of rain MANILA 33/22 Clear 31/22 Partly cloudy DHAKA 31/17 Partly cloudy 32/18 Partly cloudy DELHI 27/16 Clear 27/14 Partly cloudy ISLAMABAD 19/12 Thunderstorm 17/09 Rain Sunday 9 March 2014 8 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5998 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Ezdan Holding’s net profit jumps 289.45pc Group nets QR1.07bn during 2013

DOHA: Real estate giant Ezdan definite vision based on diversi- Holding’s net profit has surged fication in investments.” to QR1.07bn during the last “The achievements will bring financial year ended December financial gains for all the share- 31, 2013, up by 289.45 percent holders and also help to uplift the compared to QR275m in 2012. country’s socio-economic condi- The earning per share (EPS) of tion,” he said. the group rose to QR0.40 in 2013, Reiterating on the Group’s compared to QR0.10 during 2012. better financials for the current Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin year, he said:” We are confident Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of that the current year will be a Ezdan Holding Group, said: “We continuation of such upswing in congratulate shareholders on the the Group’s profits, which leads quantum leap in the Group’s prof- us to expect more profits during its and we promise them more 2014.” achievements in 2014.” He further said the group is Sheikh Khalid added: “The working to implement its stra- performance of the groups tegic vision in dissociation from has been extraordinary in all the real estate sector focusing four quarters of 2013. It has on investments in various other witnessed the launch of sev- sectors. This dissociation would eral new mega projects, which contribute to greater benefits Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani (left) and Ali Mohammed Al Obaidli. have contributed to the crea- for shareholders as well as effec- tion of a huge surge in the tive participation in the Qatar volume of the Group’s finan- National Vision 2030, under extraordinary performance of the to the success of the group thus on the Qatari market which was with great deal of optimism and cial results. In addition, such the wise leadership of the Emir Group in 2013 was the outcome making it a model in the business reflected in the financial results of determination. We also hope that achievements are a natural H E Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad of the hard work put in by the industry in the world.” the Group during the 2013. the implementation of our new reflection of Ezdan Holding’s Al Thani. staff, well planned strategy and He said that the group has Giving his projections for the projects in 2014 will help group to recent accomplishments, in Ali Mohammed Al Obaidli, the clear vision of the manage- launched several large scale year 2014, the CEO said: “We pave its way in making history.” line with its clear strategy and Group CEO of Ezdan, said: “The ment all together contributed projects, which had great impact look forward to the year 2014 THE PENINSULA

Qatar should focus on cost overruns: IMF Qatar’s inflation rate to BY SATISH KANADY of Finance, H E Sheikh Abdullah rising energy efficiency. There spending is unlikely to be affected bin Saoud Al Thani, the Governor is anecdotal evidence that while by a drop in hydrocarbon prices or DOHA: remain at 3-4pc: IMF Given Qatar’s commit- of Qatar Central Bank (QCB), the US shale gas boom has not market volatility in the near term. ment to a deadline set for the H E Saleh bin Mohammad Al meaningfully affected revenues so The QCB can inject liquidity into launch of huge development Nabit, Minister of Development far, it is starting to put downward the system through its lending DOHA: Qatar’s GDP growth basket, a strong inflow of expa- projects ahead of the 2022 FIFA Planning and Statistics, and other pressure on prices negotiated for window and repo operations, and could stay around 6 percent in triate workers in the context of World Cup, the country will senior government and central future LNG supplies. the government could achieve the 2014 as the pickup in the pub- diminishing housing market slack face the risk of cost escalation. bank officials. Global financial volatility, a same goal by managing portfolio lic investment programme pushed up CPI inflation to 3.7 per- To address this, an integrated IMF said Qatar has started persistent slowdown in emerg- allocations of the QIA and public is roughly offset by a modest cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in April approach to public investment introducing a medium-term ing markets and a renewed crisis sector enterprises. decline in hydrocarbon output. 2013. However, inflation has eased management, including proce- focus into the budget process. in the euro area are short term Qatar’s inflationary pressures Public investments are expected to 2.3 percent y-o-y in January as dures for selection and appraisal The budget circular for FY2014- risks to Qatari economy. Revenue appear contained at the moment, to keep growth roughly 6–7 rents stabilised. of all projects in the next budget 15 requires ministries and agen- losses from lower oil and natural but policymakers need to remain percent over the medium term, Core inflation excluding food, would be highly desirable, cies to provide indicative budget gas exports would likely be the vigilant. The authorities—mind- with nonhydrocarbon growth rent, and utilities has also been on International Monetary Fund estimates until FY2016-17 and most significant spillover channel ful of Qatar’s 2006-08 experience remaining about 10 percent, a downward trend, with January (IMF) said on Friday. to share performance informa- for Qatar given the high share of with double-digit inflation—intend according to IMF. core inflation at 1.4 percent. Qatar has made some progress tion about the execution of their hydrocarbons in budget revenues to phase in the investment projects On Friday, the Fund projected House prices have been growing in developing the institutional programs. Once fully effective, and exports. gradually. However, if signs of over- Qatar’s inflation is to remain strongly since the crisis-related structures needed for efficient the medium-term budget frame- However, the financial channel heating emerge, the authorities benign at 3 to 4 percent going drop in 2008-09, but according to implementation of the National work (MTBF) will help ensure could also emerge as important should smooth fiscal spending, and forward—a modest increase from crude measures, valuations appear Development Strategy. Certain that government spending is depending on circumstances, deploy further macroprudential recent years. The anticipated broadly in line with fundamentals. big-ticket projects such as the shielded from revenue volatility given Qatar banks’ remaining measures and liquidity withdrawal gradual decline in commodity Qatar’s budget surplus metro, port, and airport have and expenditure targets are not wholesale funding exposures operations in case of excessive prices, including for food, should increased to 9 percent of the been scaled down or divided into exceeded. Qatari authorities are abroad and external financing credit growth or risk-taking. help reduce price pressures from GDP in FY2012-13 on the back phases to reduce the risk of over- confident that the tradition of needs for the infrastructure pro- Developing deep and liquid strong economic activity in the of strong growth in revenues, capacity, and the authorities are spending overruns can be largely gram. A global financial shock domestic debt markets can bring context of the exchange rate peg. despite a substantial overrun in preparing a short list of critical eliminated already during the would also reduce the value of important benefits. These include Fiscal and external balances current expenditures. Spending projects. However, the large-scale current budget cycle. Qatar’s sizeable foreign assets, funding for the large infrastruc- are projected to taper down signif- on infrastructure and other nature of the programme has led Qatar’s main medium-term the Fund cautioned. However, the ture investment programme as icantly over time due to flat LNG capital projects was broadly to implementation delays and cost risk remains the possibility of Fund said Qatar has ample policy Qatar advances its diversification production, falling crude oil out- unchanged, but capital expendi- overruns, IMF said in its latest a sharp decline in oil and gas space to deal with unexpected cir- agenda, enhancing the monetary put from mature fields, expected tures have picked up during the country report prepared after the prices in light of growing uncon- cumstances in the short term. transmission mechanism, and lower hydrocarbon prices, and current fiscal year. Gross govern- Fund Mission met with with H E ventional oil and natural gas sup- Fiscal buffers and remaining facilitating liquidity management. growing nominal expenditures. ment debt for fiscal year 2013-14 Ali Shareef Al Emadi, Minister plies, sluggish global growth, and natural resources are sizeable and THE PENINSULA The public debt ratio is expected (ending March 2014) is projected to fall, but the headline budget at 33 percent of GDP, with the balance could—according to IMF authorities issuing T-bills and staff projections—turn into defi- T-bonds for financial market QIB is ‘Safest Qatar Steel, EOL ink deal cit over the medium term, while development and liquidity man- the current account surplus could agement purposes. Islamic Bank’ drop to 5 percent of GDP. The current account recorded GDP growth slowed from 13 a surplus of 32 percent of GDP DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank percent in 2011 to 6.2 percent in in 2012 and another high sur- (QIB), Qatar’s leading Islamic 2012, largely as a result of the long- plus can also be expected in 2013, bank, has been recognised as standing self-imposed moratorium reflecting sustained high prices of the ‘Safest Islamic Bank in on additional hydrocarbon produc- LNG, crude oil, and condensates Qatar’ in Global Finance’s first- tion from the North Field. Growth exports. LNG prices in Qatar’s ever list of the Safest Islamic is estimated to have remained main export markets in Asia have Banks in the GCC after con- around 6 percent in 2013, driven so far remained largely unaffected ducting a rigorous evaluation by a 10 percent expansion in the by the rapid growth in the US process to assess the stability of nonhydrocarbon sector, particu- unconventional gas and oil produc- the region’s banks. larly construction, transport, com- tion. The real effective exchange Global Finance is an industry- munications, and finance. rate is estimated to have remained leading magazine that provides a The nonhydrocarbon sector now roughly unchanged during 2013. reliable source of financial data to accounts for almost one-half of Qatar’s banking sector is prof- 192 countries. This year, for the the economy. Negative spillovers itable and well capitalised. The first time, Global Finance assessed from the global slowdown have banking system remains highly banks which only offered Islamic been limited since the tight LNG profitable with a return on assets products and which had been market and supply disruptions at 2 percent. Liquidity buffers are rated by at least two reputable among other oil producers have strong, with liquid assets around international agencies. A total kept hydrocarbon prices high. 50 percent of total assets. The of 25 Islamic banks currently Qatar’s inflation rate increased aggregate loan-to-deposit ratio operate in the Gulf, representing Ali bin Hassan Al Muraikhi, Managing Director and General Manager of Qatar Steel and Linda Kongerslev, early last year due to increased has fallen from 1.2 to 1.0 over the about a third of all active com- GM of Eships Oldendorff Logistics LLC, after signing a five-year contract for lighterage of capesize vessels housing demand, but has fallen past year, partly due to rising mercial banks in the region. for iron ore consignments. since then. With rents constitut- public sector deposits. THE PENINSULA ing over 30 percent of the CPI THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Deflation risk may keep interest rates low: QNB Rates in eurozone, US to remain low for longer period

DOHA: In the eurozone and 50 percent in some periphery should give a clearer picture on the US, inflation remains dan- countries. The Euro has strength- how much of the recent weak gerously low and well below ened 6.7 percent over the last economic data can be put down the two percent central bank year against a weighted basket to bad weather. The bank does targets, the weekly analysis of of currencies. Overall, all these not expect the picture to be clear Qatar National Bank (QNB) indicators suggest a strong risk enough for the Fed to postpone group said. of deflation, which are likely to QE tapering at its next meet- Inflation is not expected to prompt the ECB to loosen mon- ing on March 19, but by the time pick up in the short term as etary policy, possibly by a small the Fed meets on April 30, there weak global demand holds back cut in interest rates, quantita- is some risk that the economic global energy and food prices. tive easing or other measures to outlook could have deteriorated With weak growth expected in increase liquidity. enough to warrant a slowdown in Europe and recent disappointing In the US, annual inflation the pace of QE tapering to off- economic data in the US, the risk picked up from 1 percent in set the risk of deflation. The first of deflation remains high. October 2013 to 1.6 percent in reading of GDP growth in Q1 2014 As such, European and US cen- January 2014. However, US infla- is also released on April 30. tral banks are likely to keep mon- tion is expected to slow sharply The potential for falling infla- A QIB official receiving award from an Islamic Finance News representative. etary policy loose for an extended to 1.2 percent in February as the tion in the eurozone and US will period. Therefore, QNB Group impact of a sharp rise in gaso- make central banks wary of fall- expects short-term interest rates line prices falls out of the annual ing into a deflationary trap. in the eurozone and the US to number and as core inflation con- According to economic the- stay low for longer than prevail- tinues to slow. ory, deflation fuels expectations QIB gets awards for excellence ing market expectations. The low inflation outlook and that prices will continue to fall, In the eurozone, annual infla- some indications that the US eco- encouraging delays to purchases, DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank financial institution, as well as as one of the most prestigious tion has stabilised at 0.8 percent nomic recovery may be weakening, thus holding back growth. Japan’s (QIB), the largest Islamic bank becoming one of the best-known awards by global Islamic capital in recent months. Core inflation raises the potential for another experience in the last two decades Qatar in terms of assets, was Islamic Financial solutions pro- markets. (excluding energy and food) is low round of loosening of monetary is a good example, the bank said recently conferred three awards viders in the world,” said Saeed Currently, QIB is also the at 1 percent, energy price infla- policy by delaying the tapering of in the report. from Islamic Finance News, Alkhayareen, Acting General largest Islamic bank in terms of tion is negative and food infla- quantitative easing (QE). The US It also increases the real value based on 2013 financial results, Manager, Corporate Banking financing in Qatar with a 35% tion is flat. The European Central Federal Reserve (Fed) has shown of outstanding domestic debt, achievements and major financ- Division of QIB’s. “QIB’s financ- share of the Islamic sector and Bank (ECB) expects inflation to firm commitment to QE taper- thus making it more difficult for ing deals. ing activities continue to be a a 9% share of the overall bank- be 1.3 percent over the next year. ing during early 2014, despite a borrowers to make repayments. The awards were for ‘Best major growth driver and reached ing market.As of the end of 2013, This alone gives the ECB reason soft patch in economic data, which Deflation also tends to lead to a Islamic Bank in Qatar’, ‘Arranger QR47.1bn in 2013, representing its capital amounted to QR2.36bn to take policy action, but there has widely been put down to bad stronger exchange rate, under- of the Syndicated Deal of the Year’ 9.3% growth compared with the with total assets standing at are a number of additional factors weather. However, this resolve mining competitiveness and for a $340m Ijarah Facility and previous year. This reflects QIB’s QR77.4bn. that add further incentive. may be easing as recent comments growth. On the other hand, a ‘Arranger in the Tawarruq Deal of major role in supporting Qatar’s QIB conducts its domestic The ECB expects real GDP from the Fed Chair, Janet Yellen, moderately inflationary environ- the Year’ for the $662.4m Maran economy by providing Islamic business through 32 branches, growth to be only 1.1 percent in have indicated that QE tapering ment reinforces expectations that Nakilat Revolving Commodity Finance solutions to major com- spread throughout the country the eurozone over the next year. could be adjusted if the US econ- prices will continue to rise and Murabahah Facility. panies in both the governmental and this is augmented by more Unemployment is high, stuck at omy weakens. encourages spending, borrowing, “Over the past 30 years, QIB and private sectors,” he added. than 175 multi-function ATMs around 12 percent, on average, Upcoming economic data growth and a more competitive has succeeded to become a rec- The Islamic Finance News Cash Deposit Machines. with youth unemployment above releases in March and April exchange rate. THE PENINSULA ognisable local and regional awards are widely recognised THE PENINSULA QPD provides Flipkart sees $1bn aid to QITS DOHA: Qatar Petroleum sales this year Development Co Ltd (Japan), a Japanese joint venture company NEW DELHI: Flipkart, India’s has emerged in India amid years operating offshore, has provided answer to US online giant of fast economic growth, relying financial assistance to Qatar Amazon, said yesterday its sales not on inherited wealth but their Independent Technical School would cross the milestone $1bn own-start up talents to launch (QITS) to support its educa- -mark this year, ahead of sched- businesses. tional needs at school. QITS ule, in the country’s exploding “E-merchandise retailing sales will use the fund to increase the e-commerce market. stood at $1.6bn in 2013. By 2018, power supply for its facilities. Founded in 2007 by two ex- we think they will be $14bn and Satoru Nakanishi, General Amazon.com employees and in 2023 they will reach $60bn,” Manager, QPD, said, “As a cor- university friends, Flipkart.com Saloni Nangia, president of porate social responsibility, has become India’s biggest shop- leading consultancy Technopak QPD contributes to educational ping portal hit and has drawn Advisors, said. improvement in Qatar. It is our backers such as New-York based While there were already pleasure to collaborate with QITS venture capitalists Tiger Global Indian online sellers, Flipkart to achieve this goal.” Management LLC. helped sales take off by allow- Abdulla Shams, General “In March 2011 we announced ing customers to pay cash-on- Manager, QITS, has expressed his by 2015 we wanted to hit $1bn” delivery, a move Nangia calls a gratitude to QPD for continuous in sales when they stood at just “game-changer”. and invaluable contribution to the $10m, said founders Sanchin An increasing number of Officials from QPD and QITS after the meeting. school. THE PENINSULA Bansal and Binny Bansal, who Indians are going online but they happen to share the same sur- are uncomfortable giving credit name but are unrelated. card details over the Internet. Now the privately held firm Others do not have a credit card expects to hit $1bn in sales “one and the Flipkart method allows year before our target” which them to place orders. CAPM plans first Dubai IPO in five years means “we’ve grown 100 times in “This cash-on-delivery system the last three years,” the pair, who helped consumers gain trust in DUBAI: CAPM Investment, an formed. It will operate in the the IPO at Dh1 per share on the chief executive Mahdi Mattar said pool operational responsibilities, online shopping—they saw prod- investment banking and asset UAE’s fashion retailing and food Dubai Financial Market, CAPM in the statement. said in a statement. ucts arrive,” Nangia said. management firm in the United and beverage sectors; its over said. That suggests the IPO would If the IPO goes ahead, it will be The figures reinforce Flipkart’s Flipkart began selling books but Emirates, said it planned to 100 founders include prominent raise $75m. a step in the recovery of Dubai’s leadership position in the Indian then expanded to mobile phones, arrange for a company to con- local businessmen and inves- Meanwhile, the founders financial markets from the glo- e-retail market. The founders, televisions, cameras, computers duct the first initial public offer tors, CAPM said in a statement would subscribe to 45 percent of bal financial crisis. There have now both 32, said they were and home appliances. of shares on Dubai’s main stock yesterday. the equity or 225 million shares. been no IPOs on the DFM since “happy and proud” at the progress It has yet to report a profit market in five years. Fifty-five percent of the compa- CAPM expects to secure final construction firm Drake & Scull of Flipkart in which they invested in the fiercely competitive mar- The company, named Marka, ny’s equity, or 275 million shares, regulatory approvals to launch listed in early 2009. an initial $10,000. The Bansals are ket with its nearest rival, eBay- is still in the process of being will be offered to the public in the IPO in coming weeks, CAPM’s REUTERS seen as typical of the new risk- backed Snapdeal, targeting $1bn ready breed of entrepreneurs that turnover by mid-decade. AFP Centennial named Saloon of the Year DOHA: Hyundai Motor Lee, by Bassam Kronfli, Editor-in- that meet and exceed the very Company’s flagship model, Chief of EVO Magazine, who com- highest quality standards in the the 2014 Centennial, has been mented: “We were lucky enough premium car class.” named Saloon of the Year to test drive the 2014 Centennial The car is equipped with GDi for 2013 by top Middle East last year, and were extremely engines, and to ensure the high- motoring magazine, EVO. In impressed by it. Hyundai has est standards of comfort, it also the process, it beat off strong claimed that the model is a has electronically-controlled competition from German and genuine alternative to the more multi-link suspension, while an Japanese models in the pre- well-known premium brands, and air suspension option is also avail- mium car sector. the car itself certainly backs up able. Passengers in the back can The 2014 Centennial was these claims. The combination of enjoy new dual 9.2inch LCD rear launched in the Middle East in early a strong engine, the latest in-car monitor screens and control their 2013, with the promise of challeng- technology and very reasonable travel experience via a DIS system. ing the established names in the pricing, meant that it was a wor- A smartphone touchscreen-style premium car market better than thy winner of our Saloon of the user experience is provided by the ever before through a significantly Year award for 2013.” innovative Haptic Steering Wheel, enhanced interior, the addition of a Lee said: “This is the latest in a while an all around View Monitor range of cutting-edge features, and number of major awards that the utilises small front, side and rear- the introduction of two new high- Centennial has recently received mounted cameras to project a 360° performance GDI engines. in the Middle East, and is a true view of the area surrounding the The award was presented to testament to how far we have vehicle onto the driver’s informa- the Head of Hyundai Africa and come as an automotive company tion screen, making parking easier. Hyundai’s Tom Lee (right) and EVO’s Bassam Kronfli. Middle East Headquarters, Tom that we are now producing cars THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Boeing reports cracks in Dreamliner wings Scrutiny of SFR takeover Problem not on planes that are in use could take NEW YORK: Boeing Co said ensure that the issues are cor- that “hairline cracks” had been rected before the airplanes are discovered in the wings of about delivered,” the Federal Aviation nine months 40 787 Dreamliners that are in Administration said in a state- production, marking another ment. Boeing shares fell 54 cents, PARIS: France’s competition setback for the company’s new- or 0.4 percent, to $128 in after- watchdog estimates it could est jet. hours trading. take nine months to scrutinise a The cracks have not been found The cracks are the latest possible takeover of French tel- on planes that are in use by air- trouble for the Dreamliner, a ecoms operator SFR by French lines and therefore pose no safety high-tech jet largely made of car- conglomerate Bouygues or rival risk, Boeing said, adding the prob- bon-fiber composite that has been Numericable, its head said in an lem also will not alter Boeing’s beset with so-called “teething interview published yesterday. plans to deliver 110 787s this year. issues” since entering service in Bouygues, with interests from However, Boeing said the 2011, three years behind schedule. telecoms to construction, on cracks, which also occurred on Last year, lithium-ion batteries Thursday offered ¤10.5bn in cash the larger 787-9 model currently overheated on two Dreamliners, for 46 percent of Vivendi’s SFR. undergoing flight tests, could prompting regulators to ground A competing bid from French delay by a few weeks the date the worldwide fleet for more than cable operator Numericable when airlines can take delivery three months while Boeing rede- included ¤11bn in cash, granting of their new planes. signed the battery system. Another Vivendi a 32 percent stake in the The disclosure raised questions battery overheated this year. new company, sources said earlier. about repair costs and a possible Airbus also has struggled with A tie-up between SFR and minor increase in the weight of wing cracks on its A380 jet. Bouygues would create Europe’s the plane, but did not seem to “If they can keep the delivery seventh-biggest telecoms group spell major trouble for Boeing, schedule going, it shouldn’t be a by sales. In France, it would rank industry experts said. major problem for customers,” ahead of current market leader Wing-maker Mitsubishi Heavy said Richard Aboulafia, aero- Orange in terms of market share. Industries Ltd notified Boeing in space analyst at the Teal Group The competition watchdog February of the problem, which in Fairfax, Virginia. “But there is said a deep investigation of the arose after the Japanese company an expense.” He added that the potential tie-up was “most likely” altered its manufacturing process. manufacturing change was prob- in light of the complexity of the Workers at South Carolina Boeing work on a 787 Dreamliner at the plant’s assembly building in North Charleston. “We are discussing with Boeing ably aimed at reducing the weight issues it raised. how to deal with the problem,” a of the plane, as was the case with “If a deep inquiry is launched, spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy the A380. “If they have to revisit Boeing declined to discuss the on the A380. Reports said on confirmed the discovery of it could take around nine months Industries in Tokyo said. He was that, it could add weight to the manufacturing change that led to Thursday that Airbus had once unspecified “fatigue findings” on of investigation before reaching a unable to comment on why the design, though only a modest the problem. Boeing expects to again ordered more frequent a factory test plane. “This will be final decision,” Bruno Lasserre, company changed the manufac- amount,” he said. deliver 110 787s this year, and to inspections of the wings of the addressed during routine mainte- head of the competition authority, turing process. Boeing said the 787 cracks earn revenue of between $87.5bn world’s largest passenger jet after nance inspections and the aircraft told Le Figaro newspaper. Boeing, based in Chicago, said occurred in shear ties on wing and $90.5bn. So far it has deliv- discovering unexpected levels of remains safe to fly,” she said. Lasserre said the antitrust it immediately notified customers ribs, and will take one to two ered nine, including one delivered metal fatigue, this time during Most aircraft undergo a regular review would look into what of potential delays. It said none of weeks to inspect and fix. Wing on Friday. “Deliveries continue as testing on a factory mock-up. pattern of checks from small daily impact the possible deal could the jets potentially affected by the ribs run parallel to the fuselage of normal outside this potentially The planemaker has asked air- ones to heavy maintenance checks have on market prices and market problem has been delivered. “We the plane. The ties, made of alu- impacted 40,” Alder said. lines to inspect the wing’s “spars” every five or six years. players’ incentives to invest and are confident that the condition minum, hold the rib to the skin of Boeing’s disclosure comes as or main internal beams during Aircraft industry experts have innovate, as well as the impact on does not exist in the in-service the wing and will be replaced with Airbus emerges from a painful regular major overhauls carried known for decades that metal the media market. He noted that fleet,” Boeing spokesman Doug an aluminum part. “If we find an two-year programme of modifi- out after six years in service, and fatigue cannot be eliminated, but Vivendi, which controls pay-TV Alder said. affected area, we’ll correct the cations and hundreds of millions then again at 12 years, instead of they have worked out a system for operator Canal Plus, could retain The US regulator said it is issue by trimming out the area of euros of financial charges trig- waiting for the 12-year overhaul, monitoring it backed up by man- influence over an entity belong- aware of the situation. “The and applying a fabricated piece gered by the discovery of cracks industry sources said. datory maintenance schedules. ing to Bouygues which controls FAA will work with Boeing to in its place,” Alder said. on brackets attached to wing ribs An Airbus spokeswoman REUTERS broadcaster TF1. REUTERS

Greece, lenders set to miss Oman’s revenue Moody’s ups outlook for drops 7.9pc Netherlands, Belgium deadline for rescue loan deal in January WASHINGTON: Moody’s negotiating fiscal consolida- ATHENS: Greece and its have work to do next week,” one needs before May, when ¤9.3bn of MUSCAT: Oman government raised its credit outlook for tion have recently been some- international lenders will miss a Greek senior government official its bonds expire, the biggest refi- revenues fell by 7.9 percent the Netherlands and Belgium what more challenging in self-imposed March 10 deadline told reporters after a new round nancing hump the country will at the end of January 2014 to on Friday, elevating both to the Netherlands, this has not to clinch a deal that will release of talks with lenders. face in the next three decades. RO973.3m against RO1,056.9m stable from negative as the prevented the country from the next tranche of the coun- Greece’s ongoing review has “We’re on a very good road for during the corresponding period eurozone economy improves. implementing significant fiscal try’s rescue loans, three senior been dragging on since September, an agreement,” one of the two in 2013, according the statistics The Netherlands kept its top- consolidation.” Greek government sources said making it the longest ever since finance ministry officials said. released by the National Centre level Aaa rating, while Belgium For Belgium, Moody’s said yesterday . the country’s ¤237bn bailout Greece is hoping to get eurozone for Statistics and Information was three levels down at Aa3. that the risk that the govern- Greece and representatives of began in 2010. finance ministers tomorrow to (NCSI). Moody’s said the Netherlands ment would have to shoulder the European Union (EU) and Austerity-weary Athens has make a statement that the talks The statistics attributed this outlook improved because it was more liabilities in the weak the International Monetary Fund become increasingly defiant have made good progress. to a 10.4 percent decline in the less likely to be called on to help banking sector had declined. (IMF) had hoped to conclude the towards its lenders, who on their To ease the talks’ completion, Sultanate’s net oil revenues, which fund rescues of weaker eurozone Bank asset quality “should latest review of the country’s part are pushing for reforms as Greece has proposed removing stood at RO829.5m by the end of countries, including troubled improve going forward as the reform progress under the terms the bailout is nearing its end. the thorny issue of banks from January 2014 against RO926.1m Italy and Spain. Belgian economy is expected to of its international bailout by Greece has already obtained the current talks. One of the offi- during the corresponding period Moody’s also said that there recover, especially in light of the tomorrow, when eurozone finance ¤218bn of rescue loans but may cials said he was optimistic that in 2013. Gas revenues rose by were signs that the country’s banks’ strong re-focus on the ministers meet in Brussels. need further funds to stay afloat. the issue would not block a deal. 14.1 percent to RO105.5m against own domestic problems, such as domestic market.” But the talks will not be over Another two senior finance “I am confident it will not be RO92.5m by the end of January weak growth and high house- Moody’s also forecast that by then because the two sides are ministry officials said that the a problem for the review,” the 2013. Capital revenues remained hold debt, have peaked “and the government’s fiscal consoli- still at odds over a range of issues, heads of the EU/IMF mission will official said. The EU/IMF believe unchanged at RO0.1m during are likely to evolve in a positive dation will continue and that mainly on structural measures to return to Athens shortly after that Greek banks’ have higher January 2014 compared to the direction.” the ratio of government debt to boost the economy’s competitive- tomorrow’s finance ministers’ capital needs than a ¤6.4bn esti- same period last year. Similarly, In addition, Moody’s said, gross domestic product would ness and over Greek lenders’ cap- meeting, with a view to clinch the mate announced by Greece’s cen- other revenues stood at RO38.2m the fiscal situation in the peak this year or next at 100 ital needs. “The distance between deal by the end of March. tral bank on Thursday. during January 2014 compared to Netherlands has stabilised. percent and then slowly fall. us has narrowed but we will still Greece has no pressing funding REUTERS the same period last year. QNA “Although the politics of AFP UK’s first bitcoin machine opens in London tech hub

LONDON: Britain’s first has collapsed and the currency on bitcoin forums. The whistle- machine for dispensing digital has been volatile due to specula- blowing site Wikileaks and other currency opened for business tion as well as prone to criminal organisations began to accept the in a cafe near London’s “Silicon activities. At the beginning of currency for donations, and by the roundabout” tech hub in east March, the Tokyo-based com- end of 2012 some 1,000 organisa- London, offering customers the pany Mt Gox, once the world’s tions had followed suit. ability to exchange bank notes biggest bitcoin exchange, declared Customers who use the for bitcoins. bankruptcy saying it had lost bit- machine in East London are Nick Letchford, managing coins and cash worth some half charged an 8 percent commission, director of the group that owns a billion dollars due to hacker and each customer is limited to the Old Shoreditch Station cafe, attacks. £1,000 in transactions per month. decided to install the machine In 2012, a leaked Us federal “I think it is very much a bur- after noticing the popularity of Bureau Investigation (FBI) report geoning thing,” Letchford said. bitcoins among his customers said the virtual currency was an It’s not mainstream in any way, working nearby in the digital “increasingly useful tool for vari- but I think from a vendor’s per- industries. ous illegal activities beyond the spective it is so straightforward “It gets used regularly based on cyber realm”. and simple. There is a future in where we are located,” he said. Bitcoin, which has been growing it as it becomes embraced by the “There are lots of technology- in popularity, relies on a network mainstream.” orientated consumers within our of computers that solve complex Meanwhile, a week after the area, and it caters very easily for mathematical problems as part of collapse of Mt Gox, Japan is still them,” he said. “Currently people a process that verifies and perma- struggling to craft a response to are buying coffees and beers with nently records the details of every the bitcoin phenomenon, saying bitcoins, mostly beers actually.” bitcoin transaction. the crypto-currency is not legal He sees a mainstream future The currency came into exist- tender, though it might be taxable A customer sits near a Bitcoin machine at the Old Shoreditch Station Cafe and Bar in east London. for the virtual currency, even ence in 2009, with the value nego- and subject to money-laundering though the top bitcoin exchange tiated by individuals chatting controls. REUTERS SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS China February exports tumble unexpectedly Slowdown fears back as trade balance in deficit

BEIJING: China’s exports percent from the same period a 2013 means that a direct year- unexpectedly tumbled in year earlier, versus a 7.9 percent on-year comparison can be mis- February, swinging the trade full-year rise in 2013. Imports leading. Fake trade deals to sneak balance into deficit and adding rose 10 percent year-on-year in cash into China past the coun- to fears of a slowdown in the the first two months, compared try’s strict capital controls were world’s second-largest economy with a 7.3 percent rise in 2013. rampant early last year before despite the Lunar New Year hol- “February export numbers Chinese regulators cracked down. idays being blamed for the slide. were a surprise on the downside, After adjusting for such distor- The sharp drop in exports fol- and even combined January- tions, export growth in the first lows a series of factory surveys February numbers were below two months of this year could since the start of 2014 that point market expectations,” said Li actually be up about 8 percent, to weakness in economic activ- Heng, an economist at Minsheng he calculated. ity as demand falters at home Securities in Beijing. Recent weakness in the yuan is and abroad. Exports in February “The data shows that the econ- seen as orchestrated by the cen- fell 18.1 percent from a year omy faces relatively big downward tral bank to squeeze out specula- earlier, following a 10.6 percent pressures and macro-policies tors and deter hot money inflows. jump in January, the General need to be loosened a bit.” China is fully confident of Administration of Customs said The government may step up achieving its 7.5 percent growth yesterday. fiscal spending to support some target in total trade this year, Imports rose 10.1 percent, investment projects if growth Commerce Minister Gao yielding a trade deficit of $23bn slows further, given there is lim- Hucheng said on Friday, citing for the month versus a surplus of ited room for the central bank to an improving global economic $32bn in January. That compares loosen policy, Li said. environment. with market expectations in a poll Exports to the United States China’s combined exports of a rise of 6.8 percent in exports, edged up 1.3 percent in the first and imports grew 7.6 percent an 8 percent rise in imports and two months from a year earlier, in 2013, just short of the official a trade surplus of $14.5bn. while sales to the European Union target of 8 percent. China’s goods A man working in Qingdao port in east China’s Shandong province. China recorded an unexpected trade deficit Analysts cautioned against rose 4.6 percent, according to offi- trade in 2013 hit $4.16 trillion, of $23bn in February. reading too much into single- cial data. overtaking the United States month figures for January or China’s trade outlook is widely for the first time to become the February, given possible distor- expected to be rosier this year in world’s largest goods trading particularly for major commodity showed. The statistical bureau is published today. tions caused by the long Lunar line with a recovery in developed nation, Gao said. exporters such as Australia. due to release combined data on China’s annual economic New Year holiday, which began countries. Minsheng Securities’ Li China aims for annual eco- China’s crude oil imports in the January-February retail sales, growth slowed to 7.7 percent on January 31 and covered early said he expected exports to pick nomic growth of 7.5 percent in first two months of the year rose industrial output and invest- in the fourth quarter from 7.8 February. Many plants and offices up in March. 2014, after the economy expanded 11.5 percent from a year earlier, ment for January and February percent in the previous quarter, shut for extended periods during Ting Lu, an economist at 7.7 percent in 2013, which hovered while imports of copper jumped on Thursday. The figures are and economists polled expected the festival. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch near the weakest pace since late 41.2 percent and iron ore ship- expected to show a slightly slower growth to slow further to 7.6 per- Still, combined exports in in Hong Kong, said that inflated 1990s. A resilient Chinese econ- ments rose 21.8 percent, data rate of growth than in December. cent in the first quarter of 2014. January and February fell 1.6 export data in January-February omy is good news for the world, from the customs administration February inflation data will be REUTERS

Instagram signs Stocks may extend rally after strong US jobs data first deal with NEW YORK: The stronger- shrug off bearish data and geo- long on the market.” In a sign of past seven sessions. Wall Street Orleans, which has $977bn in than-expected payrolls report political uncertainties in Ukraine, positive trading momentum, the has marched steadily higher this assets under management. major ad agency did more than ease concerns taking the S&P 500 to a series of S&P 500 is 1.3 percent above its year, save for a pullback in late Macro issues may have a large about US economic fundamen- record highs. However, it also 14-day moving average, a level January that came on concerns influence on trading this week, SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook- tals — it also seemed to justify raised concerns that the market that could serve as support in a about emerging markets. with little else that could serve owned photo sharing service Wall Street’s record levels, sug- may be vulnerable to pullbacks market decline. Those worries will remain as catalysts. Only two S&P 500 Instagram said it has landed gesting the market’s uptrend on any indication that conditions In the latest week, the Dow prominent after Russian components, Urban Outfitters its first deal with a major ad could continue. have gotten worse. rose 0.8 percent, the S&P 500 President Vladimir Putin rebuffed and Dollar General , are sched- agency. The leading social net- February’s jobs report followed “We’re hoping the payroll climbed 1 percent and the Nasdaq a warning from US President uled to report quarterly results. work wouldn’t disclose finan- two straight months of payroll report means we’re on a stronger gained 0.7 percent. While the Barack Obama over Moscow’s Economic indicators on tap cial aspects of the alliance with reports that were sharply below footing going ahead and that Dow and the S&P 500 rose for military intervention in Ukraine’s include February retail sales, seen Omnicom, but online reports expectations, and the rebound we can get more robust growth their second straight week of Crimea region. rising 0.2 percent, and a prelimi- indicated it could be worth as reinforced the theory that the going forward,” said Michael gains, the Nasdaq advanced for a “Weekends are notorious nary read on March consumer much as $100m in ads from cli- weakness in December and Mullaney, chief investment officer fifth straight week, up 5.7 percent for geopolitical developments, sentiment from the Thomson ents the agency represents. January had been temporary, of Fiduciary Trust Co in Boston. over that period. On Friday, the so we might be vulnerable to Reuters/University of Michigan “Omnicom shares our passion related to weather as opposed to “Now we’re trading on funda- S&P 500 ended at a record high some kind of shock,” said Terry Surveys of Consumers, which for and understanding of the worsening fundamentals. mentals, which we think are fine. of 1,878.04. The milestone marked DuFrene, investment specialist at is expected to hold flat from mobile Instagram community,” That bet has helped equities We’re comfortable still being its fifth record closing high in the JPMorgan Private Bank in New February. REUTERS Facebook director of market operations Jim Squires said in an email reply. “Our teams are going to work hand in hand to develop and execute campaigns that pro- vide people with amazing imagery Nod for Shanghai bourse platform in free-trade zone — and drive meaningful business S&P to meet Brazil results for advertisers.” BEIJING: The Shanghai Stock second-largest economy. to study ways to develop the trad- Squires maintained that Exchange has secured approv- Gui Minjie, chairman of the ing platform. Instagram’s advertising strategy als from regulators to set up Shanghai Stock Exchange, said China opened the Shanghai will continue to involve displaying an international trading cen- significant progress has been free-trade zone in late September officials to discuss a limited number of high-quality tre in the free-trade zone, the made in recent years allowing to fuel development of the coun- images or videos from brands that chairman of the bourse said Chinese firms to list on overseas try’s financial-services sector. already have a strong presence at yesterday. markets. However, no foreign Beijing has said that it would Instagram. In November it began The move could pave the way companies are allowed to issue allow a trial of a fully convert- economic policies displaying ads as Facebook moved for more foreign investors to shares on Chinese bourses. ible yuan capital account in the to start making money from the tap the world’s fourth-largest Speaking to reporters at the free-trade zone, sparking hopes BRASILIA: Standard & Poor’s adding that its ratings are subject smartphone photo sharing service stock market by capitalisation sidelines of the parliament ses- for an easing of controls that bar (S&P) sovereign ratings direc- to “ongoing review.” it bought in a billion-dollar deal and also for foreign companies sion in Beijing, Gui said the foreign companies from raising tor Lisa Schineller will meet A rating downgrade this year in early 2012. AFP to issue shares in the world’s exchange was preparing a team capital through IPOs. REUTERS high-ranking Brazilian gov- could further erode investor con- ernment officials this week to fidence in Brazil’s macroeconomic evaluate the country’s macr- policies and raise debt costs, mak- oeconomic policies, government ing it tougher for President Dilma Debut on NYSE sources said on Friday. Rousseff to promote economic The meetings, which include growth. visits with Finance Minister That, in turn, could complicate Guido Mantega and central bank Rousseff’s bid for re-election in chief Alexandre Tombini, come October. as Brazil works to allay concerns Brazil is currently rated by among Standard & Poor’s and Standard & Poor’s at BBB, the other ratings agencies that its second-lowest investment-grade public finances have taken a turn level. When it lowered its outlook for the worse in recent years. to negative last June, Standard Standard & Poor’s last year & Poor’s warned there was a placed a negative outlook on its one-in-three chance it would cut rating for Brazil, raising fears Brazil’s rating over the next two among investors, local business years due to rising public debt people and Brazilian officials that and an erosion in macroeconomic it and other ratings agencies could stability. downgrade the country’s ratings. In an attempt to regain mar- Schineller will meet with repre- ket confidence and dodge a down- sentatives of the private sector on grade, Brazil last month promised Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, to deliver a primary budget sur- the sources said, before speak- plus of 1.9 percent of gross domes- ing with Mantega and Tombini tic product this year. Thursday and Friday. Such a target, which measures Both officials are expected to government budget savings before stress the government’s commit- the payment of interest on pub- ment to fiscal discipline and infla- lic debt, was considered “realis- tion targets. tic” by many investors, as well as Schineller is also expected to competing rating agencies Fitch meet with representatives of the Ratings and Moody’s Investors Treasury, the Planning Ministry Service. and the national development Investors and ratings agencies bank, BNDES. stressed, however, that they would The meetings are expected to closely monitor whether Rousseff play a crucial role in whether S&P will be able to meet that target, Coupons.com Inc President and CEO Steven Boal is reflected on a screen as he and his wife Michele await the company’s stock to begin trading decides to lower Brazil’s rating. especially considering growing on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Friday. Shares of digital coupon company nearly doubled in their trading debut, valuing A S&P spokesman said the firm spending pressures during the the company at over $2.2bn and underscoring the popularity of technology IPOs. wouldn’t “comment on specula- election year. tion about our analyst’s meeting,” REUTERS SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Wealth rises but US E-waste bust shows economy still sputters BY JAMES SAFT China cracking down mericans are richer than ever and increasingly willing BY ADAM MINTER to take on a bit of extra debt and yet the overall atmos- That all changed in February 2013 when something similar, although its “transformed” phere, and the economic recovery, are surprisingly flat. — for reasons that are still unclear — Beijing e-waste clearly did not meet environmental A That’s because the rise in wealth is highly concen- t’s the question hovering over the news announced “Green Fence,” a high- level standards. In North Korea the bulky e-waste trated, consumer debt is often going towards maintaining liv- that Chinese authorities had recently crackdown on the import of prohibited was dismantled, segregated into marketable ing standards in the absence of adequate income and, perhaps broken up an e-waste smuggling ring waste and recycling exports, including old components like computer chips for re-use, most importantly, businesses are simply not investing, very likely responsible for delivering 72,000 met- electronics. Nonetheless, here and there, and then sent to Dandong, a Chinese city because they have a keen grasp of the first two points. ric tonnes of prohibited junk via North imported old electronics still turned up in and port on the Yalu River, directly across Household net worth rose nearly $3tr in the fourth quarter, IKorea to China’s shores in 2013. Chinese Chinese recycling facilities. from North Korea. From there, the goods up 3.8 percent, registering a 14 percent gain for 2014, accord- news accounts hailed the bust as the big- The likely means, as described in state were trucked south, to recycling and re-use ing to Federal Reserve data released on Thursday. This was all gest in recent e-waste history, requiring media after the North Korea bust, was centres in Guangdong Province. courtesy of an 11.6 percent annual gain in housing wealth and a a four-month investigation involving 500 convoluted. A Hong Kong “gang” allegedly In some ways what’s most remarkable whopping 12.6 percent rise in households’ financial assets like police officers. Most of the goods originated received containers of used electronics about this elaborate smuggling chain is just stocks and bonds. in Japan, with some also coming from the from abroad. They arranged for them to be how little e-waste was funnelled through While the gain in household wealth is an all-time high, if you United States and the European Union. placed them on smaller ships bound for a it. Indeed, if as the Chinese media claim, adjust for inflation, financial assets are up 10 percent from their As with any smuggling story, the tale starts “country in Northeast Asia.” The culprit’s 72,000 metric tonnes of e-waste travelled pre-recession peak but real estate assets are still 7.8 percent below with a prohibition. In this case, Chinese laws identity is clear from the awkward phrasing. via North Korea into China in 2013, that where they were before the bubble burst. and regulations prohibit e-waste — most Criticism of North Korea in the Chinese would only amount to 0.15 percent of the That’s important because home ownership is more widespread commonly understood as old, non-working press is exceedingly rare and — needless to 48.89 million tonnes of e-waste generated than the owning of financial assets, which is very heavily concen- electronics like laptops, monitors and mobile say — connecting the country to an e-waste globally in 2012, according to the Solving the trated among the wealthiest. phones — from being imported into the smuggling ring qualifies as criticism. Were E-Waste Problem, or StEP, a United Nations While we are getting a wealth effect from what very well may country. The reasons are several, including a the country Japan, or even South Korea, it programme based in Bonn, Germany. In be a bubble in financial markets – indeed that effect is one of the government interest in keeping used foreign would have been named. other words, for those concerned that the main aims of quantitative easing – there are only so many Jimmy goods from competing against new ones, and In fact, North Korea has long been developing world, and China in particular, Choo shoes and beachfront houses a one-per-centre needs. environmental concerns about how some rumoured to be an e-waste recycling cen- remain a dumping ground for the globe’s Given that so many would-be buyers of housing are shut out of those goods are recycled. Nevertheless, tre. Since January 2008 a Chinese company digital refuse, this scandal — exposed during of financing markets due to what may be absolutely sensible new China’s national-level environmental and based in Liaoning Province along the border the harshest smuggling crackdown in recent guidelines, the potential for continued appreciation of real estate, customs authorities have long struggled to has advertised for scrap to feed its e-waste Chinese history — suggests that China, at which would spur economic growth, is limited. maintain those prohibitions against local recycling operations in North Korea itself. least, is less and less a part of the global A deeper look at the data shows a willingness to take on more ports and authorities — especially in south The facilities are located, according to the e-waste chain. debt, with overall household liabilities up 1.2 percent in the quarter. China — who view e-waste recycling as a ad, in the port of Nanpo, and “take advan- Indeed, e-waste might be the least of That debt, however, is concentrated in consumer debt, notably good source of jobs, tax revenue, and used tage of North Korea’s environmental policies China’s smuggling problems when it comes student loans, with the amount of outstanding mortgage debt components to drive local industry. Of the and inexpensive labour resources.” There, to North Korea. After all, if this gang could actually falling by $10bn in the quarter. several conduits through which e-waste has the ad promises, prohibited e-waste can be manage to move 2,800 containers of e-waste And yet, despite record wealth and growing debt, we are looking traditionally been smuggled, the most com- dismantled and transformed into a product into China, it stands to reason that they at a spluttering economy, still growing well below its long-term mon and long-standing was over the Hong acceptable for export to China. could also smuggle in goods far less benign trend and potentially in the latter, stale stages of a recovery. And Kong-China border. The smuggling ring was allegedly doing than old laptops. WP-BLOOMBERG though there has been lots of talk about fiscal retrenchment what we’ve actually had is just a slowdown in the growth of official sector debt, which rose 2.8 percent last year, the slowest rate since 2007. The amount of student loans outstanding has more than dou- bled since 2008, standing now at $1.1tr. And yet there are grow- ing indications that many borrowers are spending the money on things other than education, an issue explored by a piece in The Wall Street Journal this week which showed anecdotal evidence of people simply borrowing to live. The data is also disturbing. About 25 percent of students taking out loans in the 2011-12 school year borrowed at least $2,500 more than their share of tuition, according to Edvisors.com. At the eight programmes audited by the report more than $220m in loans were made to 42,000 students who didn’t earn any credits. An economy divided between asset owners spending a slice of their bubble gains and hard-up people taking out student debt to live is clearly not sustainable. Returning to the Fed report we see clear evidence of why we find ourselves with such low growth: sparse investment by corpo- rations. Corporate capital expenditure minus internal funds was negative $159bn during the fourth quarter, meaning that rather than borrowing to invest as they usually do in expansions com- panies are piling up cash. This marks the 20th straight quarter of this behaviour. That cash hoarding and low investment create a natural cap on the potential rate of expansion in the economy. There are a number of competing explanations for why this is happening. It’s possible that executive compensation programmes make longer-term investment less attractive to those making the decisions, or it seems equally possible that after a damaging reces- sion and given the general low spirits in the economy managers are simply being cautious. Two things seem clear from all of this. First, extraordinary monetary policy, while it may have been needed in the throes of the crisis, has long passed the point of diminishing returns. We could pump the market up another 15 percent, but we’ll just get more WhatsApps, not more genuine growth. Second, just because it is no longer working that well doesn’t mean it won’t cause pain when we take QE away. Next year’s report may very well show less wealth but leave us with pretty much the same debts. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Supreme Court isn’t impressed by market efficiency

BY NOAH FELDMAN securities class actions — law- actions have been a growth indus- be new evidence that segregation the court to get out of the busi- interest in an amicus brief filed by suits brought by a common try, lauded by plaintiffs’ attorneys wasn’t actually neutral between ness of reviewing the economic a group of law professors, many ast fall, when the Nobel “class” of shareholders, all of as an important watchdog and blacks and whites, as the court literature altogether. with economic training. It offered Prize in economics went whom are supposed to have been derided by corporations as a cash had bizarrely claimed in the hor- Chief Justice John Roberts put a third path between greatly lim- to two scholars with similarly injured by the same cow that benefits no one but the rific 1896 decision Plessy versus him sternly back on message: “No, iting securities class actions and Lopposing views on the material misrepresentation by lawyers. Ferguson. your submission is that we should preserving the status quo. The efficiency of markets, my physi- a company whose shares were For years, opponents have Today economists acknowledge jettison the Basic test because professors recommended that cist friends raised their eye- traded on a national exchange. hoped to get the Supreme Court broadly that not all capital mar- economists now believe that the courts rely on “event studies,” brows: What kind of science In the case of Basic versus to reverse Basic. Since 1988, the kets incorporate new informa- efficient market theory is not… observational economic analysis is that? Now the US Supreme Levinson, the court relied in part justices have turned over almost tion immediately and efficiently sufficiently accurate or true to of market behaviour before, dur- Court has entered the eco- on an economic theory called the totally. Only Anthony Kennedy into price. Sure, some intensely support it.” ing and after the incorporation of nomics-bashing game, and on a efficient capital markets hypothe- and Antonin Scalia remain from followed markets, such as the For their part, the court’s liber- new information. related subject. sis to explain why all shareholders the court that decided Basic ver- New York Stock Exchange, seem als found themselves scrambling The justices clutched at the In Halliburton versus Erica who bought at the market price sus Levinson — and they were to incorporate new information to make excuses for the embar- event studies — the state of the P John Fund, argued this week, were affected by a public lie. both recused in the case. fast and well. But other, less-scru- rassing fact that social science art now — as if they were drown- the court considered whether According to the theory as The opponents’ big chance tinized capital markets, includ- ain’t exactly a science. Justice ing people grabbing for a life raft. economists’ revision of the effi- it then stood, markets rapidly came with faltering academic ing even Nasdaq, demonstrate Ruth Bader Ginsburg suggested But event studies, too, will even- cient capital markets hypothesis and efficiently incorporate new confidence in the efficient capital anomalies that can be observed by that the Basic decision “wasn’t tually become obsolete. Already, means the court should reverse information into price. From this markets hypothesis. When the careful analysis of what happens relying strictly on an economic experimental economists are the long-standing doctrine known premise, the court concluded that court overturns its own prec- when new information enters the theory,” but also on common sense questioning the post-hoc nature as “fraud on the market” that judges could presume that a mate- edent, it likes to have the excuse market. and the law. of event observation, which must underlies most securities class- rial misrepresentation affected all that something’s changed. It’s Some investor strategies Justice Elena Kagan argued identify and exclude confounding action lawsuits. purchasers, even those who never awkward to admit that the new depend on exploiting these anom- that it didn’t matter if not all factors rather than test hypoth- If the oral argument is any heard the lie — because it influ- element is changed politics, and so alies while they last. Market effi- markets were efficient — plaintiffs eses specified in advance. guide, it looks as if the fraud-on- enced the market price. one of the court’s favourite ploys ciency, it turns out, is more a could simply prove that in the rel- Some even say observational the-market doctrine is due for The practical consequence was is to blame it on new science. process than a state of being. evant market, new information studies aren’t really science. The revision. to make it much easier to “certify” The most prominent example To hear the justices debate the was incorporated into price. This court may adopt the event studies Why should changes in eco- a class and file the class action. In of this is Brown versus Board of issue was to see the conserva- was a straightforward effort to as the new standard. If it does, nomic theory affect the law practice, after a class is certified, Education, where in a famous tives looking to make economists preserve the Basic presumption count on the issue being reargued at all? It’s an important ques- cases don’t go to trial. They are footnote the court cited findings the fall guys for their plan to without relying on the efficient in 25 years — maybe sooner — on tion, but not a simple one. The settled by companies terrified by from social science that segrega- rein in securities class actions. markets theory. the basis that the science was answer goes back to 1988, when the risks of litigation. tion harmed black children psy- At one point, the attorney for The crowning irony of the oral wrong. the court decided to expand Since then, securities class chologically. This was supposed to Halliburton said that he wanted argument was the justices’ intense WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every China sees first trade deficit Sunday UK house price inflation in 11 months highest since Oct 2007: Halifax France January trade deficit BEIJING: China reported a large trade LONDON: UK house price inflation widens unexpectedly deficit in February mainly due to continues to rise, with house prices PARIS: France’s foreign trade deficit distortion by the Chinese New Year up 2.4pc on the month in February US trade deficit climbs to $39.1b for January widened from a year ago, holidays, marking the first deficit since and up 7.9pc on a year ago, in January on imports defying expectations for a narrowing, April 2013, customs data showed according to data from mortgage figure released by the French Customs WASHINGTON: The US Commerce on Saturday. Last month, the trade provider Halifax. The 7.9pc rise, for showed Friday. The trade deficit Japan trade deficit falls Department said on Friday that the deficit stood at 22.98 billion USdollars, the three months through February rose to EUR 5.732 billion from EUR TOKYO: A 5.8 percent year-on- country’s trade deficit widened in compared with a surplus of 14.8 billion on a year ago, was the sharpest 5.397 billion a year ago. In December, year drop in exports, despite January, driven by higher increase in US dollars last February and 31.86 such rise since the 8.9pc seen in the shortfall was EUR 5.213 billion. a 3.5 percent fall in imports, imports compared with exports. billion USdollars this January, the October 2007. While house price Economists had forecast a deficit of pulled the trade balance back On a seasonally adjusted basis, the General Administration of Customs inflation is now running at levels EUR 4.95 billion. Exports declined in into deficit after three months world’s largest economy saw its January, following a sharp rebound in (GAC) said in a statement. last seen in the early days of the of surplus. The balance fell from trade deficit increase 0.3 percent December. Airbus deliveries increased $1.5bn in December to -$431m to a $39.1bn in January from the financial crisis, in the Halifax series from a year ago. previous month, according to the prices are still well below their pre- in January. crisis peak. Commerce Department. Indian rupee, shares surge as IMF forecasts 7.3pc GDP growth, deficit woes ease lower inflation for Nigeria in 2014 NEW DELHI: India’s currency soared LAGOS: The International Monetary to its highest level this year as Fund (IMF) has predicted that Nigeria’s shares hit a lifetime peak Thursday, economy is set to grow 7.3 percent this the currency gained two-thirds of year, up from 6.4 percent in 2013. a rupee to 61.11 against the dollar, Brazil posts second straight According to the IMF report released its best showing since December trade deficit in February Friday, Nigeria’s growth this year will be 10, while the benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange index jumped BRASILIA: Brazil recorded its driven by sectors outside its dominant 1.11 percent to a record 21,513.87 largest February trade deficit ever, energy industry, while inflation will points. Australia current-account deepening a trade gap this year that continue its downward path. deficit narrows underscores the uncompetitiveness SYDNEY: Australia’s current of local industry and a voracious account deficit narrowed to a appetite for imports. The commodities seasonally adjusted A$10.14 billion powerhouse posted a trade deficit of in the fourth quarter of 2013 from $2.125 billion in February, the trade the third quarter, the Australia ministry said on Thursday, its second Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday. straight monthly shortfall. Economists had expected a current account deficit of A$9.8 billion in the quarter. The third quarter deficit was revised to A$12.5 billion from the A$12.7 billion initially reported.

TENDERS

TENDER TENDER CLOSING TENDER TENDER CLOSING NO. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT NO. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE 20/03/2014 Hand held industrial grade personal 24/03/2014 Invitation for prequalification of 1 ST14MT0025 QR 18,000 QR 100 21 GTC-616/2013 N/A 1000 Time: before digital assistant (PDA) (12:00hrs) domestic and bulk smart water meters 12 noon 16/03/2014 Supply & installation of telecom 31/03/2014 2ST14MT0221 QR 23,000 QR 100 22 LTC 786/2014 Supply of plotters QR 15,000 QR 500 Not later than expansion cabinet & accessories (12:00hrs) 11:00am Provision of vessel traffic service (VTS) Two(2) years call-off contract for 3 LT14102000 QR 43,000 N/A 16/03/2014 providing customers assistants By noon of training 23 LTC 751/2013 QR 150,000 QR 500 (cashiers) at Kahramaa tankers filling 13/04/2014 Replacement & jointing of cables at stations 4ST14100600substation-1, NGL-3, GAS operations, QR 15,000 QR 200 17/03/2014 16/03/2014 Mesaieed 24 LTC 778/2014 Supply of spa series protection relays QR 35,000 QR 500 Not later than 11:00am Maint. Support services for 30/03/2014 5GT14101700compressors in Dukhan Gas Ops and QP QR 500,000 QR 500 9/3/2014 Helpdesk professional services for three 25 LTC 783/2014 QR 200,000 QR 500 Not later than Refinery Mesaieed years 11:00am Sale and removal of control valves, 17/03/2014 30/03/2014 6ST14MT0010 QR 2,000 Free Consultancy for electricity distribution impeller, cam clutch and spider bearings (12:00hrs) 26 LTC 796/2014 QR 200,000 QR 1,000 not later than networks planning 11:00am Sale and removal of electrical cables, 17/03/2014 20/03/2014 7ST14MT0011control panel, distribution board, skids QR 2,000 Free Call-off contract for electricity QR (12:00hrs) 27 GTC 619/2013 QR 3,000 Not later than & trolley. distribution network works 3,200,000 11:00am Epic for refurbishment and revovation Consultancy services for Qatar’s 10/04/2014 8LT14102100 QR 125,000 QR 200 16/03/2014 GTC works at various clubs within Dukhan 28 long-term electricity transmission QR 180,000 QR 1,000 Not later than 601/2013 development plan 11:00 am Turn around maintenance works at khuff 13/04/2014 9GT14102700stations, point-N & Point-U in QR 250,000 QR 500 23/03/2014 Call-off contract for disconnecting and 29 LTC/756/2013 QR 100,000 QR 500 Time: Before Dukhan FLD connecting electricity meters 12:00 noon Sale and removal of ice maker machine, 17/03/2014 10 ST14MT0012 QR 2,000 Free Supply of cable fault location test van 30/03/2014 furintures, kitchen items etc (12:00hrs) 30 LTC/790/2014 equipped with medium voltage testing QR 80,000 QR 500 Not later than equipments 11:00am Epic for Dukhan township 11kV network 11 GT14103300 QR 700,000 QR 500 13/04/2014 system upgrade Design, supply, installation, testing 23/03/2014 and commissioning of fire alarm and 24/03/2014 31 LTC/758/2013 QR 175,000 QR 500 not later than 12 ST14MT0031 Supply of airline trolley units QR 10,000 QR 100 detection system at 17 Kahramaa (12:00hrs( 11:0am locations Sale and removal of rubber marine 23/03/2014 hoses w/flanges, Davit/winches for life 17/03/2014 Supply of iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini & 13 ST14MT0014 QR 2,000 Free 32 LTC 792/2014 QR 45,000 QR 500 Not later than boats, starter units complete & local (12:00hrs) MacBook Pro 11:00 am control panel 16/03/2014 Supply of CS/SS Ball valves (various 17/03/2014 14 ST14MT0018 QR 40,000 QR 100 33 AA/LTC-16/2014 Sale of obsolete stock materials QR 30,000 QR 200 not later than sizes/class, QTY-96 pcs) (12:00hrs) 12:00 am

Stocking & supply of class ‘G’ Oil well Maintenance and provision of safety cement for offshore & Onshore on call 06/04/2014 PWA/ 15 GT14MT0010 QR 600,000 QR 1,000 34 Barriers & Fence throughout Qatar, QR 350,000 QR 1,500 25/03/2014 off basis for QP and Oxy for a period of (12:00hrs) GTC/094/13-14 three (3) years Contract 2 AA-R/13-14/OM/052/C1/G

Sale and removal of flow meters, valves, Maintenance Supply and installation of 17/03/2014 16 ST14MT0009 equipment, fax machines, card printers QR 2,000 Free PWA/ street names and directional signage (12:00hrs) 35 QR 350,000 QR 1,500 25/03/2014 & spares etc GTC/093/13-14 throughout Qatar, contract-3 AA-R/13- 14/OM/041/C1/G Stocking & supply of liner hanger complete & compatible with inflatable Sewer repair, replacement and annuluse/external casing packer & PWA/ QR QR 06/04/2014 36 rehabilitation framework AA/DOM/13- QR 3,000 25/03/2014 17 GT14MT0007 hydraulic stage cementing collar QR 1,000 GTC/085/13-14 2,250,000 1,000,000 (12:00hrs) 14/M/1591-4.07/G equipment & services for north field area project on call-off basis for a period of (3) years Maintenance supply and installation of PWA/ street names and directional signage QR 37 QR 1,500 11/3/2014 Stocking & supply float & downhole GTC/086/13-14 throughout Qatar, contract-1 AA-R/13- 350,000 cementing & services for north field (06/04/2014 14/OM/043C1/G 18 GT14MT0008 QR 100,000 QR 1,000 area project on call-off basis for a (12:00hrs) period of (3) years Maintenance Supply and install PWA/ street names and directional signage 38 QR 350,000 QR 1,500 11/3/2014 Stocking & supply of wellhead, adaptor GTC/087/13-14 throughout Qatar, contract-2 AA-R/13- equipment and accessories for north 06/04/2014 14/OM/044/C1/G 19 GT14MT0006 QR 150,000 QR 1,000 field area project on call-off basis for a (12:00hrs) period of (3) years Maintenance of running track at warm Supply of casing and tubing for north 39 AF/M/AL3065/14 QR 18,000 QR 300 16/03/2014 QR 06/04/2014 up area in Aspire Zone 20 GT14MT0005 field area project on call off basis for a QR 1,000 1,000,000 (12:00hrs) period of three (3) years SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Aleix Espargaro leads Toronto Raptors beat Sacramento 17 riders make final preparations before Grand Prix NEW YORK: Guard Terrence Ross showed no ill effects from a NBA Results DOHA: The first day of MotoGP sprained left ankle that sidelined Memphis 85 Chicago 77 testing at Qatar saw Aleix him from last Sunday’s game, Espargaro lead the way with an leading the Toronto Raptors Charlotte 101 Cleveland 92 1’55.386s best time towards the to a comfortable win over the Toronto 99 Sacramento 87 end of the evening at the Losail Sacramento Kings. Boston 91 Brooklyn 84 International Circuit. Rudy Gay, in his first game in NY Knicks 108 Utah 81 A little less than two weeks Toronto since his trade to the Minnesota 114 Detroit 101 before the season opening Kings in early December, was New Orleans 112 Milwaukee 104 Commercial Bank Grand Prix booed relentlessly as Toronto (34- of Qatar commences, the test is 26) improved to 27-14 since the Dallas 103 Portland 98 seeing 17 premier class riders trade. Denver 134 LA Lakers 126 make their final preparations Centre Al Jefferson scored 28 Houston 112 Indiana 86 for the forthcoming campaign in points as the Charlotte Bobcats Golden State 111 Atlanta 97 the absence of the Ducati Team, beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. Movistar Yamaha MotoGP and Jefferson hit eight of his first points and 14 rebounds and guard Repsol Honda outfits. nine shots from the field as Kevin Martin added 24 points for Those factory teams have Cleveland succumbed to their the Wolves (31-30), who used a big already finalised their preseason third successive loss. first-quarter run to take control at Phillip Island this week and Center Marc Gasol scored 18 of the game. Friday’s opening test session saw points and the Memphis Grizzlies The Dallas Mavericks sur- Espargaro prove yet again the defence dominated down the rendered a 30-point lead before threat he will pose this season, stretch for victory over the making a late charge to beat the if his winter speed is anything to Chicago Bulls. Portland Trail Blazers. go by. The Bulls managed just two Dallas led 44-14 early in the sec- The NGM Mobile Forward points over the final 5:54, making ond quarter, only to fall six points Racing man was over two tenths one of nine shots from the field. behind with 4:26 left in the game. ahead of his nearest rival on The New York Knicks enjoyed Had Portland won, it would the Open entry Yamaha, with a a one-sided romp against the have been the biggest comeback time less than a second off Jorge toothless Utah Jazz with for- in an NBA game in more than four Lorenzo’s 2013 Qatar pole lap — ward Carmelo Anthony scoring years. on a track which should produce 29 points and a season-high eight The Houston Rockets confirmed even faster times over the next assists. their status as championship con- Aleix Espargaro of NGM Mobile Forward Racing during the pre-season test at Losail International Circuit yesterday. two days. It was the seventh win by over tenders with a comprehensive With the racing line cleared of Kammutty VP 20 points this season for the Knicks drubbing of the Indiana Pacers. any sand and with further rubber (23-40), while Utah dropped their Houston guard James Harden laid down on the track the pace the temperature dropped and the Bautista and LCR Honda’s Stefan Ducati with an Extra-Soft tyre. fifth successive game. scored 16 of his 28 points during is likely to increase as this test floodlights came into full effect. Bradl, with identical 1’56.081 best Rounding out the top ten were The Boston Celtics had 28 turn- a 33-6 blitz in the third quarter progresses. Behind the older Espargaro laps. Both riders ran with ‘Sepang NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s overs but still beat a poor-shooting at the Rockets (43-19) improved A slower start was made on brother were Monster Yamaha 2’ test settings on Friday and will Colin Edwards (+1.575s), Energy Brooklyn Nets. to 14-0 against the Eastern Friday with Danilo Petrucci, a Tech 3 pair Bradley Smith and Pol look to adapt their machines to T.I. Pramac Racing’s Yonny The Nets turned the ball over Conference at home this season. IodaRacing Project rider, the only Espargaro, Aleix’s younger sibling the optimal Qatar configuration Hernandez (+1.932s), Drive M7 just 14 times, but shot 36 percent Forward Kenneth Faried scored man to circulate in the first hour — the YZR-M1-equipped duo lap- over the coming 48 hours. Aspar’s Nicky Hayden (+2.188s) from the floor, and were 4-of-30 a career-high 32 points and in hot temperatures and in the ping within 0.253s and 0.686s of Andrea Iannone was sixth best and GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s from three-point range. grabbed 13 rebounds as the Denver daylight, before 5pm. P1, respectively. and it will be interesting to see Scott Redding (+2.536s). Forward Anthony Davis scored Nuggets beat the struggling Los The faster times came in the Completing the top five were what his best time is before the THE PENINSULA a game-high 29 points and grabbed Angeles Lakers. last two hours of the outing as GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro end of this test on the ‘Open’ 14 rebounds to lift the New All five starters for the Nuggets Orleans Pelicans to victory over scored in double figures in their the Milwaukee Bucks. second straight win. The Pelicans (25-37) led by as Reserve guard Steve Blake many as 10 points in the fourth opened the fourth quarter with quarter before Milwaukee cut it to a three-pointer and the Golden 104-99 with 1:17 left, but the Bucks State Warriors held the Atlanta Champion Porte out of Paris-Nice race could not get any closer as they Hawks scoreless for the first 6:52 fell to 12-49, the worst record in of the period en route to a runa- PARIS: The Paris-Nice week- jersey winner Tejay van Garderen the league. way home victory. long stage race begins today in Iranian cyclist wins Tour de Langkawi being in the field, the course The Minnesota Timberwolves The win was Golden State’s turmoil following the last-gasp appears more suited to the one- cruised to their seventh win in eighth in 10 games since the All- withdrawal of reigning cham- KUALA LUMPUR: Iranian cyclist Mirsamad day specialists. nine games as they dispatched the Star break as they improved to pion Richie Porte. Pourseyedigolakhour won the Tour de Langkawi, which con- Chief amongst those is Detroit Pistons. 39-24 for the season. The Tasmanian was shifted at cluded in Kuala Terengganu on Malaysia’s east coast yesterday. Portuguese Costa, who has Forward Kevin Love had 28 REUTERS the last moment to the Tirreno- The little-known Tabriz Petrochemical Team rider triumphed switched from Movistar to Adriatico stage race in Italy next with a time of 35 hours 7 minutes and 16 seconds. Lampre this season. week after his Sky teammate, Just eight seconds behind him in the overall standings was The 27-year-old has good stage- Tour de France champion Chris Eritrea’s Merhawi Kudus of MTN - Qhubeka followed by Colombia’s race pedigree having won the Tour Froome was forced out of that Isaac Bolivar of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling. of Switzerland the last two years. with a back injury. Pourseyedigolakhour secured victory by winning the gruelling And he is confident he can put in That moved sparked anger from Genting Highlands stage — known as the tour’s queen stage — a good performance, despite usu- Paris-Nice organisers Amaury upstaging more experienced competitors last Sunday. ally riding the Tirreno-Adriatico Sports Organisation (ASO), who “No Asian rider has ever won this stage before, so this makes at this time of year. were relying on a thrilling bat- me very proud,” Pourseyedigolakhour said after winning the stage, “I don’t have a bucket-load of tle between Porte, Giro D’Italia according to a press release from the organiser. experience in the Paris-Nice. In champion Vincenzo Nibali and “In my country we have a lot of mountains, which are ideal for the past I normally opted to ride world champion Rui Costa. us to train and improve our climbing.” AFP the Tirreno-Adriatico but, in 2013, “We find it cavalier to have the we decided to change programme reigning (Paris-Nice) champion given we felt the French course pull out just before the start,” said usually gain ground in time-trials leader at May’s Giro d’Italia. better suited my abilities,” he said. ASO official and Tour de France or on summit finishes. But with Froome now sitting Costa crashed out in the second director Christian Prudhomme. Paris-Nice had been one of out the Tirreno-Adriatico, that stage, bringing a premature close “We were told that to win Porte’s major objectives in the race offers a more suitable course to his challenge. points for the world rankings, the early part of this season before he for Porte’s abilities with two sum- But he agrees that this year’s Tirreno was more favourable (to makes the transition from chief mit finishes and both an individual course will suit him. Porte) due to its technical char- support to major Tour leader. and a team time-trial. “It is a curious profile, par- acteristics and the presence of an Having been Froome’s chief It means one of the main draws ticularly without any individual (individual) time-trial.” lieutenant during last year’s will be missing when the Paris- time-trial stages or tough uphill The course of the ‘Race to the Tour de France and a domes- Nice gets under way today with finishes. Sun’ had already caused some tique for Bradley Wiggins in a 162.5km ride around the Paris “So it means that you have to Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks (20) watches as Denver waves in the peloton due to its his Grand Boucle victory the suburbs. pay attention on all the stages and Nuggets small forward Kenneth Faried (35) receives a flagrant foul from profile, deemed not to the advan- year before, Porte will make his Despite Italian Nibali and every kilometre of every stage. power forward Ryan Kelly (4) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. tage of riders such as Porte, who debut as a major stage race team American former Tour white AFP New York Rangers rally to beat Carolina Hurricanes

NEW YORK: Center Derek for the first time in his career. Stepan scored on a 5-on-3 Goalie Roberto Luongo, playing NHL Results power play with 2:46 remaining his first game with Florida since NY Rangers 4 Carolina 2 as the New York Rangers ral- 2006, led the Panthers to a home Detroit 7 New Jersey 4 lied for a win over the Carolina victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Hurricanes. The Panthers also got power- Florida 2 Buffalo 0 The Hurricanes appeared in play goals from centre Jesse Calgary 4 NY Islanders 3 good shape with a 2-1 lead after Winchester and defenseman Pittsburgh 3 Anaheim 2 centre Jeff Skinner scored on a Dmitry Kulikov in a battle of the penalty shot with 7:53 to play, two bottom teams in the Eastern two-goal effort of his NHL career. before New York scored three Conference. Pittsburgh center Brandon times in the last seven minutes. Luongo was traded to the Sutter scored on a backhander Right winger Johan Franzen Panthers this week from the in the sixth round of a shootout, had two goals and two assists to Vancouver Canucks. giving the Penguins a road victory lead the Detroit Red Wings to a The Calgary Flames came from over the Anaheim Ducks. win over the New Jersey Devils. behind to beat the New York Anaheim center and captain The Red Wings led 5-3 after a Islanders, who frittered away a Ryan Getzlaf fired wide in his wild second period in which seven two-goal lead, for the second suc- attempt to extend the shoot-out goals were scored. cessive night. in a heavyweight match-up of Pittsburgh Penguins centre Brandon Sutter (16) scores a goal on Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) during New Jersey goalie Cory Right winger Joe Colborne the top teams in their respective the shoot-out at Honda Center. Schneider stopped 25 shots scored twice for Calgary in conferences. but also allowed seven goals the third period, the first REUTERS SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

The podium winners at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship celebrate at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student’s Center in Doha on Friday. Chinese Taipei topped the combined medals tally with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Kazakhstan were second with nine medals, including two gold and six silver, while Japan were third with two gold and three bronze medals. Around 91 rowers from 13 Asian countries took part in the two-day championship organised by Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation. Four share lead at Blue Monster has golfers seeing red DORAL: The Blue Monster The brutal winds combined had some players seeing red with shaved banks, severe slopes after a tough day at the WGC- and lightning quick greens cre- windy WGC event Cadillac Championship on ated a nightmare for golfers who Friday left only four golfers described the day as a test of below par at the midway point survival. of the $9m event. “I have to say, 75 in these con- Tiger Woods drains longest putt on the Tour in five years Prior to the opening round ditions, I’m quite pleased with it,” golfers had sung the praises of the said Italian Francesco Molinari, MIAMI: Former runner-up redesigned course but many were who started yesterday one shot Dustin Johnson fired a two- singing a different tune after behind the leaders. over 74 to grab a share of the whipping winds allowed the Blue “It’s playing really, really tough, lead at a gusty WGC-Cadillac Monster to show its true colours. as tough as you can imagine. Championship on Friday, Business magnate Donald “On this golf course as it is at while Northern Ireland’s Rory Trump, who has poured $250m this minute, there’s no room for McIlroy kept pace with a 74. into renovating the Trump mistakes. Defending champion Tiger National Doral Resort, hailed “It’s almost become a survival Woods carded a 73 in difficult architect Gil Hanse’s creation as test because no matter if it’s conditions, and despite the over- big, bold and fair. downwind or into the wind, it’s par round jumped 28 places into Few have disputed Trump’s really hard to judge the shots. a share of 25th at the $9m PGA ‘big’ and ‘bold’ assessment of his “There’s water pretty much Tour event. Woods won this title property but some like Briton on every hole. So I think it’s as for the seventh time last year. Luke Donald were left question- tough ... as we can get during the “I played pretty well. A 74 is ing the fairness of the layout. season. about as high as it was going to go. “I’m sure Mr. Trump wanted “I’m glad it’s over for me today I think I played a lot better than something pretty hard and a test, and I get a rest before going out that,” said Johnson, who finished a World Golf Championships, he tomorrow.” second in this event in 2011. “It’s wanted something severe but Not everyone was unhappy really tough.” it’s bordering on unfair on a few with the new layout. Johnson is tied atop a crowded holes,” said Donald after slump- Northern Irishman Graeme leaderboard after 36 holes with ing to a 10-over 82. McDowell, who returned a one- American compatriots Patrick Golfers were left stunned by under 71, had no complaints and Reed (75), Matt Kuchar (74) and the extent of the renovations thought no-one else should either. Hunter Mahan (74) at one-under that have taken place since Tiger “You know, one bogey in those 143. Woods claimed his seventh WGC- conditions, on this tough a golf It is not quite the Ryder Cup, Cadillac championship last year. course let’s be honest, you can’t Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the World Golf but McIlroy is lurking just one The course was stretched 150 criticise the golf course,” said stroke back in another four- Championships-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Doral, Florida, yesterday. yards, more bunkers and trees McDowell. man group that comprises fel- added while greens were com- “You play these types of condi- low Europeans Jamie Donaldson, second round. The average score Jason Dufner (77), South African Both rounds saw scores soar on pletely reworked with testing tions last year on this golf course Graeme McDowell (71) and on Friday was a 76. Charl Schwartzel (76), Brandt Friday as the wind gusted to over undulations. and it’s going to be brutal. Francesco Molinari (75). Woods drained a 91-foot, seven- Snedeker (73), Chris Kirk (71), 32 kilometres per hour. On the old course water haz- “So you can’t stand here and The Europeans share fifth inch putt on the par-three fourth, Harris English (77) and South The second round alone saw ards came into play on just six criticise the golf course in any place as Donaldson, of Wales, tal- giving him his longest putt since Korea’s Kim Hyung-Sung (74). over 100 golf balls land in the holes but now feature on 14. shape or form. lied the low round of the day on 2001. It was also the longest putt The first and second rounds water. That danger became clear dur- “You can’t call it unfair when the weather-hit Trump National on the Tour in five years. were both completed on Friday. Reed, 23, led after the first ing Friday’s second round when everyone gets a chance to play it.” Doral with a two-under 70. Zach Johnson (75) and Bubba The first round was suspended round but tumbled out of first with 113 golf balls found a watery REUTERS No one shot in the 60s and just Watson (72) share ninth place at because of darkness following a consecutive bogeys at 13 and 14. grave. three golfers broke par in the one-over 145, one stroke clear of long weather delay on Thursday. AFP “That’s a lot. There’s a lot of World Golf Championships- water out here,” said American Matt Kuchar, who grabbed a Cadillac Championship share of the second round lead Leading scores after the second after returning a two-over 74. round of the $9m PGA Tour’s Driscoll ties course record in Puerto Rico “Greens are slick and firm and World Golf Championships- RIO GRANDE: James Driscoll, wind was pumping pretty good. and 15th to reach 11-under. conditions are really tough. Cadillac Championship (par-72, hunting his first career victory It was blowing about 20 miles an Driscoll had earlier followed PGA Tour Puerto “I think that you have to kind USA unless noted) on the USPGA Tour, equalled hour, but there were a few times an opening par with a birdie at of embrace the challenge. I think 143 Matt Kuchar 69-74, Hunter Mahan his own course record with a I had some crosswinds and just the second. He eagled the fifth to that you have to look forward to Rico Open scores 69-74, Dustin Johnson 69-74, Patrick nine-under 63 to surge into a judged it perfectly and hit it in reach six-under before convert- seeing what sort of shots you can Reed 68-75 one-shot lead at the Puerto Rico there to about a foot or so.” ing another birdie at the eighth come up with. Leading scores after the second 144 Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 74-70, Graeme Open on Friday. Chesson Hadley carded a to make the turn at seven-under. round of the $3.5m US PGA “The Blue Monster certainly McDowell (NIR) 73-71, Francesco Driscoll, who finished 36 holes seven-under 65 during his second He then rolled in birdies at the Puerto Rico Open (par 72, USA showed its teeth today.” Molinari (ITA) 69-75, Rory McIlroy (NIR) at 12-under-par 132, already round to move into second place 10th and 12th and closed with a unless stated): Only three players managed to 70-74 owned a share of the record with at 11-under 133, while Eric Axley birdie at the 18th. break par during a wild second 132 James Driscoll 69-63 145 Zach Johnson 70-75, Bubba Watson Derek Lamely, Chris Tidland and (66) is alone in third at -10. Hadley birdied the 18th to round that ended with an average 133 Chesson Hadley 68-65 73-72 Scott Brown with his 63 on the Ben Martin (67), Wes Roach make the turn at six-under and score of four-over 76. Trump International Golf Club (66), Jonathan Byrd (66) and made it two in a row at the first 134 Eric Axley 68-66 It marked the first time since 146 Jason Dufner 69-77, Charl Schwartzel course in 2011. Danny Lee (68) shared fourth. before recording an eagle at the 135 Jonathan Byrd 69-66, Danny Lee (AUS) the final round of the 2009 PGA (RSA) 70-76, Brandt Snedeker 73-73, “I had the putter going pretty Driscoll drained back- second. 67-68, Ben Martin 68-67, Wes Roach Championship with no scores in Chris Kirk 75-71, Kim Hyung-Sung (KOR) 72-74, Harris English 69-77 hot today,” Driscoll said. “The to-back birdies at the 14th AFP 69-66 the 60s. Matsuyama apologises after Poulter’s Twitter rant MIAMI: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama apologised to Ian Poulter before they played together in yesterday’s third round of a World Golf Championships event after the Englishman called Matsuyama an “idiot” in a Twitter tirade. Matsuyama approached Poulter on the driving range with a transla- tor to smooth over tensions before they took to the formidable Doral Blue Monster layout at the $9m WGC Cadillac Championship. Poulter was upset that Matsuyama, a 22-year-old who is ranked 22nd in the world, did not repair the damage after he missed a short putt and slammed his putter into the 13th green during Friday’s second round. Poulter was in the group behind Matsuyama when the incident took place in Friday’s second round. “He buried his putter in the 13th green 5 ft from the hole, Referee had to repair the crater. Because he didn’t,” Poulter tweeted. David Wallace, General Manager of Pretect, and Chris Myers, General Jeff Glover (right), after winning the members tournament held at Doha “Why should Matsuyama leave a crater in the green for others to Manager of Doha Golf Club, after Pretect signed an agreement with the Golf Club as part of the ninth annual RasGas Charity weekend. Glover putt over, or have to call a referee to repair the damage. Idiot. Club to sponsor its Monthly Mug Stableford competition. won by a single shot with a superb gross score of 74, nett 66 which “Im no saint and first to say. But that was disgusting. I wouldn’t bury included 16 pars and 2 bogeys. a putter in a green 5 ft from a hole and have players behind deal with it.” AFP SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Qatar’s Sultan wins third place Riders Lemoine, Poret, Menard and Florjancic seal Aquabike glory in Qatar

DOHA: The French trio of Races were hosted by the success with a black flag dis- a mere 3.36sec behind the flying Teddy Pons, Jeremy Poret, Qatar Marine Sports Federation qualification on Friday, Kuwait’s French duo. Jennifer Menard and Slovenian (QMSF), which runs under the defending world champion Yousef Qatar’s Ahmad Al-Dawas Rok Florjancic won the second presidency of Sheikh Hassan bin Al-Abdulrazzaq needed a convinc- reached the chequered flag in World Championship heats in Jabor Al Thani. ing performance in Runabout sixth place and Mohammed the Runabout, Ski Division GP1, Qatar’s Sultan Al-Kuwari fin- heat two and even then he was Al-Haidus had a disappointing Ski Ladies GP1 and Freestyle ished third for the second suc- relying on Cyrille Lemoine failing day and was two laps down in categories at the UIM-ABP cessive day behind the Slovenian to finish his heat and other front- unlucky 13th. Aquabike Grand Prix of Qatar Florjancic brothers in Freestyle runners having problems. Jeremy Poret had taken first on Doha Bay yesterday. to claim a similar position in the But it was not to be; blood in the Ski Division GP1 cat- This meant that Frenchman overall standings. Fellow coun- Al-Abdulrazzaq pulled out after egory in heat one from American Cyrille Lemoine, Poret, Menard tryman Waleed Al-Sharshani lap 11 of heat two and second Chris MacClugage and the and Rok Florjancic won the four excelled in the Runabout category position for Lemoine in that heat Frenchman emerged at the front respective categories when the by finishing in a superb third posi- was sufficient for the Frenchman of the pack again after a thrilling two heats were added together tion to confirm a similar place in to claim the Runabout GP win. nine-lap race yesterday. over the two days of adrenalin- the overall standings. Pons won the thrilling heat by just His American rival was forced charged action off Doha Corniche. After losing his chance of 0.89sec, with Qatar’s Al-Sharshani out with one lap to run and Spanish runner-up Nachete Armillas claimed second spot at the UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand Prix of Qatar by a single point from Portugal’s Tiago Sousa when the two heats were added together. But the Spaniard was later disqualified and his demise Slovenia’s Nac handed the position to Sousa. Florjancic in spec- Ludovic Caumont, running in tacular Freestyle Doha on a Qatar licence, duly fin- action at the UIM- ished fourth on the day behind the ABP Aquabike Italian Alberto Monti. Caumont Grand Prix of Qatar also confirmed third overall in Ski on the Corniche Division GP1. yesterday. The Jennifer Menard had comfort- UIM-ABP Aquabike ably beaten rival ladies Estelle Grand Prix of Poret and Marta Sorrentino on Friday and she was back at the Qatar took place head of the trio again yesterday. in the Runabout, American rider Chris MacClugage competing in the Ski Division. Menard finished eight laps of Ski Division GP1, the Ski Ladies GP1 race over a spectacular spins, twists, somer- Al Abdullah and Abdullah Al Ski Ladies GP1 circuit ahead of runner-up Poret saults and turns to amass a score Langawi finished the second heat and Freestyle and Sorrentino to claim victory of 98 points to take victory in in sixth, eighth and ninth. categories. in Qatar. Qatar. Attention at the QMSF Nac and Rok Florjancic con- Brother Nac was the best of now turns to next week’s UIM tinued their Freestyle duel in the rest with 84 points for second Nations Cup and UIM F1 H20 heat two on Saturday. Rok had place to confirm the runner-up World Championship, with free been the class of the field in heat spot and 81 points was sufficient practice for Qatar’s second UIM one and the Slovenian contin- for Qatar’s Sultan Al Kuwari to Nations Cup taking centre stage ued where he left off on Friday claim third position for the sec- on Monday on Doha Corniche. with another polished salvo of ond day. Fahad Al Hameli, Bader THE PENINSULA

Putin says Russian Grand Squash: Yuen and Shoukohi Prix on track in Doha Junior Open semis SOCHI, Russia: Preparations DOHA: Tsun Hei Yuen of Hong for the first ever Grand Prix in Kong and Farzad Shoukohi Russia are on track, President of Iran along with Pakistan Vladimir Putin told Formula duo of Salman Hashmi and One chief Bernie Ecclestone, Muhammad Asim Khan quali- yesterday, on the sidelines of the fied for the semi-finals in the Winter Paralympics. Under-19 category of the Doha The October 10 to 12 race meet, Junior Open squash tournament. the first on Russian soil, will take Yesterday at the Khalifa place at the Sochi Olympic Park International Tennis and Squash in the Black Sea resort, where Complex Yuen, Shoukohi, Hashmi athletes this week began com- and Khan won their respective peting in the Paralympic Games. matches to advance. Putin, under interna- Doha Junior Open 2014 tional pressure over the situa- Results: Boys Under-15:Farbod tion in neighbouring Ukraine, Keyvanfar (IRI) bt Armaan where thousands of pro-Russia Jindal (IND) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7; troops have fanned out across Hamad Mohammed Al-Amri the Crimean peninsula, told (QAT) bt Mohammed Salem Ecclestone the race would be a Alyafei (QAT) 11-4, 11-0 11-2; good use of the specially-built Ali Saeed Al Dosari (QAT) bt Olympic venue. “It allows us to Ali Tareq Alemadi (QAT) 11-7, use the infrastructure more effec- 11-6, 11-9; Lam Yat Ting Harley tively once these big competitions (HKG) bt Mohammed Mostafa come to an end,” he said. Sahib (IRQ) 11-7, 11-6, 11-1; M Putin acknowledged that there Daroosham Khan (PAK) bt Yousif remained work to be done ahead Barghash Aadea (IRQ) 11-4, 11-6, of the race, which was added to 11-1; Alireza Shameli (1) (IRI) bt the calendar for this season as Aon Abbas (PAK) 11-1, 11-6, 11-8. part of a revamp of the line-up. Boys Under-11: Humoud Salah But, he said, difficulties had Abu-Hussain (QAT) bt Jassim been of a practical, rather than a Talal Al Thani (QAT) 11-3, 11-1, conceptual nature. The Russian 11-2; Abdulla Ahmed Al Qahtani president did not give details of (QAT) bt Saleh Umar Zaman the problems, but reports have Action from the Qatar Cup basketball match between Qatar Sports Club (QAT) 11-5, 15-13, 11-6; Youssef suggested a large number of stray and El Jaish at Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. El Jaish Essam Farag (QAT) bt Abdulaziz dogs is a worry for organisers. won 97-87. In the second match, Al Sadd defeated Al Shamal 104-76. Talal Al-Thani (QAT) 11-0, 11-2 AFP 11-3; Pouya Shafieifard (IRI) bt Ibrahim Ahmed Darwish (QAT) 11-3, 11-9, 11-1; Mohamed Tarek Ouda (QAT) bt Abdulrahman Ali Ismail Rauf (left) of Pakistan returns the ball to Sadam Sarhan Mehawesh Qatar’s Ogunode wins bronze in 60m Al-Khalaf (QAT); 11-1, 11-3, 11-2. of Qatar during their Doha Junior Open match in the Qatar Squash Boys Under-13: Naveed Federation organised tournament at Khalifa International Tennis and Rehman (PAK) bt Jaber Saleh Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. Rauf won 12-10, 12-10, 10-12 5-11, Richard Kilty (right) of Britain Daoud (QAT) 11-1, 11-3 11-6; 11-6. runs to win next to Nesta Carter Haydar Mohammed I Al Dulaimi (IRQ) bt Ali Ahmed Al-Qahtani of Jamaica and Femi Ogunode (QAT) 11-2, 11-6, 11-4; Mohammad Ihab Omeira (QAT) Walkover; 10-12 5-11, 11-6 Faisal Assim (left) of Qatar during the men’s Danial Gharooni (2) (IRI) bt Umair Umar Zaman (2) (QAT) bt Khudair (IRQ) bt Asfandyar Khan 60 metres final at the World Rashid Ali Al-Harib (QAT) 11-8, Omar Ashraf Hassan (QAT) 11-7, Orakzai (PAK) 11-5, 11-6, 13-15, Indoor Athletics championships 11-4, 11-6; Abbas Zeb (PAK) bt 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7; Fong Min 11-3 Ahsan Ayaz Khan (PAK) bt at the ERGO Arena in Sopot, Jaafar Ferman Hasan (IRQ) Jen (MAS) bt Kashif Arif (PAK) Hamza Imtiaz (PAK) 8-11, 12-10, yesterday. Kilty, only racing as 11-9, 11-9, 11-7; Abdulaziz Khaled 11-2, 11-7, 11-7; Abdulwahab 11-8, 11-4; Muhammad Asim Khan a replacement for injured team- Al-Ishaq (QAT) bt Hussein Ayad Khaled Al-Ishaq (QAT) bt (PAK) bt Puvendren Subramaniam mate James Dasaolu, was a M Al-Tameemi (IRQ); 11-9, 11-13, Mujtaba Raza (PAK) 4-11, 11-6, (MAS) 11-1, 11-9 11-7; Salman shock winner of the men’s 60m 11-9, 11-8; Vasudef Vasanthan 11-8, 11-2; Abdulla Hashem Al Hashmi (PAK) bt Tsz Kwan Lau gold. Marvin Bracy took silver (MAS) bt Waleed Umar Zaman Sultani (IRQ) bt Pranay Sanjay (HKG) 11-2 11-6 11-13 11-9; Tsun in 6.51sec. Ogunode claimed (QAT) 11-4; 11-6, 11-6. Jain (IND) 11-5 6-11 11-6 11-7. Hei Yuen (HKG) bt Zeeshan bronze (6.52) in a photo-finish Boys Under-17: Kanwar Saad Boys Under-19: Sikandar Khan Shaukat Ali Khan (PAK) 11-3 11-7 with China’s Bingtian Su and Abdullah (PAK) bt Abdulrahman (PAK) bt Kibriya Muhammad 4-11 11-9; Farzad Shoukohi (IRI) Zambia’s Gerald Phiri. Abobakr Abdelzaher (QAT) (PAK) 11-9, 13-11, 11-7; Ismail bt Syed Azlan Amjad Iqbal (QAT) Walkover; Amirhossein Rauf (PAK) bt Sadam Sarhan 11-8 10-12 11-7 11-9. Taheripour (IRI) bt Abd El-Aziz Mehawesh (QAT) 12-10, 12-10, THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Preparations under way at Al Shaqab for the international tournament that begins tomorrow. (RIGHT) A banner promoting the tournament at the venue. (BELOW) Accommodation for grooms at Al Shaqab. Stage set for Chi Al Shaqab equestrian competition World-class temporary stabling for horses, accommodation for riders being prepared

DOHA: Qatar’s second Chi stabling which rivals the per- dazzling displays of competitive equestrian tournament will be manent facilities of most other horsemanship. The organisers held from March 10 to 15, and prestigious venues. have placed special emphasis on Al Shaqab has become a hive of Around Doha, visitors and preparation and warm up areas activity to get ready for what the local community have been to maximise performance and promises to be another world- treated to fantastic art work reduce the risk of injuries. class event. that is being used to promote The annual tournament Omar Al Mannai, Event Al Shaqab - an exciting mod- remains the only Chi-level Director of Chi Al Shaqab, said: ern take on Qatar’s illustrious competition in the Middle East “We are working around the equestrian heritage. Special and Asia, with jumping, dres- clock to make sure that Chi Al efforts are under way to ensure sage, vaulting and endurance Shaqab 2014 sets new standards that Chi Al Shaqab 2014 is the competitions. of excellence for competition most media-friendly equestrian This year, around 160 of the and hospitality at international event to date – with dedicated world’s top riders and almost 200 equestrian events.” press facilities and instant news horses will compete before roy- Accommodation is being pre- updates delivered through the alty, VIPs and 10,000 spectators. pared for riders and grooms latest equipment. ExxonMobil is the main spon- which is among the best avail- Behind the scenes, arena sor of Chi Al Shaqab 2014. Qatar able on the international circuit. layouts have been designed to Airways is the event’s partner As for the horses, Al Shaqab push riders’ and horses’ skills to airline. staff is busy building temporary their limits, promising crowds THE PENINSULA

Davis beats hobbled Azarenka BNP Paribas Wawrinka aims to Open Results INDIAN WELLS: Victoria the $12m tournament enjoyed a China, will open her campaign Men’s First Round: Teimuraz Gabashvili Azarenka’s fighting spirit just first-round bye. against compatriot Zheng Jie on a (RUS) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 6-2, 7-5; Horacio wasn’t enough on Friday as In a match littered with 12 serv- blockbuster Saturday that will also build on Australian Zeballos (ARG) bt Rajeev Ram (USA) 6-3, 7-6 the injured third seed was sent ice breaks — including seven in the see defending women’s champion (7/4); Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) bt Tobias Kamke (GER) packing from Indian Wells by second set — she held serve to fin- Maria Sharapova, seeded fourth, 6-0, 6-4; Nicolay Davydenko (RUS) bt David 66th-ranked American Lauren ish out the match, giving herself take on Germany’s Julia Goerges. Goffin (BEL) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3); Robin Davis. another reason to celebrate a day Men’s top seed and defending Open triumph Haase (NED) bt John-Patrick Smith (AUS) 6-4, With the world number four after her 25th birthday. champion Rafael Nadal, third- 6-4; Joao Sousa (POR) bt Aleksandr Nedovyesov from Belarus hobbled by a pain- “I’m just happy I got through seeded Australian Open champion (KAZ) 6-4, 6-1; Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) bt Daniel INDIAN WELLS: Now reaction in Switzerland to his ful left foot, the 20-year-old Davis and finally won my serve the last Stanislas Wawrinka, fifth-seeded Brands (GER) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; Roberto Bautista that the magnitude of his achievement took him by surprise, triumphed 6-0, 7-6 (7/2). game,” she said. Andy Murray and seventh-seeded (ESP) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 6-3, 6-3; Feliciano Australian Open triumph has but his time off helped him find “Basically all I had was my fight- Radwanska next faces Roger Federer will also battle for Lopez (ESP) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 7-5, 6-3; Mikhail sunk in, Switzerland’s Stanislas his feet. ing spirit today,” said Azarenka, Germany’s Annika Beck, who third-round places. Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Samuel Groth (AUS) 6-4, Wawrinka is aiming to build on “It took me time to realize really who was playing her first tourna- beat 30th-seeded Russian Elena Nadal faces Czech veteran 2-6, 7-6 (7/4); Dominic Thiem (AUT) bt Daniel his first Grand Slam triumph. what I did in Australian Open,” he ment since a quarter-final exit at Vesnina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Radek Stepanek, and Murray Kosakowski (USA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/1); Julien The unassuming Swiss, play- said. “Still when I’m saying that I the Australian Open. Women’s top seed Li Na, the tackles Czech Lukas Rosol. Benneteau (FRA) bt Daniel Munoz (ESP) 3-6, ing his first tournament since he won a Grand Slam it’s still strange She had returned to the prac- Australian Open champion from Elsewhere on Friday, 6-1, 6-3; Marinko Matosevic (AUS) bt Bradley beat Rafael Nadal in the final at for me, but that’s why it was good tice court less than a week earlier, Klahn (USA) 6-4, 6-4; Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) bt Melbourne in January, is the third to be home during three weeks. It after three weeks in a protective Pablo Carreno (ESP) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2; Alejandro seed in the ATP Masters tourna- was good to be with the family, to boot. Gonzalez (COL) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) ment in the California desert. take more time for myself.” “I wanted to give my best shot,” 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6); Victor Hanescu (ROM) bt He put a toe back in the water Federer and Wawrinka, who Azarenka said. “Obviously it was Stephane Robert (FRA) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. on Friday by teaming with com- won the 2008 Beijing Olympics maybe a little bit too early. But I Women’s Second Round: Simona Halep patriot Roger Federer in a 6-2, 6-7 doubles gold medal for Switzerland, gave a fight. I’m pretty proud of (ROM x6) bt Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-2, 6-2; Lucie (4/7) 10-6 first-round doubles win reached the 2011 Indian Wells whatever I did today. Safarova (CZE x26) bt Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) over sixth seeds Rohan Bopanna doubles final. However, they “You also have to give her 6-3, 6-4; Eugenie Bouchard (CAN x18) bt Peng and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who hadn’t teamed up since a Davis credit,” Azarenka said of Davis. Shuai (CHN) 6-2, 6-2; Sara Errani (ITA x9) bt lifted the doubles title in Dubai Cup tie versus The Netherlands “In this situation it’s not easy to Sharon Fichman (CAN) 6-1, 6-1; Roberta Vinci last week. in September 2012. close the match and she’s done it.” (ITA x13) bt Madison Keys (USA) 6-3, 6-3; “I feel great,” said Wawrinka, Federer said the back pain he Davis notched her first win Casey Dellacqua (AUS) bt Kirsten Flipkens who helped Switzerland into the struggled with last year made him against a top-10 player. She booked (BEL x19) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1; Varvara Lepchenko Davis Cup quarter-finals shortly reluctant to play doubles. a third-round meeting with com- (USA) bt Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x29) 6-3, after his Australian Open triumph With that problem apparently patriot Varvara Lepchenko, 6-2; Lauren Davis (USA) bt Victoria Azarenka but then withdrew from the ATP solved, however “it’s just nice to who upset 29th-seeded Daniela (BLR x3) 6-0, 7-6 (7/2); Jelena Jankovic (SRB tournament in Rotterdam saying team up sometimes.” Hantuchova, the 2002 and 2007 x7) bt Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 6-3, 6-1; his legs weren’t up to it. The pair could find themselves champion, 6-3, 6-2 in 84 minutes. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK x31) bt Shelby “I was home after Davis Cup for facing each other across the net in Second-seeded Agnieszka Rogers (USA) 6-4, 6-3; Yaroslava Shvedova three-and-a-half weeks, but since the singles quarter-finals. Radwanska reached the third (KAZ) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-3, 6-2; Caroline I’m here practising ... I’m really Federer, the seventh seed, round of the combined WTA and Wozniacki (DEN x10) bt Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) happy,” he said. will play France’s Paul-Henri ATP Masters hard court tourna- 6-1, 6-3; Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) bt Kristina “I’m not sure if I can win a Mathieu in the second round while ment with a straight-sets win over Mladenovic (FRA) 6-3, 6-3; Alize Cornet (FRA Grand Slam again. For sure it’s Wawrinka was to face Croatian British qualifier Heather Watson. x22) bt Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 6-3, 4-6, going to be really, really difficult. I veteran Ivo Karlovic yesterday, Poland’s Radwanska, ranked 6-2; Annika Beck (GER) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS know I did it already. I know that I when the men’s seeds begin sec- number three in the world, needed x30) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Agnieszka Radwanska (POL can reach that level, but it’s going ond-round play after first-round one hour and 24 minutes to get x2) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 6-4, 6-3. to be tough. byes. “I think my level is really past the 134th-ranked Watson 6-4, “I need to be ready every match good and physically I’m ready,” 6-3. She next faces either Russian seventh-seeded Jelena Jankovic to try to win every match. We will Wawrinka said. “So I’m really Elena Vesnina or Germany’s of Serbia, ninth seed Sara Errani see how the season will go.” looking forward for my match Annika Beck. of Italy and 10th-seeded Dane Wawrinka, who upset three- tomorrow and for the rest of “The first match is always chal- Lauren Davis waves to the crowd after her match against Victoria Azarenka Caroline Wozniacki also moved time defending champion Novak the season, because it’s just the lenging,” said Radwanska, who like at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. into the third round. Djokovic in the Aussie Open quar- beginning.” all 32 men’s and women’s seeds in AFP ter-finals, admitted the jubilant AFP SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Terrible Ligue 1: Ibrahimovic shines France edge past as PSG continue to cruise Scotland

EDINBURGH: A last-gap Marseille suffer derby woe as Champions League hopes fade Jean-Marc Doussain penalty earned a woeful France a narrow 19-17 away win over Scotland PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic was they even could afford the defence and nonchalantly prod- that keeps Les Bleus on course at his enigmatic best as champi- luxury of keeping centre-back ded the ball past goalkeeper Jean- for their first Six Nations title ons Paris Saint-Germain con- Thiago Silva on the bench Louis Leca. since 2010 yesterday. tinued their inexorable march throughout the game ahead of And Lavezzi was the benefici- Doussain converted a routine towards retaining the Ligue 1 Wednesday’s Champions League ary once again from Ibrahimovic’s penalty in the 78th minute to title with a 3-0 win at Bastia last 16 second leg tie with Bayer instinctive vision, although cen- set up an exciting finale against yesterday. Leverkusen. tre-back Sebastien Squillaci Ireland at the Stade de France The big Swedish forward scored Although that tie looks to be was partly to blame for failing next Saturday. the opening goal and then set up nothing more than a formality to cut out the Swede’s flick-on, Ireland lead the table with six Ezequiel Lavezzi for the second having already won the away leg while Leca’s ill-advised rush from points, ahead of France on points with an outrageous back-flick. 4-0. his line also helped make the difference before today’s clash He also teed up the diminutive “Winning matches is always the Argentine’s job easier. between England and Wales. PSG for- Argentine for the killer third two best preparation,” said Blanc look- On Friday night Marseille’s The hosts, who have not beaten ward Zlatan minutes from time with a headed ing forward to the Leverkusen hopes of snatching the third and Les Bleus since a 20-16 victory Ibrahimovic flick-on. clash. final Champions League qualify- in the championship in 2006, celebrates The result sent PSG 11 points “This week was a little com- ing berth were dented by their scored two tries through Stuart after scor- clear of their only remaining plicated to prepare the trip (to third defeat this season to Cote Hogg and Tommy Seymour with ing during potential title rivals Monaco, Bastia) with internationals all d’Azur rivals Nice. Greig Laidlaw adding the extras the French who can cut the gap back to eight over the place. Valentin Eysseric scored the while Duncan Weir slotted home L1 match points with a home win over lowly “But we can be sure that what- only goal of the game with a free- a penalty. against Sochaux. ever team we pick, mentally they kick midway through the second France, who had won 14 of their Bastia This was the fifth straight win will be ready.” half at the Stade Velodrome. last 15 meetings with Scotland, (SCB) at for Laurent Blanc’s PSG team Ibrahimovic opened the scor- On Friday, French giants had one Yoann Huget try to show since a 1-1 draw at Monaco in the ing on six minutes after a bright Marseille’s hopes of qualifying for for themselves with Maxime the Armand league in early February and the opening from the visitors in next season’s Champions League Machenaud’s boot providing 11 Cesari team have racked up 16 goals in Corsica. suffered a huge blow with a 1-0 points, to which Doussain added Stadium that period. Brazilian Lucas Moura made defeat at home to struggling Nice the winning three. in Bastia, “Our aim is to win matches, the most of the start Cavani’s in the Cote d’Azur derby. “We had a good start but some Corsica, if that allows us to stretch out absence afforded him to cross Marseille coach Jose Anigo little mistakes cost us some yesterday. the gap we’d be delighted,” said from the right for Ibrahimovic to had complained before the game points,” Huget told French TV Blanc. leap high above his marker and about the quick turnaround just channel France 2. “There is one team hang- use the strength to direct a bullet 48 hours after Wednesday’s inter- “But we worked hard to come ing on, Monaco, and if they win header into the top corner despite national friendlies. back into the game and we showed they’ll come back to eight points stretching for the ball. And his fears proved justified as character.” (behind). On 19 minutes he turned the former European champions “It was not easy. Maybe we “That’s a lot but they’re also provider with the kind of gen- produced a poor display and fell were lacking confidence after the having a good campaign. We ius only Ibrahimovic, in this to Valentin Eysseric’s sumptuous Wales game,” said fullback Brice have to take heed, everyone can league, is capable of, picking 66th-minute free-kick. Dulin. go through a sticky patch.” out Lavezzi with a back-heeled, But he insisted the lack of Philippe Saint-Andre’s team, Deprived of record-signing volleyed pass despite looking suspended striker Andre-Pierre who were looking to bounce back Edinson Cavani, held over in the other way. Gignac played a greater role. from a 27-6 demolition by Wales, Uruguay for personal reasons, The Argentine outpaced the AGENCIES were terrible in the lineouts, unusually weak at the scrum and their paper-thin defence did little Bayern hit Football results to help them. GLASGOW: Scottish Scotland were penalised Stylish Arsenal sweep for collapsing the scrum and Premiership results yesterday: Machenaud slotted home to give Wolsfburg Hibernian 3 (Forster 43, Nelson 76, France a good start then ben- Heffernan 79) Motherwell 3 (Sutton 12, 90, efited from the hosts’ lack of dis- Ainsworth 29) cipline to add another penalty Kilmarnock 4 (Wilson 27-og, Boyd 49, 51, for six into FA Cup semi-finals minutes later. Gardyne 72) Hearts 2 (Carrick 30, Nicholson 69) BERLIN: LONDON: Bayern Munich went Scottish Cup Results Arsenal cruised into the FA Cup this season. Everton boss Roberto Martinez is no 23 points clear at the top of the Quarter-finals semi-finals as a late brace from substitute Olivier stranger to glory in the competition having mas- Ireland sweep Bundesliga yesterday with a Aberdeen 1 (Rooney 53) Dumbarton 0 Giroud sealed a 4-1 win over Everton at the terminded unfancied Wigan’s Cup final win over 6-1 thrashing of Wolfsburg to Raith 1 (Cardle 21) St Johnstone 3 Emirates Stadium yesterday. Manchester City last season. aside Italy to record a 16th consecutive win (McDonald 4, Hasselbaink 49, Anderson 79) Arsene Wenger’s side remain on course to finally But his bid to earn a repeat with Everton looked in and 49th match without defeat. German League Results end their nine-year trophy drought thanks to an trouble from the moment Germany midfielder Ozil extend lead With just 10 games left in the Schalke 04 4 (Huntelaar 6, 28, 79, Chinedu enterprising quarter-final display in the spring sun- slid home the seventh minute opener for Arsenal. campaign, the European cham- Obasi Ogbuke 55) Hoffenheim 0 shine in north London. Santi Cazorla made the most of a slip by James pions are virtually assured of Borussia Moenchengladbach 1 (Rafael 5) FC Mesut Ozil ended his three-month wait for a McCarthy and his perfectly-weighted pass ensured DUBLIN: Ireland took pole defending their title after a sixth Augsburg 2 (Hal. Altintop 35, Werner 81) goal to give the hosts a perfect start before Romelu the out-of-form Ozil scored his first goal since position for their first Six successive win over the 2009 VfB Stuttgart 2 (Maxim 30, Harnik 35) Lukaku’s equaliser. December. Nations title in five years with champions. Victory was also the Eintracht Braunschweig 2 (Hochscheidt 24, Once Mikel Arteta had converted a penalty mid- Ironically Ozil’s last goal came against Everton a crushing 46-7 win over Italy perfect tonic ahead of Tuesday’s Bicakcic 82) way through the second half there was only ever and you could see his confidence lifted as well as yesterday as talismanic centre Champions League last-16 tie Hanover 1 (Rudnevs 33) Bayer Leverkusen going to be one winner and France forward Giroud’s that of his teammates. Brian O’Driscoll became the against Arsenal, where they will 1 (Castro 28) late double ensured Arsenal can look forward to a Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo saw his shot beaten most capped player ever in his VfL Wolfsburg 1 (Naldo 17) Bayern Munich 6 defend a 2-0 first leg lead. last-four date at Wembley in April. out by Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles and Alex final home game. (Shaqiri 26, Mueller 63, 78, Mandzukic 66, Naldo gave Wolfsburg a shock 80, Ribery 71) With Arsenal’s Champions League hopes hanging Oxlade-Chamberlain also went close inside the open- O’Driscoll made decisive passes 17th-minute lead before Bayern, Hamburg 1 (Calhanoglu 72-pen) Eintracht by a slender thread -- they travel to Bayern Munich ing quarter. Arsenal were looking to expose stand-in to set up three of the home side’s heading for a 24th national title, Frankfurt 1 (Madlung 29) on Tuesday trailing 2-0 from the first leg -- and Robles at every opportunity, but they were caught seven tries and sparked the big- turned on the style. Nuremberg 0 Werder Bremen 2 (Di Santo their Premier League title charge fading, the FA by a quick counter-attack that ended in Everton’s gest cheer of the day when he left Pep Guardiola’s side scored five 40, Bargfrede 68) Cup could represent their best chance for silverware 32nd minute equaliser. AFP the field after 62 minutes to end times in 20 second-half minutes his world record 140th game for on Saturday and they have now Ireland. hit 30 goals in eight games since QSL leaders Jonathan Sexton scored two the Bundesliga resumed after the tries, with Andrew Trimble, winter break. Lekhwiya win Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Fergus They have also scored 72 times McFadden and Jack McGrath since the start of the season with also touching down. An early just 11 conceded. against Al Ahli try by Leonardo Sarto and some “We weren’t as dominant as in fierce Italian defending failed to recent matches,” said Guardiola. DOHA: Qatar Stars League dampen the Irish party. “Wolfsburg were very well organ- leaders Lekhwiya coasted to an An Irish victory over France ised and very aggressive. They emphatic 3-1 win over Al Ahli in Paris in the last match of the caused us a lot of problems in the to consolidate their position at championship next week would first half and at the start of the the top. In yesterday’s other give O’Driscoll the dream end second. matches, Al Rayyan trounced to his glittering career, unless “But at the end of the day it Qatar Sports Club 3-0, while Al England, France or Wales can was us who scored the goals we Kharaitiyat defeated Muaither Chelsea’s Belgian win twice and claw back a deficit needed.” SC 3-2. midfielder Edin of over 60 points. Wolfsburg’s lead lasted just 10 In the other match, defending Hazard (left) cel- A huge poster paying tribute to minutes before Xherdan Shaqiri champions Al Sadd were held to ebrates after scor- the centre known to his legion of levelled.Thomas Mueller and a one-all draw by Al Arabi. ing a penalty during fans simply as BOD was paraded former Wolfsburg striker Mario Lekhwiya lead the table with the English Premier around the field and the crowd Mandzukic both scored twice in 47 points from 22 matches, while League match against roared its approval every time he the second half. Mandzukic now Eljaish are in second place with got the ball. Tottenham Hotspur has 16 league goals for the season 40 points from same number of “Unfortunately it has to end at Stamford Bridge in while Franck Ribery added to the matches. Al Sadd are in third at some stage, but it’s great to scoreline to mark his return to place with 38 points while Al London, yesterday. go out at home with a big win,” action after a month out through Sailiya one place behind them are O’Driscoll said as he picked up his injury.“I think we were out- with 34 points. Al Ahli is in fifth man of the match award. “There standing for 65 minutes. We had place. THE PENINSULA is a championship in this team,” Bayern reeling,” said Wolfsburg he said. coach Dieter Hecking. Qatar Stars A narrow defeat by England “But after they made it 3-1 it at Twickenham two weeks ago was as if we suffered a power cut. League Resutls ended O’Driscoll’s hopes of add- All our passion and determined Qatar SC 0 Al Rayyan 3 ing to his 2009 Grand Slam, but running was gone. My players Al Ahli 3 Lekhwiya 1 Ireland’s superior point difference suddenly realised just how supe- Al Kharaitiyat 3 Muaither 2 makes them early favourites to rior our opponents were.” Al Arabi 1 Al Sadd1 take the championship. Borussia Dortmund can cut Today’s matches England, Ireland’s main rivals the gap to Bayern back to 20 Umm Salal vs Al Gharafa, Qatar SC Stadium, for the title, host two-times points with victory at Freiburg 6.15pm defending champions Wales today. on Sunday. AFP Al Khor vs Al Wakrah, Al Khor Stadium, 8.30pm. AGENCIES Sunday 9 March 2014 8 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5998 Sport Price: QR2

Espargaro Four share shines in Qatar lead at windy testing WGC

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Sri Lanka regain Asia Cup title Defending champions Pakistan lose by five wickets; Thirimanne hits century

DHAKA: Opener Lahiru run of scores with 13, nine, 14 and Thirimanne hit a magnifi- nought in the tournament, ben- cent century to help Sri Lanka efitted when wicket-keeper Umar thump Pakistan by five wickets Akmal dropped a regulation catch to regain the Asia Cup title in off Shahid Afridi. Dhaka yesterday. Jayawardene, then 36, hit nine The left-hander notched 101 boundaries and a six before he for his third one-day hundred holed out off paceman Mohammad to anchor Sri Lanka’s successful Talha. chase of a 261-run target in 46.2 Sri Lanka also lost Ashan overs for his country’s fifth Asia Prinyanjan (13) to Junaid Khan Cup title at Dhaka’s Shere Bangla and Thirimanne to Ajmal but Stadium. skipper Angelo Mathews (16 not Thirimanne, who also scored out) hit the winning runs. a hundred in the tournament’s Thirimanne, who reached his opening match against the same hundred with a single off Khan, opponents, hit 13 boundaries was finally bowled by Ajmal who during his 108-ball knock and finished with 3-26. steadied the chase during a solid Sri Lanka had also won the 156-run third-wicket partnership Asia Cup in 1986, 1997, 2004 and with veteran team-mate Mahela 2008. Jayawardene, who made 75. “We wanted to break the bar- Pakistan’s main spin weapon rier between us and finals,” said Saeed Ajmal had broken through Mathews of Sri Lanka’s failure to after Sri Lanka’s confident start win the World Cup finals of 2007 of 56, dismissing Kusal Perera and 2011 and the Twenty20 finals (42) and dangerman Kumar of 2009 and 2012. Sangakkara (nought) off succes- “The credit goes to the whole sive deliveries. team. It was a very good run Jayawardene, who had a poor chase and big victory not only for Sri Lankan players pose with the winner’s trophy after they won the 2014 Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dhaka yesterday. RIGHT: Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews holds the winner’s trophy. Scoreboard

PAKISTAN SRI LANKA me but for the whole team,” said recover from early devasta- Alam became the first left- steadily during their 122-run Sharjeel Khan c Thisara b Malinga ...... 8 K Perera st Akmal b Ajmal ...... 42 Mathews whose team won all the tion caused by paceman Lasith handed Pakistan batsman, other partnership and were lucky to Ahmed Shehzad c Sangakkara b Malinga ..... 5 L Thirimanne b Ajmal ...... 101 five matches in the event. Malinga, who took the first three than openers, to hit a one-day survive some close chances. Mohd Hafeez c Sangakkara b Malinga ...... 3 K Sangakkara lbw Ajmal ...... 0 Pakistan captain Misbah-ul wickets to force Pakistan on to century. He hit paceman Thisara Misbah was ruled not out on Misbah-ul Haq c Perera b Malinga ...... 65 M Jayawardene c Sharjeel b Talha ...... 75 Haq blamed defeat on his side’s the back foot, before he finished Perera over long-on for a six to 19 by Australian umpire Bruce Fawad Alam (not out) ...... 114 A Priyanjan c Akmal b Khan ...... 13 loss of early wickets. with 5-56. reach his century off 126 balls. Oxenford when action replays Umar Akmal c Priyanjan b Malinga ...... 59 A Mathews (not out) ...... 16 “I think losing the first three Alam added an invaluable 122 Akmal hit seven boundaries suggested he edged Mathews to Shahid Afridi (not out) ...... 0 C de Silva (not out) ...... 6 wickets quickly put us under for the fourth wicket with Misbah to give impetus to the innings as wicket-keeper Sangakkara. Extras (LB-1, W-5) ...... 6 Extras (B-1, LB-1, NB-1, W-5) ...... 8 pressure and although we man- and then another 115 for the fifth Pakistan scored 101 in the last Misbah hit three boundaries Total (for 5 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 260 Total (for 5 wkts in 46.2 overs) ...... 261 aged to reach 260, it was some wicket with Umar Akmal who ten overs. Earlier, Malinga rocked and two sixes during his solid Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-17, 3-18, 4-140, Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-56, 3-212, 4-233, 20-30 short,” said Misbah. made a 42-ball 59. the innings with the wickets of 98-ball knock before Malinga 5-255. 5-247 Pakistan, who decided to bat Alam, who returned to the Sharjeel Khan (eight), Ahmed returned for his second spell and Bowling: Malinga 10-0-56-5; Lakmal 10-2- Bowling: Hafeez 9-0-42-0 (1w); Gul 6-0-44-0 after winning the toss, were team with a brilliant 74 against Shehzad (five) and Mohammad had the Pakistan captain caught 41-0 (2w); Senanayake 9-0-54-0; Thisara 10- (1w); Khan 9-0-56-1; Ajmal 10-2-26-3 (3w); helped to 260-5 by a brilliant Bangladesh on Tuesday after Hafeez (three) in his incisive four- in the deep. Five-times champi- 1-66-0 (2w); Mathews 7-1-23-0 (1w); de Silva Talha 6.2-0-56-1(1nb); Afridi 6-0-35-0. unbeaten 114 by Fawad Alam and a four-year absence, hit eight over spell, pushing Pakistan to ons India, hosts Bangladesh and 4-0-19-0. Result: Sri Lanka won by five wickets. a solid 65 by Misbah. boundaries and three sixes off 18-3 by the fifth over. Afghanistan were the other teams Alam’s knock helped Pakistan 134 balls. Misbah and Alam played in the competition. AFP Barcelona EPL: Chelsea pull clear; suffer shock Barcelona’s defeat at forward Lionel Man United bounce back Messi reacts during the LONDON: Quick-fire goals by allowed the Senegalese striker to Valladolid Spanish League Samuel Eto’o and Eden Hazard English Premier complete his brace. match against inspired Chelsea to a 4-0 win Earlier, Manchester United MADRID: Barcelona slumped Valladolid at over Tottenham Hotspur yester- League Results kept their fading hopes of to their third defeat in seven the Jose Zorilla day that sent them seven points Champions League qualification LONDON: English Premier league games as they lost Stadium in clear in the Premier League. flickering with a breezy 3-0 vic- League results yesterday: away to relegation-threatened Valladolid, Eto’o put Chelsea ahead in the tory at West Bromwich Albion. Valladolid 1-0 yesterday. yesterday. 56th minute and Hazard added a Cardiff 3 (Caulker 45, 67, Riether 71-og) Goals from Phil Jones, Wayne Italian Fausto Rossi scored Valladolid won penalty four minutes later after Fulham 1 (Holtby 59) Rooney and substitute Danny the only goal of the game as he 1-0. Younes Kaboul had been sent off Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 1 (Rodriguez Welbeck gave United back-to- slammed home from close range for a foul on Eto’o, with Demba 37) back league wins for the first time after 17 minutes. Ba adding a late brace. Norwich 1 (Johnson 56) Stoke 1 (Walters since December, following their Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Eto’o’s opener was gifted to 73-pen) 2-0 success at Crystal Palace last Marino was forced into four him by Jan Vertonghen and both West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 (Jones month.Victory took the defending saves by Lionel Messi, but it was of Ba’s goals also stemmed from 34, Rooney 65, Welbeck 82) champions to within nine points Neymar who had the best chance errors, as Spurs’ 23-year wait for Chelsea 4 (Eto’o 56, Hazard 60-pen, Ba 88, of fourth-place Manchester City, to level when he ballooned over victory at Stamford Bridge went 90) Tottenham 0 although they have played two just before the hour mark. on. Chelsea now lead Liverpool more games. United’s last game However, the Catalans couldn’t forced Marino into an early save a shot towards goal with his and Arsenal by seven points, but Spurs were very much in the at The Hawthorns had been Alex find a way through and could fall at the end of a swift counter- weaker right foot from a narrow both teams have a game in hand, game, but Vertonghen’s blind pass Ferguson’s final match as man- four points behind La Liga leaders attack, it was Valladolid who had angle. while fourth-place Manchester 11 minutes into the second period ager and his successor was look- Real Madrid should Los Blancos the upper hand in the opening Neymar then had a great City, who are nine points off the enabled Eto’o to run through and ing for a reaction to his side’s beat Levante at home on Sunday. half hour. chance to equalise when he pace, have three fixtures to fulfil. score. The Cameroon star cel- shock 2-0 loss to Olympiakos in Victory for Valladolid also Rossi opened the scoring with blasted over from close range After Fernando Torres was ebrated with relish, referencing the Champions League. has significant consequences at his first goal for Valladolid as he after being brilliantly played in injured in the warm-up, Eto’o manager Jose Mourinho’s recent After Rafael da Silva had seen the other end of the table as La took advantage of a ricochet off by Fabregas. came into the starting XI and he comments about his age by stag- a header tipped onto the cross- Pucela move out of the relegation two Barca defenders inside the That pass was to be the former gave Spurs an early scare when he gering towards the corner flag bar by West Brom goalkeeper zone with just their fifth league area to fire past Victor Valdes. Arsenal captain’s last significant raced through and rounded Hugo like an old man. Kaboul’s innocu- Ben Foster, United took the lead win of the campaign. Barca reacted as the first-half involvement as he was replaced Lloris, only for an offside flag to ous challenge on Eto’o saw him in the 34th minute when Jones Despite the majority of his drew to a close and Marino had by Alexis Sanchez with just under stop him in his tracks. dismissed and enabled Hazard to converted a free-kick from Van squad having been away on inter- to be alive to deny Messi twice half an hour remaining. Hazard also took the ball past add a second, before Ba struck Persie with a glancing header. national duty in midweek, Barca from range before Cesc Fabregas Gerard Pique and Neymar were the Spurs goalkeeper moments twice in the dying stages. His Rooney headed home from boss Gerardo Martino named also tested the keeper with a drive also withdrawn as Martino made later, but could only shoot wide, first, in the 88th minute, saw him Rafael’s cross to make it 2-0 in almost his strongest starting from the edge of the box. a desperate last attempt to influ- while at the other end, Nabil pounce after Sandro was unable the 65th minute and then fed line-up with only Jordi Alba and Marino made another good ence the game by introducing Bentaleb dragged wide from a to cut out a low cross from Oscar Welbeck to run through and curl Andres Iniesta missing out. save just three minutes after the Sergi Roberto and Cristian Tello. promising position and Petr Cech and a minute later a calamitous a shot past Foster with eight min- However, after Messi had restart as the Argentine squeezed AFP saved from Sandro and Kaboul. back header from Kyle Walker utes remaining. AFP