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Wednesday 26 March 2014 25 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5615 Price: QR2

Sheikh Khalid, West Indies UK Minister register easy hold talks win in Dhaka

Business | 21 Sport | 31

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Unity need of the hour: Emir Brotherhood head, Arabs urged to find new models to overcome ‘dilemmas of development’ 682 others tried DOHA/KUWAIT: The Emir CAIRO: Egypt’s Muslim security forces stormed two H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Brotherhood leader went on Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo, kill- Al Thani yesterday called on the trial yesterday along with hun- ing hundreds of people. Only 60 Arab countries to find new mod- dreds of other Islamists before of the 683 defendants were in the els to overcome the “dilemmas of the same judge who triggered a dock yesterday. The rest are being development” particularly pov- global outcry when he sentenced tried in absentia. erty, unemployment, illiteracy 529 convicted rioters to death. Meanwhile, the US escalated and public health issues. The trial of Mohamed Badie its criticism of Egypt over mass Addressing the opening session and around 700 supporters of trials targeting the Muslim of the Arab summit in Kuwait, deposed president Mohamed Brotherhood, and said it would be the Emir cautioned against stig- Mursi was adjourned after just “unconscionable” for Egypt’s gov- matising communities and politi- a few hours until April 28, when ernment to carry out the death cal rivals with terrorism saying judgement and sentencing is sentences given to 529 members it would further proliferate expected, a lawyer said. of the outlawed Islamist group. terrorism. Defence lawyers boycotted US State Department spokes- He also stressed the need to yesterday’s session of the trial woman Marie Harf said the way develop and upgrade the Gulf in the city of Minya, south of Egypt proceeds regarding the tri- Cooperation Council to live up to Cairo, branding it “farcical” after als and death sentences will have the aspirations of the peoples in Monday’s mass sentencing which consequences for future American the region. the UN denounced as a breach of aid. The death sentences handed “The crisis of development in all international human rights law. down on Monday by an Egyptian its dimensions has posed a threat Badie, who faces several other tri- court and the start of another to the national and regional secu- als that could also result in the death mass trial of the leader of the rity in our region and will lead in penalty, was not brought to court Muslim Brotherhood and 682 the event of its exacerbation to yesterday for security reasons. others “represent a flagrant dis- an unfavourable outcome,” said The charges stem from riot- regard for basic standards of jus- the Emir. ing last August, sparked when tice,” Harf said. AGENCIES “It contributes to the spread of The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwaiti Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and the feelings of despair and radi- Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Arab League Council meeting in Al Bayan Palace, Kuwait, yesterday. calism threatening political and social stability, and which entails Cooperation Council contribute supporting terrorism in his own reeling under as is the case with action to find new paradigms to to strengthening of the potentials country,” said the Emir. other brethren who introduced War edges closer to Obama proposes to overcome the dilemmas of devel- of the entire Arab nation, and to Referring to the Arab Spring dialogue among various social and opment in all its dimensions, first become a pillar of its renaissance,” revolutions, the Emir said, the political forces,” said the Emir. Assad’s home village end NSA collection and foremost the issues of pov- said the Emir. broad transformations experienced “We put emphasis on the fra- erty, unemployment, illiteracy, He condemned terrorism which by the region during the last three ternity bonds which link us to BEIRUT: Syria’s civil war edged WASHINGTON: US President and public health, by creating an targets civilians by killing, intimi- years “ have revived Arab peoples’ the bigger sister, Egypt, which we closer to the home village of Barack Obama is proposing integrated regional Arab order, dation and attacking civilian facil- hopes for a better future they wish it security and political sta- President Bashar Al Assad yes- to end the National Security which combines the interests ities for political purposes. deserve and also have renewed bility and all the good for the path terday, with opposition groups Agency’s controversial bulk tel- of all our countries in order to “Brothers we should neither confidence in itself and its youth.” to be chosen by its people who set mounting their second sustained ephone data collection, exposed achieve progress and prosperity stigmatise full communities with The Emir hoped that Egypt memorable examples in express- attack on the area in the conflict. by fugitive intelligence contrac- for the Arab peoples,” he added. terrorism, nor attach it to those would be able to achieve stability ing their ambitions, and we hope The push has seen government tor Edward Snowden. “I would like also to mention who differ politically with us, through a national dialogue. “If this would be realised through a troops rush to reinforce a coastal The plan would store the data in this context, our experience in because that would proliferate ter- some parties failed to achieve sta- comprehensive political societal enclave near the president’s ances- outside of government while the Gulf Cooperation Council, and rorism rather than isolating it. It bility because the political horizon dialogue,” he added. tral home, Qardaha, and the port allowing access for national secu- the need to develop and upgrade is also unbecoming of anyone who is blocked, yet we are confident THE PENINSULA city of Latakia in the north-west. rity reasons, a senior administra- it to live up to the aspirations of fails to maintain national unity that they would surmount the Continued on page 4 THE GUARDIAN tion official said. AFP our peoples, and to enable the to accuse other Arab countries of difficult circumstances they are See also page 8 See also page 8 See also page 14

WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Israeli ‘pullout key to comprehensive peace’ Emir urges Palestinian leaders to end division and form an interim national coalition government

The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with other leaders of Arab League member states at the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait City yesterday.

Continued from page 1 He said the stifling siege In this context it is incumbent Al Quds,” said the Emir. solution are nothing but an overt for compromises and renunciation On the Palestinian issue, the clamped on Gaza Strip and the on us, we all the Arabs, to act to He called on all the Palestinian deception, which only those who of division. Emir said, “Israel has to know ensuing suffering it created were end this unjust, unjustified and leaders to put an end to Palestinian ostensibly don’t want to do any- He lauded the brothers in that the only viable solution to neither acceptable, nor politically incomprehensible blockade imme- division and give priority to the thing regarding the gravity of the Yemen for their wisdom in choos- end the Arab–Israeli conflict and and morally justified at any day. diately ,and to open border cross- supreme national interests by crime, take for granted. ing dialogue for building a modern to achieve a comprehensive and “In Qatar we have exerted per- ing points for the inhabitants of forming an interim national coa- “The chemical weapons and gun State and the remarkable progress just peace is based on the com- sistent efforts to alleviate the suf- Gaza to enable them practice their lition government. barrels could never terminate the achieved by Sudan in establishing plete withdrawal of Israel from all fering of our Palestinian brothers daily life on an equal footing with “We also reiterate our call for peoples’ aspirations for freedom. peace and security in Darfur. occupied Arab and Palestinian ter- in Gaza, and made diligent efforts other peoples,” said the Emir. implementing the resolution of They may prolong suffering and He said It is high time for Iraq ritories, and establishing the inde- to reconstruct the Strip and supply “I refer in this respect to the res- Doha Summit to convene a lesser increase the price to be incurred to get out of the vortex of violence pendent Palestinian State with the fuel to facilitate day-to-day living olution of Doha Summit according Pan-Arab Summit in which the by Syria as a whole. and divisions, and this would not be holy Al Quds as its capital.” conditions there. to a proposal by the State of Qatar Arab countries willing to contribute “The Syrian children’s sufferings achieved by the exclusion of entire to set up a fund for aiding Al to the Palestinian national recon- became a stigma for the interna- authentic societal segments or Quds with a billion-dollar ciliation could participate, and we tional community and we have to accusing them of terror when they fund. His Highness the are ready to host this summit,” said take action pursuant to the Arab demand equality and participation. Father Emir declared then the Emir. On the crisis in Syria, League resolutions and interna- The Emir concluded by invit- a quarter of billion dollars the Emir said, the Syrian regime tional legality to put an end to this ing the Kuwaiti Emir H H Sheikh contribution to the fund , reluctantly came to the Geneva 2 crisis and realize the aspirations of Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah but the resolution was not Conference “just to buy time”. the Syrian people who paid heavy to take over from Qatar the presi- put in place, which prompt It has continued to kill Syrian price for their freedom,” said the dency of the 25th Ordinary Session me to declare Qatar’s com- citizens and demolish their cit- Emir. of the Arab League Council at the mitment to the amount it ies and villages, yet the negotia- The Emir congratulated the summit level, wishing him success had pledged to establish tion ended in failure. The regime’s Tunisians for their constitutional in shouldering the responsibility. the Qatari fund for aiding claims that it accepts the political achievement and for their search THE PENINSULA Mawani Qatar tasked with maintenance of navigation aids to ensure standards DOHA: The Qatar Ports international standards and has entrusted the firm with the lights and tools that help Management Company specifications. management and operation of ship captains use the right (Mawani Qatar) has devel- Following directives of the aids. The company conducted a channels and avoid dan- oped regular detection and Minister of Transport H E Jassem survey and presented a compre- gerous and non-navigable maintenance plans for naviga- bin Saif bin Ahmad Al Sulaiti, the hensive report on all aids, such areas. tion aids to ensure they meet Marine Authority at the ministry as lighthouses, buoys, guiding The report included aids related to Doha Port, Coastguard Port in Umm Bab, Al Wakra Port, Shrao Island, Al Dhakhira Port, Al Ruwais, Al Khor and others to identify their condition, develop a main- tenance action plan, repair the damaged ones, remove the drowned ones and nav- igation obstacles that pose a threat to lives and prop- erty and prepare a study to develop the marine aid system. The survey found that most of 192 aids in ports are in good condition. Doha Port has the high- est number (59) of such aids, followed by Al Ruwais (32), Al Khor (30) and Dakhira (15). All 16 aids in Al Wakra Port are under maintenance. The company has car- ried out maintenance work on all aids of Doha Port Channel and Umm Bab Port. Lighting lamps and batteries were increased and solar panels cleaned. A new complete naviga- tion lighthouse was manu- factured and prepared for installation to replace the old, decaying one in Shrao Island. Decaying lighthouses were removed and maintenance works for remaining buoys in Al Ruwais Port were post- poned temporarily. A green navigation buoy was installed at the entrance of the channel. Site coordinates were made for all aids at the entrance of the port and the marine channel. A navigation buoy (dan- ger marker) was installed in Al Dhakhira while the damaged navigation light- houses were checked. In Al Wakra Port, the lights of navigation light- houses were replaced by new ones while some parts of other navigation lights were replaced and solar panels cleaned, checked and washed. The firm has assigned a hotline round- the-clock through the watchtower in Doha Port. It prepared and equipped a control and emergency room operating 24-hour. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 32.9pc Qataris hit by hypertension

DOHA: Around 32.9 employees. They represent a micro- 300 participants. percent of Qataris suffer cosm of the larger Qatari society and Campaign activities were led by from hypertension and so health challenges faced by the Pascale Hadchiti Richa, Nutrition one-third of them ignore country are also being experienced Services Supervisor, QF’s Food their diagnosis, data by our small community.” and Nutrition Services. Initiatives shows. With the help of Qatar Biobank, a included workshops, healthy cooking And high blood pressure database has been created to quan- sessions, and smart food shopping, as is responsible for 12.8 per- tify the number of people that suffer, studies indicate that high salt intake cent of all deaths around or may suffer, from hypertension in is due to canned or processed food, the world, or 7.5 million the future. By visiting 11 locations not home cooking. people annually. within QF, data was collected from THE PENINSULA Qatar Foundation’s Food and Nutrition Services Department held a ‘Nutrition Awareness Month’ campaign to edu- cate staff and students on how a healthy lifestyle can combat hypertension. ‘Yes for a Healthier Life’ focused on causes, preven- tion and the role of salt vis- a-vis high blood pressure. During the awareness event, three behavioural attitudes linked to hyper- tension were discussed — smoking, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diets. Statistics show that 14.7 percent of Qatari adults smoke regularly, 71.3 per- cent are not physically active and 91.1 percent eat less than the recom- mended level of five por- tions of fruits or vegetables daily. The campaign was part of the commitment of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development to provide employees and students in Education City with initiatives to improve their lifestyle. Joelle Hamamji Seyoury, Food and Nutrition Services Manager, QF Support Services Directorate, said: “This year, we chose to address hypertension and the role salt plays. Our objective is to empower participants by reducing their sodium intake and improving their health. Our activities cater to QF’s students and WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Ooredoo to mark Qatar calls for maritime security Earth Hour on Saturday DOHA: Ooredoo will join Premier attends opening of Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference monuments and companies around the world to mark DOHA: The fourth Doha Earth Hour on Saturday. International Maritime Defence It will switch off all lights Exhibition and Conference and non-essential systems at (DIMDEX) opened yesterday its iconic tower in West Bay and at Qatar National Convention its Airport HQ2, from 8.30pm to Centre. 9.30pm. Ooredoo employees have The Prime Minister and also pledged to switch off lights Interior Minister H E Sheikh at home during the event. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Earth Hour is a worldwide Al Thani attended the opening initiative by World Wide Fund ceremony of the three-day event for Nature, which has grown at QNCC Theatre. from a single lights-off event in The biennial event is said to Sydney, Australia, in 2007, to a be the largest naval exhibition to global event that engages more be hosted in the Middle East and than 7,000 cities and towns. North Africa (Mena). Ooredoo was the first com- Speaking at the opening, Qatar pany in Qatar to commit to Emiri Naval Forces Commander, Earth Hour in 2009, taking Major General Mohamed Nasser part in the largest mass par- Al Mohannadi, called for part- ticipation event to demonstrate nerships and coordinated efforts its commitment to protect the among countries to overcome environment. challenges and ensure maritime Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, protection in Mena. Director Community & Public He said the event is an excel- Relations, said: “Ooredoo con- The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with other officials, delegates and guests attending the lent platform to exchange views tinues to support environmental and discuss solutions for chal- opening ceremony. initiatives, as we work with the lenges and threats facing mari- community to reduce energy time security which has become a shown latest technologies at corvettes, minesweeper and the wastage and raise awareness of major concern in the region. Qatari and international exhibi- Kilo Class Submarine berthed at key issues.” He said the event is a reflec- tors’ stands. He also met defence Doha Commercial Port. Ooredoo also announced that tion of the wise strategy of the ministers and chiefs of staff of The Middle East Naval it will no longer send paper bills Qatari leadership seeking to pro- brotherly and friendly countries. Commanders Conference will be to business customers from June mote cooperation and exchange This year’s exhibition has seen held today bringing together the 30, as part of efforts to become of expertise to enhance maritime huge leap in terms of space from region’s naval commanders with a paperless workplace. protection. 12,000sqm in 2012 to 21,000sqm. their international counterparts. Currently, business customers A documentary on capabili- It covers various domains in the It will discuss maritime secu- receive a paper version of their ties of Qatari army, navy and air naval and maritime defence, rity situation in the region, bill and their chosen bill and bill force and the event’s wings and including anti-piracy, diving and policies governing the maritime analysis in electronic formats. functions was shown during the underwater operations and vehi- sector and strengthening defence Ooredoo stopped paper bills in opening attended by VIPs, inter- cles, maritime domain awareness policies and coordinated activities December 2011, and has since national delegations, sponsors and and technology and naval avia- to safeguard national assets and reduced paper consumption by the media. tion, among others. ensure regional security. a huge margin. The ‘Go Green’ The Premier toured the exhi- It also displays international DIMDEX 2014 is open from overhaul is part of its support of bition along with officials of the warships and vessels of differ- 9am to 4pm today and tomorrow. Qatar National Strategic Vision Some of the helicopters on display at the expo. organizing committee and was ent classes, including frigates, THE PENINSULA 2030 which prioritises environ- mental initiatives. Bangla embassy to celebrate First customer service opens for health insurance plan Independence day DOHA: The National Health maternity and related health 2015, NHIS will provide universal DOHA: The Bangladeshi Insurance Company (NHIC) has issues. health coverage to all people in embassy will celebrate today invited more clinics and hospi- The new centre on the sixth Qatar. Nationals, expatriates and the 43rd Independence and tals to join the second phase of floor of Amwal Tower in West Bay visitors will have access to public National Day at Bangladesh the national health insurance offers scheme members an addi- and private healthcare providers, MHM School and College in scheme (NHIS) to be launched tional level of support alongside offering more quality and choice Abu Hamour at 7.30am. late next month. the already operational call cen- for their needs. Ambassador Syed Masud NHIC yesterday announced the tre. Its staff are on hand to assist Groundwork for the launch of Mahmood Khundoker will inau- opening of its first customer serv- members with any queries, includ- the next stage included discus- gurate the event by hoisting the ice centre as part of preparations ing general information about the sions with providers. Several les- national flag and members of the to launch the second phase. scheme and its roll-out, coverage, sons from phase one are being community will sing the national “We have an excellent mix of member rights and the network. incorporated into the next stage anthem. The embassy has taken medical facilities that are part of The new centre on the sixth floor of Amwal Tower in West Bay. Qatari women covered in the first to ensure as smooth an intro- the initiative in line with the the NHIS provider network under phase will be able to make imme- duction as possible. “Learning decision of the government to stage one and we will be adding rules and criteria to ensure the Hospital and Al Hayat Medical diate use of the customer service from each stage is a key reason gather more than 300,000 peo- more quality public and private best service possible for the ben- Centre. centre which works from 8am to for the phased roll-out of NHIS,” ple at National Parade Square providers during stage two,” said eficiaries,” he added. The second phase will see health 5pm from Sunday to Thursday. explained Faleh. Information and in Dhaka to sing the national Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, The network currently includes insurance coverage expanded to It will facilitate face-to-face updates on the scheme are avail- anthem at 11am today to make acting CEO, NHIC. HMC Women’s Hospital, Al include all Qataris for their basic interaction and staff will be able at NHIC website www.nhic. as world record in terms of par- “The network is open to all Emadi Hospital, Al Ahli Hospital, health needs. The first phase cov- responsible for receiving and fol- qa. Members can also call NHIC ticipation in singing national providers in Qatar who want to Doha Clinic Hospital, Al Wakra ered Qatari females aged 12 and lowing up on any issues or com- call centre on 4020 8444. anthem. THE PENINSULA join, provided they meet our strict Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Cuban above for gynaecology, obstetrics, plaints. When fully launched by THE PENINSULA Italian designer to deliver VCUQ lecture DOHA: As part of the Crossing Boundaries Lecture Series, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) is host- ing Italian interaction designer Giorgio Olivero (pictured) for a lecture ‘Openness is the New Normal’ today at 6pm at its atrium. It is open to the public. projects for clients such In recent years, a novel as Arduino, Bank of Italy, combination of open hard- Nike, Fiat, Doha Film ware platforms, open- Institute, MTV and many source tools, open licences other companies, muse- and digital fabrication ums and institutions. His machines have created a works embrace interactive solid ground for the explo- experiences as main design sion of innovative projects medium, as well visual and and social innovation strategic design. fuelled by the collaborative Olivero received his DIY ethos of ‘makers’ cul- Master’s in Interaction ture and new educational Design from Interaction practices. Design Institute Ivrea. One of the main ena- As an educator, he has blers of the evolution is the lectured at IUAV Venice, open hardware platform VCUQ, Siena University, Arduino. Olivero’s experi- SUPSI and Sint Lucas ence as the project’s crea- Antwerpen. tive director will provide ‘Openness is the New an overview on the poten- Normal’ is the last in the tial unleashed by matching series of six lectures. The openness with new prac- lecture series reflects the tices in design. cross-disciplinary nature of He is design director at featured speakers who are TODO, a design studio and representatives of excel- innovation consultancy lence in creative and inno- based in Italy. vative thinking. At TODO, he has led THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Torch Staircase Run on Saturday

DOHA: Five of the world’s top Since taking up the sport, she After 15 years as sprinter, tower runners will compete has risen through the ranks and in which races took less than a against 320 Qatar residents at won back-to-back Tower run- minute to complete, Svabikova the Torch Staircase Run on ning world cups in 2012 and 2013 has had to adjust to the more Saturday. and the prestigious Empire State demanding sport of tower Organised by Aspire Logistics, Building Run Up in New York five running. it is the first Tower Running times. Preparing for physically Association Grand Prix to come One of her main rivals in the demanding events is something to the Middle East and consists race will be Lenka Svabikova competitor Chritsain Riedl from of 1,304 steps to reach the top of from Czech Republic. After com- Germany is used to. the Torch Doha Hotel. peting in athletics since the age of A former ultracyclist, Riedl “I was looking for new chal- 16, Svabikova switched to tower won the ultracycling world cup in lenges and running up a building running after becoming frus- his age category following a non- is certainly a big one,” said world trated with her sport. stop 43 hour/1,000km ride. champion Suzy Walsham who will “It’s probably weird, but “The attraction of tower run- arrive this week to take part. because I was not winning in ath- ning to me lies in the fact that The Minister of Justice and Patron of the 11th Doha Interfaith Conference H E Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al Mohannadi Having represented Australia letics, I wanted to try something there is no other sport in which as national champion in the else to find new motivation and you can get that fast to your phys- addressing the opening session at the Marriott Hotel yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT 1500m at the 2006 Commonwealth lost confidence so I could enjoy ical limits and therefore feel your Games, Walsham turned her racing again. The stairs have body in such an extremely intense attention to tower running after given me more than that,” said way,” he said. Youth urged to engage moving to Singapore. Svabikova. THE PENINSULA in interfaith dialogue Qatar Duty Free names winners of draws DOHA: Qatar Duty Free, a subsidiary of Qatar Airways, Doha forum opens with delegates from 50 countries has announced the winners of two draws this week. DOHA: The 11h Doha Interfaith Dialogue, instituted youth and directing their creative The first Millionaire draw of Conference on Interfaith by Doha International Center energies to build a humane soci- the year, at Doha International Dialogue opened yesterday with for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID), ety, spirit of love, tolerance and Airport, saw Alexandros Parissis, a call to the youth to engage in organisers of the conference. co-existence. a Greek, winning $1m cash prize. dialogue on the religious diver- Four awards were presented to Professor Ibrahim Saleh Al The excitement continued when sity across the world. two organisations and two indi- Naimi, Chairman, DICID, Dr QDF drew the name of Rodelio The three-day conference viduals who played a significant Mounir Tlili, Tunisian Minister Leonardo, a Filipino, making him under the theme ‘Youth and role in promoting harmony among of Religious Affairs, Cardinal the owner of a brand new Aston enhancing the value of dialogue’ people from different religions. John Onaiyekan, and Catholic Martin V8 Vantage Coupe. has brought together hundreds International Forum for Archbishop, Nigeria, also spoke. “I never expected that I would of delegates from 50 countries, Moderation, Jordan, Three Dr Aisha Yousef Al Mannai, win the Millionaire draw, this will including religious leaders, schol- Faith Forum, the UK, Mihay Deputy Chairman, DICID, said completely change my life. I am ars and representatives of inter- Flademeresco from Romania, and healthy dialogue between youth extremely grateful to QDF for the faith organisations. Rohania Sumhad Sumaina, from will help stop bloodshed among chance to win such an amazing Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways (second right) displaying a symbolic The Minister of Justice and the Philippines, were recognised humans. She stressed that the prize,” said Parissis. cheque for US1m for Alexandros Parissis, winner in the Millionaire draw. Patron of the conference H E for their role. youth could play a role to stop The draws were conducted in Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al The prize was allocated this media propaganda to create dis- the departures area and presided Mohannadi, in his inaugural year for work relating to youth harmony between people from over by Akbar Al Baker, CEO, draw has encouraged us to bring Ticket No. 1700 won in the address, stressed the role that in interfaith dialogue, successful different religions. Qatar Airways. back the promotion time and time Millionaire draw, and Ticket No. could be played by the youth in projects accomplished in the field The forum will discuss religions “The QDF Millionaire draw is a again,” said Keith Hunter, Senior 1412 in the luxury car draw. The honest and active interfaith dia- of activities related to dialogue perspectives on youth, opportuni- very popular promotion and this Vice-President, QDF. “Thus, for Millionaire raffle was launched in logue in the world. among youth from different reli- ties and challenges facing them, year, raffle tickets were sold out those who missed out on their May 2006, giving passengers an The opening session also saw gions, the role of the youth in reli- interfaith dialogue for youth and in record time. The tremendous chance with the Millionaire draw opportunity to win as each draw is the presentation of the second gious dialogue, the role of dialogue their contributions. response we have received from this time, there’s always another made after 5,000 tickets are sold. Doha International Award for in strengthening the capacity of THE PENINSULA customers since we started the opportunity to win,” he said. THE PENINSULA QC opens medical camp on Yemeni island DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) interest in the medical field in implemented in cooperation with has opened a specialised medi- Yemen, which has included open- Foundation for the Development cal camp on the Yemeni island heart surgery procedures,” Sheikh of Charitable Methods, whose of Socotra. Abdul Aziz said in a statement. goals are to raise health aware- It has benefitted around 5,500 He said Socotra was chosen for ness, provide therapeutic and people from poor and low-income the camp for several reasons, the specialised services and conduct families and involved 190 opera- most important is it being over surgeries, including gastrointesti- tions, including eye surgeries, 300km away from the nearest nal endoscopy for the inhabitants gastrointestinal endoscopy and Yemeni shore and the fact that to reduce their suffering by offer- urinary tract procedures. the majority of its residents are ing free treatment. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Jassim poor or low-income families. QC began by establishing Al Thani, General Supervisor of Other reasons include difficulty mobile clinics on the island to QC projects in Yemen, inaugu- of access due to a few flights, high check patients and transport rated camp activities, which were prices and lack of boats meaning those who needed operations and held for a week at Sheikh Zayed that travel to and from the island tests to Sheikh Zayed General General Hospital in Hadibo, takes several days. Hospital. Camp participants in the presence of Jassim Al He said these factors made the had access to 24 doctors in spe- Mansouri, head of marketing, the provision of health services and cialisations, including eyes, gas- Department of Communication treatment on the island a matter trointestinal endoscopy, internal and Marketing, QC, and Yusuf of urgency to alleviate the suffer- medicine, general surgery, men- Al Mohaiza from the department. ing of people forced to delay or go tal illness, children, skin, urinary “The establishment of the without treatment. tract, nervous system, x-rays and camp funded by QC is part of its He said the project was teeth. THE PENINSULA

The showroom team led by Mohamad Al Wably with the sales team. Third Jarir Bookstore opens in Qatar DOHA: As part of its expansion efforts, Jarir Jarir Marketing Company, said, inviting all the peo- Bookstore has announced the opening of its third ple to visit it. showroom in Qatar, and 33rd in GCC. Jarir bookstore invested over QR20m in the new It is located in Jaidah Square — a new, seven- showroom accommodating a wide range of station- storey commercial building on Airport Road — in ery, school supplies, books, arts and engineering sup- the heart of Doha’s business hub, offering easy access plies, and extensive choice of competitively priced to nearby multinational companies, banking giants and latest smartphones and electronics, laptops, and top-notch hotel accommodation. tablet PCs, peripherals and accessories, software “The new showroom, with an area of 3,500sqm is and electronic games and consoles. designed to accommodate the complete range of Jarir The other two showrooms are in Al Maha Centre, products and provide enjoyable shopping experience Salwa Road, and Salman bin Khalid Al Thani Centre, to our valued customers.” Abdulkarim Al Agil, CEO, Al Jadeed Road. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Syria rebels call for arms at Arab Summit Syrian National Coalition chief Jarba slams Arab League decision to keep Syria’s chair empty at meet

KUWAIT CITY: Syria’s oppo- Lebanon was no longer capable of sition called for “sophisticated” accepting more Syrian refugees, arms at an Arab summit in who now make up 32 percent of Kuwait yesterday. the population. But UN-Arab League peace He warned without elaborat- envoy Lakhdar Brahimi insisted ing that, if Beirut does not receive on the need for a “political solu- help, “we may look into legal ways tion” to the three-year conflict, to stop their influx.” urging an “end to the supply of Meanwhile, a regional rift over arms to all parties.” Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has Opposition Syrian National been kept off the summit agenda. Coalition chief Ahmed Jarba But Egyptian President Adli repeated calls on the interna- Mansur called for an interior and tional community to supply rebels justice ministers meeting before with “sophisticated weapons” as the end of June to activate the the two-day summit opened. Arab counter-terrorism treaty. “I do not ask you for a decla- Mansour made no specific men- ration of war,” said Jarba, urging tion of the Muslim Brotherhood Arab leaders to put pressure on of his ousted predecessor world powers to fulfil pledges to Mohammed Mursi, which Cairo supply arms. designated a terrorist organisa- Saudi Crown Prince Salman tion in December. bin Abdulaziz, whose country is a But he told the summit it was key backer of the rebellion against vital that League members extra- President Bashar Al Assad, said dite and not give shelter to “ter- the world was “betraying” rebels rorists” wanted by fellow member by failing to arm them and leaving states. On the Palestinian issue, them as “easy prey.” Arab leaders are expected to A solution to the conflict, in call for $100m in monthly aid which regime forces have recently for the Palestinian Authority made significant advances, and to reject demands by Israel requires a “change in the bal- that Palestinians recognise it as ance on the ground to end the a Jewish state. impasse,” he said. Palestinian leader Mahmoud National Coalition spokesman A general view of the opening ceremony of the 25th Arab League Summit, hosted by Kuwait in Bayan Palace, yesterday. Abbas, fresh from talks with Louay Safi said rebels urgently US President Barack Obama in needed “anti-aircraft missiles” to Washington last week, told the defend against barrel bombs that decision not to hand over Syria’s can kill and that the seat will wait Brahimi urged a revival of he stressed. summit that Palestinians “reject regime forces have been raining seat in the Arab League to the for him,” he said. peace talks. On the humanitarian front, even discussing the issue.” down on fighters and civilians opposition sends a wrong message The government’s bru- “I call upon Europe, the United the president of Lebanon, one of He warned of Israeli plans alike. The conflict in Syria, which to Assad, telling him to continue tal repression of protests that Nations and the United States to several Syrian neighbours deal- to divide Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa entered a fourth year on March “to kill.” erupted in March 2011, which led take clear steps to reactivate the ing with refugees, told the evening Mosque, highly revered by 15, has killed more than 146,000 “Let me say quite frankly that to the war, resulted in its suspen- Geneva talks,” which broke off on session his country was overbur- Muslims worldwide, between people and displaced millions. keeping Syria’s seat empty... sends sion from the 22-member Cairo- February 15. dened by the influx and called Jews and Muslims “which we Meanwhile, Jarba said a a clear message to Assad that he based Arab League. “There is no military solution,” for help. Michel Sleiman said totally reject.” AFP

Yemeni troops Syria fighters capture village free two kidnapped on Mediterranean coast

BEIRUT: Islamist rebels backed by air power, to repulse Islamists has alienated many foreigners captured a village on Syria’s the rebels, leading to heavy fight- inhabitants. Mediterranean coast for the ing across the strip of territory The Islamist fighters who took SANA’A: Yemeni security first time and battled to hold along the Turkish border. over the Christian town of Kasab forces freed two Westerners territory abutting the nearby The Syrian Observatory for have tried to show themselves in unharmed yesterday shortly Turkish border taken from Human Rights said 14 pro-Assad a different light, releasing videos after they were kidnapped by President Bashar Al Assad’s fighters and six rebels — mostly of fighters protecting a church gunmen in the capital Sana’a, forces, activists said yesterday. foreign jihadis — were killed yes- and reassuring the few elderly police sources said, in an inci- Video footage showed six fight- terday fighting for a strategic hill- residents who had not fled the dent highlighting the grow- ers holding the black banner of top close to Kasab. Seventy-five fighting. ing security threat in the the Ansar Al Sham brigade on wounded rebels were taken for The border crossing at Kasab country. a rocky beach, a symbolic rebel treatment in Turkey. they seized had been the last point Kidnapping is common in victory in the coastal province of The ferocity of the fighting of entry from Turkey into terri- US-allied Yemen, where the gov- Latakia that has been an Assad highlights the significance which tory fully under control of Assad’s ernment is struggling to contain stronghold throughout three Assad — one of whose cousins, forces, since most of the northern an insurgency from Islamists years of conflict. Hilal, a militia commander, was border region is already under linked to Al Qaeda, a southern “This is the first area of coast killed near Kasab on Sunday — rebel control. separatist movement, fighting in in Syria to be liberated,” said an attaches to repelling the rebel About 480km to the east at the country’s north and sporadic activist who used the name Abu thrust. the Qamishli border crossing, the conflicts with armed tribes. Bakr, referring to the beach and Assad has lost control of much United Nations said yesterday it Police said the security forces nearby village of Samra. of the east and north of the coun- had completed a five-day mission tracked the two kidnappers to a Latakia and neighbouring try but his army, backed by Shia to move humanitarian aid into house where they were holding Tartous provinces together form fighters from Iraq and Lebanon’s Syria. Qamishli is in the furthest the pair, one of whom was Italian, the Mediterranean heartland of Hezbollah, has cleared rebels out northeast region of Syria, where and managed to free them safely Assad’s minority Alawite faith of large areas around Damascus Assad’s security forces still have after surrounding the premises. and have remained loyal to him as and near the Lebanese border. a presence but local Kurds have They said one of the Westerners he battles mainly Sunni Muslim As a result the president has been exercising greater autonomy was a diplomat for the United rebels in a civil war which has secured greater control over the since the start of the uprising Nations and the other was a killed more than 140,000 people. centre of Syria and choked off against four decades of Assad woman accompanying him. After months of setbacks in rebel supply routes from Lebanon, family rule. Local residents said they central Syria, Islamist rebels whose Sunni population supports Jens Laerke, a spokes- heard gunshots in the area, but launched an offensive on Friday Assad’s foes. man for the UN Office for the an initial exchange of fire was into the Latakia region, tak- In the rebel-held north and Coordination of Humanitarian followed by negotiations, the ing the border crossing and east, rival Islamist groups have Affairs, said the last dozen trucks police sources said, before the the Armenian Christian village been fighting each other for of a 78-truck convoy crossed at hostages were released. They of Kasab. months, dimming any hopes of Qamishli, bringing food, blankets, had been seized earlier yes- A rebel fighter checks a launcher near the village of Kasab and the border Since then, Assad has sent toppling Assad, and the uncom- mattresses and medical supplies. terday when the kidnappers crossing with Turkey, in the northwestern province of Latakia. army and militia reinforcements, promisingly hardline rule of the REUTERS stopped their car in the Hada district of Sana’a, where many diplomatic missions are located, police sources said. Hostage-taking is sometimes carried out by militants aiming Militants kill one of five Syrian refugee sets herself on fire to intimidate Westerners, but is also used as a tactic by tribes- TRIPOLI, LEBANON: A Syrian refugee are empty’,” Amudi told AFP. men to resolve disputes with the abducted Iranian guards mother of four, desperate to receive food aid, “Then, with her kids standing right next to her, government, and by opportunists set herself on fire at a UN registration centre she took a small plastic bottle out of her bag, and hoping to sell hostages on to other DUBAI: Sunni Muslim mili- in Sistan-Baluchistan province in the Lebanese city of Tripoli yesterday, wit- poured the contents over her head and clothes. The groups. tants have killed one of the five later claimed responsibility. nesses said. bottle contained diesel. She took out a lighter and Three foreigners — a Czech Iranian border guards they have The group said on its website The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed set herself on fire,” said a visibly shaken Amudi. doctor, a British oil worker and been holding hostage for the on Sunday that it had killed the the incident, adding that the woman in her 50s had The vendor said he and other bystanders includ- a German — were seized in past six weeks, the semi-official border guard. Neither Tehran nor been hospitalised suffering severe burns. ing refugees tried to smother the flames with their February. Fars News Agency has reported. Islamabad could immediately con- Lebanon has in the past three years become jackets and with water. The impoverished Arabian It identified the victim as firm the report. Pakistani author- home to nearly one million people who have fled UN guards then intervened, put out the flames, Peninsula country, which borders Jamshid Danaeefar, shown sitting ities said on Monday they were Syria’s brutal war. Many now live in desperate pov- and took her to hospital, said Abu Riad. oil giant Saudi Arabia, has long against a mud wall in an unidenti- still investigating. erty and rely on overstretched agencies and NGOs Hospital director Gabriel Al Sabeh told AFP the wrestled with instability, internal fied location with the other four Some minority Sunni Muslims for assistance. refugee had suffered burns to her face and several conflicts and poor governance. captives in a grainy photo appar- in Sistan-Baluchistan, an impov- Abu Riad Al Amudi, a cart vendor who often parts of her body. The United States, along with ently taken by their captors. erished province bordering works near the UN registration centre in the Lying in the hospital bed, weeping and barely some other Western and Gulf Fars, quoting an “informed Pakistan, have rebelled against northern city, said that as hundreds of refugees able to speak, the woman told AFP: “My chest countries, is working with an source”, said the four other hos- the Shia government in Tehran. queued for food aid yesterday morning, a woman hurts. We don’t have any food.” interim government to effect a tages were in good health, without The lawless province is also used dressed in black from head to toe began to shout. Her face was heavily bandaged and her feet cov- political transition after former giving further details. The guards by drugs and arms traffickers. “She said: ‘For three days I have been coming ered in a protective cloth. president Ali Abdullah Saleh were seized while patrolling the The kidnapping has further here to get food assistance for me and my four chil- Her husband, Khaled Al Daher, was stunned. was forced from office in 2012 by lawless frontier with Pakistan in inflamed tension between Tehran dren. Every time, I get turned away and promised “We usually receive aid once a month, but this street protests. early February. Jaish Al Adl, an and Islamabad over sectarian aid if I come back the next day. But these promises time it was late,” he said. AFP REUTERS Iranian Sunni Muslim rebel group violence. REUTERS

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HE mass death sentence which the Egyptian rulers are meting out to its opponents has shocked even the supporters of the current regime. An Egyptian Tcourt in the city of Minya on Monday sentenced 529 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death for their Putin and his Crimea speech alleged role in the killing of a policeman. And yesterday, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and 682 others went on BY JONATHAN POWER trial on charges including murder. It’s likely that most or of Russian soldiers. even all of them might suffer the same fate of the previous In the early 2000s, after negotiations 529. Ironically, the first group convicted after just two RESIDENT Vladimir Putin’s with the Ukrainian government, Russia court sessions, most in absentia and without being allowed speech to both houses of the was unambiguous about the extent of Russian parliament last week got Ukrainian sovereignty. As Putin said in The BBC went on to say that to present a defence. It’s unlikely that anybody would doubt Pbad notices. Anne Applebaum, his speech,“everyone had a clear under- the political party, Svoboda, the integrity of the judges who delivered the verdict and the the experienced Russian-watcher, wrote standing that by agreeing to delimitate to which the far right fairness of the judicial system. Because, the judges and the in her column in the Washington Post the border we admitted de facto and de demonstrators belong, now judicial system don’t have any integrity and fairness in the that it was “an imperial rant” and went jure that Crimea was Ukrainian terri- first place, both having been sacrificed at the doorstep of the on to say that “Nato should move its tory, thereby closing the issue”. But he has six positions in the new forces from Germany to the alliance’s has simply dropped this commitment. post-Mursi government. government, including deputy eastern borders”. Most Western govern- Those are five good reasons for reject- The mass trials and death sentences will be treated with ments also gave their own misleading ing Putin’s way of handling Crimea. prime minister, general both shock and ridicule by the outside world. It’s the biggest interpretations of Putin’s speech. Now for the rest of his inadequately prosecutor and the minister in Egypt’s modern history and could even create history in In this column I’m not going to defend reported speech: of defence. The BBC also Putin up and down the hill. I profoundly First, he was as outspoken as any- the region if implemented. has noted that one of the first Opposition to the Egyptian court is coming from all over reject the way the absorption of Crimea one in the West in his critique of the into Russia was carried out. One can’t politics of Ukraine: “I understand why things the new government the world. The UN human rights office said Monday’s mass mount a referendum on an issue as the Ukrainian people wanted change. death sentences contravened international law and the ruling important as this with two weeks’ Presidents, prime ministers and parlia- did was to revise Russian was also criticised by the European Union and the United notice- the Scots have been discussing mentarians changed, but their attitude to language rights. States. “The imposition of the their planned referendum, set for later the country and its people remained the death penalty for 529 defendants this year, for years. same. They milked the country, fought The sentencing after a two-day summary Moreover, this among themselves for power, assets and referendum only cash flows.” prosecutor and the minister of defence. of 529 proceeding cannot be reconciled had two questions: “I would like to reiterate that I under- The BBC also has noted that one of the with Egypt’s obligations under whether the vot- stand those who came out on Maidan, first things the new government did was Brotherhood international human rights ers wanted to go [Kiev’s square.], with peaceful slogans to revise Russian language rights. As Putin said in his members to law, and its implementation back to Russia against corruption, inefficient state man- Putin then went on to make a power- of these sentences ... would speech,“everyone or whether they agement and poverty.” ful case for the malign role played by wanted increased But then he went on to denounce the Western governments. He reminded death by an be unconscionable,” US State had a clear autonomy. element in the protesters who “resorted his audience of how the West itself had Egyptian court Department spokeswoman understanding It didn’t ask if to terror”- “nationalists, neo-Nazis, broken international law. It ignored the has been greeted Marie Harf told a news briefing that by agreeing voters wanted to Russophobes and anti-Semites”. lack of a UN Security Council resolu- in Washington. At the same to delimitate the remain part of Many in the West have played down tion authorising the bombing of Serbia, with both shock time, Washington’s displeasure Ukraine. the role of the extremists. But not every- intervention in Kosovo and the invasion is only peripheral. The Obama border, we admitted Then there one. In one detailed essay on its website of Iraq. and ridicule. de facto and de jure is the agree- early in March the BBC reported that The West, he said, “lied to us many administration enjoys enough ment signed in the events that led to the toppling of times”. In particular, over the ques- influence in Cairo and if seriously that Crimea was in 1994 when President Viktor Yanukovych, the far tion of the decision by Nato to expand interested, it can persuade Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s large right minority at “key points of the dem- its reach right up to Russia’s borders, and even force the current military rulers to respect thereby closing the nuclear weapon onstrations played an outsized.... role..... despite an explicit promise not to, made armoury was sent At times they appeared to be the driv- by the US to Soviet president, Mikhail international norms while dealing with the opposition. issue”. There are signs that the crackdown on Brotherhood will to Russia. In it ing force behind the demonstrations.” I Gorbachev. Moreover, as Putin said, “We Russia agreed would add that by unleashing violence at have already heard declarations from intensify further ahead of presidential elections that army to recognize the end these far rightists brought the Kiev about Ukraine joining Nato”. The chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is expected to win. Ukrainian boundaries. That was a fair government’s fall to a head. The prom- West is “constantly trying to sweep us The targeting of Brotherhood has only created chaos and and honourable deal. ise of Yanukovych to arrange early elec- into a corner”. instability in the country and its economy is in tatters. It’s As for the question whether Russia tions, made to German, French, Polish The US and the EU need to look at time for the rulers to focus on governance and bring stability had beefed up the number of its armed and Russia negotiators, was overridden. the facts with a clearer mind. They must forces in Crimea, it clearly did although Most of the rest of the demonstrators accept that Putin has his points. And and peace back to the country, and launch measure to revive it was within the range set by the treaty and the West simply went along with they must start to be honest about their the moribund economy which has suffered lethal blows since establishing the Russian naval base. One the mob. role in aiding the demonstrators at the the uprising began. The country needs to woo tourists back, should note too, as Putin said, no fatal The BBC went on to say that the same time as they were negotiating a since tourism is the mainstay of the economy and the first shot was fired during the time leading political party, Svoboda, to which the new election pact. There will be no end to requirement for the same is peace. up to the referendum. Nevertheless, far right demonstrators belong, now this crisis in Western-Russian relations Sisi must shed an attitude of vengeance and adopt the Crimeans were clearly intimidated by the has six positions in the new government, until they do. presence on the street of large numbers including deputy prime minister, general THE PENINSULA path of reconciliation. The other side Quote of G7’s game of chess the day

S THE G7 — the group of — but with precious little to show for snub. With many of the world’s crises brace for cuts in energy imports from Canada, France, Germany, their efforts? Russian President Vladimir requiring multilateral diplomatic interven- Russia and agree on more punitive eco- Italy, Japan, the UK and US Putin refuses to be intimidated by the tion, the differences between the West nomic sanctions, mere consultations A— gathers at the Hague to early sanctions imposed on some of his and Russia over Ukraine could spill into will not rein in the Kremlin. And tougher discuss on the sidelines of a nuclear countrymen and has even retaliated with other interactions as well, lessening their decisions on Russia are not likely to be Russia is a regional security summit what’s to be done about some of his own. Even as the G7 rat- impact. For instance, while Moscow announced till Obama has met Chinese Russia and the annexation of Ukraine’s tles its sabre in the Netherlands Russian supports the Bashar Al Assad regime President Xi Jinping. While Xi is on his power that is Crimean peninsula by Moscow through troops are consolidating their hold on in Syria, Washington wants a change maiden presidential trip to Europe, a bloodless coup, why is there a sense other Crimean bastions while other of guard. Now the Obama adminis- Obama begins his Europe and Saudi threatening some of deja vu? former Russian states like Moldova and tration has ordered the closure of all Arabia trip Monday and is scheduled Is it perhaps because of late the Estonia are said to be apprehensive that Syrian diplomatic missions in the US, to hold consultations with Xi. China has of its immediate world powers have been meeting with Crimea’s fate could be theirs. Perhaps a creating a further rift with Moscow. After been a staunch diplomatic ally of Russia. neighbours, not out monotonous regularity to thrash out a G8 meeting, with Russia also on board, the Edward Snowden affair and Syria, Last week, when the US Security solution to a wide range of crises — would have seen some development at where Putin bested Obama, Ukraine Council mulled a resolution to condemn of strength but out from the protracted Syrian war to the the meeting on Ukraine, one way or the should not degenerate into an ego clash the referendum that saw Crimea return of weakness. Iran nuclear restrainment and even the other. between the two governments. to Russia, China abstained from voting. Barack Obama disruptions caused by North Korea Putin will not respond kindly to the Unless the G7 is ready to see Europe Khaleej Times US President WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Abbott, PNG and asylum: Orwellian peer reality Australian PM lauds Papua New Guinea’s ‘mateship’ in keeping asylum-seekers in terrible conditions while PNG casts around for other places to send them.

BY MICHELLE GRATTAN to the former government remains on offer.” ony Abbott was desperate Immigration minister Scott Morrison to paint his just-completed said on February 18: “Mr Abbott spoke trip to Papua New Guinea in with prime minister O’Neill today … [he] highly positive terms but as confirmed Papua New Guinea’s ongoing far as asylum-seeker policy commitment to offshore processing on Tis concerned, it has just thrown up more Manus Island and resettlement in Papua problems and questions and exposed New Guinea.” what a shambles the “PNG solution” is. When on March 2 he announced a joint Where some of the people who come ministerial forum to oversee the regional out of the process as genuine refugees resettlement arrangement Morrison said will then go is now one of those “known it would “aid us to keep this important unknowns.” Whether the processing arrangement on track and translate itself is being done with sufficient com- announcements into action, when it petence and integrity surely has to be comes to the critical issues of processing a concern. And both countries appear claims and resettling refugees in PNG.” to care less and less (if that’s possible) Abbott was pressed while in PNG on about the human rights of the people when and how come things had changed on Manus – their prime preoccupation – he just avoided answering. being to limit information coming out PNG has yet to put its resettlement that might be embarrassing or damaging. plan to its parliament – it is due to do After his Friday talks with Abbott, that in May. Abbott said that would mean Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott addressing an Asia Society of Australia meeting in Canberra yesterday. PNG prime minister Peter O’Neill made resettlement of those found to be refugees it clear his country will not resettle all ought to be taking place in May and June. those found to be refugees. He wants Now that it is beyond doubt that PNG Yet there was not any precision. Is Next thing, his inquiry – which the that should be totally unacceptable. other Pacific countries to accept some. wants to off-load some refugees, where this based on numbers or is this some judge himself had initiated - was shut At their joint news conference Abbott “We will take some and we’ll take will they go? Is Australia negotiating with generalisation on impressions? And how down by the PNG government. said he was gratified to have from O’Neill as much as we can,” he said. “But as we other Pacific countries? “I’m not going to come this can be said while people don’t PNG foreign minister Rimbink Pato his assurance that the people and govern- have stated at the initial stage when we imperil discussions that we’re having,” seem to be emerging, processed, out of told Fairfax Media that the Abbott gov- ment of PNG were committed to “staying agreed to this, we will also want all the Abbott said. the system? ernment was consulted and strongly the course.” other countries within the region [to Foreign minister Julie Bishop did While it may be true that the claims backed the decision, saying Morrison “I really value the mateship that Peter participate].” recently sound out the Cambodia gov- of many won’t stack up, given the malad- and Bishop shared his concern about O’Neill has shown to Australia on this.” This sort of qualification has peri- ernment about asylum seekers but the ministration surrounding Manus in the inquiry and thought it should be The following day he said: “The co-oper- odically been thrown up in one form Australian government was less forth- general, one has to wonder how rough challenged. ation that we are getting from PNG is a or another by PNG. But the Australian coming about these discussions than its and ready the assessment process is (it This is perhaps not surprising after the real act of mateship on their part and I’m government has given the impression Cambodian counterpart and the nature is being done by PNG with Australian recent statement that other, more official really thrilled by it.” that PNG would take the full refugee of these talks was unclear. mentoring). The shenanigans over the inquiries the two countries were holding It’s a sort of Orwellian parallel reality: component. O’Neill also declared at Friday’s joint investigation of human rights at Manus should be “synthesised.” people held in dreadful conditions, two Abbott, asked on February 17 whether news conference that “a good majority” of by PNG Justice David Cannings does not But Abbott himself said he did not government conspiring to traduce their it was still the plan to settle refugees in those processed were economic refugees give confidence in the behaviour of either know about the action ahead of time and rights and suppress as much information PNG as originally conceived under then and would be repatriated. government. just talked about PNG’s “vigorous and as they can, and no one having the slight- PM Kevin Rudd, said: “Well that is still Abbott later invoked former Labour Cannings took journalists when he independent” legal system. est clue about the future of people who very much available and prime minister minister Bob Carr’s assessment (while visited the detention centre late last The judge is now opening a new inquiry. really did flee persecution – while Abbott Peter O’Neill has reassured me repeat- in government) to back up what he week, obviously to the annoyance of both The reporting by the journalists who declares it’s been “a very successful visit.” edly that the same deal that was on offer described as O’Neill’s “strong suspicion.” governments. visited the centre indicated conditions THE GUARDIAN Putin’s old attitude is relevant today Cruz, Paul compete for fractured conservatives Despite end of Cold War, Putin clings to the view that Nato remains BY ALBERT R HUNT wo newcomers, Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas, are the hottest figures in the dominant conservative basically threatening to Russia. wing of the Republican Party. In markedly different ways, they both claim to be the heirs to the party’s contemporary BY STROBE TALBOTT T the process, Nato bombed Serbia patron saint, Ronald Reagan. for 78 days. Until this week, that In a short time, these first-term lawmakers have electrified elements n his speech Tuesday, period was, by far, the tensest in of the party’s base and rattled the Senate establishment. The top two Russian President Vladimir East-West relations since the end Republican leaders in the chamber, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Putin referred to Kosovo of the Cold War. John Cornyn of Texas, have had to defer to the political popularity of Isix times, bizarrely calling During frequent trips I made their junior colleagues. its independence a precedent for to Moscow at the time, I heard Both are outside the party mainstream, rock stars in selective con- Russia’s annexation of Crimea. In numerous Russians, including servative circles, with an eye on the 2016 presidential nomination and fact, the two episodes could hardly pro-Western reformers, lament on each other. be more different. No doubt Putin that the post-Cold War spirit They are also profoundly different in style and substance. They is fixated on Kosovo because its would not survive Nato’s pum- reflect a party and movement that are struggling to reshape themselves breakaway from Serbia fuels a melling of Belgrade. despite internal contradictions. deep-seated Russian phobia and Some high-level officials Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) attending a meeting of Council for In the next presidential race, conservatives are determined to tap sense of humiliation at the hands accused Nato of practicing for a Development of Physical Culture and Sport, in the Kremlin on Monday. one of their own. Perhaps someone else will emerge, but for now — to of the West in the 1990s. future bombardment of Moscow borrow an analogy from college basketball’s March Madness — Paul, 51, Despite the end of the Cold in support of secessionists in the and Cruz, 43, would be the top two seeds in the conservative bracket. War, Putin and many of his com- restive Muslim-dominated region distance between himself and The Russian foreign ministry They are a vivid contrast. Paul is more collegial, less ornery than his patriots cling to the view that of Chechnya. That was the Kosovo Chernomyrdin. His personal issued a denial and then a lame father, Ron, a former Texas congressman and presidential candidate. Nato remains fundamentally precedent they could imagine. touches were pointed. For no rea- statement about how the rogue Cruz is off-the-charts smart, a champion debater and an in-your-face threatening to Russia. The alli- To end the crisis, Russian son other than to show he had operation was an accident. The politician. He is the most unpopular member of the Senate Republican ance’s intervention in the Bosnian President Boris Yeltsin sent an read my KGB dossier, he dropped Russian contingent hunkered Caucus, a badge of honour with grass-roots conservatives. civil war confirmed that fear envoy, Viktor Chernomyrdin, to the names of two Russian poets I down at an airfield outside the Paul, building on his father’s campaign, has much more of a network because its principal targets were Belgrade to pressure Milosevic had studied in college. capital of Kosovo, while a mul- around the country. Cruz can light up a stage, and is more likely to Bosnian Serbs who were “ethni- into withdrawing his troops During the meeting, my State tinational Nato force rolled in energize social conservatives. cally cleansing” and massacring from Kosovo and accepting an Department colleague Victoria from Macedonia. What looked at The policy differences between the two self-styled movement con- Bosnian Muslims. international peacekeeping force Nuland (now assistant secretary first to be a mouse-that-roared servatives are equally striking. Paul is a libertarian, suspicious of almost For many Russians, the Serbs that would include Russian units of state for Europe) passed me farce turned dangerous when it any government; Cruz espouses a more muscular conservatism, bending were first and foremost fellow under US command so as not to a note saying that Gen Ivashov appeared that the Russian mili- policies and programs to a right- wing agenda. He envisions awakening Orthodox Slavs, not to be seen as be formally part of Nato. had just issued a threat to our tary might airlift reinforcements what he believes to be a dormant conservative majority. perpetrators of Europe’s first act In June 1999, I led a team from Pentagon companions — who and trigger a shooting war. Cruz and Paul are even further apart when it comes to foreign of genocide since World War II the State Department, White were in a meeting at the defence Yeltsin re-emerged, none too policy. Cruz is a national-security hardliner. In a speech in December, but as religious and linguistic kin House and Pentagon to coordinate ministry — that the Russian army steadily, in time to defuse the he lamented that the United States under Obama “is receding from a protecting their communities — final plans for the operation. Soon might break from Nato and deploy crisis and put the original deal global leadership.” He sounds like a neoconservative. and as victims of Nato. after landing, we sensed trouble. into Kosovo on its own, thereby back on track. Not until nine Paul, though, is contemptuous of the interventionist neoconserva- In 1999, the dictatorial Serbian Chernomyrdin was politically iso- turning what was supposed to be years later did Kosovo declare its tives, a school of thought that, he said, “beats its chest and seeks to president, Slobodan Milosevic, lated. His military minder, Gen a collaborative operation into a independence. And, of course, it spread worldwide enlightenment.” War, he said, is their “preferred frustrated by his inability to Leonid Ivashov, was in virtual confrontation. has not been annexed by Albania. option.” He wants the US to stop playing global cop. Last week, he expand his country into the mutiny against the deal on joint When I read Nuland’s note Putin’s role in that narrowly was one of only 17 senators who refused to sign a politically appeal- Serb-populated areas of Bosnia, Russian-Nato deployment. aloud, Putin smugly waved it off avoided military collision 15 ing resolution warning Iran of consequences if it doesn’t abandon its turned his fury on the southern Yeltsin, we were told, was and feigned puzzlement about who years ago remains a mystery, but nuclear designs. Serbian province of Kosovo. Much “indisposed,” a word accompanied Ivashov was, which was patently his attitude was clear then and Look for Cruz to moderate his views as rank-and-file conserva- as Russians regard Ukraine as the by knowing looks that translated implausible. His overall message relevant today. During a danger- tives, exhausted by more than a decade of war, move closer to Paul’s cradle of their civilization, Serbs as drunk. The civilian officials we was twofold: He knew details from ous power vacuum in Moscow — neo-isolationist views. And look for both to invoke the Gipper as the see Kosovo as hallowed ground, met with were visibly unnerved at my distant past but wasn’t going when partnership between Russia inspiration for their 2016 candidacies. stained by the blood of their the possibility of a military coup. to let me know anything about and the West was at the break- “Cruz and Paul represent two big strains of American conservatism,” ancestors defeated by Ottoman The one exception was Putin, what was happening in the here ing point; when Russian armed says Craig Shirley, a former Reagan adviser and author of books on invaders whose Albanian- whom I met for the first time. and now — or what would hap- forces, fed up with having to make the 40th president. “Ironically, both can find solace in Reagan’s words speaking Muslim descendants As head of the Kremlin secu- pen next. nice with Nato, took matters and deeds.” make up the majority of modern rity council, he was on the first Within hours, several small into their own hands and tried Reagan once called libertarianism “the very heart and soul of con- Kosovo. rung of the ladder he would climb Russian units that had been mon- to rush to the aid of fellow Slavs servatism.” He also favoured a muscular national defence (though he After diplomacy failed to stop quickly to the presidency. itoring the cease-fire in Bosnia — Yeltsin’s soon-to-be handpicked regretted his decision to commit forces to Lebanon) and an activist Milosevic’s campaign of driving In our meeting, he managed to dashed across southern Serbia successor seemed to be relishing conservative government. Kosovars out of their villages seem both relaxed and on guard. into Kosovo, cheered as saviours the moment. Between Paul and Cruz, Shirley says, “somewhere in the middle is and slaughtering thousands in He subtly but unmistakably put by Serbs along the way. WP-BLOOMBERG Reagan.” WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Rockets were meant for Sinai, not Gaza Seizure by Israel under the cloud

JERUSALEM: Some US intel- tunnels there. ligence analysts and Middle Asked on the day of the ship East security officials believe seizure which Palestinian mili- that a rocket shipment seized tants were to have received the by the Israeli navy in the Red arms cache and how, Defence Sea this month was destined for Minister Moshe Yaalon said: “I the Egyptian Sinai and not for don’t know, but it is clear this was the Gaza Strip, as Israel says. meant to reach terrorist groups A US official and two non- in the Gaza Strip ... The route is Israeli regional sources said well known and it seems that they Israel appeared to be insisting on tried to revive it.” the Gaza destination in order to An Israeli military officer who spare the military-backed interim took part in planning the naval Egyptian administration embar- interdiction told Reuters that, rassment as it struggles to impose in the month before it happened, order in the Sinai. “not once did I hear anyone men- Israel has little compunction tion anything other than Gaza as about drawing scrutiny to the the end-point for these weapons”. rocket arsenals of Gaza’s govern- A US official said Washington ing Hamas Islamists and other had confirmed the Syrian and armed Palestinian factions, with Iranian provenance of the rock- whom it has regularly clashed. ets and believed they were to “Were the Israelis to say the have been used against Israel. An Iraqi man walks past a huge election poster with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki in the centre, yesterday in Baghdad, ahead of the parliamentary rockets were going to Sinai, But half of US intelligence ana- elections next month. then they would also have had lysts thought Sinai, not Gaza, was to say who in Sinai was going to the destination, the official said. receive the rockets,” one source “You look at those things and told Reuters, adding that such a it’s obvious they couldn’t have statement would draw attention been slipped into Gaza,” the offi- Iraq poll panel resigns ahead of election to the insurgents resisting Egypt’s cial said, adding that the M302s security sweeps in northern Sinai. were not designed to be disassem- BAGHDAD: The board of handed in its resignation in pro- of anonymity. “They are very decision. Parliament has mean- Israel says the Syrian-made bled for easier smuggling. Iraq’s electoral commission test at what it said were con- unhappy with judicial interference, while reportedly ruled that IHEC M302 rockets and other muni- Israel said it had also found 181 resigned en masse yesterday in flicting rulings from parliament with political interference.” must not bar any candidates tions were hidden aboard the 122mm mortar shells aboard the protest at political and judicial and the judiciary on the barring The resignations still have to unless they have criminal convic- Panamanian-flagged Klos C while Klos C, and some 400,000 7.62-cal- “interference”, throwing a gen- of would-be candidates for the be approved by parliament, the tions, a decision the IHEC spokes- it docked in Iran. The ship was ibre bullets. eral election due next month election. source added. man said was at odds with that of intercepted on March 5, en route The US official agreed that the into disarray. “The commission is today Several candidates have been the judicial panel. to Sudan — where, Israel says, the mortar shells were meant to go The sudden decision comes caught between two authorities barred in recent weeks on the It was not immediately clear arms would have been offloaded to Gaza, saying: “You can fit each with doubts already swirling over — the legislative and the judicial grounds of alleged ties to now exe- what impact the resignation of and trucked to Gaza through of those in a backpack.” But the whether the Independent High — and the two have issued contra- cuted dictator Saddam Hussein’s the IHEC board would have on Egypt, a standard trafficking route. bullets, the US official said, may Electoral Commission (IHEC) dictory decisions,” IHEC spokes- Baath party. next month’s election, which all Israel’s allegation, echoed by its have been meant for another cli- could organise polling nationwide man Safa Al Mussawi told AFP. But a greater source of frustra- major parties are agreed must Western allies, was dismissed by ent elsewhere in Africa. on April 30 with anti-government “We are stuck in the middle, tion for the IHEC board has been take place on schedule. Iran and Hamas as a fabrication. With their 160km range, the fighters in control of a city on so we have decided to resign, and the exclusion of scores of hopefuls One analyst said the resigna- Officials in Egypt declined com- M302s could have been launched Baghdad’s doorstep. we are waiting for the chairman’s on the basis of what critics say is tions themselves were unlikely to ment, saying they knew nothing from areas of Sinai well away Much is at stake in the elec- approval.” a vague provision in Iraq’s elec- disrupt the timetable. about the rockets. from Israeli spotters along the tion, as Prime Minister Nouri An aide to IHEC chairman toral law that requires that par- “The election will go ahead Israel has been hazy in public Egyptian border, and struck Tel Al Maliki bids for a third term Sarbat Rashid told AFP that he liamentary hopefuls be “of good on time, whatever the situation, about how the 5.5 metre-long Aviv or Jerusalem. A regional with his security credentials backed the decision. An IHEC reputation”. because there is no way parlia- M302s might have entered Gaza. security source said Israel would thrown into question by a surge board member said the same. Those barred, who include ment will approve these resigna- The coastal enclave is under heavy have kept Egypt informed about in violence to levels not seen since “They are very frustrated with former finance minister Rafa tions,” said Ihsan al-Shammari, Israeli surveillance, and Cairo the seizure but that both coun- 2008, with 19 more people killed this judicial panel for the elec- Al Essawi, a Maliki opponent, a politics professor at Baghdad has clamped down on the Egypt- tries would have kept the contacts yesterday. tions... excluding candidates,” a have no obvious avenue of appeal University. Gaza frontier and the smuggling discreet. REUTERS The nine-member IHEC board diplomatic source said on condition against the judicial panel’s AFP

Protest against Iran Talks between Turkey, Israel close to South Sudan, rebels resume compensation deal ISTANBUL: A long-awaited Talks on compensation over the compensation deal for Turkish nine Turks killed in the raid began in Ethiopia victims of a deadly Israeli raid in March 2013 after Israel extended ADDIS ABABA: Peace talks on a Gaza aid flotilla four years a formal apology to Turkey in a between South Sudan’s gov- ago will soon be signed, Ankara breakthrough brokered by US ernment and rebels resumed said yesterday. President Barack Obama. in Ethiopia yesterday, media- The May 2010 Israeli assault The amount of compensation to tors said, urging both sides to on the Turkish ship the Mavi be paid was believed to be among return to a moribund ceasefire Marmara while it was in inter- the sticking points. agreement. national waters on its way to Gaza In February, Israel’s Haaretz The talks, mediated by regional triggered a severe diplomatic cri- newspaper reported that Israel bloc IGAD, are aimed at ending sis between the two countries. had offered $20m in compensa- the three-month-old conflict and “We have received a final agree- tion to the families of those killed forging a lasting political solu- ment document from Israel,” and wounded in the flotilla raid. tion between the government of Turkish Deputy Prime Minister The local elections on Sunday President Salva Kiir and former Bulent Arinc was quoted as saying are seen as a test of the popularity vice President and now rebel by Hurriyet newspaper’s website. of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip leader Riek Machar. He said that after next Sunday’s Erdogan, who has been battling “The IGAD special envoys are local elections, “our first job will a damaging corruption scandal in consultation with the parties be making sure the compensation engulfing his inner circle since on the conduct of a political dia- A protest against executions and human rights violations in Iran on a square near the Nuclear Security Summit is bound by a legal document”. mid-December. AFP logue towards national recon- in The Hague yesterday. ciliation and healing,” mediators said in a statement. The violence, which has killed thousands and displaced nearly one million people, has persisted despite a Turks find innovative ways to skirt Erdogan’s Twitter ban ceasefire signed by both sides in January with clashes continu- ing in recent days in the oil-rich ANKARA: Prime Minister forays into insubordination: to block it in Turkey, triggered “The question is, what will online Apple and Android soft- Upper Nile state. Recep Tayyip Erdogan rails Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek denunciations from European the government do next? I don’t ware stores. Downloads of the IGAD condemned both sides against Twitter as part of a plot tweeted a smiley face and officials and the US government, think they will be able to block VPN software Hotspot soared to for the “flagrant” violation of the to blacken him and portray his acknowledged using a technologi- which spoke of “21st century book 100 percent, there will always be more than a million in 72 hours ceasefire agreement, and said it Turkey as corrupt; but Turks in cal ruse after Erdogan ordered burning”. a way around the censorship, (it’s) from 10,000 a day before the ban, reiterated its call “on the sig- growing numbers are exploring Twitter to be blocked. The move seemed to backfire whether they can make it difficult according to a tweet from David natory parties to immediately ever more innovative ways to The microblogging site has fast. Internet analysts reported a enough that users just give up,” Gorodyansky, CEO of the com- adhere to the cessation of hostil- beat his ban in what has become been a vehicle for a stream of surge in tweets as “workarounds” Sandvik said. pany behind the programme. ities agreement,” the statement a cyber-battle of wits. anonymously posted audio tapes were shared on social media. Initially, many people delved The use of TOR software has said. The fighting has taken on an Last week, few Turks were purporting to expose corrupt “It sort of seemed it wasn’t very into their computers’ settings to also surged. TOR makes web ethnic dimension, with members conversant with technical terms dealings by family members and well thought-out. There would change the DNS or Domain Name surfers invisible and was widely of Kiir’s Dinka tribe and Machar’s such as VPN or DNS, but that businessmen. Erdogan, facing have been better ways of blocking System — effectively sending their used in the Middle East during Nuer tribe fighting each other. has all changed now, in the pur- important local elections next Twitter,” Runa Sandvik, a tech- traffic via different servers not the Arab Spring, as governments Last week, the European Union suit of the forbidden. In a nod to Sunday, accuses US-based Islamic nologist at the US based Center initially subject to the ban. When cracked down on protests. and the United States threatened old-style political protest, “worka- cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former for Democracy and Technology the government caught on and Nevertheless, the number of sanctions for both sides if they fail rounds” are even daubed on walls ally turned chief political oppo- (CDT), told Reuters. blocked Twitter’s website directly, Turkish language tweets has to progress with peace talks and in Turkey’s major cities. nent, of hacking secret state com- But over the weekend, authori- people turned to other technology dropped sharply from Thursday’s stick to the ceasefire deal. Cartoons of Erdogan pointing munications, then manipulating ties in Ankara began closing loop- to dodge the ban. peak, according to data pro- Observers have warned of a a shotgun at a blue bird, the logo recordings to smear him. holes, triggering what Sandvik VPN software — which cir- vided by Semiocast Analytics deepening humanitarian crisis in of the social networking site, are Erdogan’s declaration last week calls a “censorship arms race”, cumvents web-address-based and quoted in MIT Technology the region. circulating widely. that he would root out Twitter, with users constantly shifting to bans — skyrocketed to the of top Review. AFP Even allies have made rare and the subsequent attempt different technology. free download lists in Turkey’s REUTERS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Ukraine sacks Russia is a regional power: Obama defence minister over Crimea Moscow’s actions in Ukraine an expression of vulnerability rather than strength: President KIEV: Ukraine’s parliament sacked the crisis-hit country’s THE HAGUE: US President of a nuclear weapon going off in besieged defence minister yes- Barack Obama has described Manhattan,” the president said, terday after his forces began a Russia as no more than a pointing out that was why he humiliating withdrawal from “regional power” whose actions had begun a series of bi-annual Crimea without firing a shot in Ukraine are an expression of summits aimed at improving the against Russian forces who weakness rather than strength, security of weapons-grade fissile claimed the Black Sea peninsula. as he restated the threat from the material stocks around the world. Crimea’s effective loss — though G7 western allies and Japan that In his remarks in The Hague, recognised by no Western power they would inflict much broader Obama said that he did not — has dealt a heavy psychologi- sanctions if President Vladimir think that the Russian leader- cal blow to many Ukrainians who Putin went beyond annexation ship, which has massed troops have already spent the past years of Crimea and moved troops into on Ukraine’s eastern border, had mired in corruption and economic eastern Ukraine. made a decision yet over whether malaise. Speaking at the end of a sum- to invade that part of the country. Ukraine’s ground command- mit on nuclear security in The “If they stay on Russian soil, ers in Crimea had complained Hague, Obama rejected the sug- they pose what appears to be bitterly of confusion among the gestion made by Mitt Romney an effort of intimidation, but top brass in Kiev since Russian – his Republican challenger in Russia has the right legally to President Vladimir Putin’s deci- the last president election – that have its troops on its own soil. I sion on March 1 to seek the right Russia was the United States’ don’t think it’s a done deal,” the to use force against his neighbour principal geopolitical foe. The president said. He added that in response to last month’s fall in president said he was consider- he thought Moscow was “mak- Kiev of a pro-Kremlin regime. ably more concerned about the ing a series of calculations” and Some 228 deputies in the 450- threat of a terrorist nuclear bomb that those calculations would be seat Verkhovna Rada parliament attack on New York. affected by how the US and the supported Igor Tenyukh’s dismissal He said that the US was com- international community respond. after the acting defence minister mitted to the defence of its Nato He adamantly rejected Russian tendered his resignation in an allies but that for non-member justification for the invasion and FROM LEFT: South Korean President Park Geun-hye, US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister emotional address broadcast live states along Russia’s borders, annexation of Crimea on the Shinzo Abe hold a trilateral meeting at the US ambassador’s residence in The Hague yesterday after they attended to the nation of 46 million peo- Washington and the rest of the grounds that Russian speakers the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). ple. “It seems that the actions international community would were under threat, and rejected of the interim defence minister use non-military pressure to Moscow’s comparisons to Kosovo, in the Autonomous Republic of counter Russian encroachment. whose declaration of independ- Crimea... have displeased some,” Obama said he would not guess ence – a decade after the start 35 nations sign up to tougher said Tenyukh. “I have never clung at Putin’s motivation, but his of a Serbian campaign of ethnic on to my job, and I don’t intend to remarks appeared to confront cleansing of its ethnic-Albanian do so now,” he said. “I have honour.” one of the apparent aims behind majority – was recognised by Tenyukh also admitted that the Russian leader’s actions so western capitals. nuclear security standards 14,500 of Ukraine’s 18,800 sol- far in Crimea – to restore the “There has been no evidence diers in Crimea had informed superpower status and prestige that Russian speakers have been THE HAGUE: Thirty-five consequences of even a single or exceed” the standards set out in their superiors that they would Moscow once enjoyed as the capi- in any way threatened,” Obama countries pledged yesterday to attack, we cannot afford to be com- a series of guidelines laid down by prefer to remain on the peninsula tal of the Soviet Union. said. “When I hear analogies to step up nuclear security, backing placent,” he stressed. the International Atomic Energy as part of the Russian military “Russia is a regional power that Kosovo, where you had thousands a global drive spearheaded by US Dutch Prime Minister Mark Agency (IAEA) to safeguard — a massive majority that under- is threatening some of its immedi- of people who were being slaugh- President Barack Obama to pre- Rutte, hosting the talks, said that nuclear materials. These are the scores the demoralised state of ate neighbours, not out of strength tered by their government, it’s a vent dangerous materials falling “major steps” had been taken in “closest things we have to inter- Kiev’s force. but out of weakness,” Obama said. comparison that makes absolutely into the hands of terrorists. terms of the three main goals of the national standards for nuclear Deputies then voted to appoint The US also has influence over its no sense.” “I think it is important Wrapping up the third biennial summit: reducing the amount of security”, US Energy Secretary Lieutenant General Mykhailo neighbours, he added. “We gener- for everybody to be clear and strip Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), dangerous nuclear material; improv- Ernest Moniz told reporters as he Koval as the new acting defence ally don’t need to invade them in away some of the possible excuses which gathered together 53 coun- ing the security around this material presented the pledge. minister after his name was sub- order to have a strong coopera- for potential Russian action.” tries, Obama urged world leaders and bolstering international coop- But experts cautioned that the mitted for approval by interim tive relationship with them. The The president acknowledged to work closer together to stop eration on the nuclear issue. deal lacked teeth without the agree- President Oleksandr Turchynov. fact that Russia felt it had to go in that the broad sanctions on the nuclear terrorism that he dubbed And in a joint statement unveiled ment of other powers with large Meanwhile, Russian television militarily and lay bare these viola- energy, finance, and arms-export “the most immediate and extreme with much fanfare on the sidelines nuclear stockpiles. “The absence of aired what it claimed was a tape of tions of international law indicates sectors of the Russian economy, threat to global security”. of the NSS, 35 of the 53 countries Russia, China, Pakistan and India former Ukrainian premier Yulia less influence, not more,” the US threatened by the G7 in the event “It is important for us not to pledged to work closer together — all nuclear weapons states with Tymoshenko urging the “wiping President said. of further territorial expansion relax but rather accelerate our and submit to “peer reviews peri- large amounts of nuclear material out” of Russians over the seizure “Russian actions are a prob- by Moscow, would also have an efforts over the next two years, odically” of their sensitive nuclear — as well as others, weakens the of Crimea. Tymoshenko admitted lem. They don’t pose the number impact on the West, but he vowed sustain momentum so that we security regimes. initiative’s impact,” said the Fissile that her voice was on the tape but one security threat to the United that the impact on Russia would finish strong in 2016”, said the US The nations — including Israel, Materials Working Group, a collec- insisted that her comments had States. I remain much more be far worst. leader, when he will host a return Kazakhstan, Morocco and Turkey tion of more than 70 experts on the been manipulated. concerned about the prospect THE GUARDIAN meeting. “Given the catastrophic but not Russia — vowed to “realise nuclear issue. AFP AFP

Snow in Poland German airports West African nations in bid to be hit by to contain Ebola outbreak

strike tomorrow MONROVIA/CONAKRY: to those of the people in Guinea,” West African nations scram- Dahn said. “Those people had the FRANKFURT: Passengers at bled yesterday to contain an sickness and crossed over into German airports face lengthy outbreak of the deadly Ebola Liberia’s Lofa county for treat- delays tomorrow after trade virus suspected to have killed ment. Five died.” union Verdi called for a strike at least 59 in Guinea, with peo- Samples taken from those who by ground staff as part of wider ple presenting symptoms of the died in Liberia had been sent industrial action over public disease reported in neighbour- to Conakry for testing, accord- sector pay. ing Sierra Leone and Liberia. ing to the Geneva-based WHO. Verdi called on ground staff, Health authorities in Liberia In Guinea, authorities have baggage handlers and main- said five out of six people who taken steps to quarantine sus- tenance staff at almost all of crossed the border from Guinea pected cases in the districts of Germany’s big airports to strike to seek treatment and showed Guekedou, Macenta, Nzerekore during the morning shift tomor- symptoms of the fever had died. and Kissidougou. row, which runs until 1300 GMT. Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer In Sierra Leone, authorities set The airport strike is part of Bernice Dahn said it was not up a taskforce after the death of a wider industrial action by public confirmed if the cases were Ebola, 14-year-old boy who had attended sector workers, including those one of the most lethal infectious the funeral of a suspected Ebola driving local transport or running diseases known to humans, and victim. Authorities are yet to con- child-care centres, after public tests were being carried out. firm if the boy died of the disease. A man shovels snow in the lower Silesia region in Sudety mountains, in Kowary, south-west Poland, yesterday. sector pay talks failed to produce The World Health Organisation Sierra Leone was receiving According to weather reports, about 40cm of snow fell in Kowary. any sign of a deal. (WHO) said a total of 86 sus- help from the WHO and the US Lufthansa said it expected sig- pected cases, including 59 deaths, firm Metabiota, which investi- nificant disruption and would had been reported in southeast- gates infectious disease threats, announce information on poten- ern Guinea near the border said Chief Medical Officer Brima tial flight cancellations and alter- with Sierra Leone and Liberia. Kargbo. Initial reports indicated native travel arrangements on Laboratory tests have confirmed a Canadian who showed Ebola- Pistorius ‘likely’ to testify on Friday Wednesday. Verdi represents 13 cases of Ebola in Guinea so far, like symptoms after travelling to around 6,000 public sector airport the first outbreak of the disease West Africa had tested negative workers in Frankfurt, Europe’s in West Africa. for the virus, WHO spokesman PRETORIA: Oscar Pistorius defence requested the break in gunshots on the night she was third-largest hub. Lufthansa said it “The patients we have seen Tarik Jasarevic told reporters. will “likely” take the stand the proceedings to consult wit- killed. Other witnesses depicted would have to cancel a majority of thus far have similar symptoms REUTERS on Friday as his defence team nesses not called by the state. the sprinter as hot-headed and its flights from Frankfurt if many launches its bid to clear him of Yesterday, Pistorius’s law- gun obsessed, with two friends workers took part in the action. murdering his girlfriend Reeva yer Barry Roux argued that the and an ex-girlfriend telling the “Verdi is once again ensuring Steenkamp, his lawyer said. sprinter had a loving relationship court Pistorius fired a gun from that a third party that is not part The court adjourned for two with Steenkamp whom he admits a moving car and in a restaurant of the pay dispute, will be hit by days yesterday after prosecutor to shooting dead in the early for which he asked a friend to the strike,” it said. Spain’s Suarez laid to rest Gerrie Nel said the state, which hours of Valentine’s Day last year. take the blame. The strike will affect Cologne- accuses Pistorius of pre-medi- The state argues that the Based on the 29-year-old Bonn, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, MADRID: Tens of thousands of people bade farewell yesterday to tated murder, had completed its Paralympian gold medallist killed Steenkamp’s wounds, a police Hanover and Stuttgart airports, Adolfo Suarez, the statesman who led Spain to democracy after the case in the fourth week of the his girlfriend after an argument, ballistics expert testified that she as well as Munich and Frankfurt. Franco dictatorship, as his coffin was borne through the streets of highly-publicised trial. firing at her four times through a was likely to have been standing Trade unions want pay rises Madrid before his burial. Pistorius’s lawyer Brian locked toilet door at his Pretoria and facing the locked toilet door of 3.5 percent and an extra ¤100 Mourners applauded and took pictures as a horse-drawn gun carriage Webber said that Paralympian home in an upmarket gated estate. when the first shot fractured her ($140) per month for some 2.1 transported the flag-drapped casket from parliament where it had been sprinter would “likely” take the Pistorius has said the shoot- hip bone. million federal and municipal lying in state to Cibeles Square to a solemn drum beat. Some wept quietly stand right at the start of the ing was a tragic accident that One of the next three hit her public sector workers. That would as the funeral cortege passed. “He means a lot to me because he united defence’s case. “I don’t think we occurred after he mistook head. The state has argued that amount to a total increase of 6.7 Spaniards after 40 years of dictatorship,” said Maria Fraile Sanchez Rubio, have a choice, it’s a question of Steenkamp for an intruder, and she would have had time to scream percent, they say. While the gov- a 62-year-old Madrid housewife at the funeral procession. when,” he said, although Kenny that he bashed through the toilet after a first, non-lethal shot—and ernment accepts there will be a Suarez, Spain’s first elected premier after the death of dictator Oldwage, another defence lawyer, door to reach her. therefore that Pistorius must have pay increase, it is unwilling to Francisco Franco in 1975, died in a Madrid hospital on Sunday aged was more circumspect, saying Several neighbours called to known it was her behind the door meet the demands by the Verdi 81. He had been admitted on March 17 with pneumonia and had suf- “we’ll see about that”. the stand testified to hearing a when he fired the gun again. and dbb trade unions. fered from Alzheimer’s disease for the past decade. The 27-year-old athlete’s woman’s terrified screams and AFP REUTERS AFP WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL US proposes to No trace of the missing in US mudslide

ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON: Rescue workers combed through muck end NSA bulk and rubble yesterday left by a devastating weekend mudslide in Washington state that killed at least 14 people and left scores data collection more missing, and authorities said they expected the death toll to rise through the day. Even as hopes dwindled of Data wouldn’t be stored with govt plucking anyone else out alive, about a dozen workers searched WASHINGTON: The White reports in the New York Times overnight for as many as 176 House has proposed to halt the and Washington Post that a people reported missing since National Security Agency’s con- major reform of data collection a rain-soaked hillside collapsed troversial bulk telephone data by US intelligence agencies was on Saturday, swallowing dozens collection of Americans, a pro- imminent. of homes near Oso, Snohomish gramme which sparked a vast The Times reported that the County Executive John Lovick public outcry. records would stay in the hands said. Compounding the sense of The plan would store the data of phone companies, which would urgency was a fear of flooding as outside of government while not be required to retain the data water levels rose behind a crude allowing access for national secu- for any longer than they normally dam of mud and rubble that had rity reasons, officials said. would, and that the NSA would been dumped into the North Fork President Barack Obama — in obtain specific records with per- of the Stillaguamish River by The Hague for a nuclear security mission from a judge, using a new the slide in an area along State summit — called the plan “worka- kind of court order. Route 530, about 90km north- ble” and said it “addresses the two A trove of documents leaked east of Seattle in the Pacific core concerns that people have” by fugitive former NSA contrac- Northwest state. about the NSA’s surveillance. tor Edward Snowden sparked With no change overnight in The president also told a outrage in the United States the number of people missing, Search and rescue workers set up along a flooded portion of Highway 530 down the road from a massive landslide press conference that the reform and abroad about the vast capa- local fire chief Travis Hots said outside Darrington in Washington state yesterday. “ensures that the government bilities of America’s intelligence he expected the fatality count to is not in possession of that programmes. rise throughout the day. bulk data.” Officials have defended the “The operational plan for the I believe people can survive on the pile, and they’re up there asking Americans to “send their Obama said there were “clear methods as necessary to thwart day is going to be challenging. these events,” John Pennington, working independently on their thoughts and prayers” to those safeguards” against any abuse of terror attacks but US public opin- The weather’s changed and we’ve Snohomish County’s director of own,” he said. affected by the disaster. the NSA’s authority but added: “I ion was shocked by the extent of got some rain coming in. That’s emergency management, told Search crews and volunteers “We hope for the best, but we recognise that people were con- the NSA’s activities on home soil. going to make it even more chal- reporters. were “dealing with devastation” recognise this is a tough situa- cerned about what might happen James Lewis, a senior fellow lenging for our folks that are But after three days, the opera- on the ground, said Pennington, tion,” he said. in the future with that bulk data.” who follows national security on the ground there,” Hots told tion was shifting from a rescue the emergency management The president also called “So, overall, I am confident that at the Center for Strategic and reporters. operation to a recovery mission, director, noting they cannot use Washington Governor Jay Inslee it allows us to do what is neces- International Studies, said the The disaster ranks as one of the officials said. Rescuers failed to heavy equipment because of the yesterday to discuss the mud- sary in order to deal with the dan- Obama proposal appeared to deadliest US landslides in recent locate any more people in the rub- conditions and must work by slide, Inslee’s office said. House gers from a terrorist attack, but be “a cosmetic change” to NSA years, since 10 people died when ble by early yesterday. hand. President Barack Obama, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi does so in a way that addresses authority. falling earth engulfed homes in Hots said authorities were also who was in Europe for a meet- said on Twitter, “Grateful for first some of the concerns that people “This will pacify domestic crit- the coastal community of La turning back many volunteers due ing with world leaders, signed an responders who continue search had raised,” he said. ics, but we don’t know how it will Conchita, California in 2005. to unstable ground conditions and emergency declaration ordering & rescue efforts.” A senior administration offi- play overseas,” Lewis told AFP. Authorities said they were hop- fears of another landslide that US government assistance to Meanwhile, a 22-week-old baby cial said earlier that Obama had “If it’s done right, there will be ing the number of people listed could sweep away people search- supplement state and local relief hurt in the slide remained in considered the results of a study no impact on national security.” as missing would decline as some ing the mud and debris. More efforts, the White House said. critical condition at Harborview he ordered in January into how Elizabeth Goitein, co-director may have been double-counted or than 100 properties were hit by Speaking at The Hague, where Medical Center in Seattle after the NSA could protect national of the Brennan Center for Justice were slow to alert family and offi- the mudslide. he was attending a summit, being taken there by helicopter interests without storing citizens’ at New York University, welcomed cials of their whereabouts. Eight “The last thing that we want Obama began a news conference along with his mother, who also private data. the news. people were injured. to have happen is people showing yesterday by addressing the dis- was hurt, the hospital said. The comments came after AFP “I believe in miracles and up in their cars and sneaking up aster in Washington state and REUTERS

Venezuela Brooks’ ex-PA says not rewarded for hiding boss’ notes arrests three LONDON: Rebekah Brooks’s illegally intercept voicemails on two co-accused “stand or fall the paper’s closure, but because use shorthand. She also received former personal assistant mobile phones and authorising together”. “If you convict one, you she said she believed they needed £7,000 for her weekly Sun arti- generals for denied yesterday that her illegal payments to public officials. are obliged to convict the other,” to withdraw material from the cles, although she told the court “beloved boss” had paid for They and five others on trial he said. archive before it was moved to a she did not want a lot of money flights for her and her family to deny all charges. On July 8, 2011, the day after new location. because she felt “privileged” to anti-govt plot Australia as a reward for dis- Carter’s lawyer Trevor Burke it was announced that the News Carter, who wrote a weekly be writing for the paper. Carter posing of evidence that might told London’s Old Bailey court of the World would close amid article about beauty for the Sun, also told the court her family had CARACAS: Venezuela has incriminate the ex-News Corp. that Brooks and her PA were revelations its journalists had told the court that the boxes held planned to emigrate to Australia arrested three air force gen- executive over phone-hacking. “like sisters” having worked hacked the phone of a murdered few of Brooks’s possessions and but she had kept this from Brooks erals suspected of plotting an Prosecutors say Cheryl Carter, together for years as Brooks rose schoolgirl, Carter withdrew seven mainly contained scrapbooks with until they had both left the com- uprising against the leftist 49, removed seven boxes of to become editor of the Sun and boxes from the company archives cuttings of her Sun articles and pany at the end of July 2011. government, President Nicolas notebooks belonging to Brooks, News of the World titles and then that were marked as containing other magazine beauty features, After she broke the news, Maduro said yesterday. who ran Rupert Murdoch’s News International’s CEO. Brooks’s notebooks from 1995 to as well as course work for her col- Brooks agreed to pay the cost of Maduro told a meeting of South British newspaper arm News “They adored each other. They 2007. The boxes were withdrawn lege studies on the subject. the flights. Asked by Burke if this American foreign ministers that International, and destroyed had been shoulder to shoulder on the same day her request to do The court heard Carter was a reward for disposing of the the three generals, who were not them as a phone-hacking scandal for 16 years,” Burke told the jury. so was submitted to the archivist received a £17,000 pay rise, taking boxes, she said: “I can say that it identified, had been in contact engulfed the company in July 2011. “You can cross-examine Cheryl but Burke told the court she had her salary to £66,000 ($108,900) wasn’t. She just wanted to thank with the opposition and “were Brooks and Carter are on trial Carter for three weeks if you like not put him under pressure to a year, when she followed Brooks me for 16 or 17 years I worked trying to rise up against the legit- accused of conspiracy to pervert and she will not say a bad word “protect her beloved boss”. to her new CEO position, even for her.” imately constituted government.” the course of justice while Brooks about Rebekah Brooks.” The reason to remove them though she had no formal sec- The trial continues. “This group that was captured also faces charges of conspiracy to Burke told the jury the was “absolutely not” to do with retarial training and did not REUTERS has direct links with sectors of the opposition and they were say- ing that this week was the deci- sive week,” Maduro said. Oil spill in Texas He said the generals had US court signals already been summoned before Too many tremors a court martial, adding that the plot was discovered because other support for firms’ officers had come forward to say they were being recruited. religious claims create fear in Chile The disclosure comes amid a broadening government crack- SANTIAGO: An unusually large 300 tremors since the quake were down against Maduro’s opponents WASHINGTON: The US number of tremors following a strong enough to be felt by resi- after weeks of street protests that Supreme Court appeared recent earthquake in northern dents, according to experts. None have left at least 34 dead. poised yesterday to open the Chile has unnerved local resi- have been large enough to cause On Monday, National Assembly door to companies’ religious- dents — emptying beaches, push- damage, although a 6.1 tremor president Diosdado Cabello based objections to government ing up sales of emergency rations, over the weekend caused an elec- announced that a prominent regulations as justices weighed and raising concerns about what tricity outage. opposition deputy, Maria Corina whether business owners can may lie ahead for the copper-pro- Iquique is one of the chief ports Machado, had lost her seat and object to part of President ducing area. responsible for exporting copper parliamentary immunity, and Barack Obama’s healthcare law. Living in one of the world’s from Chile, serving an arid region could be arrested at any moment. It was unclear whether the most earthquake-prone zones, that is home to many of the coun- At a news conference in Lima, companies objecting to the regu- Chileans are accustomed to try’s top copper mines — includ- a defiant Machado said she would lation requiring them to provide the regular tremors that ripple ing Glencore Xstrata and Anglo return to Caracas today, adding she insurance coverage that includes through their country, which has American’s massive Collahuasi — feared she would be arrested on her contraception would win overall, strict quake-proof regulations for as well as significant reserves of arrival. She said she was return- but a majority of the nine justices construction. lithium, used in batteries. ing “because I am a Venezuelan seemed ready to rule that compa- But the far northern region of Local media reported that sales deputy and I will enter Venezuela nies had the same religious rights Tarapaca has undergone an unu- of emergency kits, batteries and as such to continue fighting in to object as individuals do. sually high number of tremors tents had risen in the area, while the streets without rest until we In one of the biggest cases of the in a small area around the port beach hotels and restaurants achieve democracy and freedom.” year, the court heard an extended towns of Iquique and Pisagua reported a drop in visitors as fears Machado angered the gov- 90-minute oral argument, 30 min- since a relatively strong magni- of a tsunami kept people away. ernment by going before the utes more than usual. A ruling is tude 6.7 tremor hit on March 16. “At this time we have reinforced Organization of American States expected by the end of June. “This is already unusual,” seismic monitoring in the entire last week as a guest of Panama The dozens of companies said Mario Pardo, a director at northern zone,” said Jean-Marie to discuss the crisis in Venezuela. involved in the litigation do not all the University of Chile’s seismic Walker, an official at emergency Panama’s representative to the oppose every type of birth control. center, yesterday. “There are too office Onemi. OAS, Arturo Vallarino, said the Workers of Garner Environmental Services clean up oil at East Beach Some object only to emergency many aftershocks to be only asso- Iquique is located in a so- move to take away Machado’s on the Houston Ship Channel yesterday in Galveston, Texas, United contraceptive methods, such ciated with the 6.7 quake.” called ‘seismic gap’. Stress builds seat was “proof of the arbi- States. Over 160,000 gallons of oil spilled from a barge on March 22 as the so-called morning-after “This is an anomaly that has up where tectonic plates rub up trary acts being committed in pill, which they view as akin to been extensive in terms of time against each other, and if there is in Galveston Bay, closing the 50-mile Houston Ship Channel. Venezuela.” abortion. and persistent in terms of mag- no quake to release the tension, AFP REUTERS nitude.” Over 40 of the more than the stress increases. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Taiwan’s Ma Angry kin storm Malaysia mission agrees to meet Chinese relatives throw bottles, clash with police in Beijing; bad weather halts MH370 search protesters TAIPEI: Taiwan’s president BEIJING/KUALA means to pursue the unforgivable yesterday offered to talk with LUMPUR: Dozens of angry crimes and responsibility of all protest leaders in a concession relatives of passengers on a three,” said the statement on the to student demonstrators who lost Malaysian jetliner clashed microblog of the Malaysia Airlines have occupied parliament for with police in Beijing yesterday, MH370 Family Committee. the past week to stop the gov- accusing the Southeast Asian The relatives protesting in ernment from ratifying a con- country of “delays and decep- Beijing held signs that said: tentious trade agreement with tion” a day after it confirmed “MH370, Don’t let us wait too China. The invite was appar- the plane crashed in remote long!” They wore matching ently aimed at preventing any seas off Australia. T-shirts that said: “Best of luck further escalation after more About 20 to 30 protesters threw to MH370, return home safely.” than 100 people were injured water bottles at the Malaysian “How long are we supposed to on Monday when police used embassy and tried to storm the hang on?” a woman surnamed water cannon to disperse hun- building, demanding to meet the Zhang said. The protest ended dreds of protesters who had ambassador. Earlier, the relatives, after a few hours, when police also stormed the nearby gov- many with tear-stained faces, told protesters to get on buses ernment headquarters. “As had linked arms and chanted and escorted them away. the continued paralysing of “Malaysian government has Criticism of the Malaysian parliament has impacted the cheated us” and “Malaysia, return national carrier mounted after operation of parliament and our relatives” as they marched some relatives of those on board government, President Ma peacefully and held banners. first received the news that the Ying-jeou is willing to invite The relatives’ grief and anger search for survivors was over in student leaders to the presi- was unleashed on Monday night an SMS from the airline, which dential office to discuss the after Malaysian Prime Minister said: “We have to assume beyond service trade agreement... so Najib Razak announced that all reasonable doubt that MH370 as to help parliament resume Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, has been lost and none of those operation,” Ma’s spokes- which vanished more than two on board survived.” woman Li Jia-fei said. It was weeks ago while flying to Beijing Company officials defended the not immediately clear if the from Kuala Lumpur, had crashed move, saying the text message had student protesters, who had in the southern Indian Ocean. only been sent as a “last resort” to demanded a meeting with Bad weather in the region far ensure that some relatives did not A relative (centre) of passengers on missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 yells at a security personnel while she Ma, would accept the invite. off Australia’s western coast yes- hear the news first from media. Premier Jiang Yi-huah on attends a protest outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing yesterday. terday forced the suspension of REUTERS Saturday met with the dem- the search for any wreckage, just onstrators outside parliament, as a series of satellite images and but they did not reach any other sightings of floating objects agreement. had raised hopes that debris from Mystery of plane ‘may never be solved’ the plane would be found. Dhaka eyes ban Malaysia’s confused initial KUALA LUMPUR: Even if searchers are plane’s demise. That means potentially crucial theories circulating. British aviation expert response to the Boeing 777’s dis- able to miraculously pluck Malaysia Airlines exchanges surrounding the initial diversion, Chris Yates said that even if the black boxes of Islamic party appearance and a perception of flight 370’s “black box” from the depths of the which took place halfway between Malaysia are found, “it seems unlikely that we will get poor communications has enraged vast Indian Ocean, experts say it may not and Vietnam, will be lost. that answer” of why the plane ended up thou- DHAKA: Bangladesh war many relatives of the more than solve one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. “Clearly, it won’t reveal anything that hap- sands of kilometres off course. crimes investigators moved 150 Chinese passengers and Planes, ships and state-of-the-art tracking pened over the Gulf of Thailand — this will “We still have no idea as to the mental state yesterday to outlaw the coun- strained ties between Beijing and equipment are hunting for any trace of the have been overwritten by the end of MH370,” of the pilot and co-pilot, we have no idea if try’s largest Islamic party, Kuala Lumpur. passenger jet, which Malaysia said crashed in it said. Leeham added that it also remains somebody managed to get into the cockpit to accusing it of genocide and After Najib’s announcement, the forbidding waters after veering far from to be seen whether the cockpit recorder will seize the aircraft, and we’ve certainly had no other atrocities during the 1971 Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister its intended course. contain anything pertinent about the plane’s admissions of responsibility since this whole bloody struggle for independ- Xie Hangsheng demanded They face a huge challenge locating the final two hours, when it is believed to have episode started,” he told BBC television. “It is ence. Government investiga- Malaysia hand over all relevant Boeing 777’s “black box”, which holds vital either ditched or run out of fuel. a mystery like no other.” tors handed a report detailing satellite analysis showing how clues to determining what caused the plane Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Debris has been sighted far off Australia’s war crimes allegations against Malaysia had reached its conclu- to vanish after it took off from Kuala Lumpur Monday that Flight MH370 had gone down in west coast but an international search effort Jamaat-e-Islami to prosecutors, sion about the fate of the jet. en route to Beijing on March 8. the Indian Ocean with its 239 passengers and has been unable to retrieve any for confirma- in the latest move against the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said But experts believe the flight data recorder crew, citing new satellite data analysis. But tion, and wreckage could have drifted hundreds party which has banned from China would ask Malaysia to pro- and cockpit voice recorder may not yield its exact location and the circumstances of its of kilometres from where the plane crashed. contesting January elections. vide more detailed and accurate answers on the riddle of how and why the diversion remain a mystery. No distress signal The batteries powering the locator signal “We want total dissolution of information on the plane. Chinese plane diverted an hour into the flight, and was ever received. of the black boxes will run out in less than the party,” the government’s President Xi Jinping will send a embarked on a baffling journey to the southern Three scenarios have gained particular two weeks. chief war crimes investiga- special envoy to Kuala Lumpur to reaches of the Indian Ocean. traction: Hijacking, pilot sabotage, or a sud- Paul Yap, an aviation lecturer at Singapore’s tor Abdul Hannan Khan said. consult with the Malaysian govern- The data recorder details the aircraft’s path den mid-air crisis that incapacitated flight Temasek Polytechnic, said that if the black box “Jamaat and its wings took ment, state agency Xinhua said. and other mechanical information for the crew and left the plane to fly on auto-pilot for is not found, “chances are we are never going the decision to act as auxiliary A group reportedly represent- flight’s duration, and “should provide a wealth several hours until it ran out of fuel. Malaysia to find out what really happened”. forces of the Pakistani army ing families issued a statement of information”, US-based aviation consul- has said it believes the plane was deliberately “With the new satellite data, I think we in committing atrocities in the describing the Malaysian airline, tancy firm Leeham Co said in a commentary. diverted by someone on board. can say it is a chessboard,” he said of the wide 1971 war. So the party cannot government and military as “exe- But the cockpit voice recorder — which But with the travelling public and avia- search area. “The question now is to find avoid its superior responsibili- cutioners” who constantly tried to could reveal what decisions were made by tion industry hanging on every twist in the which grid on that chessboard to focus on, ties,” Hannan said. delay and deceive them. those at the helm and why — retains only the drama, no firm evidence has emerged from a where the black boxes are.” AGENCIES “We will take every possible last two hours of conversations before the Malaysian investigation to support any of the AFP Top award for Japan architect Two workers killed after 56-storey plunge in HK

HONG KONG: Two construction workers in Hong Kong plunged 56 storeys to their deaths yesterday, fire authorities said, after the scaffolding they stood upon snapped in two. The accident took place as the pair renovated a residential building in the upscale Mid-Levels neighbourhood of the former British colony, one of the world’s most vertical cities known for its strong safety record. “When fire officers arrived, the gondola (suspended scaffolding) at the 56th floor was broken. Half of it had fallen to a platform around five or six storeys from the floor,” a Hong Kong Fire Services Department spokesman said. He confirmed that there was one male and one female victim, but had no other informa- tion about their identities. “We located one dead person on Japanese architect Shigeru Ban in his office in Paris. Ban, who uses the platform and the other person was found dead at a drain cardboard tubes to make temporary housing for victims of natural nearby,” he said, adding that a man on the ground sustained disasters and refugees fleeing violence, has won his field’s highest injuries to his hands when struck by falling debris. Hong Kong police said they are investigating the incident. AFP honour, the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

San Miguel proposes Manila-MILF peace deal tomorrow $10bn second MANILA: The Philippine government ancestral homeland. Tens of thousands and Muslim rebels will sign a pact tomor- of people have died in the conflict, while airport in Manila row to end one of Asia’s longest and dead- Mindanao has become one of the poorest liest insurgencies, but both sides caution and most corrupt regions in the Philippines. MANILA: San Miguel Corp, the much work needs to be done to secure a The MILF, which the military estimates Philippines’ most diversified conglomer- lasting peace. has about 10,000 fighters, is the biggest ate, is planning to present a proposal to Following 17 years of negotiations, Moro remaining rebel group yet to sign a peace the government soon to build a $10bn air- Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders accord. Philippine leader Benigno Aquino port in the capital, its president said. will sign the peace deal in exchange for and MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim will Ramon Ang confirmed a Nikkei report control of a planned autonomous region oversee the signing of the peace deal dur- that the company was set to present its plan in the impoverished south of the mainly ing a ceremony at the presidential palace for an alternative international airport in Catholic nation. in Manila. The pact will see the two sides Manila next month. The group announced “For many years we have been leading become partners in seeking to implement last year its intention to build a new facil- the Bangsamoro people’s struggle and our the peace deal. ity to complement the ageing Ninoy Aquino people have gone through a lot of hard- The MILF chiefs would eventually order International Airport (NAIA). It delayed the ships,” MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar their men to give up their arms while plan pending questions on state policy on said, using a local term for the Philippines’ themselves becoming politicians leading airline companies operating airports. Muslim minority . “This agreement is very the autonomous region. The autonomous Any unsolicited infrastructure project pro- important to us because this ends the fight- region would comprise about 10 percent of posal, like the one San Miguel is planning, is ing in Mindanao.” the Philippines’ territory, have its own police subject to government scrutiny and must first Muslim rebels have been battling for force, a regional parliament and power to be presented to President Benigno Aquino, more than four decades for independ- levy taxes. The national government would Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio ence or autonomy in the southern region retain control over defence. Abaya said. REUTERS of Mindanao, which they regard as their AFP WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 15 killed in attacks across Afghanistan Suicide bomber targets poll commission office in Kabul

KABUL: Taliban militants gate of an IEC regional office provincial governor Shuja-ul- launched a suicide attack on in Darulaman, and then sev- Mulk Jalala said, as police lined an election commission office eral other attackers entered the up to collect their pay. The in Kabul yesterday, as 15 peo- building,” Kabul police spokesman Taliban, who have led the insur- ple died in violence around Hashmat Estanakzai said. gency against Karzai’s govern- Afghanistan less than a fort- The dead included two police- ment and its foreign backers since night before the country’s presi- man and a provincial council 2001, claimed the Kabul attack in dential poll. candidate, the interior ministry a statement on their website. The insurgents have vowed a said in a statement. Five attack- On Thursday, four Taliban campaign of violence to disrupt ers were killed by security forces, gunmen stormed Kabul’s Serena the ballot on April 5, urging according to ministry spokes- hotel and shot dead nine civilians, their fighters to attack polling man Sediq Sediqqi. The attack including Agence France-Presse staff, voters and security forces was close to the home of Ashraf journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife in the run-up to election day. Ghani, who is seen as a front- and two of his three children. Five people were killed when runner in the race to succeed Ahmad’s youngest son Abuzar, the insurgents stormed an office President Hamid Karzai. two, remained in hospital yes- Afghan forces secure the area near the election commission office in Kabul yesterday. of the Independent Election The former World Bank econo- terday with serious wounds suf- Commission (IEC). mist was out of Kabul at the time, fered in the attack. His condition station in the eastern city of would damage claims by interna- and the US have been severely Five civilians were killed in campaigning in the eastern prov- was showing signs of improving, Jalalabad, killing 10 policemen. tional donors that the expensive strained over the president’s deci- a suicide bombing in northern ince of Paktia, and Ghani said on according to doctors. And last week, a suicide bomber intervention in Afghanistan has sion not to sign an agreed deal Kunduz province, while a militant Twitter that his family, who were The carnage at the Serena killed 16 people at a crowded mar- made progress in establishing a for a small US force to remain attack on a bank in eastern Kunar in the house, were safe. prompted the Organisation for ket in the northern province of functioning state. in Afghanistan from 2015 on also left five dead. The Kunduz blast came at a Security and Cooperation in Faryab. US-led Nato combat troops counter-terrorism and training In the Kabul incident, Afghan venue where another leading Europe (OSCE) to pull out a There was no claim of respon- are withdrawing from the coun- operations. security forces battled the presidential candidate, Abdullah 15-strong team that had been due sibility for that attack. Previous try after 13 years of fighting Apart from Ghani, the other attackers for more than four Abdullah, is due to hold a rally to support the Afghan authorities Afghan elections have been badly the Islamist insurgency, which leading election candidates are hours before finally quelling the today, provincial police spokes- in holding the election. marred by violence as the Islamist erupted when the Taliban were Abdullah Abdullah, who came onslaught. man Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said. The Serena attack came on militants displayed their opposi- ousted from power after the 9/11 second in 2009, and former for- “At around 11.35am a suicide Three gunmen struck in the same day that seven Taliban tion to the US-backed polls. attacks on the United States. eign minister Zalmai Rassoul. bomber blew himself up at the the attack on the Kunar bank, suicide attackers invaded a police Another bloodstained election Relations between Karzai AFP

Gulf envoy UN to cut peace-keeping operations Hopes high for release post likely for governor ISLAMABAD: With the d’Ivoire. The operations that are personnel to the peace-keeping United Nations set to downsize being down sized includes Haiti, missions. of three top hostages ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s several peace-keeping opera- Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Darfur. The UN officials also met northwestern province tions, Pakistan’s contribution However, Ladsous said new President Mamnoon Hussain and ISLAMABAD: Hopes for the critical round of dialogue with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s will also be affected. opportunities could arise with officials of the Ministry of Foreign release of three high-profile key members of the TTP advisory Governor Engineer “We are down sizing mis- planned deployment of a new bat- Affairs. The president during the hostages held by Taliban have council,” an informed source said. Shaukatullah Khan will step sions, including where Pakistan talion in Sudan. meeting reiterated Pakistan’s soared as the government nego- Aamir, who has always pre- down next week and Sardar is playing a major role,” said A statement from the office of continued commitment towards tiators hold critical talks with ferred a low key role, away from Mehtab Ahmad Khan will Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar global and regional peace and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan the public focus, had also attended replace him in the first week General for Peacekeeping Ali Khan, whom the UN official security. Talking about his inter- (TTP) any time amidst unprec- Saturday’s important session of April. Operations. He is on a three-day met, said he had declined to send actions with Pakistani officials, edented “goodwill” being of the government and TTP Shaukatullah Khan, who visit to Pakistan at the head of a policemen for peace-keeping post- Ladsous said he had “registered enjoyed by Prime Minister forums, chaired by the focal per- earlier served as federal min- three-member delegation, includ- ings. “Right now we are having a commitment and a continued Nawaz Sharif and Interior son, Interior Minister Chaudhry ister, would be assigned some ing his Pakistani adviser Lt Gen problems at home and it would commitment to UN operations.” Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Nisar Ali Khan, on his invita- important slot later. Sources Maqsood Ahmed. not be possible to spare the police The peace-keeping chief will Khan among the Taliban. tion. He was called to it at the hinted that he could be offered Pakistan is currently the largest personnel for UN assignments but meet military officials yesterday. “Leading offstage interlocutor last moment. ambassadorial assignment in troop contributor to peace-keep- the policy will be revised as soon The Foreign Office said, its offi- Maj (retd) Aamir, who figured in The source said Aamir had told a Gulf state. ing operations with 8,266 person- as situation improves,” Khan said. cials in a meeting with the UN the dissolved government com- topmost government authorities They said the decision of the nel deployed. Peace-keepers from The interior ministry said that official acknowledged the posi- mittee, will accompany the rep- that he was prepared to infor- prime minister for the change Pakistan are currently deployed Ladsous had specifically asked tive role of UN Military Observer resentatives of the Taliban and mally play any role, how petty it of governor has been con- in Western Sahara, Haiti, Congo, the interior minister for send- Group in India and Pakistan. the government as they leave might, for the “national cause.” veyed to Shaukatullah through Darfur, Kosovo, Liberia and Côte ing more Pakistani women police INTERNEWS for the undisclosed location for INTERNEWS Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Mass wedding Nine held over hotel attack KABUL: At least nine offi- cials of a private security firm were arrested by Afghan police in connection with the deadly attack on Serena hotel in Kabul. The Interior Ministry said police arrested the officials of Shield Security for investiga- tion. A Deputy Director of Operations of the firm was also among those held. The firm’s personnel were accused of neg- ligence on duty and being reck- less when terrorists entered the hotel compound last week. At least nine people, includ- ing foreigners, were killed after four militants entered the hotel compound and opened fire on guests. A journalist was also killed along with his wife and two children. AFP reporter Sardar Ahmad’s only surviving child, Abuzar, 2, left intensive care after treatment for multiple bullet wounds. Pakistani brides and grooms attending a mass wedding in Karachi yesterday. Some 115 couples tied the knot at the ceremony organised by a local charity welfare trust. 1,600 Afghans deported ISLAMABAD: About 1,600 US irked by Karzai’s Crimea view illegal Afghan refugees have been deported to Afghanistan WASHINGTON: The United a recent referendum that led that it’s the opinion of the alli- from Pakistan. States on Monday voiced to Russia’s annexation of the ance - that Russia is absolutely Refugees were handed over disagreement with Afghan Crimean region, according to in violation of international to Afghan officials on Pak- President Hamid Karzai’s a government statement cited obligations, violating the ter- Afghan Torkham boarder. decision to back Russia’s by media. ritorial integrity of Ukraine,” The refugees were arrested annexation of Crimea, a move At the Pentagon, Rear Kirby said. from different areas in Pakistan, made all the more striking by Admiral John Kirby said that The Obama administration including Punjab, Sindh and Washington’s role as a chief the comments by the Afghan and other major industrialised Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, accord- opponent to recent Russian leader, preparing to step down nations on Monday warned ing to sources. moves in Ukraine. after election next month, were Russia that it could face dam- Due to the recent terrorist Karzai, increasingly at odds “clearly not helpful.” aging economic sanctions if incidents operation has been with Western nations who “While he’s certainly enti- President Vladimir Putin takes started against illegally resi- have backed his leadership of tled to his opinion, it’s our further actions to destabilise dent Afghans as well as other Afghanistan for over a dozen opinion here in the United Ukraine following the seizure foreigners in the entire coun- years, over the weekend came States - and I believe I can of Crimea. try. AGENCIES out in support of the results of speak for us as a Nato partner, REUTERS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

Cong to release Rahul, Mamata spar on development Lok Sabha West Bengal govt following CPM: Congress leader; Rahul a fair weather friend: Trinamool chief manifesto today NEW DELHI: The Congress JALPAIGURI/SILIGURI: he said in his first visit to the Bengal government given you? “Leaders from Delhi are claim- the reasonability of the centre.” will today release its manifesto Congress Vice-President Rahul state after the announcement of When there are no proper roads, ing they have given us crores of Her tireless pleas to have them for the upcoming Lok Sabha Gandhi yesterday attacked the Lok Sabha polls. no schools, no hospitals, it’s you rupees and we never spent it. repaired have fallen on deaf ears, elections, with the document Mamata Banerjee government “Earlier there was a Communist who have to suffer. We send Shameless leaders, those who she added. reflecting the party’s thrust on in West Bengal for failing to government here... Communism crores of rupees to the Bengal never know what poverty is, those “They are behaving as if they inclusive development, party ensure development and jobs failed in Russia, (it) changed in government. It’s your money and who are born as landlords, they are doling out money to Bengal spokesperson Abhishek Manu and not being different from the China and fortunately also in not for the MPs and MLAs here. are talking big,” Banerjee said, in from their own pockets. Don’t Singhvi said here yesterday. Left regime it ousted. Bengal... But the sad fact is, this money an indirect reference to Gandhi. dare me to open my mouth. If I Congress President Sonia Returning the fire, Banerjee, “People had hoped the new gov- reaches Kolkata but not you. Banerjee, however, did not do that, many things will come Gandhi, Prime Minister also the Trinamool Congress ernment (in the state) will work “We hope a day comes when name anyone, and said she never tumbling out,” she warned. Manmohan Singh and party Vice- chief, called Rahul a “fair weather for development, for education, this money, which is yours, takes “unworthy names”. Continuing her verbal assault, President Rahul Gandhi will be friend” who makes an appearance for creating jobs and employment. reaches you. We are making “Those who have taken away Banerjee said: “There are some present at the party office here only during the poll season and Unfortunately the Trinamool efforts to ensure that your roads Rs74,000 crore towards debt fair-weather friends who make to release the manifesto. said leaders who never knew what government has done the same reach you.” repayment and leave us with appearances only in the poll Rahul has taken personal inter- poverty was should not talk big. things for which it fought against He said money meant for devel- nothing, they are talking big. Not season. After that, they are not est in framing the document by Addressing an election rally the Communists,” Rahul added. opment should not be “pocketed only that, they have not given us seen... and I am not a rootless meeting a cross-section of people at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri dis- Criticising the lack of infra- by contractors and leaders”. Rs87,283 crore which we are enti- leader.” including porters, farmers and trict, Rahul also alleged that structure in the region, the Hours after Gandhi’s offen- tled to,” she said. In an apparent claim, that fishermen. central government funds sent Congress leader said his party sive, Banerjee launched a counter On Rahul’s comments on the the Congress would have to seek “The manifesto will be released to the state never reached the was making efforts to ensure the from a rally in the neighbouring condition of the roads, Banerjee post-poll support from her, she tomorrow (Wednesday). It will be beneficiaries. money sent for the welfare of the Darjeeling district’s Naxalbari. said: “Those who are talking said: “After the polls, there will progressive and inclusive,” Singhvi “Bengal has contributed largely common man reaches the ulti- She accused the Congress of about roads, I must remind them, be some who will fall at my feet, told media persons here. for the country but unfortunately mate beneficiaries. robbing the state of its due share the roads are not state roads, but to no avail.” Asked if the party had fulfilled it has not progressed as desired,” “What kind of roads has the of money. rather national highways and are IANS the promises made in its previous manifesto, he said these had been done to a great degree. Kejriwal vows to defeat BJP in talks Modi, faces hostile crowd for alliance in

VA R A NASI: AAP leader prayed to God to give me the Andhra Pradesh Arvind Kejriwal yesterday strength to fight and save the vowed to defeat BJP’s prime country.” NEW DELHI: BJP leader ministerial candidate Narendra The Aam Aadmi Party leader Arun Jaitley yesterday said the Modi after arriving here amid is set to address a public rally at party was in talks for an alli- hostility from Modi supporters which he is expected to seek sup- ance in Andhra Pradesh but that triggered an ink attack. port for taking on Modi, the BJP nothing has been finalized yet. “I don’t see Banaras as a losing nominee here. “Andhra elections are on April battle. I will defeat Modi” in the Kejriwal supporters in hun- 30 and May 7 but we have not yet Lok Sabha election, the former dreds have been campaigning for announced the candidates. We are Delhi chief minister told a televi- him for days in Varanasi. discussing possible alliances and sion channel, shortly after reach- Vaibhav Maheshwari, who han- if something is arrived at, we will ing Varanasi by train from New dles the media for the AAP in inform,” Jaitley said in reply to Delhi. Uttar Pradesh, earlier told IANS queries whether the BJP would “Fighting against Modi is a that the Kejriwal-Modi contest enter into an alliance with the small thing,” Kejriwal told NDTV. would not be symbolic. He said Telugu Desam Party. “Saving the country from corrup- its outcome would be “stunning”. “Talks are going on. Relative tion is a big issue now.” Kejriwal, who founded the AAP strength will be evaluated before Eggs were thrown at his car in November 2012, led the party any decision is taken on seat shar- outside the Kashi Vishwanath to a dramatic debut in Delhi in ing with possible allies.” Jaitley, temple, with the protesters stead- December 2013 by winning 28 of who launched the BJP’s campaign ily raising anti-Kejriwal slogans the 70 seats, and then formed a anthem “Main Desh Nahin Jhukne and asking him to leave the Hindu minority government that lasted Doonga”, said the party manifesto is holy city. 49 days. in the final stage and the date for its Calling him a “traitor”, hun- In an hour-long speech at the Arvind Kejriwal (wearing garlands) stands atop a vehicle after ink was thrown at him during a public rally ahead release would be announced soon. dreds of slogan-shouting people Beniyabagh ground where thou- of the general elections in Varanasi, yesterday. IANS blocked his cavalcade while keep- sands cheered him, many waving ing up a steady chant of “Modi! the party symbol broom, Kejriwal Modi!”. asked people to “unleash a revolu- BJP faces ‘veteran headache’ in Uttar Pradesh Security personnel had a tough tion” by ensuring the defeat of both time controlling the crowd. The Modi and Congress vice president demonstrators said they wanted Rahul Gandhi, who he described as LUCKNOW: Two senior BJP independent or not,” Vedanti said. Both underlined that if they win picked for the seat. only Gujarat Chief Minister Modi two sides of the same coin. leaders in Uttar Pradesh have He said he was not against as independents, they will support He was in tears when the to contest the Lok Sabha battle Kejriwal asked aloud at the revolted after being denied BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Modi as the prime minister. announcement was made. from Varanasi. rally if he should battle the Lok ticket to contest the Lok Narendra Modi and alleged that Outgoing Lucknow MP and Om Prakash Singh, a pow- Later, as Kejriwal proceeded Sabha election from this city or Sabha polls. Anger is simmer- some in the “saffron fold” were former Uttar Pradesh urban erful OBC face of the party in towards the rally ground in an not. As the crowds responded ing among some other veter- conspiring to prevent the Gujarat development minister Lalji the 90’s, had pitched for a ticket open vehicle ringed by hundreds with a roaring “yes”, Kejriwal ans too but they are silent for chief minister from making it to Tandon, who wanted to contest for his son Anurag Singh from of supporters, ink was thrown declared in what was clearly a now. the top post. from Lucknow again, has been Mirzapur. But his plea was not at him. The ink stained his face scripted answer that he was ready Ram Vilas Vedanti, a seer and Swamy Chinmayanand, forced to give way to party presi- accepted. and clothes and also those of his to accept the electoral challenge. party MP in 1996-97 and 1998- another BJP leader and a former dent Rajnath Singh, now the BJP Instead, Apna Dal, a BJP ally, party leaders Manish Sisodia and “I am ready to fight elections 99, yesterday said he had given a union minister of state in the Atal candidate in the city. has been allowed to field Anupriya Sanjay Singh. from Varanasi,” said Kejriwal, 48-hour deadline to the national Bihari Vajpayee government, is A confidant of Atal Bihari Patel as the Apna Dal-BJP can- The man who threw the ink wearing his traditional white cap leadership to revoke the candi- also upset after being sidelined Vajpayee when he was prime min- didate. Kesharinath Tripathi, was identified as Ambrish, said printed with the AAP’s election dature of Lallu Singh in Faizabad in the party. ister, Tandon protested initially a former speaker in the Uttar to be a member of Hindu Vahini symbol broom and his shirt still and field him instead. A former MP from Jaunpur, but fell in line soon and is now Pradesh assembly, has also been Sena. Police whisked him away. stained with ink hurled at him The Faizabad parliamentary he wanted to contest the 2014 canvassing for Rajnath Singh. edged out. All through the route, many only hours earlier. seat includes Ayodhya, where Lok Sabha election too. But the Veterans like Surya Pratap He wanted ticket for himself waved black flags and raised anti- As a party activist garlanded the BJP and its allied groups Bharatiya Janata Party refused Shahi, Om Prakash Singh and from Allahabad. But the party AAP slogans. Kejriwal amid cheering and clap- hope to build a grand temple to oblige him. Kesharinath Tripathi have also chose former mayor Shyama Earlier, Kejriwal took a dip in ping, Kejriwal dubbed Modi’s for Rama at the site of the Chinmayanand too has been sidelined. Charan Gupta, a Samajwadi the Ganges. His forehead was development agenda in Gujarat demolished Babri mosque. served a two-day deadline to While Surya Pratap Shahi, the Party leader who has joined the smeared with sandalwood paste as a “farce” and called upon Modi “I have the blessings of the BJP president Rajnath Singh. state party president in the 2012 BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha as he came out of the Kashi to engage with him in a public (Hindu) saints and I will take He said that in case he was not assembly polls, sought ticket for election. Vishwanath temple, a Varanasi debate. a final decision after two days fielded in Jaunpur, he will con- himself from Deoria, Lucknow IANS landmark. Kejriwal added: “I IANS on whether to contest as an test as an independent. legislator Kalraj Mishra has been Sadhu Yadav to contest against Karunanidhi dismisses sister Rabri Devi Alagiri from party PATNA: Former Bihar MP Sadhu Yadav yesterday said he CHENNAI: DMK president not do so. The former Tamil Nadu will contest the Lok Sabha polls M Karunanidhi yesterday chief minister said the decision to from Saran constituency, where announced the dismissal of his dismiss Alagiri was taken in con- his sister and former chief min- son and former union minister sultation with the DMK general ister Rabri Devi is fighting on M K Alagiri from the party. secretary K. Anbazhagan. an RJD ticket. Karunanidhi told reporters The DMK said Alagiri was Sadhu Yadav — also known as here that Alagiri had been sacked “continuously criticising party Anirudh Prasad Yadav — said he for criticising the party in the run leaders and also defaming the will contest the polls to challenge up to the Lok Sabha election and party”. candidates of mainstream politi- causing confusion in the minds of Recently, Alagiri met Prime cal parties who have neglected the DMK members and supporters. Minister Manmohan Singh and development of Saran. “I will con- A defiant Alagiri said: “I have Bharatiya Janata Party president test from Saran as an Independent,” no reaction (to my dismissal). I Rajnath Singh, creating a flutter he told media persons here. just had lunch, and want to sleep in political circles. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) peacefully. I am not the loser. Alagiri is said to be upset chief Lalu Prasad said his brother- They are the losers.” as none of his supporters got in-law will have no impact on the Asked if he would float a new ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls. “There will be no impact of party, he said: “As of now I have election. Sadhu in the fray from Saran. He no such plans. Everything will be The DMK had earlier warned is not an issue for us,” Lalu Prasad decided after discussing with my party members to keep away from told the media. supporters.” Alagiri or face disciplinary action. Rabri Devi refused to say On January 24, the DMK sus- Nothing, however, deterred anything but only smiled when pended Alagiri, 63, for oppos- Alagiri, who went on to meet asked for her reaction over Sadhu ing his brother M K Stalin, 61, MDMK leader Vaiko — a former Yadav’s decision to contest against who is tipped for the party’s DMK stalwart — and BJP’s her. Lalu Prasad had won from top post. Both are 89-year-old Sivaganga candidate H Raja. Saran in 2009, but had to quit Karunanidhi’s sons. Both leaders had sought after being convicted in the multi- Karunanidhi said Alagiri had Alagiri’s support in the general crore-rupee fodder scam last year. A Congress worker uses a chair to protect himself from rain and thunder storm before the start of a party meeting been asked to explain his conduct elections. IANS being addressed by Rahul Gandhi in Kolkata yesterday. after his suspension. But he did IANS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Prayer for MH370 passengers Patkar, NGO Ready to pay chief not to settle cases Rs200bn to out of court

NEW DELHI: A court here yesterday posted the hearing of a defamation case against Sebi: Sahara Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar for August 13 after she and the Court to consider proposal today head of an Ahmedabad-based NGO informed it that they NEW DELHI: The Sahara The court had on March 4 sent are not willing to compromise group yesterday made a fresh Sahara chief Subrata Roy and his and withdraw the cases lodged proposal to the Supreme Court two directors to Tihar jail for fail- against each other 13 years ago. to pay market regulator Sebi, ing to make an acceptable pro- The court was hearing three in a span of one year, Rs200bn posal for depositing the Rs 200bn separate defamation cases lodged of the money it has to return to to Sebi. by Patkar and National Council the investors collected through Seeking the lifting of all the for Civil Liberties (NCCL) optionally fully convertible restrictions imposed by the Sebi, President V K Saxena against debentures (OFCD). Sahara, in their fresh proposal, each other. In a fresh proposal to the bench said that the title deeds of the Metropolitan Magistrate of Justice K S Radhakrishnan and assets that are with Sebi would Bhawna Kalia listed the matter Justice J S Khehar, the Sahara continue to remain with it. for August 13 to order on fram- group said they will deposit However, the same may be ing of charge against Patkar in Rs25bn within three working made available to it when it wants one case. days of the lifting of restrictions to dispose off any of them for hon- It will also record evidence in on its bank accounts and deposits ouring its financial commitments Schoolgirls pray next to a sand art sculpture created by sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik to pay tribute to the pas- other two cases, in which charges after its proposal is accepted by to market regulator or for provid- sengers and crew onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, on a beach in Puri, Odisha, yesterday. are already framed, on the next the court. ing bank guarantee. date of hearing. “Since the matter The fresh proposal by Sahara Giving the details of its out- is listed for complainant evidence, says that thereafter it would standing liabilities, in the wake of complainant (Patkar) is directed deposit with the Security and August 31, 2012 apex court order, to appear before it without fail. Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Sahara in its fresh proposal said IM operative Tehsin embraced List the matter for August 13,” three instalments of Rs35bn that it had raised Rs257.81bn by the court said. each June 30, September 30 and issuance of OFCDs. The court, meanwhile, granted December 31. The balance of It said that it deposited with exemption from appearance to Rs70bn would be deposited March SEBI on December 5, 2012, an terrorism at the age of 18 Patkar, sought on grounds that she 31, 2015. amount of Rs51.20 bn and another is busy with election campaigning The Sahara group offered to Rs2.1bn were credited to the mar- NEW DELHI: Indian Mujahideen operative, Kafeel he safely crossed over to Nepal as she is contesting from Mumbai provide an irrevocable bank guar- ket regulator by various banks. Mujahideen’s operational head Akhtar, as well as Yasin Bhatkal. from Pakistan. North East Lok Sabha seat on Aam antee at any time for any unpaid Taking into account other Tehsin Akhtar, now in police Yasin Bhatkal is now in jail In Kathmandu, Tehsin also Aadmi Party ticket but directed instalment that becomes due calculations, Sahara said that custody, embraced terrorism along with his associate Asadullah received Zia-ur-Rehman alias her to remain present on the next or for all the remaining unpaid outstanding amount for the when he was only 18 years old. Akhtar alias Haddi. “Yasin Waqas, another Pakistani who date of hearing without fail. amounts. implementation of court’s August Such was his passion that his taught Tehsin all about ‘jehad’ was arrested by Delhi Police In January, the court has asked It said that to enable it to 31, 2012 order, was Rs200bn. handlers immediately inducted and inducted him into IM,” Friday from Rajsthan, and them to settle the issues. Saxena furnish the bank guarantees, For generating the necessary him into the banned outfit. Special Commissioner of Police S Asadullah Akhtar at the airport. told court that he approached the amount (other than Rs51bn funds to make the first and other Lessons in ‘jehad’ quickly N Srivastava said. Tehsin provided logistic sup- Patkar for settlement but she which shall remain with Sebi) four instalments, Sahara urged followed for the resident of It was Yasin Bhatkal who port to Waqas and Haddi and sent refused to agree to some of the lying with the market regulator the court that it and its other Samastipur in Bihar. gave Tehsin his first code name: them to carry out the September clauses put by him, therefore, he would be deposited with the bank, entities be permitted to operate In the initial stages of his Hassan. Then began Tehsin’s 19, 2010 bomb explosion out- was not going to settle the issue. to the extent it was required, for the bank accounts and deposits. involvement with the Indian armed training started — in side Jama Masjid in Delhi’s old Meanwhile, Patkar’s counsel obtaining bank guarantees. The two Sahara companies Mujahideen, Tehsin — as he is bet- Waziristan in Pakistan. quarters. V K Ohri submitted that Saxena The court will consider the — Sahara India Real Estate ter known — met Gayur Ahmad His first lesson was how to use In the beginning of July has asked them to withdraw the proposal today as it declined to Corporation Limited and Sahara Jamali, who was to be arrested in and assemble explosives known as 2011, Yasin Bhatkal directed other case lodged against him at entertain the same yesterday, Housing Investment Corporation 2011, also by Delhi Police. petrol bombs, said Srivastava, who Tehsin to come to Mumbai. Ahmedabad which was not pos- saying that it cannot appreciate Limited — had collected Rs247.80 The year was 2010 when the heads the Special Cell in Delhi On July 13, 2011, Tehsin along sible for them. a proposal being made across the bn from 330m investors which group’s then Indian operational Police charged with tracking and with Yasin Bhatkal and oth- Patkar had filed a case against bar. It said the same should have the apex court by its August 31, head, Yasin Bhatkal was setting arresting terrorists. ers executed serial bombings in Saxena for publishing a book been submitted to the registry 2012 order had directed it to up a module in Darbhanga in Tehsin’s first assignment was to Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar, Opera “True Face of Medha Patkar and Monday evening so that they return. Bihar. It was Jamali who intro- act as the carrier for Adil Ajmal, a House and Dadar West. her NBA” in 2000. could have gone through it. IANS duced Tehsin to another Indian Pakistani national, to ensure that IANS IANS

Child’s play Sanitation Bodo rebels shoot two crisis at alarming stage, security personnel GUWAHATI: At least two the gun battle, two security per- say experts security personnel were injured sonnel received bullet injuries,” in firing by anti-talks fac- said Bodoland Territorial Area NEW DELHI: Highlighting tion of the NDFB militants in District’s Inspector General of issues like menstrual hygiene Assam’s Udalguri district yes- Police L R Bishnoi. management, women’s dignity terday morning. The faction has Assam Chief Minister Tarun and poor defecation facilities, threatened to disrupt the Lok Gogoi yesterday expressed con- a national convention here yes- Sabha polls in the state. cern over the NDFB militants’ terday raised concern on the The National Democratic Front threat, but said the government sanitation crisis in India which of Bodoland (NDFB) militants would deal with them strictly. has reached an alarming stage. said they would attack political “They (the NDFB militants) About 400 delegates from vari- leaders and security personnel, have threatened the Congress ous parts of India, along with including the director general of leaders across the state,” Gogoi women and people from mar- Assam Police. said, adding both Congress chief ginalised communities, attended The firing took place a few Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi this convention on the Right to hours after the NDFB militants would visit the state to campaign Sanitation where they discussed from the faction opposed to any for the party. “While Rahul will and put forward the fears they peace talks threatened to disrupt arrive here March 27, the date for face in day-to-day life. March 27 rally of Congress vice Sonia’s visit is yet to be finalised,” Veermati, 25, from Bhalaswa president Rahul Gandhi in Assam. Gogoi added. resettlement colony in Delhi, “A joint team of Assam Police The NDFB militants have pointed out how girls in their and the Cobra battalion of the already threatened Congress leg- area skip dinner to avoid the CRPF launched an operation in islator Bhupen Bora, who is con- need to use the toilet in school. the area under Mazbat police testing the Lok Sabha election “Children, especially girls, skip station in the district Monday from Tezpur constituency. The their dinner because there is no night. However, the NDFB mili- militants appealed to the Bodo toilet in the school and in the tants started firing at the team, people not to vote for Bora. colony as well. So, we have to find forcing the latter to retaliate. In IANS a suitable place to defecate,” she Children play with foam along a roadside in the old quarters of Delhi yesterday. said. Naffisa Barot from Gujarat talked about women’s dignity and menstrual hygiene management. “There is an issue of women’s Govt employees will now use only official email IDs, court told dignity and safety, especially in the light of increasing sexual violence on women and men- NEW DELHI: The central guidelines with respect to use of (PIL) filed by former Bharatiya accessible on or through them. The “Email Policy of strual hygiene management government told the Delhi High email services. As per the pro- Janata Party (BJP) leader K N The objective of this policy is to Government of India” and “Policy and this needs to be addressed,” Court it has proposed a national posed policies, e-mail accounts Govindacharya, said that the use ensure proper access and usage of on Acceptable use of IT Resources said Barot. She works for Uthan email policy for official commu- will be given to all the employees of email accounts whose servers government of India’s IT resources of Government of India” also Parvah, a network for mobilising nication of government employ- of the government and it will be were outside India and trans- by all its users and protect the required a wider consultation action for sustainable access to ees, saying the objective of the mandatory for them to use this fer of nation’s official data using Information and Communications among different stake holders safe and adequate drinking water, policy is to ensure “secure access e-mail account for all official com- this medium violated the Public Technology infrastructure of the both in the central and state gov- sanitation and hygiene. and usage of data” by them. munications,” said the affidavit. Records Act. Government from any misuse.” ernments, said the affidavit. “We should see the right to In an affidavit filed in the high Earlier, a division bench of The central government in its It is further submitted that sim- It said that the government has sanitation in a much broader court, the department of elec- Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed affidavit also stated that it has ilar practice is being followed in undertaken a wider consultation perspective, the management of tronics and information technol- and Justice Sidharth Mridul had proposed another policy “Policy on several countries like Singapore, process among the stake holders human waste should be treated in ogy said that the use of e-mail asked the central government to Acceptable Use of IT Resources of Britain, the Netherlands, France, in the country and the “consul- an environment-friendly manner accounts of external service bring in an email policy for gov- Government of India” that lays Germany, Ecuador, Sweden, and tation process included policy and in line with human dignity,” providers will be “prohibited for ernment officials in consonance down the guidelines with respect the UAE. “In the United States of issues, ways and means of imple- said Pune-based K J Joy from official communication” by the with the Public Records Act in to use of all T resources. America, the White House does mentation of policies, enhance- the Forum for Policy Dialogue on government employees. order to bar transfer of data to a “This would apply to all IT not allow its officials to access ment of infrastructure and other Water Conflicts in India. “The email Policy of the gov- server outside the country. resources, owned or leased by emails of private email service related issues.” IANS ernment of India lays down the The public interest litigation government of India, and services providers at work.” IANS

WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Swans procession

Fajr (Dawn) 4:16 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:32 Zuhr (Noon) 11:40 Asr (Afternoon) 3:07 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:48 Isha (Night) 7:18

WEATHER

Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Partly cloudy to cloudy and chance High: 25° High: 26° High: 28° Low: 20° Low: 17° Low: 17° for scattered rain may be thundery at times.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:32 17:48 01:00 & 13:00 08:45 & 18:30 7-15/30 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 30/21 Rain 29/22 Partly cloudy MAKKAH 30/22 Partly cloudy 30/22 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 25/19 Clear 29/21 Clear BAHRAIN 26/17 Chance of storm 28/18 Partly cloudy Swans swim on a side canal of the river Alster after they were released from their wintering grounds in Hamburg, northern Germany, yesterday. After SANAA 27/12 Partly cloudy 27/12 Chance of rain spending five months on and around the Eppendorfer Muehlenteich, a small pond that is kept ice-free for the swans during winter-time, around 120 RIYADH 31/17 Partly cloudy 31/17 Partly cloudy animals were brought back to their usual territory in the Hanseatic city’s centre. DUBAI 26/22 Thunderstorm 26/22 Chance of storm BAGHDAD 29/14 Partly cloudy 30/15 Mostly cloudy THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW ‘Working’ guillotine up for auction in France HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

th th ATHENS 20/14 Partly cloudy 21/15 Partly cloudy NANTES, France: A 19 cen- half of the 19 century. It will be he said. “It would be nice if it down to him from his grandfa- WASHINGTON 03/-5 Ligt snow 11/-5 Partly cloudy tury guillotine in perfect work- auctioned tomorrow in the north- remained in a historic setting, ther, who apparently bought it in th SYDNEY 25/19 Thunderstorm 27/20 Chance of rain ing order goes up for auction ern city of Nantes and auction- either on display in a chateau or the early 20 century. LONDON 11/04 Chance of rain 12/04 Chance of rain in France on Thursday and is eer Francois-Xavier Duflos said in a public collection,” he said. The blade of the guillotine expected to fetch up to ¤60,000 it was expected to fetch between Duflos said the guillotine was bears the inscription “Armees de PARIS 14/03 Partly cloudy 14/08 Partly cloudy ($82,000), the auctioneers said. ¤50,000 and ¤60,000. used by the army but he did not la Republique,” a revolutionary ISTANBUL 16/09 Mostly cloudy 19/12 Mostly cloudy The wood, iron, steel and brass “It is rare for this type of object elaborate. force created to defend France MANILA 32/24 Partly cloudy 32/25 Partly cloudy guillotine, synonymous with the to go to auction, so it is rather dif- The guillotine has been in pri- from its neighbours after the 1789 DHAKA 39/23 Clear 41/23 Clear 1789 French Revolution, was used ficult to set a price, but we have vate hands for over a century and French Revolution. DELHI 28/15 Partly cloudy 30/17 Mostly cloudy to behead people in the second taken into account its rarity,” the current owner had it passed AFP ISLAMABAD 25/12 Partly cloudy 25/12 Partly cloudy

Apostrophes now: UK at war Armonica strikes a harmony again with Los Angeles Opera LOS ANGELES: Only a hand- jokingly says looks like a rotat- notes — but wanted a more easily it. “There are believed to have made animals roar and felled over missing ful of professional musicians ing glass kebab — in the Donizetti transportable version. been about 4,000 armonicas built “the strongest man in less than can play it, but a rare instru- opera Lucia di Lammermoor, “So he asked a glass blower to between 1761 and 1835. It was an hour,” according to an 1804 ment banned in the 19th century which runs until April 6. create 37 bowls of different sizes, played in salons above all,” said medical dictionary. And above punctuation is making a comeback, and even The spelling, without an “h,” tuned chromatically over three Bloch. all, it allegedly made its players seducing a new generation of was ordained by Franklin him- octaves,” Bloch said. Mozart discovered the instru- go crazy. “At first they thought it LONDON: A bizarre battle is rock and electro stars. self, even if some have tweaked it The bowls are fitted inside each ment from the famous doctor was due to its rich harmonics. But raging in towns across Britain The glass armonica, invented to harmonica. It is based on the other without touching and fixed Franz Anton Mesmer — who used the real problem was the lead,” between lovers of the English by US founding father Benjamin Italian word “armonia,” mean- on a rotating horizontal axle, the it to relax his patients — and liked said Bloch. language and local councils that Franklin in the 18th century, was ing harmony, evoking the instru- speed of which can be control- it so much he used it for his final AFP are culling the humble apostro- blamed for driving musicians ment’s harmonic richness. led by a pedal. The player makes chamber music work. phe from street signs. crazy, and is not taught in any of It is in fact a sophisticated ver- music by sliding fingers across Beethoven, Carl Philipp The historic university city the world’s top conservatories. sion of an “instrument” that every- them, moistened with a mix of Emanuel Bach, Saint-Saens, and of Cambridge was the latest in “There are five or six of us who one knows: a glass filled with water, water and chalk. later on Richard Strauss, also a series of places this year that play it, for our own pleasure. It’s which produces a high-pitched The whole thing looks a bit like composed music for the glass have made the change, which a very small community,” said ringing sound when a moistened a mixture of “a sewing machine armonica, which was nicknamed transforms names such as King’s Frenchman Thomas Bloch, one finger is drawn around its lip. and a translucent kebab,” the “the angels’ organ” by Paganini. Road into Kings Road. of the exclusive musical club. Franklin got the idea after see- Gallic musician quipped. The But the instrument’s success Cambridge was forced to back- But now Bloch has been invited ing musicians in London “playing” instrument was a hit as soon as was not without controversy. track after anonymous punc- by the Los Angeles Opera to rows of glasses, filled with water it was created. France’s Queen Critics said its ethereal sound tuation protectors mounted a play the instrument — which he to varying levels to make different Marie-Antoinette herself played provoked premature births, guerrilla campaign, going out in the dead of night and using black marker pens to fill in the missing apostrophes. The punctuation pogrom by several municipalities is appar- ently in response to central gov- ernment advice aimed at helping the work of the emergency services. Earlier this year a teenager died of an asthma attack after an apostrophe error led to an ambu- lance going to the wrong address. “National guidelines recom- mended not allocating new street names that required any punctua- tion, as, we gather, this was not well coped with by some emergency services’ software,” Tim Ward of Cambridge City Council said. “Given the public interest that this awakened we checked back on the national guidelines that we’d followed when reviewing our policy, and found that the guideline recommending against including punctuation in new street names had been dropped.” Motorists watch two water buffaloes running down a main street in Sydney yesterday. In countries such as the United States and Australia, apostrophes disappeared from street signs long Water buffaloes race down Sydney street ago. But moves to do the same in Britain have aroused the ire of the SYDNEY: Two water buffaloes startled Felman, a student at the University of Sydney guardians of the English language. residents of an inner-Sydney suburb yester- campus nearby, said. Firefighters rounded up the Kathy Salaman, director of day morning, as they pelted 2km down a city animals and live-tweeted the operation, saying The Good Grammar Company, street past disbelieving pedestrians, while car they used ladders and firefighting gear to corral a Cambridge-based organisation drivers scurried to get out of the way. the animals into a makeshift pen, until handlers that provides training to compa- Eyewitnesses told local media the buffaloes from the film set took them away. nies, said the issue was not one of looked agitated, having escaped from a city park “We were all standing back, we were all going pedantry but of upholding wider where an advertisement was being filmed. ‘That’s really random’,” Felman said. “It’s a very standards. “I was just waiting for the bus and instead diverse community that lives there,” she added. AFP of a bus, two random buffalo ran past,” Abril REUTERS Wednesday 26 March 2014 25 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5615 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 QIB eyes stake in Bank Asya Qatar seeks to become Bank in strategic investment discussions with Turkey-based Islamic bank region’s business hub

DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank required regulatory approvals. including Isik Insurance, Tuna the fastest growth of any company DOHA: Qatar seeks to become (QIB), Qatar’s leading Islamic QInvest is acting as financial REIT, Asya Securities and Asya in the Turkish private pension fund a business hub in the region, bank, yesterday confirmed that adviser to QIB. Further announce- Venture Capital. Bank Asya pro- sector. said H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi, it has entered into exclusive dis- ments will be made in due course, vides innovative financial solu- QIB has 35 percent market Minister of Finance inaugu- cussions to acquire a strategic the company said in a bank. tions to its 4.2 million customers share of Qatar’s Islamic bank- rating the World Exchange stake in Bank Asya, the larg- Established in 1996 and listed through 281 branches, approxi- ing assets and 9 percent mar- Congress. est participation (Islamic) bank on the Istanbul Stock Exchange mately 1,000 ATMs and 1,000 ket share of the country’s total “Qatar has been supportive of in Turkey. Turkey is a target in 2006, Bank Asya had Turkish international correspondent banking assets. QIB had QR13.7bn investment opportunities. Based market for QIB and has been Lira (TL) 2.5bn of shareholders’ banks. With a dynamic and inno- of shareholders’ equity and on its strong, robust and open identified in its international equity, TL29bn of assets, TL21bn vative approach to retail banking, QR77.3bn of assets as at 2013 end. economy, Qatar seeks to become expansion strategy. of cash financing and TL19bn of the bank has served as a leading QIB has adopted a long term a business hub in the region,” said QIB intends to support Bank deposits as of 2013. In 2013, the pioneer of Islamic banking for all vision for international growth, Al Emadi. “No doubt that the Asya to realise its medium to bank made TL181m of net profit. of its 17 years’ history. and aspires to continue expanding economic policies adopted by the long-term growth targets and It is the largest Islamic Bank In 2012, Bank Asya established its operations beyond the existing Qatari government would enable strengthen its position as the and the 13th largest bank overall Asya Private Pension, Turkey’s first overseas markets. In addition to the Qatari institutions to play an leading Islamic Bank in Turkey. ranked by assets in the Turkish interest-free private pension fund Qatar, QIB has operations in vari- important role in order to achieve QIB is seeking to finalise the banking sector. company. In only its second year of ous countries including the UK, sustainability and adaption to glo- transaction within the next few Bank Asya has several non- operations, the company reached Malaysia, Lebanon and Sudan. bal changes,” he said. months, subject to obtaining the banking financial subsidiaries 200,000 members, which represents THE PENINSULA He also highlighted that Qatar is prominent and well known for having one of the best economies in the world with a GDP growth by 6.5 percent in 2013 and an esti- mated GDP growth rate up to 6 Sheikh Khalid, UK percent and more than 10 percent growth rate in the private sector in 2014. Minister discuss “Qatar Exchange has witnessed many achievements that have Islamic banking contributed to the strengthen- ing of its role as a regional finan- DOHA: Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, cial centre, especially after the Senior Minister of State, Foreign and MSCI upgrading of the Qatari HE Ali Sherif Al Emadi delivering Commonwealth Office and Minister for market into emerging market the keynote address at the World Faith and Communities, UK, has received status. The 2012 law, giving the Exchange Congress yesterday. Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Qatar Central Bank the supreme KAMMUTTY VP Al Thani, Chairman, Ezdan Holding Group authority in the supervision of all and Abdulbasit Ahmed Al Shaibei, CEO, financial services and markets, is International Islamic, in London yesterday. an important step in promoting the qualitative requirements for Baroness Sayeeda and her political adviser financial stability,” he said. inclusion in emerging markets, Naveed Khan held discussions with Sheikh Dr The two-day congress includes especially the degree of openness Khalid in the presence of Al Shaibei. The dis- interactive roundtables, debates of the market to the international cussions covered a wide range of issues related and workshops and live inter- investment community and an to global Islamic banking and the growing inter- views with major Exchange established and well-tested opera- ests of Islamic finance in Europe. They also dis- CEOs, focused on developing tional framework,” he said. cussed the development in the global Sukuk the exchange and financial mar- He added that the upgrades market and regulations of Islamic economies, kets business and performance were a very positive step for the particularly Britain and Europe in general. across Europe, the Middle East, development of Qatar Exchange During the meeting, the two sides empha- America, Asia and Africa. and it would enhance the trust- sised the need for further strengthening the “The MSCI and S&P decisions worthiness of the market and Islamic finance market. The meeting observed to upgrade the Qatari market consequently attract foreign the investors are increasingly relying on the from a Frontier to Emerging portfolios. Islamic banking system across the globe. The Market status clearly and evi- Addressing the gathering meeting also noted the important role being Baroness Sayeeda Warsi flanked by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani (left) and dently reflect the recognition Satoshi Matsuo, Deputy Chief played by Qatar in the global Islamic financial Abdulbasit Ahmed Al Shaibei in London yesterday. of the prominent international Representative in Europe invited sector. The meeting also recalled that Qatar investment institutions of the investors to invest in Japan’s mar- International Islamic Bank (QIIB) was the first positive steps made by Qatar ket. “Japan has created Japan Islamic Bank to be established in Britain. foundation of the Islamic Finance as Britain has percent Islamic Sukuk worth $34bn issued Exchange over the past years,” Exchange Group and we are try- Britain is looking forward for a better coop- one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. from London Stock Exchange during the last said Rashid bin Ali Al Mansoori, ing to expand line up based on eration with Islamic banks for the development British Prime Minister David Cameron five years. Recently, the prime minister also CEO of Qatar Exchange. “It is Asian indices through collabo- of Islamic finance at the international level. recently announced London is biggest Islamic announced the UK’s plans to issue Islamic to be noted that the upgrade of rating Asian exchanges,” Matsuo Qatar and Britain can further strengthen the financial centre outside Islamic countries. 49 bonds. THE PENINSULA Qatar status reflects meeting said. THE PENINSULA

QFC RA reprimands RBS UDC wants to go beyond Pearl boundaries for insufficient training BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB DOHA: Faced with a sharp DUBAI: Qatar’s financial regu- and procedures of our Qatar decline in the company’s profit- lator has reprimanded Royal branch to ensure compliance with ability at the end of 2013, United Bank of Scotland for insuf- the QFC RA’s training and com- Development Company (UDC), ficient training of its branch petency requirements,” she said. the master developer of The Pearl staff, it said yesterday. RBS has been in the Qatar Qatar (TPQ), is looking forward “Although RBS QFC had a pro- Financial Centre since 2007 and to invest in new projects outside gramme in place, it was deficient currently offers markets and TPQ to ensure better results for in a number of material respects international banking services the investors of the company in and it fell short of the standards through its branch in the centre. future, Turki Mohamed Khaled expected of authorised firms,” RBS has around 200 staff in Al Khater, Chairman of UDC the Qatar Financial Centre eight countries across the Middle said yesterday. Regulatory Authority (QFC RA) East and Africa region with the “Although there is nothing con- said in a statement. majority based in the United crete so far, but we are negotiating UDC Chairman Turki Mohamed Khaled Al Khater (fourth right) with other officials yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT “The QFC has accepted an Arab Emirates. The British state- with the government to go beyond enforceable undertaking from controlled lender plans to boost the boundaries of The Pearl, prob- returns) to support UDC and have said: “There is nothing wrong with of the company stood at QR323m. RBS QFC to establish a remedial funding for its cash management ably in Lusail City or some other better results ahead.” TPQ project. We are expecting to Although the company per- action plan to ensure future com- and trade finance business in the government projects to support our “We are also in negotiation with complete it over the next four- formed well in the first nine months pliance with its training and com- Middle East following a period business,” said Al Khater. some big developers and investors five years. Some developers have of the year and posted a net profit petency requirements,” it said. of consolidation, its top regional Al Khater, while speaking with in the country to invest in TPQ. had problems, and failed to imple- of QR229m for Q1 2013, up 16 per- RBS’s branch in the financial executive said in September. The Peninsula on the sidelines of Qatar Cool is in the process of ment deadlines in constructing cent compared to QR196.8m for Q1 centre agreed to pay costs of the The QFC Regulatory Authority the company’s Annual General finalising a deal to provide ‘District properties, and we are working in 2012, which eventually increased investigation, which is now con- is an independent regulatory body Meeting, which witnessed a lot of Cooling’ services in the upcoming to address those issues. However, to QR577.9m for Q3 2013, but by cluded, the watchdog said without and it regulates firms that con- resentment from the shareholders Lusail City, which will provide big we are legally authorised to take the end of the year the profitability giving further details. duct financial services in or from who were visibly upset with the support to UDC.” back these pieces of lands, which declined due to losses incurred in “RBS has cooperated fully with the QFC. It has a broad range of company’s performance in 2013. The AGM approved 10 percent we can either resale or develop on its overseas operations. the QFC RA during the investiga- regulatory powers to authorise, He said: “The concerns raised by cash dividend (QR1 per share), in our own.” According to Al Khater, a sub- tion,” an RBS spokesperson said supervise and, when necessary, the shareholders are legitimate. We addition to 5 percent bonus shares, Total revenue of UDC in 2013 sidiary of UDC suffered a huge loss in response questions. discipline firms and individuals. have some of our sister companies and also the other resolutions rec- amounted to QR2.081bn. Net profit of over QR268m in one of its over- “We are working with the The QFC is a financial and busi- such as Qatar Cool and others who ommended by the board. for the year ending December 31, seas projects in the UAE, which QFC RA to make the necessary ness centre established by the can work outside TPQ to compete Asked about the challenges faced 2013 reached QR409m, while the caused a sharp decline in dividends. changes to the training processes Government of Qatar. REUTERS with other companies (in terms of by the ambitious TPQ project, he net profit attributable to owners THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS QInvest bags Bankers skip big deals for Alibaba IPO ‘Qatar Deal of $100m in combined fees for the work of other clients forgone for the biggest tech listing ever the Year’ award

HONG KONG: Every big bank transaction, people are very keen, DOHA: QInvest, Qatar’s lead- in town wanted a piece of the the process is so competitive,” said ing investment bank , was rec- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ini- Ronald Wan, chief China adviser ognised for its role in Ooredoo’s tial public offering, set to be the at financial services firm Asian debut $1.25bn Sukuk at the biggest technology listing ever. Capital Holdings. “So you have the Islamic Finance News Awards. So much so that, according to view that if you’re not a friend, QInvest bagged the “Qatar Deal Thomson Reuters data, major you’re an enemy. And there’s of the Year” award for the innova- banks skipped an estimated nothing in between,” Chan said. tive five-year Islamic bond, which $100m in combined fees they A Hong Kong-based spokes- was the first ever US dollar denom- could have made from work for woman for Alibaba declined to inated Sukuk to be secured using other clients over the past year. comment. Banks either declined the airtime structure. QInvest People familiar with the mat- to comment or did not respond to acted as joint lead manager and ter say that’s because the banks emails seeking response. book runner for the deal. didn’t want to irk the Chinese A recent unsolicited bid by Tamim Hamad Al Kawari, e-commerce giant by working for Alibaba to buy out a Chinese Chief Executive Officer of its rivals or acquisition targets, Internet company exposed the QInvest, said: “2013 was a very and risk losing out on business battle lines. Alibaba, which exciting year for us as we were in an IPO expected to be bigger already owns 28 percent of dig- involved in some of the largest than Facebook Inc’s $16bn listing ital mapping company AutoNavi and most successful Sukuk trans- in 2012. Holdings Ltd, last month offered actions. We are delighted to be Alibaba’s giant IPO comes amid to buy the rest of the company in recognised by Islamic Finance a wave of deals in China’s tech a deal valuing the target at $1.6bn. News for our work as joint lead sector, putting banks in a tricky When AutoNavi tapped advis- manager and book runner for situation when it comes to back- ers to organise its defence, some the Ooredoo Sukuk; it is a tes- ing clients in the industry. In a investment banks passed on the tament to the hard work of our sector that’s red-hot, companies An employee walks past a logo of Alibaba Group at its headquarters on the outskirts of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. business to avoid potential con- team and their ability to develop are sensitive about letting advis- flicts with the mega-IPO. In the effective solutions for our clients. ers work on deals that run par- end, AutoNavi’s independent Looking ahead, we have an excit- allel to those of competitors for the past year for Alibaba’s IPO, meeting of the bankers, lawyers All six banks are existing lend- committee hired Lazard Ltd as ing pipeline of deal flow that will fear of confidential information they kept their distance from the and accountants helping the com- ers to Alibaba, putting them in its financial adviser. AutoNavi see us working very closely with leaking out. giant’s peers in hopes of winning a pany on the deal, getting together good position to win the coveted declined to comment. corporates and sovereigns that Another concern for companies role on the mega-deal, the people in Hong Kong, which houses part mandates, the people familiar Banks usually pounce on are looking for ways to diversify is that a financial adviser already familiar with the matter said. of Alibaba’s corporate finance with the matter said. The esti- defence mandates like this. These their funding.” supporting one IPO in the space An estimated $300m in fees team. mated fees from Alibaba’s IPO are lucrative roles for mergers and Michael Katounas, Deputy can’t give its undivided attention are up for grabs in a listing that Citigroup, Credit Suisse, would make it the biggest Chinese acquisitions departments which CEO & Head of Investment to a rival’s deal. As the major Alibaba said on March 16 will Deutsche Bank , Goldman Sachs, fee payer to global investment can command a fee of nearly 2 Banking at QInvest, said: “The investment banks operating in the take place in the United States. JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley banks in a decade. percent of the total deal value. Ooredoo Sukuk was a significant region remained on standby over Yesterday marked the first are the banks working on the IPO. “Because Alibaba is a very big REUTERS step forward for Islamic finance, given the innovative use of airtime as the asset on which the trans- action was based. We are seeing Islamic finance become increas- Toyota India hires ingly mainstream and we can Batelco plans further Qatar promotes MICE expect more innovation like this from businesses seeking access to contract workers capital outside conventional mar- buy-back of 2020 bonds kets. It is an honour to receive to restart output expertise at GIBTM this award from Islamic Finance News and for the QInvest team to LONDON: State-run Bahrain company and bondholders. DOHA: Qatar is attending underline QTA’s commitment to be recognised in this way.” Telecommunications (Batelco) “Investors will gain to the NEW DELHI: Japan’s Toyota the Gulf Incentive Business attracting credible MICE events QInvest were presented with plans to buy back a third of extent they will have liquidity said yesterday it has hired 1,000 Travel and Meetings Exhibition and provide a showcase for the the award at the 2014 Islamic outstanding bonds due in 2020, from the company at a certain contract workers to help restart (GIBTM), which concludes newly developed state-of-the-art Finance News Awards, which using excess liquidity from a price, whereas Batelco could production, after its employees today at the Abu Dhabi National facilities at QNCC,” said Director took place in Dubai. scrapped acquisition to lower its benefit, albeit slightly, from the refused to return to work fol- Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). of Exhibition Centre & MICE The Islamic Finance News debt servicing costs. opportunity of buying back the lowing an end to a eight-day “GIBTM will be a highly impor- Division, Hamad Al Abdan at Awards recognise excellence, The company has offered to debt at a little below par,” Segal company lockout. tant event for Qatar on several Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). achievement and leadership in buy back up to $200m in prin- wrote in a note to clients. The Toyota workers and its levels. It attracts a large and He said MICE business is widely the Islamic finance industry. The cipal amount of its 4.25 percent, “In addition, there will be the management at two plants near influential segment of the inter- recognised as one of the fastest high profile event gathers over $604.4m guaranteed notes matur- conceptual benefit to bondholders Bangalore are at loggerheads over national travel trade, providing developing and most lucrative 800 leading issuers, arrangers, ing in 2020, with the price being from the signal spare liquidity will pay issues, which they have been them with a first-hand experience sectors of the international travel lawyers, service providers and determined through a modified be utilised to reduce gross debt, negotiating for 10 months. of the Gulf destinations and the industry and is one of the key tar- regulators. Dutch auction process. as opposed to considering other The employees refused to diverse attractions. It will also gets for Qatar. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA The notes rallied by nearly growth opportunities,” he added. resume work after the company two points after the tender was The buy-back is not expected lifted an eight-day lockout on announced on Monday, with to strain Batelco’s liquidity Monday. “As regular employees the minimum purchase price position, as the company reported did not resume duties .... we’re set at $970 per $1,000 of prin- cash reserves of BD199m using services of 1,000 contract cipal tendered. The bonds were at the end of 2013, more than labour to restart production,” a trading at a bid price of 98.013 double the BD99m held at the company executive, who asked to as of 1020 GMT yesterday, end of 2012. Batelco began buy- remain anonymous, said. according to Tradeweb, up from ing back its 2020 notes, through Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private 96.25 just before the announce- which it originally raised $650m, Ltd, the Indian unit of the world’s ment on Monday. in November. The company’s biggest carmaker, issued a state- Richard Segal, a fixed-income annual results show $39.5m worth ment confirming it was hiring analyst at Jefferies, said the deal of the notes was bought back as contract labour to help restart will be mutually beneficial for the of December 31. REUTERS the twin factories. AFP

HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada (centre) along with other officials at the QP pavilion in Seoul. QP showcases operations at Gastech DOHA/SEOUL: Qatar Ltd, RasGas Company Ltd, Qatar Corporation (KOGAS), Gastech Petroleum (QP) along with Gas Transport Company Ltd. 2014 is also supported by RasGas some of its joint ventures and (Nakilat), Oryx GTL Ltd. and as the “Strategic Sponsor” and subsidiaries is taking part in Qatar Fuel Additives Company Qatargas as the “Gold Sponsor.” the Gastech 2014 Conference Ltd. (QAFAC). In addition to the participa- and Exhibition, which is cur- The strong presence of Qatari tion of Qatari companies in the rently being held until tomor- companies in the Gastech 2014 exhibition, several members of row at the Korea International exhibition highlights Qatar’s the Qatari delegation are also Exhibition Centre (KINTEX) prominent role in the global gas directly involved in the Gastech in Seoul. industry, as the country has the 2014 conference. HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al world’s third largest gas reserves Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, Sada, the Minister of Energy and after Russia and Iran. In addition, CEO of RasGas and Vice- Industry and Chairman of QP, it underscores Qatar’s renowned Chairman of QP, was a speaker in was among the VIPs who were stature as the world’s largest the plenary session on “Developing present at the event’s inaugura- producer and exporter of lique- the Next Wave of Gas Supply from tion ceremony, and he visited the fied natural gas (LNG) and as the Asia-Pacific Markets.” Today, two QP pavilion during the opening of global capital of the gas-to-liquids senior officials from Qatargas will the exhibition. (GTL) industry. be speaking in both the technical The QP pavilion, which Now on its 27th edition, the and commercial streams of the measures a total of 464 square Gastech Conference & Exhibition conference, while a RasGas offi- metres in area, showcases the brings together all major players cial will also deliver a presenta- corporation’s extensive activi- in the global gas industry, attract- tion about the Barzan Gas Project ties in the oil and gas industry ing the participation of many top tomorrow. as well as the operations of its government officials, the senior First held in London in 1972, Industrial Cities Directorate. management of companies and the Gastech Conference and Also included in the QP pavil- hundreds of industry profes- Exhibition was last hosted in ion are the exhibition booths of sionals from all over the world. Doha in 2002. Qatargas Operating Company Hosted this year by Korea Gas THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Osborne visits Tata Steel factory S&P slashes Qatar Exchange Brazil rating on unclear back in green, policy signals

WASHINGTON: Standard & up 51.02 points Poor’s cut Brazil’s credit rating by one notch, citing the govern- ment’s unclear policy signals as it faces a weaker fiscal situation Egypt market leads regional gains and slower growth. S&P put Brazil’s rating at DOHA: Qatar Exchange ended minister said the shares of BBB-, the lowest level for invest- in the green area yesterday, indebted mortgage lender Amlak, ment grade debt, and called the adding 51.02 points, or 0.45 per- an Emaar affiliate, would resume outlook stable. cent, to close at 11,309.53 points trading in the second half of this S&P said the rating cut reflects from Monday’s close of 11,258.51. year. “We believe this action is “slippage” in the government’s The volume of the shares positive for Emaar, which has fiscal balance and the prospects traded fell to 15,656,428 yester- total assets of about DH938m that slow growth over the com- day from 15,845,672 on Monday invested in Amlak,” brokerage ing years will leave the govern- and the value of shares increased Mubasher said in a note. ment less able to strengthen the to QR642,170,175.46 from “...Resuming trading for Amlak balance. QR505,786,828.53 Monday. could, in our view, add to Emaar’s The rating agency also cited Among the top gainers were valuation via Amlak’s market weakening external accounts and Qatar National Bank which was value; even if this was a minimal Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne visits Tata Steel in Port Talbot, Wales, yesterday. “a constrained ability to adjust up 0.23 percent to QR177.30, add.” policy ahead of the October presi- Industries Qatar gained 1.37 Abu Dhabi’s bourse climbed dential elections.” percent to QR177.40, Barwa Real 0.2 percent despite Abu Dhabi Both cyclical and structural Estate added 4.53 percent to National Energy Co (TAQA) Bank of Moscow factors are behind the growth QR35.75 and Mazaya Qatar up dropping by its daily limit of Crimea crisis hits outlook, S&P said, pointing to by 2.99 percent to QR13.78. 10 percent after the company low investment, only 18 percent The banking and financial sec- reported a 2013 loss and proposed plans expansion of GDP last year. tor index gained 0.14 percent, no dividend payout. “Combined, these factors while consumer goods and serv- The stock sank to Dh1.26, hit- German business: Ifo underscore the government’s ices sector index lost 0.10 percent. ting major technical support at in Crimea soon diminished room for maneuver The industrial sector added 0.90 Dh1.26-27, the lows this month FRANKFURT: The German its lowest level in seven months, in the face of external shocks,” percent, while insurance sector and last December. MOSCOW: Russian banks may Ifo business confidence index also amid uncertainty about the it said. was down 1.48 percent. Bahrain’s bourse fell 1.5 percent want to develop their business fell for the first time for five economic fallout from the cri- At the same time, it said, Elsewhere in the region, Egypt’s as local banks continued to slide. in Crimea, with VTB’s Bank months in March, data showed sis in Crimea. But analysts said net external debt is rising but bourse resumed a rally after a Khaleeji Commercial Bank of Moscow most interested in yesterday, as the Crimea crisis the uncertainty will not derail remains “manageable.” minor correction on Monday to shed another 2 percent after post- expanding there, Kommersant hurts sentiment in Europe’s Germany’s economic recovery “Brazil’s general government lead gains across the Middle East, ing the same decline on Monday newspaper reported yesterday biggest economy. just yet. debt burden is high, but its com- while Bahraini banks weighed when it said it had cancelled plans citing sources. The Ifo economic institute’s “While business expectations position remains solid... These on Manama’s bourse after some to merge with unlisted Bank Al Kommersant reported that closely watched business cli- have continued their slide, owing factors underpin the low-invest- lenders went ex-dividend or chose Khair. Arab Banking Corp, which an option being considered for mate index fell to 110.7 points no doubt to concern about the ment-grade ratings.” not to pay dividends at all. plunged its daily limit of 10 per- Crimea’s banks could lead to a this month from 111.3 points Crimean crisis and the emerg- S&P warned that even after Egypt’s market index added cent a day earlier after going ex- Russian bank establishing 300 in February. “The crisis of the ing Asian economies, companies the presidential election, the 1.1 percent in widespread gains dividend, lost another 7.4 percent. branches in the region. emerging economies and the still view their current business prospects for the government to despite fresh protests against It jumped its daily limit for Crimea has around 70 banks events in Crimea are impacting situation as somewhat improved. make needed policy adjustments death sentences handed down five straight sessions earlier currently registered with the the confidence of German firms,” All in all, solid growth of 2 per- were not strong. to 529 Muslim Brotherhood this month in anticipation of its National Bank of Ukraine. The Ifo chief Hans-Werner Sinn said cent seems likely this year,” said Despite recent budget cuts, the supporters. $0.05-a-share dividend. paper reported that Bank of in a statement. Commerzbank economist Joerg government will find it difficult Optimism about political tran- Ahli United Bank slid 1.2 per- Moscow, bought by Russia’s sec- “Companies expressed far less Kraemer. to achieve its surplus target of sition has been one of the main cent after announcing that its ond largest bank VTB in 2011, is confidence in future business UniCredit economist Andreas 1.9 percent of GDP, given slow drivers of the continuing rally, shares would not entitle their showing the greatest interest in developments, but were more sat- Rees said that “the latest events growth and continued tax exemp- said Mohamed Radwan, director holders to an 18 percent cash such a plan. isfied with their current business are some kind of a stress test for tion policies. of international sales at Pharos dividend from today. Bahrain It may not open branches under situation,” he said. our upbeat growth forecast” of S&P forecast 1.8 percent Securities. “It has been a very Islamic Bank fell 2.8 percent after its own name, but through a sub- Ifo calculates its headline index more than 2.5 percent this year. growth this year, picking up good couple of weeks,” he said. its shareholders decided to pay no sidiary, the paper cited a source on the basis of companies’ assess- “Yes, in the meantime, the slightly to 2.0 percent in 2015. “The market has been moving on dividends for 2013. as saying. ments of their current business forecast risks have shifted to the “We still expect overall private- a strong momentum.” In Oman, trading was sus- Bank of Moscow declined to and the outlook for the next six downside. But no, there is no rea- sector investment to remain lack- Dubai’s bourse added 0.6 pended shortly after the session comment. months. son to ring the alarm bell or even luster given persistent negative percent, rebounding following opened on Tuesday due to a tech- Crimean Deputy Prime The sub-index measuring to call off the upswing,” Rees said. business sentiment and a wait- Monday’s mild profit-taking. nical issue. The bourse said trad- Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev current business rose to 115.2 “As long as the Crimean crisis and-see attitude associated with Heavyweight Emaar Properties ing would resume today. has been quoted by Russian media points in March, its highest level does not escalate ... the hit to for- the election,” it said. rose 0.2 percent after a UAE QNA & REUTERS as saying Crimea will drop the in nearly two years, from 114.4 ward-looking confidence will only Also putting a hold on invest- Ukrainian hryvnia and adopt the points in February. By contrast, be a temporary one. Furthermore, ment as the risk of energy ration- Russian rouble in April, and will the outlook sub-index fell to 106.4 please keep in mind that ing and the impact of a sharp rise QATARI MARKET have a banking system completed points from 108.3 points. German export shares to Russia in interest rates last year, the rat- Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P by April 15. Last week, the ZEW barom- and Ukraine are small,” the ing agency said. REUTERS AFP AFP Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.13 1.03% Aa2 AA eter of investor sentiment fell to expert said. Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 1.09% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.88 2.34% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 113.50 2.72% Aa2 AA Faysal Bank plans to Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 108.38 3.28% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 155.00 4.82% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 117.25 5.18% Aa2 AA convert into Islamic Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 108.25 5.19% Aa2 AA Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.69 0.68% Aa2 AA KARACHI: Karachi-based Bank, while FBL acquired the Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 111.00 3.07% Aa2 AA Faysal Bank (FBL) will con- Pakistani operations of Royal Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 102.38 1.25% A1 A- vert itself into a full-fledged Bank of Scotland. Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.50 1.84% A1 A- Islamic lender as its major- FBL’s conversion is the QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.12% NR NR ity shareholder, Bahrain’s latest in a string of corpo- QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.25 1.11% Aa3 A+ Ithmaar Bank, looks to con- rate actions that may boost QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.25 1.86% Aa3 A+ solidate its business lines. the Islamic banking sector in Islamic retail bank Ithmaar, Pakistan, the world’s second Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.25 2.01% A2 A- with a 67 percent stake in most populous Muslim nation. Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.13 1.32% A2 A- FBL, wants to extract up to Regulators hope the branch Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.25 2.83% A2 A- $35m in savings from a turna- network of Islamic banks, Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 107.25 3.55% A2 A- round plan after posting a net which now comprises about Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 103.63 4.59% A2 A- loss of BD29.9m ($79.3m) last 1,200 branches, will double Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 102.25 1.03% Aa3 A year, against a loss of BD10.1m while the industry’s market Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.50 3.11% Aa3 A in 2012. share will rise to 15 percent As of December, FBL had of the banking system by 2018 Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.13 3.87% Aa3 A Pakistan’s second-largest from roughly 10 percent now. SOVEREIGNS Islamic banking window with FBL would help the indus- Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P 53 stand-alone branches. try hit those targets: it held Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.33 -6.02% Aa2 AA Its conversion would make total deposits of Rs271.1bn Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.63 2.18% Aa2 AA its remaining 216 branches ($2.8bn) as of December, Islamic, subject to shareholder 9.8 percent of which where Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 107.75 1.52% NR NR and regulatory approvals. Islamic deposits. Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.88 2.25% NR NR “FBL is in discussion with That compares to Rs868bn Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 124.50 3.51% NR NR the State Bank of Pakistan on in deposits held by Pakistan’s Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 117.38 3.92% NR NR the conversion of the entire Islamic banks as of December, Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 102.88 0.44% Aa2 AA operations of FBL to sharia- representing 12.1 percent of Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.38 2.94% NR BBB compliant banking,” Ithmaar’s the entire banking sector, cen- Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 107.50 4.08% NR BBB chief executive Ahmed Abdul tral bank data showed. Rahim said. “At this stage, the Last year, Pakistan’s Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 102.50 5.26% Caa1 B- exact timeline for the conver- Summit Bank said it would Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.25 3.58% NR BBB- sion cannot be ascertained, but convert itself into a full-

*Periodic Distribution Amount it is expected to take between fledged Islamic bank over a IMPORTANT NOTE: two to three years.” three- to five-year period. Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Ithmaar will increase its Ithmaar now holds a legacy is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services control of FBL by adding two portfolio of seven conven- Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary more members to its board, tional assets after it under- data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not reaching a total of five mem- went a conversion of its own take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds bers out of eight, including its in 2010, from a conventional can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant president and chief executive. investment bank into a retail liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not Ithmaar’s shareholding in FBL Islamic bank. a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. will remain unchanged, Rahim Since 2010, it has resolved added. Last year, Ithmaar issues pertaining to 14 con- completed a merger with ventional assets, with its affiliate First Leasing Bank sharia board granting it a through a share swap agree- grace period to divest hold- ment. In 2010, Ithmaar inte- ings or make them Shariah- grated its subsidiary Shamil compliant. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Quantitative easing not out of the question: ECB Central Bank could buy assets to help support economy

FRANKFURT: The European on the outlook for inflation, and Central Bank could buy loans Weidmann said a negative deposit and other assets from banks to rate could be a way to address help support the eurozone econ- the impact from a strengthening omy, Germany’s Bundesbank currency. “If you wanted to coun- has said, marking a radical sof- ter the consequences of a strong tening of its stance on the con- appreciation of the euro for the tested policy. inflation outlook, negative rates The ECB has cut interest rates would, however, appear to be a to a record low and promised to more appropriate measure than keep them low for some time, others,” he said. “But we are talk- having also flooded the banking ing about hypothetical scenarios system with cheap crisis loans. here and not about imminent But the eurozone economy is still decisions.” weak and inflation remains stuck A negative deposit rate would below the ECB’s target. mean that banks have to pay As the search for alternative to park their funds at the ECB A postal worker outside a Royal Mail sorting office in northern England. measures continues, Bundesbank overnight. The impact such a step President Jens Weidmann (pic- would have to improve bank lend- tured) entered the debate, saying ing to companies and households the ECB could consider purchas- is “debatable”, Weidmann said. Royal Mail to axe jobs after going private ing eurozone government bonds The Bundesbank represents or top-rated private sector assets, the 18-member eurozone’s big- LONDON: Royal Mail plans “First the government sells Prime Minister David Cameron opening the door to one of the Weidmann’s ECB Governing gest economy, Germany, and its to axe 1,600 jobs under a fresh off Royal Mail on the cheap and argues that the flotation price ECB’s most divisive policy options Council colleague, Jozef Makuch president’s words carry weight cost-cutting programme, now the newly privatised serv- encouraged buyers onto the mar- — quantitative easing (QE). who heads Slovakia’s central in the debate over what the ECB Britain’s main postal operator ice is ruthlessly sacrificing jobs,” ket, while the partial-sale formed “Of course any private or public bank, said deflation risks in the should do as traditional tools such said yesterday six months after Brian Scott said in a statement. part of the government’s drive to assets that we might buy would eurozone had risen and a number as changing borrowing costs lose its controversial part-privatisa- “It’s more proof that Royal Mail’s slash Britain’s budget deficit. have to meet certain quality of ECB policymakers were pre- their force. Weidmann cited limits tion by the government. primary reason for existing is now Strongly opposed to the change standards,” Weidmann, who is a pared to take decisive steps if under the ECB’s mandate on fund- The company said that most of about making profits rather than in ownership, union bosses argue member of the European Central needed, also not ruling out QE. ing governments, which a pending the jobs to go would be in man- serving the nation,” he added. that service has suffered. Bank’s Governing Council, told “If circumstances show that German constitutional court rul- agement, with no delivery staff Royal Mail shares lost 1.63 The government has long MNI in an interview published it is needed to support adding ing on the legality of the Outright losing their positions. It added percent to stand at 574.5 pence in insisted that partial privatisation yesterday. “But the overall ques- liquidity, I do not have a reason Monetary Transactions(OMT) in a statement that it would cre- the afternoon trading on London’s will allow Royal Mail the freedom tion is one of effectiveness, costs not to support it, but I do not have bond purchase programme is ate “300 new or enhanced roles”, benchmark FTSE 100 index, to raise capital, continue modern- and side-effects. We are currently a reason to pre-judge, because I do expected to underline. resulting in a net loss of 1,300 jobs. which was strongly higher over- ising and meet booming demand discussing the effectiveness of not know those circumstances,” “This does not mean that a Royal Mail is shedding about 1.0 all. “Investors saw their shares for online shopping that generates these measures. The intended he told a news conference. QE programme is generally out percent of its total workforce. fall out of favour... as plans to shed parcel traffic. effects would then have to be The euro fell broadly after of the question. But we have to The changes are expected to 1,600 staff were met with threats The privatisation was the big- weighed against the costs and Weidmann’s comments to ensure that the prohibition of deliver annualised cost savings of of industrial action from union gest by a British government since side-effects,” he said. around $1.3790. The European monetary financing is respected,” around £50m, it said. bosses,” said CMC Markets trader the late prime minister Margaret There was currently no need to Commission’ vice-president for Weidmann said. Royal Mail chief executive Alexander Young in a note to cli- Thatcher sold off former state- act, Weidmann stressed, but if the industry, Antonio Tajani, had said “We need to discuss this and Moya Greene said the cuts were ents. Royal Mail shares floated in owned companies British Gas and outlook for inflation changed, for earlier on Tuesday that at $1.40 ideally achieve a common view.” necessary for the company “to October valued at just 330 pence, British Telecom in the 1980s. example as a result of a stronger the euro was too strong. QE would represent a radical effectively compete in the letters 74 percent below the current price. Privatisation of Royal Mail saw euro exchange rate, the ECB could Makuch said it should weaken departure for the ECB, which and parcels markets”. Britain’s coalition government its around 150,000 staff receive a step in to preserve price stability, by the end of the year, however. has so far refrained from taking A senior official at Britain’s last year sold off more than half free stake in the business, in the most likely with another inter- The ECB has started to pay such a step also because it is such largest union Unite warned of of Royal Mail but has since been largest employee share scheme est rate cut and as a so far more closer attention to the euro a highly political issue in the strike action in the case of com- accused of selling the company of any major British flotation for theoretical option, QE. exchange rate and its impact eurozone. REUTERS pulsory redundancies. too cheaply. almost 30 years. AFP Gulf Capital to sell rest UK’s Kingfisher to return cash of GMS in two years to investors DUBAI: Abu Dhabi-based pri- our stake and will plan to sell the LONDON: Kingfisher, Europe’s vate equity firm Gulf Capital rest in the open market within biggest home-improvements plans to sell its remaining the coming two years. The London retailer, said yesterday that it stake in Gulf Marine Services Exchange is very liquid and will will return cash to shareholders within two years in the open enable us to fully exit our invest- after annual profits rose by a market and expects to make a ment smoothly,” he said. quarter, sending its share price total profit of about 10 times its Gulf Capital bought an 80 surging. original investment, or around percent stake in Gulf Marine London-listed Kingfisher said $600m. Services (GMS) through its GC in a results statement that it Gulf Capital floated approxi- Equity Partners II Fund in 2007, would return £200m to investors mately 40 percent of its hold- and grew the company from a in its current financial year, which ing in the vessel operator on the UAE-based oil and gas services could take the form a share buy- London Stock Exchange earlier firm into one with operations back and special dividend. this month and plans to sell its across the Gulf region, as well as The group added that it had remaining 49.7 percent stake in in the Middle East and Europe’s agreed to sell its entire 21.2-per- the coming two years, chief execu- North Sea. cent stake in Germany peer tive Karim El Solh said yesterday. GMS operates self-propelled, Hornbach for £195m following a That could give a boost to a self-elevated support vessel fleets review of the investment. Middle East private equity mar- for clients in the oil and gas sector. Kingfisher said that its net prof- ket which has been almost frozen Gulf Capital paid close to $60m its jumped 25.9 percent to £710m since the global crisis hit in 2009. for its original stake according to in the group’s 2013-2014 financial “We’ve made almost 10 times Reuters calculations. year that ended on February 1. our money on this investment. The initial public offering That compared with profit after That’s more than the size of the (IPO), completed last week, val- tax of £564m in the same part of whole Equity Partners Fund,” El ued GMS at £472m at the offer the previous year. Solh said from his office in Abu price of 135 pence and total pro- The company, which runs the Dhabi, referring to a $533m Gulf ceeds raised in the IPO were B&Q home improvements chain Capital fund which is almost 80 £179m, after exercise of the over- in Britain as well as Castorama percent invested over eight deals allotment option. At 1320 GMT, and Brico Depot stores in France, across the Gulf region. GMS shares were up 1.4 percent added that revenues grew 5.2 per- “We’ve diluted 40 percent of at 158.5 pence. REUTERS cent to £11.13bn. AFP

Oriental Weavers net up 30pc

People sit in front of market by Egypt’s Oriental Weavers, the world’s biggest machine-woven carpet maker, during its annual exhibition in Cairo. Oriental Weavers said yesterday it would pay a dividend of two Egyptian pounds a share after its net profit for 2013 rose almost 30 percent. WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Fracking won’t crack our What happens when a job is a long shot dependence on Russian gas

BY CATHERINE RAMPELL BY JOHN SAUVEN Claims that fracking offers a panacea to a significant contribution to both tackling dependence on Russian gas don’t even stack climate change and delivering energy secu- ay it with me: The long-term unemployed are not lazy. Nor s tensions with Russia inten- up. A study for the oil and gas industry by rity, in favour of fracking, is irresponsible are they coddled, hammocked or enjoying a coordinated, sify, government ministers and consultants Pöyry, found that European in the extreme. taxpayer-funded vacation. They are, however, extremely conservative commentators supplies wouldn’t even come on stream at While Ridley and Fallon may like to cast Sunlucky — and getting unluckier by the day. have increasingly sought to scale for at least a decade. The study also themselves as rational men with pragmatic Take Renardo Gomez of Fitchburg, Mass. In three years, Gomez capitalise on the crisis to sell shows that while the EU’s dependency on solutions, the truth is that nobody even ricocheted from a stable hospital job of 20 years that paid $34,000 Afracking to the electorate. Over the week- gas imports could be reduced by up to 18 knows whether the UK’s shale gas reserves annually to a sudden layoff to a series of low-paying, short-term end, Conservative energy minister Michael percent depending on the success of EU will be economic to extract, let alone are gigs interspersed with longer and longer spells of unemployment. Fallon argued that the UK should reduce shale gas extraction, it is actually supplies of significant enough to reduce our reliance on A new Brookings study that tracks the fates of those unlucky its reliance on gas imports by fracking for liquefied natural gas from Qatar that would gas imports. Meanwhile, a genuine source workers who don’t manage to find stable new jobs in their first shale gas in the UK. The foreign minister, be displaced by shale gas. Supplies that are of indigenous gas that is could be brought few weeks of unemployment suggests that this post-layoff tailspin William Hague, wrote in the Telegraph that deemed “secure” by Fallon. Even a shale on stream now – biogas from waste – is is distressingly common. we need to “develop indigenous European gas boom will have no impact on Russian being hampered by frequent and seemingly It was already known that the longer workers have been out energy supplies … such as shale gas”, while imports until well into the next decade, by arbitrary shifts in levels of support for its of a job, the lower their chance of finding work in the coming commentators including Matt Ridley which point demand for gas should be falling development. month. The Brookings paper — by the former Obama administra- argued that if it wasn’t for “the greens in sharply in the EU as efforts to limit climate What we know for certain is that using tion economist Alan Krueger and his Princeton colleagues Judd suits, rather than kaftans” we could have a change bear fruit. less of something means you don’t depend Cramer and David Cho — took this analysis a step further: What fully-fledged fracking industry up and run- It is, in fact, our efforts to tackle cli- on it as much. Yet the government’s efforts about (gulp) these workers’ longer-run prospects? ning already. mate change that will reduce the UK’s and to make sure the UK uses its gas more effi- It turns out that from 2008 to 2012, only one in 10 people The chutzpah of these attempts to build Europe’s exposure to energy imports. The ciently have been an abject failure: January who were already long-term unemployed in a given month had support for an increasingly unpopular frack- EU has set a target of 80 percent to 95 per- saw just 33 sign-ups to its flagship Green returned to “steady, full-time employment” by the time govern- ing industry is astonishing. These are the cent emissions reductions by 2050. In the Deal programme. ment surveyors checked in on them a little more than a year later. same people who were arguing the case for UK, the government’s independent climate Meanwhile, the coalition’s systematic “Steady” in this case means that they were working for at least the construction of up to 40 gas power sta- advisers have suggested that we will need dismantling of investor confidence in the four consecutive months. And the other nine in 10 workers? They tions. This would have left us even more to largely remove gas from the power sector renewable industry has been holding back were still out of work, toiling in part-time or transitory jobs or dependent on imported gas. in the coming decades. billions of pounds of investment in the very had dropped out of the labour force altogether. The Crimean crisis should be a catalyst Yet the government, including the energy energy sources that don’t require imported In other words, like Gomez, the vast majority of people caught for a rethink about whether the govern- minister, is opposing measures that could fuel – wind, tides and sun. The same politi- in long spells of joblessness do not find work again, or at the very ment’s “dash for gas” is the wisest energy make this ambition a reality by blocking cians who for years have happily let billions least have trouble hanging on to whatever replacement jobs they policy for a country with dwindling North nationally binding EU targets for both of pounds from imported energy costs flow had initially thanked their lucky stars for. Sea resources. But rather than admit that renewables and energy efficiency. The into the pockets of oligarchs in other coun- It’s unclear why unemployment becomes increasingly self-per- we should be reducing our dependence on European commission’s assessment of the tries for years are now complaining about petuating. Perhaps it is merely selection bias — that is, the most gas, its proponents prefer to blame the impacts of these targets found that they our dependence on imported gas. The only desirable jobless workers get picked off early, leaving the less desir- green groups that have for decades been could cut net energy imports by more than thing they’ve proven is that we should look able workers behind to rack up more and more weeks of unem- arguing for a reduced reliance on finite half by 2050. elsewhere for our energy policy. ployment. But the Princeton researchers had difficulty detecting energy sources. Rejecting support for policies that make THE GUARDIAN obvious differences between the short-term unemployed and the long-term unemployed. These two groups are about equally spread around the economy by sector, occupation and educational attain- ment, and for the most part are similar demographically (though the long-term unemployed skew older). Such demographic similarities suggest that something about the experience of joblessness tarnishes workers’ marketability. One possibility is stigma. In another recent study, researchers sent out fake resumes in response to job postings. All other quali- fications held equal, employers were much less likely to respond to resumes from applicants who had been out of work longer. Workers’ skills may deteriorate as they spend more time on their couches instead of in cubicles or on work sites. Professional networks might also fray, which is especially damaging for those in sales. Hard skills in dynamic industries such as technology might become outdated. Even softer skills, like showing up on time or exhibiting self-confidence, may erode. One car dealership manager I spoke with last year said that applicants who had been job-hunting longest seemed to have the most trouble making eye contact with him and expressing any enthusiasm or hopefulness about their future. “Why would I hire someone like that?” he said. “He isn’t even trying to sell himself. There’s no way he could sell a car.” One implication of the Brookings research is that policymakers should have done more to prevent the short-term jobless from falling into long-term joblessness in the first place. Of course, time machines are rarely an effective policy tool. Which is why many economists have been hoping that a strengthening recovery would be enough to help Gomez, insecure would-be car salesmen and the nation’s 4 million other long-term jobless workers. As demand picks up, many analysts have declared, businesses would have no choice but to absorb workers with more pockmarked resumes. After all, in a booming economy, supposedly even ex-felons are in high demand. Alas, the Brookings paper makes that deus ex machina appear unlikely. The authors looked at the reemployment chances for long-term unemployed workers around the country and found that these workers do not fare substantially better in states with booming job markets than in states with struggling job markets. Which means that even as the overall US economy improves, those already deeply scarred by the financial crisis are unlikely to share in the bounty. WP-BLOOMBERG

Morgan Stanley investors await Fed’s buyback blessing BY LAUREN TARA hurdle in the near term, which paying only a nominal dividend clearly recovered from the crisis, of, ‘What does the Fed have to of that authorization before LACAPRA could be done by boosting prof- since the financial crisis and has he wants capital returns to reflect say?’” year-end. its, buying back shares, or both, not had a meaningful stock buy- that strength. How much the Fed will allow Even with those repurchases, organ Stanley share- shareholders may get impatient back program since 2006. Morgan Stanley declined to Morgan Stanley to spend on buy- Morgan Stanley’s outstanding holders will find out and demand that management Gorman recently referred to comment about its proposed buy- backs will affect how fast it can share count increased by 2 per- this week whether outline a bolder strategy to boost Morgan Stanley’s five-cent quar- back and dividend plans or the hit the 10 percent target, which cent last year because of shares Mthe US Federal profits. terly dividend as “distressed,” implications for ROE. would be more than double the 4.3 issued as part of compensation. Reserve will allow the bank to “They should be generating even though he said the bank is Despite some concerns of ROE, percent ROE it delivered in 2013. By comparison, its chief rival start returning capital to share- double-digit ROEs, and if they in a position of financial strength. the stock was among the best per- Morgan Stanley’s returns were Goldman Sachs has spent $21bn holders in a meaningful way for aren’t, what are they going to Bank of America Corp and formers in the financial sector weighed down by one-time litiga- repurchasing shares since 2010, the first time since the financial do about it?” said Mike Mayo, a Citigroup Inc pay lower quar- last year, up 64 percent in 2013, tion costs, an accounting charge reducing outstanding stock by crisis. longtime bank analyst at CLSA. terly dividends of a penny, while and shares have more than dou- and the cost of the Smith Barney 15 percent, and has increased its But even if the Wall Street He raised a similar question at Goldman Sachs Group Inc pays bled since their post-crisis low of purchase. This year’s profits are dividend twice. bank gets the Fed’s blessing to buy Morgan Stanley’s annual meeting 55 cents, JPMorgan Chase & Co $12.36 in 2012. Shares are up 3.4 expected to be helped by higher Analysts are estimating that back more shares and potentially last year, prompting Gorman to pays 38 cents and Wells Fargo percent year-to-date, closing at earnings from that business Morgan Stanley will buy back raise its dividend, it is unlikely to say the bank would meet the 10 & Co pays 30 cents. All of those $32.44 on Monday. as well as a reduction of fixed- about $700m worth of stock this hit a shareholder return target percent target some time in 2014. banks bought back more stock Some investors and analysts say income trading assets that are year on a net basis, on average, Chief Executive James Gorman Last week, the Fed said Morgan than Morgan Stanley last year it is less important that Morgan costly under new regulations. according to ISI Group. The bank set out for this year, analysts and Stanley passed its annual stress in dollar terms. Stanley hits Gorman’s return-on- Although analysts expect would need to buy back nearly investors said. test, a requirement of the Dodd- Morgan Stanley has paid lit- equity goal this year than that its Morgan Stanley’s profits to jump 20 times that amount to hit a The target, called return on Frank financial reform legislation tle cash back to investors because returns are moving in the right 62 percent this year, many still 10 percent ROE target, based equity (ROE), measures how that examines how well big banks’ it had a bigger priority: fund- direction. describe Gorman’s 2014 goal as on the average analyst earnings much profit a bank makes using balance sheets would hold up in ing its purchase of the Smith “They’ve had to get their bal- aggressive. estimate. shareholder funds. An ROE of at hypothetical crises. Barney brokerage business from ance sheet back in order, and now It would require Morgan Instead, analysts are forecast- least 10 percent would show that As part of the test, banks sub- Citigroup, a deal executed over it’s time to start sending some of Stanley to exceed analysts’ earn- ing a return-on-equity of 7.5 Morgan Stanley can earn enough mitted capital plans, including four and a half years that was fin- that money toward sharehold- ings expectations by a substantial percent this year, on average, to pay for new capital and signal how much they would like to ished in June and ultimately cost ers,” said Michael Cuggino, pres- amount, or buy back more stock according to Thomson Reuters that the bank is past the restruc- spend buying back stock and pay- Morgan Stanley $11.7bn. ident and portfolio manager of than analysts expect the Fed to data. Next year, analysts esti- turing it needed to make after the ing out dividends. On Wednesday, “We have been, for the last the Permanent Portfolio Family allow. mate Morgan Stanley will reach financial crisis. Morgan Stanley’s the Fed will say whether those couple of years, quite conserva- of Funds, which owns Morgan Morgan Stanley started buying an ROE of 8.6 percent, on average. annual return on equity has lan- plans have been approved, and tive and deliberately so,” Gorman Stanley shares. “But they don’t back stock last year for the first Analysts do not expect the bank guished below 10 percent since how much each bank can spend. said in a recent interview with have 100 percent control when it time since 2006. It announced to hit 10 percent on a quarterly or 2006. Morgan Stanley, the sixth larg- Fox Business Network. But, he comes to meeting their ROE tar- a $500m repurchase program annual basis in either year. If the bank cannot jump that est US bank by assets, has been added, now that the bank has gets. It gets back to the question in July, and used $350m worth REUTERS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 11,309.53 0.45 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 16,722.13 0.45 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,473.5 0.60 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,897.5 0.53 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,737.21 0.14 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5350.951 -11.124 -0.21 5477.3 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,902.75 0.10 % QR153.476 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4339.23 62.89 1.47 4432.5 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 3,984.2 0.90 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9784 QR 6.0617 QE All Share Insurance 2,774.5 1.48 % Dj Indu Average 16276.69 0 0 16588.25 14395 Euro ...... QR 4.9844 QR 5.0543 QE All Share Real Estate 2,161.33 2.94 % QR 2.3508 CA$ ...... QR 3.2163 QR 3.2801 QE All Share Telecoms 1,493.67 0.39 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,998.74 2.35 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0983 QR 4.1568 QE Market Summary Comparison Hang Seng Inde/D 21732.32 -114.13 -0.52 23469.33 21137.61 Yen ...... QR 0.0352 QR 0.0359 Today Previous day Aus$ ...... QR 3.3028 QR 3.3679 Iseq Overall/D 4891.75 41.22 0.85 5195.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 25-03-2014 24-03-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0597 QR 0.0608 Index 11,309.53 11,258.51 Karachi 100 In/D 26670.14 278.73 1.06 27427.04 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0369 QR 0.0376 Change 51.02 81.61 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0799 QR 0.0815 % 0.45 0.72 Nikkei 225 Index 14423.19 -52.11 -0.36 16164.01 13995.86 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 8.96 8.47 $ 107.09 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1883.97 1536.03 Taka ...... QR 0.0466 QR 0.0475 Volume 15,656,428 15,845,672 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0375 QR 0.0382 Value (QAR) 642,170,175.46 505,786,828.53 Straits Times/D 3104.17 -7.66 -0.25 3187.8 2953.01 Trades 9,125 7,022 $ 104.13 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3335 QR 0.3432 Up 20 | Down 18 | Unchanged 04 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 25-03-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED

A C C-A/D 1268.55 -15.15 13370 Colgate-A/D 1343.3 -7.1 8150 Hind Unilever-/D 592 10.05 84114 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 238.2 3.25 8777 Rallis India-B/D 161.6 -1.6 7810 Kingfisher/D 428.3202 22.2 7633769 Aban Offs-B/D 498.25 -8.8 335933 Container Cor-/D 918.5 40.85 6417 Hind.Petrol-A/D 290.25 6.75 179056 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 33.7 -1.7 2572 Reliance Indus/D 360.55 -4.85 77284 Land Secs Grou/D 1039 13 540348 Aegis Logis-B/D 167.75 7.3 132490 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 48.1 -0.2 6469 Hindalco-A/D 120.65 -0.85 715145 Lgb Broth-B/D 352.1 14.95 9669 Ruchi Soya-B/D 27.8 -0.05 49675 Legal & Genera/D 209 1.3 7402753 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 131.5 0.55 42367 Dhampur Sugar-/D 39.4 0 10556 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 870.45 10.35 199387 Lloyd Metal-B/D 8.5 0.24 6066 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 324.1 10.1 61357 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 78.5928 0.09 32369126 Alembic-B/D 15.79 0.27 108521 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2721.35 -27.8 17012 I F C I-A/D 24.5 0.15 488506 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 14.5 -0.02 74801 Salora Inter-B/D 16 -0.2 3529 Marks & Sp./D 455.35 1.3 1998176 Alok Indus-B/D 5.99 -0.17 2590000 E I H-B/D 66.7 2.65 100100 Idbi-A/D 60.2 0.2 128843 Lupin-A/D 963.5 9.7 43780 Savita Oil-B/D 494.1 -14.9 20625 Next/D 6796.2362 85 139422 Apollo Tyre-A/D 156.8 8.7 5574568 E.I.D Parry-B/D 129.95 -2.75 35435 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 81 0.9 14810 Lyka Labs-B/D 10 -0.19 14043 Thirumalai-B/D 87.35 -0.95 7229 Pearson/D 1020.5 16 1075432 Asahi I Glass-/D 58 -0.8 31115 Eicher Motor-A/D 5944.9 145.95 3732 India Cement-B/D 54.4 -1.25 152998 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 106 -1.6 2536 Timexgroup-B/D 10.06 0.13 34654 Prudential/D 1329 11.5 1333428 Ashok Leyland-/D 20.25 1 3616450 Electrosteel-B/D 15 -0.03 26217 India Glycol-B/D 92.1 -1.25 14138 Mah.Seamless-B/D 177.2 2.8 3432 Tinplate-B/D 48.5 -0.05 26639 Rank Group/D 152 -1 239698 Ballarpur In-B/D 11.85 -0.11 143530 Emco-B/D 24.1 -0.55 60621 Indian Hotel-A/D 69.2 -0.9 71972 Mangalam Cem-B/D 109.9 -1.6 42942 Ub Engineer-B/D 8.76 0.13 4231 Rentokil Initi/D 124.9 1.4 182150 Bata India-A/D 1131.5 -10.9 13850 Escorts Fin-B/D 2.77 0.02 12206 Indo-Bcount-B/D 40 0.05 13464 Maral Overs-B/D 17.65 -0.2 5765 Ub Engineer-B/D 8.76 0.13 4231 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1086.28 5 1852736 Beml Ltd-B/D 288.45 -1.05 124113 Escorts-B/D 116.3 -1.95 163841 Indusind-A/D 486 -4.85 126201 Mastek-B/D 207.35 0 16698 Ultramarine-B/D 51.4 -1.1 9414 Rsa Insrance G/D 95.05 1.7 10787540 Bh Electronic-/D 1056.55 5.5 6583 Essar Oil-A/D 48.95 -0.6 252959 J.B.Chemical-B/D 124.25 0 27730 Max India L-A/D 200.5 1.4 21000 Unitech P -A/D 11.81 -0.08 2387231 Sainsbury(J)/D 308.828 -1.6 3236595 Bharat Bijle-B/D 455.4 -0.85 13393 Eveready Indu-/D 45.45 1 81033 Jagatjit Ind-T/D 54.6 2.5 3744 Mrpl-A/D 43.05 -0.7 206091 Univcable-T/D 24.5 -0.1 7104 Schroders/D 2590 16 65373 Bhartiya Int-B/D 208 -6.85 7905 F D C-B/D 127.8 -2.8 15580 Jagson Phar-B/D 10 0.05 3165 Nahar Spg.-B/D 95.65 -1.55 12146 Severn Trent/D 1890.5 19 159278 Bhel-A/D 196.5 8.3 769309 Federal Bank-A/D 91.45 -0.05 302086 Jbf Indu-B/D 78.85 1.45 19616 Nath Seeds-T/D 3.6 -0.09 5848 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 922.5 11.5 423428 Bom.Burmah-B/D 92.35 -2.4 14826 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.64 -0.17 29652 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.39 -0.01 9941 Nation Alum -A/D 36.1 0.55 54088 Smiths Group/D 1295.7 15 285259 Bombay Dyeing-/D 52.6 -1.45 263967 Finolex-B/D 189.05 -1.55 27775 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.69 0.02 86031 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.65 -1 21308 3I Group/D 393.8 1.9 306890 Standrd Chart /D 1206.562 5 2444998 Canfin Homes-B/D 186 -0.55 5213 Forbes-B/D 500 -2 2690 Jik Indust-T/D 0.9 -0.04 6500 Nepc India-B/D 2.8 -0.05 6052 Assoc.Br.Foods/D2799.4211 32 249214 Tate & Lyle/D 657 8 433463 Caprihans-B/D 37.4 -1.8 5234 Gail-A/D 368.05 -2.3 169559 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 180.4 9.8 1134155 Neuland Lab-B/D 260.45 -1.95 162937 B Sky B/D 928.5 -13 1910071 Tesco/D 293.7 0.35 11967368 Castrol Ind-T/D 289.1 0.45 29725 Gammon India-B/D 13.23 0.1 19535 Kabra Extr-B/D 30.5 0.25 3345 Nrb Bearings-B/D 49.3 1 23751 Barclays/D 236.4503 2.35 14174157 Unilever/D 2456.3517 30 1295163 Century Enka-B/D 132.35 -0.4 8559 Gangotri Tex-B/D 0.81 0 6000 Kajaria Cer-B/D 340 0.4 13570 O N G C-A/D 320.1 -1.1 526800 Bg Group/D 1097 14.5 1670778 United Util Gr/D 800.82 4 556473 Century Text-A/D 342.95 0 74126 Goodricke-B/D 141.4 -0.55 34037 Kalpat Power-B/D 89.4 0.15 41536 Ocl India-B/D 177.15 -16.75 2640 Bp/D 474.6 6.1 8037148 Vodafone Group/D 222.95 0.8 19014511 Chambal Fert-B/D 39.95 1.25 159533 Goodyear I -B/D 420.55 -4.85 53786 Kalyani Stel-B/D 55.2 -0.55 21475 Onward Tech-B/D 46.1 1.05 6193 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3236 22.5 1063299 Whitbread/D 4210.4865 54 100554 Chola Invest-B/D 254.1 0.55 2843 Hcl Infosys-B/D 37.1 -0.75 721194 Kanoria Chem-B/D 26.75 -0.2 4429 Orchid Chem-B/D 50.35 0.25 286907 Bt Group/D 385.4 2.3 7711316 Chowgule St-T/D 11.05 -0.16 4015 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 7.72 -0.01 228066 Kg Denim-B/D 13.5 -0.19 13657 Oudh Sugar-B/D 18.9 -0.9 14837 Centrica/D 331.6 0.1 5205137 Cipla-A/D 391.2 0 74978 Himat Seide-B/D 56 0 12041 Kilburnengg-B/D 20.85 0.05 11287 Punjab Chem.-B/D 68.8 -1.55 2857 Gkn/D 383.231 3.9 1582467 City Union Bk-/D 51.25 0 52732 Hind Motors-B/D 6.75 -0.16 181783 Kinetic Eng-B/D 39.8 -2.05 3725 Radico Khait-B/D 147.35 -2.15 88923 Hsbc Holdings/D 612.3277 6.2 7382443 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1370.15 -19.15 13224 Hind Org Chem-/D 10.5 -0.61 17779 Kopran-B/D 21.05 -0.3 43570 Rallis India-B/D 161.6 -1.6 7810 Imperial Tobac/D 2435 10 553358 WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Hapless Sixers lose NFL: Colts owner Irsay may face 25th game in a row punishment NEW YORK: National enacted by the rules committee Football League commis- were having a positive effect. sioner Roger Goodell said he Goodell said the Competition LeBron James helps Heat hold off Portland Trail Blazers was waiting for all the facts Committee reported to the own- to emerge before deciding ers that fines for hits on defence- NEW YORK: Austin Daye whether to punish Indianapolis less receivers dropped 37.5 scored a season-best 22 points Colts owner Jim Irsay for his percent to 25 in 2013 compared as the Spurs won their 14th con- recent arrest on suspicion of to 40 in 2012. secutive game while handing the intoxicated driving. The committee also found con- Sixers their 25th straight defeat. Goodell said Irsay took an cussion rates for wide receivers Philadelphia (15-56) can match important step by entering and defensive backs decreased the NBA record for longest losing a health-car facility to seek last year and ACL injuries for streak tomorrow at Houston. help, but said the team owner wide receivers and tight ends had Daye, playing only his fourth remains subject to possible NFL not increased, a worry expressed game since the Spurs acquired punishment. by some players fearing that knee him in a trade with Toronto on “We obviously will want to injuries could increase when February 20, hit six of 10 three- understand the facts before we players were punished for head- point shots, grabbed six rebounds take any steps as it relates to to-head contact. and made two blocks. any potential discipline,” Goodell Goodell also discussed the Tim Duncan scored 19 for the told reporters on Monday at the Miami Dolphins locker room NBA-best Spurs (54-16). NFL owners meeting in Orlando, investigation, saying there would Rookie guard Michael Carter- Florida. be no discipline until the three Williams and Thaddeus Young led “Obviously, any policies or any players implicated for causing Philadelphia with 17 points apiece. laws that are broken, whether mental distress to offensive line- The Miami Heat held off a furi- you’re commissioner or owner or man Jonathan Martin and others ous rally by the Portland Trail player or coach, those are subject — Richie Incognito, John Jerry Blazers to squeak out a victory. to discipline.” and Mike Pouncey — received a LeBron James, playing despite a Police in the Indianapolis sub- medical evaluation. sore back and an ankle injury, led urb of Carmel stopped Irsay on “The first phase for us is to get all scorers with 32 points, includ- March 16 after he was spotted the evaluations and determine ing the game-winning layup with driving slowly, coming to a stop what the treatment is,” Goodell 11 seconds left. in the roadway and failing to use said. “Depending on what the The Heat saw a 17-point, fourth- a turn signal. doctors prescribe, it could pre- quarter lead disappear and needed Irsay, 54, failed several road- vent them from being a part of a game-saving block by Chris Bosh side field sobriety tests before football for some period of time.” as Portland’s Damian Lillard drove he was arrested, according to Goodell also said league officials the basket in the final two seconds authorities. Police also say they will meet with representatives of looking to tie the score. found multiple prescription drugs the NFL Players Association on Lillard scored 19 for Portland in his vehicle. April 8 to discuss ways to make (45-26), who have now lost seven In other business, Goodell locker rooms a safer workplace. Milwaukee Bucks guard Ramon Sessions (13) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers centre DeAndre Jordan (6) of their past 11 games. said health and safety initiatives REUTERS The Heat (48-21) are 12-7 in during their NBA game at Staples Center. games without Dwyane Wade, who sat out Monday’s game due to an Noah finished with 10 points, eight Durant also had eight assists and Rockets (48-22) remain in the No. ankle injury. rebounds and eight assists. shot 10-for-21 from the field. 4 spot in the Western Conference Buffalo Bills owner Wilson dies Taj Gibson scored 23 points to Indiana (51-20) missed the Oklahoma City (52-18) played play-off race. lead the Chicago Bulls to a victory chance to clinch the Central without Russell Westbrook, out Kemba Walker led the Bobcats BUFFALO: Ralph Wilson, the founder and owner of the National over the Indiana Pacers. Division title, although that with a knee injury. (34-37) with 22 points, and Al Football League’s Buffalo Bills, has died at the age of 95, the team Kirk Hinrich added 18 points seems to be a formality. Their The injury-plagued Nuggets Jefferson finished with 20 points said yesterday. for the Bulls (40-31). Joakim lead atop the Eastern Conference (32-39) were never really in con- and 11 rebounds. Bills president Russ Brandon announced his passing at the NFL was trimmed to two games over tention the entire night. Goran Dragic used a combina- Annual Meeting in Florida, saying Wilson died peacefully at his home Miami. James Harden scored 31 points tion of outside jumpers and drives with his family by his side. NBA Results Paul George led the Pacers with as the Houston Rockets extended to the basket to score 19 points, “I speak for everyone within the Bills organisation when I say that Houston 100 Charlotte 89 21 points and George Hill scored their winning streak to four games helping the Phoenix Suns beat the we are all suffering a deep and profound sadness with the passing of 17, but Indiana shot just 37 percent with a victory over the Charlotte Atlanta Hawks and move a step our Hall of Fame owner Mr Wilson,” Brandon said in a statement Phoenix 102 Atlanta 95 from the field. Bobcats. Harden scored 14 of his closer to the play-offs. released by the Bills. “We have lost our founder, our mentor, our Miami 93 Portland 91 Kevin Durant scored 27 points points in the third quarter, when Dragic scored the last six points friend, and this is a very difficult time for us all.” Chicago 89 Indiana 77 to lead the Oklahoma City the Rockets pushed a four-point of the third quarter to punctuate Wilson owned the Bills for 54 years and was the last of the original Memphis 109 Minnesota 92 Thunder to a victory over the halftime lead to 78-68 after three an 18-9 run and send the Suns to American Football League owners. The AFL and NFL merged in 1970. New Orleans 109 Brooklyn 104 Denver Nuggets. quarters. their fourth consecutive victory. Under his ownership, the Bills won two AFL Championships in the Oklahoma City 117 Denver 96 Durant has now scored at Dwight Howard returned Phoenix (42-29) are eighth in 1960s and reached the Super Bowl four years in a row in the early least 25 points in 35 consecutive after missing the previous three the West and in a tight race with 1990s, but lost each time. San Antonio 113 Philadelphia 91 games and is five away from tying games with a left ankle strain Dallas and Memphis for the final Wilson was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Detroit 114 Utah 94 Michael Jordan’s all-time record and finished with 10 points and two play-off spots. REUTERS LA Clippers 106 Milwaukee 98 since the NBA merger in 1976. 10 rebounds in 32 minutes as the REUTERS NZ rugby finances improve WELLINGTON: Montreal beat Boston New World Cup, which we’re not going Zealand rugby’s financial posi- Player’s neck to host again for a long time, it’ll NEW YORK: The Montreal homecoming for Carter and Mike tion improved in 2013 with the be the biggest thing we have in Canadiens ended Boston’s NHL Results Richards, former cornerstones of national body’s war chest of cash broken in tackle this country for a decade, so we’re 12-game winning streak with a NY Rangers 4 Phoenix 3 the Flyers who were both traded reserves swelling to $63.7m, really looking forward to it.” hard-hitting shoot-out victory. in 2011. Los Angeles 3 Philadelphia 2 while all 14 top-tier provinces SYDNEY: A player in Tew said a new sponsorship Backup goaltender Peter Budaj, Defenseman Ryan McDonagh returned to surplus after years Australia’s National Rugby agreement with multinational starting because of past perform- Montreal 2 Boston 1 scored in overtime to lift the New of turmoil. League suffered a broken insurer AIG and the extension of ances against the Bruins, stopped Ottawa 4 Tampa Bay 3 York Rangers over the Phoenix The NZRU posted a NZ$2.9m neck and possible spinal cord long-standing agreements with 28 shots in the game and then all Dallas 2 Winnipeg 1 Coyotes. ($2.48m) profit in 2013, down damage after being floored by other sponsors had helped their four shoot-out attempts. Calgary 2 San Jose 1 McDonagh, who also assisted on slightly from NZ$3.2m a year ear- a three-man tackle, medical 2013 balance sheet. Alex Galchenyuk scored the the game-tying goal in the third lier but on the back of increased tests showed yesterday. Revenue increased to $117m last only shoot-out goal in the fourth go-ahead goal in the third period, period, poked in a rebound at 1:56 disbursements to the country’s The injury to 22-year-old year from $106.6m in 2012, though round as the Canadiens won for lifting the Los Angeles Kings to a of the extra period. provinces and a boost in the con- Newcastle Knights forward expenditure increased by a simi- the fourth time in the last five victory over the Flyers and snap- Phoenix (34-26-12) got a strong tribution to the players’ collective Alex McKinnon overshadowed lar amount — up to $114.1m from games. ping Philadelphia’s five-game win- effort from goaltender Mike agreement. his team’s 28-20 NRL loss $103.4m. The Canadiens (40-26-7) won ning streak. Smith, who stopped 25 shots Profit had been forecast at only to the Melbourne Storm on Increased payments to players despite seeding forwards Dale Jeff Carter and Justin Williams before leaving in the third period $790,000, the NZRU said. Monday night. and the provincial unions, includ- Wiese and Travis Moen knocked also scored goals for the Kings (41- with a leg injury. Cash reserves also swelled by “Scan results for Alex ing the introduction of a retainer out of the contest on the same play 25-6) against their former team. The Rangers (40-29-4) more than $13m to $63.7m in the McKinnon confirm a fracture system for the country’s rugby just 4:50 into the game. Matt Read and Jakub Voracek picked up two points and last financial year as they gener- at C4 and C5 (vertebrae). His sevens players as they build to The Bruins (49-17-6) were hop- had goals for Philadelphia (38-26- remain in second place in the ated or extended lucrative spon- spinal cord is not severed but the 2016 Rio Olympics, had con- ing to tie the second-longest win- 7). The Flyers tied the game after Metropolitan Division, just head sorship agreements. the doctors are unsure about tributed to the higher expenditure. ning streak in franchise history, trailing 2-0 but were denied the of Philadelphia, who they host New Zealand rugby has strug- the level of spinal cord com- The increased disbursements to which would have moved them to comeback win. today. gled in recent years as the global promise,” the Knights said in the semi-professional provincial within a game of tying the all-time The game marked a Philadelphia REUTERS financial crisis squeezed spon- a statement. level of the game had helped turn best of 14. sorship markets, which eroded AFP around their financial positions. Michael Cammalleri’s shoot- a healthy cash surplus of more New Zealand’s provincial unions out winner allowed the Flames to than $81m generated after the last a lot of businesses had to retrench have struggled with the move to deliver a come-from-behind vic- British and Irish Lions tour of the more than we did and, in a very professional rugby with the NZRU tory over the Pacific Division lead- country in 2005. considered way, we used up some periodically providing loans to ing San Jose Sharks. The NZRU also had to guaran- of our cash reserves.” financially pressured unions, Cammalleri had his point- tee part of any operational losses Tew said the NZRU was already while only last-minute negotia- scoring streak snapped at seven from hosting the 2011 World Cup, looking forward to the next Lions tions saved the Otago union from games, but was the lone success eventually contributing about tour in 2017 and while it should liquidation in 2012. in the shoot-out. $10m towards covering the $31.3m generate a windfall in terms of All 14 top-tier unions reported The upside for the Sharks is loss. revenue, the organisation planned profits for 2013 with a combined they clinched a play-off spot for “People talk about a rainy day. on it having a long term affect surplus of $3.3m, compared to the 10th consecutive season with Well it was raining and we sought rather than a short term boost to $620,000 in 2012 when only nine the result. However, they are shelter,” NZRU chief executive the balance sheet. unions were in the black, the eyeing up top spot in the overall Steve Tew said from Auckland via “We take the Lions income in NZRU said. standings. telephone about having to eat into that year and while it’s banked in The unions had a combined def- James Sheppard gave San Jose their reserves during the financial that year our view is that it’s got to icit of $630,000 in 2011 and Tew (46-18-9) the early edge in the crisis. be smoothed out over the 12 years had warned after the Otago bail- first period before Joe Colborne “We had the experience of keep- between tours,” he added. out that unions had to begin living answered for Calgary (30-35-7) Montreal Canadiens goalie Peter Budaj (30) makes a save while defenceman ing the business of rugby going “The Lions are also a pinnacle within their means. in the second. Alexei Emelin (74) looks on during the first period of their game. through the financial crisis when rugby event. Apart from rugby REUTERS Dwight King scored the WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Woods unsure of Masters start World number one resting and getting treatment for back spasms

WASHINGTON: World of the World Golf Championships announce a new sponsor for his number one Tiger Woods said event at Doral earlier this month, charity foundation’s US PGA Tour on Monday he remains uncer- visibly bothered by back pain over event at nearby Congressional tain if he will be able to play in the final holes, and pulled out Country Club. the Masters despite two weeks of the final round of the Honda In a putting contest with mem- of rest and treatment for back Classic the week before. bers of the military, Woods missed spasms. Woods was asked about the on three attempts, a poor omen for Woods, a 14-time major cham- details of his injury but did not the undulating greens of Augusta pion chasing the all-time record address specifics. A Golfweek mag- National where precise putting is 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, azine report last week said Woods always at a premium. withdrew from last week’s Arnold was suffering from a bulging disc Congressional Country Club Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, but it would not require surgery. members have until the end of the where he has won eight times Any operation might jeopard- month to submit votes on whether including last year, due to nagging ise Woods beyond the Masters or not to continue hosting the US back pain. in a year where the other majors PGA National in even-numbered A year after he won five tour- are played on courses where he years. naments and appeared set for a has won, Valhalla for the PGA Woods says he is looking at solid run in the majors in 2014, his Championship and Hoylake for the other area courses that could status for the Masters on April British Open, or finished second, serve as host of the event in odd- 10-13 remains in doubt even with with the US Open at Pinehurst, numbered years starting in 2015, a potential four weeks of rest for where he was the 2005 US Open with potentially more events if his aching back. runner-up. Congressional turns down any “For Augusta, it’s actually still a Woods has won four times at host role after this year. little too soon,” Woods said. “That’s Augusta National but has not “This event was started in DC the frustrating thing about this. taken a Masters green jacket and we would like to keep it here,” “I’ve had a couple of weeks off since 2005. He has not won any Woods said. and getting treatment and work- major title since the 2008 US Open Woods mentioned two potential ing on trying to get it ready for at Torrey Pines, when he limped courses were at Avenel in Potomac, Augusta. through an 18-hole play-off to which hosted a prior tour event, “As of right now, still too soon, defeat Rocco Mediate. and the Robert Trent Jones course which is very frustrating.” Woods spoke in Washington in northern Virginia, which hosted US golfer Tiger Woods (left) high-fives with Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson after he sank a putt on the roof of The 38-year-old American just down the street from the the first three Presidents Cups. the Newseum, during a challenge to help military families pay their mortgages, in Washington DC. struggled to a 78 in the final round US Capitol and White House to AFP Focus on ourselves, Villas-Boas happy with first Zenit win warns Celtic’s Forster SAINT PETERSBURG: in the first half. But after the 60th well despite all the difficulties. I difficulties,” he said. “My first win Andre Villas-Boas praised Zenit minute the team started to tire. hope we will continue winning here is the result of their passion- GLASGOW: Celtic keeper earlier this season and Forster St Petersburg for getting him “The reasons were simple: the together,” the Portuguese coach ate support as well.” Fraser Forster has warned his expects a similarly tough fixture off to a winning start with the hard match at Dortmund, the added. The former Porto, Chelsea teammates to focus on their this time round. Russian champions despite the intense practices after return to Brazilian forward Hulk scored and Tottenham manager was own fixtures as the Glasgow “It’s a challenging place to play turmoil of being dumped out of Saint Petersburg and of course in each half and goalkeeper Yury appointed as Zenit’s coach by the giants close in on the Scottish at as it’s a high ground and the the Champions League. the change of the head coach also Lodygin saved two penalties as club owners, the Russian state- Premiership title. playing surface is probably not the Zenit beat Samara 2-1 on influenced the players.” Zenit bounced back from their controlled gas giant Gazprom, who The Parkhead club face are just best in the league,” the one-cap Monday to stay three points Zenit have had a traumatic Champions League exit. have invested heavily in the club. four points away from claiming England international said. behind league leaders Lokomotiv week in which Italian coach “Luckily we have Yury. He really His first aim is to overtake their third successive league title “But you have to earn the right Moscow. Luciano Spalletti was sacked excited me with his performance Lokomotiv and win a third after claiming a 3-0 win over St to play. It will be important that “It was a really hard match,” the and the team went out of the and of course his penalty saves,” straight title with the team that Mirren on Saturday. we go out, win the battle and try 36-year-old Villas-Boas said after Champions League 5-4 on aggre- said Villas-Boas. includes Hulk and Belgian star Neil Lennon’s side will make and get the ball down to play foot- his first game in charge. “We dom- gate to Borussia Dortmund. “Our fans support helped us Axel Witsel who between them the short trip across Glasgow to ball like we want to do. inated the play in the early stages “But I’m really pleased with a lot especially in the second cost a reported €100m. Firhill today to take on Partick “It was tough there earlier on and deserved to score more goals my men performance. They acted half when Zenit experienced AFP Thistle knowing victory could in the season and they will be up set up a championship clincher for it but we will be expecting to at home to Ross County three go out and perform and play well. days later. “The last time they came to Top Croatia football ex-official jailed for bribes The Hoops could even secure Celtic Park it was difficult and it the title at Firhill should will be the same again. ZAGREB: A former top local in bribes, judge Gordana Mihela sports ... to his own profits,” judge to ensure “fair refereeing” for his Aberdeen, who are 24 points “They get the ball down and try Croatian football official was Grahovac ruled. Grahovac said. club from Karlovac. behind Celtic, fail to defeat Ross and play football which is good, sentenced to jail yesterday after The money was received in Siric was also banned from The third initial suspect in County yesterday. and that will benefit us as well. It a Zagreb court found him guilty 2011 from a Hajduk Split official. Croatian football for eight years. the case and a member of HNS However, Forster knows that should be a good match.” of taking bribes to influence ref- In exchange Siric had promised to A second defendant, Neven refereeing commission, Stjepan Celtic just need to focus on their Elsewhere today, Inverness ereeing in first division matches. enable “correct refereeing” of the Sprajcer, a former secretary of the Djedovic, was to be tried sepa- own fixtures, and the title will Caledonian Thistle will attempt Zeljko Siric, a former ref- club’s matches, meaning that only association of first division sides, rately due to his health problems. arrive in due course. to leapfrog Dundee United in eree and ex-vice-president of referees from a list suggested by was sentenced to 10 months on Croatian football has been Celtic needed a late Amido fourth spot as the two sides meet the Croatian football federation Hajduk Split would oversee their probation. rocked in recent years by match- Balde goal to secure victory on at Tannadice. (HNS), was handed a four-year matches. He was charged with making a fixing and bribing scandals. their previous visit to Thistle AFP prison term for taking €30,000 “He subordinated his position in deal with Siric to pay him €15,000 AFP Juventus start to show wear and tear Charlton urges Rooney ROME: Serie A leaders Juventus are Claudio Marchisio and Federico Peluso and Second-placed Roma (64 points), who look already showing the strains of a long season forward Mirko Vucinic on the injured list. set to finish as runners-up and take Serie A’s to break his record and things are only going to get tougher with Juve’s relentless schedule continues against only other automatic Champions League place, at least eight matches looming in the next Parma followed by a visit to third-placed Napoli host Torino on Tuesday. LONDON: Former Manchester player — as hard as nails too. 30 days. on Sunday. Napoli, in the Champions League play-off United great Bobby Charlton “I’ve already said to him that I Weary and irritable, Juve were a far cry from Italy’s sole survivors in European competi- spot in third position, travel to Catania on cannot wait for Wayne Rooney expect I’ll be the one who has to January’s polished outfit as they scrambled a tion then visit Olympique Lyonnais for the first Wednesday and need to bounce back quickly to break his club goal scoring present him with any award so he 1-0 win at bottom club Catania on Sunday. leg of a Europa League quarter-final on April 3. from Sunday’s home defeat against Fiorentina record. needs to make sure he does it!” Midfielder Arturo Vidal, playing his 43rd “There are nine games left in the Serie A which left them only seven points ahead of the Rooney’s two goals in the 2-0 Rooney has scored 38 goals for match of the season, was among those who season so we’ll try to balance the energy levels fourth-placed Viola. victory at West Ham United on England compared to Charlton’s struggled to find his normal rhythm and Chile out,” said Conte. Fiorentina are at home to Clarence Seedorf’s Saturday took his tally to 212, 49. may be worried he will be burned out by the Roberto Donadoni’s Parma, joint fifth in Serie troubled AC Milan who have managed only one putting him third on the all-time With United trailing seventh in time the World Cup in Brazil comes around A and unbeaten in their last 17 league matches, point in four league games. list behind Charlton (249) and the league and with Champions in June. are the sort of side Juve could slip up against. REUTERS Denis Law (237). League football unlikely next sea- The Europa League, with its extra round of “I have said before I have no son, new manager David Moyes 32, seems to have taken an additional toll on problem with Wayne Rooney has come under increasing fire Juve who lack the strength in depth of other breaking my goal scoring record but Charlton believes he will come top continental sides. here and for England,” Charlton good. Although they have a 14-point lead over AS told United’s match programme “It doesn’t mean we are going Roma at the top of Serie A and look almost ahead of yesterday’s derby with to change everything. I’m abso- certain to clinch a third successive title, the Manchester City at Old Trafford. lutely certain that we picked signs are Juve will stagger over the finish line “Not at all. Actually, I told him the right man,” the 76-year-old rather than sprint home. to do it as quickly as he could! European Cup winner said. “The Europa League forces us to play every He’s a great striker and a great REUTERS three days and we need to keep our foot firmly on the accelerator,” said coach Antonio Conte ahead of Wednesday’s home game with Parma. “We want to progress in the competition and Synthetic pitches to be allowed we’ll aim to manage our resources.” “It’s a difficult moment in terms of injuries in FA Cup next season and the same names are involved in every game but all my lads are showing themselves to be LONDON: Synthetic pitches been recommended by the board great men as well as great players,” added will be allowed in every round and wider use of synthetic sur- Conte. of the FA Cup from next sea- faces would have benefits for the Juve have won four of their last five games by son, the English Football “grassroots football community”. single goals, in two cases provided by majestic Association announced on “They are a very useful asset Andrea Pirlo free kicks, while the other was a Monday. and capable of delivering 50 plus 1-1 draw with Fiorentina. Current rules bar the use of hours per week as compared to It is all very different to earlier in the season so-called 3G (third generation) a natural turf pitch which can when they were regularly banging in three or surfaces after the first round. deliver perhaps five hours per four goals a game. Juventus players celebrate with supporters after their Italian Serie A soccer match against Catania FA general secretary Alex week,” he said. They also now have defenders Andrea Calcio at Massimino Stadium in Catania, Italy, on Sunday. Horne said the rule change had REUTERS Barzagli and Angelo Ogbonna, midfielders WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29 PSG ready for acid Ancelotti wants Real test of European to bounce back ambitions PARIS: When Qatar Sports L’Equipe’s front page headline Investments bought Paris asked if PSG were ‘Ready For Saint-Germain in 2011, they The Big Step Up’ prior to the Los Blancos face Sevilla today, Atletico host Granada gave themselves five years to draw being made last Friday, and win the Champions League, but Chelsea will be just that. hopes are high in the French Possession is king for PSG, with MADRID: Real Madrid boss capital that they could get there Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti Carlo Ancelotti is determined ahead of schedule. and Yohan Cabaye all available to that his side bounce back Having matched last season’s Blanc in midfield, but Mourinho’s straight away from their dra- achievement of reaching the side will be happy for their oppo- matic 4-3 defeat to Barcelona quarter-finals of Europe’s leading nents to have the ball. when they travel to Sevilla club competition, PSG are now Chelsea will also ask serious today. preparing to face Jose Mourinho’s questions of a defence that has Los Blancos were knocked off Chelsea in this year’s last eight looked vulnerable at times in top spot in La Liga by Atletico next month. Europe this season — goalkeeper Madrid after losing for the It will be the first true test of Salvatore Sirigu was PSG’s best first time in 31 games in all Laurent Blanc’s side, who have player in the second leg against competitions. not been suitably challenged Leverkusen, and a fractured Atletico lead due to their better domestically and have cruised cheekbone suffered by captain head-to-head record against Real, through to this stage in Europe Thiago Silva against Lorient is a while Barca are now right back without having to play any of the cause for alarm. in the hunt to retain their title as continent’s biggest names. Silva and Ibrahimovic are the they are just a point behind the PSG have lost just one league biggest influences in this PSG side two sides from the capital with game since March last year and and, at the age of 32, the latter nine games to go. last Friday’s 1-0 victory at Lorient is personally driven by the desire On paper, Real face the tough- allowed them to make it a club to win the biggest prize of all in est task in midweek with all three record eight wins on the bounce club football having fallen short sides in action today as Barca in all competitions. so many times before. and Atletico host Celta Vigo and Under Blanc, they are 10 points In France, observers are con- Granada, respectively. clear at the top of Ligue 1 and fident of PSG’s credentials, with And with that in mind, are almost certain to retain the 60 percent of those responding to Ancelotti believes Real’s reaction title won last year under Carlo a L’Equipe poll saying that Blanc’s against a Sevilla side that have Ancelotti. They have scored 70 side would beat Chelsea. won their last five league games goals in 30 league matches and The financial incentive is cer- could hold the key to the title race. Zlatan Ibrahimovic alone has 40 tainly there for PSG, with the “I have said to the players in all competitions, breaking the club’s mega-rich owners offering that in general they played well club record for the most goals in a bonus of €1m per player if they (against Barcelona). They played one campaign. can win the trophy this year. with intensity and fought until the But they are only doing what But that might prove a step too end,” he said. their enormous budget means far. After all, this season’s quar- Real Madrid’s Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference at Valdebebas sports complex on “Now we need to forget this they should be doing. In France, ter-final line-up is the strongest the outskirts of Madrid yesterday. game and think about Wednesday, no other club can really compete in recent memory, with all eight which could be the key game of financially — not even Monaco — clubs advancing having won their the season. face a potentially decisive trip to side with a difficult looking game race and claimed that the league and that gulf has translated onto groups. Six of the eight quarter- “I have said many times that Barcelona on the final day of the away to Athletic Bilbao to come “has started over” for the three the field. finalists have won the European nothing will be decided until the season. on Saturday. title contenders. Two draws in two games Cup 23 times between them. last game of the season. Atletico captain Gabi, though, Meanwhile, Lionel Messi will Martino is expected to rotate against Monaco and a draw at “There are teams who have “We need to fight and react believes his side can finish off an be targeting a third consecutive his squad against Celta with Pedro home to third-placed Lille before a legitimacy in the Champions well. We have a very important amazing campaign in style. hat-trick as Barca welcome Celta Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez in Christmas suggest that it has not League in terms of experience that game on Wednesday and we need “We believe a lot in this group to the Camp Nou looking to move contention to start. been a cakewalk, but even Blanc we don’t have, but I think the con- an immediate reaction.” as a team and we are working top for at least a couple of hours Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao will himself says that their domestic sideration that our opponents have Real will be without the sus- every day to be amongst the best,” as both Atletico and Real kick-off look to consolidate their place in league is not enough of a challenge for us has increased,” said Blanc pended Sergio Ramos and Angel he told the club’s website. later today. the fourth Champions League to prepare them for the pressures recently, although PSG need only di Maria, so Raphael Varane and “We have nine finals left ahead The Argentine became the all- place when they travel to Elche. of Europe. look to Chelsea if they doubt that Isco are expected to start. of us and if we want to be on top time leading scorer in El Clasico And it is also an important Even there they have not been patience might still be required Atletico took advantage of we need to win all of them.” at the weekend as he moved onto round of fixtures at the bot- presented with a true test of even when throwing money chas- Real’s defeat to move back to the Left-back Filipe Luis will miss 21 goals from 27 games against tom as Rayo Vallecano host their credentials, having cruised ing the dream. top of the table with a comfortable the visit of Granada as he saw Madrid and also took his tally Osasuna, while Getafe, Almeria through a group containing A decade ago, the London club 2-0 win over bottom-placed Real his fifth booking of the season for the season to 34 in as many and Valladolid face tough games the modest trio of Olympiakos, were new to this level and they Betis earlier on Sunday. against Betis. Emiliano Insua will games. against European hopefuls Benfica and Anderlecht before reached the last eight or further Los Rojiblancos now have the deputise for the Brazilian, whilst Barca boss Gerardo Martino Villarreal, Valencia and Real brushing aside a struggling Bayer seven times in 12 seasons before destiny of the league title in their David Villa, Diego Ribas and Jose acknowledged that his side had to Sociedad respectively. Leverkusen. finally winning the trophy in 2012. own hands, although they do Sosa could also come into the beat Real to remain in the title AFP No wonder sports daily AFP Referee Marriner Beckham’s group unveils stadium design MIAMI: David Beckham together with an investment Heat have enjoyed in Miami. “We think it is time to share revealed design plans on group that could yet include “I see the atmosphere that our vision,” Alschuler told the Monday for a new state-of-the- Miami Heat basketball icon goes on down there. I have been Miami Herald. “Let’s have a full, escapes Premier art football stadium he hopes LeBron James, is forking out a to Heat games,” Beckham said vigorous public debate about it. will be the eventual Miami reported $25m for the ambitious Monday. “We want to be part “We feel a stadium down- waterfront home of his Major franchise. of that.” town can be a key contributor League Soccer franchise. Beckham, who retired last But not everyone is on board to the revival of a great city. League demotion The English football icon year after a career that also with the downtown site, includ- David loves what it is becom- unveiled plans for the open-air took him to Real Madrid, ing Royal Caribbean Cruises ing, and much of that energy is stadium with a design that fea- LA Galaxy and Paris Saint- which is located next to the downtown.” LONDON: Referee Andre more recently retired referee — dis- tures a curving rooftop canopy Germain, is banking on his proposed stadium. Alschuler said the matches Marriner was spared demotion agreed with Thomas and said a that would protect up to 35,000 star pulling power and growing Some civic officials have would be played at night which from the Premier League list for lengthy ban was the last thing the spectators from the elements but prominence in the US to create also expressed concerns about wouldn’t conflict with the cruise his mistaken identity blunder 43-year-old Marriner needed. also have an open centre, provid- what he called a “global” team potential parking and traffic ships coming and going. at Stamford Bridge when it was “I can’t see how that would do ing bay front and skyline views. that can attract the best players problems. Beckham’s investor group has announced on Monday he would Andre any good,” Gallagher told the “When people think of Miami, in the world. John Alschuler, Beckham’s other sites in mind if the water- be in charge of the match between BBC. they immediately think about Beckham said by plac- New York-based real estate front one fails, including one Southampton and Newcastle at St “You’ve got one of the leading being near or on the water,” the ing the stadium in the down- adviser, said they wanted to get near the Miami International Mary’s on Saturday. referees in not only England but in 38-year-old Beckham said dur- town waterfront area they the plans out there so that peo- Airport and another at Florida In the midst of Premier League Europe, and you’re going to stand ing a news conference in down- can also find the same com- ple could discuss the pros and International University. leaders Chelsea’s 6-0 thrashing of him down? That doesn’t do the town Miami on Monday. mercial success that the NBA cons. AFP London rivals Arsenal last Saturday, Premier League any good because “I asked my team to Marriner sent off the Gunners’ he is a top top-flight referee — he’s develop ideas for a stadium Kieran Gibbs for handling a goal- made one mistake and his confidence that embraces the best of the bound shot on the line when it was would be shattered if that happened,” destination. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had added Gallagher, also speaking before “Even though we are in the committed the infringement. Marriner’s latest appointment was early stages of building the fran- Eden Hazard duly put Chelsea 3-0 confirmed. chise, I believe we have a vision ahead from the ensuing penalty. In a statement released after the that not only Miami would be Marriner later apologised for his game, Professional Game Match proud of, but one that will reso- error, which led victorious Blues Officials Limited said: “Andre is an nate around the world.” manager Jose Mourinho to re-iterate experienced referee and is obvi- The plans also call for an his plea for officials to be given access ously disappointed that an error of adjacent complex that would to video technology. mistaken identity was made in this include a commercial develop- However, that cut little ice with case...He expressed his disappoint- ment and a public plaza. Clive Thomas, one of British football’s ment to Arsenal when he was made But the centrepiece would be most respected referees. aware of the issue.” the stadium with steep grand- It may be more 30 years since the Marriner was in charge when stands which provide sweeping 77-year-old Welshman, nicknamed Wigan beat Manchester City 1-0 in views of the field and give fans ‘The Book’ for his strict adherence last year’s FA Cup final at Wembley. the feeling of being on top of the to football’s rules last controlled a And Roberto Martinez, Wigan action. senior match, but Thomas was in no boss that day but now the manager of Beckham is hoping that by doubt that Marriner and his lines- Everton, came to the West Midlands releasing some details of the men should all face a lengthy ban. referee’s defence while distancing proposed stadium that he can “It was the most disgusting, shock- himself from Mourinho’s plea for offi- help drum up support for the ing decision I’ve seen,” Thomas cials to be given greater technologi- project. told the BBC before Marriner was cal help. “I think goal-line technology The retired soccer icon appointed to the St Mary’s fixture. was a really important breakthrough announced last month that he “In my opinion these four wouldn’t but from that point on I think we plans to build a MLS club from officiate another Premier League need to allow referees to do their job,” scratch in Miami. An artist’s rendering of a proposed stadium for a Major League Soccer team backed by retired English game this season,” added Thomas. Martinez said. The former Manchester soccer star David Beckham of the group’s preferred location for the arena, situated between Biscayne Bay However, Dermot Gallagher — a AFP United and England player, and downtown Miami, Florida. WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Rafael Nadal of Spain stretches to play a forehand against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during their third round match during day 8 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Centre in Key Biscayne, Florida, yesterday. Nadal won 6-1, 6-0.

Serena, Sharapova again Nadal and Wawrinka on Miami collision course MIAMI: World number one Serena Williams led a stampede of top seeds into the quarter-finals of the Sony Open but big sister and three-time Miami champion Venus could not join the party. On a day that saw play interrupted by rain, it seemed nothing could stop the cream of women’s tennis from rising to the top with Williams, a six-time Miami champion, Australian Open winner Li Na, third seed advance in Miami Agnieszka Radwanska, five-time runner-up Maria Sharapova and fifth seed Angelique Kerber all moving into the last eight. But Serena’s big sister Venus could not complete the Williams family I am happy the way I was fighting: Stanislas Wawrinka double falling 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to Slovakian 10th seed Dominika Cibulkova just as the centre court clock was about to strike midnight. While Serena Williams and Sharapova clashed in last year’s Miami MIAMI: Top seed Rafael Nadal face 14th-seeded Fabio Fognini, especially on second serve returns team up with 73rd-ranked Jiri final there will be no championship rematch this Saturday with the and reigning Aussie Open who battled back to beat Spaniard (and) taking advantage more of Vesely and 115th-ranked Jan American and Russian on the same side of the draw and closing in on champ Stanislas Wawrinka Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-3, those opportunities,” Raonic said. Hajek for the tie on the hard- a semi-final showdown. posted straight-set victories in 6-3. He next faces German court of the Ariake Coliseum in After getting her title defence off to a slow start, Williams, who lives the third round at the WTA and Swiss Wawrinka will square off Benjamin Becker, who beat the Japanes capital. an hour’s drive from the Crandon Park Tennis Center and considers ATP Miami Masters hardcourt against Alexandr Dolgopolov after Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 7-5. After leading the Czechs to the event her home tournament, stepped it up a gear against Coco tournament yesterday. the 22nd-seeded Ukrainian rallied “It’s going to be a tough match two consecutive titles in 2012 Vandeweghe, sweeping past the young American qualifier 6-3 6-1 in French Open champ Nadal for a 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) win over but it’s up to me,” Raonic said. and 2013 together with Stepanek, 79 minutes. needed just 59 minutes to rout Dusan Lajovic. “I’ve got to play well. If I do, I can world number seven Berdych said “I was definitely happier today,” Williams told reporters. “I was Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 6-1, Wawrinka already owns two always give myself an opportunity he would skip the quarter-finals really struggling my first two matches, so I just wanted to have a bet- 6-0 while Wawrinka cruised into titles this year. to do well.” following the Czechs’ first-round ter performance today. Going into the match I knew I could only do the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-4 He claimed his first Grand Slam Seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych victory over the Netherlands in better. That kind of helped out, too.” dismantling of Edouard Roger- win in Melbourne in January. His downed Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-2, February. Li was no less ruthless, the Chinese world number two demolishing Vasselin of France at Crandon best previous finish in Miami was 6-4, while 10th-seeded John Isner Apart from Berdych and the Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-2 in 61 minutes while Radwanska Park. a straight set loss to Nadal in the posted a 7-5, 6-3 victory over nominated quartet, “we practi- grinded out a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-2 victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. “I’m happy with the way I was round of 16 in 2009. 18th-seeded Nicolas Almagro of cally have no other players,” team Kerber also needed three sets to get past Russian Ekaterina fighting, the way I stayed positive Like Nadal, Canada’s Milos Spain. captain Jaroslav Navratil said Makarova 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. in the game,” said the 28-year-old Raonic barely broke a sweat The American Isner will face on the Czech Davis Cup team’s Fourth seed Sharapova got a much-needed wake-up call after sleep- Wawrinka. yesterday. Raonic, who dropped Berdych in the next round. Facebook page. walking her way through the opening set before dispatching Belgian “Even if I was wasn’t moving only five points on his serve in “The guys’ form has improved Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 while Kerber also needed three sets to or playing so as well at the begin- the match, reached the last 16 for Rosol, Stepanek since the beginning of the year,” get by Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. ning, I stayed with him. the first time after being forced added Navratil, suggesting Rosol Former world number one and 12th seed Ana Ivanovic seemed “I was fighting with myself to to withdraw from third-round lead Czechs would be the Czech number one headed for a quarter-final berth after comfortably taking the first get control of the point.” matches with injuries the past against Japan, who will depend on set against eighth seed Czech Petra Kvitova but fell apart after that, Nadal, who finished runner-up two years. against Japan 21st-ranked Kei Nishikori. committing 11 double faults en route to a stunning 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 loss. in this event three times, will next “I just generally improved, “The important thing will be Williams, a minority owner of the National Football League’s Miami PRAGUE: Lukas Rosol and to be at 1-1 after day one, but Dolphins, once again stepped onto the court dressed in her team’s Radek Stepanek will spearhead Saturday’s doubles will be the key turquoise and orange colours and kicked off the match by claiming holders the Czech Republic in to victory,” Navratil said. the only break of the opening set for the early lead. the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Stepanek, the world number In the second set, Williams simply blitzed Vandeweghe, overpowering Japan on April 4-6 as number eight in doubles, has lost only one the 22-year-old who managed to hold her serve just once against the one Tomas Berdych is una- of 16 Davis Cup doubles rubbers 17-times Grand Slam winner. vailable, the Czech team said when playing with Berdych. “It doesn’t feel great (playing bad tennis),” said Williams. “That also yesterday. In Japan, he is likely to team up gave me confidence to know if I’m winning these matches when I’m Rosol, the world number 38, with Rosol, who is ranked 59th in playing some of the worst tennis I have personally played in the past and 49th-ranked Stepanek will doubles. REUTERS couple of years, then, you know, it gave me a lot of hope. REUTERS ATP-WTA Miami Results Murray to lead Britain in Davis MIAMI: Results yesterday from the seventh day of the WTA and ATP Miami Masters (x denotes seeded player): Cup quarter-final s Men - 3rd round LONDON: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will lead a four- Milos Raonic (CAN x12) bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-1, 6-2 man team when Great Britain compete in their first Davis Cup Alexandr 6-1, 6-0.Dolgopolov (UKR x22) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) quarter-final for 28 years, away to Italy in Naples next week. Joining Murray in the British quartet will be Dan Evans, Colin Benjamin Becker (GER) bt Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-3, 7-5 Fleming and James Ward while Ross Hutchins, who recently recovered Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-1, 6-0 from cancer, is the reserve. The winner of the tie will play either Kazakhstan or Switzerland in Fabio Fognini (ITA x14) bt Roberto Bautista (ESP) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 the Davis Cup semi-finals in September. Murray, Ward and Fleming Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x3) bt Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 7-5, 6-4 all featured in the 3-1 defeat of the United States in February. John Isner (USA x10) bt Nicolas Almagro (ESP x18) 7-5, 6-3 “It will be a good challenge playing on the clay in Italy,” Murray, who recently split with coach Ivan Lendl, told the Lawn Tennis Association Tomas Berdych (CZE x7) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2, 6-4 website yesterday. “They have some very good clay-court players with Women - 4th round a passionate crowd behind them. “It will be a tough weekend and the games will be tight, but it’s great Maria Sharapova (RUS x4) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL x19) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 playing in big matches like this in the World Group,” the Scot added. Angelique Kerber (GER x5) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x23) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, explaining the composition of the team, said: “We have selected our top three singles players for the Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-3, 6-1 squad who between them have the most Davis Cup experience which Dominika Cibulkova of Petra Kvitova (CZE x8) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB x12) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 is what we need for this tie. Obviously we are delighted that Andy is Slovakia returns a shot to Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x3) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR) 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-2 playing, and both Dan and James have enjoyed impressive Davis Cup Venus Williams during their wins over the last few years.” match in Key Biscayne, Li Na (CHN x2) bt Carla Suarez (ESP x15) 6-0, 6-2 He added: “We also have strong options in doubles. Andy and Colin Florida. Cibulkova won 6-1, Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x11) bt Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-0, 6-1 have enjoyed success together before, having reached the final in 5-7, 6-3 Montreal last August and also winning their last Davis Cup doubles Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x10) bt Venus Williams (USA x29) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 rubber against Croatia in September.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Aspire Academy set to host gymnastics gala

Ali Al Hitmi (left), President of Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF), is seen with Mohammad Al Jabir, Secretary General of QGF, and Steven Butcher (second right), technical delegate, during a news conference at Aspire Academy in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Qatari gymnasts join fellow contestants for a group photograph with Al Hitmi. The three-day 7th FIG World Challenge Cup starts today. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT

Bangladeshis banned from West Indies register flying rivals’ flags at venues

DHAKA: The Bangladeshi hosts of cricket’s World easy win in Dhaka Twenty20 threatened to ban local supporters yesterday from stadiums if they are seen car- Openers Smith and Gayle shine with big partnership rying the flags of any of the other teams competing in the tournament. DHAKA: Dwayne Smith The order came after an out- smashed 72 off 43 balls before cry over images of locals waving spinner Samuel Badree claimed Pakistani flags during the recently 4-15 as the West Indies thrashed concluded Asia Cup, also held in hosts Bangladesh by 73 runs in Bangladesh. a key World Twenty20 match in Bangladesh was part of Dhaka yesterday. Pakistan before the 1971 war of The defending champions, who independence in which it says Football: needed a win to stay in contention three million people were killed for the semi-finals after losing to -- most at the hands of the army Australia hope India on Sunday, piled up 171-7 of the Islamic republic and its and then bowled out Bangladesh allied militias. to avoid South for a paltry 98 in the Super-10 A Bangladesh Cricket Board group two match. (BCB) spokesman said the board Chris Gayle hit a run-a-ball 48 had issued a directive after it Korea in Asian in an impressive batting display “noticed that some local fans by the West Indies after the hosts were flying foreign flags flouting Cup draw won the toss and elected to field the country’s flag rules”. before a sell-out crowd of 25,000 SYDNEY: Hosts Australia will at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. be hoping to avoid twice former Bangladesh, playing their South Africa Asian Cup champions South first match in the Super-10s Korea when the draw for the after qualifying along with the fined for slow 2015 finals is made at Sydney Netherlands from the first round, West Indies’ captain Darren Scoreboard Opera House today. faltered against pace and spin in Sammy (centre) celebrates with over rate The Socceroos were named the one-sided contest. top seeds for the draw and will team-mates after the wicket of WEST INDIES: Anamul Haque st Ramdin b Santokie ...... 10 Left-arm seamer Krishmar MIRPUR: South Africa have definitely avoid defending cham- unseen Bangladesh batsman D Smith c Al Amin b Mahmudullah ...... 72 Mominul Haque c Santokie b Narine ...... 16 Santokie claimed two wickets off been fined for slow over rate pions Japan, Iran and Uzbekistan Tamim Iqbal during the ICC C Gayle c Tamim b Ziaur ...... 48 Shakib Al Hasan b Santokie ...... 0 successive balls, including the vital in Monday’s thrilling vic- as the other top seeds, but the World Twenty20 match at the L Simmons st Rahim b Shakib ...... 0 Mushfiqur Rahim c Bravo b Badree ...... 22 one of Shakib Al Hasan, to reduce tory against New Zealand, the South Koreans loom as danger- Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket M Samuels c Gazi b Al Amin ...... 18 Sabbir Rahman c Sammy b Badree ...... 1 Bangladesh to 16-3 by the fourth International Cricket Council ous potential group stage rivals. Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. D Sammy (not out) ...... 14 Mohd Mahmudullah c Simmons b Badree ...1 over. Badree, who had begun the (ICC) said yesterday. World Cup semi-finalists in A Russell c Shakib b Al Amin ...... 0 Ziaur Rahman b Russell ...... 9 slide by removing opener Tamim boundaries and three sixes, out- Dale Steyn’s fiery spell earned 2002, perennial Asian powerhouse D Bravo c Tamim b Al Amin ...... 0 Sohag Gazi b Russell ...... 11 Iqbal for five, sliced through the scoring the unusually dour Gayle, the Proteas a two-run victory but South Korea were pushed out of D Ramdin run out ...... 0 Mashrafe Mortaza c Bravo b Santokie ...... 19 middle order with three wick- whose contribution in the part- Faf du Plessis and his men were the top four by the decision to Extras: (B10, LB1, W7, NB1) ...... 19 Al Amin Hossain (not out) ...... 0 ets in his final over, the 11 of the nership was 19. Smith reached found two overs short of their tar- make Australia top seeds and are Total (for seven wickets, 20 overs) .... 171 Extras: (LB1, W3) ...... 4 innings. his half-century off 33 balls in get in Chittagong. in the second rank with United Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-98, 3-151, 4-167, Total (all out, 19.1 overs) ...... 98 Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur the 10th over with a fourth con- “As such, Du Plessis was fined Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi 5-167, 6-168, 7-171. Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-16, 3-16, 4-51, 5-57, Rahim top-scored with 22 and secutive boundary off spinner 40 per cent of his match fee, while Arabia. Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-25-0 (w6), Al Amin 4-0- 6-58, 7-59, 8-73, 9-97, 10-98. tailender Mashrafe Mortaza Sohag Gazi. The West Indies lost his players received 20 per cent Four groups of four will be 21-3, Gazi 4-0-38-0, Sabbir 1-0-12-0, Mah- Bowling: Badree 4-0-15-4, Santokie 4-0-17- made 19, but six batsmen failed two wickets for one run as Smith fines,” the ICC said in a statement drawn for the tournament, mudullah 3-0-27-1, Shakib 3-0-21-1 (w1), 3 (w2), Samuels 1-0-9-0, Sammy 1-0-6-0, to enter double figures in a poor top-edged a sweep off Mohammad yesterday. which takes place in Sydney, Ziaur 1-0-16-1 (nb1) . Narine 4-0-17-1, Bravo 3-0-23-0 (w1), Russell batting display by the home team. Mahmudullah, and new batsman Beaten by Sri Lanka in their Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra BANGLADESH: 2.1-0-10-2. Smith dominated an open- Lendl Simmons was stumped off first super 10 match, South Africa and Newcastle from January 9-31 Tamim Iqbal c Bravo b Badree ...... 5 Result: West Indies won by 73 runs ing stand of 97 by slamming 10 a wide from Shakib. REUTERS have revived their campaign next year. with the win over New Zealand Iraq, who won the 2007 Asian and face qualifiers Netherlands Cup, are in the third pot of tomorrow. teams along with Oman, China and Qatar, while the fourth rank Surrey coach backs Pietersen NSW claim is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, North Korea and the as-yet LONDON: Kevin Pietersen’s controver- international cricket. “The news was surpris- all-time greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Sheffield Shield undecided winners of the Asian sial England exit could yet prove a boon for ing. I don’t really know what went on, but I Warne that saw England to an Ashes-clinching Challenge Cup. Surrey, according to the county’s new coach, have known Kevin for a long time and I’ve draw in 2005. SYDNEY: New South Wales Australia, who joined the Asian who has known the star batsman since he always found him to be a very positive indi- Now Ford and Surrey director of cricket won the Sheffield Shield for Football Confederation in 2006, was a schoolboy in South Africa. vidual and I’m sure he’s going to be extremely Alec Stewart are looking to Pietersen, in the 46th time yesterday after were Asian Cup quarter-finalists The 33-year-old may be England’s leading positive in our dressing room.” conjunction with former South Africa cap- the final of the first class state in 2007 and runners up at the all-time run-scorer across all international Meanwhile Surrey and England fast bowler tain Graeme Smith, to help steer a youthful championship ended in a draw 2011 tournament in Qatar. format but that didn’t stop officials announc- Chris Tremlett was at a loss to explain side back to the First Division of the four-day half way through day five at They are hoping to become the ing his career for his adopted country was Pietersen’s international exile. County Championship. Canberra’s Manuka Oval. first host nation to win the title over following the team’s 5-0 Ashes drubbing “I don’t know the ins and outs of what’s “When they (the young players) do get an Needing only a draw to claim since Japan won the first of their in Australia. happened,” said Tremlett. “I’m sure Kevin was opportunity to bat with him it will be a mas- the title for the first time since four Asian Cups on home soil in Apart from statements stressing the need just trying to be honest in his opinions. terclass and a great chance to learn,” Ford 2008 after topping the regular 1992. for team rebuilding and loyalty to Test captain “There have been things that have happened said. season standings, New South Former Italy and Juventus Alastair Cook, the England and Wales Cricket over the years and the ECB have come to the Former England captain Stewart added: Wales were almost assured of great Alessandro del Piero, who Board (ECB) have so far refused to specify decision they want to move on and try new “Whenever he (Pietersen) has been here with their goal when rain wiped out all has played for the last two sea- why exactly they ditched Pietersen. players. Surrey he’s been outstanding. but an hour of Monday’s day four. sons at Sydney FC, has been But new Surrey coach Graham Ford expects “It’s a great shame for the world of cricket. “He’s performed well. The way he’s con- The Blues, who were forced to named a global ambassador for Pietersen to respond with runs for The Oval- Kevin is one of the best players, not just in ducted himself within the dressing room and move the final because the Sydney the tournament. based county. England, but around the world.” the training ground has been a credit to him Cricket Ground hosted the Major “I am very proud to be asso- “He’s a good enough player to prove a point Pietersen will return to Surrey once he and he has set high examples for the rest of League Baseball season-openers ciated with the biggest foot- in any format,” Ford said Monday. has fulfilled his commitments in the Indian our team to follow. at the weekend, had in any case ball tournament ever held in “He’ll certainly entertain and it will be great Premier League. “Kevin has big personal pride. totally dominated the match. Australia, the country that has for the fans to come down and have a look at It was at The Oval where he scored his “He’ll want to do well as an individual All-rounder Moises Henriques become my home for the past two him and see just how good he is,” Ford added. maiden Test century, an astonishingly bra- and help, ideally, Surrey do well,” Ford said. scored 140 to lead them to 447 in years,” Del Piero said in a news “Unfortunately he’s got to move on from zen 158 against an Australia attack featuring REUTERS their first innings. AGENCIES release. REUTERS Wednesday 26 March 2014 25 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5615 Sport Price: QR2

Nadal and West Indies Wawrinka post beat BD in T20 wins in Miami Cup match

Sport | 30 Sport | 31

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Cycling: Messi will be world’s best IOC should mull sports overhaul: paid, says Barca president Cookson LONDON: The International The four-time World Player of the Year negotiating new deal: Bartomeu Olympic Committee (IOC) should consider moving sports such as track cycling, judo BARCELONA: Barcelona we have said various times, he “There is only an enormous and badminton to the Winter president Josep Maria Bartomeu also deserves to be the best paid desire, both from the player and Games, according to the presi- has insisted that Lionel Messi player in the world.” the club to reach an agreement. dent of world cycling’s govern- will become the world’s highest Messi had been plagued by We will get there and we will get ing body, the UCI. paid footballer once negotia- muscular injuries early in the sea- there calmly. Brian Cookson, in an interview tions over his new contract are son, but has recently returned to “We are sure we will reach a with Press Association Sport finalised. top-form as he has scored a hat- deal with Messi, we are convinced released yesterday, said such a The four-time World Player trick in consecutive games, most because it is his wish too. change could take the pressure of the Year has a contract with recently, in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 “He said so just a few days off the “overheated” Summer the Catalan giants until 2018, win away to Real Madrid. ago. We will have Leo Messi at Olympics and allow those sports but Bartomeu said talks were After scoring the winner Barcelona for many years to to have more events and more on-going with the player’s father with his third goal of the night come.” medals. and principal agent Jorge Horacio seven minutes from time at the Bartomeu also stressed that it “If you have a problem with Messi over a deal that would Bernabeu, Messi kissed the Barca is the board’s wish that manager Summer Olympics where the surpass the five-year contract badge on his shirt several times Gerardo Martino sees out his con- whole thing is perceived as over- Cristiano Ronaldo signed with in an uncharacteristic show of tract until 2015 at the very least. heated with too many facilities, Real Madrid in September last exuberance. Martino has endured an up too many sports, too many com- year. And contrary to some rumours and down first season in charge petitors and so on, why not look at “We are in the midst of the sea- linking him with a move to free- of Barca, but the Spanish cham- moving some of the other sports son, so it is not the moment to be spending Paris Saint-Germain pions are still fighting for titles on that traditionally take place in negotiating with him, but it is the or Manchester City, Bartomeu three fronts. the winter in the northern hemi- moment to talk to the agents and is convinced that Messi is deter- “We are very happy with him, sphere indoors,” Cookson said. with his father and that is what mined to remain at Barca for he is a person that is giving all “So why not look at combat we are doing,” Bartomeu said in many years to come. the right signals, messages and sports like judo, or other indoor an exclusive interview yesterday. “Here there is no doubt. Leo acting in a manner that fits in sports like badminton, you could “We will talk with them about Messi arrived here as a 13-year- perfectly with what we want FC even say what about putting track how we see the player. He is our old and is now 26, soon to be 27,” Barcelona to be. He knows we are cycling in the Winter Olympics? star and he has a contract until he said. happy with him and the decision “If we moved track cycling to 2018 because we want him to par- “You see how he plays, he is a on whether to continue will be his. the Winter Olympics and that Real Madrid’s Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and FC ticipate in our future, but there decisive player and has led all the “He has a contract until 2015, allowed us to have more track Barcelona’s Argentinian striker Lionel Messi are seen during their La is the will within the club that he success Barca has had over the but at the moment there are so cycling events and more medals Liga match, traditionally known as ‘El Clasico’, at Santiago Bernabeu becomes the best paid player in past few years. That is why he has many important games that are then that could be a pretty good Stadium in Madrid, Spain, in this March 23, 2014, file photo. the world. a contract until 2018 and there left to play that is what he is con- outcome. “He is the number one and, as are no disagreements. centrating on.” AFP “So let’s talk about those things and see what the stakeholders, the national federations, the teams and the competitors have to say about those options.” IOC president Thomas Bach has announced a review of the Supreme Court’s two-judge panel whole Olympic programme with the results to be presented at a special session in Monaco at the end of this year. Cookson, who unseated Ireland’s Pat McQuaid urges India cricket chief to resign last September as UCI president, said cycling has enjoyed huge NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme revenues. Meiyappan was the success in the Olympics but that Court yesterday urged the team principal of Chennai Super In this photograph sports’ leaders should not just powerful head of the coun- Kings, an IPL franchise owned by taken on January accept the status quo. try’s cricket board to resign so Srinivasan’s India Cements com- 4, 2014, Asian “If you look at the London investigators can fully probe pany and captained by national Cricket Council Olympics the lesson from there is illegal betting allegations, call- skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (ACC) chairman the cycling events were incredibly ing his refusal to quit so far The report, by a panel headed and Board of successful from the point of view ‘nauseating’. by retired judge Mukul Mudgal, of attendance and media coverage, Control for Cricket A two-judge panel warned suggested Meiyappan may have and there were huge crowds for in India (BCCI) it could order N Srinivasan, passed on team information to the road races,” he said. regarded as the most powerful outsiders for illegal betting, but chief N Srinivasan “But we shouldn’t just accept man in world cricket, to stand did not specify what information arrives for an the status quo without thinking down unless he went voluntarily or to whom. ACC meeting ‘what are the possibilities here?’. as his presence was hampering “There are no definite findings in Colombo. “Thomas Bach has instituted a the investigation which involves by the Mudgal committee but the India’s Supreme debate about the format for the his son-in-law. allegations are of a very serious Court urged the Games and let’s think about the “Unless the BCCI (Board of nature,” Patnaik told the court. powerful head Winter Olympics, why does it Control for Cricket in India) pres- “Whether the BCCI will act on of the country’s have to be snow and ice? The real- ident stands down, there can be the findings of the probe panel is cricket board to ity these days is that the base for no fair investigation. It’s nauseat- a big, big question.” stand down while the Winter Olympics the last few ing,” Justice A K Patnaik told the The judge asked the BCCI’s an investigation times has been two or three hours court in New Delhi. lawyers to go away and read a is conducted into drive away from the mountains.” “Why is Srinivasan sticking to sealed section of the report, which illegal betting, Turning to doping, something his chair? If you don’t step down, has not been made public, and saying his refusal which has plagued cycling in then we will pass an order.” return tomorrow when the case to quit so far was recent years, Cookson warned The bench is looking at a damn- will continue. that every sport needs to be aware ‘nauseating’. ing report that it commissioned There was no immediate reac- that some of their athletes will last year into wrongdoing in the tion from Srinivasan, although he be doping. Indian Premier League (IPL) fol- was quoted as saying by the NDTV “There are two categories of lowing a betting and spot-fixing network that he would “study” An ICC spokesman said the Srinivasan, who has not him- scandals in recent years, includ- sport, those that have a doping scandal that rocked the Twenty20 the court order. world governing body “has no self been accused of any wrongdo- ing allegations of spot-fixing dur- problem and are trying to do tournament. However in a sign that he could comment to offer at this stage” ing, stepped aside temporarily as ing last year’s tournament. something about it and cycling, I The report, released in face an internal challenge if he over what he called “an internal BCCI president in June last year Test fast bowler would suggest, is one of the lead- February, concluded that tries to cling to power, BCCI vice matter of the BCCI”. when Meiyappan was first named Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was ers there,” he said. Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath president Shivlal Yadav said the Although many of India’s most in connection with the scandal. subsequently banned from cricket “The second category is those Meiyappan could be guilty of ille- board should respect the views of famous cricketers are seen as But after effectively resuming for life after being found guilty that have a doping problem and gal betting on IPL games, in a the court. reluctant to criticise the board day-to-day control of the board, of deliberately bowling badly in are in denial about it because major blow to Srinivasan who is “It has to be carried out in for fear of jeopardising lucrative he won elections for a third term return for thousands of dollars there are forms of doping that due to take over as head of the total and BCCI will have to fol- TV commentating work, former in September. from bookmakers. affect all forms of sport. International Cricket Council in low whatever the Apex Court has spin bowler Bishan Bedi praised Meiyappan and others have International news organisa- “If you are running your sport July. given,” he told the Press Trust of the court for giving Srinivasan a also been the target of a sepa- tions, including Agence France- and think that you don’t have a India is also the most powerful India news agency. “nudge”. “BCCI touches lowest rate police investigation which Presse (AFP), have suspended doping problem then I think you country in world cricket due to Asked if he was willing to take low,” he said on Twitter, add- has resulted in charges including their on-field coverage of matches need a wake-up call because there its vast television audience, which over, he replied: “Absolutely, I am ing that Mudgal’s inquiry would forgery, cheating and criminal hosted by the BCCI since 2012 will be a form of doping that you enables the board to generate ready to accept any responsibility allow India to “clean up corrupted conspiracy. after the board imposed restric- need to do something about.” almost 70 percent of the game’s given to me.” cricket culture”. The IPL has been hit by several tions on picture agencies. AFP REUTERS