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Monday 24 March 2014 23 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5613 Price: QR2

Focus on primary Pakistan beat construction Australia in materials World T20

Business | 17 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 PM meets European Parliament members Ukraine leaders Qatar calls for fear Russian invasion Arab solidarity KIEV: Ukraine’s Western- backed leaders voiced fears of an imminent Russian inva- sion of the industrial heartland yesterday, as NATO’s top com- amid threats mander warned of a “very size- able” Russian troop presence on Ukraine’s eastern border. Challenges have multiplied: FM The warnings came a day after Kremlin troops seized Ukraine’s DOHA/KUWAIT: The stalled peace negotiations were due last airbase in Crimea, deploy- Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid to the intransigent positions of the ing armoured personnel carriers bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yes- Israeli government, its violation of and stun grenades in a spec- terday called for “effective and the resolutions of the international tacular show of force after seal- constructive Arab solidarity” to legitimacy and the international ing its annexation. The interim address the challenges facing law, implosion of the fait accompli leaders in Kiev fear that Russian the region, which he said, is at a and the intensification of settle- President Vladimir Putin — flush historic juncture. ments , especially in Jerusalem,” with expansionist fervour — is Addressing the preparatory min- said the Foreign Minister. developing a sense of impunity isterial meeting of the 25th Arab He called on Israel to abide by the after being hit by only limited summit, which begins in Kuwait peace process and halt its assault EU and US sanctions for taking tomorrow, the Foreign Minister on the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque the Black Sea cape. The crisis will said that the responsibilities of the and the Islamic and Christian dominate a nuclear security sum- Arab countries and the threats fac- sanctities, the Judaisation of East mit opening in The Hague today. ing them have multiplied. Jerusalem and the continuation of The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday AFP “The challenges facing every- the settlement policy. with members of the European Parliament, Angelika Niebler and Holger Krahmer who are on a visit to Qatar. See also page 10 one are urgent and serious and “Time has come for a real They discussed aspects of cooperation between Qatar and the European Union and issues of mutual interest. their impact on the Arab world Palestinian reconciliation. We today and tomorrow cannot be must double our efforts for collec- underestimated,” said Al Attiyah. tive action to end the inter-Pales- He expressed confidence in tinian differences and support the the ability and determination of unity of the Palestinian people,” the Arab nations to deal with said Al Attiyah. Turkey shoots down Syria fighter jet the current problems and future The Foreign Minister reiter- challenges through effective and ated Qatar’s full and unreserved DAMASCUS: Syria accused “in a flagrant act of aggression dubbed “Anfal”, or “spoils of war”. adopted after a Turkish warplane constructive Arab solidarity and support for all Arab and inter- Ankara of “flagrant aggression” that is evidence of (Turkish Prime In a move expected to further was downed by the Syrian air force integration. Without this the national efforts to salvage Syria yesterday after Turkish forces Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan’s exacerbate tensions, Erdogan in June 2012, since when Ankara Arab nation will not have the from the painful ordeal it has been shot down a warplane near support for terrorist groups”. and Turkish President Abdullah considers any military approach aspired position in the interna- going through, achieve security the border, raising tensions as The aircraft “was chasing ter- Gul praised Turkey’s military for towards the border a threat. tional order, said Al Attiyah. and stability in that country, avert Syrian loyalists and rebels bat- rorist groups inside Syrian terri- downing the warplane. The Britain-based Syrian On developments taking place foreign intervention in its inter- tled for control of a frontier tory at Kasab”, said the source, Erdogan also warned Syria Observatory for Human Rights in the Arab region, he stressed the nal affairs and maintain the unity crossing. referring to the disputed border against any response. said the plane downed yesterday need for a serious national dia- of its territory and people. “We all Relations between the neigh- crossing. The pilot was able to “Our response will be heavy was bombing rebels fighting to logue in countries that are going have to provide forms of material bouring states have collapsed eject. if you violate our airspace,” he seize Kasab when it was hit. through a period of transition. and political support, maintain during the Syrian conflict, with Syrian troops and rebels have warned Damascus. It said the rebels overran It is necessary to give priority firm solidarity with the Syrian Ankara squarely backing rebels been locked in deadly fighting The Turkish military said two the crossing but were still bat- to national interests and stabil- people, strengthen the capacity of trying to topple President Bashar since Friday for control of Kasab Syrian MIG-23 planes approach- tling loyalist forces in the area, ity, “because the state of chaos, the National Coalition for Syrian Al Assad. border post in the northern ing its airspace were warned “four while activists posted a video on terrorism and instability is not Revolutionary and Opposition It was the most serious inci- province of Latakia, a regime times” to turn away and that it YouTube showing jihadists from in conformity with national Forces and work actively to stop dent since Turkish warplanes stronghold. scrambled fighter jets when one Ansar Al Sham flying a black flag and Arab interests.” On the the killings and displacement of last September downed a Syrian The battle erupted after refused to do so and violated over the post. A Syrian military Palestinian issue, Al Attiyah said the innocent Syrian people,” said helicopter that Ankara said was three jihadist groups, including Turkish airspace. source denied the fall of Kasab, as Israeli policies have put the entire Al Attiyah. THE PENINSULA two kilometres inside its airspace. Al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate Al Nusra A statement said an F-16 jet a security source said the rebels region on the edge of danger. Continued on page 4 A Syrian military source said Front, announced the launch of an fired a missile at the Syrian plane had infiltrated from Turkey. AFP “We are all aware that the See also page 7 Turkey shot down the warplane offensive on Tuesday in Latakia in line with “rules of engagement” See also page 7

Marquez wins MotoGP Second case Israeli diplomats’ strike Probe into of H1N1 found closes all embassies gas smell within a week DOHA: The Prime Minister and Interior Minister DOHA: A second case of H1N1 JERUSALEM: Israeli dip- control on union’s part.” H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser has been reported in Qatar lomats launched an unprece- “We shall do whatever pos- bin Khalifa Al Thani has set up within a week, an Arabic daily dented strike yesterday, forcing sible to minimise the damage a special committee to inves- reported yesterday. the complete closure of embas- to the country and its citizens,” tigate the cause of a pervasive The sister of an expatriate boy, sies around the world as they Lieberman said. gas smell reported in some who was admitted at the Hamad escalated a dispute over pay, Diplomats said the strike — parts of the country over the General Hospital last week fol- officials said. involving some 1,200 foreign past few days. The committee lowing a suspected H1N1 infec- The industrial action has service employees — was open- held its first meeting yesterday tion, has also tested positive for already threatened to postpone ended and had been called after and decided to set up an expert the virus, the daily said. She a visit by Pope Francis to Israel the Treasury had failed to present team with representatives from is also being treated at HGH, planned for May — one of 25 trips any acceptable proposals. the Ministry of Environment, it added. by foreign officials affected by a They are demanding an Ministry of Energy and The two-and-a-half year old work slowdown the diplomats increase in monthly salaries, Industry, General Directorate boy was admitted at HGH on began on March 5 when wage which they put at 6,000-9,000 of Civil Defence and Qatar Fuel March 19 and remained there talks broke down. shekels ($1,700-$2,600), and want (Woqod). The team will observe until March 21. He was dis- By escalating the action to a compensation for spouses forced all air monitoring stations in the charged with instructions to full strike — the first by the dip- to quit jobs due to foreign post- country to monitor air quality. continue medication at home, lomatic corps since the country’s ings. They say about a third of It will receive complaints from the daily said, quoting his establishment in 1948 — the dip- their number has quit in the past the public at operations room of parents. lomats will close all of Israel’s 102 15 years due to poor wages. the Ministry of Environment on The parents had earlier missions abroad, paralysing most Yacov Livne, spokesman for 998 or Central Operation Room claimed that the boy was not diplomatic work with other coun- the diplomats’ union, said: “the on 999. THE PENINSULA immediately isolated at the hos- tries and the United Nations. Treasury is determined to destroy pital but was kept with three “We are completely shutting the Foreign Ministry and Israeli other children in a room for sev- down the (foreign ministry) office diplomacy.” Assad’s cousin eral hours. and missions abroad. This is the The Jerusalem Post came out Patients infected with H1N1 first time ever,” ministry spokes- firmly in support of the strikers. killed in battle can stay at home and continue man Yigal Palmor said. “The plight of our foreign medication as the influenza is Another ministry official told service personnel has become BEIRUT: A cousin of Syrian similar to any other flu, according Reuters: “As of now, the foreign increasingly unbearable,” its web President Bashar Al Assad was to the World Health Organisation. ministry doesn’t exist. It’s not pos- edition said. “For over a dec- killed yesterday in battles with However, parents should keep the Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of the Repsol Honda Team cel- sible even to submit complaints”. ade now, the salaries of these Islamist rebels near the border infected children isolated from ebrates with his trophy on the podium after winning the MotoGP race Foreign Minister Avigdor dedicated people have not been with Turkey, activists and state others at home, the daily said, of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail International Circuit Lieberman Called the strike adjusted in the respective coun- media said. State television con- quoting a hospital source. in Doha yesterday. See also pages 27 & 28 “irresponsible” and “a wretched tries in which they serve to com- firmed his death. THE PENINSULA decision and a display of a loss of pensate for inflation.” AGENCIES REUTERS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 HOME 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com $135m Qatar aid Obama’s half-sister to attend gives new start to Empower 2014 youth forum Sudan archaeology Rota focuses on leadership roles to enable young people to solve issues KHARTOUM: Sudan’s rich but es Sufra. The first archaeological under-developed archaeological digs in Sudan took place about 100 heritage has received an unprec- years ago, much later than in Egypt edented $135m in funding from or Greece. Qatar, Sudanese officials said French, Polish, German and other yesterday. foreign teams are working on sites The money will support 29 in the north. projects, including the rehabilita- Claude Rilly, Director of the tion of ancient relics, construc- French archaeological mission in tion of museums and study of the Sedeinga, said sponsors were hard Meroitic language, said Salahaddin to come by in his profession. Mohammed Ahmed, Project Qatar’s funds “will give a new Coordinator. start, I hope, to archaeology” in He said the fund will support Sudan, he added. archaeological work by several The money will be used to help Western nations and Sudan over protect sites, develop small local five years. museums and tourism book- “This is the biggest amount of lets, restore National Museum in money for Sudanese antiquities in Khartoum, and build two presen- their history,” Abdurrahman Ali, tation and conference centres at head of the museums, told report- Unesco sites, he said. ers, adding the project will lay Some funds will help excavate the foundation for “archaeological and restore monuments, includ- Mohamed Saleh, Rota National Programmes Director (left) and Fahad Al Buainain, Msheireb Properties Dr Auma Obama tourism”. ing in Sedeinga where the French Communication and Public Relations Officer, addressing the press conference yesterday. Sudan’s remote and relatively team is digging about 200km from undiscovered pyramids in north the Egyptian border. of Khartoum contrast with their Rilly said work had begun with DOHA: US President address participants through forum is to raise awareness and 30 youth volunteers. grander and better-known cousins Qatar’s assistance to reinforce the Barack Obama’s half-sister, a video message on the open- build knowledge and capacity “The forum will focus on in Egypt, which occupied northern sandstone blocks of a temple there. Dr Auma Obama, will be the ing day. Lemke is responsible to enable young people to take sports for youth empower- Sudan for about 500 years until Tourists at the pyramids and main guest at Reach Out To for heading efforts of the UN leadership roles in addressing ment. Through sport, our roughly 1,000 BC. other relics often have the attrac- Asia’s (Rota) Empower 2014 system in promoting under- local and international devel- youth will discover talents they Sudanese sites on the Unesco’s tions to themselves, though a few Youth Conference which standing and support for sport opmental issues especially in never knew they had. With World Heritage List include Gebel visitors have managed to leave litter opens on Thursday at Qatar as an instrument for develop- the area of sustainable devel- participation of public figures Barkal and surrounding tombs, behind. Foundation Student Centre. ment and peace and encourag- opment and sports. such as Dr Obama, Lemke temples and other relics from the The stonework of some monu- An acclaimed author and ing dialogue, collaboration and “We’re thrilled to host the and Al Harami, we will ben- Napatan and Meroitic periods that ments has collapsed, they are poorly philanthropist, Dr Obama is partnership. conference, an internation- efit from their perceptions to followed Egyptian rule, the pyra- guarded and there are no explana- the Founder and Director of Another guest is Jaber Al ally recognised forum that gain a new understanding of mids of Meroe and nearby sites, tory signs. Sauti Kuu Foundation, which Harami, Editor-in-Chief, Al shares Rota’s values in recog- sport and education as tools of including Naqa and Musawwarat AFP seeks to give perspective to Sharq, who will meet Rota nising today’s youth as agents change,” said Saleh. disadvantaged children and Youth Advisory Board before of change and the leaders of The forum is sponsored by youth by helping them unlock the event to exchange thoughts tomorrow,” he added. Msheireb Properties, a real their potential through ‘Life on sports, education, leader- Rota has invited youth estate company and subsidiary Skills’ training and educational ship skills and media role in activists from nine organisa- of Qatar Foundation. opportunities. encouraging youth participa- tions, including Right to play “Msheireb is proud to be QA’s Doha-Djibouti Under the theme ‘Sports tion in community events. (Lebanon), Coaches across partnering with Rota for for Youth Empowerment’, the “We look forward to meet- continents (the US), Liverpool ‘Sports for empowerment’ is a three-day forum will see par- ing youth leaders, hearing Sport Club Foundation (the very encouraging theme for the ticipation of 450 youth aged their opinions and ideas for UK), Magic Bus (India), Aspire youth. We believe that through service from July 27 16-26 from Qatar, Bahrain, tackling community, social Academy, Qatar’s Ministry sports young people have the Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and environmental issues that of Youth and Sport, Aspetar, potential to contribute their DOHA: Qatar Airways yesterday linking up with key feeder markets the UK, India, Tunisia, matter to the young people of Qatar Football Association and skills, leadership and enthusi- announced expansion of its route in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Lebanon and other countries. the world,” Mohamed Saleh, Qatar Olympic Committee. asm to a better tomorrow,” said network in Africa, with Djibouti other parts of the world,” he said. Wilfried Lemke, Special Rota National Programmes To ensure it remains a Fahad Al Buainain, Msheireb joining the list of destinations The Doha-Djibouti route will be Adviser on Sport for Director, told a press confer- youth-led meeting, the forum Properties Communication served direct from the airline’s served with an Airbus A320, featur- Development and Peace to the ence yesterday. is organised in collaboration and Public Relations Officer. Doha hub. ing up to 12 seats in Business Class UN Secretary-General, will He said the main aim of the with a planning committee of THE PENINSULA Thrice-weekly non-stop flights will and up to 132 seats in Economy. operate from Doha to Djibouti from The aircraft features seatback TV July 27. screens providing all passengers in “Djibouti is another example of both cabins with the next generation Qatar Airways’ commitment to open interactive on board entertainment up access to destinations largely systems. Fun, culinary treats make food festival a success underserved by international airlines “As an airline with an ever expand- and have great market potential,” ing global network of 136 destina- DOHA: Entertainment said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive tions, Qatar Airways will be able proved a big hit at the fifth Officer, Qatar Airways. to fulfil the needs of the travelling Qatar International Food “In September last year we public from such markets, and those Festival which concluded yes- launched thrice-weekly operations wanting to travel there from destina- terday at Museum of Islamic to neighbouring Ethiopia. We believe tions we serve around the world,” Al Art (MIA) Park. that these exciting destinations in the Baker said. Thousands more visitors ‘Horn of Africa’ have great potential THE PENINSULA poured through the gates not only to sample the vast range of culinary treats on offer but also enjoy the exciting international entertainment such as the acrobatic Italian Pizza Chefs, the musical Korean Chefs, the Chefs’ Parade and the music and light show. Pizzaioli, the freestyle pizza acrobatic team from Italy, wooed the crowds with its twirling and throwing of pizza dough choreo- graphed to music; Nanpa, the Delicious Food Comic Korean Chefs, got the audience going with their non-verbal, tradi- tional-rhythm, comedy and drama show; and the Chefs’ Parade every two hours enter- tained kids and adults alike with food-related costumes, music and mascots. Qatar Airways Cooking Theatre staff entertaining visitors. The Doha Golf Club sup- ported the events with its golf competition, and the festival more about the art of cooking, Tamimi showcased culinary Brazil Zone and the live cook- was back-dropped by amazing there was the Qatar Airways skills. With 11 general zones, the ing zone, as well as 55 food stalls synchronised music and light Cooking Theatre where celeb- International Zone, the Healthy and the entertainment, there show. rity TV Chef Ramzi Choueiri & Active Zone, the Snack Zone, was something for everyone. For those wanting to learn and Qatari Chef Aysha Al the Family Zone and the Qatar THE PENINSULA

Ooredoo enhances mobile money service to Philippines DOHA: Ooredoo has enhanced its Mobile can dial *140# to register for Ooredoo With Ooredoo Mobile Money, they can Money service to enable customers to Mobile Money by adding their beneficiary transfer money domestically and interna- send money directly to bank accounts in details. Once registered, they can deposit tionally, top up Hala pre-paid accounts and the Philippines from their mobile phones. money into their Mobile Wallet Account via pay Shahry bills using their mobile phones. Customers can send money to accounts Ooredoo Self Service Machines or Ooredoo They can also send money to 321,000 at more than 20 banks in the country with Shops, and transfer money directly from MoneyGram agent locations in 198 coun- MoneyGram and Ooredoo Mobile Money. their mobile. tries, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, They can also send money to more than The service, powered by Qatar National Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, 9,500 MoneyGram agent locations across the Bank, offers around-the-clock access and Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria. country, and enjoy one of the best exchange incredible levels of security. Sending money from mobile wallet rates in Qatar, along with a fee of QR1 only Customers can also check the current account directly into bank accounts will per transfer until March 31. exchange rate and transfer fee for free via soon be enabled for additional countries. With the new service upgrade, customers their Mobile Money menu by dialling *140#. THE PENINSULA HOME MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Pakistani embassy marks National Day DOHA: The Pakistani embassy significance of the day, he said yesterday celebrated the 74th Pakistanis will overcome chal- National Day of Pakistan. lenges in their country, including A large number of Pakistanis, terrorism and militancy. including men, women, eld- He read out messages of erly and children, took part in the President and the Prime celebrations. Minister who conveyed greetings The ceremony started with to Pakistanis in other countries Malik Muhammad Farooq, and reaffirmed that Pakistan will Charge d’Affaires, hoisting continue on the course of democ- Pakistan’s flag, followed by racy, development and princi- national anthem. ples laid by Father of the Nation Farooq said Pakistani in Qatar Qaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali will be provided with all facilities Jinnah. at the embassy. Highlighting the THE PENINSULA

Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi (left), President, Ashghal, with other officials at the press conference at the W Hotel in Doha yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT Ashghal awards QR12.6bn contracts for major projects Orbital Highway and Truck Route and Al Wakra Bypass Road to ease traffic

DOHA: To ease congestions with contractors. This project is Mesaieed to Salwa Road will improvements will be imple- on the road and address future considered a very vital addition provide an orbital route of mented as part of the project, demand of growing traffic, to the roads network as it will around five lanes and two sepa- including a storm water drainage the Public Works Authority form a free flowing traffic route rated truck lanes in each direc- network, treated sewage efflu- (Ashghal) yesterday awarded connecting the northern and tion with the provision of two ent networks, electrical and tel- three contracts for projects southern regions without the future lanes. Valued at QR6.2bn, ecommunication networks, street worth QR12.6bn for design need to travel through Doha City. the contract was awarded to lighting and substations.” and construction of Orbital “This will divert traffic outside Leighton Contracting Qatar-Al Ashghal also announced that Highway and Truck Route and the city, particularly trucks, and Jaber Engineering JV. its Centre for Research and Al Wakra Bypass Road. better manage the movement of The third contract is for Development has been accred- The projects are expected to heavy vehicles throughout the design and construction of Al ited with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 start in the second quarter of city providing greater journey Wakra Bypass Road which will certificate by UK Accreditation 2014 and completed by the sec- choice,” he added. act as the main link between Al Service. ond quarter of 2017. The first contract of design Shamal and Mesaieed. Valued Meanwhile, to secure the sup- “New Orbital Highway and and construction of Orbital at QR2.2bn, the contract was ply of bitumen for its current and Truck Route is one of the larg- Highway and Truck Route from awarded to Larsen & Toubro. future projects, Ashghal signed a est projects being delivered Salwa Road to North Relief “The Orbital Highway Project memorandum of understanding through Ashghal’s Expressway Road, was awarded to QDVC-Bin and Truck Route will encom- with Qatar Fuel (Woqod) to form Programme linking Mesaieed Omran JV. The project, valued at pass design and construction of a framework. Woqod will pro- to Al Khor and Ras Laffan QR4.2bn, includes five lanes and about 200km of dual carriage- vide a structured framework for Industrial City,” Engineer Nasser two truck lanes in each direction way, including 22 major intersec- regular supply of bitumen from Malik Muhammad Farooq, Charge d’Affaires hoisting the national flag bin Ali Al Mawlawi, President, with the provision of two future tions of bridges and tunnels,” Al 2014 to 2019 for projects under at the embassy yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Ashghal, told a press conference lanes. Mawlawi said. Ashghal’s mandate over the next prior to signing the contracts The second project from “Major infrastructure five years. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 HOME 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Greetings sent to Arabic Debating Championship begins Pakistan President on National Day DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh School teams from 22 countries taking part to improve skills at four-day QatarDebate event Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a cable of con- DOHA: The Second International in terms of preparing future gen- gratulations to Pakistan’s Schools Arabic Debating erations and leaders of tomorrow President Mamnoon Hussain Championship started yesterday from Arabic authentic foundations, on his country’s National Day. with the participation of 18 Arab which serve language, culture and The Prime Minister and states and four other countries. identity. Interior Minister H E Sheikh Organised in Arabic by the Raziv Mustafa, Coach of the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa QatarDebate, 22 teams are partici- Singapore team, told a press confer- Al Thani sent a similar cable. pating in the four-day event being ence that their participation aims held under the patronage of H E at improve the Arabic language Minister back Sheikha Hind bint Hamad. among non-Arabic students, which Dr Hayat Maarafi, Executive is the ideal art to restore the lan- from France, UK Director, QatarDebate, said the guage to its renowned position. event is a platform for Arabic- Qatar Foundation International DOHA: The Minister of State speaking students to improve (QFI) contributed to the establish- for Defence Affairs H E Major debating skills. ment of the culture and Arabic lan- General Hamad bin Ali Al She said QatarDebate was estab- guage centre in Chicago Attiyah returned home yester- lished seven years ago as the first Fadi Abu Ghawash, Coach of the day after several days’ official centre for debate in the Middle East American Team, said QFI finan- visit to France and the UK. that teaches the art of debating as cially supported his team in Chicago Flt.Maj.Gen. Ghanim bin a dialogue and culture and critical and provided latest techniques that Shaheen Al Ghanim, Chief of thinking. enable students to learn the art of Staff of the Armed Forces, and She said QatarDebate seeks to debating in Arabic. senior army officers welcomed establish and disseminate the art He said the American team is him at the airport. of debating in Arabic in Arab com- impressed with the level of civi- munities and is part of its efforts lisation in Qatar and added that Indian ties to spread awareness and promote there is a wrong perception in the debating in Arabic among the youth US about the Middle East that it One of the sessions of the championship in progress yesterday. discussed DOHA: The Chief of Staff of is dominated by conflict not the first round in which Tunisia, Bahrain, Oman, the Armed Forces Flt. Major dialogue. teams from Kuwait, Yemen, Singapore and Jordan also General (Pilot) Ghanim bin The Qatari team won Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon, took part. THE PENINSULA Shaheen Al Ghanim yesterday met Captain Ramanan Ravi Kumar who taken over as Indian Defence Attache. Talks dealt with issues of mutual interest. FM urges UN resolution on Syria ceasefire Draft budget for Continued from page 1 wishing him success. islands (Greater and Lesser Dr Al Attiyah also called Sheikh Sabah hoped that Tunbs and Abu Musa), support projects reviewed for using all means to urge the the summit, held in Kuwait for for Comoros and the Djibouti Security Council to shoulder the first time since the coun- -Eritrea conflict, asserting the DOHA: The Advisory its legal and ethical responsi- try joined the Arab League in need to respect Djibouti’s unity Council’s Financial and bilities in accordance with the 1961, would succeed in boost- and territorial integrity. Economic Affairs Committee mechanisms under Chapter ing inter-Arab economic Preparation for the Arab met yesterday under the chair- VII of the UN Charter, issue development. General Conference of manship of acting Rapporteur a binding resolution to impose The Arab foreign minis- International Atomic Energy Nasser Rashid Seraei Al a cease-fire and begin a politi- ters discussed regional issues, Agency and Arab-African Kaabi. It discussed the draft cal transition process in Syria including the Syrian crisis, the relations and European- budget for the state’s major through which the Syrian peo- Palestinian issue, Arab solidar- Mediterranean Partnership public projects for fiscal year ple could enjoy freedom and ity with Lebanon and providing were also reviewed. 2014-15 and decided to submit dignity. political and economic support A draft statute of the Arab a report to the council to dis- He invited Kuwait’s First to it. Court for Human Rights and cuss at its next session. Deputy Premier and Foreign They also discussed the reports and recommendations Khalaf bin Ahmed Al Mannai, Minister Sheikh Sabah Al situation in Libya, Yemen and on the reform and develop- Finance Undersecretary, Khalid Al Sabah to take over Somalia, asserted the sover- ment of the League were also Sheikh Saoud bin Nasser bin the presidency from Qatar, eignty of the UAE on three discussed. THE PENINSULA Jassim Al Thani, Director of Public Budget, Finance Ministry, Engineer Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi, President, Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Khalid bin Hamad Al Hajeri, QU graduation ceremony on May 20 Assistant Director of the Public Budget Department at DOHA: Qatar University Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al end, but the beginning of a real the Finance Ministry, Engineer (QU) will hold 41st gradu- Thani, Vice-President of the shape of your future and the Jalal Al Salhei, Director, ation ceremony under the Supreme Education Council. future of the homeland, for the Infrastructure Affairs patronage of the Emir H H A total of 1,200 students will what you have learned and Department, Ashghal, Mishaal Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad graduate at both ceremonies. gained experiences during Al Hitmi, Director of the Joint Al Thani on May 20. Dr Omar Al Ansari, Vice- your university studies. Services Affairs Department, The ceremony for male President for graduate stu- “Arrangements are made to Ashghal, and Ghanim Al students will be held at Qatar dents, congratulated the ensure the success of the cer- Mansouri, Director of the National Convention Centre graduate students and said, “I emony, especially under the Contracts Department, Ashghal, and for female students on assure you what we say always, generous grace of the Emir,” were present. QNA May 21, in the presence of H E that the ceremony is not the he added. THE PENINSULA Telecom regulatory forum on March 26

DOHA: Communications highlighting opportunities Regulatory Authority and challenges in Qatar (CRA) at the Ministry and the region, as well as of Communications and the importance of access Information Technology to passive infrastructure is holding the first annual for stakeholders in the Telecommunications value chain. We hope the Regulatory Conference conference will succeed in 2014 on March 26 at the helping decisionmakers in Four Seasons Hotel Doha. the Arab world make right The ‘Next Generation of choices.” Fixed Broadband Network The agenda includes and Services: Challenges the opening address by and Opportunities’ will Al Kuwari and interna- offer unparalleled oppor- tionally renowned speak- tunities to gain insights ers, including Dr Laurent from regulators, industry Benzoni, Professor of analysts and other interna- Economics, Sorbonne tional and regional experts University and Founder to help uncover the full of TERA Consultant, potential of broadband, Dr Amr Badawi, Board said CRA in a statement Member and former yesterday. CEO of National Telecom Saleh Al Kuwari, Deputy Regulatory Authority, Assistant Secretary- Egypt, Dr Bocar A General, CRA, said in a BA, Chief Executive statement: “The number Officer, SAMENA of fixed broadband sub- Telecommunications scribers is on the rise. Council, Ahmed Al Global broadband market Sulaiti, Technology CEO, statistics say subscrib- Qatar National Broadband ers have exceeded 500m. Network, Stewart White, File sharing, video down- CEO, AKHET Consulting, loads, online TV viewer- and Dr Eiman Al Ansari, ship and online games are Consumer & Government attracting more broadband Affairs Manager, CRA. subscribers. The conference will also “The conference is sig- feature speakers from nificant as it looks into Qatari public and private fixed broadband issues, sectors. QNA HOME MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Over QR400,000 won in Al Mazayen contest 321 in fray as part of 10-day Halal Hal Qatar Festival

DOHA: More than QR400,000 was given away in prizes on the first day of Al Mazayen compe- tition, a beauty contest for goats and sheep, at the third Halal Hal Qatar Festival at Katara yesterday. For the contest for female goats, the top prize of QR100,000 went to Ahmad Ali Ahmad Al Maadheed. Second prize winner Issa Khalifa Tawar Al Kuwari received QR50,000 followed by Matar Khamis Matar Al Dosari who received QR30,000, Abdullah Khalid Mohammad Al Khater (QR20,000) and Abdulrahman Mohammad Abdulrahman Al Mansoori (QR10,000). For the local male goats One of the winners receiving his prize on the first day of the beauty contest (Awarid) category, the first for goats and sheep yesterday. prize went to Issa Khalifa Tawar Al Kuwari who bagged QR100,000, followed by Abdullah Mazad), a male Syrian goat Products at the market include Khalid Mohammad Al Khater fetched QR30,000 which shows local handicraft, Qatari swords, (QR50,000), Ahmad Ali Ahmad a great interest among people honey, traditional Qatari clothes Al Maadheed (QR30,000), with regard to this tradition, said and women’s requirements, Shamsan Jabr Shamsan Al Hamad Al Hanaz, a middleman in among others. Naimi (QR20,000) and Sheikh the auction. Crescent-shaped Qatari swords Abdulrahman bin Ahmad Al “Buyers always prefer specific are drawing visitors at the tra- Thani (QR10,000). types of these animals they think ditional souq. Weighing about The competition will see 321 have pure breed and good fea- 1.2kg, some swords are studded participants during the 10-day tures,” he said, adding auctions with diamonds and gold plated festival on Qatar’s traditional will continue throughout the and priced between QR2,000 and animal industry. festival. QR150,000. Ahmad bin Nasser Al Kuwari, Al Hanaz, from Kuwait who has Khalifa Qais Al Kuwari, head of events committee, said been in the business for 15 years, Director of Qais company for results of the judging matched said in his country a Syrian goat swords and jewellery participat- with people’s opinion determined was sold for 50,000 Kuwaiti dinar. ing in the market, said they are through electronic voting intro- The traditional market at the keen to maintain the tradition of duced at the festival for the first festival is attracting more peo- sword-making by crafting high time. ple, including tourists from other quality ones. At the public auction (Al Arab countries. THE PENINSULA Seminar highlights electronic resources of Islamic studies

DOHA: Research Centres researchers heard from key of Qatar Faculty of Islamic speaker Dr Abdul Haq Hamish, Studies (QFIS) at Hamad Bin a Professor from QFIS, on the Khalifa University recently held importance of making full use of a public seminar on ‘Electronic electronic tools available in the Resources of Islamic Studies’. field of education and research Computers and their applica- technology to achieve objectives. tions have become an integral Participants were also provided part of modern societies and as a with details about which Islamic result, some countries have devel- jurisprudence software to use and oped IT strategies which include the most important websites to computers and the Internet as reference for Islamic jurispru- key elements in their curricula. dence and other areas of Islamic The seminar shed light on how sciences. people can benefit from technol- Dr Hamish gave recommen- ogy such as computer software dations for using electronic and the Internet with regard to resources effectively and warned Dr Abdul Haq Hamish, a Professor Islamic education and jurispru- of dangers of misusing the dence research. Internet. from QFIS, addressing the seminar. Teachers, students and THE PENINSULA Sheraton furniture and fittings will be donated to Qatar Charity

DOHA: Katara Hospitality yes- terday announced an initiative to donate furniture and fittings at the Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel to Qatar Charity. The donation is part of Katara Hospitality’s commitment to support social development programmes. It said Qatar Charity is the per- fect recipient as it deploys major efforts to help needy individuals and families in Qatar. The initiative comes at a time when the hotel, Doha’s most iconic, is witnessing renovation. Katara Hospitality said it will Officials of Katara Hospitality and Qatar Charity at the event. continue to support the local community and work with local humanitarian organisations it enables us to further develop remodelling of all guest rooms, such as the charity to help the projects for community public areas, recreation facilities underprivileged. improvement.” and the conference and meetings Youssef Ahmed Al Kuwari, Donated items are offered for space. The food and beverage offer CEO, Qatar Charity said: “Such acquisition through the char- will also be enhanced. donations are not uncommon for ity’s TAYF programme in the When it reopens, the hotel will Katara Hospitality as the man- Industrial Area, Street 48, Gate reflect the synergy between the agement and staff have always 174, between 8am and 10pm 1970s architecture of the land- been keen to support the local except on Friday mornings. marks with the style and func- community. Earlier this month, Katara tionality expected of a leading 21st “We are grateful for this con- Hospitality announced major century luxury hotel. tribution to needy families as renovation of the hotel — full THE PENINSULA MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 MIDDLE EAST 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Hamas warns Israel over Gaza attack calls Thousands attend Gaza rally that takes aim at Israel, Egypt and Abbas

GAZA CITY: Gaza’s Hamas Premier Ismail Haniyah warned Israel yester- day it would pay dearly if it heeded its foreign minister’s call to reoccupy the Palestinian enclave to try to halt rocket attacks. “We tell the enemy and (Foreign Minister Avigdor) Lieberman who is threatening to reoccupy Gaza that the time for your threats is over,” Haniyah told a rally in Gaza City. “Any aggression or crime or stupid- ity you commit will cost you a very high price.” On March 12, during a two-day flare- up in which Gaza militants fired at least 60 rockets into Israel and the Israelis responded with dozens of air strikes, Lieberman said Israel would have no choice but to reoccupy Gaza, from which it withdrew all troops and settlers in summer 2005. “There is no alternative to a full reoc- cupation of the entire Gaza Strip,” he told Channel 2 television. Speaking to around 40,000 supporters at a public rally marking 10 years since an Israeli air strike killed Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Haniyah warned Israel that Gaza militants had Hamas Prime Minister in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyah gives a speech during a public rally marking 10 years since an Israeli air strike killed Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed “far more capabilities than you imagine”. Yassin, in Gaza City yesterday. He also restated his Islamic movement’s opposition to peace talks between Israel on people, goods and arms crossing the legislative election the next year and, have no place in the land of Palestine.” Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, sent and the West Bank-based Palestinian Sinai-Gaza border. after a uneasy power-share with the Haniyah described Egypt as “brother, threatening text messages to Israelis and Authority of president Mahmud Abbas. Hamas tried in vain to mollify Egypt US-backed rival faction Fatah, seized friend and neighbour”, but another foreign reporters in Israel on Saturday, “Stop negotiating with the enemy,” by insisting that its hostility was directed control of Gaza in 2007. Hamas official based in the West Bank, the anniversary of Yassin’s killing. he told the PA. “We will not recognise exclusively at Israel, but is now turning The tone of defiance appeared aimed Hassan Youssef, had harsher words. “If Gaza will be attacked the life of the Israel.” up the rhetoric. in part at undermining Palestinian “We say to the authors of the coup in Zionists will be hell” and “In the next The memorial rally for Yassin — the “The punishment of the people of Gaza President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, Egypt, the criminals who support the war all the Land of Palestine will return,” wheelchair-bound co-founder of Hamas must end,” Haniyah told the rally in a who holds sway in the Israeli-occupied Occupation (Israel), that the blockade some read. killed on March 22, 2004 — took place speech interspersed with chants of “Jihad West Bank and is holding peace talks will not work,” he said in a televised “Al Qassam has chosen you to be the under the watchful eyes of hundreds of is not Terrorism” over the loudspeakers. with Israel under Washington’s auspices. speech. next Shalit,” another message stated, Hamas policemen who closed off streets “Why punish Gaza? Was it because it “We call upon the Palestinian negotia- Cairo’s cold shoulder has exacer- referring to Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, around the central Al Sarraya square and achieved victory against the Occupier? tor to quit this pointless track and not to bated Hamas’ isolation since it quit its who was abducted and held in Gaza took up positions on rooftops. Why punish Gaza? Was it because it extend negotiation,” said Haniyah. headquarters in Damascus in protest for five years until Hamas freed him in Tens of thousands of Palestinians ral- took up the rifle against Israel?” Haniyah Though Hamas has largely held fire at Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian lied to show support for their Islamist asked. since its last war with Israel, in November crackdown on opposition groups, a move prisoners. Hamas government, which has long been “We are living through a difficult stage 2012, the Israelis have been uncovering that led Iran to cut off funding. The email account of an Israeli security at loggerheads with Israel but is now and harsh challenges, but we are not ter- tunnels dug from Gaza to allow cross- Palestinian officials said Hamas was affairs newsletter, Israel Defence, was shunned by Egypt as well. rified and we are not defeated. We have border attacks in the next confrontation. now in fence-mending talks with Tehran, hacked and an email posted on Yassin’s The military-backed government that become familiar with difficulties and this Haniyah said the tunnels showed his fac- though their outcome remained unclear. killing. “We don’t forget the blood of our toppled the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas’ stage is not the most difficult.” tion’s dedication to fighting Israel until Senior Islamic Jihad officials and mem- sheikh, We swear again to take revenge, ideological kin, in Cairo last year has Hamas has repeatedly fought Israel, its eventual destruction. bers of smaller groups attended the event and this time by taking off the head of blacklisted the Brotherhood and Hamas which withdrew from the Gaza Strip in “From below ground and above ground, but Abbas’ Fatah, Hamas’s bitter rival, your leaders,” it said. as terrorist groups and clamped down 2005. The Islamists won a Palestinian you, the Occupiers, will be dismissed. You stayed away. The Ezzedine Al Qassam REUTERS/AFP

Bouteflika pledges ‘democracy’ if re-elected

ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika yesterday- pledged constitutional changes if he wins re- election next month, while a rival for the pres- idency vowed consensual reforms if elected as cam- paigning got underway. Bouteflika’s campaign chief Abdelmalek Sellal promised changes to the national charter that would create a “broad democracy” if the ailing incumbent wins the April Foreign journalists and relatives of activists walk near an army tank positioned outside Cairo’s Tora prison, where 17 vote. Sellal, a former the trial of activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and 24 others is taking place. prime minister, gave scant details of the changes as he opened the campaign with a speech in the southern Egyptian court frees prominent desert town of Adrar. Bouteflika’s decision to seek re-election despite a leftwing activist on bail mini-stroke, which confined him to hospital in Paris for three months, has drawn CAIRO: An Egyptian court are targeting the revolutionary heavy criticism not only released a leading leftwing youth,” Mamduh Gamal, one of in opposition ranks but activist on trial for joining an the defendants already out on also from some within the unsanctioned and violent pro- bail, said before the trial began. regime. test on bail yesterday, as the Abdel Fattah and his co- army-installed regime seeks to defendants were arrested after quell political unrest. violating a recently enacted law Iraq attacks Alaa Abdel Fattah (pictured), banning all but police-authorised and 24 others are accused of tak- demonstrations. Three leading kill seven ing part in a violent protest last anti-Mubarak protest leaders have November outside the senate, already been sentenced to three BAGHDAD: At least where a panel drafted a new con- years in prison for violating the law. seven people were killed stitution giving the army broader Cheers erupted in the court- yesterday in a series of powers. The trial for the activ- room yesterday when the pre- attacks in Iraq, most of ist, one of the leaders of the 2011 siding judge ordered the release which were concentrated uprising that overthrew Hosni of Fattah and the co-defendant in predominantly Sunni Mubarak, opened yesterday as still in custody on bail of 10,000 areas north of the capital, another court resumed the trial Egyptian pounds (around $1,400). officials said. of Mubarak’s deposed Islamist His father and lawyer Ahmed The latest unrest is successor Mohamed Mursi. authoritarianism the revolution- Seif said he should be freed today, part of a sustained surge The interim government has aries who toppled Mubarak had once bail has been posted. At the in bloodshed that is Iraq’s arrested thousands of people, hoped to end. The interim gov- hearing, the defendants, now all worst since 2008, when mostly Islamists, following Mursi’s ernment has arrested thousands freed on bail, denied the charges it was emerging from a overthrow by the military in July. of people, mostly Islamists, since against them from a caged dock. brutal sectarian war, and The crackdown on the oppo- Mursi’s overthrow. Abdel Fattah joked with journal- which has left more than sition amid often violent pro- Police have also arrested secu- ists during a court recess and 2,000 people dead already tests by Islamists is the harshest lar dissidents and several jour- flashed victory signs. this year. in decades, prompting fears of nalists. “They want to silent The trial was adjourned to AFP a return to the decades-long opposition — this is why they April 6. AFP MIDDLE EAST MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Arab ministers okay summit resolutions Special session planned in bid to sort out differences

KUWAIT CITY: Arab League Doha’s perceived support for the international terrorism and ways foreign ministers said they Muslim Brotherhood, branded a to limit its impact on Arab coun- agreed on the draft resolu- terrorist organisation by Cairo tries. But he said Egypt’s Muslim tions yesterday for a summit in and Riyadh. Brotherhood or whether to Kuwait tomorrow, despite deep Rifts between Qatar and the approve a new inter-Arab coun- rifts among member states. three other Gulf states as well as ter-terrorism pact were not dis- “There was no tension whatso- Egypt were expected to be tack- cussed at the meeting. ever in the meeting. Host coun- led during the ministerial meeting Zebari said all draft resolutions try Kuwait in fact has smoothed and also at the two-day summit. were unanimously approved by relations,” Iraq’s Foreign Minister Algerian Foreign Minister Arab foreign ministers. A draft Hoshyar Zebari told reporters at Ramtane Lamamra, however, resolution on the Syrian conflict, the end of a one-day meeting. said: “Not all issues are discussed which entered its fourth year “The subject of the withdrawal in the meeting hall. Some issues last week, urges the UN Security of ambassadors was never men- are debated on the sidelines Council to shoulder its responsi- tioned at all,” he said. behind the scenes.” bility after the failure of Geneva “There were no controver- Arab League assistant secre- peace talks between the regime sial issues or problems, and the tary general for political affairs and the opposition. atmosphere was very positive,” he Fadhel Jawad has said the Arab The leader of Syria’s opposi- Qatari Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah attends the opening session of the Arab League said, declining to answer if efforts leaders will hold a special session tion National Coalition, Ahmad Al Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Kuwait City yesterday. will be made to heal the rifts. during the summit in a bid to sort Jarba, has been invited to address Saudi Arabia, the United Arab out their differences. the Arab summit. But Syria’s The Arab League said the oppo- provide $100m in financial aid to basic charter of a Bahrain-based Emirates and Bahrain have Morocco’s minister of state seat in the Arab League remains sition still needs to meet some the Palestinian Authority every Arab human rights tribunal and recalled their ambassadors from for foreign affairs, Salahuddin vacant although the last annual legal procedures to take up the month and rejected recognition recommended that the next sum- fellow Gulf Cooperation Council Mezwar, said the ministers summit, held in Doha, granted the seat. On the Palestinian issue, the of Israel as a Jewish state. mit be held in Egypt. member Qatar in protest at discussed efforts to combat seat to the opposition. ministers called on Arab states to The ministers approved the AFP

Saudi arrests Arab Israeli prisoners row two over attack Turkish PM in new attack on on German social media after Twitter ban endangers peace initiative JERUSALEM: The Palestinians’ demand for Arab Israelis to fig- diplomats ANKARA: Turkey’s defiant weight in the region and which as increasingly authoritarian ure among 26 prisoners due for release under US-brokered peace Prime Minister Recep Tayyip is negotiating with the European after his Islamic-rooted govern- efforts has sparked an outcry in Israel’s coalition government that RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Erdogan launched a blister- Union.” ment introduced curbs on the could wreck the initiative. yesterday two suspects have ing new attack on social media The conflicting comments Internet and tightened its control “My party and I shall oppose at any price the release of Arab Israeli been arrested in connection yesterday after his government underscore what appears to be a on the judiciary in the wake of terrorists,” Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, of the with a January shooting attack banned Twitter just days before growing gulf between the two men the graft probe that has ensnared far-right Yisrael Beitenu party, told public radio yesterday. on two German diplomats in the crucial local elections. before Turks vote in local elec- members of his inner circle. “So far no (cabinet) decision has been taken,” said Aharonovitch, one east of the kingdom. “I cannot understand how sen- tions on March 30. Social media networks have of five ministers on a committee charged with approving each stage of The two envoys escaped sible people still defend Facebook, Erdogan also lashed out on been flooded almost daily with the release of 104 long-term prisoners, 78 of whom have already been unharmed when their car came YouTube and Twitter. They run Sunday at Facebook and YouTube recordings allegedly show- freed with the final batch due for release on March 29. under fire on January 13 in all kinds of lies,” he declared at which he has also threatened to ing Erdogan talking with his Deputy defence minister Danny Danon, a hawkish member of Prime Eastern Province, where most of an election rally. ban after the polls, accusing them son about hiding vast sums of Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, has already pledged to the country’s Shia minority lives. His fresh diatribe came shortly of advocating freedom selectively money and interfering in court resign if Arab Israelis are included in the deal. A spokesman for the interior after President Abdullah Gul across the globe. cases, business deals and media The hardline religious nationalist Jewish Home party has also ministry said a Saudi identified voiced hope the government “Twitter, Facebook and coverage. threatened to quit Netanyahu’s coalition if imprisoned Arab Israelis as Ahmed bin Hussein Al Aradi would soon lift the Twitter ban, YouTube have to respect the Erdogan has dismissed the or Palestinian residents of Jerusalem walk free. was arrested at the beginning of which has been roundly con- Turkish republic’s laws,” he said. recordings as “vile” fakes con- Israel’s Arab community has its roots in the 160,000 Palestinians February and admitted taking demned as a bid to muzzle a wid- “Turkey is not a banana republic.” cocted by his political rivals, who stayed on their land after the creation of the Jewish state in 1948. part in the attack. ening corruption scandal dogging He said Twitter abided by including US-based cleric Today they and their descendants number around 1.6 million out of a The spokesman, cited by the the government. national laws in countries such as Fethullah Gulen, once a staunch total Israeli population of eight million. Those jailed for militant attacks official SPA news agency, said his “I believe this problem will be the United States, Britain, China ally. “If the US president’s phone are considered by Israel not only as “terrorists” but also as traitors. interrogation led to the identifi- over soon,” Gul told reporters. and Russia but that when it came recordings go online, will Twitter, In addition, Palestinians in annexed east Jerusalem have the status cation of his alleged accomplices, “This is of course an unpleas- to countries such as Turkey or YouTube and Facebook say it is of Israeli residents, holding Israeli-issued ID documents and entitled one of whom was arrested. ant situation for such a developed Egypt “Twitter talks about free- freedom?” he said yesterday. to free movement around Israel, unlike Palestinians from the West Protests first erupted in country as Turkey, which has dom”. Erdogan is seen by critics AFP Bank and the Gaza Strip. AFP Eastern Province, home to the majority of the country’s two mil- lion Shias, in March 2011. Ten people were killed in clashes with security forces, and the fighting intensified after the arrest in July 2012 of Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, considered to be a driving force behind the protests. However, tensions eased in August that year when seven Shia dignitaries from Qatif hailed a call by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz for the creation of a centre for Sunni-Shia interfaith dialogue. The interior ministry spokesman on Sunday also called for three people named on a list of 23 Saudis wanted in connection with violence in Eastern Province to give themselves up. Smoke rises after an airstrike by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Gunmen seize Assad in Blleramoon district at the northern entrance to the city of Aleppo, yesterday. $600,000 in Libyan Islamist stronghold Gunfight between Assad

TRIPOLI: Gunmen stole $600,000 in a heist on a van tak- supporters and opponents ing cash to a bank in an Islamist stronghold in the volatile east BEIRUT: One person was killed clashes appeared to subside. where there is little state con- and 10 people were wounded in The fighting in Beirut follows a trol, media said yesterday. clashes in south Beirut yester- week of sustained violence in the Five man stopped the van day between supporters and northern city of Tripoli, where 27 which was transporting 750,000 opponents of Syrian President people have been killed in fight- Libyan dinars ($604,900) from an Bashar Al Assad, security ing between Assad supporters and office of telecommunications com- sources said. opponents that also dragged in the pany Libyana in the city of Derna, The fighting broke out before Lebanese army. state news agency Lana said. dawn between gunmen loyal to The conflict in Syria has spilled Derna, east of Benghazi, is a Shaker Barjawi, a Sunni Muslim over into sectarian violence in its coastal city largely out of govern- who supports the Alawite presi- smaller neighbour between Sunnis ment control and home to hard- dent, and other Sunni Muslims who mostly back the Syrian rebels line Islamists. who back the three-year uprising and Shias who support Assad. With chaos spreading in the against Assad’s rule. Several car bombs have tar- east, Western diplomats worry Residents heard the sound of geted Shia districts of Beirut and Derna is turning into a gather- loud gunfire and explosions com- towns in the Bekaa Valley, most ing and transit point for foreign ing from the Al Gharbi district of recently last Sunday when three and local Islamist fighters heading southern Beirut, where Barjawi people were killed in a strong- for Syria and Egypt. has an office. hold of the Shia militant group Libya’s weak central govern- Security sources named the Hezbollah. Security sources say ment is unable to control mili- dead man as Nabil Hannash. many of the bombs were prepared tias who helped oust Muammar Several other people includ- in the Syrian rebel-controlled Gaddafi in 2011 and use their guns ing civilians were wounded in Qalamoun region, on the Syrian to grab power and make financial the clashes, they said. The army side of the border with Lebanon. demands. AGENCIES later deployed in the area and the REUTERS VIEWS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Algeria needs democracy Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

N ALL kinds of non-democracies prevalent in abundance all over the world, seventy-seven isn’t considered old age for a ruler. There are rulers who cling Ito their chairs for decades, to get separated from power As Erdogan has discovered, only by death. In that sense, the decision of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to run for a fourth term in office shouldn’t come as a surprise. Algeria is one of the few Arab countries where you can’t turn off Twitter the so-called Spring is yet to blow in a meaningful way. The country enjoys peace and stability and there are no signs this will be shattered soon. The credit for this should go to BY JOHN NAUGHTON extensive powers to monitorinternet their vast commercial interests were Bouteflika and the government he runs. Since no government use in Turkey. In the old days, given being harmed by the ban; others argue can escape the scrutiny of its people and survive in isolation, ERE we go again: authori- that Erdogan seems to have control of that the closure had the counter-pro- the Algerian government has been able to escape the fury of tarian ruler finds that social Turkey’s mainstream media, that would ductive effect of encouraging even more its people, though demands for democracy are as strong in media are making life uncom- have been job done. But Twitter turned people on to the streets to find out what the country as elsewhere. Hfortable for him in the run-up out to be a real thorn in his side, because was going on. to elections; finds Twitter particularly links to leaked audio recordings of wire- In that context, it’s even possible that But what makes Bouteflika’s decision to seek another term annoying; instructs local authorities to tapped phone conversations between Erdogan knew what he was doing. In a strange is his bad health. The president suffered a stroke last shut off access for his citizens; announces journalists, business people and cabinet perceptive blog post on the Twitter deci- year that opponents say has left him unfit to campaign or that he is unbothered by international ministers were being regularly tweeted. sion, for example, Paul Mason argues govern the North African oil producer for another five years. criticism of this act of censorship which, So in the end Erdogan’s patience that the ban may have been a gambit Many of his countrymen and people outside the country are he says, will demonstrate the power of snapped and he lashed out. Turkey’s tele- “designed to force the secular, young expecting him to retire and hand over power to others. Even his republic. Welcome to Turkey, our communications department announced and leftist opposition on to the streets staunch ally in the fight against jihad that a “protection measure” had been during the election, boosting the turn- if the opponents’ words can’t be taken to be hundred percent and the Forces of Darkness. There is a taken for Twitter, “according to Decision out of their opponents, the conservative true, there is plenty of truth in what they say. The president certain grim familiarity in the story of Nr dated 03.20.2014 of Istanbul Public Islamist masses”. was living away from public eyes for a long time due to ill- Prime Minister Erdogan’s battle against Prosecutor (Article 10 With TMK Even so, Mason sees Erdogan’s ploy health during which time the social media. He leads the AKP, the “jus- Guard).” You can guess what happened. as just the latest indication of a deeper country was governed by his close tice and development party”, that has Within seconds the ban was being openly trend. “This is not about Turkey,” he associates. If the president is been in power flouted, circumvented and ridiculed, both says, “it’s about the right to be modern.” What since 2002. It’s within Erdogan’s fiefdom and abroad. The ageing elites of the pre-internet age given another term, it will be the now in its third Twitter rapidly provided instructions he says are slowly realising what young Algerians need same team which will continue term, having been (in both English and Turkish) on how people are born knowing: you can’t turn is democracy, its rule, thus lending credence to returned in 2011 to tweet using SMS. (“Avea and Vodafone off the social media without turning off the argument that it’s time for Users easily with just under text START to 2444. Turkcell text modernity and economic life. not another Bouteflika to step aside. half of the popular START to 255.”) Many Turkish people The workaround Turkish tweet- circumvented vote, but Erdogan circumvented the ban either by changing ers are using exploits the fundamental With the backing of the Erdogan’s Twitter rules as though their DNS settings or by using Virtual strength of the internet: it is a network term for dominant National Liberation ban. But be wary he had the 99.9% Private Networks (VPNs). of networks, containing non-hierarchical Abdelaziz Front (FLN) party, loyal army share beloved of EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes pathways that simply do not allow you factions and unions, Bouteflika of assuming the strong leaders tweeted that “The Twitter ban in to switch part of it off. This is a sig- Bouteflika. is almost assured victory. He net is always a everywhere. #Turkey is groundless, pointless, cow- nal moment in that process: a moment registered his candidacy earlier Last December, ardly. Turkish people and intl community where a once-respected statesman turns liberating force. in the course of a will see this as censorship. It is.” And into a Canute-like clown.” this month and is campaigning corruption inves- from Thursday evening onwards graffiti- There is a whiff of technological deter- to request votes. Interestingly, the president has even made tigation, Turkish began appearing on buildings in Istanbul minism about this that makes me uneasy. grandiose promises to his people. In a letter addressed police arrested giving instruction about the new DNS Ever since the internet appeared on the to his people yesterday, he said his poor health would not scores of people, including three cabinet settings that would circumvent the ban. scene in the 1980s the really big question prevent him from running for a fourth term and promised members and some of their offspring. Erdogan has become a laughing stock in that it posed was whether it would prove constitutional reforms if he wins the April 17 election. It’s The accusations of sleaze and corruption less than a week. a powerful enough force to overthrow which lay behind the arrests are par- So: authoritarian ruler nil, internet the established order. Would the cen- intriguing why the president needs another term to introduce ticularly annoying for a prime minister 1? Maybe, but it’s really only a half-time tral elements of that order – the state, democracy when he had got enough time in power to whose party lists “fighting against cor- score. It would be unwise to extrapo- transnational corporations, military and introduce all the reforms he wanted, and for the same reason, ruption” as one of its main goals. late too far from this little spat. Some hierarchical institutions generally – be his promises are unlikely to be swallowed without doubt by Erdogan’s response to the prosecution commentators were quick to draw com- “disintermediated”, dissolved or bypassed his own people. Algerians’ struggle for democracy has been followed the authoritarian rule book to parisons between Erdogan’s Twitter ban by this new decentralised, empowering, the letter: the prosecutors in charge of and Hosni Mubarak’s decision during liberating, democratising technology? very bitter, and it’s the sordidness of this experience which the investigation were summarily fired, the uprising against his rule to shut off The honest answer is that it’s too early had prevented them from taking to the streets when several as were a large number of police officers. Egypt’s access to the net. to say. There have, of course, been some parts of the Arab world witnessed revolutions that threw out A compliant parliament then amended That particular experiment in isola- heartwarming examples of how the cor- their rulers. the law to hand powers hitherto exer- tionism ended after five days, and even rupt old order has been discombobulated cised by judges and prosecutors over today it’s not clear why. Some argue that and outmanoeuvred by the technology to the justice minister. And it has also the regime’s U-turn was forced by the and its resourceful users. passed a new law giving the authorities realisation of the Egyptian military that THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Level of hypocrisy and leniency in MH370 search the day

F one analyses the manner of each country is so frightened to in both Korea and Singapore, and when ‘it’s accuracy, speed and scrutiny the various countries freely give out/share information yet has not yet deployed any of pioneering features can be used are conducting, to find the and have got lots of things to their equipment or resources for right now when it is absolutely The media are MH370 flight, one would happen hide. Without transparency and this noble cause. Not to forget – required? Why depend on slow I attacking us. Even to notice the level of hypocrisy, in the presence of lots of hidden Australia, India and China all have commercial/standard planes to do concealment and leniency that the agendas, how can countries at least 10 types of top of the class surveys over the sea? The US has if the world stands different countries have toward collaborate and help each other? military planes, vessels/equipment spy satellites looking all over the human lives. Firstly, according to Secondly, if one observes the and at least 5 submarines. None of world and suddenly, none of these up against us, I most news agency reports - most number of ships, planes and these have been deployed for use. satellites have been able to spot/ am obliged to take satellite images have taken days equipment that are being deployed These planes/vessels/equipment record anything. Notice the level to reach the concerned authorities, at the moment for the search, it is have been simply sitting disused of hypocrisy, concealment and measure against as the images go through various absolutely negligible to what each from the day the plane went leniency. This is really a sad state checks and levels of superfluous country currently possesses in missing. Why aren’t countries of affairs, wherein Human lives are every attack that security before they are issued to terms of transportation and military using their top class military worth nothing. threatens my nation’s relevant establishments. It’s as if strength. The US has their bases resources to good and noble use, Romi Sebastian, Doha-Qatar Recep Tayyip Erdogan security. Turkish Prime Minister VIEWS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Strife could deflate a rising Bangladesh

School of Government. Shamsher Mubin more private institutions. Violence has Chowdhury, a diplomat and former for- Experts say that the rise in conserva- eign secretary aligned with the BNP, tism reflects the influence of foreign- said Hasina has used the threat of ris- financed Islamic charities and the more disrupted the key ing extremism as an excuse to imprison austere version of Islam brought home by opponents and harass journalists and migrant workers in Gulf countries. garment industry human rights activists. The United States “It’s changed the culture of the coun- has also raised concerns about violence by try,” said Ali Riaz, an Illinois State both parties and disappearances allegedly University political scientist and author and tarnished the carried out by the security forces. of a book on South Asian madrassas. Some of Dhaka’s liberal elite say they Violent Islamist activity has also are troubled by the administration’s auto- increased, experts say, culminating in image of a country cratic turn, but they are willing to toler- a coordinated attack in 2005 where ate it if the enemy is radical Islam. 500 bombs exploded in a day. Hasina’s “There is a sense of relief that this government has made some inroads in that, while still prevented the religious extremists from fighting terrorism since then, but oppo- getting any nearer to power,” said one, sition politicians and analysts say they poor, has made who spoke on the condition of anonymity fear extremism could rise if the political because he does not want to be seen as uncertainty continues and ultra-conserv- condoning repression. ative Muslims feel left out of the political remarkable gains In 2009, Hasina inflamed tensions by system. resurrecting a long dormant plan to hold “The problem is that if the instabil- war-crimes trials of about a dozen lead- ity continues and the two principal par- in life expectancy, ers of Jamaat-e-Islami and the opposi- ties can’t get their acts together, it could tion BNP — now elderly men — who had open the door for Islamic fundamental- sided with Pakistan during the war and ism and radicalism to get a foothold and literacy and have been accused of murder and other have more influence and more power,” atrocities. The BNP has traditionally said Rep Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, who met gender equality. been closer to religious conservatives. with the two “Battling Begums” in the fall In February 2013, when one man was in an attempt to broker an election deal. Teachers and students at the Hathazari madrassa gather on February 13 around a camel convicted and initially given only a life In the last year, state-run schools, poll- BY ANNIE GOWEN brought in for a celebration. The school north of Chittagong, Bangladesh, is the centre of sentence — he was later hanged — hun- ing places and medical clinics have been the Hefazat-e-Islam movement. dreds of young Bangladeshis protested torched in some of the Jamaat strong- nce known for sweatshops in one of Dhaka’s public squares. The holds near the port city of Chittagong, and cyclones, Bangladesh has “It is a moderate and generally secu- by government security forces. demonstration turned into a celebra- and minority Hindu communities have emerged in recent years as lar and tolerant — though sometimes In recent weeks, an exhausted calm tion of Bangladesh’s secular identity, been threatened. Oa fragile democracy with an this is getting stretched at the moment has settled over the capital city of Dhaka. with protesters waving torches, dancing On a recent day north of Chittagong, expanding economy. But one winter — alternative to violent extremism in Behind the wrought-iron fence of Prime and singing the Bengali songs written by dozens of students sat in the main court- afternoon, a well-known politician got a very troubled part of the world,” said Minister Sheikh Hasina’s low-slung their beloved Nobel Prize-winning poet, yard of Hefazat’s main madrassa, listened a taste of the violence that threatens Dan Mozena, the US ambassador to white offices, winter flowers have burst Rabindranath Tagore. to a lecture, as others made preparations its future. Bangladesh. into bloom, and there is a firm desire to One of the organisers of the protest, for a meeting the next day that would Asaduzzaman Noor, a member of par- The unrest was sparked by events return to business as usual, even though an outspoken blogger, was later killed. bring 100,000 supporters to the school. liament, was traveling in a convoy in the including an ongoing war crimes trial the current situation is anything but. Several radical Islamists were arrested In the kitchen, workers prepared huge northern part of the country when he and a disputed election in January. But Until this year, Hasina, 66, has alter- and charged in his death. vats of rice and, in the courtyard, 100 was suddenly trapped. Wave after wave of it has played out against a backdrop of nated power four times with another Then, in May, hundreds of thousands cows were waiting to be slaughtered for attackers allied with the country’s largest rising religious tensions. strong female leader, Khaleda Zia, 68, of supporters of a little-known Islamist the event’s feast. Islamist party poured into the road, wav- Although Bangladesh’s legal code is the head of the opposition Bangladesh group, Hefazat-e-Islam (Protectors of Hefazat’s leader, Shah Ahmad Shafi, ing handmade spears and axes, he later secular, more citizens are embracing a Nationalist Party (BNP), which is allied Islam), massed in counter-protest, waving 94, said in an interview that the group recounted. Noor managed to escape, but conservative version of Islam, with some with Jamaat-e-Islami. a 13-point list of demands that included was not a militant or even a political five men were hacked to death. pushing for Shariah law, analysts say. The two women could not agree on instituting Shariah law and banning men organisation and was not allied with The December attack was a frighten- Most people reject violence, but there how the January vote should be run, and and women from mixing in public. An Jamaat. ing illustration of the violence that has has been a surge of high-profile attacks Zia called for her supporters to launch estimated 58 people were later killed The group protested in Dhaka last flared in the world’s ninth-most-populous by extremists, some linked to Jamaat-e- strikes that blocked highways and turned in clashes between the Islamist group’s spring because of the Hasina govern- nation and led to worries that Bangladesh Islami, an Islamist party associated with violent. Hasina won the election in a land- backers and security forces, Human ment’s attempts to regulate the curricu- could wind up like Pakistan, where the political opposition. slide, but there was sparse turnout and a Rights Watch said. lum in private madrassas, Shafi said. The Islamist extremists threaten the state. Now, many secularists feel under siege. boycott by Zia’s party. Mozena and other For most of its history, Bangladesh group also wanted to counter what it sees Last year, Bangladesh suffered its worst “The key difference is that we want a diplomats have unsuccessfully pressured has espoused a moderate form of Islam. as a dangerous trend, with “atheist” blog- political violence since its independence Bangladesh for all Bangladeshis, and they the government to hold a fresh election. But in recent years, experts say, religious gers and others criticising Islam, he said. in 1971, with more than 500 dead. want a Muslim Bangladesh,” Noor said. Gowher Rizvi, Hasina’s international conservatism has been on the rise, par- “The country is getting too liberal. The violence has disrupted the key gar- Religious conservatives say the gov- affairs adviser, acknowledged that the ticularly in rural areas. More mosques There are undisciplined lifestyles,” the ment industry and tarnished the image ernment is using the pretext of cracking vote “raised controversy” but was vague have opened, as have shops selling head- scholar said. The group has not been able of a country that, while still poor, has down on extremists to go after its rivals. about whether a new election would be to-toe black abaya robes for women. The to get permission from the government to made remarkable gains in life expectancy, After the attack on Noor, three of the held. “Is this a five-year mandate? I don’t number of state-affiliated madrassas has hold any further protests, he said. literacy and gender equality. Bangladesh alleged perpetrators turned up dead. The know,” said Rizvi, who was previously increased by 56 percent from 1995 to 2011, Washington Post correspondent Azad also stands out as one of the few Muslim- families of two of them told human rights vice provost at the University of Virginia according to government statistics, to Majumder contributed to this report. majority democracies. workers that they had been taken away and a professor at the Harvard Kennedy about 9,300 schools. There are thousands WP-BLOOMBERG Social responsibility in Islam Reject Russia’s BY DR MOHAMED KIRAT is a shepherd in his family, and Each Muslim is considered a he will be questioned about those nlike Western theories under his care; and the woman is a and approaches, the shepherd in the house of her hus- ‘anschluss’ Islamic view of corporate social being who cannot isolate band, and she will be questioned social responsibility takes about those under her care... Thus, BY ANDRII interests” that justify wars and U DESHCHYTSIA a rather holistic approach. It offers or ignore his responsibility every one of you is a shepherd and annexations. But the world has an integral spiritual view based on is responsible for those under his seen this already. It is nothing the teachings of the Holy Quran care.” (Al Bukhari). In the words o, the unthinkable hap- new. It is history repeating as and the Sunnah providing a better to the society. of the Glorious Qur’an: Hast thou pened: Within a couple a farce. alternative philosophical frame- Hence, to fence off social responsi- with its commitment to justice, observed him who belieth reli- Sof weeks, Vladimir Putin The time for diplomatic plati- work for man’s interaction with bility and declare it to be off-limits brings about a balance between gion? That is he who repelleth pulled off his blitzkrieg. Russia’s tudes is over. Today’s Russia is nature as well as his community to Muslim life would be a shocking the rights of individuals and their the orphan, and urgeth not the “anschluss” of Crimea heralds a a threat. Today’s Ukraine is and fellowmen. In fact, the moral violation of the principle of taqwa duties and responsibilities towards feeding of the needy. (Al-Ma`un new international reality. To a the new frontier to all people and ethical principles derived from or God-consciousness, which is the others and between self interest 107:1-3). Those who entered the standing ovation of his parlia- of good will. Being a European divine revelations are more endur- cardinal Islamic virtue. and altruistic values. Islam recog- faith… prefer [the fugitives] above ment on Tuesday, the victori- democracy is Ukraine’s free ing, eternal, and absolute. These For a good and devout Muslim, nises self-interest as a naturally themselves though poverty become ous Russian president signed a and sincere choice. Many peo- may serve as better guidelines concern for others and the envi- motivating force in all human life. their lot. (Al-Hashr 59: 9) treaty decreeing Crimea’s acces- ple have paid for this with their for corporations when exercising ronment he lives in, is deeply But self-interest has to be linked to “Help your brother whether he sion to the Russian Federation. lives. Ukraine is the new place their business and social responsi- inscribed in the pillars of Islam, the overall concept of goodness and is the doer of wrong or wrong is Recent events have dealt to stand — if you care about bilities simultaneously. CSR should and is binding on every Muslim. justice. Islam, in fact, lays down a done to him.” The Companions Europe and the global security democracy, freedom and human be deeper than charity work and Each Muslim is, in fact, considered moral framework for effort, spell- asked, “O Messenger of Allah! We system their heaviest blows rights. companies should be responsible a social being who cannot isolate or ing out values and disvalues, what can help a man to whom wrong is since the rise of the Berlin The world has been con- and take into account the effects ignore his role and responsibility is desirable and what is reprehen- done, but how could we help him Wall. Whether they are ulti- fronted with an unexpected on the environment, stakeholders to the society or any of his fellow sible from a moral, spiritual and when he is the doer of wrong?” The mately knocked down depends challenge. But this problem and shareholders. CSR in Islam human beings so much so that he social perspective. The difference Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Hold on the world’s reaction. But the might become an opportunity. revolves around Shariah, taqwa, is discouraged from isolating him- between Islam and most other him back from doing wrong.” (Al adage that “that which doesn’t There is a new, positive drive human dignity, equality and rights, self even for the purpose of wor- religions is that Islam didn’t limit Bukhari) kill us makes us stronger” is in Eastern Europe. Ukraine trust and responsibility. The objec- shipping God. CSR is a moral and itself to merely establishing acts of In Islam, it is contradictory if applicable here. started it by trying to shrug tive here is not to please and satisfy religious initiative based on the worship and abandoning the needs a company employs children and Ukraine is ready to stand its off its old sins and become a the stakeholders and shareholders belief that a company should avoid of society to a temporal govern- exploits them and at the same time ground. Crimea is Ukrainian. better state. Our choice is not or to strike a reputation among “to do bad” an be ‘good’ regard- ing body. Rather, Islam established engages in social responsibility We have the law and the truth about Russia but about being consumers and the public, or to less of its financial consequences, ways of conduct, relationships, programmes, or uses minorities on our side. We won’t budge in a functioning, future-oriented please the government and decision be they positive or negative. This and rights and obligations for the for financial purposes. Here, there the face of aggression. We will European democracy. We makers, but rather to satisfy God is not to suggest that Islam is individual vis-à-vis members of his is a major contradiction between take Russia to the courts and will stick to this, and we will and the community. Satisfying God against profit-making. Rather, it family and the nation and for the the teachings of Islam and the use every venue available to succeed. is obeying him and respecting the is seen as a necessary condition, nation vis-à-vis other nations. The motives behind social responsibil- make clear that this is not the Once Ukraine succeeds, it will principles of good conduct in Islam though not the ultimate purpose, reform of society was the main ity. What are we witnessing today way to behave in today’s world. represent a viable democratic as an individual and an institution. of their existence (Hasan, 1983). target of Islam. Even acts of wor- is the practice of CSR for motives And Ukraine has plenty of rea- alternative to many interested With a proper relationship with The invocation of Shariah and the ship contribute towards achieving and objectives that have nothing to sons to count on international onlookers in the post-Soviet God, the person’s daily interactions reflection of the taqwa in business this reform. do with the rationale, ethics and solidarity. space. The European Union can and dealings would be inspired imply that the entrepreneur is no Within the framework of human morals of CSR. Companies should The whole world stands with find in Ukraine a new drive. The by the values of honesty, truthful- longer driven only by the principle society, the Islamic nation is a first think about Corporate Social Ukraine these days — but this United States can find here a ness, firmness, fairness, respect for of profit maximisation, but also by compact union having recourse to Irresponsibility before engaging in is about more than unanimity. “long game” it is destined to the law, kindness, tolerance and the pursuit of the ultimate hap- itself, possessing an inner sense of CSR; because the good cannot in What’s happening is also win. And the rest of the world uprightness, instead of deceit, piness in this life and the hereaf- responsibility for its own members, any way and never covers the bad; about steadfastness. Russia is will sleep better at night know- haughtiness, ostentation, insubor- ter, whereby he acknowledges his and resisting decay, both individu- and this is one thing that Islam trying to drive a wedge between ing that the new international dination, envy, jealousy, backbiting social and moral responsibility for ally and collectively. “Every one of doesn’t speculate on. members of the international reality doesn’t depend on the and cheating. This should naturally the wellbeing of his fellow human you is a shepherd, and every one community. The Russian doc- whims of ever more Hitler be manifested in the individuals’ beings like consumers, employ- of you will be questioned about Mohamed Kirat is a profes- trine that Putin presented to a impersonators. business activities and operations ees, shareholders and the local those under his rule: the ruler is sor of Public Relations and Mass clapping Kremlin audience on The writer is foreign minister as well as their relationships with community. a shepherd, and he will be ques- Communication at the College of Tuesday was about one thing: of Ukraine. all their respective stakeholders. Furthermore, Islamic guidance, tioned about his subjects; the man Arts and Sciences, Qatar University. drawing new lines of “legitimate WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 INTERNATIONAL 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Ebola epidemic Moscow likely spreads to Guinea’s to invade capital: Unicef

CONAKRY: An Ebola epidemic which has already killed dozens of people in Guinea’s southern Moldova: Nato forests has spread to the capi- tal Conakry, the United Nations Children’s Fund said yesterday. Russia has big force at Ukraine border “At least 59 out of 80 who con- tracted Ebola across the West BRUSSELS: Nato’s top mili- Crimea has caused alarm particu- African country have died so tary commander said yesterday larly in ex-Soviet republics in the far. Over the past few days, the that Russia had built up a large Baltics, which are now members deadly haemorrhagic fever has force on Ukraine’s eastern bor- of Nato. quickly spread from the commu- der and he was worried Moscow Nato had tried to make Russia nities of Macenta, Gueckedou, may be eyeing Moldova’s mainly a partner but “now it is very clear and Kissidougou to the capi- Russian-speaking separatist that Russia is acting much more tal, Conakry,” Unicef said in a Transdniestria region after like an adversary than a partner,” statement. annexing Crimea. Breedlove said. Conakry, a vast, sprawling port Nato’s Supreme Allied He voiced concern that Russia city on Guinea’s Atlantic coast, is Commander Europe, US Air could have Transdniestria in estimated to have a population of Force General Philip Breedlove, its sights after Crimea, saying between 1.5 and two million. voiced concern about Moscow that, in Russia’s view, the sepa- To date, no treatment or vac- using a tactic of snap military ratist region of Moldova was cine is available for Ebola, which exercises to prepare its forces for the “next place where Russian- kills between 25 and 90 percent of possible rapid incursions into a speaking people may need to be People hold a huge flag, a combination of a Ukrainian, Crimean and Tatar flags, on Independence Square in Kiev, those who fall sick, depending on neighbouring state, as it had done incorporated.” yesterday. the strain of the virus, according in the case of Ukraine’s Crimea Some of the elements of the to the World Health Organisation. region. Crimea scenario are also present The disease is transmitted by Russia launched a new military in Transdniestria, which lies on direct contact with blood, faeces exercise, involving 8,500 artillery Ukraine’s western border but is Crimean rebel leaders urge or sweat, or by sexual contact or men, near Ukraine’s border 10 just a few hundred kilometres unprotected handling of contami- days ago. (miles) from Crimea. nated corpses. Unicef said at least Breedlove said the Russian “There is absolutely sufficient Russians to fight Ukraine three victims of the outbreak, which tactic should lead the 28-nation (Russian) force postured on the began on February 9, were children. Western military alliance to eastern border of Ukraine to run “This outbreak is particularly rethink the positioning and to Transdniestria if the decision KIEV: Crimea’s rebel leader “His troops massed at the bor- comes with Russia facing the devastating because medical staff readiness of its forces in eastern was made to do that and that is urged Russians across Ukraine der are ready to attack at any loss of its coveted seat among the are among the first victims, so far Europe so that they were ready to very worrisome,” Breedlove said. yesterday to rise up against moment,” he said a day after G8 group of leading nations and it has killed at least eight health counter Moscow’s moves. In Moscow, Deputy Defence Kiev’s rule and welcome Russian forces used armoured Putin’s inner circle reeling from workers who have been in contact “A snap exercise puts an Minister Anatoly Antonov said Kremlin forces whose unrelent- personnel carriers and stun gre- sanctions Washington unleashed with infected patients, hindering the incredible force at a border. The Russia was complying with inter- ing march against his flashpoint nades to capture Ukraine’s main for their use of force in Crimea response and threatening normal force that is at the Ukrainian bor- national troop limits near the bor- peninsula has defied Western Crimean airbase. in response to last month’s fall of care in a country already lacking der now to the east is very, very der with Ukraine, and international outrage. The takeover came as the chill Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin regime. in medical personnel,” Unicef said. sizeable and very, very ready,” he inspectors had conducted missions The call came amid growing in East-West ties grew stiffer with One of the biggest tests facing The organisation said it had said, speaking at an event held in the last month to check on anxiety among Kiev’s Western- a charge by Germany — a nation the besieged Western-backed lead- rushed five tonnes of aid, includ- by the German Marshall Fund, Russian troop movements. “We have backed rulers that Russian whose friendship Putin had nur- ers in Kiev now comes from restless ing medical supplies, to the most a think-tank. nothing to hide there,” Antonov was President Vladimir Putin — tured — of a Kremlin attempt to Russians who have been stirring affected areas in Guinea’s south. “You cannot defend against quoted by the state RIA and Itar- flushed with expansionist fer- “splinter” Europe. up violent protests and demand- “In Guinea, a country with a that if you are not there to defend Tass news agencies as saying. vour — will imminently order an Europe’s most explosive secu- ing their own secession referen- weak medical infrastructure, an against it. So I think we need to The Russian-speakers of all-out attack on his ex-Soviet rity crisis in decades will now dums in the southeastern swaths outbreak like this can be devastat- think about our allies, the posi- Transdniestria seceded from neighbour after being hit by only dominate a nuclear security of Ukraine. The region’s mistrust ing,” said the organisation’s Guinea tioning of our forces in the alliance Moldova in 1990, a year before the limited EU and US sanctions for summit opening in The Hague of the new team’s European values representative, Mohamed Ag Ayoya. and the readiness of those forces ... dissolution of the Soviet Union, taking the Black Sea cape. on Monday that will include lies from cultural and trade ties “Unicef has pre-positioned supplies such that we can be there to defend amid fears that Moldova would “The aim of Putin is not Crimea what may prove the most diffi- with Russia that in many cases and stepped up communication on against it if required, especially in shortly merge with neighbouring but all of Ukraine,” Ukraine’s cult meeting to date between US are centuries old — a fact seized the ground to inform and sensitise the Baltics and other places.” Romania, whose language and National Security and Defence Secretary of State John Kerry upon on Sunday by Crimea’s self- medical staff and the population on Ukraine is not a Nato mem- culture it broadly shares. Council chief Andriy Parubiy told and Russian Foreign Minister declared prime minister. how to avoid contracting Ebola.” ber, but Moscow’s intervention in REUTERS a mass unity rally in Kiev. Sergei Lavrov. The encounter AFP AFP

Gunmen kill Post-Franco Spain’s first premier Suarez dead three in attack MADRID: Adolfo Suarez (pic- Suarez was one of the last sur- 1976 at the age of 44, and he was In time he was overwhelmed tured), the prime minister viving players in Spain’s historic confirmed as leader in an election however by various perils: splits on Kenyan who led post-Franco Spain to “transition”—the delicate disman- the following year. within his party, Spain’s economic democracy, died yesterday at tling of dictatorship followed by “The king’s relationship with hardship, a dissenting military church a Madrid hospital, his family’s democratic reforms that he and my father has always been excep- and regions, and armed attacks by spokesman said. He was 81. King Juan Carlos helped achieve tional,” Suarez’s son said. the Basque separatist group ETA. MOMBASA: Two gunmen Suarez, Spain’s first prime min- after Franco died in 1975. “Thanks to the king, he was In 1981, two years after being stormed a packed church near ister after the death of General “His role in the transition was head of government. Thanks to elected for the second time, he the Kenyan coastal city of Francisco Franco in 1975, had second only to that of the king,” the king, he was able to do what resigned unexpectedly. Days later, Mombasa yesterday and opened suffered from Alzheimer’s disease said the historian Javier Tusell. he liked at a unique moment in soldiers took members of parlia- fire on worshippers, killing for the past decade. Despite being born the son of the history of Spain,” he added. ment hostage in an attempted three people and wounding oth- “Adolfo Suarez has died,” the a Republican, Suarez became a “Together, they changed the coup that was defused with the ers, in what police called a ter- family spokesman Fermin Urbiola member of Franco’s regime, serv- course of history.” help of Juan Carlos. rorist attack. told reporters at the Cemtro hos- ing as head of the state broad- A charismatic leader admired Suarez was one of only three One witness said the gunmen pital where the former premier caster and a senior leader in the for his talent for conciliation, members of parliament who did shouted out in a foreign language was admitted Monday. National Movement, a Francoist Suarez oversaw the legalisation not hide under their benches. He on the floor,” he said in a televi- before shooting indiscriminately His son Adolfo Suarez Illana party with fascist roots. of political parties and helped remained in his seat even when sion interview years later. “I was at the congregation. Blood- told reporters on Friday that his The king, Franco’s successor as them forge a consensus as they coup leader Antonio Tejero seized the prime minister and the prime spattered Bibles and overturned father’s illness had progressed and head of state, named Suarez prime hammered out a constitution, parliament, gun in hand. minister should not do that.” plastic chairs lay strewn across his death was “imminent”. minister in a new government in approved in a referendum in 1978. “They ordered us to get down AFP the church’s floor after the attack. “Both carried big guns and began shooting all over the place. I fell to the ground and could hear screams,” said Lilian Omondi, who was leading a prayer recital Far right expect surge at the time. Kenya’s parliament has called for better coordination between the security and intelligence agen- in French local polls cies after 67 people were killed in an attack on a shopping mall in PARIS: The French voted far-right National Front (FN) in Nairobi in September. yesterday in the first round of what could be a significant election The raid took place in Likoni, local elections that could see the for the anti-immigration, anti-EU located across a deep-water chan- far-right surge as the Socialist party led by Marine Le Pen. nel from Mombasa city, a major government battles record The vote is also set to be a tourist hub. There was no imme- unpopularity and the main groundbreaking one for women in diate claim of responsibility. opposition is beset by scandal. the French capital: whatever the Likoni’s police chief Robert Voters are most likely to pick final outcome of the two rounds Mureithi said the high number their mayors based on local issues of voting on consecutive Sundays, of bullet cartridges recovered for that affect them directly in areas Paris is poised to elect its first the Joy in Christ Church indi- such as taxation, security or female mayor. cated the gunmen were armed unemployment, in the first nation- Just under a million people are with automatic weapons. wide polls since Francois Hollande standing as candidates in an elec- The attackers tried to raid a was elected as president in 2012. tion that will produce over 36,000 second church nearby but fled But there is concern that some new mayors for municipalities when armed police on patrol in the Socialist party loyalists, disillu- ranging from the tiniest of agri- neighbourhood appeared. “This sioned by the government’s track cultural hamlets to metropolises has all the indicators of a terrorist record as unemployment remains like Lyon, Marseille and Paris. attack because the attackers did sky-high and the economy stag- And despite a series of much- not steal anything and appeared nates, will not turn out to vote. publicised selfies posted on focused on killing,” Mureithi told Corruption scandals that have Twitter by people who voted, reporters at the scene. affected the main opposition UMP concerns that voter turnout may Two people were killed at the party as well as former president be dismally low were heightened church. A medic in the emer- Nicolas Sarkozy could also alien- after four different polls suggested gency ward at Mombasa’s main ate some centre-right voters. general abstention would reach hospital said a third person died As such, polls suggest around around 35 percent — a record for in hospital. French President Francois Hollande (right) speaks with supporters after voting in the first round in the French one in four voters are consider- French municipal elections. REUTERS mayoral elections in Tulle, centre France, yesterday. ing casting their votes for the AFP INTERNATIONAL MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Run for charity Support rises Landslide kills for Scottish independence three in US, 18 LONDON: The number of Scots ready to vote for inde- pendence has risen according to a poll published yesterday, adding to evidence that a ref- still missing erendum on September 18 could be tighter than previ- ously expected. The poll, con- One neighbourhood wiped out ducted by ICM, showed the proportion of Scots who would SEATTLE: About 18 people are The mud was so thick and vote in favour of independence still unaccounted for after a mas- deep that searchers turned back rose to 39 percent, an increase sive mudslide in rural northwest on Saturday, after attempting to of 2 percentage points from a Washington state killed at least reach an area where voices were similar survey conducted last three people and forced evacua- heard crying for help. Rescuers month. The number of those tions because of fears of flooding, couldn’t hear any signs of life once voting against a split fell to authorities said yesterday. they got closer and the decision 46 percent from 49 percent Snohomish County fire district was made to back out due to in February, according to the 21 chief, Travis Hots, said at a safety reasons, Hots said. poll of 1,010 people. The British news briefing that “we suspect The slide blocked the North government is campaigning that people are out there, but it’s Fork of the Stillaguamish River, fiercely to keep Scotland’s far too dangerous to get respond- which prompted an evacuation 307-year union with England ers out there on that mudflow”. notice because water was rising intact, arguing that both coun- Searchers in helicopters will be rapidly behind the debris. tries are better off together, flying over the area of the one- The Snohomish County sher- while Scotland’s national- square-mile mudslide to find peo- iff’s office reported that two peo- ists believe a split would give ple who may have been able to get ple had been killed at the scene. them the economic free- out on their own, as well as look Authorities later said one of the dom to prosper. Yesterday’s for other signs of life. Authorities people who had been rescued died poll is the second in the last are also trying to determine how at a hospital. Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron starts the Sport Relief Mile, a run for charity, with his wife Samantha week to show that support to get responders on the ground A six-month-old boy and an in Oxford, southern England, yesterday. for Scottish nationalists has safely, Hots said, describing mud- 81-year-old man remained in risen, after a Panelbase sur- flow as “like quicksand”. critical condition at Harborview vey on March 20 showed a Officials described the deadly Medical Centre in Seattle. three percentage point rise in slide as “a big wall of mud and Hospital spokeswoman Susan those who intended to vote for debris” that blocked about a mile Gregg said two men, ages 37 independence. of State Route 530 near the town and 58, were in serious condi- Britons sceptical of success in of Oso, about 55 miles north of tion, while a 25-year-old woman Carter uses snail Seattle. It was reported about was upgraded to satisfactory 60ft deep in some areas. condition. mail to evade NSA Several people including an One eyewitness told the Daily Cameron’s EU renegotiation bid WASHINGTON: Former US infant were critically injured Herald that he was driving on the president Jimmy Carter has and as many as 30 houses were roadway and had to quickly brake LONDON: Nearly three-quar- to hold a referendum by 2017 on The Ashcroft poll, which was admitted he uses snail mail destroyed. The slide wiped out to avoid the mudslide. “I just ters of Britons doubt that Prime whether Britain should stay in it. conducted in January this year, to evade monitoring by the one neighbourhood, where there saw the darkness coming across Minister David Cameron will The poll, released by former showed that 41 percent thought National Security Agency and were about 28 to 30 homes, the road. Everything was gone succeed in a bid to renegotiate Conservative party deputy chair- Britain should leave the EU, with that he feels such surveillance authorities said. Hots said the in three seconds,” Paulo Falcao the country’s relationship with man Michael Ashcroft, showed 72 an equal proportion supporting methods have been abused. number of missing is fluid and told the newspaper. Authorities the European Union, polling percent said they had “little or no continued membership. “When I want to communi- could change because some peo- believe the slide was caused by data released yesterday showed. confidence”, or “not a great deal Cameron’s party is expected to cate with a foreign leader pri- ple may have been in cars and ground water saturation from The large-scale poll showed of confidence” that Cameron could suffer in European elections next vately, I type or write a letter on roads when the slide hit just recent heavy rainfall. public opinion split on whether negotiate a better deal for Britain. month as voters increasingly turn myself, put it in the post office, before 11am on Saturday. THE GUARDIAN Britain should leave the 28-coun- Just 4 percent expressed a “great to UKIP to express their frustra- and mail it,” Carter said with try bloc but highlighted wide- deal of confidence”. “Many like tion with a perceived interference a laugh, as he was questioned spread discontent among voters David Cameron’s plan to negotiate in British affairs by European on the matter on NBC’s “Meet about the ways in which the better terms for Britain,” Ashcroft authorities. the Press” programme. “I have country benefits from its EU said. “The trouble is, three quarters The poll said that 49 percent felt that my own communica- membership. of them doubt it will work.” of people think the costs of EU tions are probably monitored,” The data, gathered from “Most of the pessimists think membership outweigh the bene- he said. A trove of documents 20,000 respondents, will come other countries will not be prepared fits, with only 31 percent holding leaked by former NSA con- as a blow for Cameron just a to make concessions to Britain how- the opposite view. A 62 percent tractor Edward Snowden have week after he set out seven key ever well the PM (Prime Minister) majority believe other countries sparked outrage in the United policy areas, including judicial argues the case.” Cameron has so get more out of EU membership States. Officials have defended powers and immigration, where far received a lukewarm recep- than Britain does. the methods as necessary he hopes to reshape Britain’s ties tion for his renegotiation bid from “Many associate the EU with to thwart terror attacks but with the EU. European leaders. excessive immigration, unneces- President Barack Obama has Faced with eurosceptic factions French President Francois sary rules and regulations, and ordered reforms in the wake in his Conservative Party and Hollande poured cold water on paying for other countries’ eco- of disclosures. Asked whether voters defecting to the anti-EU the prospect of major EU treaty nomic problems,” Ashcroft said. the programmes were neces- Members of a swift water rescue team huddle as an ambulance heads in UK Independence Party (UKIP) changes while a high profile visit “Even pro-Europe voters are sary, Carter said he thought the direction of a large mudslide that has blocked Highway 530 near Oso, Cameron has promised to nego- to Britain by German Chancellor exasperated by the waste and inef- they had “been extremely lib- tiate sweeping reforms to the Angela Merkel yielded only lim- ficiency of Brussels institutions.” eralised and, I think, abused Washington. EU and, if re-elected next year, ited backing for reforms. REUTERS by our own intelligence agen- cies”. “I believe if I send an email, it will be monitored.” Quake off Chile

SANTIAGO: A shallow Venezuela prosecutor sees police ‘excesses’ in crackdown 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile’s northwestern CARACAS: Venezuela’s top brutally repressing the demon- top state prosecutor, during an linked to the protests, witnesses videos of troops and police beat- coast yesterday, but it did not state prosecutor yesterday said strations, while the president says interview broadcast on Sunday. and local media said on Saturday. ing student demonstrators as evi- trigger a tsunami, said seis- that security forces had com- security forces have in fact been Since the start of the demon- Demonstrators have been dence of excessive force. mologists based in the United mitted “excesses” in breaking up restrained in face of violent dis- strations, state prosecutors have clashing nearly every day with Maduro’s sympathisers have States. The undersea quake nearly two months of opposition ruptions of public order. opened 60 investigations into riot police since the demonstra- shown videos of hooded assailants had a depth of 6km and its epi- protests against the government “With regards to the viola- alleged human rights violations and tions began, with security forces attacking government offices and center was about 100km from of President Nicolas Maduro that tion of human rights, yes, there imprisoned 15 officials in connec- firing tear gas and buckshot and say improvised barricades have Iqu ique, on Ch i le’s Pa ci fic c oa s t , have left at least 34 dead. have been excesses by police, but tion with those incidents, she said. the demonstrators responding restricted free transit and caused the US Geological Survey said. Maduro’s adversaries have state prosecutors are investigat- Three people have died from with rocks and Molotov cocktails. deaths by preventing the ill from AGENCIES accused the National Guard of ing this,” said Luisa Ortega, the gunshot wounds in shootouts Opposition activists have shown receiving treatment. REUTERS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 ASIA / PHILIPPINES 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Manila not to Kin of jet passengers struggle to cope BEIJING: Like other relatives of passen- gers of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, Wang Zheng’s frustration and anger over a lack of any certain information about the fate of free two top his loved ones continues to grow two weeks after the plane went missing. “Biggest of all is the emotional turmoil I’ve been going through. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I’ve been dreaming of my parents every day,” said rebel leaders the 30-year-old IT engineer from Beijing, whose father and mother, Wang Linshi and Xiong Yunming, were both aboard the flight as part of a group of Chinese artists touring Malaysia. Peace prospects dim after arrests The plane’s disappearance on its way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing on March MANILA: Philippine officials 8 has hit China particularly hard, with 153 of said yesterday that they would the 239 people on board citizens of the People’s not release two leaders of a vio- Republic. Their relatives have spent more than lent rebel group fighting to over- two weeks on an emotional roller coaster, and throw the government, whose while Chinese satellite images made public arrests were a serious blow to Saturday provided a new lead in the search, one of Asia’s longest-running planes and a ship had yet to find anything in communist insurgencies. a remote patch of the southern Indian Ocean Communist rebels have as of yesterday. demanded the release of Relatives such as Wang have put their per- Benito Tiamzon, chairman of sonal and professional lives on hold waiting the Communist Party of the for any word of the fate of their loved ones. Philippines, and his wife, Wilma At a sprawling hotel complex in Beijing, the Austria, who were captured in relatives rise each morning and eat breakfast central Cebu province with five — at least those who can muster the appetite other suspected Maoist insur- — before attending a briefing on the miss- gents on Saturday. ing plane. Then follows another long day of The arrests were a big blow to watching the news and waiting, before an Chinese relatives of missing MH370 passengers after a meeting with airline officials at the Metro Park the 45-year Marxist insurgency, evening briefing that inevitably offers little Lido Hotel in Beijing yesterday. one of Asia’s longest and most vio- more information. lent. The military has described Amid the many theories and scant and often to keep the relatives informed. large object floating in the search zone that Tiamzon, 63, as the “centre of grav- dubious, contradictory and disavowed findings, “I’m psychologically prepared for the worst was taken Tuesday. “We’re exhausted,” Wang ity” of the Maoist insurgency who the relatives’ patience has at times worn thin. and I know the chances of them coming back said. “Why did the plane fly so far away? Are has overseen major rebel actions Following a brief meeting on Saturday with alive are extremely small,” said Nan Jinyan, sis- the people still alive? Is this new piece of infor- for years. The United States has accord with the government. Malaysia Airlines and Malaysian government ter-in-law of missing passenger Yan Ling. Like mation reliable? This is how I feel.” blacklisted the group, which has Government peace negotiators, officials, impatience turned to anger as rela- many of the relatives, Nan said that her helpless Wang said he still had hope and was pray- about 4,000 armed fighters, as a however, said they could no longer tives erupted in shouts of “We want to know feelings were worsened by being almost entirely ing that the Australian reports that debris terrorist organisation. verify whether Tiamzon, who uses what the reality is,” and “Give us back our dependent on the media for news, and that she from the plane may have been spotted turned The Tiamzons have been a rebel alias, was on a secured list loved ones.” was deeply unhappy with what she called the out to be false. He said he and other relatives charged for their alleged involve- of rebels given immunity from In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Defence vague and often contradictory information com- had lingering suspicions about what they were ment in the 1985 massacre of 15 arrests. His wife was ineligible Minister Hishammuddin Hussein called on ing from Malaysia Airlines. being told by the Malaysian side, but were at people whose remains were dis- because she escaped from jail in “all parties to be understanding during this “If they can’t offer something firm, they a loss as to what to do next. “We feel they’re covered in a mass grave in 2006 1989 and jumped bail, officials said. extraordinary and difficult time,” and said ought to just shut up,” said Nan. On Saturday, hiding something from us,” Wang said. in the central province of Leyte, A list of 75 rebel consult- officials would “do everything in our power” China released a satellite image showing a AP according to the military. ants supposedly with pictures Military chief of staff Gen was jointly deposited by the Emmanuel Bautista said the two Philippine government, the rebels were arrested “for their crimes and church witnesses in a Dutch Flight to Nepal against humanity, including mul- vault in 1996 so it could serve as a tiple murders”. future basis for identifying guer- N Korea test-fires 16 rockets into sea hit by birds, The two and their companions rilla consultants who could be were travelling in two vans, appar- immune from arrests. SEOUL: North Korea test- old versions of Russian-made, as practice for an invasion. Seoul ently to move to another hideout, Philippine officials and the fired 16 short-range rockets unguided Frog rockets. It is not and Washington insist they are passengers safe when about 40 military intelligence rebels, however, discovered in into the sea yesterday, the unusual for Pyongyang to carry purely defensive in nature. KATHMANDU: A flock of agents, soldiers and policemen 2011 that two diskettes containing South’s military said — the lat- out such tests but there has been South Korea and the US have birds shattered the wind- blocked their path in a downtown the list have been damaged with est of dozens launched in recent a spate of them in recent weeks. called for an end to the “provoca- shields of a Malaysia Airlines area of Cebu. Authorities seized the passage of time and its details weeks in apparent protest at About 70 short-range rockets tive tests”. As tension rise on the jet as it landed in the Nepali four pistols, ammunition, two gre- could no longer be retrieved. It joint drills between Seoul and have been fired into the sea this peninsula, the South’s President capital, Kathmandu, but all nades, four laptop computers, 16 made it impossible for the govern- Washington. The launches took month, including 30 on Saturday. Park Geun-Hye is expected to 180 passengers and crew cellphones and rebel documents ment to verify rebel claims that place between about 1am (1600 Analysts say the launches are hold a summit with Chinese were safe, an airport official from the captured guerrillas, the some of their captured comrades GMT on Saturday) and 2:30am an expression of Pyongyang’s leader Xi Jinping to reportedly said yesterday. The birds hit military said. were in the roster of guerrillas off the North’s east coast, a anger at ongoing annual South discuss issues including curbing the Boeing 737 late on Friday, The rebels condemned the with immunity, officials said. South Korean defence ministry Korean-US military drills, which the North’s nuclear ambitions. Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, arrests, saying the two were con- The government’s refusal to spokesman said. run until next month. The North Park and Xi will meet on the chief of the Civil Aviation sultants in stalled peace talks who release those rebels led to the “They were rockets with a has habitually criticised the exer- sidelines of a nuclear security Authority Nepal, said. Birds were granted temporary immu- collapse of years-long peace talks range of about 60km,” he said, cises, along with other military summit to be held in Hague, Park’s hitting aircraft are common nity from arrests under a 1995 brokered by Norway. AP adding the projectiles were drills staged south of the border, spokesman said. AFP at Kathmandu international airport. Suman said the air- craft returned home after the Protest in Taipei windshields were repaired. Thai ‘red shirts’ defend PM BANGKOK: Supporters of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra say they will take to the streets as moves to impeach her gather pace, raising the spectre of confron- tation with protesters who helped scupper a February election she had been expected to win. The Constitutional Court annulled the election on Friday and the chairman of the Election Commission said it would be months before a new vote could be held, leav- ing Yingluck at the head of an enfeebled caretaker gov- Protesters and riot police are involved in a standoff after students stormed the Executive Yuan building ernment. After months of in Taipei yesterday. Taiwan’s president Ma Ying-jeou refused to scrap a contentious trade agreement restraint, Thaksin’s “red with China and denounced what he called the illegal occupation of parliament by protesters opposed shirts” supporters are making militant noises under hardline to its ratification. new leaders. AGENCIES US First Lady sees Great Wall, meets educators

BEIJING: Visiting US first lady Michelle and pants hurried to subdue them, and it “100,000 Strong” initiative announced by Obama toured China’s Great Wall yester- was unclear why they were yelling. President Obama during his 2009 visit to day, after her arrival at the US Embassy She briefly trod political ground in a Beijing. After her speech, Obama held a in Beijing earlier in the day sparked a speech at Peking University’s Stanford virtual roundtable with a group of American minor security alert. Centre, calling for greater freedoms while students, then took a tour with her family She and her daughters strolled along a refraining from naming China. of the Summer Palace, a former imperial popular section of the wall and rode down a “As my husband has said, we respect the getaway not far from Peking University. In toboggan on a smoggy afternoon, as part of uniqueness of other cultures and societies,” opening remarks at yesterday’s discussion a week-long visit focused on education and Obama told a crowd of about 200 students, in the embassy, she stressed that “education “soft issues” rather than politics. most of them from the United States. is an important focus for me”. Vendors at the tourist site northeast “But when it comes to expressing your- “It’s personal, because I wouldn’t be where of the capital appeared to have removed self freely, and worshipping as you choose, I am today without my parents investing T-shirts which are normally on sale show- and having open access to information — we and pushing me to get a good education,” she ing President Barack Obama in a Mao hat, believe those are universal rights that are the said. The participants discussed standard- with one merchant revealing a boxful of the birthright of every person on this planet,” she ised testing, opportunities to go to college souvenirs stored in the back of her tent. said. “We believe that all people deserve the and the treatment of ethnic minorities in Earlier in the day, as Obama’s motorcade opportunity to fulfil their highest potential, as the education system. arrived at the US embassy for a roundta- I was able to do in the United States.” Obama will also visit the northern city of ble with educators, parents and students, But the majority of Obama’s speech was Xian, site of the famous ancient Terracotta two people just outside the premises began devoted to encouraging American stu- Warriors, and Chengdu in the southwest, shouting. Police and men in gray sweatshirts dents to study in China. She touted the home to the country’s iconic pandas. AFP PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Foreign poll observers pull staff out of Kabul NDI withdraws staff; OSCE officials leave for Turkey

KABUL: Two major foreign “Having international observ- and we are assessing our elec- election observer and support ers in the election is really, really tion monitoring activities,” said missions have pulled staff out important... (to) give legitimacy Kathy Gest, public affairs director of Afghanistan after a Taliban to the process.” at NDI. attack on a Kabul hotel, observ- The National Democratic NDI observer Luis Maria Duarte ers said yesterday, in a move Institute (NDI) said it had pulled was among the nine people killed which could undermine con- its observers from the country, and many of his colleagues were fidence in the outcome of the while a senior European dip- in the building when four gunmen crucial vote. lomat said observers from the with pistols sprayed diners at the The April 5 vote is less than Organisation for Security and hotel’s restaurant with bullets. two weeks away and could mark Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Officially, the OSCE said it had the country’s first democratic had been pulled out to Turkey. yet to make a final call on whether transfer of power. Many fear a The European Union’s inter- it would cancel its international repeat of the widespread fraud national monitoring mission will election support mission, despite that discredited the poll in 2009 be the only major one to remain sources saying foreign staff had when about 20 percent of votes in Afghanistan after the Taliban already left for Turkey. were thrown out. on Thursday attacked the heav- “Our security experts are cur- “It’s really bad news,” said ily fortified Serena hotel in cen- rently assessing the security situ- Jandad Spingar, director at tral Kabul, where most foreign ation in Kabul for our team, who the Free and Fair Election observers were staying. were at the Serena the night of Foundation of Afghanistan, the “We have withdrawn our staff the attack,” spokesman Thomas largest Afghan monitoring group. that were staying at the Serena, Rymer said. While violence and insecurity across Afghanistan was always A colleague and friend of slain AFP reporter Sardar Ahmad holds a portrait of Ahmad in front of the Eid Gah going to confine foreign observ- Mosque during funeral ceremonies in Kabul yesterday. Senator urges Obama to ers mostly to compounds in major cities, their presence and exper- tise was to serve as a vital form set Afghan troop plans of reassurance to their Afghan Kabul hints at Islamabad colleagues. KABUL: A US senator leading a bipartisan delegation to The Serena hotel had been Afghanistan on Saturday called on President Barack Obama to attacked before, but has since announce a decision on his plans for future troop levels in the been increasingly fortified and country, on the assumption a much-delayed security pact even- considered safe enough to accom- link to attack on hotel tually will eventually be signed with Kabul. modate foreign observers during During a visit to Afghanistan, Senator Kelly Ayotte of New the election. KABUL: Afghanistan yester- preliminary information analysis rain to lay to rest Sardar Ahmad, Hampshire, a Republican, stressed that no American forces would It was also one of few places for- day said an attack on a Kabul shows that this terrorist attack together with his wife and two of remain in the country without a bilateral security agreement, but also eign officials were still permitted hotel that left nine civilians dead, was directly executed or carried their children. After the funeral said Obama should not wait for that to give an idea of what the US to go after the Taliban attacked a including an AFP journalist, was out by foreign intelligence serv- procession made its way through presence would look like after the Nato-led combat mission ends at popular Lebanese restaurant kill- planned “outside the country” in ices outside the country,” the the capital, they were buried the end of this year. “I believe that it is time for our president to do this ing 21 people in January. a veiled reference to Pakistan. council said in a statement. side by side at a cemetery on the so that the people of Afghanistan understand that we remain committed The EU said its overall plans The National Security Council “Another information of the outskirts of Kabul, as those who in Afghanistan,” Ayotte said, stressing that any post-2014 force would be for its international monitor- (NSC), which is chaired by NDS (National Directorate of came to pay their respects wept contingent on the pact being signed. “He can no longer delay this decision.” ing mission had not changed. President Hamid Karzai, also Security) shows that earlier when under umbrellas. Ayotte, who is a member of the Senate armed services committee, However, several of its staff were alleged that a Pakistani diplomat one Pakistani diplomat entered The coffins were carried from a said she also urged the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, who has flown out of the country after the was seen scoping out the corri- the Kabul-Serena hotel to use its mortuary to the family home for refused to sign the deal, to change his mind. She also criticised the attack, according to an observer dors of the Serena hotel ahead of sport club, he filmed the corridors prayers yesterday morning, where government’s decision to release detainees formerly held by US-led on the same flight. the Thursday night raid. of the hotel which the hotel staff Ahmad’s brothers broke down in forces and considered dangerous. “We are safe at the EU com- Pakistan was the main sup- raised objections to,” it added. tears and female family members The top commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan, pound and for us there is no rea- porter of the former Taliban The NDS is Afghanistan’s main wailed in distress. The funeral pro- General Joseph Dunford, testified at a Senate armed services com- son to change anything in our regime in Afghanistan, and intelligence agency. The victims of cession made its way through the mittee hearing last week that he would feel comfortable with a plans,” said chief EU observer Afghan officials have long voiced Thursday’s attack included AFP capital amid tight security. residual international force of between 8,000 and 12,000 troops Thijs Bernam. President Hamid suspicions about connections journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife Large portraits decorated in if the deal is signed. He said the US would provide two-thirds of Karzai is barred from a third between the hardline movement and two of their three children, flowers accompanied the coffins, those troops and would keep an additional few thousand forces in term, but his brothers are publicly and Islamabad’s powerful intel- along with another Afghan and carried by Afghan soldiers in Afghanistan to conduct counterterrorism operations. backing former foreign minister ligence services. four foreigners — two Canadians, dress uniform on their journey. Obama has yet to make a decision on the size of a post-2014 US force Zalmai Rassoul. The NSC said the attack on the an American and a Paraguayan. Afghan national flags covered the in Afghanistan after a 13-year war that has become highly unpopular Critics say the campaign hotel, which was carried out by The couple’s youngest son, two- two adult coffins, while the chil- among the American public. “I hope our president will announce as reflects a desire by Karzai and four teenage gunmen and claimed year-old Abozar, survived with dren’s were draped in green. soon as possible that contingent on signing the BSA and contingent his family to remain in power, but by the Taliban, was in fact the work bullet wounds to the head, chest The caskets were later taken to on a responsible way of dealing with the detainees that protects both the president says he will remain of “foreign intelligence services” — and leg and remained in intensive the Eid Gah mosque for further Afghans and Americans and our allies that we will leave a follow-on impartial and is looking forward a phrase normally meant to mean care yesterday. prayers and then on to a grave- force consistent with General Dunford’s recommendations,” Ayotte said to retirement. neighbouring Pakistan. Meanwhile, hundreds of yard on the outskirts of the city. at a news conference at the US embassy here. THE GUARDIAN REUTERS “Witness testimony and mourners turned out in pouring AFP PPP, MQM near power-sharing deal in Sindh

KARACHI: Long estranged politi- departments were led by MQM ministers to remove six of its own ministers from cal rivals Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the last coalition government. their posts. Parliamentary affairs minister of Altaf Hussain and ruling Pakistan Meanwhile, out of the important min- Dr Sikandar Mandhro said the provincial People’s Party of Bilawal Bhutto have istries local bodies, finance, planning and cabinet strength stands at 11 percent of inched closer to announcing a formation development, and home department - one total number of the provincial assembly of a coalition government in Sindh as five will be given to the MQM. If all goes well members after the 18th Amendment. ministries are likely to be handed over to and the new coalition is formed in the prov- This means the government can only the former, party sources here say. ince, two advisers will also be appointed appoint 15 to 16 ministers and five advisers. The leaders of the two parties are also from the MQM. When his attention was diverted towards 16 expected to meet at Governor House next However, after the 18th Amendment, ministers working in Sindh and five other week, where the portfolios would be final- the Sindh cabinet can only have 15 minis- portfolios reportedly promised to the MQM, ised. The names of the potential ministers ters and five advisers on board. Currently, he said, “I have no idea whether or not the have been sent to MQM chief Hussain there are 16 ministers and two advisers provincial government would take back a for approval. According to sources, the serving as part of the provincial gov- few ministries from its own members, but ministries of health, information technol- ernment. In case a coalition govern- we are working to merge the departments ogy, Auqaf, industries and commerce are ment is formed and five ministries are so that the cabinet size is limited”. likely to be offered to the MQM. All these awarded to the MQM, the PPP will have INTERNEWS

85 conferred with highest civil awards on Pakistan Day ISLAMABAD: Eighty-five people from across Pakistan were yesterday conferred with Pakistan’s highest civil awards in recognition of their services they have rendered in their respective fields for the development of the country. Marking the Pakistan Day, President Mamnoon Hussain and provincial gover- nors conferred the awards in Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore and Quetta. President Hussain conferred civilian national awards on 39 individuals including five foreigners at an investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. The Governor of Punjab, on behalf of the President, decorated 20 recipients in Lahore, the Governor of Sindh decorated 12 recipi- ents in Karachi, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa decorated nine recipients in A soldier guards at the mausoleum of the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Peshawar and the Governor of Balochistan Jinnah, during Pakistan Day ceremony in Karachi, yesterday. decorated five recipients in Quetta. INTERNEWS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 INDIA 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Dowry law can’t Four suspected be harassment tool, says court IM militants held NEW DELHI: A court here has observed that dowry prohi- bition law cannot be allowed to become a tool for harassment. Granting relief to a man, who in Rajasthan was booked in a dowry harass- ment case by his wife, the court ordered investigation against the complainant for filing a false case. Pakistani national among arrested The man’s wife in July 2012 filed a first information report NEW DELHI: Four suspected The Delhi Police Special Cell (FIR) against him in a South Indian Mujahideen opera- and Rajasthan Police’s Anti Delhi police station, alleging that tives, including a Pakistani Terrorism Squad arrested the he demanded dowry and subjected national, who were planning to three men named by Waqas from her to cruelty, which resulted in carry out terror attacks dur- Jaipur and Jodhpur Saturday. her miscarriage. ing the upcoming general elec- Two of them are engineering Police investigated the com- tions, have been arrested from students while the third is a com- plaint and filed a cancellation Rajasthan, Delhi Police said puter expert. report, giving a clean chit to the yesterday. Srivastava said the terror- accused. Police sources said rallies of ists were planning to carry out Metropolitan Magistrate several political leaders, including attacks in India during the April- Shivani Chauhan, accepting Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime May Lok Sabha elections. He also the cancellation report of Delhi ministerial candidate Narendra did not rule out that they had Police, said Sections 498A (sub- Modi, were also on their hit list. plans to target political leaders. jecting woman to cruelty) and In Mumbai, Home Minister Waqas, a Pakistani national 406 (criminal breach of trust) Sushilkumar Shinde termed the and an expert in making impro- and Dowry Prohibition Act are arrest a big success and said it vised explosive devices, is wanted special legislations enacted for the Police escort a suspected militant (face covered) after his arrest at a police station in Jodhpur in Rajasthan yesterday. will help in the arrest of more ter- in connection with several ter- “protection of women” and have rorists soon. ror attacks including the serial serious penal consequence for the The men were identified as blasts in Mumbai in July 2011, the Mujahideen, to carry out bomb- Kerala and Maharashtra,” said Meanwhile, two people were offender. Waqas alias Zia-ur-Rehman blast outside Jama Masjid here, at ings in the country,” said another the officer. also picked up for questioning by “Under no circumstances can it of Pakistan, Waqar Azhar, Varanasi’s Sheetla Ghat, and Pune’s police officer. During interrogation, Waqas police from Delhi’s Jamia Nagar be permitted to become a tool for Mohammad Mahroof and Saquib German Bakery blasts in 2010. Tehsin was directly in touch told police that the purpose of area following the four arrests. harassment of innocent persons,” Ansari, Delhi Police Special He was trained in making with the Indian Mujahideen’s his visit to Ajmer was to coor- A police officer told IANS the the magistrate said. Commissioner S N Srivastava explosives at a Lashkar-e-Taiba founder members in Pakistan. dinate and oversee the prepara- two men were picked up Sunday said here. (LeT) camp in Pakistan. Police said that following the tions of the three terrorists of the for questioning, after they were “We have arrested four terror- “A diploma holder in food tech- arrest of Yaseen Bhatkal, one Rajasthan module for carrying found to be in touch with one Vaiko meets ists. Waqas was arrested at the nology in Pakistan, Waqas came of the founder members, by the out a spectacular terror strike. of the four arrested terrorists. Ajmer railway station while com- to India in 2010 via Kathmandu. National Investigating Agency Police said they seized from the Angry residents, however, blocked Alagiri, seeks ing from Mumbai. He disclosed He was received by Tehsin (NIA) last year, Waqas was hiding arrested men a huge quantity of the road accusing police of trying the hideout of his other associ- Akhtar alias Monu, an opera- in various parts of the country. explosives, including detonators to implicate the two men. support ates,” he said. tive commander of the Indian “He went to Odisha, Bengal, and boxes of nails. IANS CHENNAI: Firebrand MDMK founder Vaiko met suspended DMK leader M K Alagiri yes- terday and sought his support in the coming general elections. BJP will suffer due to internal strife, warns Jaswant The meeting between the two leaders at Alagiri’s place in Madurai lasted around 45 min- NEW DELHI: Veteran BJP party which have come to the one of the better known leaders Barmer) are angry and they “I shall be going to my village utes. Some time back, the 63-year- leader Jaswant Singh warned surface. So there are bound to be of the Bharatiya Janata Party, know that the BJP has embraced tomorrow and will talk to the old Alagiri had met BJP President yesterday that the party will repercussions. The party will have has fuelled widespread anger in a leader who until recently was people there and will act accord- Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. Later, pay a price due to internal con- to bear this effect,” added the Barmer. abusing the party.” ingly,” he said. Vaiko told reporters that Alagiri vulsions that has deprived him former external affairs minister. Party activists have attacked Jaswant Singh’s reference was Boisterous supporters received was his “good friend” and long- of a Lok Sabha ticket. Jaswant Singh, who on and torn banners of BJP and to Colonel Sonaram, who recently him warmly as he left Jodhpur time associate and that he sought Denied permission to contest Saturday urged activists to dif- its prime ministerial candi- joined the BJP after quitting the Sunday by road for his village Alagiri’s support for the MDMK from Barmer in Rajasthan, a ferentiate between the “real BJP” date Narendra Modi. Jaswant Congress and has been declared Jasol in Barmer district. He was in the Lok Sabha elections. peeved Jaswant Singh said that and “fake BJP”, yesterday said: Singh supporters have also riled the candidate from Barmer. garlanded by slogan-shouting BJP The MDMK is now part there will be “repercussions” due “BJP members should introspect against Rajasthan Chief Minister Jaswant Singh represented activists. He addressed them at of a six-party alliance led by to the differences that have come how the party has failed in its Vasundara Raje who they say is Darjeeling in West Bengal in the many places. the Bharatiya Janata Party in to the fore in the party. responsibilities. mainly to blame for what has outgoing Lok Sabha. The BJP has BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, Tamil Nadu and opposed to the “The leadership of the party “Party leaders have forgotten happened. this time fielded S.S. Ahluwalia, who heads the opposition in the AIADMK and DMK. needs to reflect deeply on the their responsibilities, ideals and Jaswant Singh said: “The intel- also formerly of the Congress, Lok Sabha, has protested the Vaiko was earlier a senior leader reasons why this situation has obligations towards the people lectual territory of the BJP has from there. denial of ticket to Jaswant Singh. in the DMK and was sent out as arisen,” the Lok Sabha member and to the party,” he said, without been encroached by new entrants. Jaswant Singh refused to say Jaswant Singh has not been the he was perceived as a threat to M from Darjeeling said over tel- taking any names. (These) elements don’t belong to whether or not he will contest only headache amid the election K Stalin, the 61-year-old son of ephone from Rajasthan. The denial of ticket to Jaswant the BJP.” the election and, if yes, in which campaign for the BJP. DMK president M Karunanidhi. “There are differences in the Singh, who for years has been He added: “The people (of capacity. IANS AGENCIES Modi and Hooda Modi an ignoramus, myopic: Pawar property dealers, THANE: NCP chief and Union Agriculture Wardha. “As we all know, the historical fact is says Kejriwal Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday lashed out that the call for ‘Quit India’ was given from the at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra August Kranti Maidan in August 1942. Both GURGAON: Aam Aadmi Modi, terming him “a myopic politician” and Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru were jailed for Party (AAP) chief Arvind “an ignoramus who does not have an iota of that. What should one say about a PM candidate Kejriwal yesterday said BJP’s knowledge of the country’s history”. who does not have the basic knowledge of his- prime ministerial candidate “How can any person with a myopic view and tory,” Pawar said. Narendra Modi and Haryana harbouring intense parochial attitude even think On selecting a prime minister, Pawar said: Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh of leading the nation,” the Nationalist Congress “This is the first time we have a party approach- Hooda are nothing more than Party leader said at a large election rally in Navi ing the elections with a PM candidate. It is the property dealers. Mumbai. job of the elected members of parliament to He was addressing a public Pawar said that during last year’s drought in choose a candidate for the top post. That is the gathering in Bhim Nagar area of Gujarat, the state government was compelled tradition.” Gurgaon, Haryana, last evening. to lodge a complaint against its own people in Earlier, at a convention in Navi Mumbai, Pawar Kejriwal said there was no dif- Mehsana for providing cattle feed to the affected made a strange suggestion to headloaders (por- ference between the governance areas. ters) — to indulge in double voting in the ensuing of the chief ministers of Gujarat “What were the charges? That of corruption Lok Sabha elections! and Haryana, Modi and Hooda ... that feed stocks had been diverted,” he said. As a controversy erupted over the remark, respectively. Taking jibes at Modi’s ignorance of Indian Pawar said he made the comment in a lighter The former chief minister of history, the NCP chief said that last week in vein and intended to inspire the porters to vote as Delhi said: “Modi and Hooda are Wardha, the Gujarat chief minister kept on say- some of them were registered in Mumbai-Thane nothing more than property deal- ing that the historic ‘Quit India’ call was given and others in Satara. ers. Modi works for Adani and from Mahatma Gandhi’s Sewagram Ashram in IANS Hooda for Ambani. They have no vision for development. Hooda ruled the state for last one dec- ade while Modi’s tenure was more than Hooda but nothing has been done for the common man.” He said his two-day road show started on Saturday from Faridabad and ended yesterday in Gurgaon. He addressed public meetings in Mewat, Rewari and Gurgaon dis- tricts of south Haryana, urging people to support the AAP. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), saying they were two faces of the same coin, as he cam- paigned for his party colleague Yogendra Yadav here. Yadav is pitted against sit- ting member of parliament Rao Inderjeet Singh, who recently joined the BJP, two-time legislator Zakir Hussain of the INLD and Badshahpur MLA Rao Dharampal representing the Congress. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi (centre) arrives at the ‘Yoga Mahotsav’ event run by yoga IANS guru Baba Ramdev in New Delhi yesterday.

MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 MORNING BREAK 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PRAYER TIME Couple in US News in Numbers MIDDLE EAST lived on yacht, WEALTH REPORT Fajr (Dawn) 4:18 collected public CHART: 5 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:34 Zuhr (Noon) 11:40 assistance Asr (Afternoon) 3:07 MINNESOTA: A couple who Maghrib (Sunset) 5:48 collected food stamps and Isha (Night) 7:18 other public assistance from Minnesota while living on a yacht in Florida were being sought on fraud charges, pros- WEATHER ecutors said. Colin Chisholm III and his wife, Andrea Chisholm, accepted more Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather Conditions: than $165,000 in public assistance Partly cloudy Clear Partly cloudy between 2005 and 2012 before Partly cloudy benefits were terminated, accord- with chance for ing to prosecutor Mike Freeman scattered rain in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Entrepreneurial Businesses Show a Different Profile High: 29° High: 26° High: 26° Charges against Colin Chisholm Low: 18° Low: 23° Low: 20° by night. were filed in February but they were kept sealed while police The heavy representation of construction-related sectors came from the searched for the couple, Chuck Laszewski, a spokesman for respondents whose wealth derived from family businesses. By contrast, research Freeman, said. “They know by participants whose wealth was made in entrepreneurial ventures tended to be DOHA - SUN & SEA now we are looking for them.” active in the service sector, in areas like retail and financial services. Indeed, only SUN TIDE SEA The Chisholms are each charged with a felony count 9pc of respondents in the entrepreneurial segment described themselves as active WIND SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW of wrongfully obtaining public in construction, whereas 27pc reported to be involved in financial services and 05:34 17:48 09:00 & 23:45 06:00 & 15:45 6-15 KT assistance in excess of $35,000, the highest threshold under another 17pc said they had interests in retail. THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Minnesota law. Andrea Chisholm HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER was charged on Thursday. Entrepreneurial Business, Which Sector Is It In? They bought a $1.2m yacht, MUSCAT 31/21 Partly cloudy 30/23 Mostly cloudy The Andrea Aras, in 2005 shortly MAKKAH 32/20 Clear 33/21 Partly cloudy after applying for welfare benefits KUWAIT 27/19 Mostly cloudy 26/18 Partly cloudy in Minnesota, according to com- Financial Services BAHRAIN 24/20 Clear 25/21 Partly cloudy plaints against them. They have 27pc SANAA 28/13 Chance of storm 27/12 Partly cloudy been accused of living on the RIYADH 30/19 Partly cloudy 33/19 Clear yacht in the area of Palm Beach, DUBAI 31/23 Partly cloudy 33/21 Partly cloudy Florida, for 28 months while lying about living in Minnesota. Energy BAGHDAD 27/13 Mostly cloudy 27/14 Partly cloudy Colin Chisholm was the chief 9pc Hospitality THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW executive officer of a satellite tel- evision and broadband services Communications 12pc HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER company, his wife bred and sold 7pc championship dogs, and over a Services ATHENS 21/12 Partly cloudy 20/12 Clear seven-year period the couple (Consulting, Events) WASHINGTON 06/-1 Clear 05/-2 Snow deposited more than $2.6m in 8pc SYDNEY 26/20 Chance of storm 26/20 Chance of storm bank accounts they did not report Retail LONDON 13/07 Mostly cloudy 13/04 Chance of rain on applications for welfare ben- Technology 17pc PARIS 14/06 Mostly cloudy 11/05 Chance of rain efits, according to the complaint. 11pc ISTANBUL 20/12 Mostly cloudy 15/10 Chance of rain They have lived in luxury homes Construction MANILA 30/24 Partly cloudy 31/24 Partly cloudy in suburban Minneapolis, driven a 9pc DHAKA 33/21 Partly cloudy 35/23 Chance of rain $30,000 Lexus and also collected DELHI 29/17 Thunderstorm 29/18 Clear welfare benefits in Florida, the ISLAMABAD 16/11 Rain 23/15 Chance of rain complaint said. Source : http://www.campdenwealth.com REUTERS Lennon’s doodles, Disney’s Aladdin unleashes a genie on Broadway drawings and NEW YORK: It has a fly- Mermaid and others. was “entertaining but an emo- Princess Jasmine and James Iglehart’s Genie is deliriously ing carpet, a cave full of treas- Although Aladdin includes tionally sparse adaptation” of Monroe Iglehart (Memphis) takes huffing and puffing: the audi- poems to be sold ures and show-stopping songs, new songs, elaborate costumes the film. on the role of the Genie that was ence, which received it at a but critics said yesterday the and sets, dance numbers and a “While burning through wishes, voiced by comic Robin Williams recent preview with a standing Broadway debut of Disney’s magical carpet that mysteriously you should ask for a musical with in the film version. ovation, is just as giddy,” the in New York Aladdin lacks the magic of the floats, it left some critics wishing a lot more heart,” it said. Although less enthusiastic newspaper said. original Oscar-winning ani- for more. But the New York Times’ Charles about the musical, the New York The Hollywood Reporter found LONDON: The largest private mated film. “This super-costly extrava- Isherwood, who admitted he was Post had high praise for Iglehart’s the musical perhaps the most collection of nonsense poems, The tale of the street urchin ganza doesn’t do justice to the not enthusiastic about the pros- rousing performance. old-school of Disney’s screen-to- doodles and comic drawings by Aladdin, who wins the heart of movie, or to the spirit of the late pect of yet another Disney show “Disney’s new ‘Aladdin’ doesn’t stage adaptations since “Beauty the Beatles singer John Lennon Princess Jasmine, unleashes the Howard Ashman,” trade maga- on Broadway, said the show defied quite catch lightening in a bottle - and the Beast” but added it could will be sold in New York in June, Genie from the lamp and battles zine Variety said, referring to his dour expectations. but it lets a pretty nifty genie out still become a family-friendly hit. auctioneer Sotheby’s said. the evil Jafar, was the top-gross- the lyricist who had the original “Aladdin has an infectious and of a lamp,” the newspaper said. “It’s not the most sophisticated Ranging from gibber- ing film of 1992, and picked up inspiration for the film. only mildly syrupy spirit,” he “That would be James Monroe entertainment, but the target ish descriptions of Lennon’s Academy Awards for best origi- The Hollywood Reporter wrote. “Not to mention enough Iglehart.” demographic won’t mind at all,” native city Liverpool, in north- nal score and song for A Whole described the show as “sweet, silly baubles, bangles and beading to USA Today went a step further, it said. ern England, to a drawing of a New World. fun,” while the New York Daily keep a whole season of ‘RuPaul’s saying Iglehart’s rendition of the Another Disney movie bound “National Health Cow” in an The musical that opened on News found the extravagant pro- Drag Race’ contestants in gear.” song Friend Like Me topped the for Broadway is “Frozen,” this apparent jab at Britain’s national Thursday night is the latest duction lacking compared to the Adam Jacobs (The Lion King) version sung by Williams. year’s Oscar-winning best ani- health service, the collection Disney film to be adapted for the film. plays Aladdin in the show directed “By the end of the number, mated film which has generated reveals a lesser known side of the stage, following the long-running “Most moving thing in Aladdin and choreographed by Casey which includes a game-show $1 billion at the global box office celebrated British singer, who was and hugely successful Lion King, is the flying carpet,” it said in a Nicholaw (Elf). Courtney Reed segment, a medley of tunes since November. shot dead in 1980. Beauty and the Beast, The Little headline, adding that the musical (Mama Mia) is the rebellious from other Disney musicals, REUTERS The drawings and original manuscripts are part of the collec- tion of publisher Tom Maschler, creator of the prestigious literary award the Booker Prize, who pub- lished them in two books, In His Egypt unveils two more Own Write (1964), and A Spaniard in the Works (1965). The collection, named “You Might Well Arsk”, has a pre-sale pharaoh statues estimate of around $800,000 over 89 lots, Sotheby’s said. LUXOR: Two colossal statues have weathered severe damage The sale coincides with the of pharaoh Amenhotep III were for centuries, Sourouzian said. 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ unveiled by archaeologists yes- “The statues had lain in pieces first appearance in America on terday in Egypt’s famed tem- for centuries in the fields, dam- the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. ple city of Luxor, adding to an aged by destructive forces of Watched by 73 million Americans, existing pair of world-renowned nature like earthquake, and it shot the band to stardom. tourist attractions. later by irrigation water, salt, The drawings and poems all The two monoliths in red encroachment and vandalism,” date back to the early 1960s at the quartzite were raised at what she said. height of ‘Beatlemania’, Sotheby’s European and Egyptian archae- One of the “new” statues — said. ologists said were their original its body weighing 250 tonnes — One of the unpublished type- sites in the funerary temple of the again depicts the pharaoh seated, scripts contains a reference to king, on the west bank of the Nile. hands resting on his knees. the record-breaking British The temple is already famous It is 11.5 metres tall, with a base band’s first single “Love Me Do”, for its existing 3,400-year-old 1.5 metres high and 3.6 metres released in 1962. Memnon colossi — twin statues wide. Archaeologists said with “The Beatles (a band) hab jud of Amenhotep III whose reign its now missing double crown, make a regord ... a song they archaeologists say marked the the original statue would have whripe themselves called ‘Lub Me political and cultural zenith of reached a height of 13.5 metres Egyptian archaeological workers stand next to a newly displayed statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III in Luxor Jew’”, Lennon wrote in his char- ancient Egyptian civilisation. and weighed 450 tonnes. yesterday. acteristic gibberish style. “The world until now knew The king is depicted wearing a “It’s very much like Lewis two Memnon colossi, but from royal pleated kilt held at the waist left leg, is missing, archaeologists The archaeologists also showed alabaster statues in the world,” Carroll. ‘Alice’s Adventures today it will know four colossi by a large belt decorated with zig- said. several other ancient pieces Sourouzian said. The head, shown in Wonderland’ and ‘Through of Amenhotep III,” said archae- zag lines. The throne itself is decorated of what they said were parts briefly to some reporters and fel- the Looking Glass’ were two of ologist Hourig Sourouzian, who Beside his right leg stands on each side with scenes from of other statues of the ancient low excavators, has also weath- Lennon’s favourite books from heads the project to conserve the nearly a complete figure of that era, showing the unification ruler and his relatives, includ- ered centuries of damage. childhood and he read them Amenhotep III temple. Amenhotep III’s wife Tiye, wear- of Upper and Lower Egypt. ing a well-preserved alabaster Its nose, eyes and ears are on a yearly basis,” said Philip The existing two statues, both ing a large wig and a long tight- The second statue, of head from another Amenhotep intact, and some signs of resto- Errington, director of printed showing the pharaoh seated, are fitting dress. Amenhotep III standing, has been III statue. ration centuries ago are clearly books and manuscripts at known across the globe. A statue of queen mother installed at the north gate of the “This piece is unique, it is evident, archaeologists said. Sotheby’s. The two restored additions Mutemwya, originally beside his temple. rare, because there are not many AFP REUTERS Monday 24 March 2014 23 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5613 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Standard Life Focus on primary construction materials in talks to buy Two major contracts signed to ensure supply chains are not hit as demand grows Phoenix unit DOHA: With Qatar enter- today’s memorandum of under- ing into the execution phase of standing with Ashghal for LONDON: British life insur- major FIFA-related projects, increased supplies, WOQOD will ance and pensions group key stakeholders are gearing be upgrading its bitumen facili- Standard Life has announced it up themselves to ensure the ties to ensure its reputation for is in “exclusive and advanced” smooth supply of primary con- providing timely and cost efficient talks to buy rival Phoenix struction materials. Two major supplies to Ashghal road contrac- Group Holdings’ Ignis Asset contracts were signed to ensure tors will be met in future”, he Management. the supply chains are not hit. added. The Sunday Times newspaper Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) yester- WOQOD is the largest had reported that Standard Life day announced a QR65m invest- importer and distributor of bitu- was considering a £400m ($660m) ment in its bitumen storage and men in Qatar, using three dedi- offer for Ignis, which manages distribution in Mesaieed. WOQOD cated bitumen ships operated by fixed income, equity and real said the plan is to upgrade its its subsidiary WOQOD Marine estate assets of around £67bn. bitumen storage, manufacturing Services. Working closely with “Discussions are ongoing and and distribution facility located Ashghal and with technical sup- there can be no certainty that at Mesaieed Industrial City. port from Texas A&M University any transaction will be agreed. Al Ijara Equipment, a subsidi- in Qatar, WOQOD also manu- Standard Life Plc will make fur- ary of Al Ijara Holding announced factures polymer-based bitumen ther announcements if and when it signed a contract with Qatar using additives to improve road appropriate,” Standard Life said Quarries and Building Material elasticity for high-use roads and in a statement yesterday. Company (QQBMCO) to transfer heavy-truck roads. Phoenix, which makes money by 2 million tonnes of Gabbro from The Ministry of Development The signing ceremony. SALIM MATRAMKOT buying life insurers that are closed the Mesaieed port to the site of Planning and Statistics recently to new customers and running the Ijara. projected that the country’s with the highest demand (dur- its Gabbro Terminal Expansion imports of aggregate and its stor- them more efficiently, said it would “We have been working very demand for the primary con- ing 2012-2022), 515 million tones, Project based in Mesaieeed. age into Qatar. post an update on the deal when it closely with the Public Works struction materials would reach followed by Gabbro, 264 mil- The expansion project is Khalid Al Rabban, QPMC reports its annual results on March Authority (Ashghal) to under- a record peak during 2014-16 lion tones. The SR&D demand expected to help import larger Chairman, said with the comple- 26. Neither company disclosed any stand Qatar’s requirement of in its run up to the FIFA 2022 is expected to reach 166million volumes of Gabbro and help tion of the project the discharge financial details about the deal. bitumen for the next seven preparations. The highest pro- tones during the period. reduce truck traffic into the capacity of the Gabbro berth in The British government years”, Ibrahim Jaham Al Kuwari, jected demands are for limestone, The Qatar Primary Materials Gabbro berths. Mesaieed would go up to 30 mil- relaxed rules forcing pensioners General manager, WOQOD, said. Gabbro and spoil removal & dis- Company (QPMC) recently The project includes an inte- lion tonnes per year from its to buy an annuity at retirement, “It’s clear that there will be posal (SR&D). signed an EPC contract with grated set of conveyors, dust sup- existing discharge capacity of 20 potentially making deals in the a huge increase in demand for The Authority noted that lime- FLSmidth and Six Construct for pression systems, sub-stations million tonnes per year. asset management industry more bitumen, and with the signing of stone is the category of material the design and engineering of and stackers to streamline the THE PENINSULA attractive to suitors. REUTERS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Major Moroccan Mannai Corporation plans major buys banks look for Looking for acquiring businesses in a wide range of sectors, including jewellery, watches Islamic offshoots RABAT: Two of Morocco’s BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB on investment in Damas in 2013, biggest banks, BMCE and BCP which stood at about Dh252m are preparing to launch Islamic DOHA: Mannai Corportation, profits, and it is expecting more subsidiaries as the Moroccan one of the largest trading and returns in the current year. parliament discusses a bill regu- service companies in Qatar with The AGM, chaired by Sheikh lating Islamic banks and Sukuk a diversified business portfolio, Suhaim bin Abdulla bin Khalifa issues, banking sources said. is looking forward to acquiring Al Thani, Vice Chairman of the Parliament’s approval will be businesses in a wide range of company, approved the recom- the last step before fully-fledged sectors, including jewellery and mendations of the board of direc- Islamic banks can be established watches in the local market as tors to distribute a cash dividend in Morocco, whether they are well as overseas, said a senior of 55 percent to shareholders, that subsidiaries of domestic banks or official of the group yesterday. is QR5.5 per share owned, as the foreign owned, a measure which “We have successfully com- company registered a strong profit could attract more Gulf Arab pleted the 100 percent acquisi- during 2013. On behalf of Sheikh investment. tion of Damas in the first quarter Hamad bin Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Morocco’s central bank has of this year, and still looking for Thani, Chairman of the company, also started talks with a body of more acquisitions wherever the Sheikh Suhaim, said: “The board’s Islamic scholars on establishing a opportunity arises,” said Alekh medium-term strategy continues central Shariah board to oversee Grewal, Group CEO and Director to be to maintain a strong capital the country’s developing Islamic of Mannai Corporation. base for growth, expansion of the finance industry. Grewal, speaking on the side- company’s overseas earnings and Sources from the two banks lines of the company’s Annual the continued development of our said initial investments in the new General Meeting (AGM), said: core business in Qatar.” subsidiaries would be at a mini- “We have over 10 businesses in He also said: “As a result of the mum pending market reaction, Qatar, and each of them is well- company’s strength of earnings regulation, and foreign investor positioned to acquire one or two from Qatar and our international interest. “Even though analysts companies and exploring invest- operations the board was pleased don’t really expect a huge rush for ment opportunities in their to recommend an increase in div- Sheikh Suhaim bin Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani (centre) along with other directors of the company at the Ordinary Islamic products after the bill’s respective fields.” idends from 47.5 percent in the General Assembly Meeting of Mannai Corporation yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT approval, we should take part in However, he said that since previous year (2012) to 55 percent the battle. We never know,” one every sector of the Qatari econ- in 2013.” senior bank source said. “We have omy is expecting a boom in the Speaking about the company’s Corporation to deliver another is up 17.5 percent to QR5.6bn in its humble beginnings as an auto to prepare ourselves.” coming years, there is nothing performance in 2013, the Group year of record profits.” 2013 compared to QR4.7bn for the parts trader, the Mannai Group The sources declined to be specific available in the market CEO, added: “Our international Mannai Corporation Group’s same period in 2012. grew to encompass activities named as they said official which is attractive enough for diversification strategy has net profit grew by 16.3 percent to Mannai Corporation celebrated ranging from offshore rigs to tel- announcements will come later acquisition. contributed 51 percent of rev- QR539m for 2013. International its 60th anniversary in 2010 as ecommunications, with interests when the bill regulating Islamic According to Grewal, the group enues from international opera- acquisitions contributed 61 percent one of the largest trading and in many parts of the world. finances is approved. earned nearly 14 percent return tions, which has enabled the of net profit. The group’s revenue service companies in Qatar. From THE PENINSULA REUTERS

ECB not to adopt threshold-based rate guidance QE index loses 27.19

WASHINGTON: The down its bond-buying stimulus deposit facility rates and targeted into consideration the ... slack in European Central Bank will programme. Stocks and bonds liquidity provision operations, if the economy.” points, region gains not tie interest-rate policy to dropped after her remarks on further policy accommodation is Meanwhile, the European specific economic thresholds, a Wednesday. needed. Central Bank can still cut inter- top policymaker said. Constancio spoke to econo- At its March policy meeting, est rates further from the current DOHA: Qatar Exchange ended highest level since July 2008. Most “We think it would not be use- mists and policy makers at the ECB left interest rates on record-low rates, including taking in the red area when trading stocks closed in the black, includ- ful,” ECB Vice President Vitor a Fed-sponsored conference hold and introduced no other its deposit rate to negative terri- closed yesterday at 11,340.12 ing petrochemicals, banks, cement Constancio said on Saturday, on Saturday, just down the measures to bolster the fragile tory, Governing Council member points , down 0.24 percent, or makers and food producers. referring to the threshold-based hall from where Yellen made euro zone recovery, despite fore- Erkki Liikanen said. 27.19 points, from the previous The Dubai’s bourse rose 1.0 per- approach to monetary policy that those remarks. casting low inflation for years to The ECB’s main interest rate is closing of 11,367.31 points on cent, aided by Emaar Properties, the US Federal Reserve aban- Yellen had also described come. at 0.25 percent and the rate which Thursday. which resumed last week’s rally doned this week after using it for the raft of economic indica- On Saturday, Constancio said it pays banks for deposits at the The volume of shares was up and added 1.6 percent, although just over a year. tors the Fed would be watching markets mostly missed that the central bank is zero. at 11,707,429 from Thursday’s the trading volume was sig- He also dismissed the idea of as it geared up for possible rate ECB actually strengthened its “The possibility that we will 10,251,389 and the value of shares nificantly lower than last week. giving a time frame for when increases, including measures of forward guidance at that meet- lower interest rates still exists,” decreased to QR440,316,298.89 Emaar’s recent rally has been the ECB could raise rates, say- inflation and unemployment, and ing, tying its accommodative Liikanen said in a TV interview from QR462,511,012.31. triggered by the announcement ing the idea is “even worse” than a Fed official on Friday suggested stance to the closure of slack in on Finnish national broadcaster Among the top losers were Doha of a dividend hike and a plan to thresholds. her “six-months” comment was the economy. Yle. Bank whose shares were down list its shopping mall subsidiary. Earlier this week, Federal merely meant to reflect market “It’s something that I think “If we want to add instruments 1.54 percent to QR57.50, Barwa The main Dubai index closed Reserve Chair Janet Yellen sentiment. we have to clarify a little better, to monetary policy, the option of Real Estate lost 1.27 percent at 4,347 points; last week it broke said the US central bank might Constancio said the ECB has because I want really everyone charging banks for deposits is one to QR34.85, Gulf International above technical resistance at raise interest rates “around six other tools, including rate cuts, to understand that the forward such toll.” fell 1.90 percent to QR77.50 and 4,242-4,255 points, the February months” after it finishes winding quantitative easing, negative guidance that we have … takes REUTERS General Insurance was down by peaks. There is now no significant 2.50 percent to QR39. chart resistance nearby. The banking and financial sec- Among other gainers in Dubai tor index was up 0.26 percent, were property developer Deyaar New iPhone to lift Apple shares while consumer goods and serv- and construction firms Arabtec ices sector index added 0.25 per- Holding and Drake and Scull. NEW YORK: Apple Inc late summer or fall, is certain cent. The industrial sector was Bahrain’s index climbed 0.8 per- shares could rise by 20 per- to have a bigger screen than lost 0.51 percent, while insurance cent, largely on the back of Arab cent over the next year, earlier versions, which could sector fell 1.26 percent. Banking, which jumped 7.1 per- fuelled by sales of a new ver- give iPhone users a major rea- Elsewhere in the region, Saudi cent. The stock surged last month sion of its iPhone smartphone son to upgrade or win back Arabia’s bourse led the region, after news that the bank was hir- that is expected to have a people who switched to other recovering from last week’s weak- ing Standard Chartered banker bigger screen, according to devices. The article notes that ness to hit a five-year high with Ray Ferguson as its group chief an article in the March 24 Apple shares currently trade gains in most sectors as global oil banking officer; it then retreated edition of Barron’s. at a deep discount to the mar- prices stabilised. The index rose and is now climbing back to the The iPhone 6, expected in ket. REUTERS 1.3 percent to 9,425 points, its recent peak. QNA & REUTERS

Experts discuss intellectual property issues

DOHA: A team of attorneys from Patton Boggs LLP dis- cussed key intellectual prop- erty (IP) issues and explored the IP needs of Qatar compa- nies, researchers and inventors at several intellectual property seminars held last week in Qatar. In addition to presenting “Intellectual Property Protection and Strategies” to a group of Qatar clients and colleagues, the Patton Boggs IP team addressed a seminar at Qatar University. The seminars featured pres- entations by attorneys from Patton Boggs, including Dr Scott Chambers, a partner and Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department, and Deborah Lodge, Experts at the seminar. a partner specialising in intel- lectual property, privacy and Internet law. The seminar also media, and privacy. Topics protection benefits and limita- global market, companies need included contributions by Martin included identifying inventions tions during our sessions. The to ensure that their marks are Goggins Campos, Of Counsel and viable trademarks, protect- worldwide nature of today’s protected around the world based in the firm’s Doha office, ing a company’s reputation in economy presents inventors and across all media platforms. and Susan Bastress, Managing social media, and negotiating and companies with new chal- ICANN’s recent deployment of Partner of the Doha Office. technology licenses and trans- lenges in deciding which pat- new Top Level Domains and the Dr Chambers, Lodge and the fers. “A global market requires ents to protect and where to continuing popularity of social Patton Boggs team shared cur- global thinking about patents seek patent protection.” media add to the challenges of rent trends and best practices in and other forms of intellectual Lodge echoed the impor- protecting companies’ trade- critical IP areas such as patents, property,” said Dr Chambers. tance of maintaining inter- marks and reputations.” trademarks, copyright, social “We intend to explore patent national perspectives: “In this THE PENINSULA BUSINESS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 China plans US help needed to reform IMF: Lagarde competitive Emerging nations seek greater role market system BEIJING: International and ensure that the relevant leg- BEIJING: Chinese Vice Monetary Fund chief Christine islation can be passed. “This is not Premier Zhang Gaoli reaf- Lagarde said yesterday that something I can do much about,” firmed to a group of visiting there was not much she should she told students. senior foreign executives and could to push reform at her She added that she hoped officials yesterday that the organisation and give emerging emerging economies could have a country will introduce market- economies a bigger say with- bigger voice within the institution. based interest rates and a mar- out the support of the United The reform of the voting shares, ket-based exchange rate for the States. known as quotas, cannot proceed yuan currency. China in January called on without the United States, which Zhang, speaking at the annual IMF member nations to stick to holds the only controlling share of China Development Forum, said a commitment to give emerging IMF votes. China will “introduce a modern markets more power at the glo- After putting off the request and competitive market system bal lender after US lawmakers in 2012 because of the US presi- with fair and open market rules”. set back historic reforms that dential election, the US Treasury He provided no details. would give developing countries has sought to tuck the provision China’s central bank will focus a greater say. into several bills since March of on liberalising bank deposit rates The remarks by China’s for- last year. over the next two years, while eign ministry were an indirect The administration’s requests, loosening its grip on the yuan cur- criticism of the United States, the however, have been met with scep- rency to give greater influence to biggest and most powerful IMF ticism from some Republicans, market forces, a vice governor of member, where lawmakers that who see them as tantamount to the People’s Bank of China said month failed to agree on funding approving fresh funding in a tight on Saturday. measures needed for the reforms budget environment. Central bank chief Zhou to move forward. Some US lawmakers have also Xiaochuan said earlier this The US Congress must sign off raised concerns about how well month bank deposit rates were likely on the IMF funding to complete the IMF is helping struggling to be liberalised in one to two 2010 reforms that would make economies in Europe and the years, but government economists China the IMF’s third-largest risks attached to IMF loans, sug- and policy advisers in China said member and revamp the IMF gesting Congress is in no hurry to China’s Finance Minister Lou Jiwei (left) talks with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde during the China that they believed the central board to reduce the dominance approve any changes. Development Forum in Beijing yesterday. bank was treading cautiously as of Western Europe. Developing nations have long economic growth slows in the Speaking at Beijing’s elite viewed the IMF with suspicion for emerging nations in the early years later. 1944. The structure was shaped recent months. Tsinghua University, Lagarde said promoting disastrous privatisa- 1990s, and for pushing budget That suspicion has been com- by the victors of World War Two The central bank already allows this was a matter for the United tions that complicated the tran- cuts that exacerbated debt crises pounded by a power structure - the United States and other banks to set their own lending States to complete the process sition from communism for some in Asia and Latin America a few that dates to IMF’s founding in Allied nations. REUTERS rates, but in practice they do not have full freedom because of con- trols on deposit rates. Zhang added that a key govern- ment priority will be fiscal and tax reform, including development of Bankruptcy link “an open and standardised budget Greece defends stress test results system”, which is crucial as in GM ignition China moves to address ATHENS: An “unduly con- confidence in the country and its issues associated with local gov- servative” approach in stress banking system.” ernment debt and local govern- case under lens tests on Greece’s major banks Greece’s four big lenders — ment finance. would have scared off inves- National Bank, Piraeus Bank, China’s local governments are WASHINGTON: Federal tors, the head of Greece’s cen- Eurobank and Alpha Bank — responsible for 85 percent of total authorities are investigating tral bank said, adding that he were recapitalised last year to government expenditure but col- whether General Motors hid believed the results would be the tune of €28bn. lect less than 50 percent of the an ignition switch defect when close to EU-wide tests due later This month’s Bank of Greece country’s total revenues, accord- it filed for bankruptcy in 2009, this year. health check, intended to estab- ing to statistics compiled by the The New York Times reported. The banks’ capital needs were lish whether they had enough Asian Development Bank. The Justice Department’s a sticking point in the latest bail- capital to withstand rising bad Zhang also said the government investigation of the carmaker out review by Greece’s lenders, loans, a further economic slump was moving forward with updat- includes a probe of whether GM which ended this week after six and other shocks, found that they ing its value-added tax, excise and committed bankruptcy fraud months of wrangling. The EU needed to raise an extra €6.4bn. consumption tax. by not disclosing the ignition and IMF, which had estimated Greece’s bank rescue fund, the Zhang said that a “fair and uni- problem, a person briefed on the that the banks’ needs would be HFSF, which recapitalised the fied tax system” was needed. inquiry said. higher, said in a statement that banks last summer, has a remain- A run of disappointing data Authorities are also investigat- there were “upside risks” to the ing buffer of about €8bn to €9bn showing China’s economy lost ing whether GM understated the Greek estimates and urged the “If were unduly conservative and need a new big capital boost, they to address any additional needs. steam at the start of 2014, and defect to federal safety regulators, banks to address the high level imposed an overcapitalisation of must be weak. The European Central Bank is the country’s first domestic bond the Times said. of non-performing loans. the banks, we would run two seri- “The second danger would be due to carry out its own EU-wide default and subsequent media The ignition switch problems But in an interview to be pub- ous risks. that private investors who placed health check later this year, and reports of trouble at other com- led to the recall of 1.6 million lished in yesterday’s Kathimerini “First, we would shake the money in the capital increases of Provopoulos said he believed the panies, have added to pressure in vehicles last month. newspaper, George Provopoulos trust of depositors, who would banks as part of last summer’s results would be “close to ours”. its financial markets. GM has handed over docu- (pictured) was quoted as saying: say, rightly, that for the banks to recapitalisation would lose any REUTERS REUTERS ments to federal investigators in New York, the person said. The carmaker cannot com- ment specifically on the Justice Department investigation, Emirates Reit sets IPO range spokesman Greg Martin said in an email on Saturday. “We are DUBAI: Dubai-based real emailed statement. dividends of $5 per share for cooperating fully with authori- estate investment trust An investor roadshow for the 12-month period to Dec. ties on several fronts and we will Emirates Reit said yester- the IPO, which is expected to 31, 2012 compared to $2.55 for continue to do so,” he said. day that it set the price range be Dubai’s first since its finan- 2011. The investigation is being run for its initial public offer of cial crisis erupted in 2009, will Dubai Islamic Bank owns by FBI agents and federal pros- shares at $1.36 to $1.56 per run from March 23 to April 2; 30.9 percent of the firm, two ecutors who worked on the fraud share, and expects the list- trading of the shares on units of the Dubai Holding con- case against Toyota that ended ing on Nasdaq Dubai to occur the Nasdaq Dubai bourse is glomerate own a combined 27.1 in a $1.2bn settlement last week. around the middle of April. expected to start sometime in percent, Emirates NBD owns On Wednesday, GM was hit The company, valued at the following week, the com- 4.5 percent, Egyptian invest- with a lawsuit demanding that between $356.2m and $408.6m, pany added. ment bank EFG-Hermes has the company be held liable for will issue as many as 110.3 mil- The REIT, which manages 4.2 percent and Dubai prop- allegedly concealing ignition prob- lion new shares with an over- assets ranging from school erty developer Deyaar has 3.4 lems before its 2009 bankruptcy. allotment option of 16.5 million buildings to business towers percent. REUTERS additional shares, it said in an and retail space, distributed REUTERS

China promotes electric cars Unified telecom licence in Egypt by June CAIRO: Egypt’s Telecommunications Minister Atef Helmy said yesterday the coun- try’s long awaited unified telecom licence for both mobiles and landlines will be activated within three months. The licence would allow telecommunication com- panies to operate fixed- line and mobile networks, which would in turn allow Egypt’s fixed-line monop- oly Telecom Egypt to offer mobile services. “The unified telecom licence will be activated before June 30, 2014,” Helmy said, adding that A visitor looks at BYD E6 electric car on display at the New Energy Auto Expo in Nanjing. Three of the Cabinet has approved China’s biggest cities are helping consumers pay for a range of electric cars, heeding calls to encour- the licence and that age the sale of green vehicles that the government sees helping tackle pollution. details will be revealed on Wednesday. REUTERS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Temasek to Reported NSA buy stake in snooping irks AS Watson for $5.7bn China’s Huawei HONG KONG: Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings has agreed to buy almost a quarter of health and beauty retailer Firm’s communications monitored AS Watson for about $5.7bn in what would be its single biggest BERLIN: Chinese telecom access to servers in Huawei’s investment and one that would and Internet company Huawei sealed headquarters in Shenzhen boost its exposure to Asia’s fast defended is independence yester- and got information about the growing consumer sector. day and said it would condemn workings of the giant routers The purchase of 24.9 percent any infiltration of its servers and complex digital switches the of AS Watson, owned by Asia’s by the US National Security company says connect a third of richest man Li Ka-shing, is part Agency if reports of such activi- the world’s people. of Temasek’s aggressive reshaping ties by the NSA were true. Der Spiegel said the NSA copied of its $170bn portfolio to ensure The New York Times and a list of more than 1,400 clients higher returns. The state investor’s German magazine Der Spiegel and internal training documents returns have often lagged its own reported this weekend, citing doc- for engineers. It said the agency internal metric in recent years as uments leaked by former US secu- was pursuing a digital offen- it focused on blue chip stocks. rity contractor Edward Snowden, sive against the Chinese politi- Retail sector investments are A cashier rings up a purchase at a Target store in Seattle. that the NSA had obtained sensi- cal leadership, naming former seen as a way to profit from ris- tive data and monitored Huawei Prime Minister Hu Jintao and the ing consumer spending in emerg- executives’ communications. Chinese trade and foreign minis- ing Asian markets such as China “If the actions in the report tries as targets. US court upholds cap on swipe fees and Indonesia. AS Watson’s busi- are true, Huawei condemns such “If we can determine the com- ness includes personal care stores activities that invaded and infil- pany’s plans and intentions,” an WASHINGTON: A federal industry already buffeted by pub- to the Fed’s “reasonable interpre- which dominate the beauty and trated into our internal corpo- analyst wrote in a 2010 document appeals court has handed a lic and congressional outrage over tation” of the law and to reject the health market in China, a sector rate network and monitored our cited by the Times, “we hope that defeat to a coalition of retail the massive data breach that hit retailers’ challenge. forecast to grow by around 40 communications,” Huawei’s glo- this will lead us back to the plans groups that challenged as too Target Corp during the holiday The National Retail Federation, percent to $186bn by 2015. bal cyber security officer, John and intentions” of the Chinese high the Federal Reserve’s cap season and other data-security one of the parties that had sued “The consumer retail sector is Suffolk, said. “Corporate net- government. The Times said US on how much banks can charge violations at big retailers. the Fed, said that it was reviewing a good proxy to growing middle works are under constant probe officials see Huawei as a security businesses for handling debit Congress mandated a ceiling the ruling and will decide whether income populations and trans- and attack from different sources threat and have blocked the com- card transactions. on debit-card swipe fees as part to appeal it. “NRF is disappointed forming economies,” Chia Song — such is the status quo in today’s pany from making business deals The ruling issued by the US of the 2010 financial regulatory and remains confident that the Hwee, head of the Temasek’s digital age,” said Suffolk, defend- in the United States, worried it Appeals Court for the District overhaul. Prior to the cap, fees Federal Reserve erred when it set investment group, said in a state- ing Huawei’s independence and would furnish equipment with of Columbia overturned a lower averaged 44 cents per swipe. the swipe-fee cap far higher than ment. “This is very much part of security record, saying it was very “back doors” that could enable court’s decision in July that The Fed had initially proposed a intended by Congress,” Mallory our investment themes as we successful in 145 countries. China’s military or Chinese- favoured the merchants and was 12-cent fee limit, and the retail- Duncan, the group’s senior vice shape Temasek’s portfolio for the The New York Times said one goal backed hackers to swipe corpo- a setback for banks. ers argued that the Fed buckled president and general counsel, long term.” of the NSA operation, code-named rate and government secrets. In the July ruling, a federal under pressure from bank lobby- said in a statement. “The Fed Temasek has 24 consumer- “Shotgiant”, was to uncover any “We certainly don’t build judge struck down the Fed’s cap ists when it doubled that level. ignored congressional intent, and related direct investments, connections between Huawei and ‘back doors’,” Huawei security on so-called “swipe fees,” saying The retailers had argued that worked to shield debit-card com- according to Standard & Poor’s the Chinese People’s Liberation chief Suffolk said. Suffolk, who is the Fed didn’t have the authority the Fed deviated from the 2010 panies and big banks.” CapitalIQ database. They include Army. But it also sought to exploit British, said the company never to set the limit the way it did in law’s intent by factoring banks’ The Fed, which had appealed China online education services Huawei’s technology and conduct handed over its source codes to 2011, improperly including data expenses into the cap that the law the lower court ruling, said it was company TutorGroup, global surveillance through computer governments either. that made the cap too high. didn’t allow. pleased with the appeals court sourcing firm Li & Fung Ltd and telephone networks Huawei “I can’t say what American The retail groups had sued The three-judge panel of the decision. The banking industry and Indonesia retail giant PT sold to other nations. If ordered firms do. We have never been the Fed over its setting the cap appeals court said that in making welcomed the ruling. “Reasonable Matahari Putra Prima TBK. by the US president, the NSA also asked to hand over any data to at an average of about 24 cents that argument, “far from summit- minds have prevailed,” Richard Last week, a Temasek-led share- planned to unleash offensive cyber a government or authority or to per debit-card transaction. The ing the steep hill, the merchants Hunt, president of the Consumer holder group offered $2.1bn for operations, the newspaper said. facilitate access to our technol- appeals court ruling upholding have barely left base camp.” The Bankers Association, said in a the shares in commodities trader The paper said the NSA gained ogy,” he said. REUTERS the Fed’s cap was a blow to an judges said they decided to defer statement. AP Olam International. REUTERS DI plans to Visa, MasterCard resume hike foreign payments in Russia bank ownership cap MOSCOW: Visa Inc and but did not say why it reversed DUBAI: Dubai Investments MasterCard Inc have resumed its decision. Visa said it had been (DI), a diversified manufacturer services for payment transac- informed by the US government and investor in property, plans tions for clients at Russia’s SMP to lift sanctions against SMP to increase the limit on foreign bank, whose main shareholders bank and two other Russian banks ownership of its shares to 35 were affected by US sanctions, because they did not meet the percent of its total capital, the the bank said yesterday. criteria for sanctions. “All cards company said yesterday. Washington imposed additional issued by these banks will return Foreign investors now hold 13.7 sanctions on Thursday against 20 to normal operation as soon as percent of Dubai Investments’ Russians for involvement in the possible,” it said in a statement. shares out of the total 20 percent Ukraine crisis, including Boris Visa’s statement named the allowed, bourse data shows. Rotenberg and his older brother other two banks as Investitsionny The firm’s shareholders, includ- Arkady, who received large con- Soyuz (Investment Union) and ing sovereign fund Investment tracts for the Sochi Winter InvestKapitalBank. SMP bank Corp of Dubai which has an 11.5 Olympics. They are co-owners of had said the decision to stop percent stake, will vote on the pro- SMP Bank. providing services by Visa and posal at a meeting on April 15. The SMP had said on Friday MasterCard was unlawful because proposal follows similar moves by that Visa and MasterCard had the sanctions were imposed on other Dubai-listed companies such stopped providing services for shareholders, not the bank, which as Deyaar and Union Properties, payment transactions for clients said it has no assets in the United and Mashreq bank. at SMP bank, which has about States. “We are glad that the two Companies in the UAE and 100 branches covering more biggest international payment Qatar are reviewing their for- than 20 Russian cities, according systems have heard our argu- eign ownership caps before MSCI to its website. A spokesperson ments and reversed their decision raises those countries to emerging for Mastercard confirmed it was to block,” SMP bank CEO Dmitry market status in May. REUTERS again serving clients of the bank Kalantyrsky, said. REUTERS

Spanish protest turns violent

Demonstrators clash with anti-riot policemen at the end of a march dubbed “the Marches for Dignity 22-M” to protest against austerity in Madrid. BUSINESS VIEWS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Federal Reserve Bad loan investors turn changes policy HE dollar strengthened against most major to emerging Europe counterparts following T BY MARCIN GOCLOWSKI and the FOMC press conference as assessment of their financial health by the In Hungary, bad loans are running at GERGELY SZAKACS the Federal Reserve have cut European Central Bank, which wants to 18 percent of all household debt, while in their monthly bond purchases Weekly Money Market Review rebuild confidence in the industry and pro- Latvia they are at almost 10 percent. by another $10bn, continuing ENTRAL and eastern European mote lending to support economic growth. “The high NPL ratio continues to on Bernanke’s tapering programme. Moreover, the dollar gained countries are turning up the Data from research firm PwC shows that pose a risk, and therefore we consider it further against the euro and the sterling, as geopolitical risks pressure on banks to clean up loan portfolio sales from Ireland, Spain and extremely important that cleaning activity escalate over the Crimean crisis. their balance sheets, creating the UK alone totalled ¤23bn in the first in the banking sector be strengthened,” the The euro started the week at 1.3914, gaining only slightly, as new opportunities for bad loan eight months of 2013, based on the original Hungarian central bank said in its latest stops hit, after last weeks’ rally to 1.3970, reversing early losses. Cinvestors that are seeing returns dwindle value of the loans. financial stability report, in language typi- The single currency range traded during the middle of the week in in recovering eurozone economies. By comparison, an “other” group of coun- cal of that being used by authorities across anticipation of the FOMC. The euro touched a high of 1.3748, and Keen to bolster fragile economic growth, tries that included those from central and the region. then plummeting to break the previous lows, the Federal Reserve countries such as Hungary, Poland and eastern Europe accounted for just ¤2bn of In Latvia, sales have already begun in has cut another $10bn from their assets purchase programme. Romania are following the lead of their loan sales. earnest, though largely because of the exit The euro fell following the Fed’s announcement to touch a low of western neighbours and urging banks to However, that is starting to change, with of foreign banks such as UniCredit and GE 1.3749. The single currency regained some of its losses on Friday sell off bad debts so they can lend more to Mayank Gupta, a London-based partner at Money and the bankruptcy of Lastvijas and ended the week at 1.3794. businesses. legal firm Mayer Brown who has worked Krajbanka. Buyers have included Swedbank, The Sterling Pound fell over 150 basis points against the dollar In some cases, it’s the first time big port- on some of the transactions, saying sales in Latvia’s Rietumu bank, Norwegian-owned during the week. The Pound opened at 1.6647, falling to a 5-week folios of loans have been put up for sale, rais- the region increased in 2013 and were set B2Kapital and Dutch-owned Stichting low against the dollar, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ing a host of legal challenges for would-be to rise further this year. Galaxy Finance. expressed his support to Crimea’s request to join Russia, while the buyers, such as local banking secrecy rules, Last week, Volksbank Romania said it “We did not wait for five years as some Ukraine expressed their disapprovals, sending fear and uncertainty consumer protection laws, and other regula- would sell ¤490m of bad loans, while Robert others did, hoping that the situation was on the political confrontations in the area. The pound regained tory hurdles. Hejja, a Hungary-based private equity not that bad and everything would recover some of its losses, on to drop significantly against a much stronger But with one-time high-yielding favour- adviser, said an unidentified US hedge fund fast enough,” Kristaps Zakulis, chairman of dollar on Thursday following the Fed’s decision. The pound contin- ites such as Ireland and Portugal offering was looking at a $100m deal there. the Latvian financial and capital markets ued to drop to touch a low of 1.6476, and ending the week at 1.6487. lower investment returns as they emerge Central and eastern European economies commission, told Reuters. The Japanese yen was one of the biggest losers last week, as from sovereign bailouts, and interest rates mostly saw a pick up in growth towards The process can be painful. “The forced it weakened more than 100 basis points against the greenback. remaining low across the European Union, the end of 2013. But a recovery from the situation of the sellers was more dominating The currency opened the week at 101.36, weakening to 101.80, on buyers are willing to put in the extra leg- financial crisis is far from established and in the price,” he said. “Some decided to keep speculation over the Fed’s decision. The Japanese Yen then fell work for deals that can yield 25 percent authorities see the high level of non-per- (the bad loan portfolios) when they saw that considerably to touch a low of 102.68 against the greenback. The per annum. forming loans on banks’ balance sheets as a the discount rate was disadvantageous.” Yen closed at 102.25. “It is not just American distressed funds, particular brake on private sector expansion. Mayer Brown’s Gupta said buyers were The Aussie dollar opened the week at 0.9028, only to gradu- but quite a number of potential buyers,” Non-performing loans (NPL) in Romania typically hedge funds or private equity firms ally strengthen against the dollar. The currency gained to a high said one mergers and acquisitions (M&A) officially make up about 22 percent of total seeking an annual rate of return of 15 to 25 of 0.9140. The Aussie strengthened against the greenback after adviser in Hungary, who asked not to be loans, a percentage not too far away from percent. That implies getting the loans at major banks dropped their forecast for further Reserve Bank named. the 30 percent once seen in Greece. Mayer a substantial discount, since loans normally rate cuts this year. It reversed an earlier drop as Russian stocks Many EU banks are deep into a drive to Brown’s Gupta said the actual figure could return less than 10 percent. advanced, linking concerns about the fallout from Crimean vote. clean up their balance sheets ahead of an be as high as 40 percent. REUTERS The Australian dollar then followed suit with major currencies, dropping dramatically against the dollar to touch a low of 0.8993. The AUD ended the week at 0.9081. Federal Open Market Committee decided to cut its assets pur- chases by $10bn for the third straight meeting in March to $55bn a month from $65bn starting in April. Meanwhile the Fed left the target range for the federal funds rate at zero to 0.25 percent. EU imports of Russian gas The Fed shifted its forward guidance on how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at exceptional low levels, discarding the Russia is Europe’s biggest gas supplier, providing about a quarter of 6.5 percent threshold on the unemployment rate. The Fed said continental demand. A third of gas is exported through Ukraine. it would now consider a wide range of factors instead of relying mainly on the unemployment rate. Moreover, Federal Reserve NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION officials expected their target interest rate would be at one percent at the end of 2015 and 2.25 percent a year later, higher than earlier From Russian natural gas 00.1 25 50 75 100% Gas pipelines Gas storage forecast, as they improved the projections for gains in the labour market. The statement said: “The Committee continues to antici- FINLAND Russian exports through pate based on its assessment of these factors, that it likely will be Nord Stream and Yamal appropriate to maintain the current target range for the federal SWEDEN funds rate for a considerable time after the asset purchase program 186 mln m3 per day* ends”. During the press conference, when asked about a period for the “considerable time” mentioned in the statement, Chair Janet NETHERLANDS ESTONIA Yellen said that it is “something on the order of around six months”. Yamal DENMARK German investor confidence fell in February for a third con- BELGIUM LATVIA secutive month, a sign that the recovery for the German economy IRELAND is being burdened by the Crimean crisis, which poses a risk to Nord Stream LITHUANIA the continents’ powerhouse. The ZEW investor Confidence index U.K. RUSSIA fell to the lowest level since August, sliding considerably more than the forecasted 52.8, to 46.6, from 55.7 the previous month. GERMANY POLAND While German economic growth in the fourth quarter exceeded Kiev estimates, increasing tensions over the Russian stance against the Crimean peninsula, and flat performance by Euro-area countries, LUXEMBOURG CZECH REP. Germanys’ biggest trading partner, is damping the country’s out- put, signaling uncertainty in the European economy. SLOVAKIA UKRAINE AUSTRIA The United Kingdoms’ unemployment rate held steady in the FRANCE three months through January, while Bank of England policy HUNGARY makers stated that the Pound’s advance against the US Dollar is ROMANIA keeping price pressures in check. The jobless rate came at 7.2%, CROATIA unchanged from the last quarter of 2013. The Bank of England Russian exports stated, “Sterling had appreciated by another 1.5 percent during the PORTUGAL through Ukraine month, and it was possible that this gradual appreciation would SLOVENIA BULGARIA 3 continue if prospects in the UK continued to be seen as increasingly 106 mln m SPAIN ITALY favorable relative to those of its main trading partners”. per day* Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate THE PENINSULA

With Nordic clean-up done, Cevian readies broom for Germany

BY MIA SHANLEY percent since inception, beat- Gardell’s strong ties with US With the most obvious Nordic by the boards themselves. not yet have a seat on Thyssen’s ing the MSCI Europe Index, activist investor Carl Icahn, who restructuring cases already Cevian, which sits on about half board, though it has expressed its UCH is the weight of which has returned 36 percent has featured in media for nagging completed, from retail to min- of the boards of the companies it interest in one. Christer Gardell’s voice in the same period. Figures from Apple for buybacks and eBay for ing equipment, Gardell watch- owns, has used the Nordic system “Germany is made up of tightly in Europe that Volvo’s research firm Evestment show a PayPal spin-off, have added to ers believe Cevian is reaching for to its advantage, taking seats on knit networks,” said Gunnar share price jumped Cevian is among the 15 largest Cevian’s prestige on the other similar success in Germany. nomination committees and gain- Hesse, a professional board expert four percent one day in hedge funds in Europe and 30 side of the Atlantic. The two met German-speaking Europe, ing quick strategic influence. The based in Sweden. “Consensus is SJanuary when a Swedish business largest in the world. in New York in 1998 and have Britain and the Nordics are the Nordic system also makes it rela- a major Swedish thing. Owners daily ran a front-page story on Cevian invests in stable indus- remained close friends since. three areas in which the fund is tively easy for Cevian to switch out in Germany are more arrogant, the activist investor calling on the tries and overlooked companies Icahn invested in Cevian’s first considering investment oppor- under-performing board members. and if they are the major share- truckmaker to “start delivering”. that it can repair and sell at a fund in 2003 and remains an inves- tunities, probably in that order, Supervisory boards in Germany holder, they tend to ignore the Gardell, once called a capital- premium — preferably double tor today. “He likes this region and Gardell says. tend to be more detached from other shareholders.” ist “butcher” by Swedish media, within three to five years. It keeps finds that corporate governance is Forberg says half the Cevian the business, with management It won’t be the first time has emerged more than a decade a portfolio of 12 core holdings, better structured in the Nordics team speaks German and it is doing most of the steering, mean- Gardell has been kept out of the after co-founding Cevian Capital including big European blue-chips than in the US,” Gardell said. probably the market where the ing influence is not as direct as in financial elite’s inner circle. — now a $12bn activist fund — as such as Volvo, British security Today, three out of four of firm spends most of its time. Sweden. When he started investing, the Europe’s biggest activist investor firm G4S and German conglom- Cevian’s investors are in the This month, Cevian announced Förberg said there was no Stockholm scene was dominated and one of its most influential. erate ThyssenKrupp. United States. it had built up a 15 percent stake problem gaining board positions by a handful of wealthy families - Having established increasing “We like companies which have The 53-year-old co-founded in ThyssenKrupp, which has been in Germany as Cevian is seen as the Wallenbergs in banking, the influence in the Nordics — Cevian strong market positions and solid Cevian in 2002 with Lars Förberg, trying to shift its focus to higher- a key shareholder. It had a board Stenbecks in media and telecom- said this week it had nearly dou- cash flow,” Gardell said in an who is based in Zurich, but margin products and services. It position in crane group Dmag munications and the Perssons in bled its stake in Volvo over a six- interview in his Stockholm head- Gardell is its public face. also has a near 20 percent stake in Cranes and has one in Bilfinger. retail with Hennes & Mauritz. month period — he is now trying to quarters, surrounded by tennis “He is the business commu- German construction firm Bilfinger. “There were no complications, In 2004, he took over as chair- strengthen its presence in Germany. memorabilia — one of his great- nity’s George Clooney. He has the Some say Gardell may face a no issues, just a natural expecta- man of fashion retailer Lindex. Gardell’s knack for spotting est passions. looks, and is world class with the tougher battle for influence in tion that we would join the boards, He changed the entire manage- value in struggling companies and “Many of those are industrial media. The media has used him, Germany, where corporate gov- and we did,” he told Reuters. ment team, recruited a new CEO his ability to implement strate- companies in old-fashioned indus- and he’s used the media,” said Claes ernance is not as investor friendly. Cevian says it is a strong — a top manager from H&M — gic change — whether by man- tries, and they are from this per- Ekstrom, a partner at Swedish Boards of directors at Nordic believer in the strength of the and more than doubled margins agement shake-up or asset sales spective still very low-priced.” private equity firm Altor, who companies are chosen by a nomina- Swedish model — the nomination to over 10 percent. Margins at — has helped him chalk up many “We don’t buy shares in Nokia, has known Gardell for 30 years tion committee made up of usually committee approach in particular another early investment, debt successes in the Nordics. Apple and Twitter, or mining after they started their careers the largest two or three sharehold- — and is lobbying for change in collector Intrum Justitia, also Its second fund, which launched companies which are driven by together at McKinsey & Company ers. In Germany, like many other both Germany and Britain. nearly doubled. in 2006, has returned around 180 raw material prices,” he said. in Stockholm. parts of the world, they are chosen But it may take time. It does REUTERS MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 MARKET 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,340.12 0.24 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 16,767.36 0.24 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,477.6 0.24 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,901.38 0.17 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,741.12 0.26 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5312.746 -60.204 -1.12 5477.3 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,930.72 0.25 % QR155.1074 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4273.05 -35.01 -0.81 4432.5 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 4,005.17 0.51 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9770 QR 6.0614 QE All Share Insurance 2,789.75 1.26 % Dj Indu Average 16222.17 -114.02 -0.7 16588.25 14382.09 Euro ...... QR 4.9847 QR 5.0543 QE All Share Real Estate 2,129.47 0.86 % QR 2.3766 CA$ ...... QR 3.2310 QR 3.2945 QE All Share Telecoms 1,507.1 0.02 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,968.9 0.78 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0876 QR 4.1446 Hang Seng Inde/D 21182.16 -386.53 -1.79 23469.33 21197.78 Yen ...... QR 0.0352 QR 0.0359 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2544 QR 3.3183 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4853.27 -46.69 -0.95 5195.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 23-03-2014 20-03-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0588 QR 0.0600 Index 11,340.12 11,367.31 Karachi 100 In/D 27148.52 -110.16 -0.4 27427.04 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0368 QR 0.0376 Change 27.19 20.83 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14224.23 -238.29 -1.65 16164.01 13995.86 Peso ...... QR 0.0797 QR 0.0814 % 0.24 0.18 $ 105.67 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 9.25 9.52 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1883.57 1536.03 Taka ...... QR 0.0465 QR 0.0474 Volume 11,707,429 10,251,389 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0370 QR 0.0377 Value (QAR) 440,316,298.89 462,511,012.31 Straits Times/D 3057.2 -23.55 -0.76 3187.8 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3298 QR 0.3365 Trades 6,649 9,092 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 102.81 Up 16 | Down 21 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 23-03-2014

Golden cross comforts gold after troubled week for commodities

OMMODITIES strug- futures, namely copper. when the 50-day moving average Canadian-produced crude oil is gled for a second week Worries about a potential dis- Weekly Commodity Update either crosses down (death) or currently finding its way to the as some of the strong ruptions to supplies from the up (golden) through the 200-day Gulf coast via increased pipe-

drivers from earlier this Black Sea region and dry con- moving average and the reason line capacity. This is happening C BY OLE HANSEN year continue to fade. Oil prices ditions across the grain belt in why it receives attention is due at a time of reduced demand fell as demand slowed and inven- the US drove the price of wheat (Head of Commodity to its relatively rare occurrence from refineries as they turn tory rose, precious metals were in Chicago to an 11-month high Strategy, Saxo Bank) and its potential for confirming a around from winter to summer spooked by an apparent hawk- before running into profit tak- change in direction. Overall, the production. ish comment from the new chair ing on news that rain may reach sentiment has received a knock The build-up of inventories Janet Yellen at the US Federal the area in early April. Expected Arabica coffee futures in New was triggered by the US Federal but so far trend-line support at could begin to translate into Reserve while rain finally reached strong production from Europe York ran into the biggest two- Reserve chairman Janet Yellen $1,322/oz and the 200-day moving lower imports and subsequently the coffee-growing regions in and India should make up for any day decline since 2010 as reports when she delivered a statement average at $1,297/oz continues to put some additional pressure Brazil and Vietnam sending coffee disappointment in the US so that about rain in Brazil finally trig- after the Federal Open Market provide support. Adding to this, on Brent crude, considering its into a tailspin. But just beneath leaves the potentials for further gered some profit taking after Committee meeting that turned the golden cross combined with function as the global benchmark. the surface, the geopolitical ten- upside gains limited at this stage. a non-stop rally which at one out to be more hawkish than the the continued worries related to This development, together with sions between Russia and the Copper reached a new 3.5-year stage had lifted the price by 85 market had expected. Ukraine traders both short term reduced inventories at Cushing West over Ukraine continue to low before short covering and percent this year. After reaching Demand from China has slowed and especially long term probably and the impending release of five pose a potential upside risk to signs of demand following the almost 2.1 USD/pound earlier this as gold rallied and most recently prefer to stay long of gold at this million barrels from the Strategic several commodities such as gold recent slump helped the metal to month, the May futures contract the weaker renminbi has further stage. Petroleum Reserve (SPR), has together with oil and gas. record its first positive perform- has corrected down to 1.7 USD/ reduced demand with the price The energy sector was lower produced some relatively strong The broad based DJ-UBS com- ance in four weeks. China which pound. The expectations for a glo- for XAU9999 on the Shanghai with natural gas falling to a nine- selling pressure on Brent crude modity index was lower as most consumes close to 50 percent of bal deficit this year should create Gold Exchange trading at a dis- week low after inventories fell by in favour of WTI crude oil during sectors came under some sell- global production and which has some support once this current count to spot gold. Hedge funds less than expected. The annual the past week. ing pressure from tactical trad- been weighed down by concerns phase of long-liquidation has run have been strong buyers during injection season will begin within For the time being, we expect ers such as hedge funds as they about the health of its credit mar- its course. the early part of March, but so far the next few weeks and with Brent crude to find support ahead reduced elevated speculative long kets will see the release of March Gold, which stopped just shy of the data primarily points to this inventory levels at an 11-year low, of $105/barrel which would con- positions amid a less favourable manufacturing PMI on Monday. $1,400/oz on Monday following the being driven by short covering as a relative high price is required to firm a current range between environment compared to just a This will provide another gauge Crimean referendum, then expe- opposed to fresh new buying. ensure a strong rebuild of inven- 105 and $110/barrel. WTI crude few weeks ago. According to the as to the current health of the rienced the worst sell-off in six Almost exactly 13 months after tories over the next six months. remain the best supported of the most recent data, hedge funds economy and potentially help HG months. Safe-haven bids dried up i wrote about the “Death Cross” Both crude oils of WTI and two considering the likelihood of were only holding a negative view Copper escape the 2.9 to 3.0 USD/ as the feared escalation follow- technical formation in gold, Brent were lower again on ris- a continued narrowing of the dis- (net-short position) on just one pound range where it has been ing the Crimean election failed to we have seen a “Golden Cross” ing US inventories and a stronger count to Brent crude. out of 24 US-traded commodity stuck for some time now. materialise, and further weakness develop this week. This occur dollar. A rising flow of US and THE PENINSULA SPORT MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Pelicans send Heat to seventh loss James Harden fires 37 points to power Rockets’ 118-111 win over Cavaliers

NEW ORLEANS: Anthony minutes. Henderson added 23 Davis scored 30 points and NBA Results points, also all in the first three grabbed 11 rebounds, his eighth quarters. Charlotte 124 Portland 94 consecutive game of scoring at The Bobcats surged to a least 28 points, to power the Houston 118 Cleveland 111 26-point lead in the first half, led New Orleans Pelicans to a 105- Chicago 91 Philadelphia 81 69-46 at halftime, and then never 95 victory over Miami in the Memphis 82 Indiana 71 let the Trail Blazers get closer National Basketball Association New Orleans 105 Miami 95 than 17 in the second half. game yesterday. Utah 89 Orlando 88 The victory allowed the Bobcats In snapping a five-game losing (34-36) to retain the No. 7 spot San Antonio 99 Golden State 90 streak to the Heat, the Pelicans in the Eastern Conference stand- (29-40) outscored Miami 16-6 in LA Clippers 112 Detroit 103 ings with 12 games left. The Trail the first 5:37 of the fourth quarter Blazers (45-25) lost for the sixth to build a 92-78 lead. and 13 rebounds and Mike Miller time in their last nine games. They extended the lead to 100- scored 13 to lead the Memphis All-Star guard James Harden 84 on Tyreke Evans’s 18-foot Grizzlies to an 82-71 victory over fired in 37 points in the Houston jumper with 3:54 left. Miami (47- the Indiana Pacers. Rockets’ 118-111 victory over the 21) lost for the seventh time in The Grizzles (41-28) extended Cleveland Cavaliers. their last 11 games. LeBron James their home winning streak to nine He hit the Cavaliers with a led the Heat with 25 points, and and won for the 15th time in their 17-point barrage in the third Mario Chalmers added 19. last 17 games at FedExForum. quarter, including a rare four- Joakim Noah did more scor- Indiana (51-19) were led by point play. He helped the Rockets ing than passing for a change Lance Stephenson, who had 15. (47-22) post their third consecu- and the Chicago Bulls handed Paul George, the Pacers’ leading tive victory. the Philadelphia 76ers their 24th scorer, was held to eight points on Harden, who did not play in the consecutive loss. 2-of-10 shooting. He entered the fourth quarter, converted nine of Philadelphia are two games game with a 22.1 average. 15 shots from the field, five of away from tying Cleveland’s Leading 43-30 at the half, the eight from behind the arc and all record losing streak of 26 during Grizzlies maintained a double- 14 from the foul line. the 2010-11 season. digit lead throughout the third Dion Waiters paced the San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker dribbles the ball past Golden State Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry (30) Noah, who scored 20 points, quarter and extended their advan- Cavaliers (26-44) with 26 points, in the third quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland yesterday. had led the Bulls in assists dur- tage to 15 on several occasions. four rebounds and eight assists. ing the previous nine games, but Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker Danny Green hit two three- that streak came to an end on and Gerald Henderson com- pointers during a 9-0 run in the Trey Burke hit a game-winning Jazz (23-47) snap a six-game los- 112-103 victory over struggling Saturday. He finished with eight bined for 77 points in basically fourth quarter that broke open three-pointer with 1.6 seconds ing streak and win for just the Detroit. rebounds and four assists. three quarters as the Charlotte a tight game as the San Antonio remaining and Richard Jefferson second time in 13 games. Blake Griffin added 25 points Jimmy Butler added 17 points Bobcats routed the Portland Trail Spurs ran their winning streak to scored 21 points as the Utah Jazz Arron Afflalo’s buzzer-beating and seven rebounds for the for Chicago (39-31), while Taj Blazers 124-94. Jefferson finished 13 with a 99-90 victory over the edged the Orlando Magic 89-88. attempt was off target as the Clippers (49-21), who have won Gibson and D J Augustin scored with 28 points and did not play at Golden State Warriors. Burke, who led Michigan to the Magic dropped to 19-51 with their 12 of their last 13 contests. 16 each. Thaddeus Young led all in the fourth quarter with the In a game matching the two 2013 NCAA Championship game eighth consecutive defeat. They handed Detroit a fifth Philadelphia (15-55) with 28 Bobcats leading by as many as 34. teams with the most wins since a year ago, hit three of seven Chris Paul scored 28 points, straight defeat and eighth loss points. Walker hit four of five three- the All Star break, the Spurs three-pointers and finished with dished out 15 assists and recorded in their past nine games. The Mike Conley scored 21 points, pointers and finished with 26 (53-16) improved the NBA’s 17 points. a season-high six steals, leading Pistons (25-44) also dropped 13 Zach Randolph added 18 points points, sitting out the final nine best record. Rookie point guard The late heroics helped the the Los Angeles Clippers to a in a row on the road. REUTERS

Kristoff wins Dodgers sweep opening Milan-SanRemo series over D-backs classic cycling SYDNEY: The Los Angeles allowing a two-run homer to Dodgers completed a 2-0 open- Mark Trumbo as the D-backs MILAN: Norwegian Alexander ing day Major League Baseball tried to claw back from a six- Kristoff outsprinted former sweep over National League run deficit in the ninth. champion Fabian Cancellara rivals Arizona Diamondbacks The Diamondbacks had taken and Ben Swift to win a rain- with a 7-5 win in the second until the eighth inning to get on lashed 105th edition of the match in Sydney yesterday. the board after the Dodgers had Italian classic Milan-SanRemo The Dodgers, who downed the accumulated 13 hits and eight yesterday. D-backs 3-1 in Saturday’s first walks plus three Arizona errors. Kristoff, taking his first victory game, gave up four runs in the Trumbo provided a glimmer in one of cycling’s five ‘monument’ final innings as Arizona made of hope with a two-run homer in one-day races, benefited from the for some late excitement. the bottom of the ninth, but it good work of team-mate Luca The iconic Sydney Cricket proved too little, too late. Paolini in a 20-up dash for the fin- Ground, where Australia Cuban Yasiel Puig earlier ish to leave Cancellara frustrated wrapped up a 5-0 Ashes cricket smashed one straight up the in second with Swift in third series win over England in middle in the first inning, before place. Britain’s Mark Cavendish, January, was hosting its first Andre Ethier batted him home the winner in 2009, was fifth baseball match since the Chicago for a 1-0 lead. while fellow pre-race favourite White Sox played a 1914 exhibi- At the top of the third Hyun- Peter Sagan of Slovakia was 10th, tion there. Jin Ryu got a base hit, before just behind defending champion “It’s good to leave here with scoring off a Puig RBI (runs Gerald Ciolek of Germany. the two wins. At the end of the batted in). Although Kristoff’s win was a Montreal Canadiens’ forward Daniel Briere (48) gets off a shot on Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender James Reimer day, you’re not going to get too By the end of the inning, it minor surprise given the pres- (34) as Tim Gleason (8) defends during the first period of their NHL match at the Air Canada Centre, Toronto, upset over that,” Dodgers man- was 3-0 to the Dodgers. ence of the likes of Cavendish, yesterday. ager Don Mattingly said. Two more runs were scored in Cancellara and several other “I thought there was a great the fifth, when Adrian Gonzalez pre-race favourites in the final atmosphere the last couple of crossed the plate and Ethier got group, the Norwegian was quick days. I think it was worth it, home off a Juan Uribe hit that to remind potential detractors: Washington Capitals win for sure. nearly cleared the fence. “I’ve already finished fourth at “It’s historic and I think, for In the sixth, Puig starred the Tour of Flanders and ninth all of us involved, it’ll be some- again with a line drive that saw at Paris-Roubaix.” thing that we won’t forget.” Dee Gordon score for 6-0. But the former Norwegian Korean pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu The Dodgers will have a champion — who won Olympic first in San Jose since ‘93 allowed two hits in five scoreless week off when they return to road race bronze in London in innings, and struck out five and Los Angeles for a few workouts 2012 - was quick to admit it was SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: Jaroslav Halak. Patrick Marleau the past four games by threading walked one before he was taken and jet-lag recovery before the Paolini’s work that paved the way Nicklas Backstrom scored the and James Sheppard scored for a shot over the glove of Minnesota off for the Dodgers. resumption of games in San to his biggest win yet. winning goal in the shootout the Sharks, who missed a chance goalie Darcy Kuemper to snap a The Dodgers bullpen didn’t Diego next Sunday. The Italian kept the Norwegian (3-2) to lead the Washington to clinch their 10th straight playoff third period deadlock. fare as well, with Kenley Jansen AFP sheltered on his wheel from the Capitals to their first win in berth. Antti Niemi made 23 saves. David Legwand scored a power- 1.4 km mark and in the end his San Jose in more than 20 years James Neal scored a power- play goal, and set up another for relative freshness paid off. After in the National Hockey League play goal with 3:33 remaining in defenseman Brendan Smith, while Cavendish’s brief sprint petered game yesterday. overtime to lift the Pittsburgh goaltender Jimmy Howard had 28 out quickly, Kristoff powered to Eric Fehr and Chris Brown Penguins to a 4-3 victory over saves for Detroit (33-24-13) in the the line to beat Cancellara by sev- scored in regulation for the Tampa Bay, their ninth straight Wings’ only visit to Minnesota eral bike lengths. Capitals, who had lost 11 times victory over the Lightning. this season. Dallas claimed a “It’s thanks to him that I won,” and tied once since winning their Neal scored from the right much needed 3-1 victory over admitted Kristoff. first game at the Shark Tank on circle on a pass from Evgeni the Ottawa Senators thanks to Paolini said: “We’d planned to October 30, 1993. This is only Malkin only 16 seconds after the three unanswered goals, including keep Kristoff as fresh as possible Washington’s second win in its Lightning were penalized for hav- the eventual game-winner from for the finale and that I would try last 19 games overall against ing too many men on the ice. It defenseman Trevor Daley early something in the final kilometres. San Jose. Braden Holtby made was Neal’s 23rd goal of the season. in the third period. “I tried to attack on the Poggio 34 saves in his first start since Brayden Schenn scored the go- Trevor Lewis had a goal and an (climb) but wasn’t successful. At March 6 in place of the banged-up ahead goal in the second period, assist, and goaltender Jonathan the bottom of the descent I saw goaltender Steve Mason made 32 Quick made 24 saves as the Alexander was in the front group saves and the Philadelphia Flyers Los Angeles Kings defeated the and so I put everything on the line NHL Results beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Florida Panthers 4-0. for him.” Philadelphia 4 St. Louis 1 Scott Hartnell, Jakub Voracek Los Angeles (39-25-6) won for It is the third time Cancellara, Pittsburgh 4 Tampa Bay 3 and Wayne Simmonds also scored the second time on a five-game who last won the race in 2008, Detroit 3 Minnesota 2 goals to help the Flyers (38-25- home stand and stayed well ahead has finished runner-up in the 7) win their fifth straight game of the Phoenix Coyotes for third Dallas 3 Ottawa 1 race known as ‘La Primavera’ and move three points ahead of place in the Pacific Division. (Spring). He admitted he was not Los Angeles 4 Florida 0 the New York Rangers for second Rick Nash scored from a tight a fan of the organisers’ decision Montreal 4 Toronto 3 place in the Metropolitan Division. angle in the second period and to remove the Pompeiana climb, NY Rangers 2 New Jersey 0 Detroit center Gustav Nyquist’s goaltender Henrik Lundqvist placed between the Cipressa and Carolina 3 Winnipeg 2 recent hot streak continued as his earned his 50th career NHL shut- Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin throws against the Arizona Poggio in the final 30km, that Boston 4 Phoenix 2 third-period goal helped the Red out as the New York Rangers won would have made it harder for Wings win for the fourth time in their fourth straight road game Diamondbacks during their Major League Baseball (MLB) game at the Calgary 8 Edmonton 1 the sprinters to contend victory. their last five games. with a 2-0 win over the New Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney yesterday. Washington 3 San Jose 2 AFP Nyquist scored his fifth goal in Jersey Devils. AGENCIES MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 SPORT 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Arnold Palmer Kiwi teen star Invitational scores MIAMI: Leading scores after Scott leads bid the third round of the Arnold Ko grabs LPGA Palmer Invitational (par 72, USA unless noted): 201 Adam Scott (AUS) 62-68-71 204 Keegan Bradley 71-67-66 Founders Cup lead 205 Matt Every 69-70-66, Jason Kokrak for title, top spot 67-71-67 PHOENIX: New Zealand teen round in a row began with a birdie 206 Chesson Hadley 69-68-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 67-70-69 Lydia Ko fired a five-under par and she followed with birdies at the 67 yesterday to seize a one- third, fifth and par-5 11th holes, then MIAMI: Adam Scott moved 208 Ian Poulter (ENG) 68-71-69 stroke lead after three rounds closed with back-to-back birdies to within reach of a wire-to-wire 209 Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 65-74-70, Morgan of the LPGA Founders Cup. put herself in final pairing with Ko. victory yesterday at the Arnold Hoffmann 67-71-71, Freddie Jacobson The South Korean-born world “As long as you hit fairways Palmer Invitational, one that (SWE) 71-68-70, JB Holmes 68-69-72 number four, seeking her first and greens, you’re just fine,” would all-but ensure he over- 210 Pat Perez 70-70-70, Erik Compton professional LPGA title, stood on Korda said. “It’s perfect scoring takes Tiger Woods for the world 72-68-70, Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 16-under par 200 through 54 holes conditions I think, so as long as number one ranking. 70-70-70 at Wildfire Golf Club. you can keep hitting good shots Scott, the reigning Masters 211 Matt Jones (AUS) 71-71-69, Henrik Jessica Korda, the 21-year- and giving yourself opportunities. champion and first Australian Stenson (SWE) 69-73-69, Sam old US daughter of retired ten- You’re going to drop a couple, but to capture the green jacket, Saunders 69-71-71, Charles Howell nis star Petr Korda; and South definitely a low score is going to struggled to a one-under par 71 68-71-72 Korean rookie Mirim Lee, in her take it tomorrow.” AFP Saturday but held a three-stroke 212 Graeme McDowell (NIR) 68-77-67, third LPGA event and US debut; lead after the third round at Bay Davis Love 70-73-69, George McNeill shared second on 201 with South Hill. Scott, who led by a tourna- 71-72-69, Patrick Reed 69-73-70, Korean Yoo Sun-Young another LPGA Founders ment-record seven strokes when Brendan Steele 68-74-70, Kevin Na shot back. Ko, 16, won back-to- the day began, stood on 15-under 70-71-71, Trevor Immelman (RSA) back LPGA Canadian Women’s Cup scores 201 after 54 holes with American 69-72-71, Kevin Chappell 71-70-71, Open titles as an amateur and Keegan Bradley second on 204. Brandt Snedeker 67-71-74, Jamie could have another breakthrough PHOENIX: Leading scores “It was tough,” Scott said. “I got Donaldson (WAL) 67-71-74 two weeks before the first wom- after the third round of the off to a tough start and fought my en’s major event of the year, the LPGA Founders Cup (par 72, way back all day.” A seven-foot par putt miss at Kraft Nabisco Championship. USA unless noted): Scott, at Bay Hill for the first the par-3 14th trimmed Scott’s “I’ve just got to take the posi- 200 Lydia Ko (NZL) 67-66-67 time since missing the cut in 2009, edge but he answered with a tive out of it and I’m just going 201 Jessica Korda 69-66-66, Mirim Lee matched the course record with 24-foot birdie putt at the 15th and to play my own game,” Ko said. (KOR) 64-67-70 a 62 Thursday and equaled the a five-foot birdie putt at the par-5 “If somebody goes crazy low, like 36-hole mark by following with a 16th, keeping his advantage at five 202 Yoo Sun-Young (KOR) 69-65-68 shooting 10-under or 9-under or 68 Friday. “They don’t just hand strokes despite late charges from Adam Scott of Australia hits his tee shot on the second hole during whatever, it’s not something I can 203 Azahara Munoz (ESP) 68-71-64, Amy you PGA titles after 36 holes,” rivals. At the par-3 17th, Scott Yang (KOR) 67-69-67, Michelle Wie the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Club in control, so I’m going to control to Scott said. “Everybody was mak- was just off the green and chipped 66-70-67, Chella Choi (KOR) 69-66- the most what I can do.” ing a run. I was battling but I’m in Orlando, Florida, yesterday. six feet past the cup but missed 68, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) 68-67-68 Ko birdied the par-5 second and good shape for tomorrow.” the par putt coming back. eagle the par-5 fifth, then began the 204 Paula Creamer 70-70-64, Stacy Lewis With 14-time major champion Kokrak shared third on 205 with and took another at the fifth, That dropped Scott to 15-under, back nine with a birdie to solidify her 66-71-67, Morgan Pressel 65-72-67 Woods absent due to a back injury Italy’s Francesco Molinari and faltering on an 11-footer for par. only three in front of Bradley, and run to the top of the leaderboard. 205 Cristie Kerr 73-69-63, Laura Davies that has jeopardized his chances American Chesson Hadley on 206 Hadley, meanwhile, had a tor- the Aussie had yet to play the After taking her lone bogey at the (ENG) 68-71-66, Jaye Marie Green of playing next month’s Masters, and England’s Ian Poulter seventh rid start with four birdies in the 18th, which he bogeyed each of 12th, Ko responded with birdies at 70-68-67, Lexi Thompson 69-69-67, Scott would move just behind on 208. first six holes to reach 11-under the first two days. the par-5 15th and par-3 17th to stay Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 67-71, the American with a victory this Scott opened with a bogey, and move just one stroke behind At the last, Scott rammed a in command. “Before I went out, I Lizette Salas 69-67-69, Park In-Bee week. had three birdies and two bogeys Scott. But just when things looked 23-foot birdie putt seven feet past looked at the scores and I noticed (KOR) 66-69-70 If neither Woods nor Scott over the last six holes and sank a bleakest for Scott, momentum the hole but sank the tension- that there were way more birdies on 206 Gerina Piller 66-73-67, Candie Kung play again before the Masters, clutch seven-foot par putt at 18, a swung again as Hadley found a packed par putt. Bradley is confi- the front nine than the other days,” (TPE) 70-68-68, Karrie Webb (AUS) as is expected, then a Bay Hill hole on which he made bogey each bunker at the par-3 seventh and dent on the greens as he prepares Ko said. “I personally played much 66-71-68 title would ensure Scott would of the first two days. took a bogey while Scott made a to join Scott in today’s last duo. better on the front nine, so I was 207 Seo Hee-Kyung (KOR) 71-71-65, become world number one for A nightmare start for Scott tap-in birdie at the par-5 sixth, “I’ve been hitting the ball nicely really happy with that.” Caroline Masson (GER) 70-71-66, the first time in his career on saw his tournament-record lead boosting his lead back to three all week but today the putter got Korda, 21, won her second Hannah Medlock 72-68-67, Mika the Monday before he defends of seven strokes entering the strokes. going and that has really made a LPGA title in January at the Miyazato (JPN) 68-71-68, Park Hee his first major title, based upon weekend reduced to a single shot Scott began the back nine difference,” he said. “I was try- Bahamas. She also captured the Young (KOR) 73-65-69, Belen Mozo points dropping off at the back after only the first 70 minutes of with a birdie and when he sank ing to be more relaxed and more 2012 Women’s Australian Open. (ESP) 70-68-69, Jodi Ewart Shadoff end of the two-year ranking cycle. play. Scott opened with a bogey, a 16-foot birdie putt at 13, the confident on the greens and it Korda’s second bogey-free (ENG) 67-69-71 Americans Matt Every and Jason missing an eight-foot par putt, Aussie moved ahead by five. worked. AFP Qatar’s women cyclists feature in mountain bike event

DOHA: Qatari cyclists Arafa say,” Pia added. “Both produced women’s cycling team at Losail and Noor featured in a one-day a great performance and during International Circuit and Mountain Bike Championship this week they have improved exchanged ideas about develop- organised by Qatar Cycling their bike handling skills a lot. ing riding skills. “I have a fantas- Federation (QCF). Coach Pia They are both on a good way and tic group,” Pia said in an earlier Sundstedt, who is from Finland, the most important thing is that interview with local media. “They watched the girls compete with they enjoyed it and had a lot of are all young. The youngest is 13. a large group of riders. fun out on the course today. The oldest is 21. It is a good age “Arafa and Noor featured in “A course that is technically to be doing all this,” she added. their first ever MTB cross coun- very demanding (Qatar’s most “I am very excited about it. The try race. We went to the track technical MTB cross country process started in March-April for the first time on Tuesday and course), but without fear they (2013). I got this group together they both enjoyed it and had so were riding down the steep and a four months and we have been much fun that they decided to tricky downhills. Something that training since then,” she added. race for the first time,” Pia said they can be very proud of,” Pia “I have some good riders. They after this week’s race. told QCF website. still have to learn about the “It was with great excitement Just over three months ago, sport. I am teaching them skills they came to the start. For them QCF announced a batch of 22 girls on how to ride at corners, how it was good to see and to learn to form the country and region’s to break from a group and how what they have to do before a race first women’s cycling team. to change gears etc. They show during a race and after a race. A Last month top Australian great interest in everything we great learning experience, I would rider Chloe Hosking met Qatar’s do,” she said. THE PENINSULA Tickets distribution in full swing for gymnastics

DOHA: With three days left for lucky draw which will be held by turnout for the championship,” he the 7th FIG World Challenge the Organising Committee and added. The organisers have made Cup Artistic Gymnastics, ticket the Marketing Committee for the special arrangements for families distribution has picked up pace championship.” and have planned special pro- at some of the leading malls of The organisers have been pro- grammes for children and adults. the city, organisers of the event moting the championship in a big “Special places have been marked informed here yesterday. way in all the leading universities for families and people with special The three-day championship, of Qatar, the official said. “The needs for the aid and comfort of organised by Qatar Gymnastics plan we have developed is to tar- these people. The organisers have Federation, will be contested get the largest possible audience. sent out invitations to different by around 200 gymnasts from We aim to make the champion- embassies in Qatar participating 37 countries and held at Aspire ship a memorable one for all gym- in the championship. The Members Academy Dome. The Marketing nastics fans. The organisers will of the Spectators Committee have Committee for the championship also hand free tickets to Dhreima approached many schools. has contacted some of the com- (Qatar Foundation for the care of “Invitations has been sent to mercial centres in city to promote Dhreima) community center and many schools and a few school the championship among a wide also with special needs. students will be attending the section of people in Qatar. “We belief in the importance championship. The goal is not Abdul Rahman, an official of of these groups in our society so just attendance, but also want the 7th FIG World Challenge Cup that they continue to come and our students should know more Artistic Gymnastics organising support sporting events that take about gymnastics and gained committee said: “Free tickets are place in Qatar, said Rahman. something after watching all the being distributed from the desig- “I can say that this champion- world champions in action at the nated stall set up at City Centre ship will be a distinct one as the championship. The Armenia and Public collecting free tickets for the 7th FIG World Challenge Cup Artistic Gymnastics. and Villagio. The spectators are Marketing Committee is trying as Brazil are the first teams to arrive also eligible to win prizes in the much as possible to attract a large in Doha. THE PENINSULA SPORT MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

ATP-WTA Miami Results MIAMI: Results yesterday from the fifth day of the WTA and ATP Miami Masters (x denotes Nadal rips Hewitt; Serena seeded player): Men 2nd round Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x3) bt Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x25) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) Tomas Berdych (CZE x7) bt and Sharapova survive Stephane Robert (FRA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 6-4, 6-1 ATP and WTA Miami Masters: Djokovic and Wawrinka advance Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-4, 6-2 Joao Sousa (POR) bt MIAMI: World number one Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 Rafael Nadal hammered former Nicolas Almagro (ESP) bt number one Lleyton Hewitt Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4, 6-4 6-1, 6-3 yesterday to reach the Aljaz Bedene (SLO) bt third round at the ATP and Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3 WTA Miami Masters hardcourt Benjamin Becker (GER) bt tournament. Ryan Harrison (USA) 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) The top-seeded Spaniard and John Isner (USA x10) bt his veteran Australian opponent Donald Young (USA) 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 took to the court two and a half Fabio Fognini (ITA x14) bt hours late due to long matches Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-4, 6-4 that preceded them. Milos Raonic (CAN x12) bt But Nadal, who received a Jack Sock (USA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/1) first-round bye, ripped through Denis Istomin (UZB) bt the opening set in 27 minutes Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 6-7 (8/10), 6-0, 6-3 and eventually dispatched double Dusan Lajovic (SRB) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) Grand Slam winner Hewitt in 66 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 minutes. “It’s great for me to be back Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 6-1, 6-3 after not playing since 2012. I really enjoy it here,” Nadal said. Women 3rd round “There was no better way to Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x23) bt Sara Errani start my return than with a win (ITA x9) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 like this.” Angelique Kerber (GER x5) bt Tsvetana World number one Serena Pironkova (BUL) 6-0, 6-2 Williams and Russian star Maria Kirsten Flipkens (BEL x19) bt Sabine Lisicki Sharapova each battled through (GER x14) - walkover, flu three sets yesterday to advance Ana Ivanovic (SRB x12) bt into the fourth round on the Flavia Pennetta (ITA x20) 6-4, 6-3 women’s side. Petra Kvitova (CZE x8) bt Nadal next faces Denis Istomin, Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-3, 6-4 who beat Dmitry Tursunov 6-7 Serena Williams (USA x1) bt (8/10), 6-0, 6-3. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Nadal took his sixth win in a Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Lleyton Hewitt of Australia during their match at the Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne in Maria Sharapova (RUS x4) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE) 6-4, 6-7 (7/5), 6-2 row over Hewitt, improving hinm Miami, Florida, USA, yesterday. RIGHT: Serena Williams of the USA celebrates match point against Caroline Garcia of France after their match on Coco Vandeweghe (USA) bt Samantha Stosur to 7-4 in their rivalry overall. day 6 of the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida, yesterday. “I have the greatest respect (AUS x16) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 for Lleyton,” Nadal said. “He’s a great example to me and the and last year’s runner-up unbelievable shots on the match Williams, 32, bidding for a champion Stanislas Wawrinka downs mentally. I was negative other players the way he has come Sharapova struggled mightily to points,” said Sharapova. record seventh title at her home downed Spain’s Daniel Gimeno- in the second set a little bit stu- back from injuries. survive, with five-time finalist “I kept asking myself how many tournament, now stands 63-7 Traver 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the pidly, but then I’m really happy “He always keeps fighting.” Sharapova requiring nine match more chances I had. at the venue and was far from men’s third round. with the way I started the third Nadal next faces Denis Istomin, point to book her win. “I’m just so happy to go pleased with her showing. The third-seeded Swiss raced set,” Wawrinka said. who beat Dmitry Tursunov 6-7 Sharapova beat Czech Lucie through.” “Granted she played great, but through an 18-minute opening Wawrinka, 14-1 this year, fired (8/10), 6-0, 6-3. Safarova 6-4, 6-7 (7/5), 6-2 in a Sharapova ended her mara- I made so many errors, I hit so set, winning the first seven games eight aces and broke four times in Serbian second seed and three- battle which took five minutes thon with nearly twice as many short,” said Williams. before eventualy losing the second only his fourth ATP match since time Miami champion Novak short of three hours to complete. unforced errors, 51, as winners, “It really isn’t the same player. set. beating Nadal to capture his first Djokovic advanced to the fourth Sharapova let out a scream 27, and double-faulted eight I just have to do better. Wawrinka recovered on cue in major title. round when opponent Florian of relief when she finally went times. “It’s important to stay positive. the third with an opening break Czech seventh seed Tomas Mayer retired a day before their through as Safarova’s shot hit the Top seed Serena Williams Obviously I wasn’t at my best. I to advance in just under 90 min- Berdych began with a 7-6 (7/5), scheduled match with a groin net, Sharapova having missed two waited out a 45-minute rain had 40-something errors. It’s utes and then admitted he is still 6-1 win over Frenchman Stephane injury. Djokovic will next play chances in the second set to wrap third-set interruption before dis- not the way to play professional adjusting to his new status as a Robert while 10th seed John Isner Tuesday. it up early. patching France’s Caroline Garcia tennis.” Grand Slam winner. defeated Donald Young 6-7 (5/7), Defending champion Williams “She was just hitting 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Reigning Australian Open “I still have some ups and 6-3, 6-4. AFP

Four-star Stoke leapfrog Villa Al Sadd’s Khalfan BIRMINGHAM, United English Premier came through the door been the Ibrahim Kingdom: Stoke City came players have been open to chang- (left) is chal- from a goal behind to beat Aston League Results ing the way they play,” explained lenged by Villa 4-1 yesterday and leapfrog LONDON: English Premier League results Hughes, who has tried to rid a Muaither their opponents into 10th place yesterday: Stoke of their reputation as a player dur- in the Premier League table. Aston Villa 1 (Benteke 5) Stoke 4 ‘long-ball’ team. ing their Christian Benteke’s early goal (Odemwingie 22, Crouch 26, Nzonzi 42, “They had to engage and com- Qatar Stars put the hosts 1-0 up early on at Cameron 90) mit to it and they have done. League Villa Park but Stoke were 3-1 Tottenham 3 (Eriksen 31, 46, Sigurdsson 90+2) We’re enjoying it at the moment.” match at ahead at half-time after Peter Southampton 2 (Rodriguez 19, Lallana 28) Defeat was a huge let-down Al Gharafa Odemwingie, Peter Crouch and for a Villa side who just over a Stadium Steven Nzonzi all scored for the and showed real personality and week earlier had beaten Premier yesterday. visitors. After the break, Geoff desire on the ball,” the former League leaders Chelsea 1-0. Al Sadd Cameron set the seal on a com- Manchester United, Barcelona, “The Chelsea game was totally won 4-0. In prehensive win for Mark Hughes’ Bayern Munich and Chelsea different, the atmosphere and the other men by adding a fourth goal in the striker added. “Today we had a everything, and you come back final minute of normal time. cutting edge. Everyone is pulling down to earth again,” said Villa matches, Victory put Stoke on 37 points, in the same direction. manager Paul Lambert. “Maybe Al Khor and just three short of the 40-point “We’re on a good run, in a good that game took a bit more out of Al Ahli were mark that usually assures a team position and can look upwards them than we realised.” locked in of Premier League survival. and achieve targets this season. However, the Scot had no com- an one-all “We have been waiting some We want to look back on this sea- plaints about the result, saying: draw, while time for an away win,” Stoke son with pride,” added Hughes, “We were second best if truth Lekhwiya manager Mark Hughes told Sky looking to restore his manage- be known. We started well but defeated Al Sports. rial reputation after a brief and it wasn’t good enough. We didn’t Rayyan 1-0. “We had a poor start but after unsuccessful spell in charge of deserve to get anything from the that I thought we were excellent Queens Park Rangers. “Since I game.” AFP Atletico Madrid move top

Action from MADRID: Atletico Madrid Betis had suffered a physically took advantage of Real Madrid’s sapping and demoralising defeat Spanish League the Qatar late kick-off against Barcelona to local rivals Sevilla on penal- Stars League Results yesterday to move to the top ties in the Europa League on MADRID: Spanish league results yesterday: match between of La Liga with a 2-0 win over Thursday. Al Gharafa bottom-placed Real Betis. However, they restricted Osasuna 1 (Acuna 90+4) Sevilla 2 (Jairo 27, and Eljaish After a tight opening 55 min- Atletico to relatively few oppor- Bacca 45-pen) at Al Gharafa utes, the game swung in the tunities in the first-half, although Real Betis 0 Atletico Madrid 2 Stadium, visitors favour when Braian Costa did have a goal wrongly (Gabi 57, Diego Costa 63) yesterday. Al Rodriguez was sent-off for a sec- ruled out for offside midway On Monday Gharafa won ond bookable offence. through the half. 1-0. RIGHT: Two minutes later Gabi put Betis could even have gone in Almeria v Real Sociedad (2100) A player of Al Atletico in front with a fine strike front just two minutes into the On Saturday Gharafa reacts from 25 yards before Diego Costa second-half when Juan Carlos’ Granada 1 (Brahimi 63) Elche 0 during the sealed the three points with his low effort beat Thibaut Courtois Espanyol 0 Levante 0 match. 31st goal of the season. but came back off the outside of Atletico lead Real thanks to the post. Valladolid 1 (Ze Castro 8-og) Rayo Vallecano their better head-to-head record Rodriguez was then given his 1 (Bueno 45) with both sides from the capital marching orders after being Athletic Bilbao 1 (Susaeta 39) Getafe 0 locked on 70 points, whilst Barca shown a second yellow card for are four points further back in deliberate handball. On Friday third. AFP Celta Vigo 0 Malaga 2 (Camacho 24, 32) MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 SPORT 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Fired-up Pakistan beat Australia in World T20 Umar Akmal smashes quick-fire 94 off 54 balls in high-voltage game

DHAKA: Umar Akmal Maxwell and Finch launched a England’s smashed 94 off 54 balls as brilliant counter-attack to raise Pakistan bounced back after Australia’s 100 by the eighth over, a morale-sapping loss against with Maxwell contributing 58 off skipper fined India to defeat Australia by 16 20 balls. Seamer Bilawal Bhatti runs in the World Twenty20 conceded 30 runs in the eighth for outburst here yesterday. Elder brother over, giving away two sixes and Kamran Akmal contributed a three fours, besides bowling a DHAKA: England captain run-a-ball 31 and Shahid Afridi waist-high full toss that fetched Stuart Broad has been fined returned unbeaten on 20 off 11 five extra runs. 15 percent of his match fee for balls to lift Pakistan to 191-5 A relieved Pakistan finally saw criticising the officials after after they were sent in to bat. Maxwell off in the 12th over when his side’s rain-affected World Australia were bowled out for he attempted to sweep Shahid Twenty20 defeat to New 175 in reply off the final ball of Afridi and holed out to Ahmed Zealand, the International the match despite a spectacu- Shehzad on the square-leg fence. Cricket Council (ICC) said lar third-wicket partnership of Afridi also bowled skip- yesterday. 118 from 64 balls between Glenn per George Bailey for four as Broad, who admitted a Level Maxwell and Aaron Finch. Australia lost their last seven 1 charge of publicly criticising Maxwell hit 74 off 33 balls wickets for 29 runs. the match officials, said fol- with six sixes and seven bound- It was Australia’s first group lowing Saturday’s nine-run aries, while Finch chipped in two match in the Super-10 stage, defeat that the decision to with 65 that included two sixes while Pakistan had lost to India keep the players on the field and seven fours. The pair came by seven wickets on Friday. during lightning strikes near together after 35-year-old left- India, the West Indies and the stadium in Chittagong was arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, who hosts Bangladesh are the other “distinctly average”. opened the bowling, dismissed teams in the group, from which Heavy rain forced the play- David Warner and Shane Watson the top two will advance to the ers off the field shortly after- in the first over to make it 8-2. semi-finals. Pakistan captain wards, with New Zealand taking the victory on the Scoreboard Pakistan’s Umar Akmal celebrates his half century as team-mate Kamran Akmal congratulates him during Duckworth-Lewis method. their ICC Twenty20 World Cup match against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in They had reached 52-1 PAKISTAN: A Finch b Ajmal ...... 65 Dhaka yesterday. from 5.2 overs, chasing 173 Ahmed Shehzad c and b Bollinger ...... 5 S Watson c Kamran Akmal b Babar ...... 4 for the win. “Umpires are the Kamran Akmal c Warner b Coulter-Nile ...... 31 G Maxwell c Shehzad b Afridi ...... 74 final judges of the fitness of the Mohammad Hafeez b Watson ...... 13 G Bailey b Afridi ...... 4 Mohammad Hafeez said the plan was in our hands,” he said. “We’ve Brad Hogg, the oldest player ever ground, weather or light for Umar Akmal c Maxwell b Starc ...... 94 B Hodge c Ajmal b Gul ...... 2 to attack from the start paid off. set high standards and we didn’t in the World Twenty20 competi- play,” match referee Javagal Sohaib Maqsood b Coulter-Nile ...... 5 B Haddin c Malik b Bhatti ...... 8 “I think were were a bit defen- do well today. “Pakistan bowled tions, had a forgettable outing. Srinath said in a statement Shahid Afridi (not out) ...... 20 N Coulter-Nile b Gul ...... 0 sive against India, but today the really well and did not allow us Hogg dropped Umar Akmal on on the ICC website (www.icc- Shoaib Malik (not out) ...... 6 M Starc run out ...... 3 boys went out and expressed to build the momentum that the mid-wicket fence when the cricket.com). “Weather deci- Extras: (B4, LB3, W9, NB1) ...... 17 B Hogg b Bhatti ...... 3 themselves,” said Hafeez. “Umar Maxwell and Finch created.” batsman was on 22 and then con- sions are the most difficult to Total (for five wickets, 20 overs) ...... 191 D Bollinger (not out) ...... 0 Akmal showed his real talent The Akmal brothers put on 96 for ceded 29 runs in three wicketless make, but the umpires make Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-25, 3-121, 4-147, Extras: (LB3, NB5) ...... 8 today. “We wanted him to attack the third wicket after Pakistan were overs after being called on to bowl the best decision possible, tak- 5-180. Total (all out, 20 overs) ...... 175 and that’s what he did. It is really reduced to 25-2 by the fifth over, in the ninth over. ing all factors into account. Bowling: Starc 4-0-35-1 (w3), Bollinger 4-0- Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-8, 3-126, 4-146, nice to have a win under our belts. losing the key wickets of Ahmed Kamran Akmal, who was also “Such public criticism is not 28-1, Watson 4-0-38-1 (nb1), Coulter-Nile 5-155, 6-162, 7-163, 8-172, 9-173, 10-175. It will give us the confidence for Shehzad and Hafeez. Umar Akmal dropped early in the innings, was good for the spirit of the game. 4-0-36-2 (w5), Hogg 3-0-29-0 (w1), Finch 1-0- Bowling: Babar 4-0-26-2, Hafeez 2-0-18-0, the matches to come.” hit four sixes and nine boundaries finally dismissed in the 13th over Mutual respect between play- 18-0. Gul 4-0-29-2, Ajmal 4-0-33-1, Afridi 4-0-30-2, Australian skipper George before he fell in the final over, caught when Warner held a running ers, match officials and admin- AUSTRALIA: Bhatti 2-0-36-2 (nb5) Bailey said poor catching let his on the fence attempting another big catch on the point fence off the istrators is paramount to the D Warner b Babar ...... 4 Result: Pakistan won by 16 runs team down. “Batting and bowl- hit off Mitchell Starc. bowling of Nathan Coulter-Nile. game of cricket.” REUTERS ing can go either way, but fielding Australia’s 43-year-old spinner AFP India whip West Indies to inch closer to semis

DHAKA: India’s spinners bowl the 18th and the 20th overs. The Indian bowlers kept the open up the lower order. wreaked havoc on the West We are trying out various com- normally free-stroking West Lendl Simmons, who was Indies batting to rout the binations to see who is better Indies batsmen in check, allow- caught off a Jadeja no-ball in the defending champions by seven suited to the job.” Dhoni said he ing them just 74 runs by the 15th 18th over, celebrated the let-off by wickets in the World Twenty20 was happy to see Sharma get runs over for the loss of four wickets. smashing the next ball for a six. Super-10 group two match in under his belt. The hard-hitting Chris Gayle, Simmons made 27 off 22 balls Dhaka yesterdday. “It was important for Rohit to dropped before he had scored and as Jadeja conceded three sixes in The West Indies, sent in to bat, bat through the innings. He will then again on 19, made a 33-ball the final over. managed only 129-7 as leg-spinner take plenty of confidence from 34 with two sixes and a four before Two teams from the group will Amit Mishra claimed two for 18 in this game.” he was run out in the 13th over. advance to the semi-finals. four overs, Ravindra Jadeja took West Indies captain Darren Mishra had Marlon Samuels The other group comprises Sri three wickets and Ravichandran Sammy said India deserved to stumped by Dhoni and claimed Lanka, South Africa, England, Ashwin picked up one. win, but remained confident his Dwayne Bravo leg-before off suc- New Zealand and the Netherlands. India strolled past the modest defending champions would make cessive balls in the 15th over to AFP target with two deliveries to spare the knock-out rounds. as Virat Kohli made 54 off 41 balls “We just did not respond well Scoreboard and Rohit Sharma remained enough to their spinners, it took unbeaten on a fluent 62. us a long time to settle down,” he WEST INDIES: (w5), Ashwin 4-0-24-1 (w1), Mishra 4-0-18-2 (w1), The pair put on 106 for the said. “But credit to India, they D Smith c and b Ashwin ...... 11 Raina 2-0-8-0 (w2), Jadeja 4-0-48-3 (w2, nb1) second wicket after left-hander executed their plans well. C Gayle run out ...... 34 INDIA: Shikhar Dhawan was trapped leg- “It was good to see our bowl- M Samuels st Dhoni b Mishra ...... 18 R Sharma (not out) ...... 62 before by spinner Samuel Badree ers take the game to the last over, L Simmons c Dhawan b Jadeja ...... 27 S Dhawan lbw b Badree ...... 0 off the fifth ball of the innings. because run-rate could come into D Bravo lbw b Mishra ...... 0 V Kohli b Russell ...... 54 Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men, play later. We did not have enough D Sammy c Sharma b Jadeja ...... 11 Y Singh c Gayle b Samuels ...... 10 who beat arch-rivals Pakistan runs on the board but was happy India’s Rohit Sharma plays a shot as the West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh A Russell c Kohli b Jadeja ...... 7 S Raina (not out) ...... 1 on Friday, now need one more with the way the bowlers came S Narine (not out) ...... 7 Extras: (W2, NB1) ...... 3 Ramdin looks on during the ICC World Twenty20 tournament Group 2 win from their remaining two back. D Ramdin (not out) ...... 0 Total (for three wkts, 19.4 overs) ...... 130 match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. matches against Australia and “We know what our top order Extras: (LB1, W12, NB1) ...... 14 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-107, 3-129. hosts Bangladesh to advance to can do. It’s just one game down, Total (for seven wkts, 20 overs) ...... 129 Bowling: Badree 4-0-28-1, Santokie 4-0-27- the semi-finals. areas. “Let’s take it one game at a that was up to the batsmen in the we have three more to go. We Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-62, 3-74, 4-74, 5-97, 0, Narine 4-0-20-0 (nb1, w1), Bravo 1-0-12-0, Dhoni said his team was not time,” he said. “There is no point middle. are not pressing panic buttons, 6-108, 7-121. Sammy 1-0-9-0, Samuels 3.4-0-22-1, Russell looking at the semi-finals yet and thinking too far ahead. We could “We are playing well, but we we will regroup and come back Bowling: Kumar 3-0-3-0 (w1), Shami 3-0-27-0 2-0-12-1 still needed to work on some weak have finished it an over earlier but still don’t have a bowler who can strongly.” South Africa captain Du Pride drives the Dutch in Super-10 Plessis to undergo fitness test CHITTAGONG: The Borren. “We hope that we can potential plus in the fact that the team in this group is. It’s going Netherlands will take pride do the Associates proud. “It’s an Netherlands are the underdogs. to be very competitive.” CAPE TOWN: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will undergo from being the only Associate achievement in itself that we are “Having nothing to lose in The Netherlands famously beat a fitness test before today’s World Twenty20 match against New team to make the Super-10 the only Associate to have made it Twenty20 can make you very the hosts in the World Twenty20 Zealand after missing the opening game with a hamstring injury, stage of the World Twenty20 this far and that is very satisfying. dangerous. We’ve got some players in England in 2009, but Borren Cricket South Africa said yesterday. as they prepare to step up their “For us we’ve had a pretty who can — in that situation where said that memory was starting to He continues to make “positive progress” after sitting out game, captain Peter Borren tough few months. Having failed we have nothing to lose, like the face. “It was a while ago that we Saturday’s loss to Sri Lanka and South Africa need to win their last said. The Netherlands upset the to qualify in New Zealand we other night (against Ireland) -- be beat England. It would be good to three matches in Group One to keep alive their chances of making odds through an exhilarating are not quite sure what the ICC dangerous. “Hopefully we can put come here on the big stage -- we the semi-finals in Bangladesh. 190-run chase in their Group B (International Cricket Council) up a couple of good performances made a bit of a splash against Ireland “In the first game you are trying to feel your way in the tour- game against Ireland. are going to do moving forward,” with that attitude.” the other night - and we would really nament, trying to figure out what the conditions are going to be They are now gearing up to said Borren. The captain said he relishes like to knock over a full member like,” all-rounder JP Duminy said. “The conditions here are totally take on world T20 number one His team failed to qualify for playing alongside top teams. over the next few games.” different to what we experienced in the warm-up matches so it’s Sri Lanka in their opening Group the 2015 50-over World Cup to “It was a euphoric evening. South Africa, England and New important that we adapt and adjust quickly.” One match on Monday. be jointly hosted by Australia and We now we have a job to do. We Zealand are the other teams in New Zealand made a winning start to the tournament by beating “We are very proud of the New Zealand. watched Sri Lanka, they were Group One, with the top two England in a rain-affected match on Saturday. AFP fact that we are representing With regard to the T20 very good against South Africa. teams qualifying for the semis. the Associates here now,” said championships, Borren sees a They are a top team, as every AFP SPORT MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Spanish Moto2 rider Esteve Rabat of the Marc VDS Racing Team in action during the Moto2 race of the Qatar MotoGP at Losail International Circuit in Doha, yesterday. CENTRE: Rabat celebrates after winning the Moto2 race. RIGHT: Rabat of the Marc VDS Racing Team celebrates with the trophy after receiving it from Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP Pole winner Rabat tops in Qatar Moto2: Nakagami clinches second place; West of QMMF Racing Team finishes tenth

DOHA: Despite a difficult first I raced well after many riders lap, pole winner Esteve Rabat went past me. I did well. I had produced an otherwise excellent good rhythm. I was in the front ride to edge Takaaki Nakagami and in the end I take the race. on the last corner, with Rabat’s Nakagami finished the race well. team-mate Mika Kallio finish- I am happy with this result.” ing third. Kallio: “It is nice to finish on Rabat (Marc VDS Racing the podium. I tried to beat the Team) aims to win the title this others but I couldn’t do it. They Esteve Rabat year after emerging as a Moto2 were fast in the last 2-3 laps. It (centre) smiles race winner last season and he was better to take the points with on the podium looked threatening throughout third place finish.” after winning the the Qatar weekend, ultimately Nakagami will have to go again beating Nakagami (IDEMITSU at round two in Austin as a race Moto2 race of the Honda Team Asia) to the line by win escaped him by the finest of Qatar MotoGP. 0.04s after they had battled for margins. Finnish rider Kallio will Rabat won the lead for several laps. also be looking for wins in 2014 ahead of second Rabat ran wide on the first lap having finished a second behind placed Japanese and dropped to fifth but just had the front two. rider Takaaki too much for his closest rival over Three seconds further back in Nakagami (left) the 20 lap contest. fourth place was Thomas Luthi of the IDEMITSU Rabat said: “I am happy that (Interwetten Paddock Moto2), Honda Team Asia the Swiss rider crossing the line and third placed thee tenths ahead of Moto3 World Finnish rider Mika Results Champion Maverick Viales (Pons Kallio of the Marc Top-10 riders after final Moto2 classification HP 40) who made an excellent VDS Racing Team. (read under as rider, bike, top speed and overall Moto2 debut. time) Simone Corsi (NGM Forward Esteve Rabat, Kalex, 160.0, 40’20.963 Racing) ran well in sixth, from Takaaki Nakagami, Kalex, 159.9, +0.040 10th on the grid, beating debu- tant Sam Lowes (Speed Up) who Mika Kallio, Kalex, 159.9,+1.059 also performed solidly in his first Thomas Luthi, Suter, 159.7, +3.741 Grand Prix. Maverick Vinales, Kalex, 159.7, +4.043 The top ten was completed by Simone Corsi, KLX, 159.6,+5.830 Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact Sam Lowes, Speed Up, 159.0,+14.170 GP), Jordi Torres (Mapfre Aspar Sandro Corstese, Kalex, 158.3, +24.943 Team Moto2) and Anthony West to finish in extreme pain. A dis- and Xavier Simeon (Federal Oil Schrotter crashed out. affected by mechanical problems Jordi Torress, Suter, 158.3,+25.196 (QMMF Racing Team). astrous start for the AirAsia Gresini Moto2) also involved. Dominique Aegerter pulled off at a similar stage of the race and Cortese dropped to eighth Caterham Moto Racing team saw Gino Rea and Mashel Al Naimi with 5 laps to go, smoke pour- he will look to bounce back next Anthony West, Speed Up, 158.3, +25.322 after starting second on the grid Josh Herrin and Johann Zarco had stopped mid-race with tech- ing from his exhaust, ending his time out at the Circuit of the 20th spot: Roman Ramos, Speed Up, with an injured foot and did well crash on the first lap, with Alex nical problems, whilst with 8 laps long run of consistent point scor- Americas where he won last year. 156.5,+53.563 De Angelis (Tasca Racing Moto2) to go in Axel Pons and Marcel ing finishes. Nico Terol was also THE PENINSULA Miller posts debut Moto3 win

DOHA: Jack Miller yesterday posted a brilliant maiden win of his career in the first race of the year, finishing ahead of Alex Marquez second and Efren Vazquez third. Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rode brilliantly with his new team, starting third on the grid Australian Moto3 rider Jack Miller and running at the front with (centre) of the Red Bull KTM Ajo Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) team stands on the podium after from the start as pole man Alex winning the Moto3 race. Miller Rins (Estrella Galicia 0,0) made won ahead of second placed a poor start and dropped to 12th. Alex Marquez (left) of the Estrella Miller and Marquez then bat- Galicia 0,0 team and third placed tled for the lead but a late mistake Efren Vazquez of the SaxoPrint- from Marquez let the Australian RTG team, both of Spain. RIGHT: in on the last lap for his first vic- Miller of the Red Bull KTM Ajo tory and first podium in Grand team celebrates after winning the Prix. Moto3 race. Behind the leading pair Vazquez (SAXOPRINT RTG) crossed the finishing line just 0.047s off sec- ond place to complete the podium and step onto the rostrum for the first time since 2011. Results Top-10 riders in final Moto3 classification (read Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra sixth, whilst a 1.5s gap behind him mid race after an earlier acci- under as rider, bike, top speed and overall time): Racing) was the best of the seven the experienced Alexis Masbou dent, whilst Hafiq Azmi (SIC- Jack Miller, Ajo KTM, 152.5, 38’05.810 Mahindra equipped riders in the (Ongetta-Rivacold) came home Ajo KTM) and Eric Granado race, missing the podium by just seventh. (Calvo Team) crashed out early Alex Marquez, Honda, 152.5, +0.233 0.015s in fourth. Isaac Vinales (Calvo Team), on, with Gabriel Ramos (Kiefer Efren Vazquez, Honda, 152.4, +0.280 Rins incredibly got back up Niccolo Antonelli (Junior Team Racing) pulling up with a techni- Miguel Oliviera, Mahindra, 152.4, +0.295 towards the top three having been GO&FUN) and Francesco cal problem. Alex Rins, Honda, 152.4, +0.369 Jakub stranded way down the field on Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team There were also crashes too Kornfeil, KTM, 152.4, +0.586 Alexis Masbou, the first lap and he too was just a VR46) completed the top ten. for Niklas Ajo (Avant Tecno Honda, 152.3, +2.109 Isaac Vinaless, KTM, fraction behind Oliveira in fifth. The unlucky Jules Danilo Husqvarna Ajo) and Juanfran 152.3, +2.161 Niccol Antonelli, KTM, 151.9, Jakub Kornfeil (Calvo Team) (Ambrogio Racing) crashed Guevara (Mapfre Aspar Team +8.153 Francesco Bagnaia, KTM, 151.9, was also close to the front run- on the last lap, Matteo Ferrari Moto3), but all the riders were +8.173 ning group, eventually placing (San Carlo Team Italia) retired fine. THE PENINSULA Monday 24 March 2014 23 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5613 Sport Price: QR2 Pelicans Serena and send Heat to Sharapova seventh loss survive

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 World champion Marquez pips veteran Rossi in Qatar thriller MotoGP: Honda rider clinches his seventh career win; Pedrosa claims third place

BY RIZWAN REHMAT MotoGP class. The 21-year-old clocked an impressive time of 42 DOHA: MotoGP world cham- minutes 40.561 seconds around pion and pole winner Marc the 5.38km Losail Circuit bathed Marquez last night edged out in artificial light. veteran Valentino Rossi in a Rossi, 35, was just .259 seconds Spanish MotoGP rider classic battle under lights, win- adrift of Marquez who picked up Marc Marquez (centre) ning the season’s first race 25 points from the season opener. of the Repsol Honda in a thrilling finish at Losail Dani Pedrosa, also of Honda, Team celebrates on the International Circuit. jumped ahead of Spain’s Aleix podium after winning Honda’s Marquez, who could Espargaro (Forward Yamaha) to barely walk six weeks ago fol- claim the third spot on the sea- the MotoGP race of lowing a leg injury, outpaced the son’s first podium. the Qatar Grand Prix Yamaha giant who struggled for a Pedrosa (3.370 adrift of at Losail International final flourish despite grabbing the Marquez) made the most of a Circuit in Doha, yes- lead at least half a dozen times in series of crashes that saw former terday. Marquez won the crash-marred race. world champion Jorge Lorenzo of ahead of second It was Marquez’s seventh Spain going out in the first lap fol- placed Italian rider win in just his 19th start in the lowed by promising German tal- Valentino Rossi (left) of ent Stafen Bradl who also slipped the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Results out of the race in lap 9. MotoGP team and third MotoGP results at Grand Prix of Qatar (read Britain’s Bradley Smith, who placed Spanish rider under as rider, bike, top speed and overall time) started from third spot on his Dani Pedrosa of the Yamaha, went out with 4 laps to Marc Marquez, Honda, 166.4, 42’40.561 Repsol Honda Team. go after a promising ride. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 166.3, +0.259 Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso of Dani Pedrosa, Honda, 166.1,+3.370 Ducati finished in fifth spot Aleix Espargaro, Yamaha, 165.6,+11.623 while team-mate Cal Crutchlow Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, 165.6,+12.159 of Britain was sixth fastest at Cal Crutchlow, Ducati,164.5,+28.526 Losail Circuit. Scott Redding, Honda, 164.3,+32.593 Marquez said he wasn’t sure about a win at the start of the “Yes, it was a great, great bat- with a slow start. The Spaniard Cervera-born produced the riders Australia’s Anthony West Nicky Hayden, Honda, 164.3, +32.628 race. tle but I enjoyed less than him started from sixth spot but a late much-needed thrust on his Honda finished 10th in the opening Colin Edwards, Yamaha, 163.8, +39.547 “Honestly, I am very happy because I arrived behind him,” flourish allowed him to finish in to seal his first win in Qatar. Moto2 battle while his Spanish Andrea Iannone, Ducati, 163.6, +43.360 about the win because I didn’t Rossi said with a smile. third place. Honda’s Scott Redding, team- team-mate Roman Ramos sealed Hiroshi Aoyama, Honda, 163.4, +46.595 expect to do it. Yesterday, I felt “My race was very funny. I “I was slow at the start. In the mate Nicky Hayden, Yamaha’s the 20th spot in his debut race. Yonny Hernandez, Ducati, 163.4, +46.688 odd as there were question marks enjoyed a lot. I started from the first part of the race, there were Colin Edwards and Ducati’s Also yesterday, Jack Miller Karel Abraham, Honda, 163.1, +50.581 about me on the bike,” Marquez fourth row. many riders crashing. I was in the Andrea Iannone completed the scored a maiden Moto3 win in said yesterday. “At the beginning I had to over- middle but in the end it was dif- top-10 in the season’s fist and only the first race of the year, finish- Danilo Petrucci, ART 162.4, +1’03.127 “But anyway, I saw that I was take many riders,” Rossi said. ficult conditions. But it was a good race under lights. ing ahead of with Alex Marquez Broc Parkes, PBM, 161.7, +1’14.386 okay and then in the end I tried “It was great when I arrived result because I always struggle Earlier, Spain’s Esteve Rabat and Efren Vazquez. Michael Laverty, PBM, 160.5, +1’32.593 to push. The battle with Valentino in the front. The bike was very here. We just have to move on produced an excellent ride to edge The bike family now moves to Mike Di Meglio, Avintia, 160.3, +1’36.085 was so great. I enjoyed a lot. In the good. I had the potential to fight from here,” 28-year-old Pedrosa Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami on the the US for the season’s second Not Classified Alvaro Bautista, Honda, 2 Laps last lap I pushed a lot. This year for a win with Marc. I had some said. last corner to win the first Moto2 round to be held on April 13 at the Bradley Smith, Yamaha, 4 Laps Pol Espargaro, we did it. I hope to have more bat- chance to win but he was too Rossi, who grabbed the lead battle of the season. Rabat’s team- Circuit Of The Americas which is Yamaha, 5 Laps Stefan Bradl, Honda, 14 tles in the future,” Marquez said. fast. Thanks to my team Yamaha after Bradl went out in lap 9, mate Mika Kallio finished third. the first purpose-built Grand Prix Laps Hector Barbera, Avintia, 18 Laps Jorge Rossi said it was a classic battle I enjoyed a lot,” the affable Italian jumped ahead of Marquez a In a stunning result for the facility near Austin, Texas. Lorenzo, Yamaha, 0 Lap that was high on entertainment. added. Pedrosa said he struggled few times but the 21-year-old home fans, QMMF Racing Team THE PENINSULA QMMF Racing Team rider West keen to improve qualifying pace

DOHA: QMMF Racing Team QMMF Racing Team changing a lot of things in my life. rider Anthony West yesterday rider Roman Ramos “First race, I think I stressed finished in 10th spot in the sea- (left) of Spain and out myself too much,” West said. son’s opening race that left the team-mate Anthony “I need to approach the races Australian Moto2 star wanting West at Losail better and more relaxed. I am to improve his qualifying drills International Circuit stressed on the bike in qualifying in the rest of the season. yesterday. PICTURE and I go slower. In the race I am West, 32, picked up 6 points as BY: KAMMUTTY VP faster than anybody out there,” Esteve Rabat of Spain won the he said. first Moto2 race of the season West said QMMF Racing ahead of Takaaki Nagakami and Team officials should celebrate Mika Kallio. the bright start with both riders QMMF Racing Team’s second combining to finish the race and rider Roman Ramos, making his pick up points. debut in Moto2, finished in 20th “It was a good race for him spot. (Ramos)...a good start for the “I am not satisfied with whole season. I hope Qatar are happy. I weekend just because I was would have liked to have a better struggling with my qualifying. result. I would have hoped for a Mentally I psyched myself out,” better result but this is a strong West said. finish,” West said. “I thought I had fixed this for us to start the season with,” yesterday, said. “I just got to do it “There are a lot of races. I am problem. I need to work on this. West said. when it counts. My racing is not a happy for the support and I think I need to relax more. I am happy “There are many races to go. problem. I can race with anyone. we can improve from this,” he with the way we have raced. I I know what my problems are If I were to turn up and race, I added. am happy with the result,” the in qualifying. I just need to fix could do it. But I got to learn to do Louis Solana, the team’s back- Australian said. them. In the next two weeks I better in qualifying,” the former room staff chief, said: “I think “I am disappointed with my last will be trying to change my whole MotoGP rider said. we did well but Anthony needs lap. I could have been 8th but two approach as to how I come to a “Last year I had a lot of stress to work on qualifying. He can do guys passed me by,” West said. race track,” West said. and problems and that is all gone it. He is fast in the races. He just “I think it is a strong finish “Mentally I need to change now,” West explained. needs to focus more in qualifying. Italian MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP for the team. Last year I crashed how I enter qualifying. I know “I know what my problems are, He could win races if started from team celebrates with his trophy on the podium after taking the second here and didn’t score any points. I am fast enough,” West, who which I guess is a good thing. I the front grid.” place in the MotoGP race of Grand Prix of Qatar. “I think this is a good result started from 26th spot on the grid just need to fix them. I have been THE PENINSULA