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Thursday 13 March 2014 12 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5602 Price: QR2

Muntajat and Barcelona and Milaha sign PSG reach transport pact quarter-finals

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Emir meets new OIC Secretary-General Qatar provides Law to tighten additional aid to Gaza Strip DOHA: Under the directives of noose on real the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar has decided to supply the Gaza Strip with necessary fuel to run power plants in the Strip at a estate brokers value of QR110m. The additional aid comes due to the bonds of brotherhood and due Registration to be made mandatory keenness of Qatar to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people DOHA: All real estate bro- on Tuesday that regulates the real in the Gaza Strip. Qatar had ear- kers in the country will have estate sector, by protecting the lier supplied the Gaza Strip with to be licensed and registered, rights of buyers and investors. fuel at a value of QR115m, after according to a draft decision of Real estate experts believe that the stoppage of power plants in the Ministry of Economy and the decision is strong enough to the Strip as fuel ran out. Commerce that was approved create a trust on brokers. The The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim by the State Cabinet yesterday. brokers and middlemen with a The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Iyad bin Amin Madani, who has assumed his duties as bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke on The draft decision also pro- licence mean that he/she will have new Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), at Al Bahr Palace, yesterday. The Sunday with Hamas’s Gaza prime poses to maintain a record with to strictly follow the law. Emir wished him success in his mission. minister, Ismail Haniyah, and told complete details of the people “Middlemen legally do not him that “Qatar will continue to involved in real estate brokerage. represent any of the two parties support and help Gaza.” Under the existing law, a — buyer or seller. His role is to The conversation came days licence is mandatory for real bring the two parties together and after the governments of Saudi estate brokers but illegal agents facilitate negotiations. But if the Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE still rule the roost in the mar- broker represents one of the two Man jailed for Gaza militants fire scores withdrew their ambassadors from ket. The Ministerial decision is parties he should do it in a legal Qatar in protest over Qatar’s sup- expected to further regulate the way and needs to be licensed and stealing shoes port for Muslim Brotherhood and sector and plug the loopholes. registered,” said Qatari real estate of rockets at Israel Hamas. QNA/AGENCIES According to the draft deci- expert Abdullah Al Khater. DOHA: A Criminal Court sion, the officials concerned must He said, currently some people has sentenced an Asian to six GAZA CITY: Islamic Jihad mortar rounds at areas all over respond to an application from are coming straight from the air- months in jail for stealing shoes militants in Gaza fired scores the south. Lost jet may have the potential brokers for regis- port and entering the real estate of worshippers from a mosque of rockets at southern Israel The army put the number at tration within 30 days. sector seeing it an open market. and ordered him to be deported yesterday, causing no casualties “more than 30 rockets,” saying strayed to west The registration will be given “They have no knowledge of the after serving jail term. but prompting Prime Minister eight of them had struck urban KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s for two years, renewable for the country, its laws and traditions and The convict used to go to a Benjamin Netanyahu to warn of areas, and another three were military has traced what could same period. The licence for oper- they still operate as middlemen famous mosque in the markets area a tough response. intercepted by the Iron Dome anti- have been the jetliner missing ating as the real estate broker/ and brokers. This is putting peo- to steal the shoes. While they were The attacks were claimed by missile system. for almost five days to an area middlemen will be nullified with ple’s rights at risk and complaints busy in late night prayer (Isha) the the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, Police raised the level of alert south of the Thai holiday island the cancellation of the registra- in the court are on the rise. There convict ran away with their shoes. which said it had fired 90 rockets in the south, saying the rockets of Phuket, hundreds of miles tion of his company/office. is no monitoring from the authori- The convict was identified by the at Israel in response to an air strike struck along the length of Israel’s to the west of its last known The decision includes an ties concerned,” said Al Khater. footage of CCTV camera installed on Tuesday that killed three of its border with Gaza. One hit near a position. Rodzali Daud, the amendment in the law that He said the new law should in front of the mosque. The police militants in southern Gaza. public library in the town of Sderot, Malaysian air force chief, said attaches a fee to be paid by the clearly set the criteria for anyone nabbed him while he was waiting As tens of thousands of peo- and another near a petrol station. that an aircraft was spotted on real estate brokers/middlemen to to be licensed to work as a real for the worshippers to go to prayer. ple living in southern Israel Israeli warplanes pounded 29 military radar at 2:15am, 320km all the services being provided by estate agent/middlemen, includ- The convict denied the charge rushed to seek shelter from the Palestinian targets in the Gaza northwest of Penang Island off the ministries concerned. ing experience and knowledge of and did not appear in the court. bombardment an Israeli secu- Strip yesterday night in response Malaysia’s west coast. The Cabinet approval follows the market. THE PENINSULA The court issued the verdict in rity source said militants had to heavy Palestinian rocket fire, REUTERS the issuance of Law No. 6 of 2004 Continued on page 5 absentia. THE PENINSULA fired more than 60 rockets and the military said. AFP See also page 14

THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

PM attends Arab Interior Ministers’ meeting UN chief praises ‘Qatar Projects 2014’ Qatar’s role DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani conference next week yesterday received a telephone call from UN Secretary- DOHA: MEED’s ‘Qatar Projects life of its mature oilfields, and infra- General Ban Ki-moon. 2014’ conference will discuss structure project opportunities The UN chief expressed thanks upcoming mega project delivery associated with the $40bn worth and appreciation to the Emir for challenges and solutions, includ- of roads, ports and rail work; $19bn Qatar’s efforts and vision to find ing presentations on the coun- construction projects, and $3.2bn a solution to the humanitarian try’s water reservoirs project social infrastructure projects,” said crisis in Syria and efforts that and Al Karaana petrochemical the statement. resulted in the release of nuns of complex, the largest green field On the first day of the confer- the Monastery of Saint Takla in project in Qatar, said a press ence, Sheikh Abdulla Saoud Al the town of Maloula, and Syrian statement yesterday. Thani, Governor, Qatar Central The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani took part in women from prisons. Talks The conference will be held Bank, will deliver the keynote the 31st session of Arab Interior Ministers’ Council which began in Marrakech yesterday. Representatives also dealt with latest regional from March 17 to 19 at Grand address on latest developments and of Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, Interpol, International Civil Defence Organisation, Arab Tourism developments. Hyatt under the patronage of the initiatives undertaken to achieve Organisation, Arab Civil Aviation Commission, Nayef Arab University of Security Studies and Arab Police Minister of Energy and Industry Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Sport Federation are also attending the two-day session. Qatari-French H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Mohammed Al Hajri, Director Sada with support of Public Works of Downstream Ventures, Qatar drill concludes Authority (Ashghal). Petroleum, will share the organi- Qatar’s investments in projects in sation’s vision, including upstream, DOHA: The Qatari Armed the energy and infrastructure sec- refining and transport and distri- Forces concluded in Qalayel tors have seen a remarkable boost bution plans and opportunities for Recall of envoys won’t hit Area the scheduled joint exer- in the past six months, with new international partners. cise codenamed Tareq 2014 developments being announced and The conference features between the Emiri Land Forces existing projects moving forward. two tracks — Infrastructure & and the French forces. “Under the leadership of the Transport Track and Energy and GCC ties, says Omani FM The drill was attended by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Utilities sector — to ensure sector- Minister of State for Defence Hamad Al Thani, momentum in specific content and extended net- DOHA: The Omani Minister ire and discomfort due to some shared responsibility to main- Affairs H E Maj.-Gen. Hamad Qatar’s projects market has seen working opportunities. responsible for Foreign compelling circumstances. tain GCC’s progressive march bin Ali Al Attiyah, the Chief of an upswing with a range of develop- New tenders expected to Affairs, Yousef bin Alawi bin The Arabian Peninsula bonds and this is part of the relation- Staff of the armed forces Flt. ments announced. be announced include Sharq Abdullah, said the decision of together GCC citizens from ship between the member coun- Maj. Gen. Ghanim bin Shaheen “This includes over $13bn in Crossing and remaining contracts Saudi Arabia, the UAE and northern and souther regions tries within the framework of Al Ghanim, French Ambassador petrochemical schemes planned, for the Expressway and IDRIS Bahrain to withdraw their due to their common heritage, their leaders’ visions. Jean-Christophe Peaucelle, the recent intensification in its Programmes. ambassadors from Qatar is he said. GCC programmes are con- French military attache and upstream operations, extension of THE PENINSULA a minor disagreement over “This ethnic bond makes it tinuing as per plans. All com- other officials. The Tareq Bin issues between brothers and impossible and difficult for GCC mittees are working in the Ziad Mechanized Battalion and will not affect the funda- ties to break”. same spirit, for instance, the France’s Infantry Company mental principles of the GCC Abdullah reiterated that Gulf Cup in the field of sports, No. 152 took part in the exer- states. each state has its policies and Abdullah said. cise involvling live ammunitions In an interview with Al visions within the framework of “The GCC was founded and shooting, 2000 Mirage aircraft Sharq, he stressed that the the common GCC goals. built on common ethos and and helicopter gunships. The drill GCC countries are not weak There could be a difference in integration between its peoples. aimed at enhancing cooperation and the progress of the bloc their visions, but it would not We should further strengthen and exchange of military know- will not stop. affect the strong bonds between it and continue to promote how with friendly countries and The decision of the three GCC these countries, he added. common interests,” he added. boosting combat efficiency of par- states was just an expression of The Minister said there is a QNA ticipating forces. QNA

Ooredoo in deal with Cisco for ITU forum

DOHA: Ooredoo and Cisco yes- Union (ITU) Telecom World socio-economic challenges. Africa and Russia. terday announced the signing of a Conference in Qatar. “We are delighted “The selection of Qatar strategic participant agreement to The event this December brings to welcome Cisco as a as host for this year’s con- showcase next generation technol- together influential global lead- key participant for the ference is opportune, given ogy solutions at the upcoming 2014 ers from the ICT industry to drive conference. the increasingly dynamic International Telecommunications industry success and address critical “Agreements like this role it is playing in the highlight the impor- Middle East technology tance of the event, not arena,” said Mike Weston, just for Qatar, but also Vice-President, Cisco for the Information, Middle East and Africa. Communications and “This year and beyond Technology industry,” said will bring influential and Sheikh Saud bin Nasser constructive technology Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo growth throughout the Qatar. Middle East and North “The world’s leaders in Africa region, enabling communications will out- unprecedented opportuni- line new innovations that ties that will benefit busi- will transform people’s ness and society. lives,” he said. “We are proud to work The agreement was with Ooredoo to bring lat- signed by Sheikh Saud and est innovations to Qatar Chris Dedicaot, President, and the region.” Europe, Middle East, THE PENINSULA

Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, (right) with Chris Dedicaot, President, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia, at the signing ceremony.

Omani embassy honours Qatari for humanitarian gesture DOHA: The Omani embassy honoured Qatari Saeed bin Saleh Al Marri for his humanitarian initiative in aiding an Omani family who suffered a tragic car acci- dent in Batha, Saudi Arabia. Omani Ambassador Mohammed bin Nasser Al Wahaibi honoured Al Marri in a ceremony and praised his gesture. The event was attended by Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, Saud bin Abdullah Al Henzab, Chairman of the Central Municipal Council, Ambassador Mohammed Subai’i, Director of the Consular Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry and embassy staff. QNA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Corniche Road fully opens for traffic on Sunday

DOHA: The Corniche Road will be fully open for traffic from Sunday, with completion of work on Sheraton and Dafna intersections, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said yesterday. Work has been completed two weeks ahead of the schedule, Ashghal said. It also announced new diversions from today to carry out final work on the two intersections, which include lay- ing the final asphalt layer and activating traffic lights. To complete the final stages of laying asphalt, Ashghal will close part of the Corniche Street from Sheraton junction to Dafna junc- tion, including a stretch of road between Dafna intersection and City Centre (see the map). Effective from 4pm, vehi- cles moving on Corniche Street towards Sheraton intersection will be required to turn left on Al Funduq Street and take Omar Al Mukhtar Street and then turn right to access the Diplomatic area. Motorists moving from the Diplomatic area to Dafna and Motorists on Corniche Street roundabouts to signalised inter- Sheraton intersection will be going towards the area of the sections and expanding parts required to turn right (as per the Ministry of Justice, Doha Bank, of Corniche Street, the project attached map), and then turn left Ashghal and Kahramaa build- also included extending infra- along Omar Al Mukhtar Street ings will need to take left from structure, such as treated sew- to access Corniche Street via Al Sheraton Intersection and follow age effluent pipes on Corniche Funduq Street. Al Funduq Street towards Omar Street’s median and old rounda- As part of the closure, vehicles Al Mukhtar Street and then turn bouts locations. exiting City Centre parking will right to access these locations. Sheraton and Dafna are the be required to go left and take Ashghal deployed some 60 last two roundabouts on Corniche the road ahead towards Omar machines and 600 workers round Street that have been converted Al Mukhtar Street or turn right the clock to complete the project. to signalised intersections. towards the Diplomatic area. In addition to converting the THE PENINSULA Law to encourage investment in real estate Continued from page 1 the long run and it will encourage investment. The person must be educated in Qatari law and the “There will not be hesitation from people to deal legal procedures and they have to sit for a practical with the brokers if they are legally licensed. examination, he added. However, majority of them do not have a licence,” He said the new decision, once implemented, will said Al Khater. create a legal foundation for the real estate market in THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar Airways Group wins 2014 Foreign journalists honoured Air Transport News Awards QNA’s first honouring ceremony to become an annual event DOHA: Qatar Airways Group deliver consistent world-class serv- won two awards at the 2014 ices to our customers on air and the Air Transport News Awards in ground,” said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Istanbul, Turkey, at the Ciragan Executive Officer, Qatar Airways. Palace Kempinski Hotel. Winners were chosen by In addition to Qatar Airways more than 4,200 votes from Air winning ‘Airline of the Year’, Doha Transport News readers and the International Airport was also verdict of a jury of internationally honoured with ‘Airport of the Year known industry experts. 10-30 Million Passengers’. The jury, many of whom hold “We are pleased to be recognised executive positions in the air trans- by Air Transport News and proud port industry, examined the profile of this accomplishment. For us, of each finalist in each of the 14 the awards reflect the confidence categories. of our passengers in the products The oneworld alliance of which and services we offer. It is also a Qatar Airways is a partner also won testament to the hard work of Best Alliance for the eighth time. our staff who constantly strive to THE PENINSULA

Ooredoo Mobile Money Free Ahmad Saad Al Buainain (centre), Director General of Qatar News Agency, with foreign correspondents and officials at the ceremony at Katara QR10 promotion extended yesterday. KAMMUTTY V P DOHA: Qatar News Agency Head of the QNA office for “Journalists’ job requires The office is responsible for DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday company held a workshop to edu- yesterday honoured sev- accreditation of correspondents. effort, determination, honesty helping journalists in Doha announced the extension of its cate and entertain customers on the eral journalists representing “Nine foreign media organi- and transparency in report- working for foreign media and Ooredoo Mobile Money Free QR10 Mobile Money Service. media houses outside Qatar, sations have bureaus in Doha, ing news. Your work should be issues them accreditation for promotion, enabling new custom- The ‘Meet the Mobile Money in a ceremony at Katara. including Shroq TV from Sudan, rewarded through the depart- one year, which is renewable. ers to instantly receive a one-time Stars’ was held at the Crowne Plaza Ahmad Saad Al Buainain, CCTV from China, Xinhua news ment. QNA is dedicated to help The department is responsi- QR10 balance in their mobile wal- and drew customers from across Director General, QNA, pre- agency, CNBC-Arabic, Media you overcome difficulties you ble for granting permission to let when they register and log in to Doha’s diverse communities. sented certificates to over 20 one from India, Reuters and may face and help you report foreign media organisations to the popular Mobile Money service. The workshop, which generated journalists in recognition of Bloomberg,” she told this daily comfortably. QNA offers all nec- open offices in Doha. It is the In addition to one of the best awareness about the new and ongo- their outstanding work. on sidelines of the ceremony. essary ways to help you work only authorised entity to release exchange rates in Qatar, Ooredoo ing promotions of Ooredoo Mobile “Over 80 journalists in Doha The event was organ- in independent manner. Qatar’s journalists’ equipment at the air- Mobile Money will continue to offer Money, also highlighted the most represent media houses outside ised by the Media Relations policy is designed to facilitate port. It also receives all requests the incredible low fee of QR1 for convenient and cost-effective reasons Qatar. Twenty-seven of them Department at QNA for the work of journalists and set up for filming and gives permission MoneyGram money transfers to 198 for using the mobile transfer system. were honoured for their dedi- first time and is scheduled to media offices,” Al Youssef told after coordinating with authori- countries around the world. Ooredoo provides Mobile Money cation,” said Salma Al Youssef, be an annual ceremony. the journalists at the ceremony. ties. THE PENINSULA Both offers are available until services for more than one million March 31, so customers have more customers across its global foot- time to enjoy Ooredoo Mobile print, and has developed expertise Money’s best value promotions. to ensure customers enjoy the full Dust storm in Doha Forum to focus As part of its ongoing flexibility, security and convenience #OoredooSmart campaign, the of the service. THE PENINSULA on ethics in a changing world

DOHA: The Research Centre for Islamic Legislation and QITCOM forum, exhibition Ethics (CILE), a member of Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, will host its second to be held on May 26-28 annual international conference on ‘Ethics in a Changing World: DOHA: Qatar’s largest is set to become one of the region’s Contemporary Perspectives’ Information and Communications eminent ICT events and includes this weekend. Technology (ICT) event, QITCOM, an exhibition and regional awards It will be held at Georgetown will feature three days of discus- programme. University in Qatar on March 15 sions on challenges and opportuni- “As a catalyst for ICT industry and 16 and will tackle topics in ties of ICT in Qatar, the role ICT development and a platform for ICT four fields: Media, environment, plays in the country’s economic and businesses, providers, investors and psychology, and gender. social development and how ICT ICT adopters, the conference is the Keynote speakers include gives Qatar a competitive advan- heart of the mission and vision we Tawakul Karman, Nobel tage by fuelling entrepreneurship have for it to showcase Qatar’s moves Laureate, Reem Maghribi, former and innovation. towards ICT thought leadership,” said Arab World Program leader at QITCOM 2014, organised by David Schopper (pictured), General Greenpeace, Malik Badri, Unesco fischerAppelt, Qatar, in collaboration Manager, fischerAppelt, Qatar. expert in psychology, and Wadah with the Ministry of Information and “The conference will engage the Khanfar, former director-general Communications Technology, will be industry in discussion about the of Al Jazeera Network, together held on May 26-28 at Qatar National current framework of the industry, with internationally renowned Convention Centre. growth perspectives and future out- experts and researchers in dif- Now in its third edition, the forum look, as well as tangible ICT busi- ferent disciplines. ness opportunities in Qatar’s market Dr Tariq Ramadan, Executive and large-scale initiatives as part of Director, CILE, will deliver the Qatar National Vision 2030,” he said. closing speech. CILE focuses The conference, which showcases on applied ethics and seeks to Qatar’s development in becoming develop an Islamic approach to a regional leader in ICT, provides address contemporary global a platform for discussion of future challenges and radical reform in development initiatives and high- Strong winds accompanied by dust led to poor visibility across Doha last night. Seen above is the these fields. THE PENINSULA lights and celebrates public and pri- Airport Intersection. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH vate ICT success stories. It will attract not only global industry experts but also is designed to appeal to the ICT community — from executives to innovators and 19 Rota volunteers gain insights into Nepal entrepreneurs as well as ICT enthu- siasts from the private and public DOHA: Nineteen students of sector. Hamad Bin Khalifa University THE PENINSULA (HBKU) recently embarked on a nine-day volunteer trip to Nepal for a Reach Out To Asia (Rota) project that sup- New CBQ branch opens ports the role of schools in disaster risk reduction. Supported by Vodafone Qatar, the trip offers a service oppor- tunity for the volunteers to be exposed to social conditions, practise cross-cultural com- munication and expand skills. “We believe in the impact volunteering and community service can have on the per- sonal and professional devel- opment of young people and The volunteers with ActionAid staff in Nepal. which is why we sponsor Rota’s international volunteer trips as featuring service activities “Volunteers commit them- communities, create safe learn- part of our five-year partner- in the Saraswarti Secondary selves to an exhausting pro- ing environments and restore ship,” said Dana Haidan, Head School, cultural visits and daily gramme of activities but in education in disaster-hit areas. of Corporate Responsibility, student-led reflection sessions. the end enjoy gaining from a “The Rota-HBKU partner- Vodafone Qatar. School service activities rewarding and fulfilling expe- ship provides an opportunity for Working in 22 villages in included facilitating computer rience,” said Rota Volunteer student volunteers to work with the Kailali district of western classes, designing and creating Programme Manager, George the local community in Nepal Nepal, the Vodafone Qatar- a three-dimensional library and Tavola. and learn about the value of Rota partnership, through the building a boundary wall to pro- The volunteer program has education, interact with another disaster risk reduction project, tect the school from rising flood been taking volunteers on life- culture, and understand how to has improved the lives of thou- waters from a nearby river. changing experiences to coun- contribute to service in a global sands of students and teachers “Rota’s trips provide unique tries in Asia for eight years, to context. We are proud of this Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Jabor Al Thani, Vice-Chairman of Commercial Bank in many schools since the initia- opportunities for Qatar-based support projects that empower programme and look forward of Qatar, and Husaain Al Fardan, Managing Director, inaugurating the renovated tive started in 2011. volunteers to be exposed to Rota’s mission of providing to applying this knowledge in City Center branch of the bank, in the presence of Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, CEO The volunteers travelled the impact Rota programmes high quality and relevant pri- Doha,” said HBKU Campus Life of the bank, and other senior officials. SALIM MATRAMKOT to Tikapur in the district make in Asia and get involved mary and secondary education, Coordinator, Evan Witt. to participate in a program in hands-on work. encourage relationships among THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Draft law to stop eCrimes soon Cancer care misconceptions highlighted DOHA: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for HMC expert urges annual check-ups and participation in screening programmes Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud DOHA: Many people have that the standard of care including radiation therapy or elsewhere, Indigestion or diffi- the first place to go to is the family yesterday chaired the weekly a misconception about the they receive at the centre and treatments for all types culty swallowing, Obvious change in doctor. Cabinet session at the Emiri opportunity to access cancer is world-class as it supports of cancers, are available with the size, colour, shape or thickness “It is important that we all partici- Diwan. care, says an expert. HMC’s vision to improve and all patients being discussed of a wart, mole or mouth sore and pate in screening programmes and He said the Cabinet took meas- “A common misconception maintain the health of the by one of 13 multidisciplinary Nagging cough or hoarseness. undergo annual check-ups with our ures to issue a draft law to combat among many people suffering population.” teams who deal with specific Unexplained rapid weight loss is families to ensure they are healthy eCrimes after taking note of the from cancer is that they don’t The misconception may cancers. also a symptom that should prompt and free of cancer,” she said. Advisory Council’s recommendations. have a right to cancer care,” obstruct the path towards “The Radiation Oncology a person to seek medical advice and THE PENINSULA The draft law stipulates punish- said Dr Noora Al Hammadi, seeking efficient treatment Department is equipped with ments for anyone who unlawfully Director, Radiation Oncology and recovery. The sooner state-of-the-art imaging and access through the Internet or any Department, National Centre a person starts to receive radiotherapy machines which IT means websites or IT systems of for Cancer Care and Research. appropriate care, the better enable physicians to confirm state organs, institutions, authori- She reassured patients that the chances are for effective and assess the exact tumour ties or entities or their affiliates or regardless of their nationality, treatment and cure, she said. position within the body establishes or runs a website through they will receive world-class Dr Al Hammadi said through focused images. the Internet or an IT device to dis- treatment compared to that another common myth about “This allows us to treat seminate incorrect news to endanger elsewhere in the world. cancer — ‘there is nothing I tumours with pin-pointed the safety of the state, or public order Dr Al Hammadi was speak- can do about it’ — can create accuracy, protecting healthy or internal or external security. ing in the backdrop of this unreasonable fear of the dis- tissues around them,” she It also stipulates punishment for year’s theme for World Cancer ease, coupled with unneces- added. anyone who exceeds any principles Day, which is to dispel myths sary suffering. Although some people may of social values and publishes news about cancer. “The most important thing experience no symptoms in or pictures or audio-video recordings She stressed the impor- for a person who suspects the initial stages, common related to the sanctity of the private tance of timely, efficient and they might have cancer is to symptoms that should raise an and family life of individuals, even if state-of-the-art care and seek medical attention early, alarm can be remembered as they are correct, via libel or slander research available at Hamad engage with your physician CAUTION: Change in bowel through the Internet or an IT device. Medical Corporation’s centre, and understand the treatment or bladder habits, A sore that The meeting approved Emiri draft Qatar’s only specialised cancer options available,” she said. does not heal, Unusual bleed- decisions establishing and regulat- care centre. At the centre, state-of-the- ing or discharge, Thickening ing College of Jawaan Bin Jassim of “Patients can be assured art facilities for diagnosis, or lump in the breast, testicles Leadership and Joint Staff and estab- lishing and organising Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Air College. Traffic lessons The Cabinet took the appropriate decisions after reviewing the regu- latory structure of Qatar Financial Markets Authority; a letter from the Minister of Communications and Information Technology on the report of activities of Civil Aviation National Committee from 1 August 2013 to 1 February this year. The panel assessed operative cri- teria and measures to cope with technological advancements and checked opening stages of Hamad International Airport and related arrangements; and a letter from the Minister of Economy and Commerce on the outcome of an extraordinary meeting of the Economic and Social Council in Khartoum in January. The Cabinet approved draft agree- ments on cooperation in environment and nature protection with Croatia; A traffic village set up at Al Rashid Independent School for Boys as part of the road safety cur- and in legal field with Kenya. riculum for schools launched on Tuesday. QNA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Rowhani in Clashes in Turkey as teenager buried ISTANBUL: Riot police clashed with demonstrators in several Turkish cities for a sec- ond day yesterday as mourners Oman to boost buried a teenager wounded in protests last summer, unrest which a defiant Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast as a plot against the state. trade, ties Police fired water cannon, tear gas and rubber pellets on a major Istanbul avenue to stop tens of Deal signed to build gas pipeline thousands of people chanting anti- government slogans from reaching MUSCAT: Iranian President Before departing Tehran for the central Taksim square. There Hassan Rowhani yesterday held Muscat, Rowhani had hailed were similar scenes in the centre talks with Oman’s leaders in these “good relations” and said of the capital Ankara and in the Muscat during a visit aimed at the visit was “of great importance Aegean coastal city of Izmir. boosting ties and easing tension to strengthen relations between Berkin Elvan’s death on with other Gulf states, includ- Iran and Islamic countries, espe- Tuesday after nine months in a ing regional heavyweight Saudi cially those neighbouring Iran”. coma touched off the worst unrest Arabia. “The Strait of Hormuz gives in Turkey since the nationwide Kicking off the two-day visit to countries south of the Persian anti-government demonstrations Oman, Iran’s longtime ally in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea great last June, adding to Erdogan’s Gulf, Rowhani went staright into a importance,” he told reporters, as woes as he battles a graft scandal meeting at Alam palace with H M cited by Iran’s official news agency that has become one of the biggest Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has IRNA. challenges of his decade in power. acted as an intermediary between Omani Foreign Minister Crowds chanting “Tayyip! Western countries and the Islamic Yusuf bin Alawi said Rowhani’s Killer!” and “Everywhere is republic. visit “reflects the confidence” Berkin, everywhere is resistance” People gather for the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s The two leaders discussed that exists between Muscat and held up photos of the 15-year- anti-government protests, in Istanbul yesterday. “bilateral cooperation” and “build- Tehran, who are both “convinced old as his coffin, draped in red ing good relations”, Oman’s offi- that the top priority is achieving and covered in flowers, was car- cial ONA news agency said of the real stability in the region.” ried from a “cemevi”, an Alevi elections, failed to comment on implementing new provocations to The funeral ceremony was meeting. “We seek to strengthen this place of worship, through the Elvan’s death at two campaign stir up the streets,” he said, call- broadcast live on major television Oman signed an initial agree- cooperation (with Iran) to serve streets of Istanbul’s working class rallies yesterday, railing instead ing on Turks to be vigilant against news channels, some of which had ment with Iran to build a $1bn and bring closer together all Okmeydani district for burial. against the protesters and saying such “provocations”. been criticised for their scant cov- submarine pipeline to import gas (countries) in the region,” the Alevis are a religious minority they would be silenced at the bal- Those attending the protests erage of last June’s unrest. from the Islamic republic, Oman’s Oman daily quoted Alawi as in mainly Sunni Muslim Turkey lot box. “Trying to set fire to the said Erdogan’s silence on Elvan’s Elvan, then aged 14, got caught oil and gas minister said. saying. who espouse a liberal version of streets 18 days before elections is death, in contrast to President up in street battles in Istanbul The project should be completed Rowhani has pledged to work Islam and have often been at odds not a democratic stance,” he told Abdullah Gul and other public between police and protesters by the end of 2017, Mohammad Al on improving relations with Iran’s with Erdogan’s government. supporters at a rally in the south- figures who issued messages of on June 16 while going to buy Ramahi said. Arab neighbours in the Gulf since Her voice hoarse with tears, eastern city of Mardin. condolence, highlighted how out bread for his family. He became Ramahi said the two sides will his election last year. Elvan’s mother Gulsum cried out He accused a coalition of “anar- of touch he was with a large seg- a rallying point for government begin technical and feasibility During his Oman visit, “What am I to do now? They’ve chists, terrorists and vandals” as ment of Turkish society. opponents, who held vigils at the studies of the project, including Rowhani will also hold talks with taken my everything,” after his well as the opposition and an influ- “The lack of compassion, the Istanbul hospital where he lay in deciding on the path of the pipe- senior officials, the sultanate’s top coffin was lowered into the ground ential US-based Islamic cleric of polarising attitude ... and the fact intensive care from a head trauma line, indicating that it might con- cleric Ahmad Al Khalil and mem- at a leafy hill-top cemetery. stoking unrest to undermine him. he behaves like an autocrat is what believed to have been caused by a nect to Sohar industrial port in bers of the business community. Erdogan, campaigning around “Scenarios are being prepared brought us here,” said Emre, 32, police tear gas canister. northern Oman. AFP the country for March 30 local to shatter the peace. They are marching with his father-in-law. REUTERS

Russia agrees to build at least Saudi confiscates Mourners tear-gassed amid books of Islamist calls for revolution in Sudan two more nuclear plants: Iran publisher at fair KHARTOUM: Sudanese police said officers had fired only tear TEHRAN: Russia has signed a between the two countries “can nuclear programme masks a cov- RIYADH: Saudi authori- fired tear gas yesterday when gas. preliminary agreement to build serve the stability and security of ert weapons drive. Tehran denies ties have closed the stall of an mourners called for “revolu- Many of those who attended at least two more nuclear power the region”. the charge, saying that by diver- Islamist publisher at the annual tion” following the funeral of a Idris’s funeral were also students. plants in the Iranian port city Iranian media last month spec- sifying its energy resources it book fair and confiscated all his student allegedly gunned down “Peace, freedom, justice!” they of Bushehr, Iran’s official IRNA ulated that Rowhani could travel wants to reduces its reliance on publications, citing threats to by security forces at a protest shouted before the gas sent them news agency reported yesterday. to Russia for a regional confer- oil revenues. the kingdom’s security. against violence in Darfur. scattering into surrounding The deal was reached during ence of Caspian Sea states that Iran, which still faces Western The stall of the Arab Network The incident came after about streets of the neighbourhood near a visit to Tehran on Tuesday by Tehran’s envoy to Moscow has said sanctions on its oil and banking for Research and Publishing dis- 1,000 mourners had buried Ali a major bus station. a senior official of Russia’s state will be in late September. sectors despite an agreement appeared last Friday night from Abaker Mussa Idris in a south “Revolution is the people’s atomic energy agency Rosatom, Construction of the new reached with major powers in the Riyadh International Book Khartoum cemetery. choice!” they called, after ear- IRNA said. Bushehr nuclear plants is likely to November on its nuclear pro- Fair that opened on March 4, a A reporter said police resorted lier shouting for the overthrow “Iran and Russia reached a spark concerns among Gulf Arab gramme, is expected to fund the participant said. to tear gas as the angry crowd, of President Omar Hassan Al preliminary agreement to build states, which have often raised new Bushehr project on a bar- “One of the organisers told shouting anti-government slogans, Bashir’s 25-year-old regime. at least two new nuclear power concerns about the reliability of ter basis. Tehran’s ambassador us that the editor had displayed began moving out of the burial About 12 truckloads of riot plants,” Iranian Atomic Energy the existing Bushehr facility and to Russia, Mehdi Sanaei, said banned books that may affect ground. police and plainclothes security Organisation spokesman Behrouz the risk of radioactive leaks in case last month that the close trading security in Saudi Arabia,” he The public anger is the first agents had been stationed around Kamalvandi told the news agency. of a major earthquake. partners have been negotiating the added. major showing of discontent since the cemetery. The two new 1,000 megawatt Iran sits astride several major delivery by Iran of hundreds of The head of the Arab Network, dozens of people were gunned Idris was killed when about plants will be constructed along- fault lines and is prone to frequent thousands of barrels of oil per day Nawaf Al Qudaimi, said on down in anti-regime protests last 300 students, many of them from side the existing power station in quakes. On April 9, a 6.1-magni- in return for Russian goods and Twitter that he had been “sur- September. Darfur, protested at the university Bushehr, which was also built by tude quake rocked the south, with services, including the planned prised to find out on my arrival at Idris, a third-year economics on Tuesday. Russia, Kamalvandi said. an epicentre just 100 kilometres new nuclear plants. the book fair” early on Saturday student, died in hospital from gun- University authorities Further talks will be held on from Bushehr. Russian officials have neither that another company had taken shot wounds “after security forces announced an indefinite closure technical and financial aspects of Both Iran and Russia have confirmed nor denied the discus- over his stall during the night. used tear gas and opened fire with of the campus “to protect the lives the project, but a final agreement dismissed the claim, saying the sions, while stressing that they Qudaimi said his company had live ammunition” at the University and property” after the student’s is expected to be signed “very Bushehr facility is subject to would not break UN sanctions. not been informed of the decision of Khartoum demonstration on death. soon”, he added. inspection by and the safeguards of But the White House has raised to shut the stall. Tuesday, Amnesty International Blue riot police trucks were In January, Iranian President the International Atomic Energy “serious concern” about the poten- The local Mecca daily quoted said. stationed around the colonial-era Hassan Rowhani told his Russian Agency, the UN watchdog. tial of the mooted deal to under- the Minister of Culture and In a statement on the Interior university yesterday, including in counterpart Vladimir Putin that Western powers and Israel mine EU and US sanctions. Information, Abdulaziz Khoja, Ministry website, police did not front of the main entrance gates. establishing long-term relations suspect the Islamic republic’s AFP as saying that the publisher “has say what killed the student. They AFP broken the law by secretly bring- ing in banned books and trying to distribute them”. Algeria protest These books “undermine the Gaza smuggling tunnels destroyed kingdom’s security and its regime. This is an immoral and illegal CAIRO: Egypt’s military said yesterday it has destroyed 1,370 act,” the daily quoted Khoja as smuggling tunnels under its border with the Gaza Strip, as saying. Cairo’s ties remain sour with the Hamas movement that rules “This is why the publishing the Palestinian enclave. house’s stall at the fair was shut Ties took a turn for the worse after the military’s July ouster of down and any publisher found Islamist president Mohamed Mursi, who belongs to the Muslim breaking the rules will face the Brotherhood, with which Hamas is affiliated. same fate,” he warned. The statement did not say when the tunnels were destroyed, but “The kingdom’s security over- the military has poured troops into the adjacent Sinai Peninsula to rides everything else and who- counter militancy that has grown since July. ever undermines it will not be tolerated.” Drone strike kills two in Yemen Qudaimi, whose publishing house has offices in Cairo and SANAA: A US drone strike has killed a local Al Qaeda chief Beirut, is considered to be close and his bodyguard in northeastern Yemen, a tribal source said to the political ideology of the yesterday. Muslim Brotherhood, which is The unmanned plane fired a missile at a vehicle transporting banned in many Arab states. militants in the Jebel Jame area, in Jawf province, the source said. The closure of the book stall The dead were identified as Moajab bin Aziz and his guard, Ali comes after the interior minis- Hasan Hadhban. try published a list of “terror” groups in a move which analysts Veteran Nazareth mayor loses poll have warned could further affect civil liberties in the absolute JERUSALEM: The mayor of Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab monarchy. town, was yesterday defeated in a municipal election, ending a On the list is the Muslim 20-year tenure, the interior ministry said. Brotherhood, Al Nusra Front, New mayor Ali Sallam, who had called for the run-off vote after which is Al Qaeda’s official Syrian an initial October poll was plagued by accusations of fraud, won with affiliate, and the Islamic State 27,666 votes to outgoing Ramez Jaraish’s 17,266. Soufiane Djilali, chairman of Jil Jadid (New Generation) Party, clashes with riot police officers during a protest of Iraq and the Levant, another The Galilee city has a population of 82,000 people, 65 percent of against Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika’s decision to run for a fourth term, in Algiers, yesterday. Police jihadist group fighting in Syria whom are Muslim and the remainder Christian. prevented opposition leaders from marching to demand a boycott of next month’s election. and Iraq. AFP AFP THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Libya leader orders rebels to end blockade Ousted premier Ali Zeidan flees to Germany

TRIPOLI: The president of Minister Abdullah Al Thani care- the Cyrenaica region, whose pre- Libya’s highest political author- taker premier for the two weeks it 1963 autonomy the rebels want ity yesterday called off plans to now has to agree on a permanent restored. assault rebels blockading oil ter- successor. The opposing forces were allies minals, giving them two weeks But as Zeidan complained during the Nato-backed uprising to stand down voluntarily or repeatedly while in office, real of 2011 which ended the 42-year again face military action. power over the armed forces lies dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi, On Monday, General National not with the defence minister but who made his last stand in Sirte, Congress (GNC) head Nuri Abu with Abu Sahmein. his home town. Sahmein ordered an assault on In the absence of a large enough But the Cyrenaicans’ weekend rebels demanding regional auton- regular army force to take on the move to load oil onto a North omy in the east and who began heavily armed rebels, the advance Korean-flagged tanker in a deal exporting oil this week in defiance guard of the task force is com- not sanctioned by the state-run of the central government. posed largely of militia loyal to National Oil Corp prompted the But yesterday, he said “we have the GNC. GNC chief to authorise military decided to give an ultimatum of Rebels of the Cyrenaica Defence action. two weeks at the most” to lift the Force withdrew to the eastern The rebels had been blockad- Onlookers survey the damage caused by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip that landed in the southern Israeli blockade. region’s historic border late on ing the main eastern oil export town of Sderot yesterday. He added that military action Tuesday after Libya Shield Force terminals since July, but loading was being suspended for the militiamen pushed them out of the the Morning Glory was a major moment. central coastal city of Sirte, a rebel escalation and triggered Zeidan’s But if the ultimatum is not commander said. ouster. respected, he said “the decision of He warned that the offensive by Just hours after the GNC vote, Cameron pledges support to Israel the chief of the armed forces (Abu the fighters, mostly from Libya’s the Islamist-controlled Tripoli Sahmein himself) will be put into third city Misrata, risked plunging military council ordered the JERUSALEM: Britain will State John Kerry, Cameron said significant steps towards peace.” action by the Libyan army”. the North African country back “withdrawal of all forces occupy- stand firm against attempts to Britain backed the “compromises “As long as the international The developments came as into civil war. ing strategic positions, particularly delegitimise or boycott Israel, needed” to achieve that, which community puts pressure only on Islamists, buoyed by parliament’s The advancing force was “a inside Tripoli international airport Prime Minister David Cameron included a halt to Israel’s set- Israel, the Palestinians will con- ouster of liberal-backed premier tribal militia, not a regular army and on the airport road”. told MPs in Jerusalem yester- tlement activity and an end to tinue to entrench their positions Ali Zeidan on Tuesday, moved unit”, he said, asking not to be That was a clear reference to day, shortly before Palestinian Palestinian incitement. — and will even harden them — to consolidate their new-found identified. the Zintan militia, which has been militants fired scores of rockets He then sketched out in detail and there will not be any move power. “Our forces have pulled back to deployed at the airport since the at the Jewish state. a vision of peace which would see towards peace,” he said. Zeidan fled Libya via Malta to Wadi Lahmar,” some 90 kilome- 2011 uprising in which it played Speaking at the outset of a Israel forging new ties with the “It will be bad for both us and Germany, government sources in tres east of Sirte, he added. a major role in capturing Tripoli two-day visit to Israel and the Arab world, with open borders, them.” Valletta said. The town lies on the historic from Gaddafi’s forces. Palestinian territories, Cameron and Israelis and Palestinians Netanyahu said the demand for The GNC named Defence border between Tripolitania and AFP gave a 20-minute address to the working together to maintain concessions “must be put first on parliament, pledging “rock solid” regional security under a deal the Palestinian leadership” to rec- support for Israel’s security and which would “end all conflict” ognise Israel as the nation state of expressing “deep scepticism” over would “leave Israel more secure, the Jewish people, a demand which Iran’s nuclear intentions. not less secure.” the Palestinians have repeatedly Most of Cameron’s remarks Netanyahu said, “It is time rejected. Iran hosts conference Syria embassies were on the opportunities that a that international pressure be The issue has turned into one of peace agreement would bring. directed ... at the Palestinians the main stumbling blocks of the in Kuwait, Saudi Netanyahu, who also spoke, who have consistently and sys- ongoing peace talks. warned there would be no chance tematically refused to make any AFP of Assad sympathisers of a deal if the world continued to Arabia closed pressure only Israel, urging pres- DUBAI: Iran hosted a rival At the conference in Tehran, DAMASCUS: Syria has decided sure on the Palestinians to make Israel-Palestinian ‘mistrust’ at version of a “Friends of Syria” attended by legislators from to close its embassies in Kuwait “significant steps” for peace. conference yesterday, con- Russia, Algeria, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia because they The British premier, who vening lawmakers from allies Lebanon, Cuba and Venezuela, have refused to accept the arrived at the head of a delega- highest levels: Kerry around the world to push for Iran’s parliament speaker chal- accreditations of its envoys, dip- tion of business leaders hoping WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry said yester- a diplomatic solution to Syria’s lenged Syrian rebels to put down lomats posted in Damascus said to strengthen economic ties day that the level of mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians civil war and lambaste alleged their weapons and seek to oust yesterday. with Israel and the Palestinian was the highest he had ever seen. Western interference. Assad at the ballot box. “Syria’s embassies in Kuwait Authority, said he was bringing a But he insisted that he was hopeful of reaching “some kind of Iran is a longtime ally of “Elections are the best way to and Saudi Arabia are to close clear message to those who called understanding of the road forward” as he seeks to nail down a frame- President Bashar Al Assad, determine the destiny of a coun- because these countries have been for a boycott of Israel. work to guide the stuttering Middle East peace talks. whose minority Alawite sect is try,” Ali Larijani said in remarks refusing to accredit the diplomats “Britain opposes boycotts,” he Kerry acknowledged there were “gaps .... some of them very sig- an offshoot of Shia Islam, provid- carried by Iran’s Press TV. sent by Damascus since the start said, sparking sustained applause. nificant,” but stressed they should be seen within the context of the ing him with financial, military “You don’t believe Assad has of the crisis,” a source said. “Israel’s place as a homeland for negotiations, saying “I still believe it’s possible, but difficult.” and moral support as he battles a popular power base? Ok, then The Arab monarchies of the the Jewish people ... is founded in “Certain narrative issues are so powerful and so difficult that rebels trying to overthrow him. let the people determine that,” Gulf have supported the three- international law. neither leader is going to definitively cede on them at an early stage The one-day meeting appeared Larijani said year-old armed revolt in Syria “Delegitimising the State of of the negotiation,” the top US diplomat conceded. to mirror a series of “Friends Another senior Iranian law- and called for the overthrow of Israel is wrong. It’s abhorrent. “The level of mistrust is as large as any level of mistrust I’ve ever of Syria” conferences in which maker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, President Bashar Al Assad. And together we will defeat it,” seen, on both sides,” Kerry told lawmakers at a hearing into the 2015 Western and Arab nations criticised US support for Syrian In a village in northern Syria he said. State Department budget request. pledged political and financial rebel groups, saying this had cre- near the Turkish border, Islamist Expressing support for the AFP support for the rebels and for the ated “an army of terrorists” that militants and their local support- peace efforts of US Secretary of millions of Syrians driven from posed a global threat. ers have killed at least 22 people, their homes by the war. REUTERS opposition activists said yesterday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group quoted residents in Shuyukh, UAE protests New visa law for Arabs 100km northeast of Aleppo, as Israel cuts army exemption saying that militants from the DAMASCUS: Syria’s President travellers from all Arab countries, Islamic State of Iraq and the Iraq’s Saudi terror Bashar Al Assad has signed a as well as Turkey and Iran, could Levant, had killed 12 fighters to ultra-Orthodox Jews new law regulating the entry of enter Syria without a visa. from rival rebel groups and at accusations Arabs and foreigners into the Three years into a revolt which least 10 local tribesmen. JERUSALEM: Israel’s par- voiced their anger on a “Haredi” war-torn country, newspapers morphed into a bloody civil war, The British-based watch- liament yesterday approved a website after the 67-1 vote. ABU DHABI: The United said Wednesday. Syria’s regime has lost control of dog, which has a network of contentious law that abolishes “This is a black day for the Arab Emirates summoned “Any person entering or leaving several border crossings. Its rela- sources across Syria and opposes blanket military exemptions for state and the government, ultra- Iraq’s ambassador yesterday to Syria must have a valid passport tions with several Arab countries President Bashar Al Assad, said ultra-Orthodox Jewish semi- Orthodox lawmaker Moshe Gafni, protest accusations by Prime or document... with a visa issued have been damaged. the men had been executed by nary students, ending a tradi- was quoted as saying on the Kikar Minister Nuri Al Maliki that by one of our diplomatic missions Under the new law, which will gunfire and knives. It said at least tion upheld since the state’s Hashabat website. “The state of Saudi Arabia was supporting or consulates abroad,” reads the come into force in three months, nine other villagers were missing foundation. Israel has lost the right to call terrorism, state media reported. text, approved by parliament. Arabs and other foreigners seek- and suspected to have been killed. Finalised after months of politi- itself a Jewish and democratic State Minister for Foreign Those exempt from the visa ing residence in Syria “must Media activists circulated cal wrangling and likely to spark state.” Affairs Anwar Gargash handed requirement are countries with explain their reasons”. Offenders online a list of people they said ultra-Orthodox rage, the legisla- “The Haredi public will not ambassador Mowafak Mahdi bilateral agreements with Syria, would be liable to between one and were victims. They named 20 peo- tion will be implemented fully in forget or forgive the prime min- Abboud a memorandum protest- such as Lebanon, and citizens of five years in jail and a fine of five to ple killed and nine missing, and 2017 and limit the annual number ister and his partners,” Gafni was ing Maliki’s “claims that Saudi states with “international treaties” 10 million Syrian pounds ($33,000 said four bodies had been thrown of ultra-Orthodox men excused quoted as saying. Arabia supports terrorism,” the with Damascus, such as Iran. to $66,000). into the Euphrates River. from compulsory military service But Finance Minister Yair official WAM news agency said. Before the law was passed, AFP AGENCIES to 1,800 granted “gifted scholar” Lapid, whose centrist party “Such remarks are false and status. pushed to lift the exemptions, said: not based on a proper assessment The issue is at the heart of a “Is it too much to expect people of the situation in the region con- raging national debate over “shar- who live here and whose lives are cerning terrorism, especially as ing the burden” of life in a coun- defended every day by soldiers ... Saudi Arabia plays a significant try where most Jewish men and to do their bit, no more or no less role in combating all forms of ter- women are called up for military than any other Israeli citizen?” rorism,” said Gargash. service when they turn 18. The ultra-Orthodox make up In an interview aired on Most ultra-Orthodox Jews, or about 10 percent of Israel’s eight Saturday, Maliki charged that “Haredim”, a Hebrew term mean- million population and are a fast- Saudi Arabia and Qatar were ing ‘those who tremble before growing, poor sector. supporting militant groups in Iraq God’, have been exempt from Most of their men are unem- and across the Middle East as well conscription. ployed and live off state bene- as terrorism worldwide. Under the new law, the govern- fits. They are resented by many Saudi Arabia on Monday ment will set an annual enlistment Israelis who accuse them of bur- slammed Maliki’s accusations as quota for ultra-Orthodox semi- dening the economy and spong- “aggressive and irresponsible.” nary students. If that quota — the ing off the state while avoiding the Riyadh accused Maliki’s Shia- 2017 target is 5,200 — is not met, duties that bind others. led government of implementing conscription notices will be served Changing the so-called secular- “sectarian and exclusionary poli- to all but the 1,800 top scholars, religious status quo in Israel has cies,” in apparent reference to the with criminal penalties for any carried significant political risk in disgruntled Sunni Arab minority. draft-dodging. the past for successive coalition Iraq has been hit by a year-long Ultra-Orthodox legislators, governments. surge in violence that has reached along with opposition lawmak- But for the first time in a dec- levels not seen since 2008, driven Syrian President Bashar Al Assad speaking to displaced Syrians at Al Dweir shelter centre in Adra, northeast of ers protesting against a series ade, Israel’s cabinet has no ultra- principally by discontent among Damascus. State media reported yesterday that Assad was making a rare trip outside the capital to meet people of bills this week that they view Orthodox members, opening the its Sunni Arab minority and by the as undemocratic, boycotted the way for the reforms. civil war in neighbouring Syria. displaced by the country’s three-year-old civil war. parliamentary session. But they REUTERS AFP THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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A forgotten war Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

YRIA has decided to close its embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia because they have refused to accept the accreditations of its envoys. The decision Sof Damascus and the action taken by Kuwait and George P Bush and the US Riyadh are hardly surprising. The conflict in Syria has been going on for such a long time now that nobody has any doubts about the position taken by each country. The doubts are all about when this conflict will end, or whether it will obsession with dynasties end at all given the current state of affairs. It’s a sad and scathing indictment of the international community and BY KAREN MCVEIGH world powers that Syria’s is fast becoming a forgotten war. Bush and Clinton remind us that we are politician has a reputation to protect.” The latest setback to finding a solution in Syria has come quite centrist in America. That it is not Russ Baker, author of Family of from an unexpected quarter – Ukraine. As the crisis in Kiev OR a nation that constitu- all [conservative Republican] Ted Cruz, Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, the Powerful snowballed, bringing the West and Russia face to face, the tionally bans inherited power, but we have centrist politicians.” Forces That Put It in the White House, world, especially the US, conveniently forgot Syria. And the America has always had a soft For that reason, she said, “if Jeb Bush and What Their Influence Means for murderous regime of Bashar Al Assad has been using every Fspot for political royalty. So it runs he will lend his discourse more on America, says the reliance on political came as no surprise that when George his father than on his brother”. brand names in the US is partly driven distraction provided by an international or regional crisis P Bush won the Republican primary for Kellerman, whose books include All by voter apathy. to take revenge on his own people. The regime launched an the little-known but powerful position the Presidents’ Kin: Their Political “It’s different for different strata of almost unnoticed but merciless offensive of ‘barrel-bombing’ of Texas land commissioner last week, Roles, singles out the Kennedy dynasty, society. We are extremely jealous of in which helicopters dropped explosive containers filled with it attracted national attention. which has spawned senators, a president the British and their Royal family, and nails and other deadly shrapnel on apartment buildings, The relative of two former presidents, and ambassadors, including Caroline although we have the idea of being able schools and hospitals. The latest target is the town of he is already the subject of speculation as Kennedy, the current US ambassador to to rise from nothing, we are hung up to whether he too may one day lead his Japan, as proof of the culture of celebrity on status. We crave the fantasy of roy- Yabroud, near the Lebanese border. In other parts of Syria, country from the White House. in politics. alty, we think it’s ennobling. We like the regime continued to wage a war of starvation in blatant From the early days, when John “Starting with John F Kennedy, we get the Kennedys and the Bushes and the violation of international laws. According to the latest report Quincy Adams, the nation’s sixth presi- to know not just the candidate but the Clintons. by the Amnesty International, dent, was the son of its second, political candidate’s spouse, the candidate’s chil- “For average people, these families give at least 194 civilians have died in brand names have endured in America. dren and the candidate’s siblings. It’s no us a sense of security. If we don’t ques- Yarmouk, a Palestinian refugee The most talked accident that Caroline [daughter of JFK] tion what they actually stand for, then about names of is a celebrity in her own right.” we don’t have to actually feel guilty about As the West camp, since a siege began in July. potential can- According to a 2009 study co-authored our apathy.” The leading causes of death are didates for the by Pedro Dal Bó on US political dynas- The other big interest in American remains starvation, lack of medical care The most talked 2016 presiden- ties, about 10% of the members of US political royalty, says Baker, comes from and shooting by snipers. tial election are Congress had relatives enter Congress wealthy businessmen who donate to can- busy with The world has never been about names of those shared with ahead of them. More recently, Time, didates in return for political favours. former presidents, writing about the chances of former “They know the money that enables short of crises, but that should potential candidates Ukraine, the even if Hillary vice-president Dick Cheney’s daughter, them to get elected can be repaid,” he not be an excuse for major powers for the 2016 US Clinton and Jeb Liz, in the Republican senate primary says. It is notable, he adds, that “George war in Syria is to walk away when thousands of presidential election Bush, brother of in Wyoming (before she later dropped P Bush is land commissioner – they have innocent civilians are killed. As are those of former George W and out),reported: “There are 37 current control over assets and mineral rights of forgotten. son of Bush Sr, members who have a relative who served a state that is larger than most European the crisis in Ukraine continues, presidents. tensions are rising in the region have yet to declare in Congress.” countries”. an interest in Dal Bó, an associate professor of politi- “Money is the key. So is celebrity. The too. Yesterday, scores of rockets running. cal economics at Brown University, said: media is looking to give people what they were fired from Gaza to Israel, Barbara Kellerman, leadership spe- “We compared people who had been in want and what they want is dancing with creating tension in that area cialist at Harvard University’s John F Congress for one term and people who the stars. Why bother looking at the sub- where there has been an uneasy peace for a long time. Kennedy School of Government, believes had been in Congress for more than stance of what these people are, what Israel is likely to retaliate with its massive military arsenal, several factors are at play in the nation’s one term. Being in Congress for longer their values are?” asks Baker. and the forces of Bashar Al Assad are certain to use the continuing obsession with political affects your chances of a family member But it is not just politics that is a dynasties. The cult of celebrity, the elec- getting into Congress in the future.” sucker for a big political name, he adds, distraction arising from that conflict to eliminate more of his toral system and nostalgia for bygone What is more difficult, he said, is to pointing out that Jenna Bush Hager, people. days all play a role, she says. assess the reason behind it. “There are daughter of George W and Laura Bush, It’s time for Washington to take note of what is happening The nature of the electoral system “is alternative theories. One is that it is is a special correspondent for NBC’s in Syria. Though there have been indications of changes about the individual not the party”, says like a brand name. There was a study Today Show and a contributor to NBC in US policy on the conflict, they haven’t been substantial Kellerman. “It used to be in back rooms in Argentina that looked at relatives of Nightly News, while Chelsea Clinton, but now it is in primaries. There are a politicians who had the same name and daughter of Bill and Hillary, became a in a way that can make a change on the ground. Deputy very small number of people voting in ones without the same name. You can special correspondent for NBC in 2011. Secretary of State William Burns recently stated that Syria primaries and they tend to vote for peo- compare nephews, for instance, from “Nepotism is very much alive in now presents enormous challenges to US interests that ple they know. different sides of the family. They found America. Just look at those who get require a steady, comprehensive American strategy. But the “We are quite nostalgic,” she adds, there was a value in the name. handed jobs on our news sites. It’s like Obama administration is yet to take serious note of those “and the name of George Herbert Walker “The last name tells you that they everything has got to have a child of one challenges Bush – president number 41 – was a are related, something about the fam- of these political dynasties.” . time of relative gentility. The names of ily characteristics. The public know this THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Ties on the mend the day

RESIDENT Obama’s cooperation is in the interest of both However, a growing understanding interests that it should also pursue. On comments on Pakistan in a sides. So, perhaps most obvious is between the US and Pakistan, as wel- top of that list ought to be a switch meeting with the Pakistan that publicly at the moment drones come as it may be, still leaves much from an aid-dependent economy to Pambassador to the US Jalil have stopped firing their missiles to be done — particularly convincing one with growing trade links region- It is time that Abbas Jilani were in keeping with the into Fata for several weeks now as the Afghan polity that outsiders do not ally and internationally. The GSP Plus low-key approach to rebuilding ties: the PML-N-led government presses really want to fundamentally shape trade benefits with Europe are already international emphasising the security challenges ahead with its bid for talks with the the destiny once again of their war- showing what is possible when trade pressure be directed in Pakistan and regionally while also outlawed TTP.Yet, the only real metric blighted country. On that — convincing diplomacy is taken seriously. The US underlining a sustained commitment of success in 2014 will be the handling the Afghan leaders and people of the has long talked about extending trade ... at the Palestinians to Pakistan that goes beyond the old of the security and political situation in bona fides and minimum-interference concessions and facilitating Pakistani who have consistently recipe of doling out dollars and aid. Afghanistan. On Afghanistan, both the intentions — there is clearly much exports to the US, but because of While privately neither side accepts US and Pakistan have demonstrated work to be done still. congressional difficulties, not much and systematically that long-standing fundamental a growing closeness — at least in For Pakistan itself, also important has come of it so far. Perhaps a trade divergences on security issues can terms of what’s come to be known is to have a long-term approach to deal could be President Obama’s refused to make any be bridged entirely, there has been as a ‘stable, prosperous, united and the relationship with the US. Much lasting contribution to the Pak-US significant steps a joint effort for a while now to focus independent’ Afghanistan as the end as 2014 is important and stability in relationship. Benjamin Netanyahu on the doables and areas in which goal. Afghanistan vital, Pakistan has other DAWN towards peace. Israeli Prime Minister THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 ‘Show proof if you are telling the truth’

Qatari support to the Muslim JABER AL HARAMI Brotherhood, adding that the Brotherhood wants to change regimes in some countries. But decision by Saudi said that Qatar handed over to it what is the system of rule in Arabia, the United members of a terrorist cell who Qatar? Is not the system of rule Arab Emirates and had left Bahrain, while security in Qatar the same as in other Gulf Bahrain to recall agencies there could not arrest countries? Is not it about heredi- their ambassadors them. The members of the cell tary rule? How can we believe fromA Qatar shocked the people entered Saudi Arabia where they these claims then? of GCC countries at a time the couldn’t be arrested. However, Our brothers in Saudi Arabia, region was looking forward to when they tried to enter Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and more unity, integration and coop- security agencies arrested them. Bahrain got angry because of a eration so that the nations could Important documents and devices difference of opinion with Qatar overcome the challenges they face were found in the possession over the ‘Egyptian file.’ It is a mere at the regional and international of group members. The Qatar difference of positions which made levels. government then handed the them recall their ambassadors. The recall of the ambassadors is members of the cell to Bahraini These countries did not act simi- an unprecedented and unfamiliar authorities, which the lauded larly when Iraq attacked Saudi move affecting fraternal relations Qatar’s role. This is Qatar’s posi- Arabia with rockets. We have not among Gulf countries. Even going tion. Has everybody forgotten it? heard any condemnation of the by norms of international rela- The statement of the three execution of Saudi nationals by tions it is quite unusual. The usual Gulf countries then talks about the government of Iraqi Prime practice is for countries to recall an agreement signed in Riyadh Minister Nouri Al Maliki in Iraqi their ambassadors for consulta- last November during a visit to jails. This is without doubt a crimi- tion in case there is a difference of Saudi Arabia by the Emir, H H nal act. We stand in solidarity views. In case of sisterly countries, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al with our brothers in Saudi Arabia ambassadors are not recalled, but Thani. During the visit, the Emir against any threat targeting them. only summoned for consultation. met with King Abdullah and the Our brothers in the United Arab This move by the three coun- Emir of Kuwait. This is all true. Emirates recalled their ambassa- tries comes three months after the The statement, however, does others cause for it. At the same it donated to the Egyptian peo- dor in Doha because of a differ- Gulf Summit held in Kuwait. Prior not refer to the articles of this time, Qatar honours its commit- ple during the year-long rule of ence of opinion on an issue that to the summit, did the Custodian agreement. It does not also refer ments, even those it makes ver- elected president Mohammed does not fall within the boundaries of the Two Holy Mosques King to things agreed at the meeting bally, let alone the ones that are Mursi. Qatar never reneged on of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi of GCC foreign ministers held written down. its pledges in this regard. Why have not the Emiratis been Arabia recommend discussions in Kuwait last November. It was “We are committed to our val- Some people talk about Al so active in defending three of over a proposal to create a Gulf agreed in the meeting that Kuwait, European Union ues and principles,” the Emir, Jazeera channel and the need to their islands that are occupied by federation in 2011? Now, Saudi in its capacity as the head of the members adopt H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al make it more subservient so that another country now? The whole Arabia, which called for the crea- current Gulf Summit, would Thani, said. “We do not live on the it can be turned into yet another world knows that the Islamic tion of this Gulf federation, is sketch out mechanisms for the different foreign margins of life. We do not wander tamed media tool like the rest of Republic of Iran is the United striking at the pillars of the GCC. implementation of the agreement policies towards aimlessly and we are not anyone’s official media in the Arab world. In Arab Emirates’ largest trading So what about the federation, and send it to Gulf countries for lackeys waiting for instructions. demanding this, these people for- partner. We always emphasise then? discussion during the ministerial various issues. This type of independent behav- get that we are in an open world our rejection of the occupation of Back to the main issue: Why meeting, which was held recently This difference iour is a thing that is taken for where knowledge travels faster the Emirati islands. We always did Saudi Arabia, the UAE and in Riyadh. granted in Qatar. We have our own than sound. call for their return to the mother Bahrain suddenly recall their Kuwait did this. It sent the does not make vision.” Al-Jazeera is a news chan- country. ambassadors from Qatar? agreement implementation them recall their Qatar opens its doors for dia- nel that has nothing to do with As for our brothers in Bahrain, By reading the joint statement mechanisms to the countries logue on all issues. It has noth- Qatar. This is a well-known fact. I do not want to talk about their of the three countries, one can- concerned. However, everything ambassadors or ing to hide; it does not need to Now what about some Gulf media decision to recall their ambassador not point out a specific accusation done by Kuwait was annulled to level accusations delay discussion on any issue. The that keep attacking Qatar day and in Doha. levelled against Qatar, one that the surprise of everybody attend- country is ready to put forward night? What about some official This is a sensitive juncture in can justify their strange decision. ing the Riyadh meeting, while new at one another. all issues for discussion by all Gulf personalities who take over the history of the GCC. It requires The statement can at the least be mechanisms and conditions were Gulf people. It is more than ready senior positions in their coun- integration and unity so that we called “ambiguous” and “unspe- presented. Why didn’t the “great” to open dialogue on these issues tries, then attack Qatar, and can overcome the challenges we cific”. It talks about security and statement of the three Gulf coun- because it has self-confidence. It abuse rights of the neighbour? face. We were hoping that we the need to preserve it, but it does tries refer to this? Is it enough Gulf governments should offer to has full confidence in the impor- Why does anybody not talk about would mark the 34rd anniver- not mention one single act by that the statement mention only their people. We were hoping that tance of dialogue with everybody these things? sary of the establishment of the Qatar that merits a problem with truncated truths? rivalry among Gulf governments because it does not have any “pho- Qatar has refrained from react- GCC next May while we are more the country. Why did the state- The crux of the matter is that would be about this, not to let our bias” in relation to anyone. ing to these silly things over the united and stronger so that we can ment not mention steps taken by the whole thing is not about an difference of opinion on issues that Qatar’s relations with all par- years. It refused to be drawn into be up to regional and international Qatar that threatened security, if intra-Gulf dispute. It is rather fall outside the GCC affect cordial ties are clear. Nobody can claim this. It even refused to show anger groupings. This is why the latest there are any? an intra-Gulf dispute over things relations in this way. that Qatar is taking sides. Those or make a statement expressing decisions astonish. Are these deci- The statement, which was that fall outside the boundaries Why should we be mere copies who claim that Qatar supports condemnation. It rather continued sions timely? written in the dark of the night, of the GCC. Qatar’s statement in of each other? Why should every- the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to say that views expressed in Gulf God knows that the people and then talks about the Gulf security this regard referred to this clearly body leave his stamp on our foreign have forgotten that Qatar had media are part of the freedom of the leadership of Qatar wish noth- agreement. It, however, did not and in all transparency. The state- positions, even as these positions backed the Egyptian revolution speech the people who expressed ing but dignity and welfare for mention what exactly the three ment said: “There is no relation- – or at least they should – do not since its earliest days. These peo- them are entitled to. It at the same every citizen and every leadership countries want from the agree- ship between the move taken by affect matters at the level of the ple have forgotten that the Father time gave readers and viewers the in the Gulf. Qatar works to make ment so that people of the Gulf the brothers in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf? Differences of opinion are a Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin opportunity to realise the role these things a reality, dedicating region are not left in the dark. UAE and Bahrain and the inter- healthy thing. They happen inside Khalifa Al Thani visited Cairo only of the media. It did not want to every thought and offering sup- The security of the Gulf is at ests of people of the Gulf, their any system. What happens inside three months after the success of impose any restrictions on people’s port for them in cooperation with the heart of Qatar’s interests. It security or stability. It all boils the European Union proves this. the revolution. That was in May minds. other GCC countries. is the preoccupation of its leaders. down to positions on issues that European Union member coun- 2011. He met with the head of the Not all the claims made about We have hopes that we can Qatar is a country that strives to fall outside the GCC”. tries adopt different foreign poli- then ruling Supreme Council of Qatar are founded on facts. They overcome the current “cloud” preserve the security and stabil- This is the reality. To be accu- cies towards various issues. This the Armed Forces Field Marshal are nothing more than newspaper because we believe that we have ity of the Gulf and the welfare of rate, the difference of opinion is difference, however, does not make Hussein Tantawi. clippings, which do not even come a common history and a common its people. It also works hard to focused on the situation in Egypt. them recall their ambassadors or Two months later in June 2011, from decent newspapers. fate. Our bond cannot be broken bolster ties among the members Every country has its own view level accusations at one another. then Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Some people talk about Qatar’s under any circumstances. of the Gulf family. These are facts and position. Even with this, “Qatar acts solely and in iso- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani vis- support to the Shia Houthi group. Qatar will continue to preserve that need no words for expression. why should we destroy the GCC lation from everybody else,” has ited Cairo and met Tantawi. The But how can anybody believe this? its principles and values. It will Qatar’s stance on these issues is as because of a difference of opinion already turned into everybody’s Muslim Brotherhood had not Two months ago, Qatar offered the never bow to anybody or compro- clear as daylight. No country or on some files that do not serve mantra. Yes, Qatar has its own appeared on Egypt’s political stage Yemeni government $350m in aid. mise these values or principles, personality in the Gulf can deny the interests of people of the convictions on which it builds its then. Qatar presented financial It also pledged to launch several which it inherited from fathers these facts. Gulf? We were hoping that there own positions. It derives these support for the Egyptian people. development projects in different and grandfathers. We will pass We can all recall an announce- would be real discussion, while positions from its principles and This continued to happen even areas in Yemen in order to support these values and principles to our ment by the Bahraini Interior our difference of views would values. It cannot stay away from after the military coup; it contin- the people of this dear country. children and grandchildren with Ministry in November 2011 which focus on the quality of services these, regardless of the problems ued to send natural gas shipments Some people talk about full pride. Qatar supports the Gulf line without diktats

he least that can be said cabinet statement confirmed found an opportunity to attack his deep malice by saying that about the sudden with- Qatar’s keenness on fraternal KHALED ABDULLAH AL ZEYARA Qatar and mulled over widening the withdrawal of ambassadors drawal of ambassadors ties between Qatari people and the rift by claiming what they from Qatar by Arab states will Tof friendly countries people of other Gulf countries thought about Qatar, the coun- be the straw that breaks the —Saudi Arabia, the UAE and — this is what prevents Qatar try that blinded them with its camel’s back. Bahrain —from Doha, is that it is from taking a similar measure, huge achievements. Hassan Naf’a, a professor an unprecedented development namely withdrawing its ambas- Qatar took on major powers of Political Science at Cairo in Gulf relations. sadors from these states. The and pulled the rug from under University, who does not shy This was done on the pretext statement added that this move the feet of many larger friendly from telling lies, said that with- that Qatar did not stop support- adopted by friendly states has states, which claimed to be great drawing the three ambassa- ing “hostile media”and backing nothing to do with the interests, and treated other countries with dors from Qatar is like cutting what has been described by the security and stability of the peo- arrogance. What matters for water and air from this small- Gulf states as “intervention ple of the Gulf. these states is to maintain their sized country. In the same con- in internal affairs”. Moreover, The prologue of the friendly positions which tend now to be text, Egyptian journalist and Qatar did not stop backing eve- states’ joint statement was wobbly. Some people have shown writer Farida Al Shobashy, who rything that threatens “security marred by fallacies. It was full ill intentions by fishing in trou- recently converted to Islam, said and stability in GCC member of sentiments, which cannot bled waters and harbouring evil that Arab states gave a strong states” through security or polit- deceive the wise. for us. They seized the oppor- blow to Qatar. ical action. The statement addressed the tunity of the dispute between A call to our nervous Gulf These positions have been issue of adhering to the princi- brothers to sow the seeds of sedi- brothers: You have to be care- taken over issues taking place ples, which ensure non-inter- tion by using their lethal ‘written ful of the sedition because it is outside GCC borders. They do ference in the internal affairs of weapons.’ They attacked Qatar asleep and God damns those who not require the furore and ten- any GCC country. by writing what typically belongs wake it up. Be careful, those who sion, which culminated in the Besides, the statement settled to them because they, and those clap for you today will laugh at recall of envoys. the stance of these states, say- like them, are hypocrites. you tomorrow. May God keep The Qatari response to this ing it is a result of realizing on and stability. withdrawing their ambassadors Mention should be made of you safe! escalation from friendly states their own part the magnitude Those who seek to harm from Doha. Egyptian writer and profes- was calm and balanced. The of challenges the region is going the region cheered and wel- Those people have made the sor of Political Science Gehad The views expressed in the articles on this Qatari cabinet expressed Qatar’s through that forced the three comed the rift, which the three incident look bigger and fabri- Auda, a prominent member of page do not reflect the viewpoint of the regret and surprise at the countries to take the action they friendly countries have caused as cated issues that were brew- the Egypt-disbanded National newspaper. friendly states’ statement. The deem fit to protect their security they escalated the situation by ing in their sick minds. They Democratic Party. He revealed THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Crimea annexation: World powers warn Russia Ukraine vows not to fight Russia

KIEV: Leading world powers states,” said the statement from in the Group of Seven warned countries accounting for more yesterday against Russia’s than 60 percent of global wealth. “annexation” of Crimea as the EU foreign ministers are now Ukrainian premier prepared expected to discuss punitive to seek US President Barack measures against senior Russian Obama’s help against the officials at a meeting in Brussels Kremlin’s expansionist threat. on Monday. The first meeting between The 28-nation bloc’s leaders Obama and Ukrainian Prime will then meet for a March 20-21 Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk summit that German Chancellor comes with the nation on the Angela Merkel said could wit- EU’s eastern border in danger ness the signing of an historic of breaking apart when the pre- EU-Ukraine accord whose rejec- dominantly ethnic Russian region tion by ousted president Viktor holds a Moscow-backed referen- Yanukovych in November sparked dum on Sunday on switching over the deadly protests against his rule. to Kremlin rule. “We agreed to sign the political Ukraine’s acting President part of the association agreement Oleksandr Turchynov said his with Ukraine as soon as possible, heavily outnumbered army would probably at the next EU summit,” never try to seize back the Black Merkel said. Sea peninsula from Russian Washington said Moscow troops who made their land grab could still avoid punishments if days after the February 22 ouster it showed a willingness to soften in Kiev of pro-Kremlin leader its stance on Crimea during talks Viktor Yanukovich. “We cannot in London on Friday between US launch a military operation in Secretary of State John Kerry Crimea, as we would expose the and Russian Foreign Minister eastern border and Ukraine would Sergei Lavrov. not be protected,” Turchynov said “We will offer certain choices in an interview with AFP. to Foreign Minister Lavrov and But Turchynov also said through him President Putin in Russian President Vladimir Putin the hopes, and I think the hopes had so far resisted intense inter- of the world, that we will be able national pressure and refused to find a way forward,” Kerry told all contacts with Kiev aimed at lawmakers. A woman holds a placard reading “I am Russian. My homeland is Ukraine and I love her” during a rally at the Russian consulate in the Black Sea Ukrainian resolving the worst breakdown Russia’s first military involve- city of Odessa yesterday. in East-West relations since the ment in a neighbouring nation Cold War. since its brief 2008 war with But the European Union — “unacceptable” but said there March 21 to consider legislation legitimacy of the new Ukrainian Putin’s growing diplomatic Georgia has sparked an explosive its financial and energy sec- was still time to prevent a “dan- to simplify the procedure under government,” White House isolation intensified when the security crisis and exposed previ- tors much more dependent on gerous” escalation. which Moscow can annex a part spokesman Jay Carney told Group of Seven (G7) industr- ous rifts between Western allies Russia than those of the United Yet the international commu- of another country that has reporters. ialised nations issued a joint call over ways to deal with Putin’s States — has only threatened nity’s almost unanimous rejection proclaimed independence — as Yatsenyuk will also use the on Russia “to cease all efforts to undisguised efforts to rebuild ves- tougher measures after taking of the referendum’s legitimacy Crimean lawmakers did Tuesday. chance to iron out details of a change the status of Crimea con- tiges of the Soviet state. the lighter step of suspending has done little to slow Russia’s The White House is leaving $35bn aid package he says his trary to Ukrainian law and in vio- Washington has already free travel and broad economic attempt to redraw Europe’s post- no doubt about the message it nation’s teetering economy needs lation of international law”. imposed travel bans and asset treaty talks. war borders by absorbing a region intends to send to Russia with to stay afloat over the coming two “The annexation of Crimea freezes on Russians held respon- French President Francois that was handed to Ukraine as a the visit of Yatsenyuk — a premier years after being mismanaged by could have grave implications sible for violating the territorial Hollande told Putin in a phone “gift” when it was still a Soviet Moscow considers illegitimate. Yanukovych — now living in self- for the legal order that protects integrity of the culturally splin- conversation that any annex- republic in 1954. “We strongly support Ukraine, imposed exile in Russia. the unity and sovereignty of all tered nation of 46 million people. ation of Crimea would be Russia’s parliament is due on the Ukrainian people and the AFP

Pistorius smashed South Africa Italy approves new rebukes Rwanda toilet door with over attacks on bat, expert says electoral law ROME: Italy’s lower house of to include ¤10bn ($13.87bn) in exiled opponents PRETORIA: Double amputee Oscar Pistorius was parliament approved a new elec- income tax cuts for low earn- standing on his stumps when he smashed down toral law aimed at ensuring more ers and more flexible employ- CAPE TOWN: South Africa a locked toilet door to reach his shot girlfriend, a stable governments yesterday, ment rules to boost job creation, delivered a diplomatic slap to South African police forensic expert said yesterday, giving a boost to Prime Minister are intended to give a lift to a Rwanda yesterday, warning countering the Paralympic star’s assertion he was Matteo Renzi as he prepares to national mood darkened by two it would not tolerate “crimi- wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. unveil a fresh package of tax cuts years of recession and record nal” attacks on its soil against Wielding the cricket bat in his hands, police colo- and economic reforms. unemployment. Rwandan exiles that have nel Johannes Vermeulen knelt down before swinging The reform, aimed at pre- “On April 27, there will be drawn international criticism it at the wooden door in a court reconstruction to venting a repeat of last year’s another ¤100 in pay packets,” of President Paul Kagame’s show the angle of the marks and to suggest they deadlocked election by favour- Renzi was quoted as saying by the government. could only have been made by someone much shorter ing bigger parties and stronger La Repubblica daily. Issuing a “stern warning” than him. The 27-year-old track star is charged coalitions, must now go to the The electoral reform is not against such activities, Justice with the murder of model and law graduate Reeva Senate where it is likely to directly connected with the eco- Minister Jeff Radebe said Steenkamp, whom he shot through the locked toilet face additional amendments nomic measures. But Renzi, who Pretoria had evidence link- door on Valentine’s Day last year. from Renzi’s own centre-left took office last month after oust- ing recent attacks by gunmen Prosecutors want to prove that it was premedi- Democratic Party (PD). ing his party colleague Enrico against exiled critics of Kagame tated killing, but Pistorius says he was defending Replacing the widely criticised Letta, has promised an ambitious to three Rwandan diplomats and himself from what he thought was an intruder who electoral system, parts of which timetable of reforms and he could one Burundian envoy who were had broken into his gated-community home in the have been ruled unconstitutional ill afford any significant delay on expelled last week. But he offered capital of the crime-ridden country. by Italy’s highest court, has a measure he has promised for no details. At his bail hearing last year, Pistorius justified been seen as a test of 39-year- months. “Thanks to the depu- In retaliation, Rwanda expelled shooting because of the extreme vulnerability he old Renzi’s ability to pass wider ties. They’ve shown we can really six South African diplomats on South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius sits felt because of his disability. However, in his affidavit reforms to help pull Italy out of change Italy. Politics 1-Defeatism Friday, straining ties between he stated that he had put on his prostheses before in the dock during day 8 of his murder trial at the High its worst economic slump since 0,” he tweeted after the vote. two African states which have smashing down the door. Court in Pretoria, South Africa, yesterday. World War Two. The electoral law sets higher been involved, in differing ways, Vermeulen disagreed. “The marks on the door are Renzi, who reached an accord minimum thresholds for entry to in recent conflict in eastern actually consistent with him not having his legs on and shown in court, as well as scuffs on the bat auto- with centre-right leader Silvio parliament, which will reduce the Democratic Republic of Congo. I suspect they must be similar to the height that he graphed by South African test cricketer Herschelle Berlusconi before the package number of smaller parties, and South Africa has troops in a UN was when he fired the shots,” he told the court. Defence Gibbs. Lead defence lawyer Roux later heaped came to parliament, pressed hard provides for a run-off round to brigade that fought last year advocate Barry Roux countered by suggesting that scorn on the state’s evidence, again accusing police for the bill to be approved before decide the winner if no coalition against Congo rebels whom UN even with his legs on, Pistorius would not be swinging of shoddy detective work, after Vermeulen testi- he presents his first concrete tax or party reaches a minimum of 37 experts said were backed by a bat at the same height as an able-bodied person. fied that police reassembled the broken door with a cuts since taking office. percent of the vote. Rwanda. Kigali has denied this. Close-up photographs of the damaged door were temporary adhesive. REUTERS Economic reforms, expected REUTERS Rwanda’s ambassador to South Africa said Pretoria had shown no proof of Kigali’s involvement in the attacks against exiled oppo- nents. Kagame’s government has accused South Africa of shelter- ing “dissidents responsible for French govt on defensive over Sarkozy phone-taps terrorist acts in Rwanda”. “As the South African gov- PARIS: France’s justice minister yes- did know of the surveillance. The opposi- legal in the face of fierce street protests. him in 2012, has denied all wrongdoing. ernment, we want to send a terday defied calls for her to quit after it tion then called for Taubira to resign. Despite Ayrault’s comments supporting The inquiry is still at a stage that remains very stern warning to anybody, emerged that she knew former President But the justice minister, in a hastily Taubira, the affair has put Hollande’s gov- secret under French legal procedure, pre- anywhere in the world, that our Nicolas Sarkozy’s phone was being arranged appearance at a regular news ernment on the defensive. cluding comment from investigating judges. country will not be used as a tapped, apparently contradicting an ear- briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting, No details of the conversations between springboard to do illegal activi- lier statement from her. rejected those demands, saying she had MID-TERM TEST Sarkozy and his lawyer that were under ties,” Radebe told a news briefing Sarkozy’s opposition conservatives accuse been misunderstood. The opposition UMP party had itself surveillance have been made public. in Cape Town. But he added the the government of using the surveillance, “I did not have and do not have infor- been on the back foot over accusations of French voters go to the polls on March 23 two countries were maintaining ordered as part of a party funding inquiry, to mation on the date, length and content of irregular party funding by its leader Jean- and 30 to elect new city mayors in the first diplomatic relations. discredit them before this month’s local elec- the surveillance,” she said, adding that she Francois Cope — which he denies — and major mid-term test of Hollande’s popularity The row followed a raid by tions in which President Francois Hollande’s “could have been more precise” in her ini- leaked audio tapes revealing tensions in its since he took office in May 2012. His poll rat- armed men early last week against Socialists risk losing ground. tial statement. “No, I did not lie,” she said. leadership during the Sarkozy era. ings are at record lows for failing to reduce the Johannesburg home of former Justice Minister Christiane Taubira dis- “No, I will not resign.” Investigators launched the phone-tap- unemployment and start turning around the Rwandan army chief General missed that accusation on Monday, say- Ayrault gave his support to Taubira as he ping last year after allegations that the euro zone’s second-largest economy. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, an ing she had not been informed about the emerged from the cabinet meeting minutes late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had Christian Jacob, parliamentary speaker exiled critic of Kagame, who also phone-tapping before Le Monde newspaper later, telling reporters: “She has her place funded Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign, a for the conservative UMP party, said the survived an assassination attempt revealed it last week. in the government.” legal case that could yet cloud any political government’s admission that it was aware in South Africa in 2010. He was Barely 24 hours later, Prime Minister Taubira, a favourite of the French left, come-back by the 59-year-old. of the phone-tapping was “extremely seri- not at home at the time of last Jean-Marc Ayrault acknowledged on televi- came to prominence last year for pushing Sarkozy, who has hinted he may run for ous” and demanded an emergency session week’s attack. sion late on Tuesday that he and Taubira through laws making same-sex marriages president in 2017 after Hollande ousted of parliament on the matter. REUTERS REUTERS THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Court rules Labour makes against gag on letters from in-out EU vote Prince Charles

LONDON: The possible publi- cation of potentially embarrass- ing letters written by British less likely heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles moved a step closer yesterday when a gagging order Party for reforms from within on them was declared unlawful by a court. LONDON: A future Labour Miliband said Cameron’s The 27 letters were written by government is unlikely to hold Conservative party had a “dam- Charles to members of the pre- a referendum on Britain’s mem- aging obsession” with Europe that vious Labour government and bership of the European Union was spooking businesses. The have been described by Attorney this decade, party leader Ed Labour party, by contrast, wanted General Dominic Grieve as “par- Miliband pledged yesterday. to work for reform from within ticularly frank.” In a political gamble that low- the 28-member bloc. The 65-year-old prince has long ered the chances of Britain leav- The 44-year-old Labour leader held strong views in areas like the ing the bloc, Miliband, who would is gambling that Conservative environment and urban planning be prime minister if Labour wins focus and divisions over Europe and has been criticised for appar- the 2015 election, said he would will turn voters off Cameron in ently using his unelected position only hold an in-out vote if there 2015 and that Labour’s referen- to persuade ministers to change were to be substantial transfers of dum pledge will please business official policies through private powers from London to Brussels. which has criticised Labour for letters, nicknamed “black-spider That is unlikely at this its tax and energy policies. memos” because of his scrawled stage, particularly since future Miliband, whose party cur- New York City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of an explosion and building collapse at Park Avenue and handwriting. European political and economic rently leads in opinion polls, said East 116th Street yesterday. Grieve, the government’s integration would probably come Cameron’s “arbitrary” timetable chief legal adviser, has blocked within the euro zone, of which for an EU vote would distract from an attempt by the left-leaning Britain is not a member. dealing with Britain’s economic Two killed, 18 hurt in NY building Guardian newspaper to have the Miliband’s pledge, appearing challenges and that Cameron had letters made public under free- first in the Financial Times news- no support in European capitals dom of information laws. paper and later to be outlined in for his renegotiation. He has said that any perception a speech, contrasts sharply with Cameron, who is under pres- collapse triggered by gas leak that Charles had disagreed with current Prime Minister David sure from eurosceptics in his the previous government of Tony Cameron’s promise to try to Conservative party and the anti- NEW YORK: A gas leak was “There is a tremendous amount of firefighters were on site with Blair “would be seriously damag- reach a new settlement with the EU UK Independence Party, says responsible for a major explo- anxiety, but suffice it to say that emergency service vans and fire ing to his role as future monarch EU before holding an in/out vote Britain can reshape its EU ties, sion that destroyed two build- every effort is being expended to trucks, as a dense white column because, if he forfeits his posi- by the end of 2017. though he has so far garnered ings in Manhattan yesterday, locate each and every one of these of smoke spewed into the sky next tion of political neutrality as heir “I am announcing that the next only limited backing for his plans killing two people and injuring (missing) individuals,” he said. to the Metro-North railway line. to the throne, he cannot easily Labour government will legislate among fellow leaders. “Only the 18 others, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said there was a “very A spokesman for energy com- recover it when he is king”. for a new lock: there would be no Conservative Party can guaran- de Blasio said. heavy impact” on buildings that pany Con Edison told local TV Yesterday the Appeal Court transfer of powers from the UK tee and deliver that in-out refer- “Today at approximately surrounded the two that col- channel NY 1 that it got a call ruled that Grieve’s ban on pub- to the EU without a referendum endum,” said Cameron, who has 9.30am, there was a major explo- lapsed, and that 250 firefighters from the building alerting them lication was unlawful but gave on our continued membership of charged that Labour is afraid of sion that destroyed two buildings. were attempting to extinguish a to a possible gas leak at 9:13 am, him permission to appeal to the the EU,” Miliband wrote in the giving British voters the chance to The explosion was based on a gas heavy blaze that broke out. shortly before the blast. Local resi- Supreme Court. newspaper. “There are no cur- have their say on Europe. leak,” de Blasio told reporters at All the details he had were pre- dents also spoke of smelling gas in “We are very disappointed by rent proposals — from either the Cameron’s Liberal Democrat the scene. liminary, the mayor emphasised, the area. But Con Edison stopped the decision of the Court,” it said EU or any member state — for a coalition partners are outspokenly A number of individuals are and simply the “best information short of confirming that the explo- in a statement. “We will be pur- further transfer of powers from pro-EU and would have no prob- still missing, de Blasio confirmed, we have at this moment.” sion had been caused by a gas leak. suing an appeal to the Supreme Britain,” he said. “It is unlikely lem with Labour’s position if they sparking fears that the death toll “From what we know now, the “Obviously what we see is Court in order to protect the there will be any such proposals were in a future coalition with it. could yet rise further, but he cau- only indication of danger came something that would be consist- important principles which are in the next parliament.” Miliband used the waving tioned that some of those miss- about 15 minutes earlier when a ent (with a gas leak) but we can’t at stake in this case.” By offering only a distant and of Europe’s azure-and-golden- ing could simply be safe elsewhere gas leak was reported to (energy say at this point what caused (the Prime Minister David Cameron conditional referendum, Miliband starred-flag by some Ukrainian and out of contact. company) Con Edison,” de Blasio explosion),” the spokesman told is backing Grieve’s efforts to ban is seeking to turn Cameron’s protesters in Kiev to argue that “This is a tragedy of the worst told reporters. NY1. “It was an explosion and a publication. “It is important to EU strategy against the ruling voters should not forget the kind, because there was no indica- Mainline train services in and building collapsed,” a spokesman preserve confidentiality of com- Conservatives: Miliband is betting European Union symbolised peace tion in time to save people. We know out of Grand Central terminal for New York Police Department munications between the mon- that Europe is much less of an and prosperity for many after we have lost two people already. We were suspended as a result of the told AFP. Scores of firefighters arch and the heir to the throne,” issue than the economy for most centuries of European strife. know at this moment, preliminar- incident next to its tracks. were dispatched to the scene. his spokesman said yesterday. British voters. REUTERS ily, 18 are injured,” the mayor said. Hundreds of police and AGENCIES REUTERS

England brings in Chinese NSA has industrial scale malware for spying, says report WASHINGTON: The National classified documents provided by through traditional wiretaps but Greenwald was among the first cases the NSA has used a decoy teachers to boost Security Agency has developed former NSA contractor Edward that the NSA has expanded this journalists to publish documents Facebook server to infect a tar- malware that allows it to collect Snowden. to “industrial scale,” according to leaked by Snowden describing the get’s computer and exfiltrate files. data automatically from mil- It said the surveillance tech- the documents. vast surveillance programs of the It said the malware can also maths grades lions of computers worldwide, nology allows the NSA to infect The automated system code- NSA and other intelligence serv- covertly record audio from a a report based on leaked docu- potentially millions of comput- named TURBINE expands the ices, sparking a massive outcry. computer’s microphone and take LONDON: England, the home ments showed yesterday. ers worldwide with malware ability to gather intelligence with Yesterday’s report said the cov- snapshots with its webcam. of some of the world’s elite The report co-authored by “implants” which can help the less human oversight, according ert infrastructure that supports The Intercept said the malware schools and universities, is call- former Guardian reporter Glenn agency extract data from overseas to the report. TURBINE operates from the has been in existence since 2004 ing in maths teachers from Greenwald for the online news Internet and phone networks. The report was the first by NSA headquarters in Maryland, but that the automated program China to help boost standards site The Intercept said the pro- The report by Greenwald Greenwald based on leaked docu- and from eavesdropping bases in expanding its use appears to have after scoring poorly in inter- gram has dramatically expanded and reporter Ryan Gallagher ments since he joined First Look Britain and Japan and that the begun in 2010. national rankings, officials the US spy agency’s ability to cov- said these implants were once Media, an organization backed British intelligence agency GCHQ The malware can be installed in announced yesterday. ertly hack into computers on a reserved for a few hundred hard- by tech entrepreneur Pierre appears to have played an impor- as little as eight seconds, accord- Up to 60 English-speaking mass scale. to-reach targets whose commu- Omidyar that includes The tant role in the effort. ing to the documents. teachers from cities such as The report is based on nications could not be monitored Intercept. The report said that in some AFP Shanghai will work in a number of specialist schools from September to demonstrate their teach- ing methods to local staff, the Department for Education said. Shanghai topped the PISA Build me a face in 3D: international league table pub- lished in December by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Briton’s life transformed (OECD), while Britain languished in 26th place. LONDON: A British man who In order to try to restore the As part of an exchange pro- suffered horrific facial injuries symmetry of his face, the surgi- gramme, a similar number of in a motorbike accident has had cal team used CT scans to create English staff will spend at least pioneering surgery to rebuild and print a symmetrical model of a month in Chinese schools to his face using 3D printed parts. Power’s scan. see how teachers there cope Stephen Power from Cardiff in It then cut guides and printed with struggling pupils and other Wales is thought to be one of the plates to match the CT scan. problems. first trauma patients in the world The surgical team had to re- Based on an assessment of the to have a procedure in which 3D fracture Power’s cheekbones, fol- abilities of 15-year-olds, Britain’s printing was used at every stage. lowing the cutting guides, before score was the same as the OECD The 29-year-old suffered multi- remodelling the face. average and ahead of the United ple trauma injuries in an accident A titanium implant, printed in States and many EU nations, but in 2012. Despite wearing a crash Belgium, was then used to hold they were all outshone by Asian helmet, his top jaw, nose and both the bones in place. nations. cheek bones were broken and he Power said the results were Education minister Elizabeth fractured his skull. “totally life changing”. He wore Truss visited China last month, Surgeons said that by using 3D a hat and glasses to hide his inju- and said the new exchange pro- printing techniques, much of the ries before the operation, but gramme should help drive up guesswork was removed from the said he felt transformed imme- maths standards. reconstruction of the face. diately after the surgery. “I could “Good maths qualifications The result is a face that is see the difference straight away have the greatest earnings poten- remarkably similar to Power’s the day I woke up,” Power told tial and provide the strongest before the accident. the BBC. protection against unemploy- The team at Morriston “I’m hoping I won’t have to dis- ment,” Truss said. “High-quality Hospital in Wales’ second city, guise myself—I won’t have to hide maths teaching is an essential Swansea, used CT scans to cre- away. I’ll be able to do day-to-day part of that and this collabora- ate and print a symmetrical 3D things, go and see people, walk in tive, teacher-led programme is a model of his skull, followed by the street, even go to any public fantastic opportunity for us.” A combination of images shows 3D models of the face of British man Stephen Power used in the development cutting guides and plates printed areas.” AFP and planning of his facial reconstruction surgery. to match. AFP THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA Third sighting adds to confusion Officials suggest missing flight may have been spotted on military radar 200 miles north-west of Penang

BEIJING: The international are facing growing criticism about when it was flying over the South government’s envoy to China told hunt for the missing Malaysia muddled and sometimes contra- China Sea, between Malaysia and them now was “not the time” to Airlines flight MH370 expanded dictory briefings. China’s foreign Vietnam. Subsequent readings reveal it, Singapore’s Straits Times to cover 27,000 square nautical ministry spokesman Qin Gang come from military radars which reported. miles yesterday as a third poten- said: “Right now there is a lot of can detect civilian planes but do He did disclose that the last tial last sighting added to the information, and it’s pretty cha- not communicate with them, words heard from the flight were: confusion over its movements. otic, so up to this point we too meaning that they cannot identify “All right, good night” – the crew’s India became the 12th country have had difficulty confirming a particular flight. response to Malaysian air traffic to say it would join the search, whether [detection over the strait On Tuesday, it was reported controllers telling them the flight indicating how far north the of Malacca] is accurate or not.” that the Malaysian air force chief was entering Vietnamese airspace operation had been extended. Vietnamese officials had said said the plane had been detected and that air traffic controllers from The plane was heading north- they were calling off their air at 2.40am close to Pulau Perak, Ho Chi Minh City would take over. east to Beijing when it took off search and scaling back their sea an island in the strait of Malacca Two-thirds of those on board from Malaysia in the early hours search pending further informa- – meaning it had not only turned the Boeing-777 were Chinese, of Saturday morning. Officials tion from Malaysia, but have since back but flown right across the and China has repeatedly urged have said it may have turned announced they will resume a peninsula. Rodzali Daud sub- Malaysia to speed up search efforts around and headed back to Kuala full-scale search. sequently denied making that as well as sending more ships and Lumpur when it was lost. Malaysia’s transport minister, comment, but it is not clear if aircraft to assist. It is under pres- Yesterday, in a new twist to Hishammuddin Hussein, told the authorities are discounting sure as public concern grows about the mystery, officials suggested reporters: “With each day that the possible presence of MH370 the state of the operation, and rel- the plane may have been detected passes, I fear search and rescue over the strait or simply cannot atives have already vented their on military radar at 2.15am on becomes just search – but we will confirm it. frustration at Chinese officials. Saturday, 200 miles north-west never give up hope.” He insisted Experts stress it is far too early The Washington Post cited of Penang — a point which is not that authorities had been consist- to be certain what happened. If one popular post, which has been only west of the Malay peninsula, ent and transparent, adding: “It both the military radar spots are shared thousands of times by but so far north that it would be is only confusion if you want it to correct, then they could be con- Chinese microbloggers: “Vietnam beyond the coast of Thailand. It be seen to be confusion. We have sistent with the plane turning keeps discovering. Malaysia keeps was the third possible final time nothing to hide.” back and attempting to navigate denying. China keeps sending and location officials have given. Five days after Beijing-bound back to Kuala Lumpur along the things on the way. Journalists “We are not saying this is MH370 disappeared on Saturday, west coast of the peninsula. keep waiting at the Lido hotel MH370. It’s an unidentified plot,” questions regarding its final Earlier, pressed by relatives [where relatives are waiting]. said air force chief Rodzali Daud moments have if anything multi- of Chinese passengers on what Family members keep being in at a press conference in Kuala plied. The last certain contact with information the military had pain … But where is the plane?” Lumpur. Malaysian authorities the plane was at around 1.30am, given civil officials, the Malaysian THE GUARDIAN FAA warned of snags on Boeing 777s

WASHINGTON: Months loss of structural integrity of the antenna adapter”. “This AD before Malaysia Airlines flight aeroplane,” the Federal Aviation requires repetitive inspections MH370 mysteriously vanished, Administration said. of the visible fuselage skin and US regulators warned of a During a sudden drop in cabin doubler if installed, for cracking, “cracking and corrosion” prob- pressure, the crew and passengers corrosion, and any indication of lem on Boeing 777s that could can become unconscious, leav- contact of a certain fastener to a lead to a mid-air breakup and ing no one at the controls of the bonding jumper, and repair if nec- drastic drop in cabin pressure. affected aircraft. essary,” it added. The FAA said an The revelation comes amid a The FAA circulated a draft estimated 120 US registered air- desperate search for traces of the of the directive warning of the craft are affected by the directive. plane with 239 people on board, cracking and corrosion problem A supporting document accom- which lost contact with air traffic on September 26, 2013. panying the directive indicates control at around 1730 GMT on A final directive was issued that one unidentified operator Friday, about an hour after take- March 5, three days before the reported a “16-inch crack” of the off from Kuala Lumpur en route Malaysia Airlines jet disappeared. fuselage skin in an aircraft that to Beijing. The FAA directive is to take effect was 14 years old. Boeing per- “We are issuing this AD on April 9. formed a “metallurgical fracture (Airworthiness Directive) to detect The FAA said it was “prompted analysis” of the affected section A woman writes messages of support and hope for the passengers of the missing plane at Kuala Lumpur and correct cracking and corrosion by a report of cracking in the of the fuselage skin, according to International Airport yesterday. in the fuselage skin, which could fuselage skin underneath the sat- the document. lead to rapid decompression and ellite communication (SATCOM) AFP Japan premier seeks trilateral Class action suit filed against Nine arrested for stabbing summit with South Korea, US TOKYO: Japan is trying to arrange a trilateral summit with Tokyo’s nuclear South Korea and the United States for this month, a govern- Hong Kong newspaper editor ment official said yesterday, in a bid to thaw Tokyo’s frozen relations with Seoul. Seoul appears cool to the idea of a meet- plant suppliers HONG KONG: Police in Hong degree of autonomy and freedom, to do with Lau’s journalistic work. ing of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean Kong and China have arrested but Beijing’s Communist Party Suspicions had spread that President Park Geun-hye and US President Barack Obama on TOKYO: A class action law- nine men with suspected links leaders have resisted public pres- powerful individuals from main- the sidelines of a global nuclear-security summit in the Hague, suit against nuclear suppli- to organised crime for the stab- sure for full democracy. land China or pro-Beijing allies Netherlands, on March 24-25. Japan hopes that with mutual ers General Electric, Toshiba bing of a prominent Hong Kong Two men had been arrested in opposed to the city’s push for ally Obama in the room, Park would be willing to sit down and Hitachi has ballooned to journalist, the territory’s chief China, and seven in Hong Kong full democracy may have been face-to-face with Abe, something the Japanese leader has more than 4,000 claimants who of police said yesterday, an in connection with the attack on involved in the attack. The two sought unsuccessfully since he took office 15 months ago. Abe are seeking damages over the attack that was seen by many Kevin Lau, a former editor of the men were arrested in China’s has visited the leaders of all 10 Southeast Asian nations and Fukushima atomic disaster, the as an assault on press freedom. respected Ming Pao newspaper, Guangdong province by Chinese met five times with Russia’s president but has yet to meet one- lead lawyer said yesterday. Thousands of protesters who was seriously wounded. police, with whom Hong Kong on-one with the leaders of South Korea or China. Japan’s ties The claimants, hailing from dressed in black and wearing “We suspect the assailants were police have been co-operating with both neighbours have worsened over bilateral territorial Japan and 32 other countries blue ribbons, symbolizing press hired and they have a triad back- closely on the case, Tsang said. disputes and a feeling in Seoul and Beijing that Tokyo has not including the United States, freedom, marched in condem- ground,” said Andy Tsang, Hong Lau, speaking from his hospital atoned for its acts in World War Two. Germany and South Korea, want nation of the attack this month. Kong’s commissioner of police, bed where he’s now in stable con- the US and Japanese nuclear Protesters held up banners say- referring to Chinese organised dition, said earlier he hoped police Van crashes into wild elephant power plant suppliers to pay com- ing “They can’t kill us all” and criminal gangs. All nine were could crack the case swiftly “to pensation, lawyer Akihiro Shima “Protect press freedom”. Hong Kong residents. restore journalists’ confidence in told media in Tokyo. Hong Kong, a former British Tsang declined to give specific the rule of law”. Lau was stabbed in in Thailand province, six killed His comments came one day colony that returned to Chinese grounds for making the arrests, the back and legs several times by BANGKOK: Six people were killed in Thailand in a three-vehi- after the third anniversary of the rule in 1997, is a freewheeling but said preliminary inquiries a man in a helmet on February 26. cle accident when a van crashed into a wild elephant crossing world’s worst nuclear disaster in capitalist hub which enjoys a high suggested the attacks had nothing REUTERS a road in predawn darkness yesterday, a hospital official said. a generation. The filing — which All four occupants of the van, including a Singaporean man, asks for a largely symbolic 100 yen were killed when the van crashed into the elephant and then per claimant — was described by veered off the road, police said. Two people died in a car that Shima as the first lawsuit to be North Korean leader visits Central Zoo rammed into a truck that had stopped at the scene. “The ele- brought against nuclear power- phant came down from the mountain where there’s drought so plant suppliers over the 2011 it was probably searching for food,” said police officer Teerawat accident. Permwattanachaikul in the eastern province of Rayong. “You It alleges that the firms did not can’t really see elephants at night because their colour is so dim.” make necessary safety updates The elephant, part of a group of three, was badly hurt and later to the stricken site, which was died, Teerawat said. swamped by an earthquake- sparked tsunami. Embattled plant Sri Lanka’s baby jumbo won’t fly operator Tokyo Electric Power is facing massive lawsuits and com- COLOMBO: Sri Lanka stopped a baby elephant from being given pensation costs. as a gift to South Korea after discovering it was born on an auspi- “General Electric, Toshiba cious day, a minister said yesterday . The baby “Dinu Daa”—mean- and Hitachi failed to implement ing day of victory — was born on May 18, 2009, the same day troops safety improvements to the four- killed Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, ending the coun- decades old boiling water reactors try’s civil war. “There is a special significance of this baby ele- at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power phant. It is a symbol of our victory,” Special Projects Minister S plant,” a statement issued yester- M Chandrasena told reporters here. President Mahinda Rajapakse day alleged. decided to stop the elephant being flown to South Korea after he “The lawsuit is intended to was told about it’s birth date, minister Chandrasena said. Dinu Daa bring attention to the system was born at the country’s main Pinnawala elephant orphanage. It that protects the nuclear indus- shelters over 80 elephants, most of which were abandoned or sepa- try around the world,” it added. rated from their herds when they were babies. Many have also The lawsuit was first filed in been born at the orphanage and the offspring are sometimes given Tokyo District Court in January A picture released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) yesterday shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as gifts to Buddhist temples to be paraded during annual pageants with just over 1,000 claimants, but visiting the Central Zoo, where projects are under way to build new buildings and remodel the existing ones. or sent abroad as presents. many more have joined as word AGENCIES has spread. AFP THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Govt airdrops supplies to troops on shoal US troubled by China’s blockage of Philippines ships, calls it ‘a provocative move that raises tensions’

MANILA: The Philippines air- Beijing claims Manila is trying to speak to the press. threat to the rights and interests blockage of the Philippines reefs and atolls that form the dropped food and water to sol- to start construction on the dis- “On Monday, we sent a navy of the Philippines”. ships at the outpost, calling it Spratlys, a group of 250 uninhab- diers stationed on a grounded puted reef after it ran aground Islander plane to drop food and Chinese foreign ministry “a provocative move that raises itable islets spread over 165,000 transport ship on the disputed an old transport ship in 1999 to water but it will only last a few spokesman Qin Gang said China tensions.” square miles, has set it directly Second Thomas Shoal, after mark its territory and stationed days. We really have to send back had called in Philippine diplo- “Pending resolution of com- against US allies Vietnam and China blocked two Filipino sup- marines on the ship. Manila the civilian boats. Since last year, mats in Beijing to lodge a protest peting claims in the South China the Philippines, while Brunei, ply ships from reaching the claims the Shoal is part of the we’ve been resupplying our troops in response. “The Philippines’ Sea, there should be no interfer- Malaysia and Taiwan also lay troops, a senior navy official Philippine’s continental shelf. using civilian ships to avoid con- motive in trying to illegally occupy ence with the efforts of claim- claim to parts of the South China said yesterday. “We only intend to improve frontation and this was the first Ren’ai reef and create incidents ants to maintain the status quo,” Sea. Chinese ships patrolling waters the conditions there, we have time China blocked them.” in the South China Sea is abun- US State Department spokes- The South China Sea provides around Second Thomas Shoal, no plans to expand or build per- On Tuesday, Manila summoned dantly clear. China calls on the woman Jen Psaki said in a state- 10 percent of the global fish catch, known in China as the Ren’ai reef, manent structures on the shoal,” the second highest Chinese Philippines to stop all its provoca- ment. She added that “freedom of carries $5tr in ship borne trade a on Sunday ordered the Philippine said a Philippines navy official, embassy official to handover its tive actions,” he added. navigation” in the area “must be year and its seabed is believed to ships carrying construction mate- who declined to be identified strong-worded protest, calling The United States said yes- maintained.” be rich with energy reserves. rials to leave the area. because he was not authorised the blockade “a clear and urgent terday it was troubled by China’s Beijing’s claim over islands, REUTERS

Seven die in Metro Manila blaze Philippines failed to act against torture: Amnesty International

MANILA: Amnesty letter highlighted the case of yesterday that Amnesty’s letter International criticised the ten police officers accused of came at a time when the country Philippine government yester- torturing prisoners for “fun” at is campaigning for a seat on the day for allegedly failing to crack a secret detention facility near UN Human Rights Council. down on torture committed Metro Manila. “We agree with the assess- by the security forces against The secret prison, where the ment of Amnesty International detained persons. officers were accused of spin- that the Philippine government “Impunity for torture and ning a “wheel of torture” to has yet to make concrete steps to other ill-treatment remains a decide what form of punishment eradicate the practice of torture,” critical human rights problem in they would inflict on detainees, Mark Cebreros, spokesman of the the Philippines,” London-based was shut down in January after commission, said. Amnesty charged in a letter a surprise inspection by the The letter was not likely to to the United Nations Human government’s Commission on prevent the Philippines from Rights Council. Human Rights. being elected to the council, but “Most instances of torture The officers are under investi- was probably intended to ensure and other ill-treatment in the gation and the police denied tor- Manila raised its human rights Philippines are unreported,” ture was a government policy, but standards, he added. it added, citing criminal sus- Amnesty said this was not enough Amnesty was just the lat- pects in official custody as the and suggested those involved est group to assail Philippine most frequent victims of such should also be facing criminal President Benigno Aquino for behaviour. charges. his government’s alleged failure Made available to the press The Philippine government’s to curb human rights abuses. Residents retrieve their belongings from the ruins of houses destroyed by a fire in Malabon City in Metro Manila by Amnesty late Tuesday, the human rights commission said AFP yesterday . Seven people were killed in the pre-dawn blaze which destroyed around 100 homes and left 200 families homeless. The damage was assessed at around 2m pesos ($44,964). Jabidah victims Labour group expects more jobless Filipinos this year remembered MANILA: One of the biggest in January 2014 from 7.1 percent “It’s not easy to dampen the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP reluctant to invest because the con- COTABATO CITY: Officials labour groups yesterday said in January 2013. The National hopes of new graduates but based attributed to the ineffective cerned government actors failed to urged the government and the the unemployment rate of the Statistics Office has reported that on these data we do not see col- implementation of job-generat- act on the high cost of electricity, Moro Islamic Liberation Front country will further rise as an there are about 2.96 million unem- lege graduates finding jobs right ing industry-led roadmaps spe- the lack of basic modern infra- to memorialise the “Jabidah estimated 700,000 college grad- ployed Filipino out of 39.41 million away,” said Alan Tanjusay, Trade cifically the manufacturing and structures, rampant smuggling, Massacre” as precursor of an uates are expected to enter the labour force in January 2014, while Union Congress of the Philippines agriculture sector as one of the changing rules, declining peace uprising that led to the recog- labour force by next week. 2.86 million were jobless and 37.94 spokesman. major causes of joblessness. and order, graft and corruption nition of the Moro community’s In a recent survey, the unem- million were employed in the same For his part, Gerard Seno, “It suggests that many (for- and judicial red tape,” he said. bid for self-rule under the inter- ployment rate rose to 7.5 percent month last year. executive vice president of the eign or domestic) investors are THE PHILIPPINE STAR national right-to-self determi- nation (RSD) doctrine. The rank-and-file personnel of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao launched at the ARMM compound yesterday SC stays release of businessman the “Bangsamoro Week of Peace” in commemoration of the Jabidah MANILA: The Supreme arrest warrant issued by the connection with the case of Lee, Massacre on March 18, 1968. Court 3rd Division yesterday Pampanga Regional Trial Court charged for defrauding the Pag- The Jabidah Massacre was issued a temporary restrain- has been stopped. IBIG Fund of P6.6bn through a chronicled as a gruesome incident ing order against the Court The high court ordered the housing scam. where government forces killed a of Appeals’ earlier decision halt amid the appellate court’s On Monday, the tribunal also number of mutinous Moro recruits clearing businessman Delfin signing of the Lee’s petition stopped the Pasig City Regional being trained by the Marcos regime Lee. for habeas corpus questioning Trial Court ruling which pre- to start a rebellion in Sabah, and SC spokesman Theodore his arrest by the Philippine vented the Department of reclaim the oil-rich island-state Te announced that the pre- National Police and the National Justice from conducting a pre- from Malaysian control. vious decision which over- Bureau of Investigation. liminary investigation on Lee’s “We should not forget the turned syndicated estafa case The recent motion was the charges. Jabidah Massacre. It fanned the against Lee and recalled the second TRO issued this week in THE PHILIPPINE STAR flames of the Moro uprising, which we shall soon see resolved peacefully via the Mindanao peace Coconut oil exports drop process,” ARMM Gov Mujiv Hataman said in a message dur- ing the launching of the week of peace in the autonomous region. THE PHILIPPINE STAR

Teacher freed in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY: After almost three months in cap- tivity, a public school teacher was freed by a still unidentified kidnap-for-ransom group in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay province on Tuesday night. The victim identified as Cathy Mae Casipong, 23, walked to her freedom at about 6.30pm and boarded a tricycle out of Barangay Sanito in Ipil town. She was later recovered by the elements of the Philippine Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade. Casipong was abducted by the kidnappers last December 18, while on her way to a school in Sibugtok Island off Barangay A worker uses a chainsaw to cut a coconut tree into a lumber in a village in the Typhoon Haiyan-stricken Limaong, east coast village of town of Jaro, Leyte province, central Philippines. Coconut oil exports plunged 35.3 percent in the first this city. two months of the year after the typhoon destroyed millions of trees. THE PHILIPPINE STAR THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 16 dead as rival gangs clash in Karachi 39 injured as groups armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns fight on the streets

KARACHI: Street bat- that led to the killing of a top had ended, senior police official tles between two rival gangs leader. Shah Nawaz said. armed with RPGs and machine According to police the firing guns killed at least 16 people began around 4am while major POLICE INACTION -- including four women -- in blasts were heard at noon. Lyari, one of the poorest and Pakistan’s Karachi yesterday, Din Muhammad, a 43-year-old most violent neighbourhoods of officials said. resident who was being treated at Karachi, is known for frequent The clash, which according Karachi Civil Hospital for a gun- violence between rival gangs. to police also injured 39 peo- shot wound in his right leg, said It is largely dominated by eth- ple, mainly schoolchildren, was he was sitting at the shop when nic Baluch linked to the Pakistan the worst outbreak of criminal- he heard explosions. People’s Party (PPP) of Bilawal related violence to plague the “There was a big bang and then Bhutto-Zardari which rules the troubled city in recent months. people were shouting and crying, southern Sindh province. It “erupted this morning when I closed the shutter of my shop to Local police said yesterday’s two gangs exchanged heavy gun- run home but I saw people fallen fight was believed to involve two fire” in the Lyari neighbourhood, into the ground, bleeding and splinter organisations -- the senior police official Faisal Bashir screaming,” he said. “Uzair Baloch” and “Ghaffar said, adding that school pupils had “I was running towards a group Zikri” gangs -- which grew out been hurt in the crossfire. of people lying on the ground a of the once-dominant Baba Ladla “Later they fired RPGs and few yards away and then I fell to group. lobbed hand grenades at each the ground,” after being shot, he An operation launched by police other,” he added, saying the death added. and paramilitary government toll was expected to rise. “My leg was bleeding and I rangers in the city’s tangled maze Major Sibtain Rizvi, a spokes- could not stand up, I remained of streets last September had man for paramilitary troops, there for around twenty minutes appeared to be having a positive added that two gangsters had and then local people came and effect, until this latest incident. been killed and one had been brought us here,” he said. But Tauseef Ahmed Khan, an arrested. A reporter at the hospital analyst, said there was a nexus One of the injured girls taken to hospital following a clash between two rival gangs in Karachi yesterday. Dr Seemi Jamali of the Jinnah said that some people, who were between the Pakistan People’s Postgraduate Medical Centre, accompanying the wounded, Party and Lyari gangs which pre- of Layari as their assets”. Karachi, a city of 18 million a bomb blast that killed 12 police- where some of the injured were started chanting slogans against vented authorities from arresting “No effort has ben made to cut people which contributes 42 per- men on a bus. taken, said three paramilitary security forces before briefly suspected criminals and confis- the supply of illegal weapons to cent of Pakistan’s GDP, has been According to the Citizens-Police rangers and two police were clashing with them. cating their weapons. Lyari and that is why today we plagued by sectarian, ethnic and Liaison Committee (CPLC), 2,507 wounded. By yesterday afternoon, some “The current targeted opera- have gangsters holding RPGs and political violence for years. people were murdered in Karachi Bashir, the police officer, said 200 police commandos had tion has no effect on Lyari because firing at school children”, he said. The city is also wracked by in 2013, the highest number since one of the gangs suspected the arrived on the scene to conduct a the police and law enforcement “Today’s incident is the worst in militants, especially the Taliban records began nearly 20 years ago. other of providing a tip to police search operation after the clash agencies consider the gangsters the history of Layari,” he added. who last month claimed credit for AFP

Bahrain king to visit Pakistan Dialogue with rebels to Pakistan Development Fund launched next week be in complete secrecy ISLAMABAD: The Nawaz Dar said that this initiative ISLAMABAD: Bahrain Sharif government has decided would help execute development King H M Hamad bin Isa to launch a development fund, projects with the assistance of Al Khalifa will be under- ISLAMABAD: The new com- happenings taking place there for the Pakistan Development friendly countries. A corporate taking three-day important mittee being formed by Prime years. Fund (PDF), with an aim to institutional framework will be visit of Pakistan from 18th of Minister Nawaz Sharif to hold Interior Minister Chaudhry lure friendly countries to pro- put in place to ensure the trans- March and he will hold talks peace talks with the Tehrik-e- Nisar Ali Khan, who is mainly vide assistance to Islamabad in parent utilisation of funds. with Prime Minister Nawaz Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will concerned with picking up the exchange for executing infra- Sources went on to add that Sharif on important bilat- proceed in complete secrecy, names for the new commit- structure development projects. the government is identifying eral subjects and regional away from the public theatre, tee with the approval of Prime “Our initiative is totally dif- crucial projects which would be situation. contrary to the practice that Minister Nawaz Sharif, has stated ferent from the PPP’s Friends of financed with the help of the PDF The King, who is in throne the previous body followed. that the next cluster would com- Democratic Pakistan (FODP) as initiative. Further, sources added, for more than 12 years and “Nothing substantial was prise three to four bureaucrats, this government has decided to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar friendly countries had given posi- before that he was Emir for achieved when the earlier body meaning that it would consist of give PDF an institutional frame- tive indications to Islamabad for three years of his Arab coun- kept conducting ‘negotiations’ apolitical figures. work in which transparency helping keeping in view the cred- try, is visiting Pakistan after with the Taliban in full pub- It is believed that the forth- would be ensured at all costs,” for repaying the IMF’s previous ibility being currently enjoyed by significant visit of Saudi Crown lic view. But when, for a while, coming dialogue with the TTP said a PML-N leader. loans. the government. prince and Deputy prime it refrained from doing so and plus the formation of the fresh He went on to add that a sepa- In order to overcome this crisis, “Pakistan’s foreign currency Minister of his Kingdom prince some of its members worked qui- committee came under discus- rate account would be established Finance Minister Ishaq Dar took reserves would touch $10bn by Salman bin Abdul Aziz last etly, unconditional ceasefire was sion during a high level meeting at the SBP to receive inflows from the initiative to establish PDF and end of the ongoing month as the month. secured from the TTP, which the chaired by the prime minister and friendly countries. “We have convinced friendly countries to US had given assurances to the The visit of King of Bahrain government reciprocated,” a sen- attended by Chief of Army Staff already started receiving dollar come forward and assist Pakistan government for releasing the next to Pakistan in the backdrop ior informed source said. “It was General Raheel Sharif. inflows that have led to the rise in this difficult hour. instalment of Coalition Support of the regional developments no mean achievement.” Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) of the rupee against US dollar,” Two friendly countries have Fund (CSF) in the next two carries conspicuous diplomatic Meanwhile, the new forum Chairman Imran Khan named his said the official. already conveyed their full- weeks,” another source said, add- significance as new group- would predominantly have member of the National Assembly In the aftermath of the $6.67bn fledged assistance to Islamabad ing that the IMF’s executive board ing is emerging in the Gulf veterans from the Khyber from Peshawar Gulzar Khan as his IMF agreement, Pakistan’s bal- and Pakistan has received its would also likely approve the next Cooperation Council (GCC) Pakhtunkhwa (KP), who are fully nominee to be inducted in the body. ance of payments difficulties con- first instalment on this account, tranche worth $540m within this member countries where abreast of the tribal areas and the INTERNEWS tinued in the wake of outflows sources said. month. INTERNEWS Qatar is distaining from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. The two Flag-lowering ceremony sides have withdrawn their respective envoy from each other’s capitals recently. Kashmir eyes water Vaccination proof urged to solve power crisis ISLAMABAD: India NEELUM VALLEY: As the flow of water to work gen- announced on the other day Pakistan grapples with a crip- erators to produce power, and that production of proof of pling energy crisis, people in the 200-kilometre Neelum river vaccination against polio one corner of Kashmir have that forms the picturesque valley, would be mandatory for all taken matters into their own as well as its tributaries, give the persons - adults or children hands, using small-scale tur- area great potential for hydro- - entering its territory from bines to generate electricity electric generation. Pakistan after March 15 to from streams and rivers. Shafiq Usmani, the deputy protect its polio-free status. Pakistan is plagued by power director of the Hydro Electric “Pakistani nationals resident cuts, lasting up to 22 hours a day Board of Neelum Valley, says up in Pakistan and planning to in the blistering summer in parts to 3,000MW could be generated, travel to India after March 15, of the country, blighting ordinary while the area’s demand is only 2014 will be required to submit people’s lives and hampering the 15MW to 20MW. along with their visa applica- economy. The growth in hydropower has tions a certificate of vaccina- Government moves to tackle an important knock-on effect -- tion for one dose of Oral Polio the problem have so far yielded with an electricity supply, there Vaccination received at least little success and have largely is less reason for residents to four weeks prior to departure focused on moving from expen- cut down trees for cooking and to India,” said a statement sive imported oil to cheaper coal. heating. released by the Indian High General Thomas Lawson (right), Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, returns a salute to But in Kashmir’s upper Neelum “All the beauty of the Neelum Commission. AGENCIES Major General Dean Milner, last commander of the Canadian Contribution to the Training Mission in Afghanistan, Valley -- part of the disputed Valley is dependent on those for- during the flag-lowering ceremony at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul yesterday. Himalayan territory known to ests and streams, and this can locals as “Heaven on Earth” for only be sustained if we give them its unspoilt beauty -- hundreds of clean energy,” Usmani said. families have chosen a more envi- One local, Mushtaq Ahmad, ronmentally friendly option, set- said the move to electricity had Avalanche kills four soldiers in Pakistan ting up small-scale hydro projects made a huge difference to his to produce electricity for a few family’s health. ISLAMABAD: At least four a huge snow slide Tuesday night The base sits just below the Light Infantry to try to recover hours a day. “When we had no electricity soldiers were killed when an near Astore. Despite extreme Siachen Glacier, known as the the bodies. “The turbine was paid for with for lighting there was always avalanche struck a base camp in weather hazard, 22 soldiers were “world’s highest battlefield”, Several foreign specialist teams contributions from 50 families and smoke in our house, as we used northern Pakistan, the military evacuated through heroic efforts where Pakistani and Indian from Norway, United States, cost us 300,000 rupees ($3,000) in wood for heating and cooking said yesterday. while four soldiers embraced troops have faced off in extreme Germany and Switzerland had total,” said Rahimullah, 35, who which causes different kind of The incident happened in the Shahadat (martyrdom),” the mili- conditions since the 1980s. also participated in rescue and operates a turbine machine. diseases,” he said. snow-covered Astore area which tary said in a statement. The incident sparked a bout recovery operations, which lasted Some were moved by necessity “Since we installed this small falls in the territory of Gilgit- Snow slides in Astore and sur- of national mourning with mili- well over one year. -- less than half of the Neelum hydro project for the past three Baltistan, also claimed by India rounding areas are common. tary rescuers digging in tunnels Astore is a city and the capital Valley’s 200,000 inhabitants have years, thanks be to God, we have as part of the disputed Kashmir At least 140 soldiers were bur- in the hard mass of the snow and of Astore District in the Gilgit- access to electricity from the got rid of these diseases and also region. ied two years ago by an avalanche ice that hit the battalion head- Baltistan region of northern grid. got some other benefits.” “At least 26 soldiers came under at the high-altitude Gayari base. quarters of the 6th Northern Pakistan. AFP Small turbines are driven by INTERNEWS THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

11 killed Court dismisses in Kashmir avalanches SRINAGAR: Eleven people govt plea on were killed yesterday in ava- lanches and house collapses in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. mercy petition A senior police officer said that two soldiers were killed when an avalanche hit the Batra camp of the army in Kargil district early No merit in review petition: SC yesterday. He said three Nepali labourers NEW DELHI: The Supreme commuted to life imprisonment. were also killed in another ava- Court yesterday dismissed the It is now being relied upon lanche in Kaksar area of Kargil dis- central government’s plea for a by Navneet Kaur — wife of 1993 trict. “The labourers were working review of its January 21 order Delhi terror convict Devinderpal in a stone quarry when the tragedy which said unexplained and Singh Bhullar — to seek commu- struck,” the officer said. inordinate delay in deciding tation of his death sentence to life “Four members of a fam- mercy petitions was a ground imprisonment on grounds of delay ily were buried alive under for commutation of death sen- in deciding his mercy petition and another avalanche in Balsaran tence to life imprisonment. his mental health. Danau Kandi Marg village in Condoning the government A review petition was taken up Kulgam district of the Kashmir delay in filing the review peti- for consideration by the judges. Valley.” tion, the bench of Chief Justice The central government on The officer said their bodies P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan March 1 moved the Supreme have been recovered. Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kirti Court, seeking a recall of its He said that another woman Singh said: “Permission for hear- verdict holding that inordinate, was killed in a house collapse in ing in open court is rejected. We unexplained and unreasonable Qazigund area of Kulgam district have carefully gone through the delay in deciding mercy petitions during the night. review petitions and connected by the president was a ground for Kashmiri men assist a woman injured in a house collapse in Srinagar yesterday. IANS papers. We find no merit in the commutation of death sentence, review petitions and the same are and it would not exclude those accordingly dismissed.” convicted under anti-terror laws. The court on January 21 said The centre said the president’s there can be no distinction decision to reject mercy petitions between people convicted under could not have been interfered Apex Court to hear Sahara petition today anti-terror laws or normal crimi- with by the court as it was not nal laws for seeking commutation subject to judicial review. of death sentence on the grounds It had contended that the court NEW DELHI: The Supreme continues to be incarcerated for will see if the pleadings embar- under a law which does not exist of inordinate and unreasonable could not have substituted life Court will today hear the plea an indefinite period and does not rass us. We will see it. You should and without following the ordi- delay in deciding the mercy peti- imprisonment for death sentence by Sahara group chief Subrata know how long he will remain know, you have drafted it.” nary cannons of natural justice, tion by the president. while exercising its power of judi- Roy challenging the court’s in custody and why he was in The court directed the hearing Roy said in his petition. The court said this also cial review of the president’s deci- March 4 order sending him custody. of the matter for 2pm today. He contended that the order included death row convicts suf- sion to reject the mercy petitions. to judicial custody, which he At the outset of the hearing, Roy said in his petition that all of incarceration was a complete fering from insanity or mental The centre also argued that if described as illegal. counsel Ram Jethmalani referred he was aware of was that Justice nullity and it was the duty of the illness or schizophrenia. at all the court was of the view The bench of Justice K S to the A R Antulay judgment and Radhakrishan and Justice Khehar court to “terminate this unlaw- The court earlier commuted that the mercy petitions were not Radhakrishnan and Justice said that by the said judgment, wanted to enforce an order of his ful detention and release the peti- the death sentence of 15 convicts. properly considered, then these Jagdish Singh Khehar said they the Supreme Court was obliged alleged obligation to return the tioner forthwith”. In cases of 13 death row con- could have been returned to the would hear the matter Thursday to rectify its own errors. investors’ money. The petition said the court victs, it was on account of years of president for reconsideration. as they have to go through the Jethmalani told the court it He said the company liable has must set right the wrong done delay in deciding the mercy peti- The petition to the Supreme pleadings. was embarrassing to tell the two shown that it has fully complied by its order as Roy was deprived tions and in respect of two, it was Court recall its January 21 verdict Seeking his release forthwith, judges that their order was not with the order and provided ade- of his liberty by a “totally unjust due to mental illness. said the president or the governor Roy in his plea sought the setting right. “It is a deep embarrassment quate security for the small por- remand to jail without judgment The same judgement was were not required to spell out any aside of the March 4 order saying for me. If your lordship wants to tion not fulfilled. of conviction, without proper relied on by three convicts in the reason for deciding mercy peti- it was illegal. hear me, then I have no problem,” The court without compliance charges framed or notice issued Rajiv Gandhi assassination case tions either way. Roy said he was confined in he said. with law and principles of natu- and without a hearing”. in getting their death sentences IANS Tihar Jail since March 4 and Justice Khehar then said: “We ral justice has incarcerated him IANS Coast Guard joins search for missing Malaysian plane

NEW DELHI: The Coast islands are Indian territory, help needed. Guard joined the aerial search although they are at least 1,000km Indian Air Force spokesman yesterday for the missing from the mainland and are closer Gerard Galway said planes were Malaysia Airlines plane carry- to the coast of Myanmar. ready to deploy to scour the ing 239 people off the remote The hunt for MH370, involv- waters west of Malaysia. Andaman and Nicobar islands, ing the navies and air forces of “We have not received any task a senior officer said. multiple nations, had focused (as of now) but in case there is a A Dornier aircraft belonging on an area off Vietnam’s South requirement, our aircraft will be to the Coast Guard set off mid- China Sea coast where it last deployed to assist in the search afternoon local time to scour made contact Saturday on a operations,” Galway said. the eastern side of the Andaman journey from Kuala Lumpur to President Pranab Mukherjee islands on orders from the Indian Beijing. said the country was ready to government, the inspector general But Malaysian authorities said offer any assistance required and of the Coast Guard service said. yesterday they were now expand- that officials were in constant “We were directed to take part ing the search to the Andaman contact with Malaysia over the in the search operations up to the Sea north of Indonesia, hundreds plane’s disappearance. eastern fringes of the exclusive of kilometres away. “We appreciate the efforts of economic zone of the Andaman India’s Air Force was also on the government of Malaysia to islands,” VSR Murthy said. “We standby to search for the miss- locate the missing aircraft and are looking into that area for any ing plane, which was carrying five are ready to provide any help clues to the missing airliner,” he Indian nationals among its pas- needed,” Mukherjee’s office said added. sengers, as the president said the in a statement. The Andaman and Nicobar country was ready to provide any AFP

NIA to probe Delhi court suspends Chhattisgarh killings: Shinde nursery admissions JAGDALPUR: A day after NEW DELHI: The Delhi High be considered equal and their Maoists massacred 15 security Court yesterday suspended the admission decided by a draw of lots. personnel and a civilian in a nursery admission process in The parents filing the appeal deadly ambush in Chhattisgarh, the capital till March 24. said their wards were already fedral Home Minister A division bench of Acting declared selected for nursery Sushilkumar Shinde yesterday Chief Justice B D Ahmed and admissions after the draw of lots said the National Investigation Justice Siddharth Mridul also and would have to repeat the proc- Agency (NIA) will probe the blocked the fresh draw of lots in ess after the single judge’s order. brutal killings. the nursery admission process for While the children have been “The killing of policemen is all seats. selected in the first draw of lots, unacceptable and we will take It asked the Delhi government if a second draw of lots was con- revenge. The jawans of Naxal-hit to furnish details related to nurs- ducted, their probability of getting states will team up with central ery admissions in unaided private selected would come down consid- forces to launch a joint operation schools. “The draw of lots shall erably, the parents said. against rebels,” Shinde told media not take place. No admission be During the hearing, a child’s persons at the police parade made till next date of hearing,” mother who was transferred to ground at Jagdalpur. said the bench, posting the matter Delhi and had applied under the Shinde, Chhattisgarh Governor for March 24. inter-state transfer category Shekhar Dutt and Chief Minister The court was hearing an broke down in court, saying that Raman Singh paid homage to the appeal of some parents who chal- if the March 6 order was lifted 15 security personnel who were lenged the March 6 single judge she would lose the opportunity killed Tuesday at Gheeram Ghati order that the city government of sending her child to a good in Sukma district. Shinde said the conduct a fresh draw of lots in school. NIA would probe all aspects of the the nursery admission process for The bench said: “You are the incident, including security lapses all seats. one who created this mess. What or intelligence failure. The single judge’s order said all is your stand?” IANS candidates with equal marks shall IANS THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Delhi High Kejriwal tears into Cong, BJP in Mumbai Court refuses Extent of corruption in Gujarat shocking; 60,000 industries shut down: AAP leader to seize AAP MUMBAI: Aam Aadmi Party Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Narendra its magic in the Delhi election last Rs5m) and allotted to big indus- assembly elections will be held (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal Modi, Nitin Gadkari, Kapil Sibal year and “now we have to show trialists at throwaway rates of again, the “AAP will return with accounts tore into the Congress and the and others. You must vote for that magic in the Lok Sabha Re1 per acre. Eight hundred more than 50 seats”. It won 28 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the AAP, which is your party,” polls”. farmers have committed suicide in December in the house of 70 NEW DELHI: The Delhi High accusing both of indulging in Kejriwal urged the gathering. “There is only one party in in the past few years,” Kejriwal members. Court yesterday refused to corruption and more. Attacking the BJP’s prime min- India which is honest and gave an said to repeated cheers. With the public rally in north- seize the accounts of the AAP Addressing a massive rally at isterial candidate Modi, Kejriwal honest government to the coun- He said more than 60,000 big east Mumbai, Kejriwal wound on a plea seeking registration Kannamwar Nagar in north- said: “The ‘Modi wave’ is not vis- try. In 49 days, we showed what and small industries had shut up his day-long campaign trip of a criminal case against party east Mumbai late in the evening, ible anywhere in the country. we could do for the masses.” down in Gujarat in the past 11 to the city when he commuted chief Arvind Kejriwal and oth- Kejriwal was repeatedly cheered And we don’t want to remove Attacking Modi’s claims on years. by an autorickshaw, a subur- ers for allegedly receiving for- and applauded as he recounted the Congress and replace it with good governance and Gujarat’s Kejriwal reiterated how the ban train, took part in a couple eign funds. the misdeeds of the two major the BJP.” development, Kejriwal said that Gujarat government had given of road shows, and was greeted A division bench of Acting parties. He said that now all types of during his recent visit he was away vast gas fields to a corporate with black flags by Congress and Chief Justice B D Ahmed and “I am warning you... After dubious elements, criminals and shocked by the state of affairs in house to help it reap huge profits Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Justice Siddharth Mridul said it April, the country will witness corrupt people had united in sup- that state. at public expense. activists. “cannot seize the accounts of Aam unprecedented levels of inflation. port of Modi. “I had heard that there is ‘Ram “Whoever comes to power, Today, he is scheduled to cam- Aadmi Party without deciding the Everything, foodgrain, vegetables, “But people want change. Rajya’ in Modi’s Gujarat. But the Rahul or Modi, the country paign in the Vidarbha region in case”. fruits, petrol, will become very People are feeling optimistic ground reality is very different. will be ruled by one industrial- eastern Maharashtra and address The bench said it has not expensive due to their policies,” that something good will happen The extent of corruption there is ist,” Kejriwal said as the crowds a rally in Chandrapur, besides vis- decided the case yet and “accounts he said at his first public rally in (in the election). We need your shocking. Prime lands of farm- roared its approval. iting farm lands ravaged in recent cannot be seized like that”. Mumbai. support.” ers are being grabbed cheaply Referring to Delhi, he said that hailstorms. The court’s observation came “We have to defeat Rahul Kejriwal said the AAP showed (Rs90,000 for an acre worth over in the next few months when the IANS after advocate M L Sharma, who filed the plea, asked the court to seize the accounts of the AAP as Mamata’s show flops as it was still receiving foreign funds in clear violation of law. The court also asked the centre to file its response and posted the Anna, crowds stay away matter for May 7. The AAP had earlier told the NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: said she was aware of her “limi- court that it was the only party The much-hyped joint rally tations... It is possible he is not whose financial records and other of Anna Hazare and Mamata well... I do not want to blame details were open for public view Banerjee in Delhi, seen as an anybody”. and got donations of Rs.30 crore attempt to pitchfork the West Hazare’s absence came as an from Indian citizens only, out of Bengal chief minister on the anti-climax after the hectic build- which Rs.8.5 crore came from NRIs. national stage, flopped yester- up over the past week when post- Earlier, the court had directed day, with the Gandhian staying ers of the two leaders were put the central government to go away and only a few hundred up on some Delhi Metro railway through details of the money people turning up at the sprawl- pillars and other parts of the donated to the AAP since its ing Ramlila Maidan. national capital. inception on November 26, 2012 Banerjee looked a forlorn fig- The opposition in West Bengal and to take action if anything was ure on the stage where seating lost no time in taking digs at the found in violation of the Foreign arrangements had been made Trinamool and its leader. Contribution (Regulation) Act only for her and Hazare, who “We are used to such jokes (FCRA). only last month extended his involving Mamata Banerjee. I The plea named Kejriwal, support to her for the Lok Sabha don’t know what more lies in advocates Shanti Bhushan and election. store. She is a master in making Prashant Bhushan and party A Hazare aide said he was volte faces. Only yesterday she member Manish Sisodia. unwell but also claimed that the said it is ‘our meeting’. Today It said the AAP and its mem- anti-corruption crusader would she says it was Anna’s meeting,” bers were promoted and funded have attended the rally had it said state Congress leader Abdul by the Central Intelligence drawn at least 10,000 people. Mannan. Agency (CIA) of the US through In a clear signal that the State BJP president Rahul various companies and trusts Banerjee-Hazare bonhomie could Sinha was more hard hitting. Leader of Aam Aadmi PartyArvind Kejriwal (centre) surrounded by security and party supporters outside Andheri such as Ford Foundation. be over soon, the two camps “This is what happens when railway station before boarding a local train in Mumbai, yesterday. IANS blamed one another for the poor you get too big for your boots. show. The chief minister is day dream- Hazare aide Sunita Godara said ing about becoming prime RSS was not involved in Mahatma killing: Advani Hazare was “in very bad health. minister.” He has congestion. CPM politburo member “A rally needs elaborate prepa- Sitaram Yechuri said Hazare NEW DELHI: The RSS was Congress party’s slanderous cam- case. I devote a large part of if Gandhiji had chosen Sardar ration. It has to be organised on a stayed away because he realised not involved in the killing of paign against the RSS in respect my evening to discussing with Patel instead of Pandit Nehru to holiday, in the evening, and after that his anti-corruption crusade Mahatma Gandhi, BJP patri- of Mahatmaji’s assassination,” Sanjeevi (head of intelligence become free India’s first prime proper canvassing. The heat is would have lost credibility in arch L K Advani said in a blog, Advani wrote. and inspector general of police, minister, it is quite likely the his- too much today (Wednesday),” Banerjee’s company. quoting Gandhi’s grandson The BJP leader said that Delhi) the day’s progress and tory of those early years may have Godara said. “What has happened was Rajmohan Gandhi yesterday. Rajmohan Gandhi in his book giving instructions to him on any been quite different”. Banerjee, who tried to put up bound to happen. Every person Advani’s blog ‘Mahatma was on Patel quoted a letter dated points that arise. All the accused He also quoted Rajmohan a brave front, told the thin crowd has the right to live in her world perhaps not right’ yesterday also Feb 27, 1948, written by Patel to have given long and detailed Gandhi’s book on Patel, saying and later the media that this of dream. She also has the right. said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Jawaharlal Nehru. statements... It emerges clearly “while acknowledgements are ful- was not a Trinamool event and But now the difference between contributions have not been The letter said: “I have kept from these statements that the some in the case of Nehru, and declared her party would fight the the dream and the reality has acknowledged. myself almost in daily touch with RSS was not involved in it at all.” dutiful in the case of Gandhi, they Lok Sabha battle alone. come into the open.” “This book by Rajmohan the progress of the investigation Advani said that anyone who are niggardly in the case of Patel”. In a Facebook post, Banerjee IANS Gandhi has effectively nailed the regarding Bapu’s assassination analyses history “readily feels that IANS ‘Don’t hold meet at religious Ahead of elections, it is defection season once again NEW DELHI: With the Lok chief minister, has won over most In Telangana region, the Telugu former union minister Rao take on Lalu Prasad’s daughter event: Poll panel Sabha battle set to kick-start deserters nationally as well as Desam Party saw three former Inderjit Singh, who has joined in the very constituency where in less than a month, disgrun- LJP leader Ramvilas Paswan as legislators cross over to the the BJP. he was not allowed to be the RJD tled politicians across the coun- an ally in Bihar. Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Nowhere is the defection spree candidate. CHANDIGARH: The Election try are joining political parties Nowhere has the Congress Karnataka’s tainted former more pronounced than in Bihar, Another prominent RJD leader, Commission (EC) yesterday offering them greener pastures. suffered more than in Andhra chief minister B S Yeddyurappa where the April-May election is Ghulam Ghouse, has joined the advised Punjab’s political par- Almost all parties have been hit Pradesh, where its decision to is back with the BJP. expected to see a three-way battle JD-U. So has BJP’s suspended ties against holding political hard, in state after state, although create a Telangana state has led One of the biggest blows to the involving the Janata Dal-United legislator Avinash Kumar Singh. conferences on the periphery of the Congress, India’s oldest politi- to mass desertions, with N Kiran Congress came in Haryana — (JD-U), the Congress-RJD alli- The JD-U has also suffered the Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib cal outfit, is the worst sufferer Kumar Reddy, the last chief min- the birthplace of ‘Aya Ram, Gaya ance and the BJP. desertions to the BJP - the two for next week’s Hola Mohalla amid growing signs that it is set ister, forming a new party. Ram’ culture — when Ambala Rashtriya Janata Dal leader parties were allies for 17 long celebrations in Anandpur for major electoral reverses. Another prominent defector is legislator Venod Sharma, a confi- Lalu Prasad’s biggest setback years until 2013. JD-U legislator Sahib. In contrast, the Bharatiya D Purandeswari, a central minis- dent of Chief Minister Bhupinder was the defection of senior leader Chedi Paswan has gone over to Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer Janata Party (BJP), led by a confi- ter who too dumped the Congress Singh Hooda, has quit. Ram Kirpal Yadav, who is join- the BJP. V.K. Singh told the media here the dent Narendra Modi, the Gujarat to embrace the BJP. So has Congress MP and ing the BJP. Yadav is now set to IANS deputy commissioner of Rupnagar (Ropar) district has been directed to advise political parties against Uttar Pradesh BJP holding political meets on the periphery of the gurdwara as it amounts to violation of the model leaders called to Delhi code of conduct. Punjab’s opposition Congress on Monday complained to the LUCKNOW: BJP leaders from Modi. Many in the Bharatiya EC against the state’s ruling Uttar Pradesh were yesterday Janata Party feel that Modi’s Shiromani Akali Dal planning to summoned to New Delhi to dis- candidature will change equa- hold a political rally on March 16 cuss the names of candidates for tions in as many as 32 seats in in Anandpur Sahib, 80km from the state’s 80 Lok Sabha seats. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya here. This follows reported bicker- Pradesh all around Varanasi. In the complaint, Punjab ing over some key seats including In Lucknow, Lalji Tandon, the Congress president Pratap Singh Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi. 2009 winner and a close associ- Bajwa contended that allowing State BJP President Laxmikant ate of former prime minister Atal any political party to hold a politi- Bajpayi is scheduled to meet party Bihari Vajpayee, has expressed cal conference during a religious general secretary Amit Shah and reservation about the possible event would violate the model national president Rajnath Singh. candidature of party president code of conduct. Bajpayi is said to have taken the Rajnath Singh. Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats go feedback of party workers from Rajnath Singh was elected to to polls April 30. these three constituencies on who the Lok Sabha the last time from V K Singh said the EC also should be the candidate. The BJP Ghaziabad but is said to be want- sought a report from the Punjab will announce the names of all con- ing to change the constituency chief secretary on the transpor- testants in Uttar Pradesh today. because of the rising influence of tation of bicycles for distribu- While Murli Manohar Joshi, the Aam Aadmi Party there. tion by government departments elected from Varanasi, is said to The situation in Kanpur is no after a complaint regarding be keen to run again from the different with two sections of the this was received from Sangrur temple town, party workers are district unit seeking ticket for district. reportedly keen to pit BJP’s prime their respective nominees. IANS A Trinamool Congress activist cheers on as he swings a flag during a rally in New Delhi yesterday. ministerial candidate Narendra IANS

THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK

PRAYER TIME Harmonica icon decides Fajr (Dawn) 4:31 to quit after Shorook (Sunrise) 5:47 Zuhr (Noon) 11:44 70-year career Asr (Afternoon) 3:08 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:42 BRUSSELS: Belgian icon Isha (Night) 7:12 ‘Toots’ Thielemans is bowing out after a 70-year career as the world’s top harmonica player during which he made music WEATHER with some of the biggest names in the business. Jean-Baptiste Frederic Isidore Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Thielemans, known affectionately Partly cloudy Chance of rain Partly cloudy as ‘Toots’ to everyone, “no longer Partly cloudy feels strong enough to be sure of to cloudy with completing a concert,” his agent chance of Veerle Van de Poel said yesterday. High: 27° High: 25° High: 26° Born in 1922 in the work- Low: 21° Low: 20° Low: 20° scattered rain. ing class Marolles district of Brussels where his parents ran a cafe, Thielemans started with the accordion and then moved to DOHA - SUN & SEA the guitar, earning a name as a talented musician. SUN TIDE SEA He took up the harmonica as a hobby and then during World War WIND SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW II, as described on his official web- 05:47 17:42 02:30 & 14:15 10:00 & 19:45 10-20/26 KT site, he became “contaminated” THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW with the jazz virus. The nickname followed, taken HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER from Americans Toots Mondello, a swing jazz saxophonist, and MUSCAT 30/22 Partly cloudy 31/22 Partly cloudy Toots Camarata, a trumpet player, MAKKAH 29/20 Clear 27/16 Partly cloudy composer and arranger. KUWAIT 29/17 Chance of rain 24/17 Clear Ray Ventura and Django BAHRAIN 35/19 Partly cloudy 28/18 Partly cloudy Reinhardt were major SANAA 26/11 T-storm 25/09 Partly cloudy inspirations. RIYADH 30/15 Clear 23/14 Clear According to the website, DUBAI 35/22 Partly cloudy 32/21 Partly cloudy Thielemans got a big break when BAGHDAD 18/10 T-storm 20/10 Partly cloudy he joined Benny Goodman on a European tour in 1950 before THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW moving to the United States HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER where he teamed up with yet another jazz great, Charlie ATHENS 13/09 Partly cloudy 12/08 Clear Parker. WASHINGTON 21/-5 Chance of storm 01/-5 Partly cloudy AFP SYDNEY 24/18 Chance of rain 28/20 Partly cloudy LONDON 18/06 Clear 18/06 Partly cloudy PARIS 09/06 Light rain 09/06 Partly cloudy ISTANBUL 08/05 Chance of rain 09/06 Partly cloudy MANILA 33/23 Partly cloudy 33/24 Clear DHAKA 34/19 Clear 35/20 Mostly cloudy DELHI 26/13 Clear 26/13 Partly cloudy ISLAMABAD 21/11 Partly cloudy 25/12 Partly cloudy Thursday 13 March 2014 12 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5602 Price: QR2

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Hilton to launch real estate project Qatari Diar to Doha Insurance open regional looks to expand office in Washington DOHA: Qatari Diar Real in GCC market Estate Investment Company is to open a regional office in Washington DC to pursue new strategic investments through- Infrastructure to boost business out the western hemisphere. The office will be located in BY SACHIN KUMAR from Qatar and expanding to City Center DC complex, Qatari other countries will help to diver- Diar’s flagship North American DOHA: Doha Insurance, one sify its business. development currently near- of the major players in Qatar’s On the outlook about the cur- ing completion in conjunction insurance market, is looking to rent year, the insurer feels that with Hines. Designed by Foster expand its footprints outside upcoming infrastructure projects + Partners, City Center DC is a Qatar, especially in other GCC will boost its business. 148,000sqm urban redevelopment (Gulf Cooperation Council) “We have to focus on where the programme in the heart of down- countries. money is. Currently money is in town Washington DC. The insurer has already infrastructure and engineering. In addition to City Center DC, announced its plan to raise cap- We have to focus and try to get Qatari Diar is also part of the ital via rights issue which will our share from these projects,” joint venture developing Panama help in its expansion plans. said Hussein. Pacifico on the site of the former “We are increasing our capital “Basically the growth will come Howard Air Force Base in the by about 100 percent to QR500m. from infrastructure projects such Republic of Panama. Though it is early to say about our as rail and construction. The Announcing the new office, US actress and model Paris Hilton waves to her fans during her visit to Century City Mall in Manila yesterday. plans (on how to utilise money early indications (about 2014) Khaled Mohammed Al Sayed, raised through rights issue) are looking very good. We are Hilton is in Manila to inaugurate her first real estate project in the Philippines today. Group Chief Executive Officer but we are looking definitely to very comfortable that things are of Qatari Diar Real Estate expand outside of Qatar,” said moving very positively,” he added. Investment Company, said, “The Bassam Hussein, Chief Executive Last year was good for the success of the City Center project, Officer, Doha Insurance. insurer as its profit grew from together with Qatari Diar’s “With our capital increase, QR61m to QR67m in 2013. project in Panama, have encour- our increased knowledge about Doha Insurance also gets sig- Petrochemical R&D on the rise aged us to look for additional the outside market hopefully nificant portion of its business opportunities in the Americas. the political turmoil in the Arab from non-life sector. DOHA: The petrochemical pro- producers spent an estimated GCC,” predicts Dr Qurtas. Qatari Diar’s new regional base region will come to positive con- “We do not have life business ducers in the Gulf Cooperation $380m on R&D initiatives, just Petrochemicals represent the will manage existing projects and clusion which will allow us to as it is not allowed by law. We Council (GCC) are ramping 0.8 percent of the global R&D second largest manufacturing explore other strategic invest- expand,” he said. are expecting these things to up research and development spending. However, the 2012 fig- sector in the Gulf, according ments within the region.” Currently, Doha Insurance change,” said Hussein. (R&D) funding despite a global ure also highlights a 30 percent to the GPCA. The US office, due to open gets major share of its business THE PENINSULA slowdown in investments, says growth in investments as GCC The Gulf’s petrochemi- later this year, will be headed a senior official from the Gulf petrochemicals producers spent cals output reached $97.3bn in by Stephen J Pettit, Qatari Diar Petrochemicals and Chemicals $266m on R&D in 2011. With 2012, a $3.2bn increase on the Regional Director — Americas. Association (GPCA), the global R&D expenditure rising previous year. “Qatari Diar’s new base in the region’s longest standing trade by just 10 percent in the same The industry is also export Americas will bolster the com- association. period, it is clear to see the Gulf’s oriented, with petrochemicals pany’s operations in the western Opec raises oil demand view “Chemical companies in the increasing focus on this sector. accounting for $52.7bn in 2012. hemisphere, allowing the region- Gulf are pioneers in the Middle GCC petrochemical compa- The need for research will be ally-based team to oversee the LONDON: World oil demand Administration, which cut its East when it comes to build- nies have already stepped up a key focus of discussion at the effective management of current will increase more than forecast. In a monthly report, ing research and development efforts in developing R&D facili- Research & Innovation Summit, and future projects,” said Pettit. expected in 2014, Opec said Opec said global demand will facilities,” said Dr Moayyed ties with Tasnee and SABIC hosted by the GPCA, from March Qatari Diar is currently involved yesterday, raising its prediction rise by 1.14 million barrels per Al Qurtas, Chairman of the launching products development 12 to 13 in Dubai. in 49 landmark projects in 29 for a second straight month as day (bpd) this year, up 50,000bpd GPCA’s Research and Innovation research centres in the recent GPCA is the voice of the chem- countries across the Americas, economic growth picks up in from its previous forecast. It also Committee. “While the region’s past. Sipchem in Saudi Arabia, ical and petrochemical industry Europe, Middle East, Africa Europe and the United States. raised the 2014 projection for glo- petrochemicals industry may and Borouge in the UAE, are also in the region. Local and inter- and Asia. The first phase of City The view on oil demand growth bal demand for Opec’s crude. spend a fraction on research set to open their own facilities in national industry leaders and Center DC comprises six buildings from the Organisation of the “While many challenges compared to global investment, the near future. executives including Mohammed containing 458 rental apartments Petroleum Exporting Countries, remain, the expected improve- the GCC has amongst the high- “Moving forward, petrochemi- Al Mady, Chairman of the GPCA and 216 condominiums, in addi- source of a third of the world’s ment in the global economy is also est year-on-year growth rates in cal research centres focusing on and CEO of SABIC will provide tion to 48,000 sqm of office space oil, contrasts with that of the US resulting in higher oil demand,” R&D expenditure in the world.” the performance products are set insights on the subject. and more than 17,000 sqm of retail government’s Energy Information said the report. REUTERS In 2012, GCC chemical to become more common in the THE PENINSULA space. THE PENINSULA

Poundland lists Gulf bankers Middle East grain meet to boost cooperation buyers avoid Ukraine KUWAIT CITY: Arab central AMMAN: Turmoil in Ukraine international house. bank governors of the energy- is driving Middle Eastern grain Ukraine, the world’s third-big- rich Gulf met yesterday in buyers to shy away from strik- gest maize exporter, also has come Kuwait to discuss combating ing new deals there and to con- to dominate in corn exports, tak- terror funding and boosting sider rival suppliers, a shift that ing market share from traditional cooperation. is likely to push up import bills. suppliers such as Argentina and Central bank governors from The Black Sea region, mostly Brazil. “Ukraine proved to be a the six states, including that of Ukraine and Russia, has become powerhouse in the trade of grains Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud the major source of wheat and bar- in the last 10 years. It affected the Al Thani, attended the meeting. ley for Middle East importers from region positively in terms of sup- GCC central bank gover- Libya, Egypt and Syria to Saudi ply, mainly in wheat, corn and nors hold regular meetings and Arabia and Yemen, dislodging US, barley,” Mudallal said. Kuwait’s session was their 59th. Canadian and European suppliers On the supply side in Ukraine, Hashel said the one-day meeting who once dominated the market. foreign trading houses are avoid- discussed the efforts of member Middle Eastern commodities ing fixing new grain export con- states individually and collectively traders and officials said fears tracts as well. Russian corn export to combat money laundering and that tensions between Russia and prices also have been rising for terror funding and to comply with Ukraine could come to a head, two weeks. Ukraine’s main ports international standards. however, are discouraging most continue to operate, but Middle A long-delayed monetary union buyers from striking deals with Eastern traders were concerned and single currency were not dis- Ukraine suppliers for the new that shipping could be affected. cussed because UAE and Oman season, which starts in July. “The situation could change if are not part of the union after “At this time of the year, end fighting breaks out,” said Malak having withdrawn. of March, people are selling for- Jehad Al Akiely, a dealer in Hashel said GCC states were ward contracts for the new crop. International Grain Suppliers- still facing key economic chal- Traders and trade houses start Jordan operation. lenges despite huge wealth from selling July shipments. This is not Middle Eastern countries have oil, particularly the “increas- happening now. People are very already sealed deals for around 80 People in front of the Poundland store in south London. British discount retailer Poundland floated its shares ing dependence on oil income to reluctant; they don’t know what percent of the grain they need for on the London stock market yesterday, and the company said that the operation valued it at £750m. finance budgets and the rise in to expect,” said Tony Mudallal, a the current season to end-June, current spending,”. AFP senior commodities trader in an traders said. REUTERS THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS QE index down Muntajat, Milaha sign transport contract DOHA: Qatar Chemical and to Mesaieed. Total annual volume 1.39pc, region Petrochemical Marketing of exports alone is expected to and Distribution Company reach approximately 150,000 TEU (Muntajat) QJSC signed a two- (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit). year agreement with Qatar “We have, over the years, sees big selling Navigation QSC (Milaha) built a close relationship with to transport petrochemicals QAPCO, Q-Chem, Qatofin, and exports from Qatar. more recently with Muntajat, and The agreement covers the con- we are very pleased to be able to Chinese slowdown triggers sell-off tainerised exports of polymers extend and expand this relation- and melamine for Muntajat from ship.” said Sheikh Ali bin Jassim DOHA: Qatar Exchange ended and a lack of catalysts,” Marwan Mesaieed to key hub ports in the Al Thani. “Our fleet of eight fully- in the red area when trading Shurrab, fund manager and head region, from where major inter- cellularised container vessels is closed yesterday at 11,349.17 of trading at Vision Investments national shipping lines will carry ideal to cater for our partners’ points, down 1.39 percent, or said of UAE markets. these exports to their final desti- requirements. We aim to continue 159.99 points, from the previ- With fourth-quarter earnings nations worldwide. to serve them in the best possible ous closing of 11,509.16 points on mostly out of the way, investors The contracts were signed by manner and bring added value to Tuesday. have little to trade on. A string of H E Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al this critical sector for Qatar.” The volume of shares was up companies going ex-dividend has Thani, Chairman and Managing Commenting on the agreement, to 15,742,784 from 15,633,037 and hurt regional markets in the last Director of Milaha and Al Abdulla said: “We are proud to the value of shares increased few days; Dubai Financial Market, Abdulrahman Ali Al Abdulla, be collaborating with Milaha, one to QR807,524,370.33 from the only listed Gulf bourse, CEO of Muntajat. of the oldest established companies QR654,286,605.40 on Tuesday. dropped 6.7 percent as it went As part of the agreement, in Qatar, to bring Qatar’s chemical Among the top losers were past the date when shareholders Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani and Abdulrahman Ali Al Abdulla. Milaha is also responsible for re- and petrochemical exports to the Qatar National Bank whose are eligible to receive dividends. positioning empty containers back world.” THE PENINSULA share was down 2.93 percent Dubai’s index nosedived 3.8 to QR182.50, International percent in its biggest one-day Islamic Bank lost 4.92 percent to drop in more than six months to QR73.50, Commercial Bank fell cut its 2014 gains to 16.8 percent. 0.92 percent to QR75.70 and Doha The measure fell to 3,936 points, Egypt sees GDP Bank was decreased by 2.40 per- breaking key technical support Qatargas loads 2,000th LNG cargo cent to QR57. at the late February low of 4,026 The banking and financial sec- points; this triggered a double top growing slower tor index was lost 1.80 percent formed by the February peaks — DOHA: Qatargas, the largest to congratulate all the teams Hamla” was the first ship to load points, while consumer goods and a classic sign of the end of an LNG producer in the world, involved on this milestone lean LNG from Berth 4 on 15th CAIRO: Egypt’s newly services sector index dropped 3.30 uptrend — which points down to recently loaded the 2,000th achievement which further March 2009 during the Expansion appointed finance minister percent. The industrial sector fell 3,810 points. LNG cargo from the Common demonstrates how we manage Start-up stage. said yesterday the growth tar- 0.99 percent, while insurance sec- Abu Dhabi’s measure lost 2.8 Lean LNG Storage and Loading and operate all of our facilities In October 2009, the Qatargas get had slipped and the budget tor was down 1.70 percent. percent, breaching for the first Asset. safely, efficiently and reliably. Q-Flex vessel “Al Kharaitiyat” deficit would widen more than Fears of Chinese slowdown time in 17 weeks the low of a prior The Common Lean LNG stor- This is a significant milestone, became the first ship to load lean official forecasts as the turmoil trigger global sell-off week, likely pointing to further age and loading facilities are built not only for Qatargas, but also LNG from Berth 5, while the first of the past three years takes its Elsewhere in the region, Dubai’s downside. to store LNG produced from the for Qatar’s LNG industry on the ship to load lean LNG from Berth toll on the economy. shares slid, leading a Middle East “Each UAE market is likely to six mega LNG trains at Ras whole as it enhances our repu- 6 was the RasGas Q-Flex vessel Hany Kadry Dimian, who took retreat as a gloomy global back- see increased supply on bounces as Laffan Industrial City (Qatargas tation as a reliable supplier of “Al Sahla” in February 2011. office last month, said the state’s drop worsened a local lull and investors look to lock in profits or Trains 4, 5, 6 and 7 and RasGas LNG worldwide. What makes The Common Lean LNG stor- budget deficit for fiscal year 2013- sparked profit-taking. diminish losses as the near-term Trains 6 and7) and load Q-Flex this achievement all the more age and loading facilities include 14 would be around 12 percent Copper, a proxy for China’s sentiment turns bearish - thereby and Q-Max ships in addition to remarkable is that it has been eight LNG tanks, each with a and expected it to stand at 10-10.5 economic wealth, plunged to a suppressing the extent of short- conventional ships from Berths achieved without any Lost Time storage capacity of 140,000 cubic percent for the next fiscal year. four-year low, worsening fears term rallies,” said Bruce Powers, 4, 5 and 6 and the Qatargas ships Incidents (LTI) .” metres. “In best conditions it (this about slowing Chinese economy technical analyst and president at loaded at LNG Berth 3 to custom- The milestone achievement of The facility also recovers Boil- year’s deficit) will be around 11 and triggered selling across global WideVision. ers across Asia, Europe and the 2000 cargoes from the Common Off gas (BOG) from the LNG to 12 percent and leans more to equities. Egypt’s bourse gave in to the Americas. Lean LNG Storage and Loading tanks. The recovered gas is sup- higher than 12 percent.” Dimian “Global selling is affecting sen- weak sentiment and the bench- Commenting on the achieve- Asset was reached in less than plied to the LNG trains as fuel said. A Finance Ministry report timent to a certain extent but mark index slipped 0.2 percent ment, Qatargas Chief Executive five years after the first loading gas. Four LNG loading berths are released last year had expected the correction is a result of a despite upbeat earnings. Officer Khalid Bin Khalifa from the facility. also part of the facility. the deficit to stand at 9.1 percent strong early-year performance QNA & REUTERS Al Thani said: “I would like The Qatargas Q-Flex vessel “Al THE PENINSULA in 2013-14. REUTERS

Members of the Qatari Businessmen’s Association with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev. Qatar explores investments in Bulgaria DOHA: Members of the Qatari cooperation and enhance bilat- its economy by buying gas from Businessmen’s Association eral relations between the two Qatar, with the involvement (QBA) expressed their desire to countries. of a group of European coun- explore investment opportuni- Plevneliev said that his country tries namely Greece, Romania, ties available in Bulgaria during is looking forward to cooperate Hungary, Poland, the Czech their meeting with the visiting with Qatar in building mutually Republic and Slovakia. President of the European coun- successful business partnerships, These projects aim at establish- try Rosen Plevneliev recently. noting that the strategic loca- ing a liquefied natural gas facility QBA members said that they tion of Bulgaria in the Southeast in Greece to facilitate the pur- are interested in establishing var- of Europe, serve as a commer- chase of gas from Qatar and bring ious projects in different sectors cial gateway between eastern it to Bulgaria. In return Bulgaria of the Bulgarian economy, espe- European countries and the can provide assistance to Qatar in cially in the banking, tourism and Middle East. solar energy, as it has been invest- real estate sectors. The president also displayed ing heavily in that field over the The meeting, held on March to the Qatari businessmen some past three years. 11 at the QBA headquarters, was of the investment incentives that Qatari- Bulgarian bilateral attended by Hussain Al Fardan, Bulgaria offers such as stable trade has amounted between QBA’s first deputy chairman, macroeconomic environment, QR30m and QR40m per year, and Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser Al low labour and operating costs, the Bulgarian economy largely Thani, QBA board member, and in addition to favourable tax envi- depends on the service sector as it QBA members Nasser Suliman Al ronment. Bulgaria also enjoys a constitutes 63 percent of the total Haidar, Salah Al Jaidah, Maqbool low debt rate of 16 percent of national income, followed by the Habeeb Khalfan and Saud Al GDP, and the local economy is industrial sector which amount to Mana vice chairman and CEO expected to grow by 3-4 percent 30.3 percent while the agriculture of Al Mana Group and Sarah by 2018. sector constitutes 6.7 percent. Abdallah QBA Deputy General He also noted that one of Plevneliev also added that the Manager. Bulgaria’s most important sectors real estate and construction sec- The Qatari side welcomed the for investment is the agriculture tor in Bulgaria is well developed visit of Plevneliev and his accom- and food industry, in addition and considered as one of the most panying delegation, which aimed to the energy sector, where the attractive sectors to invest in. at discussing possible ways of country is seeking to diversify THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Britain set to be fastest growing among G7 UK economy to grow 0.6pc per quarter till Q3 of 2015

LONDON: Britain’s economy Cooperation and Development “materially lower than before will grow faster than any other (OECD) on Tuesday. crisis”. G7 nation in coming quarters, The eurozone economy, Bank rate was raised to 5.75 but the Bank of England will Britain’s main trading partner, percent in July 2007, but fell not raise interest rates until is expected to eke out just 1.1 steadily as the eurozone sovereign next year to avoid choking off percent growth this year and 1.4 debt crisis and a financial melt- the recovery, a poll showed percent next, with any deteriora- down in the United States sent yesterday. tion in that highlighted as a risk the global economy into a tailspin. The Reuters poll of over 50 to British growth. In an effort to give markets economists, taken this week, Quarterly forecasts were guidance, the bank tied the path suggested Britain’s gross domes- unchanged from a February poll of monetary policy to unemploy- tic product (GDP) will grow 0.6 and despite the upbeat outlook ment. But Carney was forced to percent per quarter through to the latest survey again said it abandon that in February — just September 2015. would be next year before the BoE six months in — after joblessness If those forecasts are met, raised interest rates from record fell within a whisker of its 7 per- Britain’s economy will be back to lows — and even then by only 25 cent target three years earlier its pre-crisis size by the end of basis points. than when they first forecast it June and be the fastest growing The poll, agreeing with finan- would. Instead, he said the bank Cleaning ladies from the public sector shout slogans during a rally outside Parliament in Athens. amongst the group of seven major cial markets, says the Bank of would focus on 18 separate meas- industrialised nations. England raise its benchmark ures of data in order to gauge the “The story on the UK remains interest rate to 0.75 percent in right time to start raising rates, Greek workers strike over job cuts very positive, with business sur- the second quarter of 2015 and a move that split economists in a veys pointing to robust activity, by another 25 basis points in the recent poll as to whether it has confidence indicators bouncing third quarter. improved clarity about where ATHENS: Thousands of “Traitors out of our country!” Parliament. “We will take the strongly, credit growth strength- BoE Governor Mark Carney interest rates are headed. striking public sector work- read one placard. skeletons out of the closet.” ening and asset prices rising,” said has repeatedly stressed there was Still, while only four of 46 econ- ers marched through Athens Anti-austerity sentiment Greece’s lenders have demanded James Knightley at ING. no rush to raise rates and that omists expect any increase this yesterday to protest against remains high in Greece, where 11,400 public sector layoffs this Britain’s economy will expand any increases would be gradual. year, there is a median 80 percent planned job cuts demanded by repeated bouts of belt-tightening year, the fifth straight year of job 2.7 percent this year and 2.4 His deputy, Charlie Bean, said chance that bank rate will have foreign lenders as unemploy- since it was rescued from bank- cuts in the sector. Unemployment percent in 2015 and 2016, simi- earlier yesterday that when the risen by the end of 2015 and an ment in the country holds near ruptcy in 2010 have left three stood at 27.5 percent in December, lar to forecasts made by the time comes to increase borrow- almost certain 95 percent chance record highs. times as many Greeks jobless, little changed from a record high Organisation for Economic ing costs it would be to a level before 2016 ends. REUTERS Teachers, municipal workers pushed up homelessness and 27.7 percent in October, despite and pensioners joined the 24-hour eroded living standards. signs of an economic recovery. walkout by the country’s biggest Labour unions fear Greece will “We want our lives back,” public sector union ADEDY, have to impose even more wage Maria Portelanou, a 58-year-old which shut schools and left hospi- and pension cuts in the com- schoolteacher and mother of two tals staffed by emergency workers ing years to meet the targets of unemployed children, said at the Eurozone while lawmakers debated a bill on its €240bn bailout deal with the rally. “The government should EU excludes shale public sector reforms. European Union and IMF. pack up and leave.” industrial output “They won’t stop unless we stop But the minister tasked with Parties opposing austerity from them,” ADEDY said in a state- overhauling a state sector long across the political spectrum are falls in January gas from tough rule ment attacking the reforms as criticised as a hotbed of patronage expected to do well in European “an assault on workers’ rights”. jobs and overspending defended Parliament elections in May, Raising mops and brooms in his job, branding the public sector according to opinion polls. BRUSSELS: Eurozone indus- BRUSSELS: EU politicians upstream oil and gas industry, the air, dozens of cleaning ladies “the sick child which, to a large ADEDY and private sector trial output continued weaker yesterday voted for tougher the new rules will guarantee protested outside Parliament, the degree, led us to today’s (eco- union GSEE have brought people in January, official data showed rules on exposing the environ- that any development, including focal point of anti-austerity pro- nomic) crisis.” onto the streets repeatedly since yesterday, but the underlying mental impact of oil and con- exploration for shale gas, will be tests, and high school teachers “We will not back down,” the crisis erupted, with as many trend appears consistent with a ventional gas exploration, while subject to strict environmen- chained themselves to the metal Administrative Reform Minister as 100,000 taking part in some very modest economic recovery excluding shale gas. tal standards,” Roland Festor, barriers barricading the assembly. Kyriakos Mitsotakis told demonstrations. REUTERS in the single-currency bloc. Member states such as Britain director for EU affairs at the Industrial output in the and Poland are pushing hard for International Association of Oil 18-nation eurozone fell 0.2 per- the development of shale gas, and Gas Producers, said. cent in January after a sharper seen as one way to lessen depend- Shale Gas Europe, which drop of 0.4 percent in December ence on Russian gas, as well as brings together companies when it had 17 members, the to lower energy costs as it has in such as Chevron, Total and Eurostat statistics agency said. the United States. Cuadrilla Resources, also wel- However, in the full 28-country The plenary vote of the comed the law. European Union, industrial out- European Parliament in “Shale gas could poten- put was up 0.1 percent, returning Strasbourg, France follows a tially play an important role to positive territory after a drop compromise deal on the draft law in meeting Europe’s acute of 0.4 percent in December. in December, which was struck energy challenges,” Marcus Compared with January 2013, only after negotiators agreed to Pepperell, spokesman for Shale eurozone industrial output was leave out references to shale gas. Gas Europe, said. up 2.1 percent while the EU Member states are expected to Green politicians, however, gained 2.4 percent. Germany, give their endorsement over the said the decision to leave out Europe’s biggest economy, saw coming weeks, after which the shale gas was a major setback a rise of 0.4 percent in January, law will become final. and that the fracking process, more than reversing a fall of Under the planned law, assess- which involves using chemicals 0.1 percent in December while ments of a range of infrastruc- to extract gas from the shale struggling France was down 0.3 ture projects, as well as oil and rock, posed risks to health and percent, still better than the pre- gas, will include their impact on the environment. vious month’s drop of 0.5 percent. biodiversity and climate change, “The Greens believe there is Non-euro Britain was up 0.1 per- plus measures to ensure authori- already sufficient evidence to ban cent after a gain of 0.5 percent in ties granting approval have no fracking but ensuring informed December. The eurozone escaped conflict of interest. permit decisions through a record 18-month recession in Industry said the new law the environmental impact the second quarter with economic avoided placing too many restric- assessment procedure must growth of 0.3 percent but this tions on projects during their be the absolute minimum,” slowed to a marginal 0.1 percent early phases when commercial Sandrine Belier, environment in the third before picking up viability is unclear. spokeswoman for the European again to 0.3 percent in the last “While not imposing unnec- Greens, said. three months of the year. AFP essary requirements on the REUTERS

UniCredit in €14bn loss

People stand outside the UniCredit Bank headquarters in Milan. It posted a record €14bn loss due to huge writedowns on bad loans and past acquisitions as it moved to clean up its balance sheet ahead of an industry-wide health check by European regulators. THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS IATA cuts profit Japan firms raise wages before tax hike forecast as oil Increase is first time in many years; Toyota, Panasonic, Nissan, Hitachi, Toshiba also join prices soar TOKYO: Major Japanese firms, workers, follow the lead on pay. lobby Keidanren, said firms rec- including Toyota and Panasonic, The seemingly small wage ognised the need to reverse years GENEVA: Airline body IATA yesterday said they would boost hikes are a major development of tepid growth. yesterday cut its 2014 earn- employees’ salaries for the first in a country that has suffered “For the economy to grow sus- ings forecast for the sector to time in years, heeding a call deflation for years, with consum- tainably, (Japan) needs to create $18.7bn, after oil prices soared from the prime minister ahead ers rarely facing higher prices for a virtuous cycle—bigger profits over the Ukraine crisis. of a sales tax rise next month. everyday goods. leading to bigger investment, pay The new figure is a decrease The deal came as companies Abe’s growth blitz, dubbed hikes and better economic senti- of $1bn from the previous fore- wrap up annual labour talks Abenomics, is aimed at revers- ment, which then leads to even cast issued in December, said known as Shunto, or the “spring ing falling prices and recent data larger corporate earnings,” he the International Air Transport offensive”. suggest Tokyo is making headway said. “This year’s labour negotia- Association. It blamed political The usually low-key negotia- in stoking lasting inflation, which tions focused more on that macro tensions in countries includ- tions were being closely watched would mean higher prices. point of view.” ing Ukraine, saying they were to see if cash-rich firms would put Consumers are also get- But concerns gathered pace expected to drive oil prices to an more money in workers’ pockets, ting set for a sales tax rise to this week as revised growth data average $108 per barrel, or $3.50 amid worries about the tax hike 8 percent next month, up from showed the world’s third-largest more than expected. But the extra slamming the brakes on growth. 5 percent. The move is seen as economy expanded at a slower $3bn added to the industry’s fuel Japan’s car sector was a key crucial to shrinking Japan’s mas- pace than initially thought last bill is expected to be largely offset target, with all eyes on the world’s sive national debt, but there are year. Yesterday, a key consumer by stronger demand, especially for biggest carmaker Toyota which— fears it could weigh on consumer confidence indicator dropped in cargo, thanks to a strengthening along with other exporters— spending and slow growth. February, with the data likely global economy, IATA said. posted big profits on the back of Abe has been calling on firms to stoke further concerns about And while profits are set to sharply weaker yen since Prime to raise salaries so workers would spending. be dented by fuel costs, overall Minister Shinzo Abe swept to have more money to spend, a “Any recovery in consumer con- industry revenues look likely to power in late 2012. move seen as crucial to making fidence...will be strongly depend- rise to $745bn, or $2bn more than Toyota said it would raise his growth bid work. On Tuesday, ent on an acceleration in wage previously projected, it said. employees’ pay by an average of Abe’s point man on the economy, growth,” London-based Capital As a result, this is a “tweak and 2,700 yen ($26) a month, while Akira Amari, raised the stakes Economics said. the overall forecast is still very they would also get an average with an apparent threat to take Japan’s number-two automaker aligned to our December think- bonus worth about 6.8 months of unspecified action against com- Nissan said its employees would ing,” said IATA chief Tony Tyler. their base wage—a common pay panies that don’t jack up wages. get 3,500 yen more a month, If the sector delivers the new structure in Japan. The government “will react in and a bonus worth 5.6 months earnings forecast, that would still It was the Camry and Corolla some way” against firms which of regular pay. The electronics mark the industry’s highest-ever maker’s first wage hike in six are “uncooperative with our sector, hammered by losses in profit, according to IATA. In 2012 years, and amounted to about a policy of creating a virtuous eco- recent years, also moved with airlines made $6.1bn, while last 0.8 percent rise above current pay. nomic cycle,” he told reporters. six major firms hiking wages by year ended with a profit of $12.9bn. Among other firms raising Tabloid newspaper Nikkan 2,000 yen a month, their biggest- “In general, the outlook is positive. wages were Nissan, Panasonic, Gendai compared Amari’s com- ever increase. Convenience store The cyclical economic upturn is Hitachi and Toshiba. ments to the aggressive tac- operator Lawson has agreed to its supporting a strong demand envi- The focus would now shift from tics of Japan’s notorious yakuza first wage rise in 12 years. ronment. And that is compensat- blue-chip firms to see if small gangsters. Bonuses are usually paid out in a ing for the challenges of higher and mid-sized companies, which Hideshi Nitta, a labour rela- lump sum twice yearly, but it’s not fuel costs related to geo-political People walk in front of the Panasonic Centre in Tokyo yesterday. employ the bulk of Japanese tions manager at top business guaranteed compensation. AFP instability,” Tyler said. AFP

Cathay Pacific net profit triples India industrial Boeing gets $4.4bn SpiceJet order HONG KONG: Hong Kong car- bottom line was hammered by rier Cathay Pacific said yesterday the effects of the eurozone crisis output turns NEW DELHI: India’s SpiceJet Securities’ managing director tied up with a leading Indian air- net profit more than tripled last as well as persistently high fuel placed an order worth $4.4bn for Alok Churiwala said. line, Jet Airways. year on a rise in Chinese travel- prices. The result was in line with 42 737 MAX Boeing jets yester- But big questions remained Boeing senior vice presi- lers and fuel-cost savings, but its the average HK$2.74bn net profit positive in Jan day, sending the airline’s shares about how SpiceJet would fund dent Dinesh Keskar said in the cargo unit saw earnings fall while forecast by analysts. However, the soaring on hopes the deal would the purchase as well as how it will statement the 737 MAX’s fuel analysts warned of a tough future. figure is still well down from the NEW DELHI: India’s indus- make the loss-making carrier fare with entry of rivals such as efficiency “supports SpiceJet’s The city’s flag-carrier said HK$5.5bn profit seen in 2011. trial production edged into posi- more attractive to investors. no-frills AirAsia expected later mission to become India’s pre- profit jumped to HK$2.62bn “Business outlook for 2014 tive territory but the 0.1 percent Shares of budget airline this year, Churiwala added. ferred low-cost airline”. ($338m) from HK$862m in 2012 looks to be improved when com- rise posted for January was SpiceJet rocketed by nearly 7.5 Aviation consultancy CAPA Boeing said the 737 MAX will as revenue climbed 1.1 percent pared to 2013,” company chair- nowhere near the strong recov- percent after it signed the mem- India forecasts SpiceJet, con- offer 8 percent lower operating to HK$100.5bn. The 204 percent man Christopher Pratt said in ery the government had hoped orandum of understanding with trolled by billionaire Kalanithi costs than “future competition”. increase helped the firm recover a filing to the Hong Kong Stock for ahead of national elections. Boeing. The top-selling Boeing Maran, will post a record loss this Keskar added the 737 Max’s from a painful 2012, when its Exchange. AFP The marginal increase in planes, which have greater fuel financial year. development is on schedule with output by factories, mines and savings, bigger windows and India’s aviation market has the first flight slated for 2016 and utilities in January from a year roomier carry-on luggage space, been reeling from high fuel costs deliveries to begin in 2017. The QATARI MARKET earlier, marked the first accelera- are an upgraded version of the and an economy that grew at a 737 MAX has received over 1,800 Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P tion in four months. It was also a Chicago-based company’s widely decade low of 4.5 percent last orders, he said. Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.25 1.03% Aa2 AA better result than the 0.6 percent used single-aisle 737s. year. But experts see tremen- With the latest announcement, contraction markets expected. The 737 MAX “will further dous longer-term potential as the SpiceJet has ordered 90 planes Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 1.11% Aa2 AA “The data shows India’s belea- modernise our fleet, improve number of people taking flights in directly from Boeing, including Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.88 2.36% Aa2 AA guered economy moving in the customer experience and ensure India is still very low compared the 737-800, 737-900ER and now Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 113.63 2.71% Aa2 AA right direction, but still far from we operate the most efficient with developed markets. the 737 MAX, and has taken deliv- Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 108.38 3.28% Aa2 AA healthy,” said Capital Economics fleet well into the future,” S L SpiceJet has been named by ery of 31. The jets have a list price Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 154.50 4.86% Aa2 AA economist Miguel Chanco. Narayanan, chief financial officer analysts as a potential investment of $4.4bn but normally airlines get Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 116.50 5.23% Aa2 AA “Manufacturers are clearly still of SpiceJet’s parent Sun Group target after India’s government big discounts on bulk orders and Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 107.50 5.23% Aa2 AA struggling for momentum, amid said in a statement. eased airline foreign ownership SpiceJet gave no pricing details. subpar domestic demand.” The announcement is a boost barriers in 2012 and the jet pur- SpiceJet currently has close Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.69 0.74% Aa2 AA Manufacturing output, which for Boeing in India where many chase is seen as possibly enhanc- to 60 planes and runs 350 flights Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 111.00 3.08% Aa2 AA accounts for over three-quar- carriers, including market leader ing its appeal. a day. The SpiceJet order is Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 102.63 1.05% A1 A- ters of the Index of Industrial IndiGo, use planes made by “SpiceJet has reportedly signed expected to be one of many in Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.38 1.90% A1 A- Production, shrank by 0.7 percent Europe’s biggest aerospace manu- a terms (of investment) sheet 2014. CAPA has said it expects QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.00 1.25% NR NR in January. Production of capital facturer Airbus. with a UAE-based investor. over 350 planes to be ordered by QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.25 1.15% Aa3 A+ goods such as plant equipment— Fourth-place SpiceJet has been However, the ongoing challenges India’s airlines by the end of 2015. QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.25 1.88% Aa3 A+ a strong indicator of investment battling to improve passenger in the market may make it diffi- Airbus, which makes the com- intentions—contracted by 4.2 share in a ferociously competitive cult to close this deal,” said CAPA. peting A320neo planes, said on Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.25 2.03% A2 A- percent. Separate figures showed market and its shares have been Low-cost carriers, includ- Monday there would be “sev- Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.00 1.39% A2 A- consumer price inflation fell trading at multi-year lows. ing IndiGo, SpiceJet and Go Air eral announcements” at the Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.13 2.87% A2 A- year-on-year to a still hefty 8.10 “The rise in SpiceJet (shares) dominate with a near 65-percent Hyderabad show but did not Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 107.13 3.58% A2 A- percent in February from 8.79 is comforting” as “it has been market share. Abu Dhabi-based say whether they would include Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 103.13 4.65% A2 A- percent in January. AFP down so much”, Churiwala carrier Etihad Airways recently Airbus orders. AFP Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 102.38 1.05% Aa3 A Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.63 3.10% Aa3 A Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.13 3.88% Aa3 A Aviation show SOVEREIGNS Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.38 -0.90% Aa2 AA Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.88 2.16% Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 107.75 1.62% NR NR Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.75 2.31% NR NR Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 123.75 3.64% NR NR Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 116.75 4.01% NR NR Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.00 0.42% Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.38 2.96% NR BBB Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 107.00 4.18% NR BBB Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 102.25 5.31% Caa1 B- Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.38 3.56% NR BBB-

*Periodic Distribution Amount IMPORTANT NOTE: Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions.

Visitors walk past aircraft parked on display at Begumpet Airport for the India Aviation 2014 airshow in Hyderabad yesterday. The fourth edition of India Aviation will see more than 250 exhibitors showcase the latest global aerospace technology offering business opportunities in India. THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Australia’s Qantas Candy Crush Saga and airways: A love story BY VAN BADHAM initial public offering BY FELIX SALMON year ago this week, I was in a taxi travelling from the best thing to do is to just pocket the Like it or not, this is the way of the current Hobart’s city to its airport on my way back to Melbourne cash, rather than trying to reinvest it. After technology world: you start up a company, when I received the world’s least-wanted phone call from im Surowiecki is absolutely right all, Candy Crush Saga itself was not the you sell it, you get rich. Even if going public A my mother. She was in Sydney with my father in the about the IPO of King Digital product of hundreds of millions of dollars sucks. cancer ward. “Vanessa, it’s time,” she said, using the version of Entertainment, the makers of of investment: it was the product of good The main reason to go public, however, my name that’s reserved as a code word for gravity, “I need you.” Candy Crush Saga. The point of an luck, basically. could just be that the IPO market is so When I appeared at the Qantas check-in desk 15 minutes later, IPO is to raise permanent capital The second piece of advice is that if you’re frothy right now that companies have to I was already pale and cold. The first thing the check-in clerk Jfor a company which intends to exist in just going to cash checks from Candy Crush, have the credible threat of an IPO in order said was not “where are you going today?” but “are you all right?”. perpetuity, while King will realistically last you’re better off doing that as a private to get the best possible price from a strate- “My mother has just phoned. My father is dying. Please,” I said, only as long as the Candy Crush fad. King company, rather than having to deal with gic acquirer. Right until the day before the fingers fumbling forward my passport and a credit card, “I’m on will probably never again make the kind of public shareholders. This is probably also IPO, King is going to retain the option to a flight to Melbourne, I have to get to Sydney immediately. What money ($568m) it made last year, and yet it true. Public companies are bad at managing simply sell itself to some company which do I do?”. He didn’t take the credit card. He just checked my ID issued options in January at a crazy $9.4bn decline: they always want to show growth. wants proven expertise at making enormous and printed out a boarding pass – to Sydney. “You’re on the next valuation. The result is all manner of attempts at profits in the world of mobile-native apps. Sydney flight,” he said. “I’m sorry to hear about your dad.” Surowiecki writes: It’s easy to see why “pivots”, or at investing cash flow into long- By moving towards an IPO, King is forc- I’ve been thinking about that clerk a lot in the past weeks, given King’s founders want to go public: money. shot attempts to build a new business from ing those companies to get serious about the news that 5,000 employees of the world’s second oldest airline But the money isn’t worth the hassle. As scratch (for a prime example, see the way making an offer — both in terms of timing are about to join the similarly shafted thousands of workers at a public company, King will have to show that AOL took the hundreds of millions of (they’d better do it quick) and in terms of SPC Ardmona, Toyota and Holden in what Tony Abbott once shareholders consistent results and ever- dollars flowing from its dialup service and valuation (they’d better meet the likely IPO qualified as a “liberating” new world of unemployment. growing profits. Such expectations are, poured them into Patch). Which, needless share price). Because buying King after it’s Twenty years of very frequent flying have introduced me to frankly, silly in crazily competitive, hit- to say, rarely works. gone public is going to be a lot more difficult. many amongst the Qantas ranks, and they are all on my mind driven industries, and trying to meet them But here’s the problem: all companies Sometimes, capital markets are ineffi- now. There was the pilot who announced as a plane touched me is a recipe for frustration. If King stayed have a valuation, and right now the mar- cient at allocating capital. When debt mar- down at Heathrow for the very first time, “welcome, friends, to the private, it could milk its cash cow and build ket is placing a valuation on King which kets are frothy you see a lot of debt issuance; centre of the universe”. Then there was the steward on another games without having to worry overmuch is somewhere in the $10bn range. If the when equity markets are frothy, you see a international flight who sat in the empty seat next to me when I about hatching a new cultural juggernaut. present value of Candy Crush Saga’s cash lot of IPOs. We’re seeing a lot of IPOs right started freaking out during some bad flight turbulence over the We expect companies to constantly be in flows is less than $10bn, then it is entirely now, including some pretty crazy ones. And Equator, and kept me chattily distracted until we flew steady. Only search of the next big thing. But, for one-hit rational for anybody who might be inclined if you sell into a frothy market, you’re being a couple of weeks ago, an attendant on a flight from Melbourne wonders, the smartest strategy might be to to live on those cash flows to instead sell rational, not stupid. Let the buyers of King to Perth surprised me with some much-appreciated socks when just enjoy it while it lasts. the company to people who think it’s worth shares worry about where their return is she noticed my bare toes in a very cold cabin. There are two different pieces of advice more than that. going to come from: no one is twisting their There were the guys who re-seated me from economy to busi- here. The first is entirely sensible: if you And there’s another great reason to go arm. So long as there are people out there ness class after witnessing my bruised knees in a nasty tumble have a business throwing off massive public: it gives King’s current shareholders willing to buy at a $10bn valuation, markets down a monsoon-affected gangway; the ever-helpful lounge man- amounts of cash, and you have no real assur- — employees and VCs — the ability to cash demand that the current owners should be ager who let me bring my friend upstairs from the gate when an ance that you can build a similar business or out easily, rather than just waiting for a able to sell. electrical storm stranded everyone in the airport overnight; the replicate your past success, then probably ever-diminishing series of dividend checks. REUTERS hilarious female flight attendant who celebrated flights inbound for the Melbourne Comedy Festival by turning her safety dem- onstration into a satirical form of interpretative dance. Over the years, there’s been dignified assistance when I’ve flown with a disability, and tender kindness when I’ve left a lover behind at the airport and boarded with a sore heart and tears. As someone who flies all the time, all over the world and with too many airlines to count, I’ve developed a customer loyalty to Qantas not because of what it offers as “a brand” so much as how its unique internal staff culture has registered with me as a human being. Certainly, there are other great airlines of the world – but they are not national carrier. The harried, uncomfortable staff of Australia’s budget airlines are not provided the resources to pro- vide the same level of service; that, indeed, is the low-cost “point”. It’s the words “national carrier” that perhaps suggest the foun- dation of the Qantas staff culture. From 1920 until only 17 years ago, Qantas was entirely a government concern – an enterprise like the Commonwealth Bank, the CES, the GIO, the ABC and SBS, railway systems, utility companies, state schools and hospitals. These were born of a collective desire for Australia to provide actual services to its populace – not because markets existed that could be exploited, but because the existence of infrastructure contributed the national and individual good. If you’re searching for an explanation of Australian prosperity, you might want to look at how these vast public systems enabled a nation of con- victs, refugees and the dispossessed to overcome the limitations of their social inheritance and have the resources provided for self-actualisation and enterprise. When the privatisations of some of these services began under the Hawke-Keating Labour govern- ment of the 1980s and 1990s, something of value began to pass out of our culture: a nation-defining principle of common good. This Australian spirit of dignified service has miraculously endured in the culture of post-privatisation Qantas, but it is not one that the markets-only, you-want-it-you-pay-for-it neocon ideologues of the Abbott Closure Council wish to retain. And this is why we have to fight for Qantas jobs now – for government investment, now. To do so rejects Abbott’s vision of Australia where only wealth buys comfort and only power buys dignity, and cherishes the achievement of a culture in which where the chance to spend your father’s last hours alive is not a privilege that has to be bought, but a human instinct that structural kind- ness can make possible. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Is the US economy losing momentum? arkets were treated is closely aligned with the Fed’s number in the US increased with the tone of the post-meeting isn’t particularly important, but to a busy week that expectations”. investor’s perception that the US statement released this week. employment matters more”. included rate deci- Overall, there were a few economy is stalling and raised the Indeed, the Governor appeared to While China aims to create 11 Msions by the Bank themes on the week. Economic attractiveness of the metal. have reinforced the ‘low-for-long’ million new jobs this year, Lou of England and the European surprises in the US continue After a weak ADP numbers on message in the Bank’s current said more could be achieved. Central Bank, political stalemate to slide and disappoint and the Wednesday, the second employ- Weekly Money Market Review policy assessment, by elaborating On the shadow banking matter, in Eastern Europe, downward US dollar continues to struggle ment report of the week came assets in recent weeks. Inflows on the potentially positive effects it seems that China is more deter- revision of US employment data, and five currencies in the G8 in better than expected as initial into EMU’s sovereign debt and for household and business plans mined in engineering an “orderly disappointing US Factory Orders all made new highs against the claims posted 323K when econ- equities have reached multi-year stemming from a period of stabil- default” process with limited sys- and Comments by Fed members. USD for 2014. Even in Emerging omists expected 336K. ADP’s highs, and have been another ity in the cash rate. It seems clear temic impact in a broader range After a long build up, both Markets, the US Dollar weakened January employment change were source of euro resilience. Indeed, from this that the hurdle for the of credit intermediation channels. the BoE and ECB left rates despite Russian tensions, and we revised lower to 127K when last Spain’s bond yields dropped to an Bank to move away from its cur- The believe that by allowing for unchanged on Thursday, which saw heavy demand for Emerging month were at 175K. eight-year low. Italian and Greek rent neutral bias is relatively high. default events, China will achieve added emphasis on Draghi’s press Market currencies as investor According to analysts, ADP’s government securities rallied as According to analysts, the goal of gradually correcting conference. Most market partici- perceived with the US economy numbers have missed the mark the Euro data has been coming on Australia’s inflation is not quite the mispricing of credit risk in pants were anticipating that the stalling. in tracking the government’s jobs expectations. Spanish and Italian as low as it might have looked six different segment of the domes- ECB would announce adjustments In summary, on the foreign figures over the past couple of 10-year borrowing costs have both to twelve months ago, but nor is it tic financial market, and this will to the bond sterilisation and when exchange side, Markets closed months. In addition, harsh win- dropped below 4 percent this year accelerating to the extent a literal improve the efficiency of financial Draghi did not mention a change the week with a stronger Sterling ter weather conditions, which kept for the first time since 2010 with reading of the latest data might resource allocation. in his initial remarks, the Euro Pound and a flying Euro. After retail away from stores and car investors encouraged by the ECB suggest. Indeed, the outlook for Gold regained its attractive- rallied substantially. The presi- reaching a low of 1.6644 on dealerships, help explain why com- President remarks over their inflation is still consistent with the ness as a safe-haven investment dent of the ECB again disap- Tuesday, the Pound ended the panies were hesitant to accelerate respective situation. medium-term target of the RBA as Ukrainian tensions surfaced pointed those looking for policy week at 1.6730. Euro on the hiring at a more robust pace. Despite very weak inflation Chinese finance Minister Lou during the past two weeks. Media loosening language, which set off other side behaved in a more bull- On the other hand, Philadelphia pressure and money supply Jiwei indicated this week that sources reported that politicians a rash of short Euro covering into ish manner. After dropping to a Fed President Charles Plosser growth, and despite the fact that China’s growth target is no longer in Crimea, Ukraine, brought for- the end of the week. low of 1.3708 going into the ECB stated: “I think it is going to be a key economies such as Italy and a rigid one as suggested by the ward a referendum, to potentially In the US, Fed member Dudley meeting, the currency closed the couple more months before all the France are barely out of reces- NDRC. He said, “if GDP grows join Russia or become independ- press conference emphasised that week at the high of 1.3880 noise of the weather gets filtered sion, flows and sentiment have by 7.2 percent or 7.3 percent, we ent, to 16 March, two weeks ear- it was “Time to take out the 6.5 In the commodity complex, out. He added, “Let’s be patient maintained the euro in the upper can also say the growth target of lier than had been planned. percent unemployment thresh- Gold continues to be supported and take a longer-term horizon end of the recent range versus the ‘about 7.5 percent’ is met”. Instead While the focus may be on the old” and that he believed that by the political turmoil in Eastern view” dollar. he noted that employment was upcoming US jobs report, the Gold “Market expectations for the path Europe, hovering around the The return of confidence in The opening remarks of the of far greater importance say- market is likely to remain sensi- of short term rates seem appro- $1,350 level. In addition, the revi- the Euro zone has favoured the Governor’s parliamentary tes- ing “Whether the eventual GDP tive to Eastern Europe develop- priate currently” and that “This sion of the lower employment strong performance of European timony were very much in line is above or below 7.5 percent ments. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 11,349.17 1.39 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 16,713.78 1.23 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,419.77 0.51 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,889.91 1.44 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,768.02 1.80 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5400.466 -28.84 -0.53 5477.3 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,708.37 3.30 % QR160.0660 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4291.69 -58.03 -1.33 4432.5 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 3,959.67 0.99 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0128 QR 6.0966 QE All Share Insurance 2,735.94 1.70 % Dj Indu Average 16351.25 0 0 16588.25 14329.49 Euro ...... QR 5.0159 QR 5.0859 QE All Share Real Estate 2,041 0.87 % QR 2.4752 CA$ ...... QR 3.2380 QR 3.3016 QE All Share Telecoms 1,495.36 0.42 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,999.1 0.44 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.1362 QR 4.1957 Hang Seng Inde/D 21901.95 -367.66 -1.65 23469.33 21197.78 Yen ...... QR 0.0352 QR 0.0359 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2295 QR 3.2940 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 5013.69 -56.21 -1.11 5195.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 12-03-2014 11-03-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0590 QR 0.0601 Index 11,349.17 11,509.16 Karachi 100 In/D 27115.2 -193.82 -0.71 27351.97 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0369 QR 0.0376 Change 159.99 201.33 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14830.39 -393.72 -2.59 16164.01 13995.86 Peso ...... QR 0.0808 QR 0.0825 % 1.39 1.72 $ 108.40 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 9.34 10.88 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1883.57 1536.03 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0475 Volume 15,742,784 15,633,037 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0370 QR 0.0378 Value (QAR) 807,524,370.33 654,286,605.40 Straits Times/D 3097.43 -31.97 -1.02 3187.8 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3309 QR 0.3375 Trades 8,991 10,513 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 104.36 Up 10 | Down 29 | Unchanged 00

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 12-03-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A B G Infra-B/D 41.8 1.05 6066 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1468.2 3.5 4483 Hind Motors-B/D 7.16 -0.03 43300 Kopran-B/D 23.55 -0.35 17777 Radico Khait-B/D 137.85 1.05 478225 Kingfisher/D 398.568 -0.4 1125915 A C C-A/D 1232.2 -18.95 15301 Colgate-A/D 1323.05 -3.7 3841 Hind Org Chem-/D 9.71 -0.2 16351 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 208 13.05 15477 Rallis India-B/D 165.95 -3.35 19492 Land Secs Grou/D 1040 -27 612057 Aban Offs-B/D 485.05 -3.75 240338 Container Cor-/D 829 -14.95 51375 Hind Unilever-/D 559.4 -1.55 76326 Lloyd Metal-B/D 6.8 0.53 8820 Rallis India-B/D 165.95 -3.35 19492 Legal & Genera/D 232.172 -1.6 3280166 Ador Welding-B/D 138.65 -4.65 3521 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 52 -1.55 2727 Hind.Petrol-A/D 280.55 -5.45 46002 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 13.97 -0.79 243326 Reliance Indus/D 380 -1 194475 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 80.024 -1.07 55907872 Aegis Logis-B/D 153.25 -0.9 12650 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 43.5 -0.15 4037 Hindalco-A/D 114.65 -2.75 2386798 Lupin-A/D 961.4 -1.45 35094 Ruchi Soya-B/D 31 -1.1 73417 Marks & Sp./D 475.8 -4.2 1361717 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 110.05 -0.65 3742 Dhampur Sugar-/D 36.75 1.9 26744 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 854.35 3.05 135030 Lyka Labs-B/D 10.1 0.22 7784 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 290.25 -0.65 50829 Next/D 6710 -35 101978 Alembic-B/D 14.7 -0.33 80088 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2690.2 13.7 15582 I F C I-A/D 25.6 0.05 1542299 Maha Scooter-B/D 479.5 -2.3 2137 Salora Inter-B/D 17.4 0.75 12735 Pearson/D 998.5 -2.5 1206070 Alok Indus-B/D 6.66 -0.23 345771 E I H-B/D 64.45 1.8 87732 Idbi-A/D 59.45 -0.55 142195 Mangalam Cem-B/D 109 -3.2 6279 Timexgroup-B/D 9.57 -0.37 23687 Prudential/D 1403.64 42 3898056 Apollo Tyre-A/D 128.65 -1.25 379128 E.I.D Parry-B/D 131.85 2.2 17563 Ifb Agro-B/D 197.2 -1.2 12031 Maral Overs-B/D 17.05 -0.55 2861 Tinplate-B/D 51.7 1.65 192416 Rank Group/D 137.5 0 704 Asahi I Glass-/D 57.1 1.4 61479 Electrosteel-B/D 13.75 -0.13 14047 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 76.45 0.3 2850 Mastek-B/D 209.15 -1.6 13225 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.38 -0.01 2377 Rentokil Initi/D 128.2 -1.3 915463 Ashok Leyland-/D 17.8 0.2 2578894 Emco-B/D 26.75 1.25 114724 India Cement-B/D 57.15 -0.35 75005 Max India L-A/D 190.9 -1.2 105333 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.38 -0.01 2377 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1026.5 -25 2058203 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.02 -0.09 114324 Escorts-B/D 117.9 -2.95 243479 India Glycol-B/D 89.75 -0.8 15774 Mrpl-A/D 41.35 -0.15 45022 Ultramarine-B/D 52 -1.65 17118 Rsa Insrance G/D 93.866 -0.9 6853027 Bata India-A/D 1091.6 -11.1 11686 Essar Oil-A/D 51.05 0.25 216170 Indian Hotel-A/D 71.8 1.9 147105 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 18.2 0.8 1970 Unitech P -A/D 12.77 0.25 5063305 Sainsbury(J)/D 330.764 -3 3026638 Bayer Crop-B/D 1510 20.8 3832 Eveready Indu-/D 44.8 0.1 534940 Indusind-A/D 467.9 -4.65 152393 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 18.2 0.8 1970 Uppergsugar-B/D 28.8 2.55 9273 Schroders/D 2579 -22 95250 Beml Ltd-B/D 245.75 8.5 115521 F D C-B/D 122.95 0.3 31178 J.B.Chemical-B/D 131.4 1.5 72845 Nahar Spg.-B/D 95.6 -0.05 8493 Severn Trent/D 1808 -21 244929 Bh Electronic-/D 978 -10.1 25849 Federal Bank-A/D 85.1 0.3 123725 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.99 0.36 3039 Nath Seeds-T/D 4.28 -0.1 3729 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 912.6745 -18 1044837 Bhansali Eng-B/D 11.26 -0.18 6153 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.1 0.22 38153 Jbf Indu-B/D 68.3 -2.5 13723 Nation Alum -A/D 34.45 -0.05 27718 Smiths Group/D 1357 -11 434924 Bharat Bijle-B/D 420.3 -19.55 28214 Fgp Ltd-B/D 2.15 0 6000 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.39 0 2867 Navneet Edu-B/D 57.4 1.45 177430 3I Group/D 411.9 -2.7 227993 Standrd Chart /D 1202 -47 3067163 Bhartiya Int-B/D 205.9 0.8 8781 Finolex-B/D 195.95 2.2 47493 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.86 0.05 57540 Nepc India-B/D 2.57 -0.04 8862 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2917.15 -36 173014 Tate & Lyle/D 635.7434 -8 695467 Bhel-A/D 183.75 -5.1 327113 Gail-A/D 370.25 -0.65 47140 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.35 -0.22 2850 Neuland Lab-B/D 264.65 -3.6 208733 B Sky B/D 919 -2 859440 Tesco/D 313.7 -0.95 5724298 Bom.Burmah-B/D 94.5 0.15 12443 Galada Power-T/D 3.74 0.17 4871 Jik Indust-T/D 0.89 0.04 7232 Nrb Bearings-B/D 42 -1.35 11435 Barclays/D 231.488 -4.75 25842340 Unilever/D 2362 -23 1294223 Bombay Dyeing-/D 54.9 1.05 415901 Gammon India-B/D 13.65 -0.03 6405 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 160.45 11.15 723700 O N G C-A/D 316.95 -5.55 146406 Bg Group/D 1071.8598 -6 1096770 United Util Gr/D 799 -2 925581 Canfin Homes-B/D 182.1 -1.85 2862 Gangotri Tex-B/D 0.92 -0.04 30560 Kabra Extr-B/D 30 -0.05 2137 Oil Country-B/D 35 0.5 2017 Bp/D 482.988 -1 8511359 Vodafone Group/D 228 1.75 47821058 Century Enka-B/D 133.3 -0.45 11956 Garden P -B/D 34.2 -0.2 5208 Kajaria Cer-B/D 317.25 7.05 2739 Orchid Chem-B/D 49.8 1.15 245216 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3217.9245 -116 1602597 Whitbread/D 4279.978 -49 96587 Century Text-A/D 339.5 1.95 87770 Goodricke-B/D 139.85 1.7 7024 Kalpat Power-B/D 87.95 0.9 22983 Orient Hotel-B/D 16 -0.4 2659 Bt Group/D 401.1 0.6 5209699 Chambal Fert-B/D 38.6 0.15 53469 Goodyear I -B/D 418.3 2.15 176173 Kalyani Stel-B/D 56.3 -0.05 22458 Orient.Carb.-B/D 131 -1.85 3076 Centrica/D 328.9 1.9 4002592 Chola Invest-B/D 257.7 11.25 764642 Hcl Infosys-B/D 35 -0.15 2373770 Kanoria Chem-B/D 26.5 0.35 7847 Orient.Carb.-B/D 131 -1.85 3076 Gkn/D 378.5 -6.1 3374221 Cipla-A/D 379 2.3 59767 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.07 0 251016 Kg Denim-B/D 14 -0.15 6737 Oudh Sugar-B/D 18.7 0.25 7857 Hsbc Holdings/D 601.6 -15 13215421 City Union Bk-/D 49.35 -0.85 31340 Himat Seide-B/D 59.75 2.2 72001 Kilburnengg-B/D 18.75 -0.25 2852 Punjab Chem.-B/D 71 -1.1 2290 Imperial Tobac/D 2484 -10 805912 THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 T20: West Indies beat England to win series Buttler’s career-best 67 in vain as tourists lose second game

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies the tourists’ to a total of 152 for captain Darren Sammy belted an Buttler joined opening batsman rallied from a middle-order seven batting first with left-arm unbeaten 30 off just nine deliver- Alex Hales in putting on 76 for wobble to romp to a series- seamer Krishmar Santokie jus- ies to take his team to 155 for five the fourth wicket. The wicket- clinching five-wicket victory tifying his inclusion in place of with seven balls to spare. keeper-batsman needed more over England in the second injured spinner Sunil Narine by With an unbeatable 2-0 lead than a bit of luck but was par- Twenty20 International of claiming four for 21 to earn the going into the final match on ticularly impressive, hammering the three-match series at “Man of the Match” award. Thursday at the same venue, five fours and three sixes off 43 Kensington Oval in Barbados Cruising at 111 for two in the the World T20 title-holders are balls to put his team in position on Tuesday. 15th over, the hosts lost three looking for a strong finish in the to post a competitive total. Jos Buttler’s career-best 67 saw wickets for five runs before Caribbean before heading off to However Hales’ dismissal for Bangladesh for the defence of 40 just before a rain interrup- Scoreboard their crown. “This is all about tion proved critical in limit- building towards the T20 World ing England’s progress on the Cup,” said a delighted Sammy. resumption as Santokie’s clever ENGLAND WEST INDIES “It’s good that all the guys are variations over his final two overs M Lumb lbw Santokie ...... 4 D Smith c Bresnan b Dernbach ...... 30 firing and when you sit down and proved extremely effective. A Hales c Simmons b D J Bravo ...... 40 C Gayle b Bopara ...... 36 plan, then execute on the field, it “I just try to vary the pace, and M Ali lbw b Santokie ...... 5 M Samuels c Hales b Bresnan ...... 28 feels good.” it worked on this occasion,” said Handicapped by the absence Santokie. “I just stick to the basics E Morgan c Simmons b Badree ...... 3 L Simmons c Buttler b Wright ...... 19 of regular captain and key bowler and just seek to improve every time J Buttler c Sammy b Santokie ...... 67 A Russell c Hales b Bresnan ...... 2 Stuart Broad because of injury, I get the opportunity to play.” R Bopara c D J Bravo b Santokie ...... 14 D Sammy (not out) ...... 30 England nevertheless proved far In contrast to their opponents, L Wright (not out) ...... 7 D J Bravo (not out) ...... 8 more competitive than in the first Dwayne Smith (30) and Chris T Bresnan c Ramdin b D J Bravo ...... 7 Extras (W-2) ...... 2 match on Sunday, although their Gayle (36) gave the West Indies Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-1) ...... 5 Total (for 5 wkts in 18.5 overs) ...... 155 poor start with the bat and inabil- a flying start, and although both ity to sustain the effort in the field failed to carry on to the end, their Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-75, 3-111, 4-116, eventually cost them dearly. rate of scoring eased the burden West Indies bowler Krishmar Santokie celebrates dismissing England’s Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 152 5-116. “I though we were about 15-20 on the batsmen who followed. batsman Moeen Ali during the second T20 match at the Kensington Fall of wickets: Did not bat: 1-13, 2-21, 3-26, 4-102, D Ramdin, R Rampaul, S runs short at the end,” stand-in Ravi Bopara’s medium-pace - Oval in Bridgetown yesterday. 5-137, 6-143, 7-152. Badree, K Santokie. England skipper Eoin Morgan he conceded just ten runs from Did not bat: S Parry, J Tredwell, Dernbach. Bowling: Bresnan 3.5-0-51-2; (1w); Dern- conceded. “We showed a lot of four overs for Gayle’s wicket — Bowling: Badree 4-0-16-1; Santokie 4-0- bach 3-0-30-1 (1w); Tredwell 4-0-27-0; fight though, which is good head- and James Tredwell’s left-arm successive balls in the 17th over off England’s chances and allowed ing into the World Cup.” spin gave England hope of a lifted the prospect of a tight the home fans in another full- 21-4; Samuels 2-0-17-0; Rampaul 3-0-30- Bopara 4-0-10-1; Parry 2-0-17-0; Wright They were labouring at 26 fightback while Tim Bresnan’s finish. house at Kensington to savour the 0 (1w); Sammy 1-0-17-0; D.J Bravo 4-0-34- 2-0-20-1. for three in the fifth over after double-strike in removing Marlon However Sammy, in partner- rarity in recent times of a West 2; Russell 2-0-13-0. Result: West Indies won by 5 wickets Morgan chose to bat first before Samuels and Andre Russell off ship with Dwayne Bravo, killed Indies series victory. AFP Hurricanes end 10-game skid to Rangers

RALEIGH, NORTH in that stretch. Jamie Benn scored goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky only goal for Philadelphia (33- Ekman-Larsson and Radim CAROLINA: The Carolina in overtime and goaltender Tim NHL Results made 39 saves, 17 of them in the 25-7). Flyers winger Scott Vrbata. Jordan Eberle, David Hurricanes haven’t had much Thomas picked up a first win with Nashville 4 Buffalo 1 first period. The Blue Jackets (34- Hartnell thought he had scored Perron and Taylor Hall scored in to celebrate lately. Against the his new team as the Dallas Stars New Jersey 2 Philadelphia 1 26-5) are in eighth-place in the a tying goal in the final minute, a shootout, lifting the Edmonton New York Rangers, it’s been beat the St Louis Blues. Carolina 3 NY Rangers 1 Eastern Conference, pulling two but it was waived off by offi- Oilers to a come-from-behind win years. The Hurricanes changed The Stars, who won their Columbus 4 Detroit 1 points ahead of the ninth-place cials because Hartnell ran into over the Minnesota Wild. both story lines Tuesday night third in a row, were playing just Phoenix 3 Florida 1 Red Wings (29-23-13), who have Brodeur before the puck went in. Trailing 3-1 midway through with a 3-1 win against the 24 hours after teammate Rich Pittsburgh 2 Washington 0 qualified for the playoffs in 22 The Phoenix Coyotes, bat- the third period, the Oilers got Rangers. Peverley suffered a cardiac epi- consecutive seasons. tling for the last playoff berth goals from Perron and Eberle late Dallas 3 St. Louis 2 Carolina made the most of a sode in the first period of a home Jaromir Jagr scored the go- in the Western Conference, in regulation, then the shootout goal and assist from both Jordan game against Columbus, a contest Edmonton 4 Minnesota 3 ahead goal early in the third defeated the Florida Panthers. goals for their third win in the Staal and Jiri Tlusty to snap a that was eventually postponed. San Jose 6 Toronto 2 period as the New Jersey Devils Phoenix had goals from center past four games. 10-game losing streak against Peverley is listed in stable con- beat the Philadelphia Flyers. Mike Ribeiro, defenseman Oliver AGENCIES New York. dition at a Dallas hospital. He Crosby increased his lead in the Travis Zajac also had ‘’You have to wake up and just sent a text message of encourage- NHL’s overall points table, he now a goal and goaltender be confident in our game and our ment to his teammates earlier in has 88 on the season, while Jussi Martin Brodeur made 30 system and keep moving forward the day. Jokinen also scored. saves to help the Devils and looking ahead,’’ Staal said. Sidney Crosby scored his Rookie Boone Jenner and (29-24-13) inch closer in ‘’The last couple games we’ve had 31st goal of the season as the Brandon Dubinsky scored 40 the Eastern Conference haven’t been a great result, but Pittsburgh Penguins earned a seconds apart in the third playoff race. The Devils are our effort has always been there. sweep of games on back-to-back period to lead the Columbus Blue just two points behind the It’s nice to get a good result.’’ nights against the Washington Jackets to a win over the Detroit Flyers and the Columbus Carolina had lost seven of Capitals. Pittsburgh (44-17-4) Red Wings. Blue Jackets for the final eight to fall well behind in the also defeated the Capitals 3-2 on Derek MacKenzie and left two playoff spots. Metropolitan Division race. The Monday and now have eight con- winger Nick Foligno also scored Defenceman Nicklas Hurricanes were outscored 30-16 secutive wins against them. for the Blue Jackets, while Grossmann scored the

Pistons clamp down on Kings in 99-89 win

AUBURN HILLS: If the Kevin Durant scored 42 Detroit Pistons had played points to lead the Oklahoma defense like this all season, their City Thunder to a victory over chances of making the playoffs the Houston Rockets. It was might not look so remote. Durant’s 11th 40-point game of Josh Smith scored 24 points the season. and Rodney Stuckey added 23, After the Rockets trailed by and the Pistons held Sacramento 18 at one point, guard James to 11 points in the third quarter Harden led Houston on a run in a 99-89 victory over the Kings to cut the Thunder lead to yesterday. “I thought our bigs five points with 8:30 left in the were tremendous in pick-and-roll fourth quarter. tonight,’’ Detroit interim coach Tony Parker scored 16 of his John Loyer said. 20 points in the first quarter as Andre Drummond added 15 the San Antonio Spurs turned a points and eight rebounds for fast start into victory over the Detroit, outscoring DeMarcus Chicago Bulls. Manu Ginobili led Cousins in a matchup of two of the the Spurs with 22 points and for- NBA’s top young big men. Cousins ward Kawhi Leonard added 16. had 13 points and 14 rebounds but Spurs coach Gregg Popovich shot 5 of 15 from the field. was able to give his starters a rest for much of the second half. Guard D J Augustin led Chicago NBA Results with 24 points while guard Jimmy Indiana 94 Boston 83 Butler added 23 points. Marc Detroit 99 Sacramento 89 Gasol scored 19 points with nine San Antonio 104 Chicago 96 rebounds and seven assists while Memphis 109 Portland 99 power forward Zach Randolph Minnesota 112 Milwaukee 101 scored 18 points with 12 rebounds Dallas Mavericks’ forward Shawn Marion shoots the ball over Oklahoma City 106 Houston 98 as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated Golden State Warriors’ centre Jermaine O’Neal during the first the Portland Trail Blazers. Golden State 108 Dallas 85 quarter of their NBA game in Oakland, California, yesterday. REUTERS THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT UIM Nations Cup: Sprint races rescheduled

DOHA: Gusting desert winds also forced Wednesday morning’s and choppy seas ruined any free practice session to be can- The Qatar Team’s new F1 boat 2014 Qatar chance of competitive action in celled on safety grounds. colour scheme takes shape on the second UIM Nations Cup on Team Italy had drawn first Doha Corniche. Nations Cup Doha Bay yesterday. blood in Tuesday’s Match Race (Driver positions after Match Race): The three-day competition with Stefano Paoletti winning 1. Stefano Paoletti (Team Italy) 25 pts looked set for a thrilling finale through in the final against Team 2. Kostantin Ustinov (Team Russia) 22 pts after a dramatic series of Match Russia’s Kostantin Ustinov. His 3. Roman Vandyshev (Team Belarus) 20 pts Races on Tuesday had seen Team Italian colleague Marco Gambi Italy sneak into a seven-point was beaten into third position 4. Marco Gambi (ITA) Team Italy 18 pts lead over Team Russia heading by Roman Yandyshev of Team 5. Khalid Abdullah Al-Kuwari (QAT) into the two sprint races. Belarus. Team Qatar 16 pts But series promoters H20 The outcome gave the Italians 6. Andrey Ovchinnikov (Team Belarus) 15 Racing and the host Qatar 43 points and a seven-point 7. Andrey Panyushkin (Team Russia) 14 pts Marine Sports Federation advantage over the Russians 8. Mohammed bin Kadri (MAS) Team (QMSF) were left with no alter- heading into the two Sprint races. Malaysia 13 pts native other than to delay the Paoletti beat Team Qatar’s Khalid sprint races and, when Team Abdullah Al Kuwari in his first 9. Abdullah Ali Gholam (Team Qatar) 12 pts Russia and Team Belarus, con- heat and then Vandyshev in his 10. Alffian Bin Kadri (Team Malaysia) 11 pts firmed that they were able to semi-final. 11. Lebos Chaguri (BRA) Team Lebanon 0 compete today, the timetable Team Qatar now holds fourth 2014 Qatar Nations Cup – team was amended. position and needs to make up positions after Match Race: UIM Nations Cup teams from 15 points in the two sprint races 1. Team Italy 43 pts Italy, Russia, Belarus, Malaysia, today. 2. Team Russia 36 pts Lebanon and Qatar will now go Strong winds and choppy seas 3. Team Belarus 35 pts head-to-head this morning before had forced the earlier abandon- the first extra free practice ses- ment of official qualifying after 4. Team Qatar 28 pts sion of the new season of UIM F1 15 minutes on Tuesday as well. 5. Team Malaysia 24 pts H20 World Championship racing Malaysia’s Alffian Bin Kadri and 6. Team Lebanon 0 pts takes centre stage. Lebanon’s Lebos Chaguri both 10th Grand Prix of Qatar and UIM Nations “It was the only decision that rolled at the same corner during Cup – updated timetable of events our organising teams could the day’s exciting action. Today’s schedule make under the unfortunate The Qatar Team starts the 09.00 - 09.20 UIM Nations Cup sprint race circumstances,” said Sheikh defence of their UIM Teams’ 1 – 24 laps Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, Championship and Alex Carella president of the QMSF. starts his campaign for a fourth 10.00 - 10.20 UIM Nations Cup sprint race “The weather was inclement successive world drivers’ title on the boats with the new colour Both Carella and Torrente will before the meat of the action 2 – 24 laps and safety is and always will be Thursday alongside team mate scheme at the Doha Corniche on be able to take to the water in takes centre stage on Friday and 15.00 - 17.00 Extra free practice – F1 H20 the top priority for all concerned.” Shaun Toirrente. Wednesday after a recent suc- an extra free practice session Saturday. 17.30 - 18.00 Driver’s briefing – F1 H20 Gusting winds up to 30mph had The team proudly wheeled out cessful one-day test in Qatar. this afternoon from 15.00hrs THE PENINSULA

BNP Paribas Open Results Men’s 3rd round Djokovic and Li advance Fernando Verdasco (ESP x30) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x8) 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 John Isner (USA x12) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 6-4, 6-3 World number two Li to face Cibulkova in quarter-finals in Indian Wells Ernests Gulbis (LAT x20) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x15) 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Jarkko INDIAN WELLS: Normal player whose ranking has tumbled doesn’t mean anything because I Nieminen (FIN) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) service resumed at the BNP to 241st as she was sidelined by see she played well here. For me Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Mikhail Kukushkin Paribas Open in Indian Wells injury. All 11 of Li’s match points it’s always a tough match to play (KAZ) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday when Novak Djokovic came in the final game, with two against her.” safely booked his place in the break points for Wozniak mixed Jelena Jankovic ended her Julien Benneteau (FRA) bt Dominic Thiem fourth round of the men’s draw in. “Welcome to the crazy wom- skid against Denmark’s Caroline (AUT) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 and Li Na moved into the wom- en’s tennis tour,” Li said. Wozniacki to set up a quarter- Marin Cilic (CRO x24) bt Tommy Robredo en’s quarter-finals. “The funny thing is, beginning final meeting with second-seeded (ESP x16) 6-4, 6-3 Djokovic had a little hiccup of the game I was feeling tight, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Alejandro when he dropped the second set nervous, and then I was feeling Jankovic, seeded seventh, Gonzalez (COL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 of his match with Colombia’s like what’s going on? Why can’t I defeated 10th-seeded Wozniacki Women’s 4th round Alejandro Gonzalez but was oth- finish the match? 6-3, 6-1 in a battle of former world Li Na (CHN x1) bt Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) erwise untroubled in winning “But she never gave up, she number ones. In a rematch of the 6-1, 6-4 6-1 3-6 6-1. “I thought I played tried to defend every point. Yeah, 2010 final in the California desert Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x12) bt Petra really well from the start,” said it was a little bit tedious in the won by Jankovic, the seventh- Kvitova (CZE x8) 6-3, 6-2 Djokovic, a two-time champion at last game.” seeded Serbian showed no signs Indian Wells. Four of Li’s nine double faults of the back trouble that required Flavia Pennetta (ITA x20) bt Camila Giorgi “Then suddenly I just had a big came in the final game, and she several visits from the trainer (ITA) 6-2, 6-1 loss of concentration and allowed lost her cool briefly when a suc- during her third-round victory Sloane Stephens (USA x17) bt Alisa him to win the second set for no cessful challenge of a line call over Magdalena Rybarikova on Kleybanova (RUS) 6-3, 7-5 reason. I bounced back better in brought not a point awarded — Sunday. Simona Halep (ROM x6) bt Eugenie the third.” on her third match point — but a “Yesterday I was a little bit Bouchard (CAN x18) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 While the Serbian was not at replay of the point. “I was really scared,” Jankovic said of the pain Casey Dellacqua (AUS) bt Lauren Davis his best, Djokovic did at least sur- angry, because I saw I won the that began when she wrenched (USA) walkover vive to fight another day in the point,” she said. “But suddenly I her back on a point early in the Jelena Jankovic (SRB x7) bt Caroline Californian desert after the shock heard ‘Replay’. “I was like, ‘Replay? match against Rybarikova. Wozniacki (DEN x10) 6-3, 6-1 losses of world number one Rafa What are you talking about?” “If I had to play yesterday, I Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x2) bt Alize Nadal and Maria Sharapova on Li lost the replayed point and probably wouldn’t be able to go Li Na of China returns a ball to Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak during Cornet (FRA x22) 7-5, 6-3 Monday. Djokovic’s next opponent the game went to the first of 10 on court.” Since her 2010 triumph the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, is the big-serving Croatian Marin deuces. here, Jankovic had dropped five Cilic, who recorded his 20th win California yesterday. “At least I’m still in the tourna- straight decisions to Wozniacki. her momentum, falling 6-2, 6-1 this season with a 6-4 6-3 over ment,” Li said. “I still can smile.” Radwanska advanced with a to compatriot Flavia Pennetta. Spain’s Tommy Robredo. the Australian Open final. 6-1, 6-4 to secure her quarter- Cibulkova defeated eighth- 7-5, 6-3 victory over France’s Alize Sixth-seeded Romanian Li Na needed 11 match points China’s Li, the world number final berth. She steamed through seeded Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2, Cornet. Italian qualifier Camila Simona Halep reached the last to put away Aleksandra Wozniak two and top seed in the $12m the opening set in 32 minutes, but and Li said she wouldn’t be taking Giorgi, who shocked defending eight with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 victory and book a clash with Dominika combined ATP and WTA tourna- needed another hour to finally anything for granted against the champion Maria Sharapova in the over rising Canadian star Eugenie Cibulkova, the woman she beat in ment, defeated Canada’s Wozniak wrap up the second set against a Slovak. “Last win (against her) third round, couldn’t maintain Bouchard. AGENCIES

Oman top in GCC Sailing event

Officials of Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation watching the action of the GCC Sailing Championship in Doha yesterday. Oman topped, followed by Bahrain and Qatar. RIGHT: Sailors competing in the Optimist Team Racing event. THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

Formula One statistics for Australian Grand Prix Statistics for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit. Lap distance: 5.303km. Total distance: 307.574km (58 laps) Race lap record: Michael Schumacher (Germany) 1:24.125 (Ferrari, 2004) Start time: 1700 local (0600 GMT) 2013 pole: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull 1:27.407 seconds. 2013 winner: Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus Tyres: Medium (white), soft (yellow) Records Quadruple world champion Vettel is chasing a record 10th successive race victory after winning the last nine of 2013. He is the first driver to do that in a single season. The 26-year-old German, who won a record-equalling 13 races last year, has not been beaten since July. The only other driver to have won nine races in a row was Italian Alberto Ascari in 1952/53. Titles Vettel is the youngest quadruple world champion and the first to win his first four crowns in a row. Compatriot and seven times champion Schumacher, currently in a coma after a skiing accident, is the only driver to have won five championships in a row. Red Bull have won the constructors’ crown for the last four years, only the third team to perform that feat after Ferrari and McLaren. Five champions will be on the Melbourne starting grid: Vettel (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010), Jenson Button (2009), Lewis Hamilton (2008), Kimi Raikkonen (2007), Fernando Alonso (2006, 2005). Vettel and Raikkonen are the only ones still racing for the teams with which they won their titles. Wins Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia Vettel has 39 career wins, Fernando Alonso 32, Lewis Hamilton 22, Raikkonen 20 and Jenson drives his Infiniti Red Bull car alongside a Royal Button 15. Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet plane during Vettel needs two more race victories to equal the late Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41. Only Alain Prost a promotional event at a regional Air Force base (51) and Schumacher (91) have won more. near Melbourne, yesterday. Ferrari have won 221 races, McLaren 182, Williams 114 and Red Bull 46. McLaren have not been on the podium since November 2012, when Button won in Brazil. Pole Position Vettel took nine poles last year, well short of his 2011 record of 15. Mercedes and Red Bull were the only teams to start on pole in 2013. Vettel now has 45 career poles. Only Schumacher (68) and Senna (65) have scored more. Points Ferrari have finished a record 67 successive races with at least one car in the points, a run that dates back to the 2010 German Grand Prix. Alonso is the sport’s all-time highest scorer with Vettel chases record 1,606 points to date, although systems have changed. Caterham and Marussia have yet to score a point after four seasons in F1. Since 1950, 59 drivers have scored points on their Formula One debut. There are three rookies this season - Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen at McLaren, Russian Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso and Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson at Caterham. Australia Button has won three of the last five Australian Grands Prix (with Brawn in 2009 and McLaren 10th successive win in 2010 and 2012). Schumacher won four times in Australia, the most by any driver. Ferrari will be hoping to challenge with their new line-up All five active world champions have won in Australia. No Australian has ever won his home race. Daniel Ricciardo, at Red Bull, is the only one on this year’s starting grid. MELBOURNE: The pros- about a car that is sleeker than Melbourne has been the season-opener on 16 previous occasions. Since 2002, the winner in pect of seeing Sebastian Vettel many of its ‘ugly’ new-look rivals. Australia has ended the season as champion on seven occasions. The exceptions were David beaten for the first time since “With all the changes within the Coulthard in 2003, Giancarlo Fisichella in 2005, Button in 2010 and 2012 and Raikkonen in last July is just one of the many sport and the hard work that’s 2013. novelties Sunday’s season-open- been going on within the team, In total, the winner in Melbourne has gone on to be world champion 11 out of 18 times. ing Australian Formula One I believe this can be our year to The race winner at Albert Park has started on pole on eight occasions. Raikkonen won last year Grand Prix promises to deliver. really show what we’re capable from seventh on the grid. The lowest starter to win was Eddie Irvine from 11th in 1999. Quadruple world champion of,” said Hamilton, the 2008 world Milestones Vettel is chasing a record 10th champion with McLaren. successive race victory after win- “I feel like I’m equipped with Australia marks the race debut of the new 1.6 litre V6 turbo power unit with energy recovery ning the last nine of 2013. He is the tools I need to succeed. I can’t systems. It replaces the 2.4 litre V8 engines. the first driver to do that in a sin- wait to get started,” added the gle season. Briton, whose win in Hungary last Just how much trouble Vettel’s July was the last by anyone other Red Bull team might be in is one than Vettel. of the questions waiting for an Ferrari will be hoping to chal- answer as the sport’s unpredict- lenge with their new line-up of able new turbo era whooshes into champions following the return action at Melbourne’s Albert Park of Finland’s 2007 title winner circuit. Kimi Raikkonen — triumphant The quadruple world champion in Melbourne for Lotus last year won the last nine races of 2013 — to partner Fernando Alonso. but the 26-year-old German spent The cars will sound different much of his time during the pre- without the old V8 engines and season tests in Spain and Bahrain will also be far less reliable at watching the car being worked on first, with any repairs likely to in the garage. take far longer due to the com- Red Bull are braced for a real- plexity of the power units. ity check as they and partners How many cars will start from Renault work against the clock the grid, let alone finish the race to fix the troublesome 1.6 litre Sauber F1 Team drivers, Esteban Gutiérrez (right) and Adrian Sutil get now that fuel economy is a big V6 hybrid turbo engine and its a view of Melbourne from the top of the Eureka Tower ahead of the factor, is another uncertainty. Ferrari Formula One drivers Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (left) and complicated new energy recovery Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday. Some insiders have predicted Fernando Alonso of Spain speak ahead of the Formula One Australian systems. Rivals Mercedes, under that Sunday evening could see Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday. new leadership following the less than half the field reach the departure of Ross Brawn, have two laps ahead of the opposition added the Briton, who now has chequered flag. been racking up the laps with far in Melbourne, that wouldn’t be Australian Daniel Ricciardo in In 1996, when Melbourne first optimistic now they have switched slow either so it’s going to be an less hassle. “Mercedes have got a surprise, based on what we’ve the lineup following compatriot hosted the grand prix, only 11 Renault power for Mercedes. exciting season,” Finnish driver a bit of a march on people. They seen in pre-season testing. It’s Mark Webber’s retirement. cars made it to the finish in a Brazilian Felipe Massa, who Valtteri Bottas said. “Like I’ve invested more, they invested ear- massive. “From what we can see Horner’s words may be a part race won by Britain’s Damon Hill has joined Williams from Ferrari, kept saying for a couple of years lier. They’ve got themselves into at the moment, all the Mercedes of the pre-season mind games, in a Williams. That team had a lapped faster than anyone in now, I really think the future of a good position,” Red Bull team powered teams are in pretty repositioning Red Bull as under- nightmare season last year, the Bahrain testing and was able to Williams is going to be good and principal Christian Horner told decent shape and we’re not. dogs but Mercedes drivers Lewis former champions taking only a put in plenty of laps. “The new car hopefully this can be a step for- reporters. “We’re on the back foot, and Hamilton and Nico Rosberg meagre five points and finishing we have is really well built, good ward from other years.” “If Mercedes were to finish have a lot of ground to catch up,” have sounded quietly confident ninth overall, but they are more quality... it is very reliable and not REUTERS Qatar Al Anabi team ready for Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA: Qualifying is set for tomorrow good about the race this week. I Circle K NHRA Winternationals The 45th annual Amalie Motor and Saturday with eliminations am looking forward to seeing eve- last month, the season’s first race Oil Gatornationals, consid- scheduled for Sunday. ryone and getting back in the car.” and had a disappointing quarter- ered “A Major” on the NHRA The Qatar Al Anabi Racing “The Gatornationals is always final loss at the second race of the tour by many, is named for Team won the Gatornationals in a big event because it’s our first season in Phoenix. Still, the Dubai the Florida Gators, the mas- 2009 and 2011 with drivers Larry event on the (United States) East native knows the gold Al-Anabi cot of the nearby University Dixon and Del Worsham, respec- coast,” Langdon said. “It’s always team has massive potential. of Florida, and the Qatar Al tively. Neither Langdon nor alBa- an event we enjoy. Depending on “I know exactly what happened Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team looshi has won the Gatornationals, the conditions, you can make some with us in the second race (In is due for a Gatornationals vic- but team manager Alan Johnson really good laps in Gainesville. Phoenix last month),” alBalooshi tory. Drivers Khalid alBalooshi and crew chiefs Jason McCulloch The Al-Anabi team is confident said. “I think everything will be and Shawn Langdon enter the and Brian Husen have extensive going into the Gatornationals OK for our team this week. I’ve Florida race eager to return experience and multiple wins in with the setup we have; in the last been talking with my crew chief the Qatar Al Anabi Racing Gainesville. With both the sil- couple of years, we haven’t had (Jason McCulloch), and I know Top Fuel Team, the three- ver and gold Al Anabi teams too much success there, but we what happened in our second time and defending World running well, 2014 could be the still feel very confident heading round with (Doug) Kalitta. I Championship team owned by year the team returns to the into this weekend. Our team has think we will be good for the next Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Gatornationals winner’s circle. won this race a couple of times, race. Our Al-Anabi team is going Thani, to the Gainesville win- “I am very excited to go the and I know Alan, Brian and Jason in the right direction this year. ner’s circle for the first time third race of the season in will have our cars ready to race But what I can tell you right now since 2011 at this weekend’s Gainesville,” alBalooshi said. “It this weekend.” is that our team is doing a very 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champion Shawn Langdon NHRA Gatornationals. It is is a big race at good track, and AlBalooshi enters the good job, and I am excited to get deploys a parachute to slow the silver Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel drag- the third of 24 races making up our Al Anabi team has already Gatornationals in second place to the race track and do my job ster last month in Pomona, California. the United States’ 2014 NHRA shown we can win there; we have in the NHRA Mello Yello Top in Florida this week.” Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. a good hot rod this year so I feel Fuel point standings. He won the THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT ‘Very happy’ Bayern and Atletico reach Lippi says no chance of China job YOKOHAMA, JAPAN: World Champions League last 8 Cup-winning manager Marcello Lippi has dismissed the possibil- ity of one day coaching China’s national team after signing a War of words after Bayern go through with a 1-1 draw in Munich new deal with Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande. The 65-year-old Italian, who PARIS: Holders Bayern Munich inked a three-year extension at kept their hopes alive of becom- UEFA set to the end of February amid specula- ing the first team to retain the tion he could take the China job, Champions League trophy while investigate said: “No, no, no. It’s not possible. Atletico Madrid also progressed There is absolutely no possibility to the quarter-finals of this sea- Bayern banner of coaching the national team.” son’s competition on Tuesday. Lippi led Italy to glory at the Bayern -- who have reached the NYON, SWITZERLAND: 2006 World Cup, although the final of the past two Champions UEFA have opened disciplinary Azzurri suffered an embarrass- League campaigns -- were held proceedings against Bayern ing first-round exit at the 2010 1-1 in Munich by Arsenal, but Munich after a banner related finals in his second spell in charge. just as they did last year against to Kosovo was displayed at the “I have just signed a new con- the same opposition at the same Allianz Arena during Tuesday’s tract with Guangzhou and I’m stage, the Germans went through, Champions League game against very happy at the club,” the former this time 3-1 on aggregate. Arsenal. Juventus manager said before yes- However Bayern’s joy at going European football’s governing terday’s AFC Champions League through was somewhat soured body have said they will also look group game at Japan’s Yokohama after Arsenal coach Arsene into a small banner shown during F Marinos. “I’m comfortable here Wenger accused Dutch wing the last-16 second leg tie which and we have a great team spirit. Arjen Robben of diving through- appeared to insult Arsenal. So I don’t want people to think out the two legs. “UEFA opens disciplinary there is any chance of me coach- “Robben dived tonight (he proceedings against Bayern for ing the Chinese national side was told to get up by the referee banner about Kosovo,” said the going forwards.” when he went down early in the organisation’s Chief of Press, Former Lyon boss Alain Perrin second-half ion the penalty area) Pedro Pinto, on Twitter. has since been appointed China and he dived in the first leg,” said “Regarding other banner coach following a lengthy search Wenger. regarding insult against Arsenal, to replace Spaniard Jose Antonio Robben, who won a penalty for UEFA has received report from Camacho, sacked after a humili- Bayern in the first leg which saw FARE (Football Against Racism ating 5-1 defeat by Thailand the Arsenal goalkeeper sent off, Arsenal’s Polish-born German striker Lukas Podolski (left) vies for the ball with Bayern Munich’s defender in Europe) and will communicate last June. Despite wealthy was dismissive of the remarks. Philipp Lahm during the UEFA Champions League, last 16 second-leg match in Munich, southern Germany, shortly,” he added. Guangzhou’s emergence as kings “Great managers don’t need to on Tuesday night. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. The second banner carried of Asian club soccer, China have resort to claims like that. I don’t the slogan ‘Gay Gunners’ and a woeful record at national level. want to have to defend myself appeared to depict Mesut Ozil - They have qualified for just one against remarks like that,” he the German international play- World Cup to date, when they lost said. maker formerly of Schalke 04 all three games and failed to score Guardiola, who has won the tro- and Werder Bremen - standing a goal at the 2002 tournament in phy twice as coach of Barcelona, Wenger slams Robben in front of Arsenal’s signature Japan and South Korea. looked annoyed when told about cannon. “The national team is the meas- the comments. Bayern winger Xherdan Shaqiri ure of how much progress a coun- “The best team won over the is of Kosovar origin, although he try has made in world football,” two legs that is what happened,” fled to Switzerland with his fam- said Lippi, who last year broke he said. as Arsenal exit Europe ily as a child and represents the China’s 23-year Asian club title Atletico -- who are the surprise latter at international level. drought by leading Guangzhou to package of the competition this MUNICH: Arsenal manager “Overall in the two games what hamstring trouble and made way the Champions League crown. season as well as in the La Liga Arsene Wenger blamed Wojciech made the difference was the deci- for Tomas Rosicky. Brazil club used “You can see that with Japan, title race -- reached their first Szczesny’s first-leg red card sion to send our goalkeeper off,” “Ozil has a hamstring injury and how Alberto Zaccheroni has Champions League quarter-final for the Gunners’ Champions said Wenger. “I felt it was not a and it looks quite serious,” stadium cash on got them to the finals again this since 1997, when their present League last 16 exit and slammed red card as simple as that. revealed Wenger. year,” he added of his countryman coach Diego Simeone was in the Arjen Robben for provoking the “Robben is very good at getting “He will miss (Sunday’s) player: report and close friend. “They have had side, with a far more emphatic 4-1 red card as the Gunners bowed something out of nothing, he’s a Tottenham game for sure, he players like (Hidetoshi) Nakata win at home to Italian side AC out at Bayern Munich. good diver, but that’s part of his needs a scan. He’s out for at least RIO DE JANEIRO: A Brazilian and (Shunsuke) Nakamura lead- Milan, to prevail 5-1 on aggregate. Holders Bayern Munich booked game. I have to congratulate the a few weeks.” top-flight club spent cash ear- ing the way in Europe, and con- It left Italy without a side their place in the Champions (Arsenal) players for their heart Holders Bayern march onto the marked for its much-delayed tinued with (Yuto) Nagatomo at remaining in the competition as League’s quarter-finals, despite and effort. We wanted to come quarter-finals, but will be without World Cup stadium on a player, Inter Milan and (Keisuke) Honda Napoli and Juventus went out in Arsenal earning a 1-1 draw in out of that tie qualified, but we Brazil defender Dante who picked media reports said yesterday, at AC Milan.” Lippi’s new deal the group stage. Bavaria in Tuesday’s last 16, sec- came up short. Good luck to up his third yellow card in Europe though Atletico Paranaense with Guangzhou, which keeps Simeone, a former combative ond-leg clash. Bayern, but I think they are a bit and is now suspended for the first denied the claims. him in the southern Chinese city Argentinian international mid- A second-half Bastian more vulnerable than last season.” leg. The reports said the club, until 2017, came just days after fielder who was capped over 100 Schweinsteiger goal gave Bayern a Robben angrily rebuked Bayern boss Pep Guardiola was which owns the delayed-hit Arena state media reported he had times, said he was proud of his brief lead before Arsenal’s Lukas Wenger’s diving claims. pleased that his side restricted da Baixada in the city of Curitiba, turned down an offer to stay, cit- side and tried to play down expec- Podolski equalised with a thun- “I expect more of great manag- Arsenal’s scoring chances -- only used 1.5m reais ($630,000) to raise ing fatigue. tations by saying Atletico were derbolt of a shot as the tie finished ers, they don’t need to resort to a Olivier Giroud header and cash for half the economic rights Lippi said Alessandro very much the underdogs still. 3-1 on aggregate. claims like that,” said the Dutch Podolski’s thunderbolt truly trou- of defender Leonardo Moreira Diamanti’s move from Bologna “It is a very nice moment, Arsenal failed to overturn winger. bled the hosts defence. Morais (“Leo”) from Esporte Club to China would not jeopardise his after such a long time,” said the their 2-0 deficit from the first leg “I don’t want to have to defend Bayern’s honorary president Vitoria. chances of making Italy’s squad 43-year-old. “But we are still at three weeks ago, which still riles myself against remarks like that.” Franz Beckenbauer criticised the The Folha de Sao Paulo daily for the World Cup in Brazil. the beginning of the knockout Wenger. Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, holders for a lack of creativity. published what it said was a record “Obviously the travel between stages, and we must continue to The Gunners finished with who failed to convert a crucial “In the end, it’ll be like Barca: of the December transaction. Asia and Europe takes its toll,” get better. A difficult and dan- ten men in London after Italian penalty in the first-leg, endured unwatchable. They will pass Atletico issued a statement shrugged Lippi. “But in terms of gerous quarter-final awaits us referee Nicola Rizzoli sent off another miserable night in the ball back even on the goal- denying it had used money set moving from Italy to Asia I don’t and we will have to recuperate Gunners goalkeeper Szczesny for Munich. line,” moaned the former West aside for the stadium refurbish- think the slight change in level and continue on the path we are conceding a spot-kick with a foul The Germany attacking mid- Germany World Cup winning ment in trying to buy Leo. will make that much difference.” following. on Robben. fielder came off at half-time with captain and coach. REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS “There will be seven great sides in the last eight and one which will be very enthusiastic and FIFA prepares capable of upsetting the others. “As for Diego Costa he con- fresh tickets tinues to progress, he has great physical strength and presence. launch He reminds me of some of the great strikers.” FC Porto’s RIO DE JANEIRO: Football’s In Munich Bastian forward world governing body FIFA Schweinsteiger opened the scor- Ricardo yesterday geared up for a fresh ing for the hosts -- his first goal Quaresma launch of World Cup ticket sales since October -- before Lukas from today, with 345,000 up for looks on Bayern Munich’s Podolski equalised for Arsenal during grabs for 60 of the 64 matches. against his former team, just as The tickets go on sale in what Bastian Schweinsteiger a press he had done in last season’s first is the second window of the sec- celebrates with Arjen conference leg match. The hosts could have ond sales phase from 1100 GMT Robben (left) after won the match itself right at the held after although the opening match in scoring a goal against end but Thomas Mueller’s penalty a training Sao Paulo, the final in Rio and the Arsenal. was saved by Lukasz Fabianski. session at semi-finals in Belo Horizonte and In Madrid the result never the Dragao Sao Paulo are already sold out. looked too much in doubt, once Stadium in The sales allocation is on a Diego Costa got the opener after Porto on first-come, first-served basis, Ghana police probe death of three minutes, despite former the eve of FIFA said on its website, predict- Real Madrid star Kaka levelling his team’s ing “very high” demand through beaten football referee halfway through the first-half. UEFA to the close of sales on April 1. Turkish international Arda Europe The organisation said more ACCRA: Police in Ghana have launched an investigation into the Turan restored the one goal lead League tickets were available than death of a football linesman who was reportedly assaulted after a before the break with a half-volley round of originally the 160,000 originally disputed decision in a domestic league match, a spokeswoman said that took a wicked deflection and 16 first announced at this stage due to yesterday. Raul Garcia and Costa added two leg match returns including from sponsors Kwame Andoh Kyei, who died on Friday, was assistant referee in a more in the second-half, the lat- against and hospitality clients, plus tick- second division match in the western town of Bordie March 2. ter taking his tally in all competi- ets previously bought but then not Ghana Football Association spokesman Ibrahim Sannie Daara said Napoli. tions this season to 29, including paid for. Predicting fans would Kyei was assaulted after a controversial decision but did not immedi- seven in the Champions League. witness “one of the most amaz- ately seek medical attention. Milan’s rookie Dutch coach ing moments in sporting history,” Olivia Adiku, western region police spokeswoman, said investigators Clarence Seedorf said the sec- Thierry Weil, FIFA marketing were waiting for the details of an autopsy which could come this week. ond goal had been the killer for director said: “I’m sure they´ll It was not yet clear if Kyei died from injuries sustained during the his side, who are a shadow of the enjoy the unique atmosphere in match, she added. great Milan sides he was when he the country of football!” “As of now, we wouldn’t be able to even say whether it’s the home was a player. REUTERS REUTERS team that attacked him or the away team,” Daara said. AFP THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Barshim, Ogunode honoured by Qatar Athletics Federation Indian sports charity behind Olympic Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) honoured high jumper Mutaz Essa medallists Barshim (second right), gold medal winner in the closes men’s high jump, and Femi NEW DELHI: A sports char- Ogunode (third left), bronze ity set up by steel magnate medallist in the 60-metre Lakshmi Mittal that helped race at the World Indoor produce India’s only individual Athletics Championships Olympic gold medallist has shut in Sopot, Poland, in down, apparently due to a lack of Doha yesterday. Dahlan funds, an official said yesterday. Al Hamad, (third right) The Mittal Champions Trust the Vice-President of the (MCT), founded in 2005 to raise International Association of India’s sporting standards and Athletics Federation (IAAF) produce Olympic medallists, was and President of QAF, headed by Mittal’s son-in-law along with QAF General Amit Bhatia. Secretary Mohammed The charity backed shooter Jassem Al Kuwari (right) Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s were present for the felici- first individual gold medal at the tation. Coaches of Barshim 2008 Beijing Olympics, and wres- and Ogunde were also tler Yogeshwar Dutt who took bronze in London four years later. honoured. Former tennis player Manisha Malhotra, who was the trust’s CEO, confirmed local media reports that the venture had closed down. “They did not want to spend more money,” Malhotra said, without elaborating. The London-based Bhatia told the Indian Express newspaper on Wednesday that it was “now time Lekhwiya pay the penalty to hand over the reins to others to continue with this wonderful ini- tiative,” referring to other trusts Soria’s misses penalty as QSL side draws 0-0 with Iran’s Tabriz and charities. Taking a swipe at Indian sports administrators, Bhatia added: DOHA: Lekhwiya forward goalkeepers, a disallowed goal “There is a lot of disorganisation Sebastian Soria was left to rue and a sending off for Tabriz’s within the Indian sporting sys- his missed first half penalty Mohammad Nosrati but crucially tem. The lack of planning within as the Qatari side and Iran’s no goals. the government and federations Tractorsazi Tabriz shared the In the other match involving makes it challenging to imple- points following a 0-0 draw in the Qatar Stars League club side UAE’s Al ment systems.” the AFC Champions League Al Sadd ended in an one-all draw. Ahli player The Indian Olympic Association Group C fixture at Lekhwiya Brazilian striker Grafite netted (IOA) was until recently sus- Grafite Ismail Sports Stadium here yesterday. midway through the second half pended from the Olympic move- Al Hammadi The Qatar international striker to cancel out a superb first half ment for electing tainted officials had a golden opportunity to open opener from Nadir Belhadj as (right) chal- to key posts at its elections in the scoring from the spot after Emirati side Al Ahli and former lenges Qatar’s December 2012. just 15 minutes but he struck his champions Al Sadd shared a 1-1 Al Sadd’s The ban was lifted last month penalty kick wide of Hamed Lak’s draw. Khalfan when the IOA, under pressure right-hand post. Belhadj’s eye-catching 24th Ibrahim (centre) from the International Olympic An all-action affair between minute strike had given 2011 win- for the ball dur- Committee, revised its consti- two evenly matched teams fea- ners Al Sadd the lead at Rashid ing their AFC tution and elected new officials tured both sides hitting the wood- Stadium as the visitors looked to Champions headed by world squash chief N. work, superlative saves from the build on last month’s 3-1 home League Group Ramachandran. win over Iran’s Sepahan. D match at the Shooter Bindra said the trust, Asian Champions But Al Ahli picked up their Al Ahli Stadium which looked after the training first point in Group D as Grafite in Dubai, and funding of medal hopefuls, League results headed home eight minutes yesterday. would leave a void for emerg- DOHA: Results from group games in the after the hour mark, with the ing athletes who struggled to AFC Champions League yesterday: home side unlucky not to claim get good practice facilities and Group C all three points after having two funding. Lekhwiya (QAT) 0 Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN) 0 goals ruled out either side of the “We should not depend solely Group D Brazilian’s equaliser. on trusts, who are here only Foolad Sepahan (IRN) 3 (Ervin Bulku 17, M Meanwhile, Alessandro because of their individual inter- Sharifi 72, Xhevahir Sukaj 90+1) Al Hilal (KSA) Diamanti came to Guangzhou ests and passion,” he told the 2 (Segundo Castillo 28, Thiago Neves 33) Evergrande’s rescue once again on appearances in the Asian com- Xhevahir Sukaj. Wanderers celebrated their first newspaper. “Our federations Al Ahli (UAE) 1 (Grafite 68) Wednesday as his first-half equal- petition, doing no harm to his Sukaj’s compatriot Ervin Bulku ever victory in the competition. need to be proactive and create Al Sadd 1 (Nadir Belhadj 24) iser gave the AFC Champions chances of selection for the World had put the Iranian side ahead Newcomers Western Sydney beat an environment through which Group G League title-holders a 1-1 draw Cup later this year. in the 17th minute, but Al Hilal China’s Guizhou Renhe 1-0, after the athletes can profit.” against Yokohama F. Marinos. However, the defending cham- scored twice in five minutes striker Mark Bridge turned the India returned from London Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 (Ansell 31, The 30-year-old Italian inter- pions dropped their first points through Segundo Castillo and ball in during a goalmouth scram- with its biggest ever Olympic haul Barbarouses 82) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 (Lee Dong-Gook 76, 79) national, who inspired a stunning and they currently lie second Thiago Neves to entertain hopes ble in the 10th minute and the of two silver and four individual fightback from two goals down in Group G on goal difference. of a win. However, after Mehdi A-League team held on for the win. bronze medals, surpassing the Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) (Hanato 21) 1 against Melbourne Victory in Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are nar- Sharifi scored the equaliser in the Earlier, in Melbourne, a first- one gold and two bronze it won Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 1 (Diamanti 38) his tournament debut, buried a rowly ahead following their 2-2 72nd minute, Sukaj put paid to Al half header from Nick Ansell gave in Beijing four years before. Group H superbly struck free-kick to can- draw with Victory. Hilal’s hopes with his late winner. Victory a barely deserved half- Apart from Bindra’s medal, Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 2 (Yoo Jun-Soo 84, Kim cel out Jin Hanato’s opener. In another Group D match, Earlier, Ulsan Hyundai extended time lead but they went behind India has won eight Olympic Shin-Wook 90+3) Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 New recruit Diamanti playing Iran’s Foolad Sepahan edged Saudi their tournament-record win- in three second-half minutes after field hockey gold medals, but the Guizhou Renhe (CHN) 0 Western Sydney under ex-Italy manager Marcello Arabia’s Al Hilal 3-2, thanks to a ning streak to 11 matches, and a brace from Jeonbuk skipper Lee team’s last gold glory was back in Wanderers (AUS) 1 (Bridge 10) Lippi, now has three goals in two stoppage time strike by Albanian Australia’s Western Sydney Dong-Gook. AGENCIES 1980. AFP Show Jumping: Qatar’s Saeed Nasser wins CSI3* Small Tour 2 competition at CHI Al Shaqab 2014 in Doha

Jasmin lindner and Lukas Wacha from Austria per- forming during Vaulting pas De Deux.

Mohammed Al Rumaihi of Qatar in action during Big tour CSI5* at the CHI Al Shaqab event in Doha yesterday. Saeed Nasser Al Qadi of Qatar on St Lucia won the Show Jumping CSI3* Small Tour 2 phases competition. Awad Al Qahtani of Qatar on Santos won the second place while Abdulrahman Al Saaq Al Marri of Qatar on Victoria came third. In Show Jumping CSI3* Big Tour Fault and Time competition, Bassem Hassan Mohammed of Qatar won in the 1.45mFault and Time competition. Abdulrahman Al Saaq Al Marri of Qatar on Sidoline Van De Centaur came second while Awad AlQathani of Qatar on Sjoeke finished third. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT Thursday 13 March 2014 12 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5602 Sport Price: QR2

Windies beat Nations Cup: England to win Sprint races T20 series rescheduled

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Tiger Woods Barca, PSG reach quarter-finals lost his Champions League: Messi on target as Barcelona eliminate Man City intimidation factor, says PARIS: Paris St Germain, rest- more easily had Ibrahimovic not area, only for Salvatore Sirigu to ing their usual magic midfield missed a couple of clear chances parry away Rolfes’s penalty kick. triangle and despite Zlatan either side of the interval. The hosts went ahead eight ex-caddy Ibrahimovic’s under-par dis- Bayer, looking to become the minutes into the second half when play, sailed into the Champions third team to progress from a Lavezzi slotted home from Lucas League quarter-finals with a knockout tie in the Champions Digne’s fine pass. SYDNEY: Outspoken caddy PSG’s French 6-1 aggregate win over Bayer League after losing the first leg In Barcelona, Lionel Messi Steve Williams says former defender Lucas Leverkusen yesterday. at home, made a strong start. struck in the second half to end employer Tiger Woods has lost Digne (right) vies The French champions won In the sixth minute, Sam pow- Manchester City’s dreams of a his intimidation factor, as the for the ball with 2-1 at the Parc des Princes hav- ered home a downward header famous comeback as Barcelona New Zealander revealed he will Leverkusen’s mid- ing thrashed the German side from Giulio Donati’s cross to beat the English club 2-1 to reach quit full-time golf this year. fielder Sidney Sam 4-0 in the last-16 first leg, with make it 1-0 to the visitors. the Champions League quarter- Williams, who was sacked by during the UEFA Marquinhos and Ezequiel Lavezzi The hopes of Bayer, who were finals 4-1 on aggregate. Woods in 2011 after helping him Champions League wiping out the visitors’ early without injured midfielder Jens Messi slotted home in the 67th win all but one of his 14 major strike by Sidney Sam. Hegeler, causing a major upset minute after a mistake by Joleon titles, added that he had yet to last 16 second-leg Sami Hyypia’s Leverkusen, who were shortlived, though. Lescott, and City’s night got reconcile with the world number football match in finished with 10 men after Emre PSG restored order in the 13th worse when Pablo Zabaleta was one, but hopes to one day. Paris yesterday. Can picked up a second yellow minute when Marquinhos headed sent off with a second yellow card “There’s just personal things card in the 68th minute, were in a corner and six minutes later for dissent. The visitors scored and differences of opinion about also hampered by Simon Rolfes’s Ibrahimovic’s delicate chip hit the a consolation through Vincent how things went down. He thinks missed penalty in the first half. crossbar as PSG tightened their Kompany’s tap-in in the 89th one thing and I think another,” PSG, who have now won their grip on the game. minute before Dani Alves won the Williams, who now carries the last six games in all competitions, However, Christophe Jallet game for Barca in the first minute bags of Australian world number could have gone through even pulled back Eren Derdiyok in the of injury time. AGENCIES two Adam Scott, told Fox Sports yesterday. “I need to sort that out with him. But I haven’t had the oppor- tunity sit down with him and iron out a few things, but it will hap- pen at some stage.” IPL begins in UAE, Williams was fired after Woods’ slide down the world rankings following the revelation that the American had a string of extra- marital affairs. Since then, Woods has failed to to finish off in India win another major and Williams said it was because the intimida- tion factor had gone. “He doesn’t have the intimi- dation factor anymore. That ICC lauds decision to host matches in UAE was a big thing, guys were quite intimidated by him but there is no intimidation anymore. That MUMBAI: The Indian Premier “For the period from Thursday will take the advice of the author- counts for a lot,” he said. League (IPL), scheduled from 1st May to Monday 12th May, ities if any further restrictions Williams switched to Scott April 16 to June 1, will be co- BCCI has approached the are required around the counting after his dismissal, and has helped hosted by the United Arab Ministry of Home Affairs, day,” he said. transform him into a major Emirates (UAE) and India Government of India, seeking Meanwhile, the International champion and the heir apparent while Bangladesh has been kept permission to play IPL matches Cricket Council (ICC) wel- Action from the Doha Hockey Friendship Festival match between Qatar to Woods’s world number one as a stand-by due to the general in India in cities where the polling comed the decision to stage the and Malaysian Politeknik (MSP) at Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha in this ranking. elections, the Board of Control has concluded in the respective IPL matches in the United Arab March 6 file picture. But after a career that has also for Cricket in India (BCCI) state. BCCI is extremely con- Emirates. seen him caddy for Greg Norman announced here yesterday. scious of the various complexities “The BCCI’s decision to stage and Raymond Floyd, Williams A BCCI statement said that involved, but hopes for a favour- the first part of the IPL in the said it was time to slow down. UAE will host 16 matches from able consideration,” Patel said in UAE is great news for the peo- Qatar head to Dhaka “Adam knows my intentions. April 16-30 and if matches are not the statement. ple of the UAE and the region. He knows that 2014 will be my possible in India during May 1-12 “BCCI will abide by the deci- It will complete a remarkable last year of doing it full-time so he due to the elections, it would be sion of the authorities in this season of cricket in the UAE knows that if I’m going to carry held in Bangladesh. regard. If it is not possible to which has already seen the for Games qualifiers on in 2015 it will be on a limited The remaining matches from play in India during this period, successful staging of the ICC basis,” Williams said. May 13, including the play-offs IPL matches will be held in World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 DOHA: Qatar’s 14-member men’s hockey team, led by Sohail “So we’re just trying to focus on and the final slated for June 1, Bangladesh and BCCI is thank- and the ICC U-19 World Cup Mustafa, left for Dhaka to participate in the Asian Games qualifi- having the best year that we can will be held in India. ful to the Bangladesh Cricket 2014,” ICC chief executive David ers, Qatar Hockey Federation (QHF) Secretary General Mohamed in 2014 and then we’ll discuss it “At least 16 matches will be held Board and the government of Richardson said. Abdul Nazer said yesterday. at the end of the year.” in the UAE. BCCI is very grateful Bangladesh for their support,” “This news comes on the back Bangladesh capital Dhaka is hosting the qualifying matches from Williams said three-and-a-half to the Emirates Cricket Board, Patel added. of the on-field success of the UAE March 14 to 24. Six team will qualify for the Asian Games in Incheon, decades on tour was enough. its chairman, Sheikh Nahayan The BCCI secretary said that national team, which has qualified South Korea in September 2014. “I think it’s my 36th year of Mabarak Al Nahayan, and the after the last day of polling May for both the ICC World Twenty20 The team is trained by chief coach Maggid Abu Talib and assisted continuous caddying, so 36 is a government of the UAE for their 13, the remaining matches will 2014 in Bangladesh and the ICC by Khalid Modi. Nidal Kribi is the team manager. number that’s sort of synonymous offer of wholehearted support to be held in India. But no matches World Cup 2015 in Australia and The others members of the team are Hamad Al Sahoty, Yousef Al with golf,” he said. host the Pepsi IPL for this period,” would be held on counting day New Zealand, and has the poten- Sulait, Khalifa Sahotty, Mubarak Al Sulaiti, Shezad Ali, Tariq Nasir, “I’ve just turned 50 and I just BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said May 16. tial to propel cricket’s profile to Shahid Mustaffa, Adnan Mustafa, Sheraz Ali, Savio Naik, Tarik Abdu thought it was the right time. I’ve in the statement. “From Tuesday 13th May new heights in the country.” Rab, Anwar Ali, Samiullah. Qatar will also be fielding technical officials not had enough of the job, but Patel also said that if it was not (once polling has concluded in Based at the ICC headquar- Ajit Menon and Amr Halim for the first time in a hockey tournament I’ve certainly had enough of the possible to host the IPL at home all states), the remaining league ters here in Dubai Sports City, outside the country. QHF President Hassan Al Qadi is leading the travelling. during May 1-12 due to the elec- matches plus the play-offs will be Richardson said the ICC was Qatari delegation also comprising Nazer and Development Director “So at the end of this year I tions then it would be shifted to played in India. There will be no ready to support the successful Mohamed Al Enazi. might carry on on a part-time Bangladesh during that period. matches scheduled on the count- staging of the IPL matches in its Qatar’s opening match is against Sri Lanka on March 15, Chinese basis or I might quit altogether.” ing day of Friday, 16th May. BCCI home country. AGENCIES Taipei on 17 and Oman on 19. QNA AFP ‘Small’ signs of hope for Schumacher: Family

GRENOBLE, France: Michael condition. “We are and remain Schumacher’s agent Sabine hurt so terribly in such a banal coma. Doctors at the University is dealing with an extremely inti- Schumacher is showing “small, confident that Michael will pull Kehm released the statement situation.” of Grenoble hospital say they are mate and fragile situation. And I encouraging signs” of recov- through and will wake up,” said ahead of the first Formula One The family said they are ready now trying to bring him out of the would like to remind all of us that ery from injuries sustained in the statement. grand prix of the year in Australia to “fight” on for Schumacher with coma but have not given details in Michael has always actively kept a ski accident, his family said “There sometimes are small, on Sunday. Drivers are expected the doctors “whom we fully trust,” recent weeks on their progress. his family out of the public eye yesterday, while acknowledging encouraging signs, but we also to pay tribute to the seven-time added the statement. Schumacher’s wife Corinna and and consequently protected their the Formula One legend faced a know that this is the time to be world champion. “The length of the process is other family members spend long private lives.” long battle ahead. very patient.” “Michael has suffered severe not the important part for us.” hours at his bedside. The family said on January The family voiced confidence The German driver was put injuries,” added the statement. Schumacher was skiing with The agent said the Schumacher 30 that drugs used to keep the 45-year-old would pull into a coma after hitting his “It is very hard to comprehend his son and friends when he fell. family was “extremely grateful” Schumacher in a coma were through after 11 weeks in a medi- head on a rock while skiing at for all of us that Michael, who He underwent two operations to for sympathy shown. being reduced in a bid to help him cally induced coma but declined the French resort of Meribel on had overcome a lot of precarious remove life-threatening blood But Kehm added: “It should not awake. But no details have been to give further details of his December 29. situations in the past, has been clots before being placed into a be forgotten that Michael’s family given since. AFP