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18 January 2014 17 Rabial I 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5948 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY

Obama bans spying on leaders of allies WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama yesterday banned US eaves- dropping on the leaders of close friends and allies and began reining in the vast collection of Americans’ phone data in a series of limited reforms triggered by Edward Snowden’s revelations. In a major speech, Obama took steps to reassure Americans and foreigners alike that the United States will take into account privacy concerns highlighted by former spy contractor Snowden’s damag- ing disclosures about the sweep of moni- toring activities of the National Security Agency. See also page 10 Ahead of talks, Syria offers concessions

ISTANBUL: Syria offered several concessions yesterday ahead of crucial peace talks in Switzerland next week, including a “security plan” for the bat- tered city of Aleppo and a prisoner swap. Foreign Minister Walid Muallem announced the proposals at talks in Moscow as the divided Syrian opposition was set to decide at a meeting in Istanbul whether to join the so-called Geneva II conference. See also page 8 UN inspectors to visit Iran uranium mine

TEHRAN: UN nuclear experts are to inspect Iran’s Gachin uranium mine later this month for the first time in almost nine years, its Atomic Energy Organisation said yesterday. “The inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency will travel to Tehran on January 29 to visit Gachin mine,” AEO spokesman Behrouz TAXI WOES Kamalvandi told Iran’s official IRNA news agency. Indian minister’s THE ISSUE wife found dead Taxi rides in Qatar are becoming that most cabbies keep the doors of their taxis they operate legally or illegally.” NEW DELHI: The wife of prominent

locked, and open them for you to get in only Inadequate taxis on the roads, coupled with Pic: Salim Matramkot Indian minister Shashi Tharoor was increasingly nightmarish, with if they “liked you for some reason”. the problems cited above, are largely to blame found dead yesterday in a five-star hotel the hapless commuter not able And then, they quote a fixed fare and you for the mushrooming of illegal private taxis room in New Delhi after she exposed to hail a cab at odd hours and in must pay. Many of them don’t switch on in the country. his alleged adultery with a Pakistani the meter and many others use their cars “Most people not having their own cars journalist on Twitter. odd places. as shared taxis for certain destinations, in now depend on private (and illegal) taxis The body was discovered by human violation of rules. for daily commuting. They have permanent resources minister Tharoor after he ven if one succeeds in waving a taxi “Some taxi drivers demand different fares arrangements with these operators,” said an returned from a party meeting on to a stop or spotting one parked and from different people. They asked three Asian who himself pays QR600 to an illegal Thursday, his private secretary Abhinav waiting, ready to take in a passen- Nepalese for QR20 to ferry them from Al taxi operator to be ferried to his office and Kumar said. Eger, one needs to be lucky to get in Rayyan to Al Sadd, but the same amount back home on weekdays. See also page 13 and going. to carry me alone,” said an Arab expatriate. “This is true more for women office-goers,” For you to get into a taxi, the driver has to “The driver was an Asian,” he said, comment- he said. “They trust the illegal taxi opera- Four killed in clashes be willing to take you to the place you wish to ing on a social networking site. tors and not the ones passing you by casually, go to, for a fare he demands, of course. Someone who said he always took a cab though they are legal.” across Egypt Taxi drivers refusing passengers, not from home to a shopping complex and back Some say the old orange and white taxis using the meter in breach of rules, insist- at the weekend pointed out that he now had a were the best ones in terms of pricing and CAIRO: At least four people were ing on a negotiated — usually higher — fare permanent arrangement with a private (ille- service. “They were available all the time and killed as clashes between Muslim and threatening to drop you midway in some gal) taxi operator for the service. everywhere, and would ferry you anywhere Brotherhood supporters and police remote place if you refuse to part with that “I was fed up of the blackmail by taxi driv- within Doha for about five to six riyals,” said flared up across Egypt yesterday, secu- amount, are by now common woes people ers. Not only do they ask for a higher fare, an old-timer. rity sources said. narrate. but they are also arrogant and often refuse It is more than a decade since those taxis One man was killed by a gunshot to the Women are fearful of hiring a taxi, par- to take you after hearing the name of the were phased out and the state-run transport neck in the city of Fayoum, south of Cairo. PAGEticularly at night, as6 there have been media place you wish to go to,” said the person, not company came into being, and it was only Three people were killed in clashes in the reports suggesting some drivers misbehave wanting his name in print. much later that two other taxi operators, Cairo area. Two were shot and the circum- with them and even make passes at them. “I prefer this arrangement with both private, sprang up. stances of the other death were unclear. A passenger said on a local networking site the private taxi. I don’t care if Continued on page 2 See also page 9 AGENCIES

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Pics : Salim Matramkot Why do cabbies go crazy? A combination of factors makes taxi services chaotic

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA & to compensate for his low income, charges to traffic congestion. salary after a strike held three FAZEENA SALEEM which is inadequate to cover his He said the time allocated for months ago. They have been pro- and his family’s needs. them to work was not enough, vided with good and comfortable DOHA: The meagre salary taxi He works on a rental basis and that if given the chance he accommodation. We were promised drivers receive is among the and says making an honest living was willing to work additional “I receive QR1,400 a month, big perks when major reasons that force them using the meter would not do any hours to reach his daily target. and I have to remit at least QR200 to dupe passengers in order to good for his family of five. “Another problem is when we after working 12 hours every day; they hired us. A earn extra bucks. “When I used to switch on the return the taxi late by even one so when I reach that amount I monthly salary Aggrieved passengers arguing meter I hardly made the QR265 minute, we are charged QR27,” he don’t use the meter anymore,” of QR1,200, with with taxi drivers over a costly ride rental fee, but now that I have said, adding that QR27 was the said a driver from Alijarah, add- has been a common scene lately. stopped using it, I am able to raise minimum charge and it goes up ing that many of his colleagues additional overtime Even though much has been said the rental fee, and on top of that by the hour. did the same. payment and living and written about this in the local earn QR80 to QR200 daily,” he Hamid also bemoans his living But, he said, there had been allowance, but it media, it seems all the talk has said. conditions, which include strict cases of drivers intentionally fallen on deaf ears, and no solu- “We are only allowed 11 hours prohibitions on cooking and doing remitting less than the minimum was different when tion is at hand. of work daily, so every moment laundry in their living quarters. amount for many days, sometimes we started the job While some drivers manipulate counts. But traffic jams caused “We understand it is company for months, “so that they get ter- the taxi meter to their advantage, by road construction are every- policy, but the monthly laundry minated and can return to their here. others don’t use it at all, and where, which adds to our woes. fee is QR35, so I asked a friend of country.” instead negotiate a fare with the Normally it takes around 10 min- mine if I could wash my clothes “They are those who cannot customers that is much higher utes to travel from City Centre to in his house,” he said. cope with the situation and just than the metered fare. Mansoura, but now it takes 20 to For food he goes to cheap caf- want to go back home without Hamid, a Karwa driver, doesn’t 30 minutes; imagine how much eterias. Sometimes some regular finishing their contract. But they use the meter and admits he usu- time I lose,” he said, attributing customers and friends offer him don’t have money to pay for the ally charges five to ten riyals more the higher than normal fare he free meals. plane ticket, that’s why termina- Karwa drivers who receive a tion is an option for them.” salary of QR1,200, with addi- “Whenever they hear my story, fixed salary get QR1,200 a month, Despite the odds, he said, he tional overtime payment and liv- they take pity and tip me, gen- “but the company prefers the would continue in his job here as ing allowance, but it was different erously at times,” said a Karwa rental basis because they make it was still better to work here when we started the job here,” driver. Upon hearing of the recent a lucrative business out of it,” than his home country, “I just said an Al Million driver work- strike by Al Million drivers, he Hamid said. have to work harder for my fam- ing here for over a year. said the management did not see Following a strike, Al Million ily, especially my wife, who is bat- Another driver from Alijarah it coming, but “for us it was some- taxi drivers pay QR220 as rental tling an illness.” said that he was hired as a lim- thing expected.” to the company for 12 hours and However, several drivers com- ousine driver and forced to drive Even in a rich country like QR280 as a full day’s rental. New plain that they were shown a taxis. “I have a Qatar driver’s Qatar, public transport is very drivers who work for a salary are different picture about working licence and have worked here much needed as not everyone paid QR1,200 by the company. and living conditions here when before. I wouldn’t have come here here can afford or drive a car, However, after three or six they were hired in their home if had known it’s a taxi driver’s what with the recent curbs on months they too have to work countries. job,” said a driver working with issuing of new driving licences, under the rental system. Al Million drivers say they were Alijarah for nine months and who which are now limited to certain Drivers with Alijarah are paid shown photos of villas, some with has decided to quit the job after categories of professionals. a monthly salary with a 26 per- swimming pools, which were sup- completing one year. “Taxi managements should cent monthly commission for posed to be their accommodation. While most passengers argue realise that we are the ones every QR 10,000 they earn. The Once here, they ended up living with taxi drivers about over- behind the steering wheel, and drivers refused to accept the in rooms shared by eight persons. charging, others have come to without drivers the daily business rental system and convinced the “We were promised big perks understand their plight and even would be paralysed,” he said. management to pay a monthly when they hired us. A monthly offer them tips. THE PENINSULA

reluctant to ride in cabs driven by their fellow countrymen, are Drivers bemoan paltry salary galore. A report on the taxi service Continued from page 1 in Riyadh aired by MBC TV “Those times were undeniably of the cab operating companies One of these companies pays recently suggested that Saudi good, but you must remember said on grounds of anonymity a monthly salary to its drivers, women prefer Asian expatriate that the population then was in a that while being recruited in his and a commission if a monthly cabbies because they are more few hundred thousands, and now home country he was verbally target of QR10,000 as total fare respectful and cannot make out it is more than two million,” said offered such lucrative terms that is reached. But drivers say the what they are talking about. another old-timer. he couldn’t resist. salary is a meagre QR1,400. The TV station chanced upon Individual taxi operators can “They even showed us pho- An Arab national working as a a Saudi taxi driver who was hardly cater to an exploding tographs of our living quarters, cabbie with the above company, dressed in Pakistan’s traditional population. “If you recall, illegal with a fancy swimming pool. But who didn’t want to be identified attire (salwar-qameez) and private taxis began mushrooming when I landed here I realised I by name or nationality for fear when the reporter asked him after 2004-05, when the popula- had been cheated.” he might be fired, said: “I chal- why he was not wearing his tion suddenly started surging,” Drivers of a major taxi oper- lenge that if our company pays national dress, he said: “If I do, said the old-timer. “They sprang ating company say they are us QR4,000 instead of QR1,400 no Saudi woman would hail my up to fulfil the yawning gap made to pay QR265 a day as car a month, we would be able to taxi”. between demand and supply.” rent for 12 hours (QR300 for 15 give the company up to QR400 In Riyadh, the local chamber An Indian private taxi opera- hours), although the fuel is pro- to QR500 every month.” of commerce recently held tor who recently lost his job in vided by the company. There is business. “It is just a meeting of taxi operating neighbouring Saudi Arabia came “On a normal day I am not able that a paltry salary leaves us companies, drivers and chamber to Qatar, and with help from rel- to do this much business. And uninspired to work and serve the officials to discuss the problems. atives and friends, managed to most of the time I am stressed people,” said the Arab taxi driver. The chamber later forwarded a get a work visa and buy a used thinking that time is running out Not unconvincingly, then, a set of recommendations to the car for QR30-35,000, and is now and I must achieve that target,” senior official of one of the taxi Saudi government to improve dependent entirely on his illegal said the driver. operating companies said, when the city’s taxi services. business for income. Driving from one place to contacted for comment, that a In Dubai, a demand was made He lives in the Old Airport another in Doha takes more time driver on average makes an extra by taxi drivers some three years Area, in a shared accommoda- than before due to traffic snarls. QR130 daily (besides the rent he ago for the labour ministry to tion, and makes a minimum “This is affecting our earning, so has to pay to the company). “So, set up a committee to study of QR5,000 a month serving a how do we pay the rent to the where is the problem?” their woes and suggest remedial permanent clientele compris- company?” said the cabbie. The official said: “The com- of the time it is the company that 70,000 taxis operated by about measures. This, because, like ing office-goers and women who As a result of a strike by a pany gives them food allowance ends up paying the fine when it 850 companies. Qatar, taxi drivers, are governed teach in schools. group of taxi drivers of another as well, and provides accommo- is time to renew the registration Most drivers there pay in Dubai by the local labour law. Taxi drivers have their own company, the latter has reduced dation and laundry services free”. of a vehicle,” added the official. up to Saudi riyals 150 a day In Qatar, a transport ministry “woeful tales” to narrate. Low the daily rental amount to Of course, the drivers, since Meanwhile, a cursory look (almost equivalent of Qatari has been set up recently, and pay and perks, difficult working QR220, but cabbies say that sum they are trained, are not at the situation as regards taxi riyals QR150) as rent to their one hopes it would take up conditions, and the “impractica- is also too high to manage. expected to violate the traffic services in neighbouring Dubai companies, although they buy the issue of taxi services in ble” daily rental system “forced” “We are stressed all the time law, but some of them do jump shows that occasionally there the fuel. the country (and the woes the on them by their employers are thinking of how to manage the red lights and break speed limits, are strikes by drivers demanding Media reports suggest there cabbies narrate) and look for a to blame for the sad state of daily rent. If we don’t pay, we are so fines pile up, according to the better pay and perks. are no complaints on that count viable solution to the problems affairs as regards taxi services fined. We must also pay for traf- official. In Riyadh, the capital city of although problems of different people at large, the taxi operating in the country. fic violations,” said a taxi driver “Yes, we do try to recover the Saudi Arabia, the largest GCC kinds like taxis not being companies and the cabbies face. A taxi driver working with one of one of the three companies. fines from the drivers, but most country, there are an estimated clean, and Saudi women being THE PENINSULA JANUARY 18, 2014 Home www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 ON SATURDAY New airport makes Qatar a truly global gateway Over 200 contractors and 1,000 experts built world-class aviation hub

www.swiss-belhotel.com Tel Fax

Tel Fax

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Tel The Airport City and (Below) one of the two driverless trains to carry about 6,000 passengers per hour per direction. Fax

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB Tel DOHA: The much-awaited Fax Hamad International Airport (HIA) with the recently adopted punch line ‘Runway to the future, Gateway to Tel the world’ has many unique Fax features and stunning facili- ties, which are expected to enhance Qatar’s position as a www.doha.hilton.com truly global gateway. Tel The ambitious project on +974 44233333 track for opening by the mid- Fax +974 44233000 dle of the year, boasts a host of amenities, including the world’s longest commercial runway at sea level, one of the world’s big- gest cargo facilities, one of the largest catering facilities and one of the largest integrated Airport City. There are two driverless trains — Automated People Tel Mover (APM) — each with Fax five coaches to carry about international airports, HIA has and service contracts with over A-380 ones. The door for the 6,000 passengers per hour per been positioned as an integral 1,000 architects, designers, con- line maintenance hangar is over direction. part of the city. sultants, engineers and project 220 metres long and 27 metres A section is dedicated to The airport, once fully opera- managers worked to deliver the high, the widest free span door transfer passengers to speed tional, will receive about 50 mil- region’s newest aviation hub. opening in the world. Tel connections between sections lion passengers and handle 1.4m The water droplet-inspired The duty-free warehouse Fax of the terminal, with a cruising tonnes of cargo per year through structure of the public mosque building, spread across 16,000 speed of 45kmph, to facilitate its two parallel runways, built at the airport can accommodate sqm, has 21 loading docks, nine the 30-minute minimum con- two km apart from each other, 500 worshipers at a time, with a landside and 12 airside. nect time. The APM runs over allowing for independent, simul- separate area for women. The retail shopping area at Tel 500m connecting the North and taneous operations. There are nearly 7,600 park- the passenger terminal includes Fax South Nodes of the terminal. The Eastern Runway at 4,850 ing stalls for vehicles, including branded boutique shops, choco- The airport is a world-class metres (4.8km) is the long- 3,431 short-term and 2,479 long- lates, cigars, tobacco, cosmetics purpose-built aviation hub to est commercial runway at sea term stalls. and many other high-end luxury cater to rapidly evolving avia- level and the Western Runway The Emiri Terminal is archi- goods. tion needs such as spa, gym, is 4,250 metres (4.2km) long. tecturally reminiscent of dhow Spread across 69,000sqm, Tel squash courts and a swimming Both are 60 metres wide and sails. The construction proc- the Catering Facility is one of Fax pool as well as a transit hotel capable of unrestricted A-380 ess required over 40 million the largest in the world, with in the South Node and other operations. man-hours to commission and a capacity to serve over 90,000 facilities for the 21st century HIA, stretched across 29 complete the building. Facilities meals per day. There are sepa- passengers. sqkm, including the Airport inside the terminal are for the rate kitchens for food prepared Tel For instance, the Airport City, with 60 percent of it on use of the Emir, the Royal according to various cultural Fax City, spread over 10 square kil- land reclaimed on the Arabian Family, ministers and VVIP and religious requirements. ometres, where an estimated Gulf, includes multi-concourse guests. The Baggage Handling 200,000 people are expected to Terminal 1, Emiri Terminal, a The Aircraft Maintenance System uses the latest technol- live and work. mosque, second passenger ter- Hangars, stretching half a kilo- ogy with automatic sorting of Perhaps this is the first seri- minal, vehicle rental and car metre, include two wide span 19,500 bags per hour. It has one Tel ous effort anywhere in the world parking facilities, cargo, main- hangars for line base and heavy of the world’s largest installa- Fax that offers an interface between tenance hangar and catering maintenance and are equipped tions of hybrid RFID systems an international airport and facilities. for all maintenance and repair combined with barcode scan- the City it serves. Unlike other More than 200 contractors activities on aircraft, including ners. THE PENINSULA

Tel Rains likely by early noon today Fax DOHA: Rains might lash the country and Abu Samra is expected between 14 from 1 to three feet inshore and two to five today again after a gap of almost a week. and 19 degrees, while in Ruwais it would be feet offshore, rising to five to seven feet dur- Tel The Meteorology Department has fore- between 15 and 18 degrees. ing the thunder activity. cast rains, accompanied by thunder by early The weather bureau said the southeast- The department said the Gulf will be Fax noon today with southeasterly winds. ern wind speed could be between five and affected by the surface low moving from The forecast for today said skies will be 12 knots, reaching 20 knots with thunder Northern Arabian Peninsula towards south- www.renaissancedoha.com partly cloudy to cloudy with the chance of rain changing to northwesterly wind by the east. Low surface low will be accompanied scattered rains in some places and thunder- evening with a speed of 8 to 16 knots. by upper-level trough passing over Qatar Tel +974 44195000 showers at other places. Offshore will witness southeasterly and until Sunday morning. Fax Thundershowers are also expected off- southwesterly wind with a speed of five to The high-level trough and surface low +974 44195100 shore accompanied by strong wind and high 20 knots reaching 25 knots during rain and will enhance the chance for scattered rain seas. becoming northwesterly by night. and thunderstorm showers at places. An Temperature in Doha could be between 15 The bureau also said the prevailing area of cold weather will spread from the degrees Celsius and 20 degrees, while in Al northwesterly winds will ensure advection Baltic Sea to the Gulf during Sunday when Khor it will vary between 13 and 18 degrees of the cold air from the northwest and the southwesterly wind will change its direction and Dukhan 13 and 17 degrees, making them decreasing of the temperature by Saturday to northwesterly with moderate to strong the coldest places in the country. evening. The visibility will be between four speed gusting to 25 knots. Temperature in Mesaieed, Al Wakrah and seven km today. The sea state will be THE PENINSULA JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Middle East Tunisia agrees charter chapter on judiciary New constitution key to democratic transition

TUNIS: Tunisia’s constituent sensitive in a country that only required before a vote to approve assembly yesterday adopted a recently emerged from five dec- the whole text can take place. crucial chapter in the country’s ades of dictatorship, and sparked The often sharp differences new charter defining the pow- angry exchanges and chaotic between the majority Islamist ers of the judiciary, and tack- scenes in parliament when they party and the secular opposi- led others dealing with human were debated earlier this week. tion have repeatedly obstructed rights and the fight against Later, MPs resumed their the process, which was due to be corruption. examination of the charter, after completed by an agreed deadline After approving articles on the lengthy negotiations to forge con- of January 14, the third anniver- creation and prerogatives of the sensus on the five “constitutional sary of the revolution that toppled constitutional court, lawmak- bodies.” Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. ers completed the chapter on These include the electoral Adopting the new constitu- the judiciary, qualifying the legal commission, and those responsi- tion is seen as a key to getting profession as “free and independ- ble for human rights and the fight Tunisia’s democratic transition ent, and which participates in against corruption. back on track, after a political the realisation of justice and the The assembly is pushing ahead crisis triggered by the assassina- defence of rights and freedoms.” with the adoption of a long- tion of an opposition MP last year Tunisian MPs attend a session at the National Constituent Assembly as part of a debate on a new constitution The articles defining the powers delayed new constitution, scru- by suspected Islamist militants. yesterday. of the judiciary are particularly tinising it article by article, as AFP Erdogan rejects graft claims against son Algeria presidential ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime “The claims that he left the which is focused on allegations of a joint statement yesterday, warn- Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan country or is hiding do not reflect bribery in construction projects, ing about the impact of the crisis. election on April 17 yesterday rejected allegations reality,” he added. gold smuggling and illicit dealings “Corruption claims and parallel that his son was involved in the Several newspapers earlier this with Iran. state claims that have infested the corruption scandal that has tar- month published photos of Bilal He has accused followers of an environment have been threaten- ALGIERS: Algeria’s ageing of creating the uncertainty — by geted some of his closest allies. having a meeting with Yasin Al exiled Islamic cleric, once a key ing societal peace and stability leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika travelling to France this week “Recently, there have been Qadi, a wealthy Saudi business- supporter of Erdogan’s ruling and posing a danger to our inter- yesterday called a presidential and convening the electoral body smear campaigns by the main man once named on a UN list of party, of being behind what he nal peace,” said the statement election for April 17, a day after at the last minute — because he opposition against my children,” Al Qaeda financiers. has branded a coup plot. signed by seven groups. returning from medical treat- wants “to cling to power at any the embattled premier said. Earlier this week, anti-terror The Cumhuriyet newspaper on Meanwhile, authorities seized ment in France, without indi- price.” “But let me make this clear: If police detained two dozen sus- Thursday reported that two of the assets of Mustafa Sarigul, the cating if he would stand. But for political expert Rachid one of my children was involved in pects, reportedly including two the ministers whose sons were main opposition party CHP’s can- With his health woes making Tlemcani, a fourth Bouteflika such a thing, I would have imme- top Al Qaeda figures, in a nation- detained had accepted over $60m didate for Istanbul mayor, an offi- his participation unlikely, the term is out of the question. diately disowned them,” he said at wide operation that also targeted in bribes. cial said, ahead of a crucial local leadership contest is likely to “The deciders are looking for a a ceremony in Istanbul. an Islamic charity linked to the Political tensions have battered election in March. be one of the most important in replacement,” he said, alluding to Prosecutors were reportedly beleaguered government. financial markets, with the lira The Savings Deposit Insurance years in the energy-rich North the secretive military elite, often blocked last month from expand- Erdogan says he is battling “a and stocks tumbling. The cur- Fund seized Sarigul’s assets after African country and a key player referred to as the “pouvoir” and ing the probe to include Erdogan’s state within a state” and claims rency fell to a new low of 2.2246 he and his business partners in the fight against Islamist mili- seen as the real power in a coun- younger son Bilal, 34. the anti-graft investigation was to the dollar at yesterday’s close failed to repay a loan dating back tants in the region. try where every post-independ- But Justice Minister Bekir instigated by political rivals to and 3.0177 to the euro while the to 1998, the TMSF official said. “Bouteflika today proceeded ence leader has been chosen by Bozdag said there had never been undermine his government ahead Istanbul stock market slid 1.81 Sarigul will run against incum- with the signing of the presiden- the army. an arrest warrant for Bilal, who is of elections this year. percent to 65,635.06. bent Mayor, Kadir Topbas, of tial decree convening the electoral “There is external pressure on on the board of a charitable foun- Dozens were detained in The turmoil has triggered con- Erdogan’s centre-right AK Party. body on April 17 for the election Algeria to remain stable... I think dation for students and is believed December, including top business cern about the state of democracy Polls suggest Topbas, who has run of the presidency of the republic,” Bouteflika will announce his deci- to also have business interests. leaders and sons of three minis- after Erdogan’s efforts to tighten Turkey’s largest city and busi- a statement from his office said. sion (not to run) the day before “I would like to state that there ters, who have resigned. the government’s grip on the ness capital for about a decade, The 76-year-old has ruled the legal deadline,” he added. is no arrest warrant or order to Erdogan has retaliated by judiciary. will beat Sarigul, though the race the country since 1999, but has Presidential hopefuls have 45 detain Bilal,” he was quoted as launching a purge of police and A range of business groups, may prove tight. rarely been seen in public since days to present candidacies to the saying on Thursday. prosecutors involved in the probe, unions and rights groups issued AGENCIES suffering a stroke that confined constitutional council, which rules him to a Paris hospital for three on whether they are valid within months last year. He flew back 10 days. The electoral law requires from France on Thursday after each candidate to gather at least an unexpected three-day medi- 60,000 signatures from supporters cal visit which national media across no fewer than 25 provinces, described as a “routine check-up.” with a minimum of 1,500 signa- Rebel leader can’t make ceasefire hold: Juba Bouteflika has never named a tures from each. successor and not ruled out the North Africa expert Geoff JUBA: South Sudan’s defence possibility of accepting his nomi- Porter argued that a vetted new minister said yesterday the nation by the ruling National president was the most likely sce- leader of rebels battling gov- Liberation Front in November to nario. “Only fools make confident ernment forces did not have stand for a fourth term despite predictions about Algeria, but it enough control over his fighters his failing health. does nonetheless look increas- to make any ceasefire hold, as The uncertainty about his ingly unlikely that Bouteflika peace talks dragged on with no intentions has created a vacuum will be able to remain in office sign of a deal. at the heart of Algerian politics. much longer. His Prime Minister, Kuol Manyang Juuk also said Soufiane Djilali, who heads Abdelmalek Sellal, has continued both sides were fighting over the New Generation opposition the thinly veiled campaigning two strategic towns and that his party and plans to run for the that he started last September.” government could ask Sudan for presidency, accused Bouteflika AFP military help if the conflict in the world’s newest nation threatened South’s oilfields. Sudan, from which the south split in 2011, relies on revenues from fees charged for use of its Morocco ends petrol, pipeline that carries South’s oil exports to international markets. Troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels backing fuel oil subsidies the deputy he sacked in July, Riek Machar, have been fighting since RABAT: Morocco said yester- last year to partially index energy mid-December. The conflict has day it had ended subsidies of prices to international market followed ethnic lines, pitting Kiir’s petrol and fuel oil and started levels. Dinka group against the Nuer of to cut significantly diesel subsi- On Thursday, nearby Tunisia’s Machar. dies as part of its drive to repair outgoing Islamist-led govern- Juuk said Machar had used a public finances. ment announced it had suspended spiritual leader, who he named But the government, keen to planned oil price hikes after pro- Members of the Fellowship of Christian University Students in South Sudan take part in a peace march in the Dak Kueth, to stir up people to avoid the kind of social unrest tests and strikes over high living fight. “(Machar) is not in con- capital Juba yesterday. that toppled several North costs. trol of these people. So even if a African regimes during the Arab Morocco said subsidies for die- peace agreement is signed, or ces- into the conflict, in which a UN Juuk said the government was troops in South Sudan. “We have Spring, said it would continue to sel would decline from a level of sation of hostilities, these people envoy said yesterday thousands in control of Bentiu, capital of oil requested support from Uganda. subsidise wheat, sugar and cook- 2.15 dirhams per litre this month who are not under the control of had been killed and “mass atroci- producing Unity state, and both It is not a new situation, countries ing gas used by the poor. to 0.80 dirham by October. Machar will continue creating ties” committed by both sides. sides were fighting over Malakal seek support from other countries The cash-strapped North Morocco has budgeted for 30bn insecurity for the people and the The South has also asked in another oil area and the flash- whenever they are in trouble.” African kingdom is under pres- dirhams worth of food and energy government. Sudan for engineers to help main- point town of Bor. All three places UN Assistant Secretary- sure from International Monetary subsidies for 2014, down from “We cannot make a unilateral tain oil output which has slipped are north of South Sudan’s capital General for Human Rights Ivan Fund and World Bank to cut 42bn last year and more than ceasefire because it is they (the to about 200,000 barrels per day, Juba. Simonovic called for the speedy spending and reform subsidies, 53bn in 2012. rebels) who are attacking the civil from about 245,000 bpd before the The rebels have acknowledged establishment of an independent, taxation and its pension system. But subsidy reductions could population and government posi- fighting. the loss of Bentiu but the fate impartial fact-finding commission Demands are linked to a two- hurt the fragile economy heavily tions,” Juuk added. Asked if the South would seek of the other two towns has been on the conflict. year, $6.2bn precautionary credit reliant on tourism, agriculture The two sides are negotiating a a joint security force with Sudan unclear as fighting has raged. “The crisis, which started as a line agreed by IMF in 2012. and remittances from Moroccans ceasefire deal in Ethiopian capital to protect fields, Juuk said: “Until Médecins Sans Frontières political one, has now taken on “Petrol and fuel oil are no abroad. Addis Ababa, but there has been now we have not asked the Sudan (Doctors Without Borders) said an inter-ethnic dimension that longer among the products sub- The main Islamist opposi- no clear progress. Rebel demands government to send in their it was forced to suspend activities urgently needs to be addressed,” sidised by the government,” the tion movement, Justice and include that Ugandan troops forces. in Malakal following the looting of he said after a four-day visit to General Affairs Ministry said in Spirituality, urged leftist groups deployed in South stop support- “Should there be a threat, any- its compounds. It said fierce fight- the country. “People on both sides a statement carried by the state last year to join protests against ing government forces in combat. thing threatening the oilfield, def- ing had broken out in Malakal on are convinced that the other side news agency MAP. subsidy cuts. But so far there has Uganda’s military support of initely the government of South January 13. is to blame, which makes the situ- Morocco is the most advanced been little sign of widespread pub- Kiir has raised worries that other Sudan may ask the Sudan gov- Juuk shrugged off the rebels’ ation even more dangerous,” he among North African countries in lic discontent over the measures. regional players could be drawn ernment to come in and support.” criticism of the role of Ugandan said. REUTERS its reform of subsidies and started REUTERS JANUARY 18, 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 ON SATURDAY

Shaival Dalal

Runway to future

Hamad International Airport, slated to open by the middle of this year, is expected to enhance Qatar’s posi- tion as a regional avia- tion hub. The ‘Runway to the future, Gateway to the world’ has many nota- ble features, including two driverless trains, spa, gym, squash courts, mosque, swim- ming pool, cafeteria, transit hotel and other facilities complemen- tary to the 21st century aviation industry. The $15.5bn airport, once fully operational, will receive nearly 360,000 aircraft car- rying about 50 million passengers and 1.4 million tonnes of cargo every year from across the world. JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Views

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NSA reforms Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

VEN US President Barack Obama would admit, if not publicly, that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has achieved his objective. Obama Eyesterday outlined a series of surveillance reforms in the wake of six months of revelations from Snowden, US is moving to the left saying that the government should no longer hold databases of every call record made in the country. The president’s announcement didn’t come as a surprise because first, he BY STEVE ROSENTHAL was forced into these reforms, and second, an announcement years, national polls have shown that care hurt him or helped Cuccinelli’s was expected any time. The tsunami of public fury and the the general public is becoming more final numbers. In the attorney gen- diplomatic kerfuffle which Snowden’s revelations unleashed OT too long ago, everyone liberal on: eral’s race, Democrat Mark Herring was declaring American * Immigration. The last time defied long-standing conventional were more than the Obama administration could contain. politics a lost cause for the nation considered immigra- wisdom and played up his position It wasn’t a tsunami that visited the shores and left, but one Nprogressives. The religious tion reform, in 2006, 52 percent on gun safety. Herring defeated his which keeps visiting even now, causing huge damage to US right supposedly had a stranglehold of respondents told Gallup that opponent by pointing out Republican reputation and the country’s intelligence community. on elections. Then it was the tea the priority should be halting the Mark Obenshain’s weak record on However, the president deserves praise for admitting that party that had the political estab- flow of illegal immigration. Just 43 common-sense gun legislation such there are problems in the surveillance systems and for taking lishment — initially Democrats and percent preferred to deal with the as comprehensive background checks Republicans — quaking. The media undocumented immigrants already and closing the gun-show loophole. some steps to fix them. Obama’s willingness to act is in sharp and the general public took hold of here. When Gallup asked the same In the swing state of Iowa, recent contrast to the British practice of denial when confronted a narrative parroted by conservative question in July, the numbers had extreme weather has convinced more with the same situation. Among the highlights of the reforms candidates and opinion leaders: The flipped: 55 percent thought the people that the science behind cli- is that the NSA will not spy on the heads of state and United States was a “center-right” focus should be on immigrants mate change is real. In an Iowa State governments of allies, and some protections will be given to nation. already here, while 41 percent said University annual poll of farmers — a foreign citizens whose communications become caught up in But after two consecutive elections the priority should be strengthen- traditionally conservative set — the in which the Democratic candidate ing U.S. borders. share who believed in climate change the agency’s dragnet. Also, the US government will no longer for president garnered more than 50 * Marijuana. In 2000, just 31 per- last year was 74.3 percent, a signifi- store the phone call information of millions of Americans and percent of the vote — a one-two punch cent of Americans believed marijuana cant jump from 67.7 percent in 2011, Intelligence agencies must apply last achieved by Franklin Roosevelt — should be legalized, Gallup found, and when the question was first asked. to the secret Fisa court for judicial it is worth questioning that assump- 64 percent were opposed. The pro- It is more than an interesting Obama must approval to access Americans’ tion. The country legalization number has since tracked observation that the United States is getting more steadily upward. In October Gallup now leans left. This should be a guid- phone records. make sure that diverse, and as polling, 58 percent of respondents ing light for politicians. With the the surveillance Are these reforms enough? the proportion favoured legalisation and just 39 per- knowledge that most Americans are, Definitely not. They are just of white voters cent were opposed. in fact, behind them, Democrats no reforms he like an ointment, a temporary Over the past shrinks, so, too, * Big business. Americans have longer need to fear running on their announced pain-killer. The president needs 10 or so years, does the con- grown more mistrustful of big busi- beliefs. They should stop letting spe- to look at all the issues raised servative base. ness since 2002, when 50 percent of cial interests on the right hold ideas yesterday is the As demographics respondents told Gallup they were and ideals hostage and start listening in detail. For example, Obama national polls shift, so do politi- “very or somewhat satisfied” with the to voters. first step, not the announced that he would end the have shown cal preferences influence of major corporations. This And what are the American peo- last, in restoring metadata- collection programme — in this case, number bottomed out at 29 percent ple saying? That they’re fed up with as it exists. Today, but he never that the general toward the left. A in 2011 and 30 percent in 2012. political obstructionism and con- privacy. explained how. He even ignored close examination Attitudes are shifting in the states servative policies that have left the the recommendations of his own of US attitudes as well. In recent elections, states that country at a standstill. They want a public is in the past dec- were once reliably Republican red in new direction. handpicked review group and ade-plus reveals presidential elections — including Progressives have an opportunity instead asked his administration for new technical options on becoming more that the United Colorado, North Carolina and Nevada not only to come into the mainstream the bulk storage of data by the end of March. Experts have liberal on many States is steadily — have become competitive or even but also to lead — and shape — public already questioned the efficacy of the reforms to curb abuse. becoming more solidly Democratic blue. opinion. They say that previous promises to fix the system had never issues. progressive. In the November election in President Barack Obama began to It’s been well Virginia, issues well to the left of do just that last month with a speech materialised. “…Obama never hid the real purpose of this publicised how the “Old Virginia” (read: conserva- decrying income inequality. To feed process. It is, he and his officials repeatedly acknowledged, America has tive) mainstream not only failed to the vacuum of economic discontent, “to restore public confidence” in the NSA. In other words, “evolved” on marriage equality. hurt Democrats but might even have Democrats ought to argue for populist the goal isn’t to truly reform the agency; it is deceive people Washington Post-ABC News polling helped them. Gubernatorial candidate solutions such as raising the mini- into believing it has been so that they no longer fear it or last year found that, by a margin of 58 Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, was mum wage, raising taxes on million- are angry about it,” says Glenn Greenwald, the renowned US percent to 36 percent, people believe vocal about his support for expanding aires and corporations, rebuilding their fellow Americans should be Medicaid under the Affordable Care infrastructure, investing in educa- journalist who broke the NSA story. able to marry whomever they choose Act, while Republican Ken Cuccinelli tion and instituting paid sick leave. Obama must make sure that his speech yesterday is the — something that would have been harped on Obamacare to curry favor Americans crave solutions, and they first step, not the last, in restoring privacy. The public is unthinkable less than a decade ago. with voters unhappy with the law. In are moving to the left to find them. watching and his reforms will be put to test in the coming The progressive trend isn’t isolated the end, of course, McAuliffe won, and Smart politicians ought to get ahead days. to this issue. Over the past 10 or so there was little evidence that health of them. WP-BLOOMBERG

The other side Quote of Geneva talks may not yield results the day ASHAR Assad may be besieged Iranian revolutionary guards, Assad’s Syrian Army has become increasingly war situation room, as he sees the Free in his own capital and key parts military position is arguably stronger contemptuous of the shenanigans of Syrian Army engaged in vicious fighting Bof his country are out of his than 12 months ago. opposition politicians. Its Herculean with the bigoted thugs who have infil- Lebanon is having control, but he begins 2014 in the sort Of course the fissiparous opposition efforts to smash Assad’s armies have trated the opposition ranks. He will of of political position of which, a year ago, forces have done their best to assist not yet succeeded. Yet without a uni- course do everything he can to support a difficult time, even he and his faithful Russian allies him. Still incapable of speaking with a fied opposition, the chance of a political the Islamic State in Iraq (ISIS) and the would hardly have dreamed of. single voice, the National Coalition for settlement are diminished to vanish- Levant and the Al-Nusra front forces, especially since It is not simply that he is still in power, Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition ing point. Thus the fighting will go on, not least because they are doing part the international even though, according to United Forces, is proving itself as absurd and and not just against Assad’s men and of his job for him. Nations estimates, at least nine million long-winded as its name. By failing to Iranian and Hezbollah fighters, but also Then there is question of Syria’s community has of his fellow countrymen are in desper- provide a united front, against which against members of Al-Qaeda-linked chemical weapons. A year ago, Assad ate need of food and shelter. Freshly Assad’s half-truths and double-dealing groups, operating in the country, whose would never have expected to have failed miserably supplied with weaponry from Moscow could be pinned, for all the world to ranks have few Syrians but are domi- been hailed a hero for giving up these to do anything for Saad Al Hariri and Tehran and his war-weary troops see, the National Coalition has failed nated by foreign fighters. terrible devices. Yet that is what has Former Lebanese boosted by Hezbollah fighters and lamentably. The mainstream Free How Assad must be chortling in his happened. ARAB NEWS Syria. Prime Minister JANUARY 18, 2014 Views www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 ON SATURDAY Mexico experiencing a reversal of fortune A new reform government is positioning Mexico for significant growth. It should leave many emerging markets, including fellow Latin American economic power Brazil, in its wake.

BY GARY REGENSTREIF the third quarter and is expected to partisan politics to shame. He grow by little more than 2 percent has driven changes many thought n Latin America, this looks for 2013. Brazil is struggling to stay were not possible. to be the year of Brazil — competitive and contain inflation. His most significant reform thanks to the impending Hundreds of thousands of demon- revised Mexico’s constitution, World Cup and presidential strators spilled into the streets in opening the energy industry to elections. But with another June to protest poor public service private investment. Another key Ilackluster year looming in emerg- and the high cost of living. Growth reform allows legislators and may- ing markets, fans of transfor- is only expected to be 1.5-2.0 per- ors to run for consecutive terms, mation, growth and investment cent this year, while inflation could which had been banned since the potential should instead look to be up to 5.8 – 6.2 percent. early 1920s. That will provide more Mexico. Brazil’s finances, too, have accountability in a country with a Brazil’s president, Dilma worsened since the economy history of authoritarian rule (by Rousseff, is expected to win a slowed sharply two years ago. the PRI). The possibility of re-elec- second term this year, and its Economists now say Brazil needs tion should, in theory, be an incen- soccer team stands a good shot deep reforms to slash current tive for better governance. at victory. But growth has slowed expenditures and lower future Peña Nieto also pushed through considerably. In the world’s sev- pension payments. Standard & educational reform, making Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto addresses the Economist’s Mexico Summit 2013 in Mexico City on enth largest economy, reforms are Poor’s put Brazil’s rating on nega- teaching more merit based, as November 7, 2013. stagnating and the country faces tive outlook in June. Moody’s is well as introducing evaluations a possible ratings downgrade. not far behind, lowering Brazil and performance tests. He is Mexican exports, largely indus- helped create in 2012 with Chile, increased. Jorge Castaneda, Mexico, by contrast, is in the from positive to stable in October. opening up the telecommunica- trial, are directed to the US mar- Colombia and Peru. This aims to former Mexican foreign minis- throes of serious reforms. It will We are now heading into an elec- tions industry to more competi- ket, which is recovering. establish free trade and the free ter and foe of the PRI, touched likely lead Latin America with at tion year, when fiscal rigor is tion, seeking to lower prices for Standard & Poor’s raised its movement of people, as well as a on these improvements in his least 4 percent growth this year unlikely. consumers. His fiscal reform is main credit rating for Mexico on common stock exchange. recent essay, “Mexico’s Second and an improving investment out- This needs some context. Most designed to increase government December 20 by one notch, in the In the short-term, however, Revolution.” look. Standard & Poor’s recently emerging economies suffered in revenue while redistributing the latest sign of growing confidence. domestic risks abound in how the “Mexico, a stagnant and vio- boosted Mexico’s credit ratings the past two years, as growth tax burden — raising rates on the The credit rating company had government will implement these lence-plagued country in recent because of energy reforms that slowed globally. The investment wealthiest, taxing capital gains lagged behind the other two main reforms. “Secondary” bills, for years,” Castaneda writes, “ finally the rating company trumpeted last bank Nomura used a series of and dividends, homogenizing the agencies, which have both placed example, are needed to flesh out began to overcome its malaise in month as a “watershed moment” economic metrics to track Brazil’s value added tax rate and putting Mexico just one notch shy of an the details of the energy reform 2013, thanks to an activist presi- for the country. It is becoming relative performance against new levies on sugary beverages “A” rating. Chile is the only Latin implementation. That will deter- dent and a coalition of political a story of inverted fortunes, as a peer group of other emerg- and junk food. He is also creat- American nation that has an “A.” mine whether the investment parties determined to move the Michael Shifter and Cameron ing market economies: Mexico, ing unemployment insurance and Analysts and fund managers are conditions are attractive enough country forward. Thus, President Combs of the Inter-American Turkey, Indonesia, South Africa, universal pension for people 65 saying Mexico could earn another to lure foreign oil companies. Enrique Peña Nieto’s task since Dialogue recently wrote. Colombia and Chile. Brazil had a years or older. upgrade by at least one of the With one political party, the taking office one year ago has After years of stagnation and much-better-than-average recov- What is impressive is not just agencies in the next few months. leftist PRD, now pulling out of the been to ensure that the prom- violence, a new reform govern- ery after the 2008 financial crisis, the sheer number of reforms but Long term, Mexico has been Pact for Mexico, Peña Nieto needs ise of major change in Mexico ment is positioning Mexico for with both growth and invest- the skill he has demonstrated positioning for stronger trade. to keep the opposition on board finally translates into sustained significant growth. It should leave ments coming in above average. to get them through. The con- Twenty years after the North to get this and other reforms economic growth, improved living many emerging markets, includ- Since 2011, however, it has been troversial energy and education American Free Trade Agreement through. standards and faster convergence ing fellow Latin American eco- performing poorly compared to reforms, for example, both needed (NAFTA) with the US and Passage of reform bills is not with the US and Canada.” nomic power Brazil, in its wake. the others. a two-thirds super-majority in Canada went into force, Mexico enough, however. The president The president would do well Jobs are increasing, inflation is Enter Enrique Peña Nieto, a Congress to pass. it is counting on at least two other will need to show the benefits to remember how Brazilians, fol- lower, growth is higher and the telegenic Mexican state gover- Meanwhile, the economic data major alliances to find new mar- to Mexicans. Those dividends lowing a decade of rosy economic returns on Mexican equities are nor who won the presidency in is encouraging — if clearly not all kets for its manufactured and haven’t turned up yet. Indeed, indicators, took to the streets last multiples of what they have been 2012, bringing the Institutional the government’s doing. Mexico’s other goods. some measures could cause prob- year to complain they weren’t in Brazil. “Mexico may quickly Revolutionary Party (PRI) back manufacturing sector is now com- First, the ambitious Trans- lems. For example, roughly 45 seeing the benefits. As Pena Nieto swing from the region’s worst to to power for the first time since petitive and its economy is not as Pacific Partnership would create percent of the population is poor, told Foreign Affairs: “The govern- best performer,” emerging mar- its 70-year reign ended with the reliant on commodities as other a free-trade bloc of 12 countries, so new VATs and levies on junk ment has come not to manage but kets economist David Rees from 2000 elections. His ambition was Latin American countries are. So including NAFTA members, food and soda would further erode to transform.” Capital Economics wrote in a to transform the country. the nation can weather the eco- Chile, Japan and other Asian their purchasing power. Yet careful management will research note to clients late last A skilled negotiator and deal- nomic shocks of commodity price nations. This group makes up Another remaining challenge be necessary, so that visible ben- year. maker, Pena Nieto, 47, crossed changes far easier. Its retail sales about 40 percent of the global is to reduce violence between efits can buy his government Meanwhile Brazil, after soar- party lines and enlisted the and manufacturing sectors are economy. drug gangs and other criminals. public patience for the continued ing for a decade, has come back to opposition in a “Pact for Mexico,” hitting highs not seen in almost Second, the Pacific Alliance, While murders fell slightly last transformation. earth. Its economy contracted in which puts Washington’s sharply a year. For almost 80 percent of is a regional group that Mexico year, kidnapping and extortion REUTERS An alternative approach in Afghanistan Asia worrying about

BY STEPHEN J HADLEY else — for a signature before the April elec- US officials have tion. Such pressure only strengthens Karzai’s China, not Japan S officials are struggling again with hand, encourages further delay and makes the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. US look desperate. BY KENICHIRO SASAE After painful and prolonged nego- responded by Obama should make clear that his commit- Utiations, they concluded a draft ment of troops is dependent on the bilateral hina has been conducting a global propaganda campaign against bilateral security agreement last year that pressuring Karzai security agreement being signed. But a signing Japan, the most recent example of which was the January 10 laid the foundation for leaving US military by a new Afghan president would give more Washington Post op-ed by Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to forces in Afghanistan after 2014. It is expected directly and indirectly. than enough time to complete the necessary Cthe US. But his op-ed was wrong, and China’s leaders clearly to involve 8,000 to 10,000 US troops with coun- US military planning before year’s end. Indeed, misread global attitudes. It is not Japan that most of Asia and the inter- terterrorism, training and other responsibili- experts say that even without the deal, US national community worry about; it is China. ties in support of Afghan forces. US officials need an alternative approach. forces could remain in Afghanistan after 2014 First of all, the Yasukuni Shrine, which was the focus of Beijing’s most Most US experts on Afghanistan believe One option would be for President under the existing status-of-forces agreement, recent round of anti-Japan op-eds, is a place where the souls of those who that such a residual force is critical if Afghan Obama to make a public statement praising though our allies would have to negotiate new sacrificed their lives for the country since the Meiji Restoration of 1868 forces are to continue to professionalise. Only Afghanistan’s progress in assuming respon- agreements for their forces with the new have been enshrined. Japanese people visit the shrine to pray for the souls with such help will they have a reasonable sibility for its security; improving the educa- Afghan government. of the war dead — more than 2.4 million — not to glorify war or honour chance of containing the Taliban and giving tion, health and well-being of its citizens; and Washington Post-ABC News polling last or justify a small number of Class A war criminals. Afghan authorities the space to negotiate a preparing for the April election. month suggested that more than 60 percent Last month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the shrine and political settlement that includes the Taliban. To support that progress, Obama would of Americans believe the Afghan war was Chinreisha, a memorial for all war dead around the world, to make a Some Nato forces would remain, but only if say, he has directed US forces to curtail all not worth fighting. But the same poll also pledge for everlasting peace based on his deep remorse for the past. US troops stay. but essential night raids. He is committed to found that 55 percent support leaving some Like many other Japanese people, he said he wished to visit the shrine Most experts believe that without residual facilitating the peace process, he would note, US forces for training and “anti-insurgency” in sincere remembrance of the suffering and sacrifice of Japan’s soldiers forces the billions of dollars in financial sup- and will pledge full support for an election free operations. And lawmakers’ public statements and non-Japanese alike. He did not go to pay homage to Class A war port promised for Afghan security forces and from all outside influences. suggest that a post-2014 deployment would criminals nor to hurt the feelings of the Chinese or Korean people. for Afghanistan’s economic development will These statements would not represent a have bipartisan support in Congress. It is important to note that China began raising this issue with not materialize. Few believe that any Afghan major US policy change, but together they Obama should avoid any suggestion that he political motives in 1985. At that time, more than 20 visits by prime government would survive long without would offer Karzai a face-saver if he wishes might embrace a “zero option” and leave no US ministers to Yasukuni had gone unchallenged, even after 14 Class A this assistance. So the stakes are high — for to sign the security agreement. troops in Afghanistan after 2014. Almost every war criminals had been enshrined there in 1978. Afghanistan and for preserving the invest- Next, Obama could announce the number Afghan expert believes that would destabilise The government of Japan has repeatedly expressed deep remorse ment of lives and treasure that the US and of troops that he is prepared to leave in Afghanistan, threaten the outcome of the elec- and heartfelt apologies regarding the war. So did the prime minister its coalition allies have made over the past Afghanistan after 2014 and direct the tion and risk the collapse of Afghan security after his recent visit to Yasukuni; he said that “Japan must never 12 years. Pentagon to develop plans on that basis. He forces. wage a war again” based on “the severe remorse for the past.” He has Initially Karzai said he would sign the would call on our Nato allies to announce simi- This would profoundly affect US security inherited and will honour the statements of previous prime ministers. agreement after a loya jirga, a traditional lar force commitments. interests. Afghanistan again would become Prime Minister Abe has accepted the judgments of the International congregation of Afghan leaders, approved This step would go a long way toward reas- a haven for terrorists — who, history shows, Military Tribunal for the Far East, and he has never said that Japan the pact. The loya jirga approved the deal suring Afghan presidential candidates, and the would attack US interests and territory. did not commit aggression. in November, but Karzai demanded further Afghan people, of the US’ post-2014 presence. Afghanistan would contribute to destabilis- I cannot predict whether China’s anti- Japan propaganda campaign concessions: an end to counterterrorism raids The lack of such reassurance has become a ing a nuclear-armed Pakistan. And the Afghan will work inside China, but it certainly does not resonate internation- into Afghan homes at night, active US sup- source of serious instability, threatening the people would forfeit the progress they have ally. In most of Asia and the rest of the world, Japan has among the port for the peace process with the Taliban election and the morale of Afghan security made, with our help, in building a more toler- highest favourability rating of any nation in public polls. and noninterference in the April presidential forces. ant, inclusive, secure and prosperous society. What has become a serious, shared concern for the peace and secu- election that will determine Karzai’s successor. For similar reasons, Obama should resist Afghanistan’s presidential election is less rity of the Asia-Pacific region is not our prime minister’s visit to the Lately, he has threatened to leave the matter any pressure to set a date for the termination than three months away. US policy must not Yasukuni Shrine but, rather, China’s unparalleled military buildup and to his successor. of the post-2014 US deployment. be based on frustration with Karzai’s mercu- its use of military and mercantile coercion against neighbouring states. US officials have responded by pressuring Third, Obama could state that while he is rial behaviour but on ensuring the election of a The most recent example of this is Beijing’s unilateral declaration of Karzai directly and indirectly. They have set willing to sign the bilateral security agree- legitimate successor to Karzai with whom the an air defence identification zone. China has escalated the intrusion a succession of deadlines and said the agree- ment with Karzai, he also is willing to sign it US can sign a security agreement that is over- of government vessels into the territorial sea around the Senkaku ment must be signed in “weeks, not months.” with the next Afghan president. US officials whelmingly in the interests of both countries. Islands and in waters claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and other So far, nothing has worked. should stop pressuring Karzai — or anyone WP-BLOOMBERG maritime states in the region. WP-BLOOMBERG JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Middle East Ready to share power with Hezbollah: Saad Former premier is optimistic that a deal can break deadlock with rivals for Lebanon’s stability

THE HAGUE: Former especially since the international they are allegedly persons who resigned last March. A caretaker Lebanese prime minister Saad community has failed miserably committed these crimes... But at cabinet with minimal powers is Al Hariri says he is now ready to do anything for Syria,” he said. the end of the day, this is a politi- running the country until the to share power with his rivals “I think it is our duty towards the cal party that has a big coalition, squabbling parties can reach a Hezbollah if that’s what it takes people of Lebanon to stabilise the with Aounis (the Free Patriotic deal to form a government. to help Lebanon finally form a country ... I am very optimistic.” Movement of Michel Aoun) and Fears over Syria-inspired government after nine months Asked why he was willing to other political parties,” he said. violence have only added to the of political deadlock. work with a group accused of Lebanon, still struggling to pressure on politicians to find Linking up with the powerful playing a role in his father’s kill- recover from its own 1975-1990 a compromise. Hezbollah backs Shia group would be a sharp turn- ing, he said he was committed to civil war, has been without a fully Assad, himself from the minority about for Hariri and his Future the principle of “innocent until functioning government since Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia. party, a Sunni Muslim group that proven guilty”. “We know that Prime Minister Najib Mikati In the past two years, two supports the Sunni revolt against prominent figures linked to Shia-backed President Bashar Al Hariri’s Future Party have been Assad in neighbouring Syria’s civil killed in car bombs many Hariri war. It also presents a personal Defence says no motive supporters blamed on Hezbollah, challenge for the son of former which denies the accusation. premier Rafiq Al Hariri, whose Hezbollah’s strongholds in 2005 car bomb assassination to murder Rafiq Hariri Beirut have also been attacked was widely blamed on Hezbollah, with a series of car bombs and which denies the allegation. THE HAGUE: Lawyers representing four Hezbollah members rocket strikes that have killed But Hariri said in The Hague, being tried in absentia for the 2005 killing of Lebanese ex-pre- dozens of civilians. Many of where he is attending the trial in mier Rafiq Hariri yesterday dismissed the prosecution’s case so those attacks were claimed by absentia of four Hezbollah members far, saying it was “bereft of motive.” Al Qaeda-linked Syrian rebel charged with his father’s killing, that Speaking on the second day of the trial before a UN-backed court groups. he’s not only ready to share power in The Hague, defence lawyers said the prosecution’s allegations over Negotiations to form a new with Hezbollah but is optimistic they who killed billionaire Hariri and 22 others in the February 15, 2005 government were revived in can come to an agreement. car bombing were a “mere theory.” December. A prominent Lebanese “We’re trying to run the coun- “It’s quite surprising to see this crime bereft of motive for the political source said that “great try with everyone, because we time being,” Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse told journalists. strides have been made in the do not want to keep anyone out- “The prosecutor has not put forward any reason” for the bomb- negotiations and a new government side,” he said in an interview late ing, he said after Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) prosecutors may see the light this month.” Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri coming to attend the Special on Thursday after attending the wrapped up their opening statements. Prosecutor Graeme Cameron Hariri’s government was toppled Tribunal for Lebanon, in The Hague, yesterday. opening session of the Special told judges the deadly Beirut seafront bomb blast that also injured by Hezbollah’s political bloc in 2011 Tribunal For Lebanon. “Lebanon 226 others was a “sophisticated and planned operation.” AFP and he soon left the country. He and Saudi Arabia, fearing for his any date for his return. is having a difficult time, has been living between France security. He was reluctant to give REUTERS

Israeli minister Syria offers for UAE summit JERUSALEM: Israel’s Minister of Energy Silvan Shalom travels to the United Arab Emirates to attend a con- Aleppo truce ference on renewable energy, a spokesman said. Shalom, a member of Prime MOSCOW/ISTANBUL: The Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Syrian government, prepar- Shells fired Likud party, will head a del- ing for peace talks with rebels egation to the International next week, handed the Russian Renewable Energy Agency’s co-sponsors of the conference a from Syria kill conference in Abu Dhabi, the proposal yesterday for a cease- spokesman said. fire in Aleppo and an exchange 8 in Lebanon The conference is due to of prisoners. open today and the minister There was no response from BAALBEK, LEBANON: returns home on Monday, he President Bashar Al Assad’s Shells fired from war-torn added. disparate opponents, whose Syria killed eight people, Israel has quietly been seek- very attendance at the talks including five children, when ing the alliance of Gulf monar- due to start on Wednesday in they rained down on the chies, which like the Jewish state Switzerland remained in doubt Lebanese border town of are concerned over Iran’s rising — prompting an appeal from Arsal yesterday, Lebanese regional power. the United States, which tried officials said. In May daily newspaper to assure them that negotiations The attack was the deadliest Haaretz revealed Israel had allo- would lead to Assad’s departure suffered by Arsal ever since the cated a budget for a diplomatic from power. outbreak of war in neighbour- mission in one of the Persian After nearly three years of war, ing Syria in 2011. Gulf states. and over 100,000 deaths, however, The deaths came as at least In January 2010 Hamas mili- Assad’s forces have been making 20 rockets and shells launched tary commander Mahmud Al gains, helped by in-fighting among from Syria hit border areas in Mabhuh was found dead in a the rebels as well as support from the eastern Lebanon Bekaa Dubai hotel room, in what inves- Iran and new arms and equip- Valley, which has seen frequent tigators in the UAE believe was ment from Russia. violence related to the Syrian an assassination carried out by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid conflict. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu kisses a Syrian refugee boy as he visits the Harran Refugee Camp with Israel’s Mossad spy agency. Al Moualem, visiting Moscow, Lebanese President Michel United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari (not said he gave Russian officials a Sleiman called on the army to pictured), in Sanliurfa, southeast of Turkey, yesterday. plan for a truce in Aleppo, Syria’s “protect” border villages from biggest city, where government such attacks. Iran summons forces have been unable to dis- “The toll from a cross-border UAE official lodge rebels over the past year. shelling attack against Arsal US leader urges Syrian He also said Damascus was ready from Syria has risen to eight, to exchange prisoners, something after a woman died from her TEHRAN: Iran summoned rebels want. wounds,” said a security source. a UAE diplomat in Tehran Moscow and Washington, Local official Ahmad Al over the “suspicious” death in which respectively protected and Hojairi said that five of the opposition to join talks custody of an Iranian in the opposed Assad since the upris- dead were children, three of Gulf state, media reported ing in 2011, have urged both sides them from one family, and that WASHINGTON/DAMAS- Complicating the situation is to in a June 2012 deal known as yesterday. to make concessions, including all of them had been identified CUS: On the eve of a key meet- the presence of extremist groups Geneva I. “The foreign ministry is seri- ceasefires, access for aid and except for a little girl. ing, US Secretary of State John which flooded into Syria, leaving The opposition can veto any ously following up on the case of prisoner exchanges, to build con- The Lebanese army said: Kerry made a powerful plea to the more moderate US-backed names put forward for the tran- Iranian citizen Ali Hosseini, who fidence before the conference. “Between 10:45 am (0845 the divided Syrian opposition to opposition fighting both Assad’s sitional governing body, as does lost his life while he was detained But there is little sign of coher- GMT) and noon (1000 GMT), join landmark peace talks aimed forces and Islamic militants. the regime, the top US diplomat by UAE security forces,” Fars ent negotiating positions - nor of the areas of Ras Baalbek, at installing a new government. Kerry, who only returned early stressed. news agency quoted ministry violence abating. Rebels are fight- Al-Kawakh, Al-Buweida, Next week’s peace conference in Thursday from an overseas trip “Any names put forward for spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham ing each other, in battles involving Masharia Al Qaa, Arsal and Switzerland was “the best oppor- during which he attended a Syria leadership of Syria’s transition as saying. Islamist militants whose influ- Hermel were hit by 20 rock- tunity for the opposition to achieve donor’s conference in Kuwait, must, according to the terms of “In the absence of a UAE ence has cooled Western support ets and shells launched from the goals of the Syrian people and stressed the US was “deeply Geneva I ... those names must be ambassador to Tehran, we imme- for the uprising. Assad’s forces, Syria.” AFP the revolution,” Kerry said in a concerned about the rise of agreed to by both the opposition diately summoned the embassy’s once reeling, have recovered and surprise statement to reporters. extremism.” and the regime,” he said. official to express Iran’s strong have been bolstered lately by Despite months of cajoling and “The world needs no reminder “This means that any figure objection,” she said, adding that new Russian arms and supplies, States, Britain and other Western negotiations, the Syrian opposi- that Syria has become the magnet that is deemed unacceptable by Hosseini had been arrested with sources said. backers had told the Coalition tion has yet to agree to sit down for jihadists and extremists. It is either side, whether President two other Iranians in the past Most of the disparate rebel that a No vote would have unwel- at the table with members of the the strongest magnet for terror of Assad or a member of the oppo- two weeks. forces fighting inside Syria have come consequences. Syrian regime of President Bashar any place today,” he warned. sition cannot be a part of the Iranian experts will soon dismissed the negotiations, known “We haven’t used the language Al Assad to chart a path to end The Syrian Opposition future,” Kerry added. travel to the UAE to investigate as Geneva-2. of threats,” he said. “But we the war. Coalition is due to vote Friday in Thursday’s statement was just the reasons of Hosseini’s death, Exile opposition leaders in have made clear the decision on The UN-led peace conference, Istanbul, and Kerry sought to ally the latest bid by the US admin- Afkham said. the National Coalition, which Geneva is a big one and it will be to be attended by some 35 coun- their fears that the Geneva talks istration to pressure the Syrian The report said the three is backed by Western and Arab difficult to deliver on military and tries, will open on January 22 in will somehow legitimize Assad’s opposition to attend the con- men were arrested on suspicion powers, began a delayed meeting political strategy if they don’t go.” the Swiss city of Montreux, and regime and leave him clinging to ference, which has been in the of kidnapping a British-Iranian in Turkey yesterday to decide Russian Foreign Minister then move to Geneva. power. planning since May, with US citizen named Abba Yazdi, who whether to take part. It remained Sergei Lavrov, at a news confer- It will be the first time that A key bloc in the Coalition, the ambassador to Damascus Robert media reports said went missing unclear how or when they would ence with Moualem yesterday, the two sides have come together Syrian National Council, has how- Ford having spent months huddled in Dubai on June 25. reach a final decision, however. criticised the Syrian opposition since the conflict erupted in ever threatened to pull out, if the in talks to bring them together. In November, Afkham said any “The outcome is finely bal- for its delay in agreeing to take March 2011, unleashing a bru- General Assembly votes in favour At the weekend Kerry also met reports connecting Iran with the anced, but I expect a Yes vote,” part: “It worries us very much tal war which has claimed over of attending. The aim of the talks with opposition National Coalition “alleged (role) of kidnapping or said a Western diplomat following that some kind of game is being 130,000 lives, and created millions is to find a way to install a tran- leader Ahmad Jarba in Paris. murdering him are ridiculous the talks, adding that the United played,” he said. REUTERS of refugees. sitional government — as agreed AFP and sheer lies.” AFP JANUARY 18, 2014 Middle East www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 ON SATURDAY Clashes in Egypt ahead of referendum results At least two killed as results expected today

CAIRO: Clashes between further protests, such as the ral- Mursi’s overthrow. “This was Egyptian police and Islamists lies yesterday that turned violent also a referendum on June 30,” killed at least two people yes- in several cities. said government spokesman Hany terday, as the country awaited One man was killed in Cairo Salah, referring to the day when results of a constitutional ref- and another in clashes in millions of protesters took to the erendum billed as a popu- Fayoum, southwest of the capi- streets demanding that the presi- lar endorsement of president tal, the health ministry said, as dent resign. Mohamed Mursi’s overthrow. police clamped down in what has The run-up to the vote was Clashes between Mursi’s become a weekly ritual in a mas- marred by arrests of activists Islamist supporters and tear gas- sive crackdown on pro-Mursi pro- who campaigned against the firing police were reported in sev- tests. In Cairo’s Alf Maskan area, constitution. “There was no real eral cities, security officials said, demonstrators aimed fire works opportunity for those opposed to a day before the referendum’s at police, who scattered for cover the government’s roadmap or the results were expected. when they heard bursts of auto- proposed constitution to dissent,” The interim authorities trum- matic gunfire from the protest- said monitoring group Democracy peted the Tuesday and Wednesday ers’ side. International, which observed the poll as a chance for voters to show A policemen fired an assault referendum. their support for the army’s over- rifle in the protesters’ direction. The group said its monitors throw in July, after massive street The government hoped a large witnessed security forces and protests, of Egypt’s first freely turnout among Egypt’s 53 million campaigning material inside poll- elected president. registered voters would bolster its ing stations, but there was “no Flagship state-owned daily Al democratic credentials and fur- evidence that such problems sub- Ahram hailed a 98 percent vote ther marginalise the Islamists. stantially affected the outcome of A policeman fires a tear gas canister during clashes with supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Alf Masskan in support of the new charter Army chief Abdel Fattah Al this referendum.” district in Cairo, yesterday. drafted to replace the Islamist- Sisi, the man who toppled Mursi, The government will still have inspired one adopted under Mursi was closely monitoring that as an to contend with near daily pro- third anniversary of Mubarak’s the State Department said on was not enough. in 2012. indicator of support for a presi- tests and a militant campaign in overthrow. Thursday. Washington suspended The vote has put the Islamists The Islamists, who boycotted dential bid later this year, mili- the restive Sinai that has killed “Let the putschists deceive part of its aid — the bulk of it on the back foot, and gives the the vote, described it as a farce tary officials said. scores of policemen and soldiers. themselves and hold fools’ cel- military — in October, angered government even less incentive and predicted it would culminate Preliminary tallies reported by For the second time in a month, ebrations,” it said, claiming the that there had been little indi- to negotiate with the Muslim in the sort of massive electoral state news agency Mena suggested suspected militants in the restive referendum was a throwback to cation of a return to democracy Brotherhood, which it has desig- fraud that characterised Hosni turnout had reached 39 percent peninsula blew up a gas pipeline rigged elections under Mubarak. after Mursi’s overthrow. nated as a “terrorist” group. Mubarak’s three-decade rule, in most provinces, sharply up that feeds into an industrial zone. The US administration is “There are a range of factors Morsi himself has been in cus- ended by the Arab Spring upris- on 33 percent registered in the The Islamist opposition scorned closely watching the results of we look to,” State Department tody since his ouster and is cur- ing of 2011. Mursi-era referendum just over the figures put out by state Egypt’s referendum, but has not spokeswoman Jen Psaki said rently standing trial in the first of A coalition led by Mursi’s a year ago. The government said media and called for mass dem- yet decided whether to unfreeze in Washington, adding that three separate cases against him. Muslim Brotherhood called for the vote showed support for onstrations on January 25 — the some $1.5bn (¤1.1bn) in aid, merely holding the referendum AFP

Israel summons European envoys US ready to train Iraqi troops in third country WASHINGTON/BAGH- team of military trainers into under consideration and that the and shelling in Iraq’s Anbar prov- reconciliation, but Prime Minister over settlement DAD: The US military is plan- Iraq, partly because it would Pentagon planned to send guns ince killed six people as security Maliki has ruled out dialogue ning to train Iraqi troops in a require negotiating a legal agree- and ammunition on the request forces pressed an assault yester- with militants, and the authori- controversy third country to help counter a ment with Baghdad that proved of the Iraqi government. day against militants for territory ties have instead trumpeted police resurgence of Al Qaeda-linked elusive in the past. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al the government lost weeks ago. and army operations. JERUSALEM: Israel has militants, a defense official said Such a move also would Maliki “is looking for essentially Unrest in Anbar and elsewhere Yesterday, thousands of elite summoned envoys from four yesterday. spark a bitter political debate in small arms an ammunition, stuff in Iraq has already killed more security forces pressed an assault European states to protest their Pending an agreement with Washington that would revive old that can help him right now” in than 600 people this month, fuel- on Albubali, a rural area where “one-sided” stand in favour Jordan or another nation to host wounds over the US-led war in the fight against Islamist extrem- ling fears the country is slipping officials say a large number of of the Palestinians, Foreign the effort, the training was “likely” Iraq. “We’re in discussions with ists, Warren said. back into all-out sectarian war anti-government fighters are Minister Avigdor Lieberman to go ahead as both Baghdad and the Iraqis on how we can improve The United States was prepar- with little appetite for political holed up. said yesterday, escalating a Washington supported the idea, the Iraqi security forces,” Colonel ing to ship “several thousand” compromise ahead of an April The area of farmland and vil- quarrel over Israeli settlements. said the official, who spoke on Steven Warren, a Pentagon M-16 and M-4 assault rifles as general election. lages lies between Ramadi and On Thursday, Britain, France, condition of anonymity. spokesman, told reporters. well as ammunition, the defense UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Fallujah, the two cities in the Italy and Spain called in Israeli Pentagon officials were not con- He said a possible counter- official said. other diplomats have urged western desert province at the ambassadors to hear protests templating sending an American terrorism training effort was Meanwhile, a suicide bombing Baghdad to pursue political centre of the crisis. AFP against Israel’s latest announce- ment of settlement-building on land the Palestinians want for a future state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the European criticism “hypocritical”, and in a tit-for- tat move, Lieberman said envoys from the four EU countries had been summoned to a meeting in the foreign ministry in Jerusalem. In a statement, he said Israel would make clear “that the one- sided position they constantly take against Israel and in favour of the Palestinians is unaccepta- ble and creates a feeling that they are only looking to place blame on Israel.” Last week Israel announced plans to build 1,400 new homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 500,000 Jewish settlers aleady live. Most countries deem Israel’s settlements as illegal and the European Union routinely con- demns any new building moves. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Middle East war. It annexed East Jerusalem in 1981 A masked Palestinian loyal to Hamas burns a mock coffin that reads “no to Kerry plan” during a protest in a move not recognised inter- against peace talks with Israel, in Gaza city, yesterday. nationally and in 2005 pulled out of Gaza, now run by Hamas Islamists who oppose peace talks Israel opens fire on protesters with the Jewish state. Israel and the Palestinians resumed US brokered peace talks GAZA CITY: The Israeli marching near the border fence UN Office for the Coordination in July after a three-year dead- army fired live rounds and in support of Palestinian farm- of Humanitarian Affairs lock. The negotiations have shown tear gas at protesters near ers, whose citrus trees they said (OCHA). little sign of progress so far. the border fence in the Gaza had been uprooted to make way Soldiers often fire at The future of settlements Strip yesterday, wounding for the Israeli-controlled buffer Palestinians who stray beyond is a core issue in the decades- two Palestinians, medics said. zone that runs along the border. the civilian access area. old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Troops fired at some 300 “Israel destroyed most of Israeli air strikes wounded a Palestinians fear Israeli build- demonstrators who were our citrus trees... (and) still woman and four children near ing will deny them contiguous protesting against Israel’s prevents us from importing or Gaza City overnight Wednesday territory they see as crucial to a destruction of farmland for its exporting any products,” said a to Thursday, medical sources viable country and have warned 300-metre (yard) buffer zone, statement from protest organ- said, with Israel confirming it that their expansion could derail the correspondent said. isers the Gaza Youth Coalition. had struck in retaliation for the peace talks. Israel says the Two protesters were mod- The statement deplored rocket fire. issue should be solved within erately wounded and taken to “daily Israeli attacks” against Palestinian security officials negotiations. Netanyahu, whose hospital, Gaza’s Hamas health farmers near the border. said one of the strikes targeted coalition government includes ministry spokesman Ashraf Al Israel allows “civilian access a training camp of the Ezzedine pro-settler parties, has defended Qudra said. on foot to areas up to 100 meters Al Qassam Brigades, the armed recent expansion in settlements Israel’s army was “unaware from the perimeter fence for wing of the Islamist Hamas that he says Israel would retain of the incident,” a spokeswoman agricultural purposes only, and movement that has controlled in any future peace deal. said. vehicular access to a distance the Gaza Strip since 2007. REUTERS The demonstrators were of 300 meters,” according to the AFP JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com International At least seven Obama bans spying on leaders of allies injured in President calls on Congress to establish outside panel of privacy advocates for FISA southern

WASHINGTON: President turning to surveillance,” Obama Russia blasts Barack Obama banned US said. eavesdropping on the leaders of Obama is trying to balance MOSCOW: At least seven peo- close friends and allies yester- public anger at the disclosure of ple were reported injured yes- day and began reining in the intrusion into Americans’ privacy terday when a restaurant came vast collection of Americans’ with his commitment to retain under attack in a southern phone data in a series of reforms policies he considers critical to Russian republic that is home to triggered by Edward Snowden’s protecting the United States. insurgents who have threatened revelations. The steps Obama put in to strike next month’s Winter In a major speech, Obama took motion are aimed at adapting Games in Sochi. steps to reassure Americans and regulations to keep up with rapid “The first explosion came when foreigners alike that the United changes in surveillance technol- a grenade launcher fired at the States will take into account ogy that permit NSA analysts to second floor of the restaurant. privacy concerns that arose monitor private communications The second came when a parked after former US spy contractor globally. car blew up,” an interior minis- Snowden’s damaging disclosures Among the list of reforms, try source in the mostly Muslim about the sweep of monitoring Obama called on Congress to North Caucasus republic of activities of the National Security establish an outside panel of Dagestan was quoted as saying Agency (NSA). privacy advocates for the secret by Itar-Tass. “The reforms I’m proposing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance The unidentified security today should give the American (FISA) Court that considers ter- source had initially said that the people greater confidence that rorism cases. The former chief incident in the republic’s capital their rights are being protected, judge of the FISA court had Makhachkala had led to several even as our intelligence and law opposed such a step. fatalities. enforcement agencies maintain While the speech was designed But the republic’s interior min- the tools they need to keep us to address concerns that US istry quickly issued an official safe,” he said. surveillance has gone too far, statement saying that no one had Obama promised that the Obama’s measures were relatively been killed. United States will not eavesdrop limited. The Interfax news agency on the heads of state or govern- One of the biggest changes quoted its own local interior min- ment of close US friends and will be an overhaul of the gov- istry source as saying that five allies, which a senior administra- ernment’s handling of bulk tel- civilians and two policeman had tion official said would apply to ephone “metadata.” He said the Activists protest the surveillance of US citizens by the NSA outside the Justice Department where US President been injured in the violence. dozens of leaders. programme will be ended as it Barack Obama gave a major speech on reforming the NSA in Washington, DC, yesterday. The violence was reported The step was designed to currently exists. moments after state television smooth over frayed relations In a nod to privacy advocates, government requests for data. to preserve the necessary capa- these disclosures have come out aired an interview with Vladimir between, for example, the United the government will not hold the While a presidential advisory bilities of the programme, with- has often shed more heat than Putin in which the Russian leader States and Germany after reports bulk telephone metadata, a deci- panel had recommended that out the government holding the light, while revealing methods to vowed to ensure full security at surfaced last year that the NSA sion that could frustrate some the bulk data be controlled by a metadata. our adversaries that could impact next month’s Games despite fears had monitored the mobile phone intelligence officials. third party such as the telephone Obama made clear that our operations in ways that we of a resumption of an Islamist- of German Chancellor Angela In addition, Obama said the US companies, Obama did not plan his administration’s anger at may not fully understand for linked suicide bombing campaign. Merkel. Brazilian President the government will need a judi- to offer a specific proposal for Snowden’s revelations has not years to come,” Obama said, men- “Our goal — the goal of the Dilma Rousseff postponed a state cial review before the database, who should store the data in the abated. Snowden, living in asy- tioning the former NSA contrac- organisers — is to ensure the visit to Washington to protest US which lists millions of telephone future. lum in Russia, is wanted on espi- tor by name. security of Olympic Games par- tactics. calls, can be queried unless there Obama has asked Attorney onage charges, although some Obama said US intelligence ticipants and guests,” Putin said “The leaders of our close friends is a true emergency. General Eric Holder and the Americans would like him to be agencies will only use bulk collec- in a fragment of a pre-recorded and allies deserve to know that if Obama also decided that com- intelligence community to report granted amnesty for exposing tion of data for fighting terrorism interview with foreign reporters I want to learn what they think munications providers would back to him before the metadata secrets they feel needed to be protecting US troops and allies, aired on Russian state television about an issue, I will pick up the be allowed to share more infor- programme comes up for reau- made public. and combating crime. yesterday. phone and call them, rather than mation with the public about thorization on March 28 on how “The sensational way in which REUTERS “If we betray weakness, betray fear — display our fear — then we will be helping terrorists achieve their goals,” said Putin. “I think that the international community... must unite its efforts Hollande under fresh scrutiny over affair with actress in the fight with such manifesta- tions as acts of terror, the murder of innocent civilians.” PARIS: French President The latest edition of the glossy he left Segolene Royal, the mother his official residence, the Elysee pictures to back up its account. End of December suicide bomb- Francois Hollande faced fresh weekly hit stands as Hollande’s of his four children, in 2005. Palace. The magazine said the couple ings at a railway station and on scrutiny over his affair with an office confirmed that he had vis- Hollande has said he will clar- Hours later, Trierweiler, had also regularly met at another a trolleybus in the southern actress yesterday as the maga- ited his official partner, Valerie ify the position of France’s de was admitted to a Paris hospi- Paris apartment and at Gayet’s Russian city of Volgograd that zine that broke the story pub- Trierweiler, for the first time facto First Lady before a trip to tal where she remained Friday loft in eastern Paris, where she investigators linked to suspects lished claims he started seeing since she was hospitalised in the Washington next month but has after a week of treatment for hosted frequent dinner parties from the mostly Muslim republic her before his 2012 election. wake of the affair revelations. refused any other comment on symptoms described as including for members of France’s artistic, of Dagestan killed 34 and injured In its latest revelations about Hollande visited Trierweiler the scandal. nervous exhaustion and low blood intellectual and political elite. dozens. a saga that has made headlines at a Paris hospital on Thursday Closer, which is being sued by pressure. According to Closer, the cou- Islamist insurgents based in around the world, Closer maga- evening, six days after she was Gayet for alleged breach of pri- In its follow-up story, Closer ple took a break from seeing each North Caucasus republics such zine said Hollande had been intro- admitted, a spokesman said. vacy, reported last week that she depicted Hollande’s romance with other in May of last year after as Dagestan who are seeking duced to Julie Gayet, 41, during His failure to visit earlier had had been having secret trysts Gayet as much more than a brief Trierweiler confronted Hollande their own independent state have campaigning, fell for her imme- helped to fuel speculation that he with the president and published fling, although it offered little over rumours he was seeing the vowed to disrupt the Sochi Games diately and “relations quickly has decided to end the relation- photographs of the pair arriving in the way of concrete evidence actress. in order to undermine Putin. became more intimate.” ship with Trierweiler, for whom separately at a borrowed flat near and, unlike last week’s scoop, no AFP AFP

Massive search for missing boy Archaeologists say might have found Baby girl for queen’s remains of King granddaughter Zara Alfred the Great LONDON: The granddaughter to Zara and Mike Tindall on the WINCHESTER, England: of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, birth of their baby girl.” A team of archaeologists said Zara Phillips, gave birth to a Like her mother, the baby will yesterday they believed they baby girl yesterday, the palace not bear a royal title and will be might have found small part announced, a first child for the known as plain “Miss Tindall”. of the remains of ninth-cen- champion horse rider and her Phillips, whose parents are tury monarch King Alfred the rugby-player husband Mike both former professional horse Great, one of the best-known Tindall. riders, followed in their footsteps figures from early English The unnamed girl arrives five by becoming a world-class three- history. months after Britain’s other royal day eventer, winning the world A pelvic bone belonging either baby — Prince George, born to championship in 2006. to Alfred, the only English king to Phillips’s cousin Prince William She won a silver medal at the have the moniker “Great”, or his and his wife Kate. “Mrs Michael London 2012 Olympics and is son King Edward the Elder was Tindall today safely delivered a planning to take part in the Rio identified in remains dug up at baby girl,” Buckingham Palace de Janeiro Games in 2016. a medieval abbey in Winchester, said in a statement. The queen’s eldest granddaugh- southwest England, the capital of “Mr Tindall was present at ter sparked controversy by con- Alfred’s kingdom. Members of the public and professional services take part in the search for missing 3-year-old Mikaeel Kular the birth. The weight of the baby tinuing to ride into her pregnancy, “It’s likely to be one of them, I in the Silver Knowes area of Edinburgh, Scotland, yesterday. The boy was last seen on Wednesday night was seven pounds, 12 ounces,” it though she stopped in the later wouldn’t like to say which one,” when he was put to bed in his home in Edinburgh. added. months. Tindall has not played for archaeologist Kate Tucker from The baby is the queen’s fourth England since the team’s woeful Winchester University told a great-grandchild and is 16th in line performance in the 2011 World press conference. to the British throne. Her name Cup in New Zealand. The discovery comes less than will be announced in due course, He made global headlines after a year after British archaeolo- Prince Harry swaps copter for desk job the palace said. he was filmed cuddling up to an old gists discovered the missing body The new mother, who is the eld- flame at a bar during the tourna- of King Richard III, who was the est child of Princess Anne and her ment — just weeks after his wed- last English king to die in battle LONDON: Britain’s Prince “has completed his attachment to captain, the palace said. On his ex-husband Mark Phillips, gave ding — while his teammates were in 1485, under a council parking Harry is to quit flying army 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and second tour in Afghanistan in late birth at Gloucestershire Royal enjoying a “dwarf-tossing” contest. lot in the central English city of helicopters and take up a desk will now take up a Staff Officer 2012 and early 2013, Harry served Hospital in the city of Gloucester, Captain at the time, Tindall Leicester. job organising commemorative role. His responsibilities will as an Apache co-pilot gunner for southwest England. Tindall, a was fined and dropped from the Alfred ruled the Anglo-Saxon military events, Kensington include helping to co-ordinate sig- 20 weeks in the restive southern former England centre and 2003 England squad for his drunken kingdom of Wessex, an area Palace said yesterday. nificant projects and commemo- Helmand province. World Cup winner, currently antics, but was later reinstated. which covered much of southern Captain Wales, as he is rative events involving the Army He later qualified as a com- plays and coaches for English When his wife’s pregnancy was England, from 871 until 899 and known in the military, served in in London,” the statement said. mander in the attack helicopter. Premiership club Gloucester. announced in July, he joked on was famed for military victories Afghanistan as an Apache co- Harry, the youngest son of Harry said during the tour that The palace said the queen and Twitter that he hoped his child against the Vikings who had pilot gunner during his three heir to the throne Prince Charles he had killed Taliban fighters, who her husband Prince Philip were would not inherit his nose, which invaded much of the north of the years with the Army Air Corps. and the late Princess Diana, were taken “out of the game” by his “delighted with the news”, while has been broken eight times dur- country. Kensington Palace said in a and younger brother of Prince unit if they targeted British soldiers. Prime Minister David Cameron ing his career. REUTERS statement that 29-year-old Harry William, will retain the rank of AFP tweeted: “Many congratulations AFP JANUARY 18, 2014 Asia / Philippines www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 ON SATURDAY 36 Thai protesters injured in explosion Bomb hurled at demonstrators marching with leader Thaugsuban; govt in bid to take control of Bangkok

BANGKOK: An explosive The overall injury toll came biggest since pro-Thaksin pro- device tossed at anti-govern- from the Erawan Medical testers paralysed Bangkok in ment protesters wounded 36 in Center, which monitors Bangkok April-May 2010. That movement central Bangkok yesterday and hospitals. ended with a crackdown and more other violence rippled through The latest unrest flared in than 90 people, mostly protesters, the Thai capital after several November and escalated on were killed during the events. days of relative calm when the Monday when the demonstrators The stock market fell yesterday movement appeared to be run- led by Suthep, a former opposition as investors cut some risk expo- ning out of steam. politician, brought parts of the sure after the blast and was down At least one protester was seri- capital to a standstill and forced 0.5 percent at the end of trading. ously hurt. Police said the device many ministries to close. The baht currency also fell but was hurled at protesters march- They accuse Prime Minister was a shade higher on the day. ing with their leader, Suthep Yingluck Shinawatra and her Foreign Minister Surapong Thaugsuban, near Chulalongkorn brother, former premier Thaksin Tovichakchaikul earlier said it University in the city centre. Shinawatra, of corruption and was “about time” to take back “When the incident happened say they want her to step down control of Bangkok and that a and perpetrators threw the explo- to make way for an unelected delegation of officials, escorted sive, Suthep was 30 metres away,” “people’s council” to push through by police and troops, would make Akanat Promphan, a spokesman broad political reforms. a start by going to a government for the movement, said. Suthep She has called an election for office that issues passports to try was unharmed. February 2 and now heads a care- to persuade the protesters to let It was not immediately clear taker administration, but the pro- work resume. who was responsible and the testers and opposition parties are “If successful, this can be an nature of the device was unknown boycotting the vote and want her example for other ministries to as forensic experts were pre- to go immediately. follow,” Surapong told a news vented from entering the area. The protests have been rela- conference. “We have received 12 people tively peaceful until now, but Asked if the government was who were injured in the blast. One sporadic flare-ups between pro- now moving to end the blockade of person is seriously injured and the testers, police and government ministries and key intersections, other 11 have sustained various supporters have left eight people he said: “Soon. It’s about time. We types of injuries, some minor,” said dead and scores injured. have to start to do something.” Anti-government protesters help a man injured in a grenade attack during a rally in Bangkok yesterday. an official at Ramathibodi Hospital. The demonstrations are the AFP

Japanese WWII soldier who hid China urges Philippines to meet in jungle until Japan calls for talks 1974 dies with China, S Korea it halfway on fishing regulations TOKYO: A Japanese soldier BEIJING: China called on the will escort fishing boats to protect Addressing his regional who hid in the Philippine jun- TOKYO: Japanese Foreign “Exactly because there are prob- Philippines yesterday to meet them if necessary, the country’s counterparts at a meeting in gle for three decades, refus- Minister Fumio Kishida called lems, political leaders should hold it halfway on new Chinese fish- defence secretary said. Myanmar, the Philippines foreign ing to believe World War II yesterday for summit talks with talks and make efforts to solve ing rules in the disputed South But Chinese Foreign Ministry minister said the new rules, and was over until his former China and South Korea after them, shouldn’t they?” he said. China Sea, adding that Beijing spokesman Hong Lei struck a China’s introduction last year of commander returned and more than a year of fractious Abe, China’s President Xi was always willing to make conciliatory line when asked an air defence identification zone, ordered him to surrender, arguments that have prevented Jinping and South Korean efforts to resolve such issues via about the comments at a news had boosted tensions. has died in Tokyo aged 91. any top-level meetings. President Park Geun-Hye all talks. briefing, though he underscored “Clearly, in addition to unilat- Hiroo Onoda waged a gue- Beijing and Seoul have both came to power around a year China imposed fishing restric- China’s resolve to defend its eral measures to change the sta- rilla campaign in Lubang refused to meet with conserva- ago, but entrenched positions and tions early this year requiring for- sovereignty. tus quo and threats to the stability Island near Luzon until he tive Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, growing nationalism in the three eign fishing vessels to get approval “China’s will to safeguard its of the region, these latest devel- was finally persuaded in citing what they say is his lack of countries has prevented them before entering the waters. territorial sovereignty and integ- opments violate the legitimate 1974 that peace had broken remorse for World War II wrongs from getting together. Claims by an increasingly rity is unwavering. At the same rights of coastal and other states out, ignoring leaflet drops and his intention to remilitarise Seoul and Beijing were angered powerful China over most of the time, we always put forth efforts under international law...and and successive attempts to Japan. by Abe’s visit last month to a energy-rich South China Sea have to resolve the relevant issue more specifically the principles of convince him the Imperial “Individual problems that we shrine in Tokyo that counts 14 set it directly against Vietnam and through dialogue and consulta- freedom of navigation and over- Army had been defeated. have with China and South Korea senior war criminals among the US ally the Philippines. Brunei, tions,” Hong said. flight,” Foreign Secretary Albert He died in a Tokyo hospital are the kind of issues that are dif- 2.5 million souls it commemorates. Taiwan and Malaysia also claim “We hope the relevant coun- del Rosario told the gathering. on Thursday of heart failure. ficult to solve in the short term,” Abe defended the visit as a parts of the waters and China has try can adopt an objective stance, Del Rosario said the develop- Onoda was the last of several Kishida said. “But I wonder if it’s pledge against war and said it was a separate dispute with Japan in meet China halfway on the rele- ments could undermine Asean’s dozen so-called holdouts scat- right to take the attitude that we not aimed at hurting feelings in the East China Sea. vant issue, and put forth concrete work to establish a “code of con- tered around Asia, men who should not have talks because we China and South Korea. The Philippines will defy the efforts to safeguard regional peace duct” on the South China Sea. symbolised the astonishingly have issues. AFP new Chinese rules and the navy and stability.” REUTERS dogged perseverance of those called upon to fight for their emperor. Three scribes Hong Kong police to held in Dhaka grill ‘tortured’ maid DHAKA: Bangladesh police HONG KONG: Investigators from Hong Kong will arrested three journalists travel to Indonesia to speak with a woman who left from a pro-opposition news- the Chinese city after she was allegedly tortured by paper for publishing a “false” her employer, authorities said yesterday, adding they story claiming Indian forces will pursue the case “relentlessly”. had helped to contain recent Erwiana Sulistyaningsih (pictured), 22, was report- election violence, an officer edly left unable to walk after eight months of alleged said Friday. The news edi- abuse at the hands of the employer. She was admitted tor, deputy chief reporter to a hospital in critical condition after returning home and diplomatic correspond- last week. ent of Dhaka-based Bangla- Domestic workers took to the streets of Hong Kong language daily Inqilab were in support of her on Thursday, and demanded better arrested late Thursday after protection for hundreds of thousands of foreign helpers. police filed a case against the During the protest, a second maid known only as publication. “They published “Bunga” came forward to allege abuse at the hands of the sensational news that goes the same employer — reported to be in her 40ss who against the country’s sover- lives with two teenage sons and a husband who is often eignty despite being aware away — four years ago. that it was false and base- Authorities promised action and said police officers less,” Dhaka police spokes- will be sent to Indonesia to speak with Erwiana. man Monirul Islam said. “Police will be liaising with Interpol to send officers to Indonesia to take a statement from the helper,” Labour 35 Filipinas and Welfare Minister Matthew Cheung said. AFP rescued TAIPEI: Police in Taiwan busted a human smuggling ring and rescued 35 Filipinas Australia urged to spare boat people forced into the sex trade, prosecutors said yesterday. JAKARTA: Indonesia yes- Indonesian waters during bor- responding furiously. The women were rescued terday demanded Australia der security operations. The ministry for political, after investigators raided two suspend its military-led However he pledged the legal and security affairs issued clubs in southern Taiwan on operation to halt the flow of government would pursue its a statement saying that the Thursday and arrested the asylum-seekers in a furious hardline policies to halt asy- naval incursions “constitute a suspected ring leader, a man response after Canberra apol- lum-seeker boats. serious matter in bilateral rela- identified only by his family ogised for intrusions by its Asylum-seekers arriving on tions of the two countries.” name Hung. He was accused navy into Indonesian waters. unauthorised boats in Australia, The ministry also demanded of recruiting the women Jakarta also pledged to step often via Indonesia, are a sen- a halt to Australia’s Operation under the pretext that they up navy patrols in its southern sitive issue for both sides, Sovereign Borders until assur- would be working as dancers maritime borders, saying it and Canberra’s military-led ances are received there will not but took away their passports “deplores and rejects the viola- Operation Sovereign Borders to be a repeat of such violations. after they arrived in Taiwan tion of its sovereignty” caused clamp down on them has raised “Indonesia demands that and forced them to work as sex by the Australian incursions. concerns in Jakarta. such operations conducted by slaves. He was released on a It came after Australian The revelations about the the Australian government bail of Tw$1 million ($33,300) Immigration Minister Scott Australian naval incursions that led to this incident be sus- while the women will be sent Morrison expressed regret added to tensions between the pended until further clarifica- to a shelter. AGENCIES after revealing that navy vessels neighbours, already strained by tion is received,” it said. had “inadvertently” violated a row over spying, with Jakarta AFP JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Pakistan / Afghanistan Multiple suicide attacks kill 14 in restaurant Three attackers target Lebanese outlet in Kabul

KABUL: At least 14 people two of the attackers forced their more than an hour after the were killed, including foreign- way into the busy restaurant. attack and it was unclear if any ers, in a multiple Taliban suicide “One suicide attacker deto- customers were still inside. attacks on a popular Lebanese nated himself outside the restau- Hashmat Stanekzai, a spokes- restaurant in Kabul yesterday rant and two others got inside man for Kabul police, said an evening, officials said, with two indiscriminately killing people,” operation to clear the building gunmen launching an “indis- he said. was under way. criminate” killing spree inside A Taliban spokesman said “The clearance operation is still the venue. those killed were Germans. In ongoing. Our security forces are The attack on the Taverna du Berlin, the foreign ministry said it not inside the restaurant yet,” Liban in the upmarket Wazir could not confirm that Germans he said. “There might be some Akbar Khan neighbourhood was were involved. insurgents inside so we have to claimed by the Taliban fighting The assault was carried out act carefully to avoid possible against the Afghan government around dinner time in the heav- casualties.” and US-led foreign forces in the ily fortified district where many The attack came at a tough country. The district hosts many wealthy Afghans also live. Bursts time for Afghanistan as most for- embassies and restaurants cater- of gunfire followed the attack. eign forces prepare to leave this ing for expatriates. “First, there was a suicide year after more than a decade of “There were three attackers. All attack near a restaurant for for- war and almost daily attacks. have been killed. Unfortunately, eigners where a man detonated Security concerns have been 14 people have also been killed, his explosives attached to his rising ahead of an April presi- Afghan police arrive at the scene of the blasts in Kabul yesterday. including some foreigners,” city body, and then possibly one or dential election when Afghans police chief Mohammad Zahir two insurgents entered the res- will vote to choose a successor told reporters. He said the nation- taurant,” one Afghan security to President Hamid Karzai, an the main road leading to the area one of whom detonated his bomb struggle to agree on a security alities of the foreign casualties source said. event likely to be targeted by the was cordoned off. whereas the other two were shot pact, raising the prospect that were not immediately clear. Some officials suggested mili- Taliban. Interior Ministry spokesman by security forces. Washington may pull out all its Deputy Interior Minister tants were still inside the venue Gunfire continued for about 20 Sediq Sediqi said three suicide Security remains a major con- troops this year unless differences Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said but no gunfire could be heard minutes after the initial blast and bombers approached the building, cern as Afghanistan and the US are ironed out. AGENCIES Three die in Bhutto airport project may cost over Rs100bn train explosion MULTAN: A bomb blast in a ISLAMABAD: Construction 2008 had increased by more than available for the airport as the poor planning, monitoring and The respond invited a sharp passenger train killed at least cost of the New Benazir Bhutto 200 percent. original plan had been turned incompetence of the consultants. reaction from the PAC members. three people and wounded 20 International Airport is likely “We were told in the middle of down by the Punjab government. “Now we have made two run- “Now we understand why the others yesterday in central to escalate to over Rs100bn as last year that the cost had gone “The new airport was sched- ways instead of the originally Supreme Court had to interfere Pakistan, officials said. construction of reservoirs is up by around 100 percent to some uled to receive water from the planned one runway,” he said. as the real culprit is the CAA The bombing took place in needed to provide water to the Rs66bn but now you are saying Shahpur dam, and the Punjab “Two foreign consultants were board,” member PAC Mian Abdul the central town of Rajanpur, building. that it is around Rs95bn,” said the government had agreed to it, but not performing duties properly Mannan added. some 200 kilometres (120 A special briefing about the PAC chairman, Khursheed Shah. now they have backed off saying but after we took action against The committee was informed miles) south of Multan in project was given to the Public The briefing was given by the water was even not sufficient them they moved the courts.” that 70 per cent of the terminal Punjab province. Accounts Committee (PAC) Mohammad Ali Gardezi, the sec- for the local population.” In reply to a question, the PAC structure had been completed. “At least three people by the members of Planning retary aviation, who is also the The secretary said planning was informed that the CAA board Almost all the inner roads are were killed and 20 others Commission and the ministry of chairman of the Civil Aviation was underway to establish several had awarded the contract to the also complete and tenders for were wounded when a bomb civil aviation yesterday. Authority Board. small reservoirs to collect rain- consultants. The CAA board was nine bridges in the airport vicinity exploded in one of the com- The PAC had taken note of Gardezi said the project was water that would be supplied to managing and supervising the have been floated. “But no work partments of (the) Khushhal the delays in the project but its scheduled to become operational the airport. pace of work. He added that the has been initiated by the NHA to Khan Khattak express,” senior members were taken back when by December 2013. “But the new Regarding the cost escalation, current CAA board was holding establish roads to the airport,” the police official Zahid Mehmood informed that the cost estimates date is 2016.” he said there were several rea- an inquiry into the delays and the secretary aviation added. Gondal said. originally planned to be Rs37bn in He said there was no water sons but all of them related to price escalations. INTERNEWS Eight train wagons fell from the track which was going from the troubled northwestern city of Peshawar to Karachi, he added. Railways police official Raja Police baffled over religious centre blast Pakistan considering 3G Zaheer Arshad also confirmed the blast and casualties. PESHAWAR: Police inves- Islamist insurgency in recent Last year in January, a similar tigating a bomb attack on a years and Peshawar has been a type of bomb in Pakistan’s Swat licence auction by March Land records preaching centre in northwest particular hotspot for bombings. valley -- where schoolgirl rights Pakistan said yesterday they Militant groups are usually activist Malala Yousafzai was shot KARACHI: Pakistan is plan- Norwegian telecom conglomerate go online had no clear idea who could quick to claim responsibility for in the head -- hit a preaching cen- ning to hold its long-delayed Telenor that the government was have been behind the blast. attacks but no-one has come for- tre, killing 22 people and wound- auction of 3G telecommunica- planning to auction the next gener- RAWALPINDI: Almost 90 The blast at an Islamic preach- ward to admit Thursday’s blast. ing more than 80. tions licences by March, hoping ation spectrum licenses by March. percent of the land record ing centre in troubled Peshawar Faisal said the centre was an Pakistan Taliban also denied to raise $2bn with the sale, the Telenor, China Mobile and in the Rawalpindi district city on Thursday evening killed at easy target for the attackers. any involvement in that bombing. government said yesterday. Pakistan-based Mobilink have has gone online and now least nine preachers and wounded “This was the most soft target Residents in Peshawar were in A statement said the deci- already shown interest in bidding the land-related information more than 50, officials said. for the attackers, apparently they grief and shock over the attack sion was taken at a meeting of for the 3G licences. can be viewed by clicking on The Pakistani Taliban strongly want to terrorise the people by saying it was a peaceful place the Spectrum Auction License Pakistan is battling to over- the revenue department’s denied any link to the attack bombing innocent people,” Faisal where they came for worship. Committee held in Islamabad, come macroeconomic problems website. on the centre run by Tableeghi said. Faisal said the bomb was “This attack was really chaired by finance minister Ishaq through privatisation of state-run The district government has Jamaat, a respected organisation planted inside a can of cooking depressing, we never thought that Dar. “Pakistan expects to earn enterprises and a spate of fiscal- also set up a service centre at which enjoys good relations with oil near a pillar in the main hall anyone can attack this peaceful an estimated US$2.0bn through tightening measures. Rawat where the citizens can the authorities as well as other of the centre. place,” Daud Khan, a milk seller the auction of three spectrum The International Monetary get any kind of information/ religious groups. Medics in the city’s main Lady in Peshawar said. licenses,” Dar was quoted as Fund approved a $6.7bn copies/fard of their land. “We are investigating it but Reading Hospital said 28 injured Police said they have tightened saying. loan package for Pakistan in The government also we cannot blame any group until were still under medical treat- the security at the centre with a In the current fiscal year, September last year, subject to launched a two-day awareness completion of our investigations,” ment with six in critical condition. body search for all visitors and Pakistan had budgeted to raise strict economic reforms, particu- campaign about computerisa- senior police official Mohammad Thursday’s attack was the sec- installing a walk-through gate $1.2bn through 3G licenses. larly in its troubled energy sector tion of the land record and its Faisal said yesterday. Pakistan ond on a Tableeghi Jamaat centre scanner. Earlier, the minister had and tax system. process by holding street thea- has been battling a homegrown in recent years. AFP informed a delegation from AFP tres since yesterday. AGENCIES WHO declares Peshawar as world’s largest reservoir of polio

ISLAMABAD: The World cover for espionage, as well as Yesterday’s announcement The city of four million is the Health Organization yesterday long-running rumours about the comes just days after Pakistan’s main urban centre of northwest declared Pakistan’s troubled drops causing infertility. neighbour and great rival India Pakistan and acts as a major transit northwestern city of Peshawar “With more than 90 percent celebrated three years since its hub. “As much of the population of as the world’s “largest res- of the current polio cases in the last polio case. the area moves through Peshawar, ervoir” of endemic polio and country genetically linked to India’s polio programme is one the city acts as an amplifier of the called for urgent action to boost Peshawar, the (city) is now the of its biggest public health success poliovirus,” said the WHO. vaccination. largest reservoir of endemic polio- stories -- a remarkable achieve- Militants in Pakistan have rou- Almost every polio case in 2013 virus in the world,” the WHO said ment for a country that only five tinely attacked health workers in Pakistan, one of only three in a statement. years ago accounted for half of the giving out polio drops since the countries where the crippling Polio is also endemic in world’s polio cases -- and it stands Taliban imposed a ban on vacci- disease remains endemic, could Afghanistan and Nigeria, but of in stark contrast to Pakistan’s fal- nations in 2012. be linked genetically to strains of the three countries only Pakistan tering efforts to combat the virus. In the most recent incident the virus circulating in Peshawar, saw a rise in cases from 2012 to During the last six months, gunmen shot dead a health official said the WHO. 2013, said the global health body. every single sample taken from supervising an anti-polio drive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Tests have found that 83 out Peshawar’s sewage system tested after storming a hospital on the of which Peshawar is the capi- of the 91 polio cases in Pakistan positive for a highly contagious edge of Peshawar on December 28. tal, and adjoining tribal districts last year were genetically linked wild polio virus strain, the WHO “The prevailing security situ- where Taliban and Al Qaeda to strains in Peshawar, while said. ation in Peshawar has seriously linked militants have hideouts are 12 out of 13 cases reported in A major outbreak of polio in the affected the quality of polio cam- particular polio hotspots. Afghanistan were also linked. Federally Administered Tribal paigns in the city and is result- Efforts to stamp out the disease In November the WHO linked Areas (FATA) along the Afghan ing in inadequate coverage of An armed policeman stands nearby as a health worker gives polio drops have been hampered by opposi- an outbreak of the disease that border, which has left 65 children children against the virus,” said to a girl in Peshawar on November 30, 2013. tion from militant groups, who paralysed 13 children in war-torn paralysed, is being “sustained” by the health organisation. see vaccination campaigns as a Syria to Pakistan. Peshawar, it added. AFP JANUARY 18, 2014 India www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 ON SATURDAY After marital row, minister’s wife found dead

NEW DELHI: Sunanda “distorted accounts” of comments But a furious Pushkar told a party, including Chief Minister Pushkar, wife of Minister of “allegedly made by Sunanda”, newspaper that Mehr could be a Oommen Chandy and Home State Shashi Tharoor, was alleging an affair between her Pakistani spy and that she was Minister and KPCC President found dead in a luxury hotel husband and a Pakistani journal- stalking Tharoor. “And you know Ramesh Chennithala, are in Delhi here last night, just a day after ist, had “led to some erroneous how men are. He is flattered by in connection with the AICC they claimed they were “hap- conclusions”. the attention.” meeting. Though politicians of pily married” despite an ugly “We wish to stress that we are “I will not allow this to be done different hues are yet to react public row. happily married and intend to to me. I just can’t tolerate this. to the news, police stepped up Police sources said that remain that way.” A Congress I have nothing more to say,” she protection to Tharoor’s constitu- Pushkar, who married Tharoor in MP from Thiruvananthapuram told the Economic Times. ency office in the heart of the city August 2010, was found sprawled in the southern state of Kerala, Tarar threatened to file a defa- as soon as the news of his wife’s on a bed in room 345 at The Leela it was Tharoor’s third marriage mation suit against Pushkar for death in a Delhi hotel spread. Palace hotel in south Delhi. She to Pushakar and her second. calling her a Pakistani intelligence The Tharoor couple, marr- had reportedly checked into the A scandal erupted on agent. She also trashed Pushkar, ried in August 2010, were seen hotel on Thursday night. Wednesday after tweets posted saying her conduct was “nau- together in the city a few days On Thursday, Tharoor and on Tharoor’s account reportedly seous”. The news of the death ago coming out of the famous Pushkar issued a joint statement spoke of his love to the Pakistani of Sunanda Pushkar came as Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. saying they were distressed by journalist, Mehr Tarar, who a shock tonight to the people The local media are agog with an “unseemly controversy” over denied she was having an affair in Thiruvananthapuram which reports that Sunanda had under- some “unauthorised tweets” with the Indian minister. Tharoor contested and won eas- gone a medical test in a super posted from their Twitter Pushkar initially threat- ily in his electoral debut in 2009 speciality hospital here before accounts and that both were ened to divorce Tharoor, who Lok Sabha polls. she left the city after her last “happily married and intend to then tweeted that his twitter Congress party in the state visit. However, the hospital is yet remain that way”. account had been hacked and is yet to react to the develop- to confirm that report. The Minister of State Shashi Tharoor with his wife Sunanda Pushkar. The statement claimed that would be offline for sometime. ment as most leaders of the AGENCIES

Delhi school not run by 2014 will be a battle for India: Sonia embassy: US BJP attacks Rahul for not being PM candidate NEW DELHI: In a combat- path was of “dividing the society” cherish. It will be a battle for the WASHINGTON: With the ive speech that sounded like on communal lines. preservation of our age-old secu- American Embassy School in an election bugle for a belea- In a hard-hitting speech that lar traditions, traditions of diverse New Delhi under the scanner guered party facing widespread started off in English and then communities living harmoniously for alleged violation of India’s public resentment, particularly switched to Hindi, Gandhi accused in one composite national iden- tax and visa laws, the US from the middle class, Congress the BJP of spreading radicalism tity,” she said. sought to sidetrack the issue by President Sonia Gandhi said and hatred. “In the name of unity, The UPA chairperson said: suggesting that it was not run yesterday that the “divisive” they want to impose uniformity. “The Congress has faced many by the embassy. ideology of BJP will only end Their way is to hide their real face difficult times in the past. Much Asked to comment on a New up dividing the country, adding behind artificial politeness. It is harder than today. But we have York Times report on Thursday that the April-May Lok Sabha to criticise our leaders and make never lost heart. We have repeat- that female spouses of couples elections will be “a battle for false allegations against them. edly demonstrated our resilience intending to teach at the school India” and its secular traditions. And it is even to spread violence. by remaining committed to our were asked to list their occu- In her opening address at the How can such ideology be toler- vision, to our values and the pation on visa applications as All India Congress Committee ated,” she said. beliefs that have always sustained “housewife,” State Department meeting at the Talkatora Stadium BJP’s prime ministerial candi- them.” “Our party is woven into spokesperson Jen Psaki instead here, Sonia Gandhi exhorted date Narendra Modi is a trench- the fabric of this nation from offered a bit of “history”. party workers to keep up their ant critic of the Congress and its very conception as a modern “Let me give you all a little spirit of meeting challenges and has been urging people to work nation state.” more history here,” she said. expressed confidence that the for “Congress-free” India. Meanwhile, the BJP attacked “Since 1952, when the Embassy party will emerge victorious in Sonia Gandhi said that Lok the Congress for developing exchanged diplomatic notes the struggles ahead. Sabha elections will be a sharp- “cold feet” and not naming Rahul Congress party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is hugged by Prime Minister with the Government of India to “We assemble here as the 2014 ening contest between conflict- Gandhi as its prime ministerial Manmohan Singh as Sonia Gandhi, chief of the party, watches at the end of establish the American Embassy Lok Sabha elections approach. We ing ideologies, between competing candidate, saying it showed the the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting in New Delhi yesterday. school, the school has succeeded meet today to send a clear signal interpretations of the past and party has conceded defeat in the in providing an international that the Congress is ready and between clashing visions of the coming Lok Sabha election. Singh and Rahul Gandhi came party: “The Congress is prepared education in New Delhi for the prepared for the battle ahead,” she future”. As Bharatiya Janata Party for scrutiny — as were “parties for defeat while there is an atmos- children of diplomatic and expat said. Referring to the Bharatiya “These elections will be a battle leaders met here parallel to working on Congress’ support”. phere of enthusiasm in the BJP business communities.” Janata Party as the “main politi- for India as it was conceived by the Congress session, speeches Party leader Syed Shahnawaz camp. The gloom at the Congress “It is not run by the Embassy. cal adversary”, Gandhi said its our founding fathers and as we of Prime Minister Manmohan Hussain took a jibe at the ruling meet was visible.” IANS Only about a third of the students there are American,” Psaki said. But “We are in discussion with the Government of India regard- ing issues they have raised con- cerning the school.” US Deputy Secretary of State Britain and France warn William Burns had “discussed these very issues” with Indian Ambassador S Jaishankar “ear- lier this week,” she said. over rape threat in India Asked if the US government took no responsibility for the school even though it was located NEW DELHI: Britain and within the embassy compound, France have revised their she repeated “We’re committed travel advisories for India to to addressing these concerns that warn visitors about the risk have been raised.” of sexual attacks following two new rape cases involving Bengali actress German and Danish tourists in recent weeks. Suchitra Sen dies A 51-year-old Danish tour- ist was robbed and gang-raped KOLKATA: Bengali actress at knife-point in New Delhi on Suchitra Sen, who had capti- Tuesday after she lost the way vated generations of film buffs back to her hotel and stopped with her looks and grace, died at to ask directions near the back- a south Kolkata nursing home packer’s area of the city. yesterday following a massive A day before, an 18-year-old cardiac arrest, an attending doc- German charity worker told tor said. The 82-year-old actress, police in southern India she under treatment at the Belle Vue had been raped on an overnight People from different organisations gather to protest against the gang Clnic for the last 26 days follow- train by a passenger. rape of a Danish tourist, near the spot where the incident happened, ing serious respiratory problems, “Women travellers should in New Delhi, yesterday. breathed her last at 8.25 am, exercise caution when travel- Subir Mondal, part of the medi- ling in India even if they are dangerous destination for for- carpenter arrested over the cal team treating her, said. travelling in a group,” the eign female travellers. rape of the German traveller A widow, Sen leaves behind British advisory posted on the Police in southern Chennai had been remanded in custody her daughter Moon Moon Sen government website said. said that a 22-year-old for 15 days. AFP and grand-daughters Riya and The French foreign office also Raima — all three having taken advised its citizens to exercise to acting as a career. “utmost caution” in an advisory Three more suspects arrested updated on Thursday. “Several recent incidents NEW DELHI: Three more male suspects were arrested Season’s lowest show that foreign women or yesterday over the gang-rape of a Danish tourist that has expatriates can be the victims renewed the spotlight on sexual violence in India, bringing temperature of such incidents in India,” it the total number held to six. “Two more persons have been said. arrested in connection with the rape case with the Danish NEW DELHI: The national In early January, a 33-year- national and one juvenile apprehended,” police spokesman capital yesterday recorded the old Polish woman was alleg- Rajan Bhagat said in an emailed statement. lowest maximum temperature edly drugged and raped as One of the men, aged around 20, was arrested in the tourist of the season at 12.9 degrees she travelled to the Indian district in New Delhi where the assault on the 51-year-old vic- Celsius with the entire day capital in a taxi with her tim occurred while the other, aged 24, was taken into custody remaining cloudy and gray and two-year-daughter. in another part of the capital, Bhagat said. with rainfall in some parts. The series of attacks have Police gave no details about where the third male, a juvenile The maximum temperature shone a fresh spotlight on the whose age was not given, was apprehended on suspicion of recorded was seven notches below country’s record on sexual vio- participating in the attack and robbery Tuesday. AFP average. IANS lence and its reputation as a JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Business

Japan’s Tepco plans for LNG buyers’ cartel Producers may resist joint purchases

TOKYO: In the first concrete The utility, known as Tepco, the demands, with big oil majors moves towards forming a buy- said it will start talks this year like Chevron Corp and Exxon ers’ group for liquefied natu- with other LNG buyers about set- Mobil Corp insisting that multi- ral gas (LNG), Tokyo Electric ting up a joint purchasing com- year supply contracts in their Power Co is proposing to rope pany to negotiate with suppliers, current form are necessary to in domestic and foreign firms to aiming to achieving cost savings ensure they can take on the risk jointly procure up to 40 million for itself of as much as 650bn yen of developing projects that take tonnes a year of the fuel to cut ($6.24 billion)a year. years to build and cost billions of costs. The venture would also invest dollars. The Japanese utility’s plan in gas projects directly to secure Joint purchases may also be comes as importers in Asia, the LNG supplies, Tepco said. difficult given the practice of biggest market for the superch- “Natural gas accounts for 70 restricting destinations in clauses illed fuel, are stepping up efforts percent of Tepco’s fuel costs, so on supply contracts. to leverage their buying power to it is essential to drastically lower Cooperation among Japanese reduce what they say are inflated gas prices and reduce the fuel bill,” buyers could also fall foul of prices because of the practice of the utility said in the revival plan. domestic anti-competition rules, linking the price of gas to oil. Tepco will seek partnership with said Tom O’Sullivan, founder of Officials from India, China, both Japanese and overseas compa- independent energy consultancy The Shell logo is pictured outside a Shell petrol station in central London yesterday. South Korea, Japan and Taiwan nies, spokesman Yusuke Kunikage Mathyos Japan. which import about 70 percent said by phone on Friday. The pur- “Combining the purchasing of the world’s LNG have held chases would cover both spot and power for over 50 percent of a Shell warns of significant profit miss talks last year but no firm steps contractual volumes, he said. single commodity by Japanese had materialised. LNG produc- Shipments of LNG to Japan, the electric power companies, even ers are resisting the idea of joint world’s biggest buyer of the fuel, a commodity such as LNG LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell the fourth quarter of 2009. Since the new chief executive to keep a purchases, fearing that an end to which takes in about a third of glo- that is now strategic to Japan’s issued a “significant” profit then the main operating metric tighter control on costs. long-term supply contracts with bal production, have soared after national interests, strikes me as warning yesterday, detailing has averaged $5.6bn per quarter. “There’s quite a bit of expecta- individual buyers will hurt them. the Fukushima disaster in March a move that might deserve scru- across-the-board problems and Analysts said Shell appeared tion building for when they have Tokyo Electric’s LNG proposal is 2011 led to the gradual shutdown tiny by the Japanese Fair Trade the extent of the challenges fac- to have suffered a perfect storm their full-year results and their outlined in a business revival plan of all of the country’s nuclear units. Commission or the World Trade ing the oil major’s new boss Ben in the last three months, due to management day ... to chart a that was approved by the govern- Calling for lower prices has Organization,” O’Sullivan said. van Beurden, who took over two weak refining profit margins, course which leads to more free ment this week to cut costs at the been a constant refrain of buyers LNG is expensive in Asia and weeks ago. higher production costs, output cash being generated and ulti- utility, which is facing compensa- in recent years and Asian con- prices are now more than four The warning comes nearly 10 stoppages in Nigeria and a weak- mately better growth in dividends tion demands and cleanup costs of sumers have been exploring ways times the cost of natural gas in years to the day after Shell, the ening of the Australian dollar. for shareholders. tens of billions of dollars after the to buy supplies in partnership to the United States, where a boom western world’s No. 3 oil company, However they noted that the “This warning is a reminder meltdowns at its Fukushima Daiichi cut costs. in shale oil and gas is taking place. revealed the so-called reserves detailed warning would also ena- that there are some big structural nuclear plant north of Tokyo. Sellers, though, have rejected REUTERS accounting scandal, when the ble the new CEO, who has been at problems.” group dramatically downgraded Shell since 1983, to use the results Shares in the group fell more its reserves estimates. day on Jan. 30 and a Management than 4 percent at the open but It also follows a similar warning Day in March to set out his new at 1115 GMT were down only 2 from Chevron Corp, the second- strategy. percent. Shares in rival BP, No. largest US oil company, last week “This should bring to an end 5 among investor-controlled oil and reflects how the industry is what has proved to be something and gas groups worldwide, were having to grapple with replacing of an “annus horribilis” for Shell down 0.4 percent. Shell’s stock, reserves, lower oil prices and the which has seen a key production up 1 percent over the last twelve need to control costs. target missed and weaker than months, has lagged Britain’s blue “Our 2013 performance was not anticipated profitability in North chip index, which is up 12 percent what I expect,” van Beurden said, America,” Barclays said in a note. over the period, and also its near- announcing a cut in forecasts to Shell, which dates its history est rival BP, up 7 percent. fourth-quarter earnings exclud- back to 1833, also missed forecasts “Shell’s profit warning is a ing identified items on a current for its third-quarter trading in confirmation of the impact of cost of supplies (CCS) to $2.9bn, October. the downward trend in oil prices from market expectations of One British-based shareholder we’ve seen,” said Carsten Fritsch about $4bn. who asked not to be named said at Commerzbank. “In particular, The last time the Anglo-Dutch no one was that surprised, even the refined product markets in firm reported an adjusted earn- though the number was bad. He Europe have been very weak.” ings figure as low as $2.9bn was in said it would increase pressure on REUTERS

Kosovo seeks Dutch to cut output talks with from Groningen field IMF on new

AMSTERDAM/LONDON: in earlier this week,” said Oliver stand-by deal The Dutch cabinet has decided Sanderson, senior gas analyst to cut gas production at at Thomson Reuters Point PRISTINA: Kosovo has asked Groningen, one of the world’s Carbon. the International Monetary largest gas fields, by 15 to 20 Dutch wholesale gas prices for Fund (IMF) for talks on a new percent a year, several indus- delivery next winter have risen precautionary programme, but try sources said, after a series by 65 euro cents since the start is unlikely to need to draw any of earth tremors worried local of the week. They traded at 27.78 funds, the Fund’s Kosovo mis- residents. euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) sion chief said yesterday. The sources and local media at 1300 GMT yesterday, only A previous 30-month stand- said on Friday the cabinet had slightly higher than the opening by deal — Kosovo’s first since discussed slashing production to value for the day. it declared independence from 42.5bcm this year and next, down Production from Groningen Serbia in 2008 — came to an end from over 50bcm in 2013. amounted to 53.8bcm in 2013, last month. It was worth ¤107m A government spokesman said mainly due to an unusually long ($146m). Economics Minister Henk Kamp and cold winter. The annual out- “We take the government would make an official announce- look to 2020 was previously for request very seriously, we will give ment at 1530 GMT. Gas from around 49 bcm. it the utmost consideration and Groningen is sold mostly to utili- Local residents and some we are thinking of a formal pro- ties and large industries in the politicians have called for a halt gramme negotiating mission in home market, although some gas or review of gas extraction in March,” Jacques Alain Miniane, the is piped to Germany, Italy, France Groningen province following a newly appointed IMF chief mission and Britain. series of earth tremors, some of for Kosovo, told a news conference. The government earns about which cracked buildings. “The government has signalled ¤12bn ($16.3bn) a year from The gas field near Slochteren the intention for the programme the sale of gas from Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands to be precautionary. At this stage according to the finance ministry. is operated by a joint venture there are no financing needs, no “If we extract less gas, that has between Royal Dutch Shell and budgetary or external needs that a cost,” Finance Minister Jeroen Exxon Mobil called Nederlandse the government or the state can- Dijsselbloem told Dutch broad- Aardolie Maatschappij BV. not fund on its own,” he said. caster NOS. Gas from the field goes to Miniane did not say how much The market has been expect- GasTerra, a Groningen-based the new deal could be worth but ing a decision to cut production, international company that trades a Kosovo official said it may be which has already driven up gas in natural gas. Discovered around ¤100m. prices, analysts said. in 1959, the Groningen gas field Six years after gaining inde- “The decision is overall bull- has been expected to continue pendence, the land-locked coun- ish for gas prices, but contracts to pump natural gas for at least try of 1.7 million people remains did not move much today as the another 50 years. one of the poorest in Europe. market already priced the news REUTERS REUTERS JANUARY 18, 2014 Business www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 ON SATURDAY

Acer posts third EU and Russia full-year net loss in a row TAIPEI: Taiwan’s struggling fail to bridge personal computer maker Acer yesterday reported its third consecutive full-year net loss due to falling sales and a write- off of raw materials inventory. Gazprom gap Acer posted a net loss of T$20.58bn ($687.11bn) last year, widening from a net loss of T$2.91bn in 2012, while consoli- Working group for South Stream project dated revenues fell 16.2 percent to T$360.19bn from a year ago. MOSCOW: Russian Energy using energy as a political weapon Its net loss for the fourth Minister Alexander Novak that has been wielded in countries quarter last year was T$7.63bn, and EU Energy Commissioner such as Ukraine when they made compared with a net loss of Gunther Oettinger reported efforts to cut some of their ties to T$3.37bn in the same period in no progress yesterday at tense Moscow. 2012. Revenue fell 14.6 percent to talks over state-run Gazprom’s Brussels has also launched a T$86.7bn year-on-year. stranglehold on the European comprehensive antitrust inves- In November last year the com- natural gas market. tigation that focuses on whether pany reported $150m for person- The European Commission Gazprom overcharged its custom- nel and business restructuring delivered a blow to the world’s big- ers and blocked rival sources of costs in the fourth quarter and gest natural gas firm in December supplies. T$1.3bn for raw materials inven- by declaring vital deals it struck Novak’s talks with Oettinger tory and other costs in a bid to with six EU nations to be in viola- were being watched especially speed up its restructuring process. tion of the bloc’s rules. closely because they came ahead “Acer acknowledges missteps The six south and central EU of a January 28 Russia-EU sum- in the past on resource alloca- states — stretching from Austria mit in Brussels that has already tion, and the over expectation of and Bulgaria to Croatia and been clouded by a bitter dispute ultrabooks and notebooks with Greece — have agreed to host the about the future of protest-riven A man walks past a Reliance Industries Limited signboard installed on a road divider in the western Indian city touch panel. Although the prod- onshore section of the Black Sea Ukraine. of Gandhinagar yesterday. ucts were leading in design they pipeline Gazprom plans to launch EU spokeswoman Maja did not accurately fulfil market to Europe by the end of next year. Kocijancic said on Thursday that needs,” Acer said in a statement. But Russia claims that its the heated confrontation over Sliding gas output hits Reliance It vowed to formulate product bilateral South Stream pipe- the ex-Soviet state’s decision to strategy, production planning line agreements with the six — ditch a historic trade deal with and inventory control with more which also include Hungary and Brussels in favour of closer ties caution. Slovenia — supercede internal EU with Moscow has forced the can- Industries, quarterly profit flat Senior executives have taken regulations. cellation of a pre-summit din- voluntary salary cuts of 30 per- Gazprom is also challenging an ner the leaders had planned for MUMBAI: India’s largest pri- The earnings exceeded ana- plans to repair some shut wells at cent from January to share EU Third Energy Package ban January 27. vate firm, Reliance Industries, lysts’ expectations that Reliance’s its main KG-D6 basin in an effort responsibility, according to the on the same company owning Analysts have noted little reported nearly flat quarterly quarterly profit would decline to to boost output. statement. both pipelines and distribution progress between Gazprom and net profit yesterday, hit by weak Rs52bn. The company’s gross refining Acer named Jason Chen as its networks — a measure meant to EU regulators in the runup to a margins from refining opera- Analysts have been concerned margins (GRMs) for the third new chief executive in December, boost competition and ease the summit that threatens to be one tions and sliding gas output. in recent months about Reliance’s quarter fell by a fifth or 21 per- following the resignations of two continent’s dependence on the of the two sides’ frostiest in years. But the performance still beat ability to boost gas production cent to $7.6 a barrel from $9.6 a top executives after the company state-controlled firm. “All of Russia’s proposals (on market expectations. from its oil blocks off India’s east year earlier. posted a worse-than-expected The Russian energy ministry South Stream) look more like an The energy giant, controlled by coast. In 2011, British energy giant BP net loss of T$13.1bn in the third issued only a brief statement ultimatum,” RusEnergy consul- India’s wealthiest man Mukesh For the April-December paid $7.2bn to acquire a 30 per- quarter. after yesterday’s negotiations tancy analyst Mikhail Krutikhin Ambani, said net profit for the period, crude oil production cent stake in 21 of Reliance’s oil It has set up a business restruc- saying the two sides had “agreed said. third quarter ending December from Reliance’s main oil field and gas fields. turing group led by founder Stan to create a working group for “Neither Gazprom nor the rose 0.20 percent to Rs55.11bn KG-D6 fell 38 percent year-on- Reliance hopes that BP’s deep- Shih, who also returned as chair- discussing all legal and techni- European Commission has taken ($888m), from Rs55.02bn in the year to 1.45 million barrels of water drilling expertise will give man and interim president late cal issues related to the South a single step to bridge their same period a year earlier. crude oil, the company state- the Indian giant the skills to last year and aims to revive the Stream project.” positions,” Krutikhin told the “Reliance’s robust refin- ment said. develop hard-to-exploit reserves company by targeting cloud-com- The complex details of the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily. ing configuration enabled it to Natural gas production slid 51 and find more oil. puting services. dispute hide the 28-nation bloc’s Moscow’s VTB Capital invest- deliver stable refining profits in percent to 135 billion cubic feet Reliance operates the world’s Shih founded Acer in 1976 and overriding desire to shrink ment bank also warned its cli- the third quarter, against a back- (BCF) over levels a year earlier. largest oil-processing complex in built it into the world’s second Gazprom’s 25-percent share of ents that “we are reiterating drop of declining regional bench- Reliance has attributed the fall Jamnagar, where two adjacent largest PC maker in its hey- the European market and limit our view that the South Stream mark margins,” Ambani said in a in production to “geological com- refineries have a combined capac- day, and one of the best known the Kremlin’s ability to influence project is risky, given the political statement. plexity and natural decline in the ity to process 1.24 million barrels Taiwanese brands internationally, EU nations’ internal affairs. overtones.” Turnover rose 10.5 percent to fields”. of oil a day. before he retired in 2004. Russia has long been accused of AFP Rs1.06 trillion. Reliance this month said it AFP AFP

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Japan economy recovering, first time in six years Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.00 0.40 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.13 1.38 % Aa2 AA TOKYO: A Japanese govern- toward picking up,” it added. The in turn, hurt producers, holding demand before a consumption tax Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.63 2.52 % Aa2 AA ment report yesterday said the latest report is also the most rosy back new investment by Japan Inc. increase and subsequent negative Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.50 2.96 % Aa2 AA economy was “recovering”, its rating on the once-powerhouse Convincing firms to hike stag- reaction are expected”. Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 106.50 3.56 % Aa2 AA first use of the word since the economy since its January 2006 nant wages so consumers will It also warned that an unsteady Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 154.50 4.88 % Aa2 AA 2008 global financial crisis, as paper. spend more is a cornerstone of recovery overseas was a “down- Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 116.63 5.22 % Aa2 AA Prime Minister Shinzo Abe It comes about a month after Abe’s blueprint to fix the economy. side risk” for Japan’s economy. Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 107.63 5.23 % Aa2 AA works to revive years of tepid Abe’s one-year anniversary November data showed prices Speculation has been rising growth. as premier following landslide rising 1.2 percent, their fastest that the BoJ, which holds a policy Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.00 0.80 % Aa2 AA Tokyo’s monthly checkup on national elections which he won pace in five years and moving meeting next week, will launch Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 109.88 3.30 % Aa2 AA the world’s third-largest economy largely on a pledge to restore closer to the Bank of Japan’s ambi- further easing measures to coun- Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.25 1.01 % A1 A- used some of its most upbeat lan- Japan’s economic glory. tious 2.0 percent inflation target. ter any slowdown, after unleash- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.75 2.17 % A1 A- guage in years as it pointed to a Abe’s policy blitz, dubbed Analysts have cast doubt on the ing an unprecedented stimulus QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.42 % NR NR pick-up in consumer and capital Abenomics, helped to sharply BoJ’s two-year timeline to meet campaign last April. QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.63 1.12 % Aa3 A+ spending. “The Japanese economy weaken the yen which is good that goal, as they warn that a sales “Barring some major economic QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 103.88 2.07 % Aa3 A+ is recovering at a moderate pace,” news for exporters as it makes tax hike in April — seen as crucial or market shock, the Bank of it said. them more competitive overseas to shrinking Japan’s huge national Japan is likely to wait until the Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.00 2.18 % A2 A- “Concerning short-term pros- and inflates the value of repatri- debt — would derail a recovery. second half of this year before Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.00 1.51 % A2 A pects, the economy is expected to ated profits. Tokyo’s report Friday cautioned announcing any further monetary Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 123.38 3.13 % A2 A be on a recovery trend as house- The premier has vowed to con- over the rate hike to 8.0 percent stimulus,” London-based Capital Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.75 3.82 % A2 A hold income and business invest- quer years of deflation which from 5.0 percent, saying that “a Economics said this week. Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 101.00 4.89 % A2 A ment increase, while exports move weighed on consumer spending and, last-minute rise in (consumer) AFP Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.13 0.92 % Aa3 A Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.88 3.15 % Aa3 A Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.38 4.03 % Aa3 A Intel’s Q4 results expected SOVEREIGNS ThyssenKrupp Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.13 0.10 % Aa2 AA vows to resume Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.50 2.35 % Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.13 1.82 % NR NR dividend payments Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.00 2.66 % NR NR BOCHUM: German heavy Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 120.38 4.23 % NR NR industry giant ThyssenKrupp Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 112.88 4.57 % NR NR promised its shareholders yes- Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.38 0.58 % Aa2 AA terday to resume paying divi- Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.88 3.16 % NR BBB dends, but did not gave any Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 105.25 4.52 % NR BBB indication about when it might do so. Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 99.00 5.94 % Caa1 B- “We are on the right path and Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 103.38 3.92 % NR BBB- have achieved measurable suc-

*Periodic Distribution Amount cesses,” Chief Executive Heinrich IMPORTANT NOTE: Hiesinger told the group’s annual Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which shareholders meeting. is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services “We ended the past fiscal year Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary with a loss and are unable to pay 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 a dividend to you, our share- take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds holders. That must change, and can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant it will change. That is what the liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not executive board is committed to,” a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. Hiesinger said. ThyssenKrupp, which makes steel, elevators, industrial plant technology, submarines and car parts, is in the middle of a vast Visitors take pictures next to the Intel logo outside of the Intel headquarters in Santa Clara, California, yesterday. restructuring. Intel was to report fourth quarter earnings after the closing bell. AFP JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Business Views

Shops on high street? Tory U-turn on minimum No, we need homes wage and fear of Miliband BY IAN BIRRELL BY HUGH MUIR to the long-term goal of shrinking the state exploited and abandoned by the coalition.” t has become a January ritual: the nation’s retailers report- and minimising governmental intervention, Remind yourself this is the Mail, and ing one after another how they performed over the crucial eorge Osborne has that gift do that? The answer is fear. Ed Miliband read on. “Every issue he raises resonates Christmas period. Reputations – and share prices – hinge bestowed on the fortunate may have some way to go before he imprints loudly with a section of the electorate David Ion these results when so much cash is splashed over the all- politician; he looks in control himself on the public as a credible occupant Cameron takes for granted at his peril.” important festive season. when he is all at sea. A certain of No 10, but increasingly he has the Tories It doesn’t like him any more than it liked This year’s winners include Argos, Dixons and John Lewis, while arrogance gets him through; and the right rattled. While Osborne and his father. And it certainly has no time for Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons are among those Gthat swagger born of an elite education David Cameron talk of billions and budgets Labour. But there is something new there. feeling the high street heat. and a life of affluence. Even delivering the and the overweening impact of the deficit, Is it a grudging respect? If alarm bells are If there is one consistent theme, it is that stores with a strong 2012 “omnishambles” budget, which gave us Miliband has flown at lower altitude. They ringing at Mail HQ, the peal will certainly online presence outgunned those laggards late to the Internet. the ill-fated pasty tax and the caravan tax, have been talking macro-economics. His have reached Conservative Central Office This is unsurprising: just look at Asos, the online fashion firm, he exuded the certainty of Derren Brown focus has been micro. This may be because, and that most shameless political strate- whose British sales jumped more than one-third over the previous unveiling an inexplicable wonder to the TV in light of the consensus of Labour’s macro- gist, the chancellor. If Miliband seems on end of year. They underline the huge shift in shopping habits from millions. Few politicians can do this. Those economic performance in government, the the point of advance, something must be trawling along high streets to clicking on computers. who can’t dearly wish they could. big picture is best avoided. But micro-eco- done to blunt it. The pace of this change is speeding up. A recent Ofcom study But make no mistake about it; the chan- nomics and talk of fairness directly affects It may well do for the poorest paid, for if found Britons spend far more online than any other nation, with cellor’s belated conversion to the cause of the voter. Tories don’t have much time for they secure a raise in the minimum wage, one in four shopping from keyboards each week and the world’s raising the minimum wage is a breath- Ed Miliband, but there is a fear he may be they won’t much care about the machina- most developed grocery shopping. holding, teeth-grinding, buttock-clenching, cutting through. tions that brought it about and they will Last month saw another leap of nearly one-fifth in online spend- gravity-defying U-turn of massive propor- Consider the Mail’s reaction on be rightful beneficiaries. It doesn’t tell us ing, the fastest increase in four years, with mobile phones and tions. Osborne, having been cheerleader for Wednesday to Miliband’s assertion the anything new about George Osborne, except tablets alone accounting for 6 percent of total retail sales. Yet we his party’s view that the minimum wage is previous day that he has come to “save” perhaps that he is more unnerved than we are still in the infancy of the internet revolution. a destroyer of jobs and sapper of enterprise, the middle classes. “Cynical? Certainly. imagined. We knew he is one for tactics over This has major repercussions in a country where retailing is now says he wants the low pay commission Hypocritical? Without a doubt. But not for strategy. But it may say something inter- responsible for as big a chunk of the economy and workforce as to raise the hourly rate from its current the first time, Labour leader Ed Miliband esting about Labour’s position. The leader’s manufacturing. It provides a precious opportunity for the most level of £6.31 to £7 an hour by next year. has shown himself adept at identifying the personal rating has been rooted to the floor innovative stores and suppliers as the rest of the planet catches That would restore it to where it was before issues that concern voters most,” said the for longer than he cares to remember, but up. Above all, however, it underlines how fast the traditional the financial meltdown of 2008. He cannot Mail. “He proved this last autumn when he that need not be fatal. He can be personally British high street is dying. actually bring the change to fruition. The turned the spotlight on energy bills. And unpopular and still make the weather; he This is a subject surrounded by stifling nostalgia – and indeed, task rests with the commission to ensure though his solution of a 20-month price can win despite himself. some hypocrisy as people complain about shops shutting while politicians cannot manipulate the minimum freeze may have been economically crass, All is possible, even now – even in this buying books, shoes and food online. Yes, it would be lovely if wage for electoral advantage. But he can it struck a chord with millions. Now he time of tightening polls and X Factor poli- shoppers all wandered down high streets, stopping at the butcher, say he used his bully pulpit for the good of has pressed the right button again, giving tics – if the ordinary electorate accepts he baker and greengrocer. But the reality is rather different – when the poorest paid in Britain. Why would our expression to the anxieties and frustrated has the right diagnosis and sensible things they leave their laptops, people turn to “destination” shopping chancellor, the man who seems most wedded aspirations of the middle-classes who feel to say. THE GUARDIAN centres, supermarkets and malls. Consider the facts. As we emerge from recession one in seven shops are empty across Britain, with higher figures in Wales and the north of England. Some towns have more boarded up stores than Athens; more than a quarter are closed in Blackburn, for example. Others are filled with betting shops, pawnbrokers or, at best, charity outlets; U.S. consumer sentiment their numbers have risen fast in recent years as they exploit Consumer sentiment dipped to a reading of 80.4 in early January. favourable taxes and use volunteer staff. One-third of high streets are degenerating, according to an official review – and two-thirds of small retailers are “zombie firms”, relying on low interest rates to survive. CONSUMER SENTIMENT Personal expenditures contribution to GDP – pct pts Yet some see a rose-tinted solution in the spread of coffee shops 100 4 and scented candles, reviving town centres with cafes, restaurants and independent outlets. Recession The TV presenter Mary Portas, called in to advise the govern- ment, suggested the march of modernity could be stopped by bet- 90 2 ter management, free parking and more market stalls. Meanwhile the amount spent on small business rate relief has almost tripled under the coalition. Instead of fighting the future in this way, we must accept the internet is transforming towns just as it is transforming industries 80 0 – not least by slaughtering scores of already sickly shopping streets. 80.4 This may be painful for communities, like any change, but it is also an opportunity. For it could help tackle one of our most press- ing national problems: the housing crisis, rightly moving up the 70 -2 political agenda after decades of failure by successive governments. Britain has ended up with too many shops, the space they occupy having swollen rapidly in recent decades, and far too few homes. Yet given the outdated desire to protect high streets, it is very hard to convert shops into homes or other uses, so we have 60 -4 thousands of wasted properties in prime locations in our towns and cities. When interest rates rise, this imbalance may worsen despite the improving economy. 50 -6 The government is consulting on loosening these strict plan- 2007 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 ning restrictions, although it seems wedded to protecting “prime” streets. It needs to confront the nation’s nostalgia, for instead of preserving the past we have to find news ways to energise town centres in the digital age. Source: University of Michigan; U.S. Commerce Department This can only be done when we accept the traditional high S. Culp, 17/01/2014 street, sadly, is already sepia-tinted history in many places. THE GUARDIAN BP’s US spill settlement challenges may backfire

BY MICA ROSENBERG barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. negotiated by BP and a committee of University of California, Berkeley School received a $550,000 damage award. Federal penalties could add to that bill. plaintiffs lawyers to avoid individual of Law. It did not name the officials and year after agreeing to a multi- Maximum fines might top $17bn, while lawsuits by compensating a wide class of A volley of appeals is not necessarily stopped short of accusing them of cor- billion-dollar settlement with BP has only set aside about $3.5bn for businesses and individuals in one swoop. uncommon in a long, complicated case ruption. Juneau said two officials quit victims of the 2010 Gulf oil them. The administrator of the deal, like this one, said Edward Sherman from their posts to pursue “other business A spill, BP is aggressively chal- “They are alienating in a very profound Louisiana lawyer Patrick Juneau, has Tulane University Law School. opportunities.” lenging terms of the deal in a legal way the very judge that is going to deter- so far paid $3.8bn to more than 40,000 “One would hope that a judge would Some plaintiffs’ lawyers say BP has strategy that could backfire with the mine their liability,” said Blaine LeCesne, claimants along the Gulf coast, accord- not take offence to the fact that he has focused too much on picking apart the judge who will rule on the company’s a law professor at Loyola University in ing to the settlement program’s website. been appealed up on numerous issues, settlement, instead of on the bigger potentially hefty federal fines. New Orleans. BP disputes how Juneau is calculating judges are pretty familiar with that kind battle. The British oil giant has pushed for “I’m not sure that’s a wise decision.” payments, successfully arguing in one 5th of thing,” Sherman said. Under the Clean Water Act, negligence multiple reviews by the 5th Circuit Court Barbier has called BP’s efforts to try Circuit case that he was applying incor- “There is a certain risk involved in it can be punished with a maximum fine of Appeals, complaining the claims sys- and contradict many of his rulings with rect accounting standards to determine but BP obviously thinks that they have an of $1,100 for each barrel of oil spilled. A tem approved by the US District Judge appeals to the 5th Circuit “deeply disap- business losses. important issue.” The settlement process verdict of gross negligence would carry a Carl Barbier is overpaying for dam- pointing” and has said BP is trying to On Friday, though, BP was on the los- has certainly had flaws. potential fine of up to $4,300 per barrel. ages from the country’s worst offshore “rewrite or disregard the unambiguous ing side of a second case in the same An investigation - ordered by Barbier US officials and BP dispute how much disaster. terms of the Settlement Agreement.” appeals court where the company had and carried out by former FBI Director oil was spilled overall but if the court uses BP’s challenges directly question deci- While the company has won some voiced support for a group of plaintiffs Louis Freeh - found some of Juneau’s the government estimate minus the oil sions by Barbier, who presided over the important victories at the appeals court, who wanted the settlement thrown out. employees engaged in “improper” con- that was recovered - or 4.09 million bar- settlement and then himself approved a ruling on Friday upheld the foundation BP now wants the appeals court to duct, like taking “referral fees” to pass rels - the price of a gross negligence find- claim terms. Barbier is also handling a of the settlement deal. permanently halt all payments to peo- claims to other lawyers. ing could run to $17.6bn. separate government case against BP and BP is continuing its fight. ple who cannot prove their losses were In December, BP filed a lawsuit in fed- Barbier has broad discretion to assign has wide latitude to assess fines for viola- “The litigation seeking to rectify the directly caused by the spill. eral court to halt some of the $2.3bn it set penalties that could be handed down this tions of the Clean Water Act. misinterpretations of the settlement The company says it should only pay aside for a deal to compensate commer- year after an on-going trial. BP expects the settlement with Gulf that have led to inflated, exaggerated or for what it agreed to when the settlement cial seafood industry alleging that some “Remember, this is the same judge residents to cost about $9.6bn, well above wholly fictitious claims ... will continue was signed. But Judge Barbier says BP fishermen clients of lawyer Mikal Watts who is overseeing the Clean Water Act the $7.8bn it initially estimated. unabated,” BP spokesman Geoff Morrell is contradicting its own earlier positions did not exist. claims,” said Thomas Young, a Florida- Altogether the oil producer has pro- said. when it originally drafted the settlement And this month, BP ran full-page based plaintiffs’ lawyer who represents visioned some $42bn to pay for cleanup BP had no comment when asked if terms. newspaper ads in The New York Times hundreds of clients claiming damages and other costs since the explosion of the clashes with Barbier could prove risky. “The question of interpretation only and The Washington Post saying top from the BP spill. “The real question Deepwater Horizon rig, which killed 11 The 1,000-page settlement deal, arises in this case because of an ambigu- officials working for the claims admin- here is: “Why is BP poking the hornets’ workers in 2010 and spewed millions of approved by Barbier in 2012, was ity,” said Joseph Lavitt, a professor at the istrator frequented a strip club that nest?” REUTERS JANUARY 18, 2014 Classifieds www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 ON SATURDAY

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XXXSBDRBUBSDPN JANUARY 18, 2014 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 ON SATURDAY Serena, Djokovic reach round of 16 The Australian Open: Li Na also advances

MELBOURNE: World number one Serena Williams made light of scorching temperatures on the fourth and final day of the Melbourne Park heatwave to blast her way into the last 16 of the Australian Open for the loss of just a dozen games yesterday. Li Na’s progress was less impe- rious and the Chinese fourth seed escaped defeat by a mat- Serena ter of centimetres in her third Williams of round match, while Spain’s David the US in Ferrer continued to carve his way action against through the men’s draw largely Daniela unnoticed. Hantuchova Novak Djokovic later cleared of Slovakia the third hurdle in his path to a during their fourth straight Australian Open third-round title when he beat Denis Istomin match at the in the final match on Rod Laver Australian Arena. Open in The second seed beat the 49th- ranked Uzbek 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in just Melbourne, under two hours. Australia, A fourth day of temperatures yesterday. in excess of 42 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) meant the demand for ice, liquid and sunscreen remained high at Melbourne Park but there was no repeat of Thursday’s suspen- sion of play. Li’s compatriot Zheng Jie seemed to suffer most obviously during her 6-2, 6-4 loss to local Casey Dellacqua on Rod Laver Arena before a cooling breeze lower expectations but was still four hours. The tall South African eased conditions. expected to deal easily enough also trailed 0-4 in the fourth set “I was a little bit sick and also with Lucie Safarova on Hisense and 3-5 in the fifth and let out a my mind was not working, I Arena. The Czech, however, raced huge roar when the Frenchman felt,” said the former Melbourne through the first set 6-1 and then went long to hand him the victory Park semi-finalist, who admitted forced a match point in the sec- on Margaret Court Arena. she might need to train in hot- ond, which she failed to convert “It was a lot of emotions at the ter conditions before next year’s by the smallest of margins when end,” said Anderson. “Just a lot of tournament. her backhand down the line was excitement. A little bit of disbelief “I just watched the ball and just called out, a decision confirmed as well.” hit it. I didn’t know where I hit it.” by Hawk-Eye. Berdych, by contrast, eased into Temperatures are forecast to “I think the five centimetres the fourth round without having drop considerably today, a huge saved my tournament,” said Li, dropped a set all week courtesy relief to players and organis- who rallied to win the subsequent of a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over ers alike after four days of rows tiebreak and then seal 1-6, 7-6 Bosnian qualifier Damir Dzumhur over what constitutes dangerous (7-2), 6-3 victory. “If she had hit on Hisense Arena. conditions. it in... the whole team would be on Even without the accor- “I definitely look forward to the way to the airport.” dion that serenaded his victory playing in the cooler tempera- Ninth seed Angelique Kerber, over Ivan Dodig on Wednesday, tures,” said Williams, whose 6-3, Li’s potential quarter-final oppo- Dzumhur once again attracted 6-3 win over Daniela Hantuchova nent, had no such problems in lively support from his compatri- was a record 61st at the Australian her routine 6-3, 6-4 triumph over ots but Berdych smashed 13 aces Open, taking her past local great Alison Riske. and 32 winners to silence them. Margaret Court’s 60. Super-fit Ferrer’s attritional With Rafa Nadal, Roger That Williams achieved her style was made for hot condi- Federer and Murray in the other victory in 80 minutes without tions and he survived a second set half of the draw, Berdych knows firing on all cylinders - “I wasn’t wobble to wear down Frenchman he will rarely have a better chance fully on today” - was another Jeremy Chardy to reach the to reach a first semi-final at warning to her rivals that her fourth round at a 15th consecu- Melbourne Park. sensational form in 2013 was by tive grand slam with a 6-2, 7-6 “You know, it’s always about no means a final flourish at the (7-5), 6-2 victory. the draw,” said the Czech seventh end of her career. Ranked and seeded third after seed, who has won all nine of his “For whatever reason, I feel Andy Murray missed the back matches against Anderson. like I just never was really able end of last season, Ferrer next “Really, if I’m going to have it to reach my full potential, and I faces Florian Mayer with Tomas once pretty good, yes, I take it.” feel like recently I just have been Berdych or Kevin Anderson wait- Stan Wawrinka had a day off able to do a little better,” said the ing in the quarter-finals. yesterday after Vasek Pospisil 32-year-old, who is in the hunt for Anderson came from two sets withdrew from the tourna- her sixth Australian Open title. down for the second time in four ment with a bad back, allowing With just the one Grand days to reach the last 16, outlast- the Swiss eighth seed to rest up Slam title to the American’s ing Edouard Roger-Vasselin 3-6, before his fourth round tie against 17, Li attracts considerably 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in just under Djokovic. REUTERS

Korea’s Sanfyoung Park (second left), the gold medallist at 2014 Grand Prix of Qatar, is flanked by silver medallist Italy’s Enrico Garozzo (left) and bronze medallists Russia’s Anton Avdeev and Ukraine’s Bogdan Nikishin (right) during the podium ceremony at Gate Mall in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: SHAIVAL DALAL JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Sport

Rallying: Faulkner shines in thriller Anger as team forces The all-rounder smashes 69 off 47 balls as Australia beat England Peterhansel BRISBANE: Australian all- rounder James Faulkner Scoreboard to give up on smashed 69 runs from just 47 ENGLAND AUSTRALIA balls to give Australia a miracu- A Cook c and b Maxwell ...... 22 D Warner c&b Jordan ...... 18 lous one wicket win in the sec- 12th Dakar I Bell (run out) ...... 68 A Finch c Ballance b Jordan ...... 0 ond one day international at the J Root lbw Johnson ...... 2 S Marsh b Root ...... 55 Gabba yesterday. G Ballance st Haddin b Maxwell ...... 9 M Clarke c Ballance b Root ...... 17 Chasing 301 for victory, win Australia looked down and out E Morgan c Clarke b Faulkner ...... 106 G Bailey lbw Rankin...... 24 EL SALVADOR, CHILE: at 244-9 with six overs remaining. R Bopara c Bailey b Faulkner ...... 24 G Maxwell c Bopara b Bresnan ...... 54 Stephane Peterhansel’s hopes But Faulkner had other ideas J Buttler c Clarke b Coulter-Nile...... 49 B Haddin c Cook b Bresnan ...... 26 of a 12th Dakar Rally title were as he launched an all-out assault B Stokes c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile ...... 0 N Coulter-Nile lbw Stokes ...... 16 crushed yesterday when Mini on the English attack, being par- T Bresnan (not out) ...... 1 J Faulkner (not out) ...... 69 instigated team orders to ensure C Jordan (not out) ...... 2 M Johnson c Buttler b Bopara ...... 1 ticularly brutal to Ben Stokes, James a podium sweep, a decision Extras (W-12 N-B1 LB-4) ...... 17 C McKay (not out) ...... 2 who went for 1-74 from his 10 Faulkner of which was blasted by organisers Total (for 8 wkts in 50 0vers) ...... 300 Extras (W-10 LB-8) ...... 18 overs. Australia as well as the champion-elect. Faulkner smashed three fours Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-60, 3-78, 4-139, Total (for 9 wkts in 49.3 overs) ...... 301 Peterhansel, who has six bats during and five sixes against England, 5-178, 6-295, 7-296, 8-297. Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-32, 3-70, 4-114, motorcycle triumphs and five the second who had been on track to record Did not bat: B Rankin. 5-120, 6-200, 7-206, 8-235, 9-244. wins on four wheels in the race, their first win over Australia on Bowling: McKay 9-0-61-0 (3w); Johnson Bowling: Rankin 7-0-36-1 (2w); Jordan one-day finished the 11th stage from a miserable tour. 10-0-59-1 (6w); Coulter-Nile 9-0-55-2 (2w); 9-0-53-2 (2w); Bresnan 9.3-0-64-2; Stokes international Antofagasta to El Salvador in The Tasmanian sent the crowd Faulkner 10-0-73-2; Maxwell 8-0-31-2; 10-0-75-1 (3w); Root 9-0-46-2; Bopara cricket Chile -- at an overall 605km, the of just over 32,000 into raptures Clarke 4-0-17-0 (1nb). 5-0-19-1 (3w). match longest of the event -- in fourth with two massive sixes in the 49th against place, 14min 14sec behind stage over, before finishing England England at winner Orlando Terranova. with three consecutive boundaries a duck. Jordan struck again to and leave the home side at 206-7. the Gabba But the Frenchman’s Mini off Tim Bresnan to give Australia remove David Warner for 18, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell in Brisbane team-mate, and overall leader, a 2-0 lead in the five match series. somehow hanging on to a one- Johnson came and went, and at yesterday. Nani Roma was second on the Faulkner’s innings overshad- handed return catch from a full- 244-9 it looked all over until Faulkner day, just over three minutes ahead owed a superb century from blooded drive from the dangerous Faulkner’s stunning knock. smashed 69 of Peterhansel. England’s Eoin Morgan, whose Australian opener. England captain Alastair Cook as Australia Spanish driver Roma leads the 106 earlier in the day came from Part-time off spinner Joe Root had won the toss on a hot and won by one race by 5min 32sec with just two 99 balls. then grabbed the key wickets of humid afternoon and had no hesi- wicket. stages to race. After starting cautiously, the Michael Clarke (17) and Shaun tation batting first on a benign “The game is over. We’ve had a left-handed Morgan picked up the Marsh (55) to put the visitors in Gabba stadium wicket. good laugh and enjoyed ourselves,” pace in the last 10 overs, smashing control at 114-4. The tourists got away to a said Peterhansel, who failed to four boundaries and clearing the The Australians were in fur- bright start with Cook and Ian disguise his frustration at Mini’s rope six times in a brutal display, ther trouble six runs later when Bell putting on 57 off only 68 decision. his second 50 taking just 24 balls. towering seamer Boyd Rankin deliveries, before Cook drove a “The team asked us to not take With such an imposing target found the right length and had ball back to spinner Maxwell, who any more risks. It’s a bit frustrat- to chase, the Australians needed George Bailey trapped in front dived forward and took a good ing because we’ve done most of to get away to a good start -- but for 24. return catch low to the ground. the hard work. But, if Mini wants they were rocked early when Glenn Maxwell (54) and Brad Root came and went, falling leg to have three cars on the podium, Chris Jordan dismissed Aaron Haddin (26) launched a counter- before to Johnson for two, before at the speed at which we are driv- Finch, the first match century- attack, putting on 80 in 67 balls, Maxwell struck again when he ing out in front, it’s easy to crash maker spooning a simple catch but Bresnan struck twice in one had Ballance stumped for nine, a car or even two in just one day. to Gary Ballance at mid-off for over to dismiss both batsmen leaving England at 78-3. AFP “We know that this can hap- pen, but I didn’t think that they would do it.” Scoreboard Gambhir, Race organisers said they Sri Lanka (I innings): were “disappointed” and “a lit- Perera, Mathews miss tle shocked” by Mini’s team D Karunaratne c Younus b Rehman ...... 34 Pathan K Silva c Sarfraz b Talha ...... 17 orders which should see Roma, K Sangakkara c Manzoor b Junaid ...... 52 brothers Peterhansel and Qatar’s Nasser M Jayawardene c Azhar b Ajmal ...... 47 Saleh Al Attiyah monopolise the D Chandimal c Shafiq b Ajmal ...... 11 top three places on the podium. hundreds in Sharjah out of World “We haven’t been informed of A Mathews c Shehzad b Junaid ...... 91 P Jayawardene c Junaid b Talha ...... 35 this decision by the team man- D Perera c Junaid b Talha ...... 95 SHARJAH: Dilruwan Perera Twenty20 ager of Mini,” said race director R Herath lbw Junaid ...... 0 missed a century on his debut Etienne Lavigne. S Eranga (not out) ...... 25 while skipper Angelo Mathews MUMBAI: Gautam Gambhir, “But we are disappointed, S Lakmal (not out) ...... 3 fell for 91 as Sri Lanka frus- Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan clearly, because it is not in the Extras (B-5, LB-11, NB-2) ...... 18 trated Pakistan in the third and were the big names missing spirit of the competition. It’s a Total (for 9 wkts decl) ...... 428 final Test in Sharjah yesterday. in India’s list of 30 probables little shocking. It’s not fair. Fall of wickets: 1-31 2-65 3-125 4-159 Perera (95) and Mathews made for the World Twenty20 to be “If I was being mean, I would 5-166 6-239 7-351 8-351 9-423. life difficult for Pakistan through played in March and April of say to Mini that they can collect Bowling: Junaid 32-5-81-3, Talha 32-3-99- their 112-run seventh wicket this year. the trophy immediately. Fighting 3 (2nb), Ajmal 55-16-120-2, Rehman 50-14- stand before Sri Lanka declared Virender Sehwag didn’t make without risk is triumph without 101-1, Azhar 3-0-11-0. their first innings at 428-9, leav- it either, but with his abysmal glory.” ing Pakistan to score 19-0 in a Sri Lankan form in the domestic season it Even Roma, the champion- Pakistan (I innings): batsman Khurram Manzoor (batting) ...... 14 tricky six overs before the close was more or less expected. in-waiting, was embarrassed by Dilruwan Ahmed Shehzad (batting)...... 5 of the second day’s play. Cheteshwar Pujara and M Vijay Mini’s stand. Perera runs Total (for no loss) ...... 19 Openers Ahmed Shehzad (five) missed out too, which is a clear “It’s disappointing for Stephane, Bowling: Herath 3-1-7-0, Lakmal 1-0-4-0, and Khurram Manzoor (14) sur- between sign the selectors look at them it’s disrespectful. It’s a bad deci- Perera 2-1-8-0. vived an anxious time as Pakistan the wickets as Test specialists. Yuvraj Singh, sion that has been taken,” he said. Series: Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0. go in search of a big lead to square during the who has been dropped from the In the motorcycling section, the series after losing the second second ODI side, continued to be part of Spain’s Marc Coma, on a KTM, Test by nine wickets in Dubai. day of the India’s Twenty20 plans. won his third stage of the 2014 Pakistan’s Sri Lanka, leading the series third and Gambhir last played for India event and now leads Joan Barreda 1-0 after the first Test ended in a final cricket in the ODI against England on on a Honda by a comfortable draw in Abu Dhabi, are aiming to Test match January 27, 2013. After being 52min 36sec. seal the series. dropped, Gambhir was a part of Barreda was fifth on the stage reinstated against The day once again exposed the India A squad in the series but saw his campaign to hunt Pakistan at board chief the flat Sharjah stadium pitch against West Indies A, during down Coma hindered by losing all as Mathews put 73 for the the Sharjah which he scored a century. of his navigational instruments. sixth wicket with Prasanna International He also scored a Ranji century “It was a very long day. I had a resumes duties Jayawardene (35) and then bat- Cricket just before India’s squad for South little fall at the start, but it wasn’t ted solidly with Perera, leaving Stadium Africa was picked. serious,” said Coma. LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Pakistani bowlers frustrated and yesterday. The Pathan brothers have been “After that, I tried to maintain Board chief Zaka Ashraf failing in their search for quick out since 2012. Irfan, though, had a good pace. The important thing resumed his duties on Thursday wickets. just come back from injury as is still being here in the race and after a court reinstated him, The 31-year-old Perera, who the Ranji season ended, and got also to be careful, because there vowing to continue his mission made his one-day debut in 2007 to play three matches, that too is still one tough day left.” AFP to boost the sport in the country. but had never played a Test as a batsman alone. Yusuf put in “In accordance with the order before, looked more solid dur- one of his better Ranji seasons, of January 15th, 2014, passed by ing his 305-minute batting as averaging nearly 34 with the bat Dakar Rally Results a learned Division Bench of the he drove and pulled with autho- and 15 with the ball. Like his IPL EL SALVADOR: Dakar Rally Honourable Islamabad High ruty before hooking paceman franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, results yesterday after the Court, Ashraf has assumed the Mohammad Talha into the hands who chose to not retain him, India 11th stage from Antofagasta office of chairman (of the) PCB,” a of deep fine-leg. have also decided against him. to El Salvador in Chile press release from the board said. He hit 12 boundaries and two Harbhajan Singh, who has been (749km/605km timed): The court released a detailed sixes and added an invaluable Mathews, who hit 91 and a 34, was given not out by English retained by Mumbai Indians, will Auto - Stage judgement on Thursday, eight 72 for the ninth wicket with career best 157 not out in the umpire Richard Kettleborough, be encouraged he is part of the 30. months after he was suspended Shaminda Eranga (25 not out). drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi, and TV replays showed the ball India probables (men) Shikhar 1. Orlando Terranova (ARG/ over alleged dubious elections. “I am really happy to score 95, took full advantage of the drop missing the stumps. In the end Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Mini) 5hr 58min 00, 2. Nani Roma (ESP/Mini) 10:57, 3. Giniel “The decision came only sad to miss the hundred but it’s caught and bowled chance by it was Talha who had Prasanna, Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya De Villiers (RSA/Toyota) 12:38, because of a free and unbiased still an achievement considering Talha on Thursday when on the only wicket in the morning Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, MS 4. Stephane Peterhansel (FRA/ judiciary,” said Ashraf, appointed Pakistan had two of the best spin- nought, by hitting five boundaries session. Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Mini) 14:14, 5. Nasser Saleh Al by former president Asif Ali ners in the world,” said Perera, and a six off 256-balls. Mathews continued in the same Jadeja, R Ashwin, B Kumar, Attiyah (QAT/Mini) 20:57, Zardari. whose 95 is the highest overseas Junaid said Pakistan will have style, hitting Junaid for a bound- Mohammed Shami, Ishant “I have no grudges against any- score by a Sri Lankan on his to bat better. ary, and in his next over took a Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Stuart Overall standings (after 11 one and I will continue my mis- debut. “It’s a tough wicket but that’s single to complete his 13th half- Binny, Mohit Sharma, Kedar stages): sion to lift Pakistan cricket,” he Mathews once again anchored part of Test cricket to make an century. He continued to bat with Jadhav, Yuvraj Singh, Amit 1. Nani Roma (ESP/Mini) added. After Ashraf’s suspension, the Sri Lankan batting, defying effort to get wickets. We have to authority before his dismissal just Mishra, Rajat Bhatia, Sanju 45h 01min 54sec, 2. Stephane the Nawaz Sharif-led government Pakistan’s bowling for six hours bat better than Sri Lanka to win,” before tea. Samson, Ishwar Pandey, Umesh Peterhansel (FRA/Mini) 5:32, appointed veteran journalist before he fell to a miscued drive said Junaid. Perera and Eranga continued to Yadav, Unmukt Chand, Mandeep 3. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Najam Sethi as interim chair- off paceman Junaid Khan who fin- Resuming at 220-5, Sri Lanka’s frustrate Pakistan bowling, with Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Varun (QAT/Mini) 56:01, 4. Orlando man. In October last year Sharif ished with figures of 3-81. Talha batsmen batted solidly in both the Perera hitting Ajmal for a four Aaron, Shahbaz Nadeem, Parthiv Terranova (ARG/Mini) 1 h became the patron of the PCB. finished with 3-99 while spinner sessions. Pakistan did waste their and six to bring up Sri Lanka’s Patel, Karn Sharma 03:39, 5. Giniel De Villiers (RSA/ AFP Saeed Ajmal had 2-120. second referral when Mathews, on 400. REUTERS AGENCIES Toyota) 1 h 15:57. JANUARY 18, 2014 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 ON SATURDAY

Special Adviser of the Emir, H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani after presenting the Sheikh Abdullha Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy to the winners at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) in Doha. QREC Chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani, QREC General Manager Sami Jassim Al Boanain, winning Italian jockey Pier Convertino and other officials are also seen. RIGHT: Jockey Convertino exults after guiding Fouladh to victory in the QR1m race watched by a packed house at QREC. McIlroy moves into contention QSL: Al Khor stun Al Gharafa in Abu Dhabi ABU DHABI: Rory McIlroy stormed into contention at the Defending champions Al Sadd are held to a goalless draw by Al Ahli $2.7m Abu Dhabi Championship, carding a second-round 67 to leave him two shots off the lead DOHA: Qatar Stars League yesterday. (QSL) defending champions Al The former world number one Sadd yesterday were held to a covered the back nine in 31 to put goalless draw by Al Ahli but Al him seven under par at the half- Khor thumped former champi- way stage and in the slipstream of ons Al Gharafa 3-0. joint leaders Rafael Cabrera-Bello In the last match of the day, and Craig Lee. Spanish striker Sebastian Seaz “I got a few putts to drop on struck twice as Al Wakra ral- the back nine which was nice and lied from a goal down to shock I feel like I have a great chance Al Rayyan 2-1 in their round 15 of winning,” McIlroy, now ranked clash. seventh, said on the European For Al Rayyan, the only goal Tour website (www.europeantour. was scored by Abdullah Afifa in com). the 4th minute. “It would be nice to win your For second-placed Al Sadd, the first start of the season rather match was an important fixture than your last start. It’s exactly as a win yesterday could have what I wanted. It’s a great way to allowed the defending champions test your game under pressure.” to go past leaders Lekhwiya at the Scotland’s Lee, looking for his top of the points table. Eljaish are first European Tour win, claimed in third spot followed by Al Ahli. a share of the lead with a second For Al Khor, the heroes of round 67 and put an upturn in the day yesterday were William his short game down to having an de Lima Souza Jr (39), Madson astroturf putting green installed (53) and Julio Cesar (63) as Al in his front garden. Gharafa were left without a point “I think Santa has brought from the round 15 clash. me a good putting stroke for Today, Qatar SC host Muaither Christmas,” Lee said. (4:15pm), Al Sailiyah play Al Arabi “My brother installed an astro- at Al Rayyan Staidum (4:15pm), turf putting green in my front Al Khuraitiyat battle former garden at the end of last year and champions Lekhwiya at Al Khor that’s made a difference as I’ve Stadium (6:45pm) while Umm Al Khor’s Brazilian midfielder Madson (right) kicks the balls before scoring in front of Al Gharafa’s goalkeeper Mashaal Mubarak during their Qatar been able to keep putting every Salal have a date with Eljaish day. It’s 20 feet by 14 feet and the Stars League (QSL) match in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Al Khor’s Ali Jumaa (right) challenges Al Gharafa’s Muaid Hasan in the same match. Al Khor at Qatar SC Stadium (6:45pm). neighbours have been peering beat Al Gharafa 3-0. THE PENINSULA over the fence.” Overnight joint leader Cabrera- Bello fired a second-round 68 to continue his impressive start to the year. “I am playing well, putting good, and putting the ball in play, South Africa edge Pakistan for Doha title hitting the fairways and so I’m feeling confident,” he said. “Pretty DOHA: South Africa yesterday South Africa much I’m just happy with the way beat Pakistan by four wickets to I’m playing.” REUTERS players and lift the inaugural Qatar Women’s team officials International Championship Abu Dhabi Scores title after a tense final. celebrate after ABU DHABI: Complete Backed by solid batting from winning the second-round scores in the S Loubser, South Africa chased Qatar Women’s International $2.7m Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf down a modest total of 95 after Championship yesterday at the Pakistani batters failed to hit Championship par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club: their form at West End Park title at West 135 Craig Lee (SCO) 68-67, Rafael Cabrera- Stadium. End Park Bello (ESP) 67-68 Earlier, Loubser picked up Stadium 136 Danny Willett (ENG) 73-63, 137 two wickets to round up a great in Doha Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 70-67, Ricardo performance. yesterday. Gonzalez (ARG) 71-66, Rory McIlroy Pakistan failed to impress with Mana Ibrahim (NIR) 70-67 the bat with only three players Al Mana, 138 Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 73-65, George reaching double figures. Chairman West Coetzee (RSA) 68-70, Joost Luiten (NED) Opener Javeria Khan topped End Park, 68-70 with 30. Bismah Maroof (12) and gave away the 139 Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 69-70, Marcel Nida Dar (11) were the other Siem (GER) 69-70, Matthew Baldwin prizes. South players to reach double figures. (ENG) 67-72 Africa beat Saouth Africa’s S Ismail picked 140 Robert Karlsson (SWE) 73-67, Gaganjeet up three wickets while M Daniels Pakistan in Bhullar (IND) 72-68, Alejandro Canizares dismissed two batters. the final. The (ESP) 71-69, Peter Hanson (SWE) 70-70, In reply, T Chetty (13), M Kapp third team in Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 70-70, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 70-70, Paul McGinley (15) and A Fritz (19) chipped in the tournament was Ireland. (IRE) 68-72, Michael Hoey (NIR) 69-71, with useful contributions to set Tyrell Hatton (ENG) 69-71 up South Africa’s big win. The three 141 Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 73-68, South Africa reached their teams will Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 73-68, Otto target for the loss of 6 wickets in now play a Hennie (RSA) 70-71, Edoardo Molinari 43.3 overs. T20 series (ITA) 70-71, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 71-70, For Pakistan, Sumaiya Siddiqi at the same Jin Jeong (KOR) 70-71, Tom Lewis (ENG) and Nida Dar picked up two wick- venue starting 71-70, Oliver Fisher (ENG) 69-72, Martin ets each in a losing cause. tomorrow. Kaymer (GER) 70-71, Marc Warren (SCO) THE PENINSULA. 68-73, Dawie van der Walt (RSA) 68-73 JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Break Time

The Lunch Box (2D/Hindi) – 2.15 & 11.15pm SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER TV TEL: 444933989 444517001 LISTINGS 1 Drishyam (2D/Malayalam) – 4.30pm Sholay (3D/Hindi) – 7.30pm Frozen (3D/Animation) – 2.30 & 4.30pm 04:40 American 10:30 Science with August: Osage Country (2D/Comedy) 0500 Inter Channel 07:00 News 0600 Rugby, Heineken 07:30 Talk To Al Jazeera Digger Brain Café – 6.30 & 9.00pm 2 Cup, Leinster V 08:00 News 05:05 How Do They 11:00 LOL (Oye MALL Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2D/Action) Ospreys 08:30 News Do It? Lucky Lucky – 11.30pm 0745 Fa Cup Manchester 09:00 Witness 05:30 How It’s Made Oye) City V Blackburn 10:00 News 06:00 Sons Of Guns 14:00 Dance India Justin & The Knights Valour (3D/Animation) 0930 Omni Sport 10:30 Inside Story 07:00 Treehouse Dance Season – 3.00pm 1000 Nba Basketball, 11:00 News Masters 4 (Clubbed 07:50 You Have Been Repeat) Philomena (2D/Drama) – 5.00pm Oklahoma @ 11:30 Listening Post 3 Houston 12:00 News Warned 17:00 Fear Files Ash El Bolbol (2D/Arabic) – 7.15 & 9.15pm 1200 Rugby, Heineken 12:30 Counting the Cost 08:40 Mythbusters 17:30 Fear Files 09:30 Bear Grylls: A 18:00 Zee Connect Black Rock (2D/Horror) – 11.30pm Cup, Leinster V 13:00 NEWSHOUR Ospreys 14:00 News Day In... Season 4 Veeram (2D/Tamil) – 2.30pm 1400 Omni Sport 14:30 Inside Story 10:20 Driven To (Launch) 1430 Football Asia 15:00 28Up South Africa Extremes 18:30 Bh Se Bhade Jilla (2D/Tamil) – 5.30pm 1500 Transworld Sport 16:00 NEWSHOUR 11:10 River Monsters 19:30 Dance India 1 Ash El Bolbol (2D/Arabic) – 9.00pm 1600 Rugby, Heineken 17:00 News 12:00 Kings Of Crash Dance Season Cup, Saracens V 17:30 Africa on the Move 12:50 Kings Of Crash 20:00 Dance India The Lunch Box (2D/Hindi) – 11.00pm Connaught And 18:00 NEWSHOUR 13:40 Kings Of Crash Dance Season Justin & The Knights Valour (3D/Animation) Glasgow V Toulon 19:00 News – 3.00pm And Leicester V 19:30 People & Power Ulster 20:00 News Frozen (3D/Animation) – 5.00pm 2300 Football Asia 20:30 Inside Syria 2 Philomena (2D/Drama) – 7.00pm 2330 Ski Magazine 21:00 NEWSHOUR 04:15 Arthur 05:05 Swamp Brothers LANDMARK 2400 Spanish League; 22:00 News Christmas 05:30 Swamp Brothers August: Osage Country (2D/Comedy) Espanyol V Celta 22:30 Listening Post 06:00 Zambezia 06:45 Bondi Vet – 9.00 & 11.15pm Vigo 23:00 Al Jazeera World 08:00 Dragon 07:35 Swamp Brothers Ash El Bolbol (2D/Arabic) – 2.30pm Hunters 08:00 Meerkat Manor 10:00 Shark Tale 10:10 Weird Creatures Black Rock (2D/Horror) – 4.30pm 11:30 Ben 10: Race With Nick Baker The Book Thief (2D/Drama) – 6.15pm Against Time 11:30 Swamp Brothers 13:00 Arthur 12:00 Bondi Vet 3 Drishyam (2D/Malayalam) – 8.30pm Christmas 12:55 Wildest Islands 0800 English Premier 12:05 Prank Stars 14:45 Camp Nowhere 13:50 Too Cute! Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2D/Action) League World 12:15 That’s So Raven 16:30 Arthur’s 19:20 Outback – 11.30pm 0830 English Premier 12:35 Shake It Up Missing Pal Rangers Veeram (2D/Tamil) – 3.00pm League Football 13:00 A.N.T. Farm 18:00 Shark Tale 19:45 Outback Today 13:25 Jessie 20:00 Snowflake Rangers Philomena (2D/Drama) – 6.00pm 1030 English Premier 13:45 Austin And Ally 20:15 ER Vets 1 League Classic 14:10 Good Luck Charlie Karle Pyaar Karle (2D/Hindi) – 8.00pm Match 14:35 Mako Mermaids Jilla (2D/Tamil) – 10.30pm 1100 Football’s Greatest 15:05 Twitches Teams: Liverpool 16:25 Prank Stars Frozen (3D/Animation) – 2.30pm 1130 English Premier 16:35 A.N.T. Farm League World 17:00 Good Luck Charlie 04:00 Mad Buddies- 09:00 Rebuilding August: Osage Country (2D/Comedy) 1200 The Global Game 17:20 Austin And Ally 06:00 Ghostbusters- Titanic ROYAL – 4.30 & 7.00pm 1300 English Premier 17:45 Dog With A Blog 08:00 House Arrest- 11:00 Situation Critical 2 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2D/Action) League Match Pack 18:30 Wolfblood 10:00 The Money Pit- 12:00 Lords Of War PLAZA – 9.15pm 1330 English Premier 18:55 Gravity Falls 12:00 Mad Buddies- 12:30 Lords Of War League Preview 19:20 Mako Mermaids 14:00 Raising Arizona- 14:00 Inside The Book Thief (2D/Drama) – 11.15pm 1400 English Premier 19:40 Jessie 16:00 The Money Pit- 17:00 Rebuilding Ash El Bolbol (2D/Arabic) – 3.00 & 7.15pm League World 20:05 Austin And Ally 18:00 Delirious-PG15 Titanic Saturday Club 20:30 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Revenge Of The 18:00 Breakout Justin & The Knights Valour (3D/Animation) 2330 English Premier 20:50 Suite Life On Deck Nerds II: Nerds 19:00 Big, Bigger, 3 – 5.15pm League: Crystal 21:15 Suite Life On Deck In Paradise- Biggest Palace V Stoke 21:40 Shake It Up 22:00 Jackass: 20:00 World’s Toughest Black Rock (2D/Horror) – 9.30 & 11.30pm 0115 English Premier 22:00 Austin And Ally Number Two-R Fixes League: Norwich 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 21:00 Huge Moves

HYPER C RSO S W O RD

123456 789 10111213DOWN 26 Concern 1 Ole Miss rival 27 Sunshine State 14 15 16 2 Warlike deity vacation spot 3 Cookers for 28 Pontiac’s tribe 17 18 chickens and franks 29 Jungle vines

19 20 21 4 One who puts on a 31 Craggy hill show, maybe 34 Bank customer, at 22 23 24 25 26 27 5 “___ see it …” times 6 Summary 36 Land abutting Tibet 28 29 30 31 32 7 Ignores others’ 40 Latest sensation advice 45 By mistake 33 34 35 36 37 8 Irving Bacheller’s 47 Best … or worst 38 39 40 41 “___ Holden” 49 Actress Charlotte Yesterday’s answer 9 Stocks in great 52 Balkan resident 42 43 44 45 demand 54 That is How to play Hyper Sudoku: 10 Puts off 56 Possible reason for A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper 46 47 48 49 50 Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all 11 Longtime news an R rating regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like inits. 51 52 53 54 58 Meat seasoning a normal Sudoku. 12 Damage 59 Lumberjack, e.g. 55 56 57 58 59 13 Start of school? 60 Where: Lat. How to play Kakuro: 16 Provider of 61 San Francisco hill The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 60 61 62 63 64 directions? size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells name 21 Perch 62 Rap’s Dr. ___ like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 65 66 some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some 23 They’re unique 64 Imitate cells will contain two numbers. 25 Vicissitudes of life, 67 68 69 However, in a crossword the numbers reference as for the inventor clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! named in the circled They denote the total of the digits in the row or squares? column referenced by the number. ACROSS 38 Swabbie Within each collection of cells 1 Where some commuters 39 Ring separator ACDC ACE DES I LU - called a run - any drink 41 Brunched, say of the numbers 1 7 Chuckle sound THELORAX INTROS to 9 may be used 42 “Wheel of Fortune” request but, like sudoku, 10 Trash site 43 Resorts MANAL I VE STRODE each number may 14 Pique 44 Small piano only be used once. FRAME I SPS ANG 15 Better than normal 46 Herbicide target ETD STN GEEWHI Z Yesterday’s 17 ___ system 48 It’s in the air answer ESAU AGHAST ANO 18 Light 50 Tennis’s Agassi 19 Where 36-Down is 51 Size up ROX I E H I NGE 20 Silly 53 Engaged in some histrionics LEAPINL IZARDS Baby Blues by Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman 22 “That’s enough!” 55 Made believe DEALT PRANK 24 Hospital fluids 57 Santa ___, Calif. OMG I NA S E C S AG S 28 “The Price Is Right” 60 Hidden water menace HOLYCOW AHA TUT announcer Johnny 63 Swab target 30 Tater ___ 65 Island near NEE TEED GLARE 32 Squabble Tahiti GLENDA BYGEORGE 33 Like many arenas 66 Surgeon’s aid PAYTON ROADK I LL 35 What you may call it? 67 “That’ll be the day!” SWE A T Y OU T I S E E 37 Auto additive with a red oval 68 Felipe or Fernando logo 69 Not as long-winded ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

JANUARY 18, 2014 ON SATURDAY 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Morning Break

PRAYER TIME Bahrain airshow

Fajr (Dawn) 5:01 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:21 Zuhr (Noon) 11:44 Asr (Afternoon) 2:47 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:08 Isha (Night) 6:38

WEATHER

Today Sunday Weather Monday Conditions: Rain Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Misty at first becoming partly High: 22° High: 18° High: 20° cloudy to cloudy Low: 14° Low: 13° Low: 14° with chance of scattered rain may be thundery at times at places. DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA

SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:21 17:08 06:30 & 18:00 13:30 & 23:30 05-10/20 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 24/17 Clear 24/17 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 15/09 Rain 16/10 Chance of rain BAHRAIN 18/13 Chance of rain 17/14 Rain SANAA 24/07 Partly cloudy 22/04 Partly cloudy RIYADH 22/08 Chance of rain 20/08 Partly cloudy The Al Fursan aerobatics team of the United Arab Emirates Air Force performs with its Aermacchi MB-339NAT jet aircraft during the Bahrain DUBAI 24/16 Partly cloudy 22/15 Partly cloudy International Airshow, held at the Sakhir airbase, south of Manama, yesterday. BAGHDAD 17/08 Chance of rain 17/08 Clear

THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Chinese mum ATHENS 17/13 Partly cloudy 18/14 Partly cloudy Report: Cigarettes more WASHINGTON 02/-3 Partly cloudy 06/-1 Partly cloudy promises in ad SYDNEY 32/21 Partly cloudy 27/20 Chance of rain LONDON 12/05 Rain 09/03 Partly cloudy not to press PARIS 10/07 Partly cloudy 10/06 Cloudy harmful than thought ISTANBUL 14/09 Partly cloudy 15/10 Partly cloudy MANILA 28/22 Partly cloudy 28/22 Partly cloudy WASHINGTON: Smoking the United States have died from issued by the surgeon general, who son to marry DHAKA 27/16 Clear 27/17 Partly cloudy cigarettes can cause even more smoking-related diseases and ill- serves as the United States’ top MELBOURNE: A Chinese DELHI 16/09 Thunderstorm 19/09 Partly cloudy health problems than previ- nesses caused by second-hand spokesman on public health issues. mother has taken out a ISLAMABAD 20/04 Partly cloudy 19/06 Partly cloudy ously known, including liver and smoke. Previous surgeon generals’ front-page advertisement colon cancer, blindness, diabetes “Enough is enough,” said Acting reports have found that nicotine in a Melbourne newspaper and erectile dysfunction, said a Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, is addictive, that smoking impacts imploring her son to return major US government report warning that modern cigarettes nearly every organ of the body, and home for the new year holiday yesterday. are more potent and more danger- that there is no risk-free level of with a very public promise not Pets queue for blessing Top health officials gathered at ous than ever. exposure to second-hand smoke. to strong-arm him into find- the White House to announce the “Smokers today have a greater US research released last ing a wife. latest Surgeon General’s findings risk of developing lung cancer than week showed that despite a cut “Peng, I have called you on St Anthony’s Day on smoking, five decades after the they did when the first Surgeon in the smoking rate globally, the several times but you didn’t first landmark report of its kind General’s report was released in number of smokers in the world pick up,” read the message on MADRID: Dogs, cats, rabbits, to buy buns, traditionally kept alerted the public that cigarettes 1964, even though they smoke has climbed from 721 million in the front page of the Chinese ferrets and more exotic pets alongside a coin in a cupboard caused lung cancer. fewer cigarettes,” said Lushniak. 1980 to 967 million in 2012 due to Melbourne Daily — the south- flocked to a Madrid church yes- to be eaten on the feast of Saint Smoking remains the leading “How cigarettes are made and population growth and the gain- ern Australian city’s most terday to be blessed with holy Anthony the following year, sup- preventable cause of premature the chemicals they contain have ing popularity of cigarettes in the widely read Chinese-language water on Saint Anthony’s Day. posedly to ensure good health and death in the United States, killing changed over the years, and some developing world. newspaper, with a circulation of In the city centre, long queues to gain the blessing of the saint. nearly half a million Americans of those changes may be a factor “Across the world, tobacco kills 18,000. “Maybe this is the only of owners and pets stretched to The buns are baked according a year. in higher lung cancer risks.” six million of our fellow human way for you to get my message. the doors of the Church of Saint to a secret recipe meant to keep “Amazingly, 50 years in we are The smoking rate is way down beings every year,” said Sebelius. Mum and Dad will not pressure Anthony, patron saint of animals. them soft for longer. still finding out new ways that in the United States. Eighteen “Those are more than just num- you to get married ever again. “Through Saint Anthony, The festival has been celebrated tobacco maims and kills people,” percent of people here now smoke, bers. They are our parents, our Please come back home for the receive this blessing,” intoned in Madrid since the 19th century said Centers for Disease Control compared to 42 percent five dec- colleagues, our friends, our neigh- new year! Love, Mum.” 70-year-old priest Manuel Perez and is held in other parts of Spain and Prevention director Thomas ades ago. bours, our global partners and our For many young, urban as he sprinkled drops of holy such as the Balearic Islands in the Frieden. But if the rate does not drop children.” Chinese, the week-long lunar water on a terrier puppy. Mediterranean and the northern “Tobacco is even worse than we further, one in 13 children alive The report noted that new new year holiday — beginning Owners come for the bless- city of Burgos. knew it was.” today will be felled by a disease kinds of smoking are on the rise this year on January 31 — is a ing so their pets will be “cared Animals are said to have been Active smoking is now known linked to smoking, the report among youths, including flavored once-a-year chance to visit rel- for from here to up there,” said drawn to Saint Anthony through- to be a cause of 13 different can- added. tiny cigars and battery-powered atives in hometowns. It’s a time 21-year-old model Alvaro Lopez, out his life. cers, as well as diabetes and age- “We have made a lot of progress,” e-cigarettes that deliver nicotine when pressure to settle down with his long-nosed, racoon-like Born in Lisbon, Portugal in related macular degeneration, said said Health and Human Services without carbon monoxide or tar. and start a family can become coati. 1195, the saint is often depicted the report. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Cigarillos and e-cigarettes so intense that Chinese news- Nearby the waiting pets, addressing a menagerie of animals Smoking can also cause tuber- “But we are still a country very are not regulated as strictly as papers have dubbed it “mar- another queue of people waited attentively listening to his words. culosis, erectile dysfunction, facial much addicted to tobacco.” tobacco. riage pressure season”. Stories outside a separate church door AFP clefts in babies, ectopic pregnancy, The cost of smoking in America The report called for experts abound of desperate single- rheumatoid arthritis, inflamma- is more than $289bn a year in to monitor new tobacco products, tons hiring strangers to pose tion, impaired immune function, direct medical care and other but said there is not enough data as significant others during and worsens the outlook for can- economic losses, the report said. to conclude that nicotine alone their annual trips home. Some cer patients and survivors. It blamed the ongoing smok- causes or contributes to cancer in Chinese shopping websites offer Those who do not smoke but ing epidemic on the “aggressive humans. fake boyfriends at hourly rates. are exposed to second-hand smoke strategies of the tobacco industry, Nicotine has, however, been According to the Taiwan- face an increased risk of stroke, which has deliberately misled the shown to pose dangers for preg- based news website Want China said the report. public on the risks of smoking nant mothers and can harm a Times, the advert’s author lives Since the first report in 1964, cigarettes.” developing fetus. in the southern Chinese city of more than 20 million people in Yesterday’s report was the 32nd AFP Guangzhou; her son decided to stay in Melbourne after the completion of an academic pro- gramme. Peng’s parents have “figured it out and will not pressure him for marriage”, Coming: Sugar-sensing contact lens the website quoted a newspa- per employee as saying. “They SAN FRANCISCO: The were underway with the US Food readings about once a second. only hope that their son is safe Google lab known for working and Drug Administration. Researchers are looking into and comes home for the new on unusual projects like self- The project was described as integrating tiny lights that would year as family union is the most driving cars is crafting a contact being in its early days, and part- warn when blood sugar levels go important thing.” lens that could help diabetics ners were being sought to make above or below threshold levels, Pictures of the advertise- manage blood sugar levels. the lenses marketplace reality. according to the blog post. ment, published on January 14, “We’re now testing a smart “As you can imagine, tears “We’ve always said that we’d struck a nerve on Chinese social contact lens that’s built to meas- are hard to collect and study,” seek out projects that seem a bit media websites. While most ure glucose levels in tears,” project the Google X lab team members speculative or strange,” Otis and comments on Sina Weibo, the co-founders Brian Otis and Babak said. Parviz said. country’s most popular microb- Parviz said on Thursday in a blog “We wondered if miniaturised “At a time when the log, sympathised with the man, post. electronics — think chips and sen- International Diabetes Federation others upbraided him for lack- The lens works “using a tiny sors so small they look like bits of is declaring that the world is ‘los- ing filial piety. “That old mother wireless chip and miniaturised glitter, and an antenna thinner ing the battle’ against diabetes, we is rich, long-winded, stubborn, glucose sensor that are embed- than a human hair — might be thought this project was worth and has no fear of losing face,” ded between two layers of soft the way to crack the mystery of a shot.” wrote one user. “No wonder her contact lens material,” Otis and tear glucose and measure it with Google cited figures indicating son fled the country and isn’t Parviz said. greater accuracy.” that diabetes affects one in every willing to return.” They said prototypes have Prototype lenses being tested 19 people on the planet. THE GUARDIAN A priest blesses a dog outside Madrid’s San Anton Church yesterday. undergone clinical tests and talks at Google X can generate glucose AFP