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Wednesday 5 March 2014 4 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5994 Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Teach For Qatar launched Bahrain puts UAE verdict three groups on Qatari on terror list MANAMA: Bahrain black- listed three anti-government groups as terrorist organisa- tions yesterday, a day after a bomb killed two local policemen unfair: NHRC and an officer from the United Arab Emirates, state news agency BNA said. ‘We’ll fight to bring Al Jaidah back’ The attack has raised fears of more violence in the Sunni DOHA: The country’s human makes the process illegal, added Muslim-ruled kingdom, where rights watchdog said yesterday Al Merri. opposition groups led by major- that it will pursue the case of According to international ity Shias have staged protests for Qatari physician Dr Mohammed standards, such a case should the past three years demanding Al Jaidah, who was sentenced not be dealt by a single court political reform and an end to to seven years in jail by a UAE but should go through different perceived discrimination. court on Monday, “until he is courts, giving the defendant the The cabinet, meeting in released”. right to appeal, he noted emergency session in Manama, NHRC Chairman Ali bin Meanwhile, Amnesty H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani and H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al put the “so-called February 14 Simaikh Al Merri described the International yesterday asked the Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, at the launch of Teach For Qatar, a non-governmental organisation that movement, Saraya Al Ashtar court verdict as unfair, saying Al UAE authorities to immediately seeks to attract Qatari graduates to the public education system, yesterday. Report on page 2 (Ashtar Brigade) and Saraya Al Jaidah’s trial didn’t comply with quash the conviction of Al Jaidah, Muqawama (Resistance Brigade) internationally approved judicial saying the verdict came “after a and any group associated or standards. grossly unfair trial.” allied to them on lists of terror- “The NHRC will not consider “Today’s disgraceful sentenc- ist groups”, BNA said. the issue as closed. We will con- ing of Mahmoud Al Jaidah is a The decision effectively out- tinue working using all possible farce and makes a mockery of LPG ban a blow for eateries laws these groups and makes legal channels until we secure the UAE’s claim to be a pro- their members subject to Al Jaidah’s release and bring gressive country that respects BY MOHAMMED OSMAN In the absence of cooking gas, restaurant said he would have imprisonment. him home,” Qatar News Agency human rights. He was arrested most eateries are functioning no option but to close down. BNA said 25 suspects in quoted Al Merri as saying. without a warrant, blindfolded DOHA: Several eateries at fuel only partially. Some leading fast “For using electricity we have to Monday’s bombing in the vil- The Federal Supreme Court in and flung into solitary confine- stations are struggling to cope food outlets have switched over to change the whole equipment. We lage of Daih, west of the capital Abu Dhabi found Al Jaidah guilty ment before being repeatedly without LPG following an order electric stoves since they already are paying QR23,000 as monthly Manama, had been rounded up. of “supporting a secret illegal tortured, ill-treated and forced by the authorities to immedi- have the facilities to use both gas rent, and if we use electricity it Speaking on Bahraini state organisation” in the UAE (The to sign papers he wasn’t allowed ately stop its use for cooking. and electricity. will cost us heavily. Finally, we television, Interior Minister banned Al Islah group). to read,” said Said Boumedouha, Woqod, which supplies LPG Some others are serving only would be forced to shut down Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah Al “The court’s verdict is final and Deputy Director of Amnesty cylinders and tanks to these barbecued food, which can be and move to another location,” Khalifa condemned the attack cannot be appealed according International’s Middle East and eateries, has been busy emptying cooked on charcoal. An Arab res- he said. and blamed Iran for instability in to the UAE law… International North Africa Programme. them over the past two days. taurant was seen preparing sha- The manager of an Indian res- the island kingdom. “As we have human rights groups including “The evidence against him A Woqod team, supported by warma using charcoal, with the taurant said they had stopped said before, what happens inside Amnesty had said that Al Jaidah appears scant and his trial was Ministry of Interior staff, was smoke spreading inside causing cooking food in their kitchen fol- our country has foreign links. didn’t receive a fair trial,” said Al marred by flaws. The charges he seen at the Abu Hamour petrol inconvenience to the customers. lowing the authorities’ order. We have announced publicly that Merri. faced were politically motivated. station last morning, moving “It is difficult to make sha- “We are bringing food from foreign training sessions were Al Jaidah was subject o torture He has become the latest victim from one eatery to another, emp- warma and fatair on charcoal. another eatery that we run in the organised and hosted at Iranian during the long detention and of the UAE’s deeply flawed judicial tying LPG tanks and cylinders. But we have to meet our expenses city. But we need gas to keep the Revolutionary Guard camps that he was not allowed to meet his system.” The eateries will be reimbursed and pay the employees,” said the food warm,” he said. operated with official backing,” lawyer individually. His confes- Continued on page 6 for their losses, a team member restaurant manager. Continued on page 6 he said. sion was taken by force and this THE PENINSULA told this daily. The owner of another Arab THE PENINSULA REUTERS

Court bans activities of Hamas in Egypt Blast victims treated according

CAIRO: An Egyptian court the army ousted one of its lead- 2011 uprising that toppled auto- of declaring Hamas a terrorist to international standards: HMC yesterday banned all Hamas ers, Mohamed Mursi, from the crat Hosni Mubarak. group, saying the court did not DOHA: Hamad Medical victims treated by our hospital on activities in Egypt in another presidency in July. The military-buttressed have the jurisdiction to do so. Corporation (HMC) yesterday Thursday. After a review of our sign that the military-backed “The court has ordered the authorities now classify Hamas as Hamas condemned the ruling. denied a report carried by The medical records and interviews government aims to squeeze the banning of Hamas’s work and a significant security risk, accus- “The decision harms the image Peninsula on Monday, March 3, with clinicians, we have concluded Palestinian Islamist group that activities in Egypt,” the judge, ing it of supporting an Islamist of Egypt and its role towards 2014 (Blast victims hit by HMC that both patients were treated rules the neighbouring Gaza who asked not to be named, said. insurgency that has spread the Palestinian cause. It reflects exit order). according to international best Strip. During his year in power, quickly since Mursi’s fall, allega- a form of standing against In response to The Peninsula practice and received clinically Hamas is an offshoot of Egypt’s Mursi gave red-carpet treat- tions the Palestinian group denies. Palestinian resistance (to Israel),” report, Ali Al Khater, Executive appropriate, high-quality care”. Muslim Brotherhood, which the ment to Hamas, angering many The court also ordered the clo- said Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokes- Director, HMC claimed that two THE PENINSULA authorities have declared a ter- secular and liberal Egyptians who sure of Hamas offices in Egypt, man for the Gaza-based militant blast victims mentioned in the rorist group and which they have saw this as part of a creeping one of the judges overseeing the organisation. report were treated according to  repressed systematically since Islamist takeover following the case said. The judge stopped short REUTERS international best practice and Excerpts from HMC letter to The Peninsula they received clinically appropri- - Page 4 ate, high-quality care. Woqod not responsible for The four-page clarifica- gas tank blast - Page 4 Sisi hints at run for presidency tion note said: “Yesterday, The Blast victim recounts har- Peninsula reported a factually rowing experience - Page 4 Saudi bans ads inaccurate story about two of the for energy drinks RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has imposed a total ban on adver- tisements for energy drinks and prohibited their sale in edu- Putin, Obama in war of words cational and sports facilities and government buildings due LONDON: Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama traded accusations to health concerns, local press over the crisis in Ukraine yesterday, with the Russian leader seeking reported yesterday. to blame the Americans for the growing international stand-off as The decision was taken follow- the US president all but accused Putin of breaking international law. ing an interior ministry study The barbed exchanges, a sign of the escalating tensions between of the “adverse effects of energy Washington and Moscow, came as Putin delivered his first public drinks,” English-language daily remarks on the crisis — ruling out a war days after his forces took Arab News said, without naming control of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, but reserving the right any of the brands affected. to use force to protect Russian speakers in the east of the country “as The ban on advertisements a last resort”. and promotions includes all print, Speaking from his country residence outside Moscow, Putin portrayed audio and visual media, Arab Kiev as being in the grip of “terror, extremists and nationalists” ram- News said citing a government paging on the streets. Putin described what is broadly seen as a Russian statement. land grab in Crimea as “a humanitarian mission”. Energy drink companies will no Obama and John Kerry, the US secretary of state, responded in appar- longer be allowed to sponsor social, ent disbelief after Putin maintained there were no Russian forces occu- cultural and sporting events, and Egypt’s army chief, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al Sisi (second right) pins a medal on a military cadet at the pying Crimea. Kerry accused the Kremlin of “hiding its hand behind will have to put health warning end of a ceremony to mark the end of the basic military training preparation period for college students and falsehoods, intimidation, and provocations”. labels on their products, it said. military academics at the military college in Cairo yesterday. See also page 7 THE GUARDIAN AFP See also page 10 WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Sheikha Hind launches ‘Teach For Qatar’ Qatar’s first NGO for education to bring young graduates into public education system

BY FAZEENA SALEEM can continue to contribute to the drive this week to attract young development of Qatar’s education talents around Doha. DOHA: Qatar’s first non- system through career pathways Interested university students governmental organisation for developed by TFQ alongside and young professionals can test education ‘Teach For Qatar’ Qatari institutions across vari- their knowledge of core subjects, (TFQ) was launched yester- ous sectors. sample teaching experience and day by H E Sheikha Hind bint “I call upon our youth who interact with TFQ members and Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani have benefited from the flour- apply for the fellowship at infor- at Katara Hall in the pres- ishing of higher education in mational booths to be set up at ence of H H Sheikha Moza bint Qatar to take advantage of this Hamad bin Khalifa University Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar opportunity to give back to their Student Centre in the Education Foundation. community and be part of a proc- City and Qatar University. TFQ seeks to bring Qatar’s ess of change that perhaps they “We are proud of the growing young graduates into the pub- once dreamed of effecting when collaboration between us and the lic education system and make they were young students,” said Independent schools that will be changes in the classroom and Sheikha Hind, Chairman of TFQ. taking TFQ fellows on board,” society. “I’m fully confident that the said Mohammed Fakhroo, It will recruit 30 talented young team and the Independent Managing Director, TFQ. university graduates and young schools partnering with them “I thank them for their trust professionals from various will make a difference in Qatar’s in the initiative, and look for- backgrounds and specialisa- education,” she added. ward to welcoming more partner tions, provide teacher training TFQ is the 32nd member schools.” and place them as teachers in of the Teach For All — The The initiative has been wel- 10 Independent schools across Global Network for Expanding comed by Independent schools, Qatar for a two year ‘fellowship.’ Educational Opportunity with 10 of which have signed agree- They will continue to receive a mission that one day all chil- ments with TFQ to hire teach- additional training, mentorship, dren will have the opportunity ers recruited and trained by the and regular reviews throughout to attain an excellent education. organisation. the fellowship. Around 2,000 stu- It’s a global network estab- “I also call upon other schools dents are likely to benefit in the lished in countries around the to join the programme to develop first year. world, including Lebanon, the the education system in Qatar,” Upon completion of the two- UK, Malaysia and Japan. said Fakhroo. H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at the launch of TFQ at Katara Hall yesterday. year teaching placement, fellows TFQ will begin its recruitment THE PENINSULA

QRC to train school students in first aid DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent in 2008-2009 that targeted 20 injured, initial response to an (QRC) yesterday announced ‘I Independent schools in Qatar,” accident. am a paramedic’ programme, Rashid bin Saad Al Mohannadi, He praised the Ras Laffan’s providing first aid training Director, QRC Al Khor Branch, programme for sponsoring the for students of 19 schools in Al told a press conference. project, noting that the part- Shamal in the northern region He said this year the project nership was a long-standing one of Qatar. will operate in collaboration with that builds on experiences. The programme, sponsored by partners and target 19 schools, Moza Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, Ras Laffan Community Outreach providing them with training Senior Operations Officer, Ras Programme with QR1m, will in cardiopulmonary resuscita- Laffan Community Outreach start from the beginning of tion, as well as how to deal with Programme, and Ahmed bin school year 2014-15, targeting choking, bleeding, fractures, nose Ali Al Mohannadi, ORYX GTL students aged 10 to 17 year. bleeding, burns, eye injuries, in Vice Executive President for “It will serve students in the addition to special cases such as Administrative Affairs were Rashid bin Saad Al Mohannadi, Director, QRC Al Khor Branch, addressing the press conference yesterday. northern region and follows on patients with epilepsy, asthma, present. from a project launched by QRC poisoning and how to move the THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Free city tour for QA transit 192 food outlets temporarily shut in 2013 passengers DOHA: Qatar Airways, in association with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), yesterday announced to offer free Doha city tour to its pas- sengers in transit. “Our aim is to promote Qatar as a tourism destination and provide Qatar Airways’ passen- gers with a unique experience of Doha for free,” said Nigel Burnell Stoker, acting Head of Qatar Airways Holidays. “Based on feedback we have Civic officials with inspectors at the honouring ceremony. received since February 1, it is clear that passengers transiting DOHA: The Doha Municipality Katara on Saturday to honour toilets were used for the purpose. eateries because of the nature of “Big restaurants need to fol- in Doha enjoy city tour. We cur- ordered temporary closure of municipal inspectors. “This was not a matter of viola- their work and the higher number low international standards but rently operate four daily tours, 192 food outlets last year for Mohammed Al Sayed, Director tion of the food law. Immediately of complaints from customers,” he minor mistakes could happen by running at full capacity.” failure to comply with health of the municipality, honoured we closed the facility and trans- said. workers,” he added. Passengers with five to 12 standards and regulations. A 47 male and 27 female inspec- ferred the case for legal action. It Following inspections, 5,528 He said his section is moni- hours transit time can book the total of 171 of the outlets were tors from seven branches of the will remain closed until the court tonnes of different types of food toring traditional kitchens serv- tour by visiting the Doha City in the Industrial Area, a senior section in recognition of their issues its verdict,” he said. were destroyed because they were ing food for weddings and other Tour counter at the airport. official has said. good work last year. The event The section conducted 31,935 not fit for human consumption. gatherings. Booking is done on a first- Of these, 47 were closed for was sponsored by Ooredoo and inspections at eateries and food “We took 1,363 samples for “We have not received any com- come, first-served basis and is violating the food monitoring Movenpick. outlets across the city last year checking at government labora- plaints about food served for wed- subject to seat availability in law, while 145 failed to meet The head of the section said and recorded 3,597 violations of tories and 1,256 were found fit for dings but we keep monitoring.” the coach. The duration of the standards and specifications, said a major violation detected since rules. consumption and 17 unfit. Ninety At the ceremony, officials tour is around three hours, and Mohammed Al Sayed, Head of the the beginning of this year was in The highest number of viola- samples didn’t meet standards praised the hard work and dedi- it takes passengers on a journey health monitoring section at the Mansoura, where a fake company tions were detected at eateries — and specifications,” he said. cation of the inspectors and sup- through the key landmarks, municipality. was found using labour accommo- 934 — and the smallest at food He said his department did not port of sponsors for activities of including Museum of Islamic He was speaking to this daily dations for cooking and storing processing units — four. discriminate between a five-star the section. Art, the Corniche, West Bay, on the sidelines of a ceremony at huge quantities of food. Even the “There were more violations at facility and a small eatery. THE PENINSULA Katara Cultural and Heritage Village, The Pearl Qatar and Souq Waqif. “Overall, we are seeing strong growth in all aspects of Qatar’s tourism sector, including the number of visitors each year and Social, economic optimism high among people: Survey the contribution of tourism to diversifying the national econ- DOHA: Social and economic opti- computed from answers given by the sur- low-income expats 73.6. high-income expats and 84 for low-income omy, as per the Qatar National mism is high among Qataris, high- and vey’s respondents), followed by high-income The survey also revealed optimism for expats. Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 low-income expats, according to Qatar (86.7) and low-income expats (84.5). future economic conditions, with citizens Dr Darwish Alemadi, Director and announced last week,” said Quarterly Survey, an opinion-monitor- The index is an indicator of the degree of giving a rating of 92.0, high-income expats Associate Vice-President for Research, Rashed Al Qurese, Director ing poll by Qatar University’s Social and optimism or pessimism people express with 89.5 and low-income expat 88.2. SESRI, said: “The survey seeks to quan- of Marketing and Promotions, Economic Survey Research Institute respect to their financial situation and the Respondents indicated a positive out- tify anecdotal sentiments among people. QTA. “QTA is proud of these (SESRI). overall state of the economy, affecting their look when rating Qatar as a place to live Its findings will benefit key business figures developments, as we work with The survey is part of the first round expenditures. A higher consumer confi- now, one year ago, and one year from now. and policymakers.” partners to promote Qatar as a of telephone surveys by QQS, the insti- dence index is generally associated with Ratings were based on a scale from 0 to 100, Dr Abdoulaye Diop, Head of Research destination of choice and show- tute’s new initiative to collect feedback more purchases and economic expansion. with 0 representing the worst place to live, and QQS Principal Investigator, SESRI, case the wide range of tourism from nationals and high- and low-income Asked to evaluate their financial condi- and 100 the best place to live. said the findings “mark the beginning of a offerings.” The tour is conducted expats to gauge attitudes and views on mat- tion and share their economic expectations, One-year-ago ratings showed 84 for citi- series of surveys to monitor and compare in an air-conditioned coach with ters of public importance. It covered 1,600 respondents’ answers revealed an upward zens, 75 for high-income expats and 69 for economic and social perceptions over time. English-speaking guide provid- respondents. trend, indicating relative financial security low-income expats. Current-year ratings The indices will serve as a benchmark for ing information and insight into Citizens presented the highest ratings and optimistic prospects for the future. showed 92 for citizens, 79 for high-income upcoming surveys”. Information on QQS Doha. THE PENINSULA (90.4) in consumer confidence (Qatar On their economic conditions, citizens expats and 77 for low-income expats. Year- can be accessed at http://sesri.qu.edu.qa/ Consumer Confidence Index, which is rated 85.5, high-income expats 78.0, and ahead ratings showed 94 for citizens, 85 for qqs THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Woqod is ‘not Minister urges human responsible for development strategy gas tank blast’ Al Sada inaugurates Qatar Petroleum HR Conference BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB DOHA: The Minister of Management”. The speakers and cylinders, but it is not possible to Energy and Industry and included Dr Richard Leete and DOHA: Giving a new twist to the control everybody,” he added. Chairman of Qatar Petroleum Badria Al Harami, Director and Istanbul Restaurant blast theo- Asked if he was sure the gas tank H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Senior Researcher, respectively, ries, a senior official of Woqod did not cause the blast, he insisted: Al Sada yesterday inaugu- at the Department of Social claimed yesterday that the 1,000- “No, it did not explode, but the con- rated the Qatar Petroleum Development of the Ministry litre gas tank at the restaurant nection pipe was broken and some HR Conference, which has of Development Planning was not the cause of the explosion gas leaked through the pipe which attracted over 250 human and Statistics (MDPS). The and it was nearly intact even after caught fire, which was eventually resources professionals from other speakers were Shabir it fell down on the floor from the contained with the help of Civil the country’s energy and Hussain, Talent Management, rooftop. Defence and our staff, then the valve industry sector. Omanisation and Recruitment “We are not part of this incident. was shut. After that there was no In his opening address, Dr Al Manager of Petroleum Our tank was safe. We pumped out pressure in the tank so it did not Sada said: “This event is a sig- Development Oman (PDO); and nearly 500 litres of gas after the explode.” nificant opportunity to address Graham Sparks, Vice President explosion,” said Mohammad Khalifa He said that Woqod practises the challenges facing our sector, for Diversity & Inclusion and Turki Al Sobai, Vice-Chairman and stringent regulation, from the mainly those related to attract- Talent at Shell. Today, the forum Managing Director of Woqod. installation of tanks to quality con- ing and retaining professionals will revolve around the theme Al Sobai, said: “Unfortunately it trol, inspection, approval and other with specialised technical and H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada addressing the HR Conference. “Human Capital Engagement”. happened, and we are sorry for that, things. There is no problem on our operational skills. The speakers will be David but what I would like to say that our part, but if somebody abuses the sys- “It is a major problem that market to achieve the required that motivate the work environ- Lofquist, Human Resources tank was on the rooftop, and after tem, we cannot do much.” often surfaces due to the scar- balance under our commit- ment in our sector by attracting Director for Russia at the explosion it fell down to the floor, On the possible cause of the blast, city of some disciplines and the ment to the pillars of Qatar qualified staff, protecting their ExxonMobil; Ricardo Sookdeo, and the tank was full of gas, which he said: “I actually have no idea what recruitment competition by National Vision and the National rights, ensuring their safety, and Head of Group Talent & we pumped out.” went wrong. There might have been companies in the oil and gas Development Strategy.” retaining those with remarkable Performance Management Al Sobai, while speaking to report- some leak in the system, or some- sector. The energy and indus- The Minister stressed that skills.” at Maersk; and Carolina ers on the sidelines of the company’s body must have kept an oven open.” try sector needs to place enough “this will require developing Held at the Four Seasons Pretzel, Deputy VP for Human AGM, added: “We have about 2,800 Al Sobai, the outgoing vice-chair- emphasis on coordinating our the human resources manage- Hotel Doha, the first day of the Resources, Communications & similar park-tanks of various capaci- man, of the company said: “The human development strategy in ment systems and policies with Qatar Petroleum HR Conference CSR at Total E&P Qatar. ties across the country, but we never capacity of the tank was 1,000 litres, line with the demands of the job specified criteria and standards focused on theme “Talent THE PENINSULA came across such incidents because but it had nearly 750 litres of gas at everybody was using them in a the time of accident, and we pumped proper way. What happened in the about 500 litres after the incident.” restaurant blast is a matter that is Commenting on reports that the still under investigation.” tank was filled just 30 minutes before He said that Woqod, due to safety the blast, he said: “That’s true, but Sheraton Doha concerns, prefers to place all such it was not the first time we filled a tanks on roof tops to avoid any dam- tank. We fill these tanks after a gap QTA to showcase best age from traffic and pedestrians. of every two days for several years. to be closed “We have been providing such The incident did not happen because services over the last seven years. we filled it. It happened because of for renovation Usually we try to advise customers something else that we don’t know.” of Qatar at ITB Berlin about the handling of LPG gas tanks THE PENINSULA DOHA: Sherat on D oh a hot el , one DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is German and European market by focusing on of Doha’s most recognised land- leading the largest delegation of officials and buyers from the incentive, luxury travel and lei- marks, will be closed from today representatives of government authorities, major sure sectors, including associations, conference due to major renovation and will hotels and top destination management com- organisers, incentive planners and large group re-open in December this year, Blast victim recounts panies to International Tourism Bourse (ITB) travel organisers. Katara Hospitality, which owns Berlin, the biggest European travel trade show. Known as a progressive business hub, Qatar is Sheraton, said yesterday. The event from today to March 9 is expected well positioned to take advantage of the MICE The transformation the to attract more than 10,000 exhibitors from 180 market in the Middle East, offering state-of-the- 32-year-old five-star hotel harrowing experience countries and more than 170,000 senior travel art venues with a harmonious blend of upscale includes the full makeover of all professionals, officials and international media leisure and cultural attractions. guest rooms, public areas, rec- DOHA: Even as Hamad Medical foreign elements from his body. to discover latest industry opinion and trends. “The tourism industry in Qatar has wit- reation facilities and the con- Corporation (HMC) claims that As The Peninsula reported yester- Led by QTA, the Qatar Pavilion will highlight nessed rapid growth and development, including ference and meetings space. Its its emergency department had day, Mohammed visited Madinath the best of Qatar and position the country as the recent launch of National Tourism Sector food and beverage offer will also treated the blast victims accord- Khalifa primary health centre on the world’s new destination and a central hub in Strategy 2030 which aims to position Qatar on be enhanced. “This is a strate- ing to ‘international best practice’, Monday evening. the region for business, leisure, culture, educa- the international tourism map as a world class gic decision. When the Sheraton Mohammed Iqbal Ismail, one of the As the health centre denied treat- tion and sport. The delegation will focus on buyer hub with deep cultural roots. Our participation in Doha re-opens in December 2014, victims, has been running from ment, he went to HMC, but was meetings and interacting with counterparts in the show will allow us to showcase the country’s it will strengthen its position as primary health centres to HMC for again rejected for want of manda- the German and European tourism industry to ambitious tourism industry and unique offerings.” Doha’s most iconic property, the past three days seeking follow- tory health card. raise interest in Qatar as a business and leisure With continental Europe a key export market with the highest standards of up treatment. “I almost broke down at the hos- travel destination. for tourism, QTA is aiming at replicating its suc- luxurious and modern facilities Mohammed told this paper yes- pital. After listening to my story, a Rashed Al Qurese, Marketing Director, QTA, cess with business and sports tourism in other in all aspects of its operations,” terday that he did not remember the couple of Qatari lady officials came said “This is a sophisticated market with discern- fields such as leisure, urban (entertainment and said the spokesperson of Katara emergency department administer- to my rescue. ing travellers seeking new and different vacation shopping) and sun and beach tourism. Hospitality. ing any kind of pain relief to him “ heard them shouting to some offi- experiences. We are seeing a very encouraging International events like ITB Berlin and the The company said that all cus- before his multiple cuts got stitched. cials inside the room. Soon I got the growth in interest from the German market and opening of international offices in UK and France, tomers with room, food and bev- He said he was writhing in pain health card. But I was asked to visit a are confident that Qatar has what it takes to meet and the soon to open German office provide an erage, or event bookings would for five hours. He said it was only primary health centre,” Mohammed and exceed expectations of visitors from this part ideal platform for Qatar to meet tourism deci- be offered alternative options at after producing his identification said, lying in his bed. of the world.” sionmakers from around the world and reach its one of the company’s other Doha card that they tried to remove the THE PENINSULA QTA will represent and promote Qatar in the target markets. THE PENINSULA properties. THE PENINSULA Both patients received high quality medical care: HMC official

DOHA: Following are excerpts HMC ambulance to our emer- 12:33: Patient was taken for a CT scan another patient was rushed to life threatening and the patient 13:53 (1 Mar) :Arrived in HGH emer- from a letter addressed to The gency department. He was then 13:05:CT scan report showed nor- discharge without proper treat- was stable. gency department with concern Peninsula by Ali Al Khater, followed up continuously by two mal results however it indi- ment. This is also an inaccurate 11:10: Patient was registered and about his eye Executive Director, Corporate more doctors before he provided cated there were foreign bodies statement. The evidence shows transferred to the male urgent 14:10 Patient was assessed by doctor Communications at Hamad identification. This is clear evi- present in soft tissues that Mr Sarafudheen was thor- area and referred to ophthalmolo- Medical Corporation dence that he was given full access 16:00: Patient reported he was not in oughly examined and treated by 11 :30: Patient was administered pain gist. He was thoroughly exam- Emergency care is provided to emergency care without hesi- pain. He was seen by a surgeon five doctors who agreed he did relief ined by an ophthalmologist who free of charge to all those who tation. At all times while in our in the See and Treat area who not need inpatient care on the 12:25: Patient seen by another doctor determined he should stay in need it, with or without identifi- care his condition was stable, as noted multiple cuts to his face, day of the incident. They gave who determined his breathing emergency for a comprehensive cation. It is categorically not true assessed and reassessed by a total neck and forearm. Wounds him proper follow up advice to be and circulation were normal examination. After a series of that any patients who arrive at of seven doctors who agreed he were cleaned and sutured under checked daily through primary and noted he had a wound tests the ophthalmologist con- our facility are denied treatment did not require inpatient care. Mr local anesthetic. care to monitor his progress. on his face near the eye and cluded the patient required due to the absence of identifica- Ismail was released with medi- 17:00: Patient was returned to male This advice proved to be sound. scalp. He noted the patient had inpatient care due to pres- tion. We seek confirmation of cations to prevent infection and urgent area for re-evaluation As is common in blunt force inju- a minor head injury and was sure that had built up in the identity prior to discharge, not pain along with follow up instruc- 17:40: Patient was re-evaluated by two ries, swelling during recovery can complaining of pain in the arms. eye subsequent to the original prior to treatment. Such confir- tions for his care. more doctors who checked his sometimes result in subsequent 13:30: Patient was given xrays on the injury. Patient was referred to mation is mandated, particularly pain status after medication difficulties. In Mr Sarafudheen’s left and right wrists and fore- Rumailah Hospital for inpatient in incidents such as these, when The following took place in and concluded he was ready case his diligence in following our arms. Report showed normal treatment. proper identification of all casual- relation to Mr Ismail’s treat- for discharge doctor’s instructions led to his eye results. 19:30: Patient was transferred to RH ties is so important. ment while under our special- 18:30: Patient was discharged with injury being assessed and treated 14:20: CT scan was ordered via HMC patient transfer unit On Monday, The Peninsula ist care: prescription and advice for fol- quickly and comprehensively 20:34: CT scan report showed normal where he was admitted and is reported a factually inaccu- low up treatment in our specialist ophthalmol- results with a small bruise on currently being treated by our rate story about two of the vic- Action taken by HMC to treat 18:48:Patient acquired his medica- ogy inpatient care at Rumailah the head. No eye injury, frac- highly trained specialists. tims treated by our hospital on Mr Mohamad Iqbal Ismail: tion at the pharmacy and left Hospital. tures or contusions were present. Thursday. After a review of our the hospital 22:30: Patient was reassessed by a HMC can assure your readers medical records and interviews 11:00: Patient arrived by HMC ambu- 23:30:Patient returned to the emer- The following took place in doctor and complained of back that our emergency system has with clinicians, we have concluded lance at HGH Emergency gency department complaining relation to Mr Sarafudheen’s pain. XRAYS to chest, complete provided optimal and appropri- that both patients were treated Department and was immedi- of swelling and pain. He was treatment while under our spe- spine were ordered and con- ate emergency response to all according to international best ately triaged by a trauma sur- triaged and vital signs were cialist care: ducted. All results were normal. patients involved in the three practice and received clinically geon who determined he was noted to be stable. No fever was 1 :15 (28 Feb): Patient was reassessed major incidents on 27 February. appropriate, high quality care. stable and his injuries were not present. Action taken by HMC to treat by another two doctors who HMC also wishes to assure the The story reports that life threatening 1 :00 (28 Feb): Patient was seen by two Mr Sarafudheen: noted the patient was feeling public of its continuous commit- Mohamad Iqbal Ismail waited five 11:02:Patient was registered and doctors who assessed him better with analgesia and that ment to bringing world-class hours, until he produced identi- moved to the male urgent area 1:10: Patient was given pain relief 11 :00: Patient arrived by HMC ambu- there was no neurological defi- care to each and every one of its fication, before he was treated. 11 :50:Patient was seen by another spe- 2:00: Patient was discharged with lance at HGH Emergency cit. Patient was discharged with patients in all emergency situa- This is clearly inaccurate. Mr cialist who ordered investigative medicine and instructions for Department and was immedi- instructions for bed rest, pain tions. Our emergency health pro- Ismail was seen and treated by procedures and pain relief follow up care ately triaged by a trauma sur- relief and advice to be followed fessionals across the HMC system a highly trained trauma special- 12:00: Pain relief was administered to geon in the trauma room. He up daily to check wounds and are committed to always bringing ist within minutes of arriving by the patient The same story reported that concluded the injuries were not dressing on a daily basis. the best care in all situations. WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Supreme Council of QU deal to boost research Police College set up, officials appointed at College of Pharmacy

DOHA: The Prime Minister Members include Brig. Dr and Interior Minister H E Mohammed Abdullah Talib Al Student exchange, joint programmes with Malaysian university Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Mahanna Al Marri, Director bin Khalifa Al Thani yester- General of the college, Brig. DOHA: Qatar University (QU) more about Malaysia’s successful day issued decrees, setting Mahdi Mutlaq Al Qahtani, and Universiti Sains Malaysia academic model that is contribut- up Supreme Council of Police Director of Training and (USM) have signed an agree- ing to its development. College and appointing top offi- Patrols Department, Lekhwiya, ment to develop, support and Dr Osman said the deal high- cials of the college. Brig. Badr Ibrahim Al Ghanem, enrich academic and research lights the importance of coop- Decree No. 16 of 2014 Director of Technical Office activities and boost profes- eration with QU, a pioneering appointed Brig. Dr Mohammed of the Interior Minister (also sional development at College of academic institution in the region. Abdulla Talib Al Mahanna Al Rapporteur), Col. Abdul Rahman Pharmacy. It addresses student exchange, Marri as Director-General and Majid Al Sulaiti, Director of The deal was inked by Prof research, social development and decree No. 17 of 2014 appointed Strategic Planning Department, Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, staff development. Dr Hassan Abdul Raheem Al the Ministry of Interior, Dr. President, QU, and Prof Dato’ He said USM offers diverse Sayyed as Dean of Academic Hassan Abdul Raheem Al Omar Osman, Vice-Chancellor, majors and enjoys good interna- Affairs. Akoor, Dean of Faculty of Law, USM, in the presence of QU Vice tional relationships and is one of Decree No. 18 of 2014 Qatar University, Dr. Khaled President and Chief Academic top 200 universities in the world. appointed Capt. Dr Jabr Mohammed Al Hur, Dr Yousuf Officer Dr Mazen Hasna, USM Dr El Kadi said the agreement Hammoud Jabr Al Nuaimi as Mohammed Obaidan Fakhroo Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research will bring together faculty and Director of Administrative and and Dr Ahmed Hassan Al Hadi. and Innovation Dr Muhammad students of pharmacy to advance Financial Affairs Department The four-year membership Jantan, the Dean of the college, collaboration and exchanges for and Capt. Fahd Saeed Al can be extended for similar Dr Ayman El Kadi, and faculty. benefit of both parties. Subaiee as Director of Training periods. The deal includes student and In partnering with USM for Department. The council will establish a faculty exchanges, joint participa- these activities, the college is Decree No. 19 of 2014 set work system, including rules to tion in research, teaching of best enhancing academic and research up the council chaired by the exercise its powers and over- practice in public sector lead- portfolio, and advancing profes- Premier, with Maj. Gen. Dr come any obstacles. It can also ership, and joint training and Prof Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, President, QU, and Prof Dato’ Omar Osman, sional development programmes Abdullah Yousuf Al Maal, Legal set up sub-committees or work- development programmes for Vice-Chancellor, USM at the signing ceremony. with expertise and experience Adviser to the Interior Minister ing groups. professional and non-academic from USM that mirror those at as Vice-Chairman, THE PENINSULA staff. cooperation between QU and universities such as USM and the college. Prof Al Misnad praised several pioneering Malaysian said QU is interested in knowing THE PENINSULA

Association meeting Service complex opens in Al Wakra DOHA: A service complex was opened in Al citizens and expats in their areas, the Minister of Wakra on Monday to provide services of several Administrative Development H E Dr Issa Saad Al ministries under one roof. Jafali Al Nuaimi told media persons after inaugurat- Citizens and expats can avail services of the ing the complex. Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Municipality In phase one, service complexes were opened in and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Economy and Al Wakra, Umm Salal and Al Zabara. In the next Commerce, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of phase, complexes will be opened in Al Shahaniya, Administrative Development, the Ministry of Labour Industrial Area, Qatar Pearl, Al Khor, Al Daain and and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Al Shamal. In phase three, all services of ministries Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation will be available at these complexes. (Kahramaa) in the complex. However, phase four will focus on improvement The complex is part of a project to set up similar of services to save time of visitors and launch online facilities all over the country to deliver services to services. THE PENINSULA

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (second left), Chairman of Qatari Businessmen’s Association, holding talks with Qatari-Gulf Classic Cars Association members at their first meeting at QBA headquarters. Book on inspiring women in Qatar by year-end

DOHA: More than 30 Qatari women will share secrets of their success in a publication to be launched later this year, along with an award for ‘Best Project by a Young Qatari Woman’. The book, an initiative by French publisher Caroline Carpentier, will be illustrated by Qatari female artists. It will include tales from estab- lished, powerful women to the new generation of rising stars, an in-depth study of their motiva- tions, obstacles, tips for success such as the use of social media, and suggestions for institutional changes to facilitate the success of women and improvement of society and the economy. “Since I have been in Qatar, and especially when working at the French embassy, I have met incredible women. However, their role is still underestimated and I feel fortunate to be able to make the book and promote their achievements,” says Caroline. French publisher Caroline Carpentier announcing the plan to launch the “What I hear in interviews new book. with these inspirational women is the role of H H Sheikha Moza This denuding of stereotypes back to the community, encour- bint Nasser. She has given a gen- also extends to Qatari men. “A age young women to get ‘in the eration of women confidence and recurring theme is support male game’ and follow the footsteps of courage to pursue their goals and family members and mentors the great women presented in my take leadership positions.” have provided. They can be bas- book. The book is a testament to tions of strength and encourage- “The prize will honour a young these women’s contributions to ment, rather than a hindrance to Qatari entrepreneur whether the country’s social, economic women’s success,” she said. she competes to tour the world and cultural development and So she has chosen to include on a bike, creates her business, aims to motivate women in Qatar. voices of high-profile men who develops a cultural or educational However, the audience is global as value and encourage contributions concept”. the book will be in Arabic, English of women in roles that have tra- Carpentier’s previous publica- and French. ditionally been male-dominated. tions Leaders of Qatar and Qatar The image of Gulf women, Along with the book, the pub- Success Stories have been met with described by one woman as ‘all lisher’s prize for Best Project of a enthusiasm and she sees this as about high-heels, designer bags Young Qatari Woman will also be another important story that and screaming at nannies’ needs launched in late 2014. needs to be told. to be replaced by an image of The award is open to all those For details on how to enter the educated, thoughtful, innovative under 25 and will be judged by award, or sponsorship packages, leaders in various fields. This is some of the women interviewed contact Caroline Carpentier at what the book, Inspiring Women in the book and major sponsors. [email protected] in Qatar sets out to do. “I wanted to find a way to give THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME / MIDEAST

Old number plate

www.swiss-belhotel.com Tel Fax

Tel Fax

A Toyota Camry with an old number plate, now banned in Qatar, is seen on E-Ring Road on Sunday. SALIM MATRAMKOT

Tel Fax UNSC members head to Solution to woes Tollfree soon, says Woqod Fax Continued from page 1 The owner of another Arab Paris for Lebanon meet restaurant said they were also Tel bringing food from another eatery located far way, in Dafna. Fax France, Lebanon to seal multi-billion military aid deal “You can imagine the practical difficulties in transporting food all PARIS: France is preparing to seal a multi- said what if anything they will offer, although this distance several times a day,” Tel billion-dollar plan to help modernise Lebanon’s Washington has previously provided assistance he said. A Woqod team member Fax armed forces as part of international efforts to to the Lebanese military. indicated that a solution to the stabilise a country hard hit by spillover from Lebanese President Michel Sleiman is to make issue would be found soon. He Syria’s civil war next door. a general appeal for help at the meeting ahead didn’t elaborate. At a meeting in Paris today, the International of planned presidential elections before his term Some eatery owners questioned Tel Support Group for Lebanon, which includes the expires in May. Lebanon’s military is one of the the logic behind focusing only on Fax five permanent members of the UN Security few institutions not crippled by sectarian divi- eateries at fuel stations. “There are Council, will also muster more help for almost 1 sions but it is ill-equipped to deal with domestic many eateries working with cook- www.doha.hilton.com million Syrian refugees in Lebanon and create a militant groups, particularly Hezbollah. ing gas in closed areas like shop- fund to mitigate the economic fallout from Syria’s “The army is ageing and has a five-year mod- ping malls. Accidents can happen Tel +974 44233333 conflict. “This group’s objective is to avoid the ernisation plan,” said a French diplomatic source. in such places as well,” said one. differences that we have on Syria spreading to “It’s up to the Lebanese to coordinate their wish THE PENINSULA Fax +974 44233000 Lebanon,” a French diplomatic source said. “This list.” Diplomatic sources said France was set to meeting will provide support for the army, the supply hardware to Lebanon’s military ranging economy and the refugee crisis.” from communications gear to helicopters, tanks Probe into ‘abuse’ Lebanon was still recovering from its own 1975- and long-range anti-tank missiles. 90 civil war when Syria’s much bigger conflict Saudi Arabia may be seeking to bolster the demanded erupted in 2011, re-inflaming old sectarian divi- army as a counterbalance to the Shia Muslim Continued from page 1 sions that transcend their common border. Hezbollah, the most effective and powerful armed “His conviction must be quashed A caretaker government has run Lebanon group in Lebanon and funded by regional Shi’ite and he must be immediately and since last March as parties aligned with the power Iran. Hezbollah and Iran are the two main unconditionally released. The Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement and a Sunni foreign allies of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad unrelenting unfair trials in the Tel Muslim-led rival bloc have pursued a power in his almost three-year-old conflict with mainly UAE must end,” he added. struggle exacerbated by their support for the Sunni rebels bent on overthrowing him. While in detention Mahmoud Fax opposing sides in Syria. Lebanon, with a weak government and thread- Al Jaidah’s interrogators threat- In an apparent breakthrough last month, bare national infrastructure even before the ened to peel off his nails and hang Prime Minister Tammam Salam finally man- Syrian crisis erupted almost three years ago, has him upside down until he died. aged to pull together a coalition of leaders from struggled to support refugees who have swelled They also subjected him to brutal Tel across the political spectrum. But it has since the existing population of 4 million. beatings on his face and his feet, Fax been held up by wrangling over a policy statement The World Bank estimates Lebanon will need deprived him of sleep and contin- that must be agreed before a vote of confidence $2.6bn over three years just to handle the refugee ually exposed him to bright lights. it must get from parliament. situation. Western countries have been reluctant “Mahmoud Al Jaidah’s treat- The Paris meeting will however go ahead with to assist by giving money directly to Lebanon’s ment in detention was appall- Tel the foreign ministers of the five veto-wielding government given the internal turmoil. ing. The authorities have failed Fax Security Council members — France, United As well, the Paris meeting will launch a World to investigate these allegations of States, Russia, Britain and China - attending. Bank trust fund to back development projects abuse. An independent investiga- Saudi Arabia was also invited. It donated $3bn in Lebanese communities under strain from the tion into his mistreatment must in December for upgrades to the Lebanese army refugee influx. The fund will initially total $50m be conducted and those responsi- and asked France to supply weapons using a large with seed money from the World Bank and grants ble brought to justice,” said Said Tel proportion of these funds. from Norway and Finland, the French diplomatic Boumedouha. Fax No other big Security Council power has yet source said. REUTERS THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax South Sudan, rebels halt peace talks ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan’s govern- Tel ment and rebels are taking a more than Fax two-week break from key peace talks hav- ing seemingly made little to no progress in three weeks, mediators said yesterday. The IGAD regional bloc, which is broker- ing the peace talks being held in Ethiopia, said both sides were halting the talks until March 20 in order “to further reflect and consult on guiding documents of the process”. A spokesperson for IGAD, Tigist Hailu, Tel said the two sides has yet to even finalise a Fax framework for the talks, which are aimed at resolving the underlying causes of South Sudan’s slide into conflict. The conflict broke out in the capital Juba Tel on December 15 amid tensions within the rul- Fax ing party of President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar, but quickly spread across the country. The unrest in South Sudan, www.renaissancedoha.com the world’s newest nation, has left thousands dead and displaced close to 900,000 peo- Tel +974 44195000 ple, including tens of thousands who have South Sudanese internally displaced persons (IDP) from Dinka ethnic group cross the Nile river Fax +974 44195100 crammed into UN bases in fear of ethnic by boat from Bor to Minkamman, South Sudan. A power struggle between South Sudanese attacks by either President Kiir’s Dinka tribe President Salva Kiir and his former vice-president Riek Machar turned violent in mid-December, or rebel leader Machar’s Nuer tribe. when clashes erupted between their ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer. The two signs signed a ceasefire agree- ment on January 23, but heavy fighting has continued to rage in several oils, including African states are considering sending and rebels, a regional bloc said, amid persist- the key northern oil hub of Malakal which troops into South Sudan to help enforce a ent accusations by both sides that the other was recaptured by rebels. Meanwhile, East ceasefire deal between government forces is breaking the truce. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Egypt tightens grip on mosques Sisi indicates he will Bid to curb Islamist dissent; four Cairo imams being investigated run for presidency CAIRO: Egypt’s military- (Waqf) ministry in late 2013 and fool people,” ministry official working-class neighbourhood of CAIRO: The head of the should he do? It shouldn’t be left installed authorities are tight- dismissed 55,000 imams (prayer Sabry Ebada said. Imbaba, has talked of what is Egyptian army has given his to amateurs.” ening their grip on mosques by leaders) who did not hail from the “The ministry’s decision is aimed “right and wrong” in his Friday clearest sign yet that he will run If he runs, Sisi is widely laying down the theme for the state-controlled Al Azhar univer- at controlling the Islamist current sermons, in a reference to the for Egypt’s presidency, a race he expected to win by a large margin, weekly Friday sermons, in the sity, the most prestigious institu- supporting the Brotherhood at a ongoing political strife in Egypt. is widely expected to win. as he has the backing of all state latest move to curb Islamist dis- tion in Sunni Islam. time when many imams feel sym- “The state is adopting meas- Field Marshal Abdel Fatah institutions, virtually all state and sent. The controversial measure They were accused of “inciting pathetic towards the Brotherhood ures to secure backing through Al Sisi’s candidacy has long private media, and a large section comes as Egypt remains deeply violence and using mosques to and Morsi,” said Amr Ezzat, a religious preachings. This is been seen as a forgone conclu- of the population, who laud him polarised after a government spread religious extremism and researcher with the Egyptian unacceptable,” Massoud said. “I sion, following a series of state- for overthrowing Mursi last July crackdown on supporters of promote Islamist groups”. Initiative for Personal Rights. am an imam who follows reli- ments and leaks by officials that following days of mass protests Islamist president Mohamed Amnesty International says the “Mosques are the scene of an gion, not an imam who follows strongly suggest he wants to suc- against his rule. Mursi, who was deposed by the crackdown on pro-Mursi support- ongoing battle between authori- power.” ceed Mohamed Mursi, the man Hundreds of thousands of Sisi army last July. ers have already left more than ties who are trying to prove that After last Friday’s sermon, four he ousted from office last July, supporters filled Cairo’s Tahrir Mursi’s supporters have since 1,400 people dead since his ouster. their policies are in line with Cairo imams were being investi- as Egypt’s head of state. Square in January to call for the capitalised on the weekly prayers In January, the ministry, which Islam, and the current of political gated by the ministry for “inciting But Sisi had never himself made field marshal to run. Sisi-themed to garner backing for their pro- has nearly 120,000 mosques on its Islam which is trying to strip the violence and calling for anti-gov- an official statement through memorabilia — ranging from tests calling for his reinstatement. list, decided to unify the Friday state of its religious legitimacy.” ernment protests,” ministry offi- state media about whether he chocolates to underpants — can The authorities accuse Islamist sermon by setting a common But not all imams are toeing cial Ebada said. The control of definitely intends to run for office. be bought across Egypt, while a groups, particularly the Muslim theme for the weekly prayers. the government line, and Ezzat mosques, many of which run their That changed yesterday, when group of Sisi fans claim to have Brotherhood to which Mursi “The latest procedures aim to said the ministry had “no tools own charities, is important for the field marshal issued a state- collected millions of signatures belongs, of using mosques to prevent incitement to violence allowing it to impose its control both sides, said Georges Fahmy, ment through Egypt’s state news calling for him to lead Egypt. spread their ideology and enrol and the spread of lies in mosques, over all mosques.” an analyst with the Cairo-based agency saying that he could not But public sentiment is hard new recruits across Egypt. which were being used by the Khalaf Massoud, imam of Arab Forum for Alternatives. avoid the will of what he called to quantify in Egypt. More than The religious endowments Brotherhood to spread their ideas Montazah mosque in Cairo’s AFP the “majority” of Egyptians — 98 percent of participants voted though he still stopped short of for Egypt’s new constitution in officially declaring his candidacy. January, a sign of strong support But a senior military officer for Sisi. But only 38.6 percent of close to Sisi confirmed that the those eligible to vote took part. Syria gives up only statement amounted to “an infor- Mursi supporters detest the mal announcement”. The source, field marshal for presiding over a third of chemicals who asked to remain anonymous, a campaign of oppression that said that Sisi was waiting for new has seen over a thousand Morsi THE HAGUE: Syria has sur- laws governing the presidential supporters killed, and thousands rendered or destroyed nearly a elections to be enacted before more arrested. A Zogby poll from third of its chemical arsenal but formally beginning his campaign. September suggested Egypt was remains behind on its interna- “General Sisi is not a free man roughly split on Sisi’s decision to tional obligations, the head of like the other candidates,” the topple Mursi on 3 July 2013, fol- the disarmament mission told officer said. “He is a government lowing days of mass protests. the world’s chemical watchdog official, he respects the law, so Leftist politician Hamdeen yesterday. he’s waiting for all the relevant Sabahi is the only Egyptian to Syria has already missed sev- laws to be issued, and all the elec- have already declared his inten- eral target dates to hand over tion procedures to be taken – and tion to run for the presidency. or destroy its arsenal before a only then will there be the official Rights lawyer Khaled Ali may also June 30 deadline and the United announcement.” run, while former general Sami Nations-Organisation for the Another high-ranking officer Anan has also said he is inter- Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said that Sisi had delayed his ested. But how free a campaign (OPCW) mission called on campaign after getting cold feet any of them can run remains Damascus to move faster. about the serious economic chal- to be seen: three activists were “Nearly one third of Syria’s lenges any future Egyptian presi- jailed for campaigning against the chemical weapons material has dent would have to overcome. new constitution in January, and now been removed or destroyed,” “He was looking for any other Sabahi’s party claimed a handful UN-OPCW coordinator Sigrid candidate who might be good — of their members were arrested Kaag told a meeting of the watch- any other good candidate to show for displaying posters of their dog at its Hague headquarters. up,” the second source said. “But favoured candidate. Supporters of ruling AK Party wave party flags during an election rally in Kirikkale, central Turkey yesterday. Turkey AFP if no one else shows up, what THE GUARDIAN will hold municipal elections on March 30. Erdogan says rival will ‘pay price’ as four new recordings emerge

KIRIKKALE, TURKEY: movement in an election campaign Turkish-Spanish joint venture. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip rally in the central Turkish city of The national warship project had Erdogan yesterday berated an Kirikkale, Erdogan, the country’s initially favoured wholly domestic, Islamic cleric he accuses of plot- most popular politician, was in private-sector producers. ting to wreck his government, characteristically defiant mood. Erdogan has publicly signalled a as more voice recordings appar- “We will make them (Gulen’s dislike for Koc Holding, suggesting ently intended to embarrass the movement) regret these coup that the company, whose output Turkish leader were aired on undertakings... We will reveal their accounts for about 10 percent of the Internet. blackmail and threats one by one ... the economy, has meddled in poli- Erdogan is locked in a power Those who have betrayed this coun- tics. Koc and its subsidiaries have struggle with US-based Turkish try will pay the price,” Erdogan told faced a series of fines, lawsuits and cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former a crowd of about 5,000 supporters. tax audits in recent years. Koc ally he says is behind a stream of In one of the recordings leaked could not be reached for comment. “fabricated” voice recordings pur- yesterday, Erdogan purport- Erdogan’s office has declined to portedly revealing corruption in edly tells a well-known shipping comment on the latest recordings. the prime minister’s inner circle. magnate to appeal the result of a Another voice recording, posted Four more recordings have multi-billion-dollar tender to build late on Monday, purports to be of appeared on YouTube in the last six frigates after Koc Holding, Erdogan urging his justice minis- two days, part of what Erdogan Turkey’s biggest company, won a ter to speed up a court case against sees as a campaign to undermine contract to build four of the war- Aydin Dogan, head of a family- his ruling centre-right AK Party ships in January 2013. run conglomerate seen as part of before local elections on March 30 The contract was eventually a secular elite which has had an and a presidential poll due later awarded to the naval shipyards. often tense relationship with his this year. A second contract to build a heli- Islamist-rooted government. Rounding on the Gulen copter landing dock went to a REUTERS

Netanyahu warns on Iran, says Gunmen storm govt complex in Samarra no Palestinian ‘excuses’ TIKRIT: Gunmen in mili- WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime world powers in November. tary uniform broke into the Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “Unfortunately the leading city council and court house in warned world powers yesterday powers of the world are talking Samarra in northern Iraq yes- not to allow Iran to retain the about leaving Iran with the capa- terday, holding the facility for ability to enrich uranium, and bility to enrich uranium. I hope four hours until police and army urged Palestinians to recognise they don’t do that, because that stormed the compound, the Israel as a Jewish state if they would be a grave error. It would mayor and police officials said. wanted peace. leave Iran as a threshold nuclear Four policemen were killed in the Addressing the pro-Israel power,” he said. Iran denies seek- fighting, along with three civilians lobby AIPAC in Washington after ing nuclear weapons. Israel, who were visiting the city council White House talks on Monday, which unlike Iran has not signed and were shot when Iraqi security Netanyahu broke no new ground the nuclear Non-Proliferation forces opened fire to retake the site, on Middle East issues that have at Treaty, is widely believed to have a senior police officer said. times strained his government’s the region’s sole atomic arsenal. A further 47 people were ties with the US administration. Turning to the Palestinians, wounded, including 30 soldiers and Netanyahu reiterated his oppo- with whom Israel renewed peace policemen, according to officials at sition to the possibility that a deal talks last July under US auspices, the Samarra hospital. The deputy to curb Iran’s disputed nuclear Netanyahu said he wanted an head of the city council, Ammar programme would allow it to accord. However, he placed the Ahmed, and a second member were retain some technologies that onus on the Palestinians to recognise wounded. “The Iraqi police and have bomb-making potential. Israel as a Jewish state - something army managed to clear the build- All of these must be disman- they have long balked at. “But it’s ing,” Samarra Mayor Mahmoud tled, Netanyahu said, adding that time the Palestinians stop denying Khalaf said. “The situation is under diplomatic pressure on Tehran history. Just as Israel is prepared control.” Three fighters, who had should be increased - the reverse to recognise a Palestinian state, holed up in the city council build- of easing of sanctions offered the Palestinians must be pre- ing, detonated their suicide vests under an interim accord with pared to recognise a Jewish state,” rather than surrender, Khalaf said. the United States and five other Netanyahu said. REUTERS REUTERS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Check Boko Haram Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

S WOBBLY African states struggle to deal with local problems, and the West is consumed by issues of geopolitical importance — like Ukraine — Nigeria- Abased Boko Haram keeps its killing machine operating at full throttle. In another attack on a town yesterday, militants Iran nuclear negotiations belonging to the Islamist group killed some 40 people. In a week, the terrorist organisation has claimed the lives of over 300 people in the troubled northeastern state of Borno. World powers, however, have remained relatively calm as the terrorists, who survive on an anti-West ideology, keep almost in the bag propagating hate. The impunity with which Boko Haram has been operating raises eyebrows. Insurgency-related killings BY JONATHAN POWER their pride, not only politically but in in other African countries like Kenya, Chad, Central African the way, despite all the sanctions, they Republic have seen proactive actions or at least comments from T WAS the Americans, back in have been able to get so far in developing Western powers. France has been working directly to help the time of the deposed Shah, who nuclear technology. bring down communal unrest in the Central African Republic, encouraged Iran to develop a nuclear Moreover, they want to secure the Tehran would have to bomb-making capacity. Now it is the right to enrich uranium to be used to which is its former colony. I Americans, along with the Europeans, fuel their power stations which at one keep its capacity for On Monday, the UN recommended deploying 11,820 who are desperately trying to undo their time the US wanted to deny them. To the enrichment stable by peacekeepers in the strife-torn country, including 10,000 folly. They are nearer the goal than outside world this doesn’t seem to make soldiers and 1,820 police officers. In a report sent to the they think — or, rather, let on. Perhaps much sense in a country swimming with stopping the operation Security Council, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon specified they are playing their cards too close to oil. But to those Iranians who take the or the installation of that the peacekeeping mission should focus, in the initial stage, their chest? Is this what is necessary for long view on energy supplies it is best to the Administration to position itself to have alternative — it is also investing in additional advanced on “the protection of civilians.” assuage Congressional opinion? solar and wind power. And then there centrifuges. It has also The international community including the United Nations As long as both Iran and the US make are probably some people in the Iranian has remained relatively aloof from the situation in Nigeria. sure, as the saying goes, they don’t “miss nuclear establishment who do want Iran agreed to halt progress Yesterday, United Nations aid an opportunity to miss an opportunity” to be, as Pakistan was for a long time, on the reactor under agencies warned that people fleeing they should get home and dry well before “only a screwdriver away” from hav- The impunity conflicts in Central African Republic the end of the six ing a serviceable bomb. They have to be construction at Arak. months allowed satisfied too or they could be, with their with which and South Sudan are growing to complete final friends in the military, a source of opposi- Boko Haram increasingly sick and hungry with negotiations. tion to the government. November goes far beyond this. It came children particularly at risk. A UN On November A word on the The Americans and, to a lesser extent as a surprise to many nuclear special- has been killing official specially mentioned the Iranian side: The the Europeans, have doubting con- ists that Iran agreed it would eliminate deaths of 15 malnourished children 24 last year, Supreme Leader, stituents to pacify. Having made such its stockpile of 20pc enriched uranium Ayotallah Ali a fuss in the days of President George (either by diluting it or converting it into hundreds in at the weekend who crossed over the participants Khameini, who W Bush, when Iran was seen as part of an oxide form that is not adaptable to Nigeria points from Central African Republic into in the Geneva is ultimately the “the axis of evil”, public opinion is sus- further enrichment). Cameroon. Few such comments deciding figure, picious of Iran’s motives and purposes. Added to this, the agreement requires to the Islamist from international organisations negotiations has long ago made Iran’s counter-rhetoric over the years daily access for the inspectors of the group gaining in are forthcoming when children in announced a his position clear. has not been helpful. Now the US has to International Atomic Energy Agency Nigeria face death. A few days ago, He has said on prove beyond all doubt to the voters that (the UN’s nuclear watchdog) and the 6-month deal more than one there is no bomb-making activity at all. permanent use of cameras to monitor all strength. Boko Haram militants killed 59 to be followed occasion, indeed On November 24 last year, the par- activity. Surveillance will be more exten- college students in an attack on the has issued a fatwa ticipants in the Geneva negotiations sive than anything conceived before. It Federal College in Buni Yadi. Days by a more to this effect, announced a 6-month deal to be followed will monitor uranium mines, mills, cen- before, the group killed dozens of school students. Boko Haram’s comprehensive, that to possess by a more comprehensive, permanent, trifuge production and assembly facilities. ideology draws from a hatred of the West. Its name literally nuclear weapons agreement 6 months later. The US and EU One should now turn to the Fact Sheet means western education is sacrilegious. The organisation is on permanent, goes against God. terms are clear. To prevent Iran from using issued by the White House press office on agreement 6 Iran is a highly the negotiations to buy time whilst it gets November 23. It is a 5 page single-spaced a killing spree without facing much resistance from government religious nation on with its nuclear development, Tehran summary of what was agreed. Nearly two troops. Probably, the repeated attacks in trouble-torn Borno months later. and these words has agreed to halt production of uranium pages are taken up with what Iran has have affected the morale of troops. of his cannot be enriched to 20pc. (It would have to be agreed to. It is an impressive list that the Boko Haram has shown aspirations akin to leading taken lightly. He enriched to over 90pc to make a bomb.) press has largely ignored. Islamist organisations that try to rest all the bloodletting and cannot put them on one side, even if the Tehran would have to keep its capacity Reading this it is difficult to see what Americans prove difficult. Moreover, we for enrichment stable by stopping the else the Iranians can be asked to do to destruction they bring about, on their egregious ideologies. have the statements of US intelligence operation or the installation of additional complete a final agreement. The hard Militancy of this nature needs to be curbed with an iron hand of 2007 and repeated twice since that advanced centrifuges. It has also agreed work has in fact been done. As long as the either by the government or with help from world powers, Iran has abandoned its nuclear weapons to halt progress on the reactor under Iranians do nothing to upset what they which may probably see an offshoot of the terror group emerge programme. construction at Arak that is designed to have agreed to in the interim agreement, in another country. Though it is Nigeria and innocent Nigerians If all this be true why don’t the del- produce plutonium, also a weapons fuel. signing a comprehensive agreement in 6 who are being killed now, the organisation if left unchecked, egates go home and put their feet up? These are the essential elements in months’ time should not prove difficult. Because on one side the Iranians have any deal. In fact the actual agreement of THE PENINSULA may consolidate to raise its head in a western nation. The other side Quote of Unrest in Venezuela the day

he Venezuelan foreign revolutionary country, however, are uprising of the people has political Caracas tried to drive political capital minister made a smart unlikely to inspire many in the West. connotations. According to reports, by cracking down hard on the oppo- statement, as he laid the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, scores have died in weeks of anti- sition has acted as a bone of conten- blame of unrest in his nonetheless, adopted a reconcilia- government demonstrations. It is tion. Moreover, Maduro played to the T There can be only country on media, and remarked tory and even-handed approach as ironic that the ongoing unrest had gallery when he expelled American that under the pretext of human he called upon Caracas to ‘carefully started from a petty dispute wherein diplomats on charges of indulging one assessment of rights violations, the West has listen to the people on the streets’ local students in the western states in espionage. This whole episode is always justified foreign intervention. and address their demands, accord- of Tachira and Merida were demand- in need of being re-studied and cor- what happened in Elias Jaua who was in Geneva ingly. The world body chief, however, ing more security after a rape rective measures undertaken to nor- Kiev. This was an for a meeting of the United Nation’s urged the protesters to be peaceful incident. malise the situation. Venezuela can Human Rights Council, said and not to resort to violence. The authorities concerned should make a good beginning by releas- anti-constitutional Venezuela is a victim of ‘psychologi- The government of President closely look into how come this has ing the recently arrested opposition cal warfare’. His stunning words, true Nicolas Maduro has to admit that graduated into a formal anti-gov- figures and initiating a broad-based coup and the armed to the idealism and ideologue of his there is a dispute at hand, and the ernment movement? The fact that dialogue. Khaleej Times seizure of power. Vladimir Putin Russian President WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 History suggests Ukraine has lost Crimea With Crimea under his belt, temptation for Putin to add Odessa and a few other regions of eastern Ukraine to create a contiguous Russian-controlled zone from Transnistria to Abkhazia will be great.

BY MARC CHAMPION weaponry was sold around the world, and cigarettes, drugs and women were rimea is probably lost to trafficked into Western Europe. The Ukraine. Within the space of tiny, unrecognised territory has been a a few days, it has become the de-facto state, running on Moscow time latest in a string of “frozen and with Lenin statues still venerated, conflict” zones that Russia for more than 20 years. Chas used to strong-arm ex-Soviet neigh- The road east from Transnistria bours ever since the Union collapsed. crossed into Ukraine and headed for the The history of these unrecognised port city of Odessa (a site of recent pro- statelets suggests that authorities in Kiev Russian and anti-Kiev protests). Many of are unlikely to regain control of Crimea Transnistria’s illicit exports would soon for decades, if ever. There are few bet- be passing through the underused docks ter ways of understanding events on the here. peninsula right now than to look at how Then the road bent south into Crimea, these other “frozen” zones emerged. a solidly pro-Moscow region even then, Early in 1991, while the Soviet Union where in August, coup plotters would was still in one piece but beginning to rip put Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev along the seams of its Socialist Republics, under house arrest at his villa. I crossed I drove my dowdy blue VW Passat from by ferry into the Russian Republic from Romania into Moldova and around Kerch, a closed military zone where the the Black Sea to Georgia. Most of the Ukrainian flag on city hall has now been route I took is today under the control replaced with a Russian one. The drive of Russia’s frozen-conflict satellites. It is down the coast, past Sochi and into the not impossible that they will soon join Georgian republic of Abkhazia, a favour- into a solid band of Russian-controlled ite retirement home for Soviet generals A Ukrainian soldier is seen against the Ukrainian flag as he waits at the Sevastopol tactical military brigade base yesterday. territory along the entire northern Black and officials, was idyllic, reminiscent of Sea coast. California’s Route 1. Already that January, there were road- A year later, Abkhazia would be small-arms siege. I crossed the lines in there was little control from Moscow. While none of these borders — of only blocks up within Moldova where pro- destroyed by war, triggered when ethnic an armoured personnel carrier belonging Local Soviet military commanders helped administrative importance during the Soviet Russian speakers were trying to Abkhaz leaders declared autonomy from to the local Soviet army base. Oddly, the out with arms, but not as part of any cen- Soviet Union — have been settled for long, separate a strip of the Republic on the the rest of Georgia. Unruly militias that South Ossetian leader also told me he tral strategic plan, and often not as much Crimea was written over to Ukraine from eastern side of the Dniester River. Stalin passed for a Georgian army attempted thought Gorbachev was using the con- as the separatists hoped. In the case of Russia as recently as 1954. had bolted this narrow piece of territory to seize control of the territory, terror- flict as a pawn in his larger bid to keep Crimea, Putin’s hand in the seizure of It is hard to imagine Putin or any other onto his new Moldovan possession in izing ethnic Abkhaz as they went, but the Soviet Union together. He said that control is barely masked: this is the work Russian leader ceding control of Crimea 1940, to make it less Romanian, and the their success was short-lived. Cossacks, was why Gorbachev wasn’t supplying of unbadged Russian troops, not a local to Kiev again. At best, the de facto loss rebels were determined not to remain Chechen volunteers and Russian soldiers the heavy weapons the Ossetian rebels minority under attack. No blood has yet of Crimea will prove to be the price of with Moldova if it broke away from the in unbadged uniforms poured into the needed to win. It seemed a situation eas- been spilled, meaning that again the situ- Ukraine’s full independence. Soviet Union. Their logic was the same fighting, backed by undeclared Russian ily solved with a little good will, but there ation could be rather easily resolved with The more worrying part of the frozen as that of ethnic Serbs in Croatia and air and naval power. A quarter of a mil- was none. good will, but there is none. conflict analogy is the memory of the 2008 Bosnia, once war broke out in Yugoslavia lion of the region’s majority Georgian South Ossetia is tiny, with a popula- A second important difference is that war in Georgia. Russian troops poured just months later: If the union was break- population were ethnically cleansed and tion of about 70,000. It became famous the Russian military presence in Crimea into South Ossetia after Georgia, egged ing up, they wanted to keep control of the have yet to return. with the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, and is incomparably larger than its bases in on by Russian provocations, launched a territory they considered theirs. That, in At night, I passed the roadblocks together with Abkhazia has now been the other frozen conflict zones. That also foolish military offensive on the separa- essence, is what pro-Russians in Crimea that had already been thrown up in the effectively annexed by Russia. reflects the higher stakes and the reason tists. The Russian generals in charge of are saying today. neighbouring Georgian region of Adjaria, Now Crimea has become Ukraine’s why Russians in Crimea never took up the response seemed to have no orders Eventually, war flared in Moldova. It which is sandwiched between Abkhazia South Ossetia, Abkhazia or Transnistria. arms — they felt secure. on where to stop. Once the tanks were began as a semi-serious affair (I once fer- and the Turkish border. Adjaria, too, was It is a tool with which Russian President South Ossetia and Transnistria have rolling they saw no reason to stay within ried to safety a pair of drunken Cossacks breaking away from the rest of Georgia, Vladimir Putin can keep Ukraine’s new zero strategic value to Russia, other South Ossetia. in pantomime uniforms as they played though ultimately it would fail. In Tbilisi, authorities twisting in the wind, just as than as irritants with which to punish With Crimea under his belt, the temp- catch with a hand grenade in the back the Georgian capital, I went to speak with he has done with Georgia and Moldova. and destabilise Georgia and Moldova, tation for Putin to add Odessa and a few seat of the car). But the conflict became the new president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, He need not launch an open, full-scale respectively. Abkhazia is nice coastline other regions of Eastern Ukraine, creat- bloody in 1992, ending only when Russia’s a somewhat unstable nationalist who invasion of Ukraine — but he can, and to have. But Crimea, home to the Russian ing a contiguous Russian-controlled zone 14th Army, which had been arming and was less than three months away from that knowledge adds to his leverage. This warm-water fleet at Sevastopol, is a vital from Transnistria to Abkhazia, will be training the separatists from its base in declaring his republic’s independence is one way to understand his decision to strategic asset. similarly great. the territory, joined the fight on their from the fading USSR. He complained call on Russia’s rubber-stamp parliament A third difference is that historically I doubt Putin will be able to resist. I side. It was never clear to what extent the that Gorbachev was inciting local eth- to give him permission to order military and in terms of demographics, Russia suspect, however, that he would prefer to commander, General Alexander Lebed, nic minorities to rebel, in order to deter operations in Ukraine, should he choose has a better claim to own Crimea. Ethnic do it by subterfuge, providing him with was acting on orders from Moscow, but Georgia from breaking away. Just weeks to. Russians form 59 percent of the popula- leverage over the Ukrainian authorities his actions made him a hero for Russian before, South Ossetians had taken up Crimea is different from these other tion, whereas ethnic Abkhaz made up just in Kiev, and avoiding the risks and costs nationalists and Soviet nostalgics. arms, so I went to see them. frozen conflict zones in a number of ways. 18 percent of the population of Abkhazia of war. After all, he has a tried and tested Transnistria quickly became a smug- Georgian security forces had the First, in all of the other cases, the local in 1991, and Russians comprised about model to use. gling haven, from which the 14th Army’s South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali under populations broke away at a time when a quarter of Transnistria’s residents. WP-BLOOMBERG Obama’s caution on Ukraine may loom over mid-year elections attempts to stay focused largely State Department and White Republicans are using Ukraine as on domestic affairs in a congres- House spokesman for presi- sional election year that may dent Bill Clinton. “That kind of further ammunition against him represent his last best chance severely limits the posture you for legacy-building achievements can have for robust foreign policy before Americans look past him when the American people really ahead of the November polls. and focus on the 2016 presidential want us to pull back.” campaign. In the case of Ukraine, White BY STEVE HOLLAND popularity has already been suf- The president and fellow House officials say, Obama’s fering because of the disastrous Democrats are struggling to hang actions are already hurting ith Russia’s incur- roll out of his signature health- on to control of the Senate and Russia because the threat of sion into Ukraine care plan last October and the build up their numbers in the sanctions has rattled financial reviving Cold US economy’s slow recovery from Republican-controlled House of markets there and undermined WWar-style ten- recession. Representatives in November Putin’s attempt to buff the image sions, President Barack Obama Now, Republicans are using elections. of Russia after having hosted the is at risk of suffering a blow to Ukraine as further ammuni- In addition to using the Ukraine Sochi Winter Olympics. his credibility at a time when he tion against him ahead of the crisis as another cudgel against “We’re already seeing Russia can least afford it: as he tries to November elections. Democrats in this year’s congres- pay a real cost for its actions in convince voters to stick with his The Ukraine crisis, said sional elections, Republicans also Ukraine,” White House deputy fellow Democrats in congressional Republican Senator John see it a possible line of attack in national security adviser Tony elections that will help shape his McCain in a speech on Monday, the 2016 presidential race. Blinken told CNN. “All this is legacy. is “the ultimate result of a feck- Some potential Republican undermining how Putin defines For five years, Obama has less foreign policy where nobody White House hopefuls, such as his power.” practiced a cautious approach believes in America’s strengths Florida Senator Marco Rubio, This is what Thomas Alan to foreign policy crises, prizing anymore.” have been pushing a more asser- Schwartz, a presidential historian sober diplomacy and the search It’s not only Republicans tive foreign-policy approach. at Vanderbilt University, calls “an for consensus over brinkmanship, who are giving less than rave “The president must now international shaming of Putin, in prolonged conflicts in Iraq and reviews to Obama’s strategy. The accept that the only way to deal trying to make it seem like Putin Afghanistan. Washington Post’s lead editorial with tyrants like Vladimir Putin is on the wrong side of history.” But the deliberative style that on Monday was about Obama and US President Barack Obama is with a clear understanding that McCain said this won’t be Obama’s team sees as a states- Ukraine and was entitled “The they can’t be trusted and that enough. manlike attitude in tune with risks of wishful thinking.” only decisive action will deter The Republican senator has Americans’ war-weariness, was “For five years President Targeted asset freezes against This will not be enough to sat- their provocative moves,” Rubio been sharply critical of Putin and described as dithering in the cri- Obama has led a foreign policy key Russian officials are a possi- isfy critics who fear Putin is tak- said. first raised the issue of Ukraine in sis over Syria, where the US long based more on how he thinks bility. A G8 summit that Obama ing a step toward restoring the White House officials fre- a 2008 presidential debate as he discussed military action without the world should operate than on and allies are to attend in Sochi, old Soviet Union that he served quently point out that Obama’s ran against Obama. committing. reality,” it said. Russia, in June is on hold. as a KGB colonel. Putin’s adven- more cautious approach is in sync McCain now says the US Facing his toughest test yet Obama seemed to have been “Obviously, the facts on the ture in Ukraine, they say, is the with Americans’ weariness of for- should respond to Putin’s move in Ukraine, Obama is once again caught off-guard by Putin’s sei- ground in Crimea are deeply trou- final proof that Obama’s policy eign wars. in Ukraine by bolstering mili- finding himself portrayed as a zure of the Crimea region of bling and Russia has a large army of resetting US relations with “He has a leadership style for tary ties with the Baltic nations, weak leader, outmanoeuvred by southern Ukraine. He is now that borders Ukraine. But what is Russia in a search for common foreign policy consistent with Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, a wily, opportunistic Russian scrambling to put together a also true is that over time this will ground is dead. what the American people want and welcome Georgia as a Nato President Vladimir Putin intent package of economic sanctions be a costly proposition for Russia,” For Obama, the Ukraine cri- to see done in the world today,” member. on reviving the US’ nemesis. His aimed at isolating Russia. Obama said on Monday. sis is a dramatic diversion from said Mike McCurry, a former REUTERS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL ‘Yanukovich Military force to be last resort: Putin has no political Kerry in Kiev, announces US aid; Washington working on sanctions against Russia future’ MOSCOW: Russian President MOSCOW: President Vladimir waterway was still open for civil- Vladimir Putin said yesterday Putin delivered a robust defence ian shipping. that Ukraine’s ousted president of Russia’s actions in Crimea Despite Putin’s more concilia- Viktor Yanukovich remained its yesterday and said he would tory comments, Russia has shown only legitimate leader despite use force in Ukraine only as a few signs of de-escalating its con- fleeing to Russia but conceded last resort, easing market fears flict with Ukraine so far, Nato said he lacked any political future. that East-West tension over the yesterday as its members held “I think he has no politi- former Soviet republic could emergency talks on the crisis. cal future — I told him that. As lead to war. A senior US administration offi- for playing a role in his fate, we But tension remained high on cial said Washington would work did that purely from humani- the ground, with Russian forces with Congress to approve $1bn in tarian reasons,” Putin said of firing warning shots in a confron- loan guarantees to help lessen the Yanukovich, who took refuge in tation with Ukrainian service- impact on Ukrainians of proposed southern Russia after crossing men, and Russian navy ships were energy subsidy cuts. from Ukraine. reported to have blockaded the In further pressure on Kiev, Putin said Russia viewed strait separating the Ukrainian Russia’s top gas producer Gazprom Yanukovich as legally Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula from Russia. said it would remove a discount on president. At his first news conference gas prices for Ukraine from April. “The legitimate president, since the crisis began, Putin said Putin secured parliamentary purely legally, is undoubtedly Russia reserved the right to use backing at the weekend to invade Yanukovich,” Putin said. all options to protect compatri- Ukraine if necessary to protect Crucially, Putin said this meant ots who were living in “terror” in Russian interests and citizens Russian intervention in Ukraine Ukraine, but force was not needed after Yanukovich’s downfall. would be justified because for now. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has a base Moscow had received a request His comments lifted Russian in Crimea, a peninsula that has an for protection of its citizens from bonds and stock markets around ethnic Russian majority. Yanukovich. the world after a panic sell-off on Ukraine said observers from “We have a direct request from Monday. the Organization for Security and the acting and legitimate — as I Putin denied Russian armed Cooperation in Europe, a pan- have already said — president US Secretary of State John Kerry (second right) visits a memorial to pro-Western protesters killed by police last forces were directly engaged in the European security body, would Viktor Yanukovich about using month in Kiev, yesterday. bloodless seizure of Crimea, say- travel at its invitation to Crimea armed forces to protect the lives, ing the uniformed troops without in an attempt to defuse the mili- health and freedom of Ukrainian national insignia were “local self- working hard to create a pretext ministers”. He gave no details. bases. He said armed men who had tary stand-off there. citizens,” Putin said. defence forces”. for being able to invade further,” Western governments have seized buildings and other facilities A Kremlin aide said that if the “Do you sympathise with him?” Western sanctions under con- he said. “Russia has talked about been alarmed at the possibility in Crimea were local groups. United States did impose sanc- one journalist asked. sideration against Russia would be Russian-speaking ordinary citi- that Russia may also move into But in a sign of the extreme tions, Moscow might drop the “No, I have completely different counterproductive, he warned. A zens that are under siege. They are eastern and southern Ukraine, fragility of the situation in dollar as a reserve currency and feelings,” Putin said. senior US official said Washington not. And in fact this government home to many Russian speakers, Crimea, a Russian soldier fired refuse to repay loans to US banks. But he said he believed was ready to impose them in days has acted remarkably responsibly.” which Putin did not rule out. three volleys of shots over the The European Union, which will Yanukovich had risked being rather than weeks. He said the United States was “There can be only one assess- heads of Ukrainian servicemen hold an emergency summit tomor- killed by protesters when he fled US Secretary of State John not seeking a confrontation and ment of what happened in Kiev, who marched unarmed towards row, has threatened unspecified Kiev late last month. Kerry made his first visit to would prefer to see the situation in Ukraine in general. This was their aircraft at a military air- “targeted measures” unless Russia “Death is the easiest (way) to Kiev since the overthrow of managed through international an anti-constitutional coup and field surrounded by Russian returns its forces to their bases get rid of a legitimate president. Russian-backed President Victor institutions. the armed seizure of power,” he troops at Belbek, near the port of and opens talks with Ukraine’s That would have happened. I Yanukovich. Putin said there had been an said, as he sat before a small group Sevastopol. government. think they would have just killed Kerry laid flowers in unconstitutional coup in Ukraine, of reporters at his residence near After a stand-off in which the Western leaders are not con- him,” Putin said. Independence Square at a memo- and Yanukovich, who fled to Moscow. two commanders shouted at each sidering a military response, but Putin said that Yanukovich rial to pro-Western protesters Russia last week, was still the “As for bringing in forces, for other and Russian soldiers levelled Nato Secretary-General Anders had essentially handed over his killed by police last month, met legitimate leader. No Ukrainian now there is no such need, but rifles and rocket-propelled gre- Fogh Rasmussen said the Western powers on February 21 by signing the country’s interim leaders and government elected under cur- such a possibility exists,” he said. nade launchers at the Ukrainians, allies would intensify their assess- agreements with the opposition announced a $1bn economic pack- rent circumstances would be “What could serve as a reason to the incident was defused and the ment of how Russia’s military leaders last month, counter- age and technical assistance for legitimate, he said. use military force? It would natu- Ukrainians dispersed. moves in Ukraine affect the alli- signed by international mediators. the new government. Ukrainian Prime Minister rally be the last resort, absolutely The Ukrainian border guard ance’s security. Italian Foreign He “practically gave up all Kerry said there was no evi- Arseny Yatseniuk told report- the last.” service said Russian navy ships Minister Federica Mogherini said his powers anyway. And I think dence to support Moscow’s version ers in Kiev that the Ukrainian Earlier yesterday, Putin ordered had blocked both ends of the Russia had agreed to meet Nato he — and I told him this — had of events — that Russian speakers and Russian governments troops involved in a military exer- Kerch Strait between Crimea and representatives today to discuss no chances of being re-elected,” are in danger in Ukraine. had begun consultations on cise in western Russia, close to the Russia, but Ukraine’s infrastruc- Ukraine. Putin said. “It is clear that Russia has been the crisis “at the level of border with Ukraine, back to their ture ministry said the 4.5km wide REUTERS AFP

Maori king snubs William UN wants 10,000 Australia to get hotter: Study WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s Maori king has SYDNEY: Australia will suffer illustrated in 2013, which was concentrations continue to rise.” refused to meet Prince more days of extreme heat and a Australia’s hottest year since Australia is routinely hit by William during a royal tour soldiers for C Africa longer bushfire season as green- records began in 1910 and included bushfires during its December- next month, with his office house gases force temperatures a prolonged national heatwave. February summer months, with saying yesterday he was “not UNITED NATIONS: UN helicopters, the report explained. to continue rising, a new report Megan Clark, chief executive of hot windy conditions again fan- a carnival act” for visiting Secretary General Ban Ki-moon The deployment would be rolled warned yesterday. the CSIRO, Australia’s peak sci- ning hundreds of blazes this season dignitaries. has recommended deploying out in stages. The joint study by the ence body, said the country has with dozens of homes destroyed. King Tuheitia’s office 11,820 peacekeepers in strife- An African Union-led force, Commonwealth Scientific and warmed in every state and terri- The report said it would only rejected the offer, arguing the torn Central African Republic, MISCA, nearly 6,000-strong, is Industrial Research Organisation tory and in every season. get worse. 90 minutes allotted for the visit including 10,000 soldiers and already engaged on the ground, and the Bureau of Meteorology “Australia has one of the most “A further increase in the to the Maori leader’s base in 1,820 police officers, to re-estab- as are 2,000 French soldiers from said temperatures across variable climates in the world. number of extreme fire-weather the North Island was not long lish order. the Sangaris operation. Australia were, on average, almost Against this backdrop, across the days is expected in southern and enough for proper protocols to In a report sent to the 15 mem- In Bangui, an early start to the 1.0 degree Celsius warmer than a decades, we’re continuing to see eastern Australia, with a longer be observed. bers of the Security Council, rainy season in Central African century ago. increasing temperatures, warmer fire season in these regions,” it said Ban specified the peacekeeping Republic has worsened the plight Seven of the 10 warmest years oceans, changes to when and of areas devastated by fires this Romania govt mission should focus, in the ini- of hundreds of thousands of peo- on record have occurred since 1998 where rain falls and higher sea year. It also forecast less rainfall tial stage, on “the protection of ple sheltering from religious vio- while over the past 15 years the levels,” Clark said. in southern Australia and more wins trust vote civilians.” lence in makeshift camps, raising frequency of very hot months has “The sea-surface tempera- severe droughts in a grim warning BUCHAREST: Romanian However, the mandate for the the risk of malaria and dysentery, increased five-fold, it said. tures have warmed by 0.9 C for farmers. Prime Minister Victor Ponta proposed operation would be pro- aid workers said yesterday. The scenario was starkly since 1900 and greenhouse gas AFP won a confidence vote in par- gressively expanded to cover “sup- Six months of heavy rains typi- liament yesterday, secur- port for the political process” of cally begin in early April but on ing a new mandate to push transition, in particular restoring Sunday a downpour struck the through a series of IMF- the government’s authority over riverside capital, Bangui. Carnival de Binche backed reforms aimed at the country and organising elec- In the city’s largest camp, speeding up growth in the tions, safeguarding the delivery where 70,000 people are packed European Union’s second- of humanitarian aid, the respect together beside the runway of poorest country. of human rights and the return M’poko International Airport, Ponta’s Social Democrat-led of those displaced by the violence. residents waded through up to government won a vote in both “It is envisaged that the 30 cms of muddy water. houses by a combined 346 votes strength of the peacekeeping Most of the displaced have to 192, having partly restored operation would comprise up to makeshift shelters made from its majority with new allies fol- 10,000 troops and 1,820 police tarpaulins and palm leaves on the lowing the departure last week personnel,” and included logisti- swampy soil. of the Liberal party. cal and transport support, such as AGENCIES Pistorius case: Media warned PRETORIA: The judge in E Timor: Canberra told to back off the murder trial of South THE HAGUE: The UN’s International Court of Justice has ordered African track star Oscar Australia to stop interfering with East Timor in a bitter spy row, Pistorius warned the media forbidding Canberra from reading secret documents seized from to behave yesterday after a Dili’s lawyers. local television station leaked East Timor in January dragged Canberra to the ICJ, seeking the a photo of the state’s first return of documents relating to a multi-billion-dollar oil and gas treaty witness, who had asked that between the two countries, which Dili now wants torn up. her image not be broadcast. Australian agents seized the documents in December in a raid on The warning was one sev- the Canberra offices of East Timor’s lawyer, Bernard Colleary. eral dramatic moments in the Australia’s representatives told ICJ judges in January that the sei- trial’s second day that saw a zure was prompted by “national security” issues, but Dili said it was distraught Pistorius bury his “shocked” at the treatment meted out by its giant neighbour. Dili then head in his hands when the asked the ICJ to order Australia to stop alleged eavesdropping on East court heard details from the Timor and its lawyers and hand back the seized documents. post mortem of his slain girl- “Australia shall not interfere in any way in communications between Participants known as Gilles wear traditional costumes during the carnival in the streets of Binche, Belgium, friend, Reeva Steenkamp. Timor-Leste and its legal advisers,” ICJ president Peter Tomka ordered yesterday. The Carnival de Binche has been proclaimed as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage AGENCIES on Monday. of Humanity listed by Unesco for 10 years now. AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Obama budget proposes job training plan House likely to reject proposals

WASHINGTON: US President are also likely to be major themes. Barack Obama proposed new House Budget Committee tax credits and job-training Chairman Paul Ryan, a poten- programmes for US workers tial Republican presidential con- yesterday in a 2015 budget that tender in 2016, argued in a report highlights stark differences on Monday that the government with Republicans, who favour a had barely made a dent in com- reduced government role in pro- bating poverty over the past 50 moting economic opportunity. years despite massive spending. The election-year blueprint is Obama and Ryan disagree on all but certain to be rejected by the role government should play the Republican-controlled House in poverty reduction, but they of Representatives and stands lit- both back the Earned Income Tax tle chance of passage. Credit, an anti-poverty measure But it sets out the Democratic that is meant to encourage low- president’s policy priorities ahead income Americans to continue of November congressional elec- working. tions, in which his party hopes to Obama’s budget proposes keep control of the US Senate and expanding the programme to avoid losing ground in the House. cover some 13.5 million people The blueprint for the 2015 fis- who do not have children. It cal year that begins on October would also make the programme 1 would increase tax credits for available to younger workers who the working poor, boost spending are not currently eligible. US President Barack Obama greets 3-and 4-year olds in a pre-kindergarten class at Powell Elementary School in Washington yesterday. on roads and bridges and expand “The EITC for families with early-childhood education. children lifts millions out of pov- profits earned by wealthy inves- Committee, also proposed last month that its new budget would the president was serious about Obama’s proposal signals a shift erty each year and helps about tors who run private equity and month to “clean up” the carried not extend the olive branch to deficit reduction. White House away from last year’s emphasis on half of all parents at some point other funds. interest deduction, but tax reform Republicans that was offered in officials said Obama abandoned deficit cutting to a greater focus in their lives,” Obama wrote in his Obama has long sought to end is not expected to get traction in its proposal a year ago. it after Republicans declined to on fighting poverty, a goal the budget document. that tax break, which allows fin- Congress this year. Obama dropped a suggestion offer concessions of their own. president is highlighting as he “But as a number of prominent anciers to treat such income as Obama was to unveil the doc- to change how the government Overall, Obama’s proposed faces less than three years left policymakers, both progressive capital gains, making it subject ument during a visit to a local calculates inflation for Social budget for 2015 would spend in office. and conservative, have noted, the to a tax rate of only 20 percent, elementary school, giving him a Security and other federal ben- $3.9trn, leading to a $564bn The debate over Obama’s con- EITC does not do enough for sin- instead of the nearly 40 percent chance to highlight the propos- efits that could have led to income budget deficit, or 3.1 percent of troversial healthcare reform law gle workers who do not have kids.” top rate on ordinary income paid al’s emphasis on boosting funding drops for older Americans. the nation’s gross domestic prod- is likely to feature prominently in The expansion, which would by the highest earners. for education, which has gotten The proposed cost-of-living uct. That would be down from a the elections, but poverty reduc- cost $60bn, would be funded by Representative Dave Camp, little support from opposition change, which was unpopular $649bn deficit, or 3.7 percent of tion and Americans’ slow recov- closing loopholes such as the the Republican chairman of the lawmakers. with Obama’s Democratic allies, GDP, in fiscal year 2014. ery from the 2007-2009 recession tax break for “carried interest,” powerful House Ways and Means The White House signalled last was meant to show Republicans REUTERS

Cameron should Venezuela to mark Chavez’s death anniversary amid unrest spell out EU CARACAS: Venezuela geared President Nicolas Maduro’s gov- of Venezuelans. The president is and faced street protests since at the top, given that numbers on treaty change he up yesterday for commemora- ernment was making lavish plans to preside over a military parade early February in the nation of the street are not massive, the tions of socialist leader Hugo to honour Chavez on the anniver- in Caracas today, followed by a 29 million people. military appears to remain behind Chavez’s death despite contin- sary of his death from cancer. ceremony at the mausoleum hous- Those demonstrations have Maduro, and opposition leaders wants: Official ued protests against his succes- Maduro, who announced ing Chavez’s remains on a hilltop brought Venezuela’s worst unrest are not winning over ‘Chavistas’ sor that have shaken the OPEC Chavez’s death in tears to a shantytown. in a decade, with 18 people killed in poor areas. The current crisis LONDON: Britain could get the member and threatened the shell-shocked nation on March Maduro, 51, narrowly won elec- as demonstrators have faced off has, though, exposed genuine dis- European Union treaty changes legacy of “El Comandante.” 5 last year, has made preserving tion in April 2013 to replace his with security forces and Maduro content among Venezuelans on all it wants if it spells them out and Even as students maintained Chavez’s controversial legacy the mentor but has seen economic supporters. sides, with the highest inflation in finds allies for its case, a top EU a few barricades in some cities guiding force of his presidency problems worsen, made little Yet there appears to be little the Americas. official said yesterday. and activists held new rallies, despite opposition from about half headway against violent crime, chance of a Ukraine-style change REUTERS EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom signalled that any future British prime minister would have a case for changing the 28-member bloc’s treaties if he or she clearly stated what Murdoch told me not to quit the desired changes are and had enough allies on board. “I think any British prime min- ister can get the changes, but he after hacking furore: Brooks or she would need to define what he wants,” said Malmstrom at a LONDON: Rebekah private detective who talk on EU migration at Chatham Brooks, former boss worked for the paper, House in London. of Rupert Murdoch’s has admitted hack- “If they do it that way, they British newspaper ing Dowler’s phone can.” British Prime Minister arm, told a London but police had later David Cameron, who wants to court yesterday the ascertained he had not renegotiate Britain’s ties with media mogul had per- deleted any voicemails. the EU and offer Britons a ref- suaded her not to quit Brooks, who had erendum on EU membership in amid public revulsion been NoW editor at 2017 if he wins next year’s gen- over the hacking of a the time of the hacking, eral election, has repeatedly called murdered schoolgirl’s of which she denies all for curbs on the free movement of phone. knowledge, said she had people to stem so-called “benefits Brooks, on trial for been at a fertility clinic tourism”. Other EU states have phone-hacking offences, with her cousin, who backed him. said a 2011 report that was carrying her sur- “They should define exactly what journalists on Murdoch’s rogate baby, when she the problem is and give evidence for News of the World tab- was alerted to the news. that, try to define a few concrete loid had tapped the “First of all I didn’t solutions and search for allies in the voicemail messages of believe it,” she said. “It European Union in a constructive 13-year-old Milly Dowler was pretty horrific.” way,” Malmstrom said. EU officials had caused a national She said the news have in the past accused members scandal, with her at its had stunned bosses at calling for limits to the rules on centre, describing it at News International, free movement of indulging in the time as a “sexist News Corp’s British chauvinism and stereotypes. But witch hunt”. paper business, and as Malmstrom warned that efforts Despite the furore, the storm grew, she had to opt out of existing EU rules on Murdoch and other sen- been deluged with mes- Rebekah Brooks arrives at the Old Bailey the freedom of movement risked ior figures told her not sages of support from courthouse in London yesterday. opening up a “Pandora’s box” of dif- to resign, and she told friends and colleagues. ferent national systems for dealing the Old Bailey court “When it rains, it with migration. that amid the public disgust and condemnation, pours,” CNN’s Morgan wrote in a message to “If one member state opts out former Prime Minister Tony Blair and CNN talk her. She replied: “Terrible, made me feel sick ... then we open up the Pandora’s show host Piers Morgan had also contacted her watching the news, can’t believe any reporter box where we risk having 28 dif- to offer support. could do that, must have been Mulcaire. ferent systems and then we have The outrage began on July 4, 2011, when the “If it wasn’t a staffer, you have got to get that to reflect is this really worth Guardian newspaper reported that journalists out there fast,” Morgan responded before inform- doing” Malmstrom said. from the News of the World (NoW) had accessed ing her that her name was trending worldwide Cameron has so far received voicemails on the girl’s mobile phone while she on the Twitter social media site. only lukewarm support for his was missing nine years earlier, and had deleted “He’s an avid twit,” she said to roars of laugh- plans for treaty changes, although some, giving her parents false hope that she was ter in the court before explaining Morgan was a German Chancellor Angela still alive. constant user of Twitter. Merkel expressed support for his The ensuing scandal led Murdoch to close the The pressure continued the following day, not bid to clamp down on abuse of the 168-year-old newspaper and ditch a $12bn bid least because a decision by the government over EU’s freedom of movement rules to take full control of British pay-TV operator whether to refer News Corp’s BSkyB bid had during a visit to the UK last week. BSkyB. been imminent. REUTERS The court has heard Glenn Mulcaire, a REUTERS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES China policeman tells of shooting attackers Exiled Uighur leader appeals against crackdown

BEIJING: Chinese state tel- on the ground and they were still other suspects captured Monday. evision yesterday broadcast an stabbing them,” he said. Some reports have said the interview with a police officer Five of the attackers then entire incident lasted as long as 25 said to have shot five knife- turned towards him, he said. minutes. There was no explanation wielding thugs who killed and He fired a warning shot, which for the discrepancy. “I think I saved injured scores of people in a they did not respond to, and then many innocent civilians. I did right railway station attack. fired at the one closest to him, by the people of Kunming and I did The unnamed officer, whose who was “in black clothes and right by using my gun,” the police- face was not shown, said it took veiled” and “held a knife about man told CCTV. him 15 seconds to shoot the five 60-70 centimetres” long. Meanwhile, an exiled Uighur attackers, four of them fatally, “The other four did not back off rights leader yesterday urged during the assault on Saturday and continued to run at me, with China against “demonising” the night in the south-western city knives,” he said in the interview. ethnic group after a deadly attack of Kunming. “I shot all of them. for which officials have blamed The policeman, who leads “It probably took 15 seconds separatists from the western a four-member emergency from firing the first shot to the region of Xinjiang. response team but was “the only moment when all five were shot The Munich-based World one to carry an automatic rifle,” and fell to the ground,” he said. Uyghur Congress (WUC) strongly arrived at the scene 10 minutes The ministry of public secu- condemned the violence and its after the stabbing started, he told rity said that an eight-strong exiled president, Rebiya Kadeer, state broadcaster China Central gang carried out the attack, four appealed to Beijing not to crack Television (CCTV). of whom were shot dead and one down on the minority. Chinese paramilitary police patrol outside the train station in Kunming, Yunnan province, yesterday. “Some people were being held injured at the scene, with three AGENCIES Aquino to allot Noted Vietnam blogger N Korea fires more rockets $38.23m for SEOUL: North Korea fired a Korean missile test-launches that for an invasion, while Seoul and fishing families jailed for two years volley of rockets from multiple drew condemnation from South Washington say they are purely launchers into the sea yesterday, Korea and the United States. defensive. MANILA: The government HANOI: Popular Vietnamese papers before he quit and set in an apparent show of force to The North test-fired four Last year the drills coincided will release $38.23m to sup- blogger and journalist Truong up the popular blog “A Different coincide with South Korea-US short-range Scud missiles off its with a sharp and unusually pro- port the implementation of the Duy Nhat was jailed for two Viewpoint”. joint military exercises, South east coast last week, followed by tracted surge in military tensions Rehabilitation Plan for fish- years yesterday for posting arti- Private media are banned in Korean officials said. two more missiles on Monday. that saw the North issuing apoc- ing communities in Central cles critical of the Communist Vietnam with all newspapers Three rockets were fired in South Korea called the missile alyptic threats of pre-emptive Philippines struck by Typhoon government and leaders, his and television channels state-run, the morning from a multiple launches a “reckless provocation” nuclear strikes. By contrast, this Haiyan, the Department of lawyer said. but many citizens now prefer to launch rocket system, the South’s while the United States demanded year’s drills began as cross-border Budget and Management Nhat was found guilty of access news through blogs and defence ministry said. the North show restraint and relations were enjoying something said. “Part of the (Aquino) “abusing democratic freedoms to social media. The projectiles were launched abide by UN Security Council of a thaw. Administration’s reconstruc- infringe on the interests of the Nhat’s posts frequently dealt from the North’s eastern port of resolutions. They overlapped with the end tion and rehabilitation efforts state” at a half-day trial in his with highly sensitive political Wonsan and flew 55km into the The Scuds are at the longer of the first reunion for more than for Haiyan-affected areas is native city of Danang on the cen- issues and offered alternative Sea of Japan (East Sea), it said. edge of the short-range spec- three years of families divided by the restoration of the com- tral coast. The broad anti-state commentary to the staid official The North fired four more trum, with an estimated reach of the Korean War—an event that munities’ primary means of charges can carry a maximum of press. In a post in April 2013 in the afternoon that travelled 300km-800km — capable of strik- raised hopes of greater cross- livelihood,” DBM Secretary seven years in jail. Nhat called for Vietnam’s top about 155km, the ministry said, ing any target in the South. border cooperation. Florencio Abad said of the allo- “He strongly denied the charge, leaders to resign. He said it was adding it was believed to have It is not unusual for North Pyongyang had initially insisted cation which will first be sent to claiming that he is innocent,” said “time for a new party general been testing two different types Korea to carry out such tests, that the joint exercises be post- the Department of Agriculture lawyer Tran Vu Hai. The US said secretary and prime minister” of launcher. which often go unreported by poned until after the reunions — Bureau of Fisheries and it was “deeply concerned” by the to save the nation from economic “North Korea is displaying a South Korea. But Washington finished. But Seoul refused and— Aquatic Resources. According sentence. and political woes. show of force openly against our said the latest missile tests in a rare concession—the North to the department, of the total “We call on the Vietnamese He was taken into police cus- joint exercises,” said ministry breached UN resolutions that allowed the family gatherings amount, $11.18m will be used for government to release Truong tody in May that year and his spokesman Kim Min-Seok. require Pyongyang to abandon on its territory to go ahead as rehabilitating BFAR facilities in Duy Nhat and all prisoners blog was shut down. According South Korea regards the its ballistic missile programme. scheduled. the disaster areas and repairing of conscience, and allow all to a copy of the indictment posted North’s mobile multiple rocket The missile tests coincide with Last week also saw an incur- the bureau’s official vessels, which Vietnamese to peacefully express online, his articles “were not true launchers as a dangerous because annual South Korea-US military sion by a North Korean patrol sustained severe damage at the their political views,” an embassy (and) defamed leaders of the they can strike strategic facilities exercises that started a week ago boat across the disputed Yellow height of Typhoon Haiyan. statement said. party and state, creating a one- far south of the border. and run until mid-April. Sea border, the scene of bloody Nhat, 50, was a journalist sided pessimistic viewpoint”. Its troops have increased vigi- Pyongyang routinely condemns naval clashes in the past. Haze shrouds working for several state-run AFP lance following a series of North such joint exercises as rehearsals AFP Kuala Lumpur Nepalese farmers KUALA LUMPUR: Haze shrouded Malaysia’s capital and its surroundings yesterday, causing “unhealthy” air qual- ity due to fires from a drought that has led to water rationing. While dry spells are common in the tropical nation, the current two-month heat wave has been unusually long, sparking bush fires and water supply cuts to more than two million people. The air pollution index rose as high as 150 yesterday in seven areas -- mostly in Kuala Lumpur and the central state of Selangor, the country’s economic hub which sur- rounds the capital. A reading of 100 to 200 means air quality is “unhealthy.” Visibility was lower than one kilometre in central Malaysia early yester- day, where the iconic Petronas Twin Towers were shrouded in smog that forced city residents to wear face masks. “The moderate haze the country is experiencing is due to internal sources resulting from land and forest fires in a few states,” the department of environment said in a state- Nepalese farmers carry wicker baskets of supplies as they return to their homes in the village of Khokana ment. AGENCIES on the outskirts of Kathmandu yesterday. ‘Unstable’ drug mule brandishes knife

DENPASAR, INDONESIA: Australian “We saw that she wasn’t mentally sta- Seven has raised hackles in Indonesia, where drug mule Schapelle Corby brandished a ble,” said Agus, chief of the Bali Corrections officials have suggested Corby was seeking knife and acted erratically in an encoun- Division which is in charge of overseeing to profit from her crime via media exposure. ter with Indonesian authorities after a Corby’s parole. “She seemed scared when I There has been unconfirmed speculation government minister warned her parole started a dialogue and she tried to kill herself. of a lucrative deal with Channel Seven, was in peril, an official said yesterday. She was able to grab a knife. But her family which the broadcaster has denied. Sunar Agus, a top prison official in Bali, was able to stop her,” he told reporters. “There is a big possibility (that Corby’s said he visited 36-year-old Corby on Monday Agus said the scene took place after the parole) will be reconsidered,” Indonesian evening at her residence on the resort island officials told her the documentary could see justice minister Amir Syamsuddin was of Bali. The visit followed the airing of a TV her thrown back in jail. “She said she was quoted by the daily Kompas as saying documentary in Australia on Sunday that stressed from being followed by reporters all on Monday. Corby’s saga has riveted featured an interview with Corby’s sister the time,” Agus said. AFP was not able to Australians and generated significant sym- Mercedes, which has angered Indonesian reach Corby or her relatives for comment. pathy in her home country. authorities. The television documentary by Channel AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Gunmen attack Nato Khyber blast trucks, two killed Attackers flee; no group claims responsibility

PESHAWAR: Gunmen helper,” a senior local adminis- Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked attacked four vehicles carrying tration official, Jehangir Azam militants frequently launch Nato supplies for Afghanistan Wazir, said. attacks across northwest in Pakistan’s troubled north- He said one of the helpers died Pakistan and the lawless tribal west yesterday, killing two peo- on the spot while the second belt, which Washington has ple, officials said. one succumbed to his injuries in branded the most dangerous The vehicles came under fire hospital. place in the world. in the Jamrud area of Khyber, Another local administration From November 2011 to July one of seven districts that make official confirmed the incident and 2012, Pakistan shut its Afghan up Pakistan’s semi-autonomous said the attackers had fled. border to overland Nato traffic tribal belt, as they were on their No group has admitted respon- after botched US air raids that way to Afghanistan. sibility but the Taliban have in killed 24 Pakistani troops. Pakistan is a major transit sup- the past claimed such attacks to Pakistan and the United States ply route for the Nato mission in disrupt supplies for the US-led have signed a deal allowing Nato landlocked Afghanistan. international troops fighting in convoys to travel into Afghanistan “The four containers were on Afghanistan. until the end of 2015. their way to Afghanistan when The Pakistani Taliban Saturday Jamrud is a town located in four gunmen riding two motor- declared a month-long ceasefire the Khyber Agency, one of the bikes opened fire at them in to encourage the resumption of Federally Administered Tribal Jamrud, killing two helpers and peace talks with the government Areas of Pakistan. Pakistani paramilitary soldiers inspect the site of a bomb explosion in Sadokhel area of Khyber tribal region on wounding one driver and one in Islamabad. AFP Monday. A bomb killed at least two paramilitary soldiers and wounded six others in a restive Pakistani tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Use of mobile in prisons alarms Sharif’s foreign visits authorities New Delhi, Islamabad ramp up

ISLAMABAD: The increas- cost exchequer $1.6m ing number of cellphones aid, jostle for influence in Kabul being recovered from pris- ISLAMABAD: president. An amount oners has alarmed the police KABUL: India’s most impor- made clear he cares more about expanding such projects by about Pakistan Prime of Rs35m was spent on authorities and the govern- tant message for Afghanistan is security than Pakistani aid. 20 percent a year. Minister Nawaz the visit. ment of Punjab. that it is not leaving, and it is Some Afghans fear that the The agency is determined to do Sharif’s (pictured) Days after the visit, In its letter to the Inspector backing that message with the regional rivalry might drag their things differently from the donors seven official foreign he went to the United General of prison Punjab and biggest aid package it has ever country into a proxy war. “This who used to patronise India. visits in less than Kingdom from October the divisional police chiefs, given another country. is a very sensitive situation. Both Overheads are minimal: just one three months last 29 to 31 to attend the the Punjab home depart- Indian diplomats insist the are powerful, important allies,” person in India’s Kabul embassy year cost the national ninth world Islamic ment expressed concern over message is meant as reassurance said Senator Arifullah Pashtoon, oversees the Afghan package and exchequer Rs168.1m Economic Forum. The the growing problem in pris- for allies in Afghanistan nervous chairman of Afghanistan’s foreign all money goes through the Afghan ($1.6m), official data cost of the visit was ons across the province as about waning international sup- relations committee. “India is our government budget. “We are not reveals. Rs25.1m. the cellphones allow criminal port as Nato withdraws its troops. friend. But Pakistan is our twin.” going to link development to politi- According to the The prime minis- organisations and individuals Yet it could equally have been cho- With the Nato withdrawal cal demands,” the Indian official record shared with the National ter’s visit to Sri Lanka to attend to threaten witnesses, plan sen to send a warning to India’s looming, Afghanistan has increas- said. “We have experienced the Assembly by the Foreign Ministry, the Commonwealth Heads of escapes and extort money arch-rival, Pakistan. ingly sought Indian military futility of doing this, ourselves.” these visits had been under- Government Meeting from while staying behind bars. The nuclear-armed neighbours assistance, while Pakistani offers That approach has delighted taken between September 16 and November 14 to 17 cost Rs11.8m. The government of Punjab both want to secure influence in of military help have largely been Kabul, which is fed up with lec- November 30 last year. The prime His three-day visit to Thailand has decided to initiate criminal Kabul after foreign combat forces snubbed. India, wary of antagonis- tures about corruption from minister visited Turkey from for the Connect Asia Pacific proceedings and departmental leave this year, and both are using ing Pakistan, has refused to sup- Western donors whose own September 16 to 18 and Rs4.6m Summit and bilateral meet- punishments against the jail aid as part of their strategy. ply lethal equipment but that may wastefulness can be breathtaking. was spent. ings cost Rs9.7m. The cost of his staff, including superintend- India’s $2bn aid package change after Indian elections due Indian engineers have built He travelled to New York day long visit to Afghanistan on ents, if any prisoner was found includes several big projects, by May. For now, New Delhi relies power lines from Uzbekistan to to attend the United Nations November 30 was Rs1.2m. An using cellphones. including a white marble parlia- on soft power. Kabul — on time and $20m under General Assembly session from amount of Rs26.2m was incurred “If the cellphone was recov- ment in Kabul that is rising up A handsome new cream-and- budget — and a road to Iran, now September 22 to 29 and Rs80.7m on his visit to China from July 3 ered from an inmate by the next to the blasted ruins of the red sandstone building in New pockmarked by bomb blasts, was spent, the most expensive of to 8. Most recently, he travelled raiding team from outside, old king’s palace. Delhi houses the Indian agency designed to break landlocked all visits undertaken by him so to Turkey for a trilateral summit then the superintendent, dep- Relations between Afghanistan overseeing foreign projects. Afghanistan’s dependence on far during his current stint as the from February 12 to 15. uty superintendent and other and Pakistan are rockier. Afghan Created in 2011, the agency’s 25 Pakistani ports. For wells, schools chief executive. In all, an amount of Rs194.3m concerned staff members will President Hamid Karzai regularly officers oversee billions of dol- and clinics, India simply pays the Sharif travelled to the US was spent on his eight visits abroad, be booked and awarded with accuses Pakistan of supporting lars. An official, who declined to Afghan government to build them again from October 19 to 24 for excluding the visit to Turkey. departmental punishments.” Taliban militants, and has curtly be identified, estimated India is and report back. REUTERS a bilateral meeting with the US INTERNEWS “And if the superintendent of the jail recovered a cellphone or found any prisoner using it, criminal proceeding will be initiated against the deputy superintendent and concerned staff in addition to a depart- mental proceeding against them,” a senior official of the prison department said. Crisis cell to be closed down ISLAMABAD: The govern- ment of Pakistan has decided to abandon the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) under the Interior Ministry. It’s a primarily domestic intelligence assessment and management intuition, opera- tional under the ministry. Its other activities involve building efforts towards counter-pro- A police officer inspects the district court a day after a suicide attack by militants in Islamabad yesterday. liferation and counter-insur- gency as well as assisting the government in managing intelligence. Top judge orders court attack probe Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has confirmed the decision but he hasn’t given ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s CCTV cameras at courthouses president and secretary of any deadline for closing down Supreme Court yesterday in Islamabad and its twin city the Islamabad District Bar the institution that was work- ordered the authorities to Rawalpindi to be made fully Association to submit eyewit- ing for about 13 years as it was identify policemen who failed operational within 48 hours. ness accounts of the incident. established in 2001 to tackle to respond to a gun and sui- Shahid Khan, the chief “They should explain in their the domestic and foreign ter- cide bomb attack on a court bureaucrat in the interior statements what they saw and rorism in all of its forms, and complex in Islamabad which ministry, had told the court mention that despite their manifestations and to rid the killed 11 people. that cameras and three secu- efforts the response of police- society of religious extremism. Chief Justice Tassaduq rity scanner gates at the dis- men was lukewarm and how However, its influence grew Hussain Jillani summoned top trict courts had been broken for they were reluctant to fire upon by issuing warnings and build- security officials over Monday’s some time. attackers,” Jillani said. ing efforts against all kinds of attack, the deadliest to hit the “The Secretary Interior is Monday’s assault on the com- threats. The NCMC is head- heavily-guarded capital in more directed to make the CCTV plex of courtrooms and offices in quartered in Islamabad and is than five years. cameras functional within 48 a well-heeled area of Islamabad responsible for electronic mon- Pakistan has been grappling hours and by the evening ensure popular with foreign residents itoring and aerial surveillance with a homegrown Taliban insur- that compensation to the vic- was the first major attack in the to maintain law and order in gency since 2007. But attacks in tims’ families is announced,” city since June 2011. the country. Islamabad have been rare and the top judge said. The Pakistani Taliban denied It has established computer- Monday’s incident raises ques- Islamabad police chief any connection to the assault, ised and electronic facilities, tions about the authorities’ abil- Sikandar Hayat was also told which came two days after the through an electronic system, ity to secure the city. to submit a report about the militants announced a month- in all the four provinces. The judge asked for detailed security detail on Monday and long ceasefire aimed at restart- AGENCIES reports on the incident by their response to the attack. ing stalled peace talks with the next Monday and ordered Jillani also directed the government. AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Two dead as Court sends rains lash Maharashtra MUMBAI: At least two peo- Sahara chief to ple were killed as rains accom- panied by hailstorms lashed Maharashtra’s Marathwada and Vidarbha regions over the judicial custody past two days, officials said yesterday. Rains lashed parts of Solapur, Sangli, Aurangabad, Beed, Latur, Next hearing on March 11 Parbhani and Nagpur, damaging standing crops. NEW DELHI: The Supreme except Vandana Bhargava (the People in these regions were Court yesterday sent Sahara fourth respondent) and send surprised over the rare phenom- chief Subrata Roy and two them to judicial custody at Delhi, enon of hailstones, even as normal directors of his company till the next date of hearing,” life was severely disrupted. to judicial custody till they said the bench of Justice K S In some parts, road traffic was present a concrete proposal Radhakrishnan and Justice J S hit as hailstones of varying sizes to return the balance of Khehar. accumulated on the roads and vis- Rs19,000 crore they had col- The court held that the “con- ibility dropped sharply. lected from investors through temnors have maintained an Though there were no reports optionally fully-convertible unreasonable stand throughout of damage to property, two people debentures. the proceedings before SEBI, — a minor girl and an elderly man The money through OFCD Securities Appellate Tribunal — were killed as large hailstones was mobilised by two Sahara (SAT), high court and even before fell on Gherbi village in Solapur Companies — Sahara India Real this court”. district on Monday night. Estate Corp Ltd and Sahara The court said the concession Hundreds of birds, 50 cattle Housing Investment Corp Ltd. to Bhargava was being extended and at least 100 goats and sheep The court has fixed March 11 as “because she is a woman director, were killed in different parts of the next date of hearing. Sahara and also to enable the contemnors the state. in December 2012 had deposited to be in a position to propose an Black ink is thrown at Sahara group chairman Subrata Roy’s face as he arrives at the Supreme Court in New Delhi Large areas having crops of Rs5,120 crore with the Securities acceptable solution for execution yesterday. The attacker, who managed to get close to Roy in the crowd and threw black ink on him, claimed to food grain, fruits, vegetables and Exchange Board of India of our orders, by coordinating be Manoj Sharma, a lawyer from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. and cash crops were severely (SEBI). with the detenues”. damaged. Directing the judicial deten- It said Bhargava, “who herself documents and affidavit submit- making unacceptable statements those orders and purge the con- Leader of Opposition in tion of Subrata Roy and two is one of the directors, is permit- ted by Sahara companies. and affidavits all through and even tempt committed by them but, the assembly Eknath Khadse other directors — Ashok Roy ted to be in touch with the rest “Maintaining investors’ confi- in the contempt proceedings”. rather than availing of the same, demanded a compensation of Choudhary and Ravi Shankar of the contemnors and submit an dence requires market integrity “Documents and affidavits pro- they have adopted various dilatory Rs10,000 per hectare to farmers Dubey — the court noted that acceptable proposal arrived at and market abuse is a serious duced by the contemnors them- tactics to delay the implementa- who suffered losses in the rains. despite being given sufficient during their detention, so that financial crime which undermines selves would apparently falsify tion of the orders of this court.” Deputy Leader of Opposition opportunities, there was no pro- the court can pass appropriate the very financial structure of their refund theory and cast “Non-compliance of the orders in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde posal to “honour” its August 31, orders”. this country and will make imbal- serious doubts about the exist- passed by this court shakes the demanded police reports on the 2012 judgment and the subse- “Preservation of market integ- ance in wealth between haves and ence of the so-called investors. All very foundation of our judicial farmers’ losses within a day and quent orders of December 5, 2012 rity is extremely important for have nots,” the court said in its the fact finding authorities have system and undermines the rule announcement of compensation, and February 25, 2013, to return economic growth of this country order. opined that majority of investors of law, which we are bound to hon- failing which he said he would the investors’ money. and for national interest,” the Pointing to the SEBI’s Feb do not exist,” it said. our and protect. This is essential launch an agitation. Last week, “In exercise of the powers con- court said in its order. 18 analysis of the submissions, Passing the detention order, to maintain faith and confidence Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan ferred under articles 129 and It also said the Sahara claim documents etc. furnished by the the court said: “Sufficient oppor- of the people of this country in had assured full help to farmers 142 of the constitution, we order that it had returned the investors’ contemnors, the court said it tunities have been given to the the judiciary.” affected by rains in the state. detention of all the contemnors, money is “apparently” falsified by “indicates that they are filing and contemnors to fully comply with IANS IANS

Training strides Lok Sabha Sindhuratna fire started election dates likely today on mess deck: Ministry NEW DELHI: The Election MUMBAI: The fire and — would be ascertained in due Commission is likely to resultant smoke in the INS course by the board of inquiry. announce the dates for the Lok Sindhuratna started on the The Sindhughosh-class of Sabha election today. mess deck and not in the bat- submarines carries 240 cells, The term of the current Lok tery pits of the submarine, distributed equally in forward Sabha expires June 1. A new the defence ministry said here and aft battery pits. The batter- house has to be constituted by yesterday, a week after the ies currently installed on INS May 31. February 26 tragedy in which Sindhuratna have completed An estimated 814 million voters two naval officers were killed. around 113 cycles till date of their will be eligible to vote, with 97.1 This was the conclusion of a 200-cycle life. million new voters added since preliminary investigation into “The life of the batteries is valid the 2009 election. the incident by a board of inquiry by date. The batteries which were The “None of the Above” headed by a two-star admiral. being used by INS Sindhuratna (NOTA) option will be given to After the submarine returned at the time of the incident were, voters — for the first time in a to the Mumbai harbour, another therefore, operationally in-date,” parliamentary contest. specialist team of Western Naval naval officials said. About 800,000 polling stations Command headquarters also car- A preliminary inspection of the will be set up across the country, ried out an investigation. battery pit and the batteries in according to Election Commission “Based on preliminary inspec- it revealed that there was nei- sources. tion of the third compartment, the ther any damage nor any sign to Around 1.2 million electronic likely seat of the fire has been indi- indicate that the fire could have voting machines will be used in cated at the mess deck located one originated there. the election and another 250,000 deck above the battery pit. Certain As the batteries appear to be have been ordered from public electrical cables were observed to clear of any damage, they would sector companies. be burnt or damaged in this area,” not be put through normal checks In 2009, there were 714 million the defence ministry said. and maintenance routines prior voters and 671 million in 2004. Trainees march during a drill exercise as part of a training session at the training academy of the Security and However, the cause of the fire to operationalisation, the officials Intelligence Services (India) firm, at Dehradun in Uttarakhand. India’s northern Hindi-speaking belt, home to in the location — which was the said. Atomic energy around half a billion people, is taking off after decades of trailing industrialised seaboard states in the west sailor’s accommodation area IANS regulator readying and south. for IAEA review CHENNAI: India’s atomic Indian hospital gives heaviest Briton a new lease of life energy regulator yesterday said it is gearing up for a peer review of its nuclear safety regulatory PUNE: A 31-year old Briton, gaining weight and in 10 years 2010 which finally cost around This would help reduce his from his previous 310kg mass,” system by International Atomic who was the country’s heavi- climbed to a dizzying 310kg on the Rs400,000 ($8,000). food cravings, control his food Shah said. Energy Agency (IAEA) later est person three years ago, has weighing scale,” Shah said. “He travelled business class to intake and curb certain hormonal Smith has now started enjoying this year or early 2015. shed a whopping 170kg from His desperate family tried all Mumbai since it had wider seats. activities which result in natural life of a normal 31-year-old — he In a statement, the Atomic 310kg after undergoing bariat- sorts of treatment in Britain We sent a special vehicle which weight loss, he added. runs an Internet-based business Energy Regulatory Board ric surgery at a hospital in India and in Europe, but owing to the could take his load and safely Smith was back in his room to support self and family. (AERB) said the peer review by and should stabilise at 110kg, his high risks involved in dealing bring him to Pune,” Shah said. an hour after the surgery, feeling “His mother and elder sister IAEA is conducted at a country’s proud medico said. with a person of his obesity, most Two large hospital beds were relieved and independently flew — none of whom is obese — are request. “Last week, Zachari Smith slammed their doors on Smith. joined to accommodate him, dou- back to Britain five days later. thrilled. His friends are back, he “India has committed itself to reported a 170kg loss — which After repeated Internet ble airconditioning was installed, The miracle started immedi- has started going out with girls host the Integrated Regulatory is perhaps the highest drop in searches for a cure, Smith learnt huge gowns were stitched, a spe- ately — in the first month, he lost and is now planning to get mar- Review Service (IRRS) Peer weight for any patient in the UK of the treatment at the Ruby Hall cial operation table was arranged 20kg, and gradually he continued ried. He has certainly gained a lot Review Mission of IAEA and has and all of Asia. His Body-Mass Clinic and finally spoke with Shah and extra long instruments were losing weight and is now at 140kg. in life after losing weight,” Shah already made a request to IAEA Index (BMI) is still high but that’s who said: “No problem. We can acquired for the surgery. “We are targeting stability within commented. for a IRRS peer review mission in compensated by his good health,” definitely treat you.” Besides, all the concerned staff a few years at around 110kg,” “When I had visited London respect of nuclear power plants in a beaming Shashank Shah, bari- These were the words Smith — medics and para-medics — which is ideal for his large body recently, Smith rushed from India,” said the statement issued by atric surgeon at the Ruby Hall was craving to hear more than were sensitised on handling such frame and six-foot plus height, Wales to meet me. He stood before AERB secretary R.Bhattacharya. Clinic here, said. anything else — and despite finan- a huge human body with full love Shah smiled. me, but for almost a minute, According to him, the actual But, barely three-and-a-half cial challenges, he decided to and care. A full-fledged pre-sur- Fortunately for Smith, barring I failed to recognise him. He is peer review mission would hap- years ago, life had become a full- travel to Pune in western India. gery drill was conducted to ensure certain issues like high blood pres- totally changed,” Shah confessed. pen late this year or early 2015. stop for Smith. After all, 10 years ago, Shah pio- things went off smoothly. sure, intense sleep disorders, back Shah said highly-obese persons Meanwhile, a three-day IAEA Shunned and discarded by all neered the “sleeve gastrectomy” “On the D-day, we drilled four problems, constipation (which are not lazy nor do they overeat. “It’s seminar in preparation of IRRS hospitals in Britain and Europe, in India and more than 40 patients small holes in his abdomen and was one of the original causes for a disease and needs to be treated. peer review mission is being held Smith was reduced to a recluse in weighing over 200kg have already the opening to his stomach was his obesity along with a disturbed The patients suffer immensely, on March 4-6 at the AERB office his Wales home with no company, undergone this safely without any two feet deep in his body! We per- metabolism), he had no other physically and emotionally and in Mumbai. A three member no friends and no girlfriends, with post-surgical complaints. formed a vertical sleeve gastrec- major health complaints, which should be dealt with love, sympathy IAEA delegation is in Mumbai only his steadily increasing body While Smith’s problems were tomy which entailed cutting off smoothened his treatment in Pune. and understanding by society, as it to conduct the National Self all around him, said Shah. on way to ending, the hospital’s nearly 70 percent of his stomach “Later on, Smith will need a would for somebody suffering from, Assessment Seminar on IRRS. “He was alarmed when as aged problems had just begun for the in the one-hour-long procedure,” plastic surgery to peel off more say, cancer,” Shah advised. AGENCIES around 17, he suddenly started mega-operation in Novemebr Shah explained. than 10kg of accumulated skin IANS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

PDP up in arms against Farooq Telangana Cong Treat fishermen leaders against any alliance humanely: PM with TRS

HYDERABAD: With TRS ruling out merger with the to Rajapaksa Congress party, the latter has asked its cadres in Telangana to be ready to go alone in the forthcoming elections to the Lok Teesta water pact difficult, Hasina told Sabha and the state assembly. Congress leaders from NAYYITAW: Even as the Rajapaksa, on his part, raised Telangana also made it clear Sri Lankan Navy arrested 32 the proposed resolution against that they are not for an alliance more Indian fishermen, Prime Sri Lanka in Geneva which with Telangana Rashtra Samithi Minister Manmohan Singh has been co-sponsored by the (TRS). raised the issue with the neigh- US, Britain, Montenegro, the TRS chief K Chandrasekhara bouring country’s President, Maldives and Mauritius. Rao told reporters on Monday Mahinda Rajapaksa, here yes- “Our prime minister said we have night that the party has decided terday, calling for a humane just seen the draft and given that it not to merge with the Congress. approach to the issue. has implications on both countries, He, however, said if any party Meeting on the margins of the let us keep in touch,” Akbaruddin approaches TRS for alliance, it Bimstec Summit, the two lead- said, referring to Manmohan would consider the same. “We don’t ers also spoke about the upcoming Singh’s comments on the matter. want any alliance with TRS,” sen- US-led resolution at the United It is learnt that the draft resolu- ior leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir Nations Human Rights Council, tion, which deals with the alleged told reporters here yesterday. the text of which was released to war crimes against Tamil separa- Supporters of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) kick a burning effigy of Farooq Abdullah during a protest in Shabbir, who is the vice-presi- member countries late Monday. tists, does not call for any sanctions Srinagar yesterday. PDP activists took to the streets to protest the derogatory remark of Abdullah describing dent of Andhra Pradesh Congress “The prime minister said it but pushes for an international Kashmiris as ‘biggest electricity thieves’. Committee, asked party cadre to (the fishermen issue) was a live- probe into the matter, which be ready to face the elections on hood issue and must be handled in Colombo has thus far rejected. their own. He was confident that a humane manner by Sri Lanja,” The probe was first requested Congress would win majority of Indian foreign office spokesperson at the UNHCR Feb 25 after a 119 assembly and 17 Lok Sabha Syed Akbaruddin said at a post- post-civil war expert report. The Jaitley praises president over seats in Telangana. He also asked meeting briefing. war between Sri Lankan forces the party workers to gear up for The prime minister’s concern and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) municipal elections scheduled to followed the arrest of at least ended in 2009. be held on March 30. 32 Indian fishermen by the Sri During their 25-minute meet- anti-corruption ordinances He said TRS chief had no role Lankan Navy on Monday for ing, the two leaders also raised the in formation of Telangana state allegedly intruding into their issue of closer economic relations NEW DELHI: BJP leader precedent for the future.” circumstances exist which render and claimed that it was only due to waters and the seizure of their as also reconciliation of ethnic Arun Jaitley yesterday praised Jaitley said the president is it necessary for the president to efforts of Congress President Sonia eight trawlers. Tamils after the bloody civil war. President Pranab Mukherjee bound by the aid and advice of take immediate action. Gandhi that the 60-year-old dream The arrests came just ahead of Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh for “scuttling” the government the council of ministers. “Surely, the desire of Rahul of Telangana people came true. the second round of talks between yesterday told his Bangladesh move to pass anti-graft ordi- However, “an unstated func- Gandhi to push a certain law so “Congress is not depending on any the fishermen of two sides sched- counterpart Sheikh Hasina that nances, saying he has set a tion that the president has: He that he can claim to be part of other party,” said another leader and uled March 13 in Colombo, mainly a pact on sharing Teesta river precedent for the future. is vested with an undefined and the anti-corruption crusade is not former minister D Sridhar Babu. He to discuss the rights over the waters was “difficult” even as an In an article published yes- unstated moral authority”. a circumstance which calls for is confident that people of Telangana waters in the Palk Strait between agreement was desirable in the terday, the Leader of Opposition “It is only a president who has immediate legislation enactment will back Congress as they know the the two countries. interests of the two countries. in the Rajya Sabha quoted the stature of a statesman com- through the ordinance route,” he role played by the party in carving Manmohan Singh and Manmohan Singh’s remarks media reports, and said it was manding public respect that he said. out the separate state. Rajapaksa were here in this capital came during a 25-minute meet- Mukherjee’s reluctance which can exercise this moral author- Jaitley targeted the Congress, The Congress leaders said the city of Myanmar for the third sum- ing with Hasina. “The Bangladesh “scuttled” the government’s deci- ity. For commanding that stature, saying the “grim prospects of the party did not create Telangana mit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative prime minister did raise the issue sion to promulgate a certain set the president must be perceived ruling party in the forthcoming state for votes and seats. “We for Multi-Sectoral Technical and of Teesta. Our prime minister of ordinances under article 123. to be fair and a constitutionalist,” elections may be a cause for con- sacrificed our government. We Economic Cooperation. said: ‘It’s a difficult one, we’re “His memory for precedents he said. cern for its party leaders. This is, expelled our MPs from the party Besides India, Sri Lanka and trying to resolve it’,” Indian for- and propriety has been unparal- On the circumstances in which however, an irrelevant considera- because the party president Myanmar, the seven-nation eign office spokesperson Syed leled,” Jaitley said. ordinances can be passed, Jaitley tion when it relates to the ordi- wanted to fulfil the promise made grouping comprises Nepal, Akbaruddin told journalists here. “The constitutionalist as said both houses of parliament nance promulgating power”. to people of Telangana,” he said. Bhutan, Bangladesh and Thailand. IANS the president can set a great must not be in session, and secondly IANS IANS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Carnival on horse back

Fajr (Dawn) 4:38 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:54 Zuhr (Noon) 11:45 Asr (Afternoon) 3:07 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:39 Isha (Night) 7:09

WEATHER

Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy Clear Clear Hazy to misty and partly cloudy to High: 28° High: 28° High: 27° Low: 19° Low: 20° Low: 21° cloudy.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:54 17:39 07:15 & 20:15 01:15 & 13:45 03-12/15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Revellers participate in the traditional Carnival on horseback in Bonfim, Minas Gerais state in Brazil, yesterday. More than 50 revellers rode horses through the city in a tradition that dated back to the 18th century. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 28/20 Mostly cloudy 27/20 Partly cloudy MAKKAH 33/24 Partly cloudy 32/22 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 26/18 Clear 25/19 Partly cloudy BAHRAIN 26/19 Partly cloudy 25/20 Partly cloudy French snail could follow the dodo: Scientists SANAA 25/11 Rain 25/11 Chance of storm RIYADH 30/20 Partly cloudy 31/20 Partly cloudy PARIS: Snails, one of France’s plants. Reporting in the jour- with a pale white belly where its snail-friendly parts of Europe. DUBAI 27/18 Partly cloudy 27/19 Partly cloudy signature dishes, could be off nal PeerJ yesterday, a team of mouth is located. The head is elon- “Platydemus manokwari represents BAGHDAD 28/15 Partly cloudy 29/15 Partly cloudy the menu if the country fails French experts said DNA tests gated, with two prominent black eyes. a new and significant threat to biodi- to stem an invasion by a slimy had confirmed their worst fears: It has been introduced, sometimes versity in France and Europe, which THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW worm from Southeast Asia, sci- Platydemus manokwari has deliberately, in more than 15 coun- hosts hundreds of species of snails, entists warned yesterday. arrived in Europe. tries and territories in the Pacific. some of which are endangered and HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER The warning is being sounded “This species is extraordinarily Biologists are alarmed by its protected,” said PeerJ, a publisher of over a voracious species called the invasive,” said Jean-Lou Justine of appetite for snail. The worm can peer-reviewed studies. ATHENS 15/11 Chance of rain 15/11 Chance of storm New Guinea flatworm. the National Museum of Natural even pursue gastropods up tree AFP WASHINGTON 05/-4 Partly cloudy 06/-1 Chance of snow It is already on a list of the 100 History. “I really hope it can be trunks — and when supplies of most dangerous invasive species stopped at the earliest stages.” snails run out, it can tuck into other SYDNEY 24/19 Thunderstom 28/19 Partly cloudy in the world as it has a relent- He added: “All snails in Europe soil species, including earthworms. LONDON 14/07 Partly cloudy 14/09 Partly cloudy less appetite for native snails and could be wiped out. It may seem The worm’s ancestral habitat is PARIS 13/04 Partly cloudy 13/05 Clear earthworms in places where it has ironic, but it’s worth pointing out the mountains of New Guinea, at ISTANBUL 14/10 Chance of rain 12/09 Partly cloudy been introduced. the effect that this will have on altitudes of 3,000 metres and above, MANILA 31/22 Partly cloudy 30/21 Partly cloudy Workers at a botanical gardens French cooking.” where the temperature is moderate. DHAKA 31/17 Clear 31/17 Clear in Caen, Normandy, called in sci- P manokwari measures about Tests have shown the worm can DELHI 23/11 Partly cloudy 24/12 Clear entific help after they spotted a five centimetres long by five mil- survive temperatures down to 10 ISLAMABAD 21/08 Partly cloudy 21/11 Partly cloudy strange, dark, flat-as-a-pancake limetres wide. degrees Celsius, which gives it a good worm among their greenhouse The back is black olive in colour, chance of surviving in temperate, Wednesday 5 March 2014 4 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 18 Number 5994 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Moody’s sees oil at $90 by 2020 Ooredoo Group Fiscal flexibility of Qatar, Kuwait to withstand protracted oil price decline posts QR33.9bn DOHA: Oil price scenario for GCC peers, face reduced fiscal increasing production would be domestic debt, followed by exter- the period until 2020 antici- flexibility. Kuwait and Qatar limited, especially when taking nal debt. Qatar, Bahrain and the pates a gentle decline to $90 have the most headroom and into account the role of the Opec UAE, which already have a sover- a barrel. Given the budgetary fiscal flexibility to withstand a as a swing producer. eign yields curve, would be better pressures are already develop- protracted oil price decline”, the Given the low levels of oil positioned to finance borrowing revenue in 2013 ing among GCC oil exporters, agency noted. production per capita in Saudi needs from external sources”. such a protracted decline would The Moody’s said Saudi Arabia Arabia, Oman and Bahrain rela- Qatar and Kuwait are relatively DOHA: Ooredoo’s Group rev- 2013 a year in which the group have negative credit implica- and UAE would experience par- tive to other GCC countries, the insulated as their breakeven oil enue increased 1.1 percent to faced challenges as well as oppor- tions for some countries of the ticularly significant declines in three respective governments prices have remained below $60, QR33.9bn for the full-year 2013. tunities. Across our portfolio our GCC, Moody’s stated yesterday. growth. This partly reflects the would face having to extend social and not even Moody’s stress sce- Net profit attributable to Ooredoo focus remains on delivering the “In such a scenario, sovereign two countries’ currency pegs to benefits to a greater number of narios anticipate a drop in oil shareholders for the year was best customer experience and the credit quality in the GCC would the US dollar, which impedes nationals with more limited prices to below the level. QR2.6bn compared to QR2.9bn most reliable networks. This com- be affected to varying degrees, their ability to cut interest rates resources. “However, Qatar draws its rev- for the same period in 2012. The mitment is helping to drive our with Bahrain and Oman most in response to reduced demand. “The fiscal response to a sus- enue from natural gas exports Board of Directors recommended business growth, which we have vulnerable to a potential down- Moody’s said despite consid- tained oil price decline would and, given the gradual decoupling a cash dividend of 40 percent of seen this year in markets such as ward adjustment of the sovereign erable hydrocarbon reserves, include a combination of asset of LNG from oil prices and the the nominal share value , means Algeria where we launched the ratings given their high fiscal the region’s oil wealth is finite. sales, debt financing, expenditure large new gas supply expected in QR4 per share. widest 3G network in the country, break-even prices and declin- In an adverse scenario of a pro- cuts and revenue enhancement the coming years, Qatar’s fiscal Normalised full-year 2013 and in our home market in Qatar, and ing oil production. The UAE and tracted decline in oil prices to measures…… GCC governments space could diminish faster than fourth quarter in 2013 net profit Myanmar where we are planning Saudi Arabia would, despite their $90 per barrel, the GCC govern- would likely draw on their bank- that of Kuwait”, Moody’s noted. attributable to Ooredoo share- to launch the country’s best 3G large non-oil sectors relative to ment’s ability to raise revenue by ing system deposits or issue THE PENINSULA holders, excluding currency loss, network later this year.” one-off tower sale gain in Q3, 2012 Dr Nasser Marafih, Group Chief in Indosat and start-up cost in Executive Officer of Ooredoo said: Myanmar, stood at QR3.34bn, up “Ooredoo faced a range of competi- 16 percent against FY12 and QR tive challenges across its markets 641m, down 11 percent against Q4, during the course of 2013. However, Etisalat posts 2012, respectively. our strategic investment into the The group’s EBITDA and continual improvement of our net- EBITDA margin were impacted by works, customer experience, prod- 70pc rise in currency depreciation, Myanmar ucts and services, distribution and start-up costs, investment into branding saw some notable suc- Kuwait’s recovery strategy and cesses and improving trends across Q4 net profit global brand roll-out. our portfolio.” DUBAI: Etisalat, the United Ooredoo Algeria successfully Ooredoo Algeria delivered strong Arab Emirates’ biggest tel- launched widest 3G service net- revenue and EBITDA growth, with ecoms operator by revenue work in Algeria in December. Ooredoo Qatar and Nawras also and subscribers, missed ana- Wataniya Kuwait delivering on performing well. Indosat secured lysts’ forecasts with a 70 per- recovery strategy in highly compet- good customer growth and is seeing cent rise in fourth-quarter net itive market, improving Q3, 2013 increasing mobile data traffic and profit yesterday after it took against Q4, 2013 EBITDA, EBITDA revenue in its modernised network. impairments on Nigerian and margin and net profit trends. Wataniya Kuwait now has the Indonesian operations. Ooredoo Myanmar planning to market’s leading next generation The company also said it launch 3G only services within network and it is beginning to win expected to complete a ¤3.9bn six months. Ooredoo global brand back market share and perform purchase of Paris-listed Vivendi’s roll-out successfully completed financially in a highly competitive 53 percent stake in Maroc in Algeria, Tunisia and Maldives, market. Asiacell performed well Telecom, plus ¤300m in 2012 divi- H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah (right) with Mohamed Khalifa Turki Al Sobai at the annual general meeting of following on from the launch of with strong growth in customer dends from the Moroccan firm, Woqod yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Ooredoo in Qatar earlier in the numbers despite the increasing by end-May. Etisalat, a former year. Successful launch of inaugu- levels of competition in Iraq. monopoly operating in about 15 ral $1.25bn sukuk was four times Ooredoo, Qatar, delivered countries across the Middle East, over-subscribed. impressive results for the group Africa and Asia, made a net profit As at December 31, 2013, the during the year, with revenue grow- of Dh1.45bn ($394.77m) in the Woqod gets new chairman consolidated customer base stood ing by 5.9 percnet year-on-year to three months to December 31. at 96 million against 92.9m in 2012, QR6.6bn against QR6.2bn in 2012 Analysts polled gave a con- DOHA: Sheikh Saoud bin four members on the board, all shares. Woqod earned a full-year representing year-on-year growth and a consolidated customer base sensus forecast of fourth-quar- Abdurrahman Al Thani will representing the private sector, net profit of QR1.21bn last year, of 3.5 percent. of 2.9 million. EBITDA perform- ter profit of Dh2.17bn. Of the be the new Chairman of the are: Nasser Sultan Al Hemaidi, up 5.75 percent on 2012. The EBITDA for the period was ance showed a slight increase of 0.7 Dh1.37bn in impairment charges, Board of Directors of Woqod Sheikh Saoud Khalid Al Thani, The company plans to inau- down by six percent to QR14.6bn percent year-on-year to QR3.3bn. Dh516m related to loans to affiliate (Qatar Fuel Company), and Mohamed Al Saad and A Rahman gurate the first of the four new against QR15.6bn in 2012 and National re-brand and network Etisalat Nigeria, in which it holds Hussain Mohammaed Al Ishaq, Saad Al Shathri. vehicle technical inspection cen- EBITDA margin was also down to modernisation programmes gen- a 40 percent stake, with Dh506m present member of the board, Woqod yesterday held its tres (Fahes) at Wadi Al Banaat 43 percent against 47 percent due erated higher costs. relating to its 4.2 percent stake in will be the new Vice Chairman Ordinary Annual General next month, the outgoing Vice- to the adverse currency impact of Ooredoo significantly enhanced Indonesia’s PT XL Axiata , Etisalat and Managing Director, the Meeting and the Board of chairman and Managing Director, the Indonesian Rupiah, Myanmar its product portfolio in Qatar dur- CFO Serkan Okandan said. The outgoing Chairman of Woqod Directors approved the dis- Mohamed Khalifa Turki Al Sobai start-up costs, brand roll out cost ing the quarter, with a range of new Indonesian Rupiah fell 26 percent Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah tribution of cash dividends of told reporters. “The centre is and the group’s investment into services for consumer and business against the dollar last year. The announced yesterday. QR649,687,500, according to a ready, and the Traffic Department Kuwait’s recovery strategy. customers. The company’s invest- UAE dirham is pegged to the dollar. Sheikh Saud is now a senior rate of 100 percent of the value of is working to connect the facility Commenting on the results, ment in a nationwide fibre network Etisalat’s foreign operations executive at Qatar Petroleum the paid-up nominal capital, that with IT related services, which Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed delivered positive results, reaching accounted for 33 percent of the International. Mohamed Nasser is, QR10 per share, in addition to will be inaugurated by the next bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman of the milestone of 100,000 customers revenue in 2013, up from 28 per- Al Hajri will also join as new 30 percent bonus shares, meaning month,” Al Sobai said. Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo has pro- in Qatar by the end of 2013. cent a year earlier. REUTERS member of the board. The other three shares per 10 outstanding THE PENINSULA duced solid revenue growth in THE PENINSULA

Stocks rally, oil slips as Mideast markets Ukraine tension eases up, QE index dips DOHA: Qatar Exchange ended NEW YORK: Stocks and other close this year. US crude for April in the red area yesterday when risky investments, including delivery fell as much as $2.07, trading closed at 11,588.24 battered Russian assets, ral- after rising to $105.22 on Monday, points, down 75.78 points, or lied yesterday after Russian the highest level since September 0.65 percent, from the previous President Vladimir Putin said 19. It was last trading $1.82 cents closing of 11,664.02 points on he saw no need to use mili- lower at $103.10 a barrel. Monday. tary force in Crimea for now, European stocks also rose, with Among the top losers were remarks investors saw as the pan-European FTSEurofirst Qatar Insurance, whose share intended to ease tensions over 300 index closing at 1,344.83, up down 1.22 percent to QR65, Doha Ukraine. two percent, making up more Bank lost 9.10 percent to QR60.90, The rouble rose 1.2 percent than half of Monday’s drop and Vodafone Qatar fell 0.99 percent to 36.05 to the dollar as Russian staging its biggest one-day gain in to QR12.05 and Ooredoo down by stocks jumped 5.3 percent, nine months. MSCI’s all-country 1.15 percent to QR146.70. recouping almost half of the pre- world stocks index, which tracks Most regional markets bounced vious day’s losses. stocks in 45 countries, rose 1.2 back yesterday with Saudi As investors moved back into percent to 410.05. Arabia’s measure up 1.4 percent stocks, they unwound safe-haven The Dow Jones industrial aver- in its biggest one-day gain in more positions in gold, yen and US and age jumped 218.11 points, or 1.35 than four months. German government debt. percent, the S&P 500 gained 26.21 Dubai’s bourse was volatile but April Brent crude fell $2.09 points, or 1.42 percent and the closed up 0.4 percent, while Abu to $109.11 a barrel by 18.49GMT. Nasdaq Composite added 75.689 A share trader wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and carnival costume works at the stock exchange yesterday in Dhabi recovered 1.3 percent. The European benchmark ended points, or 1.77 percent. Frankfurt. Frankfurt traders follow a long tradition by wearing carnival costumes to work on Shrove Tuesday. In Cairo, the bourse rose one the previous session at its highest REUTERS percent. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Wadhwa Group in Qatar Middle East to to promote new projects

DOHA: Representatives of premium real develop- ers from India, The Wadhwa Group, are in Qatar to promote their current projects in various parts boost growth of Mumbai. The group presents some of the highly rated projects — Evergreen Heights, Kalwa; The Address, Ghatkopar West; Anantya, Chembur; Platina, Thane and Anmol Fortune, Goregaon West. The group offers for SocGen 1BHK to 4BHK apartments ranging from Rs69lakh to Rs5crore. Out of the five projects , it offers two projects, Anmol Fortune and Anantya in the pre-launch stage. Qatar will be major contributor Both projects are strategically located in the heart of Mumbai and offers a flexible payment schedule with DUBAI: Societe Generale years ago, it was probably more a special rate for the buyers. (SocGen) aims to leverage its difficult to say ‘we’re going to According to SaurabhPhull, Senior Manager of experience in structured and make a push on this’ because, like the Wadhwa Group, in the last 45 years the group transport finance to grow its all European banks, we were in has built for itself an unshakable reputation for business in the Gulf, its regional the middle of this balance sheet quality, efficiency, trust, meticulous planning, top head said. rationalisation,” Soundardjee said. quality amenities, superlative designs, timely Gulf countries have earmarked He added that the process was completion, guaranteed possessions and handing hundreds of billions of dollars for now over so the bank could act. over of projects. With over 800 projects completed infrastructure projects in coming SocGen said last month that it and 10 million sqft delivered, the group places years, with Qatar alone expected would return more cash to share- itself amongst the most eminent real estate companies to announce schemes worth as holders in 2014 than last year after of Mumbai. much as $205bn between 2013 and completing its long-running bal- The Wadhwa Group representatives are available at 2018. For France’s third-largest ance sheet overhaul. Gulf Paradise Hotel near Jaidah Flyover until March bank by assets, this is an oppor- The bank currently has about 8, 2014 or they can be reached on 33178642/33178643. Wadhwa Group officials with an award. tunity to use its lending capacity 80 staff in the Middle East, cov- THE PENINSULA and advisery services, said Richad ering private banking as well as Soundardjee, group chief regional corporate and investment bank- officer for the Middle East. ing. It has over 154,000 employees “This is a region of projects and globally, including big retail bank- SocGen is a global project finance ing operations in France and other house. So the match is obvious and parts of Europe. Du gets $1.17bn India yet to pay it’s now for us to align ourselves The bank won’t for now be hir- UAE business activity with this huge pipeline that is com- ing any additional staff in the in refinancing for Iran oil ing onstream,” he said in an inter- Middle East as it has the per- view at the bank’s Dubai offices. sonnel to implement its strategy DUBAI: United Arab Emirates growth up in February NEW DELHI: India has not Soundardjee, appointed as and can call upon expertise from telecommunications firm du has made any oil payments to Iran regional head in November, said elsewhere in the world if needed, borrowed $1.17bn in three sepa- under the recent nuclear deal that while the bank had been in Soundardjee said. rate deals to refinance exist- DUBAI: Business activity orders are rising and employment that provides Tehran some Dubai since 1997, it was only in In addition to infrastructure ing debt and fund equipment growth in the United Arab is gaining speed, so far without relief from Western sanc- the last five to 10 years that it had business, SocGen is focusing on purchases, the company said Emirates’ non-oil private sec- driving up prices,” said Simon tions, government and industry built the first layer of relationships asset finance, in particular aircraft yesterday. tor edged up in February from Williams, chief economist for the sources said yesterday. needed to create a flow of deals. and shipping. The region hosts “The move lowers the com- a three-month low in the previ- Middle East and North Africa at They denied a report by Iranian European banks, and French three of the world’s largest air- pany’s funding costs, saving ous month as output picked up, HSBC. “This is a sweet spot in the oil ministry news service Shana lenders in particular, were heavy lines — Emirates , Etihad Airways approximately $9m over the term a purchasing managers’ survey UAE’s economic cycle.” earlier in the day that said India investors in the Middle East dur- and Qatar Airways — which are all of the loan due to the favourable showed yesterday. UAE firms saw output growth had deposited some of the money ing the boom years last decade but aggressively expanding their fleets. margins agreed with the banks The adjusted HSBC UAE rise to 59.7 points in February owed for oil imported from the drew back from the region at the Meanwhile, around 40 per- involved,” du said in a statement. Purchasing Managers’ Index, from January’s 58.7. New orders Opec nation in a Central Bank of start of this decade as the euro- cent of the world’s sea-borne oil Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, which measures the performance fell to 65.2 from 65.8, but growth Iran (CBI) account. zone crisis forced them to focus is shipped through the Strait of National Bank of Abu Dhabi and of the manufacturing and serv- in new export orders rose sharply The report cited Mohsen on home markets. Hormuz, the narrow strip of sea- Saudi Arabia’s Samba Financial ices sectors, rose to 57.3 points in to 60.1 points in February, the Qamsari, head of international Lending to the region dropped way between Oman and Iran. Group have provided du with a February from 57.1 in January. The highest level since the series affairs at the National Iranian and banks sold businesses to bol- SocGen is also interested in $720m five-year facility. index remains above the 50-point began in 2009. Oil Company, as saying that India ster capital ratios; both SocGen expanding its export finance Standard Chartered Bank has mark which separates growth from Employment creation across had paid 45 percent of the money and BNP Paribas offloaded their and Islamic finance businesses, provided a $300m facility. DBS contraction, the survey of 400 pri- the UAE’s non-oil private sec- in Indian rupees and 55 percent Egyptian operations in 2013. “I Soundardjee said without giving Singapore has provided a $150m vate sector firms showed. tor accelerated to 52.9 points in in euros. think, as a bank, as much as two details. REUTERS facility. REUTERS “Output growth is strong, new February. REUTERS REUTERS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 EU to close bank bonus loophole Six banks team up for New rules say that a bank can pay bonus of up to one year salary sharing data register LONDON: JPMorgan, Senior bankers have for some BRUSSELS: The European and, in exceptional circumstances, rules on bonuses actually apply but this has to be then cleared Citigroup and four more major time said there is potential for Commission stepped up efforts twice that amount, but only with to, which is key to preventing with the European Banking banks have signed up with an banks to share information yesterday to prevent banks get- shareholder approval. circumvention,” he said. Authority based in London. industry group to develop a on customers to help to meet ting around European Union To get around this limit, some “The Commission will remain Britain, home to one of the central register of information increasing “know your customer” limits on bonuses, by intro- banks have begun paying extra vigilant to ensure that new rules world’s largest financial mar- on other banks they deal with (KYC) requirements and save ducing new standards to iden- allowances to top staff, booking are applied in full,” he added. kets in London, has gone to to help to meet increasing com- money by reducing duplication tify traders and investment them as overall salary rather than The Regulatory Technical the European Court of Justice pliance demands and costs. of information. professionals who can make or bonus payments. Standards (RTS) system will seeking to get the bonus limit Bank of America Merrill Regulators require banks to break a lender. “Some banks are doing their identify staff whose professional rules scrapped. Lynch, Commerzbank, Societe have rigid KYC policies and are Such staff, dubbed “material utmost to circumvent the remu- activities have a material impact British Finance Minister Generale and Standard Chartered tightening compliance to bolster risk takers”, must comply with neration rules,” EU Internal on an institution’s risk profile in George Osborne has warned have signed the agreement. protection against money laun- EU rules which limit banker Markets Commissioner Michel a consistent way across the EU, repeatedly that the cap on Swift, a Brussels-based group dering and fraud. bonuses, the extra payments Barnier said in a statement. the statement said. bonuses is impractical and used by thousands of banks to Swift’s KYC Registry will at blamed for encouraging the reck- “The adoption of these techni- Among the criteria listed, such counter-productive. exchange financial messages, first focus on correspondent rela- less risk-taking which sparked cal standards is an important step risk takers would be those with a The Regulatory Technical said yesterday that six banks had tionships, which are the other the 2008 global financial crash towards ensuring that the ... rules total annual salary of ¤500,000 or Standards system now goes to agreed to develop and use the reg- banks they deal with in handling and then the debt crisis. on remuneration are applied con- in the top 0.3 percent of staff by the European Parliament and EU ister, which will collect and share transactions. It was not clear The rules, effective from sistently across the EU,” Barnier pay in a single institution. leaders for review for up to three standard information required by whether data sharing will later January, state that a bank can pay said. “These standards will pro- The RTS allows banks to chal- months, after which it comes into banks as part of their due dili- extend to corporate customers or a bonus of up to one year’s salary vide clarity on who new EU lenge the risk taker designation force. AFP gence processes. individuals. REUTERS

Getting ready Apple’s Oppenheimer Glencore Xstrata in $7.4bn loss to retire in September ZURICH: Mining giant Glencore Xstrata plunged deep NEW YORK: Apple Inc said as too much of a surprise to us as into the red in 2013 with a net Chief Financial Officer Peter Maestri left his position as Xerox’s loss of $7.4bn from a profit of Oppenheimer will retire at CFO to become Apple’s corporate $1bn a year ago, after booking the end of September, handing controller, which we felt was an massive writedowns related to over to Corporate Controller indication that there must be its merger. Luca Maestri in what Chief an eventual path to CFO,” Wells The group said in an earnings Executive Tim Cook described Fargo Securities analyst Maynard statement yesterday it took a as an orderly succession put in Um said in a research note. charge of $7.5bn during the year place by his CFO. “While we view Oppenheimer’s to write down goodwill or intan- Oppenheimer, 51, who joined retirement as a loss to the com- gible assets that were now valued Apple in 1996 and has been CFO pany, we expect the transition to at a lower rate than when they since 2004, will start handing over be fairly seamless.” changed hands. The impairment in June to Maestri, who joined in Oppenheimer, who was named charge also included write-downs 2013 from Xerox Corp. “When we to the board of Goldman Sachs at various sites amid the “persist- were recruiting for a corporate Group Inc on Monday, said he ent challenging nickel and alu- controller, we met Luca and knew would use some of his free time minium market environments”. he would become Peter’s succes- to complete his pilot’s licence. Swiss commodities trader sor,” Cook said. Cross Research ana- Glencore and mining giant Maestri, a 50-year-old born in lyst Shannon Cross said Xstrata merged on May 2, a Italy, spent 20 years at General Oppenheimer’s move had noth- transaction that propelled it to Motors where he worked as CFO ing to do with his new role at become one of the world’s biggest of several units including GM Goldman Sachs. players in the commodities mar- Europe. Before joining Xerox, he “There is nothing there. ket alongside firms like Brazil’s was CFO of network equipment This was absolutely a 100 percent A general view of the Palexpo Arena during the media day ahead of the 84th Geneva Motor Show in Vale, British-Australian BHP maker Nokia Siemens Networks. planned transition,” Cross said. Geneva yesterday. The show will run from March 6 to 16. Billiton and British-Australian “The transition doesn’t come REUTERS Rio Tinto. AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Mt Gox crash may help bitcoin Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.38 0.91% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 106.00 1.00% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 120.38 2.29% Aa2 AA Virtual currency exchange collapse is part of a shake-out: NY regulator Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 114.75 2.53% Aa2 AA WASHINGTON/TOKYO: Minister Taro Aso said yesterday government or central bank. existing financial regulation. The Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 109.75 3.09% Aa2 AA The collapse of the Mt Gox bit- after a cabinet meeting. “(We) Benjamin Lawsky, superintend- agency hoped to have more to say Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 156.50 4.73% Aa2 AA coin exchange could ultimately don’t know if it was a crime or ent of New York’s Department this week about how it was writ- Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 118.88 5.08% Aa2 AA strengthen the virtual currency just a bankruptcy.” of Financial Services, said that ing the new rules and considering Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 109.88 5.08% Aa2 AA industry by weeding out weaker Mt Gox filed for bankruptcy Mt Gox’s collapse was part of a how to allow bitcoin business in Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.94 0.61% Aa2 AA operators and prompting more protection in Japan on Friday, “shaking out”. the state, Lawsky said. supervision, New York’s bank- saying it may have lost some “It’s on the one hand a setback, He identified one bitcoin Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 112.00 2.92% Aa2 AA ing regulator said. 850,000 bitcoins due to hacking on the other hand it will cause exchange the agency is talking Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 102.75 1.03% A1 A- Japan’s government, however, into its faulty computer system. further improvements in this to: Barry Silbert’s SecondMarket Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.75 1.79% A1 A- said it was still trying to figure The collapse was another set- industry and some more regula- Holdings, modelled after the New QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.22% NR NR out how the Tokyo-based com- back for the virtual currency, tory involvement,” he said on the York Stock Exchange. pany, once the world’s biggest bit- which started circulating in 2009 sidelines of a banking conference “We’ve had several applica- QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 0.89% Aa3 A+ coin exchange, could lose nearly and is accepted by some online in the nation’s capital. tions. I wouldn’t say they’re on QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.38 1.85% Aa3 A+ half a billion dollars worth of the retailers. Yet many believe the Lawsky wants to attract healthy hold but they’re being worked on, Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.50 1.96% A2 A- virtual currency in a short period, electronic currency will survive. bitcoin operators to the state, and on a parallel path ... to moving the Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.38 1.27% A2 A- and whether crime was involved. Its proponents like the fact that has floated the idea of launching a regs,” Lawsky told reporters. “Ask Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 125.00 2.74% A2 A- “We still have not had a clear its value relies on a network of “BitLicense” to regulate operators, me later this week, we are work- grasp of the situation,” Finance computers and is not tied to any and to align any new rules with ing on that.” REUTERS Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 108.63 3.35% A2 A- Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 105.25 4.42% A2 A- Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 102.63 0.82% Aa3 A Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 107.00 2.98% Aa3 A US economy improving Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.88 3.76% Aa3 A SOVEREIGNS StanChart Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.38 1.12% Aa2 AA mulls selling Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.13 2.14% Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.00 1.55% NR NR units: Report Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 108.00 2.26% NR NR Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 124.25 3.58% NR NR LONDON: Standard Chartered bank is seeking to sell about six Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 116.88 4.00% NR NR units in Asia, Europe and the Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.38 0.12% Aa2 AA Middle East, the Wall Street Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 115.13 2.82% NR BBB Journal reported yesterday citing Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 108.63 3.89% NR BBB people familiar with the matter. Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 101.50 5.46% Caa1 B- The bank is in “advanced talks” to offload Standard Chartered Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.00 3.63% NR BBB- Savings Bank and Standard

*Periodic Distribution Amount Chartered Capital in South IMPORTANT NOTE: Korea, the WSJ said, but gave no Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which details of any potential buyer. is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services A company spokeswoman Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary declined to comment on the report. data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising The newspaper added that the out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not divestments were “mostly small” take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant and would also comprise Standard liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not Chartered’s Lebanese retail bank, a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and its Hong Kong consumer-finance consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. business PrimeCredit, its German consumer bank and its Swiss pri- vate bank. The report said deals are part of the bank’s efforts to Workers at the Boeing factory in South Carolina construct a 787 Dreamliner for Air India. US factory activ- combat an emerging markets ity rebounded from an eight-month low last month and consumer spending increased more than expected slowdown and worries about its in January, suggesting the economy was regaining some strength after abruptly slowing in recent months. financial health. AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Why Puerto Rico’s bonds Creditocracy: Where your are moving to New York BY FELIX SALMON debit piles up forever uerto Rico, which is already junk-rated and which is fac- ing yet another downgrade to its credit rating, is in no BY ANDREW ROSS make ends meet but who pay the monthly we are dealing with anti-social debts that position to call any shots when it comes to raising new minimum along with penalties or late fees, are a threat to foundations of our demo- Pdebt. If it wants to borrow new money — and it looks like ast month, the Federal Reserve ensuring a steady flow of revenue to banks. cratic life. it wants to borrow a hefty $3.5bn in the next few weeks — then confirmed the ominous news. The Creditors’ profits depend on keeping us in Wage conflict was the great strife of the it’s going to have to make whatever concessions its lenders want. decline in US household debt debt for as long as we live, and even beyond industrial era, but the struggle over debt That means paying a very hefty interest rate in the 10 percent from sky-high 2008 levels has the grave in the case of parental cosigners is shaping up to be the frontline conflict of range, of course. But it also means changing the governing law of halted, and the figures are on the for student debtors who die before they have the years to come. Not because wage conflict the bonds, from Puerto Rico to New York. Lrise again – up by $241bn (or 2.1 percent) performed less than an average lifetime of is over (it never will be) but because debts, Notably, the Puerto Rican government was very careful to in the fourth quarter of 2013, following a debt service. for most people, are the wages of the future, ensure that it would not waive its sovereign immunity, except smaller increase in the third quarter. Unlike With household incomes stagnant or fall- to which creditors lay claim far in advance. as regards “legal proceedings with respect to such bonds”. The auto loans, mortgages, and credit card bal- ing, elementary calculus tells us that fresh Each new surrender of a part of our lives to result is that Puerto Rico seems, on its face, to be setting itself ances, student debt never fell at all, and is credit will be needed simply to service exist- private debt-financing further consumes the up for a nasty, drawn-out stalemate a la Argentina, where bond- fast approaching $1.2trn. ing loans (remember this bumper sticker?: fruit of labour we have not yet performed, in holders sue a sovereign nation in New York, trying to claim all Economists seem to have decided that “I Use Mastercard to Pay Visa”). But con- the form of compensation we have not yet the principal and past-due interest that they’re due, while the the “debt overhang” from the crash has now verting all of its citizens into lifelong revolv- earned. That is why, to put it bluntly, many sovereign in question responds that all of its assets are immune been resolved; not only is it safe to start ers is not a sustainable condition for any household debts are a thinly disguised form from attachment. That’s definitely not the kind of fight that the borrowing again, it’s a must if we are to functional democracy. It’s the definition of a of wage theft. hedge funds lending Puerto Rico money would ever want. So why get back on track with GDP-driven growth. debt trap, all too familiar to the developing Given the fraud and deceit practiced by are they insisting on New York law? With aggregate debt still at a staggering countries that fell under IMF dependency bankers, and the likelihood that they will The answer is that the hedge funds lending to Puerto Rico basi- $11.5trn, this is bad analysis and bad advice. in the course of the 1970s and 1980s. not refrain from such delinquent conduct cally look at bond contracts, and New York law, in much the same As for reviving GDP business as usual, all This captive condition has migrated to in the future, should we continue to reward way that Argentina does. In fact, they would be very upset if Puerto the evidence suggests this kind of growth the global North in recent years and now them with full repayment? The major banks Rico treated its new debt in the way that Argentina’s opponents — is a recipe for eco-collapse. burdens the majority of households. In the are bigger and more awash in profit than and a number of New York federal judges — like to think. Confronted with these exorbitant num- 1990s and 2000s, advocates in the Jubilee before 2008; they are much more exposed At stake, of course, is the fate of Puerto Rico’s bondholders if bers, it’s natural to gripe that debts of such South movement argued, with some success, to dodgy derivatives; and they have amassed and when the territory ever defaults on its obligations. Already, magnitude will never be paid off in our that many of the external debts of the South colossal debts because they know that if the some Puerto Rican lawmakers are saying that’s exactly what lifetimes. But that’s to miss the point. In a were illegitimate, or odious, and should not loans turn sour they will be made whole by should happen, and there’s no obvious fiscal track to debt sus- creditocracy – the kind of society we now be honoured. taxpayers, once again. tainability, so default is a very real risk, and the main thing that live in – debts are not supposed to be paid Now is the time, before the rate of over- Before another meltdown occurs (a likely lenders want to protect themselves against. down entirely, for the same reason that leveraging picks up pace again, to apply prospect in the view of finance industry Historically, default protection has come mainly in the form of credit card issuers don’t want us to clear some of the same arguments to household insiders), let’s agree that it may be more asset-backed bonds. Most of Puerto Rico’s debt is backed by some our credit card balance every month. Those debts in the North, especially those incurred moral to refuse some of our obligations to revenue stream or other: even if the government defaults, the who diligently pay up are derided in indus- to access basic social goods, like education creditors than honour them all. The alterna- state-owned utilities and the like will still have revenues which try circles as “deadbeats”. The preferred and healthcare. When the costs of these tive is a failed democracy. can be attached by bondholders. But here’s the problem: if I held customers are “revolvers,” who can’t quite goods have to be personally debt-financed, THE GUARDIAN one of those revenue bonds today, I would not feel particularly confident in my ability to continue to get my coupon payments, even in the face of a government default. The problem is precisely that so much of Puerto Rico’s debt is collateralised in this way. If we reach the point at which Puerto Rico needs to default in order to get its fiscal house in order, then it will have to restructure its revenue bonds. If those are untouched, then the problem doesn’t get solved, and there’s really no point in defaulting in the first place. Conversely, if Puerto Rico defaults with a relatively small quan- tity of New York-law debt outstanding, it’s probably easier for Puerto Rico to just continue to pay the coupons on that debt, rather than try to restructure it. Again, Greece is the precedent here: while debt under Athens law was restructured, debt under London law continues to be paid in full. Puerto Rico could default on its New York-law debt, of course — but doing so would severely cripple the island’s ability to do business with the mainland; would involve paying massive legal fees for years to come; and probably wouldn’t move the needle very much when it came to debt sustainability. The point here is that the concept of seniority doesn’t really make a lot of sense when you’re not operating in the context of a formal bankruptcy regime. A bankruptcy judge can ensure that a debtor pays senior creditors first, and junior creditors last. But in a sovereign context — which includes Puerto Rico — there is no such thing as bankruptcy. In the Argentina case, the New York courts are trying to enforce an idiosyncratic reading of the formerly- obscure pari passu clause to try to bring back some semblance of seniority into the sovereign debt world, but it’s a knock-down, drag-out fight, and no one knows how it’s going to end. The over- arching principle in sovereign debt remains the principle that has governed Argentina’s behaviour ever since it defaulted. As a result, creditors in Puerto Rico aren’t looking for de jure seniority; they’re looking instead for de facto seniority. And the way to get that is to be part of a small group of bonds which is more trouble. So when you see hedge funds demanding that their new Puerto Rico bonds be issued under New York law, don’t kid yourself that they particularly value the protections that New York law gives them, or that they think that New York courts will allow them to recover most of their money in the event of default. Rather, they’re just hoping that Puerto Rico won’t bother defaulting on those bonds in the first place. And they might well be right about that. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Uncertainty surrounding the pace of tapering process

ast week, the Dollar Index its Index of consumer attitudes growth, down from the previously GDP, business investment activi- posted its worst monthly fell to 78.1 below market expec- Weekly Commodity Update reported 2.26 percent points. ties rose 8.5 percent in the fourth performance since five tation of 80.0. The Director of German business confidence ral- quarter, alongside an improvement Lmonths, reaching a low Economic Indicators said, “While lied to its highest level in two and in household spending that rose 0.4 of 79.68 amid uncertainty sur- expectations have fluctuated over BY OLE HANSEN a half years in a sign that growth percent on the quarter. Monetary rounding the pace of the taper- recent months, current conditions in Europe’s largest economy may Policy Committee member David ing process especially after US have continued to trend upward (Head of Commodity accelerate. The Ifo institute’s busi- Miles said last week that rates will government revised lower the and the Present Situation Index is Strategy, Saxo Bank) ness climate index, based on a sur- not rise, despite what appears to fourth quarter GDP data. The now at its highest level in almost vey of 7,000 executives, rose to 111.3 be the brightest economic outlook Dollar index fell to a two-month six years, this suggests that con- The number of Americans fil- fund rates at in February, beating market expec- in five years. low against the Euro currency sumers believe the economy has ing new claims for unemployment least as long as the unemploy- tation of a rise to 110.60. Canada’s economy grew at an after data showed steady euro- improved, but they do not foresee benefits rose slightly last week. ment remains above 6.5 percent The Europe Consumer Price annualised rate of 2.9 percent in zone inflation data, a sign of sta- it gaining considerable momen- Federal Reserve Chair Janet and the inflation rate 0.5 percent Index grew an annual 0.8 percent, the fourth quarter of 2013 after bility that cooled expectation that tum in the months ahead.” Yellen testified on the Semiannual above the 2 percent long-run goal, the same pace as in the previ- expanding by 2.7 percent in the the European Central Bank might US New Home Sales jumped Monetary Policy Report before Crossing one of these threshold ous two months. The European third quarter, beating market loosen its monetary policy further to a five and half year high in the Senate Banking Committee, will not automatically prompt and Central Bank President Mario expectation of a rise of 2.5 per- as its monthly meeting next week. January, showing underlying in Washington DC. Yellen said the increase in the federal fund rate. Draghi has warned of the risk cent. Because of this expansion, The Euro currency endured strength in the industry and Federal Reserve is likely to keep The United States government of inflation trapped in a danger Statistics Canada revised up its a volatile week. Euro opened easing concerns of a sharp slow- on the tapering process, even as reduced its 4th quarter growth zone below 1 percent, but said growth figures for the first two the week at 1.3734, only to drop down in the housing market. The policy makers monitor data to estimate as consumer spending again last that there was clearly quarters to reflect that exports of slightly to 1.3640 where it found Commerce Department said that determine if recent weakness and exports were weaker than no deflation. Price pressures in crude oil and crops were greater good support. The Euro later home sales jumped 9.6 percent in the economy is temporary. initially thought. The US GDP the euro zone economy are low than it had initially estimated. gained steam reaching a two- to a seasonally adjusted annual Speaking on the monetary pol- expanded at a 2.4 percent annual because unemployment remains Japans core consumer prices month high of 1.3824 after the rate of 468,000 units, marking icy, Yellen emphasised that she rate, down sharply from the 3.2 stuck close to record highs. rose 1.3 percent in January from European Union statistics office the highest level since mid-2008. expects a great deal of continu- percent reported last month. Eurostat said on Friday that 12 a year earlier, marking an eighth Eurostat estimated that con- The Commerce Department also ity in the FOMC’s approach to Consumer spending accounted percent of the bloc’s workforce straight month of gains, govern- sumer prices in the 18 countries indicated that home sales have monetary policy and she strongly for a large part of the revision was unemployed in January, ment data showed last week, in sharing the euro rose an annual increased in three of four regions, support that strategy designed to after retail sales in months of unchanged from a month before. a sign the Japanese economy is 0.8 percent this month. sales in the Northeast rallied fulfil the Federal Reserve’s man- November and December came in UK Gross Domestic Product shaking off 15 years of stagnant US consumer confidence 73.7 percent,sales in the South date of maximum employment weaker than expected. Consumer rose by 0.7 percent in the fourth deflation. The latest improve- dropped slightly last week, on improved by 10.4 percent, sales and price stability. Yellen reiter- spending, which accounts for quarter in line with market expec- ment in the CPI is a result of concern over the short-term out- in the West rose 11 percent while ated the Federal Open Market more than two-thirds of the US tations. Business activities and the ongoing quantitative easing look for business conditions and sales in the Midwest dropped Committee forward guidance of economic activity, contributed 1.73 household spending played an inte- programme implemented by the jobs. The Conference Board, said sharply by 17.2 percent. maintaining a low target federal percent percentage points to GDP gral part in the improvement of the bank of Japan. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,588.24 0.65 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 16,884.54 0.08 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,364.23 0.64 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,932.05 0.08 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,834.62 0.28 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5411.654 14.235 0.26 5471.8 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,810.82 0.38 % QR156.6566 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4389.1 98.23 2.29 4420.94 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 3,927.86 0.50 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0421 QR 6.1263 QE All Share Insurance 2,815.01 1.69 % Dj Indu Average 16168.03 -153.68 -0.94 16588.25 14030.37 Euro ...... QR 4.9804 QR 5.0507 QE All Share Real Estate 2,013.41 1.60 % QR 2.4881 CA$ ...... QR 3.2511 QR 3.3159 QE All Share Telecoms 1,566.27 1.12 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 2,056.93 1.67 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.1118 QR 4.1700 Hang Seng Inde/D 22657.63 156.96 0.7 23469.33 21197.78 Yen ...... QR 0.0354 QR 0.0361 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2306 QR 3.2940 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 5092.27 22.64 0.45 5195.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 04-03-2014 03-03-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0583 QR 0.0594 Index 11,588.24 11,664.02 Karachi 100 In/D 26209.38 355.84 1.38 27213.21 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Change 75.78 107.81 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14721.48 69.25 0.47 16164.01 13995.86 Peso ...... QR 0.0805 QR 0.0823 % 0.65 0.92 $ 109.73 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 11.64 12.37 S&P 500 Index/D 1845.73 -13.72 -0.74 1867.92 1512.29 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 14,432,918 14,463,302 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0374 Value (QAR) 651,622,584.74 739,005,511.61 Straits Times/D 3104.71 17.24 0.56 3187.8 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3322 QR 0.3418 Trades 11,549 11,238 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 105.91 Up 18 | Down 19 | Unchanged 04

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 04-03-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A B G Infra-B/D 44.15 -2.25 4127 Chambal Fert-B/D 39.35 1.7 127739 Goodyear I -B/D 424.25 -8.55 36394 Kalpat Power-B/D 81.25 0.1 17765 Oudh Sugar-B/D 17.25 -0.05 1784 Kingfisher/D 397.9 7.6 1373116 A C C-A/D 1134.2 35.4 28742 Chola Invest-B/D 230.5 -1.65 9495 Hcl Infosys-B/D 27.75 -0.35 564672 Kalyani Stel-B/D 55.25 0.5 20602 Punjab Chem.-B/D 66.25 3.1 6888 Land Secs Grou/D 1089 19 349364 Aarti Drugs-B/D 268.5 3.15 8374 Chowgule St-T/D 10.55 0.03 3914 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.03 0.05 118223 Kanoria Chem-B/D 26 0.05 7065 Radico Khait-B/D 154.9 1.2 131774 Legal & Genera/D 240.7188 3.7 4964159 Aban Offs-B/D 503.15 13.55 571520 Cipla-A/D 378.75 2.05 86486 Himat Seide-B/D 55.2 0.4 62986 Kg Denim-B/D 13 -0.06 21841 Rallis India-B/D 170.75 3.15 142719 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 81.86 0.59 44733811 Ador Welding-B/D 139.3 8.35 8666 City Union Bk-/D 47.75 1.5 42160 Hind Motors-B/D 7.17 -0.04 85628 Kinetic Eng-B/D 42.65 2 51740 Reliance Indus/D 318.25 3.95 52964 Marks & Sp./D 505 5.1 1281858 Aegis Logis-B/D 147.35 3.75 44150 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1505.35 27.15 25085 Hind Org Chem-/D 10.15 -0.08 4691 Kopran-B/D 24.55 0.6 127757 Ruchi Soya-B/D 30.25 0.3 9555 Next/D 6720 70 100807 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 106 0.1 4317 Colgate-A/D 1314.9 -2.4 3497 Hind Unilever-/D 554.2 11.2 91971 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.39 -0.01 8423 Thirumalai-B/D 87.85 -0.75 2881 Pearson/D 1041.6952 19 1714802 Alembic-B/D 12.6 0.06 51419 Container Cor-/D 786 -1.2 55677 Hind.Petrol-A/D 272 1.8 59867 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 12.5 0 493566 Til Ltd.-B/D 132.85 1.8 1786 Prudential/D 1367.2596 27 2323087 Alok Indus-B/D 6.49 0.06 272611 Dcm Financia-B/D 0.75 -0.02 1157 Hindalco-A/D 113.75 8.25 1698426 Lupin-A/D 988.5 6.2 99829 Timexgroup-B/D 10.3 0.8 61527 Rank Group/D 131 0.3 85228 Apollo Tyre-A/D 132.05 4.1 518653 Dhampur Sugar-/D 32.4 0.9 15712 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 821.85 10.85 42455 Lyka Labs-B/D 10.22 -0.19 10600 Tinplate-B/D 46.5 2.2 191022 Rentokil Initi/D 132.6 2 825954 Asahi I Glass-/D 54.35 6.95 107275 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2802.55 -12.75 25575 I F C I-A/D 23.15 0.45 521563 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 118.5 0.5 2688 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.2 0.38 5549 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1019.7 20 1940579 Ashok Leyland-/D 15.6 0.05 852598 E I H-B/D 62.05 -0.8 21466 Idbi-A/D 57.2 1.1 137808 Mah.Seamless-B/D 171.45 6.15 416307 Ucal Fuel-B/D 43 -0.4 1866 Rsa Insrance G/D 95.262 1.75 15449968 Bajaj Hold-A/D 961.4 12.2 4113 E.I.D Parry-B/D 126.6 0.35 2311 Ifb Agro-B/D 198.8 5.5 4314 Maha Scooter-B/D 500.8 -6.85 17596 Ultramarine-B/D 47.85 -2 18590 Sainsbury(J)/D 343.2 6 2239357 Ballarpur In-B/D 11.46 0.19 157126 Eicher Motor-A/D 5411.3 216.4 4342 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 74 -0.35 8078 Mangalam Cem-B/D 100 -2.2 52088 Unitech P -A/D 11.42 0.39 3016525 Schroders/D 2647 58 105368 Bata India-A/D 1045.5 3.25 10264 Electrosteel-B/D 13.45 -0.02 26334 India Cement-B/D 55 1.15 260772 Maral Overs-B/D 17.35 0.75 15958 Severn Trent/D 1848 21 160235 Bayer Crop-B/D 1490 -8.75 108296 Emco-B/D 24.95 1.05 40431 India Glycol-B/D 85.5 0.7 11934 Mastek-B/D 218.55 12.8 285461 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 942.5 8 892551 Beml Ltd-B/D 208.75 0.15 31545 Escorts Fin-B/D 2.91 0.05 1825 Indian Hotel-A/D 71.7 3.05 287473 Max India L-A/D 190.45 0.7 330368 Smiths Group/D 1372 29 334792 Bh Electronic-/D 923 -0.8 63234 Escorts-B/D 114.75 0.1 306232 Indo-Bcount-B/D 39.5 0.35 4496 Mrpl-A/D 38.75 0.45 25774 3I Group/D 412.4 8.5 441682 Standrd Chart /D 1272 20 1613722 Bhansali Eng-B/D 11.78 0.03 2639 Essar Oil-A/D 51 0.1 134312 Indusind-A/D 410.25 18 179588 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 16.15 0.75 1999 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3005.3 37 270636 Tate & Lyle/D 646.5 16 750367 Bharatgears-B/D 36.75 -1.5 2167 Eveready Indu-/D 41.1 -0.35 39750 J.B.Chemical-B/D 129.35 -0.2 59926 Nahar Spg.-B/D 93.85 0.55 5060 B Sky B/D 940.5 9 741338 Tesco/D 326.3 3.75 6277071 Bhartiya Int-B/D 188.1 -0.3 10243 F D C-B/D 128.2 3.05 27989 Jagatjit Ind-T/D 46.85 -0.15 50000 Nath Seeds-T/D 4.26 -0.13 14536 Barclays/D 253 5.15 17241780 Unilever/D 2449 54 908837 Bhel-A/D 166.7 4.2 392885 Federal Bank-A/D 79.8 0.2 139657 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.2 0.01 5046 Nation Alum -A/D 34 1.1 150364 Bg Group/D 1096.5 12.5 1847165 United Util Gr/D 784.3571 4.5 616098 Bom.Burmah-B/D 93.2 1.15 23037 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.82 0.32 37676 Jamnaauto-B/D 65.5 1.15 2550 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.5 0.2 12724 Bp/D 494.65 1.75 13258247 Vodafone Group/D 246.992 3.4 19175508 Bombay Dyeing-/D 49.85 1.25 190548 Finolex-B/D 187 3.95 22605 Jbf Indu-B/D 71.1 4 32589 Nrb Bearings-B/D 40.85 0.85 11358 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3282 71.5 1171822 Whitbread/D 4378 0 235127 Camph.& All-B/D 165 -4.55 1786 Gail-A/D 379.95 11.3 111063 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.81 -0.02 74063 O N G C-A/D 295.8 5.95 191605 Bt Group/D 406.08 3.7 5891723 Canfin Homes-B/D 191 18.4 22946 Gammon India-B/D 12.64 0.3 3670 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.39 0.14 1806 Orchid Chem-B/D 44.7 0 82989 Centrica/D 317.84 4.6 5363249 Caprihans-B/D 33 0 4232 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.01 0.04 2150 Jik Indust-T/D 0.89 0.04 7058 Orient Hotel-B/D 16.1 -0.2 3923 Gkn/D 400.167 7 2173192 Century Enka-B/D 133.9 -0.95 11968 Garden P -B/D 33.95 -0.05 1460 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 140.15 3.3 156236 Orient.Carb.-B/D 132.4 -0.45 4792 Hsbc Holdings/D 633.8243 11.3 7938188 Century Text-A/D 331.15 15.95 254865 Goodricke-B/D 142.1 3.65 27927 Kajaria Cer-B/D 305.5 3.3 4695 Orient.Carb.-B/D 132.4 -0.45 4792 Imperial Tobac/D 2467 46 775433 WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Innovative stick a shot in the arm Fantastick is more fun, easier and challenging than the regular hockey stick for kids

BY ARMSTRONG VAS

DOHA: Learning the basic hockey techniques for chil- dren has been made easier and entertaining, thanks largely to an innovative hockey stick ‘Fantastick’ launched in the Netherlands. The Fantastick is an innova- tive field hockey stick, especially developed for 4 to 6 year-old chil- dren and goes by the brand name Sportivation. The idea of the Fantastick was developed and started in 2009 by Dutch duo of researcher Paulien Kok and former coach of the women’s gold medal winning hockey team, Marc Lammers. The concept has undergone intensive research before the final product was launched in the market this year. “Field hockey is a difficult complex sport to learn especially for children from 4 to 6 years of age. There was a need for an innovative tool for young children to learn hockey in a fun way,” A child with the new hockey stick, Fantastick. work as a researcher, Kok used a better choice for children than says 44-year-old Kok, a former this practical experience to start a regular hockey stick. hockey played turned coach and managing projects. “The success rate is much a mother of three. Fantastick idea has been higher with this stick, the “Research was carried out to fine tuned over the years Fantastick is great for intro- determine whether the hockey in some of the top research ducing children to hockey. The stick that was designed, the labs and sports universi- Fantastick makes learning Fantastick, is more fun, easier ties. “Sportivation has worked basic hockey techniques easier, and more challenging than the together with Expertisecentrum more fun and more challeng- regular hockey stick that is cur- Bewegingstechnologie ing. The basic grip is easier to rently on the market for children (ECBT), Haagse Hogeschool teach through special forms from 4 to 5 years old,” she adds. Pakistan, but which is fading different sizes, colours and The Fantastick is developed InnoSportNL, InnoSportlab and signs. The dip in the hook, “To be able to carry out this away. designs. and owned by Sportivation, a Sport en Beweeg! and ML ‘the Smile’, helps to take the research seven hypotheses have “The Dribble Grip is a unique “The stick’s size, weight and company founded by Kok. Hockey Support in a project ball along during the dribble,” been formulated. When five of accessory to the Fantastick. measurements fit 4-6 year-old Kok has many years’ experi- to further develop the exist- says Kok. the seven hypotheses are met Made out of durable plastic it fits children. These measurements ence working on innovation in ing prototype of the Fantastick “The stick is manufactured in we can say that the Fantastick is exactly on the Fantastick. The have been arrived at after exten- sports and health. Following her hockeystick to a tested product Pakistan and the Drible Grip in more fun, easier and more chal- Dribble Grip can be attached to sive research. The stick is availa- studies in Physiotherapy and ready to put on the market,” Kok The Netherlands. The stick is lenging than the regular hockey the Fantastick when practising ble in four types and six sizes; 21”, Human Movement Sciences, said while speaking to a group sold in the Netherlands via de stick.” the Indian dribble. In this way, 24”, 26”, 27”, 29” and 30”inches. Kok worked for twelve years at of foreign journalists who were webshopwww.fantastick-hockey. The stick is a perfect tool for keeping the right hand loosely Most hockey sticks in these small the Netherlands Organisation in the Netherlands for a week nl and via mail info@fantastick- children who want to master the over the stick (like a small sleeve) sizes are made from wood. The for Applied Scientific Research long stay. hockey.nl. We are looking at the art of dribbling hockey, a brand is easy and fun to practice,” she Fantastick is made from glass- (TNO), initially doing research The ECBT tested the Fantastick moment for distributors in other which is popular with the Asian added. fiber and carbon and is therefore into human product interaction. with children aged from 4 to 5 countries,” added Kok. sub-continent teams India and The Fantastick comes in more durable,” added Kok. In the years following her years old to find out Fantastick is THE PENINSULA Wild douse Flames; Hat-trick bid may be Lee’s stretch win streak to 5 last All-England ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA: Columbus Blue Jackets snapped BIRMINGHAM: Lee Chong Minnesota Wild defenceman the Toronto Maple Leafs’ seven- Wei’s millions of supporters will Jared Spurgeon and left wing game home winning streak. Left be hoping that his bid to regain Zach Parise had third-period winger Mason Raymond got the the All-England Open title here goals, snapping a 1-1 tie and lift- Leafs within one at 15:45 of the this week is not his last attempt ing the Wild to victory over the third but Toronto was unable to at the world’s oldest badminton Calgary Flames. score an equaliser. tournament, which begins again Center Kyle Brodziak also With the win, Columbus (31- at Britain’s National Indoor scored for the Wild, and goal- 25-5) swept the season series with Arena here today. tender Darcy Kuemper — making Toronto, outscoring the Maple The world number one from his 15th consecutive start — had Leafs 13-3. Columbus improved Malaysia is top-seeded, favoured 21 saves as Minnesota (34-21- to 13-5-1 in its past 19 games and to avenge his loss to Chen Long in 7) extended its longest winning 8-5-1 in its past 14 road contests. last year’s final, and employing his streak of the season to five games. Toronto (32-23-8) fell to 0-1-2 light-footed game at the age of 31 Mike Cammalleri and defense- since the Olympic break. almost as nimbly as ever. man Mark Giordano scored for Lindy Ruff’s first win as an However, Lee originally planned the Flames (23-31-7), who have NHL head coach came with the to retire after the 2012 Olympics lost three of their last four games. Buffalo Sabres in October 1997. and has recently been suggesting Reto Berra had 24 saves in goal He recorded career win number that he may do so soon, perhaps for Calgary. 600 against Buffalo, when the after the Asian Games at Incheon Parise tipped a long pass from Dallas Stars earned a victory. in September. right wing Jason Pominville past Dallas (29-22-10) dominated Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) makes a shot as Charlotte Bobcats’ centre Al Jefferson (25) and Even though he will be highly Berra a few minutes later for the play in the first period, out-shoot- shooting guard Gary Neal (12) look on in the second half their NBA game at American Airlines Arena in Miami motivated to win the All-England Wild, who were playing at home ing the Sabres 16-5. However, yesterday. for a third time - the prime min- for the first time since the Olympic Buffalo led after 20 minutes. ister of Malaysia congratulated break. Defenseman Dalton Prout Winger Jeff Carter and defense- him by cell-phone within minutes and center Artem Anisimov scored man Jake Muzzin scored goals, his last two triumphs - his mind- second-period goals, and the goaltender Jonathan Quick made set has new concerns. 17 saves, and the Los Angeles James hits career-high These include a need to be with Kings defeated the Montreal his wife and baby, the constant NHL Results Canadiens 2-1. pressure of being the main hope of Los Angeles 2 Montréal 1 Los Angeles (35-22-6) earned an aspiring nation, and an occa- Dallas 3 Buffalo 2 its fifth consecutive victory to sional tendency to hyper-tension. Minnesota 3 Calgary 2 remain eight points ahead of the 61 as Heat beat Bobcats Lee prolonged his career only Dallas Stars for third place in the because he came so agonisingly Toronto 1 Columbus 2 Pacific Division. REUTERS MIAMI: LeBron James scored playoff positions in the East. close — just a couple of points — a career-high 61 points to break NBA Results Miami led 60-54 at half-time to the Olympic gold medal which the Miami Heat one-game scor- Brooklyn Nets 96 Chicago 80 before James went wild in the would have been the first for any ing record on Monday, sparking Detroit 96 NY Knicks 85 third quarter, going 5-of-5 from Malaysian in any sport. the defending NBA champi- Miami 124 Charlotte 107 beyond the 3-point arc on his He felt a responsibility to see if ons over the Charlotte Bobcats way to 25 points in the quarter, another attempt was possible, but Portland 106 LA Lakers 107 124-107. matching the Bobcats’ total team now doubts that he can. The Heat’s season win streak Sacramento 96 New Orleans 89 output. James scored Miami’s first stretched to eight games in a Denver 128 Minnesota 132 eight points of the second half, SINGLES SEEDS: row with a 16th consecutive vic- Milwaukee 114 Utah 88 then added back-to-back three- Men.-1, Lee Chong Wei tory in meetings with Charlotte, Washington 104 Memphis 110 point plays late in the period for (Malaysia); 2, Chen Long (China); whose win drought against Miami an 89-69 Heat lead. 3, Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia); now spans four years. James sank shot 55.4 percent from the floor, James followed with his eighth 4, Jan Jorgensen (Denmark); 5, eight 3-pointers, hitting 22-of-33 including 16-of-28 from 3-point 3-pointer for a 95-73 edge with Kenichi Tago (Japan); 6, Boonsak shots from the field overall, and range. Charlotte’s Al Jefferson 1:16 to play in the third and Ponsana (Thailand); 7, Du Pengyu also grabbed seven rebounds and scored 38 points and grabbed 19 began the fourth quarter with (China); 8, Tien Minh Nguyen passed off five assists. rebounds. four straight points to reach 53 (Vietnam). The former Heat single-game The Heat improved to 43-14, for the night. But with Charlotte Women.-1, Li Xuerui (China); scoring record was 56 points by trailing only Eastern Conference still fighting to stay in the game, 2, Wang Yihan (China); 3, Glen Rice in April of 1995. rival Indiana (46-13) for the best James remained in the lineup and Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand); On a night when Miami star record in the NBA and a home- added a pair of layups and a spin- 4, Wang Shixian (China); 5, Sung Calgary team-members congratulate Giordano for scoring against guard Dwyane Wade was rested, court edge throughout the play-offs. ning bank shot for a 115-99 Miami Ji-hyun (Korea); 6,Bae Yeon Ju Minnesota Wild during their game in St Paul, Minnesota, yesterday. Chris Bosh contributed 15 points Charlotte fell to 27-33 as the Bobcats edge with 2:23 to play. (Korea); 7, Saina Nehwal (India); and seven rebounds. Miami and Atlanta fight for the final two AFP 8, Tai Tzu Ying (Taipei). AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Federer seeks record title wins The Swiss faces top class field in Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, US: Roger Federer will seek to back up his Dubai title win on Saturday with a record fifth Indian Wells crown starting this week which if successful would be his 79th career title. Federer, though, will face a top class field with defending cham- pion Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the top seeds. The $12m ATP and WTA hard- court event begins today for the women — where Maria Sharapova is the defending champion — and Patrick McEnroe returns a shot as brother John McEnroe looks on during the BNP Paribas Showdown match tomorrow for the men. against Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan at Madison Square Garden in New York City yesterday. Federer won titles at Indian Wells from 2004-2006 and again in 2012 and showed top form in reaching the Australian Open semi-finals and taking his sixth Bollettieri and Davenport Dubai crown which included beat- ing Djokovic in the semi-finals and coming from behind to beat Tomas Berdych in the final. “I voted into Hall of Fame think this is how you win your first title again after a while, and NEWPORT, US: Legendary then hopefully from here on it’s coach Nick Bollettieri and easier, especially closing out,” former women’s world number Federer said. one Lindsay Davenport were “There is a lot of pressure. among five people named as new Sometimes I have been disap- Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after defeating Tomas inductees to the International pointed with my play when it Berdych of Czech Republic during their final match in the Dubai Open Tennis Hall of Fame. really mattered. I was able to Championships in Dubai recently. The Americans will be joined deliver when I had to. I was able by Dutch wheelchair tennis to come up with the goods. It was star Chantal Vandierendonck, one of those tournaments I kind much of last year but sees him- excited playing tournaments. It’s long-time executive Jane Brown of need this way right now.” self in a strong position to go far a good start to the season.” Grimes and British author and The 32-year-old Swiss star will in events and add to his record Nadal, who has 13 career Grand broadcaster John Barrett. have Stefan Edberg with him as total of 17 men’s Grand Slam Slam titles, will try to match A ceremony will be con- coach, one of four former Indian titles, the most recent of them in Federer as a four-time Indian ducted July 12 during the ATP Nick Bollettieri (left) and Lindsay Davenport Wells winners on hand to guide 2012 at Wimbledon. And based Wells champion, having won in Hall of Fame Championships others, with Michael Chang help- upon hard work in the off-season, 2007 and 2009 as well as last at Newport, Rhode Island. The ing Japan’s Kei Nishikori, Boris Federer says he has a new spark year. newcomers will join 235 people and remains active in mentor- 900 year-round students. Becker working with Djokovic of confidence. Djokovic, the 2008 and 2011 from 20 nations on the 60-year- ing young talent, having more “Through extraordinary coach- and Ivan Ljubicic coaching “I feel I am in good enough Indian Wells winner, will also old roll of honour. recently worked with Japanese ing and his keen ability to inspire Canada’s Milos Raonic. shape at least now and that’s very be a contender, as will Berdych, Bollettieri, 82, has coached 10 star Kei Nishikori and American greatness, Bollettieri is the person “It has just been nice spend- encouraging,” he said. Britain’s Andy Murray and players who would become world Ryan Harrison among others. we can all thank for helping cre- ing time with him,” Federer “I feel my best tennis is Australian Open champion Stanislas number ones, including Andre In 1978, Bollettieri founded his ate some of the sport’s greatest said. “It’s clearly inspiring at around the corner. I’ve said Wawrinka, in his first event since Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles own boarding school and tennis champions and therefore, most this point just hearing him speak that quite a few times, but I feel capturing his first Grand Slam and Boris Becker. He has also academy, which has since evolved memorable moments,” Hall of about the game.” like this time it’s really the case. crown by beating Nadal in the worked with Maria Sharapova into a huge facility with offerings Fame president Stan Smith said. Federer battled nagging injuries I wake up with zero pain. I’m Melbourne final. AFP and Serena and Venus Williams in eight sports and more than AFP IPTL a no-go if it clashes with Thanksgiving: Agassi LONDON: Andre Agassi (pictured), his World Tennis Day showdown with away is too much of a price to pay.” The earlier finish to the ATP and WTA sea- will snub the inaugural International former arch-rival Pete Sampras in draft for the IPTL set up by Indian dou- sons and involve a five-set format made Premier Tennis League (IPTL) if London. bles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi saw the up of a men’s singles, women’s singles, it clashes with Thanksgiving, the “My agreement to do it was based on four teams - Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok men’s doubles, mixed doubles and a past former world number one said the a few very specific conditions. Certainly and Mumbai — bid for players. Organisers champions singles. day after being signed up by the economics played a little part in it but also said a total of $24m was spent. Fellow American Sampras also Singapore franchise. time away played another part. “I can’t Agassi was selected for Singapore appeared slightly in the dark on Monday. The eight-times grand slam champion be away for more than four or five days along with world number one Serena “It’s happened in the last 24 hours,” he was named in Sunday’s player draft for so I set some limitations and had some Williams and Czech Tomas Berdych said. “I’ve just been in talks with them the new Asia-based event but said he dates in December. while 14-times major winner Sampras and I’m excited to be a part of it. It’s a big had since learned the first match would “Now I read in an email that the dates is set to join Rafa Nadal in the Mumbai endeavour by the guys who are putting clash with the November holiday. are over Thanksgiving,” said the 43-year- team. Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic the whole thing together. “It’s not an “It’s a good thing to take tennis to old Agassi who is married to former head up the Bangkok and Dubai squads. easy thing to do though and we’ll have to places in the world where they want to women’s world number one Steffi Graf Modelled on the successful Indian see how it all plays out in the next weeks. see it. There’s no downside in doing that,” and has two children. “That would be a Premier League cricket competition, I’ll get more details when I get home.” American Agassi told Reuters ahead of non-starter for me. Six or seven days the IPTL would take advantage of an REUTERS

Brown back as Scotland Wembley Stadium to host Froch-Groves re-match shuffle pack for France LONDON: Wembley Stadium Groves had floored will host the re-match between Nottingham-based Froch in the WBA and IBF super-middle- opening round and was ahead on LONDON: Scotland captain important. “The other back-row “They have proven over the weight champion Carl Froch the judges’ cards when referee Kelly Brown has been recalled change is slightly enforced as years that they are a great rugby and George Groves on May 31 Howard Foster stepped in. to the team that will tackle Ryan Wilson has not been well nation so whatever side comes to with promoters expecting to “I don’t want to fight in France in the Six Nations at at the start of this week with a Edinburgh, we know we’ll have to sell more tickets than for any Nottingham. Nottingham’s not Murrayfield on Saturday, head tonsillitis bug. be at our best.” post-World War Two fight in big enough,” Froch told Sky coach Scott Johnson announced “It was important we were France are currently level on Britain. Sports news. “It only holds the yesterday. not hampered in our training, so four points with Ireland, England The fight will be the first best part of 30,000. The Saracens flanker was Dents (Denton) comes straight and Wales in the Six Nations staged at the new national sta- “I am just so excited that I am Carl Froch overlooked for Scotland’s last in. Geoff did really well when he standings, with Scotland two dium in North London, which going to give George Groves an two games — a 20-0 home loss came on against Italy and it’s points back in fifth place. re-opened in 2007 and seats absolute pasting in front of such to England and a last-gasp 21-20 right that he should start this 90,000. a big crowd.” victory over in Italy in Rome — week.” Scotland team announced yes- “I think we have got the prod- The current highest attend- but returns for his side’s final Fusaro and tighthead prop Low terday to play France in the Six uct to fill stadiums like this. ance recorded at a British bout home game of the tournament. were both left out of the match- Nations at Murrayfield Stadium When you get an opportunity to was 55,000 who watched local Brown replaces Glasgow’s Chris day squad, while Wilson was in Edinburgh on Saturday (1700 do so, you have to grab it with IBO light-welterweight cham- Fusaro, while Geoff Cross and named on the bench. GMT kick-off): both hands,” promoter Eddie pion Ricky Hatton take on David Denton also come into the Johnson has kept faith with the SCOTLAND (15-1) Hearn told the BBC. Mexican Juan Lazcano at the pack in place of Moray Low and backs that started in the dramatic Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, “This is the ultimate, in my City of Manchester stadium in Ryan Wilson. defeat of Italy, which was secured Alex Dunbar, Matt Scott, Sean opinion — steeped in history 2008. Explaining the changes to by a drop-goal from Duncan Weir Lamont; Duncan Weir, Greig — and this is the first fight at The last fight at the old his pack, Johnson said: “I think 10 seconds from time. Laidlaw; David Denton, Kelly the new stadium. And what a Wembley stadium was the WBC Saturday is a game that will really Beaten 27-6 by Wales in their Brown (capt), Johnnie Beattie; fight.” heavyweight title clash in 1995 suit Kelly. Unlike other sides in last game, France have a number Jim Hamilton, Richie Gray; Geoff The two Britons first clashed between Britain’s Frank Bruno the competition, France play of injury concerns ahead of Cross, Scott Lawson, Ryan Grant at the Manchester Arena in and American Oliver McCall above the ground a bit and there Saturday’s game, but Johnson Replacements: Ross Ford, November when Groves, 25, which the home favourite won will be a lot of mauling. believes that they have the Alasdair Dickinson, Euan Murray, was controversially stopped by on points to become champion “I think the pitch suits Kelly strength in depth to cope. Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson, Chris George Groves 36-year-old Froch in the ninth at the fourth attempt. too and I’ve picked a side that “Whatever side France put Cusiter, Duncan Taylor, Max of 12 scheduled rounds. REUTERS can win the game and that’s most out will be a good one,” he said. Evans. AFP WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Lots at stake International Friendly fixtures for S Africa Selected international friendly fixtures this World Cup problems week (all kick-off times GMT): Today and Brazil At Tokyo (1040) Japan vs New Zealand JOHANNESBURG: World At Krasnodar, Russia (1400) Cup hosts and title favour- Russia vs Armenia ites Brazil hope to maintain a under control: Blatter At Tehran (1400) perfect record against South Africa today in a Soweto foot- Iran vs Guinea ball friendly with much at stake. FIFA chief confident as 100-day countdown begins At Blida, Algeria (1700) For the South American stars Algeria vs Slovenia it is a last chance in the national At Podgorica (1700) strip to impress coach Luiz ZURICH: Problems with Montenegro vs Ghana Felipe Scolari before he names Brazil’s World Cup venues are At Johannesburg (1700) his 23-man tournament squad in under control with just 100 days South Africa vs Brazil early May. to go before the first match And only a victory can possibly kicks off, FIFA President Sepp At Piraeus, Greece (1700) save Bafana Bafana (The Boys) Blatter said yesterday. Greece vs South Korea coach Gordon Igesund —labelled a “One hundred days; It’s a long At Prague (1730) ‘dead man walking’ by the media way to go, and it’s a short way to Czech Republic vs Norway because of poor tournament go if there are still problems,” the At Innsbruck, Austria (1730) results. Swiss told fifa.com in a video to Bosnia-Hercegovina vs Egypt Brazil have beaten South Africa mark the occasion. twice in Johannesburg, once in “But now all problems are At Barcelona, Spain (1800) Soweto and most recently in Sao under control and it will be in 100 Colombia vs Tunisia Paulo, but all the victories were days an exceptional good start for At Nicosia (1800) by one-goal margins. an exceptional competition.” Cyprus vs Northern Ireland A squad boasting star Brazil is racing against time to At Ankara (1830) Barcelona striker Neymar plus complete stadiums, airports, com- Turkey vs Sweden drawcards from Bayern Munich, munications infrastructure and At Dublin (1845) Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris transportation systems as the Saint-Germain and Real Madrid June 12 opening day approaches. Republic of Ireland v Serbia start as overwhelming favourites FIFA secretary general Jerome At Cardiff (1845) again. Valcke said at the weekend that Wales vs Iceland Opposing them at the 90,000- the world body faced a huge chal- At Bucharest (1900) seat Soccer City stadium lenge following delays in building Romania vs Argentina are lesser known footballers stadiums. At Larnaca, Cyprus (1900) from clubs like Bournemouth, The Sao Paulo stadium that Ukraine vs United States Doncaster, Genk, Lech Poznan, hosts the opening match is not Ostend and Rostov. due to be ready until May while At Klagenfurt, Austria (1930) But they rose magnificently to other stadiums in Curitiba and Austria vs Uruguay the occasion at the same stadium Manaus remain unfinished. At St Gallen, Switzerland (1930) last November against World Cup One survey in February showed Switzerland vs Croatia and European title-holders Spain, the number of Brazilians who FIFA President Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter with Brazil President Dilma Rousseff with the World Cup trophy after At Brussels (1945) winning 1-0 through a Bernard favoured hosting the tournament talks on World Cup 2014 preparations at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Belgium vs Ivory Coast Parker close-range chip. had fallen to an all-time low, with Hopes of another shock win many criticising it as a waste of At Stuttgart, Germany (1945) suffered a double eve-of-match money. times and also the only ones to — a chance to erase the nightmare is a re-election year. Germany vs Chile blow,though, when goalkeeper Support has waned since pro- have played in every finals. of a 1950 final loss to Uruguay. “One of the negatives regarding At Warsaw (1945) and captain Itumeleng Khune tests broke out in June last year Brazil celebrated wildly after But just as importantly he the organization of the World Cup Poland vs Scotland and defensive midfielder Kagisho against poor public services and being chosen to host the World saw it as a chance to project the in Brazil is improvisation,” says At London (2000) Dikgacoi withdrew injured. the high cost of building stadi- Cup, a chance for the “sleeping country onto the forefront of the Jose Carlos Marques, professor England vs Denmark Scolari,who steered Brazil to ums, but Blatter was confident giant” of 200 million to show its world stage. Half of the 12 sta- of Sao Paulo University’s (Unesp) At London (2000) the last of five World Cup tri- Brazilians would embrace the Cup growing sporting, but also eco- diums missed FIFA’s December Sports Observatory. umphs 12 years ago in Japan, when the time came. nomic, prowess. 31 deadline to be ready and three “It’s a cultural issue to believe Australia vs Ecuador values the form of his galaxy of Brazil, said Blatter, was “the Seven years on, with just 100 suffered fatal accidents and five that everything can be done at At Paris (2000) stars far above reputations. country of football, and they will days left till kick-off, the host have still to be delivered. the last minute, without plan- France vs Netherlands “We want to be world champi- receive this competition with nation is racing against the clock A huge revamp of Brazil’s ning but that all will be resolved At Leiria, Portugal (2045) ons again,” stressed the 65-year- open arms and full of their heart”. to be ready for the greatest sport- chronically saturated airports through Brazilian hospitality and Portugal vs Cameroon old Brazilian, “and we are in “The Brazilian spirit of the ing show on Earth starting June 12. and transport upgrades have also warmth,” Marques said. At Madrid (2100) South Africa to win. game and the Brazilian ability to Stadium delays and security con- fallen way behind schedule in a The protests at the cost of the Spain vs Italy “Bafana Bafana beat Spain play football makes this World cerns fueled by protests at corrup- country known for a sunny dispo- event have seen marchers chant- recently so they will provide a Cup very, very special,” he added. tion and poor public facilities have sition where things happen late if ing “there will be no Cup” in the Thursday good test. This match represents “Now everybody is expecting in served to dampen the initial enthu- they happen at all. streets as they demand more pub- At San Pedro Sula, Honduras (0100) an important part of our build-up. Brazil that Brazil will bring home siasm both of Brazilians — fans and Add threats of fresh public pro- lic investment instead in areas Honduras vs Venezuela “It is an opportunity to get this World Cup. I am sure it will government alike — and FIFA. tests against the cost of staging such as transport and education. At Atlanta, United States (0130) the players and back-room staff be a great, great success.” For former president Luiz the event — around $11bn — and Last year saw more than a Mexico vs Nigeria together a final time before nam- Brazil, who last hosted the Inacio Lula da Silva, hosting the there is no shortage of negative million people hit the streets in At San Jose (0200) ing the World Cup squad.” tournament in 1950, are the only extravaganza for the first time in headlines for current President Brazil’s biggest demonstrations in AFP nation to have won the Cup five 64 years was a dream ambition Dilma Rousseff in what she hopes a generation. AGENCIES Costa Rica vs Paraguay Ex-England managers rubbish Campbell claims

LONDON: Two former “embarrassing” that striker England managers and one Michael Owen was made cap- of the country’s most famous tain ahead of him by Eriksson black players have rubbished but John Barnes, a trailblazer allegations by Sol Campbell for black England players, (pictured), that he would believes the other skippers have been national team cap- deserved the honour. tain for more than 10 years if “I don’t think Sol would he was white. have been captain for 10 years Ex-Arsenal and Tottenham because if you look at the cap- Hotspur defender Campbell, tains - they were Tony Adams who was born in east London and then after that Alan to Jamaican parents, amassed Shearer,” Barnes said. 73 caps from 1996 to 2007 “Then David Beckham and captained England three became captain and that was times. a PR exercise for the FA. I Graham Taylor, in charge of don’t think necessarily it was the national team between 1990 because of the colour of Sol’s and 1993, was staggered by the skin.” accusations. Mark Palios, the FA’s “Sol is making a real go of former chief executive, was giving his book a good sell. I performance-wise, to be cap- “flabbergasted” by Campbell’s CLOCK-WISE FROM TOP cannot go along with what he is tain ... and I was a club cap- comments. LEFT: Lionel Messi attends an saying,” Taylor told BBC radio tain early on in my career (at “To brand the FA like that is official training of Argentina, on Monday. Tottenham). I believe if I was just an example of lazy labelling two days ahead of a friendly “I never had any influence white I would’ve been England and he does the case of fighting football match against on me to select who should be captain for over 10 years.” against racism no favours by Romania in Bucharest yester- captain regardless of the colour Taylor highlighted mid- saying this,” he told BBC Radio day. Enzo Zidane, the 18-year- of his skin.” fielder Paul Ince as England’s 5 live. old son of French legend The 39-year-old Campbell’s first black skipper. “If you talk about the selec- Zinedine Zidane who plays in claims were revealed in “No one from the Football tion of the captain and the the youth team of Real Madrid, extracts from his biography Association ever gave me an players, it was entirely down during a training session in being serialised in the Sunday impression that I shouldn’t to the England manager. Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, Times newspaper. have given the captaincy to “We would never go any- outside Paris, two days ahead “I don’t think it will change him. There was none of that where near suggesting to the because they don’t want it in my managerial career,” said manager who should be in his of the friendly football match to and probably the majority the former Aston Villa and squad or who should be his against the Netherlands. of fans don’t want it either,” Watford manager. captain,” added Palios, who was French national football team’s Campbell said. Sven-Goran Eriksson, who FA chief executive in 2003-04. midfielders Moussa Sissoko, “It’s alright to have black gave Campbell the armband “Sol has picked the wrong Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu captains and mixed race in the against the United States in argument. If he had said some- Valbuena, forwards Loic Remy Under-18s and Under-21s but 2005, told the Daily Telegraph thing about the lack of oppor- and Olivier Giroud during a not for the full national side. newspaper there was “not a tunities for (black) coaches training session. I think the FA wished I was chance” the allegations were then everyone would have reso- white. true. nated with that.” “I had the credibility, Campbell said it was REUTERS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT South Africa Afridi powers Pakistan’s great Smith calls time on international record run chase in ODIs career CAPE TOWN: South African The all-rounder smashes seven sixes; Pakistan reach Asia Cup final Graeme Smith, international cricket’s longest-serving cap- tain, sprang a shock on Monday DHAKA: Shahid Afridi bludg- their squad and their top order as he announced he would retire eoned the Bangladesh bowlers fired in unison to help them from all international cricket during a 25-ball 59 to script post 326 for three, their highest after the current third Test Pakistan’s highest ever run ODI total in front of a delirious against Australia at Newlands. chase as his team beat the hosts crowd at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla The 33-year-old -- whose by three wickets with one ball to National Stadium. long-time team-mate Jacques spare to set up an Asia Cup final Opener Anamul Haq (100) hit Kallis retired from Test cricket against Sri Lanka. his second ODI century, while in December though he wants to Chasing 327 for victory, opener Imrul Kayes (59) and Mominul remain part of the one day side Ahmed Shehzad (103) gave Haque (51) chipped in with brisk -- had said only on Friday that Pakistan a solid start with his half-centuries to lay the foun- he still had things to achieve in fifth ODI century but it was left dation for a big total against international cricket. to Afridi’s pyrotechnics to cement Pakistan’s off-colour attack. However, after another batting the win as the right-hander hit Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim failure in the present series, he seven sixes and two fours during (51) and all-rounder Shakib (44) made just five in the first innings his innings, his half-century com- added 77 quick runs in 5.4 overs on Monday he decided it was time ing off just 18 balls. and remained unseparated to take to call it a day and told his team- Afridi, who hit two consecu- the hosts past the 300-run mark. mates of his decision. tive sixes in the last over during Pakistan left-arm spinner “This has been the most diffi- Pakistan’s win against arch-rivals Abdur Rehman sent down a hat- cult decision I have ever had to India on Sunday, suffered from trick of illegal full tosses and Pakistan’s Shahid make in my life. cramps towards the end and was was taken out of the attack with Afridi plays a “It’s a decision that I have been run-out to a direct hit by Shakib bizarre bowling figures of 0-0-8-0. ball against considering since my ankle sur- Al Hasan with Pakistan needing Mushfiqur took the onus on Bangladesh gery in April last year. 33 off 19 balls. himself to negate the threat posed during their one- “I have a young family to con- Fawad Alam (74) was also run by Pakistani off-spinner Saeed day international sider, and I felt that retiring at out in the final over but his two Ajmal who conceded 52 runs in (ODI) match Newlands would be the best way sixes off left-arm spinner Abdur his last four overs. in Asia Cup in to end it because I have called this Razzak had sealed the win for Bangladesh milked 121 runs off Dhaka yesterday. place home since I was 18 years Pakistan, whose highest success- the last 10 overs with Shakib hit- Afridi bludgeoned old.” ful run chase till date was in a ting six fours and two sixes during Smith captained South Africa the Bangladesh 2007 ODI against India when they his unbeaten 16-ball blitz. in 108 Test matches, including the bowlers during made 322-6. Bangladesh’s previous high- present match, over 11 years. Earlier, determined to register est score was 320-8 against a 25-ball 59 to He also captained a World XI their first win in the tournament, Zimbabwe in a 2009 one-dayer in script Pakistan’s against Australia in Sydney in Bangladesh made five changes to Bulawayo. REUTERS highest ever run 2005. His total of 109 Test cap- chase. taincies is 16 more than the previ- Scoreboard ous record held by Allan Border of Australia. BANGLADESH S Maqsood c A Haque b Mominul Haque ...... 2 He has captained South Africa Anamul Haque c Shehzad b Ajmal ...... 100 Fawad Alam (run out ) ...... 74 to 53 wins, beating Australian Imrul Kayes c Akmal b Talha ...... 59 A Rehmanc Z Rahman b Mahmudullah ...... 8 Ricky Ponting’s record of 48 Mominul Haque c Hafeez b Ajmal ...... 51 Shahid Afridi (run out) ...... 59 wins as a Test captain. Under his Mushfiqur Rahim (not out) ...... 51 Umar Akmal (not out) ...... 14 leadership, South Africa lost 27 Shakib Al Hasan (not out) ...... 44 Umar Gul (not out)...... 0 matches and drew 27, excluding Extras (LB-3, NB-3, W-15) ...... 21 Extras (B-1, LB-3, w-9) ...... 13 the current Test. Total (for 3 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 326 Total (for 7 wkts in 49.5 overs) ...... 329 His shock announcement came Fall of wickets: 1-150, 2-204, 3-249. Did not bat: Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal. after he told journalists at his pre- Bowling: Hafeez 10-0-27-0; Gul 10-1-76-0 Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-102, 3-105, 4-210, Test press conference on Friday (7w); Rehman 0-0-8-0 (3nb); Alam 2-0-12-0; 5-225, 6-294, 7-325. he had no plans to retire. Talha 7-0-68-1 (5w); Ajmal 10-0-61-2 (1w); Bowling: Shafiul Islam 5-0-49-0 (3w); Al-Amin “There are still things I want to Afridi 10-0-64-0 (2w); Maqsood 1-0-7-0. Hossain 6.5-0-50-0 (2w); Shakib Al Hasan 10- achieve in the game,” said Smith, PAKISTAN 2-53-1 (2w); Abdur Razzak 9-0-72-1 (1w); who when he first led the side, Ahmed Shehzad b Abdur Razzak ...... 103 Mominul Haque 9-1-37-2; Mahmudullah 7-1- against Bangladesh in 2003, was Mohd Hafeez c I Kayes b Mominul Haque ... 52 47-1; Nasir Hossain 3-0-17-0. the third youngest captain in Test Misbah-ul-Haq b Shakib Al Hasan ...... 4 Player-of-the-Match: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) history. Under his leadership South Africa rose to become the number one team in Test cricket. In 38 series of two matches or more he has had 22 series wins South Africa skipper Smith fails as and seven losses, with nine drawn. South Africa have not been beaten in a series since Australia beat them in 2008/09 - although they are in danger of defeat in Australia close in on big Test win the current third Test in a series which is tied at one-all. CAPE TOWN: Graeme Smith Smith’s 205th Test innings to fin- the fourth innings to seal draws. His record includes two away made three in his final Test ish but it was in keeping with his Faf du Plessis, who will bat next, series wins against both England innings as South Africa were poor form in a series in which scored battling centuries in both and Australia - a feat achieved by slipping towards a heavy defeat he has scored just 45 runs in six those innings to steer the Proteas no other captain. at the close on the fourth day of innings. The South African cap- to safety. By his own admission it took the series-deciding third Test tain, who announced his retire- The struggles of the home side time for him to mature as captain against Australia yesterday. ment from international cricket were in sharp contrast to the after being one of the youngest Chasing a victory target of late last night, bowed out having Australia innings, when David players in the squad when he was 511, the hosts will resume on 71 made 9,265 runs at an average of Warner made batting look easy as appointed. for four wickets on the final day 48.25 in 117 Tests, 109 of those as he bludgeoned 145 from 156 balls When he was offered the cap- despite a valiant effort from AB captain. and the tourists declared their taincy his father, Graham, tried de Villiers and Hashim Amla who De Villiers has survived 100 second innings on 303 for five. to dissuade him, arguing that survived 31 overs before the lat- balls for his 16 with all thoughts It was a second century of the he would be better qualified for ter was out 20 minutes before of scoring gone and survival the match for the left-hander, who the job when he had gained more stumps. only thing on his mind. took his runs total in the series experience. South Africa had lost openers He and Amla added 53 for the to 543 at an average of 91. Smith, though, had no hesita- Smith and Alviro Petersen (nine), fourth wicket off 184 balls, a stand Warner received support from tion in accepting. as well as Dean Elgar (nought), ended when Amla was trapped Chris Rogers (39) and Steve “I had wanted the job since I as Australia were rampant before lbw by a reverse-swinging delivery Smith (36 not out), but was the was 13 and I honestly believed I tea. Smith flicked a rising Mitchell from James Pattinson. dominant figure in all his part- could do it,” he said soon after his Johnson delivery on to his thigh De Villiers will resume today nerships as he scored nearly half appointment. and the ball looped gently to Alex with nightwatchman Kyle Abbott his side’s runs. Abbott was the “It’s been an incredibly special Doolan at short leg, an inglorious (one) hoping for a repeat of most successful South Africa ride,” he said last season on the end for one of the game’s greats their performances in Adelaide bowler with figures of three for eve of his 100th Test as captain. who was given a guard of honour and Johannesburg in the last 18 61, including the wicket of Warner “It hasn’t always been easy. by the touring side as he came months where they batted for who edged a slower ball to wick- There have been some incredibly out to bat. It was a tame way for 148 and 136 overs respectively in etkeeper De Villiers. REUTERS tough times. I’ve had to grow to come through those times and to Scoreboard start to enjoy success and to feel comfortable in the position and Australia (i innings): ...... 494-7 decl South Africa (II innings): in myself.” South Africa (i innings): ...... 287 A Petersen lbw Harris ...... 9 Smith said it had been a privi- Australia (ii innings): G Smith c Doolan b Johnson ...... 3 lege to lead his country for so C Rogers (run out-Steyn) ...... 39 D Elgar b Johnson ...... 0 long. D Warner c De Villiers b Abbott...... 145 H M Amla lbw Pattinson ...... 41 “I have always been someone A Doolan c Abbott b Morkel...... 37 A B de Villiers (batting) ...... 16 Australia’s Dave who has left everything out there S Watson c Duminy b Abbott ...... 25 K J Abbott (batting) ...... 1 Warner celebrates on the field for my team and for M Clarke c (sub-De Kock) b Abbott ...... 0 Extras (NB-1) ...... 1 scoring a century my country.” S Smith (not out) ...... 36 Total (for 4 wkts) ...... 71 during the fourth Smith captained South Africa B Haddin (not out) ...... 3 Still to bat: F du Plessis, J P Duminy, V D Phi- day of the third in 149 one-day internationals Extras (B-3, LB-12, NB-3) ...... 18 lander, D W Steyn, M Morkel. Test against South before relinquishing the role Total (for 5 wkts decl) ...... 303 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-15, 4-68. Africa at Newlands in 2010. South Africa won 92 Fall of wickets: 1-123, 2-188, 3-245, 4-257, Bowling: R J Harris 8-5-10-1; M G Johnson Stadium in Cape matches under his leadership, with 51 losses, one tie and five no- England’s captain Stuart Broad 5-290. 13-3-31-2; J L Pattinson 9-6-13-1; N M Lyon Town, yesterday. Bowling: Morkel 13-1-67-1 (1nb); Abbott 14- 5-3-3-0; S R Watson 3-2-1-0 (1nb); S P D results. He also captained South (left) and Eoin Morgan during Africa in 27 Twenty20 interna- a training session in Antigua 2-61-3; Philander 6-0-42-0 (2nb); Duminy Smith 3-0-13-0. South Africa require another 19-3-76-0; Steyn 3-1-24-0; Elgar 3-0-18-0. 440 runs with 6 wickets remaining. tionals, winning 18 and losing yesterday. nine. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Giusy Versace appointed a Top Asian rowers head to Save the Dream Ambassador

DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Doha for indoor challenge International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) have announced the appointment of leading Competitors from 13 countries to take part, Qatar to field three Italian para-athlete and former European record holder in the 100m (T43 category) - Giusy DOHA: Three Qatari rowers the event have been completed,” Versace - as a Save the Dream will spearhead the host nations said Mohsen. Ambassador. challenge at the Asian Indoor The QSRF official said three Following on from a success- Rowing Championship 2014 Qatari rowers Nasser Ghanim Al ful four-day visit to Qatar, which which will begin from tomor- Abdulla, Baderddin Almabrul Al included a prominent role in row at the Hamad bin Khalifa Amadani and Ahmed Mishal Al the 2013-14 Schools Olympic University’s Student Centre, it Meaid will be taking part in the Programme Paralympic Day was announced here yesterday. two-day championship which will Festival, Giusy’s appointment Addressing a press conference end on Friday. as a Save the Dream ambassa- here yesterday at Doha Sailing Nasser will take part in the dor will see one of Italy’s lead- Club (DSC), Hassan Abdullah Men’s Open Individual 2,000 ing para-athletes participate in a Mohsen, Assistant Secretary metres and Men’s Open Pairs range of educational workshops General of Qatar Sailing and 2,000 metres, while Baderddin and international events to raise Rowing Federation (QSRF) said in Men’s lightweight Individual awareness of disability sport and it is for the first time the Asian 2,000 metres and Men’s Open promote sport integrity. Indoor Rowing Championship is Pairs 2,000 metres. Ahmed will Giusy’s appointment will also see been held in Qatar and the GCC vie for top honours in the Men’s her join the Save the Dream Athletes region. Open Individual 2,000 metres. Integrity Panel – an elite panel lead “It is a great honour to host the The response for the champi- by football legend Alessandro Del championship and Qatar is the onship has been very good from Piero that will feature several high- first country which is hosting the the competitors, said Mohsen. profile professional athletes from championship in the GCC region. “Around 91 rowers from 13 different sports and regions around We have one of the best venue, the Asian countries like Indonesia, the world. Hamad bin Khalifa University’s Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Speaking on her new role, Student Centre, and all the Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Giusy Versace said: “I am arrangements for the hosting of Thailand, Chinese Taipei, UAE delighted to be joining Save the and Uzbekistan are taking part. Dream and would like to thank 11th Asian Rowing The two-day event will be held Ken Lee, Secretary-General of Asian Rowing Federation speaking at a press conference at Doha Sailing the Qatar Olympic Committee in individual, pairs and fours’ Club yesterday. Qatar will host the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship 2014 from tomorrow at the Hamad and the International Centre Indoor Rowing categories.” bin Khalifa University’s Student Centre. BOTTOM: Hassan Abdullah Mohsen, Assistant Secretary-General of for Sport Security for giving me Fahad Al Bonain, Manager Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation (QSRF). PICTURES BY: SYED BASHEERUDDIN this opportunity to educate and Championships of Qatar Rowing team while inspire young athletes around the Events: explaining the concept of Indoor of Asian Rowing Federation said “It is for the first time ARF world. 1. Men’s Open Individual 2000 meters Rowing said: “Indoor rowing ten events will take place over two is hosting the coach’s confer- “Raising awareness of the many 2. Women’s Open Individual 2000 meters takes place mostly in the winter days and the curtains will come ence and Qatar will be hosting it. challenges that young people with 3. Men’s Lightweight Individual 2000 m months when I cannot do the down on the championship with Coaches from 18 Asian countries a disability face and promoting 4. Women’s Lightweight Individual 2000 m sport outdoors. So the competi- the ARF President’s Friendship taking part in the Asian Indoor clean, fair sport are topics that tion takes place indoors and not Challenge. Rowing Championship 2014 will are close to my heart.” 5. Men’s Open Pairs 2000 meters on water. The techniques used in “The ARF President’s be taking part besides five other Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman 6. Women’s Open Pairs 2000 meters competing outdoors and indoor’s Friendship Challenge is a com- countries, who are not participat- Al Thani, the Qatar Olympic 7. Men’s lightweight Pairs 2000 meters are the same. petition of four’s. The four team ing in the Asian Indoor Rowing Committee Secretary General, 8. Women’s lightweight Pairs 2000meters “Power, endurance and tech- members comprising one team Championship, Bangladesh, Hong said: “We are pleased to have 9. Mixed Open sprint 500meters nique are the key requirements,” will be from different countries,” Kong, India, The Philippines and Giusy Versace on Save the Dream 10. Mixed lightweight sprint 500meters he added. said Lee. Sri Lanka are also taking part. Athletes Panel. We are happy that Schedule: The QSRF official added Indoor “It is an exciting competition “Axel Muller Asensio from such an outstanding Paralympic 6 March: 10.00am – Opening Ceremony rowing is not quite popular like its and all the spectators will enjoy the Germany and Chris Perry, Chair athlete has joined the Save the outdoor version. two-day competition,” he added. of ARF Competition Committee Dream” team. We are sure that 10.30 – 1.00pm Race of events at Serial “Qatar is taking the lead in Meanwhile, Captain AR Arshad and FISA Development Versace will highly contribute to No. 5 to 10 creating awareness and trying Technical Advisor at QSRF said Consultant for Asia are the the success of our initiative aimed 7 March: 1.00 – 4.00pm Race of events at to make the sport popular in the the Asian Rowing Federation resourse persons for the Coaches at spreading the positive values of Serial No. 1 to 4 country,” said Bonaim. Coaches Conference will begin Conference,” he added. sport among young people”. Closing Ceremony Ken Lee, Secretary-General today in Doha. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Qatar Junior Open 2014 Results Under-13: Ahmad Tariq Alobaidli bt Eissa Soud Al Aqeedi 11-5, 11-6, 11-0; Ali Saeed Al Dosari World Tennis Day bt Tameem Abdulrahman Alaji 11-7, 11-4, 11-7; Ali Ahmed Al Qahtani bt Jaber Saleh Daoud w.o, Bader M S KH Almoghrebi[8] bt Naveed Rehman 11-8, 12-10, 2-11, 12-10; Hussein Ayad M. Al Tameemi bt Nayef Saleh Daoud 11-0, 11-0, 11-0; Hayder Mohammed I Al Dulaimi bt Abdulaziz Khaled Al-Ishaq[6] wo, Abdulaziz A M H Jasem bt Rashid Ali Al-Harib[7] 11-8, 11-9, celebrated in Qatar 11-5, Vasudef Vasanthan[1] bt Jaafar Ferman Hasan[5] 11-6, 11-7, 11-5, Mohammad Danial Gharooni[2] bt Yousef E M R Alnajjar 11-4, 11-7, 11-9, Abbas Zeb bt Waleed Umar Zaman[4] DOHA: Qatar Tennis Federation yesterday marked the second 11-4, 11-7, 11-5, Hamoud A H M Aljenaidel[3] bt Muhammad Bilal Islam 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, annual World Tennis Day. The International Tennis Federation ini- 11-6; Jassim Talal Al Thani wo. tiative seeks to grow and enhance tennis programs at all levels of participation. From New York to London to Hong Kong, events were Under-11: Yousef Abdulla Al-Kubaisi bt Abdulla Ahmed Al Qahtani 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, Humoud held throughout the globe with professional players, celebrities and Salah Abu-Hussain bt Abdulaziz Saleh Daoud 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9, Yousef Ahmad Elsaka[1] fans all taking part. bt Abdulaziz Talal Al-Thani[8] 11-1, 11-1, 11-0, Pouya Shafieifard[2] bt Salem Yousef Al-Malki[6] The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Federation hosted 11-3, 11-4, 13-11, Youssef Essam Farag[4] bt Ibrahim Ahmed Darwish[5] 11-5, 11-5, 11-3, Mohamed Tarek Ouda[3] bt Abdulrahman Ali Al-Khalaf[7] 11-2, 11-2, 11-0 various activities on the day to highlight the importance of tennis in the country as itcontinues to grow. Under-15: Mohammed Mostafa Sahib[6] bt Mohammed Salem Alyafei 11-0, 11-2, 11-2, Hamad The morning showcased young talent as the Schools Olympic Mohammed Al-Amri[8] bt Ali Tareq Alemadi 11-3, 11-4, 11-2, Alireza Shameli[1] bt Armaan Program boys’ under-8 and under-10 divisions took to the courts while Jindal 11-4 11-5, 11-0, Ahmad Fairoz Al-Homaidi[2] bt Amirhossein Feizpour[5] 8-11, 13-11, simultaneously there was a schools festival being held. 11-7, 11-8, Ali A A A Alqallaf[7] bt Farbod Keyvanfar[4] 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 13-11, Eisa A GH A The afternoon saw a corporate competition with participants from Mohammad[3] bt M Daroosham Khan 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, Yousif Barghash Aadea bt Jassim ExxonMobil, Total, Ooredoo, 51 East, Aspetar and Alfardan Automobiles. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) player (left) vies for ball posses- Salah Abu-Hussain 11-6, 11-4, 11-1 Oliver Girard, representing Aspetar, defeated ExxonMobil’s Mazine sion with a Malaysian Politeknik player during the West Asia Hockey Under-17: Moein Najib Mollaei bt Amirhossein Taheripour[5] 11-5, 11-8, 11-8, Mohammad Ali Kessaissia in the final. Tournament at the Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha yesterday. Farhat[6] bt Kanwar Saad Abdullah 11-4, 11-8, 11-2, Khaled A H M Aljenidel[3] bt Abdulla Hashem Tennis 10s held a festival and a competition for boys and girls in PHOTO BY: KAMMUTTY VP Al Sultani[1] 11-2, 12-10, 11-9, Umair Umar Zaman[2] bt Abdulwahab Al Ishaq[4] 11-5, 3-11, the evening. 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, Mujtaba Raza[8] bt Fong Min Jen 11-8, 11-7, 11-4, Omar Ashraf Hassan[7] The weeklong Qatar Asian Juniors Under 14 tournament was also bt Abd El-Aziz Ihab Omeira 11-4, 10-12 Ret. 23 Under-19: Faisal Assim Khudair bt Muhammad played during this time. World Tennis Day also commemorates the Sheraz Touqeer 11-0, 11-3, 11-0, Farzad Shoukohi[1] bt Sadam Sarhan Mehawesh[8] 9-11, 100th anniversary of the ITF. Dave Miley, ITF Executive Director of 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, Zeeshan Shaukat Ali Khan[5] bt Ahsan Ayaz Khan 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, Player Development, said, “This initiative gives our member nations Abdul Basit bt Ahmad M Noureldin Eleyan 11-6, 3-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, Hamza Imtiaz bt Kibriya a great opportunity to draw attention to what they are doing to grow PIA in DHFF final tennis in their countries.” Muhammad 11-4, 11-5, 11-1, Syed Azlan Amjad Iqbal[4] bt Ismail Rauf[7] 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, Muhammad Asim Khan[2] bt Salman Hashmi[6] 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, Puvendren With the success of the events in Qatar, there is no doubt that tennis DOHA: Pakistan International all the attacks. At the other end, Subramaniam[3] bt Sikandar Khan 11-9, 12-10, 11-5. is a growing and thriving sport in the desert. Airlines (PIA) trounced PIA forwards kept up the pres- THE PENINSULA Malaysian Politeknik 5-0 to sure and manage to slip two register their second consecu- more goals past the MSP defense tive win in the Doha Hockey in quick succession through Friendship Festival (DHFF) at Muhammad Zubair and Asfar the Al Rayyan Stadium here Yaqoob to take a commnading 4-0. yesterday. The four goals did not seem to Action from the Playing two consecutive days, deter the Malaysians. Qatar Open Junior did not seem to faze the PIA team they came up with the ocas- Squash tourna- and they were off to a flying start sional attacks and earned the first ment at Khalifa once again in their game against penalty corner of the match, but International Malaysian Politeknik (MSP). were unable to convert, whilst on Tennis and Squash The Malaysians seemed to be a the counter attack, it was PIA’s Complex yesterday. very fit and young side, but they turn to get a penalty corner and Players from seven were no match for the experi- their corner specialist, Ihsanullah countries are taking enced PIA players, who opened made no mistake beating the part in the tourna- the scoring through a field goal MSP goalkeeper hands down, 5-0. ment and is played from Waqas Akbar. PIA could not add any more in the Under-19, The second goal for PIA was not goals thereafter, while the far behind and Hammad Shakil Malaysians did not trouble the 17, 15, 13 and U-11 Butt, who dazzled throughout the scorers. categories. The match easily beat the MSP goal- The final score thus read finals will be played keeper MD Ridzwan under the 5-0. Today’s game features the today. bar to make it 2-0. Malaysian Politeknik against The Malaysians tried their level Qatar. The winner will take PIA The students who took part in World Tennis Day ceekbrated by Qatar best to equalise, but Muhammad in the final, on Thursday. Tennis Association at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Irfan in the PIA defense repulsed THE PENINSULA Wednesday 5 March 2014 4 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 18 Number 5994 Sport Price: QR2 SRI LANKA’S WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES Cup problems Afridi powers    under control, Pakistan’s says Blatter record chase LANKADEEPA MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY DAR AL SHARQ                  !"#$%&'()#*#+,'-*,)# Sport | 25 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 AFC welcomes lifting of Lack of match practice headscarf ban KUALA LUMPUR: Asian football authorities claimed suc- cess yesterday after the sport’s governing body allowed women to wear headscarves for compet- no issue for hosts Qatar itive matches, saying the move will benefit women’s football in Muslim-majority West Asia. We are looking forward to playing against Bahrain: Coach Fahad Thani The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) welcomed Saturday’s decision by FIFA and DOHA: An apparent lack of rule-makers the International match practice will be no issue Qatar players Football Association Board for hosts Qatar who take on are seen during (IFAB) to allow female players to neighbouring Bahrain in an a training cover their heads after two years inconsequential 2015 Asian Cup session at of testing a safe headscarf design. qualifier at Al Gharafa Stadium Al Gharafa “Women’s football is still at the today. Stadium beginning stage in West Asia but Qatar, who are a spot behind yesterday. I hope that it (the ruling) will points leaders Bahrain in Group give a big boost as the member Qatar today D, will be aiming for a win to go associations will be able to field take on Bahrain top of the group. teams in international events,” Qatar coach Fahad Thani said in their final said AFC president Shaikh at a pre-match press conference: 2015 Asian Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa in a “We are more than ready for this Cup qualifying statement. match. We’re well prepared men- match. BELOW: He added that AFC had been at tally, physically and tactically.” Bahrain coach the forefront of the issue and had When reminded of his team’s Anthony made a strong case for the ban to lack of match practice, coach Hudson be lifted with the safe headscarf Fahad said: “It has been four during a news designs. months since we played our conference. FIFA said male players would last match as a team. However, also be authorised to cover their the players have played in their heads following a request from teams during the AFC Champions the Sikh community of Canada. League and local Qatari leagues. The wearing of head covers I’m very confident of the level of had been banned until 2012, with performance of the players and it FIFA saying they posed too great will be showcased in the match.” a risk of injury to the head or Fahad told media people: “I’m neck. also hopeful that we will play a However, the IFAB then very good game and looking for- allowed them to be tested over ward to playing against Bahrain.” a two-year period following a Qatar, who went down to request from the AFC. Bahrain when the two sides met Not all countries have sup- in Manama a year ago in their ported the decision, with the first match of the home-away French Football Federation say- series, are hoping for fan boost ing they would continue to ban at Al Gharafa Stadium. the wearing of head covers out “Like I said, our focus is to Asian Cup of respect to France’s status as a portray a good level of perform- secular country. REUTERS ance and we’re ready in that Qualifying Fixtures aspect. We hope to see our fans Group A in the stadium tomorrow because At Muscat Qatar’s Qualifying their support to the team is very Oman vs Singapore at 5:30 pm important for us,” coach Fahad At Amman Qatar coach Results Since ’13 said. Jordan vs Syria at 4:00 pm Fahad Thani Bahrain’s American coach (left) watches Qatar’s results in their 2015 Group B Asian Cup qualifying cam- Anthony Hudson said his team the national At Bangkok paign (home team first): was taking the match seri- Thailand vs Lebanon at 9:00 team players ously despite both sides already pm in training. February 6 - 2013 Qatar 2 beat Malaysia 0 through to next year’s Asian Cup Group C RIGHT: Qatar’s to be held in Australia. At Sharjah experienced March 22 - 2013 Bahrain 1 beat “We have been training for Iraq vs China at 6:00 pm (1400 midfielder Qatar 0 eight days so far and we are very At Dammam Wisam Rizq October 13 - 2013 Qatar 6 beat confident,” Hudson said. Saudi Arabia vs Indonesia at Yemen 0 “We are very well prepared during a 8:30 pm November 15 - 2013 Yemen 1 and looking forward to the game. training session Group D lost to Qatar 4 We’re focused on the match and at Al Gharafa At Al Ain November 19 - 2013 Malaysia 0 we’ve trained well for it,” Hudson Yemen vs Malaysia at 6:00 pm Stadium yesterday. lost to Qatar 1 added. At Doha Hudson said Bahrain won’t be Qatar vs Bahrain at 6:25 pm playing for a draw. Group E Group D Standings “We are here to win the game. At Tashkent Bahrain 5 4 1 0 7 1 6 13 Our approach towards this game Uzbekistan vs UAE at 5:00 pm Qatar 5 4 0 1 13 2 11 12 is the same approach to any other At Hanoi Malaysia 5 1 1 3 3 6 -3 4 games we’ve played before, play- Vietnam vs Hong Kong at 9:00 ing to win. Qatar play really good pm Yemen 5 0 0 5 2 16 -14 0 football, they have good players, good coach, and good individuals,” Hudson said. Bahrain’s Mohammed Hussain said a win would help Bahrain rise Misfiring China look to seal Cup spot in FIFA rankings. “Qatar is a young team with SINGAPORE: China will China lie second behind group Xinhua, caretaker boss Fu Bo large sums reportedly paid to need to rack up a hatful of goals a young coach. We will play our expect to put an unconvinc- winners Saudi Arabia while Iraq, will take charge of China for the Camacho, the Chinese Football against Thailand -- although it best in the match because we have ing qualifying campaign behind who lifted the trophy in 2007, are last time with France’s Perrin Association may have wanted a is a feat they are well capable of trained very well and we’re pre- them and reach their 11th two points further back, meaning expected to be watching from more affordable manager for the after winning 5-2 at home last pared to play the match the best straight Asian Cup in front of they need to win today in Sharjah the stands. Perrin was announced Asian Cup and the 2018 World year. way we can,” Hussain said. new manager Alain Perrin when to guarantee progression. as a surprise choice of manager Cup qualifiers. War-wracked Syria also “We look forward to playing they play former champions However, China can lose the last week, after Guangzhou Perrin will hope that China’s have an outside chance of going Qatar in Doha. Iraq today. game and still be confident of Evergrande’s Marcello Lippi had new-found success in the through as the best performing “The match tomorrow will have An away draw against lowly qualifying as the best-performing been hotly tipped. AFC Champions League, after third-placed team, but they have an impact on our FIFA ranking, Indonesia and defeat to Saudi third-placed team, with closest Lippi later signed a new three- Guangzhou became the competi- to beat Jordan and hope both Iraq therefore, we are eager to win it,” Arabia have made for a difficult challengers Lebanon then need- year deal with the Chinese and tion’s first Chinese winners last and Lebanon lose. Hussain added. path for China, who sacked highly ing to beat Thailand by at least Asian champions. year, will start to translate into Elsewhere Malaysia and Hong Qatar’s Meshaal Abdullah said: paid ex-Real Madrid manager six goals. Perrin, the well-travelled, success on the international stage. Kong, who like Syria are on four “I thank the coach and everyone Juan Antonio Camacho midway Only two spots are up for grabs 57-year-old former Marseille and China have only qualified for points to Lebanon’s five and Iraq’s for believing in me to play in this through qualifying. today with 13 teams, including Portsmouth coach, arrives with one World Cup, in 2002, and their six, will also be praying for a mir- match after not playing with the But the Asian giants -- who, hosts Australia and defending none of the pedigree of the World last success in regional competi- acle when they take on Yemen national team for many years.” despite their size and resources, champions Japan, already con- Cup-winning Lippi. tion was reaching the Asian Cup and Vietnam away. Abdullah said: “Bahrain is a are ranked just 88th in the world firmed and one place reserved for His greatest success was lead- final against Japan on home turf Iran rounded off their campaign good team. We also intend on win- -- are in the box seat to progress the winners of the AFC Challenge ing Lyon to the French double in in 2004. with a 3-2 win over Kuwait late on ning to improve our FIFA rank- in the second automatic spot in Cup in May. 2008. Lebanon will also be hoping Monday. Both teams had already ing.” THE PENINSULA Group C as qualifying ends. According to state news agency But after disquiet over the China beat Iraq and avoid the qualified. REUTERS