ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Top Qatari India spin to business team win against visits Kenya England

Business | 17 Sport | 27

Sunday 31 August 2014 • 5 Dhu’l-Qa’da 1435 • Volume 19 Number 6174 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Gulf states ready Jeddah meet ‘resolves’ envoy row to help counter jihadist advance GCC foreign ministers agree on terms and criteria for return of envoys to Qatar JEDDAH: Gulf Arab states said yesterday that they were DOHA: The diplomatic dead- ready to help counter advances lock between Qatar and its by jihadists in Syria and Iraq, three GCC peers — Saudi after the US called for a global Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain coalition to fight the militants. — is likely to end soon, with But the six-nation Gulf Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Cooperation Council said it was Minister and Foreign Minister awaiting details from Washington saying that the ambassadors of and a visit to the region by US the three countries could return Secretary of State Department to Doha “any moment”, Qatar John Kerry to discuss anti-jihad- News Agency (QNA) reported ist cooperation. yesterday. A GCC statement said Gulf The issue was discussed at states are ready to act “against length at the meeting of the for- terrorist threats that face the eign ministers of the GCC states region and the world”. (held in Jeddah yesterday) and The GCC foreign ministers also the terms and criteria for the pledged a readiness to fight “ter- return of the envoys have been rorist ideology which is contrary agreed upon. to Islam”. Addressing a joint news con- Kerry, in an op-ed published on ference after the meeting with Friday in the New York Times, said Dr Abdul Lateef Al Zayani, Washington would submit a plan Secretary-General of the GCC, to deal with the jihadists at the Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Security Council in September. Hamad Al Sabah, Kuwait’s First The Custodian of the Two Deputy Prime Minister and Holy Mosques King Abdullah Foreign Minister, said the GCC The Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah at the 132nd session of the GCC Ministerial Council in Jeddah yesterday. bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi had put a mechanism in place for Arabia underscored the threat overcoming the previous obstacles that it ends soon. “We will fol- meeting to discuss the latest initiative to resolve the Syrian their joint works. A report was posed by jihadists unless there is and as a result the return of the low up on what has been agreed developments in his country. crisis, the Kuwaiti First Deputy tabled at the meeting about the “rapid” action, in remarks quoted ambassadors could happen any upon today (yesterday),” said the About the speech made by US Prime Minister said that the advancement in the regional rail- yesterday by Arab media. moment. Secretary-General. President Barack Obama regard- Syrian crisis is a priority for the way project. “Terrorism knows no border “The spirit that we saw at the He said the Gulf Cooperation ing the creation of a coalition to Council, adding that the Council A report was also presented and its danger could affect sev- meeting was very positive and Council was set up 33 years ago face terrorist threat and the role is pained by the deterioration of about a GCC-wide water network. eral countries outside the Middle brotherly. The leaders realise it and things have always been that US Secretary of State John the situation in Syria. He added However, its details were not East,” King Abdullah was quoted too well that they must remain perfect. Some differences have Kerry will play in this regard, that this issue will be discussed at mentioned in the communiqué. as telling ambassadors, includ- united to confront the challenges cropped up but they wouldn’t Al Sabah said that the GCC is an upcoming Arab League min- The meeting condemned terror ing the US envoy. “If we ignore facing the GCC region,” said Al hinder the unity and the “GCC waiting to find out more about isterial meeting on September 7. activities in Syria, especially Al them, I am sure they will reach Zayani. process”. the coalition and its goals. “We Meanwhile, in a joint commu- Nusra front and the IS and called Europe in a month and America He said that all the GCC Al Zayani said that Yemen’s do not have enough details about niqué issued at the end of the for imposing sanctions on indi- in another month,” he warned. states are pained by the diplo- Foreign Minister Dr Jamal Al Obama’s proposal,” he said. Jeddah meeting, the GCC states viduals associated with the outfits. AFP matic crisis and they are keen Salal was also invited to the About a joint Egyptian-GCC have decided to proceed with THE PENINSULA See also page 7 No Ebola cases SCH launches food inspection Housing units for 28,000 detected at workers to be developed Hamad airport campaign at labour camps DOHA: The Ministry of will also help move a lot of single DOHA : No cases of Ebola DOHA: The Supreme Council Since the beginning of the cam- establish a proper air monitor- Municipality and Urban workers who are currently living in virus has been detected at the of Health (SCH) has launched a paign, the SCH has collected 1,909 ing system at schools to check the Planning (MOMUP) is looking family residential areas. Once they Hamad International Airport major inspection drive at labour food samples for laboratory tests, quality of air in class rooms and forward to developing a number move in these facilities, additional until now, a senior official of accommodations to ensure the Al Sharq reports. other closed areas, said the daily. of housing complexes to accom- residential units will be available the Supreme Council of Health safety of food served to the A similar campaign will soon Efforts are also under way to modate nearly 28,000 work- for rent to the families who are (SCH) has said. workers. start targeting school canteens, ensure the quality of drinking ers, local Arabic daily Al Arab currently striving to find afford- Dr Mohammed Al Thani, Surprise raids have been con- with the beginning of the new water in the country and moni- reported yesterday quoting a able housing units. Director of the Public Health ducted at kitchens attached to academic year next week, said tor the treated sewage water source at the Ministry. “With the influx of foreign Department at SCH, also con- labour accommodations of several the daily, quoting a source. used for watering public parks These residential facilities will workers and increasing pressure firmed that Qatar had stopped industrial facilities. All the authorised catering and gardens. be consisting of seven complexes, on the limited resources, we need issuing entry visas to people com- As part of the campaign, the companies supplying food to Last year, the SCH collected each with the capacity to house to build more of such facilities and ing from Ebola-affected countries. SCH is also receiving complaints Independent school students will 4,250 samples of drinking water about 4,000 low-income workers. residential complexes to support Al Thani said that the thermal from citizens and expatriates come under scrutiny during the and 133 samples of treated sewage In addition to these housing the ever growing population,” cameras installed at the Hamad related to food contamination at campaign. water for laboratory tests. facilities, there will be a separate Ahmad Jassim Al Jolo, Chairman International Airport has not labour camps. The SCH is also working to THE PENINSULA complex that will house basic of Qatar Society of Engineers, was registered any case of the Ebola service providers and facilities, quoted by the daily as saying. virus until now, Al Sharq reports. including services of the Ministry He said that housing societies He added that in cooperation of Interior such as police, immi- should be built on the outskirts of the Ministry of Interior, issu- Clashes rage in Islamabad, 230 injured gration and traffic. of Doha and its suburbs having ance of entry visas to people from According to the source, the all the necessary facilities such as Ebola affected countries have Ministry (MOMUP) is set to float shopping complexes providing all been put on hold for some time tenders inviting local contract- the needful services to the peo- now because of the health situa- ing companies to design, build and ple living in the neighbourhood. tion there. THE PENINSULA operate these complexes. Since people living in those areas The complex will also have will not have to travel to Doha for entertainment and social centres every big or small things, there US air strikes on which will qualify it to be called will be much ease of pressure a complete labour city satisfying on the resources and facilities IS militants near all international standards with in Doha such as roads, shopping contemporary services. centres and other. Mosul dam The project, after its completion, THE PENINSULA WASHINGTON: The US mili- tary launched fresh attacks on Islamic State forces in Iraq, using fighter aircraft and drones to carry out strikes near Gaza: Sheikh Eid Charity raises QR20m the Mosul dam, the Pentagon said yesterday. DOHA: Sheikh Eid Charity has collected QR20m through its Gaza “The strikes destroyed an IS fund-raising campaign, which was launched two days ago. armed vehicle, an IS fighting Eid Charity’s Acting Director-General Miteb Al Marri said the fund- position, IS weapons, and sig- raising campaign is still going on to receive donations and contributions. nificantly damaged an IS build- He said the Palestinian issue was at the heart of the humanitarian ing,” a US Defence Department activities undertaken by Qatar and Sheikh Eid Charity which has statement said, referring to the Supporters of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Canadian cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, climb a container carried out 740 projects in Palestine since 2007 at a cost of QR245m. IS forces. “All aircraft exited the which was used to block the way of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s house, in Islamabad, yesterday. At least Al Marri said Sheikh Eid Charity began its initiative since the first strike areas safely.” 230 people were injured in clashes between police and opposition protesters, officials said. See also page 13 day of the Israeli aggression on the people of Gaza to provide them REUTERS with relief, food and medical aid and initiated emergency relief worth See also page 7 QR1m for their support to assist 5,000 affected families. QNA SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Woman jailed Sand sculptures for bribery Money offered for safety certificate DOHA: A criminal court has inspect the building where the sentenced a Syrian expatriate centre was to be established. woman to a year in jail for offer- The Civil Defense official ing a bribe to a Civil Defence informed his superiors about the official to issue a safety certifi- woman and how she was try- cate for an education centre. ing to bribe him to issue a safety The court said in its verdict that certificate. the woman be deported after she His superiors, in turn, informed has served the prison sentence. law-enforcement agencies, and The woman managed an office with their help a trap was laid to that provided different kinds catch the woman red-handed. of services to clients, including It was decided between the acquiring licences and certification official and the woman that they from government departments. would meet near a petrol filling Her office also conducted feasi- and service station at 9.30am on bility studies on various projects the appointed day. for clients, local Arabic daily Al When they reached the said Raya reported yesterday. spot, the official asked the woman One of her clients wanted to set to come inside his car and give him up a centre to teach the Arabic the cash. The convict obliged, and language, but, apparently, the as she was handing over the cash building that was to house this to the official, sleuths from the centre was not fit for the purpose. law-enforcement agencies, who The woman got in touch with a were lying in wait, caught her Civil Defence official who was to red-handed. issue a safety certificate for the After questioning, charges were said centre and offered him a bribe filed by the public prosecution of QR10,000 for the purpose. against the woman and the mat- Obviously, the bribe was offered ter was sent to court. because the official wouldn’t THE PENINSULA Sand sculptures created on Katara beach, opposite the amphitheatre, as part of Qatar Summer Festival 2014. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH QBIC to host second Arab Mobile App Challenge DOHA: Qatar Business Launched in 2013, Arab Mobile than 15 percent of the partici- local and global trends. Mobile exposure that can be leveraged by $15,000 and $10,000 rewards for Incubation Center (QBIC) has App Challenge invites teams of pants who reached the semi-final applications are the new main- participating in AMAC.” the first, second and third places, been appointed Qatar country up to six members under the stages now have their own start- stream for entrepreneurs world- “For 2014, the programme has as well as the chance to compete host for the second Arab Mobile age of 35 to develop mobile apps up businesses, fuelling economic wide because they are scalable, been expanded to offer a mix of in the Global App Challenge in App Challenge, enabling it to designed to make an impact in growth and creating employment. easy to build, and have a rich direct and web-based activities Barcelona, hosted by the Mobile reach out to talented young the education, health, entertain- Aysha Al Mudahka, CEO of business model. for the young teams in the Middle World Congress. entrepreneurs and developers ment and employability/entrepre- QBIC said: “QBIC is positioning “For that QBIC was eager East and North Africa, who In addition, participants ben- whose great ideas can become neurship sectors. itself as the largest MENA mixed to partner with AMAC (Arab will join participants in North efit from ongoing support pro- viable apps. This year, AMAC The programme aims to edu- business incubator and an entre- Mobile Applications Contest) as America and South East Asia in grammes, including mentorship, is opening its doors to the Pan cate young Arabs about entre- preneurial hub. As we are not a the Qatar Country Host and the the challenge. With the combined partner matching and develop- Arab region and encouraging preneurship and the path to specialised or vertical incubator, regional partner along with other competitor base of three regions, ment training, to enable them its young people to form teams, launching a start-up, as well as we rely on building partnerships players like Ooredoo. We are it will be the largest mobile app to realise their start-up goals. put their technical innovation enhancing business skills and with speciality programmes and looking forward to this partner- challenge in the world this year,” In Qatar, the programme will be skills to the test, and win big design abilities. Such was the suc- partners to create a funnel to ship to give our entrepreneurs the Al Mudahka added. supported by QBIC and Ooredoo. prizes. cess of the first event that more attract applicants that match the local, regional and international Top prizes include $25,000, THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Qatar envoy meets ITU chief Manpower firms Turkish expert face inspection drive in Sept to speak at DOHA: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is all set to launch an inspection campaign targeting manpower agencies that provide domestic security meet workers. It is a massive inspection drive being waged in September and the idea is to ensure that man- QMARSEC to be held in October power agencies providing house- maids to families comply with DOHA: The organising com- conference hosted by our Qatar all the provisions of the labour mittee for QMARSEC, Qatar’s partners towards promoting law. largest maritime security con- maritime domain awareness is It will also be made sure that ference, has announced that certainly a timely initiative. I am the manpower agencies follow Lt-Cdr Murtaza Durmazuçar, honoured to have this opportunity guidelines regarding recruitment a member of the Nato Maritime to share my experience and les- of maids issued by the labour Operations Working Group, will sons learned in the Turkish Navy ministry from time to time. be one of the speakers at the with the attending delegations.” Al Sharq reported yesterday event. Thanking Lt-Cdr Murtaza that the labour ministry had a Qatar Maritime Security Durmazuçar for confirming his research unit that conducts exten- Coastal and Border Surveillance participation in QMARSEC 2014, sive studies of complaints filed by Conference 2014 will be held on Staff Brigadier (Pilot) Mohammed people, both citizens and expatri- October 14 and 15 at Ritz-Carlton A. Al Mannai, Director, Qatar ates, against manpower agencies. Doha. Focusing on “Maritime National Security Shield “The unit has, after these Domain Awareness - The Steps Project. said, “Lt-Cdr Murtaza studies, come out with the rea- To Maritime Security,” this year’s Durmazuçar’s presence is great sons why people feel aggrieved conference is expected to explore news for our annual conference. and file complaints against man- new avenues for defence and mari- His wealth of experience as a power agencies,” Al Sharq said. time security. maritime security professional Faisal bin Abdullah Al Hanzab, Qatar’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international Complaints mostly involve QMARSEC 2014 will be hosted will certainly help us ensure yet organisations in Geneva, met Dr Hamadoun Toure, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications accusations about manpower and organised by Qatar National another successful event this Union. They discussed ways to strengthen Qatar’s cooperation with ITU. agencies charging high fees, Security Shield Project and The year.” Highlighting the impor- providing maids who run away Defence Services Marketing tance of the event, he continued, after a while, and not providing Council, respectively. “The theme for QMARSEC 2014 is substitute maids to replace the In his illustrious career as maritime domain awareness. Our runaway maids. a maritime expert, Lt-Cdr experts will share their insights on Eateries forced to reverse price hike Al Sharq said that the inspec- Durmazuçar has served 11 years topics such as maritime security tion drive being launched next on different types of ships as operations, unmanned technolo- DOHA: The Ministry of action, the ministry has warned. They started implementing month does not mean that all guns, guided missiles, fire/con- gies and offshore patrol assets to Economy and Commerce has The four eateries were booked this rule strictly since early last agencies flout regulations and trol systems and weapons officer, achieve maritime domain aware- taken action against four pop- during an inspection campaign year, said a source. there are complaints against all and as a commanding officer. ness, maritime reconnaissance and ular restaurants that raised that covered 198 restaurants and Earlier, eateries were free to of them. “There are good agen- During his tenure in the Turkish surveillance.” their prices without approval cafeterias. The surprise raids fix their prices on their own, cies as well.” Navy, he has worked as an Above Discussing the topics to be from the ministry. were intended to detect erring which led to several complaints The idea behind the drive is Water Warfare Officer at Naval covered in this year’s conference, The eateries were forced to eateries and ensure full com- from the public and calls for gov- to ask erring agencies as to why Tactical Development Doctrine The chairman of DSMC, Matthew revoke their decision and go pliance with the law, said the ernment intervention to curb they cannot mend their ways and Analysis Center and was also Cochran, said, “We are honoured back to their previous prices, ministry. price hikes. and work within the framework a part of the team that wrote the that QMARSEC delivers on the the ministry said in a statement The ministry has urged the The ministry has assigned a of rules so that people don’t file Maritime Counter Piracy doctrine objective to serve as an incuba- yesterday. public to report if they come toll-free number (8005000) for complaints against them. for Nato. At present, he is working tor and accelerator of partner- All eateries and cafeterias are across any restaurant that vio- the public to lodge complaints According to the daily, once in the Maritime Security Branch ship within the maritime security required to take prior permis- lates the law, especially in terms against erring eateries and the ministry gets a complaint of Operational Department of the community. The conference grows sion from the department con- of prices. other commercial entities. People against a manpower agency, it Turkish Navy. from strength to strength each cerned at the ministry before Industry sources have revealed can also use the hotline service redresses it within three days. Lt-Cdr Durmazuçar said, “It is year thanks to the official sup- imposing a hike in prices of any that the authorities, of late, have (44945550, 44945500), send a The ministry gets many a matter of great pleasure for me port of the Qatari government and of the items on their menu. Any intensified inspections at eateries text message to 92665 or email complaints through its hotline to be a part of QMARSEC 2014. GCC and Nato maritime partners. unilateral hike in prices is a vio- to ensure that they abide by the to [email protected] (8006611). The role played by this important THE PENINSULA lation of law and invites stern rule related to prices. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Applications Qatar, China officials prepare for UN meet DOHA: As part of prepara- tions for the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to be held in soar for QNRF Doha in April 2015, a meeting was held between Qatari and Chinese delegations in Beijing, the capital of China. The Qatari delegation was research grants headed by the chairman of the organising committee, Major General Dr Abdullah Yusuf Al Most submissions from Qatar University Mal, and included Dr Sultan Salmeen Al Mansouri, the DOHA: Qatar National Research institutions across Qatar,” he said. Ambassador of Qatar to China, Fund (QNRF), a centre of One of the 11 successful proposals and Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of Qatar Foundation Research and that received funding in this round Corruption and Economic Development, saw a 61 percent will seek to assess the microbiologi- Crime Branch, United Nations increase in the second cycle of cal risk in the fresh produce section Office on Drugs and Crime. its Graduate Student Research of Doha’s wholesale market. The The Chinese delegation was Award (GSRA) applications. The project will study how fresh produce headed by the Director General number of proposals rose from 16 is handled and sold and how different of the Legislative and Foreign to 26, indicating the growth of the factors could increase the dangers of Affairs Department of the research sector in Qatar. microbial hazards. Chinese Ministry of Justice, The majority of research submis- Another study will develop a design and included officials from the Members of the Qatari delegation at a meeting with Chinese officials to prepare for the 13th UN Congress sions were from Qatar University in for a remote-controlled robot or a Chinese ministries of justice, the field of engineering and tech- smart vehicle equipped with photo security and foreign affairs and on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to be held in Doha in April 2015. nology, followed by the natural sci- processing and video precision guid- the supreme court. ences, agricultural sciences and social ance systems that utilise sound waves During the meeting, they most importantly the integra- Nations agenda in order to rule of law at the national and sciences. to test and clean water tankers and discussed key topics to be tion of crime prevention and address social and economic international levels. Dr Abdul Nasser Al Ansari, fuel storage facilities. addressed during the congress, criminal justice into the United challenges and strengthen the THE PENINSULA Deputy Executive Director of QNRF, A third funded proposal will develop expressed his delight at the steady a design for a device that will send and growth of the programme and its receive data simultaneously and on popularity among graduate students the same frequency, whereby provid- in Qatar. ing solutions for problems linked with He said: “Despite this being GSRA’s interference. This study could lead to Ooredoo Community rewards dedicated users second cycle, the results we are wit- many positive results, which includes nessing now reflect the continuous doubling the effectiveness and simpli- DOHA: Ooredoo has announced its first growth of research in Qatar. This fying frequency planning in wireless ever Ooredoo Community competition gives us confidence that the new pro- networks. winners, awarding prizes to users who Mozaic GO adds over gramme is moving in the right direc- In another study, researchers pre- have participated and engaged the most tion, as we establish a national base sented their vision of developing a with the online forum. 700 titles to library of talented Qatari and non-Qatari portable medical system in Qatar The Ramadan competition, which ran researchers seeking to attain their that monitors the health status from June 22 to August 3, was organ- DOHA: Ooredoo announced yesterday PhD’s in Qatar.” of patients and works on minimal ised to celebrate the launch of Ooredoo that its Mozaic GO app has introduced Ahmed Baghdady, Programme energy. Expanding upon the concept Community and encourage its users to get over 700 new titles to its library, with Officer at QNRF, stressed the impor- of social networks, the researchers involved with Qatar’s first dedicated online the introduction of Mozaic TV’s On tance of facilitating capacity-building will develop a communications and customer support forum. Demand Clubs. opportunities in Qatar. “GSRA is one information sharing protocol that To participate in the competition, users On Demand Clubs will enable Mozaic of QNRF’s newest programmes and will allow for effective communica- had to simply post to the forum’s page, by GO users unlimited access to a vast is aimed at developing the capabili- tion between patients by storing and starting threads, answering questions and choice of TV shows, movies, documenta- ties of graduate students in the coun- sharing their data. The study will getting ‘likes’ or ‘kudos’ on their posts from ries, music, children’s entertainment and try. GSRA will expand the research also look into effective methods for other users who found their content useful. extreme sports action. culture in Qatar, advance the skills energy conservation while transmit- The Community team has rewarded the Access to Mozaic GO is available free of researchers, as well as catalyse ting data on programmed wireless most active contributors on the forum, as to all customer subscribing to a Next Mohamed Rizk, winner of the Ooredoo the innovative talents of scientists networks. well as a ‘SuperUser’ — a member who not Generation Mozaic TV package. Customers and academics at universities and THE PENINSULA only received likes but also added value to Community SuperUser prize. can access the app by downloading it from the commu- the Apple or Google App Store or visit- nity with the that the Ooredoo Community is the best ing http://www.ooredoo.qa/en/mozaic-go most reliable place for Ooredoo customers to ask ques- for details. and accurate tions, because you will always find people Mozaic GO also offers viewers access to advice. who are happy to help you. I’m looking 16 live English and Arabic language chan- Mohamed forward to more contests in future, and nels including Sky News, Sky News Arabia, Rizk, encourage everyone to get involved in the Al Jazeera News Arabic, EuroNews, Ten Ooredoo Community.” Cricket, Al Kass TV, Zee TV, Baraem Community The Community, launched in May 2014, TV and Jeem TV — via WiFi, 4G or 3G SuperUser is quickly becoming one of the key places networks. winner, said: for Ooredoo customers and technology The app also supports multiple audio “Thank you enthusiasts in Qatar to discuss the latest tracks, so that programmes can be viewed Ooredoo! I Ooredoo services and devices, as well as in multiple languages when available. joined the other tech-related topics. Viewers must use their Mozaic TV community Ooredoo Community offers an alterna- account number to log in. The number can on day one, tive option to the Ooredoo call centre for be found via the system information option before any customers to ask and answer questions on their Mozaic remote control. contest was from other users, as well as to talk to To upgrade to Next Generation Mozaic announced Ooredoo staff directly. TV customers can call 111 or visit any because I like Customers can view the Ooredoo Ooredoo Shop. assisting oth- Community at community.ooredoo.qa. THE PENINSULA ers. I believe THE PENINSULA

QU orientation sessions to start on Sept 4

DOHA: Qatar University has announced that an orientation programme for new male students will be held from September 4 to September 7. Newly enrolled female students will have their orientation sessions from September 8 to September 11. The admission depart- ment said that classes for undergraduate students started last Thursday, Al Sharq reported. The orientation pro- gramme is aimed at famil- iarising new students with the study environment at the university and their fellow students. The pro- gramme also familiarises the students with their courses of study and the participants listen to sto- ries from current QU stu- dents and learn about the academic support and stu- dent services available, reg- ister for classes online and collect their QU ID cards. It is mandatory for every new student to attend the orientation programme, and students who fail to attend will not be able to register or attend the Fall 2014 semester classes. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Strict steps urged to SCH advises cautious use of drug DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has advised caution while prescribing dom- peridone (pictured), a medicine for treating nausea and vomit- stop public smoking ing, considering its serious side effects. The advice has been given Practice poses health risk for non-smokers based on reports that the medi- cine is associated with the risk DOHA: People in Qatar are also have such places, he said. women and senior citizens, he said. of sudden cardiac death and demanding strict measures to He added that a disturbing He added that smoking at public ventricular fibrillation, a life- stop smoking in public places. trend was that even youngsters places could be stopped by impos- threatening disruption of the They complain that Qatar does were seen smoking openly in pub- ing heavy penalties. There should heart’s rhythm. not have smoking zones at public lic places. It was surprising to see also be awareness drives to make The medicine can be prescribed places due to which non-smok- them smoking as selling cigarettes people aware about the impact of for treatment of nausea and vom- ers become victims of passive to youngsters is illegal. Those sell- passive smoking. iting only at a dosage of 10mg smoking. ing cigarettes to youngsters and Mishal Al Hajiri said other GCC three times a day by mouth for Mansoor Al Hajiri, a Qatari those smoking in public places countries have fines for people adults and adolescents or 30mg national, said that people start should be punished, he said. smoking in public places. Kuwait twice daily as suppositories for smoking in front of buildings of Turki Al Ganim said many peo- has fine of 15 Kuwaiti Dinars while one week, the SCH said in a recent facilities to comply with this taking daily oral domperidone ministries, schools and offices, ple smoke in front of the Hamad the United Arab Emirates has a circular issued to all healthcare recommendation. doses of more than 30 mg, and which is uncivilized behaviour. International Airport, which is a fine of 500 Dirhams for smoking facilities in the country A European review assessed those taking QT-prolonging med- These people do not care if other nuisance for other people. There in public places. The drug should not be pre- the benefits and risks of domperi- icines or CYP3A4 inhibitors at people have to suffer due to passive should be a smoking zone in HIA Lawyer Mohammed Al Tamini scribed for patients who have suf- done following continued reports the same time as domperidone. smoking. There should be smok- far from its entrance, he said. said that special smoking zones fered heart failure, have cardiac of cardiac side effects. The review For indications other than nau- ing zones in public places. Passive Many people were seen violat- should not be created in public arrhythmias and angina, and a confirmed a small increased risk sea and vomiting, the benefits smoking is injurious to the health ing the law restricting smoking places in Qatar as it encourages past history of heart attack. of serious cardiac side effects. A were not considered to outweigh of non-smokers. There should be in public places. They can be seen people to smoke. The anti-smoking The SCH has asked all higher risk was observed in peo- the cardiac risk. law to protect non-smokers from smoking in commercial centres, law should be implemented prop- healthcare practitioners and ple older than 60 years, people THE PENINSULA passive smoking. Most of the toilets, emergency exits and other erly and people smoking in public developed countries have special public places. Smoking should not places should be detained for few smoking zones in public places to be allowed in such places as these days, apart from being fined. save non-smokers. Qatar should places are also visited by children, THE PENINSULA Algerian diplomats Haj pilgrims urged to freed after two 2015 Honda Accord sedan launched get vaccinated early years’ captivity ALGIERS: Two Algerian dip- DOHA: Pilgrims going for Haj several topics on how to prepare lomats kidnapped in Mali in DOHA: The 2015 Honda Accord this year are being asked to for epidemic diseases during the April 2012 by the Movement sedan has been launched in take all the necessary vaccina- pilgrimage including Influenzas, for Oneness and Jihad in West Qatar. The car, billed as the tions about two weeks before corona virus and Ebola virus. Africa (MUJAO) were freed on most dynamic intelligent sedan they embark on the journey to It also provided discussions on Saturday, the Algerian foreign in its category, was launched at allow the vaccination to become other health requirements to be ministry announced. a press event held at the main effective. meant for the Hajj season and also A third diplomat, consul Honda showroom in Doha. The call was made by Dr Meshal launching a vaccination campaign Boualem Sayes, had died in cap- The new Accord has under- Al Meseifri the deputy director of especially for influenza related tivity “from a chronic illness”, the gone significant enhancements the medical committee for Hajj diseases for the health workers ministry said. from its 2013/14 predecessor. It missions on Saturday during the during Hajj. The workshop also It did not say whether Mourad offers a six-grade line-up with a Epidemics preparedness and Hajj discussed best ways to provide out- Guessas and Kedour Miloudi had direct-injection 2.4 litre i-VTEC Symposium at Doha Hotel organ- reach campaigns to citizens who been released by their kidnappers engine with CVT transmission ized by the Supreme Council of would be traveling for Hajj on the or had been freed in a military and the 3.5 litre i-VTEC engine Health (SCH). The Symposium best ways to preserve their health operation. with a six-speed automatic was attended by health estab- especially when they are interact- The ministry did say, however, transmission for the L4 and the lishments in the country among ing or visiting pilgrims from other that Algeria had not paid a ran- V6 grades, respectively, Doha which were Hamad Medical countries affected with pandemics. som to secure their freedom. Marketing Services Company Corporation and Primary Health Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin The two were released “after said in a statement. Care Corporation and other medi- Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani intense and tireless efforts” by The vehicle is equipped with cal units associated with the Hajj the director of Public Health authorities using “the utmost dis- a bold chrome grille to enhance mission in Qatar. Other establish- Department at SCH said that the cretion”, a statement said. the expressive character of the ments that attended the workshop workshop was coming at a very It also confirmed for the first car keeping the local taste in included Qatar Airways, Clinics important time just before the time the execution, reported in mind. All grades are equipped for the Armed forces, police, hos- Hajj season and that this was the September 2012, of vice-consul with daytime running lights and pitals and private clinics. best time to teach the pilgrims Tahar Touati, describing his death The new 2015 Accord sedan at the Honda showroom. KAMMUTTY VP LED brake lights. Amongst the “Vaccinations require a mini- of the way viruses like Influenza as an “odious assassination”. key improvements, the rear is mum of ten days to become effec- and other epidemic diseases were “The Algerian government equipped with bumper integrated (i-MID) that offers simple access especially in poor traction condi- tive in the body and produce spread from one person to another. stresses the necessity of continu- chrome twin silencer, which to a wide range of important tions, in addition to Anti-Lock enough antibodies to fight against The director of public health ing unabated the fight against enhances exterior aesthetics. functions. Brake Systems, Electronic Brake any disease,” he said. also told journalists of the efforts terrorism and its multiple con- The all-new Accord exudes New to the 2015 Accord is the Distributor and Hill Start Assist. He also urged pilgrims to abide being undertaken by the govern- nections -- drug trafficking and luxury coupled with comfortable electric parking brake, which The passive-safety features by the basic hygiene of washing ment of Qatar in fighting epi- organised crime,” the ministry interiors with world-class cabin enhances convenience for the include Front Dual SRS airbag hands and those with chronic demics and influenzas especially added. space. The refined cockpit of the driver. The Accord boasts of system, front side airbag system, diseases to see their medical con- viruses like Corona and said that The source said the hostages sedan focuses on an advanced and Honda active-safety features side curtain airbags and three- sultants and get their advice on the country had not registered any were released in the Algerian intuitive driving interface with such as the Vehicle Stability point ELR seatbelts for five the trip as well as the required more single case since November desert town of Bordj Badji the full eight-inch colour intel- Assist, which enhances han- passengers. medicines. last year. Mokhtar, on the border with Mali. ligent multi-information display dling stability and predictability, THE PENINSULA The Symposium presented THE PENINSULA AFP

Airport hit in heavy Benghazi fighting

BENGHAZI: Heavy clashes broke out between the forces of a renegade general and Islamist fighters in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi yesterday, killing at least 10 people and showering the airport with rock- ets, medical and military sources said. Libya is being racked by factional violence as the armed groups which helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 turn their guns on each other in a struggle to dominate politics and the country’s vast oil resources. In Benghazi, forces of retired general Khalifa Haftar have been fighting Islamist brigades including Ansar al- Sharia, blamed by Washington for an attack on the U.S. consulate in September 2012 in which the U.S. ambas- sador was killed. Yesterday, Islamist forces were trying to seize the Benina area, home to a civilian and military airport under the control of Haftar’s forces. They have already overrun several army camps this month. Grad rockets hit the civilian airport, military sources and residents said. At least 10 soldiers from Haftar’s forces were killed and 25 wounded, a hospital medic told Reuters. Western powers worry Libya will become a failed state as a weak central government cannot control the competing armed groups in a country awash with arms. Senior officials and the elected parliament have relo- cated to the remote eastern city of Tobruk after effectively losing control of the capital Tripoli, where an alliance of armed groups rules after expelling a rival force. The new forces controlling Tripoli, led by brigades from the western city of Misrata, have helped install an alternative parliament and prime minister. In a televised speech, Omar al-Hasi, not recognized as prime minister internationally, said his government wanted to lead Libya out of crisis and seek national reconciliation. “We reject extremism and terrorism,” he said. “I am not with a specific group, party, operation or city but stand for a government for all Libyans.” REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST New sanctions have deepened mistrust: Iran Officials hit out at US treasury action

TEHRAN: Iran’s President discussions with the P5+1 powers Hassan Rowhani yesterday (Britain, China, France, Russia, condemned a new round of the US and Germany) would American sanctions linked to continue. his country’s nuclear activi- “We hope to achieve a result ties, saying mistrust had been within the time limit if the other “further deepened” by the fresh party acts with goodwill,” he said, measures. noting that three or four diffi- His remarks followed the US cult questions remain ahead of a Treasury’s announcement of pen- November 24 deadline. alties targeting dozens of Iranian The biggest disagreement in individuals and entities, including the talks is believed to concern Turkish soldiers parade with a large poster of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, yesterday in Ankara, during a ceremony to mark shipping and oil companies, banks the amount of uranium enrich- the 92nd anniversary of the Victory Day to commemorate the victory against Greek forces at the Battle of Dumlupinar, the final battle of the War of and airlines. ment that Iran would be allowed Independence. The latest sanctions — which to carry out under a comprehen- Washington said were levelled sive agreement with the West. because of support for terrorism The talks are scheduled to Erdogan names close aide as economic adviser and existing restrictions being resume next month on the side- skirted — come despite Iran’s lines of the opening of the UN ongoing talks with the West General Assembly in New York, ANKARA: Newly inaugurated has accused of trying to sabotage leader of recent times. within the government over who to end its decade-long nuclear though Rowhani declined to con- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Turkey’s economy through higher He has made it clear he will will manage the economy. dispute. firm that he would personally Erdogan has appointed his close rates. Bulut also made headlines wield far greater power than The announcement of “This is not compatible with attend. aide Yigit Bulut to be his chief earlier this year when he said that previous presidents, in a role new Prime Minister Ahmet the atmosphere of the negotia- Tehran contends that its economic adviser, his office in the future Turkey would no that up until now has been largely Davutoglu’s cabinet saw the tions,” Rowhani said of the latest nuclear programme is for peace- said yesterday, a move likely to longer need to maintain ties with ceremonial. well respected team of Finance US action. ful energy production reasons and alarm investors already con- Europe, and last year he accused Although with Erdogan at the Minister Mehmet Simsek and “It goes against confidence denies the West’s allegations that cerned over the management of anti-government protesters of helm Turkey’s economy has tri- Deputy Prime Minister Ali building measures. Mistrust has it has sought to develop an atomic the country’s finances. trying to kill Erdogan through pled in dollar terms, there have Babacan kept in place. further deepened,” he told report- bomb. Bulut, an influential but divi- telekinesis. been signs in recent months of But the appointment of Numan ers in Tehran, defending Iran’s Earlier yesterday, other senior sive figure, was a key voice in the Erdogan, who had held sway a slowdown, and some investors Kurtulmus, deputy chairman in attempts to circumvent sanctions Iranian officials hit out at the US ear of Erdogan when he was still over politics as prime minis- fear that fiscal policy is becoming charge of economic affairs in the on its oil sector, banks and other Treasury action. prime minister. He appears to ter since 2003, was sworn in on increasingly politicised. ruling AK Party, as a deputy pre- industries. “The duplicity of the Americans support his master on issues such Thursday as Turkey’s first popu- Markets were already showing mier alongside Babacan unnerved “Some sanctions like those is totally unacceptable,” said as the existence of an “interest larly-elected president, cementing signs of nerves on Friday amidst some analysts. against drugs or food products Deputy Foreign Minister Majid lobby”, a shadowy group Erdogan his position as its most powerful concerns of a possible turf war REUTERS are crimes against humanity. We Takht-Ravanchi, a key member fight and go around these sanc- of the team that for almost one tions and we are proud of that,” year has been talking to the West Rowhani added. about a nuclear settlement. A wide array of sanctions, most “You cannot on the one hand of them financial, are considered say that you are negotiating with Ten Houthi rebels, troops killed in Yemen to have wrecked Iran’s economy goodwill and then at the same in recent years but advocates say time use such means,” he added. such tough action brought the Iran’s Foreign Ministry said SANAA: At least ten men from local mili- The captured men were handed over to the Islamic republic back to the nego- the new sanctions were contrary tias and from the Yemeni army were killed military, the officials said. tiating table. to US commitments under an yesterday in clashes with Houthi fighters Yemen’s Gulf neighbours and Western Despite his criticism yes- interim deal. who were trying to seize a road that links partners, which helped the country stave terday, Rowhani pledged that AFP the capital Sanaa with oil-rich provinces, off civil war after an uprising in 2011 that local government officials said. ended in the ousting of former president Ali The Houthis have fought against the Yemeni Abdullah Saleh, have watched the dispute government for years, demanding more power between Sanaa and the Houthis with mount- for their Zaydi Shi’ite Muslim sect in the pre- ing concern. dominantly Sunni country. Last week, they urged the Houthis to stop Starting two weeks ago, the Houthis massed trying to gain territory by force and to engage tens of thousands of supporters on the out- in a political transition process. skirts of Sanaa to press the government to The government’s decision last month to quit and to restore fuel subsidies. Young members of the Houthi movement rest raise fuel prices was part of efforts to rein in The standoff has raised fears for the stabil- inside a tent on a road in Sana’a yesterday. its budget deficit and helped the impoverished ity of Yemen, an ally of the United States and Arab state to conclude talks on a $560m loan neighbour of major oil exporter Saudi Arabia. to stop the supply of fuel and cooking gas to from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Yesterday, Houthi fighters tried to gain the population in most provinces of the coun- Last year, the country spent about $3bn on control over a road that links Sanaa with the try, but the military sent reinforcements to the fuel subsidies, nearly a third of all state southern provinces of Marib, Shabwa and stop them,” one of the local official in Sanaa revenues. The Houthis have also pitched tents Hadramout, where the majority of Yemen’s told Reuters. on a road leading to the airport near to key oil supplies are located. He said militias captured 11 Houthi fight- ministries. Their protests have tapped into Iranian President Hassan Rowhani gestures during a press conference in “The Houthis were planning to close the ers on intersections of the road and that they wider public anger among Yemenis over the Tehran yesterday. road from the provinces to the capital in order were armed with guns and rocket launchers. subsidy cuts. REUTERS Migrant killed in Morocco violence RABAT: A clash between sub-Saharan migrants and residents of a Tangiers neighbourhood in northern Morocco left a Senegalese man dead, the prefecture and an NGO said yesterday. A “disagreement” late on Friday between residents and “would-be clandestine migrants” involving the throwing of stones led to one man being killed and 14 injured, the city prefecture said, without identifying the victim. Hicham Rachidi, founder of Moroccan anti-racism group Gadem, told AFP the man was from Senegal. Among the injured, “an Ivorian was hospitalised and is in a critical condition”, Rachidi said. Earlier this month there were clashes in the city’s Boukhalef neighbourhood on the night of August 15 to 16, he said. A study by the “Platform of associations and commu- nity of African migrants in Morocco” spoke of at least five people hurt in that confrontation. The document said people “equipped with machetes, knives and sticks” attacked migrants, accusing them of “disturbing the peace, vice trade, public consumption of alcohol” and illegal occupation of homes. Rachidi said these attacks are “becoming regular”. He said “between 800 and 1,000 migrants” live in the outlying Tangiers district, hoping to be able to cross to Europe. The prefecture said nine people “from both sides” were arrested after Friday night’s violence and that an inquiry has been opened. Tension shook the Boukhalef neighbourhood at the end of 2013 after the death of two migrants in unclear circumstances. Faced with an influx at the gateway to Europe and criticism from NGOs, Rabat launched a huge regulari- sation operation this year among the estimated 30,000 would-be migrants in the country. By the end of June more than 16,000 applications had been made. Only 3,000 have been accepted, but an appeals commission is also operating. AFP SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Iraq launches offensive to retake town US Secretary of State John Kerry calls for global coalition to fight marauding Islamic State militants

KIRKUK: Iraq launched a major oper- both because of their Shiite faith, which most directly threatened”. ation yesterday to liberate a Jihadist- Jihadists consider heresy, and their US President Barack Obama has besieged town, as US Secretary of State resistance to the militants, which has acknowledged that Washington has no John Kerry called for a global coalition drawn harsh retribution elsewhere. strategy yet to tackle IS, which has to combat the “genocidal” militants. The United States began carrying declared an Islamic “caliphate” in large The drive to break the more than two- out air strikes against IS in Iraq earlier swathes of territory under its control in month siege of Amerli came as an NGO this month, but has yet to decide if it Iraq and Syria. said that the IS Jihadist group, which has will expand that military action into the IS has prompted widespread concern surrounded the Shia Turkmen-majority Amerli area, or to Syria. because of its sweeping advances in both town, sold at least 27 women in Syria Army Staff Lieutenant General Syria and Iraq and the killing of hun- after kidnapping them in Iraq. Abdulamir Al Zaidi said the anti-Jihadist dreds of people, including in gruesome In Syria, clashes broke out between operation had been launched with Iraqi beheadings and mass executions. Filipino UN peacekeepers and another air support, and vowed that “we will be It has also sold at least 27 women from Jihadist group, the Al Qaeda-linked victorious over them”. Iraq’s Yazidi religious minority for around Al Nusra Front which is also holding 44 The operation has retaken 10 villages $1,000 each to fighters in Syria after Fijian UN peacekeepers hostage. en route to Amerli, and reinforcements forcing them to convert to Islam, the Iraqi security forces, thousands of have been airlifted to the town, officials Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Shiite militiamen and Kurdish pesh- said. Writing in the New York Times, NGO said. Britain on Friday raised its merga fighters are all taking part in the Kerry urged “a united response led by terror alert level to “severe”, mean- operation to lift the Jihadist blockade of the United States and the broadest pos- ing an attack is “highly likely”, although Amerli, sources said. sible coalition of nations” to combat IS. Iraqis, who fled violence in the northern city of Tal Afar, receive drugs at the Bahrka camp, Washington said it had no plans to follow The town has been besieged since “What’s needed to confront its nihilis- 10 km west of Arbil in the autonomous Kurdistan region, yesterday. suit. The threat from IS is just the lat- IS-led militants launched a major offen- tic vision and genocidal agenda is a global est fallout from Syria’s conflict, which sive in Iraq in June. coalition using political, humanitarian, said. Kerry said he and Defence Secretary NATO summit to enlist assistance, and began in March 2011 as a peaceful upris- Amerli residents face major shortages economic, law enforcement and intelli- Chuck Hagel would meet European coun- then travel to the Middle East to build ing against President Bashar Al Assad of food and water, and are in danger gence tools to support military force,” he terparts on the sidelines of an upcoming support “among the countries that are but later descended into civil war. AFP

Ignore IS at your peril, Saudi 41 illegal migrants King tells West drown off Libya JEDDAH: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King BEN GUERDANE, earlier this week when their Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi TUNISIA: Tunisian rescu- boat capsized after leaving the Arabia has warned that the ers have recovered the bodies Libyan port of Zwara, heading West will be the next target of of at least 41 migrants since for Italy, the official said. the Jihadists sweeping through Friday after their ship sank The bodies of some victims Syria and Iraq, unless there is off the Libyan coast and more were plucked from the sea “rapid” action. are expected to be found, offi- while others washed up on the “If we ignore them, I am sure cials said. coast. Some were wearing life they will reach Europe in a month The victims were found in an jackets. and America in another month,” area that has seen many boat- When their vessel was he said in remarks quoted yester- loads of illegal migrants capsize. wrecked was not immediately day by Asharq Al-Awsat daily and “Forty-one bodies have known. Saudi-backed Al-Arabiya televi- been recovered,” Mustapha Mired in unrest and political sion station. Abdelkebir, the mayor of Ben chaos, Libya has been a launch- “Terrorism knows no border Guerdane in southeast Tunisia, pad for illegal migrants trying A Palestinian child wrapped in the Hamas flag takes a picture during a rally by supporters of the Islamist movement and its danger could affect sev- said yesterday. to reach Europe and who turn eral countries outside the Middle in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. He said that this was only to people smugglers to cross the East,” said the King who was a provisional toll — echoing Mediterranean, mainly to Italy. speaking at a welcoming cere- an earlier warning from the Since the end of July, dozens mony on Friday for new ambassa- director of El Ketf port Fethi of people who have set off on dors, including a new envoy from Gaza staff to get salaries ‘soon’ Abaab — and said that search rickety boats from Libya have Saudi ally the United States. operations were suspended for died at sea, and dozens more The Islamic State (IS) Jihadist RAMALLAH: The Palestinian when the PA’s Gaza-based staff Since then the Islamist move- the night. have gone missing, presumed group has prompted widespread Authority will pay its employ- received their wages but their ment has insisted that the PA Abaab had earlier reported drowned. concern as it advances in both ees’ August salaries on time and Hamas counterparts went empty- should pay the salaries of Hamas’s that women were among the Last week, Libyan rescuers Syria and Iraq, killing hundreds Hamas civil servants in Gaza “as handed. “The salaries of the civil 42,000 civil servants. victims plucked from the sea recovered the bodies of around of people, including in gruesome soon as possible”, a spokesman servants with the Authority will be The PA refused to pay the offi- and said that fishermen have 170 people after a boat carry- beheadings and mass executions. for the unity government said paid next week and the government cials in June because they were seen more bodies in the water. ing illegal immigrants from Lack of action would be “unac- yesterday. is trying to pay those of Hamas appointed after Hamas ousted bit- A rescue operations offi- sub-Saharan Africa sank, the ceptable” in the face of the phe- On Tuesday, Hamas and Israel as soon as possible,” government ter rivals Fatah — which dominates cial said the bodies were coastguard said. nomenon, King Abdullah said. agreed an Egypt-mediated cease- spokesman Ihab Bseiso told AFP. the PLO — from Gaza in 2007 and badly decomposed and said he The International “You see how they (Jihadists) fire to end a deadly 50-day war Under a reconciliation deal therefore were not registered as its believed they were migrants Organisation for Migration carry out beheadings and make with Israel in Gaza that killed more signed in April with the West employees. who had been trying to make warned that unrest in Libya children show the severed heads than 2,100 Palestinians. Bank-based Palestine Liberation The pay row was the first chal- their way to Europe in search could lead more migrants to in the street,” he said, condemn- Yesterday’s move comes after a Organisation, which dominates lenge to the new Palestinian unity of a better life. risk their lives and take to ing the “cruelty” of such acts. row over pay erupted between the the PA, Hamas disbanded its Gaza government, formed to try to end They were “probably” some unseaworthy boats to try to AFP two Palestinian factions in June government. years of Palestinian rivalry. AFP of the people who went missing reach Italy. AFP

Bahrain detains Shia rights activist on arrival at airport

MANAMA: Bahraini authorities detained prominent human rights activist Maryam Al Khawaja yesterday on her arrival at the country’s airport, her mother told Reuters. Maryam is the daughter of Shi’ite Muslim activist Abdulhadi Abdulla Hubail Al Khawaja, who has been detained in the country since 2011 and is on hunger strike. “Maryam told me that she will be transferred to the court tomorrow,” her mother, Khadija Al Musawi, told Reuters, adding that her daughter, who holds dual Bahraini and Danish citizenship, was coming back from Denmark. Charges against Al Khawaja include insulting Bahrain’s king, and assaulting a policewoman at the airport, her mother said. Bahraini authorities were not immediately available to comment. Bahrain, a base for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been in turmoil since protests led by Shi’ite Muslims erupted in 2011 after similar unrest in Egypt and Tunisia. Shias, who make up the majority of Bahrain’s popula- tion, complain of political and economic marginalisation, an accusation the government denies. Talks between the government and opposition have failed defuse the politi- cal tensions. In July, Bahrain declared US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski, persona non grata after he met opposition figures in the country. Under criticism from human rights groups, the gov- ernment invited an independent inquiry to examine its handling of the trouble in 2011. Its report said the author- ities had used widespread and excessive force, including torture to extract confessions. The Bahraini government says it has taken steps to address the problems by dismissing those responsible and introducing cameras at police stations. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial

Counter-productive Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

anctions aren’t known to produce the results they are meant for. They only help to harden the resolve of those who are targeted, while those who impose them Sderive satisfaction from the fact that they have acted to coerce the so-called renegade states to fall in line. The US can brand you a terrorist Western sanctions against Iran to force the country to step back from its nuclear programme too fall in this category. The US imposed sanctions on Iran on Friday by putting curbs on more than 25 businesses, banks and individuals it based on a Facebook post suspected of working to expand Iran’s nuclear programme, support terrorism and help Iran evade existing sanctions. BY ARJUN SETHI than any other city in America except process is secret, there’s no way of The action comes at a time when talks between the two sides New York. These eye-popping num- knowing just how many innocent peo- are making some progress, though scant and inconsistent. he US government’s web bers are largely the result of the US ple are added to the list due to these Iran has reacted furiously to the move. Its foreign ministry of surveillance is vast and government’s use of a loose standard absurdities and loopholes. And yet, spokesman Marzieh Afkham said the new sanctions would interconnected. Now we — so-called “reasonable suspicion” — history shows that innocent people are only jeopardise a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers know just how opaque, inef- in determining who, exactly, can be inevitably added to the list and suffer ficient and discriminatory watchlisted. life-altering consequences. Life on the and would have a “negative and non-constructive impact” on Tit can be. Reasonable suspicion is such a low master watchlist can trigger enhanced the talks. President Hassan Rouhani also attacked the move, As we were reminded again just standard because it requires neither screening at borders and airports; being saying “we should resist the invasion and put the invaders this week, you can be pulled into the “concrete evidence” nor “irrefutable on the No Fly List, which is a subset in their place. We should not allow the continuation and National Security Agency’s database evidence”. Instead, an official is permit- of the larger terrorist watchlist, can repetition of the invasion.” quietly and quickly, and the conse- ted to consider “reasonable inferences” prevent airline travel altogether. The According to reports, Friday’s action did not constitute quences can be long and enduring. and “to draw from the facts in light of watchlist can separate family members Through ICREACH, a Google-style his/her experience”. for months or years, isolate individuals an expansion of the sanctions regime, but rather the search engine created for the intelli- Consider a real world context — from friends and associates, and ruin enforcement of existing sanctions. It’s a move by Washington gence community, the NSA provides actual criminal justice — where an employment prospects. to pile pressure on Tehran to move faster on talks and make data on private communications to 23 officer needs reasonable suspicion to Being branded a terrorism suspect concessions to arrive at a nuclear government agencies. More than 1,000 stop a person in the street and ask him also has far-reaching privacy implica- deal. Iran and the P5+1 group of analysts had access to that information. or her a few questions. Courts have con- tions. The watchlist is widely accessible, world powers – the US, Britain, This kind of data sharing, however, troversially held that avoiding eye con- and government officials routinely col- Iran says US isn’t limited to the latest from Edward tact with an officer, traveling alone, and lect the biometric data of watchlisted sanctions will France, China and Russia, plus Snowden’s NSA files. It was confirmed traveling late at night, for example, all individuals, including their fingerprints Germany – hope to reach a earlier this month that the FBI shares amount to reasonable suspicion. and DNA strands. Law enforcement hinder nuclear comprehensive nuclear agreement its master watchlist, the Terrorist This vague criteria is now being used has likewise been directed to gather any by November that would address Screening Database, with at least 22 to label innocent people as terrorism and all available evidence when encoun- talks, but it western concerns about the foreign governments, countless federal suspects. tering watchlisted individuals, including agencies, state and local law enforce- Moreover, because the watchlist receipts, business cards, health infor- nuclear programme and lift has to realise ment, plus private contractors. isn’t limited to known, actual terror- mation and bank statements. crippling sanctions on Tehran. The watchlist tracks “known” and ists, an official can watchlist a person Watchlisting is an awesome power, that it will be a Iran has the right to feel “suspected” terrorists and includes if he has reasonable suspicion to believe and if used, must be exercised prudently infuriated by the new move, but both foreigners and Americans. It’s also that the person is a suspected terror- and transparently. bigger loser if any decision to go slow on talks or based on loose standards and secret evi- ist. It’s a circular logic — individuals The standards for inclusion should hold back on reaching a deal will dence, which ensnares innocent people. can be watchlisted if they are suspected be appropriately narrow, the evidence talks fail. Indeed, the standards are so low that of being suspected terrorists — that is relied upon credible and genuine, and be counter-productive. An end to the US government’s guidelines spe- ultimately backwards, and must be the redress and review procedures the current stalemate is in the cifically allow for a single, uncorrobo- changed. consistent with basic constitutional interest of all parties, especially rated source of information — including The government’s self-mandated requirements of fairness and due proc- Iran. Sanctions have brought misery to the lives of ordinary a Facebook or Twitter post — to serve surveillance guidance also includes ess. Instead, watchlisting is being used Iranians and crippled the country’s economy. President as the basis for placing you on its mas- loopholes that permit watchlisting arbitrarily under a cloud of secrecy. Rouhani came to power on a promise of reforms and better ter watchlist. without even showing reasonable sus- A watchlist saturated with innocent Of the 680,000 individuals on that picion. For example, non-citizens can be people diverts attention from real, gen- living conditions for his people and this promise is impossible FBI master list, roughly 40% have “no watchlisted for being associated with a uine threats. A watchlist that dispro- to be fulfilled without the lifting of the sanctions. recognized terrorist group affiliation”, watchlisted person — even if their rela- portionately targets Arab and Muslim Iran must refrain from any kind of nuclear activity that according to the Intercept. These indi- tionship with that person is entirely Americans or other minorities stig- will add to tension in the region. Though Gulf countries viduals don’t even have a connection innocuous. Another catch-all exception matizes innocent people and alienates are not participating in the current talks, they have serious — as the government loosely defines allows non-citizens to be watchlisted, so them from law enforcement. A watch- it — to a designated terrorist group, long as a source or tipster describes the list based on poor standards and secret concerns about the intentions of their neighbour. The current but they are still branded as suspected person as an “extremist”, a “militant”, processes raises major constitutional talks have created some confidence that Tehran could terrorists. or in similar terms, and the “context concerns, including the right to travel abandon its nuclear programme. The absurdities don’t end there. Take suggests a nexus to terrorism”. The freely and not to be deprived of liberty Iran and US need to continue their talks with sincerity Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a popu- FBI’s definition of “nexus”, in turn, is without due process of law. and an intention to arrive at a deal. A failure of talks or lation under 100,000 that is known for far more nebulous than they’re letting Indeed, you can’t help but wonder: serious slowing down will only help erase the progress made its large Arab American community on. are you already on the watchlist? — and has more watchlisted residents Because the watchlist designation THE GUARDIAN so far• The other side Quote of New lessons from BJP poll blow the day hree months ago the Modi consumer price (CPI) inflation accelerated Given this situation and the monetarist Lok Sabha elections. wave was like a tsunami. It to a two-month high of 7.96 percent in stance of Reserve Bank of India Governor The alliance of ex-rivals, Lalu Prasad drowned the Congress. Now,in July against 7.46 percent in June, pushed Raghuram Rajan, industry chambers, Yadav and Nitish Kumar, along with the Tthe by-elections the wave has up by rising prices of vegetables, fruit and hopeful of a rate cut to boost industrial Congress, won six of the 10 seats for receded alarmingly. Modi has not done milk, government data shows. Wholesale activity, have sounded cautious. which bypolls were held and had a com- anything wrong...but has he done enough food inflation rose to 8.43 percent in July “Amidst the current situation where bined vote share better than that of the right and were expectations beyond the from 8.14 percent in June. Primary arti- prices of food articles are still elevated, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. I come to Brussels possible...hence the disappointment. cles rose by 2.7 percent in July from an it is amply clear that the Reserve Bank “Voters across the country have rectified With explanations like the missing Modi increase of 6.84 percent in June. will maintain a watchful stance,” said the mistakes made in the Lok Sabha elec- from a country that factor or local conditions unable to fully The sticky food inflation meant fruits Federation of Indian Chambers of tions,” tweeted Lalu Yadav, even as other deeply believes in explain BJP’s by-election losses in light became costlier by 31.71 percent in July Commerce and Industry (FICCI) President leaders of the alliance highlighted its social of its recent overwhelming win nationally, against 21.70 percent in June. Potato Sidharth Birla, commenting on the infla- aspects, in how it was fitting that Mandal the significance of the phenomenon of inflation, especially of prices zoomed by 46.41 percent year- tion data. One clear lesson from the by- politics should be reborn on August 25 food prices hurting people everywhere, on-year against 42.52 percent in June. poll results in Bihar is that Prime Minister — the birth anniversary of B P Mandal, Europe. has emerged as a possible answer to this While prices of protein-based food like Narendra Modi and his message of devel- who headed the commission that recom- poll puzzle. pulses rose by 3.31 percent, egg, meat opment do not have the same impact at mended reservations in government jobs Donald Tusk In this season of deficient rainfall, and fish became dearer by 2.71 percent. the state level as they did in the April-May for backward classes. ARAB NEWS EU President SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Best weapon to fight IS is already in Iraq To hurt IS, it must first be understood. Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI personnel, working alongside Joint Special Operations Command and the CIA should capture and interrogate as many militants as possible, in a lawful manner.

BY ROBERT CARUSO would operate inside Syria and Iraq, and along the Turkish and Iranian borders. n 21st century Iraq, the enemy is No Burger Kings or Best Buys on this not a state, though it calls itself base. one. The Islamic State in Iraq And every part of the US intelligence and the Levant (IS) is a group of and military apparatus has to work Islamist insurgents whose pres- together; just they did with the inter- Ience stretches across the border between agency Joint Task Forces in Iraq and Syria and Iraq. Afghanistan in 2003. The only way to defeat the Islamic “It still takes a network,” as Travis State is through military force, but Wheeler, a graduate student at Tuft Americans will not be doing the fighting University’s The Fletcher School, writes. on the ground. General John Allen, who This will involve killing and capturing commanded Nato forces in Afghanistan, militants, as well as engaging in denial, has observed that, “the Kurds, the deception, sabotage and subversion. Sunnis and the Free Syrian resistance To protect the US consulate in Arbil, elements of the region are the ‘boots on peshmerga (as the Kurdish fighters are the ground’ necessary to the success of known) should be provided with Javelin Islamic State of Iraq fighters parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces vehicle down a main road at Mosul, Iraq on June 23, 2014. this campaign.” antitank missiles, armoured personnel Make no mistake: dismantling a nas- carriers and night-vision equipment. Without granular intelligence, drones will be essential to capture and kill the advance of IS threatens Iran’s position cent Islamic State is a serious undertak- Arbil is home to one of the longest run- have no way of distinguishing between right people. throughout the region, in particular its ing, involving thousands of US personnel ways in the world, but the Kurds do not combatants and noncombatants. To hurt IS, it must first be understood. influence on Iraq and Syria. and a robust interagency effort. The have a viable air force and are dependent Obama has authorised as many as 60 Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI per- The United States should capitalise on insurgents are ruthless, resourceful and on Baghdad for air support. intelligence, surveillance and reconnais- sonnel, working alongside Joint Special Iranian fears and arm Kurdish groups are adept at weaving themselves into the This should be rectified immediately sance flights of manned and unmanned Operations Command and the CIA across the region, There are as many as fabric of the region, making them vir- by deploying the 6th Special Operations aircraft per day, but that is insufficient. should capture and interrogate as many 5 million Kurds in Iran. They don’t fear tually undetectable until they strike. If Squadron, which specialises in building IS militants act like terrorists but think militants as possible, in a lawful manner. Iran’s paramilitaries and have proven President Barack Obama’s strategy is to air forces from the ground up. like street criminals and as such are not This would allow interrogators to discern to be fierce and unrelenting fighters. “contain” IS, not destroy it, as the New The Kurds’ nascent air force should susceptible to intercept by the National the true size, nature and intentions of Elements of the Kurdish Democratic York Times reported on Aug 22, he will be given Super Tucano propeller planes Security Agency. the militants, as well as disrupt future Party in Iran have declared “the whole fail. and its pilots instructed on how to fly “They are everywhere, yet they are operations and even court double agents. world is afraid of Iran, and Iran is afraid Under its leader, Abu Bakr Al them in combat. Other rotary and fixed- nowhere,” the intellectual godfather Meantime, functioning as an intelli- of our peshmerga.” Baghdadi, IS has grown significantly, wing aircraft could operate out of Arbil’s of counterinsurgency, David Galula, gence “trawler,” select peshmerga should This would afford Western intelli- gaining support in Iraq due to alleged airport, allowing French, US and British famously observed. It remains true. be trained to use clandestine tagging and gence agencies a talent pool from which economic and political discrimination aircraft to be closer to the fight. Navy Radical Islamists do not talk on phones tracking of equipment. Using this tech- to recruit. against Arab Iraqi Sunnis Seabees construction battalions and US about operations, and when they do it is nology, US and coalition aircraft would A well-armed peshmerga and renewed Masked and without a uniform, IS is Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable meant to deceive. be able to identify vehicles and individu- investment in proven intelligence tech- impossible to fight using the doctrines Heavy Operational Repair Squadron It is also hard to fight the Islamic State als from the air and on the ground using niques will be critical to combating of the past. Airstrikes and raids will fail Engineers can construct new hangars in in Syria through the air, both because of special chemicals. extremists inside and outside of Iraq. to do damage without actionable intelli- a matter of days. surface-to-air emplacements in Syria and IS expertise in urban fortification and America can stand tall with the Kurds, gence. To keep pace with and then over- A drone-centric strategy hasn’t surface-to-air missiles the Islamist group military deception ensures civilian casu- cripple Iran’s paramilitary capability, and take IS, the US Central Command should worked well in Yemen and Pakistan to is rumoured to possess. This is a funda- alties unless this capability is built. destroy the Islamic State, but must act first select a widely respected four-star permanently end the threat of terrorism, mental issue for the counterinsurgency, Unfortunately, Iran cannot be con- decisively and creatively—today. officer to lead a new joint task force. It and will not work at all in Syria and Iraq. and a fingertip feel of the environment sidered a credible partner in Iraq. The REUTERS

Crossing paths with Foley in Syria’s desperate war Pacific isles are sinking, With no US or British troops on we need the world’s help the ground in Syria to keep them BY TUILAEPA AIONO SAILELE MALIELEGAOI t is often said “Seeing is believing”, so I want world leaders to absorbed, it was clear that news see for themselves what our islands are doing to deal with cli- mate change, natural disasters and the tough economic challenges execs, readers in the West had less Ithrust upon us. Samoa will host the third international conference on small island developing states (Sids) from September 1, and I want leaders from the interest in the country than in Iraq. 193 nations attending to rise above rhetoric and grandstanding, and move closer to binding international agreements on climate change. We BY JAMES PALMER a shop sipping a soft drink. He understand the concerns of industrialised countries about economic smiled and waved to me. I guessed growth and greenhouse gas emissions, but if we don’t act now it will be prefer to work alone because at the time he was pleased with too late for many of our small islands that are already being inundated I’ve found from past experi- the video he shot the previous by rising sea levels. The international community has to understand James Wright Foley smiles while holding a video camera in this undated ence it’s just easier. afternoon and was looking for- that in an increasingly interrelated world, critical problems recognise I Still, it was hard not to ward to the day of work ahead. photo. Foley is the first American journalist to be killed by IS rebels. no borders and ride roughshod over sovereignty. cross paths with other journal- We never ran into each other Sids such as mine have come together, not as part of some glorified ists in Syria in the late summer again. people to greet me there. He was usually experienced no trouble talking shop, but to review the progress we have made and to come up and fall of 2012, where you were Independent journalists report- a tall and gangly middle-aged falling asleep but the guttural with solutions and reach agreement on what more needs to be done to free to roam without government ing in war zones depend on their tailor with a wife and three kids. moans of a man as he was beaten meet the most pressing global challenges of our time. restrictions. instincts and luck. Not simply Even with an automatic rifle and whipped kept me awake that The UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, who supports the need for I first saw James Foley – to survive but to complete their slung over his shoulder, he never night. action for small, vulnerable nations like ours, will join us in Samoa. whom the Islamic State executed work and earn a living. seemed threatening. Another night I slept in the When he visited one of our neighbours, Kiribati, in 2011 he recalled last week — at a demonstration When I arrived in Iraq in When I told him I was from examining chair of a dentist’s meeting a young boy who told him that he was afraid to go to bed at in Aleppo, a rebel stronghold. He August 2005 news agencies were New York, he danced a jig on the office. night for fear of being inundated by sea water. I hope that agreement was standing perfectly straight shutting down their bureaus and sidewalk. Whenever I passed him When I went back a few nights reached in Samoa will impact directly on the secretary general’s cli- and steadily holding his cam- fleeing the country. The money after that he always offered me later, it was gone. mate change summit in New York on 23 September. Countries like era as he filmed a handful of for freelancers continuously food and a drink. This arrangement was also mine have played second fiddle to the agenda of the large powers in men dancing while drums were flowed in. The work was so plenti- Abu Ali helped set me up that beneficial because it was free. And the world. In Samoa and in New York, our experience as the “canar- pounded and scores of people ful I sometimes had to turn down night in an apartment where a that was characteristic of my time ies in the coalmine” must finally be understood by the international sang. assignments. group of Western-backed Free in Syria — other than what small community and acted on. We come together not to plead for aid but to He arrived at the ad hoc police In Syria, however, I gradually Syrian Army soldiers were snacks and drinks I purchased in forge genuine partnerships to fill the void of declining official assistance. station another day seeking an realised that even companies camped. the shops, I was never required to Partnerships should not be held hostage to the north-south ideological interview with one of the leaders who usually used freelancers as But throughout my stay in pay for anything. divide. We want the rest of the world to understand that our problems there while I was shooting photos. a cheaper alternative to staff Aleppo, I rarely slept under the I tried to buy a sim card for my are shared problems. We shook hands and introduced viewed me as a liability. They same roof on consecutive nights. I cell phone, but an activist brought While we in sea-locked nations represent a small physical land ourselves then returned to our simply refused to embrace the found this was a good way to move me to a mobile phone shop and mass and population, our surroundings – the oceans – cover three- work. risks involved – no editor wants around and work. arranged the installation of one quarters of the planet. Oceans are the world’s most important shared Apparently, neither of us could the blood of a dead freelancer on Most of these places had been at no cost. resource connecting and feeding people, while acting as a vast ecosys- afford the time to chat. his or her hands. abandoned and were occupied When I asked him why it was tem regulating climate and weather. They are a key driving force in When a firefight broke out late Even the highly competitive by the rebels or activists. Some free, he told me the card was the global economy. The seas bring us together, not simply in terms of during another afternoon, Foley newspapers in London declined were still finely appointed — with taken from the dead body of a the bad news that is the global rise in sea level, but as an asset whose appeared nearby. After crossing to touch me. One editor sent an ornate dining tables, chandeliers, government soldier. I suppose it sustainable development binds us together and can contribute to our the street, he waved a third jour- email advising me to leave Syria. thick drapes, china, glass vases was equally possible that it was collective wealth as nations. nalist and me over to an apart- He was further insuring him- and family photos — but topped found on the corpse of a rebel, but Our isolation from industrial centres has hindered our development ment building where a number of self against any harm I might with dust. I thought it was in poor taste to in the past, but we are turning this to our advantage through respon- rebels were climbing the stairs. I encounter. I spent several nights sleep- say that out loud. sible tourism for discerning tourists who value unspoilt and distant followed them to the roof. With no US or British troops ing on the floor alongside a dozen If you report any conflict for islands. Tourism is now the leading income earner for the majority of Foley was already in position on the ground in Syria to keep other men in a former school for more than a few weeks, the num- oceanic states. and shooting in the doorway. them absorbed, it was clear that small children, which was con- bers of people you meet who are The theme song for the Samoa summit is “There is hope”, but for He moved so I could pass and I news executives and readers in verted into a police station. The later killed add up quickly. But our islands to realise this hope we need solutions to our challenges and extended the same professional the West had far less interest in walls were painted with pastels only a few of those stick with you the means to implement them. We also need meaningful, deliverable courtesy by squatting down in an the country than in Iraq. and decorated with flowers and for good. targets. We think we are getting there – and should anyone have any effort to stay out of his shot. Despite the financial obstacles, animals. There was always work in Syria doubts about how serious I am, I would gently remind them that I We departed that day with- I spent three weeks in Aleppo – One evening I crashed in a for a freelance journalist, if you know a thing or two about targets since I won a silver medal in target out any ceremony, but the next Syria’s second largest city. second floor apartment across wanted it. archery as the first prime minister to represent my country at the morning I saw him sitting outside Abu Ali was among the first the street from an FSA post. I REUTERS South Pacific Games in 2007. THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Polish PM Tusk is new EU president Italian Foreign Minister Mogherini named foreign policy chief Challenges for former BRUSSELS: European leaders yesterday named Polish premier Donald Tusk as the next EU underground journalist president and Italy’s Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini to WARSAW, POLAND: minister in the 2011 general head the diplomatic service as Poland’s Prime Minister election. the bloc faces challenges includ- Donald Tusk is a pro-Euro- He has the distinction of ing the crisis in Ukraine. pean free marketeer who has steering Poland though the glo- The Polish premier, who earned the reputation of being bal financial crisis as the only speaks only a halting English an unflappable leader able to EU state to maintain growth. and no French, is the first eastern turn even the most difficult He also steadied the country European to hold such a senior situations to his advantage. when in April 2010 an air crash role in the EU and is known as a With political roots in Poland’s in Smolensk, Russia, wiped out a critic of the Kremlin. anti-communist Solidarity trade large chunk of the Polish estab- “The suspense is up, the new union, the football-mad histo- lishment, killing Poland’s then EU leadership team is com- rian started out as an under- president Lech Kaczynski, the plete,” said current EU President ground journalist. country’s top military brass, cen- Herman Van Rompuy moments Under Communism, he also tral bank chief and scores of MPs after the announcement was put his liberal ideals to work and other senior state figures. made. running a modest industrial More recently, the 57-year-old He said the new team faced painting business. Private enter- Tusk used his political savvy to three major challenges: the stag- prise was rare then, but small survive a high-profile eavesdrop- nating European economy, the ventures were tolerated by the ping scandal implicating his sen- crisis in Ukraine which was “the ruling Communist Party. ior ministers. gravest threat to continental After a bloodless end to com- But his popularity has waned security since the Cold War,” and munist rule was negotiated in since his landslide win in 2011 Britain’s place in the EU. Poland in 1989, Tusk and a group amid slow growth and persistent “I come to Brussels from a of friends in his Baltic Sea home- unemployment. Opinion polls country that deeply believes in town of Gdansk founded the released this month show his the significance of Europe,” Tusk Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (left), European Council President Herman van Rompuy (centre) and Italian Liberal Democratic Congress, PO trailing behind arch-rivals, said at a news conference with Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini (right) after they were elected to the EU top jobs during European leaders pushing for sweeping privatisa- the right-wing Law and Justice Van Rompuy, at which the out- extraordinary summit at EU council headquaters in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. tion of the state-run economy. party. The next general election going leader presented him with It won 37 of the 460 seats in is due in October, 2015. a bunch of flowers. Mogherini, Italy’s 41-year-old Mogherini’s candidacy ini- of crisis,” Mogherini said at the parliament in the 1991 general Tusk has taken a firm line Tusk will take office on foreign minister, has been a long tially faced fierce resistance, with same press conference. election, only to lose them two on Poland’s national interests, December 1 while Mogherini will favourite to replace Catherine Eastern European countries — “All around Europe we have years later. It then merged with questioning eurozone bailouts start her new job on November 1. Ashton as head of the EU’s for- and reportedly British officials crisis.” the larger centrist Freedom and declining to set a deadline Strongly backed by Germany’s eign service, hailed by her sup- — criticising her as both inexpe- Hours before the summit, left- Union. for adopting the euro currency Angela Merkel, Tusk is a pro- porters as a new, younger face rienced and too soft on Russia. of-centre EU leaders meeting in Tusk led a breakaway faction until its problems are solved. European free marketeer with for Europe. She was initially sidelined at a Paris formally backed her as the in 2001 and formed the Civic With over 38 million people, roots in Poland’s Solidarity anti- With leaders unnerved by first summit in July. But six weeks bloc’s new foreign policy chief. Platform (PO). Poland is the largest newcomer Soviet trade union who has been Russia’s latest actions in Ukraine, later, and after Italy staunchly “I have high hopes that she will While his 2005 presidential to the EU and has been eager prime minister since 2007. the nomination of Tusk to replace backed more sanctions against be chosen tonight,” said French bid failed, the PO took power to punch above its weight, play- He will also head up summits Belgium’s Van Rompuy could send Russia, Mogherini overcame the President Francois Hollande, after a 2007 snap election and ing a significant role in Eastern of the countries that use the euro, a message of resolve to Moscow as opposition. eager to see a socialist and south- Tusk was propelled to a sec- European policy since joining despite Poland not being a mem- EU leaders also mull fresh sanc- “I know the challenges are ern European in a top role. ond consecutive term as prime in 2004. AFP ber of the single currency. tions against Russia. huge, especially in these times AFP

Man charged EU leaders say Ukraine situation worsening

BRUSSELS: The European the point of no return.” like to be closely integrated with with assault Union has warned that the At a joint press conference with the EU. Practically Russia is in a apparent incursion of Russian Poroshenko in Brussels yesterday state of war against Europe. on British MP troops on Ukrainian soil pushes morning, Barroso said it was not “That means we need to help the conflict closer to a point of too late to find a political solution Ukraine to … defend its territory LONDON: A man has been no return, with new economic to the crisis but warned: “If the and its people and to help mili- charged with a religiously-moti- sanctions being drawn up to escalation of the conflict contin- tarily, especially with the military vated “assault by beating” on make Moscow reconsider its ues, this point can come. materials to help Ukraine defend British MP George Galloway, position. “Russia should not underesti- itself because today Ukraine is police said yesterday. The Ukrainian President Petro mate the European Union’s will fighting a war on behalf of all Galloway, who recently declared Poroshenko, who briefed a sum- and resolve to stand by its prin- Europe.” the northern English city he rep- mit of the 28-nation EU’s leaders ciples and values.” Grybauskaite added that an resents an “Israel-free zone”, was in Brussels, said a strong response David Cameron also held talks arms embargo on Russia should attacked on a west London street was needed to the “military aggres- with Poroshenko in Brussels be tightened by including a halt on Friday night. sion and terror” facing his country. before a summit to decide on on sales under existing contracts Police said Neil Masterson, 39, “Thousands of foreign troops two top EU jobs. He said: “We – a thinly-veiled swipe at France, had been charged with “assault by and hundreds of foreign tanks are have to address the completely which has resisted calls to cancel beating which is religiously aggra- now on the territory of Ukraine,” unacceptable situation of having People who have fled from fighting in eastern regions of Ukraine gather a deal to sell Moscow a strategic vated” and would appear in court Poroshenko told reporters in Russian troops on Ukraine soil. upon their arrival at a railway station, before heading for their temporary new warship. tomorrow. English. “There is a very high risk Consequences must follow if that accommodation in the cities and settlements of Siberia, in Krasnoyarsk, Earlier, the German vice-chan- “It is thought that the attack is not only for peace and stability for situation continues and we will be yesterday. cellor, Sigmar Gabriel, told jour- connected to Mr Galloway’s sup- Ukraine, but for the whole peace discussing that as well.” nalists: “It is clear that after this port for the Palestinian cause,” his and stability of Europe.” Earlier, Poroshenko’s call for tougher Friday morning. It also denied all Europe.” intervention by Russia in Ukraine Respect Party said in a statement. Vladimir Putin was warned that EU sanctions against Moscow rebel claims that four planes had Lithuania’s president, Dalia … EU leaders will certainly task The outspoken Scot, dubbed the crisis in Ukraine could be came as the Ukrainian military been taken down by insurgents. Grybauskaite, said Russia was at the European commission with “Gorgeous George” by the British reaching the “point of no return” said one of its fighter jets was shot Poroshenko said his pres- war with Ukraine and so effec- preparing the next level of sanc- media, recently made headlines as European leaders said the EU down by Russian anti-aircraft ence at the summit was an tively at war with Europe. Calling tions.” “We see regular Russian when he declared Bradford to was ready to defend its principles. fire. In a statement, the military important demonstration of on EU countries to supply Kiev army units operating offen- be an Israel-free zone and urged The outgoing European com- said: “A Russian anti-aircraft sys- EU solidarity with his coun- with military equipment, she sively on the Ukrainian territory people to reject all Israeli goods, mission president, José Manuel tem shot down an Su-25 fighter. try. “The most important thing said: “It is a fact that Russia is against the Ukrainian army. We services and tourists. Barroso, said: “We are in a very The pilot managed to eject.” It now is peace,” he said. “Today in a war state against Ukraine. must call a spade a spade,” added A Respect spokesman said the serious, I would say, dramatic did not give the location of the we are talking about the fate of That means it is in a state of war the Swedish foreign minister, incident appeared to be connected situation … where we can reach incident but said it happened on Ukraine, tomorrow it could be for against a country which would Carl Bildt. THE GUARDIAN with Israel because the attacker had been shouting something about the Holocaust. Galloway, who once lauded former Iraqi leader Saddam Workers at Ebola Hussein, stunned British politics Lesotho PM flees nation when he won his West Bradford centre go on strike seat in 2012 to become one of only a handful of lawmakers from in Sierra Leone outside the three major parties. alleging army coup Bradford has a large Muslim FREETOWN: Health workers minority. have gone on strike at a major MASERU, LESOTHO: arrived in armoured personnel He has been discharged from state-run Ebola treatment cen- Lesotho Prime Minister Tom carriers as they were chang- hospital after treatment for his tre in Sierra Leone, over pay and Thabane yesterday said he had ing shifts, seizing an arsenal of injuries. REUTERS poor working conditions, hospi- fled for his life across the bor- semi-automatic and automatic tal staff told Reuters yesterday. der to South Africa, accusing weapons. Car tied to Obama Sierra Leone’s government is the military of seizing power in At least four people, one solider struggling to cope with the worst a coup and leaving the country and four police, were seriously threat found Ebola outbreak in history, that in flux. wounded in gunfights. has killed more than 1,550 people Shortly after 3am (0100 “They did not say what they HAMDEN: A car sought in con- across West Africa, with the rate GMT) the army seized control of wanted, they just surrounded us nection with a suspected threat of infection still rising. key police facilities in the capi- and broke into the arsenal,” said against President Barack Obama “The workers decided to stop tal Maseru, including the force one officer, who asked not to be has been located in Connecticut, working because we have not headquarters, in what Thabane named. authorities said yesterday. The been paid our allowances and we said was a highly choreographed Local intelligence officers US Secret Service, which is lack some tools,” said Ishmael attempt to oust him from power. told AFP the coup was led by responsible for presidential secu- Mehemoh, chief supervisor at the “I have been removed from con- Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, rity, had asked state police for clinic in the city of Kenema, in the trol not by the people but by the who was recently ordered to help in locating the car in con- country’s east. armed forces, and that is illegal,” renounce command of the nection with a possible threat Clothing to protect health Thabane told media. Lesotho Defence Forces. “This to the president, State Police workers being infected is inad- “I will return as soon as my issue of always alleging that the Lieutenant J Paul Vance said. equate and there is only one bro- life is not in danger... I will not Lesotho defence force is mounting Both the state police and the ken stretcher which is used to go back to Lesotho to get killed.” a coup d’etat is not a new thing,” Secret Service declined to specify carry both patients and corpses, But the military rejected the said Major Ntlele Ntoi, a military the nature of the threat. Mehemoh added. More than suggestion of a coup as a “baseless spokesman, adding that Kamoli The vehicle, a 2014 Volkswagen Health care workers in full body suits burn infected items at the Elwa 20 health workers have already allegation”. remains in his post. “Even this Jetta, was found late Friday night Hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) in died from Ebola at the Kenema Police officers told AFP that time around, that is a baseless in Hamden. REUTERS Monrovia yesterday. health clinic. REUTERS dozens of heavily armed soldiers allegation.” AFP SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 ASIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

China landslide Macau casino Beijing warns dealers take action on wage HONG KONG: Casino deal- against foreign ers working in one of the most popular casinos in the gambling hub of Macau started industrial action yesterday for the first meddling in HK time in the Chinese territory as discontent over salaries and working benefits spreads. More than 1,000 dealers work- This will not be tolerated: Official ing for SJM Holdings, the gam- ing company run by the family of BEIJING: China has warned attempt to interfere the SAR gov- former Macau king pin Stanley against any foreign interference ernment administration.” Ho, showed up late for their shift ahead of a crucial ruling on the This was done “not only to at the flagship Grand Lisboa city’s political future today, say- undermine the stability and casino while others have pledged ing Beijing will not tolerate the development of Hong Kong but not to work any overtime. use of Hong Kong “as a bridge- also to attempt to use Hong “SJM has mobilised additional head to subvert and infiltrate Kong as a bridgehead to subvert manpower support to handle the mainland.” and infiltrate the mainland,” the the situation and promised that China’s largely rubber-stamp spokesman said. today, if workers are willing to go parliament is set to meet today, “This will absolutely not be tol- to work, they will guarantee com- when it is expected to limit 2017 erated,” he said. pensation three times the salary,” elections for Hong Kong’s leader The spokesman did not identify said Ieong Mang Teng, a baccarat to a handful of pro-Beijing can- any outside countries. In 2013, US dealer and head of labour group didates, a move likely to escalate envoy to Hong Kong Clifford Hart the Forefront of Macau Gaming. plans by pro-democracy activ- said Washington would continue Rescuers look for survivors at a site of a landslide in Yingping village of Fuquan, Guizhou province yesterday. Macau is racing to build eight ists to blockade the city’s Central to back “genuine universal suf- The death toll has climbed to 17 with six others missing after a landslide destroyed a village in southwest China’s new resorts in the next three business district today. frage” there. Guizhou Province on Wednesday, Xinhua News Agency reported. years but labour strains look set According to state media, an Such a strongly worded state- to intensify. Workers are demand- unidentified spokesman from ment from the ministry signals ing higher pay and threatening the Chinese foreign ministry’s increasing anxiety among Chinese strikes at a time when operators Department of Hong Kong, leaders about the outcome of China tells scribes to learn Marxist values already face a labour shortage. Macau and Taiwan Affairs said today’s decision, which will be Macau is the only place in China would promptly “make watched closely by diplomats BEIJING: China ordered its The association said journalists up of the country. China where casino gambling is solemn representations” to any and international human rights journalists yesterday to learn “must learn to master Marxist In July, the State Administration legal. The special administrative “external force” that interfered groups. “Marxist news values” and news values”. of Press, Publication, Radio, Film region boasts 35 casinos and relies in Hong Kong’s internal affairs. The expected decision to limit uphold the principles of news “Let us hold high the banner of and Television said China would on gaming taxes for more than 80 Hong Kong is a special admin- the number of candidates for as prescribed by the ruling socialist core values,” the report toughen curbs on journalists percent of government revenues. istrative region (SAR) of China, the 2017 elections could trigger Communist Party, the latest said, using the party’s term for disclosing state and commercial Home to a population of just administered by what is known as a showdown with pro-democracy step in President Xi Jinping’s orthodox beliefs. secrets. over 500,000 people, the former the Basic Law. demonstrators who are planning crackdown on the media. Xi has espoused old school Early this year, Chinese jour- Portuguese colony has one of the In an interview with state news an “Occupy Central” campaign. The guidelines by the All China Maoism as he seeks to court pow- nalists also had to pass a new world’s lowest jobless rates at 1.7 agency Xinhua on Friday, the uni- The Hong Kong government Journalists’ Association, published erful conservative elements in the ideology exam to keep their press percent. Rigid labour regulations dentified spokesman said “some will deploy 5,000 police for the by state news agency Xinhua, are party. Like many officials before cards. They were required to do that prohibit foreigners from people” ignored the long-term expected protest tonight, Hong aimed at both traditional and him, Xi is steeped in the party’s a minimum 18 hours of training working at the gaming tables mean interests of Hong Kong and the Kong’s official media RTHK said, online media and are another long-held belief that loosening on topics including Marxist news casino operators have little choice provisions of the Basic Law “to citing an unidentified source. sign of Xi’s politically conserva- control too quickly or even at all values and Socialism with Chinese but to raise wages to attract and collude with external forces in an REUTERS tive agenda. could lead to chaos and the break Characteristics. REUTERS retain staff. REUTERS Taiwan to buy Ethnic strife blurs Myanmar’s first census in 30 years surface-to-air YANGON: Following an The census was mired in con- who were not counted in three are often described by the United The government describes the local missile incomplete count due to ethnic troversy from the outset, as the areas affected by ethnic conflicts Nations as one of the most per- Rohingya as Bengalis, a term conflicts in parts of the country, government and UNFPA were - northern Rakhine, and Kachin secuted minorities in the world. that implies they are illegal TAIPEI: Taiwan plans to Myanmar said that its first cen- criticised for basing the counting and Kayin states. The government had promised immigrants from neighbouring spend Tw$74.8bn in the next sus in 30 years shows the popu- on 135 officially recognised ethnic The government said that the international sponsors that ethnic Bangladesh. However, most have nine years to acquire anti-mis- lation to be 51.4 million, some groups, a classification that critics estimate of 1.09 million uncounted groups could choose their classifi- lived in Myanmar for centuries. sile systems to boost its aerial ten million less than expected. say is outdated and inaccurate. people in northern Rakhine state cation. But a day before the census Preliminary findings from the defences against China, a law- The provisional findings of the Ethnic groups said their politi- was based on precensus mapping kicked off, presidential spokesman census also found a gender gap, maker and media said. census, with support from the cal representation and claims to by immigration officers. Ye Htut indicated that use of the with 26.6 million females and 24.8 The defence ministry aims to UN Population Fund (UNFPA), ethnicity would be compromised Much of the controversy sur- term Rohingya would be prohib- million males, and it also showed purchase the locally-made Tien was released by Minister of if they were undercounted. rounded the counting of the ited, so those who wanted to iden- the population pressures building Kung 3 (Sky Bow 3) surface-to- Immigration and Population U The estimated population Rohingya - Muslims who live in tify themselves as Rohingya were up in the country’s cities. air missile system between 2015 Khin Yi. included some 1.2 million people western Rakhine state and who excluded from the count. REUTERS and 2024 to replace the ageing Hawk missile systems, said law- maker Lin Yu-fang of the parlia- Search for missing bell ment’s defence committee. This will be the biggest pro- curement of domestically-made Cult members mourn weapon systems in recent years, Lin said, citing a defence budget plan submitted to the parliament for approval on Friday. ferry owner at funeral The Tien Kung 3 surface-to- air missile system, developed by Taiwan’s Chungshan Institute SEOUL: Family and church father-in-law’s grave,” said Lee of Science and Technology, is members mourned at a pri- Tae-jong, a church official. Yoo designed to counter tactical bal- vate funeral yesterday a South had cofounded the church, along listic missiles for air defence mis- Korean businessman linked to a with his later father-in-law. sions and missile interception. ferry that sank in April killing “Yoo was our mentor who The institute reportedly has hundreds of children, though taught about the Bible and loved spent more than Tw$20bn to his death remained shrouded in nature and our country. I feel so develop the anti-missile system mystery. sad to see him becoming feed for since 1996. Yoo Byung-un, 73, was found maggots,” a church member said, Taiwan’s Apple Daily newspa- dead in a plum orchard in June, requesting anonymity. per quoted former defence min- but his body was not identified for “There will be a judgement by ister Kao Hua-chu as saying that more than a month, despite him the Deity someday.” the Tien Kung 3 system can help being wanted in connection with The Sewol ferry capsized and intercept China’s cruise missiles the sinking of the Sewol ferry. sank after trying to make a sharp and counter the threats of its Around 300 people drowned turn while on a routine journey J-20 stealth fighter to strengthen in South Korea’s worst maritime from Incheon on the mainland to Taiwan’s aerial defence capabili- accident in decades, while 172 the southern holiday island near Residents gather on a river bank in search of the missing King Dhammazedi’s bell on the Yangon River in Yangon ties. AFP survived. the south-western coast. It was on Wednesday. A team of Myanmar divers claims to have discovered a legendary bell in the murky depths of the Most of the victims were chil- later found to be structurally river -- with the help of dragon spirits -- in the latest twist to a 400-year-old drama that has gripped the nation. dren on a school trip. The tragedy defective and overloaded. caused an outpouring of nation- On trial for homicide along wide grief, and the government with three crew members, the of President Park Geun-hye was ferry’s 68-year-old captain Lee Xi urges army to create strategy for info warfare heavily criticised for the ineffec- Joon-seok took the stand for the tive response to the disaster. first time this week. He told the Yoo was the head of the family court he was just following estab- BEIJING: Chinese President vigorously promote military inno- to establish a new military doc- sensitive Canadian government that owned the ferry operator’s lished practice in not making Xi Jinping has said China will vation” but warned it will be diffi- trine, institutions, equipment sys- computer network last month holding company. He was accused safety checks before the vessel set spur military innovation and cult. “When you compare military tems, strategies and tactics and was similar to attacks mounted by of a range of questionable activi- off, Yonhap news agency reported. called on the army to create innovation to other forms of inno- management modes” for informa- an elite unit of the Chinese army ties that included embezzlement Authorities have arrested or a new strategy for “informa- vation, the demands are greater tion warfare. based in Shanghai, according to a and negligence that prosecutors questioned Yoo’s family members tion warfare” as the country and there will be a higher degree The announcement by Xi cyber security expert. believe led to the ferry disaster. and associates of the Christian embarks on military reform, of difficulty,” Xi said. could rattle many of China’s China has denied those charges. The coffin holding his body was sect, but have failed to unlock state media said yesterday. “Faced with the severe chal- rivals, including the United In March, China announced its brought to a sprawling rural com- the circumstances surrounding Xi heads the Central Military lenges to our national security States. Officials in Washington biggest rise in military spending pound of the Evangelical Baptist his death. Commission, which controls the and stability and the deep-seated have argued for years that cyber in three years, a strong signal that Church about 80 kilometres south Investigators looking to cap- 2.3-million-strong armed forces, contradictions and problems with espionage is a top national secu- it is not about to back away from of Seoul, as church members ture him continued on with the the world’s largest, and is step- reform, it is even more pressing rity concern, and Beijing and its growing assertiveness in Asia, streamed in to attend the two- country’s largest manhunt with ping up efforts to modernise that we greatly liberate our ideas Washington have confronted each especially in disputed waters. day funeral service. a reward of 500m won, the high- forces that are projecting power and concepts, have the courage other publicly about the issue. The spending increase appears The service was closed to out- est allowed under criminal law, across disputed waters in the East to change our fixed mind-sets of In May, US authorities charged to reflect Xi’s desire to build what siders and the news media. The unaware his body was near a and South China Seas. mechanised warfare and establish five Chinese military officers with he calls a strong, rejuvenated interment will take place today. cabin they had searched, next to During a meeting with the rul- the ideological concept of infor- hacking into American companies China, even though the country “He will be buried on a moun- a cover of a book he had written ing Chinese Communist Party’s mation warfare”. to steal trade secrets. has not fought a war in decades. tain inside the complex, which and empty bottles of alcohol. Politburo, Xi said China “must Xi said the army must “strive A hacking attempt on a REUTERS will be 5-10 minute walk from his REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PHILIPPINES Public support seen Egg vendor in Manila on term extension Aquino’s plan inviting political crisis: Foreign media

MANILA: Malacañang sees interviews, Coloma said the in the region,” Coloma said. public support instead of President emphasized the impor- The New York Times described backlash as President Aquino tance of listening to the people’s Aquino’s hints to amend the expressed his openness to sentiments and engaging them on Constitution for judicial reach Charter change and term how the reforms initiated by his and term extension as political extension through consulta- administration could be strength- mischief and threats to democ- tions with the people. ened and made permanent. racy. It added Aquino must step Presidential Communications “He said his openness to down in 2016 in honour of his par- Operations Office Secretary Charter change focuses on the ents as the country’s democracy Herminio Coloma said their mon- need to review the aspect of judi- icons. itoring of public opinion online cial reach,” Coloma said. Bloomberg quoted several ana- showed a favourable uptrend in Aquino cited the recent lysts as saying Aquino was invit- the month following the delivery Supreme Court decision on the ing political crisis and showing of his fifth State of the Nation Disbursement Acceleration desperation due to the lack of a Address. Programme that declared parts of winnable standard bearer for the “Comments reacting to his the mechanism unconstitutional Liberal Party. The report added stated openness to Charter and the decision allowing former he was risking his legacy of eco- change formed a subset of these; President Gloria Macapagal- nomic success and fighting cor- among those who expressed Arroyo to appoint a new chief ruption by pushing for Charter their views, a predominant justice when the ban was already change. number expressed support for the existing. Pushing for term extension President,” Coloma said yesterday “Any fair commentary based may also “raise eyebrows among in a statement. on the foregoing will affirm the foreign allies and international According to Coloma, commen- President’s over-arching com- investors, who are concerned with taries by the foreign media spe- mitment to good governance and the potential political fallout of a cifically the New York Times and the strengthening of democratic constitutional change,” Bloomberg Bloomberg as well as local critics institutions. In turn, good govern- quoted Richard Javad Heydarian, assailing the President for “not ance promotes good economics, a political science lecturer at the following his parents’ legacy” had and this is validated by the lofty Ateneo de Manila University as missed the point. performance of the Philippine saying. In his two most recent media economy as the fastest-growing THE PHILIPPINE STAR A vendor arranges eggs for sale at a wet market in Manila on Thursday. The Philippine economy bounced back to post 6.4 percent growth in April to June, the second highest in Asia despite “underspending” by the government. Three inmates killed in Filipina caught with shabu in Kuala Lumpur

MANILA: A Filipina was The Filipina faces the death assistance – consular and legal,” Camacho as telling the court foiled Zambo jailbreak arrested after she was caught penalty if found guilty. he said in a text message. that he transported the drug for with three kilogrammes of The Star Online report said The DFA also assured the a Filipina living in Brazil after she ZAMBOANGA: Three peo- nearby station rushed to the shabu at the Kuala Lumpur police, acting on a tip from inter- public that they would extend all promised to find him a job with ple were killed and eight scene, sparking a gun battle that International Airport, accord- national intelligence agencies, the necessary assistance to two monthly salary of up to $1,500 in others wounded after a jail- left two detainees dead, he added. ing to a report on GMA News arrested the Filipina as she dis- Filipinos sentenced to death in the South American country. break attempt in the south- Four inmates as well as two Online yesterday. embarked from a plane from New Vietnam for smuggling cocaine. Mazon was sentenced to death ern Philippines turned into guards and two policemen were The report, which quoted Delhi at 7.35am Thursday. A report identified the two as by a court in southern Ho Chi a deadly firefight, police said also wounded in the shooting, Malaysia’s The Star Online, Five plastic packets of shabu Emmanuel Sillo Camacho and Minh City earlier this month, yesterday. Samuddin said. said the woman, 39, was paid worth RM620,000 were found Donna Buenagua Mazon, both 39 after being caught with 1.5 kilo- The inmates, who were serv- Siocon town, located 777 kilo- 5,000 Malaysian ringgit (RM) or hidden in the suspect’s layer of years old. The Law and Society grammes of cocaine in December ing sentences for crimes including metres south of Manila on the P69,241. clothes and undergarments. A newspaper in Vietnam said 2013. murder and robbery, overpow- island of Mindanao, has been the “This was her first time (smug- total of RM2,056 in different cur- Camacho was convicted of traf- The DFA said there are 787 ered a jail guard in the south- scene of previous clashes between gling). Such syndicates would usu- rencies were also seized from her. ficking 3.4 kilogrammes of cocaine Filipinos facing drug related cases ern, coastal town of Siocon late government forces and Muslim ally use new people. Drug mules Foreign Affairs spokesman from Brazil to Vietnam. Camacho worldwide as of July. Most of the Friday, killing him and seizing his separatist rebels. here on average are paid about Charles Jose said they are still was arrested in December last drug-related charges involving shotgun and pistol, said Inspector But the latest incident was not RM5,000 per job – but please, it awaiting a report from the year when officials at Hanoi’s Noi Filipinos are in Asia with 343 Dahlan Samuddin, the area’s related to the long running insur- is not worth it,” the report quoted Philippine embassy in Kuala Bai international airport found cases, including the 220 (59 males, police spokesman. gency, the police added. Bukit Aman Narcotics director Lumpur. “Our embassy will extend the drugs in his luggage. 161 females) cases in China. Guards and police from the AFP Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim. all necessary and appropriate The newspaper quoted THE PHILIPPINE STAR

Filipino inventor Peacekeepers rescued makes ‘green’ cellphone dock from militants in Golan MANILA: An award-winning EIN ZIVAN, GOLAN “All 32 Filipino personnel from Cebuano inventor made an envi- HEIGHTS: Thirty-two UN this position have been extricated ronment-friendly smartphone peacekeepers were rescued and are now safe,” the United dock from recycled forest dirt, from Islamist militants who had Nations press office said in a debris and castaway limestone fired on their post on the Syrian statement issued in New York. materials, and is eyeing Japan side of the Golan Heights yes- The remaining troops, at a sep- and Europe’s techie markets. terday, the United Nations said. arate border post, were still under Pedro Delantar is set to ship Another group of UN soldiers mortar and heavy machine gun 200 units of his Mijo Phone - also from the Philippines - fire, the statement said. Deck, which he said is especially remained trapped by the Islamists “The UN peacekeepers designed for Apple iPhones but who surrounded their positions returned fire and prevented can be used also for Blackberry on Thursday, and a gun battle was the attackers from entering the and other smartphones. on-going, the UN press office said. position,” it said. Officials in the “The phone dock serves as a The troops are part of UNDOF, Philippines have said there were hands-free device for conference a UN force that has monitored a total of 72 soldiers trapped in calls and of course, regular voice the disengagement zone between the area. and video calls,” Delantar said. Israel and Syria since 1974, after Another 44 UNDOF peace- Its use does not need a speak- the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. keepers, from Fiji, were detained erphone and electricity because A cameraman spotted 11 UN by militants 8kms away from the the design is meant to maximize armoured vehicles returning to Philippine troops on Thursday acoustics and volume. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario (left), Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (centre left) and AFP Chief of their base in Israeli-controlled and remain missing. The Mijo Phone Deck is Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr (2nd from right) during a video conference with the 7th Philippine Contingent territory about 12 hours after the UNDOF has 1,223 peacekeep- made from the Naturescast and to Golan Heights Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ted Damusmog at a military camp in Quezon City, yesterday. peacekeepers came under fire at ers from six countries operating Marmocast technology Delantar around 6am yesterday. in the zone. REUTERS developed. This technology also allows him to make furniture, home decor and furnishings from afro-forest debris and small cast- off limestone from Cebu’s lime- stone quarries. Philippine Congress urged to vote against ‘privacy’ bill Asked why he decided to make the Mijo Phone Deck, Delantar said the gadget would have a DAGUPAN CITY: The purposes. The bill provides that not be available as a defence in any with intent to gain or profit is media outfits are essentially ‘for ready market in Japan. National Union of Journalists any person whose personal pri- civil action. The only exemption overly broad as are the provisions profit enterprises.’ But the insti- The Japanese, he said, are the of the Philippines (NUJP) has vacy was intruded may file civil from the proposed law is legiti- that list the ways by which viola- tutional media aside, the meas- type of people who spend on gadg- urged Congress to withdraw or action against the intruder and mate law enforcement activities. tions may be committed. ure could end up stifling citizen ets and are also appreciative of vote against the bill seeking to obtain relief, including compensa- In statement posted on Facebook “The measure’s intent is so journalism and even simply tak- products that are eco-friendly but provide protection from intru- tory damages. on Friday, NUJP chairperson broad it is likely to be used as ing pictures or videos for personal still aesthetically beautiful. sion for commercial purposes as The complainant may either be Rowena Paraan said that while another weapon for the crimi- pleasure,” Paraan said. “Forty percent of the people in the measure can be used to cur- the person whose privacy was vio- HB 4807 may have been filed with nal and the corrupt to escape “In an era where technology Japan use an iPhone. I wanted to tail press freedom and the right lated or the owner of the private all the best intentions in mind, “it accountability should it become is quickly breaking down the come up with a new product for to free expression. property trespassed to capture poses an all too real threat not only law,” Paraan noted. She also obstacles that hamper the flow the Japanese market,” Delantar Under House Bill 4807, it is the visual image, sound record- to freedom of the press but on the pointed out that even cases where of information and expression, said in his factory and showroom unlawful to trespass on private ing or other physical impression very right to free expression.” no visual image, sound recording which are the bedrock of democ- complex in Compostela, Cebu. property in order to capture any of another individual. The NUJP explained that the or other physical impression of a racy, HB 4807 could return us to Delantar also wants to market type of visual image, sound record- The fact that no visual image, bill’s aim to curb intrusions on person was actually sold for gain the dark ages and worse, be used his Mijo Phone Deck in Europe, ing or other physical impression sound recording or other physical personal privacy committed by any or profit are still punishable. as a weapon of suppression and initially Turkey. of any individual, personal or impression of a person was actu- person in order to capture visual or “We are sure that the authors repression,” she added. THE PHILIPPINE STAR family activity for commercial ally sold for gain or profit would sound impressions of an individual of the bill know only too well that THE PHILIPPINE STAR SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 24 die as Taliban attack intel office Construction workers targeted by militants

JALALABAD: Taliban sui- deadlock in the capital, Kabul, are taking over from their Nato- cide bombs hit an office of the where rival presidential can- led counterparts. Afghan intelligence agency in didates have failed to resolve Afghan forces have struggled to an eastern city yesterday, kill- months-long disputes over an fight off large numbers of insur- ing six people, and insurgents election meant to mark the first gent fighters in provinces to the shot dead another 11 in the west, democratic transfer of power in east, north and south of Kabul. in an upsurge of violence as for- Afghan history. “This is part of an alarming eign combat troops prepare to Most foreign combat troops are trend across the country,” said withdraw from the country. due to leave by the end of 2014 but Graeme Smith, a senior analyst Seven militants were also killed the election dispute has meant a at the International Crisis Group during several hours of heavy prolonged delay in signing a secu- in Kabul. Taliban offensives “are fighting with Afghan security rity pact with the United States longer in duration, bigger in size forces at the Jalalabad headquar- governing how many troops would and against more ambitious tar- ters of the National Directorate of remain. gets than we’ve seen previously.” Security (NDS), said Ahmad Zeya Yesterday, the insurgents In northern Kunduz province, Abdulzai, a spokesman for the struck in the western province security forces were in a stand- governor of eastern Nangarhar of Farah, stopping a truck carry- off with insurgents in a weeks- province near the border with ing workers to a construction site long battle for control over the Pakistan. near the Iranian border and kill- province that was the last Taliban Abdulzai said four NDS agents ing 11 of them. Authorities were stronghold before they were and two civilians were killed trying to find out why the workers driven out by the US-backed when a truck and a smaller car, were targeted. Northern Alliance in 2001. both loaded with explosives, were “They were innocent Afghan “The insurgents are better driven into the compound and workers. They did not have any armed than us,” said Kunduz a gunfight broke out between connection to the government, police chief Mustafa Mohseni. Afghan forces and the insurgents. so we don’t know the reason for “They use heavy machine guns, The Taliban claimed respon- the attack,” said Jawad Afghan, RPGs (rocket-propelled gre- sibility for the attack, in which a spokesman for the provincial nades) and 82mm rockets against dozens were wounded. governor. our forces.” A pattern of bold offensives As the political impasse drags A Kunduz police spokesman by militants has emerged across on, the Taliban-led insurgency has said security forces were concen- Afghanistan in recent weeks dur- focused on important tactical and trated on a district just next to ing the summer ‘fighting season.’ symbolic targets as a challenge to the provincial capital. An Afghan security official secures the site of a bomb blast that targeted an intelligence office in Jalalabad yesterday. It coincides with political the Afghan security forces who REUTERS

Lawmakers want PM dismisses political crisis as ‘tiny storm’ Sheikh Rashid, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s tumult, which would be ended “We have already accepted the two-week political crisis but Khan alleges the 2013 general Dasti to resign Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a few days,” Sharif said in the all their demands, of electoral Interior Minister Chaudhry Ali election that swept Sharif to yesterday dismissed a politi- eastern city of Lahore. reforms and establishment of a Nisar Khan told parliament on power in a landslide was rigged, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cal crisis triggered by protests However, the “protest sit- commission,” Sharif said, refer- Friday the protesters’ unwilling- though international observers Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is aimed at unseating his gov- in has caused massive loss to ring to the judicial commission to ness to trust anyone had left no said the vote was largely free and demanding resignation of Prime ernment as ‘a tiny storm’ that Pakistan’s economy,” he said, “we investigate rigging claims. alternative but army mediation. fair. Minister Nawaz Sharif but its would be ended soon. will retrieve that but they must Sharif added the findings of The country’s powerful army Qadri has demanded wholesale own lawmakers are demanding Thousands of supporters of realise that protests have affected the judicial commission would be chief General Raheel Sharif on changes to Pakistan’s political that allies Sheikh Rashid and opposition leader Imran Khan the development projects.” made public and would be accept- Thursday held talks with Qadri system and called for an interim Jamshed Dasti resign from the and populist cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri More than a week of government able to his government, but Khan and Khan in the standoff between “unity government” while they National Assembly in solidarity have been camped outside parlia- efforts to negotiate an end to the again yesterday rejected this and the government and protesters. are implemented. with them. ment since August 15 demanding standoff made little headway, with reiterated his demand of Sharif’s The move has raised fears of The leaders have drawn thou- They feel resentful that though Sharif quit, claiming the election cricketer-turned-politician Khan resignation. increased military dominance sands to the streets in Islamabad outwardly the AML President which swept him to power last adamant that Sharif must resign. Sharif’s government is also over the civilian government in a but their call has not mobilised Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is with the year was rigged. But Sharif said all the demands under fire since Thursday for country ruled for more than half mass support in a country of 180 PTI in its campaign, inwardly he “This is just a tiny storm, a had already been accepted. asking army to mediate to end its life by the army. million people. AFP is holding on to his assembly seat. A senior leader of the PTI said that his chairman asked the party Swan-shaped boats lawmakers to present their res- ignation but failed to convince Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is close to party chairman, into quit- 12 die in fresh wave ting the NA seat. He said the independent Dasti, who recently announced to join the of targeted attacks PTI, also did not bid farewell to the assembly. He said the party lead- ers said the resignation campaign KARACHI: At least 12 peo- incidents were reported in Orangi would pressure the government ple, including a policeman and a Town, Shah Faisal Colony and into accepting their demands. political worker, were killed in Shah Latif Town. “They are more interested in Karachi in past 24 hours during Two dead bodies warped up in playing to the gallery rather than fresh wave of targeted-killing in a blanket were dumped by bikers giving their unconditional support the provincial capital, SAMAA in Jadim Goth area of Malir. to the party,” he said. reported. Report said dozens of police- He said if all the allies of PTI According to police and res- men have been killed in the city presented their resignation en cue officials, unknown persons in targeted attacks over the past masse it would escalate pressure dumped three bodies near Malir eight months. on the government. However, he River this morning. “Policemen are being frequently said that the threatening tone of Police said the victims, identi- targeted in Landi, Quaidabad, the party chairman was only for fied as Amir, Pervez and Kalu, Korangi, Baldi, Orangi, the party legislators but not for were tortured to death after Manghopir, Pirabad, Sohrab Goth its allies. being kidnapped. The corpses and North Karachi localities in In Punjab, he said out of total were shifted to Jinnah hospital the broad daylight,” DIG West 30 MPAs, 28 submitted their res- for medico-legal formalities. Zone, Tahir Naveed told Samaa. ignation. The two MPAs, Nighat A bullet-riddled dead body He suspected involvement of Bhatti from Pindi Battian and was recovered near Sparco banned outfits in recent target Jahanzeb Kichi, had not submit- road in Baldia Town locality of killing of law-enforcers. ted their resignation as yet. Karachi. Reports said special warnings In the National Assembly, the In overnight violence and have been issued to policemen to speaker received 31 resignations of drive-by attacks, at least eight remain cautious in sensitive areas. Afghan tourists ride on swan-shaped paddle boats on the Band-e Amir lake on the outskirts of Bamiyan yesterday. the PTI members of the National people lost their lives after firing AGENCIES Bamiyan, some 200 kilometres northwest of Kabul, stands in a deep green and lush valley stretching 100 kilome- Assembly. INTERNEWS tres through central Afghanistan, on the former Silk Road that once linked China with Central Asia and beyond. Govt ready for anti-polio drive amid terror threats Pakistan kills 32 militants

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s The deputy commissioner said the children under the age of five most of the fatal incidents in the in anti-Taliban operation northwestern city Peshawar’s personnel of the relevant police years in the district to vaccinate past took place due to the bikes. administration has planned stations would act against law- them against polio and secure The SSP said media persons strict security measures for the breakers under Section 188. their future. should produce their identity ISLAMABAD: Pakistani dubbed ‘Operation Zarb-e-Azb’ August 31 anti-polio campaign He said security had been He urged the people, parents cards to law-enforcement agen- army killed 32 militants yes- against Taliban rebels in tribal in the district due to terrorist tightened across the district due to extend full cooperation to the cies so that they could perform terday in the ongoing military North Waziristan district in threats to the life of vaccinators. to terrorist threats to the teams anti-polio teams so that the drive professional duties easily. operation against militants of northwest Pakistan since the fif- According to an official in the of health workers tasked with could be made successful. He said the security of the Taliban Movement in north- teenth of June. know, around 4,000 police person- administering anti-polio drops “It is an international issue and people and volunteers was really west Pakistan. It succeeded in combing and nel will be deployed at entry and to the children. Pakistan has to eradicate polio at challenging as thousands of teams The Pakistani military said, clearing a large part of the prov- exit points of 139 sensitive zones A health department official all costs to avoid travelling sanc- would move in the district the in a statement that its air forces ince by killing hundreds militants in all around 100 union councils on said 0.5 million children would tions,” he said. whole day and that the police bombed three hideouts of mili- and destroying dozens of hideouts the day, while there will be a com- be reached for vaccination in When contacted, Peshawar would remain on red alert for tants in tribal North Waziristan belonging to militants in the region. plete ban on motorcycle riding. Peshawar district’s main locali- SSP Najeebur Rehman said the their security. district destroying them and kill- Pakistani Military is the land- Also, thousands of health workers ties and catchments areas. police had made a very effective About the current law and ing 32 militants. based uniform service branch participating in the campaign will He said preparations had been security plan like those made for order situation in the district, the The army added that its troops of the Pakistan Armed Forces. be provided with strict security. made for the campaign and that previous anti-polio campaigns and SSP said crimes had been control- also destroyed 23 car bombs, It came into existence after the These decisions were made duties had been assigned to super- that efforts were made to ensure led in Peshawar to a great extent weapons and ammunitions found independence of Pakistan in 1947. during a meeting yesterday, where visors in their respective zones. foolproof security of the people. due to the busting of several gangs in the region. The Pakistan Army is a volun- Peshawar deputy commissioner The official said a concrete plan He said there would be ban on of criminals over some weeks. The Pakistani army is cur- teer professional fighting force. Zaheerul Islam was in the chair. had been finalised to reach all movement of motorbikes because INTERNEWS rently waging a military operation AGENCIES SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Good response to Protest in Srinagar Jan Dhan scheme Long queues at banks to open accounts

AGRA: Long queues were and the borrower knew each deposit (BSBD) accounts under seen at banks in Agra to open other well having lived together the scheme. accounts under the new Jan for generations,” Agarwal said. The bank said three regional Dhan scheme and the response But the modern banking frit- rural banks sponsored by it — from the “under-privileged” tered away the advantages. “Our Sapthagiri Grameena Bank, section of the society was sur- leaders chose a very leaky social- Pallavan Grama Bank and prising, officials said yesterdas. ist model. Banking suffered seri- Puduvai Bharthiar Grama Bank Over 18.4 million bank accounts ous setbacks one after the other,” — have together opened 120,000 have been opened under the Agarwal said. accounts. scheme, the government said on The scheme opens new fron- The bank’s 1,814 branches Friday. tiers and poses challenges too. across India held a savings Prime Minister Narendra Modi But “if we sensibly leverage tech- account opening campaign while on Thursday launched the pan- nology and use multi-platforms mega campaigns were held in India financial inclusion scheme, to reach and bring the under- Puducherry and Tirupathi, a under which bank accounts and privileged to the mainstream statement said. RuPay debit cards with an insur- of the financial system, it will Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj ance cover of Rs100,000 will be unleash tremendous aspirations Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati provided to millions still without that could see India catapulting trashed the scheme and said that access to formal banking facilities. growth,” Agarwal said. it was not going to benefit the P N Agarwal, a banking “Prime Minister Narendra poor and the weaker sections. researcher said: “This (Jan Dhan Modi’s stress on empowering Talking to reporters in Lucknow, scheme) clearly is a master- women particularly through bank the Dalit leader said her party did stroke, a positive step by the Modi accounts, is a step in right direc- not approve of the scheme as it will government.” tion and will yield good results,” never benefit the ‘real beneficiar- Rohan Dayee, a dalit woman, said retired bank manager ies’. She also said there was noth- said: “Yes, so what if I am not lit- Narendra Singh. ing to write home about the 100 erate, I will have a bank account On Thursday, more than 70,000 days of the NDA government at and beema (insurance) also.” camps were held all over the the centre led by Modi. Her college going granddaugh- country and 1,84,68,000 accounts “They had made many prom- ter Sarita clutching her mobile opened. The finance ministry fur- ises in the run up to the Lok firmly echoed her sentiment as ther said that beneficiaries, who Sabha polls but in the past three she moved ahead in the queue. already have a bank account, are months this government has dis- “Our traditional banking sys- also eligible for the benefit of acci- appointed every one,” she said tem was low-cost, reached every dent insurance of Rs100,000 and adding that the insurance dole nook and corner of India and life insurance of Rs30,000 under in the Jan Dhan Yojna was never fulfilled the needs of all. The this scheme by getting a RuPay going to benefit the people as the ownership of the system was not card issued from their bank insurance claims were never hon- concentrated in few hands but branch before January 26, 2015. oured in the country. “Insurance A Kashmiri student performs during a protest organised by Association of Parents of Disappeared (APDP) in spread over hundreds and thou- Public sector lender Indian sector has a poor record, the least Srinagar yesterday. The association is seeking the whereabouts of thousands of people who have allegedly sands of moneylenders, merchants Bank said yesterday that it has said the better,” she said. disappeared in custody since a separatist rebellion broke out in 1989 in Kashmir. According to APDP, some and jewellers. Both the banker opened 758,000 basic savings bank IANS 8,000 people went missing after being arrested allegedly by Indian forces. C V Rao sworn in as new Maharashtra governor Kochi doctors MUMBAI: Chennamaneni Geete, Telangana BJP state presi- After his schooling and early jail. Rao and his wife Vinoda have Speaker on Thursday and as a perform first Vidyasagar Rao, a veteran BJP dent Kishan Reddy, Leader of college from Hyderabad, Rao com- a daughter and two sons. lawmaker from Rajkot in the leader from Telangana, was yes- Opposition in the Maharashtra pleted his BSc from Maharashtra Meanwhile, Karnataka western state’s Saurashtra region. terday evening sworn-in as the legislative council Vinod Tawde, and later studied law at Osmania Governor-designate Vajubhai A close associate of Prime pancreas new governor of Maharashtra. several state ministers, Flag Officer University. During his academic Rudabhai Vala, 76, will take the Minister Narendra Modi, Vala The Bharatiya Janata Party Commanding-in-Chief Western career, he was active with the Akhil oath of office tomorrow at the Raj was also a cabinet minister for transplant leader was sworn in at a func- Naval Command Admiral Anil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Bhavan. Karnataka High Court over a decade in the BJP govern- tion at the Raj Bhavan fol- Chopra among others. He practiced law before plung- Chief Justice D H Waghela will ments of Modi and Keshubhai KOCHI: A hospital here has lowing the resignation of K Later, Rao was accorded a cer- ing into active politics and was administer the oath, a state offi- Patel. When Modi took over successfully conducted Kerala’s Sankaranarayanan on August 24. emonial guard of honour by the elected thrice from Metpalli to cial said yesterday. as chief minister in 2001, Vala first combined pancreas-kidney Rao, 73, was administered Indian Navy. He took charge from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Vala will take over from Tamil vacated the Rajkot-2 assembly transplant, the third such in the oath of office and secrecy by Gujarat Governor O P Kohli, who assembly in 1985, 1989 and 1994. Nadu governor K Rosaiah, who seat, making way for him to enter India. Bombay High Court Chief Justice was holding additional charge Rao was also elected twice to was made acting governor a day the Lower House. The highly complex surgery Mohit Shah. of Maharashtra since the past the Lok Sabha from Karimnagar, after H R Bhardwaj demitted During his long tenure as min- was conducted on 35-year-old S Present on the occasion were one week. Rao, who hails from but lost the 2014 election from the office June 29 on completing his ister, Vala held many portfolios, Syed Yunus Shahir, an engineer Rao’s wife Vinoda, Chief Minister Telangana’s Karimnagar, had earlier same constituency. five-year term. including finance and revenue from Palakkad. The donor was a Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief served as minister of state for home During the Emergency in 1975, Following his appointment by and presented a record number of brain-dead 38-year-old patient. Minister Ajit Pawar, union min- in the government under then prime he was imprisoned under MISA the president on Tuesday, Vala budgets in the Gujarat assembly. Thanks to the transplant, isters Nitin Gadkari and Anant minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. for a year in the Warangal central resigned as Gujarat assembly IANS Shahir is now eating ice cream at will and is all set to return home after a nearly two-week stay at Amrita Institute of Medical Helmets must for women in Delhi Sciences (AIMS). Ramachandran N Menon, the Maran brothers, Malaysian surgical gastro transplant sur- geon, said that this patient first came to them about two months tycoon charged in scam back and after a series of tests he was cleared for the surgery and MUMBAI: India’s federal business environment of Chennai- then the wait for a donor began. police have filed charges against based private firm on frivolous He said as per the rules of a former minister, his media grounds with an intent to force its organ transplant and donation, mogul brother, and a Malaysian exit from telecom business and its the Kerala Network for Organ tycoon over alleged corruption sale to Malaysia-based company,” Sharing (KNOS), the state to help Malaysia’s Maxis group the CBI said. government’s nodal agency for take control of an Indian mobile Companies controlled by bil- organ retrieval and sharing, phone carrier eight years ago. lionaire Kalanithi Maran’s Sun played a key role in facilitating South Indian politician Group, which runs a media busi- the smooth transfer of pancreas Dayanidhi Maran, who was ness including television chan- and one kidney from a brain India’s telecommunications min- nels and satellite TV services, dead person. ister between 2004 and 2007; had received “illegal gratification” “We got the call from the his brother billionaire Kalanithi totalling about Rs7.42bn, the CBI KNOS informing us of the avail- Maran; Malaysia’s second-richest said. About Rs5.49bn of it was “in ability of the pancreas and a kid- man T Ananda Krishnan and his the garb of” the premium paid for ney and we immediately asked aide Augustus Ralph Marshall, are the purchase of a stake in a Sun Shahir to get admitted and the among those named in the charge Group company, the agency said. surgery was performed on August A helmeted woman rides her moped through the streets carrying two friends in New Delhi. All women riding sheet filed in a New Delhi court on The charges against the Marans, 17,” said Menon. pillion on motorbikes in the capital have to wear helmets, but an exception has been made for Sikh women Friday, a police spokeswoman said. Krishnan and his aide include Elaborating on the condition of on religious grounds, a transport department official said. The case is separate from a criminal conspiracy, the CBI said. Shahir, Menon said he was suffer- massive scandal that a state Astro All Asia Networks Plc, Maxis ing from type 1 diabetes for the auditor said had lost the govern- Communications Bhd, South Asia past 19 years and developed dia- ment about $29bn during a 2008 Entertainment Holdings Ltd — all betes-related complications like telecoms permits sale process. part of Ananda Krishnan’s busi- retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy Another former telecoms minis- ness empire — and Sun Group’s Sun and end stage kidney failure over Two-third of UP districts face drought ter and several company execu- Direct TV Pvt. Ltd have also been the past two years. tives are among the accused in an named in the police charge sheet. Despite using an insulin pump, LUCKNOW: More than two- The rainfall has been only 40 Mahoba, Etawah, Kanpur dehat, ongoing trial over that case. A spokeswoman for Maxis he had erratic control of the blood third of the districts in Uttar percent of the average, an offi- Hardoi, Firozabad, Hardoi, The Central Bureau of declined comment. A Sun Group sugar which was preventing from Pradesh are facing an acute cial said and added that Chief Farukkhabad, Bulandshahr and Investigation started investigating spokesman also declined comment. effectively doing his work. drought, officials said yesterday. Minister Akhilesh Yadav has Ghaziabad areas. the Maran brothers and Krishnan Dayanidhi Maran and Kalanithi “Today, Shahir is on normal Officials said more than 53 of asked Chief Secretary Alok Of the normal drought affected in 2011 after allegations that the Maran could not be immediately diet, his kidneys are functioning its 75 districts were reeling under Ranjan to assess the drought districts, prominent are Mau, telecoms minister had forced the reached for a comment. Dayanidhi normally and is not on insulin. an acute drought because of below conditions so that relief could be Jaunpur, Chandauli, Azamgarh, sale of mobile carrier Aircel, allow- Maran has previously denied any He is having his favourite ice average rainfall during the mon- provided to farmers. Mathura, Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar, ing Krishnan’s Maxis to acquire a wrongdoing. Maxis had said in creams, which were taboo for soon months that has affected Officials said there are acute Shamli, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Kannauj controlling stake in 2006. October 2011 that it was co-oper- him. He is rearing to go home,” agriculture and the paddy crop drought conditions in Rampur, and Hathras. The opposition has “The investigation revealed ating with the probe and was con- he said. adversely. Out of these districts, Meerut, Budaun, Auraiyya, attacked the state government for that the then (telecoms minister) fident that the allegations against The first simultaneous kidney- officials said the condition in at Saharanpur, Etah, Kaushambi, delay in identifying the drought. had allegedly abused (his) offi- it would prove to be “unfounded pancreas transplant was done in least 19 is “very acute and severe”. Fatehpur, Hapur, Mainpuri, IANS cial position and constricted the and without basis”. REUTERS 1966 in the US. IANS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Kyoto-Varanasi partnership pact inked Modi and Abe strike chord

KYOTO: Warmth, mutual Modi’s arrival, the two leaders fed admiration and convergence fish in keeping with the tradition of views marked the meet- in Japan. ing between Prime Minister The discussions covered eco- Narendra Modi and his nomic issues and the opportuni- Japanese counterpart Shinzo ties that both countries had to Abe yesterday as India hoped seize — presented by their respec- the two sides would strive to tive strong political mandates — achieve in five years the unre- to inject new momentum and alised potential of five decades. energy in their economies. Modi, who reached Kyoto yes- The two leaders also had an terday at the beginning of his five- “extensive and candid” exchange day visit to Japan, was accorded of views on regional and global a warm welcome with the two developments and saw “in their prime ministers warmly hugging remarkable convergence of views each other in a reflection of the a great opportunity to work warmth of their personal bonding. together for peace, stability and Abe later hosted a traditional prosperity in Asia and the world.” Japanese dinner for Modi in the Earlier, a partnership agree- Imperial Guest House in Kyoto. ment was inked between Varanasi, Their discussion, lasting for over one of the oldest continuously one-and-a-half hours, was “excep- inhabited cities in the world, and tionally warm and friendly”, a Kyoto, which was capital of Japan PMO statement said, adding that for over 1,000 years. it was marked by a “great deal of The partnership, focussing on mutual respect and admiration and how to preserve heritage while convergence of views”. building smart cities, was signed Describing Japan as “one of between Kyoto Mayor Daisaku India’s closest and most impor- Kadokawa and India’s Ambassador tant partners”, Modi spoke about to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, his own admiration for the coun- said ministry of external affairs try and his high hopes from the spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. relationship. Kyoto had been included in Abe spoke “with great enthusi- Modi’s schedule as it dovetails asm and strong conviction” about into his emphasis on rejuvenation India and the importance of bilat- of cities while preserving their eral relations for Japan and the cultural heritage. The Hindu holy FROM LEFT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Ambassador to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Mayor of Kyoto Kadokawa Daisaku and Japanese region. He expressed confidence city of Varanasi is part of Modi’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose with documents following a signing ceremony to establish sister city ties between Kyoto and Varanasi, in Kyoto yesterday. that India’s economic transforma- Lok Sabha constituency. tion would gather strong momen- During their dinner meeting, the Asia since he took office in May, to the two countries, but even which symbolises the confluence of the civil nuclear agreement with tum under Modi. He also said an two prime ministers spoke about observed that the India-Japan more as a force of good for the of Indian and Japanese civilisa- Japan, which will facilitate supply economically resurgent India the ancient cultural and religious relationship was far below poten- region and the world. tional commonalities regarding of its nuclear technology. With the would be of great strategic impor- links between the countries which tial and expressed the hope that He also mentioned his plan Buddhism, today. Modi government evincing interest tance to the region and the world, were not known widely, noting the the two sides would strive to to visit Centre for iPS Cell From Kyoto, he travels to in bullet trains, the issue is likely and an inspiration for democratic start of Modi’s visit from Kyoto achieve in five years the unreal- Research in Kyoto as part of his Tokyo, where he would discuss to figure in discussions. forces around the world. highlighted the spiritual founda- ised potential of five decades. desire to seek advanced solutions with Abe the roadmap for the Negotiations are also underway The Japanese prime minister, tions of India-Japan relations. He also said that a strong India- through stem cell research for mutual global and strategic part- for sale of Japan’s US-2 amphibi- in a special gesture, flew down to Modi, who is making his first Japan partnership was important health challenges in India. Modi nership in the years ahead. ous aircraft to India. Kyoto to receive Modi. Soon after bilateral sojourn outside South not just for the economic benefits is scheduled to visit Toji temple, India is keen on early conclusion IANS

Petrol price Water ATMs bring smiles to cut by Rs1.51 faces of Rajasthan villagers a litre, diesel

BARMER (RAJASTHAN): the country’s geographical area, self-sustaining, with the revenue up 50 paise An Indian energy major and 5.5 percent of the population and earned used by the village’s water modern technology have com- 18.70 percent of the livestock, has committee to meet the running NEW DELHI: With interna- bined to bring about a revolution only 1.16 percent of surface water expenses of the RO plant, such tional crude oil rates dropping in two districts of Rajasthan available in the country. as salary of the operator, electric- to around $100 a barrel, petrol that were infamous due to The state is one of the driest ity and maintenance. The surplus prices were cut yesterday by the scarcity of potable water. states of the country. Rainfall is money is used to undertake devel- Rs1.51 a litre excluding local Thanks to water ATMs, many erratic and there is a large vari- opmental work in the village. taxes, effective midnight, state- otherwise arid villages here ation in its distribution pattern And to maximise its reach, run oil marketers announced. have 24X7 access to the com- in the state. The average annual water from the RO plants is “The current levels of inter- modity at the swipe of a card — rainfall ranges from 100mm in transported to the surrounding national oil prices and INR-USD at 20 litres for Rs5. Jaisalmer to 800mm in Jhalawar. dhanis (hamlets) through vehicles exchange rate warrants a decrease Under Cairn India’s “Jeevan At present, 22 RO plants (17 at nominal charges (Rs1-2 extra, in selling price of petrol in the Amrit Project”, kiosks with reverse with the swipe facility) catering to as decided by the water commit- domestic market,” Indian Oil said. osmosis (RO) plants have been drinking water needs of 22,000 vil- tee). The dispensers are getting Diesel rates were, however, installed to provide safe drinking lagers on a daily basis are up and increasingly popular among the hiked by 50 paise a litre, in line water in villages like Bhakharpur, running. The project is expected locals with more and more people with the January 2013 decision Kawas, Guda, Jogasar, Aakdada to scale up in the coming years purchasing the smart cards. to hike diesel prices till under- and Baytu to benefit 22,000 people. in terms of number of plants and ”Once it was difficult to get recoveries, or losses, on sale of the ”The project is a good exam- locations. Through this technology, water, forget about clean water to fuel below cost are wiped out. ple of a PPP model, where Cairn villagers can now get clean drink- drink. Now things have changed. I Following the third rate cut this India has partnered with the ing water by swiping their smart can, at any time, get clean water month, petrol will cost Rs68.51 a Rajasthan government’s Public cards in the machines installed for my family,” Ram Pyari, a resi- litre in Delhi, Rs76.41 in Mumbai, Health Engineering Department at the plant,” Cairn India general dent of Kawas village, said. Rs76.14 in Kolkata and Rs71.55 (PHED), Tata Projects and the manager (CSR) Ritu Jhingon said. The number of water-borne in Chennai. Retail diesel will respective village panchayats to The cards come with an ini- diseases, such as diarrhoea in cost Rs58.97 in Delhi, Rs67.26 in provide potable drinking water at tial value of Rs150 and can be children, has also come down. Mumbai, Rs63.81 in Kolkata and the doorsteps of the local com- recharged for a similar amount. Cases of joint pain caused by high Rs62.92 in Chennai. munity,” Cairn India CSR head Plans are afoot to also provide fluoride content in drinking water Further, with effect from Rajasthani women queue up at a water ATM. Nilesh Jain said. Rs20 recharges. have also decreased. tomorrow, the sale price for Rajasthan, with 10.4 percent of This makes the dispensers IANS domestic non-subsidised cooking gas cylinder will reduce by Rs19 for a 14.2 kg cylinder, while for commercial cylinders of 19kg, the cut will be Rs32.50 in Delhi. Prices of bulk diesel sold to cus- tomers like the railways have also Corruption case against top industrialist dropped been reduced. In Delhi, bulk die- sel will be cheaper by Rs1.32 per NEW DELHI: India’s top police agency corruption investigation against a former procedure for awarding the nearly 220 coal litre, along with a corresponding has dropped a corruption case against top government coal ministry bureaucrat, blocks in India, which relies on the fuel to decrease in various states. leading industrialist Kumar Mangalam P C Parakh. generate over half its power. IANS Birla, who had been accused conspiring Both men had denied any wrongdoing. In 2012, when the previous Congress to obtain a coal block at a cut-rate price The coal block allocation was probed as government was in power, the Supreme nearly a decade ago. part of a scandal in which India’s federal Court cancelled 122 telecommunications Two killed in The case filed last October against Birla, auditor in 2012 accused the government licences sold at below-market prices, caus- viewed in India’s sometimes murky corpo- of underpricing coal mines and giving ing upheaval in the fast-growing cellular Assam floods rate world as a by-the-book player, had sent away billions of dollars in windfall gains industry. shock waves through business community to companies. Many coal blocks were awarded during GUWAHATI: Two people died at the time. While police are not pursuing charges the Congress government. It was ousted yesterday as the flood situation The Central Bureau of Investigation against Birla and Parakh, the Supreme in May after a decade in power by the in Assam remained unchanged said late on Friday in a statement that Court ruled last Monday the awarding right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party led by with over 16 lakh people being evidence “did not substantiate the allega- of coal blocks from 1993 to as far as 2010 Narendra Modi, who vowed to stamp out affected in 18 districts, offi- tions” of criminal conspiracy. “There was was illegal, creating new uncertainty for corruption. cials with the State Disaster no evidence of criminal conspiracy,” the energy-hungry India. The scandal came to prominence under Management Authority said. agency said. New legislation to auction coal blocks Congress although the BJP was also in power A total of 16,26,304 people have The case stemmed from the 2005 award- instead of through a government screening for part of the period cited by the court. been affected due to the floods ing of a coal block to Hindalco Industries, one committee became law in September 2010. Many of the coal blocks are still lying idle, while 2,29,290 of them are still of Asia’s biggest primary aluminium produc- A Supreme Court hearing will be held but mining is under way in others. A file picture of Aditya Birla Group Chairman taking shelter in 512 relief camps ers and part of the Aditya Birla conglomer- tomorrow to consider whether the alloca- The government has seized back around Kumar Mangalam Birla giving a press set up by the district administra- ate headed by Birla. tions should be cancelled. The court said 80 blocks because they are not being mined. conference in Mumbai. tions, they said. The police force also dropped its in its ruling there were “legal flaws” in the AFP IANS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Pulse and bloom

Fajr (Dawn) 3:55 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:14 Zuhr (Noon) 11:34 Asr (Afternoon) 3:04 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:55 Isha (Night) 7:25

WEATHER

Weather Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: Clear Clear Clear Hazy and partly cloudy to cloudy at times. High: 40° High: 39° High: 37° Low: 33° Low: 32° Low: 33°

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:14 17:55 08:30 19:45 02:00 14:00 05-15/18 KT The art installation Pulse & Bloom is seen at night during the Burning Man 2014 “Caravansary” arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Over 65,000 people from all over the world have gathered at the sold-out festival to spend a week in the remote desert cut off from much THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW of the outside world to experience art, music and the unique community that develops. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 31/30 Clear 32/30 Clear MAKKAH 40/30 Partly cloudy 41/30 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 47/30 Clear 45/29 Clear BAHRAIN 38/32 Clear 38/33 Clear Al Pacino finds help for acting in a cat SANAA 28/16 Partly cloudy 27/15 Chance of storm RIYADH 42/29 Clear 42/30 Partly cloudy VENICE: Al Pacino may be one himself off from the world, has a the hope inspired by his growing don’t know what you’re doing,” he DUBAI 39/31 Clear 40/32 Clear of the greatest actors of all time, frustrated relationship with his fondness for a bank clerk, played quipped. “It’s what you learn early BAGHDAD 44/28 Clear 45/28 Clear but he confessed yesterday that wealthy son and whose only real by fellow Academy Award winner on. Don’t try to play it, it’s play- he was helped in his latest films friend is his cat. Holly Hunter. ing itself.” THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW by performing alongside a cat “I was trying to be tender. The During one of their weekly The skill was one he picked and throwing his acting skills cat is a wonderful construct, it encounters a man enters the up during the early stages of HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER out of the window. helps shape my character, it sheds bank with a bunch of flowers and his career, when he was part of Sporting a pair of reflective light on who he is and his rela- beings belting out a love song to The Actors Studio, founded in ATHENS 30/23 Clear 31/24 Clear sunglasses, a spiky haircut and tionship to the world,” the Oscar- the amazement of the onlookers, New York in 1947, where actors, WASHINGTON 32/24 Thunderstorm 32/24 32/24 a cheeky grin, “The Godfather” winner said. eliciting a reaction in Manglehorn playwrights and directors came SYDNEY 22/12 Partly cloudy 16/09 Chance of storm star told journalists his perform- “I have both cats and dogs and which drew praise from critics in together to work between jobs or LONDON 27/18 Partly cloudy 29/17 Chance of storm ance in David Gordon Green’s love animals, maybe that’s what Venice. try out new methods. PARIS 21/13 Chance of rain 20/15 Mostly cloudy “Manglehorn”, which is in the came through in the film,” he “When the guy came in and “It was a place for actors to go ISTANBUL 26/22 Partly cloudy 27/22 Partly cloudy running for the Golden Lion, was said. started singing, I just stood there to experiment with their talent. MANILA 32/25 Chance of storm 31/25 Chance of storm helped by his feline co-star. Scenes in which Pacino’s char- and let it move in on me. To be And it was all free. I stress this DHAKA 29/26 Chance of storm 29/25 Chance of storm The 74-year-old plays an age- acter Manglehorn wallows in honest I didn’t know I was doing because we forget that. It was DELHI 35/27 Chance of storm 34/24 Partly cloudy ing locksmith unable to get over loneliness or loses himself in anything — which I guess is as given to us,” he said. ISLAMABAD 33/25 Chance of rain 34/26 Partly cloudy the lost love of his life, who shuts violent outbursts are offset by good a form of acting as any if you AFP Italian PM Renzi hands Iraqis won’t give up on fading culture BAGHDAD: At a charity con- cert at a state auditorium, out ice cream packed with Iraqi artists, writ- ers and actors, a group of crisply dressed young men sat on a to journalists stage framed by purple and gold velvet curtains, and played in ROME: Italian Prime Minister an ensemble of ouds, beautiful Matteo Renzi handed out ice stringed instruments from the creams to journalists at his Arab world. official residence on Friday in A famous poet read a length of a lighthearted response to a verse that moved the audience to cover of the Economist weekly an emotional applause. The audi- showing him on a sinking ship, ence sipped grape juice beneath cone in hand. the heavy crystal chandeliers. Shortly after presiding over a Two local NGOs, Amaargi and cabinet meeting, Renzi called a Ghawth, had organised the event press conference where a mas- through social media to raise ter ice cream maker had been money for the estimated 1.3 mil- called in to help him with the lion Iraqis displaced by recent stunt. violence. “I happily offer you an ice But it was also a rare showing cream, it’s real Italian gelato,” he of an Iraqi culture that can seem told the assembled reporters. odd in Baghdad these days — The picture which prompted especially if you spend your time, his largesse was a photo-montage like many do, focused on political showing the three main eurozone infighting and bloodletting. leaders aboard a sinking paper It can also be easy to forget boat made from a euro note. that despite years of turmoil and Renzi is shown, ice cream cone large-scale displacement, Iraq in hand, looking like a school- still has a secular, intellectual boy behind German Chancellor class. They’re a small bunch, and Displaced Shi’ite Iraqi sisters Zainab Jassim (second left), 16, and Najla, 15, (second right) who fled from the violence in Mosul, during their respective Angela Merkel and French you certainly don’t notice them marriages to fellow Shi’ites Mohammed Hussein, 21,(left) and Karrar Abdul Latif, 27, (right) in the holy city of Najaf. RIGHT: Iraqis shop for food at a President Francois Hollande when you’re driving the streets market near the citadel in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. below the headline “That sinking of this dun-coloured, poverty- feeling (again)”. stricken, blast wall-crowded and At the back of the sinking euro- car bomb-afflicted capital. English slang peppered with irreplaceable, he said. adorn Baghdad billboards and “When I see Sunnis and Shiites boat Mario Draghi, the Italian But when they get together, “y’all”s. The audience sat at tables prominent media and cultural fighting ... it really hurts,” he said. head of the European Central you can’t help but be nostalgic for He used the words “us” and covered in white tablecloths at personalities like Alizzi’s uncle Then, with a sheepish glance at Bank, is shown trying to bail that Iraq of yore, the Iraq that it “our” to describe Americans the Oil Cultural Center. It’s an packed the room. his lap: “To be honest with you — water out. hard for one to know personally and US foreign policy decisions. auditorium owned by Iraq’s Oil Alizzi acknowledged that I didn’t even know about ‘Sunni’ Renzi, Italy’s youngest ever but that older people talk about — He loved America, he told me. Ministry and used for private even an event like this one — or and ‘Shiite’ until after 2003.” prime minister, came to power back when creativity and cultural There’s no place quite like it. social events. But on that night, especially an event like this one “Now you ask a 7-year-old: in February with many Italians diversity weren’t always threat- But as the oud players played, the ministry had let the charities — could be an easy target for a ‘Where’s your dad?’ and he’ll buying into his reform agenda and ened by violence. and the beautiful but haunting use the space for free. suicide bomber these days. say, ‘A Sunni killed him.’ Now boy-scout enthusiasm for imple- At the concert were present voice of a young man transfixed On stage, one of Iraq’s most But he was looking for a job and you find a girl you love, and you menting it. Haider Alizzi, a conflicted the audience with its sadness, famous living novelists, Ahmed asked if any companies in Iraq can’t marry her because of the The Economist has a history of 27-year-old, and his uncle, the Alizzi also spoke of his desire to Saadawi, read a poem to the were hiring. religion.” poking fun at Renzi’s predeces- famed Iraqi playwright Hamed Al move back to this place, this bro- hundreds of thousands of chil- He theorised about jobs he The west Baghdad neighbour- sors, with media magnate Silvio Maliki (no relation to the recently ken country. dren displaced by Islamic State might do, Iraqi cities he might hood that Alizzi grew up in — once Berlusconi a regular source of ousted prime minister). “I miss the culture,” he said. militants in the country’s north. live in — anything to come home diverse — is now almost entirely ridicule. Alizzi, who said he became a “In Iraq, you wake up and eve- “Dear child, I’m sorry,” Saadawi again, before things changed so Sunni, he said. Childhood neigh- AFP US citizen two years ago after ryone is waiting for [you] to get said. much that “I’ll want to visit Iraq bours are long gone. His mom is he served as a translator for US up so you can all eat breakfast You are in the displaced per- and there won’t be [an] Iraq to the only Shiite now. troops in Iraq, was back on his together. In America, my girl- sons camp, where you just arrived; visit.” So why does he want to come first visit to the country in five friend gets up to go to work. I eat Seeing this whole thing as just Iraq’s political discourse this back here? Why now? years. And he felt both delighted breakfast alone,” he said. a game or a journey; summer has been dominated by It’s the same reason that by the concert and troubled by its In Iraq, you used to be able to That you’ll go home, you and the nation’s increasingly bloody brought him and 370 others to message. knock on your neighbours’ doors the rest of the kids; sectarian divide. But like many the charity concert, which volun- Now living in Texas, and still to socialise. You would always To your rooms, to your toys; Iraqis of his generation and older, teers said raised more than $3,000 affiliated with the Department respect your parents and respect And nobody is telling you the Alizzi comes from a religiously to help displaced families, many of Defence, Alizzi is proud to be your teachers. Social gather- truth; mixed family. of them from Iraq’s dwindling American now. ings were something special. That everything has changed. His father is Sunni and his minorities. He spoke in a heavily accented Music and language, too, are Television actors whose faces mother is Shiite. WP-BLOOMBERG Sunday 31 August 2014 5 Dhu’l-Qa’da 1435 Volume 19 Number 6174 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Islamic banks outperform conventional peers QIB, Masraf Al Rayan post strong second quarter growth

DOHA: The Islamic banks in Qatar’s NII grew by 2.9 percent. NII based banks increased decently by Qatar outpaced conventional growth was led by UAE-based banks 7.4 percent and 3.5 percent , respec- banks in the country in terms of (8.2 percent YoY), followed by those tively. On QoQ basis, net profit of growth in net profit during the in Saudi Arabia (7.3 percent. NII of the GCC aggregate increased 5.4 second quarter of 2014 (Q2,14). Kuwait declined 6.8 percent. percent, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) The asset base of GCC banks UAE (7.9 percent each) , followed reported a 15.0 percent YoY bottom- expanded by 9.5 percent YoY to by Qatar (6.0 percent) ; while line growth in Q2, 14, mainly due $1.11 trillionn in 2Q14, with all Kuwait witnessed a 14.9 percent to improvement in top-line as well the countries witnessing stable decline in net profit on QoQ basis. as fee income. Top-line growth was YoY growth. Increase in loan Qatar-based banks maintained backed by strong financing growth. book supported the overall asset their loan growth momentum due to Masraf Al Rayan reported 12.1 growth. Qatar-based banks wit- an increase in public sector spend- percent YoY growth in its bot- nessed the strongest growth in ing backed by several developmental Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani (left) with Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Amina Mohammed (centre) during tom-line due to strong growth total assets (13.9 percent YoY), initiatives taken by the government. the visit. in net financing income, Global followed by banks in Kuwait (8.9 Among Qatar -based banks, Investment House (GIH) noted in percent ), Saudi Arabia (8.7 per- Commercial Bank of Qatar, Qatar its Q2, 14 “GCC Banking Sector” cent ) and UAE (7.7 percent ) Islamic Bank and Doha Bank reg- Qatari business team visits Kenya analysis. Net earnings of GCC banks istered higher growth in loan book The GIH analysts who covered under GIH coverage increased 11.1 of 33.4 percent, 31.8 percent and five major Qatar-based banks percent YoY to $5.3bn in 2Q14, 25.3 percent YoY, respectively. DOHA: A delegation of Qatari market and looking for opportu- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.” said the loan books of banks in mostly due to higher NII non- Provision expenses of GCC businessmen led by Sheikh Dr nities to invest in the country as The delegation met Kenya’s Qatar grew the most in the region, interest income and a 7.7 percent banks under GIH coverage Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, the well as share experiences in dif- Foreign Affairs Minister Amina by registering 15.4 percent growth YoY drop in provisions;though4.6 declined 7.7 percent YoY during Second Deputy Chairman of ferent fields. Mohammed and Kenyan business on year-on-year basis, followed percent YoY increase in operating Q14; however, increased 14.0 per- Qatari Businessmen Association, “This visit by Qatari leaders over a dinner. The dinner by the banks in Saudi Arabia (9 expenses (opex) partially damp- cent QoQ. Banks in Qatar wit- has visited the east African Businessmen comes as part of the was also attended by the Qatar’s percent), UAE (4.8 percent) and ened the profit growth. Net profit nessed 21.2 percent YoY plunge country of Kenya to scout for strong economic and commercial Ambassador to Kenya Ibrahim Kuwait (4.6 percent). of banks in the Kuwait and UAE in provisions. Provisions of Qatar investment opportunities. relationship between the two coun- Al Abdollah and the Kenyan Due to stable growth in loan increased by 20.7 percent and 20.1 National Bank reduced by 56.4 Sheikh Dr Khalid said that tries, which is growing and expand- Ambassador in Qatar Galma book, net interest income (NII) of percent YoY, respectively while net percent YoY during the quarter. Qatari business community was ing responsibly with the right Mukhe Boru. GCC banks rose 4.3 percent YoY. profit of Saudi Arabia and Qatar THE PENINSULA seriously considering the Kenyan guidance of the Emir, H H Sheikh THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Fahad Abdulla Real estate prices well within fundamentals named Al Khaliji Qatar Real Estate Price Index increases 21.5 percent in first half this year: QNB report Group CEO

DOHA: The Real Estate Price of 2013.“We compared the real per capita as a result of the rapid prices is given by relative price determined by global demand Index (REPI) published by the estate price index to two meas- economic growth over the last few movements in the economy. Real and supply. The CPI index there- Qatar Central Bank (QCB) sug- ures of fundamentals in the econ- years. As per capita GDP rises, estate prices should not normally fore normally represents a lower gests average prices for land, omy. One measure is based on more income will be spent on outpace the nominal expan- bound for real estate prices. commercial and residential push factors affecting real estate housing, pushing up the value of sion of the domestic economy as Based on this second measure, properties in June 2014 stood prices. The other measure is real estate properties. this would indicate a real estate Qatar’s real estate prices remain 20 percent above their peak based on price movements in the Qatar’s real estate prices con- bubble. well within fundamentals. Non- in September 2008. This could economy. Both measures suggest tinue to be in line with fundamen- In this context, the growth of hydrocarbon GDP is estimated to suggest a potential overheating that real estate prices continue tals, albeit close to their limits. non-hydrocarbon GDP is a good have increased by over 500 per- of the real estate sector. Closer to be in line with economic fun- While base and income effect proxy for the expansion of the cent since 2006, compared with analysis, however, indicates damentals.”, QNB analysts said. combined have increased by 345 domestic economy and represents 326 percent for the QCB REPI that the increase is still within First, real estate prices in Qatar percent since 2006, the QCB an upper bound for real estate and 141 percent for the CPI. As the fundamentals of Qatar’s have recently been pushed up by REPI has only risen by 326 per- prices. At the same time, real long as real estate prices do not fast growing economy and rapid both a base effect (population) cent, suggesting that real estate estate prices would normally rise exceed the nominal expansion population growth, QNB Group and an income effect (income prices continue to be justified by faster than the overall Consumer of the domestic economy, real noted yesterday. per capita). The base effect is Qatar’s economic fundamentals. Price Index (CPI) as the supply estate prices are expected to be According to the latest data, the large increase in population Real estate prices, however, are of real estate is limited to the sustainable. the REPI increased 21.5 percent experienced since mid-2012. As reaching what may be an upper domestic market (land and houses Overall, both measures pre- in the first six months of 2014, population grows, the demand limit based on this analysis, sug- cannot be imported) and can only sented above suggest that Qatar’s showing a significant accelera- for housing increases, pushing gesting possible overheating. increase with a lag, compared real estate prices continue to be in tion compared with the 6.2 per- up real estate prices. The income A second measure of economic with the price of traded goods line with economic fundamentals. DOHA: Al Khalij Commercial cent increase in the second half effect arises from the higher GDP fundamentals driving real estate (eg clothing, food, etc), which is THE PENINSULA Bank (al khaliji) has announced the official appointment of Fahad Abdulla Al Khalifa (pictured) as its Group Chief Lamborghini in Singapore Executive Officer. Making the announcement on behalf of the Boardo of Directors, Japan household Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Chairman and Managing Director said: “Al Khalifa’s skills and career his- spending slumps tory match the aspirations of al khaliji bank. Having wide bank- ing experience, he has gained TOKYO: Japanese household of Economy, Industry and Trade the trust and appreciation of spending fell much more than showed. That was a tepid rebound the board. expected and factory output from a 3.4 percent fall in June, the “We are confident Al Khalifa’s remained weak in July after fastest drop since the March 2011 appointment will contribute plunging in June, government earthquake. to the bank’s capabilities and data showed, suggesting that Manufacturers expect output leadership while strengthening soft exports and a sales tax hike to rise 1.3 percent in August and its position in Qatar and the in April may drag on the econ- 3.5 percent in September. But a region.” omy longer than expected. ministry official told a briefing Al Khalifa is a senior banker While the Bank of Japan is there was uncertainty on whether with over 20 years of professional in no mood to expand monetary production will rise as companies experience. stimulus any time soon, the data had continued to overestimate He has held prominent posi- undermines the BOJ’s rosy eco- their outlook plans. tions in Qatari banks, including nomic forecasts and will keep it Most industries, except for Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and under pressure to act if the econ- makers of industrial machinery, Qatar National Bank (QNB). He omy fails to gather momentum, cut output in July and an index is a graduate from the Seattle analysts say. gauging inventory hit the high- University in the United States The soft readings may also est level since November 2012, with a Bachelor of Science Degree fuel speculation that the govern- underscoring the view the post- in Finance. ment could delay a second sales tax slump in consumption was People look at a Lamborghini Reventon Roadster car on display at the shopping street of Orchard Road in THE PENINSULA tax increase scheduled for next bigger than expected. Singapore. The event leads up to the launch of the new Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4. year, or try to compile another Analysts expect factory output fiscal stimulus package, which in July-September to fall from the would further worsen Japan’s previous quarter, suggesting that debt burden. any rebound in the economy will “Production and consump- be modest and casting doubt on US coal stocks could gain on Russia tension tion are both stagnating, and the the BOJ’s view the recovery will economy is clearly undershooting be strong enough to lift inflation projections of the government and to 2 percent. NEW YORK: Beaten-down half of US coal exports already percent since March 9, 2009, when CONSOL is the only one of the the BOJ,” said Taro Saito, sen- “The BOJ says now that output US coal company stocks may reach Europe. the S&P 500 hit its financial crisis three expected to show a profit ior economist at NLI Research is rising as a trend, but I think it’s receive a lift in coming weeks if “Export demand will certainly nadir, closing at 676.53 points. in the next two years, according Institute. hard to continue saying so with deteriorating relations between increase, with the situation in While the S&P has nearly tri- to Thomson Reuters StarMine, “The BOJ will be forced to cut today’s data as output has been Russia and the West push Russia and Ukraine having a big pled from that day, the Dow Jones which tracks corporate profit its economic view sooner or later, falling after peaking in January,” President Vladimir Putin to impact on Europe with respect to US Coal Index has lost 7.7 percent estimates. although it is unlikely to move said Yoshiki Shinke, chief econo- shut off Europe’s natural gas natural gas,” said Ernie Cecilia, in that time. The last three-plus Competition with natural anytime soon as it argues for ris- mist at Dai-ichi Life Research supply. chief investment officer at Bryn years have been particularly bad gas, the emergence of renew- ing inflation.” Institute. “The economy is still The crisis in eastern Ukraine Mawr Trust in Bryn Mawr, for the coal index, which has lost able energy technologies and Household spending fell 5.9 per- recovering, so the BOJ will prob- has emboldened Europe and the Pennsylvania. nearly three-quarters of its value new environmental regulations cent in July from a year earlier, ably hold off on easing this year. United States to impose broad “In the short term, there’s no since April 2011. contributed to a fall in U.S. coal nearly double the drop forecast in But if data continues to remain sanctions on Russia. But Europe question that a rise in export The index includes just three production in 2013 to the low- a Reuters poll, as the higher levy weak, it might be forced into finds itself in a precarious position, demand will be helpful to coal stocks — Peabody, CONSOL est levels since 1993, accord- and bad weather kept consum- action,” he said. with almost a third of the natu- stocks.” Energy and Alpha Natural ing to the Energy Information ers at home instead of going out The BOJ is likely to keep ral gas the continent consumed in Yet significant headwinds at Resources. CONSOL, which Administration. shopping. monetary policy steady and 2013 flowing from Russia, accord- home would likely make any come- is more diversified and derives Domestic coal consumption is Weak exports left companies stick to its view that the econ- ing to the US Energy Information back in coal companies’ stocks around a third of its revenue from slated to decline by 2.7 percent in with a huge pile of inventories, omy is recovering moderately Administration. short-lived and hard-fought. natural gas, is the only one up on 2015, as federal standards requir- forcing them to continue cutting when it meets for a rate review Europe’s heightened concerns Even as the broader stock mar- the year so far. It has gained 5.3 ing power plants to reduce air pol- back on factory output, separate next week, though pessimists in about energy security could pro- ket has rebounded from the lows percent, but still lags the wider lution expedites a shuttering of data showed. the board may argue for more vide an opportunity for US coal seen during the financial crisis, S&P 500, which is up more than coal power plants. US coal con- Industrial output rose 0.2 per- downbeat language in describing companies, which have been hurt coal stocks have languished. 8 percent. sumption peaked in 2007 and has cent in July, much less than a 1.0 consumption and output, given by declining domestic consump- Shares of Peabody Energy Peabody is down around 20 per- declined nearly 37 percent since percent increase projected in a Friday’s weak data. tion, to step in and fill the gap Corp, the biggest US producer of cent this year, and Alpha Natural then, EIA data shows. Reuters poll, data by the Ministry REUTERS as winter approaches. More than coal, have declined more than 27 has swooned 45 percent. REUTERS

Katz’s Deli sells air rights European investors cut stocks

LONDON: European asset Management. Steyaert said a com- ongoing recovery in the Eurozone managers cut their exposure bination of geopolitical threats, and hence impacting financial to stocks in August as expecta- such as the conflict in Ukraine, markets,” Speidel-Walz said. tions of rate hikes in the United and mounting speculation the US Within global equity portfo- States pushed many to book Federal Reserve will soon tighten lios, the poll showed European profits while shares remained monetary policy had prompted investors allocating more to near record highs, a monthly ING’s new stance on stocks. emerging markets and the US poll shows. The MSCI World Index, which at the expense of Europe and A Reuters survey of 11 tracks stocks from developed econ- the UK. One respondent cited European chief investment offic- omies, is currently at 1,748, less uncertainty over a referendum ers and fund managers found the than 1 percent off the record high on Scottish independence next average recommended allocation of 1,765.77 points reached in July. month as making British assets to equities in balanced portfolios But even if US interest rates less attractive. dropped to 45.7 percent from 49 rise soon, they are likely to remain The average allocation in glo- percent a month earlier — the low enough for investors to keep bal equity portfolios to North lowest since September 2013. up their search for yield, Steyaert America, where growth pros- The pullback in equities ben- said, to the benefit of asset classes pects look brighter than they efited alternative investments, such as real estate. do in Europe, rose more than a such as hedge funds, private Elke Speidel-Walz, the chief percentage point in August to equity and commodities. They investment strategist at Deutsche 40.7 percent, the poll showed, the rose to 7.2 percent from 5.6 per- Bank’s asset and wealth manage- highest since July last year. cent. Property allocations rose to ment arm, also highlighted the Meanwhile, allocations to the 1.7 percent from 0.5 percent. tension over Ukraine as leading euro zone fell more than two “We decided last week, with both to greater risk aversion and percentage points to 30.2 per- equities actually not too far off to as well as a misfiring economic cent. Those to the UK dropped their highs for the year, was a recovery in Europe. to 6.3 percent from 7.5 percent better time to lower our still “As recent macro indicators in a month earlier. Allocations to Katz’s Deli, the iconic eatery in New York City. Katz’s Deli recently sold the air rights to above their building, constructive stance on equities,” the Eurozone have surprised on Asia excluding Japan rose to 6.3 potentially allowing developers to build on top of it. said Steven Steyaert, a portfo- the weak side, this could lead to a percent from 5.8 percent in July. lio specialist at ING Investment new evaluation of the outlook for REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

YPF-Petronas tie-up Panasonic, US auto sales Tata join hands in water end summer treatment TOKYO: Japan’s Panasonic will develop a water purification system together with India’s without sizzle Tata Group, tapping into a fast-growing market in Asia, a media report said yesterday. Profit-eroding incentives remain high The electronics giant has devel- oped a prototype of a device that DETROIT: US auto industry While auto sales have strength- will detoxify harmful substances sales in August will be about ened to nearly pre-recession lev- in groundwater, making it poten- even with a year ago, not quite els, there is concern among some tially safe to drink, the Japanese ending the summer in a sizzling analysts that longer-term loans economic daily Nikkei said. fashion but still warm enough and increased lending to sub- The system, which is compact to continue the recovery from a prime buyers may be inflating enough be carried in a small recession now five years in the sales. Some new vehicles are being truck, has been designed to serve rear-view mirror. sold with 7-year loans, which small rural communities in India Analysts polled by Thomson could cause owners to hold onto where water-supply infrastruc- Reuters expect monthly sales their cars longer, because equity ture is underdeveloped, the report of about 1.5 million new vehicles is not established until late in the said. when automakers report them pay-off cycle. The prototype produces three on Wednesday, with a seasonally Chrysler Group LLC, a unit of tonnes of drinking water per day adjusted annualised sales rate of Fiat SpA, and Nissan Motor Co — enough to supply 20 households 16.6 million. It should be the sixth once again gained market share A signage of state-controlled energy company YPF along a road in Buenos Aires. Argentina’s state-con- of average size. straight month showing an annu- in August to the detriment of trolled energy company YPF said it had reached a deal worth $550m with Malaysian oil firm Petronas to Panasonic, which regards water alized rate above 16 million, a level sales leaders General Motors Co, develop shale oil in the vast Vaca Muerta formation. purification technology as a pillar reached only twice in 2013. Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor of its new operations, and Tata Auto sales are a closely watched Corp, according to analysts. will work to lower the cost to less indicator of consumer demand, par- Eight analysts polled by than 100 yen ($0.95) per tonne of ticularly for big-ticket items, and Reuters expect Chrysler to show water, Nikkei said. the industry accounts for roughly a monthly sales gain of 13.5 per- Takeover talks push Julius Baer up Tata, strong in the automotive one-fifth of all US retail spending. cent, while Nissan is seen ending and steelmaking sectors, will offer While sales would be flat with last August up 2.4 percent. Among its expertise and business networks August, the annualised rate for the major automakers, the two are ZURICH: Julius Baer shares compared with a 1.3 percent rise Credit Suisse settled its US in re-examining design and pro- month would be up from 16.1 mil- expected to be the only winners. rose by more than two per- in the European banking sector. tax case in May for $2.5bn, more curing materials locally, the report lion a year ago because there was Michelle Krebs, an analyst cent after a Swiss finance blog By 0820 GMT, the shares had than double what the bank had added. The two partners are aim- one less selling day this year. with Kelley Blue Book, expects said the private bank could pared some gains to trade up 1.5 set aside for the purpose. ing to commercialise the system by Profit-eroding incentives Chrysler will only enjoy a few eventually become a takeover percent, still outpacing a 0.4 per- Julius Baer is still involved in March 2019, Nikkei said. remained high in August, as more months of double-digit target for larger rival Credit cent rise in the European banking a criminal investigation into its The value of water related dealers trimmed prices to help gains. This year’s gains by Suisse. sector. role in helping wealthy Americans businesses in Asia and Oceania is clear lots and make way for 2015 Chrysler have been helped by the Inside Paradeplatz website Credit Suisse and Julius Baer evade their taxes, which it hopes projected to reach $90bn in 2020, models. Industry research firm fact that sales of Jeep Cherokee said, without citing sources, that declined to comment. to conclude by year-end. tripling in a decade and topping Kelley Blue Book said incentives, SUVs were compared to low sales Zurich-based Credit Suisse was Julius Baer is the fourth-larg- The bank, which has done a Europe as the largest regional including rebates and cash-back of a model it replaced in late 2013, looking at taking over the smaller est private bank in Switzerland number of M&A deals, is cur- market, the daily said citing a offers, were on track to end the the Jeep Liberty. bank, worth nearly $10bn, as part behind UBS and Credit Suisse, rently integrating its last big private think-tank. month between $2,700 to $3,000 The poll showed monthly sales of a number of options under and Geneva-based Pictet & Cie. acquisition, Merrill Lynch’s over- Nearly 80 percent of the demand per vehicle. declines for GM, down 1.2 per- consideration. Baer manages 274bn Swiss francs seas wealth arm. will be related to water supply and The biggest discounts were on cent, Ford, down 1.4 percent, “There is no project name, and (£180.27bn) in assets. Earlier on Friday, Swiss pri- sewage treatment as rapid popula- mid-size sedans, which are stay- Toyota, down 2.3 percent and no high-ranking executives are An expected resolution to a vate bank Notenstein said it tion growth and industrialisation ing on dealer lots more than 80 Honda Motor Co off 7.9 percent. talking about specific intentions. US tax evasion investigation was to buy about 1bn francs of in India, China and other emerg- days before being sold, compared Hyundai Motor Co and its affiliate So it is a simulation game,” Inside into Swiss banks is expected to assets from Landesbank Baden- ing economies are causing severe to 47 days for small crossover Kia Motors Corp are seen down a Paradeplatz said. be a catalyst for consolidation Wuerttemberg’s (LLBW) Swiss shortages of drinking water in the sport utility vehicles, Kelley Blue combined 0.8 percent. Julius Baer shares rose as much in the country’s private banking wealth management arm. region, the report said. Book said. REUTERS as 2.5 percent in early trading, industry. REUTERS AFP Fiat signals Chrysler merger on track

MILAN: Fiat signalled its exit rights had been validly exer- rest rumours that have been merger with US affiliate cised, but it could already say doing the rounds since the start Chrysler was on track as a that the ¤500m limit would not of this month ... and ensures the tally of shareholders suggested be exceeded, based on data cal- merger process with Chrysler most had chosen not to exer- culated so far. will turn out well,” Italian broker cise an option that could derail “Fiat has determined that ICBPI said. the plan, a vital step in the even if all remaining unmatched At 0850 GMT, Fiat shares were Italian carmaker’s turnaround notices and unmatched confir- up 1.3 percent, outperforming the efforts. mations were to be matched, Italian benchmark share index . Chief Executive Sergio the maximum number of shares Marchionne said previously Marchionne wants to incorporate for which cash exit rights have that if a critical mass of inves- the two carmakers into a Dutch- been validly exercised will yield tors were to breach the cap, he registered company called Fiat an aggregate exposure that would start the merger process Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), is below the cap,” it said in a again - effectively meaning a delay paving the way for a US stock statement. of several months. market listing that would help It plans to publish the final “I am reassured by the fact that fund an ambitious investment count by September 4. the vast majority of our equity plan. Investors had until August 20 holders have remained loyal But it could fail if the car- to tell Fiat whether they planned and committed shareholders,” maker were asked to pay more to cash in on their exit rights. Marchionne said in the statement than ¤500m ($658m) to inves- The merger of Fiat and on Friday. tors who decide to sell their Chrysler, which already operate Fiat said it did not expect cred- shares, exercising a legal right as a single company, was approved itor opposition to stand in the way triggered by Fiat’s decision to by shareholders at the start of of a timely closure of the merger. move its registered offices away August but dissenting investors Creditors, including bondholders, from Italy. had a right to sell their shares for have until October 4 to submit Fiat said it was finishing a an exit price of ¤7.727. objections. count of shares for which cash “The Fiat statement puts to REUTERS

Street business in Peru

Street vendors stand outside the Central Market in downtown Lima, Peru , yesterday. SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Indian finance Reliance plans $13bn projects minister 400,000bpd crude refinery planned at Jamnagar complex sees growth

NEW DELHI: Reliance coal, according to a copy of the telecom and retail.” The com- in China and the Middle East. processed,” said Praveen Kumar speeding up Industries Ltd plans to invest proposal. pany had cash and equivalents of “Recently the competitiveness at Singapore-based consultancy about $13bn in energy projects, The federal environment min- $13.6bn as of end-June. of Jamnagar refining hub is gradu- FACTS Global Energy. NEW DELHI: A day after the including a 400,000 barrels per istry wrote back in May this year Expanding Jamnagar would ally declining due to fast changing In its proposal, Reliance said best economic growth figures day (bpd) crude refinery at its asking Reliance to meet certain strengthen the role of Gujarat — global scenario of product demand the new refinery will be supported in more than two years greeted Jamnagar complex, documents conditions in order to secure a led by Prime Minister Narendra and stringent fuel quality,” said by its five single point moorings Prime Minister Narendra showed. green light for the projects, the Modi before his landslide general the proposal, obtained under — two for product shipments and Modi’s first three months in The refinery would process documents show. election victory in May - as a glo- India’s Right to Information Act. three for crude intake. office, the finance minister yes- cheap, heavy crudes that are It was not immediately clear if bal supplier of fuels in addition to While Reliance has not said by “Reliance has an established terday predicted faster growth increasingly available to Asia there had been further commu- meeting rising local demand. when the proposed projects will infrastructure both locally and to come. as the shale boom has cut US nications between Reliance and India’s diesel and petrol out- be in place, analysts and industry overseas to capitalize on opportu- Finance Minister Arun demand for the grades. the environment ministry. The put may lag demand by about 50 sources said the new refinery is nities and maximise refining mar- Jaitley said he expected GDP Reliance, controlled by bil- documents did not reference a million tonnes by 2025, accord- expected to be built by the end of gins. They have a strong trading growth higher than the 5.7 lionaire Mukesh Ambani, oper- potential start up date. ing to a government panel report, this decade. desk and storage in several parts percent it clocked in the three ates the world’s biggest refining Reliance did not respond to an as the world’s fourth largest oil Through the new facility, of the world,” said Ehsaan Ul Haq, months until June as a series complex in Gujarat, where its two email seeking comments. consumer aims to powers its Reliance wants to soak up dis- senior consultant at UK-based of government measures take adjacent plants can process about “It makes perfect sense to go economic expansion through a counted surplus heavy grades consultancy KBC Process. effect. 1.4 million bpd of oil. aggressive in their core business renewed focus on manufactur- to produce fuels like diesel and “After this recent wave of refinery The GDP numbers were The company last year sought of refining,” said Jagannadham ing. Imports were around 320,000 improve its refining margins that expansion in Asia and the Middle released yesterday. the approval of the environ- Thunuguntla, head of research tonnes in the last fiscal year. eased to $8.1/barrel in 2013/14, East, probably we will not see the “With the long-term impact ment ministry to invest Rs773bn and chief strategist at SMC Reliance also wants to improve the lowest level in four years. same growth in refining capacity as of all the initiatives we have ($12.8bn) to build a new refinery Global Securities Ltd. the ability of the Jamnagar com- “The new refinery will increase we see at present, and this will help taken, I am sure, the impact and some polymer units, and to “The company’s balance sheet plex to produce more value-added Reliance’s appetite for cheap them in leaving a stamp over the in the coming quarters will be switch the fuel for a 450 mega- has enough firepower to finance ‘light’ products by processing opportunity grades and offer global fuel markets,” said Haq. much larger,” Jaitley said, cit- watt power plant from gas to refining and other businesses like heavier grades than competitors more dollars per barrel of oil REUTERS ing rising manufacturing orders and renewed investor interest in India. Since taking office in May, the government has loosened restric- tions on foreign investment in Germanwings pilots defence, moved to reduce red tape for business and started tentative labour reforms. Speaking late on Friday, Modi to go on strike said the measures had resulted in economic stability and India would “very soon” achieve FRANKFURT/BERLIN: preparing for a lengthy battle but “greater heights”. A row at German airline that Lufthansa could avoid fur- Jaitley said inflation was on a Lufthansa over an early retire- ther strikes by meeting the pilots’ downward trend and that he was ment scheme for its pilots demands. more confident now of meeting shows no sign of being resolved Lufthansa shares extended a tough fiscal deficit target of 4.1 any time soon after talks losses after the announcement percent set in the budget in July, broke down and a strike was that talks had been broken off despite having breached the tar- announced at its low-cost car- and were down 2.8 percent at get in the first four months of the rier Germanwings. 1430 GMT. year. The Lufthansa pilots want Germanwings cancelled 116 “What was then accepted as a the management to maintain a flights planned for Friday morn- challenge, with the first quarter scheme that allows them to retire ing, equivalent to 70 percent of its (GDP) results, I think, it is some- early at 55 and still keep some of flights during the six-hour period. thing that is certainly achievable,” their pay until they reach the age About 15,000 passengers, many of he told reporters. at which state pension payments whom are travelling at the end of “My confidence today of achiev- start. the summer holiday period, will ing this target is much more.” The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) be affected. India’s high deficit and con- union that represents about 5,400 About 700 of the Lufthansa sequent government borrowing Lufthansa pilots said that pilots group’s more than 9,000 pilots is often cited as a constraint at its Germanwings operation work at Germanwings, which on growth, since it squeezes the would strike unless a deal was has been taking over Lufthansa’s availability of credit for private reached during talks. European routes outside of companies. However, Lufthansa ended the Frankfurt and Munich as the Some private economists talks on Thursday and said it company seeks to stem losses on consider the deficit target had wanted to use the meeting short-haul routes. optimistic, citing weak tax to agree a timetable for further Pilots at Lufthansa held a receipts in a sluggish economy negotiations, rather than to reach three-day nationwide strike in and high federal expenditure A Germanwings (left) aircraft is pictured through a fence next to a Lufthansa aircraft at Berlin Tegel airport. a final deal. April, grounding almost all the commitments. “It is not realistic to expect company’s flights and wiping But the finance minister said to reach a deal on a new model ¤60m ($79m) from its first-half fantasists” and another asking a possible walkout by employees and were left with a gap of up to tax receipts would improve later for pension provisions in one profit. when it would be possible to sack at rail operator Deutsche Bahn. eight years before they could draw in the year and that work on day,” Lufthansa’s head of person- However, the three-day action pilots. However, VC and the train driv- a pension. The scheme provided reducing subsidies that weigh nel, Bettina Volkens, said in a was widely condemned across Germanwings, which operates ers union GDL said they would for them to receive 60 percent of on the deficit would start this statement. Germany as people criticised the with a fleet of 52 aircraft, has coordinate to avoid a total shut- their wages during the interim year. The dispute is set against the demands of what many regard 164 flights scheduled for Friday’s down of domestic transporta- years. Another finance ministry backdrop of a Lufthansa overhaul as a highly paid group of work- strike period. tion routes. The GDL said on Lufthansa wants to scrap the official said sales of govern- to boost competitiveness against ers. The pilots’ union had said Bankhaus Metzler analyst Thursday that it would not go on scheme and increase the early ment stakes in state-run com- no-frills rivals and Gulf carriers, this week that any subsequent Juergen Pieper said the six- strike this week. retirement age to 61 now that a panies would begin within three seeking to lift group operating strike action was likely to be hour walkout could result in a Germanwings said passengers European court has ruled that months. profit to ¤2bn by 2015, though smaller and for only a few hours 2-3 million euro hit to operat- on domestic German flights would pilots can work until the age of Jaitley said economists who it says negotiations on the early at a time. ing profit and that this strike, be rebooked on train services 65. The airline initially cancelled cast doubt on the government’s retirement scheme do not form The latest cancellations at least on its own, would not where possible. the scheme with effect from the predictions should accept that part of its SCORE cost-cutting prompted an angry reaction endanger the company’s goal The early retirement scheme start of 2014 but now says it will India was changing for the bet- programme. from Germanwings customers of about ¤1bn of profit this was introduced more than 50 remain in place until 2016 to allow ter and look for “silver linings” In response to the failure of on Facebook, with one describ- year. years ago because pilots could time for negotiations. rather than “gloom.” Thursday’s talks, VC said it was ing the union as “insatiable Travellers in Germany also face not work beyond the age of 55 REUTERS REUTERS

Chinese productivity SoftBank’s first Sony smartphone deal takes aim at US market

TOKYO: Japan’s SoftBank make a pillar of its revival. analyst Yasuo Nakane of the Corp and its US mobile carrier Sony managed only a 2.1 per- Sprint deal, stressing the impor- Sprint Corp will offer a Sony cent share of the global smart- tance of a deal with a major carrier smartphone for the first time, phone market in 2013, according such as Verizon Communications sources with knowledge of the to market research firm Gartner, Inc — along with AT&T Inc one of matter said, as the two tech- and now faces rising competition the top two US carriers — to get nology titans confront daunting from low-cost Chinese smart- critical mass in that market. Sony challenges in the US market. phones. In the US market, the offers an Xperia tablet through The deal could give a much- only carrier offering its handsets Verizon. “Even if they put out a needed boost to Sony’s struggling is No. 4 T-Mobile US Inc. phone on Sprint, Verizon is the mobile division, which last month Sony will sell a soon-to-be launched priority any way you think about said it no longer expected to make Xperia flagship phone in the United it,” Nakane said. a profit in the year to next March. States via Sprint, four sources famil- Masahiro Ono, an analyst It will also bolster Sprint’s hand- iar with the matter told Reuters. In at Morgan Stanley MUFG set line-up as it seeks to stem a Japan, SoftBank will make the phone Securities, nevertheless saw the flight in subscribers. available in time for the winter holi- deal as a move in the right direc- SoftBank, Japan’s second most day season, they added. tion. “They haven’t been able to valuable company, is pushing price Sony and SoftBank declined to maintain very good relationships cuts and promotions at Sprint while comment. with carriers, unlike Samsung unveiling joint smartphone offer- Sony is expected to unveil its who has done very well,” he said. ings to shore up the No. 3 US car- next flagship smartphone, the Sprint’s aggressive strategy on rier, after US regulators thwarted Xperia Z3, at next week’s IFA new handsets and price cuts, with its hopes for a merger to give it the tech expo in Berlin. the unveiling last week of a smart- scale to take on bigger rivals. But the company remains phone developed by Sharp Corp Sony, long one of Japan’s best- far behind the big names in the exclusive for Sprint and SoftBank, known brands but now struggling industry: Apple Inc, which is set is likely to accelerate under new to pull its flagship electronics to unveil its new iPhone 6 next chief executive Marcelo Claure, A man sleeps in front of a shopping mall under construction at a shopping district in Beijing. Chinese pro- division out of the red, has been month, and Samsung Electronics plucked from handset reseller ductivity growth has gone into reverse for the first time since the Cultural Revolution tore the country apart unable to gain traction in the key Co, which makes the Galaxy series. Brightstar Corp which SoftBank in the 1970s, according to a new study. US smartphone market, depress- “I can’t see this making much of acquired last year. ing a mobile unit that it hopes to a difference,” said Deutsche Bank REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Malaysia’s Sime Morgan Stanley Darby Q4 profit down 9pc on plans natural weaker prices

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s plantations-to-motoring con- gas export plant glomerate Sime Darby Bhd posted a nine percent drop in fourth-quarter net profit as lower palm output hit sales and Bank aims to ship 60bn cubic feet CNG sluggish commodity prices and volatile currency markets also NEW YORK: Morgan Stanley free trade agreements, including weighed on its businesses. has quietly filed plans to build the Dominican Republic, Panama, The weaker earnings at the and run one of the first US Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras world’s top oil palm planter by compressed natural gas export and Costa Rica, according to the landbank size come as Malaysian facilities, the first sign the bank filing, which has not been previ- palm oil prices have sunk nearly is plunging back into physical ously reported. 26 percent so far this year to lan- commodity markets even as it Those countries now mainly use guish at more than five-year lows. sells its physical oil business. oil for their power plants. Natural Sime said its plantation division In a 23-page application to gas, which in the US is often used was hurt by the drop in palm oil the US Department of Energy’s to power trucks and buses, could prices, but that it expected prices Office of Fossil Energy submit- provide a cheaper alternative. of the tropical oil to pick up in the ted in May, the Wall Street bank “You can collect US gas at $4, it long-run. “The plantation divi- outlined a proposal to build, own costs you $1 to ship it and gasify sion was not able to achieve crude and operate a compression and it, you bring it in at $5 and the palm oil sales targets due to a container loading facility near equivalent that they are paying Managing Director of Kazanah Nasional Berhad Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Mokhtar gestures during a news conference drop in fresh fruit bunch produc- Freeport, Texas, which will have for fuel is $20 plus,” said a person to announce Malaysia Airlines’ restructuring plans, at Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. tion by seven percent compared to capacity to ship 60 billion cubic familiar with the project. “There the previous financial year,” Sime feet a year of compressed natural is a lot of money to be made.” Darby President and Group Chief gas (CNG). A spokeswoman for Morgan Malaysia Airlines to cut 6,000 staff Executive Mohd Bakke Salleh While the size of the project is Stanley declined to comment on said in a statement. small compared with bigger lique- the plan beyond the contents of The output fall was mainly due fied natural gas (LNG) projects, the filing. KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia what analysts say has been poor Yahya would stay in his position to poor crop weather in ndonesia, the plan highlights the bank’s The boom in natural gas pro- Airlines will slash thousands management and a failure to rise until July 2015 to ensure a smooth which contrasted with a bumper ability to exploit its status as one duction in the US has pushed of staff, trim its route network, to the challenge of intensifying transition. crop there last year. Net profit in of two Wall Street banks which prices down to $4.02 per million and replace its CEO under a competition. Azman added that “a sell- the April-to-June period was 1.19bn are allowed to own and operate British thermal units. Natural gas plan announced to stave off But the sudden association with down, or partial sell-down, of ringgit ($377m), Sime Darby said infrastructure for the manufac- contracts sold outside of the US bankruptcy after two air trag- tragedy for an airline that previ- Khazanah’s stake to appropriate in a filing to the Malaysian bourse. ture, storage and operation of are often linked to higher-priced edies plunged the already trou- ously had a solid safety record has strategic buyers from the private The firm’s financial year ended June raw materials. The other one is oil, which can inflate the cost of bled carrier deeper into crisis. pushed the 68-year-old company sector will be considered” in the 30, 2014. Revenue fell two percent Goldman Sachs. the gas. State investment fund to the brink of collapse. future, under the right conditions. year-on-year to 12.51bn ringgit. Their physical commodities The US Energy Information Khazanah Nasional, which has MH370 mysteriously vanished Khazanah Nasional, which Full-year net profit also fell 9 activities were both “grandfa- Administration projects total taken control of the failing flag on March 8 with 239 passengers already owns 70 percent of percent to 3.35bn ringgit. That thered” in when they became domestic natural gas production carrier, said it planned to pump and crew aboard, while MH17 went Malaysia Airlines announced missed the average forecast of bank holding companies during to hit 73.9 billion cubic feet per 6bn ringgit ($1.9bn) into the down on July 18 — believed hit by plans in early August to acquire all 3.06bn ringgit by 24 analysts, the financial crisis more than five day, portending sustained low airline, hoping the changes will a surface-to-air missile — over remaining shares and de-list the according to Thomson Reuters years ago. prices going forward. About 1,000 return the company to profitabil- rebellion-torn eastern Ukraine, company as it works to revive it. data. Sime said the global econ- It also showcases a nimble and cubic feet of natural gas yields 1 ity within three years. killing all 298 on the plane. Even before this year, aviation omy remained challenging, with novel approach to exporting cheap million BTU. One barrel of oil is Khazanah’s Managing Director The restructuring plan will see analysts have long said the airline weak commodity prices and vola- domestic gas that could replace roughly equivalent to 5,800 cubic Azman Mokhtar said, however, about 6,000 — or 30 percent — of needed deep cuts to staff levels tile foreign exchange markets to oil for power plants in Caribbean feet of natural gas. there were no plans to change the the airline’s nearly 20,000 employ- and unprofitable long-haul routes, affect the group’s businesses. nations, as the United States Billions of dollars are being carrier’s name — now deeply tar- ees eventually lose their jobs to along with wholesale change to a Sime’s plantation business pumps out record amounts of gas poured into sophisticated export nished by its association with the help put MAS on a “right footing management team that has made accounted for nearly half of its rev- from its fracking revolution. terminals for LNG, which require MH370 and MH17 tragedies. “The in terms of staff size”, Azman said. a series of poor business decisions enue in the fourth quarter, mak- The strategy skirts the multi- specialised equipment to cool the combination of measures announced He added man also said the over the years, to get on more ing up 657.7m ringgit,compared to billion-dollar upfront investments, fuel to turn it into a liquid, as well today will enable our national air- airline would see a “rationalisa- solid footing. its autos division which accounted long lead times and stringent as infrastructure to warm it at line to be revived,” said Azman. tion” of its flight network — a Shukor Yusof, an analyst with for a little over 15 percent. application processes associated the receiving end, and take years Aviation analysts, however, said term Malaysia Airlines has used Malaysia-based aviation consul- Sources said this month that with building liquefied natural to build. it far too early to predict whether previously for cutting unprofitable tancy Endau Analytics, said Friday’s Sime Darby, Asia’s third-largest gas (LNG) terminals in favour of Cheniere Energy, for example, the scheme would work, citing a routes — to become a “principally announcement amounted to a fur- listed industrial conglomerate, had using readily-available containers is investing $5.6bn to expand its lack of detail, intense industry regionally focused” carrier. He ther government bailout of a fail- hired four banks to arrange a stock and inexpensive container ships, in Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana competition, and the airline’s gave no further details. ing company that had already been market listing for its car distribu- one of the first projects of its kind. to export LNG, which is expected severely tarnished brand name. It also would pick a new CEO on life support for years through tion unit that could raise $500m The bank plans to ship CNG to to be operational by 2015. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has by the end of 2014, though current transfusions of public money. by the second quarter of next year. countries with which the US has REUTERS bled money for years through under-fire boss Ahmad Jauhari AFP REUTERS

Woolworths profit rises Tesla, Chinese 21 firms bid to underwrite firm plan IPO of Japan Post 400 charging TOKYO: Twenty-one compa- of the 21 brokerages which applied nies have applied to underwrite to be lead underwriters, 15 were stations Japan Post’s initial public offer- domestic and six were foreign. It BEIJING: Tesla Motors Co ing scheduled for 2015, which will choose six domestic and four and a state-owned Chinese market participants expect foreign brokerages as early as phone carrier announced plans to raise almost $10bn for the September after a selection proc- to build 400 charging stations government. ess that takes into account sales for electric cars in a new bid to State-owned Japan Post pro- strategies and handling fees. promote popular adoption of the vides post office, insurance and In addition to a national net- technology in China. banking services and is the coun- work of more than 20,000 post Plans call for China Unicom try’s largest savings institution. offices, Japan Post runs the coun- Ltd to provide space for con- The IPO will be the first leg of try’s biggest banking and insur- struction and basic services in 120 the government’s plan to sell up to ance operations. It has around cities while Tesla, based in Palo two-thirds of Japan Post’s shares. 176 trillion yen ($1.7 trillion) in Alto, California, operates the sta- While bankers have said the customer saving deposits. tions. The two companies also will government hopes to eventually Financial markets are keeping build 20 “supercharger stations” raise between 2 trillion yen and 4 a keen eye on how privatisation in 20 cities to offer high-speed trillion yen, current expectations will affect Japan Post’s invest- charging. are for the IPO to raise about 1 ment in Japanese government Promoters of electric cars see trillion yen. Part of the proceeds bonds, although the institution China as a promising market due will fund reconstruction of areas has repeatedly said it will not to Beijing’s support for the tech- devastated by the 2011 earthquake change its investment stance in nology and eagerness to reduce and tsunami. government debt. smog. But the lack of charging Shoppers enter a Woolworths store in Sydney. The Australian supermarket giant posted an 8.5 percent rise The finance ministry said that REUTERS infrastructure in this vast coun- in its full-year net profit. try is seen as a major hurdle to winning general acceptance. Tesla delivered its first US-manufactured electric sedans to Chinese customers in April and CEO Elon Musk said then the Ecuador heralds digital currency plans company planned to invest several hundred million dollars to build a QUITO: Ecuador is planning to law, be backed by “liquid assets.” is that it has taken this long, Nathalie Reinelt, an emerg- “has a serious fiscal liquidity prob- charging network in China. create what it calls the world’s It would be geared toward the 2.8 defending it against “pseudo- ing payments analyst with the lem. It needs money ... It doesn’t Prior to the announcement, first digital currency issued by a million Ecuadoreans — 40 percent analysts who have appeared in US-based Aite Group, said she does mint money. It has no control over Tesla had 200 charging points in central bank, which some ana- of participants in the economy the media trying to smear (it).” not understand any other motiva- what circulates.” China. “This cooperation will accel- lysts believe could be a first step — too poor to afford traditional He denies any plan to replace the tion for creating such a currency The state is currently $11bn in erate the Tesla charging network toward abandoning the country’s banking, officials say. US dollar, which Ecuador set as its than to allow Ecuador to increase debt, mostly to China, which buys nationwide,” said a company spokes- existing currency, the US dollar. Initially, it will be able to make currency in 2000 after a crippling its money supply and, essentially, most of Ecuador’s oil. It recently woman, Peggy Yang, in an email. The electronic money, which and receive payments on cell- banking crisis. devalue its US dollar holdings. sold $2bn in bonds with a 7.95 per- Another automaker, Germany’s Central Bank officials say they phones, Solorzano said. Such The official in charge of the new “It is far too early to know how cent return, as well as obtaining BMW AG, announced plans in expect will start circulating in mobile payments schemes are espe- currency, Fausto Valencia, said they are thinking of making the another $400m from Goldman May to set up 50 charging sta- December, does not have a name cially popular in African nations the software is already used in electronic money work,” said ana- Sachs in exchange for part of its tions in partnership with State and officials would not disclose including Kenya and Tanzania, Paraguay by cellphone companies. lyst Juan Lorenzo Maldonado of gold reserves. Grid, China’s biggest state-owned technical details, though they where they are privately run. He said it is not like Bitcoin, Credit Suisse LLC. Some believe it Use of the currency will be utility, and a real estate developer. said it would not be a crypto-cur- The new currency was whose advantage is in its techni- could be a first step to abandoning voluntary and it will not be used Chinese leaders want to develop rency like Bitcoin. The amount of approved, and stateless crypto- cal underpinnings: Only a limited the US dollar, Ecuador’s currency to pay public employees or state an electric car industry and called the new currency created would currencies such as Bitcoin simul- amount of Bitcoin can be minted. since January 2000. Correa denies contractors, according to the law. in 2009 for annual sales of 500,000 depend on demand. taneously banned, by Ecuador’s Without that safeguard, econo- it puts dollarisation in peril. Nor can it be used to buy financial electric cars by 2015 but have Deputy Director Gustavo National Assembly last month. mists have warned, a government His government has tripled instruments the Finance Ministry scaled back those plans. Solorzano said it is to exist in Leftist President Rafael Correa could theoretically create as much social spending, and opposition emits. AP tandem with the dollar and, by has said the project’s only problem as it wants, risking inflation. lawmaker Ramiro Aguilar says it AP SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Italy’s stagnation can There’s a better way to be eurozone’s future

BY RICCARDO BELLOFIORE rescue Malaysia Airlines

his summer Italy fell into a triple-dip recession. After BY ADAM MINTER domestic traffic in Malaysia had shrunk to that Malaysia Airlines can recapture some the 2008/09 collapse, the economy stagnated, heading 37.4 percent, while AirAsia’s share stood at of the customers lost to Air Asia and other back into recession during 2011 and never really recov- n Friday, Khazanah Nasional, the 47.7 percent. discount carriers in the next five years while Tering. The philosophy of Giulio Tremonti, who was the parent company of Malaysian The gap is clearly visible at Kuala Lumpur remaining a unionized airline even more economic minister at the time, was to wait and see, until specu- Airline System, announced the International Airport where on Tuesday, I closely tied to the Malaysian government. lation killed Berlusconi’s government. Prime ministers Mario airline’s fourth and most radical flew out of the newly opened Terminal 2, Instead of trying to beat AirAsia, why Monti and Enrico Letta followed Brussels’ self-defeating diktat restructuring since its founding home to discount airlines like Air Asia not join them? In 2011, the two companies for fiscal rigour, but even with moderate deficits the public debt/ Oin 1972. This one, too, is likely to fail. The (which I flew to Singapore for a quick over- engaged in an equity swap that lasted a full GDP ratio soared. real challenge, though, isn’t overcoming the night trip). The building is thriving and eight months before Malaysia Airlines’ politi- The situation remained under control only thanks to the zero twin tragedies of MH370 and MH17 and the crowded, reminiscent of a buzzing train sta- cally powerful unions — fearful of job cuts — rate of interest and rhetoric by the European central bank presi- loss of passenger confidence that followed. tion, and it stands in stark contrast to sleepy succeeded in having it unwound. Since then, dent, Mario Draghi. Then came along Matteo Renzi, and Italian Rather, the problem is the spectacular growth Terminal 1, home to Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia’s fortunes have soared, often at the economic policy was all talk, talk, talk. While turning the screw of Southeast Asian discount airlines, which other legacy carriers. When I flew out of the expense of Malaysia Airlines. The benefits to of authoritarian parliamentary and electoral reforms, future lower have wreaked havoc on state-subsidized flag latter on Wednesday (via China Southern, the legacy carrier are obvious: It’d acquire taxes and liberalisations are promised to compensate for public carriers such as Malaysia Airlines that used to Guangzhou) shops, restaurants, and a discount partner that could — ironically cuts and to attract foreign investments. The €80 monthly tax to have the region all to themselves. corridors were empty. Of course, the con- — help to highlight the full-service luxury break to lower-paid workers did not raise household consumption, In May, The Economist estimated that siderable business hangover that Malaysia available on its planes. For AirAsia, the tie- and was instead spent on tariffs and local taxes. almost 58 percent of the air traffic in Airlines suffered after the July 24 downing up would ease regulatory burdens in Malaysia Yet in the past few weeks the outlook has changed, with 2014 Southeast Asia is now flown on discount of MH17 contributes to the sleepiness. But and other markets while giving it opportu- second-quarter data showing France flat and Germany experi- airlines that offer cheap fares and require in the three years I’ve been flying in and nities to carry passengers from Malaysia’s encing negative growth. Greece, Spain and Portugal registered passengers to pay for extras ranging from out of the airport, it’s always felt oversized. international routes (and OneWorld alliance rosier figures only because they were recovering from severe luggage to bottles of water. The model holds Can restructuring Malaysia Airlines partners). Meanwhile, both airlines would austerity. The eurozone cannot but be driven by the three biggest obvious appeal for a burgeoning Southeast wake up Terminal 1? Khazanah Nasional benefit from the efficiencies achieved in areas economies alone. This is a continental crisis within an anaemic Asian middle-class that’s anxious to travel has proposed buying out other investors, such as maintenance. global economy. regionally, but still needs to do so on a cutting 30 percent of the workforce and Of course, the downside is that reduced Even Draghi’s speech at the US Federal Reserve conference in budget. Take Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia. trimming some revenue-losing long-haul competition would likely end up costing Jackson Hole, Wyoming, recognised this. This often goes together The formerly state-owned airline was taken routes. These would have all been fine ideas Malaysia’s fliers in higher ticket prices. with a plea for supply-side structural reforms, such as labour flex- private in 2001 and transformed into a dis- in 2001, before the AirAsia era. According to But so long as the Malaysian government is ibility and liberalisation. Others argue that trade imbalances are count carrier that competes on the lower the Financial Times, a person familiar with determined to preserve its state-owned air- the main problem. Higher German internal demand, through fis- end of routes flown by more expensive car- the restructuring plan predicted that the line in some form (and it is), Malaysians will cal stimulus and/or higher wages, would boost the GIIPS countries riers. Malaysia Airlines, with its legacy costs airline could only return to “sustained com- be on the hook for the losses. This way, at (Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain). A radical view is exit- (including a bloated, unionized workforce), mercial viability” in four to five years — and least, Malaysians will be getting something ing the single currency to restore national economic sovereignty. didn’t stand a chance. By July 2013, accord- that assumes the politically sensitive plan is more than a state-subsidized anachronism There is something sensible in all these propositions. Austerity ing to one tabulation, the airline’s share of fully implemented. It also assumes, of course, for their money. WP-BLOOMBERG is choking Europe. If the ECB buys assets it may improve state and firms’ balances. Higher liquidity could find its way to expenditure, and also revert the credit crunch plaguing small and medium firms. Trade imbalances, without counteracting policies, create regional disparities and social imbalances, leading to an explo- sive fragmentation. These policy outlooks, however, are wishful thinking, because in them the state is subsidiary to the private sector and the changes in the European landscape are ignored. But monetary reform alone can’t kickstart the economy. Individual government deficits should be targeted by the ECB, providing the “big push” that private investment cannot give the biggest economies. Only in this atmosphere will the balance-sheet recession and the squeeze of private demand be overturned. If internal demand and production increase more than productivity, the consequent higher employment could ground consumption on income rather than on debt. In the past 15-20 years, the European economy has gone through a deep financial and industrial transformation. Let us look at the financial side. Eurozone countries share the same payment system. There is nothing unusual per se in internal imbalances: they are absorbed by the banking system and do not lead to problems for the single currency. Balance sheets of banks and intermediaries are more integrated, and the public debt is managed on the bond market. Demand reflation or wage increases do not guarantee enough exports for the periphery anymore, which may still need price-ine- lastic products from the centre. The exchange rate is a toothless weapon. From the financial side, exit countries need a stronger currency. A devaluation jeopardises the banking system and the management of public debt, and may not be so magical as hoped on the trade balance. The European economy as a whole needs expansionary policies together with credit, industrial and regional policies. None of this is on the horizon. Changes must appear in continuity with the dominant consensus, as President François Hollande’s firing of the French economic minister this week shows all to well. Draghi’s design to build Europe through a sort of “revolution from above” requires an ongoing crisis to weaken internal resist- ance within the capitalist class. An alternative social and demo- cratic Europe “from below” meets the problem of the absence of a subject fighting for it. Though this is not good news, the euro may then actually end: not with a bang, but a whimper. But as the saying goes, “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over”. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Bitcoin shows staying power as online merchants chase digital sparkle

BY GERTRUDE CHAVEZ- Blockchain can hold the currency about $14bn in annual revenue, least $1bn to accept bitcoins. Soon decided to accept Discover cards,” At online travel agent Cheapair. DREYFUSS and MICHAEL for the user. started accepting bitcoins in after, other companies includ- said Glenbrook’s Peabody. com in Calabasas, California, bit- CONNOR When buying an item from a mid-August. ing computer maker Dell Inc, One disadvantage from a con- coin sales totalled $1.5m so far merchant’s website, a customer Payment processors do some Dish, and Newegg Inc , an online sumer’s point of view is that, in since it started accepting them itcoin is catching on at simply clicks on the bitcoin option form of hedging though, said Gil retailer of computer hardware general, Bitcoin sales are final in November 2013, said CEO Jeff US online merchants and a pop-in window appears Luria, a financial technology ana- and software, began to accept and irreversible. Still, there are Klee. In July alone, bitcoin sales at including Overstock.com where he can type in his wallet lyst at Wedbush Securities in Los payments in bitcoin. some vendors that do return bit- the company jumped 20 percent. Band Expedia, as custom- ID number. Angeles. These entities would, for To date, there are about 63,000 coin payments for faulty products, Data from BlockChain.info, a ers use a digital currency that Still, broad-based adoption of instance, sell bitcoins in the mar- merchants globally accepting bit- said Adam White, director of bitcoin wallet which stores the just a few years ago was virtu- bitcoin is at least five years away ket to offset the ones they have coin, estimates from data pro- business development and strat- digital currency for customers, ally unknown but is now showing because most consumers still processed and in their books, so vider CoinDesk show. It forecasts egy at Coinbase, an online wallet showed that over the last three some staying power. prefer to use credit cards, ana- they’re not left with much expo- that figure to rise to 100,000 by company in San Francisco. months, there were between Though sales paid for in bitcoin lysts said. There are also worries sure, Luria said. year-end. For retailers, the biggest ben- 50,000 and 75,000 bitcoin trans- so far at vendors interviewed for about bitcoin’s volatility: its price The only risk for the retailer is Overstock’s Byrne estimated efit in accepting bitcoins is lower actions a day on average, worth this article have been a fraction in US dollars changes every day. if the counterparty, or payment bitcoin sales of between $6m and transaction costs. Coinbase and between $45m and $85m. That of one percent, they expect that On Wednesday, bitcoin was up 0.4 processor, doesn’t fulfil its obliga- $8m by the end of 2014, a fraction Bitpay, for instance, charge less compares with US retail sales of as acceptance grows, the online percent at $514.09. tion. That risk is minimal, Luria of the company’s total revenue. than 1 percent per transaction. A about $15bn a day during July, currency will one day be as ubiq- That risk is borne by the con- said, “Coinbase and Bitpay are More importantly for Byrne, credit card payment, in contrast, according to US Census Bureau uitous as the internet. sumer and the bitcoin payment now well-funded start-ups and the bulk of bitcoin sales comes typically carries a 3 percent fee. estimates. “Bitcoin isn’t going anywhere; processor, such as Coinbase or they have put a lot of resources from new customers, who would Dell, which started accepting As of the end of June, bit- it’s here to stay,” said Michael Bitpay, not the retailer. The ven- behind security,” Luria said. otherwise not shop at Overstock bitcoins in July, Dish, and Expedia coin wallets, representing the Gulmann, vice president of glo- dor doesn’t hold the bitcoin and For some, it has become a if the website didn’t offer bitcoin all say their bitcoin revenue so far number of users who have bit- bal products at Expedia Inc in is paid in US dollars. As soon as beneficial situation for retail- payments. Bitcoin owners tend to have exceeded their expectations. coin accounts, have grown to 5.32 Seattle, the largest online travel a customer pays in bitcoin, the ers, as they take advantage of be high net-worth individuals and The three companies declined to million, from 765,039 users a year agent. Expedia started accepting digital currency goes to the pay- lower transaction fees and sales tech-savvy consumers. give specific figures, but said bit- ago, CoinDesk data show. It pre- bitcoin payments for hotel book- ment processor and the processor from new customers. In at least In a way, bitcoin has been coin sales are modest relative to dicted that wallets would increase ings on July 11. immediately pays the merchant, one instance, bitcoin sales are used by retailers as a marketing their overall revenues. to 8 million by year-end. Until recently a niche alterna- for a fee of less than 1 percent. expected to pad a company’s bot- strategy to bring some much- “From the first day...we saw “I don’t see too much risk for us tive currency touted by a fervent “We don’t have to deal with tom line, adding 4 cents a share to needed buzz to brands that may traffic at the site, it has been right now on bitcoin,” said Dish’s group of followers, bitcoin has the actual holding of the bitcoin: 2014 earnings at Salt Lake City- be struggling. growing since,” said Paul Walsh, Han. “We are not expecting bit- evolved into a software-based it’s the payment processor that based online merchant Overstock. “Every retailer knows that if chief information officer at Dell coin to revolutionise the way our payment online system. Bitcoins takes the currency risk for us,” com, said chief executive officer they make some sort of announce- Commerce Services in Texas. He customers handle their accounts, are stored in a wallet with a said Bernie Han, chief operating Patrick Byrne. ment on bitcoin these days, they cited a recent single purchase in but based on what we have seen unique identification number officer at Dish Network Corp, in Overstock was the first US know it’s going be picked up more bitcoins of a server worth more so far, there is no reason for us and companies like Coinbase and Englewood, Colorado. Dish, with company with annual sales of at broadly by the media, than if they than $50,000. to change.” REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Otto moves into Italian lead PGA: Red-hot putting helps as Gallacher battles

TURIN, Italy: Hennie Otto took a three-shot lead in the Palmer to set Boston pace Italian Open in Turin following the second round on Friday. The 38-year-old South African US golfer takes lead after firing 63 as Mcllroy opens up with a card of 70 carded an incredible 10-under- par 62 to surge into the lead hav- ing started the day a shot behind NORTON, Massachusetts: Italian Francesco Molinari and American Ryan Palmer, whose PGA Tour Scores Bernd Wiesberger of Austria. putting has been razor sharp But following a miserable open- for the past six weeks, upstaged Scores from the US PGA Tour ing round 72, Scotland’s Stephen some of golf’s biggest names Deutsche Bank Championship Gallacher gave his Ryder Cup as he surged into a two-shot at the par-71 course yesterday chances a boost with a 65. lead at the Deutsche Bank in Norton, Massachusetts He needs to finish in the top Championship yesterday. 63 Ryan Palmer (US) 63 two in order to overtake Graeme The 37-year-old Texan, seeking 65 Keegan Bradley (US) 65 US golfer Ryan McDowell and earn an automatic a fourth PGA Tour victory, reeled Palmer prepares spot on the European team at 66 Jason Day (Australia) 66 off four successive birdies midway to putt on the Gleneagles next month. through the opening round and Webb Simpson (US) 66 Having begun the day six shots Chesson Hadley (US) 66 18th during the signed off by sinking an 18-foot first round of the off that position, he clawed back a putt on his final hole for an eight- 67 Russell Knox (Britain) 67 Deutsche Bank shot on second-placed Wiesberger. Bill Haas (US) 67 under-par 63 at the TPC Boston. Championship at But before he even started his While world number one Rory Jordan Spieth (US) 67 round he admitted the leader the TPC Boston McIlroy squandered a red-hot Ian Poulter (Britain) 67 board -- on which Otto and yesterday in Norton, start with a messy finish to card Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 67 Wiesberger had already come a 70, Palmer mixed nine birdies Massachusetts. home -- made depressing reading. with a lone bogey to seize control from inside six feet, I’m not miss- The South African was 15 in the second of the PGA Tour’s ing many, but then when you get under par with Wiesberger at four lucrative FedExCup play-off the putts going in from 15 feet and 12-under and Gallacher sitting events. in, especially for birdie, it makes on par. Keegan Bradley gave his Ryder for good days.” “When you tee it up 15 and Cup prospects a timely boost as Palmer, whose most recent 12 behind, you know you’re he fired an opening 65 to fin- PGA Tour win came at the 2010 going to have to be more aggres- ish a stroke in front of fellow Sony Open in Hawaii, conceded sive and make some birdies so I Americans Webb Simpson and that he was a little fortunate with was delighted to shoot 65 with Chesson Hadley and Australian the birdie putt on his final hole, and I did that today,” Bradley said. Championship. “The wind was five-times major winner Phil a double bogey in the end,” said Jason Day. the par-four ninth. McIlroy, who was dislodged up, the greens were firmer than Mickelson carded a roller-coaster Gallacher, who is now joint ninth. Palmer, however, delivered “I knew the way the ball was from the top spot in the FedExCup they have been since I have been 74 and Swede Henrik Stenson “I don’t think I could say on air the day’s standout performance, rolling, it was a matter of just standings when American Hunter coming here and the rough’s a lit- launched his title defence with what I was thinking when I saw barely missing a putt on a firm getting it on the right line,” he Mahan won the opening playoff tle thicker, so it makes it a little a 70. the leaderboard at lunch.” TPC Boston layout as he contin- said. “I thought I missed it right event, the Barclays, on Sunday, tougher to score. The top 70 players on the “I was looking at the guy who ued to benefit from some advice but it hung in there so what a made a storming start on Friday “I felt good. My game is in FedExCup points list after the was second to be honest to try and given to him last month by his way to finish and to start off this with three birdies in his first four decent shape. I holed a couple Deutsche Bank Championship catch him up a bit and a couple compatriot Shawn Stefani. tournament.” holes. of nice putts. Overall, shooting advance to next week’s BMW more 65s at the weekend and we “It was great,” Palmer told Bradley, one of six likely con- However, the Northern something under par today isn’t Championship in Englewood, will see what happens. Golf Channel after totalling just tenders vying for the three wild- Irishman failed to maintain that a bad start.” Colorado where the leading 30 Otto came close to making his- 21 putts in his round. “I’ve had card selections to be announced red-hot momentum and stumbled Mahan who enhanced his will qualify for the September 11 tory with the first sub-60 round this feeling since the Open, the by US Ryder Cup captain Tom home with three bogeys in his last Ryder Cup claims in resounding to 14 Tour Championship finale. on the European Tour but need- British Open. Watson next week, picked up five holes to finish seven strokes fashion by winning his sixth PGA Among those in danger of ing to birdie the last three holes, “When Stefani was talking four shots in his first seven holes off the pace. Tour title at the Barclays, failed being eliminated from the play- a bogey on 17 scuppered that about his putting changes, I took before ending his round in sizzling “It was tricky out there,” said to replicate that form as he mixed offs after this week’s event are chance. Even so, he is well placed a little something from that and birdie-birdie style. McIlroy, whose dominant golf in three bogeys with just one birdie 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt to repeat his Italian Open victory it’s been great for the last couple “Making those putts (was key) recent weeks earned him three to card a two-over 73. Snedeker, who is 71st in the points from 2008 in Milan. of months. My short putting has but I drove the ball really, really consecutive tournament wins, Among the other big names, standings, and England’s former “It’s always special to shoot a been phenomenal. well and out here you really need including major victories at Australian world number two world number one Luke Donald 62 but a 59 never even crossed my “I am making a lot more putts to drive the ball long and straight, the British Open and the PGA Adam Scott opened with a 73, (80th). REUTERS mind,” said Otto. AFP Kim extends lead in Portland

PORTLAND: South Korea’s Mi-Jung both fired seven-under she came right back with birdies Kim In-Kyung fired a five-under 65s in the second round at the on the 14th and 15th to move to LPGA Scores 67 to stretch her lead to three Columbia Edgewater Country 10-under. Leading scores yesterday after shots after the second round Club. Kim birdied the first before the second round of the LPGA of the LPGA Tour’s Portland They moved into a share of sec- faltering to another bogey on the Tour’s Portland Classic (par 72, Classic yesterday. ond place at nine-under 135. They par-three second. She rebounded USA unless noted): Kim, whose only top 25 finish were joined there by Laura Diaz, with a birdie on the third. 132 Kim In-Kyung (KOR) 65-67 this year came at the Swinging who shot 68 in round two. Kim parred three straight from 135 Laura Diaz 67-68, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) Skirts Classic, ended 36 holes Last week’s winner Ryu the fourth. She made birdie on 70-65, Hur Mi-Jung (KOR) 70-65 at 12-under-par 132. The last of So-Yeon carded a 66 to move into the par-five seventh to move to 136 Mina Harigae 67-69, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) Kim’s three career wins on the fifth place at six under. She was 12-under. Kim parred her final 70-66, Lin Xi Yu (CHN) 68-68, Paula Reto USLPGA Tour came in 2010. joined there by Mina Harigae two holes to end there. (RSA) 67-69 “The greens were rolling much (69), China’s Lin Xi Yu (68) and Suzann Pettersen rallied with better in the morning, so that was Paula Reto (69). five birdies in her final seven holes 137 Amelia Lewis 66-71 kind of nice, and I hit the ball well, Amelia Lewis is alone in ninth to get to six-under-par with a sec- 138 Juli Inkster 68-70, Suzann Pettersen similar to yesterday. I’m really place at seven-under 137 after ond-round five-under 67. (NOR) 71-67, Ji Young Oh (KOR) 71-67, pleased with how I played on the posting a 71 on Friday. Kim Defending champion Pettersen Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 67-71, Tiffany Joh 71-67, Chella Choi (KOR) 68-70, Jaye Kim In-Kyung of South Korea tees off on the 13th hole during the second par-fives,” said the 26-year-old started her round with bird- and US Solheim Cup captain Juli Marie Green 72-66, Austin Ernst 69-69, round of the LPGA Portland Classic yesterday in Portland, Oregon. Kim. ies on the 10th and 12th. After Inkster (70) are among nine play- Carlota Ciganda and Hur stumbling to a bogey on the 13th, ers tied for 10th place. AFP Line Vedel (DEN) 69-69 Nationals down Mariners 8-3 ‘No headgear to help

NEW YORK: The Washington lost it when he slammed into the Thai boxers in Incheon’ Nationals tagged Felix wall and landed hard on his back. Hernandez for four home runs, Crisp left the game under his BANGKOK: Thailand are opti- knockouts but with the new rules then added two more against own power and was initially diag- mistic of collecting at least two there will likely be KO’s after a the Seattle relievers, on the way nosed with a strained neck. Asian Games boxing gold med- few rounds,” he added. to snapping their three-game Cubs 7, Cardinals 2 als next month and believe the “If they can make it clear they losing streak with the 8-3 win Rookie right fielder Jorge Soler decision by the sport’s govern- are better right from start, then over the Mariners. homered to tie the game in the ing body to ditch headguards it’s very unlikely that the judg- Catcher Wilson Ramos had two seventh and then capped a four- will give them an edge in South ing will go against them. But at of the Nationals’ six home runs, run eighth inning with a tape- Korea. the end of the day, you have to be five of which were solo shots. measure two-run blast as the The International Amateur really good to win.” Washington (76-57) had 14 Chicago Cubs beat the St Louis Boxing Association opted to Pichai has high hopes for light hits, 10 of them coming against Cardinals. REUTERS remove headgear in men’s bouts welterweight Wuttichai Masuk, Hernandez, on the way to earning last year with many fighters get- flyweight Chatchai Butdee the franchise’s 10th consecutive Baseball Results ting their first chance to box and light heavyweight Anawat head-to-head win against Seattle. Baltimore 9 Minnesota 1 without them at the September Thongkratok. Angels 4, A’s 0 Pittsburgh 2 Cincinnati 1 19 to October 4 Games in Incheon. Wuttichai looks most likely Jered Weaver threw seven Thailand Boxing Association to deliver having beaten Cuban NY Yankees 6 Toronto 3 scoreless innings and Albert head Pichai Chunhavajira said world number one Luis Oliva in Pujols and Chris Iannetta hit NY Mets 4 Philadelphia 1 the move will aid his team of the final of the AIBA’s President’s home runs as the Los Angeles Boston 8 Tampa Bay 4 seven male fighters in South Cup in June. The 64 kilogramme Angels beat the Oakland Athletics Atlanta 5 Miami 2 Korea, with all having grown up fighter also beat home favourite in a match between the top two Detroit 7 Chicago White Sox 1 practising other combat sports, Almasbek Alibekov en route to teams in the American League Cleveland 6 Kansas City 1 like Muay Thai, without using victory in Almaty. West. Texas 13 Houston 6 headgear. “Judging from recent results, Oakland center fielder Coco Chicago Cubs 7 St Louis 2 “The lack of headguards gives we have boxers who are poten- Crisp nearly made the defen- us the edge,” said Pichai. tial Asian Games gold medal- Arizona 5 Colorado 2 sive play of the game, reaching A change in scoring will also lists,” Pichai said. “Wuttichai in LA Angels 4 Oakland 0 above the wall and appearing to Washington Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) rounds the favour the Thais, Pichai said, particular won the President’s Washington 8 Seattle 3 rob Chris Iannetta of a two-run bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the adding he thought bouts would Cup. It’s not easy to beat a home San Diego 3 LA Dodgers 2 homer in the fifth inning. He ini- first inning at Safeco Field yesterday. be more exciting. fighter in a boxing powerhouse tially had the ball in his glove but San Francisco 13 Milwaukee 2 “In the past we have rarely seen like Kazakhstan. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT West back in rhythm after Endurance race

SILVERSTONE, UK: After practice I started to feel good Honda MotoGP rider celebrating a podium finish at again,” he said before adding that Marc Marquez (right) the Eight Hours of Oschersleben the conditions were not easy in of Spain competes last weekend, where he bat- the begining. with Honda MotoGP tled to second place in the “The conditions weren’t the rider Scott Redding Superstock category with his best when we started after a brief of Britain during the Qatar Endurance Racing rainshower, but then it dried up qualifying session for Team partners Alex Cudlin and everything was okay.” the British Grand Prix and Mashel Al Naimi, Anthony He also spoke about the techni- West had to re-adjust his riding cal issues he faced. at the Silverstone Race style from a 1000 cc Kawasaki “I had a problem with the gear- Circuit, Central England, to his 600 cc Moto2 prototype box, when I would go from fourth yesterday. for the British Grand Prix in to third it would shift back to Silverstone. fourth or into neutral by itself. In the second free practice ses- I ran off the line three or four sion, he was back in the swing and times because of that, so I hope scored 16th place in the standings we can get this fixed. Other than for day one. that, I just will try and go faster,” His Spanish team-mate Roman he concluded. Ramos had his best start into a Ramos who ended on 28th spot Grand Prix weekend of the season was satisfied with the start of the so far. race. On the fast and challenging 5,9 “Today I felt really good. This kilometre-track, he found the best circuit suits the bike and my rid- line and a good feeling with this ing style and we are closer to the Speed Up bike almost straight top than we have ever been,” he away and scored 28th place, with said. Marquez takes tenth a gap of only 2.1 seconds to front- “It’s a long, wide and compli- runner and championship leader cated track, but it didn’t take me Tito Rabat. long to find the best line and I “This morning was a bit dif- went faster by almost two sec- ficult after riding with a 1000cc onds from the first to the second Kawasaki in the Eight Hour session.” pole of the season race,” West commented follow- Ramos hoped for bringing an ing the free practice session in improvement to his positions. Silverstone. “I hope we can continue in He said it was a tricky task to this line and climb up some more I will fight for British MotoGP victory, says the Spaniard shift focus. positions. We started well and I’m “Coming back with the Speed determined to keep the momen- Up bike felt so strange, every- tum going and to ride a good race SILVERSTONE, UK: Esparagaro while Czech MotoGP thing was different and I didn’t on Sunday,” added the QMMF Runaway world championship winner and Marquez’ team-mate feel comfortable, but in the second team’s rider. THE PENINSULA leader Marc Marquez secured Dani Pedrosa is on the third row Marc Marquez his 10th pole position out of a with Italian legend Valentino possible 12 this season yester- poses on the Rossi. day as he recorded the fastest Millennium Marquez has 263 points after 11 time in qualifying for the British Bridge with races with Pedrosa, who has never MotoGP at Silverstone. St Paul’s won the world title in this cat- The 21-year-old Spaniard -- Cathedral seen egory or the 500cc its predecessor, who saw his bid for a record 11th behind, in second on 186 and Rossi is third successive win ended with fourth London, in this with 173. AFP in the Czech race a fortnight August 27 file ago -- will start on the front of photo. the grid on his Honda alongside Qualification Results Italian Andrea Dovizioso and Results from the Motorcycling Spain’s two-time world champion Grand Prix Great Britain Jorge Lorenzo. MotoGP Qualification yesterday. Marquez, who along with his hoping for a good day tomorrow Italian. 1. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 2:00.829 brother Alex who races in the (Sunday) and fighting for victory,” Lorenzo, who will be bidding for Moto3 category was watched by he told BT Sport. a third successive British GP win, 2. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati 2:01.140 their father Julia from the pit- Dovizioso, who sits in fifth said he and his Yamaha team had 3. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 2:01.175 lane, said that he had been cau- position in the standings with come good in adversity. 4. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Yamaha 2:01.448 tious after a crash in morning 118 points, said that hard work “This bike is very difficult to 5. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 2:01.464 practice. by his Ducati team was starting ride,” he said. 6. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 2:01.550 “It was only a small crash but to pay-off. “We have improved it a little 7. Bradley Smith (Britain) Yamaha 2:01.593 I was still careful in qualifying,” “The team has worked really bit and got a good time here in 8. Pol Espargaro (Spain) Yamaha 2:01.747 QMMF team’s members including Anthony West (left 95) and Roman said Marquez, who was recording hard and I am so happy with the difficult conditions so I have to be 9. Stefan Bradl (Germany) Honda 2:01.973 Ramos (97) are seen on the sidelines of British MotoGP free practice at his 46th career pole. results. The race will be difficult very satisfied.” Silverstone, UK on Friday. “I’m happy with the bike and but we are improving,” said the On the second row will be Aleix 10. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati 2:02.064 Langdon third in Indiana qualifying

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: On Friday evening, teams had and dazzled the huge crowd with a the semifinals. Al Anabi Racing Reigning World Champion their first chance to qualify, and 3.808-second effort at more than operates out of multiple loca- Shawn Langdon stood third as is almost always the case at the 313 mph and is third after the tions in both the United States while Khalid AlBalooshi took US Nationals, huge crowds were opening day. and Qatar. 15th for the Qatar Al Anabi on hand on the night to take in The qualifying attempts In the United States, the Racing Top Fuel team after the day’s lone qualifying run. double as the Traxxas Nitro Brownsburg, Ind.-based operation the first of five rounds of qual- AlBalooshi was the first Al Shootout, the third-year special is a two-car NHRA Mello Yello ifying for the 60th annual Anabi driver to qualify, and the event for race winners and one Drag Racing Series team that is Chevrolet Performance NHRA gold Al Anabi car appeared to be driver selected by a fan vote and managed by Alan Johnson Racing. US Nationals in Indianapolis, on a brilliant run when the car drawing. H E Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Indiana, the 18th of 24 races smoked the tires in the middle In Traxxas Shootout first Al Thani’s initiative has created making up the United States’ of the run forcing the third year round, AlBalooshi and Langdon increased international awareness NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing driver to abort the remainder of will race each other for the of the State of Qatar while high- Series season. his qualifying attempt. right to advance to the Traxxas lighting the nation’s international Qatar Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel team’s driver Khalid AlBalooshi executes At the largest and most-pres- AlBalooshi’s 5.066-second effort Shootout semi-finals. sports outreach. Alan Johnson his pre-qualifying burnout in front of a huge crowd of NHRA Mello Yello tigious drag racing event in the is 15th after the first of five quali- The drivers reaching the is a 15-time NHRA champion in Drag Racing Series at the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals in world, teams have five chances to fying runs. Traxxas Shootout finals will race various capacities including crew Indianapolis on Friday. make a qualifying attempt rather A few pairs later, Langdon after the second round of Top chief, team owner and team man- than the normal four rounds. made an excellent opening pass Fuel qualifying, which doubles as ager. THE PENINSULA O’Connor’s last chance a potential gift for Wallabies

SYDNEY: When a teenage 2014 Super Rugby season. The On the face of it, Australia can I sense having spoken to him James O’Connor nervelessly Australian Rugby Union (ARU), ill-afford to ignore a talent like that he is aspirational,” Richard kicked a sideline conversion to who tore up his contract last O’Connor’s as they seek to bridge Graham said after the announce- give Australia that rarest of September after O’Connor was the gap with New Zealand that ment ceremony in Brisbane on rugby experiences, a win over escorted by police out of Perth was so ruthlessly exposed in the Friday. the All Blacks, in 2010 it seemed Airport after a drunken row, gave 51-20 defeat by the All Blacks in “I’ve got a lot of history with only injury could prevent him his return a cautious welcome. Auckland last weekend. James ... I think people need to Australia’s from enjoying a 100-cap Test “We are pleased James has Ewen McKenzie has shown judge him by his actions when he James O’ career. made the decision to return to through his actions since he took comes here, it’s easy to pre-judge Connor kicks But while the stocky body with rugby in Australia,” ARU chief over as Wallabies coach, however, him.” over a penalty its explosive pace and lightning Bill Pulver said in a news release. that nothing is more important Last year’s Perth incident was kick during sidestep has remained intact, the “He is a player who has a huge than the “culture” of his squad just the culmination of a string of their Tri-Nations off-field antics of the self-styled amount of potential on the field and he will be taking no gambles disciplinary problems going back Rugby Union “Brand James O’Connor” have and I’m sure he’s excited about on O’Connor without seeing evi- to when he slept in and missed match at Kings seen him exiled from interna- the opportunity being presented dence of a big change in attitude. the Wallabies team announce- Park in Durban, tional rugby for more than a year to him by the Queensland Reds.” That will have to be illustrated ment for the 2011 World Cup. in this August and counting. That Pulver’s comment was at the Reds, where O’Connor will But his friend and former The Queensland Reds on tagged on at the bottom of a state- be coached by another man who team-mate Kurtley Beale has 2012 file photo. Friday brought him back from ment welcoming rugby league/ knows all about how much talent shown O’Connor that there is a Europe and offered the 24-year- Australian rules convert and he has, and how his attitude can path to redemption after he was old what must be a last chance O’Connor’s soon-to-be team mate cause problems, after their time stood down by the Super Rugby in Australian rugby, desperate Karmichael Hunt to the 15-man together at the Western Force. outfit when he punched two team times calling for desperate meas- code spoke volumes about where “I think people mature and mates in South Africa last year. ures in Brisbane after a miserable O’Connor’s stock now stands. develop at different ages and REUTERS SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Sharapova advances as shocks rock women’s draw at US Open Second-seeded Halep, Venus crash out early; steady Federer eases into third round

NEW YORK: World number return, I wasn’t serving as well US Open Results two Simona Halep and two- as I wanted to.” Results yesterday from the fifth time champion Venus Williams China’s Peng Shuai, showing no day of the US Open, the final tumbled out of the US Open sign of a let-down after her sec- Grand Slam tournament of 2014 yesterday, but Maria Sharapova ond-round win over Radwanska, (x denotes seeded player): bucked the upset trend that Sara Errani of dispatched another seeded player rocked the women’s draw. in number 28 Roberta Vinci 6-4, Men’s Second Round: Tomas Berdych Italy celebrates Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-3. (CZE x6) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 6-3, 4-6, after defeating a former phenomenon now a She set up a meeting with 14th- 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) bt Venus Williams of Alexander Kudryavtsev (RUS) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 32-year-old veteran who had to seeded Czech Lucie Safarova, a the US at the US (7/4); Feliciano Lopez (ESP x19) bt Tatsuma fight through qualifying, shocked 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 winner over Open in New York, Ito (JPN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4); Dominic second-seeded Halep, the French France’s Alize Cornet. Thiem (AUT) bt Ernests Gulbis (LAT x11) 4-6, Open runner-up, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. yesterday. RIGHT: Men’s second-round action was 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3; Marin Cilic (CRO x14) bt “It’s incredible, amazing, I feel Maria Sharapova comparatively tame. Illya Marchenko (UKR) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-4; goofy,” said Lucic-Baroni, who of Russia reacts Second-seeded Roger Federer Kevin Anderson (RSA x18) bt Jerzy Janowicz reached a Grand Slam fourth after winning a found a way past the booming (POL) 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-1, 6-3; Gilles Simon round for the first time since point against serve of Sam Groth in a 6-4, 6-4, (FRA x26) bt Federico Delbonis (ARG) 6-4, making it to the 1999 Wimbledon Sabine Lisicki of 6-4 second round victory over the 3-6, 7-5 (7/0), 6-1; David Ferrer (ESP x4) semi-finals as a 17-year-old. Germany on the 104th-ranked Australian. bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) - walkover; Grigor The reward for the 121st- day. “My arm’s still vibrating,” Dimitrov (BUL x7) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-1, ranked Lucic-Baroni is a fourth- Federer said after coping with 6-2, 6-2; David Goffin (BEL) bt Joao Sousa round meeting with 13th-seeded Groth’s 140-plus mph (225.31 (POR x32) 6-4, 6-2, 6-0; Gael Monfils (FRA Italian Sara Errani, who thwarted Km/h) serves. x20) bt Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) 7-5, 6-3, Williams 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (7/5). Fourth-seeded David Ferrer 6-2; Richard Gasquet (FRA x12) bt Paolo At the other end of the age reached the third round without Lorenzi (ITA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-3; Adrian spectrum, Swiss 17-year-old lifting his racquet when unpre- Mannarino (FRA) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x15) Belinda Bencic toppled sixth- dictable Aussie Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-4, 6-1; Roberto Bautista (ESP x17) seeded German Angelique Kerber Bencic said. “So it’s incredible.” a third that turned into a slugfest. remember forever that moment.” withdrew with a hip injury. bt Tim Smyczek (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-1; Marcel 6-1, 7-5. The last Grand Slam of the year Williams twice came back from Sharapova also found herself Sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Granollers (ESP) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO x25) Bencic, the 2013 Wimbledon has now lost four of its top 10 a break down in the third, then in a power struggle, but emerged Berdych needed five sets but got 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-4; and French Open junior cham- women’s seeds, after the second- broke Errani to serve for the with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the job done against Slovakian Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Sam Groth (AUS) pion, now ranked 58th in the round departures of Agnieszka match at 5-3. German 26th seed Sabine Lisicki Martin Klizan 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. world, earned a meeting with Radwanska and Ana Ivanovic. She couldn’t hang on, how- in a match which finished after 6-3 and Wimbledon semi-final- Women’s Third Round: Belinda Bencic former world number one Jelena Errani’s triumph over 19th- ever, surrendering her serve as midnight. ist Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria (SUI) bt Angelique Kerber (GER x6) 6-1, Jankovic, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over seeded Williams wasn’t strictly they battled to the tiebreaker, in Both women had more unforced continued his best-ever US Open 7-5; Jelena Jankovic (SRB x9) bt Johanna Sweden’s Johanna Larsson. speaking an upset, but the 13th- which Errani took a 5-2 lead only errors than winners -- Sharapova with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Larsson (SWE) 6-1, 6-0; Lucie Safarova After dropping the lopsided seeded Italian had to dig deep to for Williams to battle back to 5-5 by 32 to 20. Israeli Dudi Sela. (CZE x14) bt Alize Cornet (FRA x22) 6-3, first set, Kerber appeared poised notch her first career victory over before at last succumbing. In a match that saw nine Austrian Dominic Thiem ral- 6-7 (3/7), 6-4; Peng Shuai (CHN) bt Roberta to knot the match, but she the American after three defeats. Errani was thrilled by the breaks of serve, Sharapova broke lied from two sets down to defeat Vinci (ITA x28) 6-4, 6-3; Maria Sharapova couldn’t convert three set points. “I know that was a really tough electric atmosphere in the Ashe Lisicki in the final game to clinch 11th-seeded Latvian Ernests (RUS x5) bt Sabine Lisicki (GER x26) 6-2, Bencic, coached by former match, even if I won the first set Stadium, even though she knew the win when the German fired a Gulbis 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, but 6-4; Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x10) bt Andrea Swiss great Martina Hingis’ 6-0 she’s an amazing player,” the frantic fans were for her forehand out on Sharapova’s third 12th-seeded Frenchman Richard Petkovic (GER x18) 6-3, 6-2; Sara Errani mother Melanie Molitor, seized Errani said. opponent. match point. Gasquet, Croatia’s 14th-seeded (ITA x13) bt Venus Williams (USA x19) 6-0, her chance. And as she expected, seven- “Was unbelievable good,” she It was a really tough opponent Marin Cilic, 18th seed Kevin 0-6, 7-6 (7/5); Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) “It’s amazing that after last time Grand Slam champion said of the cheers ringing out as I had today, a very aggressive, Anderson of South Africa, 19th bt Simona Halep (ROM x2) 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. year I played juniors here, and Williams battled back, racing Williams had a chance to even the big server,” Sharapova said. “I seed Feliciano Lopez and Gael this year I’m in the fourth round,” through the second set to set up tiebreaker at 5-5. “I think I will just tried to concentrate on my Monfils all advanced. AFP Beaten Venus finds positives

NEW YORK: Venus Williams after reaching the final of the by Williams’ first-serve struggles “I was very nervous. In the 5-4 again finds herself on the side- hardcourt tune-up in Montreal and errant strokes. “First set, I (point) to go 5-all in the tiebreak lines in the first week of the US this month. started very good, very aggres- I heard the crowd,” Errani said Open, but the two-time cham- “Today my errors were out of sive,” Errani said. “I was play- about an eruption of sound after pion didn’t go down without a control,” Williams lamented. “I ing very good. She didn’t put too 19th seed Williams pulverised a Venus fight. think I had more than double many first serves, so maybe that backhand winner off a drop shot Williams of The 34-year-old American hers, so that really, really hurt me. was a bit the key.” to finish a run of three points the United came up short against Italian “I wish I could have controlled Everything changed in the sec- after trailing 5-2. States Sara Errani in the third round on that to continue a great summer, ond, however, as Williams man- “The crowd was amazing. Even reacts during Friday, but still found some posi- but still some big tournaments aged to limit her mistakes. She if it was not for me, it was for her. the match tives after the 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (7/5) left in the Fall. I’m in the doubles, dominated the set to force a third, But to hear that scream of all the against Sara defeat to take into the remainder so I’ve got a lot to be focused on.” that proved to be a tense back- people, I think I will remember Errani at the of the season. Errani kept her nerve against and-forth battle.Twice Williams always.” Williams knotted the Flushing “Sometimes you lose a match. Williams -- and a legion of parti- recovered from a break down, and tiebreaker with a passing win- Meadows, At least if I lose a match it’s a san fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium she finally gained the upper hand ner, but that was her last hur- rough fight from my opponent,” -- to pull off the victory. with a break for a 5-3 lead. rah as Errani produced what the New York the 34-year-old said. Although Errani went in as the However, Williams couldn’t American called “really flawless yesterday. “They don’t get it easy. So that’s higher seed, at 13th to Williams’ serve it out, surrendering the tennis” on the final two points. something to be proud of.” 19th, she had never beaten the break with a wayward forehand. “I’m very happy,” Errani said. Williams, whose Dubai Open American in three prior encoun- From there they went to the tie- “Two weeks ago I won one match title in February was her first in ters, and in fact had never taken breaker, and Williams was on the 7-6 in the third and the day later 16 months, had failed to make it more than three games from her ropes again as she trailed 2-5. a lost 7-6 in the third. These past the second round at Flushing in any set. To the delight of the crowd, she matches can change with noth- Meadows for three straight years. The Italian didn’t seem to be fought back to 5-5, and the noise ing, with one point. Five-All in But she had been hoping for thinking about that as she raced and energy of the fans was a new the tiebreak I made that volley. better things this year, especially through the opening frame, aided experience for Errani. Unbelievable.” AGENCIES Tomic out of US Open Baroni ‘born again’ after ending 15-year agony with Halep scalp

NEW YORK: Mirjana Lucic- last-16 at a major since her 1999 Baroni, once one of tennis’ Wimbledon run, she was over- hottest talents before being come as she faced the media, engulfed by heartbreaking per- breaking down in floods of tears. sonal trauma, reached her first Mirjana Lucic- “It’s been really hard. Sorry. Grand Slam last-16 in 15 years Baroni (right) of After so many years to be here yesterday, describing it as the Croatia shakes again, it’s incredible. I wanted this best day of her life. hands with so bad,” said the German-born, Now 32 years old, Lucic-Baroni Simona Halep 5ft 11in (1.81m) blonde. had the world at her feet when after defeating “I feel like I’m born again. This she was a teenager. her at the US is the best day of my life.” In 1997, she made her US Open Open yesterday. “I feel goofy right now. I feel debut at just 15 and at the same like I’m 15 now. I feel so excited. age, she teamed with Martina It’s crazy. I’m 32.” Hingis to win the 1998 Australian Lucic-Baroni believes she has Open women’s doubles. plenty of life lessons to pass on to In 1999, at 17, she went to the today’s teenage generation. Wimbledon semi-finals where it Eventually, in desperation, severe financial problems left her “Coaches and agents and every- took Steffi Graf to beat her. Mirjana, her mother Andelka and career in cold storage. Instead, body wants more success always. But always in the background four siblings fled their Croatia Lucic-Baroni disappeared from Especially for young girls you was tough, demanding father home in the dead of night for the professional tennis for most of the still have to realize you’re a little Bernard Tomic of Australia reacts during first round match against Dustin Marinko who, Lucic-Baroni later sanctuary of the United States of 2003-2010 period before slowly kid and you still have to want to Brown of Germany in this August 26 file photo. Tomic withdrew from revealed, dished out regular beat- America. feeling her way back. improve,” she said. his second-round match with a hip injury that could keep him out from ings although he described them The drama, however, put the And after stunning world “But it’s important to be representing Australia in Davis Cup action next month. as “slaps” that were “best for the brakes on a journey which should number two Simona Halep 7-6 grounded. Grounded I think is child”. have led to fame and fortune as (8/6), 6-2 to reach her first the biggest importance.” AFP SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Badminton: Lee into third world final, Li seals return trip Malaysian world number one beats Axelsen, Chinese top player ends Mitani’s run

COPENHAGEN:Malaysian world number one Lee Chong Wei secured a third straight men’s singles finals appearance at the badminton world cham- pionships yesterday while wom- en’s top seed Li Xuerui of China also advanced to the title match. Top-ranked Lee, twice a runner-up at the tournament, brushed aside young Danish hope- ful Viktor Axelsen 21-9, 21-7 in front of a partisan Copenhagen crowd to move within touching distance of a first major title. Despite his advancing years Lee, who will turn 32 in October, demonstrated his class with a sublime blend of blistering over- heads and resolute defence to reel off 12 of the final 13 points in the first game and never looked back. The Malaysian star, also a two-time Olympic singles silver medallist, then pocketed 21 of 25 points after trailing 3-0 early in the second set to complete a comprehensive victory over the 14th seed. China’s Li Xuerui in action against Japan’s Minatsi Mitani during their women’s singles semi-final match at the 2014 BWF World Badminton Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, “So far things have got bet- yesterday. RIGHT: Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei competes against Viktor Axelsen of Denmark during their men’s singles semi-final match yesterday. ter each match,” said Lee, who will face the winner of the to think about the pressure and Minatsi Mitani to seal a return to defending champion Ratchanok gruelling three-set matches, to last three meetings. This time my match between Chinese second give a big present to my country,” the women’s singles final. Intanon of Thailand in the last move a step closer to adding to coach and I prepared very well seed Chen Long and Indonesia’s added Lee, who is hoping to give World number one Li, runner- 16 before upsetting South Korean the Olympic crown she won at before the match. We’ve watched fifth-ranked Tommy Sugiarto in people back home further cause up a year ago on home soil in fifth seed Sung Ji-hyun in the London 2012. Mitani during these world cham- Sunday’s final. for celebration on Merdeka Day, Guangzhou, dominated from the quarters but there were no repeat “Mitani is a very high-level pionships and came up with a “I can go back to resting now which marks Malaysia’s 1957 beginning with Mitani, sporting heroics this time. player. We’ve played each other plan and it worked,” added the and prepare for tomorrow. independence from British colo- a heavily strapped right leg, una- Backed by vocal support from several times and she always 23-year-old, for whom either “The country will be watching nial rule. ble to offer much resistance as Li the Chinese delegation, Li made fights to the last point,” said Li of Spain’s Carolina Marin or India’s and there will be more pressure Meanwhile, Li ended the run of powered to a 21-8, 21-14 victory. quick work of Mitani, likely her battling opponent. P.V. Sindhu await in pursuit of a on my shoulders. I will try not Japanese dynamo and 16th seed Mitani had claimed the scalp of feeling the effects of successive “I lost the first set in two of the maiden world title. AFP Valencia romp to 3-0 win over 10-man Malaga

VA LENCI A: Valencia’s Paco Weligton handled inside the memorable day after he was Alcacer, Dani Parejo and Pablo area and the referee pointed to named in the Spain squad for La Liga Results Piatti found the target as they the spot. Malaga keeper Carlos the first time by coach Vicente Results of the Spanish La Liga took full advantage of the Kameni saved Parejo’s spot kick del Bosque. matches on Friday first-half dismissal of Malaga’s but the midfielder knocked in the “It has been special to be called Sergi Darder to win 3-0 at the rebound. up and I was like a kid celebrat- Getafe 1 (Vazquez 29) Almeria 0 Mestalla Stadium on Friday. Piatti then fired home 10 min- ing. Then on top of that it has Valencia 3 (Alcacer 31, Parejo 45, Piatti 56) Malaga had the better of the utes into the second half after a finished with me scoring a goal,” Malaga 0 opening stages and Roque Santa link-up between Sofiane Feghouli Alcacer said at the Mestalla. Cruz failed to make the most of and Alcacer. Malaga were denied “It is important for me to keep Yesterday’s matches a series of chances, but the game a consolation when keeper Diego my feet on the ground and work Cordoba vs Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao vs turned on a red card for Darder Alves kept out Samuel Garcia’s hard each day in training. I am Levante (both 1700), Atletico Madrid vs after 26 minutes for a studs-up close-range effort. only 21 years old and I still have Eibar (1900), Espanyol vs Sevilla (2100) challenge on Parejo. Valencia reinforced their a lot to improve on if I want to do Valencia quickly began to domi- squad ahead of the season with well in the national team. Today’s matches nate and Alcacer flicked home a the expected arrival of Singapore “Our objective this season is to cross from Jose Luis Gaya at the billionaire Peter Lim in the com- be strong at home and we are a Villarreal vs Barcelona (1700), Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna vs Rayo near post after 30 minutes. ing weeks and are targeting a team that has players with a lot Valencia’s manager Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates the second goal Vallecano (both 1900), Elche vs Grenada It got worse for the visitors Champions League place. of quality that have combined well against Malaga at the Mestalla Stadium on Friday. (2100) shortly before halftime when Alcacer’s goal capped a together.” REUTERS Monaco leave Chelsea’s flop striker Torres out Falcao for Barca welcome back set to join AC Milan on loan Lille clash Neymar, lose Iniesta MONACO: Radamel Falcao LONDON: Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, a £30m (pictured) was dropped at the MADRID: Brazilian star Fernando Torres (pictured) is misfit at Chelsea, have fared as last minute from Monaco’s Neymar will make his first set to end his miserable spell at badly as Torres in the Premier matchday squad for yesterday’s appearance of the season Stamford Bridge by joining AC League era. Torres has two years Ligue 1 clash with Lille amid when Barcelona travel to Milan on loan for the next two remaining on his £150,000-a-week mounting speculation that the face Villarreal today, but the seasons. Chelsea contract, meaning he is Colombian was on his way out of Catalans will have to do without Torres has endured a difficult unlikely to play for the Blues the principality club. the injured Andres Iniesta. time with the Blues since his again because he would be a free As the summer transfer ses- Neymar missed Barca’s opening then-British record £50m move agent by the time his spell at the sion enters its final weekend, day 3-0 over Elche last weekend from Liverpool in January 2011. San Siro is over. numerous reports have pegged due to a sprained ankle, having The 30-year-old Spain inter- His move to Italy will bring Falcao as the only just recovered from the bro- national was unable to repeat his the curtain down on a disastrous superstar most ken vertebra in his back which prolific Liverpool form in west stint with Chelsea, in which he likely on the prematurely ended his World Neymar. BELOW: Iniesta London and has scored just 45 was a bit-part player as the club move. However Cup. goals in 172 appearances in all won the Champions League, the there has been Iniesta, though, has been side- competitions for Chelsea. Europa League and the FA Cup. no official con- lined by a knee injury. He was believed to be Blues Assuming Torres completes the Torres was a shadow of the firmation that “He had a problem in his knee boss Jose Mourinho’s third-choice move, he will surely go down as player who terrorised defences such teams as that was getting worse and hasn’t striker behind new signings Diego one of the biggest flops in Premier across Europe in a Liverpool shirt Real Madrid, allowed him to play,” said Barca Costa and Didier Drogba this sea- League history, given the size of and the raw statistics tell the full Arsenal, boss Luis Enrique yesterday. son, and that drop down the peck- both his reputation and the trans- story of his Chelsea nightmare. Juventus or “Neymar is in the squad because ing order — he had yet to make it fer and wages required to lure He averaged one goal every 3.8 Liverpool have he is ready to play. Winning a onto the pitch this season — per- him from Anfield. matches for the Blues, compared met Monaco’s demands. place in the team is difficult, but suaded him to consider Milan’s His memorable moments for to one every 1.8 matches in his Falcao started and scored the the key for the season is not just offer. Chelsea — scoring a key goal years with Liverpool, while each winning goal against Nantes last to have 11 players, but that we win “Chelsea Football Club and AC in the 2012 Champions League goal effectively cost Chelsea £1.1m. weekend and had been expected with everyone.” “We haven’t done any special Milan have agreed terms for the semi-finals against Barcelona Just hours earlier on Friday, to start for Leonardo Jardim’s The performance of 18-year- work to protect him. He ought to two-year loan deal of Fernando and finally breaking his duck for Mourinho had claimed Chelsea team at the Stade Louis II. He old Munir El Haddadi on debut attack everything at the moment Torres to the Italian club,” a the club against West Ham after couldn’t afford to lose Torres was named in the squad, but took against Elche may mean Nemyar calmly. What he is doing at the statement on Chelsea’s website 14 appearances — were few and because it would leave them no part in the warm-up and was will start only from the bench at moment other players will do announced. “The move is now far between. Instead, he will be short of options in the attacking not even included among the El Madrigal. throughout the course of the subject to Fernando agreeing per- remembered for lacklustre dis- department. substitutes. Munir’s fine week was season. sonal terms with AC Milan and plays and a litany of shocking His apparent change of heart The striker has been strongly rounded off by a first call-up to “It is great that all the players passing a medical examination.” misses, including somehow blaz- means Torres will need to be linked with a move to Real the Spanish under-21 squad on gain confidence and have minutes Milan made their move for ing over an open goal in a defeat replaced, with a move for Roma’s Madrid on a season-long loan, Friday, but Enrique insists he on the pitch. Taking decisions is the former Atletico Madrid star at Manchester United in 2011. Italian striker Mattia Destro a but they will have to move quickly hasn’t made any plans to protect the most important thing for a after selling Mario Balotelli to Only the likes of Andy Carroll, possibility before the transfer with the transfer window closing his protégé during his rapid rise coach, but you can’t always keep Liverpool earlier this week. a £35m failure at Liverpool, and window closes on Monday. AFP on Monday. AGENCIES to prominence. everyone in the team happy.” AFP SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Sri Lanka’s seamers rout Pakistan to seal series victory Tourists get overpowered as Perera takes four wickets and Dilshan smacks 50

DAMBULLA: Seamer spin spearhead Saeed Ajmal, who Thisara Perera claimed 4-34 was back after missing the previ- and Tillakartane Dilshan hit ous two matches to have his bowl- an unbeaten 50 as Sri Lanka ing action tested. trounced Pakistan by seven Ajmal had flown to Brisbane, wickets in the final one-dayer Australia, for the tests after yesterday to clinch the series his action was reported by the 2-1. umpires during the Test series. Paceman Dhammika Prasad He is allowed to play on until also chipped in with two wickets the results of the tests are made as the hosts bowled Pakistan out known. for 102 and then surpassed the Ajmal picked up the wicket of Duckworth-Lewis target of 101 in Jayawardene, caught in the slips, the 19th over of a one-sided game but Sri Lanka were only one run in Dambulla. away from victory at that stage. An hour-long rain interruption The World Cup is to be played after Pakistan had slumped to 81-8 in Australia and New Zealand in in the 26th over of the first ses- February-March next year. AFP sion forced the umpires to reduce the game to 48-overs-a-side. Scoreboard Sri Lanka galloped home in style to build on the 2-0 sweep in PAKISTAN the preceding Test series and left Ahmed Shehzad c Perera b Prasad ...... 10 Pakistan searching for answers Sharjeel Khan c Jayawardene b Prasad ...... 0 ahead of the World Cup less than Mohammad Hafeez lbw Malinga ...... 1 six months away. Misbah-ul Haq (run out)...... 18 Opener Upul Tharanga and Fawad Alam (not out) ...... 38 Kumar Sangakkara fell cheaply Umar Akmal c Malinga b Perera ...... 7 before Mahela Jayawardene (26) Sohaib Maqsood c Sangakkara b Perera ....7 and Dilshan put on a 41-run stand Shahid Afridi c Perera b Prasanna ...... 2 for the third wicket. Wahab Riaz c Sangakkara b Perera ...... 0 Dilshan cut Shahid Afridi to Saeed Ajmal c Jayawardene b Perera ...... 6 the fence to bring up his half- Mohammad Irfan b Herath ...... 5 century and also seal his team’s Extras (LB-1, W-6, NB-1) ...... 8 easy win. Total (all out in 32.1 overs) ...... 102 Fawad Alam top-scored for Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-14, 3-14, 4-47, Pakistan with an unbeaten 38, but 5-55, 6-73, 7-76, 8-77, 9-88, 10-102. eight batsmen failed to reach dou- Bowling: Prasad 6-0-25-2 (nb1; w3); Mal- ble figures as the tourists crum- inga 7-2-17-1 (w1); Mathews 5-0-11-0; bled in 32.1 overs after electing to Sri Lankan players pose with the trophy after winning the ODI series against Pakistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla yesterday. Herath 2.1-0-6-1; Perera 8-1-34-4 (w2); bat on the slow wicket. Prasanna 4-1-8-1. It was Pakistan’s lowest one- wickets early and could not get a Mathews said his team showed starting in November. had Mohammad Hafeez leg-before SRI LANKA day total on Sri Lankan soil, decent total.” character to bounce back after Pakistan never recovered after for one as the TV umpire upheld U Tharanga b Irfan ...... 14 falling below the 116 they made Misbah hoped Pakistan will losing the first match of the series losing opener Sharjeel Khan in the decision following a review by T Dilshan (not out) ...... 50 against New Zealand at the same perform better in their next in Hambantota. the third over, caught at second the batsman. K Sangakkara c Hafeez b Riaz ...... 2 venue in 2003. Test and one-day series against “We had to pull up our socks slip off Prasad. It soon became 55-5 by the 19th M Jayawardene c Hafeez b Ajmal ...... 26 Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Australia in the United Arab after that loss and we did that Prasad, who replaced the off- over when Misbah was run out for A Mathews (not out) ...... 0 Haq said it was not a difficult Emirates in October. quite well,” he said. “We gave form Nuwan Kulasekara, then 18 by a direct throw from Dilshan Extras (LB-7, W-5) ...... 12 wicket to bat on. “That is a really important Thisara (Perera) more opportu- had the other opener, Ahmed and Umar Akmal holed out off Total (for 3 wkts in 18.2 overs) ...... 104 “There was a bit of tennis- series and we need to find the nities in the series and he proved Shehzad, caught at mid-on to Perera for seven. Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-59, 3-100. ball bounce, but we should still right combination ahead of the himself with both bat and ball.” make it 14-2. The low total ruined any hopes Bowling: Irfan 7-0-37-1 (w2); Riaz 6-1-42-1 have scored about 240-250 runs,” World Cup,” he said. Sri Lanka next host England The third wicket fell at the Pakistan had of snatching a dra- (w2); Ajmal 4-0-10-1 (w1); Afridi 1.2-0-8-0. Misbah said. “We lost too many Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo for a seven-match one-day series same total when Lasith Malinga matic win with the help of their Clarke to India spin to win against England return for NOTTINGHAM: India’s spin- international wicket when he had ners again proved England’s Scoreboard Cook stumped down the legside undoing as the tourists won the by Dhoni. Australia in third one-day international at ENGLAND Cook, whom former England Trent Bridge yesterday by six A Cook st Dhoni b Rayudu ...... 44 team-mate Graeme Swann sug- Harare ODI wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the A Hales c Dhoni b Raina ...... 42 gested this week should quit one- five-match series. I Bell (run out-Sharma) ...... 28 day cricket because he scores too HARARE: Australia captain World champions India, chas- J Root st Dhoni b Jadeja ...... 2 slowly, took 65 balls to get his 44 Michael Clarke will return ing a modest 228 for victory, E Morgan c Dhoni b Ashwin ...... 10 runs yesterday. to action for today’s triangu- cruised to 228 for four with seven J Buttler b Ashwin ...... 42 Another Dhoni stumping, off lar series match against hosts overs to spare. B Stokes c Raina b Ashwin ...... 2 Jadeja, saw Joe Root fall for two. Zimbabwe after recovering from Ambati Rayudu, only playing C Woakes c Sharma b Shami ...... 15 Eoin Morgan (10) was also a hamstring strain, Cricket because of Rohit Sharma’s tour- J Tredwell c&b Kumar ...... 30 undone by spin, Ashwin turn- Australia said. ending finger injury, scored an S Finn (run out-Rayudu/Dhoni) ...... 6 ing the ball away from the left- Clarke will bat at number three ODI-best 64 not out. J Anderson (not out) ...... 0 hander and Dhoni holding the as Steve Smith sits out with Phil Together with Suresh Raina, Extras (LB-3, W-2, NB-1) ...... 6 edge to complete his fourth dis- Hughes retained as opener. who followed up his 100 in India’s Total (all out in 50 overs) ...... 227 missal of the innings. Clarke admitted Smith would equally dominant 133-run victory Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-93, 3-97, 4-120, An ambling Ian Bell (28) was feel hurt by his omission. in Cardiff on Wednesday with a 5-138, 6-149, 7-182, 8-202, 9-226. then run out by Mohit Sharma’s “He hasn’t had much of an run-a-ball 42, Rayudu put on 87 Bowling: Kumar 8-0-45-1 (1nb); Sharma dramatic direct hit from wide opportunity in this series bat- for the fourth wicket. 3-0-17-0; Shami 9-0-40-1 (1w); Ashwin 10- long-off. ting at six and seven, but he was But it was the first innings that 0-39-3; Raina 8-0-37-1; Rayudu 2-0-8-1 All-rounder Ben Stokes (two) picked in the (tournament’s) first decided the course of the match, (1w); Jadeja 10-0-38-1. added to his growing list of low squad as well so he’ll obviously be with England dismissed for a INDIA scores for England when Raina very disappointed,” Clarke told meagre 227 after losing the toss. A M Rahane c Buttler b Finn ...... 45 held a brilliant low, one-handed, reporters at yesterday’s training They were 82 without loss S Dhawan c Morgan b Woakes ...... 16 slip catch off Ashwin. session. thanks to under-fire captain V Kohli c Tredwell b Stokes ...... 40 Stokes’s exit left England 149 “But I got back in the team and Alastair Cook (44) and Alex Hales A T Rayudu (not out) ...... 64 for six and, unsurprisingly, the someone had to go.” (42). But England, as happened S K Raina c Woakes b Tredwell...... 42 lower order could not repair the Mitchell Marsh will drop down in Cardiff, again succumbed to R A Jadeja (not out) ...... 12 damage. the batting order to six but will spin as they lost three wickets Extras (LB-2, W-7) ...... 9 Ajinkya Rahane, promoted to probably get a chance to bowl with for 15 runs in six overs to be 97 Total (for 4 wkts in 43 overs) ...... 228 open in place of Rohit Sharma, the new ball as Mitchell Johnson for three. Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-85, 3-120, 4-207. showed his class with a text- is being rested. Off-spinner Ravichandran Bowling: J M Anderson 7-0-29-0 (2w); C R book cover-driven four off James All rounder Ben Cutting, who Ashwin, the Man-of-the-Match, Woakes 8-1-43-1; J C Tredwell 10-1-46-1; S Anderson. played the last of his three ODIs took three for 39, with only Jos T Finn 8-0-50-1 (2w); B A Stokes 6-0-31-1 Rahane made 45, featuring six more than 18 months ago, will Buttler (42), apart from Cook and (1w); J E Root 4-0-27-0 (1w). fours and a six, when fast bowler play his first match of the series at Hales, passing 40 in the innings. Steven Finn, playing his first the expense of Kane Richardson. England managed just one four start but, from 80-0, you expect international match in nearly a Nathan Lyon, who missed in 26 overs midway through their to get more than 230.” year, had him caught behind. Wednesday’s seven-wicket defeat innings and didn’t hit a six until As for England’s ongoing prob- Virat Kohli averaged just 13.4 in by South Africa, was recalled for the last over. lems against spin, Cook added: India’s preceding 3-1 Test series the match that will take place on “The spinners did it for us — “It’s something we’re not doing defeat and was out for a duck on spin-friendly conditions at the Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja very well at the moment but we’ve Wednesday. Harare Sports Club. bowled really well but also Raina’s got to keep working at it.” But he found his form with 40 Clarke suffered a left ham- spell was important,” India cap- England’s opening stand — his best score of a tough tour string strain during his first tain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told ended when Hales, on his — before flicking Stokes straight training session in Zimbabwe last Sky Sports. Nottinghamshire home ground, to Tredwell at mid-on. week and missed the 198-run vic- “Rayudu bowled and batted top-edged a sweep off Raina’s India were now 120 for three tory over the hosts on Monday well, he’s a good player of spin and sixth ball and was caught by wick- but the rarely troubled Rayudu and the defeat by South Africa we’re still looking for a number etkeeper Dhoni. went on to complete an impres- in the opening encounters of the four batsman to bat through the Hales had also fallen to the sive fifty when he deliberately triangular series. The 33-year- innings,” Dhoni added. sweep after making 40 on ODI uppercut Finn for his fifth four old, who is desperate to return to Man-of-the-Match Ravichandran Ashwin of India celebrates after For Cook it was an all-too debut in Cardiff and his exit was in 63 balls. competitive cricket after a four- dismissing England’s Ben Stokes during the third one-day international familiar scenario. the cue for England to again get The series continues at month break, endured intensive at Trent Bridge in Nottingham yesterday. “We didn’t play very well,” he bogged down against spin. Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground physiotherapy to regain match said. “We got off to another good Rayudu took his first on Tuesday. AFP fitness. REUTERS Sunday 31 August 2014 5 Dhu’l-Qa’da 1435 Volume 19 Number 6174 Sport Price: QR2

Sharapova Sri Lanka rout bucks upsets Pakistan to trend clinch series

Sport | 25 Sport | 27

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780

Everton’s goalkeeper Tim Howard (left) argues with Chelsea’s Diego Costa (centre) after the Spanish footballer scored a goal during their English Premier League match at Goodison Park in Liverpool yesterday. RIGHT: Stoke City’s Peter Crouch (left), Mame Diouf and Steven N’Zonzi (right) celebrate after defeating Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester yesterday. Manchester City lose at home as Chelsea hit Everton for six Goal-fest at Goodison Park; Di Maria shines but Burnley frustrate Manchester United

LONDON: Chelsea overpow- Coleman slid an Eden Hazard Senegalese striker Mame find the space, and that is credit Swansea finished the day level Southampton came from behind ered Everton 6-3 in a remark- cross into his own goal in the 67th Biram Diouf scored a memora- to Stoke.” on nine points with Chelsea after to win 3-1 at West Ham United. able game yesterday to preserve minute, it heralded a flurry of five ble solo goal as Stoke condemned British-record signing Angel extending their 100 percent record AFP their 100 percent record in goals in 10 minutes. defending champions Manchester di Maria made his Manchester by beating West Bromwich Albion the Premier League, after Two minutes later Steven City to their first defeat of the United debut earlier yesterday, 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium, where Premier League Manchester City were stunned Naismith hit back for the hosts season with a shock 1-0 win at but was unable to inspire his new Nathan Dyer claimed a brace. by Stoke City. to make it 3-2 and although the Etihad Stadium. side to victory as they drew 0-0 at Neil Warnock’s second stint Results Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea led Nemanja Matic then restored the The former Manchester promoted Burnley. as Crystal Palace manager began Results of English Premier 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2, but Everton kept visitors’ two-goal cushion, Samuel United forward struck in the A £59.7m acquisition from Real in thrilling fashion as Wilfried League matches yesterday coming back at them and it was Eto’o marked his first Everton 58th minute, picking up the ball Madrid, Di Maria started the Zaha marked his own return to Burnley 0 Manchester United 0 not until Diego Costa made it 6-3 appearance since leaving Chelsea in his own half and powering past game and produced some probing the club by scoring a 95th-minute Everton 3 (Mirallas 45, Naismith 69, Eto’o 76) with his second goal in the last by heading home. Aleksandar Kolarov and Vincent passes and darting runs, but he equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw at Chelsea 6 (Costa 1, 90, Ivanovic 3, Coleman minute that the home side finally Ramires gathered a pass from Kompany before squeezing a shot could not illuminate United’s path Newcastle United. 67-og, Matic 74, Ramires 77) admitted defeat at an enraptured Matic and toed the ball past between the legs of City goal- to goal against Sean Dyche’s side. Newcastle twice fell behind, Manchester City 0 Stoke 1 (Diouf 58) Goodison Park. Howard to make it 5-3, and after keeper Joe Hart. After a loss to Swansea, a draw but they looked to have secured Newcastle 3 (Janmaat 37, Aarons 73, Chelsea were 2-0 up inside Mirallas had hit the post, Costa It was only the second time at Sunderland and a 4-0 humilia- victory in the 88th minute when Williamson 88) Crystal Palace 3 (Gayle 1, three minutes, with Diego exploited an error from Everton City had failed to score at home tion by third-tier Milton Keynes Mike Williamson made it 3-2, Puncheon 48, Zaha 90+5) Costa tucking away a pass from substitute Muhamed Besic to in 71 league matches and only Dons in the League Cup, new only for Zaha — back at Palace QPR 1 (Austin 45) Sunderland 0 Cesc Fabregas after only 36 sec- complete the scoring with a classy their second home defeat since United manager Louis van Gaal on loan from Manchester United Swansea 3 (Dyer 2, 71, Routledge 24) West onds before Ramires teed up finish. May 2013. has now gone four competitive — to drill home deep into injury Brom 0 Branislav Ivanovic to drill a low The result left Chelsea as one “It’s a surprising defeat because games without recording a win. time. West Ham 1 (Noble 27) Southampton 3 shot past Everton goalkeeper Tim of only two teams to have won we don’t expect to lose against “We created chances, but you Elsewhere, a 45th-minute (Schneiderlin 45, 68, Pelle 83) Howard. their first three games, along Stoke, but these games some- have to score,” Van Gaal told BT Charlie Austin strike saw Queens Today’s matches But Kevin Mirallas reduced with Swansea City, although times happen,” said City manager Sport. “A club like Manchester Park Rangers claim their first vic- the arrears with a fine header Tottenham Hotspur can emulate Manuel Pellegrini. United has to win. We have tory of the season in a 1-0 win Aston Villa vs Hull (1230GMT) on the stroke of half-time and them with victory over Liverpool “We tried from everywhere. We two points from nine and that’s over Sunderland, while Morgan Leicester vs Arsenal (1400GMT) when Everton right-back Seamus today. are not very creative, we did not disappointing.” Schneiderlin scored twice as Tottenham vs Liverpool (1230GMT) Qatar team in Casablanca Lewandowski scores but Bayern held

BERLIN: Last season’s game but we had no more chances Bundesliga top scorer Robert after the 20th minute. I am frus- Lewandowski scored his first trated that we did not manage to competitive goal for new club hold on to our lead.” Bayern Munich but the champi- The draw eases the pressure on ons had to settle for a 1-1 draw Schalke coach Jens Keller, after at Schalke 04 yesterday. they were knocked out of the Despite having new signing German Cup by a third-tier side Xabi Alonso in the Bayern team and then lost their league opener 24 hours after he joined on a to Hanover 96 last week. two-year deal from Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen are top on they looked far from their best six points after conceding an as Schalke got their first point to own goal and twice coming from snap a two-game losing run with behind to beat Hertha Berlin 4-2 a gutsy second-half performance. yesterday to make it two wins out “At this moment in the season Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (extreme right) celebrates with his of two games. it is not possible to play over 90 team-mates after scoring a goal during a Bundesliga match against FC It was a terrible afternoon minutes the way we played in Schalke 04 at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, yesterday. for former European champions those first 25 minutes,” keeper Hamburg SV, who were crushed Manuel Neuer told reporters. touches than any other Bayern Bayern’s players protested that 3-0 at home by newcomers Lewandowski opened his player, confidently dictating their Hoewedes had touched the ball Paderborn and are still looking account when he flicked in a pass game from the back. with his hand but replays showed for their first win of the season. from Sebastian Rode in the 10th However, Bayern took their Alonso kicking the ball off the line Another promoted side Cologne minute as Bayern dominated. foot off the gas in the second half, and on to the charging Hoewedes. also enjoyed the afternoon by Members of the Qatar national football team arrive in Casablanca, The visitors, despite miss- with Schalke pressing higher and The draw put Bayern on four snatching a 2-0 win at VfB Morocco, yesterday. Qatar are scheduled to play a friendly against ing half a dozen players through earning a deserved equaliser when points from two games. Stuttgart while VfL Wolfsburg Morocco on Wednesday in preparation for the Gulf Cup of Nations, which injury, overran their opponents captain Benedikt Hoewedes bun- “I can’t say I am happy after and Eintracht Frankfurt shared will be held in Riyadh in November. in the first half with World Cup dled the ball over the line after this game,” said Bayern midfielder the points in a 2-2 draw. winner Alonso, who had more Alonso tried to clear. Thomas Mueller. “It was a tough REUTERS