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15 February 2014 15 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5976 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY

Syria set to miss key deadline AMSTERDAM: Syria has relin- quished only 11 percent of its chemi- cal weapons in three shipments and is on track to miss a midyear deadline to completely destroy the toxic stockpile, sources said yesterday. Syria should already have handed over the 1,300 tonnes of toxic chemi- cals declared to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the body overseeing the process with the United Nations under a Russian- American deal. The total shipped so far is a bit more than 140 tonnes. That includes only about five percent of the most toxic priority chemicals. See also page 9 Protesters, police clash in Bahrain

DUBAI: Bahraini protesters mark- ing the third anniversary of an Arab Spring-inspired uprising clashed with security forces yesterday in the capi- tal Manama and outlying villages, wit- nesses said. Hundreds of men and women took to the streets in parts of the capital and in Shia villages that have been at the fore- front of the campaign among the Gulf state’s Shia majority for a constitutional monarchy in the Sunni-ruled Gulf king- dom. They were met with tear gas and birdshot, the witnesses said, adding that several demonstrators were wounded. See also page 9 Italian Prime Minister Letta resigns

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta resigned yesterday, paving the way for 39-year-old centre-left leader Matteo Renzi to become Italy’s young- est-ever prime minister. PEOPLE’S MEDIA Letta submitted his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano after his own Democratic Party overwhelmingly backed a motion by its new leader Renzi calling for a new government. THE ISSUE Napolitano will hold two days of con- sultations leading to the appointment of a successor. The 39-year-old Renzi, whose In a region where freedom of now people have started talking politics and increasing. People can use different ways to PD is the biggest party in parliament, expression remains a dream issues concerning their daily lives more openly. express their opinion under different names, could be named premier as soon as this and the traditional media suffers Analysts point to several recent incidents in from different parts of the world. More restric- weekend. the Gulf countries where people successfully tions can lead to more misuse,” says Faisal See also page 10 from severe restrictions, social used social networking sites, especially Twitter, Al Marzouqi, a prominent Qatari writer and networking sites are fast emerging to mobilise public opinion on important issues. columnist. Nepal reduces as alternative forums for people to A campaign in Saudi Arabia demanding a sal- In his view, instead of trying to regulate ary hike for employees drew more than 17 mil- social media, the government should use this Everest fees express their views and concerns. lion tweets, according to some reports. Groups media to engage with people and address their of citizens in Qatar recently waged success- concerns. KATHMANDU: Nepal will cut climb- he Arab Spring revolutions that effec- ful campaigns through social networking sites “Government bodies should intervene imme- ing fees for Mount Everest to lure more tively used social media to mobilise seeking government action against unreason- diately through their social media accounts to Design: Abraham Augusthy Pic: Qassim Rahmatullah mountaineers to the world’s highest mass protests against oppressive able hikes in commodity prices and drawing scotch rumours circulating through this media. peak, already overcrowded during the Tregimes have accelerated this trend. public attention to several social and educa- Delayed government response would give more March to May peak climbing season. The number of social media enthusiasts in the tional issues. chance for rumours to spread, and once they Nepal now charges $25,000 per climber Arab world, including the Gulf countries, has Serious concerns have been raised in the spread widely, it will become difficult to correct as a licence fee, or royalty. But a group increased manifold after these revolutions. region about misuse of social media, leading them,” says a Bahraini social media enthusiast. of seven people can secure a permit for An increasing number of people in this region to efforts by some governments to control and According to Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud, $70,000, a practice that encourages climb- now view social media not as a source of enter- monitor it. Most Gulf countries have either laid Qatari novelist and columnist, there is a wrong ers to form big groups. tainment but as a forum for serious and critical down laws to regulate online media or are in the perception that people are always in conflict A Tourism Ministry official said each discussion of socio-political issues. It has been process of doing so. Preventing cybercrime is a with their governments. climber will be charged $11,000 from next pointed out that the interests and aspirations major objective of these regulations, but they “They are trying to raise issues concerning year to end the practice. The new rate will ofPAGE people in the Gulf, 6especially the youth, have are also seen by many as efforts to restrict the their daily lives. The solution is to address them apply for the peak season on the Southeast seen dramatic changes over the past few dec- freedoms enjoyed by citizens in cyberspace. properly,” says Al Mahmoud. Ridge. Permits for other routes and for the ades. Earlier, popular discourses were more “It is not easy to control social media, espe- See also page 2 rest of the year, when the mountain is vir- focused on cultural and religious issues, but cially when the number of users is continuously THE PENINSULA tually deserted, will cost as little as $2,500. AGENCIES

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home A forum for bold views . Qataris are increasingly using the social media to freely and courageously express their opinions on local and international issues.

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA confidence in traditional news by most people to raise issues and Materazzi. Faisal Al Marzouqi, of communication with different media on couples’ lives, she sources, and that’s why they give express opinions,” said a Qatari prominent Qatari writer and government bodies, people will stressed, is that it keeps each of ike in some other Arab comments after reading the news journalist. active Twitter user, believes social not resort to social media,” he them busy instead of giving time countries, in Qatar through social media. In Qatar, no issue has been left media has been very influential said. to each other, which frequently social media, especially and effective in Qatar and other He cited the case of Malaysia causes mistrust and sometimes LTwitter, has become the Arab countries. and South Korea, where govern- leads to divorce. most important platform for the “This means social media has ment entities have social media In addition, social media affects local community to convey news, exceeded the traditional media, accounts, so people can communi- people’s habit of reading books express its views and voice its political organisations, political cate with top government officials and newspapers, she said. concerns on issues that concern parties and civil organisations and express their opinion and Dr Moza Al Malki, psychiatric it — be they social, educational, because just one tweet can affect the government considers their consultant, said social media’s political or any other. Gone are economic and political activity opinion. positive and negative aspects the days when the traditional Some officials think that social and invite immediate reactions Al Marzouqi was of the same depend on the person using it. media — both print and elec- media users are in conflict with on issues,” he said. view, saying, “if there is a means Regarding social media’s effect tronic — had to be relied on to The social media works fast, that facilitates communication on couples’ relationships, she said get news and views. The public is the government.... If there are Marzouqi added, “something between officials and society when TV and mobile phone first fully aware that the traditional enough means of communication which could not be done by tradi- members, people may not need appeared, people blamed them for media have severe limitations tional media or political organsa- to use the social media widely.” their problems, and the same is and cannot cross red lines while with different government bodies, tions. Therefore, the social media He said it would not be easy happening with social media. reporting on events. This is where people will not resort to social has changed perceptions about to control social media with laws “The problem is not modern social media — where there are media. — Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud the media and is affecting the because people would resort to technology but rather the user’s no boundaries, no censorship and decision-making process because using codes and different names, behaviour. Keeping away from which is more popular than tradi- of its huge influence.” and this could lead to misuse of these devices is not the solution tional media — comes in. Sometimes people from dif- social media. because people have to use The popularity of social media ferent Arab countries take sides However, a few believe social them, but they have to use them among Qataris can be gauged on Twitter and engage in heated media plays a negative role positively.” from two facts: First, the huge arguments. For example, after Dr in family affairs and harms At a recent conference, Ibrahim increase in the number of its Yusuf Al Qaradawi’s critical state- relationships. Al Naimi, chairman of the board users, and secondly, the kind of ments about the UAE in a Friday One of the negative influences of directors of Doha Centre for issues discussed on this platform. sermon in Doha, people support- of social media on Qatari society Interfaith Dialogue, underscored According to the Arab Social ing and opposing his views were has been that it has reduced the the important role played by Media Report, released by the engaged in an angry and heated frequency of people visiting rela- social media in people’s lives, in Dubai School of Government, the debate on Twitter. tives and joining social gather- particular its role in Arab Spring. total number of Facebook users untouched on social One advantage of the social ings, according to Dr Munira Al He said social media must in the Arab world at the end of media — be it social media is that it builds common May 2013 was 54,552,875, up from services, education, understanding and creates aware- 45,194,452 in June 2012. health, municipalities’ ness through open discussion of Out of 22 Arab countries, Qatar activities, traffic, and issues of common concern. ranked fourth in Facebook pen- projects and issues “I don’t agree with the idea etration, with the United Arab that affect people’s that social media is the source of Emirates occupying the top daily lives. Events rumours because the immediate position. A big chunk of Qatar’s in Egypt, Iraq and reaction from Twitter users on a Social media has exceeded population used Facebook, and Syria are discussed specific issue prevents the spread the traditional media, political 54 percent of them were aged on a daily basis and of rumours and corrects wrong organisations, political parties between 15 and 29 years, with the people freely express information immediately,” said Al majority (72 percent) being male. “They have to express their their views. Marzouqi. and civil organisations because The total number of active ideas, whether they agree or For example, more than 4,000 Many GCC citizens use social just one tweet can affect Twitter users in the Arab world, oppose or add or correct infor- tweets in a few days led to the media because smartphones pro- economic and political activity the report said, was 3,766,160. mation,” he noted. removal of French artist Adel vide easy Internet access and they Qatar ranked fifth in both Though social media includes Abdessemed’s “Coup de Tete” feel free to talk through social and invite immediate reactions Twitter penetration and number both Facebook and Twitter, it statue from the Corniche. The media, he added. on issues. — Faisal Al Marzouqi of tweets in the Arab world. And is Twitter that is widely used large sculpture showed Algerian- At the same time, the huge the number is rising dramatically. by Qataris. “Facebook is seen as French football player Zinedine influence and the increasing As people have easy access to catering more to the youth, while Zidane’s infamous head butt popularity of this medium has the Internet, they are getting Twitter is more serious and used against Italian footballer Marco sparked concern among govern- aware of the importance of using ments, which have been taking social media as a source of infor- measures to minimise its use and mation and a means of sociali- Qatar: Users of social media control its influence. sation, providing services and In December 2012, the UAE addressing issues. government issued an anti-cyber- In a poll conducted by the • Qatar tops the region in terms of youth using crime law which carries a penalty Dubai School of Government, of three years’ imprisonment for not be used to create 28 percent of the respondents social media. anyone who criticises the presi- hate, discriminate said their main source of news • New users of Facebook reached 366,840 dent, his deputy or the governors and destabilise was social media while another in 2012, 70 percent of them being male. of the seven emirates online. In communities, and urged 28 percent preferred traditional July the same year, the Bahrain respect for all faiths in media. • Qatar ranked eighth in terms of users of government took action against social media. Giving his views on the use of LinkedIn as a proportion of the country’s activists using social media. Also In the coming days, social media in the Arab world, the same year, a Kuwaiti court the role of social media Qatari novelist and column- population, which was 46 percent in 2012. sentenced a social media activist is expected to increase ist Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud says • Active users of Twitter during the same to 10 years in prison. Saudi Arabia in Qatar and the region unlike in the West, Arabs lack also has an anti-cybercrime law and people will express period numbered 58,631. that is being implemented strictly. their views more freely Source: www.digitalqatar.qa, published on May 21, 2013 According to Al Mahmoud, and without fear. the anti-cybercrime laws issued According to a New in the UAE and Saudi Arabia did York Times report, in not take into consideration the Rumaihi, professor of sociology at Saudi Arabia, a campaign that real nature of social media and Qatar University. supported women’s right to drive the Internet. “They are dealing During holidays like Eid, people generated more than 600,000 with social media as if it were tra- use text messages and social tweets, attracting international ditional media like newspapers. media instead of visiting relatives. attention. Social media users are clever Even when they are together, A third of Saudi Internet users enough and use fake names to social media becomes the subject access Twitter each month, the avoid the law,” he said. of discussion, she observed. largest proportion in the world, Governments also resort to She recommends parents according to data from PeerReach. social media to directly or indi- closely watching their children’s YouTube and Instagram are the rectly find out people’s opinions, use of social media to ensure other two most popular social which is a good thing, he said. their behaviour is not affected media sites in the kingdom. “Some officials think that negatively. “Not only does social According to Saudi journalist social media users are in conflict media affect relations in life, but Jamal Khashoggi, the influence with the government, but the also occupies the third position of Twitter and Facebook and fact is that they are concerned among things people spend their the change taking place in Saudi with issues affecting their daily time on, after home and work or Arabia via social media has never lives, such as government serv- school.” been seen before in the kingdom. ices. If there are enough means One negative effect of social THE PENINSULA Home FEBRUARY 15, 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 ON SATURDAY Emir meets President Gul, PM Erdogan in Turkey

DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the Presidential Palace in Ankara yesterday morning and reviewed cooperation and latest regional developments. The Emir, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was in Turkey on a working visit. On arrival, the Emir was wel- comed at Esenboga International Airport by Ankara Governor Aladdin Yuksel, Qatar’s Ambassador, Salem Mubarak Shafi Al Shafi, and Qatari embassy officials. Later, the Emir flew to Istanbul. He was welcomed at Ataturk International Airport by the Minister of Energy, Taner Yildiz, and Istanbul Governor, Huseyin Avni. The Emir met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed relations and the situation in the Middle East, especially developments in Syria. The Emir also attended a luncheon hosted by Erdogan in The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani holding talks with Gul in Ankara and (right) with Erdogan in Istanbul. his honour. QNA

Qatar to attend GCC anti-corruption meet DOHA: The Administrative Control and Transparency Authority will Government intervention sought to take part in the first meeting of chiefs of anti-corruption agencies in the GCC member states, due to open in Kuwait tomorrow. Qatar’s delegation will be led by the Chairman of the Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah. GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani expedite ambulance stations project will also attend. The meeting is part of efforts by the GCC governments to unify visions and share experiences to promote integrity and fight cor- DOHA: The Central Municipal Council The CMC, in its earlier sessions, raised Authority (Ashghal) for the early launch of ruption. It will discuss cooperation and coordination, consultation and (CMC) has sought government interven- concerns about ambulance service on time. the project, Al Malki, also Head of Services exchange of information and expertise among anti-corruption authorities. tion in the issue of launching permanent For want of permanent stations outside and Public Facility, told Al Sharq. stations for ambulances and air ambu- Doha, the service is not available on time Ashghal said it was working with HMC Moldova Deputy PM meets Qatari envoy lances outside Doha. in the event of any accidents or causalities to develop a perfect design for the proposed Over one year has passed since the in these areas, especially during the peak ambulance stations. However, the council CHISINAU: Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Ministry of Municipality and Urban hours when the roads experience heavy feels that concerned authorities are soft- Affairs and European Integration, Natalia Gherman, yesterday met Planning identified sites for developing per- traffic, councillors said during sessions. pedalling on the matter. Qatari Ambassador Mohamed Ali Al Malki and reviewed relations. manent stations at 26 locations across the In response to a submission by the CMC It is against this backdrop the CMC has country. But there has been little progress more than a year ago, the ministry said it sought government intervention to expedite Qatar-Tunisia relations reviewed in the project, CMC Deputy Chairman had already identified 26 sites for developing project work. Jassim Al Malki said. permanents stations for ambulances and air The council also stressed the need for TUNIS: Tunisia’s Minister of Transport Shihab bin Ahmed yesterday Currently, air ambulances and a large ambulances. Ashghal to accelerate design work. It said met Qatar’s Ambassador Abdullah bin Nasser Al Humaidi and discussed contingent of Hamad Medical Corporation’s The ministry said it was coordinating the ministry should also speed up manda- means of developing cooperation in the transportation sector. (HMC) ambulance fleet are stationed at the with concerned ministries and government tory procedures for handing over plots to QNA HMC headquarters. agencies like HMC and the Public Works concerned agencies. THE PENINSULA FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Kenya tourism road show Third group enters Al Galayel woos visitors from Qatar DOHA: Kenya’s Tourism Board showcased its Middle East-focused Championship at Alerayk today offerings at a road show for Qatar’s tours and travel companies at W Doha Hotel on Thursday. Four teams of camel riders to hunt animals in reserved area The board’s Corporate Communications Manager, Wausi DOHA: The third group of Walya, (pictured) )said Kenya camel riders in Al Galayel received 2,400 tourists from Qatar Championship will start hunt- in 2013, of whom 30 percent were ing animals from today at expats. “We are targeting 10,000 visi- Alerayk reserved area. tors from Qatar in the next couple The group, which entered of years.” the area on Thursday, include With wildlife, snow-capped moun- Al Adam, Bu Hadi, Al Sylalia tains, marine parks and reserves, and Aljadi teams. beaches and safari products, Kenya’s Each team comprises six to products are diverse and exciting but nine members and is headed the problem is this region is quite by a leader. They have set up unaware of them. “Our idea is to camps at locations selected by roll out activities in Qatar. We are Walya said Kenya’s tourism sec- their leaders. also planning to showcase special tor has been witnessing huge foreign The competition continues products for Qatar’s high net worth investment flow over the past few until this month-end. The first income people.” years, which shows foreign confi- team took part on February 4 At the World Travel Awards in dence in the sector. and the second on February 9. Doha last year, Kenya was voted the Major facilities opened in Kenya Registration started last ‘Best Safari Destination’. Kenyan over the last two years include September. Of 20 teams regis- The competition continues until this month-end. beaches have been ranked the world’s Malindi resort by Italian billion- tered, 16 have qualified for the 10th best. The country has diversi- aire Flavio, Mahali Pazuri in the second stage of the completion. fied its offerings and become a com- Maasai Mara Game Reserve-owned Participants have been divided set by the organising commit- Al Sheikh Al Kuwari, General other countries also praised petitive sport and adventure tourism by Richard Branson, Villa Rosa in four groups, each with four tee for the competition and said Coordinator of the competition efforts and said it is one of the destination. Kempinski in Nairobi, Hemingways teams. delegates enjoyed to know about He briefed delegates on stages traditional sports. The competi- Walya said Kenya witnessed 44,000 Karen in Nairobi, Eka Hotel and The Many Arab and foreign the sport. of the competition, rules and the tion is a good way to remind the visitors from Dubai last year while Boma in Nairobi. delegates visited Al Galayel They said the successful host- camping system. new generation about their cus- the tourist flow from the UAE has “The vision is to transform Kenya headquarters and praised ing of the competition would Two Britons also visited Al toms and traditions, they said, been almost growing 100 percent. as a middle-income economy and preparations. bolster Qatar’s image at regional Galayel headquarters to know adding such sports teach people On the impact of the Westgate tourism will be the key pillar to A Spanish delegation from and international levels. about the competition, Al Sharq how to be patient and keep try- Mall attack on Kenya’s tourism sec- achieve it.” International Organisation for The delegation was accom- reports. ing without losing hope. tor, she said international arrivals Kenya continues investing in tour- Falconers praised the standards panied by Ali bin Mohamed Delegations from Arab and THE PENINSULA dropped a bit immediately after the ism development to attract an aver- incident, but have started picking up. age of three million visitors by 2017 “Safety is not an issue. The service and the board’s focus is on highlight- of tourism police is always available ing the country’s positive story. for visitors.” THE PENINSULA Aspire hosts Nike All Asia Football Camp

DOHA: Aspire Academy hosted some of Asia’s top young footballers last week as part of the Nike All Asia Football Camp. Training sessions and talent showcases for representatives from some of Europe’s leading clubs were held. The international training event was an elite programme that gave young Asian foot- ballers the chance to train with European coaches, dem- onstrate skills to delegations from Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Inter Milan and meet peers from other countries. Ivan Bravo, Director General of Academy, said, “We are very pleased to host young Asian footballers. The importance of Jaidah flyover partially shut the training is not only the fact that coaches from European DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will partially close the Leagues get to identify future Phase-2 of Jaidah flyover for two weeks beginning today. stars of football, but also their The closure of the west-bound lane of the flyover towards Jabor Bin Ahmed visit gives them a closer look at A training session in progress at the camp. Intersection (Ramada Signal) and the Industrial Area is in connection with amazing sporting facilities at maintenance works. THE PENINSULA the academy, giving them a feel of the future in Qatar.” talent here, physical fitness of amazing facility. My dream is to of the love in the Gulf, especially He said the camp was a these Asian players is average one day play professional foot- Qatar.” chance for the youth to access compared to that we see in ball for a European club and this Brian McClair, Manchester Aspire’s facilities and train Europe.” experience has made it some- United’s Academy Director alongside top-class coaches. For Bidyananda Singh who what possible.” and former club striker, said, Comparing Asian players’ fit- plays for India’s National Under- With Asia attempting to “The event has been a unique ness to their peers in Europe, 17 team, the trip to Aspire drove establish itself as a hub of young opportunity for us to meet and Coach Paolo Migliavacca from his ambition of one day playing footballing talent, the 60-strong observe some of the best young Inter Milan said, “The camp professionally for a European group at the camp represented players Asia has to offer. It has has been a great opportunity club even more. some of the world’s finest teen- been a privilege for me to wit- to examine Asian football, and “It has been an honour to play age players from 11 countries in ness first-hand some of the stars although I have seen a lot of at Aspire because it is such an the region. THE PENINSULA

Traffic chaos

Traffic jam on the road from Jaidah flyover to Ramada because of the first phase of maintenance work on the flyover which ended yesterday. ABDUL BASIT FEBRUARY 15, 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 ON SATURDAY

Shaival Dalal Hot wheels

HE fifth round of Arabian Drag Racing League was Theld over the past two days at Qatar Racing Club. Fans enjoyed watching dragsters, funny cars, bikes and modified cars race down the quarter-mile strip in what is billed as the ‘Fastest Motor Sport in the World’, as the smell of burning rubber and nitro hung over the venue. Along with the main event, there were other attractions for the spectators, including kids go kart, kids zone, a car show and a stunt show. FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Views

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Changing the course Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

oes Barack Obama have a strategy on Syria? If he has one, it’s time for him to explain what it is, because the people in this region still thinks that he Dis yet to approach the issue with the seriousness it deserves. Where is Microsoft Bing’s The statement the president made on Tuesday shows that he is not sure where he stands. At a news conference with French President Francois Hollande, Mr. Obama described the Syrian conflict as ‘one of our highest national security transparency report? priorities. He admitted that his diplomatic strategy is far from achieving” its aim of a political solution, while “we still have BY REBECCA MACKINNON in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other world, not just in China. a horrendous situation on the ground.” The same president Chinese communities outside of main- Google apparently identified this had dismissed five months ago Syria as ‘someone else’s civil ICROSOFT was land China) I get almost entirely non- problem some years ago and found war’. Obama’s view is also shared by Secretary of State John F accused this week of mainland content including Tibetan a solution. Most likely that solution Kerry who is reported to have privately acknowledged that the extending the Chinese exile websites and others supporting involved some mathematical means US policy is failing even as the threat to US interests grows. Mgovernment’sinternet cen- the Dalai Lama. of compensating for the traffic imbal- The cornerstone of Obama’s policy on Syria has been to sorship regime to the rest of the world Then I search “Dalai Lama” in both ance between websites located inside through its Bingsearch engine. I don’t simplified and traditional Chinese mainland China (with critical content avoid getting dragged into another conflict in the Middle East. believe that Microsoft intended to do characters on Google. The results also deleted) and those simplified Chinese The US public has no appetite for any military involvements that, but the company is by no means differ for each because the traditional websites based outside of China that abroad, especially when the operation in Afghanistan is off the hook. search favors content from Hong Kong are blocked – and thus denied the same winding down. While this position is certainly understandable, After conducting my own research, and Taiwan. But Google’s top simpli- levels of traffic and links from China’s Obama’s policy on Syria has been ad hoc and unwise. Getting running my own tests, and drawing fied Chinese results nonetheless include nearly 600 million internet users. It’s involved doesn’t always mean military involvement. What upon nearly a decade of experience links to websites created and operated not clear why Microsoft didn’t take the studying Chinese internet censorship, I by organizations based outside of China problem more seriously when it was the president had done actually have concluded that what several activ- – like Wikipedia, Voice of America and first identified in 2009 by New York has been watch the war like a ists and journalists have described as exiled Tibetan organizations. Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. spectator watching some games, censorship on Bing is actually what Search algorithms are indeed com- Microsoft claimed then that it was There are signs and even if Washington had made one might call “second hand censor- plicated and no company gives away working to addresswhat it described as some sincere efforts to resolve the ship”. Basically, its “secret sauce”. But they all rely technical issues. One charitable theory Microsoft failed heavily on the number of inbound might be that its engineers got busy conflict, they can be considered as that Obama is to consider the links to a website as well as its “click with other priorities and their manag- feeble and half-hearted considering consequences of through” traffic numbers. The real- ers forgot to follow up, and no reporters rethinking his the ferocity of this conflict. It’s this blindly apply- ity is that due to the massive size of or activists reminded them about the Syria policy. policy which had brought Syria ing apolitical China’s internet users, incoming links problem again – until now. where it is today, and it some US mathematical and click-throughs for the most popu- As a member of the Global Network But he must officials are admitting the mistake, Bing’s search algorithms to lar mainland-based websites can be Initiative, Microsoft has made clear politically orders of magnitude greater than some commitments to freedom of expres- consult his it has come too late. algorithm is manipulated and the most popular websites in North sion and privacy. It just underwent an The cruelties being committed censored web America and western Europe. assessment certifying that it has put allies in this by Bashar Al Assad’s forces, even failing to protect content. Websites contradicting the CCP’s policies and practices in place to respect as peace talks faltered in Geneva, online freedom From my desk worldview tend to be blocked in main- users’ rights. It is part of a coalition region before could be influencing Obama’s in Washington land China, which means that the fighting hard against theNSA’s abuse thinking. Secondly, Washington is DC, when I number of people clicking through to of surveillance powers. It recently making up his of expression. enter terms into simplified Chinese language websites overhauled the way that Skype works finding that the jihadists in Syria Microsoft can – Bing in simpli- based outside of China is inevitably in China to boost user privacy protec- mind. could pose a threat to its security fied Chinese (the lower. tions. For now, I am giving the company and interests. Top intelligence and should – do written language The algorithm deployed by Bing may the benefit of the doubt. officials Director of National used primarily in be mathematically sound, but it fails But if Microsoft wants people to Intelligence James R Clapper Jr and better on China. mainlandChina) to protect online freedom of expres- believe its denials of active censor- on subjects the sion. Bing failed to take into account ship, it must be more transparent CIA Director John Brennan, said that Al Qaeda is developing Chinese govern- the political reality of Chinese govern- about how Bing interacts with gov- a refuge in eastern Syria that could be used to launch attacks ment censors ment censorship and its broader impact ernments. A first step would be to against the United States. heavily like “Dalai on the shape of the Chinese internet. follow Google’s example and publish a Obama said: “Right now we don’t think there’s a military Lama”, the links Without adjustments to how simplified “Transparency Report” with data on solution per se . . . but the situation is fluid and we are I get from Bing are mainly from web- Chinese websites based outside of main- the number of government censorship continuing to explore every possible avenue to solve this sites created and run from mainland land China are “weighted,” exiled and requests Bing receives – and complies China. In accordance to Chinese gov- dissident online voices inevitably lose with – around the world. Even more problem.” This is definitely good news. The key to finding a ernment requirements, they are all cen- out. Put it another way: an apolitical urgently, Bing must bring its techni- solution to any issue is to first realize that there is an issue. sored and skewed to favor the Chinese mathematical formula automatically cal systems and algorithms into bet- The president needs to consult his allies in this region before Communist Party’s worldview. However amplifies Chinese government censor- ter alignment with Microsoft’s human deciding on his future course of action. Any delay will have when I enter “Dalai Lama” in tradi- ship to all people searching for simpli- rights commitments. more serious consequences• tional Chinese characters (used mainly fied Chinese content anywhere in the THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of A blot on democracy the day ITH the Lok Sabha Rajagopal had managed to affect and moved to bring a no-trust motion into silence. If a lawmaker can behave gearing for the tabling at least three peers, who have had against the United Progressive Alliance in such an outrageous manner in parlia- of a bill that would pave to seek medical care. Though the government headed by the Congress, ment when the eye of the nation is on Wthe way for the creation Indian parliament is no stranger to the party retaliated by expelling all him, it is a frightening thought to even of the new, controversial Telangana pandemonium and scenes of noisy six. Since the expulsion, the MPs think what he could be then capable We will confront state from the existing southern state altercations and jostling are only too have become loose cannons with no of in private. With the elections just incitement and calls of Andhra Pradesh, two members of common, Rajagopal’s act is still beyond accountability. months away, this violence and intol- parliament chose means to disrupt the the pale. It provoked Parliamentary The pepper spraying in parliament erance is likely to reach a crescendo in to drag Lebanese, proceedings in ways that shocked even Affairs Minister Kamal Nath to regret underscores the growing intolerance the days to come. In the past, both the particularly the Sunnis, a nation used to all kinds of antics by the happenings as “a big blot” on in India’s political climate. Gentlemen’s Congress and other parties deliberately its politicians. While a lawmaker from India’s parliamentary democracy. agreements to disagree in a civilised nurtured anti-social elements to bring into crazy wars with a regional party broke the Speaker’s Rajagopal happens to be a maverick and democratic manner are becoming under control by force what could not no use other than to microphone, the second, an expelled member of the Congress who refused a thing of the past. More and more poli- be done legitimately. In doing so, they pull Lebanon into a MP from the ruling Congress party, to toe the party line on the Telangana ticians are resorting to abuse, threats created a Frankenstein’s monster that let loose with a pepper spray. Before issue. After he and five other legislators and downright violence to coerce any now threatens to attack its masters. sectarian holocaust. Saad Al Hariri he was overpowered, Lagadapati opposed the creation of the new state opposition to their plans or ambitions Khaleej Times Former Lebanese Premier FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Views www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 ON SATURDAY The reason US is not in Syria is Iran Indeed, the last thing Obama wants or can afford now is direct military intervention in Syria that would lead to a proxy war. BY AARON DAVID MILLER president’s caution that he almost never mentions -- and it may be one of the most here are many reasons that compelling. Not surprisingly, it is deriva- President Barack Obama tive of Obama’s most important foreign- doesn’t want to get involved policy objective in the Middle East: a in Syria. And when I say nuclear deal with Iran. involved, I’m not talking Aside from another Al Qaeda attack on Tabout providing humanitarian assistance the homeland, Iran is the only foreign- or participating in the Geneva process. policy issue that has the power to mess I mean significantly militarizing the US up the remaining years of Obama’s presi- role by either supporting the opposition dency. If diplomacy fails and Iran moves with sophisticated military equipment to break out and weaponise, or even come or by directly applying US military force close to being able to make a deliverable -- or both. weapon, the risks of three very unpleas- It’s also been clear for some time now ant things happening go up: first, Obama that the president’s eminently defensi- getting blamed for being the leader on ble policy of not getting involved in Syria whose watch the mullahs got the bomb; cannot possibly work -- if working means second, Israel striking Iran; and third, pressuring President Bashar Assad to America having to do the same thing, leave power and ending Syria’s civil war. or getting dragged into an Israeli-Iran John Kerry’s comments about the policy’s fight. The first development would leave limits, continued humanitarian horrors Obama looking poor in the legacy depart- on the ground, the failing Geneva effort, ment, weak and outfoxed. The latter two and Damascus’s foot-dragging on chemi- events would open up a box of very bad cal weapons only offer new confirmation juju -- and would risk things like plung- that, by doing nothing, the United States ing financial markets, rising oil prices, Iranian president Hassan Rowhani said the West should set up a new pair of glasses and see Iran as a new partner and not as a threat. He is changing nothing. attacks on US forces in Afghanistan, and reassured again that the Iranian nuclear programme is peaceful and a definitive end to the nuclear dispute could lead to new cooperation Yet it is more than likely that no proxy terror. between Tehran and the West. real shift in America’s limited, risk- So, if at all possible, avoiding a con- averse strategy on Syria is in the offing. frontation with Iran is the president’s be more constrained and less of a threat, factor in his cautious approach to the decision -- what a surprise.) Obama has been stunningly clear on why. core goal in the Middle East. (And, if I’m and that it will scale back its nuclear ongoing civil war. Indeed, it stretches The pressing question now is whether, Indeed, reading David Remnick’s New reading him correctly, he also believes it weapons ambitions. the bounds of credulity to suggest that, having made his policy choices, Obama Yorker interview with the president, it might have the fringe benefit of helping This is an interesting take -- and last September, when war clouds were can actually achieve his two Middle East is refreshing to hear such honesty and stabilise the region.) essentially great game strategy. It is gathering over Assad’s use of chemi- priorities: to get Assad to the negotiating clarity -- whether you agree with the Where does Syria fit into all of this? also rooted in the assumption that Syria cal weapons, Obama’s Iran calculus did table where he can be convinced to give policy or not. Simply put, to have any chance of isn’t a vital Iranian interest and that not figure into his reluctance to use up his rule, and to halt Iran’s nuclear “I am haunted by what’s happened. I getting things done with Iran, America backing Sunnis will make Iran nerv- force in Syria. At the time, a secret ambitions. am not haunted by my decision not to needs to be talking with the Iranians -- ous and more compliant. But while it is US-Iranian negotiating channel was Based on my time in government engage in another Middle Eastern war. not shooting at them in Syria or any- true that Syria isn’t as vital to Iran as already operating. and the world in which we live, I very It is very difficult to imagine a scenario where else. Indeed, the last thing Obama Iraq, it is still very important. Without It’s no surprise why the president much doubt Obama will succeed. These in which our involvement in Syria would wants or can afford now is direct military a friendly regime in Damascus, the wouldn’t want to acknowledge Iran days, that kind of heroic diplomacy just have led to a better outcome, short of us intervention in Syria that would lead to mullahs really don’t have much access explicitly in his Syria policy. If he did, doesn’t seem possible. I can only hope being willing to undertake an effort in a proxy war; kill Iranian Revolutionary to Lebanon or Shia allies. The other it would appear that he was sacrificing that the Iranian thing actually works size and scope similar to what we did in Guard units assisting Assad’s forces; assumption is much shakier. You could moral, humanitarian goals for a colder, out. Otherwise, Obama’s critics will be Iraq. And when I hear people suggest- or convince Tehran that US policy is make an argument that a strategy of strategic purpose and making nice with all over him for failing in two Middle ing that somehow if we had just financed designed to encircle Syria’s Shia regime encirclement could actually acceler- Iran while the mullahs help Assad perpe- Eastern countries -- and the world will be and armed the opposition earlier, that with a US-backed Sunni arc of pressure. ate Iranian nuclear ambitions as the trate atrocities. This would only rile his left with a bunch of mullahs with nukes somehow Assad would be gone by now Critics of the president’s Iran and Sunni-US noose tightens. critics even more. (The reality, of course, and a Syrian regime that continues to and we’d have a peaceful transition, it’s Syria policy want him to pursue these Can I prove that Obama’s Syria policy is that our Syria policy is amoral but not perpetrate wrongs, defying both US and magical thinking.” objectives. Their argument holds that, is held hostage to his Iran gambit? No. necessarily immoral. We are taking other international sanction. Yet there is one reason for the if America brings Assad down, Iran will But Iran is unquestionably an important considerations into account to make a WP-BLOOMBERG Tea Leaf Nation: Taiwan in my mind Five reasons ex-Al Qaeda group’s currency is fake To many Chinese, whether Taiwan BY T Y MCCORMICK is part of China is not only a t’s been a roller coaster year so far for the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS), one of several extremist organiza- political question, it’s a moral one. tions operating in Syria and Iraq in the hopes of establishing BY YUERAN ZHANG about a group of mainland stu- Ian Islamic caliphate. The group notched a major military vic- dents at an overseas conference. tory in early January when it seized control of the key Iraqi cities have always found it diffi- When they realised that the of Fallujah and Ramadi. cult to talk about Taiwan. conference’s map of China did But even as ISIS’s trademark pennant flew above parts of Iraq’s Growing up in mainland not include Taiwan, the students Anbar province, the group began to lose ground in Syria, where it had IChina, I heard about it all repeatedly insisted on the need to carved out a major foothold in the north. the time: in newspapers, on soapy replace the map with a correct one, ISIS has since seen rival opposition groups turn against it, lost one television miniseries, and in my until the organisers yielded. I can- of its top military commanders, and been expelled from Al Qaeda. history classes. Yet all the while, I not remember whether I read the Then came the news that an ISIS operative in Iraq killed himself felt totally estranged and discon- anecdote in a textbook or heard and 21 would-be suicide bombers in a bomb-making lesson gone wrong. nected from an island that sits a it from a teacher, but during dis- But if ISIS has lost some of its military momentum in recent weeks, mere 110 miles off China’s coast. cussions in high school, I learned it may have taken an important -- if largely symbolic -- step toward When I read about the that nearly all of my classmates sovereignty: issuing official bank notes, which are reportedly in cir- February 11 meeting between had heard the same thing: a testa- culation in Anbar. mainland Chinese and Taiwanese ment to the tale’s popularity and Unfortunately for ISIS, the whole thing is almost certainly a hoax. officials in the mainland city of far-reaching influence. Here’s why: Nanjing -- the first formal meet- The underlying message is 1) ISIS got its own name wrong. ing in 65 years -- I had flashbacks plain and simple: Taiwan is a The banknote is marked “Islamic State in Iraq” in both English and to all I had been taught about that part of China, and every Chinese Taiwanese official Wang Yu-chi (left) with his Chinese counterpart Zhang Arabic, but the group’s official name is the Islamic State of Iraq and politicised word, “Taiwan.” citizen is obliged to defend the Zhijun at the start of their meeting in Nanjing on Tuesday. Al Sham. According to Adam Heffez, a researcher at the Washington As a child in the 2000s in Beijing, dignity of his or her country. To Institute for Near East Policy, “ISIS lately has tried to maintain its the first thing I remember learn- many Chinese, whether Taiwan understanding of the reality on minds of mainland Chinese, the footprint in the Levant in light of recent events, so it seems unlikely ing about Taiwan was that it was is part of China is not only a the ground, mean that while most concept of Taiwan is still abstract, that they would exclude ‘Al Sham’ from this note.” a part of China, one that reflected, political question -- it’s a moral of us from the mainland think symbolic and highly politicised. 2) Pounds versus dinars. somehow, on China’s national one. After Taiwan’s ex-president Taiwan is part of China, we can’t The opportunity to travel to The supposed ISIS banknote is worth “one Islamic hundred pounds.” glory. Later, as part of my high Lee Tenghui and then-President actually feel that it is. Taiwan and witness the place But as various experts have pointed out, the Iraqi currency is the dinar. school curriculum, I learned that Chen Shuibian made a series of I find it harder to relate to firsthand has brought about a Maybe ISIS is trying to make a larger statement by abandoning the Taiwan symbolised China’s his- remarks in favour of Taiwanese events in Taiwan than to those fundamental change in my own dinar, but it seems more likely that the author of this hoax simply made tory of humiliation and civil war, independence in 2003, my ele- happening to my people. I think my conception of the island. Starting a careless mistake. And that isn’t the only mistake: As far as trans- and that the Qing Dynasty ceded mentary school class organised a experience is typical: Taiwan feels in 2011, residents in China’s large lations go, the syntax of “one Islamic hundred pounds” is just awful. Taiwan to Japan as a colony in meeting to denounce them. One like a disconnected independent cities could visit Taiwan without a 3) The note uses both Arabic and English. 1894, after a crushing defeat in a by one, we stood up to make short state to most Chinese, regardless tour group; I took advantage, and Al Qaeda hasn’t shied away from using English in its propaganda naval battle. Japan returned the speeches about Taiwan, a place of whether they believe Taiwan is, made a trip there in August 2012. efforts -- Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, for example, publishes island after Japan’s defeat in World we had never visited or knew or ought to be, part of China. The second night after my arrival, I an English-language magazine called Inspire -- but would ISIS really War II, but after the Kuomintang much about. What we actually And not all Chinese harbour stood amidst the crowd in the bus- use the language of the enemy on something as symbolically impor- lost the Chinese civil war and fled said faded away long ago, but the semi-religious beliefs toward unifi- tling Shilin Night Market in Taipei, tant as currency? More likely our forger wanted to make sure he got to Taiwan in 1949, the island was angry faces and acerbic tones -- cation. Those increasingly dissatis- and for a moment I closed my eyes. Western attention. again separated from the main- including mine -- are still vivid fied with the authoritarian regime I smelled alluring Chinese food 4) It looks suspiciously like Palestinian currency. land. In the ensuing decades, I in my memory. Those moments, on the mainland, who admire the and heard peddlers calling out in As the BBC has pointed out, the bank note is virtually identical was taught, only meddling by the combined with statements issued democratic institutions of Taiwan, Chinese from behind food stands. to a 100-pound Palestinian bill -- save for the likeness of Osama bin United States stopped the Chinese by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or who read more about Taiwan’s I felt as if I were in Shanghai or Laden, who is Photoshopped into the lower right-hand corner -- and people from reclaiming what was, protesting Taiwan’s independ- history on their own, may switch Guangzhou; a sense of intimacy even shares the same serial number as one pictured on Wikipedia. and is, rightfully ours. ence movement, shaped many their viewpoints. I have friends on washed over me. I started to realise 5) Missing statement of Tawheed. This narrative has instilled in Chinese’s perceptions about the the mainland who now believe that how much the people there shared According to Heffez, “ISIS’s defining image is the declaration of belief my mind the belief that reunifying island: not as a real place with Taiwan’s independence, or unifica- with us; and for a moment, the in the Tawheed or unity of Allah. Tawheed is what divides people who with Taiwan would be the utmost real people living real lives, but tion under Taiwan’s current demo- all-consuming political argument practice iman (belief) from people who commit kufr (heresy).” Since proof of our nation’s glory, strength as a symbol of our country. cratic system, is the best way to go. about independence seemed trivial the declaration is on ISIS’s insignia and other documents it has pro- and integrity. I still remember a These strong political But despite the growing diversity -- even humiliating. duced, its absence on the banknote raises even more serious questions story I heard in primary school beliefs, combined with a lack of of opinions about Taiwan, in the WP-BLOOMBERG about the currency’s authenticity. WP-BLOOMBERG FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Middle East Sisi cast as statesman in Russia visit Moscow and Cairo nearing $3bn arms deal CAIRO: Egyptian army The report came out one day was reinforced by Putin, who chief Abdel Fattah Al Sisi after talks in Moscow between publicly congratulated Sisi on his appeared to further set the Putin and Al Sisi. Cairo has yet undeclared decision to run stage this week for a presi- turned to Moscow, which was its for office. The 59-year-old Sisi is dential bid when he travelled main arms supplier in the 1960s overwhelmingly expected to run to Russia, where President and early 1970s, after Washington in elections this spring. Vladimir Putin endorsed him cut back assistance to its regional Issandr El Amrani, North as leader-in-waiting. ally over the army-backed over- Africa project director at It was Sisi’s first trip abroad throw in July of democratically International Crisis Group, said since he overthrew Islamist presi- elected Mohamed Mursi. the visit might have been intended dent Mohamed Mursi in July, set- As Sisi sat down with Putin as much for show as substance. ting off months of deadly unrest. at his residence outside Moscow, It was part of a “carefully The visit was aimed at improv- some suggested the visit was a orchestrated process by which he ing relations between the once- carefully choreographed publicity would declare his candidacy,” El close allies, after Cairo and stunt, with Sisi looking the part of Amrani said. Washington fell out over Mursi’s an international statesman along- “There was the publication of overthrow. side the Russian strongman. pictures in which Sisi is seen for Russia and Egypt are nearing The field marshal, who is offi- the first time in civilian attire, a $3bn arms purchase agreement cially defence minister and dep- and he gets to stand next to a that will be financed by Saudi uty premier in the government world leader like Putin,” he said. Arabia and the United Arab that replaced ousted Islamist The military, which has metic- Emirates, a Moscow newspaper Mohamed Mursi, travelled to ulously cultivated the enigmatic reported yesterday. Moscow ostensibly in response field marshal’s image, splashed The two sides have already to a November visit by Russia’s the pictures on its Facebook page. Russian President Vladimir Putin with Egyptian Defence Minister Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, as Foreign Minister of Egypt either “initialled or signed” con- defence and foreign ministers. State television showed images tracts for Egypt’s purchase of From the moment he boarded of Sisi appearing to nod off on the Nabil Fahmy looks on after their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, yesterday. Mig-29 fighters, air and coastal the plane to Moscow dressed in a plane with a satisfied look on his defence systems, Mi-35 attack blazer, local media cast him as a face. Supported unquestioningly Nabil Fahmy. “Russia backs Sisi as well with Egyptians who back Sisi another military officer turned helicopters and smaller arms, president-in-waiting boldly mov- by much of the domestic media, president,” read the banner of the because they want a strong leader president. “Putin said he would the Vedomosti daily quoted two ing Egypt away from dependence Sisi was certain to generate posi- mass circulation privately owned to stabilise the country, in tur- invest in Egypt,” said Sameh, a Russian government sources as on the oft-reviled United States. tive headlines during his visit, Al Masry Al Youm newspaper. moil ever since the 2011 uprising man who works in the badly hit saying. In Moscow, that perception accompanied by Foreign Minister The headlines appeared to play that overthrew Hosni Mubarak, tourism industry. AFP

Niger hands over Iraq forces battle to retake town from militants Gaddafi aide to Libya TIKRIT, IRAQ: Iraqi forces fought weeks. Local official Talib Al Bayati said automatic weapons and rocket-pro- Ramadi for weeks. Violence in the coun- yesterday to retake part of a northern that security forces backed by tanks and pelled grenades. try has reached a level not seen since TRIPOLI: Niger yesterday handed over to town and nearby areas seized by gun- other armour began attacking militant- The violence drew security forces 2008, when Iraq was just emerging from Libya slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s men, the latest instance of authorities held areas last morning. away from a nearby highway, where sev- a period of brutal sectarian killings. former chief of internal security Abdullah losing ground to militants, an official Engineers moved in first to search eral dozen militants set up a checkpoint Foreign leaders have urged the Shia- Mansur, the Libyan government announced. said. for bombs, he said. and executed 14 Shia truck drivers. led government to do more to reach out A government statement said Tripoli had The Thursday takeover of part of Clashes and a helicopter strike in Sulaiman Bek was also briefly seized to the disaffected Sunni Arab minority given the authorities in Niamey evidence Sulaiman Bek and nearby villages in the area have killed 17 militants since by militants in late April last year. to undercut support for militants. implicating Mansur “in planning terrorist acts Salaheddin province came as gunmen Thursday, Bayati said. Last July, some Iraqi authorities face a far more seri- But Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki aimed at destabilising Libya”. The government control all of one major city and part 150 militants carried out a coordi- ous problem in Anbar province, where has taken a hard line ahead of a general in Tripoli said it guaranteed Mansur “every of another in the western province of nated operation in the Sulaiman Bek gunmen have held all of the city of election scheduled for April. right to a fair trial that conforms to interna- Anbar, in a stand-off that has lasted for area, attacking with mortar rounds, Fallujah and parts of provincial capital AFP tional conventions”. AFP

Workers rebuild the main prison wall after an explosion outside the building in Sana’a, yesterday. Eleven people were killed when attackers mounted a bomb, grenade and gun assault on the main prison in Yemen’s capital on Thursday to try to free inmates, security sources and witnesses said. Yemen hunts 29 after jailbreak

SANA’A: Yemeni security outer wall before the assailants Qaeda members” of carrying out forces were yesterday hunting opened up with grenades on sev- the assault, saying the jihadist down 29 inmates, including 19 eral guard posts. network had threatened to attack suspected Al Qaeda members, The 29 escaped during the the central prison. Initial reports who broke out of jail in a deadly ensuing exchange of fire, he said. on Thursday put the number of assault in the capital. He said “a terrorist group” was escapees at 14, “mostly Al Qaeda The official Saba news agency behind the attack, referring to Al inmates”. They also said three cited an interior ministry state- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula attackers were killed. ment as saying 29 people con- (AQAP), viewed by Washington Officials say the prison holds victed “of various terrorist and as the extremist franchise’s dead- around 5,000 inmates. criminal charges” escaped when a liest branch. Among those who escaped, blast breached the facility’s outer Prison authority chief General is Mubarak Hadi Al Shabwani, wall on Thursday. Mohammed Al Zaleb said 11 described as one of Al Qaeda Security officials said the two- members of the security forces leaders, who was arrested on pronged assault began when an were killed in the assault. The December 14, 2009 and sentenced explosives-laden vehicle slammed interior ministry had said seven to death in 2010 for carrying out into the eastern gate just after died. Confirming Zaleb’s toll, a several lethal attacks targeting sunset. security official said “10 members members of the security, a secu- Gunmen simultaneously of our force were killed, among rity official said. attacked guards at the main them a colonel, while a special In October, security forces entrance, creating a diversion forces agent was shot dead at the foiled an attempt by some 300 Al that allowed some prisoners to entrance of the central prison Qaeda inmates to escape after escape through the hole. where he was on duty.” they mutinied in another Sanaa “Nineteen of those who broke Zaleb said between “50 and prison. A number of guards and out are accused of committing 60 assailants” took part in the inmates were wounded in that terrorist acts,” a ministry spokes- assault, with militants first incident, but none was killed. man told Saba, adding that secu- attacking the headquarters of AQAP chief Nasser Al rity forces were trying to track the prison authority located Wuhayshi vowed in August last down the fugitives. opposite the central prison and year to free incarcerated mem- He said the vehicle bomb blew then detonating a car bomb at bers of his group. a five-metre (16-foot) hole in the the prison’s gate. He accused “Al AFP FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Middle East www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 ON SATURDAY Thousands flee Syrian Car bomb kills at least town; UN raises alarm 32: Report BEIRUT: A car bomb killed at least 32 people in a town UN mediator plans third round of talks in southern Syria yesterday, including 10 rebel fighters, GENEVA: Thousands of peo- treatment, Colville told a news The opposition, meanwhile, has the Syrian Observatory for ple have fled a rebel-held town briefing in Geneva. insisted that talk of ending the Human Rights reported. in Syria after it was bombed Failure to allow civilians to violence is futile without agreeing The bomb, which killed at and shelled in an operation that leave would amount to “grave vio- on the transitional government least one child, went off near has prompted fears of a major lations” of international humani- that would oversee any peace deal. a mosque in the town of Al assault by ground troops, the tarian law by Damascus. “I would not say the negotia- Yadouda near the border with United Nations said yesterday. About 500 or 600 fleeing fami- tions are at a dead-end - they Jordan, the Observatory said. The fighting came as peace lies have already arrived in Arsal, haven’t even started,” Russian Syrian state TV also reported talks in Geneva neared the end Lebanon, and the UN refugee Deputy Foreign Minister a car bomb in Yadouda, but did of a second round with no sign agency expects a big influx across Gennady Gatilov said in Geneva, not give a casualty figure. of progress and with the govern- the border, UNHCR spokes- according to the Itar-Tass news Car bombs are commonly ment and opposition sides as far woman Melissa Fleming said. agency. “Unfortunately, the sides deployed as a weapon in the from agreement as ever, with both Al Manar television, run by have not yet agreed an agenda.” three-year old Syrian conflict. sticking to their known positions. Assad’s allies in the Lebanese The opposition wants to focus The Observatory said earlier Military action in the town Shia group Hezbollah, said the on forming a transitional gov- this week that since peace talks of Yabroud, in western Syria Syrian army had advanced in erning body, a measure called between the Syrian govern- near the border with Lebanon, the Yabroud area, seizing con- for in the June 2012 “Geneva ment and opposition leaders would fit with the government’s trol of the town’s main road and Communique” — a document began in Geneva some three aim of securing a corridor link- a nearby border crossing it said agreed by Russia, the United weeks ago, Syrians have been ing Damascus with President was used for smuggling. States and others that set out killed at the fastest rate since Bashar Al Assad’s heartland on In Geneva, international steps to end the conflict in Syria. the country’s civil war erupted. the Mediterranean coast. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi told The Syrian government has AFP “We have received reports delegates that he plans to take resisted such a discussion, say- from within Syria that there the talks into a third round ing it first wants to talk about have been numerous aerial but has not set a date for their “terrorism” - a term Assad uses country. I hope they let me go.” attacks and shelling along with resumption, opposition negotiator broadly to describe the forces Males between 15 and 55 years a military build-up around the Ahmad Jakal said. Brahimi said fighting to topple him in a war old - of military age according to town, suggesting a major assault there would be a further session that has killed more than 130,000 the Syrian authorities - have been by land may be imminent,” UN of talks today and he would fly people. held in a school for screening, human rights spokesman Rupert to New York shortly to meet UN Russia has been Assad’s most raising fears they may be impris- Colville said. “We understand that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, powerful international supporter oned, tortured or killed. there remains a large number of Jakal said. during the conflict, using its veto A boy holds his baby sister saved from rubble, who survived an airstrike Elsewhere, a car bomb killed civilians in Yabroud, with some in the UN Security Council to by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Aleppo’s Masaken at least 18 people the town of al- estimates suggesting as many PEACE TALKS block Western and Arab efforts Hanano yesterday. Yadouda near the border with as 40,000 to 50,000 people, with A senior Russian diplomat said to pressure his government with Jordan yesterday, the Syrian thousands of others fleeing over the Syrian government was com- condemnation and the threat of let people leave the city. One man brigade commander, with my face Observatory for Human Rights the last few days,” he said mitted to peace talks but would sanctions. waiting among a group of evacu- all over social media,” he said. reported. An Al Qaeda splinter Electricity was cut off on not discuss the creation of a tran- One of the main achievements ees from Homs for questioning by Masri left the city in the hope group executed at least 13 people Wednesday and field hospitals sitional governing body until the of the negotiations has been a Syrian security forces, Hodwan Al of persuading the authorities to before withdrawing from a town are short of medical supplies as opposition pledges a joint fight temporary ceasefire in Homs to Masri, said he knew he could not let him go into exile. “All I need near Aleppo, the Observatory scores of people require urgent against “terrorism”. allow in humanitarian aid and to hide his identity. I am a known is 48 hours and I’ll be out of the added. REUTERS

Lebanese Ex-CEO of Turkish bank premier eyes end to 10-month freed in graft probe govt vacuum ISTANBUL: The former CEO Halkbank was targeted by inter- of Turkey’s state-run Halkbank, national plotters. BEIRUT: Lebanon’s prime who was arrested two months Aslan was replaced as head of minister-designate Tammam ago in a wide-ranging graft the company earlier this month. Salam was set to present a pro- probe engulfing key government His release prompted sharp posed cabinet line-up to the allies, has been released pend- criticism from opposition law- president yesterday as he looks ing trial yesterday, media said. makers, who accuse the ruling to end a 10-month vacuum, an Suleyman Aslan was among 24 Justice and Development Party aide said. people including the sons of three (AKP) of protecting the suspects. Beirut has been without a gov- former cabinet ministers who Former culture minister ernment since Salam’s nomina- were charged and remanded in Ertugrul Gunay, who resigned tion in April last year amid deep custody as part of investigations from the AKP in a protest against divisions between the Shiite into bribery allegations. Erdogan’s way of dealing with the Hezbollah movement and the Aslan was charged with cor- probe, took to Twitter to slam the Sunni-led bloc of ex-premier Saad ruption, fraud and money laun- court decision. Hariri over the conflict in neigh- dering in connection with illegal “The banker with 4.5 million bouring Syria. gold sales to sanctions-hit Iran in (dollars) found at his home is free But in a sharp U-turn, Hariri return for energy imports. now. And the laws that will enable announced on January 21 that his An Istanbul court released the release of others are on the bloc was prepared to join a gov- Aslan — the first high-profile way,” he wrote. ernment of national unity with Riot police patrol the streets in the village of Jidhafs, west of Manama, yesterday. suspect to be freed— and eight Main opposition Republican Hezbollah and its allies, despite others on condition of judicial People’s Party leader Kemal its strong opposition to the mili- control and enforced travel ban Kilicdaroglu claimed last week tant group’s military intervention on them, Hurriyet daily reported that the government would in Syria in support of President on its website. release Reza Zarrab, the Bashar Al Assad. Police clash with protesters on Police had seized $4.5m in cash Azerbaijani businessman who was Pesident Michel Sleiman’s hidden in shoe boxes in Aslan’s charged with forming a ring that office confirmed that a meeting house, but the former CEO stated bribed officials to disguise illegal was scheduled with the premier- Bahrain’s uprising anniversary that he was holding onto the gold sales to Iran via Halkbank. designate during the morning, but money for charity. “Riza Zarrab threatened to did not give details on what would Turkish Prime Minister Recep speak out if he remained in be discussed. DUBAI: Bahraini protesters dispersed the protesters. complete shutdown Thursday fol- Tayyip Erdogan also said the cash jail. He will be released soon,” The Salam aide said it was marking the third anniversary The Pearl Square roundabout lowing its call for a strike on the found in Aslan’s house was not Kilicdaroglu said. not yet clear whether the pro- of an Arab Spring-inspired and its central monument, which last day of the working week in the bank’s money and alleged that AFP posed line-up would be formally uprising clashed with security were a symbol of the uprising, Bahrain — ahead of a mass rally announced after the meeting, say- forces yesterday in the capital were later razed and the site the bloc is planning for Saturday. ing only that “most of the obsta- Manama and outlying villages, remains heavily restricted. The interior ministry insisted cles have been overcome”. witnesses said. “Down with Hamad,” pro- that “business largely progressed Jordanians protest The new government will Hundreds of men and women testers, some wrapped in white as normal throughout the day” include both Hezbollah and Hariri took to the streets in parts of the shrouds and others covering their on Thursday. “In general, citizens bloc representatives, the first capital and in Shiite villages that faces, chanted referring to the went about their daily business time in three years they have sat have been at the forefront of the king. “We will never surrender,” and work was normal in govern- together in cabinet, both sides say. campaign among the Gulf state’s they shouted as police helicop- ment and private organisations,” The final line-up has been held Shia majority for a consitutional ters hovered overhead and police said a ministry statement. up by bickering not only over the monarchy in the Sunni-ruled Gulf forces, deployed heavily across the But it did confirm “some cases key foreign and interior minis- kingdom. They were met with kingdom, set up checkpoints out- of rioting and vandalism in vil- tries but also over the contract- tear gas and birdshot, the wit- side Shia villages, witnesses said. lages where groups blocked roads awarding energy and public works nesses said, adding that several Earlier this month, Bahrain with bricks, iron spikes, debris portfolios. demonstrators were wounded. toughened jail sentences for and oil”. It said 29 people were The prolonged government vac- The clashes came ahead of an offending King Hamad, announc- arrested. uum has been marred by repeated afternoon march called by an ing that such an offence will carry Amnesty International on deadly bomb attacks on Hezbollah influential cyber-group on the a minimum one-year and a maxi- Thursday condemned Bahrain’s strongholds claimed by hardline capital’s Pearl Square, where mum seven-year term, as well as “relentless repression” of dis- Sunni groups which support the demonstrators camped out for a a fine of up to $26,000. sent and said it feared a violent Syrian rebels. month in early 2011 before being The Shia opposition called for crackdown on the anniversary Yesterday’s development comes violently dispersed by troops. three days of protests to mark demonstrations. nine years to the day after Hariri’s Bahrain announced in June the anniversary as it seeks to give The International Federation father Rafiq, also a former pre- that it had arrested leading mem- new momentum to its campaign for Human Rights (FIDH) on mier, was assassinated in a mas- bers of the February 14 youth coa- for the ruling Khalifa family to Thursday urged Bahrain “to take sive car bombing on the Beirut lition, accusing it of links to Shia surrender its grip on all key cabi- immediate measures to restore seafront. Iran. net posts in favour of an elected the rule of law, to put an end to Protesters from the Islamic Action Front and other opposition parties The trial in absentia of four Saudi-led Gulf troops deployed government. ongoing human rights violations hold up Jordanian national flags and shout slogans during a demon- Hezbollah members accused of in Bahrain on the eve of the The main opposition party Al and to comply with their reiter- stration against US Secretary of State John Kerry’s framework plan for murdering Hariri opened near March 2011 crackdown, man- Wefaq, which has boycotted par- ated pledges before the population The Hague last month. ning key positions while the tiny liament since the uprising, said of Bahrain and the international peace between Israelis and Palestinians, after Friday prayers in Amman. AFP kingdom’s own security forces several areas had observed a community”. AFP FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com International

German minister resigns over Letta steps handling of child abuse inquiry

BERLIN: A senior German down paving minister resigned yesterday amid accusations he leaked confidential information about a fellow lawmaker suspected of possessing child pornography, way for Renzi dealing a blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel and her two- month old government. Italian president begins consultations The resignation of Agriculture Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich ROME: Italian Prime Minister palace and thanked his support- could aggravate tensions in Enrico Letta resigned yesterday ers in a tweet after losing in the Berlin’s new “grand coalition” at in a fast-paced political drama showdown with Renzi. a time when it is trying to push in Rome that paves the way for “Thank you to everyone who through complex reforms of pen- 39-year-old centre-left leader helped,” said Letta, a 47-year-old sions and renewable energy. Matteo Renzi to take his place. former Christian-Democrat who “The pressure on me has Financial markets cheered as had defiantly ruled out resigning grown so much in the last couple Letta submitted his resignation and presented his programme of of hours that I no longer think to President Giorgio Napolitano reforms for 2014 as recently as I can do the job in the argricul- after just 10 tumultuous months Wednesday. ture ministry with the required at the head of a fragile coalition The “relay” between Letta and concentration, calm and political with the centre-right in which he Renzi is unpopular among Italians support,” Friedrich told a hastily- struggled with a rampant eco- who would have preferred early called news conference. nomic crisis. elections, according to opinion It emerged this week that the Napolitano yesterday was to polls, and there is concern in Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta leaving the Quirinal Palace after tendering his resignation to President Giorgio SPD lawmaker, Sebastian Edathy, begin consultations with politi- the party that it could end up Napolitano in Rome yesterday. is the target of an investigation by cal leaders to pick a nominee to strengthening disgraced former prosecutors, who suspect him of replace Letta, which the presi- prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. “The reform process will prob- Union’s youngest prime minister parliament last year over a crimi- being in possession of child por- dency said would conclude today. Pippo Civati, a leftist opponent ably get a boost,” Italy’s UniCredit and Italy’s youngest ever govern- nal conviction for tax fraud and nography, an accusation he has Letta was forced to announce of Renzi within the party, said the bank said in a research note, add- ment leader. being a defendant in three other vigorously denied. his resignation on Thursday after ambitious leader was resembling ing however that “the road ahead The former Boy Scout was court cases. The 44-year-old Edathy his own Democratic Party over- more and more “a character from is not without bumps”. cheered in the streets of the his- His Forza Italia party, which is resigned from parliament last whelmingly backed a motion by a roman noir novel”. Stocks yesterday jumped up 1.6 toric city as he walked to work in in opposition, has already said the week, citing health reasons, and its new leader Renzi calling for a Analysts said Renzi will have percent as Letta resigned, also the Palazzo Vecchio town hall and billionaire tycoon will lead its del- has threatened to sue a newspa- new government. to overcome the shock caused thanks to new data showing that when someone wished him well egation in the consultations with per that reported on the probe Yesterday he “submitted the by him engineering Letta’s over- the economy grew by 0.1 percent he answered: “It’s always needed, Napolitano. Whatever the diffi- earlier this week. irrevocable resignation of the throw despite an earlier gentle- in the fourth quarter. especially right now.” culties, analysts say a new Renzi What started as a small domes- executive that he presides,” the man’s agreement that he would The result was the first positive Deputy Prime Minister Angelino government could be sworn in as tic scandal about a member of presidency said. not do so. one for gross domestic product Alfano, leader of the New Centre- early as next week. parliament erupted into a major It added that Napolitano would But they also said he could in two years after Italy’s longest Right party, a junior partner in the Known for his informal style and political scandal on Thursday move swiftly to find an “efficient quickly win support if he man- post-war recession ended in the coalition whose votes will prove his catchphrases, Renzi enjoys high when it emerged that Friedrich, solution” to the political crisis ages to push through important third quarter. critical, has already said his sup- ratings in the opinion polls because who was interior minister until and move on with economic and reforms, and investors were Renzi, who is the mayor of port for Renzi is not a given. he is seen as a relative political out- December, had informed SPD “urgent” election law reforms. broadly supportive with stocks Florence, still faces delicate days Berlusconi could also score sider but his leadership has been chairman Sigmar Gabriel in The outgoing premier smiled and bond rates holding stable on ahead before he can finally clinch political points in the crisis, criticised as brash and divisive. October that Edathy could as he arrived at the presidential the financial markets. his goal of becoming the European despite having been expelled from AFP become the target of a probe. UK political donor, son arrested in Princes help flood victims as new storm looms Rolls-Royce probe LONDON: An Indian-born LONDON: Princes William and 250 years. The princes joined The royal relief came as the It said up to 40mm of rain could level for 60 years at the week- donor to one of Britain’s rul- Harry pitched in for flood vic- soldiers distributing sandbags to Met Office said a “multi-pronged fall yesterday as officials warned end, promising fresh misery for ing political parties and his tims yesterday as a new winter protect properties in the flood- attack” of wind, rain and snow of huge waves on England’s south flooded towns. son were arrested earlier this storm barrelled towards Britain, hit village of Datchet, in the was sweeping across the country coast as high tides combine with In the Thamesside village of week as part of a Serious Fraud threatening fresh misery after shadow of Queen Elizabeth II’s after making landfall in south- 80mph winds. Datchet, second-in-line to the Office (SFO) investigation into the wettest start to the year for Windsor Castle residence. west England. Around 16,000 people also throne Prince William and his Rolls-Royce’s dealings in Asia. remained without power following younger brother Harry donned A spokesman for Sudhir an earlier storm on Wednesday Wellington boots and waterproofs Choudhrie, who holds British citi- when hurricane-force gales left as they lugged sandbags along- zenship, and his son Bhanu con- one person dead. side members of the Household firmed a report of their arrest by Prime Minister David Cavalry. the SFO in the Financial Times. Cameron reiterated his promise “The Duke and Prince Harry Both men have denied any to do “whatever it takes” to help wanted to show their support to wrongdoing and have been released stricken communities. the flood victims and thought the on bail, their spokesman said yes- “Obviously, we are facing a very most appropriate way of doing terday. The SFO said yesterday it difficult time because we have got that was through the armed had arrested two men in connec- the wettest start to the year for forces relief effort,” a Kensington tion with one of its investigations, 250 years and these are extraor- Palace spokeswoman said. but did not disclose their identities. dinary weather events, but we are Buckingham Palace meanwhile A source said at the time that fighting on every front to help said the queen was helping farm- the SFO arrests were connected people,” he told private broad- ers in the southwestern county of to the investigation into Rolls- caster ITV. Somerset — parts of which have Royce. The SFO investigation More than 5,800 properties been underwater for nearly two comes at a tough time for Rolls- have been flooded since early months — by contributing feed Royce, the world’s second-largest December while huge swathes of and bedding from the royal farms maker of aircraft engines behind farmland have been inundated, at Windsor. General Electric. putting Britain’s fragile eco- A total of 17 severe flood alerts Its shares suffered their biggest nomic recovery at risk. Around indicating a risk to life are in place one-day plunge for more than 13 1,000 houses more were evacuated across Britain: 14 in Berkshire and years on Thursday after the com- along the River Thames and in Surrey to the west of London, pany said defence cuts in the US Britain’s Prince William (centre), Duke of Cambridge, helps with flood defences at a petrol station in Dachet, western England yesterday. two in Somerset and one in and Europe would halt its decade- southern England, yesterday. The swollen Thames was Gloucestershire, western England long run of profit growth this year. expected to reach its highest AFP AGENCIES

British police question EU finds more Russia accuses EU of seeking troops for CAR CNN’s Piers Morgan mission Ukraine ‘sphere of influence’ LONDON: British police have as part of Operation Golding in BRUSSELS: More EU mem- MOSCOW: Russia accused in lighting the fuse on the pow- welcomed steps towards economic questioned CNN host Piers connection with suspected con- ber states are now ready to the European Union yesterday der keg” and Ukraine must not convergence between Ukraine and Morgan in connection with spiracy to intercept telephone commit troops to help French of seeking to create a “sphere become a “geopolitical chess the European Union. allegations of phone-hacking at voicemails. and African Union forces in of influence” on its borders by game”. It was up to the conflict- Moscow says it does not the Daily Mirror, a newspaper Operation Golding is the the troubled Central African pressing Ukraine to choose ing parties in Kiev to find a solu- oppose strong Ukraine-EU ties he formerly edited, local media inquiry into phone-hacking at Republic, diplomatic sources closer ties with the Western tion, he said. but believes the EU was trying reported yesterday. the Mirror newspaper and was said yesterday. Besides France, bloc at the expense of relations “I fully agree with Frank- to pressure Ukraine into signing Morgan, a former judge on a spin-off from a long-running five other European Union coun- with Moscow. Walter that there should be no the deal and choosing between the America’s Got Talent who investigation into similar crimi- tries have proposed a “substan- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spheres of influence. But drag- EU and Russia replaced Larry King on CNN in nal allegations centred on Rupert tial” contribution to the EUFOR sharpened Russian allegations of ging Ukraine to one side, telling In many respects, the showdown 2011, was interviewed by police in Murdoch’s now-defunct News of RCA mission, expected to begin Western interference in its neigh- it that it needs to choose ‘either over Ukraine is about reordering December, he said in a statement the World newspaper. in March, one source said. bour’s turbulent affairs at a joint or’, either with the EU or with power and influence in Europe to the Guardian newspaper. “A 48-year-old man, a journal- EU foreign ministers cleared news conference after talks with Russia, (the European Union) following the 1991 collapse of the Morgan, 48, has always denied ist, was interviewed under cau- the nine-month mission earlier his visiting German counterpart is in fact trying to create such a Communist Soviet Union. The EU’s any involvement in phone hack- tion on the December 6, 2013 by this week but without determin- Frank-Walter Steinmeier. sphere of influence,” the Russian enlargement process of the past ing. Trinity Mirror, which pub- officers from Operation Golding ing who would contribute an esti- Russia and the EU have minister said. decade has drawn in several former lishes the Mirror, declined to in connection with suspected con- mated 500 troops. exchanged recriminations since “That is obvious and no nice Soviet republics and former East comment and there was no imme- spiracy to intercept telephone The sources said that Poland Kiev’s decision in November to words can change that.” European satellites of Moscow. diate comment from a spokes- voicemails,” a spokesman for could provide some 140 soldiers, shelve plans for a trade agree- Russian President Vladimir Russia has pushed back and woman for Morgan. CNN could London’s Metropolitan Police said. alongside a similar French con- ment with Brussels and to seek Putin, who knows Steinmeier well is trying to set up a Eurasian not be immediately reached for “He was interviewed by tingent. Additionally, Estonia closer links with Russia instead, a from his previous stint as German customs union to rival the EU, comment. appointment at a south London and Latvia, plus Romania and move that sparked mass unrest in foreign minister, appeared to have preferably with Ukraine, which British police confirmed that police station. He was not Portugal could each give 30-50, Ukraine claiming at least six lives. conveyed a softer message in their has 46 million people with shared they had interviewed under cau- arrested.” while Spain may also contribute. Steinmeier told journalists that meeting. A German source said historical and cultural roots. tion a 48-year-old male journalist REUTERS AFP “no one should have an interest Putin told Steinmeier that Russia REUTERS FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Asia www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 ON SATURDAY

Koreas agree reunions Java volcano erupts; airports closed despite drills Over 100,000 people evacuated, 200,000 affected as 17km ash cloud hovers over island SEOUL: North and South Korea agreed yesterday to JAKARTA: More than 100,000 which sits along the “Ring of proceed with reunions of people fled their homes and Fire” volcanic belt around the families separated by the flights were grounded across shores of the Pacific Ocean. Korean War despite an ear- most of Indonesia’s densely pop- Nugroho said the eruptions had lier North Korean demand ulated island of Java yesterday ceased, but the ash had spread that they could only go after a volcanic eruption sent as far as 500km to the west and ahead if the South postponed a huge plume of ash and sand northwest. military exercises with the 17km into the air. Television broadcast images of United States. The ash cloud from Thursday planes, streets and houses blan- The agreement clearly rep- night’s eruption of Mount Kelud keted in a thick layer of grey ash. resented a concession by the in the province of East Java At the world’s largest Buddhist North, which has made unpre- moved west over the island, forc- temple outside Yogyakarta, nearly dictable diplomatic moves over ing the closure of seven airports 135km away, workers rushed to the past month. The North had and stranding thousands of pas- cover statues with plastic sheets to proposed the reunions, but sengers. The only major airports protect them from the falling ash. then threatened to withdraw still operating on Java were two Other airports, including consent over a sortie by a US in the capital, Jakarta. Denpasar in Bali, were so far B52 bomber. “Over 100,000 people have been unaffected, according to flag car- It had also demanded that the evacuated and about 200,000 people rier Garuda Indonesia. Operations South call off annual defence were affected,” National Disaster were unaffected at a major oil drills later this month with Mitigation Agency spokesman refinery in Cilacap run by state- the United States on grounds Sutopo Nugroho said by telephone. owned energy company Pertamina, that they overlapped with the “There are some people in the officials said. The refinery, with a proposed reunions. The South 10km radius but they are being capacity of 348,000 barrels per day, refused, saying the reunions and evacuated now.” accounts for a little more than a the military exercises should be Mount Kelud is 90km south third of Indonesia’s total output of treated separately. of Indonesia’s second biggest refined products. In the end, there was no link city Surabaya, a major industrial “Thankfully, Cilacap operations An airport official walks near a plane covered with volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Kelud, at Adi between the issues in a three- centre. Its airport was closed, are normal, although ash has Sumarmo airport in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, yesterday. point agreement reached after along with those of Bandung, indeed reached the Cilacap area,” two sessions of talks this week, Yogyakarta, Solo, Malang, said Pertamina spokesman Ali the first high-level meetings Semarang and the major oil refin- Mundakir. “As a preventive meas- sugarcane plantations, but Nugroho said the disaster miti- At least 11 people were killed between the sides in seven years. ery town of Cilacap. ure, we have immediately prepared the impact is small,” Soemitro gation agency had confirmed two earlier this month in the north of “We tried to drive home the They were expected to reopen air filters for equipment there.” Samadikoen, chairman of people were killed after roofs col- the island of Sumatra when Mount point that the family reunion on Saturday morning, a transport East Java is the main area in Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers lapsed under the weight of the Sinabung erupted. The volcano event will be the first step in ministry official told reporters. Indonesia for sugarcane planta- Association said. “With this very fallen ash. The eruption otherwise has been spewing lava and ash for building trust so we should press Mount Kelud is one of 130 tions, but officials expected lim- small impact and high stock (in the caused minimal damage to build- months, forcing thousands to flee ahead with it,” South Korea’s active volcanoes in the world’s ited damage to crops. market) we do not need to import ings, Nugroho said, but had left 3 the area and destroying crops. chief delegate, Kim Kyou-hyun, fourth most populous country, “The eruption will affect white sugar from other countries.” to 5cm of ash and sand on roads. REUTERS told a news briefing. “The North accepted this point in the end and we came to the agreement,” he said. Kim is South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s deputy national Police retake protest sites in Bangkok 11 terrorists killed in security adviser. Russia not for BANGKOK: Thousands of try to avoid violence,” National killed and hundreds hurt in spo- new Xinjiang unrest Thai riot police were deployed Security Council Chief Paradorn radic flare-ups. The past week Lanka probe yesterday to seize back protest Pattanathabutr said. has been quiet, with numbers BEIJING: Eleven “terrorists” shot dead at the scene,” it added. sites around government build- Paradorn said 5,000 police had dwindling at protest sites dotted were killed during an attack in Eight were killed by police and COLOMBO: Russia yester- ings in Bangkok that have been been assigned to the operation, around Bangkok. China’s far western region of three died “by their own suicide day rejected calls by Western occupied for months by demon- which was targeting sites around A witness said there was no vio- Xinjiang yesterday, state news bomb”, Xinhua said. nations for an international strators seeking to topple Prime the government district rather lence as at least 1,000 police cleared agency Xinhua said. Xinjiang, home to the Muslim probe into alleged war crimes Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. than intersections in the shopping protesters from a site stretching “The terrorists, riding motor- Uighur people, has been beset by in the final phase of the Anti-government protesters and business centres that have from Royal Plaza to the United bikes and cars, attacked a team of violence for years, blamed by the 26-year Sri Lankan civil war have been disrupting life in the been the focus of the biggest ral- Nations headquarters. A few of the police who were gathering before government on Islamist militants that the government won in Thai capital since November, try- lies. The protests have pitted the officers were armed but most car- the gate of a park for routine and separatists who want to estab- 2009. ing to oust Yingluck. They view Bangkok-based middle class and ried just batons and shields. patrol at around 4pm in Wushi lish an independent state called Visiting Colombo amid con- her as a proxy for her brother, royalist establishment against the Some protesters hurled abuse County in the Aksu Prefecture,” East Turkestan. cern about the country’s human Thaksin Shinawatra, a self-exiled mostly poorer, rural supporters of but otherwise police met no Xinhua said in a report. Exiles and many rights groups rights record in the United former premier who clashed the Shinawatras from the north resistance in a historic area of the “Police said the terrorists had say the real cause of the unrest States and Britain, a senior with the establishment before and northeast. capital that includes Government (an) unknown number of LNG is China’s heavy-handed policies Russian diplomat said attempts he was overthrown by the army Police had until now largely House and the Metropolitan cylinders in their car which they including restrictions on Islam to impose an international in a 2006 coup. “Our police are avoided confronting the protest- Police headquarters. had attempted to use as suicide and the Uighur people’s culture inquiry into wartime atrocities ready to reclaim space and will ers, although 11 people have been REUTERS bombs. Several terrorists were and language, REUTERS would be counterproductive. The United States and Britain have said they might ask the United Nations Human Snowstorm hits Japan Rights Council in March to call for an inquiry. The UN has twice urged Sri Lanka to punish military personnel responsible for atrocities in the civil war. A UN panel has said around 40,000 mainly Tamil civilians died in the final few months of the war. Both sides com- mitted atrocities but army shelling killed most victims, it concluded. “Nothing good will come out from an international investi- gation,” Anatoly Viktorov, the foreign ministry’s director for humanitarian corporation and human rights, told reporters in Colombo at the end of a two- day visit. “In many occasions, it is extremely difficult to establish who is responsible for what in internal armed conflicts,” he said. Visitors leave the Hie Shrine after offering prayers while it snows in Tokyo yesterday. A winter snowstorm REUTERS disrupted air travel, rail services and major highways across Japan. Beijing pushes back on N Korea, S China Sea

BEIJING: China’s Foreign out Chinese diplomats visited Seas are likely to feature promi- States would come to the aid of Ministry pushed back against Pyongyang recently. nently on Kerry’s agenda too. the Philippines in the event of US pressure on North Korea “China as a responsible, big The United States has been conflict with China over disputed and the disputed South country has been actively pro- increasingly uneasy at what it waters in the South China Sea. China Sea yesterday, as US moting and resolving the nuclear sees as China’s effort to gain Hua said the United States Secretary of State John Kerry issue and has played its due role,” creeping control over waters in should stick to its promises and arrived in Beijing for high- Hua told a daily news briefing. the Asia-Pacific region, includ- not take sides in this dispute. level meetings. “We have, through different ing its November 23 declaration “The United States is not a Speaking in Seoul before channels, worked on the North of an air defence identification party in the South China Sea leaving for Beijing, Kerry said Korea nuclear problem through zone in an area of the East China dispute, and should ... be care- China should be doing more to the six-party nuclear talks, and Sea that includes islands at the ful in its words and actions, and help nudge Pyongyang - which have maintained close commu- centre of a dispute with Japan. do more that will benefit true has rattled the region with nication with the parties.” China also claims about 90 peace and stability in the region nuclear tests and angry rhet- North Korea was raised percent of the 3.5 million square rather than the opposite,” she oric - into line. Asked about during Kerry’s meeting with km South China Sea, depicting said. that remark, Chinese Foreign Chinese President Xi Jinping, what it sees as its area on maps Brunei, Malaysia, the Ministry spokeswoman Hua according to the official Xinhua with a so-called nine-dash line, Philippines, Vietnam and Chunying said China had been news agency, with Xi “setting looping far out over the sea Taiwan also have claims over working hard to get North forth China’s stance.” The from south China. the South China Sea, or at least Korea to return to talks on its report provided no other details. On Thursday, the commander parts of it. nuclear programme, pointing The East and South China of the US Navy said the United REUTERS FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Philippines Govt to ask Indonesia for safe passage Negotiations on the new fishing route ‘would have to be based on UN convention as both countries support it’

MANILA: The Philippines It also will cut travel time of during the Joint Committee on that the present navigational maritime borders would only take Pacific Fisheries Commission. will ask Indonesia to grant the Philippine fishing boats by 31 Bilateral Relations meeting to be path of the Philippine registered 704 nautical miles. “Since both countries support safe passage of fishing vessels nautical miles, ensuring that the held in Jakarta on February 24 fishing vessels is bounded by the Idris explained that negotiations the doctrines of the UNCLOS in its Exclusive Economic Zone catch of fish, mostly tuna, would and 25. Micronesia’s EEZ to the north on the new fishing route would and share a common boundary (EEZ) later this month. be delivered fresh. “We will bring this request to and east, of Palau to the west, have to be based on the United then there is a concern on the The Bureau of Fisheries and Eastern Mindanao Command higher authorities and hopefully and of Indonesia and Papua New Nations on the Convention of the recognition of safe innocent pas- Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said chief Ricardo Ranier Cruz III we can settle this before the year Guinea to the south. Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) and sage from GSC in the Philippines that passing through Indonesian said that the Philippine Border ends,” Cruz said. This current route in the Pacific through the Regional Fisheries through Indonesia’s EEZ,” Idris waters would be the cheaper Committee and defence officials BFAR XI Regional Director Ocean stretches for 735 nautical Management Organization and said. option. will formally raise the request Fatma Idris, meanwhile, explained miles. Passing through Indonesian then the Western and Central THE PHILIPPINE STAR Beckham’s football antics lift spirits of typhoon survivors

TANAUAN: David Beckham sports field of a ruined school in visits into survivors’ homes and lifted the spirits of young Tanauan, one of the towns fac- relief centres. Philippine typhoon survivors ing the Pacific Ocean that were Aside from one brief com- yesterday with a joke-filled engulfed by tsunami-like storm ment, Beckham declined to talk game of football on a pitch sur- surges. to reporters but UNICEF posted rounded by sombre reminders More than 1,200 people died comments of his on their official of the country’s deadliest storm. just in Tanauan, and the game website in which he thanked peo- The former England captain car- was played within walking dis- ple around the world for donating ried boys on his shoulders, tugged tance of a mass grave where the money for Haiyan survivors. at their shirts and exchanged high- bodies of hundreds of people were “As a UNICEF Goodwill fives throughout the roughly 20 buried. Ambassador, seeing how children minutes of sports therapy at one The shells of school buildings, are being given a sense of nor- of the coastal towns that was worst ripped coconut trees and piles mality amidst the rubble of their hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan three of rocky debris surrounded the communities has been amazing,” months ago. pitch, but inside there was con- he said in a UNICEF blog. The game came at the end stant laughter from Beckham and “I want to show people around of a two-day trip for Beckham the boys. the world how their generous to the typhoon-hit zones in the Beckham was visiting the donations have had an enormous central Philippines, where 6,200 typhoon-hit areas in his role as impact on children and their fam- people have been confirmed killed a “goodwill ambassador” for the ilies and how thankful people here and nearly 1,800 others remain United Nations Children’s Fund are for their kindness.” missing. (UNICEF), which has been The United Nations launched “It’s very uplifting, to the playing an important role in an international aid appeal in hearts, to the souls of the chil- the recovery and rehabilitation December for $788m to finance its dren. After all they have been programme. humanitarian effort for this year, through the past three months, Earlier, Beckham visited dozens about half of which has been raised. with the storm, when he came, of mothers with their babies at President Benigno Aquino has it was so good. We were so very a health care centre in Tanauan. said the rebuilding effort will take happy,” local football coach Basil UNICEF ensured high secu- at least four years and require Football superstar David Beckham interacts with child survivors of Typhoon Haiyan during a visit to a tent city in Nudalo said. rity for Beckham’s visit, trying to more than $8bn in funding. Tacloban City yesterday. The game was played on the block journalists from filming his AFP Two die, eight Rescue teams sent to hurt in ambush Tourist arrivals up by 10 percent MANILA: Two people were killed while eight others were MANILA: The Philippines Tourism Department spokes- and popular attractions like his- wounded after terrorist group monitor cruise dates saw a 9.56 percent jump in for- man Benito Bengzon said. toric churches, hotels, resorts and Abu Sayyaf ambushed gov- MANILA: Rescuers are be people falling overboard, coast- eign arrivals last year despite a The typhoon left 8,000 dead diving and surfing sites. ernment troops in southern deploying in the Philippines’ guard spokesman Commander series of natural disasters, the or missing and devastated many But Bengzon said the industry Philippines yesterday morn- Manila Bay to help distracted Armando Balilo said in a state- government said on Thursday. popular tourist spots in the cen- was rebounding, remarking that ing, a military official said. lovers aboard boats who could ment announcing the safety More than 4.68 million tourists tral islands. even in November and December, Capt Ryan Lacuesta, Civil fall into the water while on measures. visited the country in 2013. “There were a lot of calami- despite the global attention on the Military Operations Officer of Valentine’s Day cruise dates, “We cannot prevent people from But the figure was below the ties that hit us last year and disasters, tourist arrivals still the 2nd Marine Brigade, said the coastguard said yesterday. being sweet on Valentine’s Day but nation’s target of five million there were some cancellations,” went up compared to 2012. a member of the Abu Sayyaf Authorities expect the bay, with they should be alert and be mindful arrivals for the year. Bengzon said. He said more visitors are and a village peacekeeper were its spectacular views of the sun- of their safety, be mindful of their That figure was likely to due Despite the setbacks, the expected this year due to an killed while six other village set, to throb with activity by sun- environment,” he said. to the powerful earthquake, agency is still targeting six mil- increase in flights. peacekeepers and two Marines down as couples hop onto yachts Coastguard personnel would be which killed more than 220 lion foreign tourist arrivals for South Koreans were the big- were hurt. and cruise ships for deck-side, aboard two private cruise ships people and damaged facilities 2014, he said. gest source of tourists last year, Lacuesta said government candle-lit dinners accompanied by with four boatloads of rescuers and roads in the popular tour- This figure has been revised accounting for 24 percent of the troops were on their way to romantic music from live bands. patrolling the waters, while two ist islands of Cebu and Bohol from an earlier target of 6.8 mil- total with the United States a provide reinforcement to vil- Hundreds of lovers are other boat teams would be on in October, and the destruc- lion for this year. distant second, making up 15.3 lage peacekeepers when their expected in the area until mid- standby ashore, Balilo said. tion caused by Super Typhoon The earthquake and typhoon percent of foreign visitors. convoy was waylaid by the Abu night, and the main danger would AFP Haiyan in November, Philippine destroyed tourism infrastructure AFP Sayyaf in Long Kiaban village, Talipao town in Sulu province. He said the firefight between the militants and the Marines and village peacekeepers lasted for about an hour. Filipino makes history in Sochi Is whistle-blower Tuason Councillor MANILA: Whatever the out- Trojan horse for senator? gunned down come of his performance in the figure skating event, Michael MANILA: Could it be that “It is unfortunate for Sen. Estrada ZAMBOANGA CITY: A Christian Martinez has already socialite Ruby Tuason is a but it seems that Tuason is out village councillor was gunned achieved a feat no other Filipino Trojan horse out to derail the to save Senator Enrile but not down by unidentified assail- has – compete in the Winter filing of plunder complaint and Sen Estrada,” Trillanes said in ant shortly before noon Olympics. overturn the public outrage Filipino. yesterday in Dipolog City, Martinez was set to compete against Senate minority leader Estrada, in an interview Zamboanga del Norte, police against the best in the world late Juan Ponce Enrile? Thursday, cited inconsistencies said. last night, chasing a top 24 fin- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuason’s testimonies. He The police identified the ish to qualify for the men’s figure expressed this possibility yes- added Tuason will do everything victim as Salvador ‘Junjun’ skating finals in Sochi, Russia. terday over Tuason’s testimony, to escape long detention, even Jamorol, councilor of Barangay Martinez is the first-ever noting how she tried to withhold to the point of putting to waste Miputak, Dipolog City. homegrown athlete to qualify for information or evade questions years of friendship and betraying Police Superintendent Joven the Winter Olympics. He is also regarding her dealings with Enrile trusted confidants. Rendon Parcon, chief of police the first skater from Southeast as well as the latter’s former chief Asked if he thinks Tuason as of Dipolog City, said the vic- Asia to make it to the 90-year of staff, Jesicca “Gigi” Reyes. a credible witness, Trillanes said tim was on board his motor- Winter Games history. “I think the game plan now is Tuason can be credible because cycle when he was shot about To date, the 17-year-old skat- for them to find a way to down- she is an insider but she needs 11.30am by an unidentified sus- er’s personal best score for the grade the case to be filed, make to spill the beans more to bolster pect at close range and escaped short program is 67.01, accom- it bailable so that they will not be the allegations of pork barrel fund toward an unknown direction plished at the 2013 World Junior detained. They’ll use it as a lever- misuse. along the national highway of Championships in Milan, Italy. age to hostage the government,” Tuason showed instances of Barangay Sta. Isabel. Skating fifth in the evening Trillanes said. uncertainty when asked about Police were looking at per- at the Iceberg Skating Palace, According to the senator, Enrile and Reyes during the Blue sonal grudge as the possible Martinez will perform to Nino Tuason’s claims that she merely Blue Ribbon hearing hursday, motive of the gun attack. Rota’s dramatic film score for delivered P9m in kickbacks in to the disappointment of some Jamorol was the second vil- “Romeo and Juliet.” Michael Christian Martinez performs during the Men’s Short Programme of 2008 smacks of attempts to senators. lage councilor who was shot While in Moscow training Figure Skating at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games on Thursday. derail the case. “It is way below As far as the senator is con- dead in Zamboanga peninsula for Sochi, Martinez said: “I feel the threshold amount for plun- cerned, Tuason missed the oppor- in a span of 4 days. Last Tuesday excited and nervous because I der,” Trillanes said. P50m is the tunity of proving to the public a village, councillor Zamboanga will be competing against skat- that I am already on the same was Martinez’s personal goal threshold amount for plunder. that she should be made a state City was also shot and killed by ers who are much older than competing level as such great entering into the preliminary Trillanes thinks that Estrada is witness. riding in tandem suspects. me and more experienced than skaters.” Olympic event. being dropped by Enrile camp in THE PHILIPPINE STAR AGENCIES me... but it is an honour to know To qualify for the final round THE PHILIPPINE STAR light of the latest developments. FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Pakistan / Afghanistan www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 ON SATURDAY Pakistani drone Campaign for women’s rights activist reappears Khan says he was tortured, interrogated before release

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani nothing to halt the strikes. accused their US ally of infring- anti-drone activist kidnapped “He was questioned about so ing Pakistani sovereignty. from his home last week was many people he had no idea about. However, former military ruler tortured and interrogated He was also questioned about Pervez Musharraf has acknowl- before being dumped blind- drone victims by name,” Akbar edged he permitted drone strikes. folded on the outskirts of the said. Police were not immediately Many Pakistanis believe the gov- capital early yesterday morn- available for comment. “He was ernment is complicit in their use ing, his lawyer said. told not to go near media when but reluctant to publicly say so Activist Kareem Khan was he was released. If you speak with out of fear of a backlash. blindfolded and interrogated in media, they said, we will come back The United States prizes drones two different locations, his lawyer for you.” for their accuracy in killing Al Shahzad Akbar said, and tied up Akbar said Khan was taken Qaeda and Taliban militants and and beaten on the soles of his feet. from his home on February 5 says they cause minimal civilian At first his interrogators wore by around a dozen men in police casualties. But accurate infor- police uniforms and later civilian uniforms who bundled him into a mation is hard to come by. The clothes, he said. Khan’s brother police vehicle in front of his wife, Pakistani military forbids foreign and son were both killed in a drone children and neighbours. He was journalists from going to the tribal strike in 2009. He was suing the shaken after his ordeal but had no areas along the Afghan border Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) visible marks of torture. unaccompanied. The government and the Pakistani government over “We plan to get him examined by does not release reliable statistics. the deaths in Pakistani court. a doctor the moment we get him The Taliban also often cordon The drone program has out of Pakistan,” he said, adding off the sites of strikes. The Bureau long been a sore point in rela- both were due to fly out of Pakistan of Investigative Journalism tracks tions between Pakistan and the later yesterday on a long-planned drone strikes through media United States. Pakistan publicly trip to talk with European law- reports and estimates between denounces drone strikes but makers about drones. 2,537 and 3,646 Pakistanis died many suspect it is complicit, After each drone strike, in the strikes between 2004 and Security officials stand guard outside the venue of a Valentine's Day celebration as part of the global campaign pointing out Islamabad has done Pakistan officials have publicly 2013. REUTERS for women's rights 'One Billion Rising' in Kabul yesterday. A draft law in Afghanistan would deprive women of legal protection against abuse. Nawaz govt under pressure Terrorist attacks make Peshawar cinemas a ‘no go area’ PESHAWAR: The poster Shama Cinema - which left more more injured, it was decided that and then sent for production Peshawar, felt that the theatres to quit talks for Todd Robinson’s thriller than 17 dead, cinema owners have the best course of action is to shut and distribution to Peshawar’s should remain closed while the Phantom at Naaz Cinema tow- decided to close shop till proper all cinemas temporarily. No noti- Nishtarabad. law and order situation in the ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-e- ers over Hospital Road near security arrangements are made fication was issued by the police Film producer Muzafar Khan city was bad. He added that even Taliban Pakistan’s decision to Lady Reading Hospital, but for them. or provincial government to shut and the owner of his own pro- though this was the only source of own the latest Karachi blast there is no one going in. The police has warned cinema down the cinemas. duction house, said that they had entertainment in the city, security has built enormous pressure on The cinema promises the per- owners that they could be the The provincial government also cancelled screenings of the new was important. the government to review its fect Hollywood experience the target of more attacks and so to wants the police to stand guard productions at cinemas. No group have claimed respon- decision of holding talks with story of a Soviet submarine cap- prevent any disasters, should beef around the cinemas and keep an He added that the future of the sibility but the cinema received the TTP which refuses to stop tain torn between family and duty, up the security. eye out for anything suspicious. industry depends on the condi- warnings prior to the attacks. It its terror spree and continues intrigue, great sound and cinema- On their part, the police has Nishtarabad, the CD centre of tion of the province. “The people was believed that the attack hap- to challenge the state authority tography and to top it off, Urdu also asked cinemas to install Peshawar where one can also pro- are not interested in watching pened because the theatre used every other day. dubbing, but for the unforeseeable CCTVs and not let anyone go duce films, telefilms or dramas, the movies and we do not want to to show pornographic films. The The Taliban’s responsibility future, business will not pick up through without checking their has been attacked several times invest in this business anymore.” blasts were later condemned by claim came a day after Prime as the theatre has been temporar- Computerised National Identity in the past and is facing many “Even if the cinema houses Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chair- Minister Nawaz Sharif told ily shut down. Cards. security threats today. were not closed, there was no man Imran Khan and mentioned reporters in Ankara that the Cinema Road wears a similar After the February 2 attack on “Being the sole production audience,” he said. “So shutting that it will hinder peace talks armed forces had extended sup- deserted look as the three cinemas Picture House in which four peo- centre of all entertainment in them down will not really have an as well. Some hours later, the port for the peace initiative. located on the film strip Picture ple were killed, the cinema house the province, we should be pro- impact on the business.” attack was also condemned by He added that the Taliban had House, Ayeena and Palwasha cin- took a few days to get back on its vided with security,” said Farhan Cinema owners have decided the Pakistani President Mamnoon assured the government side of emas have also closed their doors feet and start showing films again. Khan, the president of Nishtar to keep their curtains closed and Hussain, as well as Prime Minister action against those who had for the time being. However, after Tuesday’s CD Production Association. provide cinemagoers with proper Nawaz Sharif and Muttahida committed acts of terrorism in After two attacks on two cin- attack at Shama Cinema in which Most Pashto films are made security. Qaumi Movement leader Altaf recent days. ema houses - Picture House and 13 people were killed and many in Lahore’s Evernew Studios Wazir Khan, a resident of Hussain. INTERNEWS According to a senior mem- ber of the federal government’s four-member committee that is holding peace talks with the two-member Taliban-appointed committee, the nonstop terrorist Three students hurt in university clash activities by militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa coupled with PESHAWAR: At least The IJT, the student said, adding that police were the TTP spokesman’s blatant three students were wing of Pakistan’s hard- searching for the students responsibility for the Karachi wounded yesterday in a line Jamaat-e-Islami party, involved to arrest them. attack yesterday has already clash at a university in the had been celebrating “Haya Peshawar is a conservative compelled the federal govern- northwestern Pakistani city (“Modesty”) Day” in response city on the edge of Pakistan’s ment to reassess its earlier deci- of Peshawar, following a dis- to Valentine’s Day which they restive tribal belt, where most sion of accepting the Taliban’s pute over Valentine’s Day oppose as unIslamic. women wear veils in public dialogue offer which now seems celebrations in the deeply Dozens of students threw and few girls go out alone. more like farce. Muslim country, police said. rocks in the scuffle, leading to Many of the Taliban and Al While requesting not to be Students from the left- gunshots being fired by both Qaeda-linked bombings which named, the committee member leaning Pakhtun Students sides and three rooms in a have killed thousands of peo- said they had made it clear to Federation were marking the student dormitory being set ple in Pakistan in the past the Taliban’s committee in the international day of romance on fire. several years have focused first round of talks that the TTP with red balloons and cake “The situation is under con- around Peshawar and the should stop all terrorist activities when they were attacked by trol now. Three students were northwestern province of immediately. students from the rival Islami wounded in the clash,” local Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. INTERNEWS Jamiat Tulba (IJT) group. police official Fazalur Rehman AFP Token of love Plea to review ban on police participation in UN missions ISLAMABAD: The General UN missions on the pretext of Headquarters (GHQ) of precarious internal security has Pakistan army has written a been communicated to the office letter to he Interior Ministry of the UN. seeking a review of the ban on The chief of General Staff police participation in United maintained that the decision Nations peacekeeping mission might also raise unnecessary abroad, it was learnt. alarm about Pakistans internal In the letter, chief of the gen- security situation at international eral staff stated that at present level, carrying away the chance of Pakistan had largest share in UN securing additional slots in UN peacekeeping mission around the both for army and police. world and its contributions in the “Vacancies once surrendered realm were admired at interna- in a particular mission cannot tional level. be secured in future,” the let- “It has only been made possi- ter stated, adding that as UN ble due to contributions of highly always has the leverage to select trained and professional military individuals from a large pool of and police peacekeepers,” the let- nominations received from the ter added. entire world including war torn Afghan refugees smile as a girl presents a stuffed toy with a heart- Interior Ministry’s recent deci- countries like Congo, Mali and shaped ribbon to her friend on Valentine's Day in a slum on the sion to discontinue the deploy- Sudan. ment of police peacekeepers for INTERNEWS outskirts of Islamabad yesterday. FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com India Kejriwal quits over anti-graft bill Delhi Chief Minister seeks fresh elections NEW DELHI: Forty-nine days that would empower the gov- matter, which had become con- after he took charge of the Delhi ernment to access funds for tentious over the past week with government, Chief Minister expenditure. the lieutenant-governor saying Arvind Kejriwal yesterday Kejriwal then stood up to speak, that the union government’s nod resigned following a tumultu- giving enough indication he was is needed for introducing the bill ous day in the state assembly going to resign when he said that — an issue on which opinion is where combined Congress and this “seems like our last (assem- divided among legal and consti- BJP legislators “defeated” his bly) session”. He said it was more tutional experts. party’s attempts to introduce important to “fight corruption But the AAP government was its signal Jan Lokpal bill, which than to run a government”. firm and had decided to push the Aam Admi Pary (AAP) says “Today, they did not let the for the bill, which was its poll was meant to curb corruption in Jan Lokpal bill to be introduced. promise. high places. Kejriwal also sought It has been defeated,” declared a But much before the house fresh elections in the national defiant and gesticulating Kejriwal. could be adjourned, messages capital. “Whether our government went out to AAP members to In political embarrassment for remains in power or not is not meet at its party headquarters the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) important,” he said, trying to at Hanuman Road. government, Kejriwal introduced make himself heard above the When the three-day session the bill amid din in the assembly, din caused by sloganeering and ended in just two days, Kejriwal, but an aggressive Congress and heckling by Congress and BJP without interacting with media, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators. left for the party office. It was leaders became strange bedfellows “We have come here to save here that he announced his res- to force Speaker M S Dhir to go the country. If we have to give ignation. The final decision was for voting. up the chief minister’s post for taken by the party’s Political In the voting, 42 members the sake of the country, we will Affairs Committee. voted against the introduction of do it not a hundred times but a On February 9, Kejriwal had the bill, while only 27 MLAs — all thousand times,” he said. Kejriwal threatened to resign if the bill was Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party, shows his resignation to his AAP leaders — voted for it. Delhi took charge December 28 at the not allowed to be passed. supporters while addressing them from party headquarters in New Delhi yesterday. assembly has a total strength of head of a minority government It was an action-packed 49-day 70. propped up by the Congress after stint for the AAP government, anti-corruption helpline, audit But the indiscretions of one media attention. His resignation As it became apparent that the an astonishing election victory. which received both bouquets and of power companies and acting of his ministers, especially Law now sets him free to get back to Congress, BJP and Janata Dal- Both the BJP, Congress, brickbats for its actions and utter- on suspected corruption in the Minister Somnath Bharti who the streets and do what he knows United legislator Shoiab Iqbal Shokeen and Iqbal were demand- ances in its brief and maiden stint organisation of Commonwealth went after African residents on best - to emote with the problems and lone independent Rambeer ing a discussion on Lt. Governor in power in a politically-charged Games and in gas pricing in which suspicion of them being part of of the aad admi, the common Shokeen will not allow the AAP Najeeb Jung’s appeal to the gov- journey that began with the par- he took on from former Delhi a drug-and-sex racket, and his man, whose ranks have swelled government to introduce the bill, ernment not to table the bill in ty’s formation on November 2012. chief minister Sheila Dikshit to nightlong blockade of the cen- in support for his party and on Kejriwal and his senior cabinet the house without his approval. The party was able to deliver industrial Mukesh Ambani, chair- tre of the capital, days before whom he is counting to translate colleague Manish Sisodia pre- Jung had earlier in the day some of its biggest poll promises, man of Reliance Industries and the Republic Day Parade, got the his national ambitions. sented two appropriation bills written to the speaker on the including cheap water, power, India’s richest man. party a lot of flak and adverse IANS

Scuffle with police BRIEFLY Shutdown in Seemandhra over Telangana bill

HYDERABAD: Rayalaseema tabling the bill in parliament and coastal Andhra regions of despite a strong opposition from Andhra Pradesh are observing MPs belonging to Seemandhra. a complete shutdown for the The protesters, raising slogans Indian student second consecutive day yester- against the UPA government day to protest the tabling of the and Congress president Sonia commits suicide Telangana bill in parliament. Gandhi, staged road blockades at The shutdown called by the several places. The bill to carve in Australia YSR Congress party and another out separate Telangana state was group fighting for united Andhra Thursday tabled in the Lok Sabha MELBOURNE: An Indian Pradesh evoked total response in amid unprecedented ruckus. L. student who had over-stayed all 13 districts of Seemandhra, as Rajagopal, a Lok Sabha member his visa committed suicide in the two regions are togetehr called. from Seemandhra, used pepper an Australian immigration Buses of state-owned Andhra spray and a scuffle also broke out detention centre near here, Pradesh State Road Transport between MPs of the two regions. a newspaper reported yes- Corporation (APSRTC) remained The Lok Sabha speaker terday. The 27-year-old hung off the roads while shops, business suspended 16 MPs, including himself in his cell at the cen- establishments and educational YSR Congress president Y.S. tre on Thursday night, The institutions were closed. Jaganmohan Reddy, for their Sydney Morning Herald said. Activists of the YSR Congress involvement in the unruly, noisy Immigration Minister Scott and Andhra Pradesh Non- incidents. Jagan, as the MP from Students from northeast India scuffle with security personnel during a protest in New Delhi yesterday. Hundreds Morrison said the man was Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Kadapa is popularly known, called of students protested against the attacks on people from the northeastern states and demanded justice for found unconscious. Victoria Association took to streets since for the shutdown to protest what Nido Tania, a student from the Arunachal Pradesh who died from his injuries supposedly sustained by beat- Police said the death was not early yesterday to protest the he calls the mockery of democ- ings from shopkeepers in New Delhi. being considered “suspicious”. central government’s action of racy. IANS The government expressed sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased and pledged to provide support to police and other authorities to Publisher Penguin warns Bahraini ruler to visit assist with their investigation. Indian girl falls to India after 30 years death in Dubai of free speech curbs DUBAI: An Indian girl died after falling from a tower in NEW DELHI: Freedom of Alternative History by Wendy party’s militant wing. NEW DELHI: Bahrain’s ruler Economic Development Board, Dubai, a media report said. expression is under threat in Doniger, a professor at the They also said Doniger’s book, H H Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al recently said that the Gulf nation The girl, whose age was not India, publisher Penguin Books University of Chicago’s Divinity published in India in 2011, tells Khalifa is scheduled to visit was willing to sign a pact to avoid mentioned, fell from a high India said yesterday, adding School, takes an unorthodox readers the RSS was behind India next week, a visit at the double taxation and a host of floor of Gold Crest Views that it had little choice but to view of Hinduism, which drew the assassination of Mahatma level of the king of the high- others to boost bilateral trade building in Jumeirah Lake withdraw from sale a contro- criticism from conservative Gandhi, India’s freedom hero, income Gulf state happening and investments. According to Towers here around 5pm on versial book on Hinduism by a Hindus and some scholars. who was shot dead by a former after over three decades. knowledeable sources, India is Thursday, the Emirates 24/7 US academic. Penguin said it believed in member of the organisation. Indians have a strong presence also keen to sign an agreement Online reported. Penguin agreed in a Delhi every individual’s right to free- Recent years have seen sev- in Bahrain. The number of Indian to avoid double taxation with the The body was discovered court this week to recall all dom of thought and expres- eral instances of Hindu hard- expatriates in Bahrain is esti- Gulf nation. The deal would help by a Bangladeshi cleaner in copies of the book and pulp sion, but a publishing company liners going on the attack mated at around 350,000, which enhance business engagements the building and his manager them. The move triggered must respect the laws of the against books or lifestyles they is one third of Bahrain’s popula- and curb black money. called the police. The girl was anger on social media and land “however intolerant and view as offensive or corrupting tion of 1.2 million. The two countries had signed a resident of one of the pent- from writers and academics, restrictive those laws may be”. traditional Indian values. India and Bahrain are likely an agreement for exchange of houses in the building. Police rekindling a debate on free- It added that it also had a In 2011, Delhi University to sign a number of important information on taxes during the are questioning the building’s dom of speech in the world’s duty to protect its employees dropped a scholarly text from deals, including one on avoiding visit of Prince Salman bin Hamad managers, cleaners and resi- largest democracy. against threats and harass- its history syllabus after Hindu double taxation, during the visit Al Khalifa in May 2012. India and dents about the incident. The withdrawal comes just ment, suggesting it feared nationalist students vandalized of the king from February 18-20. Bahrain also have an agreement months ahead of a national violence as well as legal the history department and Al Khalifa’s father and his pred- on promoting and protecting election that the Bharatiya challenges. complained that some bawdy ecessor Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al bilateral investment. Rainy Friday, light Janata Party (BJP), a conserva- Seven petitioners in a 2011 references in the text offended Khalifa had visited India in 1983. The two countries share strong tive Hindu nationalist party, is complaint in a court case beliefs about the life of the According to officials at the economic and political relations. drizzle likely today tipped to win. criticised the book for “her- hero-god Rama. Bahrain embassy here, the king India is the largest supplier of NEW DELHI: The national “We believe that the Indian esies and factual inaccura- Mumbai University took will be accompanied by a high- workforce to Bahrain. capital experienced a rainy Penal Code ... will make it cies” and said Doniger had a Indian-born Canadian writer level delegation of more than India-Bahrain bilateral trade day yesterday, while the increasingly difficult for any selective approach to writing Rohinton Mistry’s Booker 150 people comprising ministers, stood at $2.15bn in 2012-13. It maximum temperature was Indian publisher to uphold about Hinduism. They said she Prize-shortlisted novel Such A senior officials and businessper- included $825.3m worth of oil recorded nine degrees below international standards of free was incorrect in describing Long Journey off its literature sons. Senior Bahraini ministers, India imported from Bahrain. the season’s average at 14.6 expression without deliberately the Rashtriya Swayamsevak syllabus in 2010 after threats including Industry and Commerce Bahrain, a part of the six- degrees Celsius. Spells of placing itself outside the law,” Sangh (RSS), India’s largest and book burnings by radical Minister Hassan A Fakhro and nation Gulf Cooperation Council light rain are expected till Penguin said in a statement. Hindu nationalist organisation, Hindu political party the Shiv Transportation Minister Kamal (GCC), is focussing on developing noon today, the Met Office The book, The Hindus: An which is close to the BJP, as the Sena. REUTERS Ahmed, will be part of the del- services and manufacturing as its said. egation. Ahmed, who is also act- oil reserves are among the lowest AGENCIES ing chief executive of Bahrain’s in the region. IANS FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Business www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 ON SATURDAY

Shell plans to sell DIP sukuk terms may trigger more issues three assets in Pricing just 38.5bps wide of better-rated Jafza sukuk; strong sentiments towards Dubai British North Sea LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell LONDON: A well-timed launch Lead arrangers Al Hilal Bank, 2019 sukuk, spotted at 226.5bps Dubai sovereign, Emaar is seen investor community, said Wajid. plans to put three oil and gas saw Dubai Investments Park Citigroup, Dubai Islamic Bank over mid-swaps around the time as one indicator for confidence in European investors took 49 per- assets in the North Sea up for achieve favourable terms on and Emirates NBD took full DIP opened books. the emirate. cent of DIP’s issue, followed by sale, as it seeks to ramp up its debut $300m, 4.296 percent advantage of the demand, and the Apart from the rarity value, the “Also, DIP operates a major Middle East accounts with 32 disposals and focus on improv- five-year Reg S sukuk issue, a pricing of 265 basis points over deal comes at a time when senti- land bank in the general area percent. By investor type, fund ing shareholder returns after a deal that may serve to acceler- mid-swaps came 35 bps inside ment towards Dubai is extremely where the Expo is to be held,” managers dominated with 65 per- shock profit-warning. ate the plans of other regional guidance of MS+300 bps, and strong. Wajid noted. Dubai will host the cent of the deal. Like its industry peers, Shell potential issuers. even further inside initial profit “This sukuk is secured by world’s fair in 2020 and plans Gulf corporates rarely offer has been facing increasing inves- The real estate firm, rated thoughts of the low 300s over assets on the ground in Dubai, billions of dollars of spending on much spread either, which made tor pressure to rein in spending BB by Standard & Poor’s, kicked mid-swaps. and perception towards Dubai infrastructure in the area. this an attractive deal, a rival as costs rise and prospects for oil off the deal in a strong week “Even when we brought in pric- is very strong at the moment,” DIP’s main asset, a mixed banker said. prices wane. for emerging markets and to a ing, hardly any orders fell out of said Mohammad Kamran Wajid, industrial, commercial and resi- Other potential issuers would Glen Cayley, the Anglo-Dutch market starved of Middle East the book, such was the appetite chief executive of Emirates NBD dential block, is adjacent to the be encouraged by the transaction company’s vice-president of its paper: it is the first sukuk from for this deal,” a lead banker said. Capital, the investment banking World Expo 2020 site, according and more deals could follow soon, upstream business in Europe, has the region and the second inter- At the time initial profit arm of Emirates NBD. to the deal documentation. particularly from the United Arab spoken to staff about the proposed national bond from the Gulf this thoughts went out, bankers away Last week Dubai’s largest real Overall conditions helped as Emirates, bankers on and away sell-off of its Anasuria, Nelson year after Kuwait Projects Co. from the deal were talking about estate developer, state-linked well. Institutional investors in from this deal said. and Sean platforms in the British As a result DIP, a unit of Dubai a pick-up of 70-80 bps over larger Emaar Properties, regained an Europe are looking to put money “There are other issuers wait- part of the North Sea. Together, Investments, recorded a final and better-rated peer Jebel Ali investment-grade credit rating to work, as evidenced by suc- ing to hit the market and we could the assets account for about two order book on Thursday of around Free Zone (Baa3/BBB-). after losing it during Dubai’s cessful recent deals by Turkey see a flurry of deals between now percent of Britain’s oil production. $4bn, unusually large for a debut But final pricing was just 38.5 financial crisis five years ago. In and Slovenia. In addition, there and the summer,” said Wajid. Output from the North Sea sukuk. bps wide of Jafza’s seven percent the absence of a rating for the is a lot of liquidity in the Islamic REUTERS basin has been in decline since 1999, raising concerns that the biggest oil companies could turn their backs on it, but Shell said it was committed to the area. Toyota recalls more “These changes are very much in line with our strategy and will than 261,000 Nakilat Damen delivers Semesma to Milaha allow us to shape our future and focus on where we can add value vehicles in US DOHA: Qatari shipbuilder to ensure a long-term future for Nakilat Damen Shipyards Shell in the basin,” Cayley said in DETROIT: Toyota Motor Corp Qatar (NDSQ) has delivered the an emailed statement. is recalling 261,114 Lexus and 32m-long tug boat ‘Semesma’ to Shell, attempting to win round Toyota brand vehicles in the Milaha. Semesma is the elev- investors after a major profit United States because various enth vessel built in Qatar by warning early this year, in January safety systems, including stabil- NDSQ which will be used by said it was targeting $15 billion of ity control and anti-lock brakes, Milaha at the Port of Mesaieed. disposals over the next two years could become inoperative. Earlier, NDSQ had delivered to as it tries to deliver more attrac- It is recalling vehicles from Milaha three 28m-long Azimuth tive returns to shareholders. model years 2012 and 2013 because Stern Drive (ASD) tugs, each an electrical component in the with a 55-ton bollard pull, one World Bank probes brake actuator, which adjusts fluid service boat capable of speeding pressure in each wheel cylinder, up to 20 knots and six 10-ton tug Tata Tea over may experience increased resist- boats, all built in Qatar. ance, according to documents filed “Milaha is proud to have part- labour issues with the US National Highway nered with QP, Nakilat and NDSQ Traffic Safety Administration. on this 19-vessel order. The ongo- NEW DELHI: The World That could lead to reduced ing expansion of the State of Bank is probing claims of poor vehicle control and an increased Qatar’s ports infrastructure and wages and conditions for work- risk of a crash as various safety services is vital to the country’s ers at Indian tea plantations systems, including traction con- economic growth, and there is a that it finances with tea giant trol, become inoperative. need to modernize the fleet and Tata Global Beverages, those Toyota officials could not imme- enhance service levels to support involved said yesterday. diately be reached to comment. this expansion,” said Sheikh Ali The bank’s auditors are looking The vehicles affected in the bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman into plantations in northeastern recall include 54,010 of the Lexus and Managing Director, Milaha. India run by an $87m partnership RX350 crossover vehicles and “These additions to our harbor between the bank’s private invest- 100,052 of the Toyota Tacoma fleet reflect Milaha’s commit- A view of the 32m-long tug boat Semesma. ment branch, Tata, the world’s sec- pickup trucks, both from model ment to play an important role ond largest tea company, and others. years 2012 and 2013, as well as in the development of the State of progress of the 19-vessel order for Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad NDSQ is a joint venture The venture, Amalgamated 107,052 of the Toyota RAV4 SUVs Qatar’s ports and transport sec- Milaha and at the strong growth bin Khalifa Al Thani, for the between Nakilat and Dutch ship- Plantations Private Limited from model year 2012, according tor,” he said. of the State of Qatar’s shipbuild- vision that has been the driving builder Damen and is based at (AAPL), runs 25 plantations to the NHTSA documents. Semesma, which has a bollard ing industry,” said Abdullah Al force of the development of the Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma employing 31,000 workers in the Not all of the recalled vehicles pull of 80 tons, will be used for Sulaiti, Managing Director of State of Qatar’s world-class ship- Shipyard in the Port of Ras states of Assam and some in neigh- were sold in the United States, escorting vessels visiting the Port Nakilat and Chairman of NDSQ. yard,” he said. Laffan. It began operations in bouring West Bengal. AAPL con- according to the NHTSA documents. of Mesaieed. Semesma is 32m “Upon reaching this impor- Semesma is part of a 19-ves- 2010 and builds ships in steel, firmed the World Bank’s Compliance Toyota and Lexus dealers will update long with a beam of 13m and has tant milestone, I would like to sel order for Milaha that NDSQ aluminum and fiber reinforced Advisor Ombudsman was conduct- the software for the skid control been equipped for offshore towing, express our deep gratitude to the is completing at its facilities at plastic (FRP), up to 170m in ing the probe, following a complaint electronic unit free of charge. firefighting and pollution control. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma length. by rights groups 12 months ago. REUTERS “We are delighted at the Hamad Al Thani, and to the Shipyard in Ras Laffan. THE PENINSULA AGENCIES

World Ag Expo Eurozone economy inching towards modest recovery BRUSSELS: The eurozone concerns the recovery could run said it was positive that for the economy showed yesterday out of steam. first time in nearly three years, enough of improvement in the Yesterday’s figures are reassur- the top six eurozone economies all fourth quarter to suggest a ing on that count. expanded, setting a lead for oth- modest recovery remains on Not only the core countries led ers to follow. track but problems remain, by Germany did well but “encour- But despite figures suggesting notably near-record unemploy- agingly, there were further signs “the recovery picked up some fur- ment and deflation risks. of improvement in the long- ther steam in the first part of this The single currency bloc grew suffering struggling southern year, a sustained recovery unfor- 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter periphery countries,” Archer said. tunately is not yet assured,” van of 2013, at the top end of fore- There, Spain grew 0.3 percent Kliet said. casts, after it nearly stalled in the while Italy made it into positive “Crucially, economic growth third when it expanded just 0.1 territory with 0.1 percent, the now has to start feeding through percent. first time it has done so since sec- into decent jobs growth, which in Analysts expected a fourth ond quarter 2011, he noted. most countries still is the missing quarter gain of 0.2-0.3 percent. Germany showed a gain of 0.4 link in the recovery,” he said. “While still far from dynamic, percent in the October-December Archer, while highlighting the it was a step back in the right period, better than analyst fore- gains, made a similar point. direction,” said Howard Archer casts of 0.3 percent. “It is still going to be far from at IHS Global Insight. In contrast, the French econ- plain sailing for the eurozone in At the same time, the outcome omy grew 0.3 percent in the 2014 as a number of significant still left the eurozone in negative fourth quarter but this was short growth constraints remain,” he territory for the year, shrinking of official forecasts of 0.4 percent. said. Among the headwinds, he 0.4 percent in 2013, Archer noted. Non-euro Britain expanded cited tight government spending The saws of tree topper machines displayed at the ADI Hydraulic Pruning Tools exhibit at the 47th Annual The eurozone escaped a record 0.7 percent, compared with 0.8 and credit conditions, high unem- World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, yesterday. The expo takes place as a third year of drought plagues 18-month recession in the second percent in the third quarter, as ployment and weak consumer California farmers with the driest year on record and prompting California Governor Jerry Brown to declare quarter last year with growth of it continued one of the stronger demand, which appears to “have a state wide drought emergency. 0.3 percent but data since then performers. been generally lacklustre.” has been very mixed, sparking Martin van Vliet at ING Bank AFP FEBRUARY 15, 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Business ON SATURDAY 16

India inflation UK struggles to drops to 8-month low extract remaining in December

NEW DELHI: India’s infla- North Sea oil tion fell to an eight-month low in December due to easing food prices, data showed yester- day, providing some good news Production down 40pc since 2010 for the government ahead of national elections. LONDON: Britain is likely barrels of oil could still be pro- The scandal-hit Congress-led to have to ditch its hands-off duced, worth about $2.6 trillion government of Prime Minister approach to the oil industry for at current prices. Manmohan Singh is desperate a mix of regulation, tax breaks But the oil is getting harder to tame inflation and revive the and investment if it is to reap and more expensive to recover. economy as it seeks a third term the benefits of the billions of And many of the firms with the in office at national elections due barrels of hard-to-extract oil skills to do so complain they can’t by May. remaining under the North Sea. get access to the infrastructure The Wholesale Price Index — Changing the way an industry they need because it is owned the most widely watched price has worked for decades will be no by major oil companies that are barometer — eased to 5.05 per- easy feat. It could involve costly focused elsewhere in the world cent in January from a year legal disputes over existing con- and see little benefit from help- earlier, down sharply from 6.16 tracts, and a long-term commit- ing competitors. percent the previous month. ment from a government focused High costs, including wages and The decline was on par with on the short-term goal of cutting taxes, are also making oil firms analysts’ forecasts of just under its deficit. think twice about the North Sea. six percent. But with many North Sea oil In November, for example, Chevron The latest figures come after platforms and pipelines coming cast doubt over its Rosebank A woman walks past a Lenta supermarket in Moscow. The hypermarket chain, part-owned by US private equity the government announced this to the end of their working lives, project in the region, estimated to firm TPG, is gearing up for London market debut. week that retail inflation — com- time is running out to get at the have cost $8bn, saying it did not piled using a narrower basket of oil, putting pressure on a gov- currently offer “economic value”. goods — plunged to a two-year low ernment review of the industry There is also political uncer- of 8.79 percent in January. — due to be published this month tainty, with BP warning this Russian retailer Lenta sets With industrial output shrink- — to deliver a plan of action. month that the industry could ing by 0.6 percent in December in “This is urgent. It’s not a prob- face extra costs if Scotland votes the third straight monthly con- lem we can see happening in the for independence in a referendum traction, business has been clam- next decade, it’s a problem now,” in September. price range for share sale ouring for a cut in lending rates said David Bamford, a former head The interim report from the to help boost slumping growth. of exploration at oil firm BP, who Wood Review in November sug- MOSCOW: Russian hypermar- statement with five GDRs equal- potential in the fragmented and But the Reserve Bank of India now runs his own consultancy and gested the government should ket chain Lenta, part-owned by ling one Lenta share. A roadshow underpenetrated Russian food (RBI) raised its benchmark policy sits on the board of Tullow Oil. set up a stronger regulator for US private equity firm TPG, has for investors was to start yester- retail market. rate to 8.0 percent last month in a Production from UK waters the industry to ensure compa- set a price range for its planned day and will run until February Lenta competes with Russia’s bid to wrestle down inflation, which fell by about 40 percent between nies work together in a way that London market debut, which 27, after which the offer price is biggest food retailer Magnit , it has signalled is its top priority. 2010 and 2013 to the lowest level “maximises economic recovery” implies a market valuation of to be announced. which is focused on capitalising In its mid-year review on the since the 1970s, according to of oil in British waters. up to $5bn, the company said The indicative price range on increasing disposable income economy presented to parliament industry group Oil and Gas UK. That could follow the model of yesterday. implies a market capitalisation in Russia’s regions and has a mar- this week, the government also Exploration has also tapered off, Norway, where the NPD regulator Lenta is the latest Russian of between $4.09bn and $4.95bn, ket capitalisation of $23 billion, said prices need to be curbed. with consultancy Deloitte report- is mandated both to drive coop- consumer company to launch an with the sale of some 19 million and smaller rival O’Key with a “The outlook on growth is also ing last month that only 47 test eration between oil firms and to stock market listing to cash in on shares or 22.1 percent of existing market value of around $3 billion. threatened by certain downside wells were drilled last year — the impose Norwegian law - which the country’s rising middle class share capital, Lenta said. Analysts at Bank of America risks, the biggest being the high lowest level since 2003. requires that resources are devel- and follows the successful flotation Lenta has said TPG, which owns Merrill Lynch said in a research rate of inflation, which further That is bad news for a cash- oped optimally. of telecoms firm Megafon in 2012. a 49.8 percent stake, will sell some note that the valuation implied dents the ability of the RBI to strapped government which in The NPD, however, has been But the sale comes as Russia’s of its shares, as will the European a 2013 estimated price-earnings extend monetary policy support fiscal 2012-13 still relied on the operating for around forty years economy is flagging — growth Bank for Reconstruction and multiple of 18.4-22 times, a dis- to growth revival,” it said. oil industry for over 15 percent of and employs about 200 highly- slumped from an average seven Development, which holds 21.5 count to Magnit but a premium Ministry of Commerce and all corporate taxes. It’s not that skilled people with an in-depth percent a year to just over one percent, and Russian bank VTB, to O’Key. Industry figures showed Friday food North Sea oil is running out. knowledge of the North Sea, percent last year. which owns 11.7 percent. “The valuation reflects inves- prices, a main driver of inflation, An interim report from the something which industry watch- The price range for Lenta’s Jan Dunning, Lenta chief exec- tors’ attitudes and is set some- rose 8.80 percent year-on-year, but government’s review — chaired ers say will not be easy to repli- offering is set at between $9.5 and utive, said in a statement the where in between Magnit and were down from a rise of 13.68 per- by industry veteran Ian Wood - cate in a short space of time. $11.5 per one global depositary group was in a strong position O’Key,” a banking source said. cent in the previous month. estimated as much as 24 billion REUTERS receipt (GDR), Lenta said in a to capture the significant growth REUTERS AFP

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P French economy grows 0.3 percent in 2013 Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.75 -0.35% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 1.16% Aa2 AA PARIS: The French econ- reported after a cabinet meeting. institute had already slightly cuts in public spending. Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 120.00 2.39% Aa2 AA omy turned in slightly firmer “It is a good sign for the coming upgraded its estimates for growth Growth raises the prospects of job Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 113.63 2.74% Aa2 AA growth than expected last year, year,” she quoted him as saying. in the first and third quarters, from creation, although these figures are Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 108.50 3.27% Aa2 AA expanding by 0.3 percent, but “It is the right time to acceler- shrinkage of 0.1 percent to zero. far too low to begin to dent record Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 155.13 4.83% Aa2 AA undershot in the final quar- ate our public policies to support However, in the last three unemployment in the country, one Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 117.13 5.19% Aa2 AA ter in a mixed message for the growth.”Finance Minister Pierre months of the year, the economy reason why Francois Hollande, Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 108.00 5.20% Aa2 AA beleaguered government. Moscovici said in remarks on showed growth of 0.3 percent, a Socialist, is suffering from the This was a stride ahead of the France 2 television that the lat- INSEE said in its first estimates. lowest approval ratings on recent Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.06 0.62% Aa2 AA government’s own estimate that est official figures, although better That fell short of its forecast record for a French president. Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 110.75 3.14% Aa2 AA the economy would limp into than expected, meant that “more in December for expansion of 0.4 Growth also raises revenue Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.13 0.78% A1 A- growth of just 0.1 percent in 2013. has to be done” to “get unemploy- percent. from taxes which the Socialist- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.63 1.85% A1 A- It came as a small relief in the ment down”. The government, faced with Green government urgently needs QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.25 1.22% NR NR run-up to municipal elections. The latest official figure for weak and unsteady recovery to help meet European Union QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.50 1.09% Aa3 A+ President Francois Hollande the year was just ahead of the from recession, will be thankful rules for reducing the public def- QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.25 1.91% Aa3 A+ welcomed “the new-found confi- national statistic institute’s fore- for every extra drop of growth, icit, along with fraught negotia- dence of people in the economy” cast in December of 0.2-percent as it struggles to engineer a tions under way to cut deeply into Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.38 2.02% A2 A- in France, government spokes- growth. change of policy to cut charges public spending. Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.25 1.35% A2 A- woman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem But since then the INSEE on businesses and to make deep AFP Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.75 2.82% A2 A- Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 107.63 3.51% A2 A- Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 103.25 4.64% A2 A- Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.00 0.57% Aa3 A Solar thermal power Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 107.00 3.02% Aa3 A S&P affirms Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.88 3.77% Aa3 A SOVEREIGNS Kuwait ratings Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.63 0.79% Aa2 AA at AA/A-1, Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.13 2.17% Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.13 1.61% NR NR outlook stable Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.63 2.41% NR NR SYDNEY: Standard and Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 123.25 3.75% NR NR Poor’s Ratings Services Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 115.13 4.25% NR NR affirmed Kuwait’s long and Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.18% Aa2 AA short-term foreign and local Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.88 2.90% NR BBB currency sovereign credit rat- Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 108.13 3.99% NR BBB ings at AA/A-1, with a stable outlook yesterday. Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 100.75 5.60% Caa1 B- The credit ratings agency Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 104.13 3.78% NR BBB- said Kuwait has rich resources

*Periodic Distribution Amount which have made it wealthy and IMPORTANT NOTE: enable it to build strong exter- Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which nal and fiscal balance sheet is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services positions. Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary “The stable outlook balances data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not our view of Kuwait’s very strong take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds fiscal and external positions can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant against its confrontational and, liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not in our view, non-transparent a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. political system, the geopolitical tensions in the region and the undiversified economy in which Heliostats (mirrors that track the sun and reflect the sunlight onto a central receiving point) are shown during a real GDP per capita growth tour of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in the Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border has been weak,” S&P said in a yesterday. The project, a partnership of NRG, BrightSource, Google and Bechtel, is the world’s largest solar statement. thermal facility and uses 347,000 sun-facing mirrors to produce 392 Megawatts of electricity. REUTERS FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Business Views www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 ON SATURDAY

Iran’s precious black gold How TaxPayers’ Alliance BY KEITH JOHNSON and JAMILA TRINDLE took on gospel of big state xports of Iranian crude oil jumped in January, rais- ing concerns that the sanctions relief included in the BY MARK WALLACE interim nuclear agreement between Western countries was what people wanted us to do. an environment in which the gospel of the Eand Tehran is giving a shot in the arm to the struggling Contrary to the sneers and smears, none big state is implausible and unacceptable. Iranian economy that could weaken prospects for a comprehensive en years ago today, a small group of the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s many victories Once, Gordon Brown was able to talk deal to derail Iranian nuclear-weapons development. of volunteers met in a coffee shop. have come easy. No one can compile and about his “investments” as though every Oil is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy, and the Obama It was the first meeting of the analyse thousands of pieces of freedom of penny was used properly. Once, we were administration and its allies have spent years trying to strangle TaxPayers’ Alliance, though at information data from organisations right told to accept that MPs, quangos and its oil industry as a way of forcing Tehran to the negotiating table. the time none of those involved across our labyrinthine state without a huge bureaucrats could be trusted not to abuse The International Energy Agency’s monthly oil report estimated Tcould have anticipated quite what success amount of hard work. No small team can our hard-earned cash. Now that the real that Iranian oil exports spiked by about 100,000 barrels a day it would enjoy. secure that many appearances in the media state of affairs has been exposed through in January. That brought Iranian crude exports to just over 1.3 A decade later, and the TaxPayers’ without great commitment and an endless uncompromising transparency, those lines million barrels per day, worth almost $4bn a month given the Alliance is one of Britain’s best-known and willingness to sacrifice any chance of a quiet don’t work any more. current price of oil. most effective campaigning organisations life. The hours spent on vast spreadsheets, While Labour still refuses to accept they Iran’s growing oil revenues come amid signs that the Iranian – with 80,000 signed-up supporters, thou- weekend launches and middle-of-the-night got anything wrong, even Ed Balls now economy more generally seems to be recovering from the darkest sands of media appearances and the admira- interview requests are incalculable – when feels the need to pay lip-service to value days of rampant inflation and a plunging currency, suggesting that ble record of helping to deliver tax cuts that our operations director got married, I had for money. the economic stranglehold that US diplomats say pushed Iran to will be worth £37bn in 2014-15. It’s come to nip out halfway through to do a debate In fact, the opposition’s most iconic cam- the negotiating table may be waning. The International Monetary a long way from such a modest beginning. by phone on Radio 5 Live. paign bears the hallmarks of the TaxPayers’ Fund said this week “the pace of contraction in (Iranian) eco- I am proud to have played my part in Happily, all those efforts are starting Alliance’s success. When Ed Miliband nomic activity is slowing” -- an assessment that hands a new that success, having served as the organisa- to pay off – not just for the organisation, opposes the end of subsidies for spare rooms, weapon to opponents of the White House’s interim nuclear deal tion’s campaign director from 2007 to 2010, but for the good of Britain’s taxpayers. he doesn’t attack it as a welfare reform or a with Tehran, who have long argued that the agreement was giving a period which encompassed the financial After a period, not that long ago, when cut in investment. Instead, he (inaccurately) Iran too much financial relief. Crude exports are an important crisis, the depths of Brownite waste and the the TaxPayers’ Alliance was the only brands it “the bedroom tax”. source of revenue for the Iranian government, but they had been MPs’ expenses scandal. national voice pressing for austerity, the When tax has become such a toxic word slashed by years of oil sanctions organized by the United States I will never forget the day in 2009 when Conservatives and Liberal Democrats now that even those who support more taxation and European countries. Before oil sanctions began in 2012, Iran we were branded “a phenomenally suc- acknowledge too much was spent and too use it negatively, that is a positive sign for exported about 2.5 million barrels per day, and exports fell as low cessful lobby” and, even better, “rottweil- much taxed. “Public money”, a phrase which tax-cutters. as 760,000 barrels a day last fall. ers” by none other than Polly Toynbee. At was common a decade ago, is barely heard Ten years ago, the public finances Under the terms of the six-month interim agreement announced last, those most attached to the high taxes, any more – now everyone remembers that were opaque, unaccountable, debt-fuelled in November and finalized in January, Western countries relaxed unaffordable borrowing and unaccountable this is taxpayers’ money, and anyone spend- and often unquestioned. Taxpayers were efforts to continue squeezing Iranian oil exports. The partial relief, monoliths which placed such a burden on ing it must be accountable to the people. overburdened, abused and ignored. The US officials said, would still limit Iranian crude exports to about hard-pressed taxpayers were starting to Our work has had an impact beyond TaxPayers’ Alliance has played a huge part 1 million barrels of oil a day, but Iran is now clearly exporting panic about our work – a sure sign that we persuading politicians that lower spending in the new wave of transparency, accounta- significantly more than that. were making progress. and taxes are desirable and possible. Even bility and fiscal responsibility. Imagine what The Iranian parliament passed a budget earlier this week pro- New supporters flowed in as a result of the those who are too dogmatic or stubborn to it will achieve in its second decade. posed by President Hassan Rowhani based on revenue from 1.5 article – shaking the high-tax establishment acknowledge the evidence now operate in THE GUARDIAN million barrels a day in exports. Tehran’s clerical government provides its citizens with generous social benefits as a way of maintaining some popular support. State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said that US offi- cials were still reviewing the latest oil-export data, but reiterated that under the terms of the interim deal, Iran cannot increase its level of oil exports. The growing indications that Iran’s economy is recovering from the impact of sanctions have led congressional critics of the deal to warn that the United States and its allies are gradually losing leverage over Tehran. The IMF said this week that the Iranian economy remained weak overall and in need of major reforms, but future prospects have been buoyed by the temporary nuclear deal struck in January that could pave the way for the lifting of sanctions. The IMF said the Iranian economy could begin to stabilize and even grow 1-2 percent in 2014-15, but remained “highly uncertain.” The comments come after the IMF’s first trip back to country since punishing international sanctions decimated the economy and drove down the value of Iran’s currency. The IMF is expected to finish a full report on the trip in late March. Some economists caution that improved prospects won’t mean much if Iran can’t reach a permanent deal with the West that repeals the vast majority of the sanctions, which are still in place. Still, the news is likely to stoke fears in Washington that the administration has given up too much in the interim deal. Under the existing sanctions regime, revenues from Iranian oil exports are held in escrow accounts, which theoretically limits the amount of hard currency Tehran can receive. But Iran has man- aged to sidestep banking restrictions in the past, notably in deals with Turkey, and critics of the administration’s approach worry that greater oil exports will translate into a stronger Iranian economy. “Iran is gaining important negotiating leverage, while the United States’ leverage is being diminished,” Mark Dubowitz, the execu- tive director of the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, told FP. Dubowitz, a proponent of stronger sanctions against Iran, has for months warned that the partial sanctions relief included in the interim nuclear deal would offer large economic dividends to Iran. The White House says Iran would gain roughly $7bn, but Dubowitz has said the true value of the relief is closer to $20bn. “That doesn’t bode well for a diplomatic solution” to Iranian nuclear-weapons development, Dubowitz added. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate New FRB chairwoman looks towards a Keynesian approach

BY ANATOLE KALETSKY believing that the main job of a monetarists’ view that inflation So Yellen can now adopt a phi- were this week’s Treasury figures, strong and accelerating economic central bank is to stabilise infla- control should always be a higher losophy that would have been in fact, that one of Wall Street’s growth. n Washington, the first con- tion. For monetarists, consist- priority for the central bank than considered inflationary in the most respected economists, Ed This data reassessment has had gressional testimony from ently hitting an inflation target full employment. past — without raising a revolt Hyman of International Strategy an immediate and powerful glo- Janet Yellen in her posi- is, in normal circumstances, a More fundamentally, Yellen in financial markets. On the con- and Investment, said, “At the pace bal effect, as I wrote last week. Ition as new Federal Reserve sufficient criterion of monetary seems to believe along with many trary, Wall Street seems to prefer the federal deficit has narrowed… Exaggerated fears of a global eco- Board chairwoman reassured policy success. They believe that modern Keynesians, that because the pragmatic, control-engineer- Obama might leave office with nomic slump caused by financial and impressed two notoriously using monetary policy for other monetary policy must deal with ing approach to single-minded a small surplus. Of course this and political turmoil in emerg- petulant audiences: Tea Party economic objectives, such as stim- many conflicting objectives, cen- monetarist inflation targeting. As is wildly out of line with [offi- ing markets now appear to be congressmen, who had assem- ulating growth or creating jobs, is tral banks must adopt a “control demonstrated by the enthusiastic cial projections still showing] a dissipating. bled a posse of hostile witnesses doomed to failure and ultimately engineering” approach. Instead reaction to Yellen’s testimony this $539bn deficit in 2016.” The evidence that US economic to attack the Fed’s “easy money” leads to galloping inflation. of trying to hit a single inflation week. US experience seems to be vin- growth and employment are gain- policies; and panicky Wall Street Once inflation is stabilised, target precisely, they should try Many fiscal conservatives still dicating a Keynesian approach to ing traction is having a profound investors, who had spent the pre- monetarists explain, the “real” to keep numerous economic vari- argue that the newfound predict- fiscal policy — as well as to cen- effect on the confidence of central vious month swooning on fears economy should be left to mar- ables — unemployment, growth, ability of US fiscal policy is any- tral banking. When an economy bankers, politicians, investors, that monetary policies might not ket forces. These determine the capacity utilisation, financial lev- thing but good news. An armistice is emerging from deep recession, consumers and business leaders be easy enough. optimal levels of unemployment erage — within tolerable limits, in the budget wars, they insist, the best way for the govern- around the world. The significance of Yellen’s and growth that a low-inflation focusing most attention on which- will merely allow government ment to deal with deficits is to As the US recovery accelerates, testimony lay not in the fact that economy can achieve. ever variable is veering furthest debt and borrowing to spiral out ignore them. Instead of trying to broadens and becomes more sus- she was a bit more “dovish” than Yellen’s testimony, in contrast, away from the acceptable range. of control. cut spending or raising taxes, it tainable, the world can finally see former Chairman Ben Bernanke, revealed Keynesian thinking, Before the 2008 fiscal crisis, But just as this week’s debt is better to maximize fiscal and evidence that the extraordinary or seemed more committed to which views monetary policy as many investors and business lead- ceiling votes exposed as myth the monetary stimulus and then wait monetary and fiscal policies of the the new central bankers’ fad for just one instrument, if perhaps ers would have been horrified by cliché that America had become for economic growth to bring defi- post-crisis period are starting to “forward guidance,” as opposed to the most important, in a com- this pragmatic philosophy. They ungovernable, new fiscal figures cits down. work as intended. “quantitative easing.” More strik- plex macro-economic toolbox believed the monetarist doctrine released Wednesday revealed that The run of good news from The better that monetary and ing, if subtle, was the change in that has to be used pro-actively that any deviation from single- the US budget crisis was also a Washington has transformed fiscal stimulus are seen to be economic philosophy that Yellen to achieve a broad range of both minded inflation targeting would mirage. It now turns out that tax the grim mood that suddenly working in the United States, the represented. monetary and real objectives. Not produce soaring prices. Today, revenues are surging, spending descended on financial markets more these policies will be emu- Bernanke, despite his radical- just moderate inflation, but also however, most of the “bond-mar- is under firm control and defi- in January. US investors are lated in other countries — and ism during the financial crisis, full employment, strong growth, ket vigilantes” who have sharply cits are narrowing much faster now reinterpreting the recent the greater will be the probability was philosophically an ortho- financial stability and perhaps criticised Fed policies since 2008, than almost anyone expected, to disappointing employment fig- of a genuine economic recovery dox monetarist, who followed even better income distribution. point to the threat of deflation, not just 3 percent of gross domestic ures and focusing instead on the around the globe. his mentor Milton Friedman in Keynesians disagree with the inflation, as evidence of this failure. product this fiscal year. So strong many other statistics pointing to REUTERS FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Classifieds

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Sri Lanka take series Impressive Ishant after another last-ball win

DHAKA: Sri Lanka defeated puts India on top Bangladesh by three wickets in the second and final Twenty20 international in Chittagong yes- terday to win the series 2-0. New Zealand bowled out for 192 in Wellington The tourists, who bowled out Bangladesh for a paltry 120, lost WELLINGTON: A career-best six- seven wickets before securing vic- wicket haul by Ishant Sharma put tory off the final ball in an excit- India firmly in charge at stumps on ing finish at the Zahur Ahmed the opening day of the second Test Chowdhury stadium. against New Zealand in Wellington Sri Lanka, the world’s top- yesterday. ranked Twenty20 side, had won New Zealand were rolled for 192 in the first match at the same venue their first innings and at the close India on Wednesday by two runs, also were 100-2 with Shikhar Dhawan on 71 off the last ball. and Sharma, playing the nighwatchman For visitors Sri Lanka, N role, on three. Perera was the highest scorer in Murali Vijay was the first wicket to the tense run-chase that ended on fall, caught behind by BJ Watling off the last ball of the match. Tim Southee for two. He tried to pull REUTERS out of the way of a rising delivery but it cut back sharply to skim his gloves on the way to the keeper. Scoreboard Cheteshwar Pujara was out 10 min- BANGLADESH utes before stumps for 19 when rapped T Iqbal c Mendis b Kulasekara ...... 2 on the pads by Trent Boult. S Rahman c Chandimal b Dilshan ...... 1 India’s 100 came from 28 overs as the A Haque c Perera b Senanayake ...... 24 wicket lost its early feistiness in the late S Al Hasan c Kulasekara b Senanayake ....12 afternoon sun. N Hossain c Chandimal b Mendis ...... 8 New Zealand struggled through 52.5 S Rahmanc Kulasekara b Malinga ...... 26 overs for their 192 with Sharma taking Mahmudullah (run out-Dilshan) ...... 9 6-51, following another six-wicket bag in F Reza c Chandimal b Kulasekara ...... 9 the first Test, while Mohammed Shami M Mortaza b Malinga ...... 17 finished with 4-70. India’s Ishant Sharma celebrates the dismissal of Hamish Rutherford during day one A Sunny c Chandimal b Malinga ...... 5 Sharma deflected praise of his own Rubel Hossain (not out) ...... 0 performance and said India had learned of the second Test match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, yesterday. Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-3) ...... 7 from the way they dismissed New Total (all out in 19.5 overs) ...... 120 Zealand for 105 in the second innings Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-3, 3-35, 4-41, 5-47, of the first Test. loss to 26-3 and they never recovered Scoreboard 6-59, 7-80, 8-101, 9-120, 10-120. “It’s a team sport. Whatever the team with the innings coming to an end Bowling: Dilshan 2-0-23-1; Kulasekara needs from me I do that,” he said. shortly after tea. New Zealand (I innings): 4-0-32-2 (1w); Senanayake 4-0-11-2; Mal- P Fulton lbw I Sharma ...... 13 “What I did was bowl in the right Only lusty hitting at the tail by debu- inga 3.5-0-20-3 (1w); Mathews 2-0-9-0; areas throughout the day. What we tant Jimmy Neesham and Southee lifted H Rutherford c Vijay b I Sharma ...... 12 K Williamson c R Sharma b Shami ...... 47 Mendis 4-0-21-1 (1w). learned from the Auckland second the total close to the 200 mark, after SRI LANKA innings was that if you bowl in the good New Zealand at one stage were 133-7. T Latham c Dhoni b I Sharma ...... 0 B McCullum c Jadeja b Shami ...... 8 J Perera lbw S Al Hasan ...... 21 areas and keep it there for a long time All-rounder Neesham had seven fours C Anderson c Kohli b I Sharma ...... 24 T Dilshan b A Sunny ...... 3 you get rewards.” in his 33 while Southee included three B J Watling c R Sharma b I Sharma ...... 0 L Chandimal lbw Mahmudullah ...... 3 New Zealand batsman Kane sixes and a four in his 32. J Neesham c Dhoni b Shami ...... 33 K Sangakkara c T Iqbal b R Hossain 37 Williamson said the state of the wicket Sharma’s opening burst claimed T Southee c Vijay b I Sharma ...... 32 A Perera b M Mortaza ...... 4 helped as well. Rutherford (12), Fulton (13) and new N Wagner (not out) ...... 5 T Boult c Pujara b Shami ...... 2 A Mathews c A Haque b M Mortaza ...... 2 “It seamed around a bit and they cap Tom Latham, deputising for New N Kulasekara (run out) ...... 2 got the ball to swing nicely and they Zealand’s unavailable star performer Extras (NB-6, W-8, LB-2) ...... 16 Total (all out) ...... 192 N Perera (not out) ...... 35 bowled very well, so it was definitely a Ross Taylor, who was gone for nought Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-26, 3-26, 4-45, 5-85, 6-86, S Senanayake (not out)...... 12 good challenge batting first on it and it after facing eight balls. 7-133, 8-165, 9-184, 10-192. Extras (LB-1, W-2, NB-1) ...... 4 was nice to scrape together a scrappy Shami came back for his second spell Bowling: Zaheer 17-3-57-0 (nb-2, w-1), Shami 16.5-4- Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 123 total.” to remove McCullum for eight to have 70-4 (nb-1, w-2), I Sharma 17-3-51-6 (nb-3), R Jadeja Did not bat: B A W Mendis, S L Malinga. 2-1-12-0. New Zealand had expected a trou- New Zealand 50-4 at lunch. Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-25, 3-32, 4-42, bled ride from the moment Brendon Corey Anderson (24) and Watling India (I innings): S Dhawan (batting) ...... 71 5-46, 6-50, 7-96. McCullum lost the toss and they were (nought) went soon after lunch before Bowling: Arafat Sunny 2-0-8-1; Mashrafe predictably sent into bat first on the Kane Williamson, who had been at the M Vijay c Watling b Southee ...... 2 C Pujara lbw Boult ...... 19 Mortaza 4-0-29-2; Rubel Hossain 4-0-34-1 hard, green wicket. crease since the fall of the first wicket, I Sharma (batting) ...... 3 (1nb); Shakib Al Hasan 2-0-8-1; Mahmudul- Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford, and Neesham compiled New Zealand’s Extras (B-4, W-1) ...... 5 lah 4-0-16-1 (1w); Nasir Hossain 2-0-11-0 who were both struggling for runs, cau- best partnership of 47 for the seventh Total (for 2 wkts) ...... 100 (1w); Farhad Reza 2-0-16-0. tiously negotiated the first half hour wicket. Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-89. Series: Sri Lanka won the 2-match series until the introduction of Sharma to the Williamson was given out on 15 and Still to bat: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, M S Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed 2-0. attack turned the game immediately. 23 only to be recalled both times when Player-of-the-Match: Perera (Sri Lanka). In the space of 14 balls, mixing up replays showed Zaheer Khan and then Shami. Bowling: Boult 9-4-18-1, Southee 7-0-20-1, Wagner Player-of-the-Series: Kulasekara (Sri deliveries of swing and bounce, he Sharma had claimed his wicket off no 7-0-36-0, Anderson 3-0-14-0, Neesham 2-0-8-0 (w-1). Lanka). reduced New Zealand from 23 without balls. AFP Malik, Akmal back in Warner punishes South Africa Pakistan World CENTURION, South Africa: David Warner and Alex Doolan built on Australia’s sizeable advantage after Mitchell Johnson destroyed South Africa’s T20 squad first innings on the third day of the first Test at SuperSport Park yesterday. KARACHI: Pakistan have Warner (93 not out) and Doolan (48 not out) took recalled former captain Shoaib Australia to 147 for one in their second innings at Malik and wicketkeeper-bats- tea, an overall lead of 338. man Kamran Akmal for next Johnson continued his devastating form of the Australia’s David Warner month’s World Twenty20 in recent Ashes series against England - and his superb celebrates his hundred Bangladesh. opening spell on the second day - and finished with century during the third Malik has not featured in a seven for 68 as South Africa were bowled out for 206 day of the first Test Twenty20 for his country since in reply to Australia’s 397. match against South November while Akmal returns AB de Villiers made a sparkling 91 for South Africa Africa in Centurion, after last playing for his side at before he was ninth man out. yesterday the 2013 Champions Trophy in The left-handed Warner was dropped three times England. but played some thrilling attacking strokes as he and Middle-order batsman Fawad new cap Doolan added an unbeaten 146 for the second Alam, who has not been picked wicket after Chris Rogers was bowled by Dale Steyn since 2010, is also back in the in the second over of the Australian second innings. 15-man squad as is paceman Warner’s first chance came on 26 when he hooked Umar Gul who has played only Vernon Philander to fine leg where substitute Dean three one-day internationals in Elgar dived but could not hold the ball. the last 11 months due to knee He edged the next ball he faced, from Morne surgery. Morkel, high to second slip where a leaping Alviro “Malik, Kamran and Fawad Petersen could only get his fingertips to it. And, on Scoreboard have been rewarded for their good 51, he was dropped in similar fashion by Graeme Australia (I innings) ...... 397 Bowling: Harris 17-3-51-0; Johnson 17.1-1- form in domestic cricket,” said Smith at first slip when he slashed at Ryan McLaren. South Africa (I innings): 68-7 (w-1); Siddle 13-1-33-1 (nb-1); Lyon 14- acting chief selector Azhar Khan. Warner had faced 115 balls by tea, hitting 11 fours G Smith c Marsh b Johnson ...... 10 0-38-2. Paceman Irfan has not played and two sixes. A Petersen c Haddin b Johnson ...... 2 Australia (II innings): for Pakistan since injuring his hip Doolan was more circumspect and faced 85 balls, H Amla lbw Siddle ...... 17 C Rogers b Steyn 1 in a T20 against South Africa in hitting seven fours. F du Plessis c Clarke b Johnson ...... 3 D Warner c Smith b Peterson ...... 115 Dubai in November and doctors Johnson struck with his fourth ball of the day when A B de Villiers c Warner b Johnson ...... 91 A Doolan c De Villiers b Duminy...... 89 have told him to rest for up to Robin Peterson fended a sharply lifting delivery to J P Duminy c Johnson b Lyon...... 25 S Marsh (batting) ...... 44 two months. Michael Clarke moving to his left from second slip. R McLaren b Johnson ...... 8 M Clarke (batting) ...... 17 Squad: Mohammad Hafeez Vernon Philander played a dogged innings of 15 R Peterson c Clarke b Johnson ...... 10 Extras (B-3, LB-13, W-6) ...... 22 (captain), Shahid Afridi, before he was leg before wicket to off-spinner Nathan V Philander lbw Lyon ...... 15 Total (for 3 wkts) ...... 288 Ahmed Shehzad, Shoaib Malik, Lyon. Umpire Richard Illingworth gave Philander not D Steyn (not out) ...... 7 To bat: S Smith, B Haddin, M Johnson, R Harris, Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, out but the Australians successfully sought a review M Morkel c Haddin b Johnson ...... 0 P Siddle, N Lyon Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Sohaib which showed the ball was hitting the stumps. Extras (B-14, LB-2, W-1, NB-1) ...... 18 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-206, 3-243. Maqsood, Junaid Khan, Bilawal De Villiers was the only batsman to play Johnson Total (all out) ...... 206 Bowling: Philander 11-2-28-0; Steyn 13-2- Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, with any comfort and he slammed the big left-arm Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-15, 3-23, 4-43, 60-1; McLaren 11-0-47-0; Morkel 11-2-38-0; Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Talha. fast bowler through the covers for four as he sought 5-110, 6-126, 7-140, 8-189, 9-202. Peterson 19-0-87-1; Duminy 4-0-12-1. AFP quick runs before the innings ended. AFP FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 ON SATURDAY

Football Fixtures All times in GMT Scottish Premiership Today St. Mirren vs Aberdeen (1245) Niki Terpstra of Dundee United vs Kilmarnock (1500) Netherlands (cen- Hibernian vs Ross County (1500) tre), overall win- Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs ner at the Tour of Hearts (1500) Qatar celebrates Motherwell vs Partick Thistle (1500) on the podium Tomorrow along with sec- Celtic v St. Johnstone (1245) ond place finisher English FA Cup Tom Boonen of 5th Round Belgium (left), Today and Roelandts Sunderland vs Southampton (1245) Jurgen of Cardiff City vs Wigan Athletic(II) (1500) Belgium in Doha Sheffield Wednesday(II) v Charlton yesterday. RIGHT: Athletic(II) (1500) Stage six winner Manchester City vs Chelsea (1715) Arnaud Demare 5th Round of France, Tomorrow celebrates. Everton vs Swansea City (1330) PICTURES BY: SALIM Sheffield United(III) vs MATRAMKOT Nottingham Forest(II) (1500) Arsenal vs Liverpool (1600) 5th Round February 17 Brighton and Hove Albion(II) v Hull City (1945) Serie A Today Fiorentina vs Inter Milan (1945) Tomorrow Catania vs Lazio (1130) Atalanta Bergamo vs Parma (1400) Terpstra reigns supreme Cagliari vs Livorno (1400) Genoa vs Udinese (1400) Juventus vs Chievo Verona (1400) The in-form Dutch rider wins Tour of Qatar crown; Demare tops stage Sassuolo vs Napoli (1400) AS Roma vs Sampdoria (1945) February 17 DOHA: French rider Arnaud “I think since the first Tour of get in there with the majority of Verona vs Torino (1945) Demare yesterday won the Qatar, QuickStep was good here, your team. That is what we did.” 2014 Tour of Qatar sixth and final stage of the so we’ve got a name to keep up,” As simple and as complicated as The top-10 riders in stage six 5 Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo Ligue 1 0:00:48 Today Tour of Qatar where in-form Terpstra said after being crowned that,” he added. 1 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr 2 hours 45 Niki Terpstra Omega Pharma- winner. Yesterday’s stage brought to an minutes 06 seconds 6 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol 0:00:56 Bastia vs Monaco (1600) QuickStep (OPQ) stormed to The Dutchman enjoyed an end 10 days of cycling extrava- 2 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo 7 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega FC Lorient vs Toulouse (1900) the title win for the first time. untroubled final day in the gold ganza in Qatar. Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:00:57 3 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky Sochaux vs En Avant Guingamp (1900) Demare unleashed a devastat- jersey and safely crossed the line Dutch rider Kirsten Wild last 8 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma - Nice vs Nantes (1900) 4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:01:05 ing sprint to win the 113.5kms in the main peloton. Friday cemented her place as Stade Rennes vs Montpellier HSC (1900) near the seafront at Corniche “I’m happy to have the gold the ‘desert queen’ by winning Quick-Step Cycling Team 9 Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Stade de Reims vs watched by hundreds of cycling jersey now, but even down to the the Ladies Tour of Qatar for the 5 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Skydive Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:01:18 Girondins Bordeaux (1900) fans. Two years ago, Demare had last lap it was stressful because if fourth time in the event’s six-year Dubai Pro Cycling Team 10 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol 0:01:23 Tomorrow clinched a stage at the same place. you have a small accident you can history. 6 Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team Points classification Olympique Lyon vs Ajaccio (1300) The French rider finished the lose time and the jersey is gone,” Wild, the Giant-Shimano rider, 7 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro Team 1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - stage ahead of Italy’s Daniele Terpstra said. won the fourth and final stage Quick-Step Cycling Team 50 points Evian Thonon Gaillard FC vs Lille (1600) 8 Sam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - Endura Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo), Austria’s Terpstra maintained his lead of ahead of double world cham- 2 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - St Etienne vs Olympique Marseille (2000) Bernhard Eisel (Team Sky) and 17 seconds over Boonen. pion Giorgia Bronzini of Italy 9 Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing Team Quick-Step Cycling Team 38 10 Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSF La Liga Belgium’s Tom Boonen (OPQ) Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto- and dashing young rider Melissa 3 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol 34 Today and Argentina’s Lucas Sebastian Belisol) - one of the week’s most Hoskins of Australia to wrap her General Classiciation 4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo 28 Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid (1500) Haedo (Skydive Dubai Pro impressive all-round perform- Doha visit on another impressive 1 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - 5 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol 27 Levante vs Almeria (1700) Cycling Team). ers - was a further three seconds note. Quick-Step Cycling Team 15H 53min37 sec 6 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr 22 Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano (1900) Terpstra, who finished in 41st slower than Terpstra. The 31-year-old, winner in 2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - 7 Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge 20 Villarreal vs Celta Vigo (2100) spot yesterday, easily secured his “Of course, in these races with Doha in 2009, 2012 and 2013, suc- Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:00:17 seconds maiden Tour of Qatar title after the wind, to attack is the best cessfully defended her title with a 8 Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Tomorrow adrift 15 dominating the six-day race defence actually,” Terpstra told sublime finish at Corniche in what Granada CF vs Real Betis (1100) 3 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol 9 Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 15 which also featured four-time cyclinews.com. were extremely under chilly con- Getafe vs Real Madrid (1600) champion and OPQ team-mate “If you start to make an ech- ditions in the Qatari capital. 0:00:20 10 Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Athletic Club vs Espanyol (1800) Tom Boonen. elon, then most of the time you THE PENINSULA 4 Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:37 Team 14 Sevilla vs Valencia (2000) February 17 Malaga vs Real Sociedad (2100) Australian Open Portuguese Championship Johnson seizes Today LPGA Scores Belenenses vs Academica (1800) Leading second-round scores in the LPGA Sporting vs SC Olhanense (2015) Women's Australian Open at the Victoria Tomorrow Golf Club on Friday: slim lead at Riviera Arouca vs Nacional Madeira (1600) 133 Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 68-65 Maritimo vs Vitoria Setubal (1600) 134 Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 66-68 LOS ANGELES: Dustin par-71 Riviera Country Club Action from Vitoria Guimaraes vs Rio Ave (1600) 135 Minjee Lee (AUS) 68-67 Johnson made the most of ideal Course, which played firm and the Qatar Stars conditions to fire a first-round fast in the warm California sun- FC Pacos de Ferreira vs Benfica (1700) 136 Holly Clyburn (ENG) 68-68, Anna League (QSL) 66 yesterday for a one-shot shine, included three in a row at Gil Vicente vs Porto (1915) Nordqvist (SWE) 72-64, Lydia Ko match between lead in the $6.7m US PGA Tour 17, 18 and one. February 17 Al Rayyan and (NZL) 68-68 Northern Trust Open. After his only bogey of the Estoril vs Braga (2000) Kharaitiyat 137 Yan Jing (CHN) 71-66, Karine Icher Johnson teed off early, and day at the par-three fourth he at Al Rayyan (FRA) 69-68, Morgan Pressel (USA) while his five-under effort had bounced back with a birdie at his Bundesliga Stadium in 69-68, Paula Creamer (USA) 68- him just one stroke in front of a penultimate hole, the eighth, to Today Doha yester- 69, Jessica Korda (USA) 67-70 big chasing pack, no one managed separate himself at the top and Bayern Munich vs Freiburg (1430) day. Al Rayyan 138 Amelia Lewis (USA) 71-67, Jessica to join him atop the leaderboard set a target for the afternoon Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt won 2-1. Speechley (AUS) 71-67, Haru before darkness halted play with starters. (1430) Nomura (JPN) 70-68, Dewi Claire 15 players on the course. “I just got off to a good start Eintracht Braunschweig vs Hamburg SV Schreefel (NED) 70-68, Ayako They included JB Holmes, and just continued to play really (1430) Uehara (JPN) 70-68, Valentine who was among four players who solid all day,” said Johnson, who Hoffenheim vs VfB Stuttgart (1430) Derrey (FRA) 69-69, Azahara briefly grabbed a share of the lead was happy to be back at the clas- Werder Bremen vs Borussia Munoz (ESP) 68-70, Carlota only to fall back. sic course in the canyons west of Moenchengladbach (1430) Ciganda (ESP) 68-70 After a birdie at 13 -- his sixth downtown Los Angeles. Bayer Leverkusen vs Schalke 04 (1730) of the day -- Holmes bogeyed 16 “I kept it in play, and hit a lot Tomorrow to fall into the chasing group and of greens, had a lot of looks at FC Augsburg vs Nuremberg (1430) was in trouble at 17 when play was birdie.” Hertha Berlin vs VfL Wolfsburg (1630) Northern Trust suspended. Johnson opened the 2013-14 US Open Scores In all, 10 players were in the PGA Tour season with a victory Belgian Championship QSL: Narrow wins for clubhouse on four-under par in the World Golf Championships Today Leading first-round scores on Thursday in 67, including South Korea’s Bae HSBC Champions in Shanghai Charleroi vs Standard Liege (1700) the $6.7 million US PGA Tour Northern Trust Sang-Moon, Italian Francesco back in November. Mechelen vs Oostende (1900) Open (round halted by darkness, to resume Molinari, Australian Matt Jones He finished equal sixth at the Lierse vs Racing Genk (1900) Al Sadd and Al Rayyan Friday. USA unless noted, par-71): and US tour sensation Jimmy Tournament of Champions in Waasland-Beveren vs OH Leuven (1900) 66 Dustin Johnson Walker. January, and on Sunday grabbed Zulte Waregem vs Cercle Bruges (1900) DOHA: Al Sadd defeated Al 67 Robert Garrigus, Francesco Molinari Walker, whose triumph at a share of second place behind Gharafa 3-1 in the Qatar Stars Qatar Stars League (ITA), Scott Stallings, Charley Pebble Beach on Sunday was his Walker in Pebble Beach with a Tomorrow League match at Al Rayyan Yesterday’s Results Hoffman, Matt Jones (AUS), Brian third of the 2013-14 season, bird- final-round 66. Ghent vs Lokeren (1330) Stadium here yesterday. Harman, Blake Adams, Jimmy ied his last three holes to reach Johnson hit all but two greens Anderlecht vs Mons-Bergen (1700) Nadir Belhadj opened the scor- Al Rayyan 1 Al Kharaitiyat 0 Walker, Bae Sang-Moon (KOR), four-under. in regulation and needed just 30 Portuguese Championship ing for the defending champions In all, 10 players were in the putts. Al Ahli 1 Qatar SC 1 Charlie Beljan Today in the 12th minute, while new 68 Jim Furyk, Cameron Tringale, clubhouse on four-under par “The game’s right where I want recruit Rodrigo Tabata added the Al Sadd 3 Al Gharafa 1 67, including South Korea’s Bae it to be,” Johnson told reporters Belenenses vs Academica (1800) Brendan Steele, Keegan Bradley, Sporting vs SC Olhanense (2015) second one nine minutes later. Rickie Fowler Sang-Moon, Italian Francesco yesterday. Al Gharafa bounced back and points from 19 matches and are Molinari, Australian Matt Jones “Any score under par out here Tomorrow 69 William McGirt, Richard H. Lee, managed to pull one back in the in the fifth spot behind leaders and US tour sensation Jimmy is a pretty solid round. It’s a tough Arouca vs Nacional Madeira (1600) Kevin Stadler, Charl Schwartzel 42nd minute through Lisandro. Lekhwiya, Eljaish, Al Sailiya and Walker. course, but it’s right in front of (RSA), KJ Choi (KOR), Lee Maritimo vs Vitoria Setubal (1600) In the second half, Al Sadd put Al Ahli. Walker, whose triumph at you, so it’s just a golf course that Westwood (ENG), Harold Varner, Vitoria Guimaraes vs Rio Ave (1600) the issue beyond doubt with Raul In the other matches yester- Pebble Beach on Sunday was his I really like.” James Driscoll, Matt Every, Jason FC Pacos de Ferreira vs Benfica (1700) Gonzales scoring the third goal, day, Al Rayyan won 1-0 against third of the 2013-14 season, bird- While Johnson enjoys the chal- Kokrak, Ryan Moore, Angel Cabrera Gil Vicente vs Porto (1915) six minutes on resumption. Al Kharaitiyat, while Qatar SC ied his last three holes to reach lenge of Riviera, Garrigus said (ARG), Marc Leishman (AUS), With yesterday’s win, Al Sadd and Al Ahli were locked in an 1-1 four-under. he had to convince himself of the February 17 George McNeill took their points tally to 31 draw. THE PENINSULA Johnson’s six birdies on the course’s charms. AFP Estoril vs Braga (2000) FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Sport ON SATURDAY 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Jankovic, Kerber to clash in Qatar semis Radwanska and Halep also reach last four in Doha

DOHA: Angelique Kerber put an end to Petra Cetkovska’s dream run at the Qatar Total Open with a straight set victory Alex Cudlin in action third round of Qatar Superbike at Losail in yesterday’s quarterfinals. International Circuit, yesterday. The three-time defending champion Having spent two weeks of her clocked 2:02.713 in the qualifying session with his Kawasaki bike. pre-season training programme in Doha, Kerber has looked at ease in the surrounds of the Khalifa Tennis Complex all week and required just 50 minutes to brush aside Cetkovska, 61 60. Cudlin, Nedobity “I think I was playing well today,” Kerber said. “Petra is a great player and yesterday she beat Li Na so I knew it would be tough.” top in qualifying For Cetkovska, who 24 hours earlier had knocked out top seed Li Na, it proved a match too far, as she could find no answer to Kerber’s unerring consistency. at Losail Circuit “It was a great feeling to get into the semis,” Kerber said when DOHA: Cudlin clinched the some changes in the suspension asked about her country’s Fed pole position yesterday in the and it worked phenomenon. I am Cup win over Slovakia. “We’re third round of Qatar Superbike very excited for the race tomor- a great team and it was a great at Losail International Circuit. row, this is my first time in this weekend for us. I’m just happy to The three-time defending track and I am really happy with keep playing well here and also champion clocked 2:02.713 in the day. Thanks to QMMF for that I won in two sets again. I the qualifying session with his this opportunity,” the American think the year began very well for Kawasaki bike. rider Shelina Moreda said at the me but I’m just trying to improve Nasser Al Malki was the fast- end of the day. my game with every match and to est second rider with a lap time For Victoria Kis from Hungary stay fit and healthy.” Simona Halep of Romania celebrates after defeating Sara Errani of Italy in their quarter-final match of the of 2.03.168. it was also a great day and experi- Standing in between Kerber Qatar Open at the International Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha, yesterday. Halep won 6-2, 6-0. RIGHT: “I qualified in pole and my lap ence to ride for her first time on and a place in the final will be Jelena Jankovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in their quarter-final match. time was the best time with my the Qatari track. Jelena Jankovic, who knocked out Jankovic won 6-1, 6-3. Kawasaki. I am happy for the “Thanks for the Qatar Motor Petra Kvitova, 6-1, 6-3. result and because we are improv- Federation for this chance, It is In other quarter-finals yes- ing and I think that tomorrow a new category for me as I am terday, second seed Agnieszka there will be a big fight with used to ride 1000cc and I have to Radwanska of Poland beat Nasser,” Cudlin said after the learn this bike, but for sure I can Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer qualifying session. go faster tomorrow in some areas 6-2, 6-1. In the semi-final today, Karlovic topples Lopez; Nina Prinz, the QMMF team- and I am sure it will be a great Radwanska will meet seventh mate of Cudlin, had a problem race,” Victoria said. seed Simona Halep of Romania with her new bike. For the lebanese rider Badar who beat fourth seed Sara Errani “I had a problem with my new Hanner, she didn’t feel very good of Italy 6-2, 6-0. QNA bike and I was lucky that I could yesterday with the bike as she is Hewitt advances changed to the old bike, so I am still recovering from some injuries happy that the mechanic made it but hopes to notch better lap tim- Qatar Open Results MEMPHIS: Croatian Ivo and next faces 35-year-old ready on time and I hope we can ings today. Karlovic pounded 19 aces past American Michael Russell. fix the new bike for tomorrow” In the wualifying session of the DOHA: Results from the ATP Memphis second-seeded Feliciano Lopez Hewitt is in search of his sec- Nina said after the sessions. Qatar Challenge, Pavel Nedobity Qatar Open Singles Quarter- in beating the Spaniard in ond title of the year. He opened In the Losail Asia Road Racing Czech Republic took the pole posi- finals matches yesterday Results straight sets to reach the quar- the 2014 season with a triumph Series (LARRS), the Chinese tion with a lap time of2:30.564 in 2-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) bt Yanina ter-finals of the US National MEMPHIS, United States: in Brisbane, where he beat Swiss rider Yuan Jibo was the fastest his Lotus. Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-2, 6-1 Indoor Tennis Championships Results on Thursday in the great Roger Federer in the final. in his category. “The qualifying was good for 7-Simona Halep (Romania) bt 4-Sara Errani yesterday. $647,000 ATP US National Lu, 30, set up a quarter-final “This is my second time in me and the track is fine but a bit (Italy) 6-2, 6-0 Karlovic, ranked 80th in the Indoor Tennis Championships clash with another American Qatar but my first time riding a different than last race as it is a 5-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) bt 3-Petra world, needed 69 minutes to (x denotes seeded player): qualifier, Alex Kuznetsov. 600cc. It is a good bike and I really little warmer as we are driving Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6-1, 6-3 defeat Lopez 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Second Round: Alex Kuznetsov (USA) bt Kuznetsov toppled eighth- like the circuit and I hope tomor- in day time but we have to adapt 6-Angelique Kerber (Germany) bt Petra While Lopez, runner-up to Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ x8) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 seeded Mikhail Kukushkin of row I make a good race.” to this but we have experience in Cetkovska (Czech Republic) 6-1, 6-0 Japan’s Kei Nishikori in Memphis (7/1); Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE x4) bt Denis Kudla Kazakhstan 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1). The leader of the LARRS, that. The group seems to be much last year, was denied a return to (USA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Lleyton Hewitt (AUS x3) Lu will be hoping to improve Manca Katrasnik was happy with closer with the timings so tomor- Order Of Play the final, third-seeded Lleyton bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 1-6, 6-2, 6-0. on his career-best season start. her result yesterday. row all of us expect a closer racing CENTRE COURT start 3:30 pm Hewitt of Australia and fourth- He is 8-2 in 2014 and reached his “The session was ok, the bike and very exciting, ”Nedobity said (7) A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) / N Petrova seeded Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan Hewitt converted five of his six first ATP Tour final last month is good and the weather was per- after the practice session. (RUS) or (4) C Black (ZIM) / S Mirza (IND) vs both stormed back for three-set break chances over the final two in Auckland. fect for the timings. I am very Eric Febbo will star from the (2) S Hsieh (TPE) / S Peng (CHN) victories to reach the last eight. sets, wrapping up the victory in Karlovic will take on rising US happy with my result and I feel second place in the grid with a Not Before 5:30 pm Hewitt, a former world number one hour and 31 minutes. He has talent Jack Sock on Friday, while very good with the bike after the lap time of 2:30:810. (6) A Kerber (GER) vs (5) J Jankovic (SRB) one, recovered to defeat Marcos now won three of his five career defending champion Nishikori -- last race that was in november,” The first bike race will be today Baghdatis of Cyprus 1-6, 6-2, 6-0. matches against Baghdatis. the top seed in an ATP tourna- Katrasnik said. at 11:20am and the second race at (7) S Halep (ROU) vs (2) A Radwanska (POL) Lu rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 The 32-year-old Aussie reached ment for the first time -- will face “I feel good after the qualify- 2:50pm. The car race is scheduled COURT 1 start 4:30 PM victory over US qualifier Denis the Memphis quarter-finals for American Alex Bogomolov. ing session as I dropped 3 seconds at 1:30pm. [1] S Errani (ITA) / R Vinci (ITA) vs [3] K Kudla. the third time in four appearances AFP from the second practice. We did THE PENINSULA Peschke (CZE) / K Srebotnik (SLO) Qatar Open Shotgun: English of the USA wins women’s skeet

Qatar Open women’s skeet champion Amber English (centre) of the USA receiving the winner’s prize of $6,000 from Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) Secretary General, Abdulla Ali Al Hammadi (left) and QSA A Board Member Fatima Salem Al Jassiman, at Losail Shooting Complex yesterday. English beat Albina Shakirova of Russia 14-10 in the final. In the bronze medal match, Olga Panirova of Russia beat Danka Bartekova of Slovakia 9-7. In the women’s junior skeet competition Qatar’s Sarah Mohammed topped followed by Hajar Mohammed of Qatar, Reem Al Sharshani of Qatar, Anastassiya of Kazakhstan, Ameena Al Badr of Qatar, and Rinata Nassyrova of Kazakhstan. The Qatar Open Shotgun championship ends on February 20. Today the final of the men’s skeet event will take place at 2.00pm. FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Break Time www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 ON SATURDAY

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HYPER C RSO S W O RD

12345 678910111213 3 Funeral stand 35 Treelike creature 4 “Well, I’ll be!” in “The Lord of the 14 15 16 5 Japanese money Rings” 6 Home in the woods 37 Opening bet 17 18 19 7 Much-advertised 38 One who’s in charge 41 Give the eye 20 21 22 23 vacuum cleaner 8 Birds’ bills 44 Arrange from A to Z, 24 25 26 9 Sprinted say 10 State as fact 46 Scamps 27 28 29 30 11 Pioneers’ convoy 48 Forward, as a package 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 12 ___ broom 13 Hourly workers’ pay 50 Augusta’s home 39 40 41 42 18 Hot tub 51 Orchestra winds Yesterday’s answer 23 Speakeasy owner’s 52 Admitted at the door 43 44 45 46 fear 53 Tropical fruit How to play Hyper Sudoku: 25 Direction in which 54 Director Welles A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper 47 48 49 Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all the sun sets 55 Member of the regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like House, for short 50 51 52 53 54 55 26 Goes on a hunger a normal Sudoku. strike, say 59 Bowls over 56 57 58 59 60 61 27 Spill (over) 60 Letter-shaped How to play Kakuro: 28 Volcanic emission fastener The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 62 63 64 65 61 Grounded trans- size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells 29 “No, seriously” Atlantic fliers, for like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 66 67 68 32 Items worn by some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some Dracula and short cells will contain two numbers. 64 Singer DiFranco 69 70 71 Superman However, in a crossword the numbers reference 65 Genre for Eazy-E clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! 33 Bee: Prefix and Heavy D They denote the total of the digits in the row or 34 Frontiersman column referenced by the number. ACROSS 42 “I’ll take that as ___” Carson Within each collection of cells 1 Talkative 43 Cushions - called a run - any 6 Snake that a snake charmer 45 Actor Brad’s favorite food? SOBEREDUP MODEL of the numbers 1 charms 47 Days of long ago ALANADALE ALEXA to 9 may be used 11 It follows “//” in a URL but, like sudoku, 49 Freeway divisions PENINSULA J ILTS 14 Like a limbo champion each number may 50 Actor Dudley’s favorite food? SADDLEBAG OVERT only be used once. 15 Neighborhoods 56 Lies next to 16 “Got it!” ALE RAREGAS Yesterday’s 57 Bern’s river answer 17 Actor Charlie’s favorite food? 58 Meowers ONSETS CAP I TALU 19 Concert engagement 62 Charged particle POEME KEV I N T AP 20 Golf scorecard numbers 63 Actress Goldie’s favorite 21 Choose food? ESAU GREEN GORP Baby Blues By Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman 22 Jagged, as a leaf’s edge 66 Prefix with natal NYS EMALL D I RGE 24 Actress Hilary’s favorite 67 Architect Jones IPODNANO CENSER food? 68 Native of the 49th state 27 Lowlife 69 Approx. figure NANETTE MIX 30 Going ___ (fighting) 70 Attach, as a corsage GRATE PO I NTLESS 31 Actress Veronica’s favorite 71 Attention getters AKBAR ORDERARMS food? CEL I E ODDMANOUT 36 Dull-colored DOWN 39 Prefix with duct 1 [Oh, my stars!] TREND LOYAL ISTS 40 Access, as a resource 2 Turkish title ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE FEBRUARY 15, 2014 ON SATURDAY 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Morning Break

PRAYER TIME Photo of the year

Fajr (Dawn) 4:52 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:09 Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 Asr (Afternoon) 3:02 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:28 Isha (Night) 6:58

WEATHER

Today Sunday Weather Monday Conditions: Partly cloudy Clear Clear Misty to foggy at some High: 23° High: 24° High: 23° places at first. Low: 13° Low: 14° Low: 17° Becomes fine with some clouds.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA

SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:09 17:28 05:30 & 17:15 12:15 & 23:00 05-12/15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER African migrants on the shore of Djibouti city at night, raising their phones in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from neighbouring Somalia MUSCAT 23/16 Partly cloudy 23/15 Partly cloudy — a tenuous link to relatives abroad. This picture yesterday won the World Press Photo of the Year award for John Stanmeyer of the US. The image KUWAIT 22/15 Clear 24/13 Chance of rain “opens up discussions about technology, globalisation, migration, poverty, desperation, alienation, humanity,” said jury member Jillian Edelstein. BAHRAIN 23/13 Partly cloudy 25/13 Partly cloudy SANAA 24/09 Partly cloudy 24/09 Partly cloudy RIYADH 25/12 Clear 28/11 Partly cloudy DUBAI 25/16 Partly cloudy 26/17 Clear BAGHDAD 22/07 Partly cloudy 19/09 Partly cloudy Baby talk promotes brain development

THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW CHICAGO: Baby talk is more you get, but the kind of speech you privileged peers on standardised from picking up a stick to remem- than just bonding: chatting with get,” said Erika Hoff, a psycholo- language tests. bering song lyrics. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER your infant spurs important gist at Florida Atlantic University. These differences can also AFP brain development that sets “Speech needs to be rich and be measured in the brain, said ATHENS 15/10 Partly cloudy 15/11 Clear WASHINGTON 03/-8 Chance of Snow 01/-7 Partly cloudy the stage for lifelong learning, complex.” Columbia University neurolo- SYDNEY 26/21 Rain 26/19 Chance of storm researchers said on Thursday. Talking to babies is so impor- gist and paediatrician Kimberly LONDON 10/01 Chance of rain 08/04 Partly cloudy And while high-pitched, sing- tant that researchers say it is a Noble. PARIS 13/06 Partly cloudy 12/06 Partly cloudy song tones may capture your major reason why children from The human brain experiences ISTANBUL 08/04 Rain 10/04 Partly cloudy baby’s attention, the best way disadvantaged backgrounds per- incredible growth in its early MANILA 30/22 Chance of rain 30/23 Chance of rain for them to learn is to be spoken form poorly in school. years. DHAKA 24/16 Partly cloudy 20/16 Chance of rain to like adults. At least when it By the time they reach the age By the age of three, it has DELHI 19/08 Chance of storm 19/09 Partly cloudy comes to vocabulary and sentence of five, the children of low-income, formed 1,000 trillion neural con- ISLAMABAD 18/04 Partly cloudy 18/03 Clear structure. poorly educated parents typi- nections — the links between cells “It’s not just how much speech cally score two years behind their that help the brain do everything