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Tuesday 4 February 2014 4 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5965 Price: QR2

Qatar to make Murray lifts investments Britain into in Italy quarters

Business | 17 Sport | 28

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 No differences with Emir receives Italian premier UAE and Saudi: FM ‘Iran an important neighbour despite Syria stance’

DOHA: Qatar said yesterday “Our communication with He, though, admitted that it has no differences with the the UAE is excellent,” said the Qatar’s stand on Iran’s nuclear neighbouring UAE over its sup- Foreign Minister. issue was different from those of port for the military regime in Talking of Riyadh, he said other GCC states. Egypt. Qatar and Saudi Arabia were “Qatar considers Iran as an There are no differences at all the first countries to support the important neighbour and despite with Saudi Arabia as well over Syrian opposition alliance, so the our differences over the Syrian the Syrian issue, according to the talk of differences is baseless. “We issue, we believe that it can play Foreign Minister, H E Dr Khalid have high-level communication a key role in resolving the Syrian bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. with Riyadh.” crisis.” In an interview with Al Jazeera Al Attiyah said a beautiful thing Iran wields influence over the Arabic Channel aired yesterday, about GCC states is that mem- Syrian regime so it can play a Al Attiyah said Qatar and the ber states respected each other’s key role in resolving the Syrian UAE enjoy very cordial relations viewpoints and sovereignty and crisis. “So Qatar is against Iran’s and even share joint strategic they know where the red line is exclusion from the Geneva II projects. and they never cross that. conference.” The agenda of Geneva II should be clear-cut so that time is not wasted. “Geneva II is a good ‘Qatar-UAE ties strong’ opportunity for the Syrian oppo- sition alliance to show the world The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta yesterday. They ABU DHABI: UAE-Qatar relations remain strong despite that they are serious.” discussed bilateral relations and other issues of common concern. The meeting was attended by the Prime Doha’s ambassador being summoned over remarks by a cleric If Geneva II fails, the foreign Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince minister said there could be direct Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said yesterday. intervention of the UN Security “There are no disputes between the brothers” said Abu Dhabi’s Council in Syria. strongman, who is also deputy commander of the UAE armed forces, “Qatar sticks to its unflinching in remarks carried by WAM state news agency. stand on the issue of supporting Saudi to jail citizens fighting abroad “Differences take place between brothers in one family, but noth- the people of Syria.” ing can separate between us and our brothers in Qatar,” he said, Al Attiyah said in reply to stressing that he enjoys strong links with Qatar’s Emir H H Sheikh questions that there is consensus RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will by battle against Syrian President from Syria and would be put Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. in the international community jail for 3-20 years any citizen Bashar Al Assad coming home to through the kingdom’s rehabili- Abu Dhabi summoned Doha’s envoy on Sunday to protest against that the resolution of Geneva I who fights in conflicts abroad, target the ruling Al Saud royal tation programme for militants. remarks about the UAE made by cleric Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi, who should be implemented. according to a royal decree family — as happened after ear- The decree also said Saudis is based in Qatar. “All military operations should released yesterday, in an appar- lier wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. who join, endorse or give moral Qaradawi’s comments came just days after the UAE jailed a be brought to a stop in all parts ent move to deter Saudis from “(Saudi leaders) have to be or material aid to groups it clas- group of 30 Emiratis and Egyptians to terms ranging from three of Syria and safe passage must be joining rebels in Syria and then concerned about Syria. They’re sifies as terrorist or extremist months to five years for forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell. ensured for humanitarian aid to posing a security risk once they probably mindful about what organisations, whether inside or On Saturday, Qatar’s Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin the needy all over the country.” return home. happened in Afghanistan and outside the country, would face Mohamed Al Attiyah disavowed Qaradawi’s remarks, saying “they There are no differences of Saudi Arabia’s religious author- the people who went there and prison sentences of between five do not reflect Qatari foreign policy” and insisting that ties between opinion over the formation of ities have previously spoken out later came back to cause prob- and 30 years. the two nations are “strategic in all aspects”. a transitional government in against Saudis joining militants lems,” said Robert Jordan, US The announcement came But the UAE foreign ministry said that response “did not reflect Syria, he said. The Syrian oppo- involved in Syria’s civil war, but ambassador to Riyadh from quickly on the heels of the pub- a decisive stance rejecting Qaradawi’s speech”, and therefore Abu sition, however, doesn’t want the Interior Ministry estimates 2001-03. lication on Friday of a new anti- Dhabi had to take “an unprecedented measure” and summon Doha’s (President) Bashar Al Assad’s that around 1,200 Saudis have Major General Mansour terrorism law that has been ambassador. men in this government,” said Al gone there nonetheless. Turki, Saudi Arabia’s security condemned by rights activists as AFP Attiyah. The decree underscored con- spokesman, said yesterday that a tool to stifle dissent. THE PENINSULA cern about young Saudis hardened 200-300 citizens had returned REUTERS

Massive fire in Al Shahaniya Qatar varsity Al Jazeera slams video develops simulation of of journalists’ arrest

Feb 22 Road DOHA: Al Jazeera has con- If it came out by mistake, the pro- demned the release of a video fessionalism of the prosecution DOHA: Qatar University is showing the arrest of their jour- process is called into question.” developing a simulation of nalists in Cairo last month, say- “The video ridiculously sets February 22 Road to assess its ing it was part of a deliberate images of our crew’s laptops, cam- capacity and its various inlets attempt to deomonise the scribes. eras and mobile phones against dra- and outlets to know the reasons Shown on an Egyptian channel matic music. People who look beyond of congestion during peak hours. last night, the raid on their hotel the propaganda though will see the The head of the Centre for rooms is accompanied by a sinister video shows what we have been say- Traffic Studies at the Engineering musical score. The network says ing all along – that our crew were College of Qatar University says that the leak and dramatisation of journalists doing their job. he personally thinks that conges- the footage betrays an attempt to “They were also not operating tions take place on February 22 demonise the journalists, and is the in Cairo secretly. The team openly Road due to design defect. latest incident of incitement against filed several packages and live reports According to Dr Khalifa Nasser the network. It could also prejudice prior to their arrest. This is not an Al Khalifa, at the design stage it the trial that the Egyptian authori- issue of accreditation. Them not hav- might not have crossed the mind ties say they wish to pursue. ing full paperwork from the authori- of those concerned that the road Salah Negm, Director of news ties in no way justifies their ongoing will have to take so much pressure for Al Jazeera English said: “If this incarceration and treatment. They due to exploding population fuelled video was deliberately leaked, it should be released forthwith,” added by infrastructure development. A massive fire broke out at a farm in Al Shahaniya yesterday. The cause of the blaze and if there were any violates basic standards of justice. Negm. THE PENINSULA Khalifa said that his Centre casualties could not immediately be ascertained. is conducting studies to find out ‘black spots’ (spots that are prone to accidents) on Doha roads. Studies will also be conducted on the February 22 Road. Iran welcomes French business leaders after sanctions eased Ashghal (Public Works Authority) and other agencies concerned are also conducting DUBAI/ANKARA: Iran wel- of commercial restrictions has an, President Hassan Rowhani’s 100 executives from Medef, the visit Iran since the 1979 revolution, studies to remove road defects, comed the most senior French whetted the appetite of French chief of staff, was quoted as saying French employers’ association, representing the defence, aviation, he pointed out. trade delegation in years yes- firms eager to win back busi- by the official Irna news agency. on a February 2-5 trip, met petrochemicals, automotive, ship- He said nobody can imagine terday, telling more than 100 ness in an oil- and gas-producing “You should carry the message Nahavandian and members of ping and cosmetics sectors. how efficient the traffic flow executives that the far-sighted country of about 80 million people back that potential for coopera- Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Among the companies repre- would be on Doha roads in five among them stood to win the where some previously had exten- tion with Iran is real and not to Industries, Mines and Agriculture, sented were Safran, Airbus, Total, to seven years when the road race for business following sive operations. be overlooked,” he told the delega- Irna said. GDF-Suez, Renault, Alcatel, projects are over. The transport an easing of some economic “A new chapter has begun tion. “Those with longer foresight A source close to the delegation Alstom, Amundi and L’Oréal, the system would be highly advanced. sanctions. in relations between Iran and stand to win this race.” said it was the most senior group source said. THE PENINSULA The prospect of a relaxation Europe,” Mohammad Nahavandi The delegation of more than of entrepreneurs and financiers to REUTERS TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Emir meets Al Quds delegation

The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met a delegation from Al Quds at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The delegation briefed him on developments in Al Quds, particularly Judaisation attempts and constant storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by occupation authorities. The Emir reiterated Qatar’s support for the Palestinian people and said Qatar was doing everything possible to protect Al Quds and Al Aqsa Mosque. SEC to reintroduce visual arts in schools Pilot phase began at five Independent schools in Sept DOHA: The Supreme The entities set up a commit- skills, where students will be pro- Education Council (SEC) will tee that has worked on the syllabi, vided with opportunities to cri- reintroduce visual arts into evaluation criteria, teacher train- tique artworks. Independent school curricula ing and expansion plans. In the final phase, students will through an innovative and The panel structured the cur- produce their artworks. interactive programme. riculum on three main strands: Local artist and committee The programme has been Visual Culture and Literacy; member Suad Al Salem said, piloted in five schools for grade Aesthetic Appreciation and “Studies have shown that art three and four students since last Criticism; and Artistic Expression is crucial to enhancing criti- September. and Creative Production. cal thinking and cognitive skills The pilot phase has included They reflect the wide range necessary for students to excel in curriculum development, teacher of artistic abilities, knowledge other subjects. training, and assessing the pro- and mindset that can be devel- “Artistic talent requires nur- gramme for constant modifica- oped within an art classroom. turing from an early age. We’ve tions and improvements. The According to the panel, by allow- focused on developing a pro- programme will be gradually ing students to express their gramme that is skills-driven, expanded across all schools and opinion on an artwork, they can allowing students to understand all grades, SEC said yesterday. learn to appreciate art for more experiences and express them The arts curriculum has been than its aesthetic qualities. through art.” developed by SEC in partnership Classroom activities will be SEC’s partnership with QMA with Qatar Museums Authority broken down to include three will ensure the curriculum allows (QMA), Qatar University, main phases planned sequentially. students to creatively engage with Qatar Foundation, and Virginia The first relates to knowledge art and artistic spaces, and lever- Commonwealth University in acquisition. The second phase will age resources available in Qatar’s Qatar. develop learners’ critical thinking museums. THE PENINSULA

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar attends Syria aid meet ROME: The Assistant Foreign Minister for International Doha Jewellery and Watches Cooperation Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and his delegation took part in a meeting on human challenges in Syria. In a statement, he stressed the urgency of a political solution to the Syrian crisis and the necessity of allowing humanitarian aid through expo from Feb 25 at QNCC to besieged areas without any hurdles. He also called on the United Nations Security Council to issue a binding decision in this regard. QNA More space for exhibitors to showcase over 500 most luxurious brands DOHA: More than 500 brands of the most luxurious jewel- Hamad Injury Prevention lery and timepieces will fea- ture at the 11th edition of the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition from February 25 Programme launched to March 2 at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). DOHA: Hamad General Dr Ayman El Menyar, Trauma With 34 exhibitors on Hospital (HGH) has launched Research Consultant, support the 20,000sqm exhibition space, this the Hamad Injury Prevention success of the registry, reduce the year’s expo will be bigger than the Programme (HIPP) as a burden of trauma and improve previous edition, organisers told research initiative to improve patient outcome. a press conference yesterday at public health and safety. Dr Ahmad Masoud Zarour, QNCC. HIPP is an integral part of Consultant in the Surgery “What distinguishes this edi- the trauma service and a result Department at HMC, said, “HIPP tion from previous ones is an of the research carried out by provides a valuable service to our area of 20,000sqm compared the trauma leadership at HGH, patients and contributes to saving with 15,000sqm in the previous looking at the most common and lives through effective treatment year and a 20 percent increase high-risk incidents. They trans- and management.” in the space for each exhibitor,” lated the data to prioritise cases Dr Hassan Ali Saoud Al Thani, said Hamad Al Abdan, Director for interventions, said a state- Senior Consultant in the Surgery of Exhibitions at Qatar Tourism FROM LEFT: Miquel Serranoi Martin, International Projects Director, Fira de Barcelona, Jaber Al Ansari, Deputy ment yesterday. Department, said: “We are proud Authority (QTA). The trauma service was of our team for implementing He said 15 percent of the exhib- Group CEO for Entertainment, q.media, Hamad Al Abdan, Director of Exhibition, Qatar Tourism Authority, and established by Hamad Medical this successful HIPP to add to iting companies are newcomers. Peter Sutton, CEO, Amlak Venue Management during a press conference at Qatar National Convention Centre Corporation (HMC) to develop a HMC’s accomplishments. HIPP Highlights include a fashion yesterday. SHAIVAL DALAL comprehensive, integrated, data- will hopefully reduce injuries and show involving top designs from driven trauma care system. improve patient outcome.” all exhibitors. said Al Abdan. He expressed opti- importance of Qatar as a leading (Al Malakia), Bulgari Jewellery, The service has created a more HIPP recently won in the QTA is organising the event mism the expo will be “met with commercial hub for stakeholders Al Makki Jewellery & Watches, organised framework for the Research Category of the HMC in partnership with q.media strong interest with new exhibi- in the sector, and offer a unique Al Mawla Jewellery, Matis delivery of care in a more stream- Stars of Excellence Reward and Events and for the first time tors and exclusive offerings”. platform for networking, com- Jewellery, Versailles Jewellery, lined process and improve patient Recognition programme. with Fira Barcelona, a leading “Work is being carried out munication and exploration of Wazni Jewellery, Doha Marketing outcome. The Star of Excellence Award Spanish trade and industrial to organise the exhibition in successful commercial opportu- Services Co. (Domasco) Tiara It is made up of three compo- was given to HIPP for translat- show organiser. the best possible way, we have nities,” he added. Jewellery, Tzarina Jewellery, Blue nents: Clinical service, education ing research into public safety “We believe in the importance applied the best technical designs Qatari exhibitors include Al Diamond Group, Paris Gallery, and Trauma Registry. because it contributed to the of the role the private sector and adopted the highest safety Fardan Jewellery Company, Ali Mattis Jewellery, Charmeleena, For Trauma Registry to suc- improvement of the overall health could play in further improv- standards, in coordination with Bin Ali Group, Qatar Luxury Sabek and Safana Jewellery. ceed, it is necessary to have service delivery, enhanced patient ing the MICE industry in Qatar, our international partner and Group, Al Majed Jewellery, Blue International brands appropriate resource allocation, experience and met HMC’s goal hence we are pleased with the QNCC to guarantee visitors’ Salon, Al Muftah Jewellery, Amiri include Mouawad Jewellery, quality input and research. to provide the safest, most effec- partnership with q.media and safety and convenience,” said Gems, Fifty One East, Al Jaber Al Zain Trading Co, Graff/ HIPP, led by Dr Rafael Consunji, tive and most compassionate Fira Barcelona to organise this Jaber Al Ansari, Deputy Group Watches, Marzooq Al Shamlan Qatar Marketing Co, Christie’s Injury Prevention Consultant, and healthcare. exhibition and we are looking for- CEO, Entertainment, q.media. & Sons, Al Majed Pearls/Dar Al Jewellery and David Webb. the Trauma Research Unit led by THE PENINSULA ward to more accomplishments,” “The event will highlight the Majid Jewellery, Royal Jewellery THE PENINSULA HMC clinics for at-risk pregnancies soon

DOHA: Hamad Medical hereditary diseases. Corporation (HMC) is in the proc- “Women’s Hospital is continuously ess of establishing specialised ante- working towards providing best care natal clinics for at-risk pregnancies and is in the process of establish- to meet the increasing number of ing specialised antenatal clinics for cases, an HMC expert has said. at-risk pregnancies. We have begun High-risk pregnancy issues, compli- work with our diabetes clinic which cations and global maternal fatalities includes an endocrinologist, a gynae- were key topics discussed by obste- cologist and a nurse.” tricians and gynaecologists during a The symposium also addressed recent three-day symposium in Doha. pregnancies associated with blood Dr Najat Khenyab, Senior diseases, hepatitis and blood clot Consultant at Women’s Hospital, disorders. The Medical Education told participants that the number Department at HMC organsied of patients visiting the hospital with the symposium in collaboration at-risk pregnancies is increasing due with Royal Society of Medicine for to the high prevalence of chronic Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and diseases such as diabetes, cardiovas- British Maternal & Fetal Medicine cular diseases, blood pressure and Society. THE PENINSULA

Hana Al Saadi creating a Spin painting with Hirst at his studio in London. Qatari artist given chance to work with Hirst at UK studio DOHA: Young Qatari Middle East. artist Hana Al Saadi was Snail Print Factory is given the rare opportu- an installation art that nity to work with world explores three important renowned artist Damien stages of the natural life- Hirst at his London cycle: Eating, mating and studio. reproduction. Within the The student at Virginia micro-ecosystem, the Commonwealth University snails go about their busi- in Qatar was declared win- ness and leave slime trails ner of the Damien Hirst on paper that tell stories Art Challenge by Qatar of the individual journeys, Museums Authority encounters and new begin- (QMA) last month. nings inside the tank. Her installation Snail As part of the prize, Print Factory won over 61 Al Saadi went to London submissions in the com- to meet Hirst and have a petition organised to com- guided tour of Gloucester plement Relics, Hirst’s Studios. first solo exhibition in the THE PENINSULA Advisory Council team leaves for Riyadh meet DOHA: A three-member delegation from the Advisory Council yesterday left for Riyadh to take part in a symposium tomorrow on achievements the GCC mem- ber states in the field of human rights and highlight them to the world in a proper manner. The delegation comprises council members Rashid Hamad Al Maadhadi and Saqr Fahd Lumraikhai and legal specialist Mohamed Khalid Al Sada. QNA

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Aspire Academy mourns Mickey Mouse returns with gifted young footballer DOHA: Aspire Academy paid tribute to a promising young Disney pals for music festival Qatari footballer who died in a road accident in Doha on Sunday morning. Production crew preparing for extraordinary show on February 12-16 Mohamed Juma Mohammed Bakhit Rashid, 13 (pictured), DOHA: Mickey Mouse, Minnie was rushed to hospital after his Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy car collided with a vehicle, but and 25 of their Disney pals have attempts to revive him failed. arrived in Doha, and the pro- One of the best-regarded duction crew has started set- Qatari footballers in his age ting the stage at Qatar National group, Mohamed had trained at Convention Centre (QNCC) the academy for two years and for the ‘Disney Live! presents recently embarked on a tour of Mickey’s Music Festival’. Europe with his Aspire under-14 It has taken weeks to ship 299 teammates. costume pieces, lighting and stag- The young right-back had been ing equipment to Doha for the playing football since infancy and first Disney Live! show in the Gulf was expected to feature in the which will be held at QNCC from Qatar national team. February 12 to 16. Nasser Al Ahbabi, Aspire coaches and friends. He was our Mickey Mouse’s return follows Football Team Manager, said, friend and inspiration – a leader the success of last year’s skat- “Today we have lost one of the on and off the pitch. ing spectacle ‘Disney On Ice cel- most promising young players The driver was also killed and ebrates 100 Years of Magic’ which in this country. Mohamed was Mohamed’s brother Hassan, 10, saw a record number of visitors to a hugely talented and respectful critically injured in the accident. QNCC to see it. young man. His death is a ter- Another promising footballer, Spectators will enjoy their rible tragedy for his teammates, Hassan had recently featured in favourite hits from the block- his family and all of us at Aspire. a TV advertisement for the acad- buster movies of Disney’s Aladdin, Mohamed was also a keen aca- emy in which he talked about The Little Mermaid, and Disney demic who had recently achieved his respect for his hero Khalfan Pixar’s Toy Story remixed to rock, top-of-the-class grades. He had a Ibrahim. He is in a coma and pop, reggae, hip-hop, jazz and particular talent for maths and being looked after by his fam- country jams. Mickey Mouse and some of his Disney stars. Arabic. ily, including his father Juma Rashed Alqurese, Director of His school principal, Jassim Mohamed Al Ali, a former foot- the Marketing and Promotion Mohamed Al Jaber, said, baller for Al Sadd Sports Club Department at Qatar Tourism The show is produced by Feld “With QTA’s support, we aim for a new audience at QNCC. We “Mohamed was a talented indi- in Doha. Authority (QTA), welcomed the Entertainment, brought to Doha at bringing live productions to the are looking forward to putting vidual and could have been a Roberto Olabe, Director of cast and crew yesterday, saying: by QTA and organised by Sport & Middle East in the future. Each on an extraordinary show that scholar and a footballer. He was Football at the academy, said, “Families from across the region Entertainment Solutions (SES). show has its unique style and we will leave lasting memories,” said always so hungry for knowledge “Today our thoughts and prayers come to Qatar to experience these Ali Haidary, Founder and CEO look forward to enhancing the Performance Director, Carlton and information. It was a privi- are with the family, friends and iconic performances where they of SES, said, “We are excited to family entertainment industry Meier. lege to know him and teach him.” teammates of Mohamed and can connect with their favourite bring the show to Doha. Following in the region.” Tickets prices at QR150, Sa’id Salah Halabi, 13, who Hassan. “I am shocked and Disney stars. We are confident the overwhelming success of The show has toured Turkey QR250, QR375 and QR1,000 are played and studied with him at deeply saddened by this news. that the show will continue to Disney On Ice last year, we wanted and Cyprus. on sale at Virgin Megastores and the academy, said, “Everyone I know that all of us at Aspire help make Qatar the ultimate to make sure we came back with “As our first show in Qatar, the online at www.virginmegastore. is devastated by the news. will do anything we can to assist family entertainment destination a new and exciting experience for cast and crew are looking forward qa. Mohamed had a beautiful heart those close to the boys.” in the Middle East.” audiences in Qatar. to putting on an outstanding show THE PENINSULA and was respectful to his family, THE PENINSULA

Ministry invites feedback on Qatar’s crime prevention role highlighted DOHA: The Western Asian Regional Preparatory Meeting National Digitisation Plan for the 13th UN Congress on DOHA: The Ministry successful digitisation initiatives Crime Prevention and Criminal of Information and in Qatar. Central to the effort is a Justice began yesterday, with an Communication Technology National Digitisation Model with emphasis on the need for inter- yesterday announced the strategic competencies of national national cooperation to combat launch of a public consulta- MCH institutions in Qatar. crimes. tion on a Media, Culture and Comments should be submitted The Prime Minister and Heritage National Digitisation by email to [email protected]. Interior Minister’s Legal Adviser Draft Plan. The plan is a key initiative to Maj. Gen. Dr Abdullah Yousuf Interested parties are invited preserve Qatar’s culture, tradi- Al Maal chaired the meeting as to provide comments and views to tions and heritage as identified in the representative of the host the ministry by March 16. Qatar National Vision 2030 and country. The plan outlines a decen- Qatar National Development “As the chairman of the pre- tralised and cooperative model Strategy (2011-2016). paratory committee for the con- that lays the groundwork for THE PENINSULA gress I am pleased to inform you that Qatar has started early Officials at the preparatory meeting. preparations for the international event and we have arranged a media campaign to promote the congress and its objectives.” Ooredoo among 17 partners A website of the congress will GCC weapons, explosives officers begin meeting be launched during this meeting,” DOHA: The 20th meeting of GCC officers of The head of Qatari delegation and Commander he said. weapons and explosives started yesterday at of explosive groups at Internal Security Force to build Asia-Africa-Europe-1 He said Qatar has provided Sharq Village Hotel. (Lekhwiya), Brig. Ghanem Mubarak Al Hudaifi, financial support to United The three-day meeting is hosted by Qatar. said the meeting will have a positive role in coopera- Nations Office on Drugs and The meeting was opened by head of Kuwaiti del- tion and coordination among the GCC countries. subsea cable system Crime (UNODC) to enhance its egation, Col. Ismail Mohammed Saleh, who also Col. Ali bin Ahmed Buhindi of the GCC General DOHA: Ooredoo’s senior offi- its part in developing this vital resources and enrich its prepara- chaired it. Secretariat said the meeting will discuss issues and cials attended a ceremony in piece of global infrastructure, and tion for the congress. He stressed the importance of the meeting in the table recommendations for the approval of GCC Hong Kong this week to mark we note that it will be among the Qatar is discussing with other light of regional and international developments. interior ministers. THE PENINSULA the launch of the new high first global cables to land in Qatar countries on improving the capacity Asia-Africa-Europe-1 helping build our role as a vital agenda of the congress with fruit- Judge Hatem Fouad, UNODC for crime prevention and criminal potential is to involve civil soci- (AAE-1) subsea cable system. global hub for online traffic.” ful recommendations. It has been representative for GCC, said one justice to strengthen the rule of ety, particularly young people, in Ooredoo was among 17 founding Al Sayed and Yousuf Abdulla decided to hold a youth forum of the main challenges of the law at national and international our national efforts to combat partners who signed the construc- Al Kubaisi, Chief Wholesale and from all continents to discuss congress is serious risks faced levels. crime and we hope we have the tion and maintenance agreement International Officer, attended their role in protecting society by countries in the growing phe- Addressing the second session, opportunity during the confer- at the ceremony, which officially the event, along with senior from crime and ensuring crimi- nomenon of organised crime and Ambassador Dr Ahmed Hassan ence to offer to the delegates marked the commencement of the executives from global telecom nal justice. illicit trafficking and the grow- Al Hammadi, Director of Legal Qatar’s experience in the field of AAE-1 project. The target com- providers. “Though crime has become ing capability of criminal gangs Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign protecting young people against pletion date is 2016. The subsea cable system will more cross-border and its vari- as new technology has become Affairs, and Vice-President of crime, and utilising their energies It is one of the largest consor- be among the first global consor- ous forms are a global concern, available to them. the preparatory committee, high- in the protection of the family and tium cable projects in the world, tium cables to land in Qatar and each geographical groups have Dimitri Vlassis, Head of anti- lighted changes in crime due to the nation. and with a more resilient and will help position the country as a their special issues. corruption and economic crimes the weak growth of the economy, “Among the effective tools of diverse structure, will provide major hub for telecom connectiv- “We believe this meeting will be programme at UNODC, tabled internal and external conflicts, crime prevention, education is the an important upgrade for inter- ity in the GCC and wider region. a milestone in the way of prepa- the agenda include clauses to be migration and its impact on most important of human rights national networks, enhancing Spanning about 25,000km, it ration for the Doha 2015, and we discussed in the congress. states and the depletion of their because it is the way to achieve Internet speeds, enabling high will be one of the first unique hope that it will come out with It includes successful experi- resources. sustainable development in mod- quality voice services and improv- cable systems to connect Hong action-oriented recommenda- ences in implementation of poli- ‘One of the effective tools that ern society,” he added. ing resilience for people and com- Kong, Singapore, the Middle East, tions,” he said. cies and comprehensive strategies have not been used to its full THE PENINSULA panies across the globe. Africa and Europe and provide The cable will provide peo- an alternative low latency route ple in Qatar with access to new, between Far East and Europe, high-speed global routing that increasing stability and security will encourage the expansion of of communications between these broadband penetration, Internet key trade centres. Tamuq, TNO host workshop on oil, gas for students usage and enterprise applications. The cable will also land in It will also deliver faster and more Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, DOHA: Texas A&M University field’s production. The trainers field,” said Dr Michael Fraim, Anton Leemhuis, Managing reliable bandwidth, and business- Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, at Qatar (Tamuq) and Dutch explained the important role Associate Professor of Petroleum Director of TNO’s Doha-based critical capacity for broadband India, Pakistan, Oman, the UAE, company TNO hosted a student people have in intelligent fields, Engineering, Tamuq. Middle East branch, said, data and high-quality voice serv- Yemen, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, workshop in Education City to particularly in decision-making Students received experience “Intelligent field technologies are ices into the countries along its Egypt, Greece, Italy, France. give training on how intelligent for a field’s operations. through a case study in which becoming commonplace in the route It will provide additional oil and gas field technologies “The workshop provided stu- they competed for the best industry. Technologies are avail- “This is a long-awaited and protection and diversity to the can be used to maximise hydro- dents from Tamuq and Qatar design for an intelligent field. able, but the key is to train people critical project which will make world’s heavily-congested cable carbon production. University with a great learning The event was hosted in col- so they can use them well. It is a major contribution to enhanc- systems, delivering greater speeds Students learned about aspects and practice opportunity. TNO’s laboration with Qatar Society important to familiarise students ing global communication,” said and ensuring that companies and of intelligent fields, including experts taught them the basics of of Petroleum Engineers Student with intelligent field technology Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Operating individuals suffer less from bot- new sensor technologies, pro- intelligent field and made them Chapter. Dr Ruud van der Linden, at an early stage, as they are the Officer, Ooredoo Qatar. tlenecks or disruption caused by duction optimisation methods work in multi-disciplinary teams one of TNO’s senior experts, was engineers and industry leaders of “Ooredoo is proud to be playing cable breaks. THE PENINSULA and IT systems to optimise a to design an optimum intelligent brought to Doha for the event. the future.” THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Israel offers Iraqi forces kill $20m to Turkey flotilla victims JERUSALEM: Israel has 57 militants in offered Turkey $20m in com- pensation to the families of those killed and wounded in its botched 2010 raid on a Gaza- Sunni province bound flotilla, Haaretz newspa- per reported yesterday. Citing unnamed Western dip- lomats briefed on ongoing nego- Operation targets rebel-held Fallujah tiations with Ankara, the daily said Turkey had yet to respond to BAGHDAD: Iraqi troops remaining residents out. the offer. Bulent Arinc, Turkey’s and allied tribesmen killed 57 “We will not enter as long as deputy prime minister, said major Islamist militants in Anbar there are civilians inside,” the progress had been made but that province yesterday, the Defence official said on condition of ano- a few points still had to be ironed Ministry said, in advance of a nymity. “We want them to leave, out. “We are not yet ready to possible assault on the Sunni and they will leave under the sign... but a solution is close,” Muslim rebel-held city of pressure of daily bombardment.” Arinc told reporters. Once-close Fallujah. A resident of Fallujah said relations between the two nations There was no independent many families had moved to the fell apart after Israeli commandos verification of the toll among the city’s western districts because killed nine Turkish nationals dur- militants, said to be members of other areas were being shelled, ing a botched pre-dawn raid on a the Islamic State of Iraq and the and the army was fighting mili- six-ship flotilla seeking to break Levant (ISIL), a jihadi group also tants in the north. Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza in fighting in the civil war in neigh- Maliki has appealed for inter- May 2010. bouring Syria. national support and weapons to Syrians gather with their belongings on the rebel controlled side of the Bustan Al Qasr checkpoint in the district ISIL militants and other Sunni fight Al Qaeda, although critics of Aleppo, awaiting to cross to the government controlled side. groups angered by the Shia-led say his own policies towards Iraq’s Baghdad government overran once-dominant Sunni community Obama’s Saudi Fallujah and parts of the nearby are at least partly to blame for city of Ramadi in the western reviving an insurgency that had Suicide bomber hits Beirut visit in March: province of Anbar on January 1. climaxed in 2006-07. The Defence Ministry state- Last year was Iraq’s bloodi- BEIRUT: A suicide bomber the site of the blast said. The Caretaker Interior Minister White House ment said most of the 57 militants est since 2008, according to the blew himself up in a passen- explosion occurred in a van that Marwan Charbel said that the had been killed in the outskirts United Nations, and the violence ger van in a southern suburb of was taking passengers along the van’s driver — who survived the WASHINGTON: US President of Ramadi, but gave few details. monitoring group Iraq Body Lebanon’s capital Beirut yester- highway in Choueifat, a district of blast but was seriously injured Barack Obama will travel to Prime Minister Nouri Al Count has said more than 1,000 day as the country continued to south Beirut, to a suburban area — said the bomber was a young ally Saudi Arabia in March, fol- Maliki has held back from an people were killed in January struggle with the fallout from where the Shi’ite Muslim political man who blew himself up when lowing clear signs of disquiet all-out assault on Fallujah to give alone. the civil war in neighbouring and militant movement Hezbollah the driver confronted him because in Riyadh about his Middle time for a negotiated way out of Six bombs targeting Shia areas Syria. has a heavy presence. he thought he looked suspicious. Eastern policies and nuclear the standoff, but mediation efforts of Baghdad province killed at At least two people were Hezbollah has sent fighters Meanwhile, the deputy to the talks with Iran. appear to have failed. least 20 people yesterday, police wounded in the blast, including to support Syrian President United Nations’ Syria mediator Obama will fly to meet the Troops intensified shelling of said. Two of the bombs blew up the driver and a woman, but no Bashar Al Assad, a member of Lakhdar Brahimi will leave his Custodain of the Two Holy Fallujah late on Sunday and secu- in the town of Mahmudiya, about one was killed apart from the the Alawite offshoot of Shia, post this week, the UN said. Mosques King Abdullah bin rity officials said a ground assault 30km south of Baghdad, killing bomber, the health minister said. against the majority Sunni The UN did not specify the Abdulaziz on a trip added onto would follow soon. eight people. Two more blasts A security source had earlier said Muslim rebels. reason for Nasser Al Kidwa’s existing visits to the Netherlands, “The assault has to take place occurred in the capital. one other person had been killed. Lebanese and Syrian Sunni prompt departure, but said that Brussels and Vatican City, the on Fallujah, sooner or later,” said Separately, police said they Lebanese television footage militants supportive of the Syrian he had indicated “his willingness White House said in a statement. a top security official directly found the bodies of four people, showed the gutted chassis of uprising have targeted Hezbollah to serve the United Nations in The White House said that involved in dealing with the one of them a woman, who had a vehicle with no roof. Smoke areas, including with a bomb other capacities.” Obama planned to talk to the stand-off. “The time for talking been shot in the head or chest in rose in the air and debris lay on attack on Sunday in the northern UN chief Ban Ki-moon thanked king about the strategic relation- ran out.” southwestern Baghdad. a street. Body parts, including a Shia town of Hermel. Kidwa for his efforts “in trying to ship between the United States The official said the army was Two soldiers were killed in head, lay on the road. Beirut’s southern suburbs have end the bloodshed in Syria and and Saudi Arabia and “Gulf and tightening its siege of the city clashes with gunmen in Baquba, “There was glass everywhere. been hit by four car bombs since move toward a Syrian-led transi- regional security, peace in the and would continue shelling it a city 65km northeast of Baghdad, We saw a head. Then the legs July. It appeared that Monday’s tion,” according to a statement by Middle East, countering violent for at least three days to weaken a military source said. landed near the station,” a man suicide bomber had detonated Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky. extremism and other issues of militant positions and drive REUTERS working at a petrol station near his explosives belt prematurely. AGENCIES prosperity and security.” AFP TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Progress on Iran Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

ELATIONS between Iran and the West are showing further signs of improvement with a slew of developments in the past few days. Yesterday, RIran welcomed the most senior French trade delegation in years, telling them that a new chapter has begun Ukraine stands on the brink; in relations between Tehran and the Europe and French companies stood to benefit from the new opportunities coming up in an oil and gas-producing nation. The delegation included Europe must bring it back more than 100 executives from leading French companies and was the largest French group to visit Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Two days ago, US Secretary of State BY TIMOTHY GARTON ASH Russia. Russia has lost an empire but – even in the face of violent oppression John Kerry told his Iranian counterpart Mohammed Javad not yet found a role. Its uncertain sense by the state – and it ends in a political Zarif that both sides needed to negotiate in good faith to KRAINE has not yet died of itself is inextricably bound up with its negotiation. Now, mainly because of the resolve Western fears and doubts over Iran’s contested nuclear – as the country’s anthem deep-seated confusion about Ukraine, stupidity of the Yanukovych machine progamme. Kerry’s exhortation comes as world powers are observes. But the face of a cradle of Russian history that many and the brutality of its Berkut militia scheduled to conduct another round of talks with Iran on UUkraine today is that of the Russians still regard as belonging back thugs, but also because there are other bloodied, scarred opposition activist in Russia’s nursery. opposition forces at work in different February 18 to follow up on the initial agreement reached in Dmytro Bulatov. Comparisons with Once upon a time, young Conservatives parts of a fractured country, the velvet November last year to curb uranium enrichment and open up Bosnia are still far-fetched, but think like David Cameron shared such a is burning. nuclear facilities for international inspection. The February of this as a political Chernobyl. vision of a wider Europe of freedom. Some very nasty far-right groups 18 talks are likely to make progress as the atmosphere is I have no idea what will happen in Inspired by the velvet revolutions of have mounted the barricades. How large conducive and friendly. Both the West and Iran have realized Ukraine tomorrow, let alone next week. 1989, and by Margaret Thatcher, they a role they play is disputed. A Ukrainian that they stand benefit immensely from a thaw in relations. But I know what all Europeans should loathed the statist, federalist and social- specialist on the European far right, want to happen over the next year and ist Little Europe of Brussels, but loved Anton Shekhovtsov, who was there For Iran, it’s an immense opportunity to emerge from the the next decades. In February 2015, on that far horizon of liberty. Yet where is during the recent protests, says that international isolation it has pushed itself into, thereby the 70th anniversary of the Yalta agree- the British prime minister’s voice on while there is a real neo-Nazi and hoo- putting the country on the path of economic progress it has ment, Ukraine should again be a halfway Ukraine today? ligan fringe, especially in a group called long been denied, and for West, the functioning state. A corrupt and rack- Back in his idealistic youth, Germans White Hammer, most of the so-called business opportunities which Iran ety one, but still the kind of state that, were the mealy-mouthed stability-hug- Right Sector activists see themselves As relations will offer are too huge to be ignored. in the long run, gers, and Brits spoke out for human as national revolutionaries fighting for forges a nation. rights in eastern Europe. Now,Angela independence from Russia. Yet even if between West At a time when the global economy It should have Merkel tells her parliament – to you take a more alarmist view, to sug- and Iran is struggling to move forward and signed an associ- applause – that the Ukrainian authori- gest that Europe should just sit on its energy companies are struggling This is no velvet ation agreement ties must not ignore “many people who hands because fascists and antisemitic improve, there to get new projects, Iran offers a with the EU, but have shown in courageous demon- Cossacks (recognise a stereotype any- goldmine. revolution, but nor also have close strations that they are not willing to one?) are taking over the show is even should be no ties with Russia. turn away from Europe. They must be more ridiculous than it would be to In another significant is it an uprising of compromise In February 2045, heard”, while the Conservative benches pretend that this is all the sweetness development, Hillary Clinton threw fascist Cossacks or on the 100th anni- of the British parliament resound with and light of Václav Havel’s Wenceslas on dismantling her weight behind President Barack a zero-sum game versary of the appeals to turn away from Europe, and Square in 1989. Abandon all meta-nar- Obama on his Iran policy. She with Russia. Europe Yalta agreement, to keep out those numberless hordes of ratives, ye reporters who enter here. Tehran’s it should be a lib- eastern European welfare scroungers. Worse than ridiculous is the notion said that Washington must give must intervene N-programme. diplomacy a chance to succeed on eral democratic, Among the few Ukrainians welcome that the EU should not intervene in any on the side of rule-of-law state here are the oligarchs, who get Britain’s way because this is a purely Ukrainian Iran, while keeping all options on that is a member special visas for the very rich, and buy affair. Putin’s Russia has been inter- the table, adding that new sanctions democracy and of the EU, but has the fanciest places in London. One of vening for years, overtly and covertly, could rob US of the diplomatic high ground “we worked human rights. a special relation- them, Rinat Akhmetov, paid £136m for while insisting no “outsiders” should so hard to reach, break the united international front we ship with a demo- a 25,000 sq ft pied-a-terre in the luxuri- interfere. In the last decade, Russia has constructed, and in the long run, weaken pressure on Iran cratic Russia. “Pie ous One Hyde Park apartment complex. twice turned off the gas tap to force by opening the door for other countries to chart a different in the sky!” you may say. But if you Granted, it is hard to see how we can Ukrainian hands, and the methods don’t know where you want to go, all make much difference in the short term. Moscow uses behind the scenes to per- course.” That Clinton has been able to take such a stance roads are equally good. This is where This is no longer a velvet revolution, suade Yanukovych and pivotal oligarchs despite intense pressure from opponents this rapprochement we should want to go. as the 2004 Orange Revolution was. It can barely be described in a family shows there is a strong possibility that the current That outcome would obviously be good started as a protest against the (freely newspaper. negotiations will succeed. for Ukraine. Less obviously, it would be and largely fairly elected) President By contrast, the EU’s “imperialist” At the same time, Europe and US should not sleepwalk into good for Europe. Look at the shifting Viktor Yanukovych’s sudden refusal to intervention has consisted in offering balance of world power, and look at the sign an association agreement with the an association agreement, attempting to a deal with Iran without making sure that their objectives are demographic projections for western EU. Opinion polls show that a majority broker a negotiated settlement between met. There is still a strong view that Iran is not serious about Europe’s ageing population. We’ll need of Ukrainians favour more European the warring parties and mainly verbal dismantling its nuclear infrastructure and statements from its those young Ukrainians sooner than integration. The heart of protest in support for non-violent, pro-European top religious leadership have been supporting this view. There you think, if we are to pay our pensions, Kiev is still nicknamed the Euromaidan demonstrators. To denounce this her- should be no compromise on forcing Iran to fully dismantle its maintain economic growth and defend (Eurosquare). What characterises a bivorous intervention while ignoring nuclear facilities, which is vital for security in our region and our way of life in a post-western world. velvet revolution, however, is that non- Russia’s carnivorous ones is Orwellian Less obviously still, it would good for violent discipline is largely maintained doublethink. THE GUARDIAN to prevent a nuclear arms race. The other side Quote of SOS on South Sudan the day his is no less than a the UN agency says that it is in need any standards of law and ethics, and the war-weary country is a cause of catastrophe in the making. of $1.3 billion to deal with the explod- speaks volumes of the lawlessness concern for the entire region, and The two-month-old crisis has ing humanitarian crisis. The most in the strife-torn African nation. What should be addressed in a holistic Talready claimed thousands unfortunate aspect is that the cease- is needed instantly is supervision by manner. Mediation efforts to this day of lives and a million people are fire agreed to last week between the a high-powered commission under are limited to brokering ceasefire on The vandalism that homeless. The conflict is getting out two sides is not holding, which has the UN and African Union aegis to not paper across the table, when it is in of hand, as the diplomatic format is not furthered the prospect of broker- only disarm the militias on both sides need of being firmly implemented. we have seen in the not working to the satisfaction of the ing a negotiated solution. but also to take over the governance Until and unless the UN and regional occupation of state international community. The skirmishes between the forces apparatus for an interim period till peacekeepers are granted the role The world body’s concern has of President Salva Kiir and his ousted things return to normalcy. It is a small of policing the war-torn state, things institutions and the come close on the heels of a simi- deputy Riek Machar have mostly mercy that fighting has not broken out will get from bad to worse with each calls that we hear are lar warning wherein it said that it is impacted civilians. That is evident on ethnic and tribal lines, though the passing day. What is needed without unable to take care of thousands of from the fact that schools, hospitals spectrum is clearly divisive, and the wasting any more time is an effort to reminiscent of our old refugees who have taken shelter in its and care centres have been attacked clashes are predominantly between come to the rescue of hungry mouths history. We would not premises in Juba, and are acting as to target sympathisers of opponent pro-and anti-government supporters. and rehabilitate the uprooted people. want it to be repeated. a drain on its limited resources. Now groups. This is unacceptable under The decay in the body fabric of Khaleej Times Viktor Yanukovych Ukrainian President TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Qatar and Russia: New horizons of bilateral ties

the great merit of both our countries Federation, Northern Capital of Russia to be exhibited and the respective aca- The Russian community in Doha that were the pioneers of the GECF. – St. Petersburg among them. In April demic gatherings to be organized. It will The visit of the Special Representative 2013 Vice Governor of St. Petersburg further stimulate the museums coopera- of the President of the Russian H.E. Mr. Oleg Markov was in Doha for tion that started in spring 2012 with is growing. It includes physicians, Federation for cooperation with the a working visit and held negotiations the participation of the State muse- GECF H.E. Mr. Victor Zubkov to Doha with the Head of the Doha municipal- ums of the Moscow Kremlin, the State engineers, coaches, pilots, musicians of last February along with his participa- ity Mr. Mohammad Al Sayed. And it Hermitage Museum, St.Petersburg, and tion in the opening ceremony of the is worth mentioning that the Russian the Russian National Library in the first regional (Arabian Peninsula) office delegation put on the table both projects exhibition “Gifts of Sultan: The Arts the Qatari Philharmonic Orchestra. of the Russian company “Gazprom” that required the Qatari investments of Giving at the Islamic Courts” held became a landmark event. It is very in St.Petersburg and those based on under the auspices of the Museum of BY NURMAKHAMD KHOLOV Bogdanov and H.E. Mr. Ali Al-Hajri important that the representative office the Russian companies’ investments the Islamic Art of Doha. respectively were successful and very of the world-renowned gas giant was in the development of the Doha urban The considerable passenger traffic of HE Russian-Qatari rela- promising. The talks turned out to be opened in Qatar since it provides us infrastructure. Our Qatari partners the Russian transit tourists traveling tions, which have recently highly-substantial and very frank what- with the additional cooperation oppor- can benefit from St.Petersburg unique via Doha by Qatar Airways (12 flights passed its 25-year milestone, ever subjects were under discussion: the tunities including price coordination, experience in the subway construction, per week from Moscow to Doha) has are approaching the period Middle East problem, the weapons of interchangeable gas deliveries and etc. firefighting (including the special tech- turned the Qatari capital into the gate of maturity. The new year mass distraction in the region, Syria etc. The work of the “Gazprom” repre- nique for skyscrappers), water purifica- to Asia for about 170 thousand of my Tof 2014 is not only to speed them up Hopefully the second round of the stra- sentative office will contribute to the tion etc. compatriots a year. but also to open new horizons for the tegic dialogue might be arranged this successful development of partnership Yet another important mechanism The Russian community in Doha is mutually beneficial partnership in the year in Doha. with Qatar and will significantly inten- to boost the bilateral economic rela- also growing. It includes physicians, spheres of economy, politics, culture and We closely cooperate with our Qatari sify mutually beneficial cooperation with tions, the Joint Inter - Governmental engineers, coaches, pilots, musicians sport. partners in the international arena on the countries of the region. Commission for trade, economic, scien- of the Qatari Philharmonic Orchestra. This year starts with renovation and a wide range of issues: from the Middle There is a considerable potential in tific and technical cooperation between Most of them are high-skilled profes- good news: we have got a new Russian East problem to disarmament, from the mutual investment cooperation. the Russian Federation and the State of sionals with great working experience. ambassador in Doha and we will get counter-terrorism to human rights… In March 2013 the Qatar Investment Qatar, is hopefully due to have its inau- There are indisputable prospects for a new Qatari ambassador in Moscow Our economic cooperation has a sig- Authority (QIA) purchased shares of gural meeting this year. the bilateral cooperation in the field of soon, and we are looking forward to nificant potential. I would like to outline one of the Russian “blue chips”, the The cultural cooperation between sport. One could think of a large variety greeting our parliamentary delega- the prospects for cooperation in the field state-owned VTB bank for 500 mil- our countries is of special importance. of issues here. Football might be easily tion in Doha in the coming days. And of gas, investments and urban planning. lion USD. Further considerable Qatari We need to continue our experience of chosen as one of those. Suffice it to men- the most important news today is the It is worth mentioning that Russia and investments (in the Russian high-tech the “cultural weeks” exchange that had tion that our countries will be hosting visit of His Highness Emir Sheikh Qatar are world’s top exporters of gas. projects) should ensue upon the com- great success both in Moscow and in consecutive World Cups: 2018 in Russia Tamim for the opening ceremony of the This fact among other things requires pletion of the ongoing negotiations Doha in 2011, and we should add more and 2022 in Qatar. Isn’t it natural to Winter Olympic Games in Sochi where trust-based channels of communication between the QIA and the Russian Direct Russian cities (St.Petersburg, Kazan establish close cooperation between his meeting with the President of the in order to compare notes and exchange Investment Fund (RDIF). In the mean- etc.) to this program. We also hope the two national World Cup organizing Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Vladimir best practices. time the QIA Chief Executive Officer to implement our plans to repeat the committees? Putin will take place. Of strategic importance is our cooper- Mr. Ahmed Mohammad Al Sayed was tour of the ballet team “The Russian Our two countries are now engaged Last year was first to see new posi- ation with Qatar within the framework appointed as a member to the RDIF Seasons” headed by Maestro Andris in a wide-ranging political and busi- tive dynamics in our bilateral relations. of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum International Advisory Board. Liepa in Doha which held its mag- ness dialogue, paving the way for a full- A strategic dialogue (as we usually call (GECF). The Moscow Summit of the Some qualitative developments are nificent performance at the QNCC in fledged mutually beneficial partnership. the regular consultations at the level GECF that picked up the baton from there in the sphere of the municipal October 2012. And the future of the Russian-Qatari of deputy foreign ministers) was actu- the Doha GECF Summit highlighted the facilities and urban planning coop- Under way also is the preparation of relations is clear and very promising. ally launched in Moscow last October. prospects for multilateral and bilateral eration that reflects the considerable the cultural festivities “Qatar-Russia THE PENINSULA The negotiations between the two del- Russian-Qatari cooperation within this potential of the cooperation between 2018”, which should have “on board” all (The Author is Russian Ambassador egations headed by H.E. Mr. Mikhail unique international body. And this is Qatar and the regions of the Russian the variety of the Russian masterpieces in the State of Qatar) Putin is losing Sochi Olympic Games Hillary Clinton The ‘new Russia’ miscalculated Putin will unveil in on Iran Sochi doesn’t look likely to last. BY JENNIFER RUBIN ormer Defence Secretary Robert BY JACKSON DIEHL Gates sure had it right: Hillary Clinton, confronted with the choice his was to be the week Fbetween responsible and intellectu- Vladimir Putin reintroduced ally consistent foreign policy and the chance Russia to the world: a con- to endear herself to the isolationist left in the Tfident, economically boom- Democratic Party’s primary base will choose ing power whose influence in Eastern the latter. Europe and the Middle East is coming She did on the Iraq surge, and she just did back; whose ability to block and coun- it on Iran sanctions in a letter to Senator Carl ter the United States is re-established; Levin, D-Michigan, chairman of the Armed and which offers, through Putin, a new Services Committee: model of conservatism for those disen- “As President Obama has said, we must give chanted with the liberal West. diplomacy a chance to succeed, while keep- Yet that is not how it is turning out. ing all options on the table ... [new sanctions] Beginning Friday, the Sochi Olympics could rob us of the diplomatic high ground are more likely to become a forum for we worked so hard to reach, break the united the demonstration of how and why international front we constructed, and in the Putin’s rule of Russia has failed — and long run, weaken pressure on Iran by opening how his power is ebbing both abroad the door for other countries to chart a differ- and at home. ent course.” Start with the scene in Sochi. Putin This is the same twisted logic employed by recently said that he “would like the President Barack Obama and Senator Rand participants, fans, journalists and all Paul, R-Kentucky. She acknowledges that those who watch the Games on televi- sanctions brought Iran to the table, but she sion to see a new Russia, see its face now argues that to keep sanctions as a back- and possibilities.” Here’s the storylines stop to force Iran to agree to a deal acceptable the games so far have created: the to the West could mean war. Stalinist excess of a record $50bn spent, This, incidentally, is precisely Iran’s line. of which most may have been stolen; Moreover, Clinton, like Obama, Paul and the hate speech directed by Putin at the Secretary of State John Kerry, ignore the obvi- gay community and the protests that ous: No sane observer — including members has engendered; and, most ominously, of the Senate — thinks all options are on the the “black widows” and other terrorists table. who may stalk the games. Long ago this president made clear he has The civilised world will pray that the no interest in using US power. terrorists don’t succeed. But they may It is either sanctions or Israel that will pre- also have cause to reflect on how, Russia Technicians prepare the tournament indicator board at the Iceberg Skating Palace in the Adler district of Sochi yesterday. vent a nuclear-armed Iran. came to have some of the world’s most From the political angle, Clinton, biding her virulent home grown Islamic jihad- time, was once again seen as the opportunist ists. The simple answer is that Putin East. He had prevented US airs trikes foreign policy. That came after President ideology was rejected by the vast waiting to see which way the wind was blow- launched his career in 1999 by invad- and diverted the West into negotiating Obama failed even to mention Russia majority of Ukrainians, who occupied ing. So she coughed up a statement on her own ing the then-autonomous Caucasian with the regime. or its leader in his State of the Union nearly every town hall after the gov- views. That statement, however, leaves her in republic of Chechnya. He crushed its Yet now Putin’s Syria gambit is cur- speech. The “reset” of US-Russian rela- ernment adopted anti-protest laws the hot seat. secular and democratically elected dling. Last week Assad’s envoys to the tions, which allowed Putin to present imported from Russia. Again Putin She can’t deny responsibility for the likely government, destroyed its capital with Geneva peace talks embarrassed even himself as the natural counterpart to will pay a price, in the probable col- disastrous end to the policy, since she has indiscriminate artillery fire and then the Russian delegation with their histri- the US president, has been rubbed out. lapse of his dream of a “Eurasian embraced it entirely. Perhaps left-wing pri- claimed that anyone who resisted was onic antics, while the State Department What about Putin’s new model of Union” that would rival the EU and mary voters don’t care, but having “lost” Iran a terrorist whom he would “rub out in reported that Assad’s fulfilment of a authoritarian government based on restore most of Moscow’s Soviet will for all intents and purposes disqualify her the outhouse.” His propaganda proved promise to hand over chemical weapons “traditional values,” such as homo- sphere of hegemony. as commander in chief. self-fulfilling, the extremists he created “has seriously languished and stalled.” On phobia? Ask Ukrainians. The story of What about in Russia itself? Putin’s As for the policy, the administration has have endured. the ground, massive deliveries of Russian their political crisis there is, to a large policies play better at home, to be sure. weakened its own hand while promising a Reflection on Chechnya naturally arms to Assad’s forces have failed to degree, a story of Putin’s attempt to But there, too, all is not well: Once result that does not leave Iran’s programme leads to consideration of Syria, where break a stalemate, and independent install his model in a country that has robust economic growth has stalled, on the threshold of breakout. If it doesn’t get Putin has backed the regime of Bashar analysts are predicting a renewed rebel been bonded to Russia for centuries the rubble is plunging in value, badly such an agreement, it will be hard-pressed to Al Assad in a nearly identical strategy offensive in Damascus this spring. and where one-sixth of the popula- needed foreign investment is scarce declare victory. for combatting what began as a mass Syria may not benefit much from tion is ethnic Russian. This includes and anger at Sochi-style corruption The problem is not sanctions per se but an secular protest movement. The results these developments, but Russia and the anti-gay agenda: Putin’s surrogates simmers. When the independent Iran policy that is completely disconnected are the same: the appearance of a Putin are paying a price. A man deeply and Russian media have claimed the Levada centre polled Russians last from the ends the United States seeks. Syrian Al Qaeda corps that did not pre- preoccupied with his self-image as the Western-backed Ukrainian opposition month on whether they wanted Putin Barring a miracle, Obama, Clinton, Paul and viously exist. A few months ago, many bare-chested ruler of a superpower saw wants to undermine the country’s het- to remain president after his current other sanctions opponents will have the unen- believed that Putin had nevertheless himself humiliated at an EU-Russia erosexual norms. term expires, 22 percent said yes and viable distinction of helping to foster either succeeded in resuscitating Assad, and summit last week denied the traditional The Ukraine drama is not yet over, 47 percent said no. war or a nuclear-armed Iran. with him Russia’s place in the Middle dinner by Europeans disgusted by his but what we know is that Putin’s WP-BLOOMBERG WP-BLOOMBERG TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Wage hike fails to calm Egypt’s workers Sceptical labourers say it’s too little, too late

AL SAFF, EGYPT: When some have dubbed the revolution budget deficit set to hit around Egypt announced plans for a of the hungry unless eradicating 200 billion pounds this year. minimum wage late last year, poverty and social ills becomes a But the government has pre- the government hoped to lift liv- higher priority. sented no long-term plans to ing standards and calm street “Setting the minimum wage is boost revenue to correct the fiscal turmoil that has helped topple a first step in the path to social imbalance, analysts say, instead two presidents in three years. justice... The government must pinning its hopes on two stimulus Although one in four Egyptians not forget or stop at the mini- packages of $4.3bn each. lives below a poverty line of $1.65 mum wage only,” said campaigner These rely indirectly on Gulf a day, many workers say the 1,200 Ashraf Al Taalabi. “If the people aid, so if Saudi Arabia, the United Egyptian pound ($170) minimum do not feel they have social justice Arab Emirates and Kuwait wage introduced in January is too there will be a third revolution to become less generous, that could little too late in a nation whose achieve that goal.” force spending cuts, risking a rulers have long favoured the elite Corruption, cronyism and stark backlash in the streets. over the poor. inequalities in wealth fuelled the Egyptians depend on food and “Some people spend half that 2011 revolt that overthrew auto- energy subsidies which account on their pet dogs every day,” said cratic President Hosni Mubarak, for a quarter of all state spend- Relatives talk to Muslim Brotherhood’s leaders standing inside the defendants cage before the start of their trial Ibrahim Hussein, who earns 800 when labour unions joined vast ing. Successive governments have in the police institute near Cairo’s Turah prison, yesterday. pounds a month as a private secu- crowds demanding “bread, free- hesitated to cut the subsidies for rity guard, barely enough to sup- dom and justice” for the nation fear of public anger, mindful of port his three children. of 85 million. the 1977 bread riots that chal- Trial of Islamist leader adjourned Flush with more than $12bn Three years later, impoverished lenged President Anwar Sadat. in aid from Gulf Arab states, cities like Al Saff, 60km south of Bread shortages also provoked the army-backed government is Cairo, still await signs of a fairer unrest under Mubarak in 2008. CAIRO: An Egyptian court before the hearing. Since Mursi’s stormed the Brotherhood’s Cairo using some of the cash to defuse deal. As well as subsidies and the yesterday adjourned to February overthrow, his supporters have headquarters on June 30. That unsatisfied demands for reform Many queue for hours each day minimum wage rise, budget 15 the trial of the Muslim been staging near daily protests, trial will resume on February 13, and social justice. to buy state-subsidised bread in strains include a new constitu- Brotherhood’s supreme guide calling for his reinstatement. the sources said yesterday, after Many Egyptians backed the slums disfigured by garbage and tional obligation to allocate some over violence that left two people The rallies have often judges previously withdrew twice army’s overthrow of president raw sewage, while the rich and six percent of spending on educa- dead, judicial sources said. descended into deadly street from the case. Mursi himself is Mohamed Mursi in July and the powerful inhabit luxury villas in tion, health and research. Along with 47 leaders and clashes with security forces and facing four separate trials. ensuing crackdown on his Muslim gated communities. Moheb Malik, an economist at members of the Islamist move- civilian opponents. He is accused of inciting the Brotherhood in which about 1,000 “The minimum salary should Prime Securities, said the govern- ment, supreme guide Mohamed The trial is part of a relentless killing of opposition protesters in of his supporters were killed. be 3,000 pounds,” said Sayed ment would struggle to meet its Badie is accused of inciting vio- crackdown led by the authori- December 2012 outside the pres- And many are mesmerised by Hussein, a physics teacher who financing needs. “There will have to lence that erupted in the Nile ties against Mursi supporters idential palace. He is also being Field Marshal Abdel Fatah Al sells rice and noodles at night be a cut somewhere and they can’t Delta city of Qaliub, days only that has left more than 1,400 tried for a prison break during Sisi, the army chief who ousted to supplement his income. “If it cut wages,” he said. “That leaves after the military ousted Islamist killed, according to Amnesty the 2011 uprising that toppled Egypt’s first freely elected leader doesn’t get resolved, we will all the subsidies, which are huge.” president Mohamed Morsi in July, International, and thousands of strongman Hosni Mubarak. after mass protests against his take to the streets. If this contin- The government hopes the the sources said. others detained. The deposed Islamist president rule. Sisi is soon expected to ues I will suffocate.” wage rise will appeal to people like Badie and the others, wearing Badie and his two deputies, likewise faces charges of espio- announce he will run for presi- The minimum wage applies to Ali Abdelmegid, 33, who works 16 the white uniform of defendants, Khairat Al Shater and Rashad nage in collaboration with the dent - and win. 4.9 million public employees and hours — school bureaucrat by day, appeared behind a cage running Bayoumi, are also being tried Palestinian Hamas movement and But once the euphoria fades, will cost the state an extra 18 truck driver by night — without along the side of the court, as on separate charges related to of insulting the judiciary. Sisi in his turn could face what billion pounds a year, swelling a escaping poverty. REUTERS family members spoke to relatives the deaths of protesters who AFP

Ruler in reassuring Iran opposition leader remains under house arrest condition after TEHRAN: An Iranian opposi- arrest has not been lifted. “Two and his wife live on the second to read include the conservative the past and is nothing new.” surgery: UAE tion leader who was being held nights ago the authorities took floor of their house while guards Ettelaat, Hamshahri and Jam-e- Karroubi and another former against his will in a safe house my father back to his home in stay in the first floor. He is Jam, which do not have significant presidential candidate, Mir DUBAI: The president of belonging to the intelligence Tehran but security guards are allowed to watch national televi- coverage of political news. Hossein Mousavi, disputed the United Arab Emirates is in services has been transferred still in control of his movements sion and has regular access to two Iranian judiciary spokesman 2009 vote, which gave Mahmoud “stable and reassuring” condi- to his own home but remains and communications,” Karroubi’s state-run newspapers selected by Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei told Ahmadinejad a second term in tion after surgery following a under house arrest. son, Mohammad Taghi, told the the authorities, but not telephone reporters that “the situation in office, and alleged the results were stroke late last month, state Mehdi Karroubi, a former Guardian. “In his home, he is or satellite channels. Immediate which Karroubi is being held has rigged. Mousavi is being held in media reported yesterday. presidential candidate in Iran’s allowed to live with my mother family members can visit him not changed”, according to the his own house in Tehran along The Wa m state news agency 2009 disputed election, returned who used to be under house arrest once a week with prior arrange- semi-official Isna news agency. with his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, quoted the half brother of H home but a judicial official made herself but is now free.” ments as in the past, his son said. “The change in the location of also an outspoken critic of the H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al clear on Monday that his house According to his son, Karroubi Newspapers Karroubi is allowed Karroubi’s house has occurred in regime. THE GUARDIAN Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as telling guests: “Yes we passed through a difficult crisis, Prayer for rain we have overcome it, thanks be to God.” Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa is known as a pro-Western mod- erniser who has ruled the UAE since the death of his father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 2004. He is also the ruler of oil-producing Abu Dhabi, the richest and most powerful of the UAE emirates, which also include Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaima. Wa m reported on January 25 that Sheikh Khalifa had had surgery after a stroke. The UAE is an ally of the United States and has used its formida- ble foreign currency reserves to back the military rulers of Egypt against the Muslim Brotherhood opposition. Muslims pray for rain in drought-hit Jordan, in Amman yesterday. The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs called on Jordanians to gather to hold Salat Al Istisqa, special prayers for rain, across the Bahrain jails 13 for kingdom. torching police car

DUBAI: A Bahraini court yes- More parties back Algeria’s terday handed 13 Shias jail sen- tences of up to 15 years after convicting them of trying to kill policemen by torching their Bouteflika for new term patrol vehicle, a judicial source said. The court jailed 11 of the ALGIERS: More than two But the deadline to officially nationalist party’s dominant defendants for 15 years, while dozen Algerian political par- register his candidacy is March role and his backing from the the remaining two received two- ties have given their support 4, according to electoral law. party’s machinery and its allies. year terms, the source said. for a fourth term for President The list of Bouteflika’s back- Opposition parties are still The court said the 13 had tried Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who ers for re-election expanded this weak and most Algerians have to kill policemen by setting fire to has yet to announce whether week, and now includes two rul- little appetite for upheaval after their patrol car in the Shiite vil- he will run again just two ing parties FLN and RND, 26 the civil war with militants that lage of Salihiya, west of the capital months before the election. smaller parties led by transport killed around 200,000 in the Manama, in 2012. Bouteflika, 76, suffered a minister Amar Ghoul, most of 1990s. “I will vote for him dead The petrol bomb attack injured stroke early last year before the country’s unions, and Rabah or alive because he has done so two policemen and destroyed the returning to work amid specu- Brahimi, of the FDL party. much for the country,” FDL’s vehicle. Scores of Shiites have lation over his ability to seek Most of those are political Brahimi told a TV programme been tried over unrest that fol- re-election in Algeria, a key gas movements already allied with in comments, that surprised lowed Arab Spring-inspired pro- supplier to Europe and a U.S. the FLN, a signal Bouteflika’s Algerians. Bouteflika returned tests in mid-February 2011. partner against Islamist mili- backers may be strengthen- home few weeks ago from a The Shia-led protests were met tants in North Africa. ing their position before his visit to a Paris hospital for with a nationwide crackdown a Allies in the ruling FLN official announcement. Should check-ups, fuelling speculation month later, backed by Saudi- party say Bouteflika is their he announce he will run again, he may be preparing to step side led Gulf forces that rolled into only candidate as the man who Bouteflika, who has governed and pass on to a successor, such Bahrain in support of the Sunni helped bring stability to Algeria Algeria since 1999, will almost as his current Prime Minister Al Khalifa dynasty. after a civil war in the 1990s. certainly win due to the FLN Abdelmalek Sellal. REUTERS AFP TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Quake inflicts Ukraine president returns to work fresh damage Opposition, backed by street protest, seeks new constitution; EU, US preparing aid on Greek island

KIEV: Ukrainian President down on Jan. 28 under pressure governments, were pressing on $3bn so far, Moscow suspended by calling for “volunteer militias”. ATHENS: A strong earth- Viktor Yanukovich returned from the protest movement. Monday for further concessions. a further tranche of $2bn, saying Anti-government militants quake hit the Greek island to his desk yesterday after four The speaker of parliament, an The opposition wants a broader it first wants to see which new have clashed with police and six of Cephalonia early yester- days of sick leave, while the ally of Yanukovich, told lawmak- amnesty to free all those detained government Yanukovich appoints. people have been killed in violence day, causing further damage political opposition pressed for ers yesterday ahead of a new ses- and a return to an earlier constitu- In a worrying development in the past two weeks. to homes and public buildings further concessions to end more sion of the legislature starting on tion, which would curb Yanukovich’s for Ukrainians in the grip of “We expect the opposition in a week after another major than two months of street pro- Tuesday that the president was presidential powers and give greater an Arctic winter, energy firm Ukraine to avoid threats and ulti- tremor, officials said. tests. “He is back at work,” a still planning to discuss the choice control to parliament over the for- Naftogas said it might not be matums and join in dialogue with “I regret to say that Lixouri presidential spokesman said. of premier with opposition leaders. mation of governments. able to pay Gazprom for Russian the authorities in order to finding a has sustained extensive damage,” Yanukovich, caught in a tug of “He is preparing these proposals Also today, European Union gas imports on which the former constitutional way out of the coun- said Citizen’s Protection Minister war between Russia and the West, this week,” Volodymyr Rybak said. foreign policy chief Catherine Soviet republic relies. try’s deep crisis,” the Russian for- Nikos Dendias, referring to the is seeking a way out of a sometimes “So far, no nomination papers have Ashton is due to visit Kiev. She Easier terms for energy after eign ministry said in a statement. island town that bore the brunt violent confrontation with protest- been sent to parliament.” has said the EU and United States years of “gas wars” with Kiev With relations between the of the shocks. ers who have occupied city streets In other concessions, are preparing a package of eco- were part of Moscow’s support West and President Vladimir “This directly affects the resi- and public buildings following his Yanukovich last week approved nomic support that would be package agreed two months ago. Putin’s Kremlin already strained dents’ ability to lead a normal decision in November to spurn a the repeal of recent anti-protest available to Ukraine if it embarks Russia, which had threatened over a variety of issues, the fate life,” he told reporters. trade deal with the EU and accept laws and offered a conditional on a transition to a new political Ukraine with ruinous trade sanc- of Ukraine, the biggest state The quake hit at 5.08am (0308 financial aid from Moscow. amnesty to activists who have system and new elections. tions if it signed up to last year’s lying between central Europe and GMT), with its epicentre just His first urgent task, after return- been detained in the unrest. Such support would be needed EU pact, has been concerned to Russia, has raised fears of broader 12km from Lixouri, 300km west of ing from an absence that some saw But opposition leaders, who if Russia froze a $15bn package maintain its influence over the instability across the continent if Athens, the US Geological Survey as a tactical gambit to gain time, is have received huge backing and it offered Yanukovich after he country of 45 million. It accused the standoff in Kiev should spiral said. to name a new prime minister to promises of financial support refused to sign the deal with the Western-backed opposition lead- out of control. The USGS measured the quake succeed Mykola Azarov, who stepped from the United States and EU European Union. Having lent ers yesterday of provoking unrest REUTERS at 6.1 points, while the Athens observatory put the intensity at 5.7 points. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the same region on January 26, followed by scores of Student shoots two to smaller aftershocks. Nine people were lightly injured in the latest earthquake. “Last Sunday the dishes rat- death at Moscow school tled, tonight it was the furni- ture,” said Adriana Karadinou, a MOSCOW: A Moscow high- “emotional breakdown” when he 24-year-old Lixouri resident. school student shot a teacher entered the school in northern “My bookcase was only held up and a police officer dead and Moscow with two of his father’s by the bed,” she said. held more than 20 other stu- rifles and shot a geography The quakes have cracked the dents hostage in a classroom in teacher several times. wharf of Lixouri and surrounding a possible revenge attack yes- “We were in the stairwell when roads and disrupted the electric- terday, days before Russia hosts we heard the man outside yelling ity supply. The island’s schools are the Winter Olympics under to the police officer to open the temporarily shut. tight security. door, and then we heard shoot- Preliminary inspections The student was disarmed and ing,” said Ivan Fodokin, 17, a stu- by engineers last week found detained less than two hours after dent at School No. 263. about 500 houses had been the shooting following negotia- The midday shooting sent doz- damaged by the January 26 tions aided by his father, Interfax ens of students scurrying into the earthquake. news agency said. News agencies street in subzero temperatures People unable to return to their said he might have been seek- while a police helicopter landed in homes are being sheltered aboard ing revenge over a conflict with a snow-covered field outside and a 1,500-bed ferry boat. a teacher. at least six ambulances rolled up Cephalonia has previously been Any such violence could rattle to the scene. struck by earthquakes several nerves at a time when athletes The alleged assailant cocked times. In August 1953 a major and spectators are arriving for one of his two rifles when a guard earthquake killed 450 people and the Sochi Games and the country tried to stop him getting into the destroyed virtually every house is on high alert over an Islamist school and then went to a class- on the island. militant threat of violence. room full of 10th graders, the fed- The Ionian island of some State-run media tend to por- eral Investigative Committee said. 35,000 inhabitants was also the tray school attacks as a largely US “On the way, the shooter setting for the popular novel phenomenon and they are indeed wounded a teacher, who later Parents collect their children from a school number 263 in the northern district of Moscow yesterday. “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”, rare in Russia. died,” it said in a statement. about a Second World War However, separatist militants It said the guard had managed both registered in his father’s all the students have been freed,” immediately identify the attacker romance between an Italian sol- seized a school in the North to press an alarm button, bringing name, and fired at least 11 shots, Interior Ministry spokesman or his victims. dier and a local woman. Caucasus town of Beslan in 2004. police to the school. state-run news agency RIA cited Andrei Pilipchuk told state TV. There have been a handful of A 2001 movie of the same More than 330 people, mostly “When the police entered, Markin as saying. “One policeman was fatally shootings at workplaces and pub- name, starring Nicolas Cage and children, were killed. the shooter opened fire toward “The person who took 20 people wounded during the opera- lic areas in Russia in recent years, Penelope Cruz, was filmed there. Investigative Committee them, wounding one and killing and a teacher hostage is a student tion and died in hospital, and a but school shootings are virtually Greece is one of Europe’s most spokesman Vladimir Markin said another.” in the upper classes at the same teacher at School No. 263 was unheard of. earthquake-prone countries. the student may have suffered an The assailant had two rifles, school. He has been neutralised and also killed,” he said. Police did not REUTERS AFP Mandela estate worth at least $4.1m

JOHANNESBURG: Nelson Mandela Makgatho. “It is my wish that it should also Executor Dikgang Moseneke, the deputy left his roughly $4.1m estate to his wife serve as a place of gathering of the Mandela head of South Africa’s Constitutional Court, Graca Machel, family members, staff, family in order to maintain its unity long said the reading of the will to the family had schools and the ANC, according to a sum- after my death,” the former statesman been “charged with emotion” but no one had mary of his will released yesterday. wrote. yet contested it. Two months after the death of the Mandela’s children each received $300,000 Mandela’s other bequeathments reflected 95-year-old South African statesman, law- in loans during his lifetime and will have a life in politics and championing education. yers said wife Graca was likely to waive her that debt scrapped if it has not been repaid. Mandela gave around $4,500 each to right to half the estate, opting instead to The will was first written in 2004 and last members of staff, including long-time per- receive four properties in Mozambique and amended in 2008. sonal aide Zelda la Grange. other assets. Even before his death, Mandela’s children The will also provided around $9,000 each Royalties from his books and other and grandchildren frequently clashed over for Wits and Fort Hare universities, and the projects, as well as his homes in who leads the family and who should benefit same amount to three other schools. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Qunu and from his investments. The African National Congress, which Mthatha were left to a family trust. Several have already put the Mandela Mandela led to victory in the first demo- The home in Houghton, Johannesburg brand behind commercial projects includ- cratic elections in 1994, could receive where Mandela died on December 5 will ing wine, clothing, artwork, a social network between 10 and 30 percent of his royalties. be used by the family of his deceased son and a reality television show. AFP

UK bans French Winter storm hits US northeast comedian from NEW YORK: A winter storm swept across Philadelphia International Airport. The small Anelka visit the US Northeast yesterday, yet again forc- Teterboro Airport near the football stadium in ing flight cancellations, snarling traffic and New Jersey, which handles the private jets that LONDON: French comedian proving weather-forecasting groundhog would whisk away celebrities and other mon- Dieudonne M’bala M’bala was Punxsutawney Phil right. eyed Super Bowl attendees, also reported delays, yesterday banned from enter- Travelers leaving the New York City area after Flightaware.com said. ing Britain after he report- Sunday night’s Super Bowl championship football “All the people came here for the Super Bowl edly planned to visit to support game faced traffic jams at the region’s airports thinking ‘Jersey ain’t bad’ are probably now stuck Nicolas Anelka over the football- and risky driving on slippery roads. in the airport for the rest of the day,” quipped er’s use of the “quenelle” gesture. The storm could drop 4 to 8 inches of snow one observer on Twitter. Britain’s interior ministry said on an area stretching from eastern Kentucky to Across the United States, 1,270 flights were it had slapped an exclusion order eastern New York state, the National Weather canceled, Flightaware.com said. on Dieudonne, who has a string Service said. Driving was hazardous along the Interstate of convictions for anti-Semitic Among the hardest hit by flight delays and 95 corridor from Washington north to Boston, speech in his homeland, on the cancellations yesterday was Newark Liberty according to meteorologists. grounds of public security. International Airport in New Jersey, the closest The weather-induced headaches at the “We can confirm that Mr to the stadium where the Denver Broncos fell airports compounded the suffering of foot- Dieudonne is subject to an exclusion to the Seattle Seahawks 43-8 in the National ball fans stuck for hours on Sunday trying order,” a Home Office spokeswoman Football League’s matchup. to board trains to and from the game at the said in a statement. “The home Newark had 152 flights cancelled yesterday New Jersey Transit hub station of Secaucus secretary will seek to exclude an morning, according to Flightaware.com, an online Junction. individual from the UK if she con- site that tracks air traffic. “Seattle fans arriving in NYC at 1 am after 3 siders that there are public policy Delays of several hours also affected flights hour wait high fived each other and said ‘out of or public security reasons to do so.” at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and John New Jersey!’ said one on Twitter. AFP F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as REUTERS TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Fresh volcano eruption halts search, rescue Most victims died on Sumatra island

KARO: A volcano in western spewed clouds of hot ash and rocks Indonesia that killed 15 peo- up to 2,500 metres into the air, the ple in a weekend eruption shot national disaster agency said. hot ash and rocks high into the “For the safety of the rescuers air again yesterday, halting a we decided to temporarily halt the search for any more victims. search operation at midday,” local Before they stopped their rescue agency chief Rochmali, who search, a rescue team found the goes by one name, said. There were charred wreckage of motorcy- no reports of new casualties from cles buried under ash which they the latest eruption. believe had been carrying some of He added rescuers had yet to see those killed on Saturday. any signs of life during their search The weekend eruption was yesterday and did not believe any- the first to claim any lives since one else was still missing. Mount Sinabung spews thick smoke and hot ash from its volcano in Karo yesterday. Sinabung on Sumatra island rum- However he said the team bled back to life in September had found the wreckage of eight after lying dormant for several motorbikes believed to have been decreed by the authorities that was yesterday. The eruption blanketed included four high-school stu- volcanoes in Indonesia, which years, and sent vast clouds cas- carrying 14 of those killed in supposed to be off-limits, he added. the countryside surrounding the dents -- died instantly when sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, cading down its slopes. Saturday’s eruption. Rochmali said officials were volcano with grey ash. they were cloaked in clouds of a belt of seismic activity running Yesterday, Sinabung, which The bikes were inside the five- considering a permanent halt to Most of the victims -- who hot gas and ash. around the basin of the Pacific often erupts numerous times a day, kilometre danger zone, an area the search and would decide later were mainly local tourists and Sinabung is one of 129 active Ocean. AFP Japan seeks action against Limbo looms over Thailand after protest-marred poll whaling ship BANGKOK: Thailand’s pro- re-election of Prime Minister nearly 46 percent of eligible vot- Without enough MPs to con- Security and International Studies test-plagued elections have ush- Yingluck Shinawatra causing the ers had cast ballots in an election vene the legislature, even if at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn TOKYO: Japan yester- ered in a new chapter of political closure of some 10 percent of poll- boycotted by the main opposition Yingluck wins she will remain University, adding that Yingluck day said it was asking the uncertainty that experts say ing stations. party. But facing possible vote in a caretaker role with limited would become “more vulnerable Netherlands to take “practical leaves the embattled govern- Hundreds of anti-government reruns in nearly a fifth of constit- power over government policy to some kind of ouster.” measures” against a Dutch- ment increasingly vulnerable to demonstrators took to the streets uencies, they dampened expecta- until elections are held in the “The longer Yingluck is a weak- registered vessel that collided court intervention or a military again yesterday for a new pro- tions of a quick result. problem areas. ening caretaker prime minister with a Japanese whaling ship coup. test march through the capital That has raised the spectre of “She will be untenable as a the greater the likelihood that in the Southern Ocean. Millions were denied the although their numbers were weeks of uncertainty in a country caretaker who doesn’t have the we will see a decision from the The Bob Barker, belonging opportunity to cast ballots on down sharply compared with that where the military and the judi- authority to really run the coun- independent agencies to break the to militant anti-whaling cam- Sunday, with blockades by pro- before the election. ciary have a history of reshaping try,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, deadlock,” he said. paigners Sea Shepherd, came testers seeking to prevent the Election officials said that the political landscape. director of the Institute of AFP into contact with a Japanese harpoon vessel on Sunday as it tried to interrupt the hunt. Each side has blamed the other for the collision. Rice mule king In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Vietnam diplomat eyes asylum in Switzerland Secretary Yoshihide Suga con- demned the group, saying it was GENEVA: A Vietnamese dip- told Geneva station Leman Bleu the Vietnamese foreign ministry body of Vietnam’s rights record. held in Manila responsible for the accident. lomat once posted at the coun- on Sunday that he had applied for in 1983, blamed the one-party sys- In a letter to the Vietnamese try’s consulate in Geneva said Swiss asylum last October. tem for “the total crisis” Vietnam delegation attending the so-called MANILA: The National China wants he has sought political asylum in “The Berlin wall fell 25 years was experiencing in all areas. Universal Periodic Review before Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Switzerland, just days before a ago, but Vietnam is still under a “There is an economic crisis, a the UN Human rights Council, arrested businessman Davidson no cover-ups UN review of Vietnam’s human communist regime,” he said. political crisis, and crisis in edu- Dang voiced empathy with diplo- Bangayan, known as alleged rice rights record. “The Vietnamese Communist cation, in health,” he said, adding mats who “care about Vietnam, but smuggling king David Tan, after BEIJING: China has Dang Xuong Hung, who served Party persists with its aim to con- that he hoped his defection would are shackled by invisible bonds.” he appeared before the Senate unveiled new rules telling as the consul from 2008 to 2012, tinue the dictatorship, to continue prompt others to follow his lead. He urged the delegation to for the rice smuggling probe. officials not to cover up what when he formally withdrew from with a one-party regime.” The news came ahead of a review openly admit to Vietnam’s viola- NBI agents nabbed Bangayan should be publicly available the Vietnamese Communist Party, Dang, who began working for before the UN’s top human rights tions. AFP when he stepped out of the information using the excuse Senate building after the hearing. it is a state secret, in what Bangayan was arrested in connec- state media said was a move Homeward bound tion with a pilferage offense filed towards greater government before the Caloocan City Trial transparency. Court in 2009. Bangayan was cited China has notoriously vague for contempt by Senate Committee state secret laws, covering eve- on Agriculture and Food for “lying” rything from the number of about being the same person as people executed every year to Tan during the hearing. industry databases and even Justice Secretary Leila de Lima pollution figures, and infor- then said before the Senate panel mation can be retroactively that Bangayan would be appre- labelled a state secret. hended for pilfering electricity, The issue received interna- an arrest warrant for which was tional attention in 2009 when issued against David Tan. an Australian citizen and three De Lima said Bangayan had Chinese colleagues working for to be carrying Tan’s identity a mining giant Rio Tinto were few years back. DOJ has a wit- detained for stealing state ness from the Manila Electric Co secrets during the course of alleging that Tan and Bangayan tense iron ore negotiations. are the same person. But the government has Senator Cynthia Villar, mean- come under pressure from its while, asked De Lima to place own people to be more open, Bangayan on the DOJ watch especially on sensitive issues list and suggested that the like the environment, which Department of Foreign Affairs have no obvious implications be asked to cancel his passport. for national security. THE PHILILPPINE STAR Commuters ride on the roof of a train as they return to the city after attending the Akheri Munajat, in Dhaka on Sunday. Plotter faces 20 years in jail SEOUL: South Korean pros- Koreas move closer to family reunions ecutors yesterday demanded a 20-year jail term for a left- ist lawmaker on trial for SEOUL: The two Koreas village of Panmunjom where the North Korea had offered last allegedly plotting an armed moved a step closer yester- armistice ending the 1950-53 month to host a reunion event revolt in support of North day to resuming reunions conflict was signed. and asked South Korea to pick Korea. for families separated by the “We welcome that the North the dates. Prosecutors also asked judges Korean War, although final has finally come forward to dis- Seoul quickly proposed to strip United Progressive agreement could be derailed cuss the reunion,” Unification February 17-21, but given the Party (UPP) MP Lee Seok-Ki by a row over South Korea-US Ministry spokesman Kim time that has since elapsed that of his civic rights for 10 years military drills. Eui-Do said. schedule now looks optimistic. following his eventual release After weeks of back-and- “Given the urgency of the mat- The reunion programme from prison. forth, and a period of silence ter, we will make preparations to began in 2000 following an The sedition charges levelled from North Korea, the two hold the reunion as soon as pos- historic inter-Korean summit. against Lee are rarely used, rivals finally settled on a date sible,” Kim said. The “urgency” Sporadic events since then have especially against a sitting for preparatory talks to set up refers to the fact that, 60 years seen around 17,000 relatives member of parliament. a reunion event at the North’s after the war ended, many of briefly reunited. After parliament voted Mount Kumgang resort. those who experienced the divi- If the Mount Kumgang gath- to lift his immunity from Pyongyang yesterday offered sion of their families have died, ering goes ahead, it would be the arrest, Lee, 52, was charged in talks on February 5 or 6, and and most of those that survive first reunion since 2010 when September last year with plot- Seoul’s Unification Ministry said are in advanced old age. the programme was suspended ting an insurrection to over- it had chosen the Wednesday. In a surprise move that coin- following the North’s shelling of throw the government. The working-level meeting cided with a series of other a South Korean border island. AGENCIES will be held at the border truce apparently conciliatory gestures, AFP TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Gilgit-Baltistan risks another Khan declines Taliban talks role landslide ISLAMABAD: The threat Ceasefire by govt, rebels urged of impending landslides in Miacher Valley of Gilgit- ISLAMABAD: The party of figures including Maulana Sami- Baltistan is raising concerns Pakistani cricketer-turned-pol- ul-Haq, known as the “Father of as a landscape ecologist has itician Imran Khan said yester- the Taliban”. warned that if slopes fail, a day they “appreciated” a Taliban Khan, the leader of the Pakistan disaster 10 times the mag- request for him to represent Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, has nitude of the one that struck them in peace talks with the gov- been a vocal supporter of negoti- Attabad four years ago, is ernment, but declined the offer. ating with the insurgents. lying in wait. Two teams, nominated by But PTI spokeswoman Shireen Located about 70 kilometres the government and Tehreek- Mazari said yesterday that from Gilgit, mountain slopes in e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), will because a senior party figure, Miacher Valley are laden with hold a preliminary meeting in Rustam Shah Mohmand, was cracks that seem ready to give Islamabad today to chart a “road- already on the government team, way. map” for talks. Khan’s presence was not needed. Failure of the slopes is Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif “The core committee of expected to block the Hunza caused surprise last week by nam- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf River, drowning many adjacent ing a team to begin dialogue with appreciated Tehreek-e-Taliban settlements in its wake. the militants, who have been wag- Pakistan offer to our chairman “A landslide in Miacher has ing a violent insurgency since 2007. Imran Khan to become part of the potential to cause a mega Following a bloody start to the their committee,” Mazari said. disaster,” claims Mujahid Ali year, with more than 110 peo- Haq said his team would meet Shah. ple killed in militant attacks in its government counterparts today January, many had been antici- and afterwards discuss with the Govt to seek pating a military offensive against TTP leadership how to proceed. TTP strongholds in Pakistan’s “We expect a ceasefire from IMF waiver tribal areas. both the government and the Members of TTP committee chief cleric of Islamabad's Red Mosque, Maulana Abdul Aziz (left) and senior religious The TTP named Khan as one of Taliban -- it’s mandatory for the party leaders, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq (centre) and professor Ibrahim Khan after their meeting in Islamabad yesterday. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan its negotiators on Saturday, along peace process,” said Haq. will have to seek waiver on The panel is set up to hold talks with the government. with several hardline religious AFP performance criteria from the IMF on net borrowing from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for obtaining the next tranche of $545m from the IMF. Pakistan-China nuke ties The Nawaz Sharif govern- 16th century Rawat Fort falls ment has missed out perform- ance benchmark with a huge margin as the net borrowing to solve energy problems from central bank stood at to Rawalpindi land-grabbers Rs633bn on January 17, 2014 ISLAMABAD: Peaceful Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against the envisaged target of regional cooperation for use recently performed ground break- ISLAMABAD: After with- of the three entrances of the fort. the fort structure is growing fee- curtailing it at Rs392bn by end of nuclear energy between ing of Coastal Power project, standing the onslaught of Another local has driven steel ble. Seepage has made the main December 2013. Pakistan and China is a sym- two units, 1100MW each, on mighty armies for centuries, the girders into the fort’s several-foot gate of the fort so week that it The government might bol of unwavered and timeless November 26, 2013. 16th century Rawat Fort has thick wall on the backside to sup- could collapse anytime. Masonry issue notification to this effect friendship, which will play major He said that he would be look- fallen to the modern day invad- port the roof of his house. holding the gate is falling away. in the coming days but Prime role in fulfilling the objective to ing forward to laying a strong ers - the land grabbers. These are only the recent, and “A month ago, the floor of the Minister Nawaz Sharif will increase the share of nuclear and solid foundation for Nuclear Built in 1546, the once imposing perhaps, the worst acts of vandal- Baradari, the pavilion inside the take the final decision in this electricity in the country. vision 2050. fort just 18 kilometres away from ism and destruction threatening fort where the King used to sit, was regard. Pakistan Atomic Energy Presently, the share of Nuclear the garrison city of Rawalpindi the old and fragile architecture of cemented instead of using material Commission (PAEC) has set energy in the power sector is today presents a picture of urban the beautiful fort. that would maintain its originality,” Gas pipeline itself on the road to self-reliance 5-6 percent and expected to be vandalism, not the unique herit- “It is sad that he ignored all he said, commenting on the quality by establishing applied academic increased by the operation of age site it is listed in archaeology warnings issued to him over the of the preservation work. institutes, training centres, design Chashma Nuclear Power C-3/C-4. manuals. last six months and went ahead “It has been more than a dec- blown up organisations, research facilities, PAEC is well poised to oper- Encroachers have invaded from blocking the entrance of the fort. ade that any kind of conservation ISLAMABAD: Militants testing labs and manufacturing ate and maintain future power all four sides, mocking at the Now the Taxila Museum, which was undertaken here. The locals attacked last night a gas pipe- workshops. To meet the national plants. PAEC is now exploring notice board of the Archaeology manages the fort, has filed a case use the open spaces inside the fort line in Dera Murad Jamali in electricity needs, PAEC has been new sites for nuclear power plants Department, warning that, in court against Chaudhry Fazal,” to offer funeral prayers, and rip south western of Pakistan. tasked by the government to install and negotiating with suppliers for “This site is protected under the said Mohammad Jawed who has bricks and marble off the ancient The 18-inch-diametre pipe- 8,800MW nuclear power capacity equipment and for facilitation in Antiquities Act 1975. been managing the site for almost mosque for their own conven- line which supplies gas to Uch by the year 2030,Chairman PAEC indigenous design and project New construction within 200 30 years. ience,” he said. power plant was blown up in Dr Ansar Parvez said. management. feet of the Fort is prohibited and Chaudhry Fazal however claims Jamshed Khan of the local Allawariya village, police offi- “We are planning not only to Negotiations are continuing with is punishable by imprisonment his family has owned the land for Patwarkhana (land record office) cial said. accomplish the task but go on China to proceed further and meet and fine.” generations. said that the deputy commissioner The OGDCL team has been to install more than 42,000MW the target and the emphasis in But encroachers have built “This is our land. I have not of the area has ordered an inquiry called in to repair the pipeline, nuclear power capacity by 2050.” these negotiations will be on design, houses cheek-to-cheek with the seen any signboard that warns after the Punjab Department of while security forces have cor- This is the Nuclear vision safety, cost economics and increas- wall of the fort. that the land around the fort is Archaeology approached his office doned off the area. 2050 approved by the National ing the level of indigenisation. Chaudhry Fazal’s two-storey protected land,” he said. to look into the matter. AGENCIES Command Authority. INTERNEWS house has completely blocked one According to caretaker Jawed, INTERNEWS Afghan poll campaign Five killed in Peshawar explosions KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: At least five people were killed and more than 30 injured on Sunday night in two explosions in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan . Initial reports suggest the incident took place at Picture House cinema packed with about 150 peo- ple in the Kabuli Bazaar area of Peshawar, Dawn News reported. Peshawar city Police Commissioner Muhammad Faisal Mukhtar confirmed the incident and the death toll. “Two powerful explo- sions killed five people at Picture House cinema. Thirty-one people were injured and three of them are in critical condition,” he said. AGENCIES Supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Zalmai Rassoul listen to his speech during a campaign in Kabul yesterday. Privatisation tsar determined to revive economy

ISLAMABAD: Mohammad IBM executive Zubair rushed to oil company, about 10 banks, the annually because of failing enter- Zubair was on a cruise dinner his side. national airline and power dis- prises,” Zubair said. with Pakistan Prime Minister “Are you mad? Three priva- tribution companies - all within “Every day a file lands on a Nawaz Sharif in Thailand tisation ministers have gone to the next two years. bureaucrat’s desk and he has to when he was offered the hard- jail and most have corruption The government sees the sell- take a decision he isn’t qualified est job of his life: privatising cases hanging over their heads,” offs as a life saver for Pakistan’s to. This can’t go on, no matter a huge chunk of the economy he said. “Don’t take this job.” $225bn economy crippled by what.” while fighting resistance But Pakistan’s new privatisa- power shortages, corruption “Pakistan can raise up to from the opposition and trade tion tsar is determined to find and militant violence. Successful $5bn in privatisation revenue in unions. buyers for 68 public companies, privatisation is Sharif’s top the next two years to ease pres- When the prime minister left most of them loss-making, political and economic goal. sure on strained public finance,” the table, a colleague of former including two gas companies, an “We lose 500bn rupees ($5bn) Zubair said. REUTERS TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Govt seeks help for passing bills in House Telangana state bill is high on priority: Minister

NEW DELHI: The ruling should to make their stand clear in an editorial yesterday. Congress party yesterday urged whether they are for Telangana or “The government and opposi- the opposition to allow major bills against.“There should be no ‘ifs’ tion will be quick to try and blame to be passed in the last session of and ‘buts’,” he said. each other, but this represents a a parliament which is set to go Congress vice president Rahul collective failure on the part of down as the least productive in Gandhi Monday said he will talk our MPs.” history. to opposition leaders to ensure Congress is lagging badly in The current parliament, which passage of important bills, includ- opinion polls ahead of the elec- was elected in 2009, has passed a ing six anti-corruption bills. tion, with the main opposition record low of 165 bills in its five- The final session of parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party expected year-term, with bad-tempered which begins tomorrow, is due to to win most seats in the 552-mem- outbursts and protests forcing wrap up on February 21 ahead of ber parliament. frequent adjournments. general elections due by May. Bharatiya Janata Party leader “The 15th Lok Sabha (Lower As many as 126 bills are pend- Sushma Swaraj said her party will House) has faced disruptions ing in parliament, including 72 in support the passage of the bills if like never before,” Parliamentary the Lok Sabha once the chamber the government ensures orderly Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told is prorogued. functioning of the two houses. a news conference. Among the legislation still The government cannot blame “We urge the opposition to sup- pending is a bill to set quotas for the opposition for disruptions as port the government in smoothly the number of women lawmak- its own members have been pro- Disabled people hold placards as they assemble at India Gate in New Delhi yesterday during a protest. running the last session of parlia- ers and a series of anti-corruption testing on the issue of Telangana, ment so that important bills can measures. she said, adding the Congress-led be passed.” Also due for consideration is government’s grip was not only Disabled protest for equal rights The minister said the bill a bill giving millions of disabled slipping “over the country but for creating a separate state of equal rights, including to educa- also on its own chief ministers Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh tion and employment. and MPs”. NEW DELHI: Thousands of “This bill will change every- Singha singled out the right to was “a high priority for the Thousands of disabled people Communist Party of India- disabled people protested in the thing for us,” he said, sitting in education as a highlight of the bill, government”. protested in the capital yesterday, Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury, capital yesterday, demanding front of India Gate among a crowd which will guarantee that disabled The bill is expected to be intro- demanding parliament pass the noting the government had 39 parliament pass long-awaited of supporters waving placards students are entitled to teachers duced in the session despite its long-awaited legislation. bills on its agenda in 12 days of legislation that gives them equal that read, “We want our rights, trained to meet their needs. rejection by the Andhra Pradesh But according to Shreya Singh business, asked it how it will rights including to education not your charity”. “Basically my school taught me Assembly. MPs from Seemandhra of the Delhi-based PRS think- ensure orderly conduct in the two and employment. Indian political boss Sonia nothing at all. The school had no as the other two regions — coastal tank, there is “little possibility” houses in the wake of the conflict- Thousands with intellectual or Gandhi has pledged to push teachers for deaf students and Andhra and Rayalseema — are of any major bills getting passed ing views of its own members on physical impairments gathered to for the bill’s passing when the there were no alternatives. They collectively known, includ- in the upcoming session given “its Telangana. support the bill drafted for the national parliament sits this just kept trying to force me to ing those from Congress, have recent history of disruptions”. JD-U leader Sharad Yadav country’s 40-90 million disabled week for the final session before speak even though they knew I opposed division of the state. The Times of India slammed said the government should get people, who have long been among her ruling Congress party faces was deaf,” Singha said. Sources said that Andhra both the government and the the financial bills passed between the most excluded and stigma- general elections due by May. Some disabled groups have Pradesh Chief Minister N opposition for parliament’s fail- Feb 12 and Feb 21 as passage of tised in society. But its introduction and pas- opposed the bill, which would Kiran Kumar Reddy may meet ure to deliver, reflecting a growing other bills “looks difficult in the “We have been waiting since sage through the chaotic and replace one from 1995. They say President Pranab Mukherjee political divide in the lead-up to prevailing conditions”, while SP independence for this, some of us often dysfunctional parliament the latest draft has been watered Wednesday to request him not to elections. “Legislators are elected leader Ramgopal Yadav also said even longer,” National Association is uncertain, with 126 other bills down, and for example does not recommend the state reorganisa- to make laws. By not doing so, that “only financial bills should of the Deaf president Zorin already pending in the parlia- define people with psychosocial tion bill for introduction in parlia- they fail in their primary duty be brought” by the government. Singha said of the country’s esti- ment which is set for a 16-day problems as disabled. ment. Kamal Nath said parties and waste public money,” it said AGENCIES mated 18 million deaf people. session. AFP

Delhi cabinet Part of foot clears Jan More gas for cities, cut in CNG price overbridge falls Lokpal Bill NEW DELHI: The govern- Moily said at a press conference in cities like Mumbai, which The decision to cut rates on train in Bihar ment yesterday raised the allo- here. are already getting 100 percent comes at a time when the gov- NEW DELHI: The Delhi cabi- cation of domestic natural gas “This would lead to reduction domestic gas. ernment is struggling to control PATNA: A portion of an old net yesterday cleared the Jan to city gas distributors (CGDs) in the price of CNG and PNG Delhi, which presently uses its fiscal deficit at 4.8 percent of foot overbridge collapsed on a Lokpal Bill, Chief Minister from the current 80 percent to across the country. The price of 28 percent of costlier imported the GDP. running express train in Bihar Arvind Kejriwal said. The gov- 100 percent spelling thereby CNG in Delhi supplied by IGL LNG, and cities in Gujarat, like “The decision to raise the share last evening, causing derail- ernment said it will pass the lowering of prices of CNG (Indraprastha Gas Ltd) would Ahmedabad and Surat, will see of domestic gas is also because ment of the train. However, bill at a special assembly ses- (Compressed Natural Gas) by reduce by about `15 per kg. There price cuts. The exact rates across of additional economic benefits there were no casualties, rail- sion at the Indira Gandhi sta- `15 per kg and of piped natu- will also be a reduction of about cities would vary after taking into that would accrue on account of way officials said. dium here. ral gas (PNG) by `5 a cubic `5 per cubic metre in the price of account local taxes. reduced subsidy burden for the The incident took place near Kejriwal congratulated the metre on account of larger PNG,” he added. The move is aimed to popular- government,” Moily said. the Samastipur railway station people of Delhi. “Congratulations. availability. The decision would help lower ise the use of natural gas, consid- The decision comes in the wake when the Amrapali Express was Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill passed by “The ministry has decided to prices of CNG retailed to automo- ering the high pollution levels in of the cabinet decision last week passing under the foot overbridge. Delhi Cabinet,” he wrote on raise the share of domestic gas bile users in cities like Delhi and many cities of the country, Moily to raise the quota of subsidised “It was mere good chance that Twitter. Kejriwal had earlier to 100 percent of the country’s Ahmedabad. said. LPG per household from nine to nothing happened as the passen- announced that the bill would be requirement for CNG and PNG It will also bring down prices Gas allocation to CGDs would 12 cylinders a year — estimated to gers escaped a major accident,” a passed at the Ramlila Maidan — a (used for transportation and of piped cooking gas to house- be increased by cutting supplies to add to the government’s subsidy railway police official said. sprawling ground in the heart of domestic purposes, respectively)”, holds with cheaper domestic gas non-core sectors like petrochemi- burden by `50bn annually. Owing to the impact of the the city. IANS Petroleum Minister M Veerappa replacing imported LNG, except cals, steel and refineries. IANS collapse, three coaches of the train derailed and were slightly damaged, disrupting train serv- ices along the route. Amitabh FM with Tunisian premier Prabhakar, chief public relations officer of East Central Railway, said neither injuries nor any AAP legislator claims BJP deaths were reported. tried to buy him to topple govt Three arrested over Tania killing NEW DELHI: An Aam Aadmi name of one person - Sanjay reports on his links with Binny. Party legislator in Delhi yester- Singh. Both were in their 40s. I “I am maintaining my full sup- NEW DELHI: Three peo- day alleged he was approached asked them what was the work port to the party. I have no links ple have been arrested in con- by BJP leaders, including prime they had come to me for. They with him (Binny),” he said. nection with the death of Nido ministerial candidate Narendra told me to wean away nine AAP He also said that during the Tania, a 19-year-old student Modi, in an attempt to buy him lawmakers and form a party and two-day AAP executive meeting from Arunachal Pradesh, off for `200m. BJP leader Arun align with the BJP,” Lal said. at the Constitution Club here, police said yesterday. Tania was Jaitley rubbished the claim. Lal, an advocate by profession, BJP leaders tried to manipulate beaten up by shopkeepers Jan Madan Lal, assembly member claimed he was told that if he the AAP legislators. 29 in south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar from Kasturba Nagar, claimed formed a government with the Leader of Opposition in the market following a quarrel over he was first approached on Dec breakaway legislators in alliance Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley rub- his appearance and clothing. He ember 7, a day before the Delhi with the BJP and wanted to be bished Lal’s claim. In a tweet, died in a hospital on Thursday. assembly election results were chief minister, he would be paid Jaitley said: Police refused to disclose the announced. `200m. “Rubbish claims by AAP. AAP’s identity of the three people He, however, said he has no The AAP legislators who alternative politics includes a fun- arrested, saying investigation in proof to back his allegations. wanted to be cabinet ministers damental right to falsehood and the case is on. However, they added Lal told media persons here would be paid Rs.10 crore each. lies.” that the arrested were allegedly that just past midnight that Lal said he informed the party Delhi BJP president Harsh involved in assaulting the victim. day he received a call from an high command each time he was Vardhan said the fact that Chief “During investigations conducted “unknown number” and the per- approached. Minister Arvind Kejriwal misled in the unfortunate death of Tania, son who spoke to him said he In the December 2013 assembly the people of Delhi was now out Delhi Police have identified six peo- would make him talk to a “big elections, the AAP won 28 seats in in the open. ple, of whom two are juveniles, to person” and mentioned Arun the 70-member Delhi assembly and “By doing this, they are just be allegedly involved in the case,” Jaitley’s name. formed the government with out- trying to divert the attention of a spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said. “I told him to shut up and put side support of the Congress that the people. They will not be suc- He added that the final post- down the phone,” Lal said. won eight seats. cessful in doing so as they have mortem report from the medical Recalling a second instance, Janata Dal-United MLA Shoaib already lost the faith the people board of the All India Institute of Lal said he was approached by Iqbal and an Independent also had put in them,” he said in a Medical Sciences is awaited. This two people on behalf of Gujarat extended support to the AAP in statement. report will also take toxicology Chief Minister Narendra Modi a the assembly. Meanwhile, the Congress, report from CFSL into considera- few days ago. Of the AAP’s 28 lawmakers, one which is extending outside sup- tion. A murder case was lodged “Two people came to my house was elected speaker and another port to the AAP government, said External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid (left) shaking hands with over Tania’s death and a special to meet me. I asked what they MLA - Vinod Kumar Binny - the party was not involved in any Tunisia’s newly-appointed Prime minister Mehdi Jomaa before a meeting investigation team was consti- want, and they told me ‘We are was later expelled for anti-party way and questions should be put in Kasbah Palace in Tunis yesterday. tuted under the direct supervision Modi’s people’. I remember the activities. Lal also refuted media to those concerned. IANS of DCP South-East. IANS

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME ‘Silly’ selfies  News in Numbers    craze will die CHART: 1 15 Fajr (Dawn) 4:58 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:16 out, says ’60s Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 snapper Bailey Asr (Afternoon) 2:57 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:21 LONDON: The craze for tak- Isha (Night) 6:51 ing “selfies” will die out soon, said British photographer David Bailey, famously known for cap- turing the free spirit of the WEATHER swinging ’60s. The 76-year old, whose famous subjects include supermodel Kate Today Wednesday Weather Thursday Conditions: Moss, Rolling Stone singer Mick Partly cloudy Clear Clear Jagger and actor Jack Nicholson, Partly cloudy said he had never taken a self por- to cloudy trait on a smartphone or webcam because he was too busy taking High: 25° High: 20° High: 18° with chance LINES OF BUSINESS-SPECIFIC PROSPECTS 3 Low: 17° Low: 14° Low: 13° of scattered pictures of other people. rain. “I only just found out what self- ies were. I thought it was some- thing entirely different! It’s just Medical business is considered the least profitable line of business, given fierce a silly moment,” he said ahead of competition and accelerating claims inflation. It is followed by (proportional) DOHA - SUN & SEA his latest exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery. “People motor reinsurance which reflects original market conditions characterised by SUN TIDE SEA won’t be doing it in six months’ repair cost inflation, rising bodily injury compensation payments and a very SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND time. There will be another craze, I can’t see the point.” limited scope for risk selection and segmentation. Property reinsurance ranks 06:16 17:21 08:00 & 20:45 01:15 & 14:45 07-13 KT “Bailey’s Stardust”, which opens third, with interviewees pointing to a major degree of commoditisation, abundant on February 6, features 250 por- naïve reinsurance capacity and a general lack of attention to safety issues. The THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW traits spanning his 55-year career but the photographer insisted the ranking is slightly different from 2012 when property business was judged to be HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER show was not a retrospective. least profitable, followed by medical and motor. Organised into different groups, MUSCAT 26/19 Partly cloudy 25/18 Partly cloudy Bailey dedicated rooms in the KUWAIT 16/08 Mostly cloudy 14/07 Partly cloudy exhibition to his wife Catherine, BAHRAIN 21/15 Mostly cloudy 18/13 Partly cloudy the Rolling Stones and fashion The least profitable lines of business SANAA 26/09 Partly cloudy 26/09 Clear icons like Moss and Jerry Hall as RIYADH 25/08 Clear 22/08 Clear well as his travels to Papua New DUBAI 29/17 Partly cloudy 23/15 Partly cloudy Guinea and East Africa. 30 MentionsM BAGHDAD 12/03 Partly cloudy 12/02 Clear Whilst his show features col- our photography, he is best known THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW for his stark black-and-white por- 24 traits against a simple white back- 22 HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER ground, which he says helps to convey the message of his work in ATHENS 11/06 Partly cloudy 11/06 Mostly cloudy a direct manner.“When you look WASHINGTON 07/05 Rain 11/-2 Rain at a colour picture, you kind of SYDNEY 21/18 Chance of rain 23/18 Mostly cloudy look at the colour before you look LONDON 08/04 Mostly cloudy 07/04 Chance of rain at the message, whereas black and PARIS 10/06 Partly cloudy 11/07 Chance of rain white cuts out the colour, so you ISTANBUL 08/00 Partly cloudy 09/02 Clear go straight to the message.” MANILA 31/23 Chance of rain 32/22 Chance of storm Bailey says he spends his time DHAKA 28/15 Clear 29/16 Clear working on various projects across DELHI 23/12 Partly cloudy 21/13 Partly cloudy film, sculpture and photography, Medical Motor QS Property ISLAMABAD 18/08 Chance of rain 15/05 Chance of rain adding he never gets nostalgic. Source : http://www.qfc.com.qa REUTERS ‘Dislikes’ fail Pacific castaway arrives back in civilisation to keep people MAJURO, Marshall Islands: smiled and waved briefly before Salvador Albarengo. He said Ebon Atoll, the southernmost ambassador, we were able to Sporting a bushy beard and he was whisked away for a medi- he lived in Tapachula, near the cluster of coral islands in the obtain information on his family off Facebook, clutching a can of Coke, a cal check-up at Majuro Hospital. Mexican border with Guatemala, Marshalls. members in El Salvador and the castaway who says he survived The castaway told US ambas- and worked for a company named Unable to speak English, he United States,” he said. “We hope more than a year adrift in the sador Thomas Armbruster, who Camoronera Dela Costa. communicated to his rescu- this information will help us track survey finds Pacific Ocean arrived in the was acting as an interpreter for Albarengo said he was on a ers through pictures and ges- down his family.” Marshall Islands capital Majuro Marshall Islands authorities, that shark-fishing expedition with a tures that he had survived the Medics plan to give Albarengo a WASHINGTON: There’s a yesterday. he was originally from El Salvador youth named Xiquel when strong 12,500km odyssey by eating tur- thorough check before he is inter- lot that users dislike about A male nurse had to help the but had been living in Mexico for winds blew them off course and tles, birds and fish and drinking viewed by detectives. Facebook, but that hasn’t kept man previously identified as Jose 15 years before his epic voyage. they became lost. Albarengo turtle blood when there was no He spoke briefly to a Spanish people off the world’s biggest Ivan down the gangplank of a “He said he is a shrimp and said the boy, described as 15- to rain. interpreter via a faltering radio social network. police patrol boat after a 22-hour shark fisherman,” Armbruster 18-years old, died a few weeks into Marshall Islands immigra- link over the weekend while still A survey released yester- trip from the remote coral atoll said yesetrday in Majuro minutes the ordeal because he could not tion chief Damien Jacklick said at Ebon Atoll and said he was day found more than half of where he washed ashore last week after talking to him. “He looked eat raw bird meat. authorities were still gather- keen to return home. Americans who use Facebook are after apparently setting sail from better than one would expect.” The surviving fisherman was ing information and the foreign “I feel bad,” he said of his physi- turned off by the notion that peo- Mexico on December 24, 2012. And foreign ministry offi- found disorientated and clad affairs department planned to cal and mental state. “I am so far ple are sharing too much informa- About 1,000 curious onlookers cials said he told them during a only in ragged underpants last contact overseas officials to away. I don’t know where I am or tion about themselves. Some 36 crowded the dock for a glimpse of debriefing that he was a 37-year- Thursday, after his 24-foot fibre- arrange his repatriation. what happened.” percent said they “strongly dis- the long-haired fisherman, who old whose full name was Jose glass boat floated onto a reef at “With the help of the US AFP like” this and another 25 percent said they “dislike” the idea. A similar percentage said they didn’t like the fact that they showed up in pictures without giving permission. And among China horses fight in users with children, nearly three in four objected to the posting of pictures of their kids without per- mission, said the Pew Research Lunar New Year battles Center survey. Yet the survey — released as Facebook celebrates TIANTOU VILLAGE, China: Fifteen animals fought in bouts, its 10th anniversary — suggests no Hooves clash in mid-air, a stal- which saw horses jump into the slowing momentum for the net- lion bites his opponent while air with their front hooves spin- work, which has more than 1.2 delighted spectators cheer ning before crashing down on billion users worldwide. wildly — in southern China some their opponents and biting their Users said they appreciate pho- saw in the Year of the Horse by head or neck, sometimes drawing tos and videos from friends — 47 watching the animals fight. hair and blood. percent of respondents said that For the residents of Tiantou, Horse fighting competitions is a major reason they use the site. a remote village in the Guangxi held by the Miao — an ethnic And 46 percent said a key reason region, the 500-year-old tradition group living in mountain areas for using Facebook is the ability to which pits male horses against of Southern China and Southeast share with many people at once. each other in a fight over a female Asia — date back more than five Half of all the Facebook users was the only way to kick off the centuries, according to locals. surveyed said they had more than Lunar New Year. The first battle is said to have 200 friends. Among those in the “Without horse fighting it been held to settle a dispute 18-29 age bracket, one in four had wouldn’t feel like a new year,” between two brothers who both 500 friends or more. said Pan Jianming, whose horse hoped to marry the same woman. Pew provided further analysis for Little Black reared-up on its hind But the fights, held in dozens a survey released last year which legs and bit its opponent’s neck of small mountain villages in showed 71 percent of Americans to scoop victory in a competition Southern China every year with who use the Internet were on this weekend. prizes of up to 10,000 yuan, have Facebook, making it the dominant “He stood up and hit the been condemned by animal rights Two stallions fighting during a traditional Chinese New Year horse fighting competition for the Year of the Horse social networking platform. other horse straight away,” Pan, groups. at the Miao Minority village of Tiantou in Guangxi Province. AFP a 31-year-old air conditioner In 2010, Hong-Kong based repairman, said. Animals Asia called horse-fight- The horse which successfully from the action. The animals insisted the contest was not cruel. “If he likes the female horse, it ing a “horrific spectacle”, accusing defends its position close to the squared up to each other like “Sometimes the horses will be doesn’t matter how much pain he’s the scraps of causing “abuse and female is declared the winner. boxers before unleashing a flurry injured but it won’t be very seri- in, he won’t run away,” he added, suffering to animals in the name Animals Asia has said the of backwards-directed kicks and ous, they have thick skin,” said Di his black and white shirt stained of entertainment”. female horses are sometimes bites. Most did not appear to sus- Zhai, a 16-year-old spectator. with blood which dripped from a The stallions are encouraged to “induced into season through the tain any visible injuries. Some travellers from Chinese gash on his horse’s nose. “We have fight by the presence of a female injection of hormones”. Onlookers scrambled to escape cities, which have seen a rise in con- medicine to treat his injuries, and horse, who is kept metres away In Tiantou, hundreds of spec- when pairs of bucking mares peri- cern for animal welfare in recent he will gradually get better,” added from the clashing pairs by a vil- tators gathered just metres away odically galloped towards them. years alongside a growth in pet- Pan, who claimed a champion’s lager armed with little more than from the battling equines — with- Others shouted: “Fight, Fight!” ownership, seemed more concerned. prize of 500 yuan ($80). a stick. out any barriers separating them as the animals clashed but most AFP Tuesday 4 February 2014 4 Rabial II 1435 Volume 18 Number 5965 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Investment funds Qatar to make huge investments in Italy bullish on Plans include building of a Museum of Islamic Art in Venice and a hospital in Olbia Qatari stocks DOHA: Driven by massive BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB the possibility of investing in planned government spending state-backed oil firm Eni SpA and attractive valuations, invest- DOHA: Qatar is planning to (ENI), as the Eurozone’s third ment funds are becoming much make huge investments in vari- largest economy is striving to more bullish on Qatari stocks. ous sectors of cash-strapped cut severing debt by selling state Citing Reuters’ monthly survey Italian economy, including assets. on the region, Qatar Exchange energy, healthcare and tour- Dr Al Sada also said that the yesterday noted that 56 percent ism. This was announced by meeting was “very successful”, of 16 leading investment manag- the visiting Prime Minister of and Qatar is looking forward to ers expect to raise allocations to Italy, Enrico Letta, at a joint inject capital to the Rome-based Qatari equities in the next three press conference with H E Dr energy company, in which Italy months. That was the biggest pos- Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, owns the biggest stake. itive change among the six major the Minister of Energy and He termed the meeting as “very markets in the survey, and com- Industry, here yesterday. important milestone” in the bilat- pared with 20 percent saying they The current investment plans eral economic relations between would raise allocations to Qatari include building of a Museum of the two “friendly” countries. stocks in December’s survey. Islamic Art in Venice and a hos- “The doors for mutual coop- Abu Dhabi Investment pital in Olbia, in northeastern eration are widely open. Qatari Company (AD Invest) and Kuwait Sardinia (Italy). However, the size side has shown great interests The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada and Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta headquartered Global Investment of investments was not disclosed. for investing in various sectors during a press conference at Four Seasons Hotel yesterday. (SHAIVAL DALAL) House (GIH) recently noted that “We held a very successful of the Italian economy”, said Al Qatari stocks will remain bullish meeting with the Emir, H H Sada. based on solid foundations of Qatar is looking for, including a significant role in hosting the aided by a significant government Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al He also said Qatar is open to mutual benefits. the aviation sector. “With the 2022 Fifa World Cup. tailwind and huge fund inflows. Thani this morning”, said the tie-ups with energy and construc- He said that Qatar has consoli- successful operation of Qatar “I am very happy with the dis- Reuters quoted Afa Boran, head Italian premier. “We discussed tion companies, and a team from dated its relationships with Italy Airways to the European nation, cussions that we had in the meet- of asset management at Amwal host of important issues of mutual the Qatar Investment Authority through continued LNG supply, Qatar is now looking forward to ing with His Highness about the Qatar, as saying: “Qatar has better interests, including industrial (QIA) will visit to Italy to discuss under the 25-year long term get more access for cargo opera- possible cooperation to host the near-term growth prospects than investments in Italy and the cur- investment opportunities with contract, and it is further open tions to Italy.” football championship in 2022. any other regional market. The gov- rent political scenarios in Iran, relevant partners. to supply more gas as and when Letta added that there are Italian companies can play impor- ernment has a significant budget for Syria, Libya and Egypt.” The Energy Minister called the needed in future. great investment opportunities tant role in establishing logistics infrastructure spending which we The Prime Minister confirmed bilateral relations as “excellent, Al Sada also highlighted the for Italian companies in Qatar, and infrastructure facilities.” expect will be largely spent over the the discussion with Qatar about historic and of great importance” various areas of cooperation that which are well positioned to play THE PENINSULA next three to five years,”. He estimated both the Qatar and Saudi markets were trading at about 12 times estimated corpo- rate earnings for 2014, with Qatar having better near-term earnings The Pearl-Qatar, Al Siddiqi Holding prospects. Earnings growth in Saudi Arabia is currently being dampened by a crackdown on ille- sign deal for opening global brands gal foreign labour that has raised companies’ costs, analysts say. GIH in its latest GCC equity DOHA: The Pearl-Qatar, one specifically designed to suit fami- in home furnishings and stylish strategic analysis noted Qatar’s of the largest urban develop- lies and visitors looking for a life- household items. banks, telecoms and industrials ments in Qatar as well as in the style of serenity, while the rest Commenting on the agree- are best stock picks for 2014. Middle East, has signed a con- of other high-end retails outlets ment, Ehab Kamel, General THE PENINSULA tract with Al Siddiqi Holding run by the group will be located Manager, Retail Leasing at The to open eight world-renowned at Porto Arabia. Pearl-Qatar said, “With commer- Salam International restaurant brands and luxury Al Siddiqi Holding will also cial spaces of about two million fashion outlets in Porto Arabia open a chain of world-renowned square feet ready at Porto Arabia profit at QR113.8m and Medina Central districts of restaurants and fashion outlets and Medina Central, we will The Pearl-Qatar. at The Pearl-Qatar, including the aggressively pursue our expansion DOHA: Salam International The agreement was signed by first Tike Turkish International plans by attracting leading global Company recorded an annual Ehab Kamel, General Manager, Restaurants franchise in Qatar. brands to open outlets here.” net profit of QR113.8m in 2013, Retail Leasing at The Pearl- Al Siddiqi Holding’s other plans Ali Delawar, Board Member of up from QR84.1m posted dur- Qatar, and Aly Delawar, Board include the opening of a number Al Siddiqi Holding in his state- ing the same period in 2012. Member of Al Siddiqi Holding, of luxury fashion and hospital- ment, said, “The Pearl-Qatar is a The earnings per share (EPS) yesterday at the sales and mar- ity brands at The Pearl-Qatar, unique and elegant shopping des- amounted to QR1 in 2013 com- keting office of The Pearl-Qatar, including the elegant Lebanese tination of world reputation and pared to QR0.74 in 2012. The Oyster. restaurant, Wafi Gourmet. stature, and we are confident that Board of Directors recom- The agreement will see the It will also open a unisex fash- our global series of brands will mended the General Assembly opening of the exclusive Italian ion outlet, Frankie Garage as well contribute to the Island’s repu- to distribute QR1 per share as restaurant brand, Biella, and as Migato, a shoes and leather tation as a destination for tourists dividend. The AGM is scheduled Ehab Kamel (left) and Aly Delawar during the signing ceremony. (ABDUL BASIT) the Lord of The Wings restau- store. It will also open Kas, the and shoppers alike.” to be held on February 24, 2014. rant in Medina Central district, Australian brand that specialises THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Home prices jump in Hong Kong IMD to conduct polls on economic Brent pares losses on cold weather NEW YORK: Brent crude oil traded lower yes- earlier in the session to $8.06, just above the low policies in Qatar terday, but pared losses sharply following a rise of $8.04 set on October 18, as some analysts and in heating oil prices as cold weather in the US traders expect data to show a large draw in sup- DOHA: The Ministry of Northeast drove up demand. plies at Cushing, Oklahoma - the delivery point for Development Planning and Oil futures remained broadly pressured by wor- the US oil futures contract. Statistics (MDP&S) along with ries over emerging markets, weak factory data But weakening US oil prices widened the spread the International Institute for from China and expectations for lower demand as between the two benchmarks to more than $9 Management Development (IMD) US refiners shift into maintenance season. in early afternoon trading. Market players also will conduct opinion polls among A fresh round of snowfall fell on the US turned their attention to refiners moving into executives in February and March Northeast yesterday after several inches were maintenance that would curb demand for crude oil. to study how economic policies and dumped on the Ohio Valley a day earlier, driving “I think the market is being turned on its head regulations as well as various aspects demand for US distillates, which include heating because we are going into peak refinery turnaround of the business environment influ- oil, higher. “The heating oil found its way and led season,” said Stephen Schork, editor of the Schork ence the nation’s competitiveness. the way back up,” said Jeff Grossman, president of Report in Villanova, Pennsylvania. “Demand is dry- The 2014 IMD World BRG Brokerage in New York. ing up for crude.” Competitiveness Report, scheduled for Weakening equities and currencies in emerging US oil refiners are expected to take 800,000 bar- release in June, will measure strengths market economies pressured global markets lower rels per day (b/d) of capacity offline in the week and weakness in Qatar’s economic and weighed on oil prices. US stock indexes pulled ending on February 7, down from 979,000 b/d the competiveness and compare these with oil lower after data showed the factory sector in previous week, data from research company IIR other advanced nations. the world’s largest economy expanded in January showed. “The report will help identify at its slowest pace in eight months. Analysts said macroeconomic demand issues in areas where competitiveness could Brent was trading down 9 cents at $106.31 a bar- China, the world’s second largest oil consumer, be improved and will serve as an rel by 1759 GMT, having sunk to a near 3-month would continue to weigh on energy markets glo- important source of information for low of $105.40 earlier in the session. US oil fell 79 bally. The potential impact of international politi- prospective investors and others,” cents to $96.70 a barrel. cal tensions on oil supplies is expected to keep a said Dr Saleh Al Nabit, the Minister US ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), known floor under prices. The Libyan prime minister said Apartment buildings are seen clustered together in Hong Kong’s Kowloon of MDP&S. Qatar had maintained its more commonly as heating oil, was up 1.09 cents yesterday that he ordered troops to move toward district yesterday. Home prices in the southern Chinese city have risen 10th rank out of 60 countries in the to $3.0080 a gallon. It had previously risen about oil exporting ports in the east that have been under by 120 percent since 2008, with prices in the luxury market being pushed Competitiveness Yearbook 2013 and 2 cents to a session high of $3.0185. rebel control for months. up by wealthy buyers from mainland China. 2012. THE PENINSULA Brent’s premium to US crude oil contracted REUTERS TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Ryanair flies into loss Masraf Al Rayan raises IBB’s Tier 1 Optimism in capital to £100m DOHA: Masraf Al Rayan announces its acquisition of the Islamic Bank of Britain Plc (IBB) construction by its wholly owned subsidiary “Al Rayan (UK) Limited”. The announcement came after the approval of IBB shareholders to the offer made by Masraf Al sector in Gulf Rayan on November 28, 2013 and the change in control approval from the Prudential Regulatory Firms see healthier order book Authority in the UK. Yesterday, Al Rayan (UK) DOHA: There is a growing Commenting on the results, Limited announced the offer optimism in the Gulf construc- Sachin Kerur, Head of Gulf has been completed. Masraf Al tion market in 2014 with major Region at Pinsent Masons, said: Rayan also announced the raising projects on the horizon such as “A number of major projects on of IBB’s Tier 1 capital to £100m FIFA World Cup and Expo 2020, the immediate horizon, such as through issuing of new shares despite concerns on financial Expo 2020 and the Qatar World totaling 7,575,400,000 shares, at flow and lack of skilled workers. Cup, have added a real sense of £75.75m. As a result, Al Rayan The Sixth Annual GCC momentum. However, it is impor- A file picture of Irish low-cost airline Ryanair taking off from Barcelona’s airport. Ryanair said yesterday that it (UK) Limited equity holding in Construction Survey by interna- tant to address the issues sur- made a loss of £28.8m ($47m) in the final quarter of 2013 the IBB will reach 11,921,189,979 tional law firm Pinsent Masons rounding finance. They also tell shares equivalent to 98.34 percent found that 90 percent of com- us that their margins are being of the issued shares. panies perceived there to be squeezed due to rising production On the occasion, Adel greater optimism in the mar- costs and inflationary pressures.” Mustafawi, the Group Chief ket, with 77 percent reporting a Audit committees cite increased risks, Executive Officer at Masraf Al healthier order book for the next MAJOR CONCERN Rayan, said “We are delighted to 12 months in comparison to the Cash flow was cited as a major announce the completion of the previous year. concern, with 62 percent of com- complexities as top challenges for ’14 acquisition of the Islamic Bank However, 96 percent of panies complaining of longer pay- of Britain, as it becomes a mem- respondents, which included some ment periods, although this is a ber of Masraf Al Rayan group, of the region’s largest contractors, reduction from the 78 percent of DOHA: Audit committees Bahrain said: “Audit commit- better prepared to respond to sig- and now, we start a phase of developers, consultants, and other companies, who expressed con- around the world have high- tee agendas are not getting any nificant regulatory change, ethics hard work towards achieving our stakeholders, said that the cost of cern over the issue in the previous lighted that it is becoming lighter. Overseeing financial and compliance issues, business planned goals and objectives. We capital for projects was either as year’s survey. increasingly difficult to oversee reporting and audit, and ensur- model disruption, and major tech- promise our customers in IBB and expensive (43 percent) or more “It is interesting that the pro- major risks in addition to finan- ing those activities have the right nology developments.” Masraf Al Rayan positive future expensive (53 percent). portion of respondents to our cial reporting due to heavy work- resources and talent, is a job in The survey found more than prospects that will be avail- “Qatar continues to attract survey who expect to be involved loads, according to KPMG’s 2014 itself. This survey suggests that 80 per cent of respondents said able to them to benefit from our major investment due to the in Public-Private Partnerships global audit committee survey. perhaps it is time to step back and internal audit’s role should extend products and services which are wealth of opportunities ahead of (PPP) has doubled relative to the CFO succession and risk over- assess whether the audit commit- beyond the adequacy of financial compatible fully with the Islamic the 2022 World Cup and several previous year’s results, reflecting sight are also key challenges tee’s risk oversight responsibilities reporting and controls to include Shariah. Our customers will also major infrastructure projects to an increasing recognition that as companies face increasingly are adequate and appropriate.” other key risks facing the busi- benefit from the open channels be procured as part of the Qatar this will be an important part complex regulatory and operat- While audit committees are ness. However, only 50 percent of communication and coopera- National Vision 2030,” said James of the mix in years ahead,” said ing environments. KPMG inter- satisfied with much of the infor- said internal audit currently has tion between the two banks which Elwen, Head of Office at Pinsent Kerur. viewed 1,500 audit committee mation they receive about key the skills and resources to be will provide them with opportu- Masons in Qatar. The survey also said the lack members in 34 countries. risks facing the company, nearly effective in the role they envision. nities both in Qatar as well as in Responding to questions about of skilled workers was cited as Although the survey found that one in three said information Only 62 percent said they are sat- the United Kingdom without any operating in different regional a major drag on growth. It said many audit committees have pri- about cyber security, emerging isfied the company has identified complexities”. markets, 70 percent of companies there is a need for the GCC’s edu- mary responsibility for a number technologies, and the company’s “leading indicators” that show Masraf Al Rayan announced its said the pace of market growth in cational institutions to do more of critical risks facing the com- growth and innovation plans where the company is headed and financial results for the fiscal year Qatar had disappointed in 2013, to meet the skills requirements. pany – such as legal/regulatory “needs improvement.” whether its strategy is on track. ended December 31, 2013 posting a while 73 percent said Abu Dhabi Survey said construction compliance, anti-bribery/cor- Jeyapriya added: “An over- The top challenges facing com- net profit of QR1.7bn, an increase had disappointed. projects in the transport sector ruption, financial, and/or IT and loaded audit committee is a less panies are: uncertainty and vola- of 13.2 percent compared to the Despite the view on Abu are expected to offer the great- cyber security risks – 43 per cent effective audit committee. Boards tility; operational risk; human fiscal year 2012. MAR currently Dhabi, the vast majority of firms est opportunities in 2014 with real said it is becoming “increasingly and management teams should resources; technology change; operates 11 branches in Qatar, sup- (96 percent) said the UAE is the estate comes second most promis- difficult” to oversee those risks. assess the adequacy of their business model disruption; cyber ported by a network of ATMs dis- easiest market to do business ing sector. Jeyapriya Partiban, Partner, governance processes in criti- risk; and innovation. tributed strategically throughout within the region. THE PENINSULA Risk Consulting, at KPMG in cal areas. Companies need to be THE PENINSULA the country. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Ford registers Qatar bourse 22pc sales growth in Qatar

DOHA: Ford Motor Company has registered a 22 percent sales index down growth in Qatar, while the sales in the Middle East witnessed a 12 percent year-on-year growth in 2013. Almana Motors, the local importer-dealer for Ford and 36.38 points Lincoln in Qatar, recorded a strong fleet sales growth of about 25 percent and a 17 percent UAE shares mixed; Egypt slips increase in retail sales, respec- tively. The better sales growth is DOHA: Qatar Exchange ended month — the market is over- the result of the dealership’s con- in the red when trading closed bought on weekly and monthly tinued efforts to expand the pres- yesterday at 11,137.59 points, basis, which makes it vulnerable ence in the local market as well down 36.38 points or 0.33 per- to correction and signals that the as investing in the development cent from the previous closing market will become riskier,” Al of the after-sales service capacity. of 11,173.97 on Sunday. Zghaibi said. Attractive offers in retail Among the top losers were Contractor Arabtec rose 2.3 finance and a warranty increase Qatar National Bank whose percent to its highest since to 5 years per 100,000 km also share was down 2.49 percent to September 2008 and extending helped significantly boost Ford’s QR179.90, Industries Qatar lost gains since it won a $6.1bn con- customer base in Qatar. 0.72 percent to QR178.40, Qatar tract awarded by Abu Dhabi state Janet Yellen is sworn as Federal Reserve Chairman at the Federal Reserve Building in Washington yesterday. “Our customer base continues Electricity and Water fell 0.77 fund Aabar. to grow in the Middle East, espe- percent to QR181.60 and Vodafone Abu Dhabi’s index slipped cially in Qatar, thanks largely to Qatar decreased by 0.88 percent 0.3 percent from Sunday’s five- the continued commitment of our to QR11.21. year peak. Banks led losses with Janet Yellen takes over Fed; importer-dealer, Almana Motors, Meanwhile, markets in United National Bank of Abu Dhabi to growing the Ford business in Arab Emirates were mixed down 3.5 percent. the local market,” said Thierry with Dubai’s measure halting a Egypt’s benchmark index Sabbagh, Ford Middle East’s three-session drop while most slipped 0.4 percent, easing off Bernanke joins Brookings director of Sales. other Gulf shares retreated and Sunday’s four-year high, as “We are in full swing for a Egypt’s measure slipped off a investors booked profits in mid- WASHINGTON: Respected to depart from his policies aimed think-tank in Washington as a strong start to 2014, gearing four-year high. and small-cap stocks. Egyptian economist Janet Yellen was at helping lower still-high unem- distinguished fellow in residence, up to launch seven new prod- Dubai’s index gained 0.5 per- Resorts dropped 5.2 percent and sworn in yesterday as the first ployment levels as long as infla- Brookings said. ucts this year while working to cent after a choppy session as Palm Hill Developments Company woman chair of the Federal tion remains tamed. There had been some specula- increase service capacity to sup- profit-taking proved short-term fell 2.2 percent. Reserve, taking on the bur- Yellen, 67, has served in a tion that the former Princeton port our growing customer base but technicals remain weak. Bourses in Saudi Arabia’s and den of winding down the Fed’s number of positions in the Fed, professor would land at Brookings, as we intensify efforts with our It failed to make a clear break Kuwait also dipped 0.3 percent stimulus without spurring more including head of its San Francisco where he is expected to write a dealers to deliver higher levels of above 3,807 points, the 50 percent each. turmoil. branch, and also has held aca- book, though the quick jump from customer satisfaction and lower retracement of its 2008 peak after Yellen inherits the mantle of demic positions at Harvard one job to another may come as a cost of ownership,” he added. touching an intra-day high of HIGHLIGHTS the world’s most powerful cen- University and University of surprise. Brookings prides itself “Ford Motor Company’s com- 3,855 on January 29. DUBAI: The index gained 0.5 tral banker from Ben Bernanke, California at Berkeley. She is as nonpartisan and having mem- mitment to the Middle East and “The market is clearly fac- percent to 3,773 points. who guided the US and the global married to economics Nobel prize bers from both sides of the US Africa region is stronger than ing selling from big hands and it ABU DHABI: The index declined financial system through its deep- winner George Akerlof. political spectrum, though some ever, with considerable invest- will continue for a while because 0.3 percent to 4,678 points. est crisis since the 1930s during Meanwhile, Bernanke arrived see it as somewhat left of center. ments already in process as we distribution generally lasts a full EGYPT: The index retreated his eight years in the job. for his first day on the job at the “Brookings scholars have a well bring more products to custom- quarter,” said Firas Al Zghaibi, 0.4 percent to 7,409 points. Nominated to the job last Brookings Institution yesterday established reputation for con- ers through our One Ford global financial markets strategist at SAUDI ARABIA: The index October by US President Barack morning, just three days after tributing innovative ideas and vehicle and technology portfolio, brokerage firm MENA Corp. slipped 0.3 percent to 8,807 points. Obama, she will serve a four-year completing an eight-year tenure trenchant analysis to economic including 17 new or refreshed Market volumes surged in OMAN: The index retreated term concurrent to her ongoing as chairman of the US Federal and other public policy debates,” vehicles in the next 24 months January to the highest level since 0.3 percent to 7,073 points. 14 year term on the Fed’s board Reserve. Bernanke said in a statement such as Fusion, EcoSport, Lincoln September, but the index gains KUWAIT: The index declined of governors. Bernanke, whose stint atop the issued by Brookings. “I welcome MKC, Mustang and F150, to slowed down — a sign that big 0.3 percent to 7,787 points. The respected economist has US central bank was marked by the opportunity to engage in name but a few,” said Kalyana investors were selling to retail BAHRAIN: The index gained worked closely with Bernanke financial crisis and policy experi- that vibrant community through Sivagnanam, Director, Ford traders. 0.2 percent to 1,294 points. during her three-plus years as mentation in the face of the Great research and writing.” Middle East & North Africa. “Volatility is expected this QNA/REUTERS Fed vice-chair, and is not expected Recession, joins the centrist policy AFP/REUTERS THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS UAE plays down inflation threat, sees 5pc growth Dubai rents, house prices soar

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Abu Dhabi has earmarked Emirates’ economy is likely to Dh330bn ($90bn) in investments grow at a robust clip of up to 5 to fund projects from 2013-17, percent this year, government including a railway, port, muse- officials said yesterday, playing ums, petrochemicals and other down warnings by private econ- industries. omists that a sharp rebound in In debt-laden Dubai, GDP the property market may propel growth could quicken to over 5 per- inflation. cent in 2015 from 4.7 percent this Activity in the world’s No. 3 year as the emirate starts gear- crude oil exporter picked up over ing up for hosting the Expo 2020 the past year with Dubai rents exhibition. “The star sectors driv- and house prices soaring by over ing growth will be transportation, 20 percent on expectations of a trade, tourism and logistics,” said string of mega projects. Mohamad Lahouel, chief econo- “I am conservative so I would mist at the Dubai Department of put it (2014 growth) between Economic Development. 4.5 percent and 5 percent,” UAE But with solid growth and Economy Minister Sultan bin soaring rents, UAE inflation Filipinos walk with a dragon puppet as they mark Chinese New Year of the Horse on the trading floor of the Philippine Stock Market in Makati’s financial Saeed Al Mansouri told reporters. may shoot above 4 percent this district in Manila yesterday. “It will depend of course on year, levels unseen since a record oil prices because we predict oil 12.3 percent in 2008, just before prices to go down,” he said after Dubai’s property crash. the first joint outlook presenta- A surge of inflation could be European stocks slide; euro, gold rise tion by Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the tricky for the UAE to contain federal government. because its dirham currency is LONDON: European stocks hiked interest rates last week. likely affected by the severely cold Kuala Lumpur were shut for the That is broadly in line with the pegged to the US dollar, making tumbled yesterday as lacklus- European stocks briefly weather that gripped the country lunar new year holiday. International Monetary Fund, it hard for the central bank to tre reports on Chinese and US advanced after Markit Economics in January. China’s PMI index fell to 50.5 in which raised last week its 2014 tighten policy while US interest manufacturing activity out- said its eurozone Purchasing “The dreadful weather seems January from 51 in December and UAE growth prediction to 4.5 rates remain very low. weighed the eurozone hitting a Managers Index (PMI), a lead- to have had a marked impact on 51.4 in November, the National percent, the same level as it esti- “The main reason is rents. The 32-month high in January. ing indicator of growth, rose to the US manufacturing ISM index, Bureau of Statistics and the mated for 2013, but warned of a second reason is capacity. If the London’s benchmark FTSE 100 54 points in January from 52.7 which should bounce back from China Federation of Logistics and potential property bubble. output gap has more or less dis- index ended the day down 0.69 in December, moving further today’s bad reading over the com- Purchasing said. In oil-powered Abu Dhabi, appeared ... then that inevitably percent at 6,465.66 points, while into positive territory above the ing months,” said analyst Robert Last week’s decision by the US which accounts for 65 percent of leads to higher inflation,” said Frankfurt’s DAX 30 dropped 1.29 50-points boom-or-bust line. Wood at Berenberg bank. Federal Reserve to slash its bond- the $390bn UAE economy, real Marios Maratheftis, regional percent to 9,186.52 points and the That was a 32-month high, bol- “The disappointing ISM result buying programme by $10bn to GDP growth is likely to slow to head of research at Standard CAC 40 in Paris fell 1.39 percent stered by a pick up in Spain and does not seem to reflect emerging $65bn a month has renewed wor- 6.7 percent this year from 7.4 per- Chartered. to 4,107.75 points. even Greece moving into positive market worries,” he added. ries over emerging markets. The cent in 2013. “So if there is a surprise for us Milan tumbled 2.63 percent territory for the first time since In midday trading, the Dow Fed’s cutback sent emerging mar- “The acceleration in manu- for the UAE in 2014 it should not and Milan gave up 1.96 percent. August 2009. France also saw an Jones Industrial Average fell 1.15 ket currencies plunging in India, facturing, construction, tourism be on the growth front, it should The European single currency improvement, but at 49.3 points percent to 15,518.26 points, while South Africa and Turkey, despite and trade will be the key engines be on the inflation side,” he told rose to $1.3529 from $1.3487 late was still in negative territory. the broad-based S&P 500 slumped a raft of interest rate hikes, as of Abu Dhabi growth as they the same event. in New York on Friday. European stocks followed US 1.29 percent to 1,759.66, and the traders fretted over vast outflows will be the main beneficiaries of Signs of rising price pressures Gold climbed to $1,262 an ounce stocks down after the Institute tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index of capital from their economies. government investment,” said have already showed up in the from $1,251 an ounce on Friday on for Supply Management’s pur- shed 1.39 percent to 4,046.85. Data from US-based fund ana- Shorooq Al Zaabi, head of devel- government data, although ana- the London Bullion Market. chasing managers index showed Asian shares mostly sank in lysts EPFR Global showed inves- opment indicators at the emir- lysts have said some of the rent Investors were also keeping a US manufacturing sector growth holiday-thinned trade after official tors pulled a total of $12.2bn out ate’s Department of Economic increases appeared not being cap- leery eye on emerging markets slowed sharply in January. Chinese data pointed to a slow- of equities in emerging markets Development. tured by official figures. that have been buffeted by tight- The ISM index sank to 51.3 down in manufacturing activity in during January. She also predicted Abu Dhabi’s Average inflation in the UAE ening US monetary policy. from 56.5 last month, while new the world’s number two economy That included a record weekly oil production would rise steadily accelerated to 1.1 percent in 2013, The Turkish lira slid to orders component plunged to and key driver of global growth. outflow of $6.3bn from emerging to 3.1m b/d in 2017 from 2.7m in the highest rate since 2009, from 2.2738 to the dollar and 3.0747 51.2 from 64.4, and production Tokyo stocks sank 1.98 percent market equities in the week to 2013. However, oil prices are likely 0.7 percent in 2012, which was the to the euro, below the level slowed almost as steeply, to 54.8 and Seoul slid 1.09 percent, but January 29, according to EPFR. to fall moderately, to $95 a barrel lowest level since 1990. where Turkey’s central bank from 61.7, although that data was Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei and AFP in 2017 from $109 last year. REUTERS

QATARI MARKET Ford unveils Ka concept Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Oman’s National Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.00 (0.55 %) Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.13 1.35 % Aa2 AA Gas Co CEO held Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.63 2.49 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.75 2.91 % Aa2 AA by prosecutor Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 107.38 3.43 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.75 4.93 % Aa2 AA MUSCAT: The chief execu- Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 115.88 5.27 % Aa2 AA tive of Oman’s National Gas Co Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 106.88 5.28 % Aa2 AA SAOG has been detained by the public prosecutor for question- Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.00 0.75 % Aa2 AA ing in relation to a widespread Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 109.88 3.29 % Aa2 AA corruption probe involving the Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.25 0.83 % A1 A- oil industry, a source in the pros- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.75 2.15 % A1 A- ecutor’s office said yesterday. QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.36 % NR NR The company said in a brief QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.63 1.07 % Aa3 A+ statement to the bourse that its QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.00 2.02 % Aa3 A+ board of directors had met on Sunday to discuss the detention Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 103.88 2.20 % A2 A- of its chief executive, but did not Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.00 1.48 % A2 A give details. It said it had written Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 123.75 3.03 % A2 A to the prosecutor seeking infor- Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.88 3.79 % A2 A mation. National Gas Co’s web- Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 100.88 4.90 % A2 A site names its chief executive as Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.13 0.67 % Aa3 A Goutam Sen. The Ka concept 4-door compact car on display during a media conference in Sao Paulo yesterday. Ford Motor Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.88 3.11 % Aa3 A The source, who declined to be Co unveiled the concept simultaneously in Sao Paulo, Brazil and New Delhi, India. It completes the line-up named, said the detention was Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.75 3.96 % Aa3 A along with the 5-door model, which Ford presented in Brazil and Europe at the end of 2013. related to a widespread corrup- SOVEREIGNS tion probe involving Oman’s oil Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P industry and related sectors. Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.13 (1.00 %) Aa2 AA Company spokesmen could not Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.63 2.30 % Aa2 AA be contacted to comment. Winter takes a bite out of US auto sales Oman’s H M Sultan Qaboos bid Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.13 1.72 % NR NR Said has been pursuing an anti- CHICAGO: Bitter cold and long as a the brutal weather lifts. fortunate to have held in at retail Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.25 2.56 % NR NR corruption campaign in an effort massive snowstorms took a bite And GM forecasts that the as well as we did,” said Ford sales Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 120.63 4.17 % NR NR to stem public anger about graft, out of US auto sales in January, industry as a whole will post its best chief John Felice. Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 112.50 4.61 % NR NR which was one of the reasons but Chrysler said yesterday that results since 2007 this year with Toyota’s sales fell seven per- Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.38 0.46 % Aa2 AA behind mass protests in several it extended a winning streak sales expected to come in between cent from a year earlier to 146,365 Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.88 3.14 % NR BBB Omani cities in 2011. even as its rivals posted signifi- 16 and 16.5 million vehicles. vehicles. “January was off to a Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 106.50 4.29 % NR BBB More than 20 government cant losses. GM’s sales dropped 12 percent solid start, but the weather condi- officials and private executives January is typically the weak- to 171,486 vehicles in January, tion slowed industry sales in key Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 99.00 5.94 % Caa1 B- have gone on trial on charges of est sales month of the year as weakened in part by planned markets late in the month,” said Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 103.00 3.98 % NR BBB- offering or accepting bribes in showrooms empty out following reductions in low-margin sales Bill Fay, general manager of the

*Periodic Distribution Amount exchange for contracts, mostly in big year-end sales in December. to rental car companies. Japanese carmaker’s Toyota divi- IMPORTANT NOTE: infrastructure projects. But the unusually brutal win- Better results were ahead, the sion. “For Toyota, we’re pleased Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Last month two executives of ter weather — which buried huge largest US carmaker insisted. with our retail sales, strong is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services Oman’s Galfar Engineering were swaths of the country in snow, ice “We have major launches under- truck results and expect to see Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary handed jail terms and ordered to and frigid temperatures — kept way and we are going to accelerate growth back in February.” 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 pay fines by an Omani court. people at home and even delayed brand-building and other growth Chrysler bucked the trend with take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds National Gas Co’s profile on delivery of sales to government initiatives, which include execut- sales up eight percent to 127,183 can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant the stock exchange website lists and corporate fleets. ing our winning strategy to sell vehicles in its best January per- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not its activity as “filling and mar- General Motors forecast that more pickup trucks with larger formance since 2008. It has now a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. keting liquid petroleum gas” and the seasonally adjusted sales pace cabs, more features and advanced posted 46 consecutive months of gives its total number of employ- would fall to 15.3 million units in technology,” GM sales chief Kurt year-over-year sales gains. “The ees as 170. The firm posted group January from a pace of 15.6 mil- McNeil said in a statement. bad weather only seemed to affect sales of 34.69m rials ($90.1m) in lion in December once all car- Ford’s sales fell seven percent our competitors’ stores as we had 2012, according to its financial makers have reported. in January to 154,644 vehicles. a great January,” Chrysler sales statements. Those losses are expected to “Given the difficult weather in chief Reid Bigland said. REUTERS help boost sales in February —so our largest sales regions, we are AFP TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Could bankers save Who’s to blame for the Great Barrier Reef? BY GILES PARKINSON emerging-market crisis?

pproval for the dumping of dredging in the Great Barrier BY FELIX SALMON on the constant flow of very cheap dollars have kept the money flowing to emerging Reef marine park may mean that the only people stand- being printed by the Fed; now that QE is markets for a bit longer. But as Krugman ing in the way of environmental destruction are bankers aul Krugman and Dani Rodrik coming to an end, they’re finding themselves himself demonstrates, sudden stops in Aand financial market analysts. How did it get to this? are out with duelling op-eds in a real pickle. emerging markets can happen in any Just before Christmas, leading Citigroup analysts Elaine Prior (the latter written with Arvind Here, however, the two diverge. Krugman, number of US economic environments, and and Anthony Moulder took Australia’s coal freight giant Aurizon Subramanian) on the subject if I’m reading him right, is saying that if for any number of reasons. to task over the lack of board engagement on the science of cli- of the latest bout of financial- only US economic policy had worked bet- The trick to preventing sudden stops isn’t mate change. The board, which is considering taking the lead Pmarket craziness in places like Argentina ter, we would have a much more vibrant to keep the money flowing: the trick to pre- role in a $6bn investment in an upgrade of the Abott Point coal and Turkey. Both men have been following economy, throwing off enormous amounts venting sudden stops is to not make yourself port and a new rail line to the massive coal mines in the Galilee emerging-market crises for decades; both of cash which would more than make up susceptible to them in the first place. Basin, did not have climate change on the radar. In fact, Prior indeed, are world-class experts on such for the taper. With the taper ending, we’re beginning observed, there was no strategic assessment of climate at senior episodes. Employed Americans, along with fast- to see markets start to become rather more management and board level, and it barely rated a mention in What’s more, both economists have a growing US companies, would naturally look discerning than they have been in recent the sustainability report. broadly left-liberal worldview: there’s no to invest their money abroad, and the flows years. No longer will money simply flow Little wonder, then, that there had been no apparent inves- deep ideological or philosophical rift here. to emerging markets would remain healthy, to anything and everything, be it gold or tigation as to whether the massive investment may end up as a And yet the two seem diametrically opposed. thereby avoiding a crisis. Turkish lira; instead, we’re beginning to see stranded asset. Prior’s assessment gained no headlines, had no Both Krugman and Rodrik would accept Instead, we have too few employed the return of volatility. Sometimes, as in the visible impact on the Aurizon share price, and may not have even that a large part of the story here is that Americans, we have overly cautious US com- case of this week’s Facebook earnings report, been noticed by the Aurizon board. But in the light of the Great the Fed’s QE program caused enormous panies, and the markets have come to the that volatility is welcome. Barrier Reef marine park authority’s approval to dump 3 mil- amounts of cash to flow into the world’s collective (and self-fulfilling) decision that And sometimes, as we’re seeing in emerg- lion tonnes of sediment from the Abbot Point expansion project emerging markets, thereby helping to inflate the end of QE will mean the end of substan- ing markets, it isn’t — especially when the into the marine park, the only thing that could stop the projects the markets which are currently crashing. tially all capital flows to emerging markets. volatility looks as though it’s more a self- is the lack of finance and support in the investment community. What goes down must have gone up — and The result is a “sudden stop” — and all fulfilling caprice than a rational reaction to The science of climate change is chief among them. Little won- it’s easy to see where the inflows came from. sudden stops are extremely painful. economic fundamentals. der that green NGOs are now taking their arguments directly That said, neither Krugman nor Rodrik is Rodrik, on the other hand, says that the Still, as Rodrik knows better than any- to banks and the investment community, reasoning that unlike blaming the Fed for causing the emerging- current crisis is the emerging markets’ own body, Turkey has real political and economic politicians, banks and investors should at least have a longer term market bubble in the first place. The Fed fault, for opening themselves up to fickle problems of its own: you don’t need to look perspective and more skin in the game in the form of potential had a (domestic) job to do, and did it; QE and volatile capital flows in the first place. to the Fed to find reasons for the current lost capital. Prior, a former top rating analyst of oil and gas and was part of that job, and the Fed simply Worse, whenever these economies run into sell-off. Sometimes, small open economies still one of the country’ best regarded analysts, is not alone in can’t worry too much about potential unin- difficulty, they tend to respond by becom- are the blameless victims of forces outside raising concerns about coal. HSBC economists wrote last month tended consequences on the other side of the ing even more open to international capital their own control. This is not one of those that the issue of stranded asset valuations for coal has become planet when it’s setting US monetary policy. flows. This is a story which is bound to end times. “increasingly topical for equity investors and management” over The stories being told be both Krugman in tears, no matter what the Fed does. They knew what they were doing, when the past 18 months. “It is fair to say that the long-run future of and Rodrik are consistent, then, with the The two aren’t entirely contradictory, but they allowed the Fed’s liquidity to flood their coal is now ‘in play’ in commodity and equity research markets”, “taper tantrum” theory of the current ultimately Rodrik’s is more important, and economies. One day, the tide was going to HSBC economists wrote. emerging-market crisis. Basically, emerg- more correct. start going out. That day has now arrived. Not that the miners accept this, because they have a massive ing-market economies have become reliant Sure, a healthier US economy might well REUTERS blind spot over short term profits. But the fact that there is a debate in investment circles is a change in itself . “We believe that mining companies need to be able to demonstrate to investors how their portfolio would prosper in a low-carbon scenario – and how this is being factored into long-term capex,” HSBC writes. That is particularly true of infrastructure investors such as Aurizon. Deustche Bank and Goldman Sachs have raised questions about India’s passenger vehicle sales the future of thermal coal, and even the International Energy Agency has said the current low coal prices “raise concerns about the economic feasibility of projects in the Galilee Basin”. TOP AUTOMAKERS BY SALES PASSENGER VEHICLES MARKET SHARE Several pieces of specific analysis have queried the financial Thousand vehicles, April – December Percent, April – December 2013 standing of some of the key players in the Galilee Basin. Analysts says there are several reasons why Aurizon’s $3bn investment 800 into rail and port infrastructure might not be a good long term investment. The first is China’s moves to combat its shocking air pollution. There is increasing talk that China will implement the 2012 2013 Other cap on coal consumption that has been freely discussed among 24.7% its main policy bodies. The second is that the world may take decisive action on climate change, and actually try to do what it 600 said it would – seek to limit global warming to 2C. That would require, according to International Energy Agency, the imposition of a strict “carbon budget” and the world leaving two thirds of its fossil fuels in the ground. There would simply be no long term Maruti Suzuki market for Galilee Basin coal under that scenario. The third is 400 the most intriguing, because it is based around simple economics 41.3% rather than government policy. It is generally assumed that India Tata will continue to import huge amounts of coal, but Prior notes that Motors falling costs in renewables, particularly solar, means that coal may 8.5% not be able to compete over the medium to long term. These may not be crucial for miners, who are keen to dig up as 200 much of the wealth that currently lies in the ground. But for com- Mahindra & panies such as Aurizon, the infrastructure would require a 20-year payback period, and may not even be constructed for another five Mahindra years. Has Aurizon considered any of these options? Apparently not. 10.2% Hyundai Motor Prior put some questions to them, and the company told her that it 0 India sees strong 20-year fundamentals for coal, and it does not believe Maruti Hyundai Mahindra & Tata a 2 centigrade global warming scenario represents a material risk. Suzuki Motor Mahindra Motors 15.2% Prior has a different view: “We see a risk that if the project starts 5-10 years into the future, and the world does take action on climate change or other dynamics drive a shift away from coal, Sources: Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers a major long-term investment in the Galilee Basin might leave C. Chan 03/02/2014 Aurizon’s shareholders with a stranded asset”. THE GUARDIAN Bernanke saved the economy and kept the Fed free

BY CLIVE CROOK faced — a point I’ll come back to quantities of assets to drive as they were again at Bernanke’s entirely new approach to mon- Politics constrains the Fed, and — Bernanke applied that wisdom, down long-term interest rates. last policy meeting on Wednesday etary policy. a chairman who chose to ignore f Ben Bernanke had known and re- purposed it for modern Quantitative easing worked, and — makes a lot more sense than Instead of a target for inflation that fact would put the institu- what was coming when he conditions. it was vital. saying the Fed went too far. it should adopt a target for the tion, and its ability to do its job, was offered the chairman- When the crisis hit, panic The Fed found a way to deliver The Fed has the tools to tighten price level several years ahead, at risk. Iship of the Federal Reserve drained liquidity not just from additional monetary easing at a later when it needs to; for now, or for the level of nominal gross I haven’t agreed with Bernanke in 2005, he might have turned the commercial banks and other time when Washington was with- inflation is lower than target and domestic product; or maybe it about everything. job down. deposit-takers but from an drawing fiscal stimulus. the labour market is slack. should raise the inflation target I think his fondness for Most sane men would, and array of new “shadow banking” But give the man credit: to 4 percent or more. detailed “forward guidance” — Bernanke is as sane as they come. intermediaries. BERNANKE’S SUPPORT Bernanke resorted to QE on a meant to convince investors that The United States was lucky he To be an effective lender of In supporting demand, scale that would have been hard TERMS OF ENDEARMENT short-term rates will stay low was there when having an out- last resort, the Fed had to oper- Bernanke wasn’t just acting alone, to envisage before the crash. The economic reasoning behind for longer — is unwise, and apt standing Fed chairman mattered ate much more broadly than the he had to contend with a broken Pressed too far, demands for the such proposals is appealing. to cause more confusion than it so much. orthodox view implied. budget system that was actually Fed to be even bolder are naive. What they have in common dispels. This was his last week in charge: It did. Later, with the crisis making the recession worse. Economists are mostly impressed is the idea that expectations of The tapering of QE could He’s mostly being applauded, by contained, the Fed led “stress QE has been controversial with Bernanke’s record, but con- higher inflation would lower real have waited a while longer. I also economists at least, and he richly tests” of the banking system to partly because it’s new. Anything servative politicians and pundits interest rates even when nomi- think the Fed has made too little deserves it. see which parts were solvent and new, adopted on this scale, certainly aren’t. nal rates are at their zero floor progress on so-called macropru- Bernanke is an academic which weren’t. This was novel too. involves uncertainty. The ques- That’s a problem, because to — which is true, of course. dential regulation. authority on the Great Depression. Compare the Fed-managed tion is whether the benefit justi- remain an effective central bank But if QE arouses fierce opposi- This is the main item of unfin- This was enormously valuable, exercise for rigor and disclosure fied the risk. the Fed needs to guard its opera- tion, what would be the reaction ished business post-crash. Again, even though (as he emphasized with the European equivalent. We won’t know for sure until tional independence, and its free- in Congress to the Fed’s announc- though, the Fed can’t go it alone in a recent speech on the Fed and The first helped to restore con- QE is unwound — but on the evi- dom to act isn’t guaranteed. ing an actual intention to cause on regulation: It has to work with the crash) financial markets have fidence; the second, rightly seen dence at hand it was the right Up to a point, Fed chairmen higher-than-target inflation? legislators and other regulators, changed out of recognition since as a sham, prolonged the crisis. policy. A feeble recovery from a can evade or push back against There are strictly economic both at home and abroad. the 1930s. Bernanke’s Fed was bold and ferocious recession would surely critics in Congress — Bernanke objections to this family of ideas History will render the final One timeless lesson of the ear- innovative in macroeconomic have been even weaker if not for did, and so did Paul Volcker in the as well, starting with the idea verdict, but I’ll be astonished if lier crisis is that when the Fed is policy as well. QE. 1980s — but the Fed can’t act as that the Fed’s credible commit- Bernanke doesn’t go down as a faced with a financial emergency, With short-term interest rates The idea that the asset pur- though Congress wasn’t there. ment to low inflation was hard to great Fed chairman — the right it has to be bold: Dithering and cut to zero, its main policy instru- chases should have been both This puts limits on how radi- establish, has many benefits, and man in the right place at the right half- measures can be fatal. ment became ineffective. bigger and sustained for longer cal it can be. For instance, some should not be discarded — but put time. Within the constraints he So the Fed bought enormous — rather than being scaled back, argue that the Fed needs an the economics to one side. WP-BLOOMBERG TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,137.59 0.33 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 15,999.67 0.22 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,211 0.02 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,771.24 0.35 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,655.86 0.93 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5201.888 -3.214 -0.06 5383.4 5174.4 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,113.57 0.59 % QR146.5164 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4164.04 -1.68 -0.04 4351.21 4098.71 QE All Share Industrials 3,699.68 0.70 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9136 QR 5.9971 QE All Share Insurance 2,634.93 1.06 % Dj Indu Average 15698.85 -149.76 -0.94 16588.3 13784 Euro ...... QR 4.9232 QR 4.9916 QE All Share Real Estate 2,020.88 0.16 % QR 2.2710 CA$ ...... QR 3.2608 QR 3.3252 QE All Share Telecoms 1,571.42 0.51 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,963.71 0.59 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0000 QR 4.0566 Hang Seng Inde/D 22035.42 -106.19 -0.48 23469.33 21880.73 Yen ...... QR 0.0354 QR 0.0360 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.1757 QR 3.2384 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4689.13 36.83 0.79 4873.52 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 03-02-2014 02-02-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0577 QR 0.0588 Index 11,137.59 11,173.97 Karachi 100 In/D 26946.1 161.76 0.6 27213.21 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0343 QR 0.0349 Change 36.38 18.24 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14619.13 -295.4 -1.98 16164.01 14764.57 Peso ...... QR 0.0795 QR 0.0811 % 0.33 0.16 $ 106.14 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0281 YTD% 7.30 7.65 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1850.84 1485.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0475 Volume 13,153,906 10,994,813 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0362 QR 0.0369 Value (QAR) 434,306,437.28 353,451,751.71 Straits Times/D 2990.95 -36.27 -1.2 3187.8 3012.26 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3244 QR 0.3309 Trades 4,478 4,458 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 101.89 Up 21 | Down 17 | Unchanged 03

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 03-02-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1000.9 -9.95 28966 Chambal Fert-B/D 38.55 -0.1 44918 Himat Seide-B/D 58.15 1.7 43722 Kopran-B/D 24.85 1.75 111762 Rallis India-B/D 159.4 -4.2 15908 Land Secs Grou/D 1029 0 711721 Aarti Drugs-B/D 229.45 5.4 6723 Chowgule St-T/D 10.9 -0.54 1343 Hind Motors-B/D 7.3 0.04 74661 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 39.8 1.45 3691 Rallis India-B/D 159.4 -4.2 15908 Legal & Genera/D 216.8 1.5 3821369 Aban Offs-B/D 478.2 29.15 1964209 Cipla-A/D 412.45 1.8 61991 Hind Unilever-/D 570.05 -0.3 58431 Lgb Broth-B/D 295.5 0.4 1910 Reliance Indus/D 317.9 -11.35 35840 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 81.022 -2.27 103449070 Ador Welding-B/D 125.55 -4.1 2239 City Union Bk-/D 48.35 -0.4 22345 Hind.Petrol-A/D 243.7 -0.75 88329 Lloyd Metal-B/D 8.2 0.31 96473 Ruchi Soya-B/D 31.25 0.05 65422 Marks & Sp./D 471.4 0.5 580753 Aegis Logis-B/D 154.3 1.05 36528 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1408.35 3.85 5680 Hindalco-A/D 103.55 -6 1282933 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 12.59 -0.36 90325 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 297.05 -2.3 1894 Next/D 6250 0 89713 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 100.2 1.9 1281 Colgate-A/D 1312.05 12.2 9835 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 788.9 -19.1 57427 Lupin-A/D 921.9 39.85 358338 Savita Oil-B/D 390.35 6.85 1097 Pearson/D 1109 -3 824749 Alembic-B/D 11.72 -0.25 70561 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 52 0 1100 I F C I-A/D 22.2 -0.6 641170 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 116.45 3.3 2873 Tanfac Indust-/D 8.7 0.41 1750 Prudential/D 1221.075 -6 1757519 Alok Indus-B/D 6.74 -0.26 220442 Dhampur Sugar-/D 29 0 16807 Idbi-A/D 54.4 -1.05 401828 Mah.Seamless-B/D 163 -3.5 1629 Thirumalai-B/D 95.4 1.05 1359 Rank Group/D 138.8 0 12490 Apollo Tyre-A/D 112.55 -0.55 634541 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2640 33 7756 Ifb Agro-B/D 194.3 2.3 1906 Mangalam Cem-B/D 98 -3.65 13901 Timexgroup-B/D 8.91 0.03 21868 Rentokil Initi/D 120.7 0.2 527229 Asahi I Glass-/D 43.5 1.35 2766 E I H-B/D 56 -0.55 17068 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 68 0.75 2313 Maral Overs-B/D 19.55 0.15 2595 Ultramarine-B/D 40.35 -1.25 2476 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1182 -5 1496988 Ashok Leyland-/D 15.9 -0.55 524632 E.I.D Parry-B/D 125.3 -0.75 3696 India Cement-B/D 51.65 -2.1 109270 Mastek-B/D 173.4 -0.15 28761 Unitech P -A/D 12.29 -0.31 2829312 Rsa Insrance G/D 97 0 6407574 Bajaj Hold-A/D 927.1 2.75 2073 Electrosteel-B/D 13.05 -0.06 35248 India Glycol-B/D 89.1 -1.85 14240 Max India L-A/D 188.05 -2.65 4351 Sainsbury(J)/D 348.186 3.2 2690329 Ballarpur In-B/D 11.99 0.13 145482 Emco-B/D 26 0.15 195206 Indian Hotel-A/D 57.5 -0.55 50265 Mrpl-A/D 43.2 0.35 249098 LONDON Schroders/D 2444 -23 43813 Bata India-A/D 956.75 5.4 21808 Escorts-B/D 125.7 1.65 398763 Indo-Bcount-B/D 41.3 2.05 28866 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 17 0 2430 Severn Trent/D 1755 28 259365 Bayer Crop-B/D 1585.65 -44.3 2542 Essar Oil-A/D 45.65 0.65 310034 Indusind-A/D 382.25 -1.55 120283 Nahar Spg.-B/D 103.7 -2.2 17855 3I Group/D 370.1 -3.3 259233 Smith&Nephew/D 885 9 2285559 Beml Ltd-B/D 183.75 -5.7 28489 Eveready Indu-/D 35 0.1 14277 J.B.Chemical-B/D 127.45 5.45 49815 Nath Seeds-B/D 4.1 -0.09 13805 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2707 -8 217412 Smiths Group/D 1442 4 240215 Bh Electronic-/D 920 -13.1 1677 F D C-B/D 121.1 -0.95 36664 Jagson Phar-B/D 10.65 -0.26 1736 Nation Alum -A/D 33.45 -0.05 32588 B Sky B/D 890 14 1954150 Standrd Chart /D 1240.938 0 1548660 Bhansali Eng-B/D 12.74 -0.66 1030 Federal Bank-A/D 77.2 -2.05 91888 Jbf Indu-B/D 72.25 -0.95 3974 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.65 0.8 9324 Barclays/D 269.9 -2.55 15619444 Tate & Lyle/D 755 -2.5 217492 Bharatgears-B/D 38.5 -1.05 1202 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.1 -0.15 34328 Jct Elect P -T/D 0.44 0.02 31539 Nepc India-B/D 3.42 -0.17 5181 Bg Group/D 1037.5 15.5 3407325 Tesco/D 321.4 1.05 3840379 Bhartiya Int-B/D 162.05 -7.95 3845 Finolex-B/D 150.45 -4.5 8015 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.94 0.07 38669 Neuland Lab-B/D 279 -49.75 19255 Bp/D 476.681 -1.4 5199114 Unilever/D 2351 12 1557044 Bhel-A/D 167.5 -5.35 265771 Gail-A/D 365 6.05 109536 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 140.5 -4.4 78845 Nrb Bearings-B/D 35.1 -1.65 5331 Brit Am Tobacc/D 2929 13 932004 United Util Gr/D 721.5807 6 455531 Bom.Burmah-B/D 97.1 -1.7 3741 Galada Power-T/D 4.1 -0.05 1000 Kalpat Power-B/D 73.25 -3.3 14916 O N G C-A/D 268.2 -7.3 181964 Bt Group/D 384.722 1.5 7603474 Vodafone Group/D 222.811 -3.75 28544803 Bombay Dyeing-/D 56.05 -0.05 174793 Gammon India-B/D 12.27 -0.34 9546 Kalyani Stel-B/D 48.65 -0.7 29897 Oil Country-B/D 32.6 -0.85 1962 Centrica/D 315.3 4.1 3524189 Whitbread/D 3749 -2 134053 Canfin Homes-B/D 172.95 8.15 9197 Garden P -B/D 36.8 -0.3 1695 Kanoria Chem-B/D 23.75 -0.8 4015 Onward Tech-T/D 51.25 1.9 10850 Gkn/D 397.8 3.5 1503079 Castrol Ind-A/D 299.15 5.05 46747 Goodyear I -B/D 351.1 -7.2 52797 Kg Denim-B/D 15.65 0.05 4450 Orchid Chem-T/D 45 -1.6 27171 Hsbc Holdings/D 627.7 0.7 9344990 Century Enka-B/D 133.1 -2.6 3695 Hcl Infosys-B/D 23.8 -0.15 275433 Kilburnengg-T/D 17.9 0.05 2297 Orient.Carb.-B/D 131.55 16.3 46585 Imperial Tobac/D 2225 2 739492 Century Text-A/D 291.55 -4.3 213844 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.53 -0.29 296033 Kinetic Eng-B/D 36.5 -1.8 5967 Radico Khait-B/D 152.9 -0.9 100569 Kingfisher/D 368.3 -1.3 998752 TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Super Bowl MVP Winners Feb. 2, 2014 - Malcolm Smith (Seattle Seahawks) Seattle crush Denver Feb. 3, 2013 - Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) Feb. 5, 2012 - Eli Manning (New York Giants) Feb. 6, 2011 - Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) Feb. 7, 2010 - Drew Brees (New Orleans) Feb. 1, 2009 - Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh) Feb. 3, 2008 - Eli Manning (New York Giants) Feb. 4, 2007 - Peyton Manning (Indianapolis) to win first Super Bowl Feb. 5, 2006 - Hines Ward (Pittsburgh) Feb. 6, 2005 - Deion Branch (New England) Feb. 1, 2004 - Tom Brady (New England) Denver Broncos suffer record fifth Super Bowl defeat and first since 1990 Jan. 26, 2003 - Dexter Jackson (Tampa Bay) Feb. 3, 2002 - Tom Brady (New England) Jan. 28, 2001 - Ray Lewis (Baltimore) EAST RUTHERFORD, US: Bowl-record 13 catches for 118 Jan. 30, 2000 - Kurt Warner (St. Louis) With a fierce defense that forced yards, but both were hollow Jan. 31, 1999 - John Elway (Denver) four turnovers, the Seattle achievements. Smith picked off Seahawks soared to a first NFL Manning and scored with 3:21 Jan. 25, 1998 - Terrell Davis (Denver) title yesterday with a 43-8 rout remaining in the second quarter Jan. 26, 1997 - Desmond Howard (Green Bay) of the Denver Broncos in Super to give the Seahawks a 22-0 half- Jan. 28, 1996 - Larry Brown (Dallas) Bowl 48. time edge. Jan. 29, 1995 - Steve Young (San Francisco) Seattle’s Russell Wilson threw Smith’s touchdown was the Jan. 30, 1994 - Emmitt Smith (Dallas) two touchdown passes while line- longest interception runback Jan. 31, 1993 - Troy Aikman (Dallas) backer Malcolm Smith returned in a Super Bowl since Manning an interception for a touchdown had a 74-yard pickoff returned Jan. 26, 1992 - Mark Rypien (Washington) and recovered a fumble to set up for a touchdown by New Orleans Jan. 27, 1991 - Ottis Anderson (New York another. “It’s just a tremendous defender Tracy Porter in 2010 to Giants) feeling,” Smith said. “We just have seal a loss for Manning’s former Jan. 28, 1990 - Joe Montana (San Francisco) a great group of guys who feed team, the Indianapolis Colts. Jan. 22, 1989 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco) off each other, guys with chips Seattle’s Percy Harvin, who Jan. 31, 1988 - Doug Williams (Washington) on their shoulder who have been missed most of the season after Jan. 25, 1987 - Phil Simms (New York Giants) overlooked.” hip surgery, returned the open- Jan. 26, 1986 - Richard Dent (Chicago) That Seahawks defensive unit, ing kickoff of the third quarter 87 which led the NFL in fewest yards for a touchdown for a 29-0 Jan. 20, 1985 - Joe Montana (San Francisco) points allowed and most turno- Seahawks lead. The Broncos then Jan. 22, 1984 - Marcus Allen (Los Angeles) vers forced, shut down a Broncos surrendered their third turnover Jan. 30, 1983 - John Riggins (Washington) offense that scored the most when Byron Maxwell knocked the Jan. 24, 1982 - Joe Montana (San Francisco) points in a season in NFL history ball from the grasp of Thomas Jan. 25, 1981 - Jim Plunkett (Oakland) and humbled quarterback Peyton and Smith recovered. Seattle took Jan. 20, 1980 - Terry Bradshaw (Pittsburgh) Manning, who set one-season advantage of the turnover when Jan. 21, 1979 - Terry Bradshaw (Pittsburgh) records for passing yardage and Wilson flipped a 23-yard touch- touchdowns. down pass to Jermaine Kearse for Jan. 15, 1978 - Harvey Martin (Dallas), Randy “We’re a bunch of misfits in a 36-0 lead. White (Dallas) some ways, a lot of guys people Denver avoided becoming the Jan. 9, 1977 - Fred Biletnikoff (Oakland) haven’t heard of,” said Seattle first team in Super Bowl history Jan. 18, 1976 - Lynn Swann (Pittsburgh) defensive back and NFL inter- to go scoreless when Manning Jan. 12, 1975 - Franco Harris (Pittsburgh) ceptions leader Richard Sherman. threw a 14-yard touchdown pass Jan. 13, 1974 - Larry Csonka (Miami) “But I think they learned how to Thomas and flipped a two-point Jan. 14, 1973 - Jake Scott (Miami) complete our defense is.” conversion pass to Wes Welker on Jan. 16, 1972 - Roger Staubach (Dallas) The Seahawks, owned by the last play of the third quarter. Microsoft co-founding billionaire Wilson answered on a 10-yard Jan. 17, 1971 - Chuck Howley (Dallas) Paul Allen, lost to Pittsburgh in touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin Jan. 11, 1970 - Len Dawson (Kansas City) 2006 in their only prior Super for the final points before the Jan. 12, 1969 - Joe Namath (New York Jets) Bowl visit. “The people who say clock ran out and Seattle’s con- Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after they defeated the Jan. 14, 1968 - Bart Starr (Green Bay) defense wins championships can fetti-filled celebration began. Denver Broncos in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, yesterday. Jan. 15, 1967 - Bart Starr (Green Bay) gloat for a little while because it Denver received the opening sure did tonight,” Seattle coach kickoff but it was Seattle that Pete Carroll said. got points from the fastest scoring Seattle scored the most points play in Super Bowl history. by a Super Bowl team since Broncos center Manny Ramirez Age no barrier for coach Carroll Tampa Bay had 48 in a 2003 vic- snapped the ball over Manning’s tory over Oakland and won by the head from the 14-yard line and most lopsided margin since Dallas into the end zone, where rusher EAST RUTHERFORD: plan. “It’s a big deal. It was a big head coach, he blares music dur- defeated Buffalo 52-17 in 1993. Knowshon Moreno fell upon it Twenty years after he started out game for us and we played great. ing practice, encourages com- Smith won Most Valuable and was tackled for a safety, giv- coaching in the National Football We played the way we wanted to petitive basketball and bowling Player honors, one of the few ing the Seahawks a 2-0 lead after League, Pete Carroll (pic- play,” he said. “The team was totally between the players, and gallops defenders to capture the award. only 12 seconds. tured), finally climbed the top focused on getting this done and it down sidelines during games to Denver suffered a record fifth Seattle then marched 51 yards of the mountain when the Seattle played out the way we wanted it follow the action. Super Bowl defeat, but the team’s in nine plays to set up a 31-yard Seahawks won yesterday’s Super to play. “All phases contributed. It After losing the head coaching first since 1990. The Broncos had field goal by Steven Hauschka, Bowl. At the age of 62, after being was not really even a question in job at the New England Patriots won their two most recent trips who added another from 33 hired and fired by a handful of their mind that we wouldn’t per- and New York Jets, Carroll to the title game in 1998 and 1999. yards for an 8-0 Seahawks’ edge. teams, he got his hands on the form like this. We didn’t ask them left the NFL for a decade and “It was a disappointment for our Seattle safety Kam Chancellor Vince Lombardi Trophy when to do things that we don’t always coached successfully in college entire team,” Manning said. “To intercepted a Manning pass at the Seahawks trounced the do and they trusted in that.” football until he was lured back finish this way is very disappoint- the Denver 39 to halt the Broncos’ Denver Broncos 43-8 at MetLife With his unbridled enthu- by the Seahawks. In his four ing. It’s not an easy pill to swallow next possession. Aided by a cru- Stadium in New Jersey. siasm, high-octane energy and seasons in Seattle he has rebuilt but eventually we have to.” cial third-down pass interference Typically, he played down his unusual motivational techniques, the team, recruiting a bunch Manning completed a Super penalty against Denver corner- role, giving praise instead to his Carroll has always been a new- of younger players and turning Bowl-record 34 passes in 49 back Tony Carter, Seattle took a young and energetic team for age coach ahead of his time. them into the best defensive unit attempts for 280 yards while 15-0 lead on Marshawn Lynch’s perfectly executing their game The league’s second oldest in the NFL. REUTERS Demaryius Thomas had a Super 1-yard touchdown run. AFP Rondo helps Celtics end four-game slide

BOSTON: Rajon Rondo played his best game since return- ing from knee surgery to lead the Boston Celtics to a victory over the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association game yesterday. The talented point guard, who had been on the losing end in his first six games back, scored 19 Tomas Tatar of the Detroit Red Wings controls the puck in the second period against Joel Ward of the points and added 10 assists, six Washington Capitals in their NHL match at Verizon Center in Washington DC yesterday. rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes. His time was cut short by second-half foul trouble, but he took over down the stretch. Red Wings beat Capitals in shootout Rondo, just 17-of-61 from the floor in his first six games, went 9-of-11 on Sunday, Jared Sullinger WASHINGTON: Held silent Brendan Smith. stripped the puck from Montreal scored 21 points and grabbed 12 for 60 minutes, right winger Alex On Friday night, Ovechkin goalie Carey Price in front of the rebounds, forward Brandon Bass Ovechkin erupted in overtime, earned the Capitals a point when goal line in the left corner to set up had 19 points and nine boards and scoring a power-play goal 2:37 he scored with seven seconds the goal that restored Winnipeg’s guard Avery Bradley, back after Boston Celtics centre Jared Sullinger (left) drives to the hoop against into the extra period to give the remaining in regulation in a 4-3 one-goal lead. Ladd, the Jets’ cap- missing five games with an ankle Orlando Magic power forward Glen Davis during the second half of Washington Capitals a thrilling overtime loss in Detroit. The Red tain, fed the puck out front to sprain, had 17 points. their NBA game at TD Garden in Boston yesterday. win over the Detroit Red Wings Wings wasted a hat trick by right Frolik, who scored his 12th goal Guard Arron Affalo led the in their National Hockey League wing Gustav Nyquist in the loss. before Price could scramble back Magic with 18 points, while center match yesterday. Winnipeg right winger Michael to the net. REUTERS Nick Vucevic had 14 points and 11 time in their last 23 games. quarter and the home team led Ovechkin’s goal, his league- Frolik scored 1:04 into the third rebounds. Orlando has lost 16 of its last 19. by nine at the half. REUTERS leading 39th of the season, came period to send the Jets on to a 2-1 NHL Results The Celtics, who have six Rondo set up the first two bas- with the Capitals on a 4-on-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens Montréal 1 Winnipeg 2 straight home wins over the kets of the game and the Celtics NBA Result power play following a tripping yesterday. Magic, ended a four-game losing got off to a quick 8-2 lead. The Washington 6 Detroit 5 minor on Red Wings defenseman Left winger Andrew Ladd streak and won for the fourth lead grew to 12 in the second Boston 96 Orlando 89 TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Phoenix Open Schmidt Scores expects Leading final-round scores on Sunday in the US PGA Tour Stadler bags first $6.2m Phoenix Open (USA O’Connell to unless noted. Par-71): 268 Kevin Stadler 65-68-67-68 269 Graham DeLaet (CAN) 67-72-65-65, face Wales Bubba Watson 64-66-68-71 DUBLIN: Joe Schmidt 270 Hunter Mahan 66-71-65-68, Hideki was confident captain Paul Matsuyama (JPN) 66-67-68-69 US PGA tour title O’Connell would be fit to face 271 Charles Howell 70-69-67-65, Brendan Wales after the lock gave him Steele 66-74-62-69, Ryan Moore some awkward moments ahead 66-71-64-70 2012 Masters winner Watson shares second with DeLaet of his first Six Nations match as 272 Harris English 65-67-69-71 Ireland coach. 273 Webb Simpson 68-72-67-66 The New Zealander only dis- 274 Pat Perez 65-68-70-71 PHOENIX: Kevin Stadler cap- covered seven hours before tured his first US PGA tour Sunday’s kick-off that the British 275 Cameron Tringale 71-67-69-68, John title in his 239th start yes- and Irish Lions second row had Mallinger 67-72-67-69, Matt Jones terday, firing a final-round 68 been laid low by a chest infec- (AUS) 65-65-72-73 for a one-shot Phoenix Open tion he’d contracted the previous 276 Scott Piercy 67-67-75-67, Morgan win over Bubba Watson and night. Hoffmann 69-66-70-71, Greg Chalmers Graham DeLaet. However, Ireland, made light (AUS) 65-67-71-73, Jason Kokrak Stadler’s three-under effort of O’Connell’s absence by launch- 66-69-68-73 gave him a 16-under total of 268 ing their Six Nations campaign 277 John Merrick 75-65-69-68, Michael for the $6.2m tournament on the this season with a 28-6 win over Thompson 72-68-70-67, Kevin Na TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Scotland at Dublin’s Lansdowne 70-70-68-69, William McGirt 65-69-73- Stadler and 2012 Masters win- Road. 70, Justin Hicks 71-70-69-67, Martin ner Watson were tied heading “I’m pretty relieved to be Laird (SCO) 67-68-71-71, John Rollins into the 72nd hole at 16-under honest, the day didn’t start too 72-67-67-71, Patrick Reed 67-67-71- par. Stadler, the 33-year-old son well,” said Schmidt after a match 72, Roberto Castro 72-69-70-66, Chris of 1982 Masters champion Craig where Ireland scored three tries Stroud 70-67-68-72 Stadler, found the fairway off the through Andrew Trimble, Jamie tee while Watson was in the right Heaslip and 50th cap-winner rough. Rob Kearney. “I got a phone call Golf World From 122 yards out, Watson at eight o’clock in the morning flew the green as Stadler landed to say that Paul O’Connell had Rankings his second shot 11 feet from the a chest infection and had been pin. awake most of the night so he was 1. (1) Tiger Woods (US) 10.41 Stadler just missed his birdie ruled out and Dan Tuohy came 2. (2) Adam Scott (Australia) 8.80 putt and tapped in for par, but into the starting line-up and Iain 3. (3) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 8.73 Watson, who chipped on, missed a Henderson onto the bench.” 4. (4) Phil Mickelson (US) 6.94 five-footer and settled for a bogey Schmidt paid tribute to the late 5. (5) Justin Rose (Britain) 6.64 and a share of second place. replacements by saying: “I think “Obviously I would have liked it’s a real credit to those guys how 6. (7) Zach Johnson (US) 6.25 to make that putt there and won they adapted quickly. “It’s a real 7. (6) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 6.23 it that way, but it’s been a long relief to me that the game’s over 8. (8) Matt Kuchar (US) 5.86 time coming and I’ll take it any Kevin Stadler with the trophy after winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in and done with and we managed to 9. (9) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 5.86 way I can get it,” Stadler said. Scottsdale, Arizona yesterday. get the win on the board.” 10. (10) Jason Day (Australia) 5.47 Watson finished with an even Schmidt, though, said he 11. (11) Steve Stricker (US) 5.22 par 71 for 269. He was joined by expected O’Connell back for the 12. (14) Dustin Johnson (US) 4.79 Canada’s DeLaet, who had seven get a first US Tour victory under round with a two-stroke lead, but birdie putt as Watson failed to second round match against birdies and one bogey in a 65 for his belt. “It wasn’t pretty,” said Stadler erased that advantage get up and down from a greenside Wales. “I’d be really surprised 13. (12) Ian Poulter (Britain) 4.79 his share of second. Stadler, whose previous biggest with birdies from 10 and 26 feet bunker for a bogey. if he’s not. He should be back 14. (13) Jason Dufner (US) 4.73 Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and win was at the European Tour’s at the first and second holes. After an errant drive at 11 by Tuesday, for training, and 15. (17) Graeme McDowell (Britain) 4.72 American Hunter Mahan shared 2006 Johnnie Walker Classic in Watson and Stadler both bird- Stadler had to take an unplayable hopefully he can train fully on 16. (16) Jordan Spieth (US) 4.68 fourth on 270. Matsuyama carded Australia. “I hit a lot of good shots ied the third to stay tied, Watson lie en route to his double-bogey Thursday. I would be really con- 17. (15) Brandt Snedeker (US) 4.65 a 69 yesterday and Mahan 68. and a lot of ugly shots, but it all edging back in front with a birdie that again saw him fall behind fident of that.” 18. (18) Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 4.47 Stadler had five birdies to off- worked out.” at the par-three fourth where he Watson. Watson’s bogey at 16 put Ireland are the only team to 19. (19) Webb Simpson (US) 4.41 set a double-bogey six at the par- The Stadlers are the ninth landed his tee shot five feet from them level again, and after both have beaten Wales in the past two four 11th. He admitted he had an father-son duo to win on the PGA the pin. Stadler jumped ahead at birdied 17 they went to the final Six Nations, launching last year’s 20. (20) Luke Donald (Britain) 4.21 erratic day, but was pleased to Tour. Watson went into the final the ninth, dropping a four-foot hole tied. AFP tournament with a 30-22 win at the Millennium Stadium. But there was a realisation they’d need to improve greatly on their performance against Scotland if they were to beat the two-time defending champions in Dublin this coming Saturday after Miller ready to win ‘every race’ in Sochi Wales started off with a nervous 23-15 win at home to Italy. STMORITZ: Bode Miller (pic- One of the most versatile very different person now,” he unique event,” he said. “It is nice to get off to a win- tured), failed to complete his talents of his generation, he added. “The hill looks great and ning start,” said Kearney. last race before the Winter has already collected five med- Miller has already competed there have been concerns about “However, we are under no Olympics, a giant slalom in St als, including one gold, since in all five alpine skiing disciplines the snow but they have snow. illusions at the massive challenge Moritz at the weekend, but the his Olympic debut in Nagano at the Olympics and will enter The course suits me well, it’s that awaits us in six days They American made it clear his in 1998 and will defend his at least four in Sochi, with the long, a bit like Wengen (in are going for three in a row (Six ambitions remained high for super-combined crown in Rosa slalom likely to make way hav- Switzerland) maybe. It’s gonna Nations titles) which their coach this month’s Sochi Games. Khutor at the February 7-23 ing been a weak event in recent be a matter of how the condi- Warren Gatland doesn’t stop tell- “I’m ready. My skiing in general Games. seasons. tions hold up but I’m ready,” he ing everyone,” the full-back added. is pretty solid. It was the idea to The once maverick poster “Slalom is still a mystery said. Kearney agreed the fact keep getting stronger and come boy of alpine skiing has now but that’s the way slalom is,” Miller’s most recent perform- Gatland dropped icon Brian to the Olympics ready to win in matured and can claim to be he said. ances were far from encourag- O’Driscoll — who won a record every race,” said the 36-year-old the only skier of such high pro- His most successful Games ing, however, as he failed to Irish 129th cap yesterday — from World Cup veteran, who will be file to have taken part in that came in Vancouver four years finish his last three races, but the final British and Irish Lions competing at his fifth Winter many Games. ago where he claimed three med- the American insisted weather Test against Australia last year Games in Russia. “It seems like a long time ago. als but experience has taught conditions were to blame rather would only add to the atmosphere. Miller, who missed the entire It goes by very quickly,” he said of Miller not to have any special than his form. “Yes, I think it will spice it up,” 2012-13 season to treat linger- his Olympic debut in 1998. expectations. “The World Cup has been he said. Early in yesterday’s sec- ing knee problems, has staged a “I wasn’t thinking much “We’ll have to see. It’s different a mess this year I hope the ond half, Scotland were just five highly successful comeback cam- beyond that day. When you’re each time you go. It depends on Olympics bring something new points behind against Ireland at paign, standing on the podium so young you have infinite pos- what you bring to the Olympics in regards to the conditions,” he 11-6 down after scrum-half Greig three times in three different sibilities ahead of you. Some and what the Olympics is on its said. Laidlaw kicked his second suc- events. 400 races or so later, I’m a own. Every time you go, it’s a REUTERS cessful penalty. AFP

Klitschko set for April title defence Ian Thorpe in rehab battling depression against Leapai SYDNEY: Australia’s five-time assessment,” a spokeswoman said. London Olympics. He has been open swimming Olympic gold medallist Ian “No official complaint has been about his battle with depression and BERLIN: Wladimir Klitschko will Thorpe (pictured), was discovered made and no further police action is alcohol in the past, admitting in a 2012 defend his world heavyweight title by police in a Sydney street in the anticipated.” autobiography that he had spent “a against Australia’s Alex Leapai in early hours of yesterday and taken Thorpe’s management did not lot of my life battling what I can only Oberhausen, Germany on April 26, to hospital, according to reports immediately respond to requests for describe as crippling depression”. organisers have announced. about the troubled swim star. comment but Ten later said they had “I suppose it was inevitable that I’d Klitschko, whose elder brother Vitali Thorpe, 31, was taken to hospital for confirmed that he had been admitted turn to other, artificial ways of manag- is now a leading figure in the opposition the second time in as many weeks after to a private rehab clinic for depression ing my feelings, and I found alcohol,” to the Ukrainian government, holds the being spotted in a suburban street in treatment. he wrote. Thorpe is Australia’s most WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts and has southern Sydney at about 3am, accord- Ten said his management told them decorated Olympian with five gold med- his sights set on the WBC title left vacant ing to Ten News. Thorpe’s “disorientated” state was als at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens by Vitali. A 14-year-old boy raised the alarm due to a mixture of painkillers and Games, with his extraordinary success “I am wary, but I will prepare myself as after hearing a noise outside his family anti-depressants. attributed partly to his abnormally well as I can and I’m looking forward to a home and seeing Thorpe attempting It follows media reports last week large feet and hands. great challenge,” said Klitschko, who will to gain entry to a van in the driveway, — refuted by his handlers at the time He became the first person to win turn 38 in March and has recently spent Ten said. — that Thorpe had gone into rehab for six gold medals at one world champi- much of his time alongside his brother He was reportedly “dazed” and under depression and alcohol abuse. onships, in 2001, among 11 world titles in the protests against Ukrainian leader the influence of something, the network Thorpe’s management firm SEL said overall — along with 10 Commonwealth Viktor Yanukovych in the capital Kiev. reported. the five-time Olympic gold medallist Games gold medals. Leapai, 34, has a 30-4-3 career record Police did not name Thorpe but con- had been hospitalised for shoulder But the demands of a celebrity life- since turning professional in 2004, while firmed that they responded to a 3am surgery. style and grinding training sat uncom- Klitschko is 61-3. call-out in Panania “after concerns Thorpe, one of Australia’s most rec- fortably with Thorpe and he quit in “Everyone talks to me about Wladimir’s were raised for a man seen near a ognised sporting figures, has struggled 2006, dabbling in jewellery design and 61 victories and how great he is, but all I’m vehicle”. to adjust to life after swimming and television after his retirement, before thinking about are his three defeats against “He was taken to hospital for medical made a failed effort to reach the 2012 his abortive 2011 comeback. AFP opponents who can’t strike as hard as I can,” said Leapai in a statement. AFP TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Beckham homing in on Real held 1-1 as Ronaldo Miami MLS deal: Reports

MIAMI: David Beckham is homing in on a deal to bring a sees red; Atletico go top Major League Soccer club to Miami, local media reported yesterday. La Liga leaders trounce Real Sociedad 4-0; Elche edge Almeria The former England star mid- fielder had exercised his option to buy an MLS club and wants to MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo lashing out at Carlos Gurpegi. bring it to Miami, with the plan was sent-off as Real Madrid lost “I think it is difficult for me contingent on a deal for a pri- ground in the La Liga title race to judge because I wasn’t there vately funded stadium, The Miami with a 1-1 draw away to Athletic but the images show that it was Herald reported. Bilbao on Sunday night. an exaggerated reaction,” Real Beckham, his investment group Atletico Madrid became out- boss Carlo Ancelotti said about and MLS commissioner Don right leaders for the first time Ronaldo’s red card. Garber will be in Miamitoday and since their double winning season “It could have been different tomorrow seeking support for the in 1996 earlier in the day with a because we scored first and then venture, the Herald and the local 4-0 win over Real Sociedad. controlled the game well. CBS television affiliate reported. The draw moves Real level “Bilbao scored a fantastic goal, “I think they’re going to with Barcelona, who suffered a but, in general, I personally am announce either Tuesday night shock defeat at home to Valencia satisfied with how Real Madrid or Wednesday that Major League on Saturday, three points behind played.” Soccer has selected Miami for a Atletico. Ancelotti’s men could have been franchise,” Miami-Dade County It could have been so much in front after just 20 seconds as Commissioner Xavier Suarez told better for Madrid as after a dif- Ronaldo took advantage of a poor CBS Miami. ficult opening 45 minutes, Jese clearance by Gorka Iraizoz, but Garber said in mid-January Rodriguez looked to have them his effort flew inches wide. that an announcement on a on the road to a 11th consecutive Thereafter, it was Athletic who possible MLS expansion team victory when he prodded home had the upper hand in the first- owned by Beckham could come Ronaldo’s cross 25 minutes from half and should have been in front in February. time. when Aduriz shot wide when Such a deal had been stalled However, after Ibai Gomez had clean through on Diego Lopez. as talks with city officials about spectacularly equalised, Ronaldo Iker Muniain also passed up the building of a new stadium was shown a soft red card for a great chance to open the scor- continued. ing when he miscontrolled when Beckham was given the oppor- Spanish League unmarked inside the area. tunity to purchase an expansion However, Madrid responded team at a discount, reportedly Results after the break and Iraizoz was $25 million, as part of the 2007 MADRID: Spanish league results on Sunday forced into two flying saves to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) laughs as he receives a red card during their Spanish first division match deal that lured him to play for night: deny Luka Modric and Karim against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Sunday night. the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy. Elche 1 (Herrera 58) Almeria 0 Benzema. The visitors did finally He has focused on the Miami find a way through 25 min- market along with several back- Real Betis 2 (Ruben Castro 71, 88) Espanyol 0 utes from time as Benzema fed a brilliant save from Lopez, whilst the number he wore as a player Defending didn’t worry me, but ers, including Bolivian billionaire Atletico Madrid 4 (Villa 38, Diego Costa 72, Ronaldo on the left and his low the Madrid keeper also had to be with Los Rojiblancos. the problem was when you don’t Marcelo Claure and British busi- Miranda 74, Diego 87) Real Sociedad 0 cross was turned home on the alive to hold Aduriz’s header as And Atletico boss Diego attack and it was difficult for us nessman Simon Fuller. Athletic Bilbao 1 (Ibai Gomez 73) Real stretch by Jese. the spoils were shared. Simeone was pleased with how to get out in the second-half. Exactly when a Miami team Madrid 1 (Jese 64) Real’s lead lasted just nine Earlier, Atletico moved top his side dealt with the emotion “The changes gave us some might begin play was unclear. On Saturday minutes as Gomez made a stun- on an emotional evening at the of the evening. freshness. We had the ball more Expansion teams in New York and Barcelona 2 (Sanchez 7, Messi 54-pen) ning introduction as a substitute Vicente Calderon, as former play- “When someone like Luis leaves and we managed to get going Orlando are set to be launched Valencia 3 (Parejo 44, Piatti 48, Alcacer 59) as with his second touch he fired ers and fans paid their tributes us there is pain and sadness, but again. It is a win against a very next year. AFP Levante 0 Rayo Vallecano 0 an effort from 20 yards in off the to former Spain and Atletico today the fans, the game and that difficult opponent.” Getafe 0 Valladolid 0 inside of the post. player and coach Luis Aragones, silence for the first eight minutes After a quiet start, David Villa, French Ligue 1 Malaga 3 (Duda 31-pen, 83, Samuel 77) Madrid were then left to hold who died on Saturday, before the before they sang his name moved the competition’s top scorer on for a point when Ronaldo saw match. me. From above he would be when Aragones led Spain to the Results Sevilla 2 (Bacca 49, Fazio 66) PARIS: French Ligue 1 results yesterday night: red after a coming together with The Atletico fans remained wearing red and white and happy European Championships in 2008, On Friday Nice 1 (Bodmer 45+1) Lille 0 Granada 1 (El Arabi 41) Celta Vigo 2 (Cabral Gurpegi after having a penalty silent for the first eight min- with the bravery we showed. fittingly opened the scoring as he Rennes 2 (Hountondji 22, Toivonen 66) 28, Fernandez 89) appeal turned down. utes before beginning to chant “Real Sociedad made it difficult swept home Diego Costa’s low Lyon 0 Gomez was denied a second by Aragones’ name in a tribute to without creating great chances. cross. AFP Marseille 2 (Payet 7, Valbuena 40) Toulouse 2 (Ben Yedder 11, Aurier 60) On Saturday PSG ready for Lorient 2 (Aboubakar 12, Aliadiere 73) Monaco 2 (Germain 41, Kurzawa 87) Bastia 3 (Ba 52, Squillaci 81, Boudebouz pivotal phase Lille’s Champions spot in danger 88-pen) Guingamp 2 (Alioui 50, 55) Evian 1 (Rubén 85) Ajaccio 1 (Tallo 89) PARIS: Lille were left hanging suspicion of offside. The defeat the summit after earning just Lyon, who pitched up seeking a Reims 2 (Ayité 58, El Kaoutari 65-og) of campaign on to a Champions League place could have been worse for Lille two points from their last five fourth straight league win, had a Montpellier 4 (J. Marveaux 29, Cabella 46, 55, Niang 69) by a single point following their but for Rio Mavuba clearing a matches. torrid time of it at Rennes. Saint-Etienne 3 (Cohade 45+1, Corgnet 56, PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 defeat at Nice on Sunday Dario Cvitanich header off the “I don’t seen any option for us They went down a man when Mollo 87) Valenciennes 0 coach Laurent Blanc admit- night. line and Idrissa Gueye getting but to work, the boys are already Samuel Umtiti was red carded for Sochaux 1 (Sunzu 45) Nantes 0 ted yesterday that his team Later, former multiple cham- away with what appeared a bla- working well, but we must be vigi- an ill-judged tackle on Romain On Friday are moving into ‘money time’ pions Lyon fell 2-0 at Rennes tant handball inside the Lille lant and careful,” Girard added. Alessandrini three minutes from Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Ibrahimovic 58, Alex as they begin a busy month of and Marseille were held 2-2 by box. Marseille remained in fifth, on the interval. 88) Bordeaux 0 February with a League Cup Toulouse at the Velodrome. Lille coach Rene Girard said: 36 points, after their stalemate Rennes were already leading Italian Serie A results MILAN: Results from Italy’s Serie A on semi-final at Nantes today. Saint-Etienne’s 3-0 success “We were inefficient, that sums up at home. at that stage thanks to Cedric Sunday night: The month ahead will be cru- over struggling Valenciennes on the way we played against a Nice Twice Marseille went ahead, Hountondji’s 22nd minute header Atalanta 3 (Denis 47, 64, Moralez 70) Napoli 0 cial to PSG’s season, with the Saturday had put the pressure side that appeared vulnerable. through goals by Dimitri Payet and new signing, Swedish forward Catania 3 (Bergessio 61, Barrientos 75, Ligue 1 leaders travelling to face on Lille but the 2011 champions “They didn’t really put us in and Mathieu Valbuena, and twice Ola Toivonen, doubled up with Almiron 88) Livorno 3 (Emeghara 50, 77, Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg failed to respond. danger, but we conceded a goal they were pegged back. less than half an hour left. Paulinho 72-pen) of their Champions League last- Former Paris Saint-Germain at the worst moment.” Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Lyon manager Remi Garde Chievo 0 Lazio 2 (Candreva 6, Keita 70) 16 tie and also going to title rivals forward Mathieu Bodmer At the turn of the year, Lille Yadder levelled on 11 minutes reflected: “I’m disappointed that Roma vs Parma - postponed due to rain Sassuolo 1 (Floro Flores 90+2) Verona 2 Monaco on Sunday. But first they scored the only goal with a cute were challenging the top two, with Serge Aurier ensuring they we didn’t get any points but I’m (Manfredini 50-og, Toni 86) will look to get the better of a back-heel in first half stoppage PSG and Monaco, but they have went home with a point on the not worried because I believe we Juventus 3 (Lichsteiner 15, Chiellini 47, Nantes side who lost 5-0 at the time, although there was a now dropped to 13 points off hour. deserved better.” AFP Vidal 55) Inter Milan 1 (Rolando 71) Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 last month and clinch their place in the final at the Stade de France. “We are coming up to the money time, so we need to per- Rule-makers to discuss form,” said Blanc, who said the focus for now is solely on winning today’s semi-final. “We are trying to concentrate fully on this tie. The most impor- sin bins, video replays tant thing in a Cup is to get to the next round, especially as the BERNE: Football’s rule-mak- substitutions” in amateur and goal-line technology all along, say- next game will be at the Stade de ing body, the International recreational football. ing it would open the way for the France.” Lille’s Football Association Board These would allow players who use of other technology, and said Uruguay striker Edinson defender (IFAB), is to hold preliminary had been substituted to return in August that FIFA had opened Cavani will miss the game at Dijbril Sidibe discussions at its next meeting to the pitch later in the match, a “Pandora’s box” of technology the Stade de la Beaujoire with a (left) vies with on the use of sin bins and video a move designed to bring greater by allowing it. thigh injury which is expected to Nice’s for- replays to help referees, FIFA flexibility and maintain interest IFAB has recently been keep him out for three weeks, but ward Jeremy said yesterday. in grass-roots football. reformed and two new advisory Yohan Cabaye could start for the Pied during FIFA emphasised that both FIFA president Sepp Blatter panels, one representing play- three-time winners after coming the French L1 proposals were included for dis- and his UEFA counterpart Michel ers and coaches and the other off the bench to make his debut match at the cussion only and could be submit- Platini have both advocated the representing referees, will now in Friday’s 2-0 league win against Allianz Riviera ted for further examinations to use of sin bins, in which players examine proposed changes and Bordeaux. IFAB’s two new advisory panels. would sit out for five to ten min- provide suggestions to the eight- Stadium “Cavani will start running The items were “not yet at utes for certain offences. man board. in Nice, again soon but we didn’t want to the stage of being considered... The inclusion of video replays, The new structure is expected aggravate it so we will not take southeast- for decision in terms of altera- which are used in other sports to give IFAB more freedom any risks. We have a big squad ern France, tions to the existing laws of the such as rugby and cricket, on the to experiment with proposed and we need to use it when there yesterday. game,” world soccer’s governing agenda is something of a surprise, changes.The use of headgear for are injuries,” added Blanc. body said. however, as football has in general men appears set to be approved “As for Cabaye, I think he is The controversial “triple pun- been wary of using any form of following a two-year trial period. ready to play. Physically he is fine. ishment”, where a player concedes technology to help match officials. Women Muslim players were He has blended naturally into the a penalty, is sent off and then has It took years of debate for the given permission to wear head- squad. If I need to use him I won’t to serve an automatic suspension, sport to accept the use of goal- scarves two years ago. hesitate.” will also be on the agenda as a line technology, which was finally “After a two-year pilot, there The second semi-final tomor- discussion item at the meeting in approved in 2012 after a series of is no indication as to why the row sees Lyon play host to sec- Zurich on March 1. controversies where goals were wearing of head covers should ond-tier Troyes at the Stade de IFABLille’s will French also defender decide whether Dijbril Sidibe shown (left) viesto have with beenNice’s wrongly French for-dis- be prohibited, as long as their Gerland as they continue their to wardallow Jeremy male Piedplayers during to their use French allowed L1 football because match officials at the had Allianz not design restrictions are respected quest for success on four fronts headgearRiviera stadiumon religious in Nice, grounds southeastern seen France the ball on Sundaycross the night. line. as defined in the pilot,” said a pro- this season. AFP and permit so-called “rolling Platini remained opposed to posed amendment. REUTERS TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT India’s Test Bangladesh seek revival warm-up ends in draw Hosts looking for all-round improvement in second and final Test WHANGAREI, New Zealand: India’s under-fire batting line- CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: “And there is plenty of difference up gained valuable match prac- Bangladesh are looking for an between 500 and 700.” tice yesterday as the tourists’ all-round improvement as they Bangladesh could play an two-day Test warm-up against try to bounce back from a mas- additional slow bowler in either a New Zealand XI ended in a sive defeat in the first Test left-armer Abdur Razzaq draw. against Sri Lanka when the or off-spinner Mohammad India declared at 313 for seven second and final match starts Mahmudullah to back up Shakib on day two in response to the today. and Sohag Gazi on a wicket that hosts’ 262 for nine declared, The hosts were annihilated by could take turn as the match with wicketkeeper-batsman an innings and 248 runs inside progresses. Ambati Rayudu unbeaten on 49 four days in Dhaka last week, Sri Lanka were dealt a blow after Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya having been bowled out for 232 as two key bowlers were ruled Rahane retired on 59 and 60 and 250 in good batting condi- out of the Test due to injuries respectively. tions in which Sri Lanka piled and ordered to return home to All-rounder Ravi Ashwin also up 730-6. recuperate. made a good start before Shawn Mahela Jayawardene led the Frontline left-arm spin- Hicks bowled him for 46 in way with an unbeaten double- ner Rangana Herath suffered a encouraging signs for an Indian century and two others scored recurring knee injury and seamer line up that failed to shine with hundreds as Bangladesh conceded Shaminda Eranga picked up a the bat in a 4-0 one-day inter- their highest Test total in another thigh injury during the first Test. national series loss to the Black morale-sapping loss. A statement from Sri Lanka Caps. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Cricket said the duo will be The first of two Tests between Al Hasan said his team-mates had replaced by Thisara Perera and New Zealand and India starts in put the setback behind them and Kusal Perera, who are expected to Auckland on Thursday. looked forward to playing a good arrive before the toss on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Australia’s only Test on a good pitch at the Zahur Sri Lankan veteran Kumar warm-up fixture ahead of the Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Sangakkara expected another three-match Test series against Chittagong. match-winning performance by South Africa has been can- “Everyone was a bit down and his team, but refused to take vic- celled after torrential rain in sad after the loss in Dhaka, but tory for granted. Potchefstroom left little chance they are fine now and focused “We’re pretty much used to of play. on the next match,” Shakib said. Bangladesh putting up a good The four-day match against a “Matches can go bad, but coming fight,” said Sangakkara. South African Invitational XI was back is very important. “They pushed us in the series Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan (right) kicks a football as team-mate Tamim Iqbal looks on during a train- due to be played between today “We have come back from sit- in Sri Lanka and we walked ing session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, yesterday. to Saturday, but with conditions uations like these before, so we away with a one-all draw in the unlikely to improve in the coming have that experience. But we have one-dayers. days, Australia have opted instead to improve in all aspects, espe- “We won’t expect anything less 2008-09, Sri Lanka won the first each against Zimbabwe and the Sri Lanka (from): Angelo for more nets. cially the fielding.” than that from them here. The Test in Dhaka by 107 runs and the West Indies. Bangladesh (from): Mathews (capt), Dinesh “Cricket South Africa (CSA) Shakib said each of the high- earlier game may have been easier second in Chittagong by 465 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Cricket Australia (CA) have scoring Sri Lankan batsmen, than we thought it would be, but Bangladesh, who languish at Iqbal, Marshall Ayub, Shakib Al Kaushal Silva, Kumar reached a collaborative decision to including Jayawardene, were let we expect it to be different here.” the bottom of the Test rankings Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mominul Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, cancel Australia’s four-day warm- off in the field through dropped Sri Lanka have won 14 of their at number 10 -- lower than unfan- Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Kusal up match against a South Africa catches or missed stumpings. 15 Tests against Bangladesh, eight cied Zimbabwe -- have lost 68 of Mohammad Mahmudullah, Imrul Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Invitational XI scheduled from 5-8 “Had we grasped those oppor- of them by an innings margin, and their 82 Tests since gaining full Kayes, Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi, Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara February in Potchefstroom,” CSA tunities, they may not have scored drawn the other. status in 2000. Robiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Perera, Vishwa Fernando, Ajantha said in a statement yesterday. more than 500 runs,” he said. On their previous tour in They have won four Tests, two Al-Amin Hossain. Mendis. AFP AGENCIES ExxonMobil continues its support for Qatar Golden Sword Race

DOHA: Continuing its long- Qatar Racing and standing support of the Qatar Equestrian Club Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) General (QERC), ExxonMobil Qatar will Manager, Sami once again be the exclusive spon- Jassim Al Boenain sor of the 2014 Qatar Golden (centre) and Vice Sword Race, it was announced President and HR here yesterday. Manager Qatar The 2014 Qatar Golden Sword Race will take place on February and Abu Dhabi 6. for ExxonMobil Addressing a press conference Qatar Inc, Saud Al here yesterday Vice President Arifi shake hands and HR Manager Qatar and Abu after signing an Dhabi for ExxonMobil Qatar agreement in Inc, Saud Al Arifi said: “We are Doha yesterday. proud of our continued support QREC Deputy for the Racing and Equestrian General Manager Club, particularly through our Tariq Al Siddiqi long-standing sponsorship of was also present. His Highness the Heir Apparent ExxonMobil Qatar Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, winner of the Qatar Total Open, poses for a Sword Race.” will be the exclu- picture along with ball boys and girls at the Khalifa International Tennis “At ExxonMobil Qatar, we have sive sponsor of the and Squash Complex, in this February 17, 2013, file photo. a commitment to supporting the 2014 Qatar Golden State of Qatar and its leadership Sword Race. in highlighting historically signifi- cant elements of Qatari heritage. Azarenka in contention Equestrian competition continues QREC General Manager Sami thank ExxonMobil for its ongo- Qatar Golden Sword Race further to play an important role in Qatar Jassim Al Boenain thanked ing support for horse racing in elevate the status of equestrian today, and we are pleased to be ExxonMobil Qatar for the tie-up. Qatar, which serves to strengthen excellence not only in Qatar, but a part of this much-awaited and “ExxonMobil and Qatar Racing and protect a sport fostered by throughout the region and around for Diamond Ball prestigious equestrian event,” he and Equestrian Club share a long our forefathers. It is our hope the world,” Al Boenain said. added. and fruitful partnership. We that events like the prestigious THE PENINSULA trophy at Qatar Open

DOHA: Two-time defend- titles. She has won the Australian Simoncelli to become MotoGP legend ing champion and world No. 2 Open two times (2012 and 2013) Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and reached the finals of the US ROME: Italian rider Marco Champion, having taken the 250 is in contention to win the Open twice (2012 and 2013). Simoncelli is to be inducted into crown in 2008 - a title he nar- Diamond Ball trophy in Qatar. She also has an Olympic gold the Hall of Fame as a MotoGP rowly missed out on defending The Qatar Tennis Federation medal for the Mixed Doubles title legend. in 2009. Arriving in the premier will present the Diamond Ball she won with Max Mirnyi at the Honda MotoGP rider Marco The popular former 250cc class in 2010, his progress was trophy to the Qatar Total Open 2012 London Games. Simoncelli of Italy takes a World Champion was a front- rapid and before his untimely player who has won the tourna- “It is very exciting to know that curve during the qualifying runner in the premier class before death Simoncelli had already ment three times. Victoria Azarenka could win the practice of the MotoGP tragically losing his life to an acci- taken two premier class podiums. Azarenka is the only main draw Diamond Ball trophy. It would be Grand Prix in Assen in dent in 2011. Simoncelli’s introduction as a player in contention to win this an incredible achievement to win this June 25, 2011 file pic- In becoming a MotoGP legend, MotoGP legend will take place at coveted trophy, as no other player the Qatar Total Open title three ture. Simoncelli died in a Simoncelli’s name will be the 21st this year’s Italian Grand Prix, as had managed to do previously. times and no player has been able crash on the second lap on the list as he joins a list of 20 he joins the list already includ- Azarenka first won in Doha to do so before. With the talented of the Malaysian Grand other greats. To the shock of race ing compatriot Giacomo Agostini in 2012 when she defeated players in the draw, it is a very fans around the world, the Gresini plus Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Prix on October 23, 2011. Australia’s Sam Stosur in the competitive field and will be an rider lost his life on October 23, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, The Italian rider is to be final, 6-1, 6-2. exciting week of tennis to see if 2011 in a crash on the second lap Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, She returned last year to Victoria can defend her title and inducted into the Hall of of the Malaysian Grand Prix, just Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne defend her title – which she win the Diamond Ball trophy as Fame as a MotoGP legend. one week after finishing in second Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, did successfully by defeating well,” Qatar Total Tournament place at Phillip Island. Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, American Serena Williams in the Director, Saad Al Mohannadi said The Italian rider dazzled the Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, final, 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3. of this year’s potential Diamond World Championship paddock Freddie Spencer, John Surtees, Azarenka is the holder of 17 Ball trophy winner. with his charisma, ability and Casey Stoner and Carlo Ubbiali. WTA singles titles and six doubles THE PENINSULA racing style and was a World THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Olympics: IOC chief says seven-year rule not set in stone Australian rider Chloe Hosking joins SOCHI, RUSSIA: An her Hitect Products International Olympic team-mates for a Committee rule that forces a training session sport to wait seven years before with Qatari women’s it can potentially become part of squad at Losail the Games programme is “more International Circuit or less obsolete,” IOC President yesterday. Qatar Thomas Bach said yesterday. coach Pia Sundstedt Bach, who took over from was also present as Jacques Rogge in September, is were Qatar Cycling eager to revamp the organisa- Federation (QCF) tion, change the bidding process officials. PICTURES: for candidate cities and refresh SALIM MATRAMKOT the sports programme. The fact that the seven-year rule was included in the Olympic Charter should not pose a prob- lems, the German told reporters. “I know that the Olympic Charter is not set in stone, we have to evolve, adapt to modern times,” said Bach, who has given hope to baseball and softball to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The two sports, hugely popular in Japan, missed the cut for inclu- sion in the 2020 and 2024 Games but the IOC session is set to dis- Sprinter Hosking ready to cuss possible Charter changes in Sochi this week. “I personally would be very much in favour (of changing the rule),” said Bach. “The seven-year rule is more or less obsolete. If the IOC, organising committees and stop Wild in ‘windy’ Qatar international federations agree then the seven-year rule must not be applied. This race favours my style of riding, says title hopeful from Australia “I hope there will be changes, I hope I will see some of these changes implemented in my BY RIZWAN REHMAT (eight-year) term as president.” Bach has said he wanted to DOHA: Australian cyclist Chloe make the Games more attractive Hosking will rely on power rid- by bringing in more sports than ing to stop Dutch title favour- the current maximum of 28 in ite Kirsten Wild from winning order to win over new generations her fourth yellow jersey at the of viewers and keep the Olympic Ladies Tour of Qatar. brand relevant to youngsters. Hosking, who missed out on the Australian rider He said the IOC would discuss Qatar yellow jersey after a prom- Chloe Hosking all possible changes this week ising start last year, will aim for (fifth right) and at the Russian Black Sea resort the title by joining a group of 90 Qatar coach Pia prior to the February 7-23 winter riders that also includes three- Sundstedt (in pink) Games and expected decisions to time Doha champion Wild. pose with Qatari be finalised and voted on by the The Bendigo-born has arrived women’s squad end of the year. in Doha with sufficient gas in her near Losail Circuit “I do not necessarily want to tank and willpower to seal her yesterday. drop the seven-year rule. It can first win in Doha where tackling be necessary for a completely strong winds remains the key for new sport, but if we all agree in the riders. a certain case that the rule must “This race favours my style of not be respected because techni- riding. I am a power rider, less cal conditions are met then why sprinter. So to have the wind is not?” REUTERS to my advantage,” Hosking said yesterday. “You have hill climb- ers who can’t ride in such strong Putin says he winds and I can drop them here (laughs),” the 23-year-old added. Past Qatar champions The four stages chose Sochi “Yes, sure,” Hosking said when 2013 Kirsten Wild The riders will complete a distance of 388kms over four days: asked if tackling winds in Doha 2012 Judith Arndt Stage: 1 - February 4: Museum of Islamic Art - Mesaleed, 97kms site for Games was the key to dominating the 2011 Ellen van Dijk Stage: 2 - February 5: Al Zubara - Madinat Al Shamai, 112.5kms four-day race. SOCHI: Russian President 2010 Kirsten Wild Stage: 3 - February 6: Katara Cultural Village - Al Khor, 93.5kms “You have to be able to race Vladimir Putin revealed that he the wind. That’s the main factor 2009 Kirsten Wild Stage: 4 - February 7: Sealine Beach Resort - Doha Corniche, 85kms personally selected the site of in this race. I love it - I love the the Sochi Olympic Games which wind. I race here every year,” she “Then there’s Gerogia Bronzini, open in the southern resort in said with her trademark smile in the double world champion (from four days. place. Italy). I will be watching these Putin made the comment in a Hosking’s brooding confidence riders. The Italians also have a Aussie star welcomes highly reverential documentary is not misplaced. The diminutive great side. made by Russian state television, rider has already shown some “I think there are very com- excerpts of which were broad- early season form in Australia petitive teams here this year. The cast late on Sunday night and at the Mitchelton Bay Cycling strongest build-up Qatar has ever which will be shown in full after Classic last month and the St had. I think that also shows how Qatar’s ‘bold’ initiative the Games opening ceremony on Kilda Super Crit in December the races (in Doha) are growing. February 7. which she won. “As a female cyclist, I love com- DOHA: Australian cyclist Chloe Qatari riders. “It is such a great and for them riding in a bunch He also claimed that Prior to booking her tickets for ing here and supporting this race Hosking yesterday spent half an initiative that Qatar has come with the world’s best cyclists is International Olympic Committee the Qatar trip, Hosking joined her because they (QCF) do such a hour with Qatar’s new women’s up with, especially to promote amazing. They are really impres- members had backed Russia’s Hitec Products team-mates for a good job with this race,” Hosking squad and quickly declared that cycling in the region as a whole. sive. They were moving around, 2007 bid to host the Games as training stint in Europe. said. she was ‘impressed.’ For me to be part of this is excit- having their hands on the bars they supported “today’s Russia”. “We just had a 10-day training The 90 cyclists, representing 15 Hosking yesterday joined more ing,” Hosking added. was all good. For me, all that is “It is particularly nice for me camp in Spain,” Hosking said. “I teams, will start the Tour from than 20 female riders along with “I mean they have only been very impressive,” Hosking said. to see what is happening here as I was really impressed with two the iconic Museum of Islamic Art her Hitec Products team-mates riding for three months. There’s The Bendigo-born rider has chose this place personally,” Putin new girls on the team - Audrey and finish in Mesaieed after a ride around Losail Circuit to gauge huge progression to come. From some tips for the Qatari cyclists. said immodestly as the documen- Cordon and Lauren Kitchen. of 97kms. the riding skills of the Qatari where they are - which is just “Like I said the more they ride, tary showed him skiing down the They are both strong riders. I Wild has been the most effi- teenagers. three months - their skill is good. the more cycling fitness they get. slopes at the Olympic alpine cen- am really confident in my team. cient and regular since the crea- “Coming out and seeing how “Endurance and fitness are Cycling fitness is important. tre of Krasnaya Polyana. Everybody had a great winter tion of the race, winning six stages women are progressing after just two areas you can build on,” the Cycling fit and running around “In 2001 or 2002 I came in season. I think we have come to and three titles (2009, 2010, 2013). three months of riding, I am so 23-year-old explained. “That’s the are two different things. All of my little UAZ (Russian jeep) Qatar with the right team,” the World number one in 2013, impressed,” Hosking said after easiest part. this comes with time,” Hosking and we went around here, came Australian added. Emma Johansson, assisted by exchanging notes with the young “But cycling skill is important said. “The more they do, the bet- out at this river and I said ‘let’s When reminded of her punc- the recent champion of Australia ter they get. For now they should begin here’,” said Putin, wearing tured tyre on the final day last Gracie Elvin, are likely to be get confident getting on a bike, a jacket adorned with his name year in Qatar, Hosking said: Wild’s main rivals besides being able to change gears at the “V.V. Putin”. “Hopefully there will be no punc- Hosking and Bronzini. right moment. In the film, inexplicably titled tures this year (laughs). Losing The Doha yellow jersey will “All these little things are so “The Philosophy of the Soft Way”, the jersey last year was disap- also be the sole objective of Ellen important for riders,” she told the Putin also recalled the bidding pointing but look, I won the young Van Dijk, the winner in 2011, or Qatari riders. process that led in 2007 to Russia rider classification. That set me Bronzini who finished second in Hosking said Qatar coach Pia being granted the right to host up for the season in Europe. 2009 and 2010. Sundstedt had turned things the Games in Sochi. Putin has Hopefully I can do one better.” Hitec Products team manager around for the squad that was personally spearheaded both the Hosking, bronze winner in the Karl Lima endorsed Hosking’s unveiled at the start of December. bid and organising of the Winter women’s road race at the 2010 sentiments on the field in Qatar “Oh yes, they are in the right Games and few Olympics after Commonwealth Games in New for the next four days. hands with Pia. I just had a chat World War II have been so linked Delhi, said Qatar field in 2014 “It’s the toughest field I have with her,” Hosking said. with the name of one individual. would be tough to handle for any ever seen in Qatar, there are so “She said for two months it He said that “Not just one but rider or team. many strong teams with poten- was all about getting to know the many” IOC members after hear- “Wild has won a number of tial winners,” Lima told cycling- Qatari riders during a small things. Now that they are ing the various bids said they times in Qatar so obviously I will news.com. “I will be really happy training session near on the bike, she’s doing the right would support Russia because be watching her very closely,” if we can get something out of the Losail Circuit yesterday. things. They are all excited about “’we support today’s Russia and Hosking said when asked about race,” he said. the set-up around them,” Hosking we want to support her. We need her rivals. THE PENINSULA added. THE PENINSULA such a country.’” AGENCIES Tuesday 4 February 2014 4 Rabial II 1435 Volume 18 Number 5965 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Davis Cup: Murray lifts Britain into quarters Wimbledon champion beats Querrey in key singles tie

SAN DIEGO: Andy Murray beat Sam Querrey in four sets on Sunday night to send Great Britain into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1986. Wimbledon champion Murray posted his second singles victory of the tie, downing Querrey 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-3 to capture the needed third point in a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five match tie. Britain had seized a command- ing 2-0 lead on the opening day on Friday as 175th-ranked James US golfer Tiger Woods (centre) arrives at the International airport in New Ward pulled off a remarkable Delhi, yesterday. Tiger Woods is making his first visit to India and will comeback win over Querrey. compete today, in an 18-hole corporate outing at the Delhi Golf Club. Ward won 10 of the last 11 games to grab the five-set tri- umph, after Murray had crushed Davis Cup newcomer Donald Young in straight sets. Woods in India for Young was a late replacement in the US squad for injured John Isner. The formidable doubles duo of exhibition round Bob and Mike Bryan had kept the Americans alive with a doubles NEW DELHI: Tiger Woods the European and Asian tour. victory over Colin Fleming and arrived in New Delhi yesterday Atwal is a long-time friend and Dominic Inglot on Saturday. for his first visit to India, where PGA Tour colleague of Woods. However, Querrey couldn’t pre- he will play a round with special Media reports speculated vent Great Britain from posting guests at a private event organ- that Woods could be earning an their first Davis Cup win over the ised by a motorcycle company. appearance fee worth a seven-fig- United States since 1935. The world number one arrived ure dollar sum for his short trip. That winning British team was from the United Arab Emirates Despite the public and media led by Fred Perry, putting Murray where he had competed in the being excluded from the event, in Perry’s footsteps again after the Dubai Desert Classic, and was Kapur said Woods’s presence Scot’s Wimbledon triumph last whisked from the VIP area at the would boost golf’s image in the year made him the first British FROM LEFT: Great Britain’s Davis Cup team Colin Fleming, Dominic Inglot, James Ward, Andy Murray and airport under tight security. cricket-mad nation. man to win at the All England captain Leon Smith celebrate their 3-1 victory against of the United States during day three of the Davis Cup Woods is expected to play “Tiger’s visit to India is going to Club since Perry in 1936. World Group first round at PETCO Park in San Diego, California yesterday. an 18-hole round with special make a huge impact and there is a While he delivered two of invitees at the heavily guarded big buzz already not only in Delhi Great Britain’s three points, Delhi Golf Club today morning, an but the whole country,” Kapur Murray said Ward’s magnificent Querrey on the red clay court momentum as Murray broke him In the quarter-finals Britain event that is closed to the public said on the sidelines of the Dubai rally against Querrey on Friday at Petco Park -- home of Major twice en route to a 3-0 lead in the will face Italy, who sealed a 3-1 and the media. Desert Classic last week. shouldn’t be overlooked. League Baseball’s San Diego third frame. victory over Argentina in Mar del “I am afraid this is a strictly “I know the members at my “It’s obviously nice, you want Padres. Murray earned the break he Plata on Sunday. private affair,” a club official said. club are very excited and there to try and contribute as much as Murray and Querrey split the needed in the sixth game of the “This is the first time I’ve been “Even regular members will is going to be people climbing all possible in these weeks,” Murray first two closely contested sets. fourth set, but had to fend off two involved in Davis Cup that we’ve not be allowed in unless they have over the walls just to get a glimpse said. Murray had a chance to serve out break points in the final game had a chance of winning the com- been invited.” of Tiger. “James had a great win against the first in the 10th game but was before sealing the match when petition,” Murray said. “It’s obvi- The 14-time Major winner will “As everyone knows, cricket Sam the first day to put us in that broken for the second time and Querrey sent a service return out. ously going to be extremely tough play alongside Hero Motors boss dominates sport in India. So for at position and it was up to me today they went to the decider. Murray let loose with a yell of but we have a great team spirit.” Pawan Munjal and his guests that least one day the world’s top golfer to try and close it out.” In the second, neither man delight, then celebrated with his The United States will face include two renowned Indian golf- is going to steal all the attention Murray, who had back sur- managed to gain a service break teammates. The scheduled fifth a playoff to remain in the elite ers, Shiv Kapur and Arjun Atwal. away from the Sachin Tendulkars gery in September, needed two and Querrey took the tiebreaker, rubber between Young and Ward World Group. Kapur, a member of the upscale and Virender Sehwags.” hours and 54 minutes to get past but he was unable to build on that was scrapped. REUTERS Delhi Golf Club, is a regular on AFP Warne to ‘think about’ England coaching job

SYDNEY: Australian bowling considered, but my priorities, as great Shane Warne (pictured), always, are with the Aussies.” so often the cause of England’s The England job has been Pakistan blasts ICC revamp plan demise, offered yesterday to vacant since Andy Flower quit a think about reviving the old week ago after losing the Ashes enemy as the country’s next 5-0 on a disastrous tour Down LAHORE, PAKISTAN: The that they had serious concerns The PCB said it had received coach. Under. Pakistan Cricket Board yes- over the planned revamp pro- a detailed presentation on the As England players flew home Warne, who retired in 2007 terday lashed out over con- posed by the cricket boards of proposal, which it would dis- in the early hours following a final with a then world-record 708 Test troversial plans to reform India, Australia and England to cuss at the next ICC board defeat in Sydney, Warne took to wickets, tormented England dur- cricket’s governing body, give their countries a greater meeting. Twitter in answer to calls for him ing his celebrated career, includ- describing the proposed say in the running of the game. No international cricket has to apply for the role. ing a 1994 hat-trick, but was also revamp as unjust. It comes after Pakistani been played in Pakistan since “To my English followers, I’m well-known for his off-field antics. Moves to restructure the cricket legend Imran Khan 2009, when militants attacked flattered that you would like me Melbourne’s Herald Sun urged International Cricket Council on Friday blasted the propos- the visiting Sri Lankan team, to consider the England job,” Warne to think again about his (ICC) to hand power to India, als, saying they would take and Khan has warned the new Warne tweeted. offer. Australia and England, the the game back to the days of proposals would hit his home “All I can say is -- I will think “You should be dismissing hare- game’s financial powerhouses, colonialism. country hardest. about it!!!” brained ideas like that without were passed in principle during The PCB said it had asked South Africa, Pakistan and The comment could of course a second thought,” it said on its a board meeting in January. asked chairman Zaka Ashraf Sri Lanka are now the only be a wind-up from the 44-year-old website. In an in-house meeting, the to seek guidance from Pakistan three of the ten ICC full mem- who, at the end of January, was “Surely you wouldn’t coach the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bers who are still against the named as spin consultant ahead training for the squad’s spinners. Poms mate??” tweeted former termed the proposed plan as and “to apprise him on this report, which will next be put of Australia’s World Twenty20 And Warne later made it clear batsman and colleague Michael “not in line with the principle matter of immense signifi- on table at the ICC meeting in campaign starting in Bangladesh Australia remained his number Slater. of equity nor in the interest of cance and of national interest, Singapore on February 8. in March. one concern. England’s one-day coach Ashley game of cricket”. which will have wide reaching The plan needs approval from Cricket Australia said Warne “Re Eng job, I know it’s cre- Giles is among the favourites to Members of the PCB’s gov- impact on future of cricket in eight of the ten ICC members. would support head coach Darren ated a bit of interest hahaha,” take over from Flower. erning board said in a statement Pakistan”. AFP Lehmann, providing specialist he wrote. “I’m flattered to be AFP