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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Cairo summons Nadal wins Qatar Open Qatar envoy over criticism Doha slams crackdown on Brotherhood

CAIRO: Egypt’s Foreign Moqadam Al Boenain after the Ministry summoned Qatar’s envoy was called in yesterday. ambassador yesterday to com- On Friday, 17 people were plain about alleged interfer- shot dead as supporters of the ence in its internal affairs after Brotherhood clashed with police Doha criticised Cairo’s crack- across Egypt, defying a widening down on the Islamist Muslim state crackdown on the move- Brotherhood. ment that ruled the country until The formerly close Qatari- six months ago. Egyptian relationship has soured Islamists opposed to the army’s since the Egyptian army ousted overthrow of Mursi have been Islamist President Mohamed holding daily demonstrations for Mursi, who had been firmly sup- months. ported by Doha, last July following Last week, Egypt’s general mass protests against his one- prosecutor detained several year rule. journalists for 15 days for broad- Earlier, a Qatari Foreign casting graphics on Al Jazeera, Ministry statement said: “The alleging that they damaged Rafael Nadal of Spain (second right), winner of the Qatar Open, with Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah (second left), Qatar decision to designate popular Egypt’s reputation. Tennis Federation President, Nasser Al Khelaifi, and Gael Monfils of France, the runner-up, at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex political movements as terror- In an interview with Egypt’s in Doha yesterday. (SALIM MATRAMKOT) ist organisations, and labelling newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm in See also page 27 peaceful demonstrations as ter- November, Foreign Minister Nabil rorism, did not succeed in stop- Fahmi said Al Jazeera was one of ping the peaceful protests. the reasons for worsening ties “It was only a prelude to a between the two states. shoot-to-kill policy on demonstra- Egypt expelled the Turkish Fallujah in Iraq tors,” the statement published by ambassador in November after it New Nepal envoy unlikely soon QNA said. It said that “inclusive accused Ankara of backing organ- falls to Al Qaeda BY FAZEENA SALEEM dialogue” between all sides was isations bent on undermining the in charge,” Kant Poudel told this She challenged her recall by the only solution to Egypt’s crisis. country — an apparent reference newspaper yesterday. filing a petition in her country’s FALLUJAH, IRAQ: Iraq has Cairo launched a wide crack- to the Brotherhood. DOHA: Nepal is unlikely to “So many diplomats had been supreme court claiming the deci- lost Fallujah to Al Qaeda-linked down against Mursi’s Muslim A conservative estimate puts appoint a new ambassador to recalled from several places for sion was unlawful as she was fighters, a senior security offi- Brotherhood group and labelled it the death toll since Mursi’s fall Qatar in the near future, since different reasons. They leave and appointed by Nepal’s President cial said yesterday, putting a terrorist group last week. Qatar at well over 1,500 people, mainly a case filed by the former envoy, a new one is appointed. This is and was issued following due militants back in control of the said yesterday that the decision to Brotherhood supporters. About the controversial Maya Kumari a very rare and unique case of a legal procedures. She accused city in Anbar province where name the Brotherhood a terrorist 400 police and soldiers have Sharma in her country’s high- diplomat going to court against the Nepal government of not giv- American forces repeatedly organisation was “a prelude to a been killed in bombings and est court against her recall the recall,” he added. ing her a chance to defend the battled insurgents. shoot-to-kill policy” against dem- shootings. from Doha has not concluded, a Ganesh Prasad Dhakal is func- charges levelled against her. And fighting in Anbar killed onstrators who have been stag- Yesterday, a bomb exploded senior diplomat said yesterday. tioning as the temporary head of Sharma had got a stay order 65 people — eight soldiers, two ing frequent protests to call for under an armoured vehicle near Though the Nepalese govern- the Nepalese mission in Doha from the supreme court in government-allied tribesmen and Mursi’s reinstatement. the Egyptian North Sinai town of ment is looking into the possibility after Sharma was recalled in October last year on her recall 55 militants from the Al Qaeda- “Egypt reiterates that it will Areesh, killing one army soldier of appointing a new ambassador October last year. from Qatar. linked Islamic State of Iraq and not allow any external party to and wounding at least two others, to Qatar, the legal process would Less than halfway into her ten- However she went back to the Levant (ISIL), security offi- interfere in its internal affairs security sources told Reuters. take several months, according ure as ambassador, Sharma was Nepal later in October. The court cials said. It is the worst violence under any name or justification,” Armed men planted the explo- to Harihar Kant Poudel, Second recalled by the Nepalese govern- also directed the government not to hit Anbar province in years, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokes- sive device on the road used by Secretary at Nepal Embassy ment which was dissatisfied with to appoint a new ambassador and the first time militants have man Badr Abdelatty said in a army vehicles in Egypt’s cam- in Qatar. her performance. until it issued a judgement. exercised such open control in statement. paign against militant Islamists “We can’t give an exact time Sharma waded into a contro- Sharma told this daily earlier major cities since the height of Any country that tried to inter- in Sinai, the sources said. It went for the appointment of a new versy after being quoted by some that she was not sure of getting the bloody insurgency after the fere would have “the responsi- off when the armoured vehicle ambassador, since the case has western media outlets criticising justice because the “Nepalese gov- 2003 US-led invasion. “Fallujah is bility for the consequences,” he drove over it. to be heard and examined and a Qatar on labour issues in July ernment has so much influence under the control of ISIL,” said a added of the message given to AGENCIES judgment given by the court. Until 2013. She denied the allegations over the country’s judiciary.” senior security official. AFP Qatar’s ambassador to Cairo, Saif See also page 6 then the chargé d’affaires will be and said that she was misquoted. THE PENINSULA See also page 6

Flood, snow Peace talks making warning in UK progress, says Kerry LONDON: The UK Environment Agency has said JERUSALEM: US Secretary and presented new opportunities there were four severe flood of State John Kerry is to fly to for others,” he said. warnings in place, three on the Jordan and Saudi Arabia today “We are beginning to flesh out river Severn and one on the seeking backing for his plans for the toughest hurdles yet to be Lower Stour at Iford in Kent. Middle East peace, after insist- overcome.” There were a further 97 flood ing he has made progress. Jordan is only one of two Arab warnings and 244 flood alerts in After a second meeting with countries to have signed a peace place. The agency has removed Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas treaty with Israel, and King 175 warnings or alerts in the in the West Bank, Kerry swept Abdullah II holds a special posi- past 24 hours. back to Jerusalem for his third tion because the 1994 accord rec- The Met Office has issued yel- discussions with Israeli Prime ognises his country’s “historic” low warnings of rain in the south Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in role in caring for Muslim holy of England and snow in the north three days. sites in east Jerusalem. of England and southern parts of “We’re not there yet, but we Custodian of the Two Holy Scotland. Up to 3cm of rain could are making progress,” Kerry said Mosques King Abdullah bin fall in just six hours, and there yesterday, adding everyone was Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia also are more warnings of flooding and “working with great intensity” to plays a key role, as the kingdom travel disruption. try to reach a peace deal. was the author of an Arab League Residents in Chiswell and Speaking to reporters in peace initiative. Portland in Weymouth, Dorset, Abbas’s Ramallah headquarters, Direct Israeli-Palestinian were evacuated ahead of high tide Kerry announced he would also negotiations had been frozen on Friday night, while around travel to Jordan, which borders for almost three years, but after 100 people living in Aberystwyth, the West Bank, and to Saudi intense diplomacy by Kerry the Dyfed, were advised to move to Arabia today for talks with the two sides agreed to resume talks higher ground, with many taking kings of both nations. in July. But his 10th trip to the shelter in rest centres. “I’m confident that the talks region has been clouded by bit- The ferocious weather has left we’ve had in the past two days ter recriminations between Israeli Big waves hit a breakwater at San Juan de Nieva coast near Aviles, Asturias, northern Spain, yesterday. Heavy widespread damage. have already fleshed out and even and Palestinian leaders. AFP THE GUARDIAN winds from the east, rain and snow made Spaniards and tourists uncofmortable in parts of the country. resolved certain kinds of issues Photograph on page 5 SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HMC conducts orthopaedic review course Move to raise standards of education

DOHA: The Bone and Joint course will engage in intensive, Institute in collaboration examination focused review ses- with the Medical Education sions that are consistent with the Department at Hamad Medical organisation of the orthopaedic Corporation (HMC) organised board exam. the Qatar Orthopaedic Review Although the course is designed Course. for senior orthopaedic residents This course will be held from preparing to take a board exam, today to January 9 at the Hajar all other orthopaedists who would Auditorium at HMC’s Education like to revise their orthopaedic Centre and will focus on clinical knowledge are encouraged to orthopaedic surgery and other attend. orthopaedic specialities. “This course aims to make The course aims to raise the it convenient for orthopaedic standard of education in the residents to be able to get the region by bringing interna- required high quality training tional faculty as well as HMC- and knowledge within the coun- based orthopaedic healthcare try and also to take their board professionals to the same exam,” said Dr AbdulAziz Al platform. Kuwari, one of the course organ- It will provide residents, spe- isers, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Representatives of QRC and other organisations during the workshop. cialists and consultants with an HMC and Spine Fellow at the exclusive learning opportunity to University of Western Ontario, delve into important orthopaedic Canada. QRC discusses medical situation of Syrian refugees topics related to foot and ankle, He added: “Three years ago pathology and basic science, spine, when I took my board exam, I paediatric orthopaedics, sports travelled all the way to New York, DOHA: The Qatar Red their joint efforts with QRC for the formation of a management establishing a fund comprising the orthopaedics, adult reconstruc- in the United States because no Crescent (QRC) discussed the the implementation of medical committee with a supervisory Federation of Societies of Relief tion and trauma. such course was available in Qatar critical medical situation of projects role that meets regularly in for the care of Syrian refugees “This event will help residents or the region. “We are hoping Syrian refugees in Lebanon and QRC representatives high- order to review what has been in Lebanon and the coalition of in the region receive the high- that residents will benefit from came out with a set of recom- lighted the importance of provid- implemented. charities for the relief of displaced est level of education, and will this opportunity and attend the mendations at a workshop held ing primary health care units and “We have engaged with the Syrians; conducting a study out- develop a stage to continue to pro- course.” at its headquarters recently. the necessity of the presence of a medical situation in Lebanon lining health needs; preparing vide the latest orthopaedic train- Interested participants can Representatives of several of map outlining areas of primary since the outbreak of the crisis a paper on the achievements of ing from local and international register through the course web- regional and local organisations health care, such as: awareness, with the help of several medical the medical entities of Arab and healthcare practitioners,” said Dr site: www. qorc.hamad.qa/en or working in the field took part in vaccines and nutrition. associations working with the Islamic countries with the partic- Mohammed Al Khayarin, Senior by contacting the course organ- the meeting. They have also suggested to wounded in Lebanon. One of the ipation of QRC and other actors; Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgery iser, Dr AbdulAziz Al Kuwari on The workshop focused on the include displaced Palestinians things that we have discussed is relying on clinics and medical at HMC. 44392820 or 44392823. need for coordination and joint from Syria to Lebanon so that the establishment of a fund to units operated by Syrian doctors “This is an effort to provide International faculty par- collaboration to cover the gaps they can benefit from the medi- treat the wounded according to in Lebanon, taking advantage of state-of-the-art-information ticipating in the course will also that are not currently covered cal services. specific clear mechanisms”, said their consultancy and therapeutic in the field of orthopaedics to visit clinics at Hamad General by international bodies, and As future projects, the partici- Muhammad Al Najjar, Head of services; and finally preparing and healthcare practitioners, ensur- Hospital to share their expertise reviewed the medical work car- pants proposed to develop con- International Islamic Charitable sending a proposal to donors for ing at the same time that this is on various orthopaedic cases and ried out for Syrian refugees in cepts and solutions including the Organisation’s overseas offices their contributions and commit- reflected in the high-quality care to offer advice on the treatment Lebanon to date. establishment of a united medical and field relief officer, Kuwait. ment to support the fund during they provide to patients.” of certain complex cases. It also addressed the relation- fund. The workshop concluded with a the coming period. Participants at the five-day THE PENINSULA ship with ICRC and UNHCR and They have also recommended set of recommendations including: THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

IBQ to take part Police bust in Visa 2014 FIFA World Cup group of raffle draw DOHA: International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) will take part in Visa’s 2014 FIFA World Cup tickets lucky draw. Four cus- tomers using their Visa credit extortionists cards during the first two months of 2014 for purchases done internationally will enter Bank cards, passports recovered a prize draw and will have the opportunity to win tickets to DOHA: The police arrested a operation of the gang. Details the World Cup Finals scheduled six-member Asian gang extort- given by one of the victims about to take place in June and July ing money and valuables from the main suspect became crucial 2014 in Brazil. people pretending as security in catching the culprits. Andrew Ball, Head of Retail personnel. The main suspect was arrested Banking at IBQ said: “We are very Wearing the Qatari tradi- following an investigation. During excited to be able to offer our Visa tional dress, the gang members the interrogation, he confessed to Platinum and Infinite cardholders broke into several accommoda- the crime and guided the officers the opportunity to travel to the tions, impersonating as police- to other members of the gang. most important sports event in men, the Ministry of Interior said After taking approval from 2014. This is a chance that comes yesterday. the Public Prosecution, the police only once every four years and we They successfully employed launched a search in their accom- hope our IBQ Visa cardholders tricks on citizens and residents modation during which large will make the most of it, as the to steal money and other belong- amount of jewellery and watches more purchases they make using ings from their homes until they were found, along with a number their ibq Visa cards internation- were caught by the police. Several of credit cards, passports, mobile ally, the greater are their chances passports and bank cards were phones and tools used in their to win match tickets and be a part also stolen by the gang. operation. of one of the historic moments in The Criminal Investigation The gang members were later football championships.” Department (CID) at the produced before the victims for The gang members with their loot. More information on the pro- Ministry swung into action after identification and then referred motion can be had by calling 4447 it received many complaints to the Industrial Area Police the Ministry said in a statement. to extend their support and coop- suspicious and fraudulent activities. 8000 or visiting www.ibq.com.qa. from residents of the suspicious section for further procedures, The Ministry urged the public eration to catch people involving in THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA National Day attracted 33,000 visitors from GCC, says QTA

DOHA: Qatar National Day in the tourism sector, the QNA the National Day Organising hotel front completion which was stakeholders organised a range of The latest figures released has attracted over 33,000 visi- reported yesterday. Committee provided information launched to shed light on Qatar’s activities that entertained visitors for Q3 2013 showed that all key tors from the neighbouring Visitors were greeted with on tourism in Qatar to visitors iconic building designs and con- from the moment they arrive to the indicators of the tourism sector GCC countries as a result of gifts and flags and other pro- and residents at information cen- temporary architecture. country. demonstrated improvement and a campaign held by the Qatar motional items as well as our tres in events across the country QTA had launched a print and The campaign highlighted growth from the previous year Tourism Authority (QTA). warm Arabian hospitality at including eight centres along the digital advertising campaign in Qatar as a preferred family des- comparable period. The larg- Qatar National Day promo- the Abu Samra Border Post Doha Corniche. GCC countries to boost tourism tination through various attrac- est source of tourism is from tional campaign was launched and at Doha International These initiatives include the within the region by encourag- tions and offerings represented the GCC, with regional visitors by QTA prior to National Airport where volunteers gave launch of the second phase of ing nationals to visit Qatar dur- in the country’s rich heritage, increasing by 20 percent in Q3 Day celebrations. This cam- away national flags, National ‘MyQatar’ initiative and instal- ing the country’s most significant culture and customs and family- 2013 compared to Q3 2012. This paign was part of QTA’s col- Day pins, maps and other pro- lation of the billboard along the celebrations. friendly atmosphere in addition is reflective of the draw of Qatar’s laborative efforts with the motional items to everyone Corniche. QTA in collaboration with to the facilitation of activities offerings that appeal to regional National Day Organising arriving in Doha. QTA will also be announcing the National Day Organizing and events that appeal to all visitors. Committee and stakeholders QTA in collaboration with the winners of the best decorated Committee and tourism sector ages. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Sheikh Jassim Quran contest ends today RIJEKA, Croatia: The Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani Quran Msheireb opts for District Cooling Memorisation and Recitation Competition for non-Arabic speakers will conclude today at Rijeka Islamic Centre, Croatia. About 100 men and women from Balkan countries, including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Macedonia are contesting in the competition’s Project achieves permanent 11kv power connection for first cooling plant three stages. Some 75 percent of the contesters completed the tests before the arbitration panel successfully. The panel was to end examining the remainder of contesters last evening. Awards, ranging between ¤3,000 to ¤1,200, will be given to winners of the first 10 positions. All other participants will be given not less than ¤200 each. For the first time, the contest is being held outside Qatar, at the center, which is the largest and one of the most beautiful Islamic centres in Europe. Preparations were made in cooperation with Islamic Society of Croatia. QNA

A view of the District Cooling plant at the Msheireb Downtown Doha project.

DOHA: Msheireb Downtown Doha than conventional refrigeration system, commitment to sustainable development (MDD), the multi-billion dollar ambi- resulting heavy reduction in CO2 emissions. and industry best practice,” said Abdulla Al tious project of Msheireb Properties, has The power connection represents a major Mehshadi, CEO of Msheireb Properties. opted to install energy efficient ‘District milestone in the delivery of MDD as the The MDD district cooling system will Cooling’ (DC) technology to cool its build- permanent electricity supplies will allow for enable significant savings in comparison to ings instead of using power-intensive con- the operation of highly efficient water cooled the power consumption of conventional air ventional air-conditioning system, said a chillers in the plant which will cool the cooled chillers. The plants will use chillers of press statement yesterday. Diwan Amiri Quarter with chilled water. the highest efficiency, which will be able save Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of This plant will be part of a larger dis- up to 12.6 million kWhs per year compared Qatar Foundation (QF), announced that trict cooling system which will comprise two to similar conventional chillers. its flagship project has achieved perma- district cooling plants (DCP-1 and DCP-2). These developments reflect Msheireb nent 11 kilovolt (kv) power connection in Once fully operational, the total capacity Properties’ commitment to attain the high- its first DC plant in partnership with Qatar of the district cooling system will be 29,250 est of standards in efficient energy and General Electricity and Water Corporation TR, sufficient to serve the cooling needs of water consumption, confirmed by its LEED (Kahramaa) and is now operational and in the entire MDD development. certification and sustainability objectives. the testing stage. “We are extremely proud to have com- In September, Msheireb Properties and District cooling is an innovative and pleted this major “power ON” milestone for Kahramaa activated the first 66kV ener- energy efficient cooling system which our MDD project in close cooperation with gised underground substation in MDD. The delivers chilled water via an underground Kahramaa. It is the result of the tireless development will eventually be powered by insulated pipeline to offices and buildings efforts of the entire Msheireb Properties two 66kV primary underground substations needing cooling. team, Kahramaa management and their field that will feed 11kV power to 40 underground The DC technology is not only cost effec- engineers. Our environmental considerations distribution substations in each building and tive but also an environment-friendly sys- are deeply incorporated into each element both district cooling plants. tem which uses 30 to 40 percent less energy of the MDD master plan, underscoring our THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 MIDEAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Bahraini living in Iran named attack suspect Suspect planned terrorists acts: Chief prosecutor

DUBAI: Bahrain has named operation, Ali Mafoudh Al and Iraq, he said, adding that two a Bahraini citizen who lives in Moussawi, was accused of “plan- of those arrested while trying to Iran as a main suspect in what ning to commit terrorist acts and smuggle the arms spoke an Iraqi it called planned “terrorist acts” planting explosives targeting vital dialect of Arabic. and said he and his collabora- installations and sovereign and The Manama government tors had received training and security locations”. accuses Bahrain’s opposition of other help from Tehran. Moussawi recruited a number having a Shia sectarian agenda Bahrain, home to the US Fifth of people to be trained in Iran to and links to Tehran and to Fleet, said last Monday it had carry out attacks and formed a Lebanese Shia militant group foiled an attempt to smuggle group to smuggle the weapons and Hezbollah. The opposition denies arms and explosives, some made explosives into Bahrain, BNA said. this, saying such allegations are in Iran and Syria, into the coun- Several members of the group a pretext for avoiding democratic try by boat. were arrested and confessed to reforms. Tehran also denies any The Gulf Arab kingdom has been having been trained by Iranians at link, but champions the cause of rattled by bouts of unrest since camps for the Islamic Republic’s the opposition while Hezbollah February 2011, when protests led by elite Revolutionary Guard, BNA has criticised Manama’s crack- members of its Shia majority pop- said late on Thursday. down on Shia protesters. ulation demanded that the Sunni “The accused confessed that In February, Bahrain accused ruling family give up ultimate they had joined the group to... Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of power to an elected parliament. commit terrorist acts with reli- setting up a militant cell to assas- Bahrain’s chief prosecutor gious motivations from their sinate public figures in the Gulf Osama Al Oufi, cited by the points of view,” Oufi said, accord- Arab kingdom and attack its air- state BNA news agency, said the ing to BNA. Other members of port and government buildings. suspect behind the smuggling the group are still at large in Iran REUTERS

John Kerry in Ramallah

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) listens as Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat speaks to the media after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday . SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Fallujah falls to Qaeda-linked militants Syrian oppn bloc says it 65 killed in Anbar province; Iraqi premier vows to eliminate all terrorist groups

FALLUJAH: Iraq has lost targeting of their community. allied tribes; ISIL; and forces of tribesmen in the Sahwa militia desert areas. The Ramadi protest will shun Fallujah to Al-Qaeda-linked The violence then spread to the anti-government “Military forces from late 2006, to wrest camp operation pushed Sunni fighters, a senior security offi- Fallujah, and a subsequent with- Council of the Tribes”. control of Anbar from militants. tribes into conflict with the gov- cial said yesterday, putting drawal of security forces from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al The US forces suffered almost ernment, and ISIL “has ridden peace talks militants back in control of the areas of both cities cleared the Maliki vowed yesterday to elimi- one-third of their total Iraq fatal- this wave of popular Sunni anger,” city in Anbar province where way for militants to move in. nate militant groups in Anbar. ities in Anbar, according to inde- Lister said. ISTANBUL: An influential American forces repeatedly “Fallujah is under the control of “We will not back down until pendent website icasualties.org. Maliki had long sought the clo- bloc within the Western-backed battled insurgents. ISIL,” a senior security official in we end all terrorist groups and But two years after US forces sure of the protest camp, dubbing Syrian opposition decided yes- And fighting in Anbar killed 65 Anbar said, while the city’s out- save our people in Anbar,” Maliki withdrew from the country, the it a “headquarters for the leader- terday to shun talks aimed at people yesterday — eight soldiers, skirts were in the hands of local was quoted as saying by Iraqiya power of militants in the province ship of Al-Qaeda”. But its removal ending the nearly three-year two government-allied tribesmen police. Witnesses inside Fallujah state television. is again rising. ISIL is the latest has caused a sharp decline in the conflict, citing the international and 55 militants from Al-Qaeda- also said ISIL seemed to be in On Friday alone, more than 100 incarnation of an Al-Qaeda affili- security situation. community’s inaction. linked group the Islamic State of control, with no security forces people were killed in Ramadi and ate that lost ground from 2006, And while the closure has The Syrian National Council Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), secu- or Sahwa anti-Al-Qaeda militia- Fallujah, in the country’s deadliest as Sunni tribesmen and former removed a physical sign of Sunni has opposed attending the rity officials said. men visible on the streets. single day in years. Hundreds of insurgents joined US troops Arab grievances, the perceived January 22 negotiations, dubbed Parts of Fallujah and Ramadi, Meanwhile, Iraqi ground forces gunmen, some bearing the black against jihadists in a process that injustices that underpinned the “Geneva 2”, because it says world west of Baghdad, had already been commander Staff General Ali flags often flown by jihadists, had began in Anbar and came to be protest have not been addressed. powers have not done enough to held by militants for days, hark- Ghaidan Majeed said security gathered at outdoor prayers in cen- known as the “Awakening”. Violence in Iraq last year reached force President Bashar Al Assad ening back to the years after the forces killed 25 ISIL fighters in tral Fallujah on Friday, where one But the group has made a a level not seen since 2008, when to cede power. 2003 US-led invasion when both Albufaraj, near Ramadi, and 30 militant announced that “Fallujah striking comeback following the it was just emerging from a brutal Assad’s forces have recently cities were insurgent strongholds. in Garma, close to Fallujah. is an Islamic state,” a witness said. US withdrawal and the outbreak period of sectarian killings. been gaining ground against the Fighting erupted in the Ramadi Eight soldiers and at least two The city was the target of of Syria’s civil war in 2011. Sunni anger helped fuel the moderate rebel fighters backed by area on Monday, when security government-allied tribesmen two major assaults after the Charles Lister, a visiting fellow surge in unrest, boosting recruit- the opposition and he faces little forces broke up an anti-govern- were also killed in fighting in 2003 US-led invasion, in which at the Brookings Doha Centre, ment for militant groups and pressure to make concessions. At ment protest camp set up after the Ramadi and Fallujah areas, American forces saw some of said its “strength and territorial decreasing cooperation with secu- the same time, radical Islamists demonstrations erupted in late security officials said. Majeed said their heaviest fighting since the control and influence has been rity forces, while the civil war in distrusted by the West have taken 2012 against what Sunni Arabs there are three groups involved in Vietnam War. American troops expanding in Anbar for some Syria also played a role, experts say. a bigger role in the campaign to say is the marginalisation and the fighting: security forces and fought for years, aided by Sunni time,” although mainly in rural AFP oust Assad. “After looking at the issue from a political, military and humani- tarian angle ... the general sec- retary (the Council’s 43-strong decision-making body) failed Tunisia MPs reject Islam to see any encouragement or clear agenda based on which the meeting can succeed,” it said in a statement, reaffirming a previ- as main source of law ous decision not to go to Geneva 2 “based on current conditions”. TUNIS: Tunisia’s constituent Article 2 — which also cannot be The council is part of a broader assembly yesterday rejected amended — on the establishment opposition coalition which is due Islam as the main source of law of a “civil state based on citizenship, to make its final decision on for the country that spawned the will of the people and the rule whether to attend the Geneva the Arab Spring as they voted of law”. It adopted Article 6 which 2 talks on Monday. The opposi- for a second day on a new makes the state the “guardian of tion meetings are taking place in constitution. religion,” “protector of the sacred” Turkey, which strongly backs the But while they stipulated that and guarantor of “freedom of con- anti-Assad campaign. Islam as the state religion, they science.” It would also place mosques The council decision to shun promised freedom of conscience, and other places of worship out of Geneva could increase pressure despite one MP warning that bounds to political activity. on the fractious coalition — which “satanists” and “idolaters” would Azed Badi, of the Wafa party, has said it is ready to attend in be practicing in public and criti- objected, saying the article would principle — but will not necessar- cism by a rights group they were “allow satanists and idolaters to ily force its hand. AFP too vague. organise public events... to spread The voting comes amid con- their beliefs”. But Ennahda’s Syria rebels unite, cerns that a January 14 deadline Sonia Ben Toumia countered by for the charter’s adoption may be saying “Islam is a religion that launch new revolt overshot because of disruptions guarantees freedom of religious and the slow pace of deliberations. practice to others.” And secularist against jihadists It was on January 14, 2011, that Iyed Dahmani said “those opposed ousted dictator Zine El Abidine to freedom of conscience want to A police vehicle burning outside Al Azhar University after it was torched by students yesterday. BEIRUT: Syrian rebels have Ben Ali and his family fled the take us back to dark periods in united to kill and capture dozens country for exile in Saudi Arabia. history when tribunals examined of jihadists in a new “revolution” Article 1 approved by the the beliefs of people.” against an Al-Qaeda affiliate National Constituent Assembly Yet the Tunisian League of Egypt vows ‘full force’ against they accuse of worse abuses than establishes the country as a Human Rights was uncomfort- the hated President Bashar Al republic and Islam as its religion. able with Article 6. It argued that Assad, activists said yesterday. “Tunisia is a free, independent defining the state as protector of defiant Brotherhood Three powerful rebel alli- and sovereign state. Islam is its religion and guarantor of things ances have taken on fighters of religion, Arabic is its language, sacred is vague and open to inter- CAIRO: Egypt vowed yester- or leaders of the influential near his vehicle, the military said. the Islamic State of Iraq and the and it is a republic. It is not pos- pretation, which could threaten day to confront the Muslim Islamist movement. “The organ- The Brotherhood, which insists Levant (ISIL) during two days of sible to amend this article,” the freedoms. Brotherhood with “full force” isation continues its criminal it is peaceful, has called for a fierce combat in Aleppo and Idlib article reads. Approving the new constitu- as the Islamists called for fur- activities despite its designation surge in rallies ahead of the sec- provinces that Syria’s main oppo- This was a compromise between tion will be a crucial democratic ther rallies, a day after clashes as a terrorist group,” said the ond hearing in Mursi’s trial for sition National Coalition said it the Islamist party Ennahda, milestone. Its adoption would between protesters and police government. The state “will con- inciting the killing of protest- “fully supports.” which heads the outgoing coali- end months of political crisis and killed at least 17 people. front the activities of this terror- ers during his turbulent year in Jihadists who flocked to Syria tion government, and the secu- further distance Tunisia from the The Brotherhood, which ist group with full force,” it said. power. The government says the to join the rebels in their fight lar opposition. But the assembly chronic instability plaguing other demands the reinstatement of Police arrested 258 suspected Islamists now intend to disrupt against Assad were at first wel- rejected two amendments, one countries in a region rocked by ousted president Mohammed protesters during the clashes, a January 14-15 referendum on comed by the armed opposition. proposing Islam and the other regime change. Mursi, has organised near-daily security officials said. More than a new constitution, the first in But relations grew bitter after proposing the Holy Quran as “the Earlier, assembly Speaker protests despite its designation last 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, a series of polls that it says will ISIL fought other opposition principal source of legislation”. Mustapha Ben Jaafar adjourned month as a terrorist organisation. have been killed in street clashes, restore an elected government by groups for control and commit- Mohamed Hamdi of the deliberations for awhile after a Friday’s violence was the dead- and thousands have been impris- the end of the year. ted systematic abuses against small “Current of Love” party leftist member started shouting, liest in almost three months, oned, in the crackdown on Mursi’s The Islamists, who have called activists and rival rebels, as well defended Islamic law, saying it demanding that he be allowed to after Mursi supporters rallied in supporters following his ouster. for a boycott of the referendum, as ordinary citizens. would give “spiritual backing speak. Rowdy scenes on Friday the thousands in defiance of the The military is also battling are also urging a “million man But in the past 48 hours, anti- to all rights and liberties”. But sparked concern in the press that interim government’s designation an Islamist militant campaign in march” on Wednesday to coincide Assad activists have described the Mahmoud Baroudi, of the secu- the deadline may not be met. of the Brotherhood as a terrorist the Sinai peninsula that has killed with Mursi’s hearing. The crack- escalation against ISIL as a new lar Democratic Alliance, said Leading Francophone daily La group last month. scores of soldiers and policemen down on the group has jailed most “revolution” in Syria, given ISIL’s the proposed amendments were Presse cited disputes, interrup- The designation carries harsh since Mursi’s overthrow in July. of its leaders and severely impaired increasing number of kidnappings “against modernity”. tions and procedural problems. prison sentences for members Another soldier was killed its ability to organise large num- and beheadings and other abuses. The assembly also adopted AFP arrested during demonstrations when a road side bomb detonated bers of protesters. AFP AFP

Yemen cleric accused Political crisis a plot: Erdogan ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime are in reaction to a vast corrup- “We will not allow a cloud to Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, tion investigation that led to the be cast over Turkey’s future,” whose Islamist-leaning govern- arrests on December 17 of key Erdogan said. ment is engulfed in a corruption allies including high-profile busi- Meanwhile Turkish President scandal, yesterday called the nessmen and the sons of former Abdullah Gul has promised that political crisis a “plot” against ministers. any corruption would not be Turkey’s “future and stability” The prime minister was forced hushed up. by rival forces. to reshuffle his cabinet after “If acts of corruption are cov- At a luncheon in Istanbul with three key ministers — fathers to ered up, society will disintegrate,” generally pro-government intel- the implicated sons — resigned. said Gul on television Friday night. lectuals, writers and journalists, Some lawmakers have also quit “Nothing must be hidden. Those Erdogan reiterated his view that his Justice and Development who have not committed a crime, shadowy groups in Turkey and Party (AKP). have nothing to fear.” abroad are conspiring to oust him The corruption scandal has Gul and Erdogan were co- from power. affected the economy with the founders of the AKP in 2001. “What they wanted to do was Turkish lira currency at a record Since a government crackdown an attempted assassination of low against the dollar and shares in June on protesters opposed the national will,” he said in the tumbling on the Istanbul stock to plans to develop an Istanbul address later shown on television. exchange this week. park, the two leaders have care- “They tried to carry out a judi- Erdogan yesterday expressed fully avoided any confrontation Suspected Al-Qaeda supporter Abdul-Wahab Al Humayqani (second right) attending a meeting in Sana’a, cial coup in Turkey.... But we are confidence that Turkey would but they have been demonstrat- Yemen, yesterday. Others are not identified. The US Treasury Department accuses the controversial Yemeni going to oppose this operation, overcome its current difficulties. ing different styles in the crisis cleric for using his Yemen-based charity as a cover for funnelling financial support to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian this December 17 plot that tar- He pointed to municipal elections — Erdogan is seen as authoritar- geted the future, the stability of set for March as a test for the ian while Gul has appeared as a Peninsula (AQAP) and frequently travelling throughout the Arabian Peninsula to conduct business for AQAP. our country,” Erdogan said. regime in upcoming presidential unifier. Erdogan’s conspiracy charges elections in August. AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Turkish court orders release of three Kurdish lawmakers South Sudan peace talks DIYARBAKIR: A Turkish who are being tried for links to Kemal Aktas after the consti- court ordered the release from militants. A judge in Diyarbakir tutional court said their impris- jail of three Kurdish lawmakers, ruled in favour of freeing Selma onment violated their rights as open amid Juba fighting in addition to two freed on Friday, Irmakand, Faysal Sariyildiz and elected officials. REUTERS JUBA: Artillery fire pounded rattle of automatic weapons were Deng Nhial, head of the govern- Juba’s government district yes- heard in a Juba district where ment negotiation team. “We shall terday even as warring factions most ministries, the presidential leave no stone unturned in the met for the first time on the eve palace and the parliament are search for a peaceful resolution.” of direct talks in Ethiopia to located, an AFP reporter said. But Nhial also warned it “must pull South Sudan back from the It was not clear who was be abundantly clear” the govern- brink of all-out civil war. involved in the fighting, that ment has “an obligation to restore Full face-to-face peace talks ended a period of relative calm in peace and security of the country were to begin in earnest today in the capital. The conflict erupted through all means available.” the Ethiopian capital in a bid to on December 15, pitting army Rebel delegation chief Taban end three weeks of fighting that units loyal to President Salva Kiir Deng, a former governor of the key are feared to have killed thousands against a loose alliance of ethnic oil-state Unity, said they were com- in the world’s newest nation. militia forces and mutinous army mitted to the talks mediated by the “South Sudan deserves peace commanders nominally headed by regional East African IGAD bloc and development not war,” his rival, former vice president of nations. “We will be continuing Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Riek Machar. move to the next level,” Deng said, Adhanom said at ceremony to for- Negotiation teams have spent including negotiating ceasefire and mally open talks, which brought three days in the same luxury “political issues.” the government and rebel teams hotel in neighbouring Ethiopia’s The army continued to bat- together for the first time. capital Addis Ababa. Ethiopian tle rebels in a bid to wrest back “You should not allow this foreign ministry spokesman Dina the strategic town of Bor, capital senseless war to continue, you Mufti said full formal direct talks of Jonglei, one of the country’s need to stop it, and you need to would begin at 1200 GMT today. largest states. “Our forces are stop it today — and you can.” “The people of South Sudan still moving towards Bor,” army As delegates smiled in the lux- have suffered in the fight for inde- spokesman Philip Aguer said, ury hotel in Ethiopia, heavy explo- pendence, and they will not suffer dismissing rebel claims they had sions from artillery fire and the again in our hands,” said Nhial been marching on Juba. AFP

Suspected Saudi militant dies in Lebanese custody BEIRUT: The suspected leader of an Al Qaeda- linked militant group that claimed responsi- bility for bombing the Iranian embassy in Beirut two months ago died in custody yesterday, security sources said. Majid bin Muhammad Al Majid, a Saudi national who was wanted by authorities in his own country, had been suffering from kidney fail- ure and went into a coma on Friday, the sources said. He died in a military hospital in Beirut, they added. Majid was believed to be the leader of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, which have claimed attacks across the region, most recently the double suicide assault on Iran’s Beirut embassy, which killed at least 25 people. His identity was confirmed by Lebanese officials on Friday after DNA tests. In tweets at the time of the bombing, the Abdullah Azzam brigades threatened more attacks in Lebanon unless Iran pulled its forces out of Syria. Last year Azzam Brigades, named after an associate of the late Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, were formally des- ignated by the US State Department as a foreign terrorist organisation. REUTERS Sharon’s condition unchanged

TEL AVIV: The condition of Israeli former prime minister Ariel Sharon, described on Friday as in a “slow, gradual” decline after eight years in a coma, was unchanged yes- terday, public radio said. “At this time we cannot report any change in the con- dition of former prime minis- ter Ariel Sharon,” the station reported from Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv. The 85-year-old’s health wors- ened on Wednesday as he suffered serious kidney prob- lems after surgery. “Tests show a slow, gradual deterioration in the functioning of his vital organs... His state has not changed. He’s still in criti- cal condition, and his life is in danger,” Tel Hashomer hospital director Zeev Rotstein was quoted by public radio as saying on Friday in the last official bulletin on his condition. “I don’t think the situa- tion will improve with time, and we know what usu- ally happens in cases like this,” he added. Rotstein said there were traces of infection in Sharon’s blood, and that it had not been possible for him to undergo renal dialysis since his other organs were in such a fragile state. AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Bangladesh on brink Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

ANGLADESH is often called the battleground of battling Begums. Such is the toxic rivalry between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader BKhaleda Zia that when they cross swords, the entire How can we make sense of the country can come to a halt. And the country is going through such a phase now. Bu the latest crisis has triggered questions about the future of democracy in the impoverished country. As Bangladeshis world without reading stories? go to the polls on Sunday, reports say Sheikh Hasina is guaranteed to be re-elected in what is effectively a one-party BY RACHEL COOKE contest. Zia is under de facto house arrest after her party of specialist activity, and that strikes published until June. Fans of Twitter decided to boycott the election claiming that it would be terror into the heart of people who celebrate it as a place to discover and rigged. There were hopes until this week that the two women O ONE can say precisely love reading.” talk about books. But it craves novelty would be able to put aside their differences and come to why John Williams’s novel Is she right? I started out deter- like no other medium and this kills some kind of compromise after the deadliest year of political NStoner has become a best- mined to write a Pollyanna-ish piece off some novels before they can walk. seller almost 50 years after its first insisting she is wrong. I thought, in no Who can commit to The Goldfinch violence in the country’s short history. But those hopes were publication. After all, plenty of books, particular order, of all those excited or The Luminaries when the titles dashed when mediation failed and the two sides stuck to their “forgotten” or otherwise, are recom- children who grew up on Harry Potter are busily piling up on some virtual positions. mended by word of mouth and yet (now, one assumes, book-buying shelf? Such “conversations” can leave In the early years of their political life, the two women most will not go on to sell more than young adults); of the fact that some me feeling weary of a book that is still worked together, combining to help topple another military a few hundred copies. And it’s hard to 150,000 books are published in the UK in a van on its way to the wholesaler. know in what ways, if any, its story – every year and that even in the face Does it matter if only a tiny and regime in 1990. But the allies become rivals in elections the a young man falls in love with litera- of the recession and digital technol- select group of people reads novels in following year, trading often personal insults at rallies. Both ture and thus a new world is revealed ogy, more than £1.4bn was spent on the future? Of course it does. This is leaders have enough numbers of supporters who can paralyse to him – might have touched people. printed books in 2013; of the success not about literacy – though it could the country, turning it into one of the politically most unstable Many of those who rushed to buy it of small and old-fashioned publishers be, if you want to go that route (I’m countries in Asia. That a country will not yet have got around to open- such asPersephone Books, and new not sure I would have learned to read which is struggling to feed its ing it and some will never read it. and innovative ones such as Unbound, properly and effectively if, as a child, Stoner will languish on their shelves, whose crowd-funded Letters of Note I hadn’t discovered novels; certainly, people should waste its precious its spine unbro- was a Christmas bestseller. I would never have learned to write). The impoverished time and resources on political ken, just like Jung But as I sat down at my desk, It’s about understanding. To pinch country can rivalry between two Begums is Chang’s Wild gloomier thoughts rushed in. Face from the computer scientist Jaron reprehensible. And it’s all the more Swans, the non- facts, I told myself. Libraries are Lanier: you are not a gadget, you are achieve peace painful that people have never Last week, Ruth fiction hit of 1992. closing and not even Labour councils a person. learnt from their experiences But still, it has seem minded to save them. Bookshops How are we to make sense of our- only if the Rendell claimed given us some- are struggling. The BBC now devotes selves and the world that holds us battling Begums and are falling victims to the thing to think no TV programme to literature. And if not by reading stories? For isn’t machinations of politicians. that reading about, this dust- then, more anecdotal evidence. A this how we’ve talked to ourselves end their rivalry. The onus now is on the ing down of so recent rail journey when no person – soothed, stimulated and improved government in Dhaka to make novels is a dying plangent and in my carriage was doing anything ourselves – for thousands of years? sure that the country doesn’t substantial a other than prodding a tiny screen. I know I sound like a tragic old art. Sadly, she novel. On Radio A conversation with an (educated, Leavisite when I say that fiction and slide into chaos. The planned election must be free and fair, might have a 4 last week, Ruth affluent) acquaintance who told me: ethics are intimately bound, but I feel and must be held under the supervision of international Rendell, the nov- “I don’t really read any more.” A con- this to be true. Novel reading boosts monitors. Doubts of rigging must be dispelled completely. point. elist and Labour versation with a publisher as to what empathy or, at any rate reminds us Ever since the elections were called in October, Zia has been peer, suggested a “big sale” means when it comes to a that things are complicated; fiction demanding that Hasina stand aside and let a neutral caretaker that Stoner is a well-reviewed literary novel (if you’re unpicks knots. The success of The government organise the contest. But Hasina has refused and book for our times, her argument interested, a sudden “spike” amounts Examined Life by the psychoanalyst being that we live in an age when to 140 copies). The fact that most Stephen Grosz has, I think, relatively instead accused Zia of holding the country hostage after her reading is for most an alien pastime, bestsellers are not careful, beauti- little to do with his clinical know- Bangladesh Nationalist Party organised a series of blockades. just as it is to William Stoner until ful novels about university teachers how; it rests, as Freud’s did, on his It’s time for both Begums to reach a compromise in the he has an epiphany. (Asked to elu- and their struggle to navigate life, story-telling abilities. interest of their country. Both have suffered enough, and cidate a poem by a professor, he is but the chunterings of TV chefs and Then there is the question of cul- even their entry into politics is the result of tragedies in their unable to say anything except: “It ageing comedians. Most lowering of ture, of aesthetics, of pleasure. What families. Zia entered politics after her husband, general- means... it means...” and yet, in this all, I considered the constant noise a pity, to be shut out of these, and moment, everything changes; the and rush that surrounds publishing, a I’m not only talking about Charlotte turned-president Ziaur Rahman was killed in an attempted verse, whether he understands it or howling gale that works against read- Brontë and Jane Austen but about coup in 1981. Hasina took on the mantle as leader of the not, has touched him on some power- ing, an activity that requires peace Barbara Pym and Dorothy L Sayers, Awami League after her father, Bangladesh’s founding leader fully deep level.) “We are told that it and patience. or whoever else floats your boat. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was gunned down by renegade army isn’t happening,” said Rendell. “But On New Year’s Day, a literary agent Fewer people used to be excluded officers in 1975. it is. Reading is no longer something announced on Twitter that there from this endless richness, of this I’m that everybody does as a matter of would be two novels worth reading convinced. Enough is enough, many Bangladeshis are saying. But their course. Reading is becoming a kind in 2014. One of these wouldn’t be THE GUARDIAN desperate pleas are falling on deaf ears • The other side Quote of Crisis in western Iraq the day

HE government of Prime Minister The government claims that more than is widely seen as one of tribal-centric, necessity of a compassionate solution Nouri Al Maliki, moreover, is 60 extremists had been killed in the last and it doesn’t seem to have a quick-fix to the political-cum-regional irritants in blamed for inefficiency and few days, since the fighting erupted, but solution. The least that the government the restive areas. Tbiasness, which has further the issue is far from resolved. The street- should do is to desist from using force It goes without saying that Iraq They tried to carry compounded the issue of dealing with pitched battles have led to displacement against the tribes, irrespective of the fact continues to serve as a hub for terror- out a judicial coup minorities. The majority sect, however, of people, and a large number of them that some of the tribal heads are under related outfits as they moved into this is also not at peace and time and again are reported to have moved across the the influence of Al Qaeda and other Arab country from Yemen, Afghanistan in Turkey.... But we had been a victim of deadly terror frontiers in Jordan. The UNHCR, the extremist organisations. A negotiated and parts of eastern Africa. The mush- attacks unleashed by Al Qaeda and the world body’s refugee agency, says that way out is the only solution, as the peo- rooming of extremist elements and their are going to oppose like. During the year of 2013, more than influx of migrants had increased fivefold ple seem to have serious administrative gradual penetration into the body politik 10,000 deaths were reported and Iraqis in the last one month, and the civil unrest and governance-related grievances. of Iraq is a dangerous sign for its long- this operation, this were nostalgic over the yesteryears of in Iraq is to be blamed for this human Many have also been complaining about term stability and sovereignty. It is here December 17 plot 2006-07 killings. This new spate of exodus. The outpouring of people is also the absence of basic services like elec- that the Maliki administration has to act violence has come as the government reported from the outskirts of Baghdad, tricity and sewerage, largely due to cor- selflessly and impartially to establish the that targeted the withdrew armed forces from the restive and Anbar province, which is primarily ruption. The void that extremist elements writ of the state and ensure rights to all future, the stability minority provinces, and the Al Qaeda populated by the majority-community. want to fill in can easily be browbeaten the communities in an unbiased manner. Recep Tayyip Erdogan outfits moved into fill the void in no time. The crisis in the western areas of Iraq if the government underscores the Khaleej Times of our country. Turkish Prime Minister SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 A new understanding for the Mideast The Palestinians have a strong case for objecting to the demand that they now recognise Israel’s national and cultural identity as well.

BY YONATAN TOUVAL Indeed, depending on its exact fram- ing, the US position could either lead s Secretary of State John to a major breakthrough or constitute Kerry hammers out the a diplomatic blunder that would reflect principles for an Israeli- profound insensitivity to the symbolic Palestinian “framework dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian agreement,” many are conflict and risk burying the prospects Aspeculating that he has formally for an agreement for some time to adopted Jerusalem’s demand that the come. Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish Having already accorded Israel for- state. The importance of this step — mal diplomatic recognition in 1993, both historically and for the future of the Palestinians have a strong case US peacemaking efforts in the region for objecting to the demand that they — should not be underestimated. now recognise Israel’s national and There are good reasons why the US cultural identity as well. Recognition position on this issue has been slow of another state’s self-identity has no to evolve. For one thing, the Israeli place in standard diplomatic practice. demand is relatively new; it was first And for the Palestinians to extend such explicitly tied to negotiations by Prime recognition to Israel poses a challenge Minister Ehud Olmert in 2007 and beyond the usual argument that doing later adopted by Benjamin Netanyahu. so would constitute a political slap in Its novelty, coupled with the fact the face to the 1.6 million Palestinians that Olmert dropped his insistence who are citizens of Israel. once good-faith negotiations with the For at its core, Israel’s Jewishness is Palestinians got underway during his a constitutive element of the Zionist last months in office, has made the national narrative — a narrative that, Israeli armoured personnel carriers (APC) are stationed at the Gaza Strip border on November 16, 2012. Israeli officials said the Jewish demand seem, at best, superfluous and, for historical reasons, is and perhaps state was preparing to launch its first ground offensive in four years into the Gaza Strip and the army started calling up 16,000 reservists. at worst, like an attempt to stonewall forever will be incommensurable with progress. that of the Palestinians. recognition would still mark a pro- the Palestinian refugees, their suffering something Israel would be reluctant Nevertheless, the United States Israel didn’t become Jewish by magic. foundly symbolic act of reconciliation. and losses” — was considered extremely to offer. But Israel could acknowledge took a significant step when, in a May It did so through a long-fought battle, For such reconciliation to take place, far-reaching. Since then, Israeli society Palestinian suffering without under- 2011 speech, President Barack Obama waged on the diplomatic world stage as however, Israel would have to be ready has grown more at ease with compet- mining its own national narrative or defined his vision for peace with the well as on the ground. Among the con- to reciprocate with an equally concili- ing narratives to the traditional Zionist — as it should be rightly wary — poten- words “Israel as a Jewish state and the sequences of that battle: Some 600,000 atory gesture. And there is no more one. tially exposing itself to legal charges in homeland for the Jewish people, and Palestinians either fled or were expelled fitting gesture than Israeli recognition A poll conducted last month, for international tribunals. the state of Palestine as the homeland from the newly created state of Israel of Palestinian suffering. instance, found that two-thirds of The United States should encour- for the Palestinian people.” in 1948 and became refugees. In other Such a recognition need not be diffi- Israeli Jews would like their children to age Israel to move in this direction The language made clear that, words, Israel’s Jewish identity is inex- cult to fathom. Numerous formulations learn the “Palestinian narrative” about by tabling its own proposal for such whatever the Obama administration tricable from what the Palestinians call — official and unofficial — have been the conflict. an acknowledgment — one that might thought were Netanyahu’s motivations, the Nakba, or the “catastrophe.” proposed over the years. At the Taba The exact language of the Israeli rec- empower the Palestinians enough it accepted that Israel’s demand could Yet if it is wrong that, as Netanyahu talks of January 2001, the Israeli team ognition would have to be negotiated, of to reciprocate with the recognition no longer be ignored. has recently said, Palestinian recogni- drafted a document whose operative course. The Palestinians may well seek Israel so avowedly seeks. Now the matter of how that demand tion of Israel’s Jewishness should be the phrase — “The State of Israel solemnly to obtain an explicit apology for the WP-BLOOMBERG proceeds becomes all-important. “minimal requirement for peace,” such expresses its sorrow for the tragedy of consequences of Israel’s establishment, Sharon’s final mission might well be peace Never ever limit the An intriguing habit of you have to understand both: that “occupation and intimidation” are the twin pillars of the NSA’s effectiveness Israeli condition. Sharon’s was to refer But Shavit goes further. He castigates his former comrades in the peace movement for BY STEVEN G. BRADBURY focusing so narrowly on the territories con- to places in Israel by quered in 1967, as if returning them to the iven the political sensitivities around the National Security Palestinians will solve the entire conflict and Agency (NSA) and the technical and legal complexities their original Arabic bring blissful resolution. For, he insists, the involved in NSA programmes, it is perhaps no surprise heart of the matter is not 1967 but the birth Gthat the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and of Israel in 1948. Communications Technologies produced a glib and unconvincing report. names thereby In one chapter, he meticulously recon- But a recent defence of that report by one of the group’s members, structs events in the mainly Arab town Michael Morell (“Correcting the record on the NSA review,” op-ed, acknowledging truth of Lydda in July 1948, when soldiers of the Dec 29), underscored the contradictions at the report’s core. embryonic Israeli army emptied the place of The group’s most alarming recommendations relate to the NSA’s its Palestinian inhabitants and, according to telephone metadata programme. that usually lies buried Shavit, killed more than 300 civilians. In an Metadata means transactional records of communications, not the unflinching account based on the testimony of content of messages. For telephone calls, it reveals what phone num- beneath the soil. those who did the killing, Shavit states baldly: bers have called other numbers and the time and duration of the calls. “Zionism carrie[d] out a massacre.” Phone companies generate these records for billing purposes. BY JONATHAN FREEDLAND Now, Shavit is not the first Israeli to stare Most courts have held that no search warrant is required to obtain the reality of 1948 in the face. He quotes a records like these, as they don’t give the government access to anyone’s Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon n truth, Ariel Sharon’s journey ended long famously candid speech from 1956 in which private communications. Regulatory and law enforcement agencies ago. Eight years have passed, almost to Moshe Dayan did much the same. More than often use subpoenas to collect transactional records to preserve them the day, since he was silenced by a stroke by the Haaretz columnist Ari Shavit is a per- 30 years later, Israel’s “new historians” exca- in a database for later searching as part of an authorised investigation. Ithat left him lodged in the limbo between sonal history of Israel, one that begins in 1897 vated the archives, looking for the factual Only a tiny fraction of the total data is ever reviewed by analysts, life and death. That state of ambiguity was with a boatload of dreamers yearning for Zion, truth. Some of those described themselves as but the NSA must have the largest available field of data to find the strangely fitting for a figure who, after decades sailing to Jaffa: their leader is a British Jew, anti-Zionists, others as post-Zionists. That relevant connections. The agency aggregates the data from several painted as either black or white – reviled by the Rt Hon Herbert Bentwich – the author’s represents a profound challenge to Israel and companies, converts the information into an efficiently searchable his enemies as the “butcher of Beirut”, loved great-grandfather. From there, Shavit offers its supporters. Shavit is telling them, as an format and retains it for five years to enable historical analysis. by his admirers as “Arik, King of Israel” – us places and moments that between them Israeli patriot profoundly committed to his In defending the review group’s report, Morell acknowledged that if ended his life an unexpected shade of grey. tell the story of the last remarkable cen- country, that it can avoid this painful history this metadata programme had been in place before September 2001, After a long career as his country’s most tury, whether absorbing successive waves of no longer: it has to own up to it. His mes- “it would likely have prevented 9/11.” He said that the programme “has fearless, some would say brutal, warrior – his Jewish refugees from the rubble of post-war sage to the Israeli left – and perhaps to John the potential to prevent the next 9/11.” Yet the review group recom- father’s gift to him on his fifth birthday was Europe or building the secret nuclear reactor Kerry, now on yet another peacemaking trip to mended that Congress pass legislation prohibiting the government from a dagger – and as patron to the settler move- at Dimona, from the triumphs of the settlers Jerusalem – is that it can delude itself no more collecting telephone metadata in bulk and requiring that storage of ment, Sharon’s final act was to dismantle some to the failures of the peace movement. The that dealing with the relatively easy matter the data be turned over to phone companies or a private third party. of the very settlements he had sponsored. In book is not without flaws. Critics have faulted of the post-1967 occupation will be enough to It also recommended that the NSA be required to obtain approval 2005 he ordered Israel’s disengagement from the scarcity of women, Mizrachim (Jews of bring peace. Ending the occupation is a worthy from the FISA court each time it wished to query the database. These Gaza, seized in the 1967 war in which Sharon Middle Eastern origin) and Palestinians in goal in its own right, Shavit says, but the real changes would “slow the process of searching the metadata,” Morell had been a crucial, if maverick, commander. Shavit’s narrative. Palestinian grievance originates in 1948. acknowledged, but “this loss of flexibility” would be “manageable” and When the stroke struck, he was poised There is no denying that his vantage point That thought fills the author with pessi- worth the added “protection of personal freedom.” to win an election that would, it was widely is that of Tel Aviv’s male, liberal elite. He is an mism. He sees “no solution” to the clash of In fact, the recommendations would throttle the effectiveness of the assumed, be followed by further withdrawals Israeli aristocrat, his link to Bentwich putting Palestinians who believe their land was stolen programme while introducing significant privacy and national security from the West Bank. The former general had him on a par with those Americans who trace and Israelis who believe their collective lives vulnerabilities. No phone company maintains all the needed metadata, unique credibility to do that – to fix borders their origins to the Mayflower. By his own depended on taking it. I think Shavit is right and none has the capacity or inclination to combine the data from mul- that had remained provisional since the state admission he is a Wasp, a White Ashkenazi about the necessity for honesty, but wrong tiple companies and maintain that information for a sufficient period was born – because he was drawn from Israel’s Supporter of Peace. to believe this means a true peace is forever of years. So the review group’s proposal would require ceding control founding generation. Sharon had fought in the Similarly, Shavit resists the binary simplici- doomed. Much of what Palestinians demand over the database to a private, third-party contractor. 1948 conflict Israelis call their war of inde- ties that afflict so much discussion of Israel- is precisely the acknowledgement that in 1948 Furthermore, requiring court approval in advance for each query pendence: despite having his arm in a plaster Palestine. His book will provide ammunition they did indeed suffer a nakba. If Israel could of the metadata would severely constrain the programme’s speed and cast, he led a platoon. Even his name was given both to those who despise Israel and those one day make such an admission, who knows responsiveness and, if applied to second and third hops from the origi- to him by Israel’s founding father, David Ben- who revere it, telling of its darkest deeds as what accommodation might follow? nal seed number, would compromise the programme’s utility entirely. Gurion – turning the young Scheinerman into well as its shining triumphs. Propagandists The tragedy for both sides is that the right Insisting on court approval of each reasonable-suspicion determination Sharon as if he were King Arthur anointing for both sides, who resemble each other so people to speak that truth were the found- would impose a legalistic overlay on a judgment designed to be made a knight. closely, could cherry-pick favourite facts to ing generation. Those who fought the war of by seasoned intelligence analysts. Israel’s current president, the apparently buttress their view – but both will end up 1948 were best placed to close its wounds. An None of these outcomes is desirable, whether for reasons of civil immortal nonagenarian Shimon Peres, was disappointed. Shavit is a hawk on the Iranian intriguing habit of Sharon’s was to refer to liberties or national security. None should be viewed as acceptable. also a Ben-Gurion protege and key player in nuclear threat, for example, but fierce in his places in Israel by their original, Arabic names If the integrity of the metadata programme is put at risk and the 1948, but he was never a soldier. The demise denunciation of the post-1967 occupation. He – thereby acknowledging the truth that usu- NSA’s ability to perform its mission significantly hampered, Edward of Sharon means the 1948 combat generation slams Israel’s hawkish supporters for failing ally lies buried beneath the soil. Leading his Snowden would realise his objectives. America’s vital advantage in com- has gone. And that matters more than you to address the occupation and slams Israel’s nation to do the same could have been Ariel munications intelligence would be further degraded, and the dedicated might think. opponents for failing to address Israelis’ deep Sharon’s final mission. They will have to do it men and women who carry out our intelligence programmes would The explanation can be found in a new, fear of their own annihilation. To truly under- without him. have an even deeper crisis of confidence. immensely powerful book. My Promised Land stand the country and the conflict, he says, THE GUARDIAN WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Putin relaxes restrictions on protest in Sochi Decree allows rallies in approved zones

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Campaign groups, calling for Putin has eased curbs on dem- everything from gay rights to onstrations in the Winter political reform, have complained Olympics venue of Sochi in that the ban on rallies, imposed a gesture likely to burnish in August as part of a security Russia’s image ahead of an crackdown, violated Russia’s own event dogged by security and constitution. human rights worries. Putin’s move came shortly after Keenly aware that the suc- he ordered a further security cess or failure of the Games will clampdown following two suicide help shape his legacy, Putin has bomb attacks in the southern closely identified himself with Russian city of Volgograd which the $50bn project. He made a killed at least 34 people. surprise inspection of venues in No one has claimed responsibil- the Black Sea resort on Friday ity for the blasts, but they were a and was shown on Russian state reminder of the continuing threat television skiing down a slope in posed by militants who want to dark glasses and a helmet. carve an Islamic state out of a Putin, who yesterday attended swath of southern Russia that a rehearsal of the Games’ open- includes Sochi. ing ceremony in Sochi, amended The International Olympic a decree to allow groups to hold Committee welcomed Putin’s some marches and gatherings at decision, the latest in a flurry of sites approved by the security gestures apparently aimed at dis- Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (right), Organising Committee Head Dmitry Chernyshenko (centre) and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak (left) visit services, the Kremlin said in a arming critics of Russia’s human an Olympic volunteer’s centre in Sochi yesterday. statement. rights record. “Gatherings, rallies, demon- “It is in line with the assur- There was no immediate reac- Union and the economic turmoil and two members of the female among minors, saying it violates strations, marches and pickets, ances that President Putin gave tion from human rights groups. of the 1990s. punk group Pussy Riot. basic freedoms. A December which are not directly connected us last year and part of the Putin wants to use the Olympics In a gesture to Western and Rights groups have criticised opinion poll showed Putin’s pub- to the Olympic and Paralympic Russian authorities’ plans to to showcase what he regards as Russian critics who accuse him Russia’s treatment of migrant lic approval rating fell to its low- Games, could be staged on ensure free expression during Russia’s political and spiritual of crushing dissent, Putin last workers, particularly on Olympic est level in more than 13 years January 7-March 21 2014... only the Games whilst delivering safe revival under his firm leadership month freed several of Russia’s sites, and have called for a boycott against the backdrop of high infla- after agreeing with... a local secu- and secure Games,” it said in an after its loss of superpower sta- best known prisoners: former oil of the Games over a law banning tion and a weaker economy. rity body,” it said. emailed comment to Reuters. tus with the 1991 fall of the Soviet tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky the spread of “gay propaganda” REUTERS

Germany grapples with immigration from Romania, Bulgaria Children are new targets in BERLIN: Europe’s top economy first expanded into eastern Europe necessary to exaggerate this issue. tackle this issue during the first Netherlands and Spain. Germany is grappling with how in 2004, in December rushed But it shouldn’t be minimised ministerial meeting of the year,” Weeks before the expirations, Central Africa’s to handle immigration from through legislation restricting EU either,” he said in an interview he said. Bulgaria and Romania Britain rushed through measures poor EU members Romania and migrants from claiming unem- with the Bild newspaper yesterday. joined the EU in 2007, becoming to limit so-called “benefit tour- Bulgaria now that their citizens ployment handouts. Gabriel and Merkel agreed in the bloc’s poorest members. ism,” by having new EU migrants conflict can seek work anywhere within Germany, Europe’s economic talks on Friday on the need for Wary of large numbers of wait for three months before the bloc. powerhouse where the minimum tougher measures against those jobseekers arriving from the applying for out-of-work pay- BANGUI: In the latest violence Restrictions that barred resi- wage is about five times what it is abusing the country’s generous two countries, several nations ments and other benefits. to rock the crisis-prone and dents from EU’s two poorest in Romania and Bulgaria, is now welfare system. kept their job markets closed to The issue of eastern European poor Central African Republic, states looking for jobs in some of also considering steps it could take. “We don’t need all-out dis- Romanian and Bulgarian citizens immigration is a highly sensitive children have become deliberate its wealthiest members expired Days before the government of crimination of the Bulgarians for several years. one in Britain, where the Labour targets of armed gangs, mainly on January 1, sparking fears by conservative Chancellor Angela and Romanians, but nor should The last of these restrictions government in power when the because of their family’s faith, some of mass invasion and so- Merkel is due to examine possible we ignore the problems some expired on January 1, including EU expanded east in 2004 vastly aid workers say. called “benefits tourism”. measures to make benefits abuse big German cities face with the in some of the bloc’s wealthi- underestimated the number of new “Before now, children were col- Britain, where hundreds of more difficult, Vice Chancellor immigration of poor people,” est nations—Austria, Belgium, arrivals and admitted it should lateral victims, but today some of thousands of immigrants have Sigmar Gabriel called for a debate Gabriel said. “Next Wednesday Britain, France, Germany, have done more to limit the influx. them are targeted directly,” said settled since the European Union on the issue. “I think it’s not the government will objectively Luxembourg, Malta, the AFP Ombretta Pasotti, who coordi- nates work by the Italian NGO Emergency at the paediatric hos- pital in Bangui, which took in the New Year’s swim first child casualties. “Attacks against children have Divorce without judges? sunk to a vicious new low, with at least two children beheaded, and one of them mutilated, in the violence that has gripped the cap- France mulls new plan ital...,” the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a December 30 PARIS: France is consider- Bertinotti said court clerks statement. ing a plan to allow divorces by are highly trained in the law and In all, UNICEF said it had veri- mutual consent to proceed with- could handle those cases, freeing fied 16 killings of children since out a judge, simplifying a process up judges for trickier breakups. December 5, while 60 more youths that some critics say is already “One couple in two will divorce. were wounded in clashes that too easy. Social Affairs Minister Do we have to make it more dif- have broken out between Muslim Dominique Bertinotti confirmed ficult?” she asked. former rebels and militias from the plan was under consideration Opponents say the proposal will the Christian majority. on Friday, telling BFM-TV that further weaken the institution of The UN agency’s representa- “simplification is a good thing.” marriage, as well as make agree- tive in CAR, Souleymane Diabete, Under the report requested ments harder to enforce. said that in addition to “being by France’s justice minister and “Doing without a judge’s author- directly targeted in atrocious expected to be laid out in mid- ity risks weakening the agreement revenge attacks”, more and more January, a court clerk could and reinforces the sentiment — children were being forced to join approve divorces when both common about those divorcing the armed groups. spouses agree. — that they’ve been had,” Elodie UNICEF appealed to sectar- According to the Le Figaro Mulon, a specialist in family law, ian fighters to “halt grave viola- newspaper, divorcing couples in told Le Figaro. Najat Vallaud- tions against children”, to release agreement spend an average of Belkacem, the government spokes- those in their ranks and to avoid only eight minutes before a judge woman, said the proposal was attacks on health and education now. The paper said 54 percent of among about 200 in the report. workers. A diver dressed as Neptune and other divers take part in the New Year’s swim in the six degree Celsius water French divorces are uncontested. AP In just three weeks, some of lake Helenesee near Frankfurt Oder, Germany, yesterday. 370,000 people have been dis- placed to dozens of makeshift camps in an upheaval affecting almost half of Bangui’s population, relief workers said. About 100,000 Rescued Antarctic passengers resume journey home residents have fled to a tent city at the airport, where African and French troops are based. CANBERRA: An Australian It had been slowly cracking told the Aurora to stay in the ship, said his fellow passengers passengers were rescued. The At the hospital, David, 13, icebreaker carrying 52 passen- through thick ice toward open area in case help was needed. had been frustrated by the news Russian ship has been immobile clutched his mother but his gers who were retrieved from an water after a Chinese ship’s heli- Under international conventions Friday that their journey home since Christmas Eve. gaze was vacant. One of 38 icebound ship in the Antarctic copter on Thursday plucked the observed by most countries, ships’ had been delayed by another A reporter for China’s offi- children admitted last month, resumed its journey home yes- passengers from their stranded crew are obliged to take part in potential rescue operation. cial Xinhua News Agency who is he had a bullet in the arm and terday, leaving behind another Russian research ship and car- such rescues and the owners “My feeling, and those of others aboard the Snow Dragon, Zhang was among many youngsters to two icebreakers trapped in pack ried them to an ice floe near the carry the costs. I believe, today is one of relief at Jiansong, said an iceberg appeared receive free emergency surgery ice. Australian ship. But on Friday Yesterday, AMSA said the finally having a concrete plan for overnight and blocked the ship’s in a shabby unit with discol- The Aurora Australis will con- afternoon, the crew of the Chinese Aurora was allowed to continue how and when we can return to return route. He said the ship oured walls. tinue its interrupted resupply icebreaker that had provided the and that the Chinese ship Snow loved ones, family and friends,” would again try to find a way out, “Some children are victims of mission to Australia’s Antarctic helicopter said they were worried Dragon, or Xue Long in Chinese, Peacock said in an email from the possibly as early as Monday. stray bullets and shell fragments... base Casey Station before return- about their own ship’s ability to was safe and not in need of Aurora. Zhang said late yesterday that Some were wounded ‘by chance’, ing to the Australian island state move through the ice. assistance. The Chinese ship remained the 101 crew members on board but here we also have children of Tasmania in mid-January with The Australian Maritime Safety Andrew Peacock, an Australian stuck several kilometers from the vessel were safe and had who were shot because they are the rescued scientists, journalists Authority’s Rescue Coordination doctor and photographer who the Russian icebreaker Akademik plenty of supplies. Muslims,” Pasotti said. and tourists. Centre, which oversaw the rescue, was rescued from the Russian Shokalskiy, from which the AP AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 US braces for Giant leap record chill from Arctic 11 killed after fierce winter storms

NEW YORK: United States the department had advised peo- authorities warned residents ple stay indoors and ensure they to stay indoors and stock up on have medical supplies and food. food after a fierce winter storm In Minnesota, Governor Mark killed at least 11 people, with Dayton has already announced forecasters saying yesterday schools will be closed tomorrow that the Arctic blast could hit “to protect all our children from record lows. the dangerously cold tempera- A state of emergency was tures,” he said in a statement urg- declared in New York and New ing caution. Jersey after heavy snow fell on The storm has been the first Thursday and there was no sign of big test for New York City’s new respite from the brutal chill that Mayor Bill de Blasio, who only has struck since the start of the took up his job Wednesday. year in parts of the northeast US “If you want safe, clear streets, and Canada. stay home,” he said on Friday. One of the coldest Arctic out- Thousands of domestic and breaks in the past two decades is international flights have been now set to plunge the Midwest cancelled or delayed in several close to record lows, weather fore- US cities including at New York’s casters said, predicting Chicago John F Kennedy Airport and in could see some of its coldest Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia, weather ever on Monday, with while thousands of miles of roads temperatures hovering around were also snarled. minus 23 degrees Celsius. Added to the mix was a flood Artists perform at a dress rehearsal for Quidam, a show by Cirque du Soleil, at the Royal Albert Hall in London yesterday. Gusty winds could bring what alert for much of Massachusetts’ forecasters at the National Atlantic coastline. Weather Service called “very dan- On Friday, a worker was gerous levels” of wind chill. killed when he was crushed by “Incredibly, it may feel as cold a 30-meter pile of salt being as -50 to -60 (Fahrenheit) on prepared to treat roads in the Obama govt to appeal surveillance ruling Sunday night over sections of Philadelphia area, media reports the north-central states with the said. A 71-year-old woman suf- WASHINGTON: The US practice, arguing that it helps “The Department of Justice than this systematic and high- frigid air remaining in place into fering from Alzheimer’s disease government said yesterday it agents “join the dots” between ter- has filed an appeal of the lone tech collection and retention of early next week,” it said. froze to death after walking out has lodged an appeal against a ror suspects and their contacts. contrary decision issued by the personal data on virtually every In such conditions, exposed into the cold and getting lost in judge’s ruling that the National But civil liberties groups claim United States District Court for single citizen,” he said in his skin would suffer frostbite in as northern New York state, author- Security Agency’s “almost the digital dragnet infringes the District of Columbia,” his opinion. little as five minutes, forecasters ities said. Orwellian” bulk collection of citizens’ right to privacy, and on office said in a statement. But on December 27, federal cautioned. At least nine other deaths were telephone records is illegal. December 16 US District Court But he added that the admin- Judge William Pauley in New Authorities have urged people blamed on the storm, nicknamed Separately, spy chief James Judge Richard Leon agreed in istration was “open to modifi- York dismissed a petition from in the worst-hit areas to spend Hercules. Clapper revealed that a secret Washington, branding the prac- cations to this programme that the American Civil Liberties the first weekend of the new Eastern Canada has also been court had renewed the NSA’s tice unconstitutional. would provide additional privacy Union and said the NSA needs year indoors for their own safety badly hit, and residents in many authority to gather call “meta- Leon’s judgement was stayed and civil liberty protections while to track phone data to prevent and to allow rescue and clean-up parts of Newfoundland lost data,” despite the controversy pending appeal, however, and still maintaining its operational terror attacks. teams to get to work as quickly power yesterday morning, local triggered when the programme another federal judge ruled benefits.” The ACLU said it would appeal as possible. media reported. Temperatures came to light. against a similar complaint in Obama has ordered and that decision. “Chicagoans are a hearty there had plunged to minus 15 Last year, leaked files from New York, so the government has received a review of the NSA’s The apparently contradic- bunch,” said Matt Smith, spokes- degrees Celsius, but the wind fugitive intelligence contractor found room to counterattack. methods and is considering tory rulings make it likely the man for the Chicago Department chill made it feel as cold as minus Edward Snowden revealed that Director of National Intelligence recommendations for reform, US Supreme Court will decide of Family and Support Services. 35, the reports said. The bracing the NSA habitually scoops up Clapper said two district courts although he is not expected to end on the constitutionality of the “But when temperatures get weather was also set to impact data on the timing and destina- had ruled in the administration’s phone metadata collection. NSA programmes. Separately, a as cold as they are predicted, you today’s crucial National Football tion of calls by millions of US favour, along with the secret Leon’s ruling last month was civil rights group asked the US want to start thinking out things League play-off between the phone users. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance scathing. Supreme Court to review a case in advance,” the Chicago Tribune Green Bay Packers and the San President Barack Obama’s Court, which renewed the NSA’s “I cannot imagine a more indis- challenging the authority of NSA quoted him as saying, adding that Francisco 49ers. AFP administration has defended the authority. criminate and arbitrary invasion surveillance. AFP

Gorilla count Barbara Bush discharged Ex-minister to run from hospital for Brazilian V-P WASHINGTON: Former first lady RIO DE JANEIRO: Former leaders, surprised many when Barbara Bush Brazilian Environment they said in October they would (pictured) Minister Marina Silva has form an alliance but refused to went home agreed to run for vice presi- say which of them would stand yesterday dent in October elections on the for president if they made a bid. after six days presidential ticket of Eduardo Pollsters say their decision to in hospital Campos, the governor of Brazil’s team up could form a serious for pneumo- Pernambuco state, Globo news- challenge to President Dilma nia, a state- paper reported yesterday. Rousseff’s hopes of re-election. ment from Silva, who will make her inten- Globo reported that in exchange the office of tion publicly known by mid- for Silva’s pledge to run along- her husband, February, could announce her side Campos, his PSB party had former presi- candidacy at a January 17 meeting agreed to end its support for the dent George H W Bush, said. of leaders of Campos’ Brazilian re-election of Geraldo Alckmin The 88-year-old thanked the Socialist Party (PSB), the news- of the centrist Brazilian Social doctors and nurses at the Texas paper said. Democracy Party (PSDB) as gov- hospital where she was admitted Globo did not cite sources for ernor of Sao Paulo state. “for making sure I got the best its story, and officials for Silva Sao Paulo is Brazil’s richest, treatment and got back to George and Campos did not immediately most-populous and most indus- and our dogs as quickly as possi- respond to telephone and e-mail trialised state. ble,” the brief statement said. requests from Reuters yesterday. Alckmin is also a former presi- It did not offer further details Silva and Campos, two of the dential candidate. about her condition or any follow- Kumbuka, a 16-year-old silver-back gorilla, looks over a blackboard showing London Zoo’s gorilla count country’s most popular opposition REUTERS up care. during a stocktaking at the zoo undertaken in January. Bush was first lady from 1989 to 1993. She is also the mother of former president George W Bush, who was in the White House between 2001 and 2009. After being admitted to Texas’ UK Labour Party rails at govt over WWII centenary Houston Methodist Hospital on December 30, she received LONDON: Britain’s Labour party has minister for education attacked what he Conservatives would be this crass.” Even the Battle of the Somme, in which public messages of support and accused the government of using the sees as an unpatriotic, leftwing version of In his article, Gove said dramas such as 20,000 British soldiers died on the first day wishes for a speedy recovery from centenary of the start of the first world history that portrays 1914-18 as “a series Oh! What a Lovely War and satirical pro- in 1916, Gove said, had been reassessed by President Barack Obama and war to “sow political division” after the of catastrophic mistakes perpetrated by grammes such as Blackadder, combined good historians and “recast as a precursor former president Bill Clinton. Minister for Education, Michael Gove, an out-of-touch elite” Hunt says such with leftwing interpretations of the war, of allied victory”, challenging the tradi- Barbara Bush was admitted tore into “leftwing academics” for ped- “ugly” and politically motivated interven- had allowed deeply unpatriotic myths to tional views that it was one of the biggest to the same hospital in 2008 and dling unpatriotic “myths” about the role tions diminish what should be a time of take hold, and had led some to denigrate military catastrophes of modern times. underwent surgery for a perfo- of British soldiers and generals in the reflection. the “patriotism, honour and courage” of In a poll conducted by the British rated ulcer. The following year conflict. “There was always a fear that the timing those who served and died. Future thinktank, to be published in full she had open-heart surgery due Tristram Hunt, Labour’s education of the first world war anniversary along- Departing from the government’s line next week, 62 percent of respondents to narrowing of her main heart spokesman and a historian, accuses Gove side the May 2014 European parliament that the commemorations should not seek said the centenary should be an occa- valve. In 2010, she received treat- of a “shocking” attempt to score political elections and the rise of Ukip [The UK to attribute blame, Gove argued that the sion for “remembrance of loss of life and ment for a mild relapse of Graves’ points ahead of the events to mark the war, Independence Party — a Eurosceptic right- “pitiless” and “aggressive expansionism” of national reflection”, while 23 percent pre- disease, a thyroid condition for which began in August 1914 and led to the wing populist political party] could under- the German leaders should not be forgot- ferred a commemoration of victory over which she was treated in 1989. deaths of 16 million. mine a dignified response to the events of ten as it “more than justified” the British Germany. AFP Responding to an article in which the 1914-18,” he writes. “Yet few imagined the military response. THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA

Bangladesh opposition starts 2-day strike against ‘farcical’ elections

DHAKA: Dozens of poll- appeal to voters to also “com- The main headline in yes- said the attacks would not derail The BNP and 20 other par- although the parties say the ing booths were torched and pletely boycott” what she called terday’s Dhaka Tribune read: the election. ties are boycotting the polls after actual number is much higher. a train set alight on the eve of “a scandalous farce”, and accused “Tension, fear mark build-up to A group of BNP activists Hasina rejected their demands Around 50,000 troops have Bangladesh’s election as the the government of placing her the polls”, while all newspapers hurled a petrol bomb through that it be overseen by a neutral been deployed across the coun- opposition launched a 48-hour under house arrest. carried pictures of the latest the window of a train carriage caretaker government. try in a bid to contain the unrest. strike against the vote “farce.” The build-up to the vote has victims of the violence, many of in the northwestern town of This weekend’s strike is only The United States, European The Bangladesh Nationalist been dominated by political vio- them with horrific burns. Natore, injuring six passengers, the latest in a string of such pro- Union and Commonwealth have Party, which is boycotting the lence, with around 150 people One opposition activist was police said. tests, which have forced the clo- refused to send observers to an vote, called the two-day general killed since the date was set in killed yesterday in the northern Although the government sure of schools, offices and shops. election that the opposition says strike -- but it has little chance of October. town of Patgram during clashes denies that Zia has been detained, After frequent firebombings lacks any credibility. thwarting Prime Minister Sheikh Observers fear the contest with governing Awami League dozens of riot police could be seen of vehicles, many people are too The outcome is not in doubt Hasina’s re-election in what is will heighten tensions after supporters, police said. outside her home in Dhaka yes- scared to leave home during the as Awami League candidates are effectively a one-party contest. Bangladesh endured its bloodiest Officials also said that protest- terday, along with water-cannon shutdowns. running unopposed in 153 of the The strike comes after BNP 12 months since a brutal 1971 inde- ers had set fire to or attempted and sand trucks, preventing any- Police say 1,200 opposition 300 seats. leader Khaleda Zia issued an pendence war against Pakistan. to torch 34 polling booths, but one from entering. activists have been detained, AFP Cambodia protesters call off planned rally Human rights group demands thorough investigation

PHNOM PENH: Anti- say cheated its way to power and fled, some clutching babies, when government demonstrators said is depriving them of a fair wage. they saw riot police approaching yesterday they had called off a CNRP leader Sam Rainsy had Freedom Park, witnesses said. mass rally they had planned to vowed earlier that today’s mass Riot police, however, held back stage in the Cambodian capital march and rally would go ahead. from the main site while security today after a bloody crackdown He also condemned Friday’s vio- guards and city workers in plain on garment workers allied with lence and demanded a thorough clothes, some carrying axes and the protest movement. investigation. steel pipes, moved in to dismantle The decision to call off the rally “The Cambodia National the stage and tents. Three heli- came hours after security guards Rescue Party would like to inform copters flew low overhead, while and city workers, watched over all national compatriots that the riot police carrying batons kept by riot police, dismantled a camp party will suspend the (planned) journalists away from the site. occupied by anti-government protest,” the CNRP said in a brief The CNRP accused “forces in demonstrators. statement. Hundreds of CNRP civilian clothing” of beating dem- Friday’s clashes, during which supporters had been camped since onstrators and urged its support- police shot dead four people, have December 15 in tents around a ers not to retaliate. Phnom Penh stoked a political crisis in which stage in Freedom Park, the only municipality spokesman Long striking workers and support- place in Phnom Penh where pro- Dimanche said CNRP leaders had ers of the opposition Cambodia tests are allowed. been sent a letter telling them pro- A security guard chases a Buddhist monk from a camp occupied by anti-government demonstrators in Phnom National Rescue Party (CNRP) Many CNRP supporters tests would no longer be tolerated. Penh yesterday. are challenging a government they grabbed their belongings and REUTERS

Four million cigarettes Thai premier kicks off poll campaign amid chaos

seized in HK BANGKOK: Thai Prime on the outskirts of the capital, party’s election slogan would Protesters plan to occupy yesterday, several thousand Puea HONG KONG: Hong Kong Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s which has been shaken by weeks urge people to vote to “preserve Bangkok from January 13 in the Thai supporters gathered in a customs seized nearly four party yesterday kicked off cam- of sometimes violent anti-govern- democracy.” run up to the poll, vowing to pre- field on the outskirts of Bangkok, million cigarettes, worth over paigning for February elections ment demonstrations that have Yingluck called snap elections vent government officials from one of five party rally locations. $1.2m, in a two-week opera- in the face of an opposition left eight people dead and about after coming under intense pres- going to work and to cut off power Yingluck’s government still tion aimed at stifling smug- boycott and protester plans to 400 wounded. sure from protesters vowing to rid and water to official buildings. enjoys strong support and would gling in the territory, officials “shut down” Bangkok in a bid to “I am confident that the cam- the country of the influence of her They also plan several marches be expected to win. said yesterday. derail the vote. paign will go smoothly -- we brother -- controversial former in the capital starting today to But doubts remain over Authorities arrested seven The Puea Thai party launched are not the ones triggering con- premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who build momentum ahead of the whether a government could be people aged between 23 and 63 its re-election bid with rallies flict,” said party leader Jarupong is widely believed to control her occupation attempt. formed, even if the election pro- in the operation, which started in its northern heartlands and Ruangsuwan, adding that the party from self-exile in Dubai. As campaigning began ceeds. AFP in mid-December. “Two cross-boundary vehi- cles conveying illicit cigarettes Elephant kingdom were seized and five illicit cigarette storage points were smashed,” a government state- Writers protest against ment released yesterday said. Taiwan panda magazine’s suspension charms media KUALA LUMPUR: Dozens of hour-long protest in the capital TAIPEI: The first Taiwan- journalists protested yesterday Kuala Lumpur where they urged born giant panda cub was in Malaysia against the suspen- the government to lift the sus- unveiled to the media yes- sion of a weekly magazine, urg- pension and stop controlling the terday in a warm up for her ing the Southeast Asian nation press. “This is not just about the highly-anticipated public to allow greater press freedom. suspension of The Heat. It’s about debut next week. The Heat stopped publica- the freedom of the press,” activist Yuan Zai agilely climbed tion last month after the Home Ambiga Sreenevasan said. up and down for most of her Ministry suspended it, saying it “It is about fighting for the 30-minute media preview had violated its printing permit as rights of the people, the rights of inside an exhibition enclosure, a weekly business magazine and the people to speak and to receive as mother Yuan Yuan sat lazily failed to respond to the ministry information.” The Heat, which was aside munching bamboos. to explain the matter. launched last year, denied it has “Yuan Zai is growing bigger Some 50 journalists and activ- not responded to the ministry’s and bigger. She is very robust ists, wearing red and chant- letters sent to it in late November and is gaining strength. After ing “free the media”, held an and early December. AFP evaluation she can meet the public in two days,” Taipei Zoo spokesman Chao Ming-chieh said. Volcano erupts Chinese frigate docks in Cyprus in Indonesia Six-year-old female Asiatic elephant ‘Yumeka’ poses near the calligraphy of ‘Horse’, the year 2014’s animal of LIMASSOL: A Chinese frigate a success,” said Liu Xinsheng, the the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, at the Ichihara Elephant Kingdom, east of Tokyo, Japan yesterday. which will help escort Syria’s Chinese ambassador to Cyprus. KARO: An Indonesian stockpile of chemical weapons Photis Photiou, the defence min- volcano that has erupted out of the country docked in ister of Cyprus, said after meeting relentlessly for months shot Cyprus yesterday as part of a Chinese officials that he expected the volcanic ash into the air 30 Suu Kyi urges army to back charter reform delayed international mission. operation would start “any day now.” times yesterday, forcing fur- The Yancheng will accompany Russia will also provide escort to ther evacuations with more YANGON: Myanmar’s opposi- by a parliamentary panel that support to constitutional reform a Norwegian-Danish convoy the convoy carrying Syria’s chemi- than 20,000 people now dis- tion leader Aung San Suu Kyi includes soldiers. “The tat- in a monthly speech published in which is in international waters cal weapons, which will be loaded placed, an official said. yesterday called on the power- madaw must not remain in a state media. off Syria, waiting for the go-ahead onto two cargo ships and escorted Mount Sinabung on the ful military to get involved in dilemma about whether to take He also said he supported from international watchdogs to Italy, where a US ship equipped western island of Sumatra reforming the country’s junta- part in amending the constitu- amending provisions which exclude overseeing the removal of the with toxin neutralising equipment sent rivers of lava flowing era constitution, which cur- tion. It must take part in it,” she anyone whose spouse or children chemical arsenal. The mission will take over. through an evacuation zone rently bars her from becoming told members of her National are overseas citizens from becom- to ship chemicals from Syria has The US vessel, the Cape Ray, is and columns of volcanic cloud president. League for Democracy (NLD) at ing president -- a clause widely missed its December 31 target due to leave the United States for up as high as 4,000 metres The Nobel laureate, who a ceremony to mark Myanmar’s believed to be targeted at Suu date and Chinese and Cypriot offi- the Mediterranean in about two (13,000 feet), National Disaster has repeatedly asserted her independence from colonial rule. Kyi, whose two sons are British. “I cials said it was unclear exactly weeks. Dozens of Chinese nation- Mitigation Agency spokesman readiness to take on the top Myanmar’s President Thein would not want restrictions being when it would begin. als in Cyprus converged on the Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. political job, said the nation’s Sein, a former general who has imposed on the right of any citizen “China supports the efforts quay of Limassol port, about 160 AGENCIES “tatmadaw” army was “essen- won international praise for to become the leader of the coun- of the international community miles west of the Syrian port city tial” in amending the charter, reforms since he took power try,” Thein Sein said. to destroy the Syrian chemical of Latakia from where the chemi- which is currently being debated in 2011, on Thursday lent his AFP weapons. We wish this operation cals will be shipped. REUTERS SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 8 beheaded fishermen Hazy New Year found in Zamboanga Boat found adrift off Manicahan village

ZAMBOANGA: Eight fisher- “When we further inspected Islamic militants. The nine fisher- men including two boys have the boat (on Saturday morning), men had gone missing a day after been shot and beheaded in a we discovered more headless bod- Christmas following the attack gruesome attack at sea off the ies beneath the floorboard.... In all, off the town of Olutanga, Huesca troubled southern Philippines, it contained eight bodies,” Lozano said. police said yesterday. told reporters. Two other wounded fisher- The victims were among a The corpses, including those men in the party were recov- group of fishermen who went of two boys aged about 12 and 14, ered shortly after the attack and missing after being attacked were all decomposing, suggesting taken to hospital for treatment, in the Moro Gulf off Mindanao they were killed a few days earlier, he added. island on December 26, said Lozano said. The boat with the headless regional police spokesman Ariel One fisherman remains miss- corpses was found adrift eight Huesca. ing after the attack by unknown days later off the coastal village Five headless corpses were first gunmen, Huesca said in a written of Manicahan on Zamboanga’s found aboard a boat drifting at report. outskirts, about 80 kilometres sea on Friday by police who had The motive of the attack is not (50 miles) southwest of Olutanga. gone in search of the missing fish- known. The 11 fishermen are all natives ermen, said Senior Inspector Joel The waters off the southern of Sangali, a fishing village adja- Lozano, police chief of the district Philippines are rife with piracy, cent to Manicahan, Huesca said. where the boat was taken. and the region is also a hotbed of AFP A view of Manila covered in smog is seen from Antipolo City, Rizal province. The haze was caused by an extensive use of fireworks during the 2014 New Year celebrations. 275,000 families to receive US execs, policymakers to House to decide typhoon aid until March on pot’s legality MANILA: Marijuana tackle rehab for Visayas will remain illegal in the MANILA: More than 275,000 The distribution of relief goods Philippines unless Congress families affected by Typhoon to non-vulnerable families will stop amends the law, Malacañang Haiyan in Eastern Visayas will once the agency comes out with the MANILA: Senior US State about how US policy makers expected to attend the conference. said yesterday. continue to get dole-outs from list. Meanwhile, Soliman said the Department officials and inter- should look at the rehabilitation Typhoon Haiyan slammed Deputy presidential spokes- the government until March DSWD had been very busy with national policymakers will meet going forward,” the post on the Central and Eastern Visayas and person Abigail Valte said under 31, the Department of Social disaster relief operations in 2013. next week in Washington to dis- website reads. portions of Luzon, causing mas- the Dangerous Drugs Act, Welfare and Development “The year 2013 has been an cuss a comprehensive disaster The Philippines is sending its sive devastation that severely marijuana is prohibited. (DSWD) said yesterday. exhilarating year, which left us assessment and rehabilitation ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia affected 16 million people and left “It will remain as such until DSWD Secretary Corazon breathless but we stepped up platform in the typhoon-rav- to conference, which will be held P36bn damage to infrastructure Congress amends it,” she said. Soliman said they have yet to to the challenge,” she said. She aged Visayas region. in Washington on January 8. and agriculture. In a press conference, Valte finalize the list of vulnerable fami- added the agency is ready for According to the website of Cuisia is expected to provide an Two days after the mon- was asked to react to the legali- lies that would receive relief sup- more social welfare and develop- the Center for Strategic and update on the on-going rehabili- ster storm, the US government zation of marijuana in the US plies, including 25 kilos of rice and ment work this year. International Studies (CSIS) tation and normalization efforts responded, bringing tons of food state of Colorado. The law took 25 pieces of canned goods. Workers displaced by Haiyan Sumitro Chair for Southeast of the Philippine government and and other relief items to typhoon effect on January 1, allowing Soliman said vulnerable fami- can become entrepreneurs, with Asia Studies, the “US Response non-government groups in the victims in the Visayas. Around the sale of marijuana for rec- lies are those with adults or the government providing the to Typhoon Haiyan in the Visayas. 50 US military ships and aircraft reational purposes to state resi- breadwinners unable to engage necessary capital, the Department Philippines” conference “will focus For his part, Ernest Bower, were involved in relief efforts and dents aged 21 or older. in livelihood as well as those with of Labor and Employment on the role of the US government senior adviser and Sumitro Chair nearly 1,000 military personnel Asked whether the Palace pregnant mothers, senior citizens (DOLE) said yesterday. Baldoz and military, private sector, and for Southeast Asia Studies, would were deployed to disaster areas. would support measures legal- and persons with disabilities. said the government is providing non-government organizations in be outlining the mission during Aside from the US, at least 23 izing marijuana, Valte said: “We Cash-for-work programme will a minimum of P10,000 grant for responding to the devastation.” the conference. Senior US defence countries responded to the United will answer you when the time be provided to families that will those who will submit a business “The conference will provide and state department officials, Nations’ appeal to bring aid to the comes, but as of the moment, be classified as non-vulnerable, proposal they intend to engage in. estimates of the rehabilitation world aid programme representa- Philippines. the executive implements the the DSWD chief said. THE PHILIPPINE STAR needs and a platform to think tives and financial managers are THE PHILIPPINE STAR law as it is.” But according to Senate Deputy Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, any New Year injuries proposal to legalize the sale or use of marijuana in the country Govt to pursue “would undergo a worse fate Army tells extremists to than the RH (Reproductive reef reparation Health) Law.” MANILA: Malacañang is stay away from irrigation 27 injured in committed to pursuing com- pensation for the damage made NORTH COTABATO: The NIA officials and private contrac- Kalinga mishap by a US ship that ran aground military yesterday warned the tors involved in the project. last year at Tubbataha Reef, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom All of them have reportedly BAYOMBONG: Authorities a United Nations Education, Fighters of dire consequences ignored the group’s demand. blamed mechanical error Scientific and Cultural if the latter do not cease from The coffer dam of the irriga- for last Friday’s vehicular Organization (UNESCO) attempting to mulct money tion facility is located in Barangay accident in Pasil, Kalinga, World Heritage Site. from contractors involved in a Kibines in Carmen town in which left 27 of its passengers The US government contin- multi-billion irrigation project North Cotabato, near the com- injured. ues to withhold payment of the in the province. mand headquarters of the 602nd Police said jeepney driver P58m ($1.3m) fine imposed by The outlawed BIFF, which Brigade. Francisco Gumaa, 32, lost the Philippines for the ground- engages in banditry, is not covered The project, if completed, will control of the vehicle after its ing of the minesweeper USS by the July 1997 Agreement on irrigate more than 20,000-hec- engine conked out while cruis- Guardian in the Tubbataha General Cessation of Hostilities tares of rice farms in several ing a mountainous road in the Reefs Natural Park that between the government and the towns in the neighbouring North village of Cagaywan in Pasil destroyed a large part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Cotabato and Maguindanao town. Reports said the jeep- marine reservation. Captain Tony Bulao, spokesman provinces. ney overturned and slammed Deputy presidential spokes- of the Army’s 602nd Brigade, said Bulao said the 602nd Brigade the roadside, causing injuries person Abigail Valte repeated the there have been reports about the believes that the latest attacks to 27 passengers, among them statement of the Department of BIFF’s attempts to ask money by the BIFF on Army bases in two-year-old Roy Alanggi, Foreign Affairs that the parties from private contractors and North Cotabato’s adjoining Pikit, the youngest, and 76-year-old had achieved good discussions officials of the National Irrigation Midsayap and Mlang towns Antonio Kundaya, the oldest. or progress on the issue of com- Administration overseeing the sought to show that it could sab- As of press time, some pensation but a “certain third Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation otage the Malitubog-Maridagao of the victims were still A Filipino father holding his child injured from a firework accident rushes to party had filed a case before the project. Bulao said the BIFF has irrigation project. being treated at the Kalinga a government hospital during celebration of New Year in Manila. Hospitals Supreme Court.” been asking some P3m from the THE PHILIPPINE STAR Provincial Hospital in Tabuk “At least, on our part, from braced for more injuries from New Year’s Eve celebrations with 262 people City and Saint Paul Hospital what I understand, the OSG already hurt from firecrackers and stray bullets. in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. (Office of the Solicitor General) Charges of reckless impru- was able to file a comment when dence resulting in multiple it was ordered to do so. So since physical injuries were being there is a pending case it will be House vows to work harder even without PDAF readied against Gumaa who better for us not to comment gave himself up to authorities on matters that fall under the after the incident. petition that was filed,” Valte MANILA: Leaders of the duties. “Many are resigned and districts on which projects are to not one meeting was held since said over radio dzRB. House of Representatives have accepted the fact that PDAF be included in the national expen- January last year. A LEDAC Farm manager In April, various groups filed a believe the loss of the of pork is a goner,” he said. ditures programme of the govern- would greatly help in the enact- case before the SC against offic- barrel will not diminish the vig- “I think the challenge for the ment,” he said. ment of vital bills, Aggabao said. found dead ers of the vessel and asked that our of lawmakers in drafting House is drawing up a legisla- However, Senior Deputy Militant workers are gear- US military ships be barred from laws and exercising their over- tive agenda in the absence of Minority Leader and Bayan Muna ing up for more protest actions BATANGAS: A 26-year-old entering Philippine territory, sight functions. any explicit direction from the party-list Rep Neri Colmenares against the pork barrel. female manager of a farm in among others, in the absence of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Palace.” said work in Congress would suf- In a statement, Roger Soluta, Padre Garcia town this prov- clear environmental guidelines. Jr said re-electionists could be Cavite Representative Elpidio fer without the PDAF. Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) ince was found dead with The court, however, has yet distracted from their legislative Barzaga said the loss of the PDAF “It would be hard for the House secretary general, said the 2014 multiple stab wounds yester- to rule on the petition. duties in the remaining two years would prompt lawmakers to focus leadership to fast-track its prior- national budget is still filled with day morning, police said. Edilberto Adan, an officer of of the 16th Congress. on their legislative and oversight ity legislation without the pork pork, contrary to the govern- Police suspect that Jackielyn the Presidential Commission on “Next year will be more trying, functions. barrel king’s blessing considering ment’s claim. Jose, manager of BMV Farm, the Visiting Forces Agreement closer to 2016 and without PDAF Barzaga said the services and that he (President) now has all “We vow to intensify our cam- could be a victim of robbery between the Philippines and the (Priority Development Assistance assistance that lawmakers give the pork,” he said. paign against the pork barrel sys- as her laptop, cell phone and US, was earlier quoted in reports Fund),” he said. “But I’m confi- their constituents would have to House leaders have also long tem and corruption in the Aquino P5,000 cash were missing. Ten as saying that if not for “certain dent we can manage and show it’s be administered by concerned been calling for the conven- government this year,” he said. people were invited for question- groups that think they can do not all about PDAF and that we agencies like the Department of ing of the Legislative-Executive “At a time of soaring prices and ing. Probers were checking if she more,” the Philippines would are responsible legislators.” Health and the Commission on Development Advisory Council intense calamities, the Filipino was raped before she was slain, have already been compensated Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Higher Education. (LEDAC) to come up with a com- workers and people need their as she was found naked in her by the American government. Aggabao said the loss of the PDAF “Without the PDAF, legisla- mon set of priority bills. taxes to go to social services, not comfort room at the farm. THE PHILIPPINE STAR has not dampened the resolve of tors have to rely on the President However, Malacañang was cool to the pockets of big politicians.” AGENCIES lawmakers in discharging their for the projects needed by their to convening the LEDAC and THE PHILIPPINE STAR SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Nato soldier killed in suicide attack Five bombers thwarted as sixth explodes himself JALALABAD: Six Taliban said the attack took place in in Afghanistan as 85,000 foreign suicide attackers launched an Shinwar district, a volatile area troops pull out, though a long- assault on a joint Afghan-Nato on the main highway from Kabul delayed security deal could allow base in the east of Afghanistan to neighbouring Pakistan, where several thousand US soldiers to yesterday, killing one Nato sol- many Taliban insurgents seek remain to train and advise local dier during a prolonged fire- shelter. security forces. fight, officials said. “Around 8.00am, a suicide The North Atlantic Treaty One attacker in an explosives- bomber detonated himself and Organization (Nato), also called packed vehicle blew himself up the other five were gunned down the (North) Atlantic Alliance, at the entrance of the base in by Afghan security forces. Their is an intergovernmental mili- Nangarhar province, and five bodies lie at the scene,” Ahmad tary alliance based on the North other insurgents were shot as Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for the Atlantic Treaty which was signed they tried to storm the facility. Nangarhar governor, said. on 4 April 1949. The organisation Nato’s International Security In an emailed statement to constitutes a system of collec- Assistance Force (ISAF) con- the media, Taliban spokesman tive defence whereby its member firmed one fatality in a suicide Zabihullah Mujahid claimed states agree to mutual defence attack in the east of the country, responsibility for the attack. in response to an attack by any An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier walks near the dead bodies of insurgents after an attack on a joint Nato- without giving further details. This year will see the end of external party. Afghan base in the Ghani Khel district of Nangarhar province yesterday. Afghan and Western officials the US-led Nato combat mission AFP Govt augments ties with Riyadh Taliban fighters’ release delayed after US protest ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia KABUL: Afghan President allowing some American soldiers United States General Joseph its national sovereignty. He said the jailed men were to Pakistan, Dr Abdul Aziz Hamid Karzai has delayed to stay in Afghanistan after 2014. Dunford, commander of Nato The review board last year responsible for over 60 Nato coa- Ibrahim Al Ghadeer called the release from jail of 88 sus- “Based on a recent president’s forces in Afghanistan, had lodged ordered the release of 648 lition and 57 Afghan deaths. on the Federal Minister pected Taliban fighters follow- order, we have started again an official objection to the planned Bagram prisoners, of whom 560 If the bilateral security agree- for Interior and Narcotics ing complaints from the United reviewing the cases of the 88 pris- releases, saying they went against have been freed. The United ment (BSA) is signed, several Control, Chaudhry Nisar Ali States that they could return oners,” Abdul Shokur Dadras, a an agreement signed when States had disputed the release thousand US troops would Khan here yesterday. to the battlefield, officials said member of the Afghan Review Bagram was handed over. of the final 88. remain in Afghanistan to pro- Welcoming the Saudi yesterday. Board, said. Bagram jail was passed to On a visit to Kabul on Thursday, vide training and assistance to Foreign Minister Prince Saud The planned release had “The president has also ordered Afghan control by the United influential Republican Senator the police and national army Al Faisal’s upcoming visit to angered US military command- the security and intelligence agen- States in March after a public Lindsey Graham, criticised the after the North Atlantic Treaty Pakistan, the Minister said ers and senators as Washington cies to check their backgrounds stand-off with Karzai, who has proposed release of militants Organization combat mission Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and Kabul edge closer to sign- and cases to make sure justice is depicted the jail as a symbol of who he said had “blood on their ends in December. enjoy unique brotherly rela- ing a long-delayed security pact served.” Afghanistan’s efforts to regain hands.” AFP tions which are rooted deep in history. He said their special ties have grown with the pas- sage of time and the govern- ment of PML (N) under the leadership of Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia to lift ban on Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is Delay in Punjab polls a possibility keen to take it to new heights. This meeting could take Pakistan poultry products LAHORE: The schedule for on January 30. The delay can be boundaries for National and place as early as end of January local polls in Pakistan’s most averted only if the Supreme Court Provincial Assemblies as the 2014, in which few important ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia delegation of Saudi Food and populous province Punjab overturns the Lahore High Court Punjab Local Government Act of agreements relating to security is all set to lift ban on the Drug Authority is currently vis- is likely to change again as (LHC) orders against the delim- 2013 deprived it of the same job cooperation, combating illicit import of poultry products from iting Pakistan, and after visiting the Election Commission of itations,” a senior official of the for local bodies, the ECP official trafficking and smuggling as Pakistan after having been sat- veterinary laboratories, SFDA Pakistan (ECP) is not sure ECP’s legal branch said yesterday. says. The Punjab government well as transfer of prisoners isfied with the standard of poul- officials expressed their satisfac- whether the electoral exercise The schedule was earlier defends its decision of authoris- could also be signed. try facilities, officials said here tion and observed that “standard can be held on the due date of changed when the LHC directed ing the district administration yesterday. of poultry facilities in Pakistan January 30 after the court deci- Punjab government to hold the for delimitation work under the Crimes against The kingdom had suspended is as good as in many European sion annulling the delimitations. elections on a party basis. 2013 Act, claiming it made the import of eggs and day-old chicks countries”. The delegation visited Punjab Election Commissioner A full bench of the LHC on law after the ECP expressed its women rising from Pakistan in 2005 due to bird different poultry farms to inspect Mehboob Anwar has, however, December 31 declared null and inability to accomplish the task. flu disease. Poultry’s contribu- the standard of poultry facilities. directed the returning officers void the delimitations done by The ECP official admits that KABUL: Violent crime tion to agriculture is 5.76 percent The Saudi Food and Drug to continue the process for the the district administration. It given the present time frame for against women in while poultry meat contributes Authority delegation held a wrap- polls under the schedule given on directed that the ECP should the polls and strength of the body, Afghanistan hit record lev- to 26.8 percent of the total meat up meeting to discussed potential December 9. design constituencies anew for the it is almost impossible to complete els and became increasingly production in the country. for poultry trade between the two “Rest assured, the local elec- local polls. But, the ECP is legally delimitations within days. brutal in 2013, the head of A four-member technical countries. INTERNEWS tions are not going to be held empowered only to demarcate INTERNEWS its human rights commission said yesterday, a sign that hard won rights are being rolled back as foreign troops prepare to withdraw. Ambassadors Restoring fundamen- Pakistan not in hurry to lift Musharraf’s travel ban tal women’s rights after the Taliban were ousted by a asked to return ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s he was being transported under condition in the intensive care unit. Southern Sindh province ruled US-led coalition of troops in home ministry yesterday said heavy guard to hear treason The sudden health scare was last month against lifting the ban. 2001 was cited as one of the to Islamabad they were not immediately lift- charges against him at a special met with scepticism from some He denied reports that main objectives of the war. ing a travel ban on former mili- tribunal in Islamabad. observers and feverish media Musharraf’s wife Sehba has filed Under the Taliban, women ISLAMABAD: After getting tary ruler Pervez Musharraf, The former army chief was speculation that his departure a application with the ministry were forced to wear the head- approval of Prime Minister who suffered a heart problem yesterday spending his third day from Pakistan on medical grounds seeking to lift the ban. Kasuri said to-toe covering burqa and Nawaz Sharif for winding up on the way to his treason trial at the Armed Forces Institute of could be imminent. earlier yesterday that the doctors barred from leaving their different sections of Pakistani earlier this week. Cardiology in Rawalpindi, the gar- But Musharaf’s name has been have sent his medical reports to homes without being escorted missions abroad, the ministries The 70-year-old former ruler rison city bordering Islamabad. put on an official “Exit Control experts in Britain, who will deter- by a male relative. Schools for have ordered their staff to relin- was taken ill and rushed to a His lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri List” (ECL) to bar him from trav- mine his further treatment. girls were shut down. quish their charge in respective military hospital on Thursday as said doctors were monitoring his elling abroad, and a court in the AFP A leading advocate of wom- foreign capitals and report back en’s rights said improving the to headquarters in Pakistan situation would be difficult as within the next five days. Police patrol laws with provision to protect According to an official com- them were notoriously difficult munication sent out by the to implement. ministries to foreign missions Explosions kill one, injure abroad dated January 2, 2014, the Telecom allows retrenched concerned staff was directed to report back for duty 11 in Balochistan province free 3G trial at the headquarters on January 7, 2014 positively. QUETTA: Back-to-back An explosives disposal squad ISLAMABAD: The “In such haste, this decision blasts yesterday killed one and official said that four kilo- Pakistan Telecommunication has made our lives difficult and injured 11 others, including a grammes of explosives were used Authority (PTA) is granting we are running from pillar to post senior politician, in the south- in that blast, detonated by remote three months free trial of to complete the arrangements for western Pakistani province control. the next generation technol- our departure. But it is simply of Balochistan, which borders So far, no one has claimed ogy services to major cellu- impossible to do things in such Afghanistan and Iran, officials responsibility for the attacks. lar mobile operators (CMOs) haste,” one of the senior officials said. Oil- and gas-rich Balochistan companies in the country to deputed in a foreign mission In first attack, an explosives- has been badly hit by sectarian enable them to improve their said when contacted, requesting packed motorcycle detonated at violence, mainly targeting Shia preparedness before its com- anonymity. a taxi stand in the Sibi district Muslims from the Hazara ethnic plete adoption. Moreover, they say it is the of Balochistan, killing one person community. Chairman PTA Ismail Shah mid of educational session, if they and injuring nine others. Baloch rebels have also been said yesterday that limited move in such haste, one year of “Unknown people parked the fighting since 2004 for political permission by the Frequency their school-going kids would be explosive-laden motorcycle at a autonomy and a greater share of Allocation Board (FAB) will lost. By reducing the strength of taxi stand in Bakhtiarabad town profits from the region’s natural enable the cellular mobile oper- foreign missions, the government on (the) main Sibi-Jacobabad oil, gas and mineral resources. ators to identify their techni- has abolished dozens of posts of national highway,” Mohammad The Pakistani portion of cal challenges before rolling out press counsellors, attaches, com- Akhtar, a local administration Balochistan is the largest and its the new services to the people. mercial and labour officers, com- official said. capital is the city of Quetta. The CMOs will be able to munity welfare officers, assistant In the second attack, in the The spread of Talibanism is also fine-tune their services and private secretary, secretary and Balochistan provincial capital a constant threat to Balochistan prepare for the next genera- staff car drivers to save billions. of Quetta, Abdul Majid Abro, and its cultural values. tion technology during the trial The affected officials said it was an advisor to the Chief Minister In the past sixty years, Balochs period that is expected to begin unfair on part of the government Pakistani policemen patrol during the funeral prayers of Sunni Muslim of the province, received minor have persistently rejected extrem- this month, he said. to implement its decision in such leaders who were killed by unknown gunmen in Islamabad yesterday. injuries along with one of his ism in the past. AGENCIES haste. INTERNEWS colleagues. AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Kejriwal’s ‘no’ 13 killed as to five-bedroom house after Goa building criticism NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yes- terday refused to move into a five-bedroom government flat collapses here following criticism and demanded a smaller house instead for his family. “I won’t shift to the five-bed- More than a dozen feared trapped room duplex flat,” Kejriwal told the media before the start of the PANAJI: Thirteen bodies were watching the rescue efforts as Aam Aadmi Party’s national exec- pulled from the wreckage of police sought to shoo them away utive meeting, and explained why. a building under construction from the site, saying they were “I have received lots of mes- that collapsed “like a house of hampering access for machinery. sages and phone calls from people cards” in a coastal village in the “The current priority is to res- and some close relatives suggest- Indian tourist state of Goa yes- cue people trapped under the rub- ing that I should not accept such a terday, authorities said. ble and the government has also big accommodation,” he said. The residential building caved taken help of the army to clear Kejriwal, who lives in in around mid-afternoon, when the debris,” Parikkar told the Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh some 50 daily wage labourers, Press Trust of India separately. near Delhi, has been allotted two were working on the site, police Parrikar had been near the vil- adjoining five-bedroom duplex said. “We have got 13 bodies lage to attend a state-sponsored flats in the heart of Delhi. He had from the wreckage. We expect folklore festival that was later said on Friday that he would use the death toll to rise,” Goa Chief cancelled by the government. one of them as his office. Minister Manohar Parrikar said. The building collapse, the latest His decision sparked off wide- More than a dozen are feared in a string of deadly construction Rescue workers pull a victim from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in Canacona, about 80km spread criticism that the AAP trapped under the debris of the cave-ins in India recently, occurred from Panaji, yesterday. leader, who has always advocated under-construction building in the seaside village of Canacona, simple living, was moving into a in Canacona town, 60km from south of the capital city of Panaji. people involved in the construc- collapse in Mumbai killed 74 2,737 structures, including houses cosy house. Panaji. Initial reports said that the struc- tion of the building. people. The incidents have and bridges. Kejriwal initially defended the A witness said the building col- ture was five-storey apartment The bodies were shifted to a highlighted shoddy construc- Real estate experts say that duplex flat, saying he presently lapsed like “a pack of cards”. residence. “We will immediately morgue at a nearby hospital. tion and violations of the build- many buildings collapse because lived in a four-bedroom house and Fire and emergency service arrest the builder, the contractor Last September, a rundown five- ing code, amid burgeoning construction codes are not fol- that this wasn’t really luxury for crews rushed to the spot. Rescue and municipal officials involved in storey residential block in India’s demand for housing in many lowed and there is no attention him. But he said in a tweet later workers using cranes and bull- sanctioning this construction site,” financial hub Mumbai collapsed, parts of India and endemic to building safety. In another of yesterday: “Many ordinary sup- dozers, shovels and bare hands, the chief minister said. killing 60 people. The building had corruption. the worst recent Indian cases, 69 porters were hurt by (the) houses struggled to shift concrete slabs “I am personally monitoring been listed by municipal authori- The British daily, The Guardian, people were killed and more than identified for me by the Delhi and other debris to free the the situation,” he added. ties as needing “urgent repairs”, collected statistics showing that 80 injured in a building collapse government. trapped labourers. He said that police had already according to local media reports. 2,651 people were killed across in the capital New Delhi in 2010. “As I have always said, I am (an Hundreds of onlookers stood filed complaints against those Last April, another building India in 2012 due to the collapse of AFP ordinary person). But friends, I would need to have two adjacent houses, one of them as an office. Else I will become ineffective.” Kejriwal said that until a smaller accommodation was pro- Aam Aadmi Party plans to contest more Lok Sabha seats vided to him, he would continue to work from his office-cum-res- idence in Kaushambi. NEW DELHI: The new anti- the maximum number of states seen as one more sign the pow- Kejriwal and his ministers have parliament, heeding the anti- The AAP founder leader, how- graft party announced yesterday and in as many seats as possible,” erful Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, refused to occupy the sprawling corruption voter mood, approved ever, justified the use of gov- it would contest most of the seats Bhushan told reporters in tele- which has given India three pre- bungalows built by India’s former the appointment of a powerful ernment vehicles by ministers. in upcoming general elections for vised remarks in New Delhi. miers since independence, may colonial rulers, opting for simpler anti-graft ombudsman to inves- “Friends, (the) controversy the Lok Sabha after its stunning He said the party was looking lose office in the looming general dwellings or to stay in their own tigate wrongdoing in government. around government transport poll showing in the nation’s capi- for “honest candidates”. elections. homes. Public tempers have mounted used by ministers is not right. tal earlier this month. The party won 28 seats in the The rookie party’s performance Their cars, meanwhile, are over string of corruption scandals “Ministers have to use govern- One of the Aam Aadmi (“com- 70-seat Delhi state assembly in in Delhi is being closely watched minus the red beacons and sirens embroiling the ruling Congress ment transport for their work... mon man”) Party’s top leaders, polls in early December, routing to see what it could deliver for the that allowed their predecessors to party. We never ever said that we won’t Prashant Bhusha, announced the the Congress party, which rules rest of India. zip through traffic. Some 30 percent of Indian use government transport. decision after the first day of a at the national level. Party head Arvind Kejriwal, the The Aam Aadmi’s symbol is a lawmakers in federal and state “We said we won’t use lal bat- two-day meeting of the party’s The AAP’s success has engen- new chief minister of the capital broom — to sweep away India’s assemblies had criminal charges tis (red beacon). And we stand by top decision-making body in New dered hope among corruption- who has already slashed electric- endemic corruption and bribery. against them last year, according that. Lot of people have worked Delhi to plan strategy for the weary Indians that it could signal ity costs and announced supplies The Aam Aadmi party said on to local media. very hard and selflessly for this elections, due in May. the beginning the clean-up of the of free water, has vowed to end its website that it would announce But following a Supreme Court political revolution. I will try my The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), nation’s graft-ridden politics. the privileged culture surround- who would contest the elections order last July, many faced being best not to let their sacrifice go in formed just a year ago, “will fight Congress’s rout in Delhi and ing Delhi’s politicians and make within two weeks. expelled from their seats. vain,” he added. the general elections, contest in three other state polls has been his administration down-to-earth. Earlier this month, India’s AFP IANS

Art against war and poverty Assembly GSLV-D5 success means vote must on Telangana bill: immense savings: ISRO CHENNAI: The successful will also be using this rocket for Kiran Reddy launch of India’s heavier rocket our second Chandrayaan mission — the geosynchronous satellite and for the launch of GISAT,” he HYDERABAD: Andhra launch vehicle-D5 (GSLV-D5) said. Pradesh Chief Minister N — today not only means the According to him, another Kiran Kumar Reddy insisted indigenous cryogenic engine is communication satellite GSAT-15 that voting has to take place in performing well but also would will be launched using the Ariane the assembly on the bill for for- pave way for sizeable savings, rocket. mation of separate Telangana the space agency’s chief said Other than the flight testing of state as this is the only way to yesterday. cryogenic engine, 2014 will be an elicit opinion of the house. “When GSLV-D5 succeeds in important year for ISRO. The chief minister told report- its mission Sunday, it means the Radhakrishnan noted that in ers yesterday that opinion of the Indian cryogenic stage/engine is September, the Mars Orbiter will house mean voting and not the performing well. It is a culmina- be injected into the Mars orbit opinion of individual legislators. tion of major indigenous technol- while the test flight of GSLV- The chief minister, who is ogy development,” Indian Space Mark III version will also include opposed to bifurcation of Andhra Research Organisation (ISRO) a crew module for characterisa- Pradesh, said no state was bifur- chairman K Radhakrishnan said. tion of re-entry from the space. cated without voting on reorganisa- In addition, the mission’s suc- “The GSLV-Mark III experi- tion bill in the assembly. He pointed cess would not only pave way for mental mission will be in April out that it was only after voting in ISRO to save launch costs paid this year. The rocket will have a Uttar Pradesh and Bihar assemblies Indian street children along with Japanese children from Fukushima paint on a huge canvas during an art to foreign space agencies but also passive cryogenic stage/engine. that Uttarakhand and Jharkhand work with Indian schoolchildren titled “Bornfree Guernica” based on the theme “A future without war, poverty to launch more communication The main purpose of the mission were carved out respectively. and hunger” in Bangalore yesterday. satellites augmenting the trans- is to study the aerodynamics and Leaders from Telangana have ponder capacity to earn more rev- stability of the rocket,” he said. been saying that voting on the bill enue, he added. Radhakrishnan He said the cryogenic engine is not compulsory as the president said the country pays around for the next GSLV version will has referred the bill to the assembly $85-90m or around Rs500 crore take around three years for being only for its opinion. Kiran Reddy Five held for jumping PM’s security cordon as launch fee for sending up a flight ready. hoped that debate on the bill would 3.5 tonne communication satel- According to him, the next begin on Monday. “It will be better lites whereas the GSLV rocket fiscal (April 2014-March 2015) if the debate starts early,” he said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: price rise. “The young men were airport after attending a function costs around Rs220 crore and the would see ISRO launching The debate on Andhra Pradesh Police took into custody five not standing together. As soon at the Technopark IT campus. GSAT-14 that would go up this three IRNSS (Indian Regional Reorganisation Bill 2013, which BJP activists who created a as the motorcade passed by, they Earlier in the day, the state evening costs around Rs145 crore. Navigational Satellite System) was tabled in the assembly on flutter by jumping the secu- came into the road one by one. cabinet led by Chief Minister The ISRO can send smaller satellites taking the total to four December 16, could not be taken rity cordon as Prime Minister The Thiruvananthapuram city Oommen Chandy met Singh and communication satellites - weigh- and be ready for usage. up due to protests by legislators Manmohan Singh’s motorcade police commissioner, who was also handed over a memorandum list- ing around two tonnes — till such He said ISRO will also launch from Seemandhra opposing the was going towards the airport passing by, stopped his vehicle ing various state issues. time it gets ready an advanced French satellite SPOT-7 along state’s bifurcation. in the Kerala capital yesterday. and directed policemen on duty Singh will spend time also in GSLV variant that can lug satel- with four small satellites using Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Witnesses said that as the to take all those who broke the Kochi, where he will inaugurate lites weighing around four tonnes. its other rocket Polar Satellite Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, prime minister’s motorcade was security cordon into custody,” said the Rs4,200 crore Petronet LNG While that is for the future, Launch Vehicle (PSLV). who is from Telangana, said it was passing by, five young men wav- a witness. Terminal (PLL) at Puthu Vypeen. Radhakrishnan said ISRO has Radhakrishnan said ISRO unfortunate that the bill was not ing Bharatiya Janata Party flags Singh arrived in the state capi- He is scheduled to attend two lined up several satellite launches plans to induct around 96 trans- taken up for debate. He said the jumped onto the road which had tal on Friday and attended two functions in Kochi Sunday and for the current GSLV rocket ponders (receivers and trans- chief minister’s only aim was to been cleared for the motorcade, functions yesterday. will return to the national capital version. mitters of signals),next fiscal. remain in office till the last minute. shouting slogans about the failure This incident took place when in the evening. “We will be launching satellites Currently it has 195 transponders. IANS of Singh’s government to check Singh was on his way to the IANS GSAT-6, 7A, 9 using GSLV. We IANS SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Couple sued Bandwagon for not coming Fajr (Dawn) 4:59 to rescue of Shorook (Sunrise) 6:20 Zuhr (Noon) 11:39 drowning teen Asr (Afternoon) 2:38 BORDEAUX: A couple who in Maghrib (Sunset) 4:59 2012 passed by a drunk 19-year- Isha (Night) 6:29 old student who was later found drowned is now being sued in France by his mother — an ex- policewoman — for failing to WEATHER provide assistance. Sylvie Zecca told AFP she Weather wanted to make an “example” Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: of the young couple for allegedly Partly cloudy Chance of rain Clear breaching a French law which Hazy to misty at requires persons to provide assist- first becoming ance to someone in danger. Her son, Vincent Zecca, went High: 23° partly cloudy High: 21° High: 19° missing after a boozy night in Low: 17° Low: 16° Low: 15° to cloudy and chance of Bordeaux in March 2012. His body was pulled from the Garonne scattered rain river that flows through the city by night. three weeks later. DOHA - SUN & SEA His family argued he had been murdered, stressing that one of SUN TIDE SEA his credit cards was stolen that Performers take part in the annual Cape Town Minstrels Carnival in Cape Town yesterday. This event, which SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND night. But police determined he is deeply rooted in Cape Malay culture, gathers more than 13,000 performers in about 70 groups of musi- drowned accidentally after slip- cians, dancers and other troupe members in brightly coloured outfits and ornately painted faces, who parade 06:23 16:55 07:45 & 20:00 00:30 & 15:00 05-15 KT ping into the river. through the city, playing Ghoema music (comic songs often accompanied by brass, or banjo). Sylvie Zecca, a former police THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW officer, said she had recently been given access to the police file and HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER decided to sue a young couple who told investigators they had come MUSCAT 23/16 Partly cloudy 26/17 Partly cloudy upon her “very drunk, near coma- KUWAIT 17/14 Chance of rain 15/09 Chance of rain Gone With The Wind actress is dead tose” son and “instead of helping BAHRAIN 20/18 Chance of rain 19/14 Chance of storm him, laughed at him, filmed him SANAA 24/07 Partly cloudy 23/07 Partly cloudy with a smartphone and let him SAN FRANCISCO: Actress Retirement Community in with her mother after her father RIYADH 24/15 Chance of rain 21/09 Chance of rain leave.” She instructed her lawyer Alicia Rhett, who was the oldest Charleston, where she had lived died in World War One, Bishop DUBAI 25/16 Partly cloudy 25/16 Chance of rain last month to initiate proceedings. surviving cast member of the since 2002. Other surviving cast Gadsden said. She was seen as BAGHDAD 10/07 Rain 15/07 Partly cloudy “I’m not asking for punishment, classic 1939 film Gone With The members from Gone With The “intensely private” and uninter- just that they be made to face Wind, died in South Carolina on Wind are 97-year-old Olivia de ested in the “trappings of celeb- THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW their responsibilities,” she said. Friday, officials at her retire- Havilland who played Melanie rity,” and preferred a quieter, HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER A series of drownings in 2011- ment community said. She was Hamilton, Ashley Wilkes’ cousin art-filled life connected to the 2012 prompted officials to deploy 98. and wife; 93-year-old Mary Deep South, according to a biog- surveillance cameras. AFP Savannah, Georgia-born Rhett Anderson, who played Maybelle raphy on Turner Classic Movies ATHENS 15/11 Partly cloudy 15/10 Cloudy portrayed India Wilkes, sister Merriweather; and 81-year-old (TCM) website. WASHINGTON 07/04 Chance of ice 05/-13 Chance of snow showers of Ashley Wilkes in the award- Mickey Kuhn, who played Beau Rhett was the great-grand- SYDNEY 28/19 Clear 27/16 Chance of rain winning film based on Margaret Wilkes, Bishop Gadsden said. daughter of South Carolina LONDON 13/11 Chance of rain 13/09 Chance of rain Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Ann Rutherford, who played senator Robert Brunwell Rhett, PARIS 11/11 Rain 14/10 Rain historical novel of the same name. protagonist Scarlett O’Hara’s whose “anti-Union rhetoric and ISTANBUL 11/08 Partly cloudy 11/09 Cloudy “Truly a beautiful woman, her optimistic younger sister in the pro-slavery stance in the years MANILA 31/24 Partly cloudy 31/24 Clear passion for the arts and love of film about white southerners in leading up to the American Civil DHAKA 23/14 Partly cloudy 25/15 Partly cloudy Charleston were unrivalled... the American Civil War era, died War earned him the sobriquet DELHI 19/09 Partly cloudy 17/07 Clear Alicia was a kind and gentle in June 2012 in Los Angeles. the Father of Secession,” TCM ISLAMABAD 19/02 Clear 17/00 Clear lady,” said Bill Trawick, CEO of Rhett was born on February added. the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal 1, 1915 and moved to Charleston REUTERS Sunday 5 January 2014 4 Rabial I 1435 Volume 18 Number 5935 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 MPHC to give 4 months’ dividend to subscribers Finance Minister expects huge response to IPO, urges citizens to keep shares as a long-term investment

DOHA: The Minister of Finance it at more than QR16.7bn. Al Emadi praised the ongo- and Qatar Petroleum was formed H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi has Apart from reducing the value ing coordination between the to develop the appropriate mech- announced that, under the direc- of the company, there are direc- Ministry of Finance, the Qatar anism to record this for them. tives of the Emir H H Sheikh tives from the government to Central Bank as well as banks to The Minister added that these Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, work out a long-term mechanism overcome obstacles facing Qatari groups can subscribe in Mesaieed the shareholders of the Mesaieed to encourage Qatari nationals, subscribers’ participation in this Holding out of the 750 shares allo- Petrochemical Holding Company he said, adding that the govern- company. On conflicting views cated for them as per the direc- (MPHC) will get a percent- ment has developed a future sav- about the IPO, he explained that tives of the Emir, adding that the age of the MPHC profits in the ing mechanism beyond 5 or 10 there was clarity from the outset ministry is ready to cooperate and last four months of 2013, despite years. If we assessed the conces- and that investors can find infor- do everything possible to remove the fact that the subscription in sions given by the government to mation on the prospectus. obstacles facing subscribers. the company’s shares began on Qatari citizens we will find that With regards to the mechanism Regarding Qatar Foundation December 31, 2013. the amount exceeds QR6bn, and of allocation of shares, Al Emadi and General Retirement & Speaking at a press conference that the government based on said that it was the first time a Pension Authority stakes in the held yesterday to give clarifica- the directives of the Emir had new method is used in the allo- IPO, the Minister revealed that tions on the subscription process reduced the value of the company cation process, whereby the allo- their share would be 2.45 percent. in this new company, Al Emadi for the benefit of the Qatari citi- cation will be according to fifty He urged the citizens to keep noted that the directives issued zens, he said. shares or above, adding that the shares as a long-term invest- by the Emir to the government Al Emadi stressed that the whole policy that was developed ment, saying that the government stipulated that we offer the MPHC’s fiscal status in 2013 was to conduct Mesaieed IPO targets decided that investors retain 50 share at a reasonable price for good and its profit exceeded that The Minister of Finance H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi speaking to the media at a ordinary citizens and the middle percent of the shares for 5 or 10 Qatari nationals. “This”, he said, of 2012, noting that in accord- press conference Doha yesterday. class, but will not allow big inves- years as a catalyst to maximise “encouraged us to reduce more ance with the directives of the tors to dominate the IPO. benefit for them. He added the than QR4bn of the company’s the Emir the government will “We are discussing one of the for long-term savings to benefit On social security recipients market is open for the sharehold- value for the benefit of citizens spare no efforts in helping Qatari most important IPOs in Qatar and Qatari citizens, who he encour- and people with special needs ers who want to sell some of their in the subscription process. The citizens in the subscription proc- it is necessary to complete the dis- aged to seize the opportunity of and their proportion in the IPO shares, but the government is MPHC’s value is estimated at ess. The company, he said, will cussion and shed light on the status the company’s IPO. process, the Minister pointed to encouraging them to keep shares QR12bn, while its real value is announce during next March of the company and its financial He pointed out that the Finance the directives of the Emir with as long as possible. QR16bn,” Al Emadi said. or April the distribution of sub- results as well as what has been Ministry had asked banks to facil- regards to social security recipi- He stated that the people The MPHC’s real value scription profits for the last four done with regard to the privatisa- itate the needs of some citizens ents and people with special with special needs, who have exceeded QR16bn since it had months in 2013. So, the share- tion of this company,” he said. to finance, saying that the banks needs, saying that they will have 750 shares allocation, will not be achieved QR1.6bn in 2012, he said, holder who subscribes today will On subscriber figures, the have done a good job in order to the same figures or more, explain- allowed to sell them because the pointing out that the privatisation receive a dividend for the months Finance Minister said he expects facilitate these procedures, as ing that a committee with mem- purpose behind this allocation is of MPHC was carried out after of September, October, November a very good turnout, especially as funding ratio of some banks had bers from the Ministry of Finance to provide them with a decent life. neutral investors had estimated and December, he added. the company’s shares are ideal reached the 100 percent level. and the Ministry of Social Affairs THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Qatar’s real GDP growth Fiat, Chrysler in historic deal projected at 6.8pc in ’14 Non-hydrocarbon sector to grow: QNB Group

DOHA: Qatar’s real GDP percent year-on-year), owing to other infrastructure. Accordingly, growth is expected to pick up to the Ramadan period of festivity small and medium-sized enter- 6.8 percent in 2014 as the imple- which boosted travel and tourism, prises, such as hotels, education, mentation of large infrastructure as well as higher mobile subscrib- medical services, retail and res- projects and the fast growing ers which is a key characteristic taurants are expected to flourish population would boost domes- of the stronger growth in pri- in order to cater to the growing tic demand in the current year, vate consumption boosted by the population. QNB Group noted yesterday. larger population. There are some concerns of eco- Qatar’s economic growth The financial, real estate, and nomic overheating arising from accelerated at a buoyant 6.2 per- business services sector grew rap- the infrastructure programme. cent pace in Q3 2013 compared idly (10.5 percent year-on-year), as Those concerns can be alleviated with Q3 2012, according to fig- real estate services were boosted by considering the latest GDP data ures released by the Ministry by the growing population. The for the construction sector which of Development Planning and non-hydrocarbon sector was fur- indicates that pricing for building Statistics. This growth was ther boosted by the construction materials are falling. This leads spurred by double-digit growth sector, which accelerated to 13.0 to the conclusion that there is no in trade, restaurants and hotels; percent year-on-year as Qatar’s excess demand for building materi- construction; transport and com- infrastructure development pro- als and no shortage in supply that munication; financial, real estate, gramme is gathering momentum. could lead to potential bottlenecks and business services; as well as This large infrastructure in the implementation of those domestic services, the Group’s investment programme will have programmes. weekly analysis said. a direct effect on GDP growth Overall, QNB Group expects The hydrocarbon sector, through higher investment spend- real GDP growth to accelerate which consists of crude oil and ing and an indirect effect through further to 6.8 percent in 2014, as raw gas production, perked up population growth. A new wave highlighted in QNB Group’s latest and expanded to a better-than- of expatriate workers is coming Qatar Economic Insight report, expected 1.8 percent year-on- into Qatar in response to higher owing to the implementation of year in Q3 2013 owing to higher labour demand for infrastructure additional large infrastructure production of natural gas due to projects. projects, like the Lusail real estate LNG facilities coming back to full Indeed, population continued development, the new Doha Port, operational capacity after some its double-digit growth (11.4 per- the new Hamad International downtime for maintenance over cent year-on-year) in the year Airport and the Doha Metro Rail the last year. to the end of December 2013, project. The key driver of growth The non-hydrocarbon sector driven by the large ramp up in will therefore continue to be the grew 9.5 percent year-on-year infrastructure spending. The non-hydrocarbon sector which is in Q3 2013, driven by a strong larger population will continue to expected to grow from 42 percent growth in services. Transport drive economic growth by boost- of nominal GDP in 2012 to more The logos of Italian car manufacturer Fiat and US automobile heavyweight Chrysler. Fiat said that it had and communication was the ing domestic demand, services as than 50 percent by 2015. agreed to buy up the remainder of Chrysler stake in an historic $3.65bn deal, paving the way for a full merger fastest growing sector (13.9 well as investment in housing and THE PENINSULA that will create a new global auto giant.

Bernanke urges Revenues of QP rise to QR330.33bn in 2012 more action to BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB percent from QR36.79bn in 2008 move forward with great resolve greater growth and expansion.” in progress in RLC include Barzan boost economic to QR26.39bn in 2012. Capital and dedication,” said H E Dr The Minister also said that Gas Project, Laffan Refinery 2 DOHA: The revenues of Qatar expenditures of QP in 2009 were Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Qatar is reinforcing its position as project, Al Sejeel Petrochemicals recovery Petroleum (QP) in 2012 reached QR35.35bn which declined to Minister of Energy and Industry, in the world’s largest liquefied natu- Complex and Al Karaana at QR330.33bn ($90.71bn), up QR24.46bn in 2010. However, as a his message in the annual report. ral gas producer with its ability Petrochemicals Complex. by over 14 percent compared to result of several big ticket energy Total assets of the state-owned to engage in new long-term sales The year 2012 marked the sale WASHINGTON: Federal QR289.18bn ($79.41bn) in 2011. projects, investments increased to energy group have grown consist- and purchase agreements with of the first commercial shipment Reserve Chairman Ben In 2009, sales revenue of the QR32.85bn in 2011. ently from QR246.03bn in 2008 to customers across the globe. of normal paraffin from Pearl Bernanke, who steps down energy giant had declined to Net income of the energy group QR494.39bn in 2012, up by over 100 The 100-page bilingual report GTL, the world’s largest gas-to- at the end of January, called QR118.14bn from QR168.49bn in in 2012 increased to QR114.14bn percent. has mentioned about a host of liquid plant. It is considered an for more action to ensure the 2008. However, since 2009, due to from QR88.86 in 2011 register- With the commissioning of upcoming projects and develop- important milestone as Qatar United States recovers from the higher energy prices in the glo- ing an impressive growth of 28.44 several upcoming projects in the ment plans located in Mesaieed strives to have a more diversified economic and financial crisis. bal market, revenues witnessed percent, while income of the next few years, the revenues and Industrial City and Ras Laffan industrial base in future. In a speech at the annual meet- a consistent rise accounting for company surged by 105 percent income of the Qatar’s largest Industrial City at different stages, In addition, the year also wit- ing of the American Economic about a 180 percent growth over between 2008 and 2012. company is expected to grow at a including the expansion of the nessed the completion of many Association in Philadelphia, the last four years, according to “Qatar is entering a new phase much faster pace in future. nautical channel at Mesaieed port, other significant projects, includ- Pennsylvania, Bernanke retraced QP annual report 2012. in its economic development with Dr Al Sada, who is also the upgradation of hazardous waste ing Seaman’s club in Ras Laffan the eight years he spent at the Where as capital expendi- great determination. Its hydrocar- Chairman and Managing Director treatment in MIC and Ras Laffan port, new environmental labora- helm of the US central bank as tures of the integrated energy bons revenues have maintained of QP, said: “Revenues are being port expansion phase. tory at RLC and major electrical it tackled the 2008 financial crisis group over the last four years impressive growth rates while its invested in strategic projects that In addition, some of the remain- upgradation at Mesaieed port. and the Great Recession. have declined by nearly 20 sustainable development efforts help create a solid foundation for ing major industrial developments THE PENINSULA “Needless to say, my tenure has been eventful — for the Federal Reserve, for the country, and for me personally,” Bernanke Winter sales in Italy said, according to the text of his speech. “We took extraordinary measures to meet extraordi- Libya budget crisis looms as nary economic challenges,” said the chairman, who will be suc- ceeded on February 1 by his vice chair, Janet Yellen, pending her oil strikes wipe out finances approval by the Senate. Highlighting that the US TRIPOLI: , As strikes at Libyan Alex Warren of advisory group blockades. “If the situation con- unemployment rate fell from oil ports run into a sixth month, Frontier, which runs The Libya tinues this will lead to collapse, 10 percent in 2009 to 7 percent reducing government income to Report website. The wage bill is to a dark tunnel leading into the recently, Bernanke nevertheless a trickle, a budget crisis could instead set to rise as workers in the unknown,” he said. insisted: “Much progress has be just around the corner for a oil sector, who account for about been made, but more remains to country wearily accustomed to four fifths of GDP, are entitled to CRUNCH QUARTER be done.” chaos since the popular revolt a 67 percent salary increase from Diplomats say the budgetary The jobless rate “still is ele- that ousted Muammar Gaddafi. January, a government measure crunch could come by the end of vated”, he said, reiterating con- The government, when it is not intended to ease dissent. the first quarter if the standoff cerns about the “unusually high” grappling with militias who occupy Prime Minister Ali Zeidan’s between Zeidan and a pro-auton- number of long-term unemployed ministries and take over oil facili- besieged government might cut omy group holding three oil ports and declining participation in the ties at will, warns that it might be infrastructure spending, but that, in eastern Libya continues. labor force, in part probably due A woman chooses clothes in a store in Rome yesterday, the first day unable to pay wages, while power too, is not without consequences Reliable data is hard to come to workers discouraged by poor of the winter sales in Italy. cuts are commonplace. in a country that has made little by, however, and spending details job prospects. Oil exports, which account for headway in repairing the damage are sporadic at best. Key eco- Bernanke said that an important practically all the government’s that accompanied the revolution nomic indicators are published factor holding back the economy annual revenue of around $50bn, and its aftermath. only quarterly and after long was “disappointing” productivity have fallen from more than 1 mil- Indeed some of the crippling delays by international standards. growth. “The reasons for weak pro- lion barrels a day in July, when the protests have been provoked A central bank official told ductivity growth are not entirely Major Asian LNG buyers must strikes began, to just 110,000 b/d. by the parlous state of national Reuters last month that Libya clear,” he said. He said it may be The government says it has lost infrastructure such as hospitals, had used $7bn from its reserves the result of the severity of the seek fair pricing: Indian PM more than $10bn in oil revenues which had already suffered years since the summer and could financial crisis that tightened since then, roughly a fifth of the of neglect under Gaddafi. spend another $5bn or $6bn by credit conditions, inhibiting inno- KOCHI: Major buyers of LNG in Asia should come together to annual target, but that could Political infighting between the end of 2013. The bank later vation, or may reflect longer-term demand a fair pricing mechanism for gas being imported from out- well be an understatement, given Zeidan’s cabinet and the Islamist denied the story after it made a trends unrelated to the recession. side the continent, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said yesterday. that the 1 million barrel shortfall opposition in the General National splash on social media. He said the Fed’s decision in He was speaking after dedicating the Rs4,200 crore Petronet LNG’s would have fetched around $100m Congress has led to delays in some Libya still has a relatively gen- mid-December to modestly taper Kochi terminal to the nation. “Asia has been the driver of the global a day, suggesting the monthly infrastructure projects, and that erous reserves position — $119bn its $85bn a month asset-purchase LNG demand in recent times. It is therefore important that major undershoot could be around $3bn. unspent cash will at least have at end-November, according to programme did not indicate any buyers of LNG in Asia come together to demand a fair pricing mecha- There is little room to trim bought the government a little the same interviewee — and could lesser commitment to maintain nism for gas being imported from outside of Asia. I hope to see India expenditure, however, with more time. Oil output could also rise use yet more to avoid a budget an easy-money policy “for as long contribute towards an effort of this kind in the future,” he said. than half the annual budget of by 300,000 b/d in the coming days crunch, but much of it is invested as needed.” Petronet LNG has already tied up supply of 14.4 lakh tonnes of LNG more than $50bn earmarked for after the government declared overseas or in non-liquid assets. Instead, the taper “reflected the per year for the Kochi terminal from the Gorgon project in Australia public salaries and politically sensi- the end of a protest at the large Government borrowing is also progress we have made toward for a 20-year period. Manmohan Singh pointed out that India has less tive subsidies for a range of prod- El Sharara field. an option, though overseas lend- our goal of substantial improve- than one percent of the world’s known natural gas reserves. ucts including bread and fuel and Even so, Labour Minister ers are unlikely to help, since ment in the labor market outlook Manmohan Singh said he was delighted to dedicate Petronet LNG’s services such as hospital treatment. Mohamed Swalim took to the air- Libya has not been rated by credit that we set out when we began Kochi terminal to the nation as he has a special attachment to it since “I don’t think they will cut sala- waves for an hour-long television rating agencies since 2011, and its the current purchase programme it was one of the two major projects that were announced during his ries or subsidies because I think broadcast this week to hammer financial system has few ties with in September 2012.” very first trip to Kerala after assuming charge as premier. IANS that’s extremely dangerous,” said home the urgency of ending the the outside world. REUTERS AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Nakheel plans New dawn for Mexico’s oil refining industry early debt repayments No need for more govt help: Chairman

DUBAI: Dubai developer outflow of Dh56.9bn that was Nakheel plans to repay nearly assessed after the restructuring a third of its total bank debt in has been cut to Dh41.3bn, and the the first quarter of 2014, well net deficit has dropped by Dh22bn ahead of maturity in 2015, as it to Dh8bn, it said. benefits from a rebound in the Nakheel will also repay a $1.2bn emirate’s property sector. Islamic bond, which it issued to Nakheel, the builder of a palm trade creditors as part of its tree-shaped island off Dubai’s restructuring plan due in 2016, coast, was the most high profile on time. “We will have no trouble casualty of the Gulf state’s property repaying on time,” Lootah said. Excess natural gas is being flared, or burnt off, at a flare stack at the refinery in Tula. Mexico’s oil refining industry, saddled for years with bloated market collapse in 2009 and was Of trade creditors’ Dh8bn costs, chronic under-investment and generous government fuel subsidies, ought to be on the verge of a bright new dawn. A shake-up last month taken over by the government as of claims against the company, dismantled the state-run Pemex oil and gas monopoly, potentially opening the door to foreign oil companies. part of a $16bn rescue plan in 2011. nearly all have now been settled The property market amicably, with the expected pay- rebounded in 2013, with prices out to be worth around 15 percent rising around 22 percent from of the total, according to a pres- 2012. In the crash, they had plum- entation by the company. meted more than 50 percent from Trade creditors often settled their 2008 peak. claims at a steep discount as they US crude imports tumble to lowest level As a result of the rebound, needed the funds quickly after a Nakheel will not require further long delay in repayment by Nakheel NEW YORK: US crude oil the economy.” December 27, the most in data Meanwhile, drivers in the US government support and is tar- as it secured its restructuring. imports fell to the lowest level in Fracking and horizontal drill- through 1991, the EIA said. US will probably pay an average geting annual profit growth of 15 Dubai’s building boom came almost 16 years as domestic out- ing have boosted shale oil out- oil demand slid 7.2 percent in the of 5 cents a gallon less in 2014 percent, its chairman, Ali Rashid to a grinding halt in the wake put rose, the Energy Information put from the Bakken formation week ended December 27 to 19 than this year as refineries pro- Lootah, said. “We are confident of the 2009 financial crisis and Administration said. in North Dakota and the Eagle million barrels a day, the EIA duce more fuel, AAA said. The that we will not touch the govern- state-owned Nakheel shelved sev- Shipments of foreign crude fell Ford in Texas. Domestic pro- said. Consumption reached a five- price of regular petrol averaged ment funding and we will be ok eral projects including two other 1.1 percent to 7.41 million barrels duction increased to 8.12 million year high of 21 million in the week $3.49 a gallon this year, making without it,” Lootah said. palm-shaped island projects and a day, the fewest since January barrels a day last week, the most ended on December 13. 2013 the least expensive year to “Where there’s a will, there’s a an island shaped as the world. 1998, based on the four-week since September 1988. Output The US trade deficit nar- fill up since 2010, according to way. We will keep looking at ways Nakheel will restart one of the average through December 27, surpassed imports in October for rowed for the first time in four Heathrow, Florida-based AAA, to cut costs. When there’s a need to palm islands, though on a smaller according to data released on the first time since 1995, accord- months in October, the Commerce the nation’s largest motoring club. raise cash, we will do so,” he added. scale. However, development of Friday by the EIA, the Energy ing to the EIA. Department said. The petroleum Prices in 2012 averaged a record Of the Dh6.8bn ($1.85bn) of Palm Jebel Ali and the The World Department’s statistical arm. US Net imports were 7.35 million deficit shrank to $10.5bn from $3.60 a gallon and $3.51 in 2011. bank debt due in 2015, Nakheel islands are still incomplete. crude output surged to a 25-year barrels a day, the least in data $11bn the prior month after adjust- US petrol production jumped will repay around Dh2.35bn in Lootah said there would be no high on rising production from through November 2001, the EIA ing for inflation. The department 4.3 percent to 9.72 million bar- February and another Dh1.65bn in further infrastructure develop- shale formations. said. On a weekly basis, imports will release November trade data rels a day in the week ended August, the company said. “These ment at the World islands. “We “Imports are falling because decreased 0.5 percent to 7.5 mil- on January 7. December 20, the most in data funds came from increased sales sold it as it is and we are encour- we can produce more oil now,” lion on December 27 after falling The US, the world’s biggest oil going back to 1982, the EIA and also by mitigating claims of aging customers to start devel- said Michael Lynch, president to 6.86 million on December 6, the user, consumed about 18.6 mil- reported on Friday. Refiners creditors,” he added. opment.” The state firm aims to of Strategic Energy & Economic least since January 2000. lion barrels a day of oil in 2012, or have ramped up operations to The developer handed over shift away from residential devel- Research in Winchester, Exports of refinery prod- about one-fifth of the global total, benefit from a flood of less- 7,000 units to customers last year. opments to more lucrative malls Massachussets. “That can save ucts averaged 3.49 million bar- according to BP Plc’s Statistical expensive domestic crude oil. The company’s total cash and hotel projects. REUTERS us tons of money and is good for rels a day in the four weeks to Review of World Energy. WP-BLOOMBERG Blasts hit Syria gas pipelines

Smoke rises after explosions at gas pipelines near Damascus international airport, in Erbeen. Explosions hit two large Syrian gas pipelines on Friday near Damascus and Homs, cutting electricity supplies around the capital and in Mediterranean provinces. Draining oilfields may force Indonesia to import fuel

JAKARTA: Magenta-coloured Technology. lowest output since 1969, falling bars creep up on a monitor Domestic consumption is the short of the government’s target screen at the control room biggest factor turning the region’s of 870,000 barrels. “We’re only of Senipah-Peciko-South largest oil producer into a net optimising by draining existing Mahakam oil terminal in importer, said Unggul Priyanto, the reserves because there aren’t any Indonesia’s East Kalimantan deputy head of the agency known new reserves found,” he said. province, indicating three stor- by its acronym, BPPT. The nation Only 72 of the country’s 329 age tanks are being filled. withdrew from the Organisation of working oil and gas areas are “It takes more than 60 days now the Petroleum Exporting Countries currently in production, he said. to fill a 500,000 barrel tank with in December 2008. Drilling-related expenses that crude from Bekapai field,” said “Our fuel demand keeps rising are reimbursed to producers by Kristanto Hartadi, a spokesman while oil production declines,” the government, known as cost at Total E&P Indonesie, a unit Priyanto said. “We’re not like recovery, increased almost four- of the French oil major Total SA Middle East countries that have fold to $15.98bn in the past 11 that operates the facility. “That big oil reserves.” years, according to data from compares with about 10 days Production is forecast to drop SKK Migas. Extracting oil and when it was at full production.” by more than half to 124 million gas typically gets more expensive Bekapai, which pumped more barrels in 2030, from 329 million as fields mature and explorers tap than 50,000 barrels a day in in 2011, BPPT said in a report reserves in more challenging ter- 1978, now flows at just 7,000 bar- in December. Imports will rise rain such as Papua and offshore rels, a symbol of the decline in almost four times to 532 million eastern Kalimantan. Indonesia’s oil and gas production. barrels, from 134 million, as out- Imports of refined products are Aging fields, rising exploration put from maturing fields slows. for a threefold gain to 567 million costs and increased fuel demand Indonesian producers will pump barrels in 2030, from 172 million will force Southeast Asia’s most 804,000 barrels a day of oil this in 2011, BPPT said in the report. populous nation to import 90 per- year, according to J Widjonarko, Indonesia’s total fuel requirement cent of the oil it needs by 2030, the acting head of SKK Migas, will more than triple to 1,029 mil- according to the Agency for the which regulates the upstream oil lion barrels, from 399 million. Assessment and Application of and gas sector. That would be the WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Commodity prices fall in downbeat start to ’14 Copper, lead and nickel slide; oil drops sharply; coffee hits multi-week lows

LONDON: Commodity prices “Softer-than-expected manu- “It is difficult to see why gold October,” said Inenco analyst Lucy COFFEE: Prices touched quarter during 2013. By Friday mainly fell this week in low-vol- facturing data from China is still would fall significantly further, Sidebotham. She added: “Weaker multi-week lows this week on the on LIFFE, London’s futures ume trade on the back of weak weighing on confidence,” added given, for example, its price is stock markets have also weighed back of heavy speculative selling, exchange, cocoa for delivery in Chinese economic data, while analyst David Madden at trading close to the cost of production on prices, and poor economic data dealers said. “Speculators were March dipped to £1,677 a tonne many participants were away firm IG. for many precious metals miners,” from China.” the big sellers in New York, with from £1,788 a week earlier. for an extended Christmas and By Friday on the London Metal added Razaqzada. “On top of this, A spokesman for the Libyan little interest noted by producers On ICE Futures US, cocoa New Year break. Exchange, copper for delivery in demand from China remains very National Oil Corporation (NOC) or roasters in any trading,” said for March decreased to $2,636 a Beijing released figures on three months fell to $7,341 a tonne strong in the physical market.” said on Thursday that the Price Futures Group analyst Jack tonne from $2,815. Friday showing that growth in from $7,385 a week earlier. Three- By late Friday on the London 330,000 barrel a day El Sharara Scoville. SUGAR: Prices fell over the China’s services sector slowed month aluminium increased to Bullion Market, the price of gold field is expected to resume nor- Prices sank in 2013 by 24 per- week, and slid by about 15 per- sharply in December. The data $1,798 a tonne from $1,784. Three- rose to $1,234.50 an ounce from mal output within two or three cent in New York and 12 per- cent during 2013, as the market followed news on Wednesday and month lead dropped to $2,204 a $1,214.50 a week earlier. Silver days, once protesters who have cent in London, hit by plentiful was hit once again by abundant Thursday that manufacturing in tonne from $2,265. Three-month climbed to $20.18 an ounce from blocked production pull out. Key supplies. By Friday on the ICE supplies. the country had also suffered a tin gained to $21,550 a tonne from $19.92. export terminals in eastern Libya Futures US exchange, Arabica “The primary focus of the mar- slowdown in growth last month. $22,949. Three-month nickel fell On the London Platinum and remain blockaded. However, NOC for delivery in March dipped to ket remains big supplies. Strong On the upside, precious metals to $13,846 a tonne from $14,344. Palladium Market, platinum announced earlier this week that 111.65 US cents a pound from 117 offers from India and Thailand eked out slender gains following Three-month zinc declined to increased to $1,388 an ounce two oilfields in southern Libya cents a week earlier. On LIFFE, keep overall (price) trends down,” heavy losses during 2013. $2,051.75 a tonne from $2,096.75. from $1,374. Palladium advanced had resumed on Sunday. Robusta for March fell to $1,596 added Scoville. BASE METALS: Base or PRECIOUS METALS: Gold to $723 an ounce from $711. Over the course of 2013, Brent a tonne from $1,699. By Friday on LIFFE, the industrial metals prices mostly rebounded slightly, having suf- OIL: Prices fell heavily, hit crude prices were virtually COCOA: Futures sank on price of a tonne of white sugar slid as the poor Chinese data fered a 28-percent slump in 2013 hard by news that a major Libyan unchanged, while New York futures profit-taking after striking the for March slipped to $443 from cast a shadow over markets. on the back of weaker demand field could come back on line later have risen more than 12 percent, highest points since September $444.10 a week earlier. On the “The lower than expected China and easing inflation. “Gold con- this week, while the Chinese data amid tight supply concerns earlier 2011 in the prior week. Cocoa ICE Futures US exchange in non-manufacturing PMI figure in tinues to shine in these early days also weighed. in the year caused by the threat of dived as low as £1,676 per tonne New York, the price of unrefined December has got metals lower,” of 2014,” said Forex.com analyst The market slumped by about US military action on Syria. in London and $2,629 per tonne sugar for delivery in March fell said Richard Fu, director of Asian Fawad Razaqzada. $3 on Thursday, following the By Friday on London’s in New York. to 16.24 US cents a pound from commodities trading at Newedge. “However, given the low liquid- Libya news that could spark an Intercontinental Exchange, “Cocoa futures finished sig- 16.32 cents. “The metals market is still a ity I am sceptical about this rally, increase in global supplies. Brent North Sea crude for nificantly weaker on Thursday, RUBBER: Prices in Kuala bit jittery as most people are still which I think is fuelled by position “Oil prices dropped sharply delivery in February dropped to falling to a near seven-week low Lumpur fell further due to inac- not sure of the macroeconomic squaring from the sellers who will by over $3 yesterday, as sup- $108.25 a barrel from $111.83 a as fresh supplies reach the global tivity amid year-end festivities. trend for 2014.” Asian powerhouse likely re-emerge at higher prices.” ply concerns in Libya eased off week earlier. On the New York market,” said analysts at industry The Malaysian Rubber Board’s China is the world’s second big- In 2013, gold suffered its first with news that protestors would Mercantile Exchange, West Texas publication The Public Ledger. benchmark SMR20 slid to 225.50 gest economy after the United annual loss for 12 years, while stop striking at one of the major Intermediate or light sweet crude Prices had rebounded sharply US cents a kilo from 229.25 cents States and is a leading consumer sister metal silver shed a third oilfields, El Sharara, which has for February fell to $95.45 a barrel last week on undersupply con- the previous week. of many raw materials. in value. been shut down by protests since from $99.62. cerns. Cocoa prices rose by a AFP

Bank of England Boeing to produce likely to lower 777X at Seattle hub unemployment rate guidance WASHINGTON: Boeing Co the risk of rushing to build new gained a decade of labour peace facilities and training a workforce after its largest union voted to before a planned 2017 start for LONDON: The Bank of accept contract concessions in 777X production and an initial England may have to lower the exchange for a promise to base delivery targeted for 2020. 7 percent unemployment rate production of the new 777X jet “We’re proud to say that threshold that it has said would and three other models at its together, we’ll build the world’s trigger discussion of an inter- Seattle hub. next great aeroplane — the 777X est rate rise, according to a Machinists’ union members and its new wing — right here,” growing minority of economists late on Friday voted 51 percent in Conner said. polled by Reuters. favour of ratifying the new agree- Having Boeing employees build The latest results, from a sur- ment, which is effective through the new jet’s fuselage, wing, inte- vey taken in the first few days of 2024. The deal would freeze pen- riors and other major compo- the new year, follow months of sions starting in 2016, a term that nents also breaks with the global data showing an economy recov- Ray Conner, who heads Boeing’s factory concept that was a hall- ering smartly and adding more commercial airplane unit, had mark of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. new jobs than many had predicted said was non-negotiable. The 787’s bungled development even just a few months ago. “Boeing got what it wanted,” and supply chain snarls pushed While the consensus remains said Richard Aboulafia, an aero- its 2011 debut more than three that rates will rise from their space analyst with Teal Group, a years late, adding to the pressure record low of 0.5 percent in the consulting firm. “This probably on Boeing to execute flawlessly second half of next year, 13 of 41 takes care of a host of problems on the 777X, according to George economists said the BoE would for years to come.” Ferguson, senior aerospace ana- Hazel Powers (right), who has worked at Boeing for 35 years, reacts with fellow union members after hearing that need to drop its 7 percent jobless Union leaders, who had urged lyst with Bloomberg Industries. a union vote narrowly passed by 51 percent in support of Boeing’s contract with the International Association rate threshold before it raises rates. members to reject the conces- Friday’s vote also lets Boeing halt of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District Lodge 751 to construct the wings for the 777X jetliner in That is up from six in a big- sions, vowed to make Boeing keep a multi-state competition in which Seattle, Washington. ger sample of 53 taken one a pledge to retain in Washington suitors including California, South month ago, suggesting that the the thousands of jobs that would Carolina, Texas and Washington and retention of a seniority sys- for a decade, Doug Alder, a 751 voted on the new contract latest responses, gathered while accompany the 777X’s final state dangled billions of dollars in tem letting workers reach the top spokesman, said by e-mail. offer at the behest of Machinists some are still on holiday, might assembly line and a new facil- incentives to win — or keep — a of the pay scale within six years. Assembling the twin-aisle 777X International President R Thomas be understating the number who ity to make the jet’s composite factory building the company’s first In exchange, they agreed to freeze plane and its composite wings is Buffenbarger. He overrode the think the BoE may soon be com- wings, the largest ever made by jetliner for the 2020s. pension contributions in 2016 and likely to generate thousands of jobs, local leaders’ decision to dismiss pelled to alter its guidance. the company. Boeing’s ability to generate shift to a 401(k)-style plan with a lure to 22 states that submitted the new contract terms outright, The jobless rate currently stands “We’ve got 78 years of striking cash with existing models such defined employer contributions bids to host production. Lawmakers saying they deserved consideration at 7.4 percent. While the Monetary and fighting and walking picket as the 777 and 737 has helped win instead of their current program in Washington state approved $8.7bn because the terms provided $1bn Policy Committee has made clear lines to get where we are today,” over investors, with the shares of fixed benefit payments. in tax breaks to ensure that the pro- more in benefits than a measure that a fall to 7 percent will not nec- said Jim Bearden, administra- up 78 percent in the past year to Boeing offered the bonuses duction stayed in the area where turned down in November by 67 essarily trigger a rate rise, a drop tive assistant of the Machinists’ $137.62 at Friday’s close. A $10bn and the pay scale after the union Boeing was founded in 1916. percent of union members. to that level without any further District Lodge 751, which repre- stock buyback and a 51 percent rejected the company’s initial Deep regional roots haven’t About 24,000 members cast guidance would likely put upward sents 31,000 Boeing workers in dividend increase were announced contract proposal in November. always translated into labor peace votes, a low turnout that ben- pressure on market interest rates Washington and Oregon. “That’s on December 16. Boeing also pledged to continue for Boeing in Washington, where efited the company, according to and could lead to cutbacks in really hard to just give up.” The new contract is an eight- making the 737 Max, KC-46 mili- machinists halted assembly lines Chris Okeefe, a machinist who household and business spending. By keeping the work at its year extension to 2024 and includes tary tanker and P-8 submarine with strikes in 2005 and 2008. volunteered to help count ballots. “Keeping the guidance as it is commercial hub, Boeing avoids $15,000 per member in bonuses hunter in the Pacific Northwest Members of union District WP-BLOOMBERG risks conveying a mixed message on rates, and diluting the reassur- ance that rates are not rising for the foreseeable future,” said Philip China central bank plan Shaw, chief economist at Investec. Corporate leaders in Japan POLICY MEETING But none of these changes are likely to happen at the MPC’s optimistic about economy next policy meeting on January 9. While the UK economy is the TOKYO: Most leaders of major in China and other nations, 12 envy of much of Europe, with a Japanese companies believe referred to currency movements respectable growth rate and a the economy is picking up, but such as depreciation and appre- rebounding labour market, its many of them are still cautious ciation of the yen and nine men- durability is still being debated, about making capital invest- tioned the consumption tax hike particularly given how much it ments, according to a Yomiuri in April. Some mentioned stag- relies on household debt and ris- Shimbun survey. nation of the growth strategy ing house prices. While many corporate heads of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s The biggest threat to the recov- expect the nation’s economy to administration. ery, according to 27 of 45 econo- continue on a recovery trend, When asked about the con- mists polled, is that business some are concerned about stag- sumption tax increase, 12 corpo- investment and exports do not nation and deterioration of the rate heads said it would have little follow through as strongly. economy, as they are unable to effect on their business. “There is a risk that the current shake their uncertainty regarding Seven leaders said they may be momentum behind the recovery will the situation after the consump- negatively affected to some extent begin to look frothy, given the widen- tion tax hike in April. following the tax hike; three said ing gulf between UK house prices, The survey included leaders of they would suffer a strong nega- consumer mortgage debt and wages, 30 major companies in December. tive effect, and two said they did unless faster business investment When asked about their concerns not know what would happen. and productivity growth begin to lift for the future, many said they were “I’m concerned about a decline real incomes in the quarters ahead,” A man walks past the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, in Beijing. China’s wary about foreign economies and in personal consumption, but I said Lena Komileva, chief economist central bank will require interest rate swaps to be conducted via a central clearing house, in a move to reduce exchange markets rather than the think it will have only a transient at consultancy G+ Economics. counter-party risk in the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market, the central bank said. domestic economy. effect on us,” East Japan Railway Net business lending fell by 4.7 Eighteen said they were wor- Co President Tetsuro Tomita said. billion pounds in November, BoE ried about an economic downturn WP-BLOOMBERG data showed. REUTERS SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

US Congress’ attempts to Welcome Ukraine into the EU enhance mineral production & restore faith in the project BY COLIN T HAYES BY SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI into pessimism and national peculiarities. It signing the free trade agreement with EU s someone deeply familiar with Sen Lisa Murkowski’s has taken the actions of brave Ukrainians and a trade war with Russia, especially since leadership on the “Critical Minerals Policy Act,” John n the west, the past two weeks have to awaken it. Nowhere before have so many the EU also demanded the fulfilment of IMF Kemp’s recent Reuters column criticising the bill struck been a time of respite from politics as people manifested support for the European loan conditions. EU politicians’ insistence Ame as a cynically misguided reaction to her important people celebrated Christmas and new Union as in Kiev. If the European Union ever that they are not interested in bargaining is work. Sen Murkowski introduced the legislation in order to, as year. At the same time in Kiev, stal- seeks to shoot an ad, it will find no better unconvincing given what they do in Brussels she put it, “keep the United States competitive and begin the wart Ukrainians in their thousands visual than the masses of Ukrainians protest- on a daily basis. process of modernising our federal mineral policies.” This is a Ihave spent day and night on “Euromaidan” ing in the winter streets under the EU flag. Today no one can doubt that Ukraine is laudable goal and an important process, particularly as our foreign protesting against the blocking of their road Today, philosophers and intellectuals inhabited by European citizens, just like those reliance increases for materials needed to build semiconductors, to Europe. It is hard to imagine how some- from all over the world are returning to in England, Germany or Poland. As Derrida skyscrapers, and everything in between. one can stand and sleep on the street in this dream, signing an appeal for a Marshall and Habermas noted: “What is already a In Kemp’s view, however, the bill “deserves to die” because it winter for entire days and weeks. plan for Ukraine – a necessary condition for fairly abstract form of civic solidarity, still would authorise new federal funding that he views as a sop to The determination of Ukrainian civil soci- finally overcoming the deadlock that has largely confined to members of nation states, “special interests.” With all due respect, he’s wrong. ety should be admired, not only because the lasted for years. must be extended to include the European cit- Murkowski’s legislation is one of the few examples of real bipar- weather in Kiev is poor; but because the Ukrainians are not just fighting for them- izens of other nations as well.” Someone mali- tisan cooperation amid the dysfunction of Washington, having prospect for change in government policy selves. They are fighting for completion of cious could propose to the growing number of attracted nine Republican and nine Democrat co-sponsors. is also poor. Having received a loan from the European project and the guarantee of Eurosceptic politicians a hypothetical chang- The Critical Minerals Policy Act takes common sense steps to Russia, President Viktor Yanukovych can geopolitical safety for the entire region. The ing of places with the Ukrainians if they are facilitate increased mineral production here at home. Importantly, wait until the extremely difficult conditions autocrat in the Kremlin is rightly worried so enamoured of gaining distance from the the bill authorises funding to improve the United States’ per- in which the protest is taking place break about Euromaidan – he knows that it can EU when there are those who dream of acces- mitting process, which industry analysts at Behre Dolbear have the opposition. serve as a prelude to an “Eroploshchad” in sion. For now, however, the “geographically ranked as worst in the world at getting applicants a timely “yes” Ten years ago, Jacques Derrida and Moscow: that is, the success of Euromaidan fortunate” can pout with impunity, without or “no” response. Such delays strand capital and have contributed Jürgen Habermas wrote their famous philo- represents an opportunity for democratic even wondering what their historical fate to an on-going decline in America’s share of private investment in sophical manifesto, which stated: “It is from forces within Russia. A Russia without would be if they were to find themselves in exploration, which dropped from 10 percent in 2000 to 7 percent their own self-interest, to be sure, that the Ukraine would become the last country the same place as Ukraine. in 2013 according to the Metals Economics Group. more closely co-operating member states in Europe to deal with the experience of The condition for economic aid to Ukraine The bill also recognises the importance of geologic surveys, of the EU will hold the door open. And the losing an empire and assuming a distance must be corruption-fighting reforms, but it which can jump-start mining activity. The supply chains for probability that the invited states will pass from itself. The EU can build a proper and cannot be prohibitive. There should moreo- mineral commodities begin with entrepreneurial geologists who through that door will increase the more mutually beneficial relationship only with ver be unconditional financial assistance to go out and find this stuff. Murkowski’s bill places a particular capable the core of Europe becomes of effec- a Russia that is not imperial, but demo- Ukrainian institutions (NGOs, universities, emphasis on the latter, and it should. Up north, the Prospectors tive action externally, and the sooner it can cratic. The road to this development leads cultural institutions, thinktanks) as part of and Developers Association of Canada has found that every pub- prove that in a complex global society, it is through Kiev. the cultural and social integration of Ukraine lic dollar spent on geologic data generates approximately $5 in not just divisions that count, but also the EU diplomacy has let itself be easily out- with the rest of Europe. Even more so, if polit- privately-funded exploration work. That’s a pretty good rate of soft power of negotiating agendas, relations, played by Vladimir Putin’s primitive meth- ical integration encounters difficulties. return, even for those who balk at treating government spending and economic advantages.” ods. Unlike Russia, it did not recognise To that end, we appeal today to politicians as an investment. Since then the EU has almost lost faith Ukraine as a priority, and as a consequence and citizens: let us help Ukrainians to build Finally, the bill provides new direction to on-going federal in itself. For years, the brightest minds in Ukraine was offered very bad terms. Less a new Ukraine – and help us to build a new research. It is in response to these provisions that Kemp hits the philosophy and politics have been pondering than a €1bn (£830m) in direct aid could not Europe and a fairer world. mother lode of irony. His column basically block quotes the writing how to rouse that spirit in an EU plunged compensate the economic consequences of THE GUARDIAN of government-funded scientists as a wind-up to criticising them. America’s reliance on foreign mineral commodities is impeding growth in a wide range of domestic industries, and in some cases it is jeopardising our national security. Congressional testimony, corporate annual reports, federal agency publications, and news coverage all provide ample evidence of this. As if to emphasise this point, the same week Kemp’s column ran, the Chinese government announced further restrictions on rare earth exports. That matters because China controls almost the entire global supply of these elements, which are found in just about every form of modern technology. This is an area where placing some faith in the government to act is warranted. For rare earths, the Obama administration and others recently won a ruling from the World Trade Organization that Chinese export practices violated their rules. And Congress proved its mettle in October by passing legislation to avert a sup- ply crisis for the helium gas used in medical imaging, precision welding, satellite launches, and semiconductor production. For all the commodity-specific challenges that we face, they are mere symptoms of a broader lapse in policymaking that has seen the US lose control over the very foundation of our innovative energy, computing, vehicle and defence manufacturing capabilities. As the focus on growth through exports persists, it is becoming clear that a country lacking raw materials has a harder time winning the global competition to host the factories that put them to good use. Just imagine the benefits of replicating America’s natural gas boom for even a fraction of the other commodities needed to keep our economy growing. We can and should pursue that outcome. I couldn’t agree more with Kemp’s enthusiasm for the free market, but we don’t live in an Ayn Rand novel. In many cases, mineral deposits are literally owned by taxpayers and their gov- ernment is tasked with ensuring their responsible production. Those activities can have a very real impact on the environment, just as failing to produce these commodities can bring economic activity to a halt. So federal, state and local governments have an important and appropriate role to play. Congress should keep working to advance the Critical Minerals Policy Act. If anything deserves a dismissive response, it’s not the bill but Kemp’s characterisations of it as “tinkering.” Legislation with 18, bipartisan co-sponsors is a valuable platform for an important debate. Kemp and others should engage in it more constructively. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Mitterrand’s shadow looms as Hollande seeks to revive France BY LEIGH THOMAS who elected him in May 2012. The move came to be known details before they break out the corporations - Eurostat’s main published on Thursday. But with his approval rat- in France as the “tournant”, or champagne. measure of corporate profit - In another sign of weakness, rance’s deeply unpopu- ings having fallen so far already, turning point, guided by economy On the left, unions have made slipped to 27.7 percent from 28.2 new car sales slumped 5.7 per- lar President Francois Hollande may have little left to minister Jacques Delors, who clear their scepticism clear. Jean- percent in the third quarter, the cent last year in France despite Hollande appears to have lose. Municipal elections loom went on to become president of Claude Mailly, head of Force French statistics office said last an upturn at the end of the year Ffound inspiration from in March with the Socialists the European Commission. Ouvrier, one of France’s big three month. That is the lowest figure as the industry, a big employer, his hero Francois Mitterrand, expected to take big losses. Mitterrand’s Socialists would labour unions, told France Inter since late 1985. Workers’ wel- struggles with excess capac- announcing an abrupt pro- Shifting more of the burden go on to lose parliamentary elec- radio the proposed responsibil- fare contributions and taxes on ity in the face of weak demand business lurch in tax policy that of financing welfare to house- tions, forcing him to serve under ity pact was “worrying”. “It’s in employers rose 0.9 percent from from consumers worried about echoes moves by his Socialist holds would weigh on consumer “cohabitation” with a right-wing purely supply-side logic,” he said. the previous quarter. unemployment, currently at 10.9 predecessor 30 years ago. demand, the traditional motor of prime minister. But France’s “He made no mention in his speech By contrast, Germany, Italy and percent. Desperate to revive the euro- French growth, but that would be economy and Mitterrand’s per- about purchasing power, which is a Spain, the other three big euro- With family benefits currently zone’s second-biggest economy in a necessary price to pay to rebuild sonal popularity both eventually top concern for the French.” zone economies, each recorded financed by corporate levies, the face of near record unemploy- French firms’ competitiveness, he recovered, and Mitterrand was So far Hollande has pursued corporate profit figures of around employers want to see much of ment, Hollande said in his new added. reelected to a then-unprece- cautious reforms of labour mar- 40 percent. the €36bn it costs them annually year’s address he would cut com- The proposals are deja vu for dented second term in 1988. ket regulations and pensions, and “The French economy can get shifted to taxes paid instead by panies’ labour cost in exchange for veterans of Mitterrand’s 14 years Critics and supporters alike introduced a tax credit scheme back up on its feet and job crea- households, for example through firms hiring more workers. in power. As the first Socialist referred to Mitterrand’s volte designed to lower the cost of tion can return, but vital reforms higher value added sales tax. Business leaders have cau- leader of France’s post-1958 Fifth face as “supply-side Socialism” employing people by €20bn ($27 are needed,” said Pierre Gattaz, Waechter said that labour costs tiously welcomed the prospect Republic, Mitterrand spent his - a leader of the left adopting billion) a year. Companies say he the head of the Medef bosses asso- would have to be cut by at least of cuts to labour cost that they first two years in office nation- the pro-business policies to spur has to do far more to lower their ciation in reaction to Hollande’s another €20bn, which would have say make it harder to add jobs alising industries and expanding economic growth associated at costs to make them competitive. new year’s announcement. to be financed by cuts to welfare in France than elsewhere in worker benefits, only to abruptly the time with conservative US “If Hollande goes all the way, With economic recovery spending since workers would be Europe. Unions and Hollande’s switch course in 1983 as public President Ronald Reagan. it could be a turning point, but gradually taking hold in the up in arms if wage cuts like those leftwing allies in parliament have finances and his own popular- The phrase has been dusted he will have to act quickly,” crisis-weary eurozone, France in Greece or Spain were forced expressed reservations. ity crumbled. Mitterrand’s gov- off 30 years later by newspapers, said Philippe Waechter, chief increasingly stands out as some on them. The detail of his new proposal ernment, which included then and even embraced by Hollande’s economist at Natixis Asset of its key economic data continues For his part, Deutsche Bank has yet to be announced, and budget minister Laurent Fabius aides: “Supply-side policies are Management. to deteriorate. economist Gilles Moec urged deep the political consequences sound - now Hollande’s foreign minis- not necessarily only right-wing Corporate profits make up a Manufacturing activity shrank cuts in spending by the myriad severe. Giving a tax cut to com- ter, launched an austerity drive policies,” an official in Hollande’s smaller share of the economy in at the fastest pace in seven layers of local government and panies means either raising taxes and sought to restore corporate office said. France than anywhere else in months in December while it overhauling generous unemploy- on individuals, cutting back state competitiveness by breaking the Hollande’s proposals have yet the eurozone, according to data improved almost everywhere else ment benefits as well as widening spending on benefits, or both - all indexation of wages to soaring to be fleshed out, and corpo- compiled by Eurostat. The gross in Europe, according to a monthly the tax base for welfare spending. likely to be unpopular with voters inflation. rate chiefs are waiting for the operating surplus of non-financial purchasing manager survey REUTERS SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday House prices rose by 8.4pc in 2013, Nationwide says LONDON: UK house prices rose Spain jobless queues shrink in China’s local government by 8.4pc in 2013 as the economy December debt soars started to gain momentum, MADRID: Spain announced a sharp SHANGHAI: China’s economic Yen weakens to 2008 low as according to the Nationwide contraction in jobless queues in growth is likely to come in at 7.6 gold retreats Building Society. The annual rise December on Friday, offering a percent this year, according to a TOKYO: The yen weakened to a meant the average home was glimmer of New Year hope for the cabinet report cited by Xinhua, the five-year low against the dollar, now valued at £175,826, it said. 4.7 million people still registered as state-run news agency. The figure precious metals retreated and The change was driven by annual unemployed in the eurozone’s fourth- Canada dollar weakens the most is between the government’s target European equities swung between house price growth of 14.9pc in largest economy. Prime Minister since 2008 as economy trails US of 7.5 percent and the 7.7 percent gains and losses. Italian bonds the final quarter compared with a Mariano Rajoy’s government touted OTTAWA: Canada’s dollar posted recorded last year. advanced as the nation sold debt. year earlier in London, but prices the figures as a sign that its tough its biggest decline in five years as The yen depreciated 0.1 percent to rose in all regions. reforms are finally turning the tide accelerating economic growth in the US after a 2008 property crash tipped 105.28 per dollar as of 10:47 a.m. convinced the Federal Reserve to slow the nation into a double-dip recession in London as Japan’s Nikkei 225 monetary stimulus even as the Bank of that destroyed millions of jobs. Singapore GDP growth Stock Average capped its biggest Canada warned of deflationary risks. shrinks 2.7pc annual increase since 1972. The currency rose yesterday versus its SINGAPORE: Singapore’s economy U.S. counterpart to trim its annual drop shrank for the first time in five to 6.6 percent. quarters after its manufacturing and services industries weakened, South African rand weakens to a contraction that may be short- lowest vs dollar since lived as the global recovery November 2008 strengthens. Gross domestic Brazil’s surplus lowest in 10 years product fell an annualized 2.7 RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil says its 2013 JOHANNESBURG: The South African percent in the three months to Dec. trade surplus was the lowest in more rand fell to a five-year low against than a decade. The Trade Ministry on the US dollar Thursday, though in thin Thursday said Brazil posted a surplus trading. The rand weakened 2% to trade of $US2.561 billion ($A2.89 billion), at ZAR10.7003 per dollar Thursday, its Soft manufacturing data compared to the $US19.396 billion weakest level since November 2008, weakens $A according to CQG. The dollar more surplus registered in 2012. SYDNEY: Australian manufacturing recently traded at ZAR10.6883, from activity contracted in December, falling ZAR10.4895 the previous session. 0.1 points to 47.6, according to the Australian Industry Group’s Performance of Manufacturing Index. That indicates the sector is failing to respond to the weaker Australian dollar and low interest rates.

TENDERS

TENDER TENDER CLOSING TENDER TENDER CLOSING No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE

Const. flexible, multi-module exhib. Stands 12/01/2014 1 LT13113000 QR 60,000 N/A 26/01/2014 Dismantling of microwave towers from Not later for career fair 24 LTC 745/2013 QR 25,000 QR 500 Kahramaa sites than Powered water injection flowlines 11:00am 2GT13113300maintenance on a call off basis in DKN QR 400,000 QR 500 9/2/2014 26/01/2014 fields LTC 677/2013 One year price agreement conference Not later 25 QR 25,000 QR 500 Corrosion inhibitor tanker (1 No.) (Diesel (re-float) leasing hardware and services than 11:00 12/01/2014 3LT13MT0071engine vehicle, 12,000 L stainless steel QR 80,000 Qr 500 am (12:00hrs) tank) 26/01/2014 LTC Not later Synchronis transport module (STM) 12/01/2014 26 New DR network infrastructure QR 175,000 QR 500 4LT13MT0077 QR 160,000 QR 500 752/2013 than 11:00 network upgrading (12:00hrs) am Digital mobile x ray machine, flat panel 12/01/2014 5LT13MT0079 QR 45,000 QR 500 Call-off contract for energy efficiency and (supply, installation & commissioning) (12:00hrs) water efficiency retrolift CN department tenders for T Call-off contract services Document E-archiving at the education to supply & delivery materials at site 6 54/2013-2014 institute and certificate equivalency Unit of QR 320,000 QR 500 12/1/2014 of dertmined nurmber of mosques and the Evalution institute schools inside Qatar, together with Supply of textbooks for Community College required design/engineering work, 7 58/2013-2014 QR 59,600 QR 500 13/1/2014 installation and modifiation (adjustment/ QE Supreme of Qatar 27 GTC 592/2013 QR 3,000 16/02/2014 Education Council replacement/repair)with all required 300,000.00 Developing a report on school laboratories accessories for the below retrofits as shortages and gas system efficiency. Also applicable as follows:- Different types of 859/2013-2014 QR 50,000 QR 500 13/1/2014 periodical operation and maintenance for water efficient faucets-Water efficient gas systems of 24 schools laboratories aerators- external and internal lighting bulbs -programmable thermostats in 30/01/2013 Ministry of TAC/CW/ applicable facilities -occupancy sensors 9 Permanent power supply (M-524-01) QR 35,000 QR 2,000 Before 12 Defence L/59/2013-2014 -photo sensors noon “The 321 Bus project” to offer an olympic Feed for sludge handling facilities at & sports experience to its audience. It will 10 LT14100100 QR 50,000 QR 200 2/2/2014 FMDS-Dukhan be an old renovated bus with high tech 28 QMA-2013-144 QR 33,000 QR 500 27/01/2014 features which will contain sports, Cultural Equipment aircraft rescue firefighting 11 LT13MT0078 QR 45,000 QR 500 26/01/2014 and educational activities relevant to the training Olmypic and Sport phenomenon Electrical design, supply, installation, QR 29 QMA-2013-162 Medical Insurance Services for three years QR 500 7/1/2014 AF/C/ testing and commissioning for the new 1,500,000 12 QR 17,000 QR 200 13/01/2014 AL5359-R1/13 remote controlled car race track Supply of multimedia equipment for at Aspire Zone 30 QMA-2013-175 QR 25,000 QR 500 8/1/2014 Museum of Islamic arts Replacement and upgrade of CSSD hyginec AF/C/ 13 type grade air handling unit at Orthopedic QR 18,000 QR 200 13/01/2014 Supply, installation, testing, ASP5397R1/13 commissioning, maintenance and warranty Hospital at Aspire Zone 31 QMA-2013-176 QR 14,000 QR 500 8/1/2014 services fo MEP building services at Design, suppl, installation, testing and selected sites across QMA AF/C/ commissioning of electrical power and 14 QR 60,000 QR 500 19/01/2014 PWA/ Supply of MCC spares 2013-Phase 1 AA/ ALAP5415/13 data catalog system for the new coffee 32 QR 17,000 QR 400 27/01/2014 shop at Aspire Park STC/040/13-14 DOM/13-14/M/1354-1.05/S Supply of KSB submersible pump spares PWA/ AF/C/ Supply, installation and commissioning of 33 for pumping stations AA/DOM/13-14/ QR 11,000 QR 400 13/01/2014 15 Aspire Zone QR 20,000 QR 200 13/01/2014 STC/036/13-14 ASP5413/13 patient Examination couches for Aspetar M/1356-2.05/S Supply, delivery and installation of Custom construction of additional classrooms for AF/C/ PWA/ 16 made furniture to Aspire Zone new QR 15,000 QR 200 12/1/2014 34 3 Nos. schools around Doha and villages QR 400,000 QR 1,500 7/1/2014 AL5252C-R1/13 GTC/070/13-14 headquarters BA/13-14/C/054/G PWA/ Supply of traffic management device AA/ Supply, delivery and installation of fire 35 QR 20,000 QR 400 13/01/2014 17 AF/C/PP5411/13 rated Glazing panels and frames in Aspire QR 20,000 QR 200 12/1/2014 STC/035/13-14 DOM/13-14/M/1360-6.06/S printing press at Aspire Zone PWA/ Supply of motors and blowers for pumping 36 QR 20,000 QR 400 27/01/2014 STC/012/13-14/R stations AA-DOM/13-14/M/1334-1.05/S Design, supply, delivery and installation at portacabins, shades and benches for the Post contract professional consultancy 18 AF/C/AL5410/13 QR 45,000 QR 300 13/1/2014 upgrade of climbing wall area services for the construction of Main PWA/ building and Ancillary building for coast at Aspire Zone 37 QR 400,000 QR 1,000 7/1/2014 GTC/072/13-14 guard stations and Shwismsah and 136 2013- Supply, installation and operation of Monday 19 QR 20,000 QR 250 Ras Matbakh, Qatar BA/13- 2014 automatic vertical filling system 13/01/2014 14/S/065/G Supply of 3” & 4” Hydraulic Submersible MiMinistry i t of f Supply, installation and operation of Monday trash pumps with fully enclosed sound 20Interior 125/ 2013-14 workshop tools & equipment for the QR 50,000 QR 500 PWA/ 30/12/2013 38 Attenuated power units to mechanical QR 140,000 QR 750 26/01/2014 General Directorate of Civil Defence ITC/024/13-14 workshop for drainage networks O & M Fabrication, installation, inspection & department AA/DOM/13-14/M/1339-2.05/I 21 LT13113100 QR 60,000 QR 200 26/01/2014 testing of 14nos. PCR’s at Qpref, MES Provision of Salon services for for Qatar QF/2013/PD- January 19 ECS of MOI integrated security complex 39 leadership Academy on call-off basis for QR 5,000 QR 250 22 GT13113800 QR 121,000 QR 500 16/02/2014 SS/16755 2014 in Mesaied three years

Two(2) years call-off agreement for supply 12-01-2014 Provision of maintenance support. Contract QF/2013/PD- January 19 of kitchen items (microwave ovens, thermos Not late 40 for fitness equipment for Qatar Foundation QR 13,000 QR 250 23 LTC 755/2014 QR 30,000 QR 500 SS/16590 2014 flasks, electric kettle, hot plates, vip serving than 11:00 on call-off basis for three years trays,etc.) am SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Lovejoy Clippers rally past Mavs leads Ducks past Oilers Paul sidelined with separated shoulder; Pelicans edge past Celtics ANAHEIM, California: Ben Lovejoy realised his newborn DALLAS: DeAndre Jordan and daughter would be watching Blake Griffin found a way to win him on television for the first without Chris Paul. time, and the Anaheim Ducks The big men for the Los Angeles defenceman promptly had the Clippers are going to have to keep first multigoal game of his it up because their star guard will career. be out at least a few weeks. Yep, the Ducks have spectacu- Jordan scored a career-high 25 lar timing in just about every- points to match Griffin, and the thing they do these days. Clippers rallied to beat the Dallas Lovejoy scored two goals in the Mavericks 119-112 yesterday after first period, Jonas Hiller made losing Paul when he separated his 16 saves in his 10th consecutive Los Angeles Lakers’ right, shooting shoulder. victory and the Ducks beat the Jordan and Griffin combined Wesley Johnson Edmonton Oilers 5-2 yesterday for 10 points on a 16-2 game-clos- (right) keeps the for their 12th win in 13 games. ing run to wipe out a 110-103 defi- ball away from Utah Lovejoy had scored just five cit in the final 4 minutes. Jordan Jazz’s Enes Kanter goals in his 170-game NHL career, was 11 of 14 from the field and had of Turkey in the and he had just one goal in 40 18 rebounds, while Griffin added first half action of games this season before firing 15 boards. their NBA game at two slap shots past Ilya Bryzgalov Then they found out that Paul, Staples Center in Los 2:43 apart late in the first period. who had 19 points at halftime, will Angeles, California, With perfect setups from Saku be out three to five weeks. yesterday. Koivu and Cam Fowler, Lovejoy Coach Doc Rivers said Paul tied the club record for the most could be out longer and will go to goals scored by a defenseman in Los Angeles for evaluation while one period. the Clippers head to San Antonio “It has to be perfectly in my to face the defending Western wheelhouse, and those guys were Conference champion Spurs on able to find it,” Lovejoy said. Saturday night. “It’s a very small sweet spot.” ‘’It changes for everybody,’’ said After scoring the fastest two Darren Collison, who figures to goals by a defenseman in fran- start in Paul’s place and had a chise history, Lovejoy thought season-high 22 points in his first about the serendipity: His wife, game against the Mavericks after Avery, and their new daughter, playing one season in Dallas. Lila, were at home watching for “Everybody’s got to step up and Clippers back in front for good on He rolled over and stayed on the half, but Los Angeles kept giving stinger.’’ He was taken to a local the first time since Lila was born play big. But we’ll be fine.’’ a three-point play. He was 11 of 13 floor holding his shoulder while up easy slams to a Dallas team hospital to be evaluated. “I can’t on New Year’s Eve. Dirk Nowitzki was a game-time on free throws. being attended to by trainers. that doesn’t make a habit of them. really disclose that stuff,’’ Pelicans “We may have to keep pumping decision with a sprained left ankle “They’ve got those two big guys Paul stayed down for about a Marion, who finished with 20 coach Monty Williams said when them out if I can keep scoring two but hit six of his first seven shots and I know it’s a load, but we’ve minute before going to the locker points, had two of the Mavericks’ asked about Anderson. goals a night,” Lovejoy said with and had 14 points at halftime on got to do a better job,’’ said Dallas room with 6:43 remaining in the five first-half dunks. “We are just praying for his a grin. his way to 24 for the Mavericks, guard Monta Ellis, who had 13 third quarter. Meanwhile, the New Orleans health. He looked like he was Kyle Palmieri, Tim Jackman who were up 13 in the first half points and nine assists. “I don’t think you could find one Pelicans’ players had to block out OK. I was more worried about his and Andrew Cogliano also scored and didn’t trail until the third “That was a tough one.’’ guy in the league, maybe LeBron thoughts of a team-mate’s scary mother. I know she’s at home, a for the Ducks, who improved quarter. After Shawn Marion put The Mavericks missed six of or whoever, but besides that fall while holding on against the nervous wreck, so hopefully she to 16-0-2 at home this season the Mavericks up 110-103, Griffin their last seven shots and had there’s no one guy who can make Boston Celtics. hears this message and is cool and remained one point behind had an alley-oop dunk on an assist two late turnovers, including one up with what Chris brings,’’ said Anthony Davis had 23 points with the fact that he’s OK and in Chicago for the overall NHL from Jordan, and Jordan followed when Ellis dribbled off himself backcourt mate Jamal Crawford, and nine rebounds and Tyreke good hands.’’ lead. with a three-point play. with Jordan guarding him and who had 15 points and a jumper Evans scored 16 points with a key New Orleans won for the fourth After giving up two early goals Nowitzki broke a 110-all tie the Clippers up 115-112. that pulled the Clippers even at basket late to lead the Pelicans time in six games, but had lost six on broken plays, Hiller extended with a jumper, but Griffin sent the ‘’As hard as we worked to get 110. to a 95-92 win over the Celtics of its last seven on the road. his franchise-record winning the lead back up to seven in the “For us we have to lean on each on yesterday. The win may prove ‘’We were praying for him, but streak as the Ducks followed fourth, we just gave it up too other.’’ costly for the Pelicans after reserve at the same time we’ve got to win up their 11-1-1 December with NBA Results easy,’’ Dallas coach Rick Carlisle The Mavericks had a season forward Ryan Anderson was taken a game,’’ said Davis, who grabbed their sixth consecutive win over Toronto 101 Washington 88 said. high for points in a half but led from the court on a stretcher after a pair of clutch rebounds. the Oilers, who haven’t beaten Golden State 101 Atlanta 100 “Defensively, they went right just 70-67 at the break. Paul he collided with Boston’s Gerald “It’s good that he’s OK. We’re Anaheim since April 2012. New Orleans 95 Boston 92 through us, and offensively, with- made his first five shots - all from Wallace early in the fourth quarter. praying for him.’’ Even with little offensive help Houston 102 NY Knicks 100 out getting stops, the shots get 3-point range - before a miss from Both players went to the floor Avery Bradley led Boston from superstars Ryan Getzlaf and harder.’’ beyond the arc in the final sec- hard. Anderson had 13 points and with 22 points. Jeff Green and Corey Perry, who have combined LA Clippers 119 Dallas 112 With the Clippers leading by onds of the first half. seven boards before leaving. Brandon Bass each scored 16. for just one goal in the last five Denver 111 Memphis 108 two, Paul was tripped by Ellis Jordan had three of the The Celtics said a preliminary Jared Sullinger added 13 points games, the Ducks keep steamroll- LA Lakers 110 Utah 99 while dribbling around a screen. Clippers’ five dunks in the first diagnosis indicated a ‘’cervical and 11 rebounds. AGENCIES ing along. “They weren’t going as good as they normally do, and when they’re not going, you need peo- Real, Olympiakos extend perfect Euroleague starts ple to pick up the slack,” Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. “ You BELGRADE: Holders has inspired Olympiakos to suc- and centre Ioannis Bourousis more like the NBA when you look “I am happy to win here in get help from everywhere. That’s Olympiakos Piraeus and favour- cessive titles, the Greek side over- sank 15 as Real extended their at the number of games we play Lithuania, in basketball coun- why I think we’re a pretty good ites Real Madrid moved to 11 came an expensively assembled perfect record to 26 victories in in all competitions. It’s a major try,” Bayern’s Serb coach Svetislav team.” straight Euroleague wins this Fenerbahce Istanbul outfit 95-82 all competitions this season. challenge to stay healthy and play Pesic, who won the 2001 European The Ducks have the NHL’s season after impressive displays after the versatile playmaker “We have to keep improving hard every game.” championship and 2002 world second-longest points streak at in the opening round of the Top scored 28 points against the visi- but winning in this impressive Bayern swept away 1999 cham- title with the former Yugoslavia, home to open a season in the last 16, the second group stage of the tors yesterday. venue will give us a confidence pions Zalgiris with long-range told the competition’s website quarter-century, trailing only San 24-team competition. Eight times winners Madrid boost because Partizan fans are shooting that saw the Germans (www.euroleague.net) Jose’s 20-0-2 start five years ago. Debutants Bayern Munich brushed aside Partizan Belgrade magnificent and I am sure many bury 10 three-pointers, with 10 “It is our first victory in the AGENCIES stunned Zalgiris Kaunas 84-66 80-64 in front of 21,374 fans teams will drop points here,” of their 12 players scoring against Top 16 but I hope not the last,” away, CSKA Moscow ground in Serbia, the second-highest Fernandez told Reuters. the more heralded Lithuanians. he added. Pesic’s compatriot Milos out an 84-77 overtime victory Euroleague attendance ever, after “We are all delighted to have Having squeezed into the Top Teodosic endured a poor shooting NHL Results at fellow Russians Lokomotiv former Portland Trailblazers extended our winning streak but 16, featuring two pools of eight afternoon for CSKA in Krasnodar Chicago 5 New Jersey 3 Krasnodar and Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Rudy Fernandez produced it’s still a bit too early to start teams, Bayern can now look for- but was still the game’s top scorer Pittsburgh 5 NY Rangers 2 celebrated a 90-84 success at an effervescent performance. thinking about titles. ward to making a real impact as with 16 points as they forced Tampa Bay 2 Calgary 0 Galatasaray. Fernandez and Sergio “This is going to be a long sea- they host Partizan in their next Lokomotiv into submission. Anaheim 5 Edmonton 2 Led by Vassilis Spanoulis, who Rodriguez nailed 16 points each son and it’s becoming more and game. AGENCIES Four share lead at Tour’s Tournament of Champions

MAUI, United States: in the prestigious field of 30 with year’s PGA Championship, opened US PGA Tour Americans Michael Thompson, his maiden PGA Tour victory at with a 67 to end the opening Chris Kirk, Webb Simpson and last year’s Honda Classic, told round level with fellow Americans Tournament of Jordan Spieth revelled in a Golf Channel after mixing eight Ryan Moore, Zach Johnson and birdie fest as they charged into birdies with a lone bogey. Kevin Streelman. Champions scores a tie for the lead in yesterday’s “I stuck to my game plan today Streelman, who secured his opening round of the Hyundai which was to stay in the present, spot at Kapalua with his first Scores from the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions. stay in the moment, visualise my PGA Tour win at last year’s Tournament of Champions at Thompson birdied five of the shots really clearly and I executed. Tampa Bay Championship, had the par-73 course yesterday in last eight holes for a seven-under- So it was a fun day.” been a stroke in front at eight Kapalua, Hawaii par 66 in breezy conditions at the Spieth, the 2013 PGA Tour under with two holes to play Chris Kirk prepares 66 Michael Thompson (US) 66 picturesque Kapalua Resort in Rookie of the Year after a sen- before going bogey-bogey. to play a shot dur- Chris Kirk (US) 66 Hawaii to seize the early lead at sational campaign that included “I think as a professional golfer ing round one of the Webb Simpson (US) 66 the elite, winners-only event. a maiden win at the John Deere you try and be as mature as you Hyundai Tournament Jordan Spieth (US) 66 However, Thompson was Classic and total earnings of just can about that and really look of Champions at the 67 Kevin Streelman (US) 67 caught at the top by a red-hot under $4m, said he was “hum- at the positives, what I did well Plantation Course at Jason Dufner (US) 67 Kirk, who piled up five consecu- bled” to be in the elite field at today,” Streelman, who had ear- Kapalua Golf Club tive birdies from the 14th, and Kapalua. lier eagled the third and fifth, said Zach Johnson (US) 67 in Lahaina, Hawaii, then Spieth, who calmly rolled in “It’s amazing,” the 20-year-old of his faltering finish. Ryan Moore (US) 67 yesterday. a 12-footer on the 18th green for Texan smiled. “It’s an accomplish- “I hit some awesome shots and 68 Matt Kuchar (US) 68 his seventh birdie in a bogey-free ment just to be here in the first putted the ball really well. It’s just 69 Bae Sang-Moon (South Korea) 69 round. place and I am humbled to play day one and I’m in a good position 70 Ken Duke (US) 70 Late in the day, 2012 US Open alongside these 29 other guys that on the board.” Brian Gay (US) 70 champion Simpson made it a are champions from the past year. Masters champion and world Patrick Reed (US) 70 four-way share of the lead after “It’s good fun. To play Kapalua, number two Adam Scott of Harris English (US) 70 recording three birdies in the last a course I’ve watched for so many Australia mixed five birdies with Brandt Snedeker (US) 70 four holes at Kapalua’s undulating years, and then finally being able two bogeys to card a 70, finishing Adam Scott (Australia) 70 Plantation Course. to be here, it’s a cool experience level with playing partner Dustin Dustin Johnson (US) 70 “I played really well,” for me.” Johnson after teeing off in the Thompson, who booked his place Jason Dufner, winner of last day’s marquee pairing.REUTERS SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

‘All players Arsenal sink Spurs in FA cheat,’ claims Pellegrini

LONDON: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has waded into the debate about Cup; Aston Villa crash out diving in football by claiming that “players are always trying to cheat”. Second-tier Blackburn Rovers hold Manchester City to a 1-1 draw FIFA president Sepp Blatter broached the issue earlier this week when he called for tougher LONDON: Premier League English FA Cup Results sanctions to punish simulation, leaders Arsenal overcame fierce but Pellegrini fears that it may LONDON: English FA Cup rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 be a losing battle. results yesterday: in the FA Cup third round “I think it is very difficult to yesterday, while Aston Villa Third Round be a referee,” said the Chilean, were dumped out by third-tier Aston Villa 1 (Helenius 75) Sheffield United in comments reported by several Sheffield United. 2 (Murphy 20, Flynn 81) British newspapers yesterday. Tottenham had won at Barnsley 1 (O’Brien 19) Coventry 2 (Moussa “The players play too quickly. Manchester United in their previ- 78, Clarke 89) The players are always trying to ous outing and new manager Tim Blackburn 1 (Dann 55) Manchester City 1 cheat because football is cheating. Sherwood made only one change (Negredo 45) “I think it is very difficult and I to his starting XI, but his side fell Bolton 2 (Ngog 10, Beckford 51) Blackpool respect them (referees). Of course behind in the 31st minute at the 1 (Barkhuizen 45) nobody likes it when the referee Emirates Stadium. Brighton 1 (Crofts 32) Reading 0 whistles against your team when German teenager Serge Gnabry Bristol City 1 (Emmanuel-Thomas 85) it is wrong, but a lot of time he was the architect, picking the ball Watford 1 (Murray 84) whistles and gives you an advan- up wide on the Arsenal right and Doncaster 2 (Forrester 72, Wakefield 90) tage that maybe you didn’t have.” driving infield before finding Santi Stevenage 3 (Zoko 49, Hartley 65, Charles Chelsea midfielder Oscar was Cazorla, who arrowed a left-foot 90) widely criticised after being shot past Hugo Lloris. Everton 4 (Barkley 35, Jelavic 44, 68, booked for diving in an unsuc- Spurs were unable to react and Coleman 76) QPR 0 cessful attempt to win a pen- Tomas Rosicky sealed victory in Grimsby 2 (Hannah 25, Disley 62) alty during his side’s 3-0 win at the 62nd minute, robbing Danny Huddersfield 3 (Norwood 51, Paterson 86, Southampton on New Year’s Day. Rose on halfway and bearing Thomas 90-og) Chelsea manager Jose down on goal before adroitly lift- Ipswich 1 (McGoldrick 38) Preston 1 (Davies Mourinho supported the deci- ing the ball over the advancing 42) sion, describing the fight to rid Lloris. Kidderminster 0 Peterborough 0 the game of diving as “an impor- The game ended on a sour note Macclesfield 1 (Williams 72) Sheffield tant issue”, but he also claimed for Arsenal when forward Theo Wednesday 1 (Johnson 25) that there were no habitual divers Walcott had to be stretchered off Middlesbrough 0 Hull 2 (Mclean 10, at his club. after falling awkwardly, but he Proschwitz 61) “I want to make it clear: there showed that he remained in high Newcastle 1 (Cisse 62) Cardiff 2 (Noone 73, are many divers in the world of spirits by goading the visiting fans Campbell 80) football. There are many divers as he was carried away. Norwich 1 (Snodgrass 45) Fulham 1 (Bent in some big clubs in the world of 40) Earlier, last season’s beaten Blackburn Rovers English defender Tommy Spurr (left) vies with Manchester City’s Belgium defender Dedryck football,” said the Portuguese. finalists Manchester City Rochdale 2 (Hogan 45, Henderson 84) “There are some divers in Boyata during their English FA Cup third round match at Ewood Park in Blackburn, North-west England, yes- Leeds 0 tasted fresh disappointment terday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. England. Not many, some. In in the competition when Southampton 4 (Clyne 22, Lambert 28, Chelsea, no divers, no divers at all. they drew 1-1 at second-tier Rodriguez 66, Lallana 73) Burnley 3 (Vokes “Oscar made a mistake, which Blackburn Rovers. losing 2-1 at home to League One to win 2-1 at Newcastle United. high-fliers Queens Park Rangers 51, Ings 57, Long 87) he tells me and I believe him. He Stunned by Wigan Athletic representatives Sheffield United. Solskjaer, who succeeded 4-0, with Nikica Jelavic claiming Southend 4 (Corr 22, Atkinson 45, Timlin was completely convinced the in last year’s final, City took the Nicklas Helenius appeared to the sacked Malky Mackay on a brace, while Southampton edged 57, Leonard 90) Millwall 1 (Woolford 64) goalkeeper was coming to smash lead at Ewood Park through an have kept Villa in the competi- Thursday, saw his new charges Burnley 4-3 in an entertaining Stoke 2 (Jones 16, Adam 55) Leicester 1 him. The goalkeeper didn’t, he Alvaro Negredo goal on the stroke tion when he cancelled out Jamie fall behind to a 66th-minute game at St Mary’s. (Nugent 77) made his mistake, he was pun- of half-time, only for Scott Dann Murphy’s deflected opener in the Papiss Cisse strike, but two goals Hull City won 2-0 at West Brom 0 Crystal Palace 2 (Gayle 23, ished with a yellow card, he to equalise early in the second 75th minute, only for Ryan Flynn in seven minutes from substi- Middlesbrough and Stoke City Chamakh 90) accepts the yellow card in a very period. to give the Blades victory six min- tutes Craig Noone and Fraizer defeated Championship leaders Wigan 3 (Espinoza 18, Gomez 27, calm way. City, currently second in the utes later. Campbell gave Cardiff victory. Leicester City 2-1. McManaman 65) Milton Keynes Dons 3 “His manager comes after in Premier League, also had defender “For us and our 6,000 fans who “It’s not about me, but it is a Wigan’s trophy defence began (Reeves 45, 45, Bamford 84) the press to say, ‘Well done (ref- Yeovil 4 (Hayter 12, 60, Grant 49, Moore Dedryck Boyata sent off late on came today, I think you saw how perfect start to these new times,” in uncertain fashion as they eree) Mr Atkinson.’ End of story. 90) Leyton Orient 0 for two bookable offences and now much it meant,” said winning Solskjaer said. were held to a 3-3 draw by third- Here we don’t have divers.” Arsenal 2 (Cazorla 31, Rosicky 62) face an unwelcome replay against manager Nigel Clough. “I think the lads have had a lot tier Milton Keynes Dons, while AFP Tottenham 0 Gary Bowyer’s side. “It’s still a special, special com- to deal with lately and it’s nice Millwall, semi-finalists last year, Postponed (both waterlogged pitches) “I think it was a very close petition and we’d just like a home for them to start with a win in crashed out after an embarrass- Bournemouth vs Burton game,” City manager Manuel draw next because we’ve had the cup.” ing 4-1 defeat at fourth-division Lewandowski Charlton vs Oxford Pellegrini told BT Sport. three away games on the spin, In the day’s two other all- Southend United. “They’re a difficult team so it would be nice to get one at Premier League ties, goals from Bolton Wanderers belatedly Playing Today (1500GMT unless stated) completes and they play here with a lot Bramall Lane.” Dwight Gayle and Marouane exacted revenge for their 4-3 loss Derby vs Chelsea (1415GMT), Liverpool vs of intensity, so we must decide Former Manchester United Chamakh gave Crystal Palace a to Blackpool in the 1953 final by Oldham, Manchester United vs Swansea Bayern switch who continues in the FA Cup at striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion beating their Championship rivals (1630GMT), Nottingham Forest vs West home.” tasted success in his first game and Fulham drew 1-1 at Norwich 2-1, while Leeds United fell to a Ham (1200GMT), Port Vale vs Plymouth, Villa became the first major as manager of Cardiff City after City. shock 2-0 defeat at Rochdale. Sunderland vs Carlisle (1400GMT) BERLIN: Polish striker casualty of the third round after his new side came from behind Everton crushed Championship AFP Robert Lewandowski will leave Borussia Dortmund for German rivals Bayern Munich in the summer on a five-year deal, the European champions confirmed La Liga: Koke winner yesterday. The 25-year-old has been at Dortmund since the 2010-11 sea- son, but his current contract was due to end in June. takes Atletico clear at top “We’re delighted to have sealed this transfer and that both par- MADRID: Spanish interna- ties have signed a contract until tional Koke rolled home the win- Spanish League Results Costa’s creation was to prove 2019,” said Bayern chairman Karl- ner as Atletico Madrid moved MADRID: Spanish league vital though as he again set-up Heinz Rummenigge, describing three points ahead of Barcelona results yesterday: Adrian inside the area and this Lewandowski as “one of the top at the top of La Liga with a 1-0 Malaga 0 Atletico Madrid 1 time the rebound off Caballero’s strikers in the world.” victory at Malaga yesterday. Valladolid 0 Real Betis 0 legs fell kindly for the arriving “He’s going to strengthen In a game short on clear-cut Koke to slot into an unguarded Bayern,” added Rummenigge, Today’s matches opportunities, Koke was in the net. who was present for the signa- right place to slot home his fourth Sevilla vs Getafe (1100), Barcelona vs Elche Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is ture along with sporting direc- goal of the season 20 minutes (1500), Osasuna vs Espanyol (1700), Real showing lethal form in training tor Matthias Sammer after from time after Willy Caballero Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao (1900) that suggests he will be back to Lewandowski underwent a had denied Adrian Lopez from Tomorrow’s matches his best soon although he will medical. close range. Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo (1800), Rayo not feature in today’s clash with Lewandowski had informed Barcelona can move back to the Vallecano vs Villarreal (2100) Elche, Barcelona coach Gerardo Dortmund bosses last summer top with a win over Elche today Martino said. that he wanted to leave, but the before travelling to face Atletico Marcos Angeleri away for a cor- The Argentine has had three club refused having already been at the Vicente Calderon next ner. Eliseu was first to threaten training sessions in Barcelona hit by the departure of German weekend. for Malaga as he was played in since returning from his recovery midfielder Mario Goetze for the Real Madrid are now eight on the right side of the box only programme in Buenos Aires and Bavarian giants. points adrift of the leaders, but for his low effort to be easily held Rosario and scored a hat-trick in But he had dropped a heavy can also cut the gap when they by Thibaut Courtois. a practice game on Friday. hint that he planned to join host Celta Vigo tomorrow. After struggling to break down “I am very pleased with his Bayern Munich two weeks ago “We need to wait until tomor- a well-organised Malaga in the progress. He is physically strong after responding in Bavarian to row to see if Barcelona win and first period, Atletico boss Diego and is showing the killer look a question about his future. continue as leaders. That is what Simeone withdrew teenager he had before. If he continues “Schaun mer mal (‘let’s we are accustomed to,” said Oliver Torres for Adrian at the like this and maintains the wait and see’ in Bavarian),” Atletico boss Diego Simeone. break in an attempt to find the confidence then he will return Lewandowski said. “It was a victory earned by the breakthrough. to be the player that everyone Since his arrival in 2010 from group because it was a very dif- However, Atletico suffered a remembers,” Martino told a Lech Poznan, Lewandowski had ficult game. setback ahead of Barca’s visit news conference. helped Dortmund win the league “Malaga tried to give us the just 10 minutes into the second Messi has suffered a series of title in 2011 and 2012. His 11 ball, take advantage of the coun- half when Juanfran was booked hamstring strains since the end goals this season have helped ter-attack and they defended well. for obstructing Vitorino Antunes of last season and has been out of his team to fourth place in the “We weren’t creating a lot of and will now be suspended for the action since mid-November. Bundesliga, but they are 12 points chances, but in the end the team Catalans’ visit. “The treatment always depends behind runaway leaders Bayern. managed to win the game.” Adrian should then have on the extent of problem but we The Pole was also a key player in Atletico’s Juanfran had the opened the scoring when he was haven’t dealt with this one any the Dortmund’s European cam- first big chance of the match brilliantly played in by Diego different to the others. The aim paign last season, scoring four when he broke into the Malaga Costa, but he delayed in front is to build him up sufficiently so Atletico Madrid’s midfielder Koke celebrates after scoring during the goals against Real Madrid in the box on 21 minutes, but Caballero of goal and allowed Weligton to that he will be strong for the rest Spanish league match againsst Malaga CF at Rosaleda Stadium in Champions League semi-finals parried his low drive and the dispossess him with a fine sliding of the season,” said Martino. Malaga, yesterday. before falling to Bayern in the ball rebounded fortunately off challenge. AGENCIES final in Wembley. AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Asia Cup to go ahead in Sri Lanka salvage draw Dhaka; Afghan Pretty happy with result: Mathews; Hafeez, Shehzad hit half-centuries team added COLOMBO: Asia’s cricket ABU DHABI: The first Test play for 234 runs. The target hope to continue like this in the chiefs yesterday said vio- between Pakistan and Sri always looked beyond Pakistan’s series,” said Mathews, named lence-plagued Bangladesh Lanka ended in a draw on the reach as their best winning chase man-of-the-match. “We were in a would remain the venue for fifth and final day in Abu Dhabi in all Test cricket was 314 against spot of bother after the third day next month’s Asia Cup and yesterday after Mohammad Australia in Karachi in 1994. but I am happy that we came good added Afghanistan as the fifth Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad hit Pakistan lost opener Khurram in batting and forced a draw.” team in the regional one-day half-centuries. Manzoor early, caught behind off Pakistan captain Misbah-ul tournament. Hafeez finished with 80 not out paceman Suranga Lakmal after Haq was disappointed at his Some observers had expected for his ninth Test half-century, his scoring eight, but Hafeez and side’s batting collapse in the first officials to move the tournament first in 11 innings, while Ahmed Shehzad avoided any further loss innings. out of Bangladesh following an Shehzad notched his maiden fifty and put on 94 in an unbroken sec- “It was a pretty even match. outbreak of violent protests and on his debut as Pakistan, set 302 ond wicket stand. We dominated the first three days strikes in the capital Dhaka ahead runs in a possible of 67 overs, fin- Hafeez reached his half-century but they came back strongly,” said of elections today. ished on 158-2. with two fours in one Sachitra Misbah, who also scored a century “The tournament will go ahead The draw left the three-Test Senanayake over. He had been in the match. as scheduled in Bangladesh from series open, with the second Test dropped from the Pakistan team “We need to improve our bat- February 25,” Asian Cricket starting in Dubai on Wednesday. for the two-Test series against ting because the way we lost six Council (ACC) chief executive The third Test will be played in South Africa, also in Abu Dhabi, wickets for 50-odd runs was not Ashraful Huq tsaid after an exec- Sharjah from January 16. in October, after scoring just 113 good and also our bowling when utive board meeting in Colombo. The no-result is also a moral in 11 innings. the wicket is not conducive.” “Everything is in place for the victory for the Sri Lankans who Shehzad also hit spinner Earlier, Sri Lanka declared tournament, no one raised any were in a danger of losing after Rangana Herath for his seventh their second innings on 480-5 issue about safety,” Huq said, conceding a big 179-run lead in four to reach his maiden 50 before after batting an hour and 30 adding the Bangladesh Cricket the first innings and were 186-4 he was trapped leg-before by the minutes but their slow batting Board had made a detailed secu- after the third day, leading by same bowler soon after tea for 55. showed they had saftey on their rity presentation at the meeting. just seven runs with six wickets Hafeez hit 11 fours during his minds rather than forcing a lead An ACC release said 11 matches intact. sedate knock. Younis Khan was in the three-Test series. will be played in the tournament Sri Lankan skipper Angelo the other unbeaten batsman with It was the unfinished sixth with the final on March 8. Mathews hit a career-best 157 not 13. wicket 156-run stand between Election-related violence in out to pull his team out of danger Mathews said he was happy Mathews and Prasanna Bangladesh has claimed more on the fourth day when they lost with his team’s fightback. Jayawardene (63 not out) that than 140 lives since late October, only one wicket in the full day’s “Pretty happy with result and continued on the fifth day and with opposition parties boycotting ended all hopes of a Pakistani win. the polls and organising a series Scoreboard Mathews batted for 457 min- of blockades across the country. utes, hit 16 fours and a six in an The Pakistan Cricket Board Sri Lanka (I innings): ...... 204 Bowling: Junaid 36-3-93-3, Ali 38.3-9-92-0, extraordinary display of patience had said on Thursday it was seek- Pakistan (I innings): ...... 383 Bhatti 36-8-146-2, Ajmal 49-10-115-0, Ha- and fight. ing its government’s advice about Sri Lanka (II innings): feez 9-1-23-0. Prasanna’s 169-ball knock had sending a team for the Asia Cup D Karunaratne b Junaid ...... 24 Pakistan (II innings): six fours and a six. due to the continuing political K Silva c Akmal b Junaid ...... 81 K Manzoor c Prasanna b Lakmal ...... 8 Pacemen Junaid Khan finished unrest in Bangladesh. K Sangakkara c Younis b Bhatti ...... 55 A Shehzad lbw Herath ...... 55 with 3-93, while Bilawal Bhatti But Huq said Pakistan did not M Jayawardene c Shafiq b Bhatti ...... 0 Mohd Hafeez (not out) ...... 80 took 2-146. raise any security concerns at the D Chandimal c Ali b Junaid ...... 89 Younis Khan (not out)...... 13 Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who meeting. A Mathews (not out) ...... 157 Extras (B-1, NB-1) ...... 2 took 18 wickets in Pakistan’s 1-0 “Pakistan have said yes, they P Jayawardene (not out) ...... 63 Total (for 2 wkts) ...... 158 win over Sri Lanka in 2011, fin- have not said no,” he said. Extras (B-4, LB-7) ...... 11 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-125. ished wicket-less in his 49 overs, However, a Pakistan board Total (for 5 wkts decl) ...... 480 Bowling: Lakmal 13-1-43-1, Eranga 11-0- conceding 115 runs -- only the sourcesaid yesterday that it will fifth time that he failed to get Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Hafeez (left) and Younis Khan leave the seek further clarification on the Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-146, 3-150, 4-186, 38-0 (1nb), Herath 21-8-37-1, Mathews 2-0- pitch at close of play on the final day of the first Test match against Sri 5-324. 9-0, Senanayake 5-0-30-0. a wicket in an innings in his 31 Asia Cup during a meeting of the Tests. AFP Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, yesterday. International Cricket Council on January 9. Afghanistan will join Asia’s four Test nations -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- in ECB chief backs Flower, the 50-over tournament, Huq added. The fast-improving Afghanistan team, which has qualified for their maiden appear- Cook amid Ashes gloom ance in the 50-over World Cup, have also made it to their third SYDNEY: England coach Andy success in the future.” start at some stage.” successive World Twenty20. Flower and captain Alastair After their top order failed Gooch said he expected every The Afghanistan Cricket Board Cook appear likely to retain once again, England were bowled member of the touring party to (ACB) said it was grateful to the their jobs despite the disastrous out for 155 on Saturday and ended want a chance to put things right, ACC and the other teams for Ashes tour of Australia but up trailing Australia by an impos- though. allowing it to participate in the batting coach Graham Gooch ing 311 runs at the close of day “Everyone on this tour would regional competition. believes some sort of rebuilding two in the fifth and final Test. not like to leave under the cir- “Afghanistan needs the kind of process is inevitable. That followed humiliating cumstances of this tour and the elite level experience that com- Flower, whose contract is up defeats in the first four Tests of debris of this tour,” Gooch said. peting against big teams can at the end of the tour, and Cook the series and Gooch admitted “Four-nil down and behind the provide us,” ACB chief executive received the backing of England the tourists had simply not played eight-ball in the fifth game is not Noor Mohammad Murad said in and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) well enough to compete. way you want to leave and every- a statement. “Win or lose, the chief David Collier to retain their “Everyone has to look at them- one will be trying to put things experience we gain will be very roles despite another miserable selves,” he told reporters at the right and move English cricket important for us.” day which made a 5-0 series Sydney Cricket Ground. forward.” Bangladesh is also due to host defeat highly likely. “That’s the coaches, the play- As for his own area of respon- the World Twenty20 tournament “We need that experience,” ers, they’re all going to be under sibility, Gooch said the stand- from March 16 to April 6. Collier told Sky TV. scrutiny, quite rightly, and we all ard of batting had clearly been The three venues chosen for “When you got through a tran- have to take it on the chin and we unacceptable. the World Twenty20 -- capital sitional period you need somebody have to take the criticism. “Our players have not met the Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet -- with knowledge, somebody who “If you play the way we’ve challenge with the bat obviously,” have all experienced violence over knows our system, somebody who played the brutal truth is it’s not he said. the past month. works with all of our key coaches. good enough. “We’ve not competed how An ICC spokesman said last Andy has all of those attributes “We have to look at ways to as we’d like to and we haven’t month that the world body was and more. move forward and we have to shown the skills that have been “actively monitoring” the situa- “Alastair fully deserves our look to ways to improve even that necessary. tion in Bangladesh. support,” he added. might entail taking some more “We’ve given too many wick- The danger posed to teams “People do grow into the job. pain before that gets better. ets away and had too many easy was underlined last month when Captains mature, players mature. “There will be a rebuilding dismissals. We’ve only had one a small bomb exploded outside We were convinced he was the process, I think that’s fair to say. hundred in four and a bit Tests the hotel of the West Indies right man at the time and we’re I don’t make those decisions, but and that’s not going to win Under-19 team in the port city of Martin Guptill of New Zealand celebrates 50 runs during the fourth inter- still convinced today. as some of you know I have been you anything. It’s been pretty Chittagong, prompting them to national one-day cricket match against West Indies at Saxton Oval in “We look forward to both here before many times and that disappointing.” cut short their tour. Nelson, yesterday. Alastair and Andy leading us to will be a process I’m sure will REUTERS AFP New Zealand beat Windies in rain-hit 4th ODI NELSON, New Zealand: New in Hamilton next Wednesday. innings and the guys being able to the West Indies camp. Frontline Scoreboard Zealand won a rain-affected Guptill opened with a deter- bat around him, allowed us to get bowler Ravi Rampaul was ruled fourth one-day international mination to occupy the crease as 30 runs over par,” New Zealand out with a broken finger, becom- NEW ZEALAND WEST INDIES by 58 runs yesterday to take a long as possible after struggling captain Brendon McCullum said. ing the sixth injured first-choice M Guptill c Bravo b Holder ...... 81 C Walton (run out) ...... 0 2-1 lead over the West Indies in against the West Indies in his Jesse Ryder, fresh from crack- ODI player in the West Indies J Ryder c Ramdin b Bravo ...... 47 J Charles c Southee b McClenaghan ...... 0 their five-match series. two previous innings with scores ing the world’s sixth-fastest ODI squad. K Williamson c Ramdin b Best ...... 47 K Edwards (run out) ...... 24 The game in Nelson was of two and one. century in New Zealand’s rollick- With their bowling weakened, R Taylor (run out) ...... 49 L Simmons c Guptill b Williamson ...... 43 decided under the Duckworth- He crawled to eight off 40 ing 159-run victory in the third the West Indies needed their B McCullum c Bravo b Narine ...... 14 D Bravo (not out) ...... 43 Lewis method after wet weather deliveries before cracking his one dayer on Wednesday, survived batsmen to compensate but were C Anderson (not out) ...... 17 N Deonarine c Mills b N McCullum ...... 3 set in with the West Indies appar- first boundary when he drove a two scares to score the bulk of the again let down. L Ronchi b Bravo ...... 9 D Ramdin (not out) ...... 17 ently heading for their second full-length Dwayne Bravo delivery early runs. “Losing early wickets, two run N McCullum (not out) ...... 9 Extras (LB-3, W-1) ...... 4 consecutive heavy defeat. back over the bowler’s head and After being dropped by Denesh outs, batters getting starts but Extras (LB-5, W-6, NB-1) ...... 12 Total (for 5 wkts in 33.4 overs) ...... 134 A timely return to form for beyond the sightscreen. Ramdin on 12 and Bravo at first not making full use of it, we have Total (for 6 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 285 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-62, 4-83, 5-92. opener Martin Guptill, who made From there, man-of-the-match slip shortly afterwards, both only ourselves to blame. We can’t Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-144, 3-203, 4-232, Did not bat: S Narine, J Holder, N Miller, T Best. 81, saw New Zealand make 285-6 Guptill never looked back as he comfortable chances off Jason blame the weather,” Bravo said. 5-253, 6-267. Bowling: Southee 5-1-21-0, McClenaghan in their 50 overs and the West batted at nearly a run a ball for Holder, Ryder raced to 47 in 49 Chadwick Walton (0) was run Did not bat: T Southee, K Mills, M McClena- 6.4-1-30-1, Mills 2-0-10-0, Anderson 2-0-10- Indies were 134-5 after 33.4 overs the remainder of his innings, balls before Ramdin held a catch out in the first over and Johnson ghan. 0, N McCullum 10-0-30-1, Williamson 8-0-30- when the rain sent the players which included four fours and off Bravo. Charles was also removed for a Bowling: Holder 10-2-58-1 (2w), Best 9-0- 1 (1w). from the field. two sixes to lay the foundations Kane Williamson was also dis- duck in the fourth over to leave 70-1 (1nb), Bravo 7-0-35-2 (3w), Miller 10-0- Result: New Zealand won by 58 runs under New Zealand, who won the for the victory. missed for 47 and Ross Taylor the West Indies 2-2 and the writ- 47-0, Narine 10-0-47-1 (1w), Deonarine 4-0- Duckworth-Lewis. Test series 2-0, now lead the ODI “It was probably a 250 wicket. added 49 as New Zealand ben- ing was already on the wall. 23-0. Series: New Zealand lead 2-1. series 2-1 with one match to play Obviously Martin, with his efited from yet another injury in AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Serena clinches Brisbane title World number one overcomes Azarenka in the final ahead of the Australian Open

BRISBANE, Australia: World number one Serena Williams ATP Chennai Open stamped herself as favourite Results for the Australian Open when CHENNAI, India: Results from the $450,000 she beat Victoria Azarenka ATP Chennai Open tennis tournament in the final of the Brisbane yesterday (seedings in brackets): International yesterday. In what could be a dress Semi-finals: rehearsal for the Melbourne Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA x7) bt Marcel decider, Williams won a close Granollers (ESP x6) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 first set then edged Azarenka in Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x1) bt Vasek the second to win 6-4, 7-5 in 98 Pospisil (CAN x5) 6-4, 5-5 (retired) minutes. Williams, the defending cham- pion in Brisbane, just shaded Wawrinka, Azarenka throughout, with her powerful serve proving the main Roger-Vasselin difference between the world’s two top players. set for Chennai Williams broke Azarenka once in the first set. Although she lost her serve twice in the second, she Open final broke Azarenka three times to seal a victory. CHENNAI, India: Top seed The win was Williams’ 14th Stanislas Wawrinka sailed into over Azarenka in 17 meetings, and the ATP Chennai Open final stamps her as the player to beat yesterday after Vasek Pospisil in Melbourne later this month. of Canada retired with a back The world number one had injury, setting up a a title clash four testing matches in Brisbane, with Frenchman Edouard against Andrea Petkovic, Roger-Vasselin. Dominika Cibulkova, Maria The Swiss world number eight, Sharapova and Azarenka, and who won the title in 2011, was said the tournament was perfect leading 6-4, 5-5 when a hobbling preparation for the Australian Pospisil conceded the semi-final Open. at the Nungambakkam Tennis “It was a great test, it showed Serena Williams of the US reacts after winning a point against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women’s singles final in the Brisbane International Stadium. me where my level was, and I feel tournament in Brisbane, yesterday. Serena won 6-4, 7-5. RIGHT: Serena Williams (left) and Victoria Azarenka pose with their trophies. The 23-year-old Canadian was like I definitely have some room the sixth player to be sidelined for improvement and things that with injury during the $450,000 I want to improve on going into over Azarenka in Brisbane would “I think it was a pretty solid champion. “I’m a perfectionist. things that you have to work on season opener in the past week, Melbourne, and things I have to count for little if they were to match,” she said. I want to play better, I want to and really go after that.” a list that included second seed improve on if I want to win,” she meet in the Australian Open final. “There was a little bit, you win,” she said. Williams, who didn’t drop a set Mikhail Youzhny of Russia and said. “I feel like if I were to play know, a few errors in important “I can’t say I’m satisfied today, on the way to the final, lost only third seeded Fabio Fognini of “I’m happy I was able to play Victoria in the final, if I get to the moments. but I want to take the positive, four matches in 2011 on her way Italy. both Maria and Victoria, because final, it’s a new match,” she said. “But Serena played a great what I’ve done today, and build to winning 11 titles, including two A seventh player, defending they brought their A games “Obviously I’ll have a little con- match. She was better today in from here towards the next Grand Slams. champion Janko Tipsarevic, had against me. fidence, but at the same time, we the important moments, and she week. She regained her number one withdrawn before the tournament “I know now what I need to do both start at zero.” took her chance.” “This is the first week where ranking eight weeks into 2013 in a began due to a heel injury. for Melbourne. I look forward to Azarenka conceded afterwards Azarenka said she would take a you really test yourself, where year that also included a winning Pospisil, who made it to the it.” that she had been outplayed on lot of positives into the Australian your game is at, and from here streak of 34 consecutive matches. semi-finals without dropping his Williams warned that the win the key points. Open, where she is the defending you can take the positives and the AFP serve, was broken by Wawrinka in the fifth game of the first set and again in the seventh game of the second set. He broke back in the eighth but France win first was clearly in discomfort, hav- ing already called for the trainer towards the end of the first set and then again midway through the second. Hopman Cup “It feels good to be in the final, but I feel sorry for my opponent,” PERTH, Australia: France many long rallies. Wawrinka said. won their first Hopman Cup The world number five survived “He was playing well. I hope he title yesterday, taking a thrilling a marathon 80-minute second set, is OK because this is the start of decider against Poland. during which she held a match the season and it is important to The two countries split the sin- point, before the Frenchwoman be ready physically. gles rubbers at the mixed teams finally squared the match in the “It was a tough match before tournament, with Jo-Wilfried tiebreak with her fifth set point. the final. I did not serve well but Tsonga beating Grzegorz Panfil However, Cornet had run her- I was aggressive from the baseline and Agnieszka Radwanska then self to the point of exhaustion, at and moved well on court. I will go edging past Alize Cornet in an one stage suffering the ignominy into the final tomorrow with a lot epic battle. of incurring a time penalty as she of confidence.” The French then claimed the struggled to regain her breath fol- Meanwhile, Roger-Vasselin tie with a 6-0, 6-2 win in the lowing yet another long rally. reached his second ATP World mixed doubles rubber. She tired in the final set, allow- Tour final after a tough three- France had previously been ing Radwanska to prevail in two set win over Marcel Granollers beaten in the 1998 and 2012 finals. hours and 33 minutes, 6-3, 6-7 of Spain in the first semi-final. No player during the tourna- (7/9), 6-2, in one of the most The 52nd-ranked Frenchman ment showed more determina- remarkable matches ever seen at fought off a spirited chal- tion to win than Cornet and she the mixed teams tournament. lenge from world number 38 was understandably thrilled to Despite the vast chasm in their Granollers before winning 6-2, Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a ball to Jeremy Chardy of France during their semi final match at the notch her country’s first win in rankings, Tsonga had his hands 4-6, 6-3 in a two-hour centre Brisbane International tennis tournament at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday. the tournament. full with the little-known Panfil. court battle. Federer won 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. “We made history today and Tsonga created numerous Roger-Vasselin, who trailed France finally won the Hopman break points, converting just two 2-0 in the final set, reeled off five Cup,” she said. of 14, but got a shock when Panfil games in a row to make it 5-2 “I think we deserved it, we capitalised on his only opportu- before holding serve in the ninth played a great week.” nity to break in the eighth game game to clinch the match. Federer, Hewitt turn back clock Tsonga, the world number of the second set, levelling the The Frenchman revealed 10, said Cornet had a future in match in the process. that at 5-2 he was reminded of Hollywood after her theatrics on However, Tsonga steadied compatriot Benoit Paire’s loss court, including jumping into his in the decider to maintain his to Granollers on Friday night to set up final showdown arms after the winning point. unbeaten record in seven singles despite being 5-1 up in the decider He was pleased with his form matches in Perth. -- and was determined not to BRISBANE: Roger Federer Brisbane struggles in the rivalry down to heading towards the Australian Meanwhile, Austria’s world allow a repeat. and Lleyton Hewitt will resume Federer’s brilliance rather than Open, finishing unbeaten in sin- number 27 Jurgen Melzer yester- “I must admit I did think of one of the oldest rivalries in International Results his own shortcomings. gles this week and said winning day withdrew from the Australian that and did not want another tennis when they contest the BRISBANE, Australia: Results of matches “Nearly everyone had some the event was the icing on the Open with a shoulder injury. Frenchman to lose to the same Brisbane International final played at the Brisbane International tennis kind of run against Roger in those cake “Unfortunately I have to with- guy two days in a row,” Roger- today. tournament yesterday (X denotes seed): years,” Hewitt said. “It is always great to hold a tro- draw from this year’s Australian Vasselin said. The 32-year-old duo both Men Semi-finals “He lost two or three matches phy,” he said. Open due to my ongoing left “But it worked out for me. needed three sets to secure a 27th Roger Federer (SUI X1) bt Jeremy Chardy for the year. Apart from losing Although Panfil was on the shoulder problems. I will be “To be in the final is the best encounter after Federer edged (FRA X8) 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 to Rafa (Nadal) a couple times, wrong side of the ledger in the back next year!!!,” tweeted the possible start I could have had. I Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN he didn’t lose too many matches. final, the tournament was still the 32-year-old. lost my only other final a year ago, 6-7 6-3 and Hewitt proved too X2) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 “In Halle, I got a little bit lucky highlight of his career. “I will miss one of my favorite so the goal obviously is to win at strong for Japan’s Kei Nishikori down to overcome the Swiss. but I did play a really good three- Ranked 288th in the world, he tournaments and it’s top class least one title this year, hopefully as he rallied for a 5-7 6-4 6-3 win Federer regards that contest as set match there.” beat two top 30 players in Milos fans!” AGENCIES this one. yesterday. a landmark moment in his career For his part, Federer is keen to Raonic and Andreas Seppi, and “Having come this far and with “Obviously, Roger and I have a while Hewitt sees it as one of his resume a rivalry against an off- pocketed easily the biggest pay Hopman Cup Final one match to go, I have to take good history and a lot of tough greatest wins. court friend he first met when cheque of his career. advantage of the place I am in and matches in the past in slams, “It has to be one (of my best),” they were 15-year-old juniors. The 26-year-old was a late Scores try and win.” Davis Cups and everything,” Hewitt said. “In the conditions “We go back 17 years - our replacement for countryman PERTH, Australia: Results from the final of Granollers admitted he was Australia’s Hewitt told reporters. and over five sets and he was the coaches back in the day were best Jerzy Janowicz in the tournament. the mixed teams Hopman Cup: tired after the bruising quarter- “I’m going to enjoy it.” reigning Wimbledon champion friends,” Federer said. “It’s always He had career prizemoney France bt Poland 2-1 final against Paire, but acknowl- They first played in Lyon 15 only a couple months before that special when we play.” of $137,936, and collected Aus Men’s singles: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt edged that Roger-Vasselin played years ago with Hewitt emerging as well.” The Brisbane tournament $90,000 ($81,000)for losing the Grzegorz Panfil (POL) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 better than him. victorious, as he did in seven of Since then, Federer has been acts as a warmup event for the final. After Tsonga won his sin- “It was a tough match,” the Women’s singles: Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) the first nine matches with the dominant with Hewitt’s victory Australian Open, the first grand gles match in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, Spaniard said. “I had my chances, bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2 last of those coming in a Davis in Halle in 2010 his only win in slam of the season, which starts in 6-3, Radwanska levelled the final I was a break up in the third set, Cup clash in 2003 where he bat- the last 17 contests between them. Melbourne on January 13. with a gruelling win over Cornet Mixed doubles: Cornet/Tsonga (FRA) bt but he was aggressive and played tled back from two sets and 5-2 The Australian puts his latter REUTERS in a high-intensity match with Radwanska/Panfil (POL) 6-0, 6-2 a solid game.” AFP SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Rafael Nadal of Spain (third right), winner of the Qatar Open poses for a group picture with Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah (centre), Qatar Tennis Federation President, Nasser Al Khelaifi (second right), Gael Monfils (third left) of France, runner-up at the Qatar Open, and Tournament Director Karim Alami (right), during the presentation ceremony at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, yesterday. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT Nadal wins maiden title in Qatar Qatar Open: World number one overcomes Monfils to bag his 61st career title

BY RIZWAN REHMAT

DOHA: World number one Rafael Nadal yesterday braved a serve onslaught from Gael Monfils of France to win his maiden Qatar Open title after a three-set final that saw the Spaniard retain his top rank- ing going into this month’s Australian Open. Nadal won 6-2, 6-6, 6-2 in 1 hour 59 minutes to bag his 61st career title, one more than American tennis legend Andre Agassi who ended his career with 60 win- ner’s trophies. The 27-year-old Spaniard is second-best behind Swiss star Roger Federer (77 titles) among active players. Yesterday’s effort helped Nadal - the top seed in Doha - bag a title win in 17th different country and his first at the start of a new ATP Tour season. Nadal, who won 10 titles in 14 finals in 2013, picked up the top prize of $188,600 and will start the season’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne as the world number one unlike last year when he sat out the first six weeks of the 2013 season with a ‘stomach virus. Monfils, who was aiming for fifth career title in yesterday’s final, got richer by $99,325 and Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning the Qatar Open. RIGHT: Nadal hits a return to Monfils during their final match. accumulated 150 points. It was Monfils’ third final in Doha where he has lost to Federer (2006) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2012) in the last seven years. The 27-year-old Frenchman - who fired 13 aces in the final - now trails Nadal 2-9 in overall head-to-head between the two players. Both of Monfils’ wins over Nadal came in Doha (2009 and 2012). Monfils finished the Doha event with 46 aces while Nadal wound up his Qatar trip with 18 aces. After lifting the trophy for the first time at Khalifa Tennis Complex, Nadal said winning the title in Doha was a personal tri- umph of sorts. “I always wanted to win in Doha. It is a special event for me,” Nadal said. “I played a final here in 2010 and lost to (Nikolay) Davydenko despite having three match Qatar Open singles winners Monfils hits a return. RIGHT: Nadal bites the trophy he won in Doha. 2014 Rafael Nadal 2013 Richard Gasquet points. It (the loss) was always in game two when he misfired with returns by Nadal to sit pretty at 2012 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga my mind,” Nadal added. a couple of unforced errors to see 5-3 in the tie-breaker. A crush- 2011 Roger Federer “I managed to win this year Nadal jump to a 2-0 lead. ing forehand from the baseline 2010 Nikolay Davydenko against a very tough opponent In game four, Nadal broke the by the Frenchman followed by a 2009 Andy Murray like Gael. I want to congratulate Frenchman for the second time long return from Nadal allowed 2008 Andy Murray him on a great start to the season. and then held his serve to enjoy Monfils to take the tie-breaker 2007 Ivan Ljubicic If he keeps playing like this, I am a 5-0 cushion in the first set at 7-5. 2006 Roger Federer sure he has good chance to in the which he later won 6-1 in only 23 In the decider, the finalists 2005 Roger Federer top-10 at the end of the season,” minutes. entertained the crowd with a 2004 Nicolas Escude Nadal said. In the second game of the sec- couple of long rallies that lasted 2003 Stefan Koubek “A title is a title and I am very ond set, Monfils broke Nadal who 28 and 24 shots in games two three-set slug-fest. “I saw a strong Rafa on the 2002 Younes El Aynaoui happy to win this,” Nadal said lost zip in his returns and hit a and three respectively, but Nadal Monfils said he was put under baseline, hitting the balls very 2001 Marcelo Rios when asked about his feelings. couple of returns wide besides broke Monfils in game four and pressure by Nadal’s attack at the deep,” 2000 Fabrice Santoro “It is the first week of the sea- being guilty of two unforced then followed up with a decisive start of the final. Monfils said. “And it is not that 1999 Rainer Schuettler son and I had never won a trophy errors. However, Nadal hit back break in game eight to seal his “Well, he plays tough. I think I I was surprised but it was tough. 1998 Petr Korda in the first week. So it is a great with his own service break in win in a minute less than 2 hours. started very slow in the match,” You know, he was really tough,” 1997 Jim Courier feeling for me,” the Spaniard said. game eight but the finalists Nadal fired only two aces in Monfils said. “I think Rafa put Monfils added. 1996 Petr Korda Buoyed by four resounding failed to gain advantage as the set the match but depth and power pressure on me from the first Both players head to Australia 1995 Stefan Edberg wins in as many days, Nadal took headed into a tie-breaker. on his returns saw Monfils com- point. It was very aggressive and to prepare for the season’s first 1994 Stefan Edberg Monfils off-guard at the start of With momentum on his side, mit 43 unforced errors compared then it was tougher for me to Grand Slam in Melbourne. 1993 Boris Becker Boris the final. Monfils struggled in Monfils lapped up a couple of long to just 21 by the Spaniard in the adjust,” Monfils said. THE PENINSULA Sunday 5 January 2014 4 Rabial I 1435 Volume 18 Number 5935 Sport Price: QR2 NBA: Clippers Sri Lanka rally past salvage draw Mavericks in Abu Dhabi

Sport | 23 Sport | 25

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Schumi still ‘critical’ as Hosts Qatar trounce Kuwait probe focuses on helmet 3-0 to reach WAFF final camera GRENOBLE, France: Michael Schumacher remains in a “criti- Boualem Khoukhi scores two goals; Jordan edge Bahrain 1-0 cal but stable” condition, his spokeswoman said yesterday, as French investigators hoped a DOHA: Hosts Qatar and Jordan helmet-mounted camera he was won their respective semi-final Qatar midfielder Ismail Mohamad (left) wearing at the moment of his matches of the 8th West Asia vies for the ball with Kuwait defender ski accident could answer a raft Football Federation (WAFF) Mohammad Al Faresi during their 8th of questions. Championship to set up a title WAFF Championship match at Lekhwiya A spokeswoman for the retired clash on January 7. Club Stadium yesterday. Qatar won 3-0 Formula One champion denied Yesterday at Lekhwiya and will clash with Jordan in the final on some reports that his family had Stadium, Qatar helped by two January 7. PHOTO BY VP KAMMUTTY been reluctant to hand over the extra-time goals from Boualem camera -- taken by authorities Khoukhi’s trounced former cham- on Friday -- because of privacy pions Kuwait 3-0. reasons. Khoukhi scored in the 94th and “Michael’s helmet camera was 112nd minute after the 90-minute voluntarily given to the investi- of normal play failed to produce gating authorities by the family,” any goal. said spokewoman Sabine Kehm in The third goal was scored by a statement. striker Ali Asadalla Thaimn in “That this should have been the 120th minute of the game. done against the wishes of the “It was a good game. I am very family is untrue.” happy to win the game as we were The existence of the GoPro playing against a team which is camera was publicly revealed difficult to beat as they play a late Friday, five days after the deep game and gave less space December 29 accident in the to their rivals,” said Qatar coach French Alps near the Meribel Djamel Belmadi. ski resort. Commenting over the extra- It was not known whether time goals, he said, “We knew we the camera filmed Schumacher’s will have our chances in the later descent down the slope or whether part of the game…. Tough it came the images have been damaged by bit late… in the extra-time… but a the impact on the rock, which was win is a win,” the Algerian-born so hard it split the helmet he was coach said. wearing. “It was really a tough game… Police on Friday got eyewitness In my opinion the final score is testimony from Schumacher’s not giving a real picture of the 14-year-old son Mick, who was match,” Kuwait coach Vieira skiing with his father at the Jorvan said. time, as well as a friend, at the In the other semi-final, Jordan Grenoble hospital. defeated Bahrain 1-0 aided by an Kehm said Schumacher own goal in the 67th minute. remains in a “critical but sta- THE PENINSULA ble” condition and that no more press conferences were scheduled before tomorrow. Schumacher turned 45 on Friday while still in an induced coma. Fans marked the birthday with Australia on brink of Ashes whitewash a silent vigil outside the facility, part of which was organised by SYDNEY: Australia were clos- (16), Shane Watson (9), skipper Australia’s pace trio of Harris, Scoreboard Ferrari, Schumacher’s former ing in on a 5-0 Ashes sweep Michael Clarke (6) and Steve Mitchell Johnson and Peter team. after demolishing England’s Smith (7) as England tried to Siddle earlier took three wick- Australia (I innings): ...... 326 Bowling: Harris 14-5-36-3, Johnson 13.5-3- The GoPro miniature cam- batting and pushing their lead restrict Australia’s mushroom- ets apiece as England narrowly England (I innings): 33-3, Siddle 13-4-23-3, Watson 3-1-5-0, Lyon era, robust and popular among to 311 runs after just two days ing lead on a flattening Sydney avoided the follow-on in response A Cook lbw Harris ...... 7 15-3-57-1. extreme sports enthusiasts, has of the final Sydney Ashes Test Cricket Ground pitch. to Australia’s first innings score M Carberry c Lyon b Johnson ...... 0 Australia (II innings): a 170-degree wide angle lens that yesterday. “Day two, 300 plus lead’s a of 326. J Anderson c Clarke b Johnson ...... 7 C Rogers (batting) ...... 73 takes in much of the view and The relentless Australians pretty good position to be in,” The tourists never recovered I Bell c Haddin b Siddle ...... 2 D Warner lbw Anderson ...... 16 can show parts of the user’s body blasted out the hapless tourists Australia paceman Ryan Harris from a disastrous morning ses- K Pietersen c Watson b Harris ...... 3 S Watson c Bairstow b Anderson ...... 9 including the face depending on for 155 -- the fifth time England said. sion when they crashed to 23 for G Ballance c Haddin b Lyon ...... 18 M Clarke c Bairstow b Broad...... 6 how it is mounted. had been dismissed for less than “It’s obviously not a done thing five despite the efforts of young B Stokes b Siddle ...... 47 S Smith c Cook b Stokes ...... 7 The latest models can take 200 in the series -- and set their yet, we’ve got to make sure we bat guns Ben Stokes, Gary Ballance J Bairstow c Bailey b Siddle ...... 18 G Bailey (batting)...... 20 up to 30 images a second for six sights on batting them out of the well in the morning and get some and Jonny Bairstow to repel the S Borthwick c Smith b Harris ...... 1 Extras (LB-9) ...... 9 hours. game with three days to play. more (runs) and bowl like we did hostile home attack. S Broad (not out) ...... 30 Total (for 4 wkts) ...... 140 If there are images and they At second day stumps Australia today to bowl them out again.” “It was pretty disappointing B Rankin b Johnson ...... 13 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-47, 3-72, 4-91. are usable, they should shed light were 140 for four with Chris “We figure they are going to fire today, but 326 is way over par on Extras (LB-1, W-5, NB-3) ...... 9 Bowling: Anderson 10-4-36-2, Broad 7-1-26- on the circumstances of the acci- Rogers compiling his fourth half- at some stage, we hope they don”t this pitch in my opinion,” England Total (all out) ...... 155 1, Rankin 6-0-25-0, Stokes 5-0-36-1, Borth- dent on a small, seemingly innoc- century in five innings on 73 and but they’re going to have to. batting coach Graham Gooch said. Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-8, 3-14, 4-17, 5-23, wick 2-0-8-0. uous off-piste section of Meribel George Bailey not out 20. “I don’t think the wicket’s get- “So once that score’s on the 6-62, 7-111, 8-112, 9-125, 10-155. Australia lead by 311 runs with 6 wkts in hand. located between two ski slopes -- The home side in the process ting any easier. If we bowl like we board it’s always going to be dif- one classed as easy and the other lost the wickets of David Warner did today, I think we’ll go alright.” ficult and once we lost those early as intermediate. wickets (it’s) going to be tough Mitchell Johnson bouncer flush on off the next ball but nightwatch- Conflicting statements have from this position.” the helmet and needed replace- man Anderson, who needed treat- emerged, notably about how fast Stokes eked out a dogged 47 off ment headgear.Stuart Broad fin- ment after taking a jarring blow Schumacher was going when he 101 balls after his six-wicket haul ished with an unbeaten 30 off 22 on his right bowling hand fending crashed. in the Australian first innings. balls. off a rearing Johnson delivery, did Investigators are tasked with But he showed an error of England suffered yet another not last long. determining responsibility in the judgement that cost his wicket demoralising top-order collapse He edged Johnson to Clarke at accident, with high stakes possi- when he offered no shot and was in the morning session against the second slip for seven, leaving the bly involved regarding any insur- bowled off-stump by Siddle just dominant Australians. tourists 14-3 in the 10th over. ance compensation. three short of his half-century. At one stage the beleaguered Johnson now has 34 wickets for Albertville prosecutors and the It was Siddle’s second wicket of tourists looked in danger of falling the series as he bids to become ski resort say Schumacher was his 12th over after having wicket- short of their record low score of only the fourth Australian bowler skiing at great speed. Kehm has keeper Bairstow caught by Bailey, 45 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to take 40 wickets or more in an challenged that, saying he could purposefully positioned at short set in 1887, but Zimbabwe-born Ashes series along with Terry not have been going fast “because mid-on, for 18, ending a 49-run Ballance and Stokes helped stop Alderman (twice), Rodney Hogg it appears he helped a friend who stand with Stokes. the rot to leave England 61-5 at and Shane Warne. had just fallen”. Debutant Ballance earlier went lunch. The Australians, looking to Edouard Bourgin, a specialist in the second over after lunch Alastair Cook (7) was out to claim only the third 5-0 series on accident claims said: “There Australia’s cricketer Mitchell Johnson (third right) is congratulated by for 18, caught behind off spinner the second ball of the day when whitewash in Ashes history, fol- could have been a catapult effect team-mates after taking the wicket of James Anderson of England (not Nathan Lyon. the skipper was trapped leg lowed up with the wicket of Kevin that explains the violence of the pictured) on day two of the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Ballance showed plenty of fight before wicket by Harris without Pietersen (3), snapped up in the shock, even in the absence of Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, yesterday. coming to wicket with his team offering a shot. slips by Watson off Harris, to excessive speed.” in dire trouble at 17-4. He took a Ian Bell was dropped by Watson leave the tourists 17-4. AFP AFP