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Sunday 13 October 2013 8 Dhul-Hijja 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5851 Price: QR2
China is Qatar eye world’s top points in key crude importer match
Business | 17 Sport | 28
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Up in smoke US Senators Long queues seek deal to end shutdown
WASHINGTON: With House at Abu Samra Republicans blaming President Barack Obama for the collapse of talks on extending US bor- rowing authority, the Senate scrambled yesterday to piece border post together a bipartisan exit strategy. The eyes of the world are glued Authorities try to clear rush on Washington as politicians grapple with how to open the DOHA: Abu Samra checkpost and customs services,” the Colonel shuttered government and avoid on the Qatari-Saudi border is said on the Facebook account of a potentially calamitous failure working at full capacity as a the Ministry of Interior. to pay the country’s obligations huge number of people leave Abu Samra, it may be noted, is for the first time in history, a sce- and enter Qatar ahead of the the only land border check post nario experts warn would send long Eid Al Adha holidays. All of Qatar. shockwaves through international 14 counters at the border post He said passengers are being markets. are busy clearing long queues, provided immigration and cus- With just three working according to a senior official. toms services while they are days next week before the US Such is the traffic situa- seated in their cars. There is no Treasury’s October 17 dead- tion that on October 10 and 11 need for them to step out. “We are line for raising the debt ceiling, more than 45,000 people passed making all these services available the Senate’s Republican and through the post. Of them, 15,500 for the comfort of passengers.” Democratic leaders showed an entered Qatar, while some 30,000 However, to avail of swift serv- intensifying desire to end the left, many of them apparently for ices, people should make sure they two-week government shutdown Haj and the others to visit their have valid passport, residency and ease the threat of default. home countries. permit and the papers of their Bahraini protesters clash with riot police following the funeral of Yussef Al Nashmi, who died in hospital on AFP Many expatriates from coun- vehicle, he said. Friday after being detained by Bahraini authorities since August 17, in the western Manama suburb of Jidd See also page 11 tries like Egypt, Jordan and Those visiting a country Hafs, yesterday. Lebanon prefer to travel to their and needing entry visas must home countries by road. make sure they have valid visas Of those who have entered as well. Qatar, many are apparently visi- According to the official, on tors from other GCC states who October 10 and 11, some 15,677 want to be here to enjoy the holi- people entered Qatar and 29,879 Qatar to hire workers from 30 countries day. Those entering and leaving, left the country. however, also include the regular “Abu Samra Border Post wel- DOHA: Qatar has signed companies to set up exclusive said the Minister. On the role of and entertainment facilities traffic of truck drivers bringing comes all guests of Qatar,” he agreements with 30 countries to commercial and entertainment the Ministry of Labour in solving address the needs of diverse com- in food and other imports from said. recruit foreign workers for the facilities for the growing number problems faced by expatriate work- munities and the migrant work- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, The colonel said the staffers massive infrastructure projects of expatriate workers in the ers, the Minister said that there force in the country. Lebanon and Egypt. at the border post are regularly in the country, the Minister country. are separate departments at the Mana Ibrahim Al Mana, chair- The head of the border post, trained so that they can deal with of Labour and Social Affairs “We want to bring in work- Ministry to carry out inspections man of Qatar Asset Management Colonel Nasser bin Abdullah people from different nationalities H E Abdullah Saleh Mubarak ers from different manpower- at worksites and labour camps, that manages West End Park, said Al Thani, said since all the 14 in a friendly manner. Al Khulaifi has said. exporting countries especially follow up on labour issues and there is a parallel project expected counters are operating traffic There is no congestion on Speaking to the media with the huge investments that resolve disputes between workers to be completed next year, to build clearance is swift. the border post due to the effi- after opening the Grand Mall the state intends to pump into a and employers, in line with the a housing complex for workers as “The post is working at full cient immigration and cus- Hypermarket at West End large number of infrastructure Qatari labour law. Commenting well as families for accommodat- potential. All the 14 counters are toms services, he added. Park in Mesaimeer on Friday, projects over the next decade, on the West End Park project, the ing about 70,000 people. working to provide immigration THE PENINSULA the Minister called on private that will cost billions of dollars,” Minister said that such commercial THE PENINSULA
Underwater feat Qatar-based Sports Village set Indians in ‘powerful list’ to open in Katara DOHA: At least half a dozen- DOHA: An exclusive “sports in the premises and smoking is Doha based Indians have fea- village” will open in Katara on prohibited. Katara also has plans tured in the Arabian Business’ the first day of Eid Al Adha. to open commercial complexes in “100 most powerful Indians in The facility is located at the the near future. the Gulf” list 2012. Amusement City in Katara and Katara recently unveiled its Yusuf Ali, Chief of the EMKE is spread over 60,000 square five-year strategy which has its Group that owns the Lulu chain metre, Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al focus on the new generation “to of hypermarkets, including five in Sulaiti, director general of Katara give them the best opportunity Qatar, has topped the list for the Cultural Village said at a press to show their creativity,” in all second successive year. conference yesterday. areas. There are new partner- Indian-born academic and The sports village will offer ships with Unesco, Kennedy Executive Chairman of Qatar about 29 games with play areas Art Centre in Washington and Science and Technology Park for paintball, football, basketball the Qatar Foundation to benefit (QSTP), Dr Tidu Maini, is one of and tennis. from their experience in organis- the most prominent persons in The village has been designed ing educational programmers and the 2012 Power List. to entertain children, youngsters, projects targetting the youth in Joy Alukkas and P Mohammed elders and family members of high school and university. all ages. “Katara aims to develop The project for budding writers Ali, based in Dubai and Oman the thinking and culture of the has made an impact in schools in respectively, who have operations people and the sports village will the United States. in Qatar, also found their place in focus on promoting physical fit- Started nine years ago in only the 2012 list. ness that will reflect positively on four schools, it has now expanded Shashank Srivastava, CEO and Amateur triathletes wait for the start of the 3.86 km swim portion during the Ironman World Championship people’s thinking,” said Al Sulaiti. to more than 25 schools around Board Member of QFC Authority, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, yesterday. He said the project was part of the US. THE PENINSULA and Dr R Seetharaman, Group was futuristic strategy of Katara Picture on page 2 CEO, Doha Bank, are among that will bring in major changes other prominent Indians in the in the coming months. list. C K Menon, Ranjeev Menon Dr Malika Ashraim, public Cyclone tears into India’s east coast and Hassan Chougle are other relations officer at Katara sports Doha-based Indians on the maga- village said it has a wide range of ICHAPURAM/ weakening as it moves inland in daybreak today. Some 12 million zine’s power roll. entertainment facilities catering BHUBANESWAR: A fierce the states of Odisha and Andhra people were in the path of Phailin, C K Menon oversees the opera- to people of different age groups cyclone tore into India’s coast, Pradesh. The storm snapped trees weather and disaster manage- tions of the Qatari conglomerate, ranging from five to 80 years. killing at least five people, forc- and electricity poles and smashed ment officials said. It was India’s Behzad Group, which operates The village will be open from ing half a million into shelters windows in Brahmapur, a town strongest cyclone since a typhoon across a wide range of businesses Tuesday to Sunday every week INSIDE and threatening to devastate where it hit land last evening. killed 10,000 people in the same including transportation and steel from 4pm to 10pm. farmland and fishing hamlets. Rescue workers and soldiers region 14 years ago. Aid agencies manufacturing and has opera- Tickets are priced at QR50, Schedule of Cyclone Phailin was expected spread out across the region in hope better preparation will mean tions all over the Gulf, as well as QR90 and QR120, depending on to remain a “very severe cyclonic helicopters and trucks and the far fewer casualties this time. in Europe, South America and the type and number of games Eid events storm”, packing winds of up to full extent of destruction was only REUTERS the US. a visitor plays, according to Al at various venues 210kph, into today before steadily expected to become clear after See also page 14 THE PENINSULA Sharq. Pets will not be allowed SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME
Greeting sent to QU honours Spanish king DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a cable of greetings traffic safety to King Juan Carlos of Spain on the occasion of his coun- try’s National Day. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser contest winners bin Khalifa Al Thani, also sent a similar cable to the Spanish king on the same occasion. QU students win video competition Qatar and Tunisia
DOHA: Best entries to the Secondary Independent School sign MoU competition on traffic safety for Boys, while Hamza bin awareness programme organ- Abdullmutallib Preparatory TUNIS: The State of Qatar ised by Qatar University’s Qatar School for Boys, and Osama Bin and the Republic of Tunisia Road Safety Studies Centre Zaid Preparatory School for Boys have signed a memorandum of (QRSSC) have been recognised won in the category for prepara- understanding (MoU) on giv- on Thursday tory schools. Al Tha’ayen Primary ing legality for the start of the The competition was part of an Independent School for Girls Qatari-Tunisian Friendship awareness campaign on pedes- and Umm Al Ammad Primary Fund. trian safety launched by the cen- School for Girls won Best Poster The Fund which was launched tre in line with the UN Week for (primary). on May 8 is amed to strengthen Safety on Roads commemorated A total of 90 students partici- cooperation between the two in May. pated and 76 entries were sub- countries, and to promote devel- The competition included three mitted which included 16 from opmental activities through the categories — best video (universi- universities, 20 from secondary, provision of job opportunities for ties), best article (secondary and 30 from primary and 10 from pre- the youth in all parts of Tunisia, preparatory schools) and best paratory schools. through granting interest free poster (primary schools). The winners were felicitated at loans to motivate them to estab- QU students Merna Ammar the ceremony which was attended lish projects which contribute to and Alaa Shehada were named by QRSSC Director Dr Khalifa Dr Rashid Al Ammari, Brigadier Mohamed Saad Al Kharji and Dr Khalifa Al Khallifa during the ceremony. the creation of jobs. winners of the best video by a Al Khallifa, QU VP for Research judging panel, followed by Irfan Dr Hassan Al Derham, and VP terms of driver and pedestrian and we are looking forward to of us in Qatar and engaging and Tajik PM meets Mansoor and Rehan Feliz Pinto for Academic Affairs Dr Mazen welfare and the role of the cen- further cooperation”, he added. instilling the youth with a sense of Stenden University; and Hasna, Director Qatar Traffic tre to continue to raise aware- Dr Al Khalifa also recognised of responsibility and involving Qatar’s envoy Ibrahim Arar and Ihab Meqdad Department Brigadier Mohamed ness throughout the community, other centre partners for their them in the solution is necessary. of QU. A distinguished award Saad Al Kharji, General Secretary especially among young drivers. support of the centre’s traffic I am grateful to the National DUSHANBE: Tajik Prime decided by the centre was pre- of the National Committee for He thanked Maersk Oil for its safety efforts. Traffic Safety Committee and Minister Oqil Oqilov met yes- sented to Ahmed Al Mukhtar Traffic Safety Mohamed Al Malki, sponsorship of the event and Maersk Oil Deputy Managing the Ministry of Interior who terday Qatar’s Ambassador to and Khalifa Al Merri also of QU College of Engineering Dean daily communications with the Director Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad supported this initiative under Tajikistan Ali bin Mubarak Al QU. Dr Rashid Al Ammari, a number centre to set competition rules, Al Thani said: “I am pleased to its highly successful One Second Muhannadi. Talks during the Best Article (secondary) win- of CENG members and repre- monitor entries and publicize see yet another meaningful col- national road safety communica- meeting dealt with relations ners were Jassim bin Hamad sentatives from Maersk Oil. it to the Qatari community. laboration between Maersk Oil tion platform.” between the two countries and Secondary Independent School Dr Al Khalifa stressed the “Maersk Oil’s role in this com- and Qatar University. Road THE PENINSULA means of enhancing them. for Boys and Ahmed bin Hanbal importance of road safety in petition is highly appreciated safety is very near and dear to all QNA
Sports Village at Katara Gout patients told to lose weight
DOHA: People with gout, a metabolic syndromes. samples (taken from the fluid in form of inflammatory arthri- “Gout attacks can be attributed the joints) are taken to be tested tis have been advised by health to excessive intake of red meat, for the existence of uric acid crys- care experts to lose weight and artificial sweeteners and artifi- tals. The formation of uric acid reduce red meat in their diet, cial sugar substitutes, as well as deposits under the skin or in the according to experts alcohol. In addition, use of some ear lobe is a clear sign of gout,” Uric acid crystallises in the drugs, including diuretics and Dr Izzat said. joints for people with gout. aspirin, may increase the chances Dr Izzat recommends treat- Dr Izzat Ali Muhammad Khanjar, of developing gout.” ments including patient education Consultant Rheumatologist at Dr Izzat said that gout usu- about reducing red meat con- HMC, urged people to reduce con- ally has two stages. Symptoms of sumption and ensuring intake of sumption of red meat and artifi- the first stage include the occur- fluids, especially during the sum- cial sweeteners and to completely rence of an acute attack with mer months. He also says anti- refrain from alcohol to avoid pain- severe pain that may keep the inflammatory topical ointments, ful gout attacks. patient awake at night as well as pain relievers, non-steroidal anti- “Gout is characterised by red and swollen joints, especially inflammatory medications can recurring attacks of acute inflam- at the base of the big toe. The help reduce discomfort. matory arthritis that are caused second stage is characterized by But, Dr Izzat says prevention and by elevated levels of uric acid recurrent attacks of inflamma- awareness is the best way forward deposits in the joints,” he said. tory arthritis, where several joints for dealing with the painful effects “It commonly affects men more become affected such as the knee, of gout. “Losing weight is essential than women but is also common ankle, hand and arms. in this regard, as obesity is a main in menopausal women,” he said. “Gout can be diagnosed by factor in the increasing uric acid A view of some of the facilities at the Katara Sports Village. The village will open on the first day of Eid Al Adha. “Gout is also associated with obes- physical examination. To con- levels in blood,” Dr Izzat said. ity and it also affects people with firm the diagnosis, synovial fluid THE PENINSULA Kahramaa announces tanker Health centre holds lecture on filling station obesity for schoolchildren timings
DOHA: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has announced timings for all its Tanker Filling Stations during Eid holidays. A day before Eid on October 14, Sailiyah and Umm Salal Tanker filling Stations will be open from 6am to 12 midnight while Al Shahaniya, Al Jumeiliya and Mesaeid filling stations will be operative from 6am until 2pm and 7pm to 12.am. Al Shamal filling station will be open from 5pm to 10pm and Al Wakra and Al Khor filling stations will be operational from 6am to 10pm and 6am to 7pm respectively. On October 15 (Eid day), the filling stations at Sailiya and Schoolchildren attending the lecture at Um Ghwalina Health Centre. Umm Salal will be open from 2pm until 6am next day while Al DOHA: With the aim of providing a number Mutaw’a, Family Medicine Specialist, said that Wakra will be open from 2pm to of important medical advices about the risks of the main goal of such activities is to shed the 10pm and Al Khor filling sta- obesity and the necessity to fight it by adopt- light on chronic diseases that became widely and tions will be open from 2pm until ing a healthy and balanced diet Um Ghwalina abnormally spread in our community, mainly 7pm. Health Centre has organised lectures for obesity, due to its consequent health problems. Other filling stations will be schools students. Obesity is a cause of many diseases such as dia- closed on Eid day. “Obesity is the most serious disease which betes and is a consequence of high cholesterol Filling stations at Saliya and destroys the body, not only because it is an ill- and heart diseases, she added. Umm Salal will be open round the ness, but also for being a key reason of many The event also included several lectures clock from October 16 to October other fatal diseases. It should be treated seriously addressed obesity, its causes and symptoms, pre- 20, while Al Wakra filling sta- by adopting a regular healthy lifestyle mainly a ventive methods, as well as the healthy food and tion will be functional from 6am balanced diet, exercises, smoking cessation as diet, and shed the light on the importance of until 10.00 pm and other filling well as other necessary health procedures,” Dr physical exercise. It also involved various activi- stations will be functional from Shawqiya Al Majid, Director of Um Ghwalina ties including the distribution of souvenirs to stu- 6am to 2pm. Health Centre, said. dents, healthy meals and appreciation certificates. THE PENINSULA In this context, Dr Shaima’a Mohammed Al THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03
Relics exhibition promotion Ooredoo offers free mobile data for UK publisher keen to Shahry Packs DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday announced that it would provide promote Arab talent free unlimited data usage for Shahry Pack customers from October 14 to 19, enabling cus- West interested in Arab perspective: Max Scott tomers to share Eid greetings. In addition, and in response BY MOBIN PANDIT to popular demand, Ooredoo will also extend its Shahry Unlimited DOHA: International publishers Calling promotion for a further have long been relying on British two months, enabling existing and American authors to write and new Shahry Pack customers on Middle East affairs. But the to make unlimited free local calls trend is changing now as there to any landline or mobile phone are many Arabs who have some- in Qatar, including all Ooredoo thing interesting to say about phones and phones provided by their countries and culture, says the other operator. a young British publisher. To enjoy the unbeatable value “Arabs have inside stories of the Shahry Unlimited pro- to tell. In our company, we are motion, customers simply have trying to get the Arab perspec- to choose one of six Shahry tive,” says Max Scott (pictured), packs. Managing Director of London- To activate the free unlim- based Gilgamesh Publishing Ltd. ited local calls, customers need The quest for Arab writ- to send a free SMS with the ers brings Scott to this region keyword “UL” to 114 and then frequently. begin enjoying some of the best He believes people from the Middle East, prompted him to join but that’s not the case. “Qatar, value ever offered on the Shahry older generation in the GCC a smaller publisher in the UK. Oman and Saudi Arabia are big- service. should be caught hold of, to In early 2011, he decided to ger markets.” treasure their memoirs in the test the ground as a publisher However, when it comes to Chicken on fire form of books. “They alone can and launched his own venture — English-language writers, the tell what the region was like Gilgamesh Publishing Ltd — in region lacks them. “There aren’t art recalled before the massive oil wealth London with two partners. many Qatari writers in English.” DOHA: The Qatar Museums ushered it into the present era Asked about the choice of Scott said he had been coming Authority (QMA) has decided (of rising consumerism and Gilgamesh as his company’s name, to this region for 20 years and to recall some controversial modernity).” Scott said legend has it that it was is presently involved in a book artworks that are on display at “Once this generation is gone, the title of the first-ever book project on the GCC’s pre-oil his- the Arab Museum of Modern there would be no one to tell the the world saw and was printed in tory and culture. Art (Mathaf) following pub- world what the region was like Mesopotamia. Asked why he chose to study lic criticism, according to Al prior to the oil find,” Scott said Gilgamesh has so far published Arabic language and literature, Sharq. in a brief interview with The 20 books — all of them on Middle he said when he was young he A video at the exhibition show- Peninsula. East and Africa. The first two was good at languages and knew ing several chickens on fire as they Scott holds a master’s in Arabic books were on the last days of French, German and Latin, hang against a wall has particu- language and literature from Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi and besides his mother tongue. larly shocked many in the Qatari Edinburgh University and pre- Hosni Mubarak, respectively. “I wanted to study the most community, who have expressed viously worked with two of the “At Gilgamesh, we are trying to difficult language, so I decided to their anger and surprise through world’s top publishing companies get the Arab perspective,” Scott study Russian.” the social media. — McGraw Hill and Prentice Hall reiterated. “What Arabs have He, though, couldn’t opt for The video is an artwork by — as a senior executive. to say about the Arab Spring is Russian so the preference fell Algerian-born French art- At McGraw Hill, he became different.” on Arabic and Chinese. “I then ist Adel Abdessemed. Titled their Middle East man. Selling The company is now trying to tossed a coin to decide.” ‘Printemps’, which means books in the region took him to publish books on Egypt and Syria. It was an interesting coin- ‘spring’ in French, it explores almost every leading book shop The US and Britain are the larg- cidence for Scott, 44, to study violence with live chickens burn- in the Middle East. est markets for English-language Arabic because he was born in Banners depicting British artist Damien Hirst’s work “For the Love of ing and screaming. After a three-year stint, Scott books. Egypt where his father was based God” line up Doha roads. This is one of the artist’s most important The exhibition titled L’âge d’Or joined Prentice Hall and focused Talking about the GCC, Scott teaching law at the American and expensive works, the highlight of the ‘Relics’ exhibition on show (The Golden Age) will continue at on Europe. But his urge to get said one would expect Dubai to University in Cairo. at Al Riwaq Doha. (QASSIM RAHMATULLAH) Mathaf until January 5. back to his favourite region, the have more demand for books THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Action plan to curb reckless driving at Pearl-Qatar Two-way speed cameras, traffic lights and speed bumps to be installed; management not authorised to fine drivers BY AZMAT HAROON lights and speed bumps. Porta Arabia and the Marina Community Management, said. He, however, said that people has diminished leaving it worry- As per the plan devised by the Way 20, apart from speed bumps He said that the Pearl was not driving vehicles with loud engines ingly in the hands of a select boy DOHA: The Pearl-Qatar man- Pearl in collaboration with the that will be mounted on the Porta authorised to stop vehicles or fine cannot be stopped if they drive racers.” agement has said that it is traffic police, three two-way speed Arabia Drive. drivers. within the speed limit. “The police “The most frustrating part? boosting efforts to restrain cameras will be installed at stra- Speaking to The Peninsula yes- “We understand that some peo- have said that if they do not break Nobody seems willing to do a sin- reckless driving in its com- tegic locations on the main Pearl terday, officials from the United ple are asking us why we don’t the law, they cannot be stopped.” gle thing about it… People have pounds with an ‘action plan’ Boulevard soon. Development Company (UDC), post security service providers Officials also said that the Pearl had enough,” the resident said. that will see installation of Red traffic cameras will also the developers of Pearl-Qatar, at the entrance and only allow in has never received complaints One security officer told this two-way speed cameras, traffic be installed at Medina Junction, said that the management is the residents, but the Pearl roads about harassment from anyone. newspaper during a recent visit aware of the complaints are under the jurisdiction of the “We heard this for the first time in to the compounds that the police of residents and it’s doing police, even if we want to, we can- a newspaper article, and we think found it difficult stop reckless everything possible under not close the roads.” if anyone has any concerns relat- drivers as some of them were sons its authority to alleviate Officials also said that the traf- ing to personal safety, they should of influential people. residents’ concerns. fic related challenges at the Pearl immediately call the police because The Pearl-Qatar community The officials stressed that were similar to traffic concerns in that relates to the personal secu- comprises some 10,000 residents, Pearl was not a closed com- the rest of the country. rity of an individual in Qatar.” and UDC officials maintain that munity, but a mixed used “It must be clear that the police Meanwhile, The Peninsula con- ‘this one singular issue will not development area, where have to balance their resources tinues to receive emails from affect the Pearl’. nearly 35,000 vehicles enter according to their priorities and residents, who say that the ‘peace Jones also called on residents over the weekends. they have always stated that they and tranquility of the Pearl has that had complaints to contact “All traffic related mat- will continue to monitor the Pearl been destroyed.’ “As we write this, the building management teams ters at the Pearl fall under for traffic violations.” we are lying wide awake unable of the community department at the jurisdiction of the On motorcycle riders violating to sleep for what can only be the Pearl. “All they need to do is police — not the Pearl, the rule to drive past 10pm, Jones described as uncontrollable noise get their building management UDC or The Shield, Pearl’s said the police have confirmed pollution,” one resident said. team to contact us. If they have internal security service,” that they are actively working on “The appeal of the Pearl and concerns they should come to us.” John Jones, the Director of enforcing it. everything it claimed to stand for THE PENINSULA QU official takes part in Equinox Summit Remittances by expatriates go up by 20 percent DOHA: A leading programme at the the Waterloo Global Science Initiative Qatar University has been repre- (WGSI). Dr Al Thani joined educators DOHA: Remittances from expatriates in Qatar sented at an international science event and innovators in education-related have gone up by nearly 20 percent before Eid Al recently. fields and next-generation leaders from Adha. There is also brisk purchase of foreign cur- Head of Qatar University’s Al Bairaq around the world who gathered at the rency, mainly the US dollar, pound sterling, euro World programme Dr Noora Al Thani prestigious event “to explore best prac- and the Saudi riyal, according to market sources. participated in the Equinox Summit tices and promising initiatives in educa- Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Jordan Learning 2030 on the invitation of the tion aimed at empowering high school are the main Arab destinations of remittance. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical students in their creativity and poten- The major Asian destinations include India, the Physics, University of Waterloo that hosts tial; and to contribute to an Equinox Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Blueprint that provides clear Juma Al Madadi, CEO of Al Dar Exchange, said recommendations on building there was unprecedented demand for the Saudi riyal. a school for the 21st century Demand for the Saudi currency had gone up 40 per- that fosters skills in critical cent compared to last year’s Haj season, he said. thinking, problem solving, and To cope with the growing expatriate population, innovation”. exchange houses have opened new branches at vari- Presenting on “Education ous locations in Qatar. Al Dar Exchange now has 14 outside the classroom in branches, Al Madadi said. Qatar” in one of the summit Esham Al Najjar of City Exchange said the total sessions, Dr Al Thani gave number of City Exchange branches have increased details of the high school sci- to seven. “The transaction process in Qatar is one of ence initiative as a model for the best and safest in the world. The exchange houses an innovative educational in Qatar have got one of the most efficient network outreach. She also presented system and their operations are being strictly moni- a film about Al Bairaq. tored by Qatar Central Bank,” he said. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013
Eid Al Adha festival schedule for 2013
EVENT ORGANIZER ENTRY TIMING DURATION VENUE City Center Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 Free 4:30pm -9:30pm City Center Mall - Onaiza Area Eid Festival Authority October Hyatt Plaza Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 Free 4:30am - 9:30pm Hyatt Plaza - Al Aziziyah Area Eid Festival Authority October Lagoona Mall Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 Lagoona Mall - Zig Zag Tower, Free 4:30am - 9:30pm Eid Festival Authority October West Bay Landmark Mall Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 Free 4:30pm - 9:30pm Landmark Mall - Al Gharafa Area Eid Festival Authority October The Gate Mall Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 The Gate Mall - Al Abraj Street, Free 4:30pm - 9:30pm Eid Festival Authority October Onaiza Area Villagio Mall Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 Free 4:30pm - 9:30pm Villagio Mall - Al Aziziyah Area Eid Festival Authority October Al Khor Mall Qatar Tourism 15 - 20 Free 4:30pm - 9:30pm Al Khor Mall - Al Khor City Eid Festival Authority October Ministry of Culture, 15 - 18 Al Bidaa Park - Rumeilah, Cultural Village Free 6:00pm - 12:00am Arts and Heritage October opposite Al Corniche Road Tour of the State Ministry of Awqaf and 15 - 20 Al Dafna Area - Opposite Qatar Free 9:00am - 7:00pm Mosque of Qatar Islamic Affairs October Sports Club First show: Giant puppets: 5:30pm - 6:30pm 15 - 18 Katara Cultural Village Ali Baba and Katara Cultural Village Free Second show: October West Bay the forty thieves 8:30pm - 9:30pm n the occasion of Eid Al-Adh’ha, Katara has Oin store various activities and events for its virtuous visitors full of joy and happiness, Katara Cultural 15 - 18 Katara Beach - Katara Cultural In addition to that Fireworks and water shows Katara Cultural Village Free 9:30pm - 9:45pm will be fun filled activities for the families. Katara Village Fireworks October Village - West Bay will present an artistic show the first of its kind in First show: Arab World, Giant Puppets ‘’Ali Baba and the forty Entrance 5:30pm - 6:30pm thieves’’ will go around the Cultural Village in its 16 - 20 Al Rayyan Theater - Al Mirqab streets and hallways and the final destination is the Snow White Show Souq Waqif Tickets : Second show: October Boutique Hotel, Souq Waqif Amphitheater. QR40 - QR60 7:30pm - 8:30pm The visitors of Katara will experience everyday in Eid Al-Adha the Adventure of one thousand night and night in new creative style, the visitors will First show: witness events from Arabic heritage, through the 4:30pm -5:00pm excited stories specially the story of ‘’Ali Baba Second show: 16 - 20 Opposite Souq Waqif Police and the forty thieves’’, also acrobatic dance tilted Magician on a Stick Souq Waqif Free “Dance on fire”. 6:00pm - 6:30pm October Station, Souq Waqif The shows will take place all days of Eid Al-Adha, Third show: the first performance will start from 5:30 until 6:30, 8:30pm - 9:00pm the second from 8:30 to 9:30 then the fireworks will last for 15 minutes. First show: 4:30pm -5:00pm Second show: 16 - 20 Opposite Souq Waqif Police Bjorn the Polar Bear Souq Waqif Free 6:00pm - 6:30pm October Station, Souq Waqif Third show: 8:30pm - 9:00pm First show: 4:30pm -5:00pm Second show: 16 - 20 Opposite Souq Waqif Police Colorful Parade Souq Waqif Free 6:00pm - 6:30pm October Station, Souq Waqif Third show: 8:30pm - 9:00pm First show: 4:30pm -5:00pm Second show: 16 - 20 Opposite Souq Waqif Police Titan the Robot Souq Waqif Free 15 - 18 October 2013 6:00pm - 6:30pm October Station, Souq Waqif Eid Al-Adha Festival Third show: Giant Puppets ‘’Ali Baba and the forty thieves’’ 8:30pm - 9:00pm Katara Esplanade First show: 4:30pm -5:00pm Second show: 16 - 20 Opposite Souq Waqif Police Balloonatic Souq Waqif Free 6:00pm - 6:30pm October Station, Souq Waqif Third show: 8:30pm - 9:00pm First show: 4:30pm -5:00pm Dave the Second show: 16 - 20 Area in front of Mirqab Boutique Souq Waqif Free Chameleon 6:00pm - 6:30pm October Hotel, Souq Waqif Third show: 8:30pm - 9:00pm
Doha Film Institute presents Activities for Eid by screening of Journey to Mecca Qatar Tourism Authority Directed by American filmmaker Bruce Neibaur From October 15 to 20 at some of the Journey to Mecca is the story of young scholar Ibn Battuta who malls around Qatar. leaves his home in Morocco to traverse the 4800-kilometre long City Center Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Lagoona, journey east to Mecca in Saudi Landmark, Villaggio, Al Khor Mall, and The Gate Arabia. Mall. A number of shows and performances Where: Museum of Islamic Arts auditorium will be held for the first time in Qatar, including When: Thursday and Friday, the Smurfs, Made in the Ice Age, the children’s October 17 & 18, 2013, 7pm and favorite Ben 10, among others. 4pm, respectively SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013
EVENT ORGANISER ENTRY TIMING DURATION VENUE QAR 10 Souq Waqif Eid Souq Waqif for every 4:30pm - 9:00pm 16 - 20 October Al Ahmad Square - Souq Waqif Competition competition First show: 4:00pm -5:00pm Second show: Circus: Mother Africa Souq Waqif Free 16 - 20 October Outdoor Theater - Souq Waqif 7:00pm - 8:00pm Third show: 9:00pm - 10:00pm First show: 5:30pm -5:45pm Second show: Area Adjacent to Ahmed Square Trampoline Souq Waqif Free 16 - 20 October 6:00pm - 6:15pm - Souq Waqif Third show: 9:00pm - 10:00pm First show: 6:00pm Jazz at MIA Park Experience a live performance by -6:30pm Trinidadian jazz trumpeter, Etienne Live Statues Souq Waqif Free Second show: 16 - 20 October Outdoor Theater - Souq Waqif Charles at the Museum of Islamic Art 8:30pm - 9:00pm Park this Eid. This event is also part of JALC’s one year anniversary in Qatar. First show: 5:30pm Where: MIA Park -6:00pm October 16, 2013, 7pm to 8pm When: Second show: Ian Marchant Souq Waqif Free 16 - 20 October Outdoor Theater - Souq Waqif 8:00pm - 8:30pm Third show: 10:00pm - 10:30pm Sunday, Monday and Wednesday : 10:30am -5:30pm Thursday , Museum of Islamic Art - Doha Museum Tour Museum of Islamic Art Free Saturday: 12:00pm 16 - 20 October Corniche - 8:00pm Friday : 2:00pm - 8: 0 0 p m Tuesday: Closed Sunday, Monday and Wednesday : 10:30am - 5:30pm Thursday and Hajj - Journey through 9 October - 5 Museum of Islamic Art - Doha Museum of Islamic Art Free Saturday: 12:00pm Art January Corniche - 8:00pm Friday : 2:00pm - 8: 0 0 p m Tuesday: Closed Jazz in the Park - Museum of Islamic Art Park - Museum of Islamic Art Free 7:00pm - 8:00pm 16 October Etienne Charles Doha Corniche Sheikh Faisal Bin 9:00am - 6:00pm Al Samereya Field - Shahaneya Museum Visit Qassim Al Thani Free Closed on Friday & 15 - 20 October Roundabout, Al Rayyan Street Museum Tuesday Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Al Saturday - Confusionism - an Thursday: 10:00am Thani Museum 6 October - 9 Katara Art Center, Bldg 5, Katara exhibition by Mahmoud Katara Art Center Free - 10:00pm Visit the Sheikh Faisal Bin November Cultural Village - West Bay Obaidi Friday: 2:00pm - Qassim Al Thani Museum to 10:00pm view some of the most exciting Sout Al Rayyan Music Al Rayyan Theater, Al Mirqab animals and birds. Make it a fun Sout Al Rayyan Free 8:30pm - 12:00am 16 - 20 October Festival Boutique Hotel, Souq Waqif day out for the family! Porta Arabia - Parcel 2 and 4 - Where: Al Samereya, Al Kheireb Live Music Entertainers The Pearl - Qatar Free 6:00pm -10:00pm 15 - 18 October The Pearl-Qatar When: 8am-11am; 3pm-6pm; Water Screen Porta Arabia - Marina - The Fridays: 8am-6pm The Pearl - Qatar Free 5:00pm - 10:00pm 15 - 18 October Projections Pearl-Qatar Porta Arabia aisle - Parcel 18 - Kids Zone The Pearl - Qatar Free 6:00pm - 9:00pm 15 - 18 October The Pearl-Qatar Porta Arabia aisle - Parcel 3 - Eid extravaganza Live Bubble Show The Pearl - Qatar Free 8:00pm - 9:00pm 15 - 18 October The Pearl-Qatar for Eid Al Adha Morning: 8:00am - Celebration at 11:00am AL Dosari Zoo and Afternoon: 3:00pm Al Kheireb - 7km south of Aqua Park Zoo Tour Free 15 - 20 October Game Reserve - 6:00pm Shahaneya Roundabout Friday: 8:00am - Where: Aqua Park Qatar 6:00pm First six days of Eid QAR 100 per Aqua Park - Salwa Road, beside When: Eid Celebrations Aqua Park Qatar 12:00pm - 8:00pm 15 - 20 October Al Adha 2013 person Abu Nakhla Petrol Station QAR 100 for 25 shots Qatar Shooting and Lusail Shooting Club - Al Khor Shooting Practice Applicable for 4:00pm - 8:00pm 15 - 26 October Archery Association Coastal Road 18 years or older QAR 250 per trip for Sealine beach area - before Sealine Aerial Qatar Air Sports each person 12:00pm - 6:30pm 16 - 21 October Sealine Beach Resort Paragliding Tour Committee Applicable for roundabout 18 years or older Royal Circus at Hyatt Plaza
Three shows during Eid holidays (4.00 PM, 6.30 PM and 9.00 PM). After holidays, there will be two shows in the weekends (6.30 Pm & 9.00 PM) and one show in the weekdays (5.30 PM). SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013
Time DAY 1 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village
Start Finish
4:30 5:00 Show 1 Carnival Dixi Over Boys Carnival Samba Magic Show
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 5:30 6:00 Show 2 Made in the Ice Age Chicago Boyz Talking Friends Lulu Caty Shaolin Martial Arts Pink Panther Plumber's Academy Stage
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 7:00 7:30 Show 3 Made in the Ice Age Carnival Dixi Chicago Boyz Carnival Samba Traditional Parade Bubble Show Plumber's Academy Stage
Break
8:00 8:30 Show 4 Talking Friends Pink Panther Magic Show Lulu Caty
Break Carnival Dixi
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 9:00 9:30 Show 5 Made in the Ice Age Over Boys Shaolin Martial Arts Bubble Show Carnival Samba Plumber's Academy Stage
Time DAY 2 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village
Start Finish
4:30 5:00 Show 1 Carnival Samba Magic Show Chicago Boyz Over Boys
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 5:30 6:00 Show 2 Made in the Ice Age Lulu Caty Bubble Show Pink Panther Shaolin Martial Arts Talking Friends Plumber's Academy Stage
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 7:00 7:30 Show 3 Made in the Ice Age Carnival Samba Traditional Parade Carnival Dixi Chicago Boyz Over Boys Plumber's Academy Stage
Break
8:00 8:30 Show 4 Bubble Show Lulu Caty Shaolin Martial Arts Pink Panther Katara Break Carnival Samba Cultural Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 9:00 9:30 Show 5 Made in the Ice Age Magic Show Traditional Parade Talking Friends Carnival Dixi Plumber's Academy Stage Village Fireworks Time DAY 3 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village
Start Finish
4:30 5:00 Show 1 Carnival Dixi Chicago Boyz Pink Panther Over Boys Carnival Samba 9:30pm - 9:45pm Break 15 - 18 October Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 5:30 6:00 Show 2 Made in the Ice Age Traditional Parade Shaolin Martial Arts Magic Show Talking Friends Lulu Caty Plumber's Academy Stage
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on Katara Beach 7:00 7:30 Show 3 Made in the Ice Age Shaolin Martial Arts Carnival Dixi Bubble Show Carnival Samba Pink Panther Plumber's Academy Stage
Break Katara Cultural
8:00 8:30 Show 4 Traditional Parade Over Boys Lulu Caty Magic Show Village Break West Bay Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 9:00 9:30 Show 5 Made in the Ice Age Talking Friends Carnival Dixi Chicago Boyz Bubble Show Plumber's Academy Stage
Time DAY 4 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village
Start Finish
4:30 5:00 Show 1 Carnival Dixi Carnival Samba Lulu Caty Traditional Parade Pink Panther
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 5:30 6:00 Show 2 Made in the Ice Age Shaolin Martial Arts Chicago Boyz Bubble Show Over Boys Magic Show Plumber's Academy Stage
The Pearl – Qatar from October 15-18 2013
Water Screen Projections Time: 5 pm – 10 pm Location: Porto Arabia Marina Kids Zone Theater Play: Aladdin & Jasmine Face Painting Arts & Crafts Jugglers Balloons Twisting Stilt Walkers Kitchen Workshop Kids Cartoon Characters Inflatable Games Time: 6 pm – 9 pm Location: Porto Arabia; Boardwalk Parcel 18 Live Bubble Show Time: 8 pm – 9 pm Location: Porto Arabia; Boardwalk Parcel 3 Live Music Entertainers Pianist, Trumpet, Guitar, Percussion Time: 6 pm – 10 pm Location: Porto Arabia; Boardwalk Parcel 2 & 4 SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013
Time DAY 5 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 7:00 7:30 Show 3 Made in the Ice Age Carnival Samba Bubble Show Traditional Parade Pink Panther Talking Friends Plumber's Academy Stage
Break
8:00 8:30 Show 4 Over Boys Magic Show Carnival Dixi Lulu Caty
Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on Haj: The Journey 9:00 9:30 Show 5 Made in the Ice Age Chicago Boyz Carnival Samba Talking Friends Shaolin Martial Arts Plumber's Academy Stage Through Art
Until January 5 2014 Time DAY 5 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village
Start Finish At the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar 4:30 5:00 Show 1 Carnival Dixi Lulu Caty Over Boys Carnival Samba Magic Show Break
Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 5:30 6:00 Show 2 Made in the Ice Age Bubble Show Talking Friends Over Boys Shaolin Martial Arts For more than 1350 years, pilgrims have Plumber's Academy Stage travelled to the city of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Haj, and today about 3 Break million Muslims take part every year from all Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 7:00 7:30 Show 3 Made in the Ice Age Pink Panther Chicago Boyz Carnival Samba Traditional Parade over the world. Plumber's Academy Stage
Break This MIA-curated exhibition, in collaboration with the British Museum, takes visitors 8:00 8:30 Show 4 Talking Friends Shaolin Martial Arts Magic Show Bubble Show on a journey exploring and illuminating the Muslim pilgrimage of Haj. It presents Break artworks from MIA and objects from Qatari Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on collections, many of which have never 9:00 9:30 Show 5 Made in the Ice Age Carnival Dixi Pink Panther Chicago Boyz Lulu Caty Plumber's Academy Stage before been displayed in public.
The exhibition examines the history of this pilgrimage through the centuries, focusing Time DAY 6 City Center Landmark Mall The Gate Mall Villagio Mall Hyatt Plaza Lagoona Mall Al Khor Mall Heritage Village on the rituals of Haj as depicted through art, the routes taken and the experiences Start Finish of pilgrims upon their return. The exhibition also includes a special section dedicated 4:30 5:00 Show 1 Carnival Samba Chicago Boyz Magic Show Lulu Caty Over Boys to the oral histories and objects of pilgrims Break from Qatar. Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 5:30 6:00 Show 2 Made in the Ice Age Over Boys Bubble Show Pink Panther Talking Friends An outdoor photography display featuring Plumber's Academy Stage unique visions of Haj by five international Break photographers will run in conjunction with Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on the exhibition. 7:00 7:30 Show 3 Made in the Ice Age Magic Show Carnival Dixi Shaolin Martial Arts Chicago Boyz Plumber's Academy Stage
Opening times: Sunday, Monday 10:30am Break - 5:30pm, Tuesday closed, Wednesday 10:30am - 5:30 pm Thursday 12pm - 8pm, 8:00 8:30 Show 4 Carnival Dixi Lulu Caty Talking Friends Pink Panther Friday 2pm - 8pm, Saturday 12pm - 8pm, Last admission ½ hour before closing. Break Ben 10 Omniverse The Smurfs Live on 9:00 9:30 Show 5 Made in the Ice Age Shaolin Martial Arts Traditional Parade Bubble Show Carnival Samba Plumber's Academy Stage
The Smurfs Live on stage at The Gate Mall
Al Dosari Zoo & Natural Reserves Sealine Aerial Paragliding Tour Mohamed Al Dosari Park and Natural Reserve : A hot spot, especially on weekends, for By Qatar Air Sports Committee nationals as well as those expatriates who know the place, it is a private park located in Al Khuraib, seven kilometres from Al Shahaniya and 40 Kilometres from Doha. Owned by Mohamed Al Dosari, a Qatari, the zoo houses various kinds of animals, birds and reptiles QAR 250 per trip for each person Applicable for 18 years besides a learning centre with stuffed animal carcasses and a heritage centre. The zoo, which is spread over an area of 100,00 square metres, has over 300 animals. It is a picnic spot for or older 12:00pm - 6:30pm 16 - 21 October many families during weekends. Entry to the farm, park and all other activities are free. Every visitor to the park gets special Arabian hospitality. They are taken on a guided tour of the animal reserve. There is free tea and Arabic coffee for the visitors to the zoo. Sealine beach area - before Sealine Beach Resort Morning: 8:00am - 11:00am Afternoon: 3:00pm - 6:00pm roundabout Friday: 8:00am - 6:00pm
SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST
Grief, hardship Thousands rally to mark Eid Al for South Yemen Adha in Sudan KHARTOUM: Grieving over deaths during recent protests and struggling with economic hard- independence ship, Sudanese say they will face a grim Eid Al Adha next week. Abbas Mohammed Ahmad, 28, says he is mourning his brother One killed as rival groups clash killed in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman during the late-Sep- ADEN: Thousands of separa- the choice of date was significant. tember demonstrations sparked tists took to the streets yester- “The southerners are celebrat- by rising fuel prices. day on the anniversary of the ing the anniversary of the October “I can’t describe my emotions,” 1967 independence of former revolution... which will continue said Ahmad, a veterinary surgeon South Yemen, but deadly gun- for the re-establishment of the who had set his wedding for the fire among the activists marred state,” he said. Hassan Baoum, day after Eid, Sudan’s most impor- the rally. head of the Southern Movement’s tant holiday which this year falls on The demonstrators came from supreme council, arrived from Tuesday. “I planned a big ceremony across the south and gathered on Hadramawt province on Friday with my friends and family. But now Parade Square in the centre of evening to attend the rally. there will be no ceremony, only the Aden, waving flags of the former In a press release, he said the wedding,” he said. “Even the Eid South Yemen and carrying banners “people of the South... have no A general view shows thousands of tents housing pilgrims in Mina, near the holy city of Makkah, yesterday. itself will be completely different.” bearing pro-independence slogans. choice for recovering their free- Thousands of people, many of Security forces watched the dom and dignity except by libera- them Khartoum-area poor, took crowds from a distance and tion and independence”. No cases of MERS virus among pilgrims to the streets after September 23 deployed around public buildings After the former North and when the government cut fuel sub- and police and army posts, but South Yemen united in 1990, the MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia has can cause coughing, fever and and in France, Germany, Italy, sidies. The protests and their Arab did not intervene during the rally. south broke away in 1994, trig- so far recorded no cases of pneumonia. Tunisia and Britain, the vast Spring-inspired calls for the down- However, gunfire erupted during gering a brief civil war that ended the deadly MERS coronavirus The Haj pilgrimage will start majority of infections and deaths fall of the regime were the worst a scuffle between rival groups of with the region being overrun by among pilgrims in the holy city tomorrow and more than 1.6 mil- are in Saudi Arabia. urban unrest of President Omar southern activists, killing one per- northern troops. of Makkah for the annual Haj lion pilgrims so far have made In the days leading up to the Hassan Al Bashir’s 24-year rule. son and wounding another three, The southern question is season, the Ministry of Health it to Makkah from outside the Haj, the ministry launched an Amnesty International said an activist said. A medical source still contentious and has been a said yesterday. kingdom. advisory campaign for pilgrims security forces are believed to confirmed the toll. stumbling block for the national The death toll from the res- “We are taking all precautions, on how to prevent it spreading. have killed more than 200 pro- Some protesters chanted slo- dialogue, in which moderate mem- piratory virus in the kingdom, we have labs for testing suspected “We advise pilgrims to wash testers, many of whom were shot gans denouncing Yemen’s national bers of the Southern Movement where the strain emerged last cases and in case someone tests their hands frequently with soap in the head or chest. Authorities dialogue, talks aimed at drawing have been demanding greater year, has reached 51, and some positive we will immediately iso- and, in crowed areas, we highly report 60-70 deaths, and say they up a new constitution and pre- autonomy. health officials had feared there late them to avoid any epidemic,” advise that everyone wears a had to intervene when crowds paring for elections, and which The talks, which opened in could be a large outbreak in a Al Mirghalani added. face mask to cover their nose turned violent, attacking petrol have faltered partly because of March and were originally due to huge congregation of pilgrims On Thursday, the ministry said and mouth,” said Mowafak Abu stations and police. the southern issue. close on September 18, accepted from the Muslim world. two citizens had died after con- Taleb, physician and head of the The government’s slashing of Secessionists at the rally the principle of a federal state, but “I would like to assure everyone tracting the virus, bringing the haj health department at a hos- subsidies sent the retail prices chanted “No to dialogue, yes to President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi that were no cases of coronavirus total in the kingdom to 51. pital in Mount Arafat. of petrol, diesel and cooking gas independence and liberation,” and and northern delegates suggested recorded in any of the pilgrims’ The men aged 78 and 55 were He said some 22,000 health soaring by more than 60 percent. “Our demand is independence”, it should comprise several enti- areas,” said ministry spokesman both from Riyadh, the ministry workers, including doctors, nurses Bashir said the move aimed responding to calls from hardlin- ties. Southern secessionists are Khalid Al Mirghalani said. said, however no details were and administrative staff were on to prevent the “collapse” of an ers in the Southern Movement. demanding a federal state made The virus, the Middle given on when they had died. standby to help ill or injured pil- economy beset by inflation and Majed Al Shuwaibi, a member up of a north and south only. East Respiratory Syndrome While cases have been reported grims — around 3,000 more than an unstable currency since the of the Movement at the rally, said AFP Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), in people across the Middle East previous years. REUTERS separation of South Sudan. Khartoum lost billions of dol- lars in export earnings when the South became independent in 2011, taking with it most of Sudan’s oil production. Sudanese Iran’s defiant nuclear expansion raises bar for Geneva talks have endured two years of rising prices, a sinking currency and an unemployment rate estimated to VIENNA: When the UN Security Council the UN nuclear watchdog, demonstrate percent since 2011 to $100m — but they cannot be wished or bombed away.” exceed 30 percent. first imposed sanctions on Iran in 2006 Iran’s determination to press ahead with have not stopped its nuclear push. Since 2006, Iran has crossed several “We are facing difficult times,” to try to make it halt its nuclear activity, a project it says is peaceful but which the World powers hope to persuade Iran thresholds. Iran built a second uranium said Hannan Jadain, who sells the Islamic state had a nascent uranium West fears is aimed at developing the capa- at talks in Geneva on October 15-16 to enrichment plant at Fordow, started pro- tea from the roadside in South enrichment programme with a couple of bility to assemble atomic bombs. scale back its uranium enrichment. It is ducing uranium to a level closer to that Khartoum. “For Eid we normally hundred centrifuges it was testing. At the same time, it has amassed stocks no longer considered realistic to expect suitable for bombs, and installed advanced need to buy a lot of things, but the Seven years later — a period which has of low- and medium-enriched uranium gas Tehran to agree to suspend all enrichment, centrifuges able to enrich much faster. prices of everything have gone up. seen the major oil producer come under — 6.8 tonnes and 186kg respectively — that as demanded by the Security Council. Between May and August this year, it I don’t think this Eid will be the increasing international punitive measures experts say would be enough for several With 17 declared nuclear facilities across installed an additional 1,861 old-generation same as before,” she said. “We lost — it has installed more than 19,000 such bombs if processed further to weapons- the country, the atomic programme has centrifuges at its main enrichment site near many youths in the demonstra- machines for processing uranium, which grade material. The sanctions are taking “become a point of national pride”, said the town of Natanz, bringing the total to tions. But we are also sad because can have both civilian and military purposes. a heavy toll on Iran’s economy — its daily Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group 15,416, although only about 60 percent of we can’t provide our children with The figures, from quarterly reports by earnings from oil sales have tumbled 60 think-tank. “Iran’s nuclear programme them seemed to be in operation. REUTERS what they need.” AFP Cattle market Tunisian security forces clash with jihadists
KASSERINE: Tunisian security forces and sus- pected jihadists have clashed near Mount Chaambi, a stronghold near the Algerian border of militants linked to Al Qaeda, a security source said yesterday. “The clash took place last night (Friday) as an anti-terrorist brigade moved in to arrest jihadists at Karma” in the Kasserine area, the source said. He said the hour-long firefight came as govern- ment forces assaulted a house thought to contain Mourad Gharsalli, the number two of a group in the Chaambi area that security forces have been Palestinians place a goat in their car at a local cattle market ahead of Eid Al Adha in Ramallah yesterday. hunting for months. They were acting on a tip-off that Gharsalli had emerged from hiding to visit relatives, the security source added. The house was partly Car bomb explodes in Iraqi city, kills 14 destroyed in the assault but the jihadists managed SAMARRA: A car bomb war in neighbouring Syria. invigorated by war in Syria to escape, leaving behind a exploded in a street lined with “I stopped my car to buy sweets and growing resentment of the phone and some ammunition. shops in the Iraqi city of Samarra for my kids from a nearby shop Shia-led government that came Reinforcements were yesterday, killing at least 14 peo- when suddenly a huge blast shook to power in Iraq following the rushed to the area and a ple, police and medics said. the area,” said 45-year-old teacher US-led invasion. security sweep was under There was no claim of respon- Kamal Mahmoud. Samarra has been a focal way, the source said. Media sibility for the attack, but Sunni “I felt the heat of the blast on point for Sunnis who began tak- reports said a jihadist group Islamist and other insurgents, my face and the bodies of two ing to the streets last December had been surrounded at including Al Qaeda have been women thrown in the middle of in protests against Shia Prime Jebel Semmama near regaining ground this year, the street covered in blood, one Minister Nouri Al Maliki, whom Mount Chaambi. “Army and reversing a decline in sectarian of them without legs”. they accuse of marginalising national guard reinforce- bloodshed that reached a peak in A further 31 people were their minority sect since Saddam ments have been sent in, 2006-7. wounded in the blast in the pre- Hussein’s overthrow. which could mean a large- More than 6,000 people have dominantly Sunni Muslim city’s A raid by government security scale operation” against the been killed in acts of violence Al Shurta district. forces on a Sunni protest camp militants, Mosaique FM across the country so far this year, Having been forced under- in April touched off a backlash radio reported. as Iraq’s sectarian balance comes ground in 2007, Sunni Islamist Al by militants that is still ongoing. AFP under acute strain from the civil Qaeda is now staging a comeback, REUTERS SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Inter-rebel Syria clashes kill 44 Jihadists make gains; mortar fire kills 8-year-old girl; Russian photographer abducted
DAMASCUS: Clashes between jihadists and mainstream rebels in Syria’s second city Aleppo have killed nearly 44 people in three days, a watchdog said yesterday, adding that the jihadists made several gains. A recent surge in fighting among Syria’s rebels has cast further doubt on the already slim prospects for a negotiated settlement between the rebels and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime. The report of bat- tles between groups that share the aim of ousting Assad came as mortar fire in Damascus claimed the lives of four civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor- ing group that relies on a network of activists across the war-torn country, said the inter-rebel fighting in Aleppo erupted on Thursday. It pitted militants of the Al Qaeda- linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against a battalion linked to the Arab- and Western- backed Free Syrian Army. “At least 30 fighters from the (FSA’s) Ababil Brigade and 14 from ISIL have been killed in combat, and that toll could rise further,” the Observatory’s Rami Abdel Rahman said. He said the clashes rocked several districts of Syria’s former commercial hub, and that ISIL made gains in three sectors. The ISIL militants have now People gather around the wrecked cars after two mortar bombs landed in the Al Nijmah Square in Damascus yesterday. consolidated their presence in Aleppo, which has been more or less split into month, but their efforts have been Rebels have increasingly targeted was under way. Two teams of inspec- a rebel-held east and pro-regime west complicated by growing rifts within central districts of Damascus with tors are in Damascus verifying and since July last year. the Syrian opposition. mortar fire from rear bases on the out- destroying Syria’s chemical weap- Although both claim the ouster of The intensifying clashes among rebel skirts of the city. On Wednesday, two ons arsenal under the terms of a UN Assad as a common aim, jihadists and groups on the ground come after 13 mortar rounds hit the central bank resolution, a dangerous task requiring the mainstream rebels have come to rebel brigades last month rejected the in Sabaa Bahrat Square, and a week them to operate in a war zone. blows many times in recent months. authority of the National Coalition, the earlier a mortar round hit the Iraqi Underlining the dangers also faced Across northern and eastern Syria, opposition’s most prominent political consulate, killing a woman. by foreign journalists covering the con- ISIL has set up checkpoints on roads to institution. Elsewhere, government forces flict, a Russian photographer has been border crossings and opened new fronts It said at least four civilians includ- dropped “barrel bombs” on the stra- abducted by rebels who accuse him of to try to crush other groups fighting to ing a child were killed yesterday when tegic town of Sfeireh, near Aleppo, the being a spy, the Russian foreign min- oust the embattled president. mortar rounds slammed into central Observatory said. istry said. The Syrian civil war has drawn in Damascus and a suburb of the capital. The town is largely controlled by Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich fighters from across the Arab world At least three people died when several jihadists and is near a military site said Konstantin Zhuravlev, 32, was and beyond since it flared in response rounds hit Jaramana, a mainly Christian believed to hold some of the regime’s seized in Aleppo and was being held to a bloody government crackdown on suburb that is considered pro-regime. arsenal of chemical weapons. “The by the Islamist Liwa Al Tawhid group. democracy protests in March 2011. The And an eight-year-old girl was killed regime wants to retake Sfeireh because France this week identified two more Observatory estimates that at least and 11 others were wounded in rebel it wants to take the inspectors to the journalists abducted in Syria, bring- 115,000 people have been killed since mortar fire on the Abu Rummaneh site,” Abdel Rahman said. “At the ing to at least four the number of its then, mostly civilians. district, state news agency SANA moment, they can’t, because the road nationals held in what has become the The United States and Russia hope reported. The Observatory said the girl and the area are very dangerous,” he most dangerous place on the planet for to convene a peace conference next was in a car when she was hit. said, adding that an exodus of civilians media workers. AFP
Tourist attraction US quietly observes coup law on Egypt aid, but shuns term
WASHINGTON: Despite withholding most mili- tary aid to Egypt until it makes progress on democ- racy and human rights, the US government is still tying itself in knots over whether to describe July’s army overthrow of president Mohammed Mursi as a “coup”. The administration’s latest rhetorical gymnastics came to light when US officials briefed Congress this week on their decision to withhold deliveries of fighter planes, tanks, helicopters and missiles — as well as $260m in budget aid to Egypt. During the briefing, the officials told congressional aides they had quietly decided to respect a law that A stingray swims in the huge aquarium of the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. The three-storey aquarium, full of exotic bars aid to the Egyptian government in the event of species of marine life, is an attraction for scores of tourists converging to the emirate for holidays. a military coup — even though the administration decided over the summer it was under no obligation to decide whether or not a coup had taken place and so did not have to apply the law. Congressional aides said officials from the State Department, Pentagon and Agency for International Tunisia Islamists see spring polls Development who discussed Egypt on Capitol Hill still refused to use what they wryly termed “the C word” to describe the ouster of Mursi, an Islamist and Egypt’s TUNIS: A black and white to Europe. “With regard to the Ali, Tunisia has struggled to reach first freely elected president. “They made very clear photograph on Rached election, we want it as quickly as consensus over what role political that they were not calling it a coup,” one House of Ghannouchi’s desk shows him possible. But realistically we are Islam should play in society. Representatives aide said after a briefing. as a young activist proclaiming talking about spring next year,” Ghannouchi’s Ennahda was one The language issue illustrates what some analysts the birth of a Tunisian Islamist the soft-spoken 72-year-old said. of the Islamist parties that rose to see as a tortured US policy toward Egypt, where the movement that three decades “The Tunisian people will the fore after the “Arab Spring” desire to be seen as supporting human rights and later would win the first elec- decide at the elections whether revolts that toppled autocratic democracy has clashed with a hope of retaining influ- tions after the Arab uprisings. this government has failed or leaders in Libya, Egypt and Yemen. ence in a strategically vital country and not upsetting But having inspired Islamists not.” The deal to step down came Since then, though, Ennahda’s the Egyptian army. across the Middle East by rising after the murder of an opposi- support has slipped, Egypt’s “There are a thousand and one ways to describe to power following Tunisia’s 2011 tion leader by suspected Islamist Islamist president has been ousted the intersection between our interests and our val- popular revolution, Ghannouchi’s militants in July shut an assembly by the military and his Muslim ues here,” said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle moderate Islamist Ennahda party drafting a new constitution and Brotherhood violently suppressed, East programme at the Centre for Strategic and now finds itself within weeks of threatened a transition seen as and many parts of Libya have fallen International Studies think tank in Washington. voluntarily stepping down. the region’s most promising. under the control of rival militias. Despite this week’s aid suspension, US President Ennahda last week agreed So Ennahda wants its political But Ghannouchi rejected the Barack Obama plans to keep providing some assist- its coalition government would opponents to get back to work to idea that the setbacks suffered by ance to Cairo, including military spare parts, train- resign, but only after negotiations draft the constitution, appoint an Islamist movements in Egypt and ing for military officers and funds to promote health, with secular opposition parties to electoral body and set a date for other countries were a reversal of education and economic development. establish a temporary, non-party elections as part of its resignation recent gains for political Islam. Transferring that money, however, will require government to run the country package. “What we said to the “We may have a few dips on the Congress to give Obama authority to spend it, one until new elections. opposition is very simple: Return way, but the trend is on the up,” reason he chose to try to avoid irritating lawmakers by Ghannouchi, the party’s chair- to the assembly so you finish your he said. “In the world of ideas, the respecting the law against giving aid to countries where man, said in an interview that work in finalising the constitu- only idea that is there in the Arab a coup has taken place, officials and congressional aides the ballot could be held early next tion and the election commission world is the Islamic idea, the idea said. US lawmakers were annoyed earlier this year year, and that Ennahda had not and we will give up government that Islam and modernity go hand when Obama sidestepped a decision on whether to necessarily lost the chance to lead in return,” he said. in hand, that Islam and democ- call the army’s overthrow of Mursi a “coup”. Such a one of the Muslim world’s most Since the 2011 revolt that top- racy go hand in hand.” designation would have meant automatically suspend- secular countries with strong ties pled autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben REUTERS ing about $1.55bn in annual aid. REUTERS SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com
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Lawless Libya Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate
IBYA IS plunging deeper into chaos. While every Arab Spring country has been plagued with some problem, Libya’s bane has been its militias which are Western powers ask if Iran is Ljust refusing to go away. The country is in the tight grip of a number of militias which are heavily armed and the government’s failure to disarm them or effectively restrain their rising influence has resulted in an erosion of public faith ready to make a nuclear deal and also the faith of the international community. The lowest point in Libya’s struggle with militias came BY LOUIS CHARBONNEAU Western officials say, was Rowhani’s tel- to meet again,” the participant in the this week when the country’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was ephone call with US President Barack meeting with Zarif told Reuters on con- briefly abducted. A group of armed militiamen walked into ESTERN nations are Obama, the first conversation between dition of anonymity. the hotel in central Tripoli where Zeidan was staying and struggling to answer the heads of governments of the two The Western powers said in February marched him from his room in his nightshirt. It was strange one key question estranged nations in over three decades. they want Iran to stop enrichment of that the militiamen met no resistance and in the hours that as they assess con- They said it showed the taboo against uranium to 20 percent, ship out some flicting signals from Iranian-US contact had been bro- uranium stockpiles and shutter a facil- followed, aides and fellow cabinet members frantically tried to WTehran ahead of next week’s big-power ken and both voiced a willingness for ity where such enrichment is done. find out who had taken him hostage. In another huge setback meeting with Iran in Geneva — is the dialogue. In return, they offered relaxation of for the government, which exposes its helplessness, it took Islamic Republic ready to make a deal So what are the Iran “Kremlinologists” international sanctions on Iran’s petro- other militia leaders to track down the group holding the on its controversial nuclear program. predicting Tehran will bring to the table chemicals and trade in gold and other prime minister hostage. While it is clear that Iran wants an next week? There is no consensus. precious metals. Zeidan has described the kidnapping as an attempted coup end to the crippling international sanc- “They (Iran) have said they are going One Western diplomat noted that the tions world powers have imposed on it to bring new proposals to the table,” the offer of trade in gold and other metals and warned that some of the many armed militias want to for refusing to halt uranium enrich- senior Western diplomat said. That is may no longer be workable due to new turn the country into “another Afghanistan or Somalia”. His ment and other sensitive atomic work, consistent with public comments of US sanctions that took effect in July. warning is not an exaggeration. The government has been Western diplomats say it is not clear Rowhani, who said Iran would bring its But even if there is no outcome from reduced to a spectator all these months. whether Tehran is prepared to signifi- plan for resolving the nuclear standoff next week’s meeting in Geneva, the six The militia groups have been running cantly curtail its nuclear activities. to Geneva. powers and Iran will likely keep at it. On the one hand, Iranian officials According to an intelligence assess- “The Iranians aren’t going to walk amok. Among other things, they have The brief recently suggested in New York that ment of Rowhani prepared by a Western away from the table,” a diplomat shut off water to the capital, forced they plan to present a new offer to country, Iran might be willing to take said. “But neither are the others. The abduction power cuts and hampered oil production six world powers on October 15-16 in some concrete steps in the interest of Iranians know the Americans and of a prime and supply to refineries to the point Geneva, Western diplomats say. On securing sanctions relief, including halt- Europeans want a deal.” that the country’s oil production, its the other hand, the Iranians have indi- ing medium-level 20-percent uranium If there is a nuclear deal with the minister main source of income, was virtually cated the opposite - that they want a enrichment and freezing the expansion major powers, diplomats said, it would new offer from the six powers before of its nuclear centrifuge programme. likely follow a bilateral US-Iranian shows that halted. proposing anything. But the diplomat who described the agreement. The two nations have not Libya is in a Zeidan too must share the blame for “Obviously they are very much wor- intelligence assessment said there were had diplomatic relations since 1980. the deterioration in the law and order. ried about the sanctions,” a senior limits to how far Rowhani would allow All of the Western diplomats cited chaotic state. He has been facing mounting pressure Western diplomat said on condition of Zarif to go in negotiating with the six in this article were skeptical about the from parliament for months, first by anonymity. “Obviously they want a lift- powers. possibility of reaching a deal with Iran, Islamist blocs including the Muslim ing of the sanctions. But how much are “Rowhani will likely be willing to which Rowhani said he wants in as little they ready to pay? I don’t know.” make more compromise offers than as three to six months. Brotherhood and another group of Salafis. Independents also The main unknown, the diplomat before,” the diplomat said. “But he Western officials also expressed cau- have criticized him over allegations of corruption against said, is the position of Iran’s Supreme believes Iran won’t have to make signifi- tion, however, about dismissing hopes his government and wasting public funds, as well as the Leader Ayatollah Khamenei: “Nobody cant concessions on its nuclear project that Iran, fed up with sanctions that are country’s deteriorating security. The leader of Libya’s Muslim knows the answer to the central ques- in practice.” damaging its economy, might now want Brotherhood said the prime ministerhas failed and needs to tion, which is whether Khamenei has Rowhani led unsuccessful negotia- an agreement. decided to strike a deal.” tions between Iran and Britain, France Khamenei, who the final say on all be replaced. Iran’s new centrist President and Germany in 2003-2005 when he was domestic and foreign policy matters in Violence in Libya, if unchecked, can destabilize Hassan Rowhani and Foreign Minister secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Iran, has said he supports Rowhani’s dip- neighbouring countries too. All political and religious parties Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Security Council. lomatic initiatives. Still, he cautioned that in the country must sit across the table and find a solution dozens of delegations, many of them Another person who attended a some aspects of what happened in New to the current chaos. The militias which are refusing to European, on the sidelines of the UN meeting with Zarif in New York said York last month were “not proper” and disband and join the army must be dealt with fiercely and General Assembly in New York last the Iranians indicated they would not the United States could not be trusted. month. Tehran’s nuclear program was be presenting any new proposals at the Khamenei — the ultimate arbiter of the government must launch a national dialogue to take the one of the main topics of discussion. Geneva meeting but were expecting a high state policy under Iran’s unwieldy public into confidence. “There were a lot of smiles,” said new offer from the six powers. dual system of clerical and republican When Muammar Gaddafi left the scene, Libya had no another Western diplomat who attended That is consistent with public com- rule - said before Rowhani’s trip to New solid institutions and national army to establish order. This is a meeting with Zarif. “But what does ments Zarif made a few days ago — that York that he supported “heroic flex- the main reason for the current lawlessness. But the onus is it all mean? Are we ready to make a the six powers, not Iran, must come up ibility” in diplomacy, while cautioning on the rulers in Tripoli to set up an effective system. If they nuclear deal? We just don’t know.” with new proposals. that the Islamic Republic must always The most significant piece of symbol- “If that’s what happens, the most we remember who its foes are. can’t, they must relinquish power • ism during the UN General Assembly, might get from Geneva is an agreement REUTERS The other side Quote of Charting a sea of peace the day ESPONDING to some China Sea is clear evidence of freedom and ASEAN member states held two should be resolved peacefully between remarks on the South of navigation not being an issue. important meetings last month and the disputing countries. Other parties China Sea during the East Freedom of navigation is, therefore, agreed to work together to effectively should not get involved in the issue. Asia Summit in Bandar only a pretext used by some countries implement the Declaration on the As a leaders-led strategic forum and We need to say Seri Begawan, Brunei, to raise the South China Sea issue at Conduct of Parties in the South China a bridge of cooperation between East that if the issue Ron Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang said international forums like the EAS. Such Sea and hold consultations to forge a Asia and the Asia-Pacific, the EAS can- that freedom of navigation in the South moves are politically motivated and binding code of conduct for the South not be distracted by the disputes in the (of US troop China Sea has never been an issue and intended to mislead international opinion. China Sea. South China Sea. will never be one. Li’s speech at the EAS embod- Li’s speech at the EAS reiterates The job of the EAS is to promote immunity) cannot As part of his address to the EAS, ies China’s determination to build China’s resolve to properly handle the balanced, inclusive and sustained Li’s response should dispel the unnec- the South China Sea into a symbol South China Sea disputes and uphold development of the region. Therefore, be resolved, essary concerns over freedom of navi- of peace, cooperation and friendship peace and stability in the region. But, as it should expand its efforts to build con- unfortunately gation in the South China Sea that have despite the disputes. Li said, the EAS is not the proper forum sensus among countries in the region emerged amid China’s disputes with China and the Association of to discuss bilateral disputes. and ensure equality and fair play by fol- there cannot be a some ASEAN member states. That Southeast Asian Nations have been Since the disputes involve China lowing the regional trend of pursuing every year about 100,000 cargo ships pushing for negotiations aimed at and only a few ASEAN member states, economic growth. bilateral security John Kerry freely navigate the waters of the South resolving the disputes peacefully. China Beijing and ASEAN have agreed that they CHINA DAILY agreement. US Secretary of State SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Shutdown hurts efforts to improve govt Federal employees probably will, eventually, be paid for their lost work. Millions of dollars were wasted in planning for this shutdown and will be incurred for starting back up.
BY SALLY KATZEN the government should just be working. The same meaningless exercise has n November 1995, as a senior repeated itself in recent weeks, to the policy official at the Office of detriment of federal workers, contrac- Management and Budget (OMB), tors, Americans nationwide, US trad- I sat at a table with OMB Director ing partners and more. I take little Alice Rivlin and Deputy Director comfort in the fact that I was not the Ifor Management John Koskinen as we one to make the tough decisions this prepared for an impending government time around, let alone to implement shutdown. the sequester-mandated budget cuts The questions we had to answer and other arbitrary “fixes” that really were: “Who’s essential?” and “Who’s don’t fix anything. non-essential?” Yes, we could close the But if shutdowns have any saving national parks. But how to handle the grace, Americans are learning three federal prisons? We needed Agriculture lessons: Department inspectors at meat-pack- First, as noted, the federal govern- aging plants. But what about Food and ment does many important things that Tourists walk by a sign announcing that the Statue of Liberty is closed due to a US government shutdown in New York. Drug Administration inspectors at go well beyond the services, such as drug manufacturers? Meat can go bad national defence, Social Security and quickly; most medications don’t. air traffic control, that are deemed recalled furloughed disease detectives to Insight projects that the current shut- of action if the goal is for government Over several very long days, we came essential and thus continue during a address a major food-borne illness that down is costing about $300m a day and to operate more like the private sector. up with a plan that guided the federal shutdown. has broken out. More than 315 cases of $1.6bn a week in work not done. No business would tolerate the uncer- government through two shutdowns — That is why the Republicans in the illness related to chicken contaminated This loss comes amid the economy’s tainty and needless costs imposed by a from November 14-19, 1995, and from House are trying to go on record as by salmonella have been reported in 20 fragile recovery from the 2008 financial shutdown. December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996. being for the reopening, piece by piece, states. Thankfully, the lab work to com- crisis. And though federal employees proba- When those shutdowns were over, of some of the most popular parts of bat this outbreak will not have to wait The unemployment rate for bly will, eventually, be paid for their lost I hoped our country would never go government, including our national until the CDC fully reopens. September could not be computed work, millions of dollars were wasted in through another one. Eighteen years parks, the National Institutes of Health Second, the economic ramifications of because the Bureau of Labor Statistics planning for this shutdown and will be later, I still vividly recall how excru- and the Department of Veterans Affairs. government shutdowns are significant. had to furlough its economists. incurred for starting back up. ciating it was to draw lines that had Still, every day brings news of how Using OMB figures, the Pew Research But it’s well established that the Questions remain about what hap- enormous consequences in what was, supposedly “non-essential” services and Center concluded that the 26 days of economy is less prepared to withstand pens to work in process, time and sched- essentially, a meaningless exercise: employees are important for our coun- shutdown during the winter of 1995-96 shutdown shocks today than it was in ule commitments and orderly planning. All government services provide value try’s well-being. cost the US economy more than $1.4bn. 1995-96, when the unemployment rate Just as this is no way to run a busi- to someone, and rather than picking For instance, the Centers for Disease That’s $2.1bn in 2013 dollars. The was less than six percent. ness, it is no way to run a government. and choosing what work to continue, Control and Prevention (CDC) has economic consulting firm IHS Global Third, a shutdown is the worst course WP-BLOOMBERG Labour should embrace welfare reform Russia’s food patriotism The challenge for and bans on select imports Labour politicians is BY KATELYN FOSSETT ou may not have heard of Gennady Onishchenko, but if his to find ways to be own accounts are to be believed, he’s the Russian government official who single-handedly averts major public health crises pragmatic, effective, Yposed by foreign countries’ dangerously lax and unsophisti- cated food safety standards (including those in a certain country where the federal government has ground to a halt). To others, Onishchenko, hard-headed reformers Russia’s chief sanitary inspector, is also Russia’s chief manufacturer of elaborate food safety scares to wage geopolitically motivated trade of the system. wars with other countries, particularly former Soviet republics. On Wednesday, Onishchenko, the director of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s consumer-protection agency, announced a ban on 28 Georgian BY HOPI SEN alcoholic products, a mere seven months after a 2006 ban on Georgian beverages was lifted. Earlier this week, he added Lithuanian dairy abour advisers sometimes tell a cau- products to the long list of (mostly) ex-Soviet state-made products tionary tale that illustrates how vot- that ostensibly threaten Russian consumers. Further down on that ers view Labour on welfare. Asked list are Ukrainian chocolates, Moldovan wine, and — yes — meat from Lto pick an image to represent the the United States. Notably, many of these bans came on the heels of Labour party, swing voters picked a picture warming trade relations between the banned countries and Nato or of a fat man, sitting on a sofa, watching telly the European Union — moves that aren’t popular with the Kremlin, and drinking beer, the classic “scrounger” of Drop the Welfare Reform Bill. Activists demonstrate to support disabled people against government which is trying to strong-arm its neighbours into joining a Russian- popular imagination. cuts to welfare. led customs union. So when Labour pollster James Morris told Onishchenko feels strongly about the value of eating Russian food — a Trades Union Congress meeting that the are high, jobless benefits have been declin- The final area will require major policy and only Russian food. At a press briefing earlier this year, he implored Tory welfare changes were popular with the ing in value, that spending doesn’t go on the action. Russians to suppress their hankering for foreign foods in favour of voters Labour needs to win the next election unemployed. Such “myth busting” has become It’s to transform who gets what benefit, and “food patriotism.” “We put our faith in the high level of consciousness and that the Tories had a significant lead over an unsuccessful branch of all leftish welfare why. This is what politicians mean when they and food patriotism of our citizens, the ones who have long abandoned Labour on welfare, he was merely telling left- policy work. talk about “something for something” welfare the use of such food in their diet,” he said. This “food patriotism” was ish types an uncomfortable truth. This leaves Labour trapped between a public policy. The two keys are “contribution” and undoubtedly at the root of Onishchenko’s war on hamburgers last year, I’d be worried if Labour pollsters weren’t perception of high spending on the feckless “condition”. when he reminded Russians that hamburgers “are not a good choice of spreading gloom among the left on this issue. and the bone-idle, and a reality of a wel- On contribution, should we be doing more meal for residents of Moscow and of Russia. This is not our cuisine.” The evidence is overwhelming that Morris is fare system that spends mostly on pensions, to help those who have paid into the welfare Onishchenko has repeatedly denied that his agency’s bans on foreign right. Look at any recent poll on the issue, and child support, help for working families and system when they need something from it? products are politically motivated, but the circumstances surrounding you find the same story. disability. Today, If you pay national insurance for a life- the prohibitions suggest otherwise. Take the case of this year’s ban Nor is there much comfort for Labour in Worse, if we are going to hit any defi- time, you get little more than someone who on the Ukrainian confectionary company Roshen; Onishchenko was less political research. Ipsos-Mori and Demos cit reduction targets, then the Institute for has rarely worked. supposedly concerned about carcinogens found in milk chocolate — but recently published research into generational Fiscal Studies has made clear there will soon This could be expensive, but there are inter- only in the chocolate produced in Ukraine, not in the company’s two attitudes to social security. They conclude that be a stark choice between 25bn quid in tax esting ideas from the IPPR about ways to help factory locations in other countries. The ban also came in September, “successive generations are less supportive of increases, public spending cuts or reducing people who regularly contribute in taxes when after a major dust-up between Russia and Ukraine over gas pipelines the welfare state and welfare spending”. the welfare budget further. they need a helping hand. and in the run-up to November’s Eastern Partnership summit, where Within each cohort, support for spending So is all this a counsel of despair? On condition, when do we feel comfortable Ukraine may sign a free trade agreement with the EU. If Kiev signs the more on “benefits for the poor” is declining Not a bit of it. Knowing the extent of the telling someone they need to do more for ben- agreement, the government will decline membership in the Russian-led over time. problem is merely the first step in finding the efits, and even when they no longer deserve Eurasian customs union. The annual British Social Attitudes sur- right answer. them? This includes cutting benefits for people Similarly, this week’s renewed ban on Georgian drinks does not apply vey makes the point starkly. Last year’s data Where might Labour look for these who don’t look for work, or who refuse train- to the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, where the product’s showed a softening in attitudes but the long- answers? ing opportunities. quality apparently “remains stable.” term trend in support for benefits is down, First, specificity. While there is broad scep- Crucially, this doesn’t just mean “stopping The reasoning behind the Roshen chocolate ban may have been with support for welfare spending below where ticism about welfare spending as a whole, benefits”, but can be a way to move people, flawed, but it was at least easier to understand than the vague non- it was under both Margaret Thatcher and support for help for pensioners, working par- especially those with what are euphemistically reasoning Onishchenko offered for the Lithuanian dairy ban. “Nobody Tony Blair. ents, those who are looking for work remains called “chaotic lifestyles” into more structured knows exactly what indications Russian customs have or what the When you ask which benefits should be pri- healthy. Backing for benefits aimed at children and intensive intervention. Bluntly, the deal reasons are for the sanctions,” Arturas Paulauskas, the head of the oritised, you see ever less support for spending has even increased over the last decade. could be: you lose the right to cash, but get Lithuanian parliament’s National Security and Defence Committee, on the unemployed than in previous reces- People dislike welfare in general, but sup- help in sorting yourself out. told Reuters in a statement. sions. More than half of people believe “that port a helping hand in particular, so it’s essen- Welfare is unpopular, Labour’s position elec- Moldova was similarly bewildered when Russia announced a ban around here, most unemployed people could tial to move the political debate from “welfare” torally tricky, the fiscal situation grim. on Moldovan wines and spirits in September. “We will have to clarify find a job if they really wanted one”. to specifics. Far from giving up and going home, the where technical problems about the quality of Moldovan wine end and Want to know why David Cameron likes to Second, embrace reform, but define what it challenge for Labour politicians is to find ways where the political aspects begin,” Economy Minister Valerii Lazar call Labour “the welfare party”? That’s why. means. People’s assumptions are that the wel- to be the pragmatic, effective, hard-headed told Reuters. Tory strategists believe that an election cam- fare system is broken at a basic level. They’re reformers of the system, helping those who Through it all, Onishchenko has clung steadfastly to his claim that paign saying “Labour wants to put up your not wrong, as anyone who has claimed jobseek- need a hand and have contributed, and impos- the bans are a necessity for Russian consumers — while still glossing taxes to pay for welfare” will peel off a large er’s allowance recently will tell you. (Personal ing conditions on those who need extended over the particulars of his concerns. “The [Moldova] ban is a necessary chunk of unsure Labour voters. experience of this colours my view!) support. step that we have undertaken reluctantly, but it is the only possible Yet if it were true that welfare spending was So Labour should not be afraid to shout That’s not an easy task. I didn’t envy Liam way of solving the present situation,” he told Interfax news agency. massively slanted to support indolence and about making the welfare system work better. Byrne, and I don’t envy Rachel Reeves. Done It’s not unusual, of course, for countries to wield trade restrictions laziness, the political move for Labour would Are job centres doing a good job in helping right, though, Labour could be the real reform- as a weapon in punishing or arm-twisting geopolitical adversaries. But be simple: change it. The problem is, it’s not. people? Is the Work Programme doing any ers of welfare, and ditch the crude caricature you’d be hard-pressed to find a food safety inspector out there with as Welfare economists make the point again good at all? What can we do better to help the voters have of us. much geopolitical clout as Russia’s foreign food czar. and again that in reality, work incentives disabled be welcome in workplaces? THE GUARDIAN WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA
108 drug North Korea offenders held SINGAPORE: The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has arrested 108 drug offenders and seized over S$160,000 worth of drugs in an island- warns of wide operation spanning over four days, from October 7 to 11. In a statement late on Friday, CNB said the crack- down covered various areas, all-out war including Aljunied, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay, Chai Chee, Clementi, Ghim Moh, Defence panel wants sanctions lifted Hougang, Jurong, Marsiling, Redhill and West Coast. SEOUL: North Korea yes- The comments come after a The exercise, which was terday issued a fresh warning two-day joint naval drill between supported by the police, also of an “all-out war”, urging the Japan, South Korea and the US, netted 20g of “Ice”, 610g of United States to stop military which included an American cannabis, 70g of ketamine, over drills and what it described as nuclear aircraft carrier, sparked 290 Erimin-5 tablets and some “nuclear blackmail”. a series of angry responses and 30 “Ecstasy” tablets. In a thinly veiled threat threats from Pyongyang. Four men are being investi- to strike the United States, The latest bellicose statement Medical personnel move the body of a victim of an explosion at a fireworks factory in a military compound in gated for drug trafficking, and the North’s National Defence from the NDC demanded that Vietnam’s northern Phu Tho province yesterday. if convicted, they may face the Commission (NDC), chaired by the US lift sanctions against death penalty. leader Kim Jong-Un, said the the North, stop the “constant US government must withdraw nuclear blackmails” and various Taiwan makes its policy of hostility against the war drills. It rejected as “intol- North if it wants peace on both erable contempt” a US demand big heroin bust the Korean peninsula and the “US that it should show tangible com- Vietnam factory blast kills 21 mainland”. mitment towards abandoning its TAIPEI: Taiwan seized more “(The United States) must bear nuclear programmes if it wants HANOI: At least 21 people have Local hospitals received many residents were also evacuated. than 220 pounds of heroin in it in mind that reckless provoca- substantive talks with the United died and scores more have been of the victims, some with horrific “The fire has now been brought its biggest bust of the drug in tive acts would meet our retalia- States. injured in an explosion at a fire- burns. The most critical cases under control,” a police official 20 years, arresting two peo- tory strikes and lead to an all-out “The denuclearization of the works factory in a military com- were moved to a specialist burns in Phu Tho province said, add- ple involved in smuggling it war of justice for a final show- Korean peninsula is an inalterable plex in northern Vietnam, an centre on the outskirts of Hanoi. ing that an investigation into the from Vietnam. down with the United States,” policy goal of the DPRK govern- army official said yesterday. “I couldn’t recognise my cause of the accident had been Agents confiscated the 270 a spokesman of the NDC was ment,” it said, but added that get- Plumes of black smoke billowed daughter, she was burned from opened. heroin bricks smuggled in a quoted as saying in a statement ting rid of such weapons should from the Z121 military facil- her face to the soles of her feet,” “The first blast was at 7:55am cargo container in southern carried by Pyongyang’s Korean also include a total removal of US ity, around 120 kilometres north one woman told state media. “She — and then there were continu- Kaohsiung city on Friday. Central News Agency. nuclear threats against the North. of Hanoi, as fireworks exploded was pregnant, she couldn’t escape ous explosions for some hours,” They had been stored in 40 “We emphasise again that the The US and South Korea have uncontrollably for several hours, the explosion quick enough.” Phi Xuan Trung, chairman of the bags marked as frozen taro, United States must withdraw long demanded that Pyongyang witnesses said. Images posted on Vietnamese local Khai Xuan commune, told and were mingled with hun- various measures aimed to isolate show tangible commitment to “Twenty-one people are dead blogs showed charred frames of the VNExpress news site. dreds of bags of real taro, the and strangulate us. Dependent ending its nuclear weapons pro- and 98 others are injured — most motorcycles, and nearby houses “There was a strong smell of Bureau of Investigation said in upon this are... peace and security, gramme before the six-party of them have sustained burns,” with roofs ripped off and win- gunpowder, the ground was shak- a statement. not only on the Korean peninsula talks. a military rescue official said by dows blown in by the force of the ing many kilometres away,” he The drugs were believed to but the US mainland as well.” AFP phone, requesting anonymity and explosions. added. be manufactured in Myanmar raising an earlier toll of seven dead. Some 2,000 local AFP and shipped to Taiwan via Vietnam, the bureau said, add- ing that 530 pounds of keta- mine were also found in the container. The drugs are worth an esti- US doctor detained in bid to see Chinese activist mated $100m. Under Taiwan’s anti-drug WASHINGTON: Two US Kody Kness, travelled to the that she was paying her first “The job as physicians is to The square belongs to everyone. laws, manufacturing, trans- citizens were detained yeste- eastern province of Zhejiang in visit to China in hopes of study- take care of all patients, but the The feet are yours it’s time to porting and dealing heroine is day in China as they tried to hopes of examining Zhu. ing brush painting but wanted fact that Mr Zhu is regarded as use your feet and take to the punishable by death. see a jailed democracy activist But the two were denied entry to see Zhu at the request of her an enemy of the Chinese state square to make a choice.” to examine reports of failing by the prison authorities who family. places him at special risk of Subversion charges are often Singapore aims health, supporters said. instead detained them, accord- Marcus voiced alarm at being denied medical care,” she used to jail government critics. Zhu Yufu was handed a seven- ing to ChinaAid, a US-based reports that Zhu, 60, was denied said. Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu to fight poverty year prison term in February advocacy group. regular food and medication and The United States has called Xiaobo was convicted on the 2012 in the midst of China’s lead- The group released photos of had repeatedly fainted. for the release of Zhu and other same charge in 2009 and sen- SINGAPORE: A social ership transition after advocacy Marcus on her trip and said that “Based on these reports, I am prisoners seen as sentenced over tenced to 11 years in prison. project is underway to raise that included publishing a poem the US consulate in Shanghai concerned that Mr Zhu may be peaceful political views. Liu Xiaobo, who won the pres- awareness about the poor in urging people to congregate. was informed of the detention. at risk of imminent death for Zhu ran afoul of authorities tigious prize three years ago, is Singapore. A Washington-based doctor, Marcus, in a statement want of medical care and treat- for writing a poem with the the only Nobel laurate in prison. Called Singaporeans Against Devra Marcus, and her associate, recorded ahead of her trip, said ment,” she said. lines, “It’s time, Chinese people! AFP Poverty, its purpose is to high- light that amid the relative affluence in the society, there are those who struggle to support themselves and their families. Waheed ends Hanoi mourns freedom Organised by Caritas Singapore, a Catholic social re-election bid action body. The project will unfold in different forms and MALE: Maldivian President hero Vo Nguyen Giap through different channels, Mohamed Waheed has with- including an online game on drawn his candidature for HANOI: Tens of thousands of frame containing military medals poverty that is to be launched fresh elections which were people gathered in Hanoi yes- was placed above his coffin, which later this month. ordered by the Supreme Court terday to pay their last respects was draped in the national flag. His Stories on the plight, cour- after a previous round of vot- to Vietnam’s independence hero family, wearing black, stood close age and resilience of the poor ing was annulled, an official General Vo Nguyen Giap, lying in by while thick clouds of incense in Singapore will also be told said yesterday. state in the capital after he died filled the room where his body lay on websites, social media plat- Waheed quit the re-election last week at the age of 102. in state. Outside the funeral home, forms, the radio and other bid after getting just over five Top leaders bade farewell to tens of thousands of people gath- media channels. percent of the popular vote at Giap early yesterday, kicking off ered — including war veterans with the September 7 elections which two days of elaborate official com- medals pinned to their chests, and Malaysia party were controversially cancelled by memorations that come as the teenagers with pictures of Giap the country’s highest court ear- one-party state seeks to co-opt emblazoned on their clothes — hop- holds polls lier this week. the popular general’s legacy as a ing to catch a final glimpse of the “President Waheed has symbol of its own legitimacy. general. KUALA LUMPUR: The decided not to contest in the re- As soldiers in white uniforms More than 100,000 people queued outcome of the elections run of the Presidential elections stood to attention, officials wrote for hours to visit Giap’s house this for the three UMNO wings scheduled for October 19,” his messages of condolence hail- week to pay their respects after in Malaysia were to be spokesman Masood Imad said. ing Giap as a communist hero news of his death broke. Outside announced in stages as soon Waheed was humiliated during — brushing over his post-war rel- the capital, authorities have set up as results from the divisions the first round, which was won egation to the political sidelines altars where people can go to pay came in, UMNO Election by his predecessor Mohamed and his later outspoken criticism of tribute to the general. Committee deputy chairman Nasheed who secured 45.45 the government. Lauded as a mili- Concerts have been cancelled, Azmi Khalid said. percent of the vote in an elec- tary genius for the guerrilla tac- national parks closed, and normal UMNO is Malaysia’s larg- tion international observers said tics that defeated both the French state television broadcasts sus- est political party and plays a were free and fair. and American armies, the general pended in favour of patriotic music dominant role in the country’s Veterans hold portraits of the late General Vo Nguyen Giap as they line up Nonetheless Nasheed failed to is being honoured with two days of and documentaries for the mourn- politics. to pay their last respects to him in a street near the National Funeral House secure the 50 percent required national mourning. ing period. Azmi said that committee in Hanoi, Vietnam, yesterday. to win outright. A photograph of Giap and a gilt AFP chairman Tajol Rosli Ghazali Waheed’s withdrawal will would make the announce- leave front runner Nasheed tak- ments from time to time until ing on the the second and third the wee hours of the morning. placed candidates who had gar- When asked about the nered about 25 percent each progress of the delegates’ meet- with a narrow one percentage Nuclear workers may have suffered higher radiation ings and the elections around point margin separating them. the country, which started at Nasheed, the country’s first TOKYO: Japanese authori- Power Co, causing three partial to the Asahi Shimbun. The tested for thyroid gland doses 8am, he said they were running democratically elected president ties may have underestimated reactor meltdowns. UN committee analysed radia- from radioactive iodine after a smoothly. who came to power in 2008. by 20 percent the radiation The company has struggled to tion doses in 25,000 people who significant delay, through proce- “Minor hiccups were He also said he was forced doses workers got in the ini- contain leaking radiation since worked at the plant on or before dures that failed to account for promptly settled,” he said. out of office in a military backed tial phase of the Fukushima then. October 2012, using data pro- iodine-132 and iodine-133, which Azmi said divisions which coup. However, a Commonwealth nuclear power plant disaster, a The UN Scientific Committee vided by the government, Tepco have short half-lives of 2 hours did not have many delegates probe said the transfer of power Japanese newspaper reported on the Effects of Atomic and others, the newspaper said. and 20 hours, respectively. might conclude their elections was constitutional. yesterday, citing a UN panel. Radiation (UNSCEAR) raised It determined that the tests The Asahi Shimbun said if as early as 1pm while big divi- A new president must be A big earthquake and tsunami doubts about the dose estimates used on workers did not take the UN panel’s assessment was sions such as those in Sabah in office in the Maldives by in March 2011 damaged the of the government and Tokyo into account some types of accurate, more workers would were expected to wind up late. November 11. power station north of Tokyo, Electric, or Tepco, in a summary radiation. be eligible for free health checks. AGENCIES AFP operated by Tokyo Electric of a report yesterday, according In particular, workers were REUTERS SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Long leg of the law AU tells ICC to postpone Kenyatta trial Kenyan president attacks tribunal ADDIS ABABA: African state, accusing the ICC of “bias and nations yesterday demanded the race-hunting”. The ICC, set up in International Criminal Court defer 2002 as the world’s first permanent the crimes against humanity trials court to try genocide and war crimes, of Kenya’s leadership, as the coun- has so far issued indictments linked try’s president furiously attacked to conflicts in eight nations, all of the tribunal as imperialist and them in Africa, and diplomats with racist. the 54-member AU said there was a A special summit of the African sentiment that the court was turning Union insisted that sitting heads of a blind eye to crimes committed in state should be exempt from appear- other parts of the world. ing before the Hague-based court, “It is the fact that this court per- and the bloc warned it would sup- forms on the cue of European and port a no-show at the ICC by Kenyan American governments against the President Uhuru Kenyatta if the sovereignty of African states and demand was not answered. peoples that should outrage us,” “What the summit decided is Kenyatta said, urging the AU to that President Kenyatta should not unite in the face of a “divide and Police detain an opposition supporter in Azerbaijani capital Baku, after an opposition rally against alleged electoral violations during the appear until the request we have rule” policy. recent presidential election that returned President Ilham Aliyev to office. made is actually answered,” Ethiopian “Africa is not a third-rate territory Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom of second-class peoples. We are not a Ghebreyesus told reporters. project, or experiment of outsiders,” “This elected leader should lead his he added. country.” African countries account for 34 Kenyatta and his deputy William of the 122 parties to have ratified the Distress call to EU after another boat sinks Ruto have been charged with crimes ICC’s founding treaty, and an African against humanity for allegedly mas- withdrawal from the court could seri- ROME: Italy and Malta for migrant boats. Arrivals of statements, words but little North Africa, Eritrea, Somalia, terminding a vicious campaign of ously damage the institution. pressed European part- migrants from North Africa more than that.” Syria presents us with a real ethnic violence that left at least The Ethiopian foreign minister ners yesterday to do more to have grown steadily over the As he spoke, Italian patrol emergency.” 1,100 dead and more than 600,000 did not say if a mass pullout was stop a migrant crisis which past two decades, with many boats were rescuing 235 more According to estimates homeless after disputed 2007 discussed at the summit, but said it the Maltese prime minis- making the journey in sum- people, including children, from by the United Nations High elections. could be an option in the future if the ter said was turning the mer when the Mediterranean more migrant boats in distress Commissioner for Refugees, Now allies and elected this year AU’s requests were not met. Mediterranean into a “cem- is calmer. some 70 nautical miles south around 32,000 migrants have on a platform of national reconcilia- “The option is open, it’s on the etery” after another boat sank This year the crisis has been of Lampedusa. Search crews arrived in southern Italy and tion, they argue the case is violating table,” he told reporters. off Sicily, killing dozens more. exacerbated by instability in on the island itself recovered Malta so far this year, about Kenyan sovereignty and hampering The AU bloc, however, has been Italian and Maltese navy Egypt, the civil war in Syria 19 more bodies from the boat two thirds of whom have filed their running of the country. divided on the issue — with coun- ships recovered 34 bodies and and chaos in Libya, the point of which sank last week, bringing asylum requests. Kenyatta’s trial is due to start in tries like Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia rescued 206 migrants after departure for many of the boats. the death toll to at least 358. Italy, deep in recession and The Hague on November 12, and if he and Rwanda taking a tough line, their boat sank about 60 nau- “I don’t know how many more Italian Prime Minister Enrico pressed by EU budget rules to fails to turn up the ICC could issue an but other nations seemingly reluc- tical miles south of Sicily on people need to die at sea before Letta has already pressed for rein in public spending, has arrest warrant — which would expose tant to get embroiled in a diplomatic Friday and rescued more than something gets done,” Malta’s the crisis to be included on seen its reception facilities on Kenya to diplomatic isolation. confrontation. 200 others in separate incidents Prime Minister Joseph Muscat the European Council agenda Lampedusa and other parts of Kenyatta signalled that relations AU executive council head yesterday. said in an interview with the at its October 24-25 meeting, Sicily strained to breaking point with the tribunal had hit a new low Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, a former Friday’s disaster came just BBC. He said he would join although Europe has long strug- and has called repeatedly for point, saying the institution has anti-apartheid activist, acknowl- over a week after hundreds of Italy in pressing for action at gled to come up with a compre- more help to confront a crisis been “reduced into a painfully farci- edged that African nations should Eritreans and Somalis drowned the next European Council. hensive response to the crisis. it says is a European emergency. cal pantomime, a travesty that adds “do more to strengthen the capacity when a boat sank less than a “The fact is that as things “We cannot continue like “There are too many arrivals insult to the injury of victims”. of our national and continental judi- kilometre from Lampedusa, a stand, we are just build- this,” Letta told French radio and we are not in a condition to “It stopped being the home of cial systems” — seen as a concession tiny island between Sicily and ing a cemetery within our station Europe 1 in an interview manage the disaster of the past justice the day it became the toy of to several prominent African figures Tunisia which has become the Mediterranean Sea,” he said. yesterday. “We’re in a situa- few weeks,” Letta said. declining imperial powers,” the presi- who have defended the court. main entry point into Europe “Until now we have encountered tion where what’s happening in REUTERS dent told his fellow African heads of AFP 20 killed in Mali boat tragedy BAMAKO: At least 20 peo- was travelling north from Mopti Negotiations to end US shutdown falter ple were killed and as many as towards Timbuktu when it sank 170 were unccounted for after a around 4km from the town of WASHINGTON: Congressional nego- warned. Immediately after his news confer- hours,” he said. Senator Dick Durbin said the boat overloaded with passengers Konna late on Friday. “Right now tiations to end a US fiscal crisis that has ence, Reid and other Senate Democratic goal is to reach a bipartisan deal in the Senate and goods capsized on the Niger we have recovered 20 bodies and gripped Washington and spooked finan- leaders rushed to the White House for before financial markets reopen tomorrow. River in Mali, local residents and 210 survivors,” a local government cial markets hung by a thread yesterday meetings with President Barack Obama. But the road to a deal appeared difficult, as officials said yesterday. The boat official said. REUTERS after they broke down in the House of Lawmakers are scrambling to put hun- Reid dismissed Republican Senator Susan Representatives and were in preliminary dreds of thousands of federal employees Collins’ plan to extend the US debt limit until stages in the Senate. back to work after their failure to fund January 31 and to fund the government for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a the government resulted in a partial shut- another six months. That plan had given some Democrat, laid down tough markers not down on Oct 1. They also are staring down moderate lawmakers hopes for a quick deal, long after he held an initial session with a Thursday deadline, when the Treasury but Democrats said it was saddled with too Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, Department has warned the United States many objectionable add-ons. leaving some doubt over whether the two could default on its debt for the first time in The “preliminary” Reid-McConnell men can reach an agreement to end a par- history unless the nation’s borrowing limit negotiations — at 9am yesterday in Reid’s tial government shutdown now in its 12th is raised by then. office — were launched one day after Obama day. “We need to have compromise but we Mindful of the debt limit deadline, Reid told rejected a proposal by House Republicans are not going to do that until the govern- reporters he would like to cut a deal “now.” for a short-term increase in the debt limit ment reopens and we pay our bills,” Reid “When I say ‘now,’ I mean in the next 48 to November 22. REUTERS
Snowden warns against perils At least 49 killed in Peru of spying in first Russian video truck crash
MOSCOW: US intelligence other charges after leaking details over dinner at a luxurious room LIMA: At least 49 people leaker Edward Snowden warned of vast US telephone and Internet in an unidentified location. were killed when a truck of dangers to democracy in the surveillance programs. During the evening, former ex- careened off a cliff in the first video released of the fugi- Dressed in a black suit and blue CIA analyst Ray McGovern gave southeastern Peru prov- tive since Russia granted him shirt with no tie and looking at Snowden an award — a symbolic ince of La Convencion, temporary asylum in August. ease, Snowden reiterated the dan- candlestick — that acknowledges the local mayor said “If we can’t understand the gers of NSA surveillance, saying integrity in the profession. yesterday. policies and programmes of our indiscriminate spying was a “far “We are confident that others “We are in mourning, so government we can’t grant our cry” from legitimate programmes. with similar moral fibre will fol- far we have 49 dead,” Fedia consent in regulating them,” “It’s a sort of dragnet mass sur- low his example in illuminating Castro said on local televi- Snowden said in one of the veillance that puts entire popu- dark corners and exposing crimes sion, adding that people short video clips posted on the lations under a sort of eye that that put our civil rights as free often travel by truck in this WikiLeaks website on Friday sees everything, even when it’s citizens in jeopardy,” WikiLeaks region, because of a short- night. not needed,” he said. quoted McGovern as saying. age of buses. The anti-secrecy group said the “People all over the world are Also present were a beam- The victims include 12 videos were filmed on Wednesday realising that these programmes ing WikiLeaks employee Sarah children, he added. when Snowden met with a group don’t make us more safe, they Harrison, a British national Deadly crashes are com- of four retired US ex-intelligence hurt our economy, they hurt our who has accompanied Snowden monplace in Peru, where workers and activists now seek- country, they limit our ability to since he arrived in Russia, and poorly maintained roads ing to promote ethics within the speak and think and live and be his Russian lawyer Anatoly zig-zag up and down the profession. creative, to have relationships, to Kucherena. One of the attend- towering Andes. Last week, Snowden, a former National associate freely.” ees, former Department of Justice two other deadly crashes Security Agency computer The videos show Snowden and ethics advisor Jesselyn Radack, in southern Peru took 19 administrator, is wanted in the the four former US government said Snowden looked “very and 10 lives, respectively. United States for espionage and employees chatting and smiling healthy.” AFP AFP SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PHILIPPINES
Vehicles manoeuvre through floodwaters while (right) motorists are stranded on a flooded road in the town of San Ildefonso, Bulacan province, yesterday. 13 dead as typhoon hits Philippines Typhoon Nari rips roofs off thousands of buildings; more than two million people without electricity
MANILA: Typhoon Nari been felled and clean-up crews killing an officer awaiting deploy- went out to sea before the typhoon had the wind coming right off side soon, otherwise the meat pounded the northern with chainsaws were clearing ment to rescue typhoon victims, had also failed to return, Balido the ocean for four hours,” said one would spoil,” he said. Philippines early yesterday, roads. Military and police res- the disaster council’s spokesman said. witness on the east coast. Balido said 8,414 houses were killing 13 people, ripping roofs cuers trucked residents out of Rey Balido told a news conference. He said nearly 6,000 people Even as the weather improved, damaged, while the central off thousands of buildings, and flooded villages as the weather Elsewhere in central Luzon, an moved into government-run shel- floodwaters continued to rise in Luzon civil defence office said leaving more than two million improved after the typhoon’s 120 elderly woman and four minors ters amid warnings their commu- low-lying areas as rain from the the typhoon blacked out 37 towns without power. kilometres per hour winds swept were crushed to death when trees nities could be hit by flooding and nearby Sierra Madre mountains and cities, populated by 2.1 million Nari tore into the country’s out to the South China Sea later crashed onto two houses and a landslides from the typhoon. swept downstream through swol- people. northeast coast around midnight yesterday morning. vehicle, while the wall of a school ABS-CBN television aired foot- len rivers. Road and utility crews were (1600GMT Friday), toppling Government clerk Glenn Diwa, collapsed and crushed an old man age of earth-coloured floodwaters In the town of San Ildefonso, out clearing roads and restoring trees and pylons as it cut a west- 34, said she and her husband to death. climbing above river defences 60 kilometres from Manila, police power, but it could take up to two ward swathe through the farm- spent a sleepless night as the Two children and an elderly and swamping farmland in San pulled a woman on a motorbike days before electricity is restored ing regions of the main island of typhoon roared through the town person drowned in a flooded vil- Miguel, where three of the vic- and a farmer to safety after they and major highways are reopened Luzon, officials said. of Capas, 90 kilometres north of lage, while the body of a fisherman tims had drowned. were nearly swept away while to traffic, Nigel Lontoc, a disaster “While there were relatively Manila, shortly before midnight. who had gone to sleep in his boat Soldiers, police, and local separately crossing a street that official for the region, stated by few casualties, a lot of areas are “The wind was very strong on shore the previous night was government workers used mili- had turned into a raging river. telephone. still flooded,” said Eduardo del and there was a whistling sound. recovered at sea, Balido added. tary trucks to rescue residents Farmer Frankie Gracia, 30, The Philippines is hit by some Rosario, head of the National After a while we heard torn roof- Another man was electrocuted in flooded communities in San said he had been forced to butcher 20 typhoons each year. Disaster Risk Reduction and ing sheets clattering across the by a loose power line while yet Miguel and Minalin towns, the one of his pigs after it fell ill from Nari is expected to be close Management Council. yard,” she said. another died of a heart attack in regional civil defence office there exposure to the rain, and he had to Vietnam’s northeast coast Witnesses in the coastal town As Nari dumped rain inland, a an incident that disaster officials said. wanted to take some of the pork by Tuesday, the Hong Kong of Baler, near where Nari made wall of mud fell on a police bar- also blamed on Nari. “The wind picked up very to his relatives across the street. Observatory said. landfall, said many large trees had racks near the town of Magalang, Three other fishermen who quickly, very dramatically. We “I needed to reach the other AFP
National Capital Govt, Milf may extend talks Palace says abolition of police sack 82 MANILA: At least 82 police MANILA: The peace panels The government and Milf panels optimistic that the government fund a policy statement officers, 13 of them officials, of the government and Moro on Tuesday started exploratory panel can craft a final peace were removed from their Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) talks in Malaysia where both sides deal with the Milf, which will be MANILA: Malacañang clarified yesterday that its announcement posts in Metro Manila, an are likely to extend their 41st would try to reach a consensus acceptable to Moro communi- of the abolition of the congressional pork barrel – officially called official said yesterday. exploratory talks to thoroughly on power-sharing and normali- ties and bring peace to troubled Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) – was just a “policy Chief Superintendent Dennis tackle power-sharing, one of the sation, the last two annexes to Mindanao. statement” as only the Supreme Court (SC) can strike down a law. Peña, deputy director for oper- four annexes that will form part be added to the 2012 Framework In a statement emailed from “It was a policy announcement on the part of the president because, ations of the National Capital of the comprehensive agree- Agreement on Bangsamoro. Malaysia, Ferrer said she was legally, PDAF is part of the GAA (general appropriations act), which Region Police Office (NCRPO), ment that both sides intend to Both panels earlier approved certain of an accord with the Milf is a law,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. said the erring policemen will sign this year. the annexes on transitional that would empower the Moro Budget Secretary Florencio Abad issued the same explanation. He not be sanctioned but instead In a text message yester- arrangements and revenue gen- communities and benefit all sec- said the SC, by declaring PDAF unconstitutional, would effectively undergo retraining. day, Presidential Adviser on the eration and wealth sharing. tors regardless of tribes, religions have it voided. The SC is deliberating on petitions contesting the con- NCRPO director Chief Peace Process,Teresita Deles said The completed Framework and cultural identities. stitutionality of PDAF. Superintendent Marcelo Garbo the government and Milf peace Agreement shall be the basis Ferrer also said the govern- Regarding the P25bn PDAF allocated in the 2014 budget, Abad said Jr, caught the policemen hav- panels are working hard to finish for an enabling law, to be passed ment panel had spent consid- only Congress can remove it. ing abandoned their outposts, their deliberation and approve the by Congress, to legitimise the erable time crafting the four Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr said a SC decision on PDAF being in improper uniform and annex on power-sharing. replacement of the Autonomous annexes to the Framework would be useless in two and a half months when Congress shall have being lax in performing their “The government and Milf Region in Muslim Mindanao with Agreement to ensure that the approved a budget program without PDAF. duty when he made unan- peace panels are still working hard an Milf-led Bangsamoro political framework would bring lasting “Unless the SC resolves the case sooner, this issue will become moot nounced inspections of police at it. Talks until Saturday with entity. peace in the south and be sup- and academic on January 1, when the nation will have a new budget stations and outposts. possible extension to Sunday,” Government chief negotia- ported by all sectors. without the PDAF as we know it,” Barzaga said. Deles said in a text message. tor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is THE PHILIPPINE STAR THE PHILIPPINE STAR No vomiting in San Juan Homecoming queen MANILA: The San Juan City council has approved an Elections in Zamboanga ordinance imposing a fine and a 30-day stay in jail for those caught urinating, vomiting likely before December and spitting in public places. Under the ordinance, MANILA: The Commission on On October 8, the Commission approved on October 7, first- Elections (Comelec) is eyeing en banc through Resolution time offenders will be fined holding the special elections in Number 9793 approved the rec- P500 while those who violate all 19 barangays in Zamboanga ommendation of the Philippine the ordinance for the second City before November 30. National Police, Armed Forces of time will be given a 30-day “Preferably we would want to the Philippines, the Department jail term, Councillor Rolando have the special elections before of Education and the City Bernardo said yesterday. November 30 to avoid any hold Council Crisis Management over,” said Comelec Chairman Committee to postpone the Drive nets Sixto Brillantes in an interview October 28 polls due to the cri- with journalists. sis that recently occurred in the stolen bikes He explained that the three- province. year term of the incumbent On the other hand, MANILA: The Caloocan barangay chairman and barangay Commissioner Robert Christian City police arrested three councilmen will end on November Lim said it was 70-80 percent fugitives and seized 40 motor- 30 at 12 noon. certain that the special polls cycles and four firearms in an However, Brillantes said that could be helbefore November 30. anti-crime drive Wednesday. as of press time they could not He added that they needed Arrested fugitives were set the date of the special polls as to give local candidates 19 Jerry Vinuya, Ellan del they are still assessing the situa- days to file their certificate of Rosario, and Roberto Montia. tion in the said province. candidacy and to campaign, The team also seized more The poll body chief said that since the calendar of activities than 40 motorcycles, most of the authorities were looking to has been reset because of the which were stolen. finish clearing operations in the postponement. AGENCIES Miss World 2013 Megan Young of the Philippines waves to fans during her victory parade in Manila. area in two to three weeks. THE PHILIPPINE STAR SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13
Epidemics hit Immunity issue may sink troop deal quake-affected in Balochistan Karzai, Kerry agree on other points ISLAMABAD: Hundreds KABUL: President Hamid “After several months of nego- and thousands of poorest of Karzai and US Secretary of tiation, and intense talks yester- the poor, devastated by the State John Kerry said yester- day and today, we have reached a 7.8 magnitude earthquake of day that talks on the future of series of agreements,” Karzai told September 24, are suffering US forces in Afghanistan were reporters at a joint press confer- from various post-quake epi- stuck on the key issue of US ence in Kabul. demic diseases in an impov- troop immunity. “The BSA has a lot of items, erished district of Pakistan’s Kerry extended his stay in one is about immunity for foreign southwestern province of Kabul to try to thrash out a and US soldiers -- we didn’t have Balochistan. long-delayed security pact that a united opinion on this issue.” Out of the four, mostly would allow between 5,000 and A similar US security agree- mountainous, routes that lead 10,000 US troops to remain in ment with Iraq in 2011 collapsed to the six worst-affected union Afghanistan after 2014 to fight over the issue of troop immunity. councils of this huge district, Al Qaeda remnants and train the The US pulled its troops out of three are unusable, thanks to a national army. the country, which is currently shadowy insurgency movement But he said that a major stick- suffering its worst sectarian vio- and poor road infrastructure, ing point in efforts to sign the lence since 2008. making the quake-affected Bilateral Security Agreement But Afghan officials dismiss the areas inaccessible. Mashkay, (BSA) was the issue of which possibility that the US may enact Gishkor, Teertaig, Awaran, country would try any US soldiers the “zero option” of a complete Parwar and Nokjo, accord- deployed in Afghanistan. pull-out after its soldiers have ing to Helping Hand Relief “One issue that is outstanding fought the Taliban militants since and Development (HHRD) (is) the issue of jurisdiction,” he 2001. Country Director Fazlur said, rejecting the widely-used Kerry had been due to fly to Rehman, are the six worst- term “immunity” because accused Paris last morning, but negotia- affected UCs. US troops would still stand trial tions ran late into the evening. HHRD is an NGO active in America. A US official said Kerry wanted here and is funded by US-based Afghan President Hamid Karzai shakes hands with US Secretary of State John Kerry after a news conference in “We need to say that if the issue “to leave Kabul with as many Pakistanis. Kabul yesterday. cannot be resolved, unfortunately issues resolved as possible”. Deputy District Health there cannot be a bilateral secu- The US wants the security Officer Dr Mohammad Aslam, rity agreement.” deal signed within weeks to ena- progress was made on other given to guarantee the protection international military efforts to while treating patients in a Karzai said that a national ble the Nato military coalition major points of dispute, including of lives and properties of our peo- thwart Taliban insurgents. makeshift medical camp in assembly of tribal elders would be to plan its withdrawal of 87,000 the US agreeing not to conduct ple,” the president said. He is due to stand down for Bedi Dal village, told Pakistan called to discuss whether foreign combat troops from Afghanistan unilateral military operations Karzai has had a tempestu- elections in April 2014, and many Today that the earthquake soldiers could be given immunity by December 2014, but Karzai against militants after 2014. ous relationship with the US and analysts say he is keen to secure a survivors were suffering from from prosecution in Afghanistan, recently threatened to walk away “There will be no arbitrary other foreign allies since he came reputation as a strong nationalist five major diseases, including as the issue was “above govern- from talks. actions and operations by the US, to power in 2001, often spark- leader. typhoid, malaria, dysentery, ment authority”. Karzai said yesterday that and a written document has been ing outrage with his criticism of AFP food poisoning and soar-throat. Having treated over a hun- dred villagers so far, Dr Aslam said that the main reason for the spread of epidemics and other diseases in the least- 5.1 magnitude developed neighbourhood was Kayani supports dialogue with Taliban the use of unhygienic water earthquake and malnutrition. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s tribal areas along the Afghan the general said it was essential which was cleansed of terrorists powerful army chief General border where the militants have to find a solution to terrorism within four months. Pakistani Pakistan sees hits Pakistan Ashfaq Kayani yesterday said hideouts. which he described as negating Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the army supports the govern- “The national leadership has the basic ideology of the nation Thursday said his government rise in inflation QUETTA: A 5.1 magnitude ment’s policy of dialogue with decided to give dialogue a chance and the teachings of Islam. was sincere about holding peace earthquake struck southwest the Taliban to end the insur- to deal with the issue of terror- “The military will be more than talks with the Taliban, after rebel ISLAMABAD: The weekly Pakistan yesterday, meteoro- gency wracking the country. ism and Pakistan army fully sup- happy if a solution to the prob- chief Mehsud complained that no inflation, measured through logical officials said, with trem- The main Pakistani political ports this process,” Kayani said lem is found through dialogue,” he serious steps had been taken to the sensitive price index ors felt in some of the areas parties last month backed a gov- while addressing a passing out said, adding that the use of force open a dialogue. (SPI), for combined income ravaged by a deadly quake last ernment proposal to seek negotia- parade of cadets in Abbottabad, would be the last option. Speaking after a security meet- group increased by 0.09 per- month. tions with the militants, who have 112 kilometres north of the capi- Kayani, who is retiring from ing in the troubled northwest- cent for the week ended on The earthquake struck at been waging a bloody insurgency tal Islamabad. his post next month at the end ern city of Peshawar, Sharif said Oct 10 compared to the pre- a depth of 10 kilometres (six against the state since 2007. “The nation and the political of a second tenure as army chief, progress was being made on the vious week. miles), and its epicentre was 80 But the umbrella Tehreek- leadership have to determine dismissed speculations that the issue of opening negotiations. The SPI had been witness- kilometres (50 miles) southwest e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fac- the parameters for holding such failure of counter-insurgency His statement came a day after ing slight increase for the of Khuzdar in Baluchistan prov- tion, a loose coalition of militant a dialogue... this process should operations forced the military to the broadcast of a BBC interview past four consecutive weeks, ince, senior meteorologist Tauseef groups led by Hakimullah Mehsud bring unity among the nation go for dialogue. in which Mehsud said he was Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Alam said. since 2009, responded with a list instead of leading to a division,” “This is far from being a truth,” ready to sit down for talks but data showed on Saturday. Another meteorlogist, Shahid of preconditions. These included he said. he said, pointing to the success- the government had “not taken The SPI rose by 0.24 percent Mehmood, said that the tremors a government ceasefire and the During the televised address at ful 2009 military operations in any serious steps”. for the lowest income group were felt in Khuzdar, and towns withdrawal of troops from the the Pakistan Military Academy, the northwestern town of Swat, AFP (earning Rs8,000 or less) and by in Awaran and Kharan. 0.01pc for the top income group No loss of life or property was (earning Rs35,000 and above). immediately reported. The food items whose prices The 7.7-magnitude earthquake raised substantially were: pota- last month devastated several toes, tomatoes, garlic, sugar, areas, including Awaran. It killed Make education top priority, Malala tells WB wheat flour, mutton, red chilli at least 376 people and left some powder, and moong pulse. 100,000 others homeless. WASHINGTON: Malala that organisations spend much of and promote universal access to She recalled to a packed audi- The population of Awaran is Yousafzai, the Pakistani school- their money on health, AIDS and education. ence at the World Bank that her Bomb kills two scattered over more than 21,000 girl activist who has become a other programmes. Malala said she decided to cre- father campaigned for women’s square kilometres (8,000 square world champion of girls’ rights, “But I think all those organiza- ate the fund because she needed rights in a Pakistani society that Afghan cops miles) of remote and rugged called on Friday for the World tions must make education their to do “work on the ground,” in favours sons. She realised when terrain. Bank to make education its top top priority,” she said. addition to speaking out about she was about 13 and 14 that the KABUL: A suicide bomber Infrastructure is extremely priority. Such a focus would fight child the issues. Taliban might attack her father killed two policemen and one limited, with few medical facili- Seated on a stage with World labor, child trafficking, pov- She also is promoting her for his support of women and civilian in eastern Afghanistan ties or even roads. Bank President Jim Yong Kim erty and AIDS, all at once, she memoir, out this month — I Am started to prepare for an attack yesterday, police said. The The quake was Pakistan’s in a one-on-one presentation argued. Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up against herself. bomber detonated his explosive- deadliest since the devastating in Washington, the 16-year-old Kim, who has called her “a pow- for Education and Was Shot by the “If a Talib comes, he has a gun filled car yesterday near a police Kashmir tremor of 2005, which delivered a poised, articulate and erful symbol of hope”, announced Taliban. and he’s going to shoot me, I will station, according to dpa. killed 73,000. impassioned plea for children’s the World Bank was donating Malala was shot in the head by tell him, then shoot me, but listen “The attacker wanted to Southwestern Baluchistan is education. $200,000 to the Malala Fund, a the Pakistani Taliban on October to me first. Listen to my voice... enter the police department in Pakistan’s largest province, and Asked by Kim for her advice foundation she launched to help 9, 2012, for speaking out against And I will tell him that I want Jalalabad city at 8:45am, but was is believed to have large oil and to the World Bank, Malala noted girls around the world go to school their ideology. even education for their sons identified by police at the gate,” gas reserves, but it remains very and daughters. I’m not speak- the German news agency quoted poor and is marked by political ing against them. I’m not against Hazrat Ali Mashreqiwal, police instability. any person. I am against their spokesman for Nangarhar prov- AFP ideology... why are they against ince as saying. education?” “He detonated his car in front Malala, who used to want to of the gate, in which two police- become a doctor, now says her men and a civilian were killed, Committee formed goal is to be a politician to effect while one policeman and four change. civilians were injured,” he said. to look after “I believe that today’s dreams Quaid restoration become tomorrow’s realities.” Scribe killed in Also on Friday, Malala met QUETTA: A three-mem- President Barack Obama at the restive province ber committee headed by White House, following which a former chief secretary, the first family hailed her for ISLAMABAD: Unidentified Mirza Qamar Baig, has been “inspiring and passionate” work gunmen shot dead a jour- constituted to oversee the on behalf of girls in Pakistan. nalist in the restive Khyber reconstruction and rehabili- Malala took the opportunity to Pakhtunkhwa province of tation of the Quaid-i-Azam express her concerns about US Pakistan , police said. Residency in Ziarat, an offi- drone attacks, telling Obama they Ayub Khattak, who was cial told media personnel were “fuelling terrorism.” working for an Urdu language yesterday. Washington has used drone daily, was shot dead in Karak Sibi division’s Commissioner strikes to target Islamist militants district. The attackers, riding Shaharyar Sultan and Abdul in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous a motorcycle, escaped after the Jabbar Kasi, technical focal northwestern tribal belt, saying incident around 6.30pm, local person of the provincial com- Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives media reported. The gunmen munications department, are pose a threat to Afghanistan and opened fire on the journal- the other two members of the the West. ist outside his house and fled, committee. “Innocent victims are killed in a police official said. No group The project will cost Rs45m these acts, and they lead to resent- immediately claimed responsi- to Rs50m, which will be ment among the Pakistani peo- bility for the attack. provided by the provincial ple,” Malala said in a statement. Khattak is the 9th journalist government. US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughter Malia meet with Malala Yousafzai, “If we refocus efforts on educa- to be killed in Pakistan this year. INTERNEWS yesterday. tion it will make a big impact.” AGENCIES AFP SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Seven dead as Phailin lashes Andhra, Odisha Half a million evacuated
BHUBANESWAR/ Phailin is said to be the worst HYDERABAD: Cyclonic cyclone in 14 years and next only storm Phailin Saturday night to 1999 super cyclone, which had slammed east coast near killed 10,000 people in Odisha. Gopalpur in Odisha, triggering The exact extent of damage in heavy rains and strong winds the 150km coastline affected by with speed reaching up to Phailin will be known only this 200km an hour while more than morning. 500,000 people were shifted to The eye of the storm touched safety in coastal Odisha and the coast near Gopalpur and it will Andhra Pradesh. take an hour to completely cross Strong winds uprooted trees, the coast, India Meteorological electricity and communication Department (IMD) Director poles and thatched roofs in coastal General L S Rathore told report- Odisha and north coastal Andhra. ers in New Delhi. Waves crash onto the shore at a fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh yesterday. Seven deaths were reported He said the wind speed could from Odisha due to uprooting of increase by 10 to 15km an hour The IMD has forecast rains Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, Disaster Response Force (NDRF) He also said that of all the trees and house collapse while and the very severe storm would over the next 48 hours in Odisha, said officials. personnel are deployed in Odisha resources available with the NDMA, there were no immediate reports maintain its intensity for six Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal Over 4.5 lakh people in Odisha and 600 in Andhra Pradesh,” said 40 percent will be used in Ganjam of any casualty in neighbouring hours after crossing the coast. and adjoining states. Heavy to and 1.29 lakh people in north National Disaster Management district in Odisha, which is likely to Andhra Pradesh. Storm surges of 3 to 3.5 meters very heavy falls are likely at most coastal Andhra were evacuated to Authority (NDMA) Vice bear the maximum damage. Several parts of coastal Odisha are also likely along the coast. places. The met office has forecast safer places. This is said to be one Chairman Shashidhar Reddy. All flights were cancelled and Srikakulam district of Another six hours, it is likely to extremely heavy falls of 25cm at of the biggest evacuation in recent Twenty three teams of NDRF at Bhubaneswar airport while Andhra plunged into darkness at continue as cyclonic storm. few places. times. The army, navy and air are deployed in Odisha, whereas the railways cancelled 56 the time of landfall. Authorities Rathore said the threat was The storm is expected to inun- force and the National Disaster there are 11 teams in Andhra trains between Howrah and have advised people to remain not over as heavy to very heavy date low lying areas of Ganjam, Response Force (NDRF) were on Pradesh, he said. Visakhapatnam and diverted indoors till the cyclone completely rains in coming hours might trig- Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur alert for rescue and relief work. “Crops will be the worst hit due some trains. crosses the coast. ger floods. districts of Odisha and “On the whole, 12,000 National to the cyclone,” Reddy said. IANS
After two months, Time not right for talks with Pakistan, says Khurshid buses back on NEW DELHI: External Affairs political dialogue with Pakistan. on the resumed dialogue... But the Line of Control have impacted said there were routine things con- Seemandhra roads Minister Salman Khurshid “But I must make it clear that we whether and when the political the dialogue process. tinuing between India and Pakistan said yesterday the recent inci- have not reached a stage where level dialogue will take place, that “As far as the incidents at the and these “will continue”. HYDERABAD: After two long dents on the Line of Control we could resume talks.” is yet not clear,” he told report- LoC and border are concerned, they “This (political dialogue) is months, buses of state-owned are “unwelcome and extremely “While the two prime min- ers while returning from Jakarta are upsetting. The army is dealing something our leaders will work Andhra Pradesh State Road upsetting” and not conducive to isters met in New York (last with Prime Minister Manmohan with it and the defence minister is out in due course,” he said, in Transport Corp (APSRTC) the normalisation of ties with month), we have not reached a Singh after a bilateral visit. dealing with it, but I can’t say it is response to a question from returned on the roads of Pakistan. stage where we have indicated He was responding to questions conducive to a faster movement in accompanying journalists. Seemandhra yesterday as the He said everyone was expecting any dates, timeline or perspective on whether recent incidents on normalisation,” he said. Khurshid IANS employees called off their strike. Over 12,000 buses came out of depots in the 13 districts of Seemandhra, as Rayalaseema UP opposition cries foul and coastal Andhra regions are together known. Bus services also resumed between Hyderabad and over Ram temple letter Seemandhra, providing much needed relief to people and restor- LUCKNOW: The ruling reconstruction of the Somnath ing some normalcy in the region, Samajwadi Party (SP) yester- temple in Gujarat”. witnessing protests for the last two day came under heavy fire from The letter further detailed months over the decision to carve the opposition over a letter that the meeting would be pre- out a separate Telangana state. purportedly calling a meeting sided over by principal secretary The workers called off their of officials to discuss the con- (Home) at the IInd floor com- strike following talks with struction of a Ram temple at mand centre of the Lal Bahadur Transport Minister Botsa Ayodhya. Shastri Bhawan office Oct 14. Satyanarayana, APSRTC manag- As the letter raised a furore, The invitees include the direc- ing director A K Khan and other the state government clarified tor general of police (DGP), addi- officials Friday night. that it was a “typographical error”. tional director general of police The government also agreed Refusing to buy the “error” expla- (ADG) law and order, IG (rail- to consider all service related nation, the Congress said that the ways), ADG (Intelligence), IG demands of the employees. clarification was “shady”, and raised (law and Order), IG Lucknow, IG The government had appealed suspicion that there was some Faizabad and DM/SSP Faizabad. to the employees to return to “match-fixing between the SP and The letter has come as a big work in view of the severe cyclonic the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)”. blow to the Akhilesh Yadav gov- threat to the coastal region and The Uttar Pradesh Congress ernment with regard to its rela- also in view of the Puja holidays. Committee (UPCC) spokesman tionship with Muslims, who are The two-month-long strike Zeeshan Haider said that there can angry over the Muzaffarnagar caused severe hardships to peo- be an error of a word or two, but riots of September that killed 62 ple in the sprawling region of it stretched credulity when entire persons and displaced over 43,000. over five crore population and sentences were different from the The Bharatiya Janata Party also resulted in loss of over Rs.700 draft. “This is ridiculous, and raises (BJP) termed the letter as yet crore to APSRTC enough questions” he said. “another attempt of a failed gov- The APSRTC workers along In a letter (4622 D/F-Pu-4-2013) ernment to win votes.” with the other government dated October 9, Sarvesh Chandra “This letter proves that not employees were on strike since Aug Mishra, secretary of the state only is SP confused, but also des- 12 to demand that Andhra Pradesh home department had informed perate to get votes as it is the should not be split up. Electricity senior police and administrative same party which ordered firing employees Friday returned to work officials of a meeting to “discuss at innocent kar sevaks in the 90s” after a five-day strike while teach- the construction of a Shri Ram said Vijay Bahadur Pathak, state ers have also called off their nearly temple in Ayodhya through a spokesman of the BJP. two-month long strike. parliamentary law on lines of the IANS IANS
Muslims join Hindus for Durga Puja
KULUBARI, Tripura: In a together and also like to share eve- majority of the money is given by heart-warming sign, Muslims rything amongst us,” said Mujibur the Muslims. Hindus are not in a in two villages bordering Rahman Chowdhury, an elderly minority in the village but they Bangladesh in Tripura are Muslim leader in Kulubari village. are very poor too.” jointly celebrating the Durga “Men, women and children, “Muslim youths are helping Puja with Hindus. Muslims and Hindus, with all sin- us to collet the materials for the Dominated by Muslims, the cerity and commitment have been puja. Elderly Muslim men are Kulubari and Durgapur villages in jointly been organising Durga also conscious about the rituals western Tripura’s Sepahijala dis- Puja for the past few years,” of Durga Puja,” Das said. trict, attract people of all religions Chowdjury said. Like Kulubari, less than 10 across the northeastern state for Over 90 percent of the total percent Hindus people live in their rare show of religious har- population of both Kulubari and Durgapur, 70km south of Tripura mony in celebrating Durga Puja, Durgapur villages are Muslims, capital Agartala, located adjoining which begun on Thursday with who comprise around nine per- the Gomati river that flows into the ‘Bodhan’ — welcoming the cent of Tripura’s total of 3.7 mil- Bangladesh. idols of Godess Durga. lion population. Durgapur villagers have been “The festival is for all. Why Kulubari Durga Puja celebrating Durga Puja with fan- should we not organise this with Organising Committee secre- fare and religious fervour, thanks everyone else? This is Tripura. We tary Ratan Das said: “Our puja to the active support of Muslims. would like to live here together, die budget is around Rs1 lakh. The IANS
SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK
PRAYER TIME We are not BUSINESS News in Numbers 10 leaving kids, OptimismCHART: Index 1 3 Fajr (Dawn) 4:15 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:31 Cher tells Zuhr (Noon) 11:20 Asr (Afternoon) 2:40 other singers Maghrib (Sunset) 5:10 Isha (Night) 6:40 PARIS: Cher may have her ideal burial place all mapped out, but the veteran pop star is far from having one foot in the WEATHER grave with a new album and feisty views on feminism and Weather the “genius” of Miley Cyrus. Today Sunday Monday Conditions: At 67, Cher is one of a genera- Clear Clear Clear tion of 1960s performers holding Generally fine. out against retirement — from Non-hydrocarbon Sector 2 the still-touring Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney who has also High: 35° High: 34° High: 34° just finished another album at the Low: 24° Low: 25° Low: 25° The BOI for the Level of Selling Prices age of 71. And she says she has no plans parameter climbed to 16 this quarter from to make room for younger singers like the 20-year-old Cyrus who a score of 13 in the previous quarter. A DOHA - SUN & SEA provoked a storm of controversy with her raunchy performance at substantial 62pc of the non-hydrocarbon SUN TIDE SEA the MTV Video Music Awards in SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND August. sector respondents expect prices to “I’ve noticed... (with) my moth- 05:34 17:05 12:15 03:45 & 19:45 05-13 KT er’s generation and my grand- remain the same, 27pc expect an increase mother’s generation, that at a THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW certain age they would just kind while 11pc foresee a decline in Q2 2013. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER of move aside,” the US singer told reporters this week in Paris, where she was promoting her first MUSCAT 33/27 Partly cloudy 33/27 Clear Level of Selling Prices album in 12 years. KUWAIT 33/21 Clear 33/21 Clear “In my generation — especially BAHRAIN 34/19 Clear 35/19 Clear 59 in music — if you can move us out 60 SANAA 25/13 Partly cloudy 26/12 Partly cloudy you can get in, but if you can’t, 52 RIYADH 35/20 Clear 38/23 Clear we’re still there. Any other gen- 50 DUBAI 33/27 Clear 34/27 Clear eration would have moved aside to BAGHDAD 32/16 Clear 33/15 Clear let newer kids come in but we’re 40 not giving up,” Cher said. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW The album cover of “Closer to 30 HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER the Truth” features the singer 24 and actress in a suitably age- 22 23 19 20 ATHENS 25/17 Clear 24/18 Clear defying blonde wig and skimpy 20 16 14 13 WASHINGTON 20/13 Chance of rain 20/12 Mostly cloudy lace dress. Some 49 shows are planned 8 9 SYDNEY 31/12 Chance of storm 22/09 Chance of rain 10 6 6 6 7 in the United States to promote 5 LONDON 15/10 Rain 14/07 Chance of rain the album with the option of more -18 -4 1 PARIS 13/09 Partly cloudy 15/11 Mostly cloudy depending on “how I feel about 0 ISTANBUL 18/11 Fog 19/10 Fog it”, she said. MANILA 31/23 Chance of storm 30/24 Chance of storm Cher waded into the Cyrus -10
DHAKA 32/24 Chance of storm 31/24 Chance of storm
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Q4-2012 Q2-2012 debate last month when she crit- Q1-2013 DELHI 32/23 Chance of rain 31/24 Clear icised the singer and “Hannah -20 ISLAMABAD 32/20 Partly cloudy 33/18 Partly cloudy Montana” star’s provocative VMA Source : https://www.qfc.com.qa/ performance. AFP Classic Westerns see revival at film festival BUSAN: Two major Asian adaptations of classic Westerns hit screens at the Busan International Film Festival this week, in a revival of a genre that drew some of its early inspiration from the cinema of the East. Japanese-Korean director Lee Sang-Il’s “Unforgiven” is a remake of the 1992 Clint Eastwood classic of the same name, starring the Oscar-nominated Ken Watanabe. “Once Upon a Time In Vietnam”, directed by Vietnamese-American director Dustin Nguyen takes its inspiration from Sergio Leone’s sprawling Spaghetti Western epic “Once Upon a Time in the West” from 1968. Both films, which have been released in their domestic mar- South Korean actors (from left) Jung Eui-gap, Park Se-jin, Jeon Kwang-jin kets, played to packed cinemas and Lee Eun-joo after the press conference at the 18th Busan International at Busan. Lee said he believed it Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan, South Korea. was the timeless nature and raw humanity explored in Westerns original. Lee has shifted the many Hollywood Westerns. that continued to attract action from the Wild West to “That film was a huge influence audiences. Hokkaido at the start of the Meiji on me, as was the way Kurosawa “Every filmmaker loves them period in Japan. blended action with epic drama,” too,” Lee said. “It was the same time as said Lee. “They confront certain issues, Hollywood Westerns are set, “Yojimbo” was a key inspiration the goodness and evil in people around the late 1800s,” said the behind Leone’s 1964 “A Fistful of and that’s what attracted me to director. “They were times of Dollars” — to the extent that the this film.” great change in both countries.” Italian director and his produc- Watanabe, who was Oscar- Lee said he had been inspired by tion company were eventually nominated for his role in “The the work of the Japanese director sued by Kurosawa’s firm — and Last Samurai” (2003), takes on Akira Kurosawa, whose films such starred Eastwood in the main role the role of the ageing gun for as “Yojimbo” (1961) had helped billed as “Man with No Name”. hire played by Eastwood in the provide the source material for AFP Two films on love win at Busan BUSAN: Two wildly diverse takes on modern and country, reality and fiction”. Both filmmakers love and obsession have taken the top prize at received $30,000 for the award, which offers two Asia’s largest film festival, which drew to a close prizes and is open to first and second-time Asian yesterday. directors. Jurors in the New Currents award at the 18th Ahn’s film tells the heart-breaking tale of Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) lauded a 40-year-old woman trying to hold on to her Korean director Ahn Song-Kyoung’s “Pascha” for 17-year-old boyfriend and the second-time direc- its “intimate, highly original expression of an unu- tor said she had wanted to focus on the turning sual love story”. points in people’s lives. At the same time they hailed “Remote Control”, “I am interested in the moments in life when from Mongolia’s Byamba Sakhya, as a “sharply we become disillusioned and are forced to make observed portrait of the tensions between city decisions,” she explained. AFP Sunday 13 October 2013 8 Dhul-Hijja 1434 Volume 18 Number 5851 Price: QR2
www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Jordan weathering Global monetary ‘tougher’ outside shocks: Official tightening likely WASHINGTON: The Interna- tional Monetary Fund yester- day praised Jordan’s progress in an IMF loan-supported pro- to impact GCC gramme despite increasing out- side shocks, notably from a flood of Syrian refugees. IMF staff recommended Severe recession weighs: Minister the release of $258m to Jordan under a three-year $2bn loan DOHA: Qatar has taken rising debt and limited financ- approved in August 2012, fol- exception to the International ing options. The Fund should lowing a September mission Monetary Fund’s (IMF) assess- actively support the countries in review in Amman with Jordanian ment that the global monetary transition to manage their mac- authorities. tightening will have only limited roeconomic stability in order to “Jordan has been really hit hard impact on the GCC economy. create a congenial environment with exogenous shocks,” Kristina Addressing the Financial for foreign direct investments Kostial, IMF Mission Chief for Committee meeting of the Fund that could create jobs and reduce Jordan, said at a news briefing. on behalf of four GCC countries, employment.” “The authorities have been doing including Qatar, UAE, Bahrain The UAE Minister who spoke a very good job in keeping the pro- and Oman, UAE’s Minister of on behalf of 13 countries including gram on track... so far this year.” Finance Al Tayer said the mon- UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, From the IMF’s last staff etary tightening could impact the Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, review in April until now, the GCC growth and even lead to a Maldives, Syria and Yemen, in outside shocks have “even gotten severe recession. addition to Qatar, said: “The Fund tougher on Jordan,” she added. “We do not concur with the should build on its recent work to The IMF official cited UN Fund’s assessment that spillo- help the membership manage the IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (left) and International Monetary and Financial Committee estimates of 540,000 registered vers from a sharp global mone- risks associated with the antici- Syrian refugees, saying the tary tightening are likely to have pated tightening of monetary pol- Chair Tharman Shanmugaratnam before the start of a meeting of the IMFC during the IMF-World heavy influx was impacting fiscal a limited impact on GCC coun- icies. We support the continued Bank Annual Meetings 2013 in Washington yesterday. accounts, public health spending tries. Although the GCC countries coverage of global risks through and labour markets. She said the have actively pursued polices to the Fund’s Vulnerability exercise, IMF executive board could con- diversify their economies, includ- the Early Warning Exercise, and sider releasing the funds in early ing through high quality capital spill over analysis, but the Fund Central banks must be careful November with disbursement of spending and labour market ini- must also be prepared to do more the loan tranche probably in late tiatives that attract nationals and do so quickly when the need January or early February. To to private sector, a sharp global arises”. when tightening policy: IMF date Jordan has received $774m monetary tightening could impact He called on the Fund to con- under the programme. growth and lead to a severe reces- tinue implementation of the The IMF awarded the loan, sion,” he said. Financial Sector Surveillance WASHINGTON: Central Committee said in a statement. actions to minimise negative spillo- requested by Jordan, to help it The IMF communiqué issued Strategy, with a focus on further banks of advanced economies A wave of selling spread quickly vers” on developing economies. weather regional instability as yesterday noted uncertainties strengthening the analysis of must try to limit collateral dam- through world financial mar- Since 2008, the Fed has held its energy-poor economy was rav- related to domestic developments spillovers, sovereign-bank link- age to emerging markets when kets this year after the Federal interest rates near zero since aged by spluttering natural gas as well as geopolitical tensions ages, new monetary policy frame- the time comes to tighten mon- Reserve said it could start wind- and has roughly tripled its bal- supplies from revolutionary Egypt have weighed on confidence and works, and financial deepening. etary policy, the International ing down its massive stimulus ance sheet to about $3.7 trillion. and a flood of refugees crossing economic activity in the Middle Adequate staffing and financial Monetary Fund’s steering panel program by year end. In the last year, it has been pump- the border from war-torn Syria. East region. In many instances, resources are necessary for the said yesterday. The pain was felt most severely ing $85bn into the US financial The loan represents “excep- fiscal consolidation plans have had Fund to effectively carry out its The panel acknowledged that in developing countries as the system each month through bond tional access” to the Fund’s to proceed slowly to take account mandate”. the ultra-accommodative policies gusher of cheap dollars that had purchases. resources, amounting to 800 per- of pressing social demands. On the Fund’s Quota Formula, first embraced by the US Federal poured into their economies dried While emerging markets’ pace cent of Jordan’s financial commit- “The time needed to build up the 13-member Group said: “We Reserve and other major central up, sparking a sharp slide in stock of growth has slowed of late, the ment to the institution. Kostial domestic consensus and gain remain opposed to an increase in banks during the 2007-2009 crisis prices and currencies and pushing IMF still expects expansion in said the flood of Syrian refugees public support has necessarily the weight of GDP in the quota have supported world growth and up local interest rates. these countries to account for “the pushed up Jordan’s unemploy- delayed the implementation of formula, as this would further remain appropriate. “Global financial stability is bulk of global growth.” ment rate to 14 percent in the some reforms. However, despite erode the representation of the But as growth strengthens, a shared responsibility,” said But policy makers from Jakarta quarter ending in September. exceptionally difficult socio- majority of Economically More the shift to a more normal policy Ewald Nowotny, a member of to Sao Paulo feel vulnerable in the She said the IMF has cut Jordan political environment, a number developed Countries (EMDC) stance should be “well-timed, the European Central Bank’s current environment, particularly some slack in the program’s targets of Arab countries in transition and the smallest Low Income carefully calibrated and clearly Governing Council. “The Fed those dependent on foreign capital to accommodate the increasingly have embarked on fiscal consoli- Countries (LICs). communicated,” the International should therefore clearly communi- inflows to finance budget deficits. difficult external shocks. dation in view of the pressures of THE PENINSULA Monetary and Financial cate the path of its intended policy AFP AFP
Tesla’s market value soars Egypt tenders for floating China overtakes the US as LNG terminal world’s top crude importer CAIRO: State-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company SINGAPORE/BEIJING: Singapore. “From a nation’s point they purchase for domestic refin- (EGAS) has issued a tender for China is set to ramp up acqui- of view, they have a supply secu- ing needs,” said a trading official a floating storage and regasifica- sitions of overseas oil and gas rity agenda, but from the view familiar with China’s crude oil tion unit (FSRU) which it hopes companies to feed its soaring of Chinese companies, they are procurement strategies. to use by next April, EGAS’s growth in energy demand as the interested to grow themselves “When making overseas acqui- deputy chairman told Reuters. country overtakes the United into empires.” sitions, they sometimes build An FSRU is a floating terminal States as the world’s top net oil Difficulties in boosting domes- refineries as a back-up to secure used to import liquefied natural importer. tic output have led Chinese com- oil and gas blocks, allowing them gas (LNG). The tender was issued Decades of breakneck eco- panies, including China National flexibility to take either crude last week, Khaled Abdel Badie nomic growth pushed China to Offshore Oil Co (CNOOC) and oil or refined fuel, or engage in a told Reuters by telephone, with- the top ranking in September, Sinopec, to spend more than $100 series of swap deals.” out giving further details. the US Energy Information billion since 2009 on oil and gas The EIA figures show that “We are renting it,” Abdel Administration (EIA) said in a assets to boost imports, Thomson China’s oil consumption out- Badie said. “It is expected to be report this week, a position it is Reuters data shows. stripped its output by 6.3 mil- used by next April. We hope so. It set to keep through 2014. CNOOC aims to double its lion barrels per day (b/d) in depends on the offers.” Egypt can China, already the world’s top annual oil and gas output to 120 September, implying the dif- export LNG but cannot import it importer of a number of com- million tonnes of oil equivalent ference is import demand. The without such a terminal, of which modities, has led worldwide oil from 60 million tonnes, or 2.6 equivalent US gap was 6.13m b/d. there is a global shortage. demand growth for a good part of million barrels per day, by 2020 The drop in US dependence on Buffeted by political and eco- the past decade, keeping oil prices and to 180 million tonnes by 2030. foreign oil has come from several nomic turmoil since the over- elevated even as weak Western Beijing has also spent billions fronts. New technologies such as throw of longtime leader Hosni economies and rising shale output via subsidised lending and aid to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, Mubarak in 2011, Egypt has in the United States reduce global secure oil and gas in Africa and have led to a boom in oil produc- struggled to find cash for energy consumption. South America. While China does tion that has reversed a decades- imports, deepening fuel shortages The long-expected shift may not bring all the oil from its over- long slide in U.S. output. and causing frequent power cuts. further strengthen China’s seas assets back home, access to US output has jumped by 2.8m Prime Minister Hazem El A Tesla Model S electric car is shown for sale at a Tesla store in a position in oil markets as East the fields gives Beijing security b/d since 2008, recently topping Beblawi said last month that Egypt shopping mall in La Jolla, California. Tesla’s market value has soared Asia exerts an increasing influ- of supplies and allows it to better 7.8m b/d, a level not seen since was close to agreeing a schedule for 470 percent this year to $23bn, driven largely by investors’ enthusiasm ence in global trade. “Growing plan its import targets. 1989, according to EIA data. repaying $6bn in outstanding debt imports is going to be a driver “State traders Unipec and Imports of foreign crude have cor- over the company’s future prospects. to foreign oil companies. for acquisitions,” said Alex Yap, Chinaoil are trading more in the respondingly dropped off. REUTERS an energy consultant at FGE in global market than the amount REUTERS SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS US deadlock could impact dollar’s credibility A default on US govt debt would be catastrophic for the US and world economy, says QNB Group
DOHA: The current political government services were not ceilings need to be increased by spending would mean reneging deadlock over the US budget approved by October 1, the start of law each time US government on its other obligations, including and debt ceiling could impact the new fiscal year. Once Congress debt approaches the ceiling in social security, medical payments, the credibility of the US dollar, fails to appropriate funds, the US order to avoid default. military deployments and food according to QNB Group. The government has to shutdown (with The US Treasury reached the stamps. A large portion of the US US administration began a par- the exception of essential services) current debt ceiling of $16.7 tril- economy would therefore grind to tial government shutdown after as it is unable to pay for its employ- lion on May 19, 2013. Since then it a halt. For the world economy, it Congress failed to agree on a ees or goods and services. has temporarily cut its borrowing would imply a loss of the reserve new budget by October 1, 2013. Government shutdowns are dis- from various internal accounts, currency that anchors the glo- As a result, more than 800,000 ruptive but not uncommon in the using the resulting room to keep bal financial system, with severe non-essential federal employ- US, as they have been used in the issuing US Treasury bonds and instability in exchange and bond ees (out of 2.1 million) are fac- past to force either political party bills. However, the US Treasury markets. This would inevitably ing unpaid leave. In addition, the to concede on key policy measures. has warned that it will have to result in a sharp global recession. deadline of October 17, 2013 to The last US government shut- default on US government debt In light of these catastrophic increase the US debt ceiling in down occurred in 1996, when the unless Congress raises the ceiling consequences, QNB Group order to avoid an unprecedented Republican-led Congress unsuc- by October 17 2013. expects that Congress will pass default on US government debt is cessfully sought to force president A default on US government a new budget and increase the fast approaching. Clinton to cut Medicare, education, debt would be catastrophic for the debt ceiling in the coming days. According to QNB Group, the and environmental programmes. US and world economy. Ratings Nevertheless, the political deadlock likelihood that this political dead- The economic impact of a gov- agencies would automatically over the last couple of weeks has lock continues past the October 17 ernment shutdown is estimated need to classify all US government created an atmosphere of uncer- deadline is small, given its cata- to be small (in the range of 0.1 debt in default. This would force tainty that could affect confidence, strophic implications for the US percent-0.3 percent of GDP) and institutional investors around the investment and growth in the US. and the world economy. However, likely to be temporary as the even- world, including central banks, to More importantly, the cred- the credibility of the US dollar as tual approval of the budget will sell their holdings of US govern- ibility of the US dollar as the the world reserve currency could restore all the functions of the US ment bonds, as they have statu- world’s reserve currency could be be tarnished. government. tory requirements to hold only affected, as global investors seek The political deadlock over the The political deadlock over the investment- grade assets. to mitigate the risk of a future US budget is likely to have a small US debt ceiling is different and The US government would political deadlock. Overall, with- and temporary effect on US eco- significantly more dangerous. then no longer be able to rollo- out political collective commit- nomic growth. The lack of a politi- Congress has placed a ceiling ver a large portion of its debt, let ment, it is unlikely that the US cal compromise over the US budget on how much debt the Treasury alone issue new ones. For the US dollar will continue to remain the has meant that the correspond- can issue since 1917 in order to economy, the lack of debt instru- world’s reserve currency. ing appropriations for various impart fiscal discipline. These ments to finance government THE PENINSULA
PSA in capital hike talks with Dongfeng, France
PARIS: PSA Peugeot Citroen is elaborate. “None of these plans preparing a ¤3bn ($4.1bn) capi- have yet reached an advanced tal increase in which Chinese stage.” partner Dongfeng and the The French finance ministry French government would take declined to comment. Dongfeng matching stakes in the car- officials were not immediately maker, people with knowledge available out of office hours. of the matter said on Friday. Part of the new capital would A French delegation of execu- be raised through a rights issue tives, government officials and in which the Peugeot fam- bankers is heading to China for ily would sell new stock to the talks to prepare an outline for a French government, the sources deal that could be signed within said. The remainder would be weeks, three sources said. raised in a reserved capital They asked not to be identified increase. because the negotiations are con- The 3 billion euro cash injection fidential. Under the draft agree- would amount to 68 percent of the ment, which Peugeot hopes to French carmaker’s ¤4.39bn mar- conclude this year, state-owned ket value. It would be worth about Dongfeng Motor Co Ltd and the 40 percent of the new share capi- French government would each tal and also dilute the 7 percent contribute ¤1.5bn and acquire 20 stake held by General Motors Co . Officials posing for a group picture at the Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets 2013. to 30 percent of the carmaker, the Paris-based Peugeot, which is people said. slashing jobs and plant capacity, The Peugeot family would lose entered an alliance with GM last Msheireb Properties wins Sustainability award control of the company because year and sold a stake to the U.S. the cash injection would dilute its carmaker in a 1 billion euro capi- 25.4 percent stake and 38.1 per- tal increase. DOHA: Msheireb Properties, H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, under the LEED certification sys- solar panels and the efficient cent in voting rights. The Peugeot family indicated Qatar’s leading sustainable real Chairperson of Msheireb tem meaning MDD will have the use of water and electricity. By The capital increase would be it was ready to give up control as estate developer, has won the Properties, MDD is the world’s highest concentration of LEED using these methods, Msheireb accompanied by an expansion of the company carried out initial award for Sustainability for first sustainable regeneration of a certified buildings in the world. Properties is aiming to reduce DPCA, the Peugeot-Dongfeng soundings on a Dongfeng tie-up, its flagship project Msheireb downtown area in an urban envi- “We are extremely proud to energy consumption in Msheireb joint venture in China, adding while attempting to revive talks Downtown Doha at the ronment. The aim of the project is be recognised for the pioneering Downtown Doha by 32 percent more Peugeot vehicles and tech- on a deeper alliance with GM. Cityscape Awards for Emerging to revive the old commercial dis- work we are currently undertak- once the project is complete. nology to target other markets in The future of that pairing Markets 2013. trict by recapturing Qatar’s herit- ing in the field of sustainability. Msheireb Properties has also the region, the sources said. could be affected by Dongfeng’s Facing strong competition, age and architectural traditions. We hope that the project will pro- won the awards for Sustainable Peugeot, among the worst casu- level of influence over Peugeot in Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) MDD is low-rise, pedestrian ori- vide an inspiration to other cities Project of the Year and alties of a six-year European car any expanded partnership, GM won the award based on a number ented, energy efficient, generates around the world on how to blend Sustainability Initiative of the sales slump, is seeking more coop- Vice-Chairman Steve Girsky told of criteria, including innovation, less waste, effective and emits innovative design that is inspired Year Award during a celebratory eration with Dongfeng or another Reuters last month. strategy of the project, design, fewer greenhouse gases, making by the past with the latest in sus- evening at the Construction Week automaker as it struggles to cut Earlier this week, China quality and sensitivity to the sur- it a model for urban regeneration. tainable solutions” said Abdulla Qatar 2013 Awards, in an event costs and losses that have threat- Business News reported that rounding environment and com- When complete, the 31-hec- Al Mehshadi, CEO of Msheireb held recently in Doha. ened its survival. Dongfeng might pay ¤1.2bn for a munity. The elite judging panel also tare mixed use development will Properties. The Cityscape Awards for “Peugeot confirms it is study- 30 percent Peugeot stake. Chief selected Msheireb Properties for comprise more than 100 buildings, Sustainable principles have Emerging Markets were estab- ing new industrial and com- Executive Philippe Varin said in its creative approach of addressing with dedicated areas for commer- been fully integrated into MDD’s lished to recognise design vision- mercial projects with different July that Peugeot was on track the present and future needs of the cial, residential, retail, cultural design: the preservation of exist- aries and pioneering projects partners, as well as the financing to beat its 2013 goal of halving its community, environmental conser- offerings and entertainment. All ing heritage sites, the use of in the field of international to accompany them,” a company industrial cash burn to 1.5 billion. vation and future sustainability. buildings in the development will natural light and ventilation, development. spokesman said, declining to REUTERS Inspired by the vision of H target an average Gold rating the installation of photovoltaic THE PENINSULA
Syria maintains Index drops due to fall in stock prices in five sectors spending in BY BASHER KAHLOUT them rose and others index and all-share indices the highest rise of 4.84 percent, 2014 budget dropped. The total capi- was a reflection of the fall in followed by the share price of RADING on the Qatari talisation also remained all stock prices in the five sec- General Insurance Company, BEIRUT: Syria’s government bourse last week, the relatively stable, with a tors and rise in two sectors. which rose by 2.81 percent. The has agreed a 2014 budget of 1.39 week before the Eid Al limited drop of QR1.6bn, The telecommunications sec- total trading volume dropped by trillion pounds ($8.18bn), state TAdha vacation, saw a to QR528.5bn. tor dropped by 1.86 percent 12 percent to reach QR1.06bn, and news agency SANA said yester- pullback compared to the pre- The week saw disclo- and transportation lost 1.27 daily trading average decreased day, a marginal increase on this vious week as the total trading sure of results of seven percent. While the real estate to QR212.2m compared with year’s spending despite the eco- value dropped for the third con- companies for the first sector dropped 0.74 percent, QR254.8m the previous week. nomic devastation wrought by secutive week by16.7 percent to nine months of the year, the banking and financial The total trading value of six more than two years of civil war. QR1.06bn. which showed decrease services sector dropped 0.29 companies amounted to QR484m The agency gave no break- The benchmark index dropped in profit of National percent and the consumer accounting for 45.6 percent of the down of spending, which it said on four days in the week and Leasing, and Nakilat while the level, attention remained tight goods and services fell 0.06 per- total. The Investors Group led the was 7bn pounds higher than the rose on one day in the middle of profits of the other five companies towards the rise in the debt-ceiling cent. The insurance sector and trading value by QR107.3m, fol- 2013 budget, but it quoted Prime the week leading to a decline of rose, where QNB and Investors crisis in the United States. industrial stocks lost 0.71 percent lowed by Barwa which reached Minister Wael Al Halki as saying 40.5 points to 9720.5 points. That Group recorded the highest prof- Looking at the breakdown of and 0.41 percent, respectively. to QR81.5m. The trading value of it would focus spending on educa- index could not progress towards its. In addition, there was some these developments during the The shares of the National QNB reached QR78.5m. The total tion, health and agriculture sec- the resistance level at 9800 points, news about companies includ- week, the index dropped by 40.5 Leasing Company showed the market capitalisation decreased by tors. Syria’s civil war has ruined but stood above the support level ing Al Meera, Gulf International, points, which is 0.42 percent, to sharpest fall at 9.41 percent, fol- about QR1.6bn to reach QR528.5bn the country’s economy, causing of 9700. As all-shares indexes Doha Bank, which their respective 9720.5 points, and all-share indi- lowed by Nakilat, Dlala, Ooredoo, by the end of last week. The Qatari tens of billions of dollars of dam- dropped by 6.6 points, and the Boards of Directors recommend- ces decreased by about 6.6 points, International Islamic, National institutional investors sold out age and depriving it of crucial performance of other sector ing issuing long-term capital bonds or 0.27percent, to 2445.5 points. Cement and QIB. stocks worth QR56.4m. tourism and oil export revenues. indices was mixed, as some of worth QR2bn. At the international The reduction in the general Gulf International showed THE PENINSULA REUTERS SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19
Empower inks North Sea oil $142m deal with Doha Bank output to rise DOHA: Empower, the leading district cooling service pro- vider in the Middle East, has secured a $142m loan facility from Doha Bank which is the by 17pc in Nov third largest private commer- cial bank in Qatar. The loan facility is structured on a five-year plan and will enable Downward pressure on prices likely Empower to fund its expansion plans in Business Bay and also LONDON: North Sea oil out- North Cormorant platform is its other planned projects across put tracked by Reuters will rise likely to be complete. The planned Dubai. by 17 percent in November from maintenance was expected to “Empower is pleased to have October to a 2013 high, poten- interrupt production from the this financing facility from Doha tially putting downward pres- Causeway and Cormorant East Bank. This loan will help us in sure on prices. oil fields for about six weeks from pursuing our strategy of financ- Although most European refin- early September. ing projects through an optimum eries are scheduled to emerge Together, the four North Sea mix of debt and equity to max- from seasonal maintenance by crude streams that underpin imise our shareholder returns,” November, poor margins may the Brent benchmark will pump said Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, encourage some to remain idle or 980,000 b/d next month, including Empower. Officials pose for a picture after the signing ceremony. resort to run cuts, market partici- two delayed Ekofisk cargoes from “Empower has adopted a busi- pants said. October. ness model that works on the basis will have an ultimate capacity of with Green Building principles. we see the potential to grow with “Run cuts and maintenance Norwegian and Danish streams of investing in plants and network 45,000 RT when complete in mid- “We are pleased to have the Empower in terms of cross sell- are happening all over Europe such as DUC, Gullfaks, Statfjord, infrastructure driven by actual 2014. This plant is expected to opportunity to help finance ing our financial products and and Asia along with refinery Troll and Asgard will also load demand,” Bin Shafar added. meet the rise in cooling demand in Empower’s future growth. Doha support their long term financial glitches in the United States,” a more. The loading programme Empower is currently devel- the Business Bay area. It will also Bank is committed to supporting needs,” said Dr R Seetharaman, trader said. But others pointed for Flotta, the smallest stream oping its second district cool- be the first district cooling plant the wider business community CEO of Doha Bank. to uncertainties around a dis- tracked by Reuters, has not yet ing plant in Business Bay which in the region to be built in line in the UAE and for this reason, THE PENINSULA pute at Grangemouth refinery emerged. in Scotland, where a strike could Given the poor outlook for the ultimately impact flows through refining sector in Europe, traders the Forties pipeline. said the extra volumes could put “It’s very binary right now,” one downward pressure on differen- trader said. “If all goes accord- tials and Brent crude oil futures. ing to plan it will be higher, but “It’s plenty as refineries are World Bank to cut costs, bureaucracy Grangemouth would be a huge extending maintenance where shock if it materialised.” they can due to awful margins,” WASHINGTON: World Bank rumours within the bank that he innovative solutions, capture we’ll look across our entire insti- Output from 11 of the main one trader said. President Jim Yong Kim on plans to make sharp cuts to its best practices, and share lessons tution and offer the most up- British and Norwegian crude Even though European refin- Friday announced a programme 10,000 staff. of success and failure widely and to-date, state-of-the-art global streams will average 2.109 million eries are in the midst of autumn to slash costs and reduce bureauc- Kim said the Bank’s clients quickly as possible.” knowledge and experience, with barrels per day (b/d) in November, maintenance and margins racy at the huge development — mostly poor and emerging He described a Bank that a deep bench of experts who know according to loading schedules should be relatively healthy, a organisation that is expected to economies which need its advice, had become compartmentalised what has worked and what hasn’t and trading sources, up from Rotterdam-based refiner crack- result in significant layoffs. funding for basic infrastructure, along regional lines — which he in all regions of the world.” 1.802m b/d in October. ing Brent is currently only mak- Kim said the Bank would seek and other supports — had come branded “silos” — that prevented “We’re committed to being This level exceeds February’s ing about $1 a barrel, according to reduce annual costs by $400 to see it as overly complex and one area’s expertise from being a partner that will be easier to 2.082m barrels, the previous 2013 to Reuters’ data. million a year, restructuring to bureaucratic, and were turning available to another. work with.” He said that the Bank high, and reflects the fact that sev- This is down from $6.64 a bar- reduce compartmentalisation and away from it. He said he planned to restruc- aimed to achieve a reduction in eral Norwegian fields are expected rel in June, and reflects heavy cut bureaucracy, to better deliver “That should never happen,” ture the Bank into groupings of annual costs of $400m a year over to pump more as they return from competition from US refiners bank services in its fight against he told the opening session of the technical experts, by their spe- the next three years. That would seasonal maintenance. who have stepped up exports to poverty and underdevelopment. annual World Bank/ International cialities, who can deliver their be done by addressing staffing lev- Brent itself is expected to load Europe and West Africa, eroding He also said the Bank would Monetary Fund meeting. knowledge anywhere in the world. els, simplifying the bureaucracy, 140,000 b/d, up from 97,000 b/d in European refiners’ market share. “strategically review our staff- “A development institution, “Under our new organisational and reducing costs from travel October as maintenance on Taqa’s REUTERS ing,” seeming to confirm recent like a business, needs to find model, when you ask us for help, and facilities, he said. AFP Cadillac plug-in set for Jan debut
DETROIT: General Motors Co the top-selling pure electric cars. of the similarly priced Tesla and will go head to head with elec- The four-door Model S starts at hopes to follow that car’s lead. But tric car maker Tesla Motors $70,000. Given the price cuts GM I’m not sure that level of enthu- Inc starting in January, when and other carmakers have put siasm, and pricing, will transfer a plug-in version of its luxury in place for their electric cars in to the ELR.” Cadillac brand will go on sale. recent months, analysts are unsure The ELR is likely only the first GM said that its 2014 Cadillac whether the US automaker has step for GM in offering more lux- ELR plug-in coupe will have a realistic expectations for the new urious electric cars. Doug Parks, starting price of almost $76,000 Cadillac. GM cut the Volt’s price by the deputy for global product including delivery fees — putting $5,000 to $35,000 in August. development, said last month that it in competition with the similarly “The ELR makes a much bolder GM would look at doing other EVs priced Tesla Model S Federal tax luxury and style statement than in the $100,000-plus price range. credits could reduce the cost of the the Volt,” Kelley Blue Book ana- GM previously said the ELR will ELR to consumers by up to $7,500. lyst Karl Brauer said. “That cer- be sold overseas, including the crit- GM said the two-door ELR will tainly justifies a higher price point ical Chinese market, later in 2014. be available nationally, unlike the for the ELR, but Cadillac can’t Company executives have empha- Chevrolet Volt, which was rolled deny the pricing reality we’ve sized that ELR will be a low sales- out first in select markets. Similar seen with other advanced hybrid volume car. Production of the ELR to the Volt, the ELR has an elec- and electric vehicles. is set to begin later this year at the tric driving range of about 35 “Consumers have traditionally company’s Detroit-Hamtramck miles on the highway and a gaso- balked at the price premium these assembly plant, where the Volt is line engine for extended range cars require over equivalent, built. The ELR’s introduction is that gives it a total driving range non-hybrid vehicles, and this has part of an expected product blitz by of more than 300 miles. forced a wave of price reductions,” GM’s luxury brand, as the Detroit The ELR will bring GM in he added. “Will a $75,000 ELR company may double its Cadillac more direct competition with break this pattern? Cadillac is offerings over the next four years. Tesla’s all-electric Model S, one of undoubtedly watching the success REUTERS
Classic cars challenge
Journalists take pictures of a classic car as it starts off from the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing as part of the Classic Cars Challenge China yesterday. Their classic car tour in China will end after 12 days in Shanghai. SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Mixed fortunes for commodities markets Gold sinks to new three-month low at $1,260.60 per ounce; cocoa hits two-year highs, but coffee declines
LONDON: Commodity mar- pressure owing to worries about while silver hit the lowest level industrial metals mostly posted COCOA: Prices forged two-year said Price Futures Group ana- kets saw mixed fortunes this a US supply glut. since early October. Platinum gains, winning support from US peaks, driven by keen Western lyst Jack Scoville. By Friday on week, but Brent oil hit a one- “Oil prices rose to a four-week prices dived on Friday to $1,362.35 debt deal hopes and upbeat Alcoa demand for the commodity that is NYBOT-ICE, Arabica for delivery month peak on hopes of a deal high of $112 per barrel yester- per ounce, touching a level last results. Aluminum producer mainly used to produce chocolate. in December decreased to 114.90 that would resolve the US day (Thursday) on the back of seen on July 10, on upbeat news Alcoa said on Tuesday that it London cocoa on Friday hit £1,777 US cents a pound from 115.70 budget gridlock and avoid a Middle Eastern concerns allied to from key producer South Africa. swung to profitability in the third per tonne, which was the highest cents a week earlier. On LIFFE, damaging default. Gold prices, progress being made between the Mining giant Anglo American quarter on the strength of lower level since late September 2011. Robusta for November eased to in contrast, touched a three- Republicans and Democrats over a Platinum said on Thursday that costs and despite lower metals And in New York, cocoa surged $1,723 a tonne from $1,729. month low as the prospect of deal to end the political stalemate workers at its South African prices in the period. to $2,740 per tonne, a point last SUGAR: London prices struck a US deal weighed on investor in the United States,” said Inenco mines have ended an almost two Alcoa said profits for the quar- reached in November of the a six-month pinnacle at $508.90, demand for the safe-haven pre- analyst Gary Hornby. week strike over job cuts after ter ended September 30 came in same year. By Friday on LIFFE, as traders eyed expectations of cious metal, dealers said. Prices tailed off towards reaching a settlement. The world’s at $24m on revenues of $5.77bn, London’s futures exchange, cocoa tight supplies in major producer OIL: Brent crude oil on the end of the week as Opec top platinum producer said it had compared with a loss of $143m on for delivery in December soared Brazil. Thursday hit a one-month peak trimmed its oil demand predic- lost about 44,000 platinum ounces revenues of $5.83bn a year earlier. to £1,773 a tonne from £1,672 a By Friday on NYBOT-ICE, the at $112 per barrel, propelled by tions. By Friday on London’s since the beginning of the strike By Friday on the London Metal week earlier. price of unrefined sugar for deliv- hopes of a US budget deal and Intercontinental Exchange, late last month. Exchange, copper for delivery in On New York’s NYBOT-ICE ery in March grew to 18.78 US simmering Middle East tensions. Brent North Sea crude for By late Friday on the London three months fell to $7,167.75 exchange, cocoa for December cents a pound from 18.53 cents Markets rallied in response to a delivery in November jumped to Bullion Market, the price of gold a tonne from $7,190.50 a week jumped to $2,734 a tonne from a week earlier. On LIFFE, the Republican proposal to offer a six- $111.39 per barrel from $109.06 dropped to $1,265.50 an ounce earlier. Three-month alumin- $2,587 a week earlier. price of a tonne of white sugar for week extension of US borrowing a week earlier. from $1,309.75 a week earlier. ium rose to $1,886 a tonne from COFFEE: Prices dipped on December rose to $507.20 from authority, with less than a week On the New York Mercantile Silver edged down to $21.52 an $1,821.50. Three-month lead expectations of plentiful supplies $491.40. before the government is expected Exchange, West Texas ounce from $21.65. increased to $2,097.25 a tonne from key producer Vietnam, RUBBER: Prices rebounded on to run out of cash to pay its bills Intermediate or light sweet crude On the London Platinum and from $2,055.50. Three-month tin but the market remains above positive sentiment, dealers said. on October 17. for November eased to $102.94 a Palladium Market, platinum gained to $23,345 a tonne from the multi-year lows struck last The Malaysian Rubber Board’s The White House said that barrel from $103.53 a week earlier. slipped to $1,369 an ounce from $22,900. Three-month nickel rose month. benchmark SMR20 rose to 235.65 Obama would be open to a short- PRECIOUS METALS: Gold $1,386. Palladium firmed to $712 to $13,840 a tonne from $13,590. “Traders there are waiting for US cents a kilo from 231.75 cents term debt ceiling hike. But ana- sank to a new three-month an ounce from $706. Three-month zinc climbed to Vietnam to harvest and sell, but the previous week. lysts said oil markets were under trough at $1,260.60 per ounce, BASE METALS: Base or $1,912.50 a tonne from $1,865.25. that is still a few weeks away,” AFP
EU warns against delay in IMF urged talks on banking union to assess
FRANKFURT: Europe should “We have to find a solution now. exchange not delay signing off on a scheme The next financial crisis is not going for salvaging or shutting failing to wait for us,” he said, adding that banks until it has changed basic he was open to compromise on the rates EU law, the European Union’s top shape of a deal. regulatory official said on Friday in Barnier’s remarks come days WASHINGTON: The a veiled criticism of Germany. after his offer to resolve another United States urged the Speaking in the country’s financial German concern about the scheme International Monetary centre, Frankfurt, Michel Barnier to tackle failed banks was slapped Fund to assess exchange underscored the need for swift down by Germany’s finance minister, rates and government’s action in finalising plans to close or Wolfgang Schaeuble. interventions in the salvage failed banks — a crucial pillar In its blueprint, the European exchange market, point- in a framework to jointly deal with Commission has suggested that it ing to China’s controls stressed lenders across the eurozone. has a role in shutting down an ailing on the yuan. Germany, whose support for the bank — a proposal that has irritated Lew said in a statement banking union is critical because of Germany, which wants to keep more to the IMF’s steering its economic strength, has called for national autonomy. board, the International changes to the EU treaty or basic Barnier, who is in charge of writing Monetary and Financial law to underpin the project in the financial regulation, earlier this week Committee, that world long term. It is a demand that some offered a compromise by saying that growth is still being held diplomats fear is a tactic to hold up a any role for the Commission could back by insufficient expan- project that Berlin fears could leave it be temporary. But Germany imme- sion of domestic demand in A cargo ship berthing at Rizhao port in Rizhao, east China’s Shandong province. An unexpected drop in exports on the hook for failed banks in Spain diately rejected that idea. countries that run strong led to China’s trade surplus narrowing to a disappointing $15.2bn in September from $28.6bn in August, customs and elsewhere. The first leg of banking union, seen trade and capital surpluses. figures showed yesterday. “We need an agreement now and we by many as Europe’s most ambitious “It is not enough for can’t wait for a new treaty,” Barnier scheme since the start of the single domestic demand growth told journalists, adding that in the long currency, is established next year when to rise in surplus countries. term, such a change to the EU’s basic the European Central Bank takes on Rather, domestic demand China’s September exports fall law “will be a good thing to make this supervision of at least 130 big banks. growth must exceed GDP system more solid and more precise”. REUTERS growth,” he said. Lew said BEIJING: An unexpected drop in the middle of the month this $169.4bn, up 14.4 percent, the one issue involved in boost- in exports led to China’s trade year, whereas it fell on the last figures showed. The three-quar- ing domestic consumption surplus narrowing to a disap- day of the month in 2012,” ANZ terly figures were described as “a in surplus countries — the pointing $15.2bn in September analysts said in a research note. trend of low, yet stable growth” leading one of which is from $28.6bn in August, cus- “The strong RMB has eroded by Zheng Yuesheng, an official at China — is moving toward toms figures showed yesterday. China’s export competitive- China’s General Administration market-set exchange rates. Exports fell 0.3 percent year- ness as well,” it added. China’s of Customs. He said a “top priority” on-year to $185.64bn last month, Mid-Autumn Festival fell from “Trade with the EU and Japan of the IMF should be to while imports increased 7.4 per- September 19 to September 21 this suggested upward momentum, as assess progress by mem- cent to $170.44bn, the figures said. year, while in 2012 the holiday ran the trade with the US and Asean bers of the G20 group of The statistics could signal from September 30 into October. (the Association of Southeast leading economies toward potential headwind for the world’s China’s trade performance is Asian Nations) continued to their commitments to number two economy, which relies a key element of the country’s climb,” he added. China is com- market-determined heavily on global demand for its economic growth figures, the lat- ing off its worst annual economic exchange rates. That prior- products. est of which for the third quarter performance since 1999 after ity “should include assess- Exports in August jumped 7.2 through September are due for gross domestic product managed ments of exchange rates percent year-on-year to $190.7bn. release next Friday. an expansion of just 7.7 percent and intervention,” he said. The positive figures had led ana- A string of strong data in recent last year. “We encourage all IMF lysts to point to optimism in months, including for exports and Authorities, however, say members to be transpar- China’s economy. However, the industrial output, have suggested weaker growth is in line with ent with respect to foreign September trade result was worse quarterly growth may acceler- their desire to shift the country’s exchange intervention and than expected, with a survey of ate, spurring optimism following economic growth model toward reserves composition.” nine analysts surveyed by Dow a surprise downturn during the what they see as slower and more China specifically, he Jones Newswires forecasting a first half of the year. sustainable private-led demand said, needs “further efforts” trade surplus of $27bn. For the first nine months rather than previously popular to shift to higher growth in Analysts say China’s national of the year, exports increased credit-fuelled state-driven invest- domestic consumption and holidays falling in September, eight percent to $1.61 trillion, ment projects. The IMF forecast less dependence on export- along with a strong local cur- while imports increased 7.3 per- that China’s economy would grow led growth. rency, could have stalled exports. cent to $1.45 trillion. The trade 7.6 percent this year. AFP “The mid-autumn holidays fell surplus for the period stood at AFP Shale oil boom fuels Argentina’s dreams BUENOS AIRES: Argentina is invest- operation about 200 unconventional wells in But it’s not just pipe dreams. It’s already ing heavily in shale oil, hoping to ride it the Loma la Lata, Vaca Muerta area every in the pipelines. “Developing our unconven- to energy self-sufficiency and end depend- year. It plans to spend $15bn in a decade, tional resources is our top challenge... and ence on imports that cost billions of dol- reaching 1,500-2,000 of these wells. the key to our oil and gas independence,” lars each year. “With just two of these areas of 2,000 wells YPF, brought back under state control in Argentina is a pioneer in shale oil explo- each, Argentina can fully meet its domestic 2012 when it was expropriated from Spain’s ration and now the third biggest producer oil demand, and even have some left over to energy giant Repsol, states on its website. of it after China and the United States, export,” said Pablo Iuliano, YPF’s unconven- The reserve area YPF is working in at Vaca according to US figures. tional oil manager. An Argentine-Chinese Muerta is 77 percent oil and the rest natural Its state oil concern YPF two years ago group called Bridas said that it will invest gas, according to the company. While the vol- started production at Loma la Lata, a wind- $500m to explore for shale oil in Vaca Muerta. ume may not be massive, Argentina is a mid- swept Patagonian plain under which lies All this is music to the ears of the sized economy with just 42 million people. In clay-rich soil that contains shale oil. It is Argentine government. The country spent July, YPF was producing about 8,000 barrels part of a larger shale-rich expanse called more than $11bn on oil imports in 2011, and of unconventional oil per day. Vaca Muerta, or dead cow. the total is expected to soar to $13bn this YPF expects to increase production to To produce it for market, unconven- year. Energy reserves that lie below Vaca 17,000 bpd later this year, 38,000 bpd in tional oil requires the same hydraulic frac- Muerta — in the provinces of Neuquen and 2014 and 60,000 the following year. By 2017, turing (“fracking”) and horizontal drilling Mendoza — have become the country’s great authorities hope Argentina will be produc- techniques as shale gas. And now, YPF is hope for turning around its energy sector, ing 100,000 b/d, as well as 13 million cubic using its shale oil know-how to speed into and achieving a trade surplus. meters a day in natural gas. AFP SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21
Questions Yellen will likely The debt deal and the face for Fed confirmation BY ALISTER BULL risk-eating zombies S lawmakers unhappy with the Federal Reserve will have a prime opportunity to vent their concerns when BY JAMES SAFT maybe even, oh, I don’t know, in November, be an element here in which the financial the Senate Banking Committee vets Janet Yellen as next the two sides won’t be able to reach an markets, filled with people who imagine Uchair of the Fed, which has become a lightning rod for s if they weren’t already risk- agreement and the US will, in some form, themselves to be rational, can’t quite grasp criticism of policy activism. eating zombies, investors are default. the motivations of the true believers on Nominated by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Yellen being further conditioned to For reasons well explained elsewhere, the right wing of the Republican Party. immediately reinforced views that she is a monetary “dove” by close their eyes and buy. that would be a major disaster, and one cen- They may see this as being a negotiation, noting the central bank’s duty to serve the needs of all Americans House Republicans proposed tred in financial markets, where a series of which they do all the time, rather than in remarks at a White House ceremony. Aa short-term plan to extend the US borrow- defaults and forced sales would hammer all a stand, something with which they may Obama picked Yellen to replace Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, ing limit by six weeks, a move which would risk assets. It would also mean an instant not be familiar. whose term expires on January 31. But she must first be vetted avert, at least for the time being, a default recession, and probably a pretty deep one. There is also the fact that they have by the banking panel, where Democrats occupy 12 of the 20 seats. on US debt. A relaxed attitude about the Washington been, for more than a decade and a half, While the math is in her favour — Democrats control the US The deal, which would run through follies also ignores the real harm being conditioned to expect the Fed and other Senate and need to pick up only six Republican votes to clear any November 22, just before Thanksgiving, done on Main St. Polls from Gallup and authorities to pull their fat behinds from procedural roadblocks and secure her nomination — that doesn’t would not end the 10-day-old government Rasmussen show consumer confidence the fire. It started with Long-term Capital mean she will not have to endure some tough questions. shutdown, but would shelter the economy falling sharply. On Gallup’s measure, eco- Management in 1997 and continued Here is a sample of what to expect: and financial markets from the carnage that nomic confidence fell by the most last week through the non-taper last month, which Senate Republicans, deeply sceptical of an unprecedented five a US default would bring. since the week after the collapse of Lehman was partially justified as a means of pro- years of ultra-easy monetary policy, will be eager to ask about an That was enough to send the S&P 500 up Brothers in 2008. Does that sound like the viding insurance against the debt stand- end to the Fed’s bond buying, which has roughly quadrupled its by more than two percent, lead to a rally in backdrop for a mild loss in risk assets? off. Time and again since 1997, it has been balance sheet to around $3.7trn. the dollar and leave the Dow Jones indus- To be sure, some of today’s rally was short in money managers’ best interests to play They will also want to know how soon she thinks the Fed might trial average just a few points below where covering, and perhaps we’ll see some losses the momentum game. To eat, rather than raise interest rates, held near zero since late 2008, and how high it was before the shutdown began. tomorrow. And of course the deal is not yet evaluate, risk. inflation can go before it does harm. Of course, no one ever believed in a default. done, and perhaps if it founders or is delayed And it is hard, at least in the short term, Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, another Republican who That was obvious from the way markets investors will wake up to the risks. to go against this playbook. sits with Corker on the banking panel, said during her 2010 were trading beforehand. Really, the only I doubt it. Investment managers are, on The Fed certainly isn’t going to taper this confirmation hearing for the vice chair’s role that Yellen was action was in short-term Treasuries, where the whole, neither paid or conditioned to be month, and may well not do it at all this known to be a Keynesian, code for someone who backs official money market funds were lightening up on prudent. Quite the reverse. year, given not just Washington’s dysfunc- intervention to spur growth and hiring. Shelby will likely want US debt in order to avoid breaking the buck. First off, a default is Armageddon, and tion, but the ongoing impact this will all to drive home his disapproval of that way of thinking this time Virtually everyone else in the world with- as you may have heard, no-one survives have on the economy. around. out a compelling business or social reason to Armageddon. That means that for money That means liquidity will remain ample, Critics view Yellen as potentially soft on inflation, based on avoid small losses was acting, as they have managers, who work against a benchmark, bonds will continue to be bought by the her frequent remarks emphasizing the damage done by high been trained to, as if the trifling matter of it is sort of meaningless. While Noah gets Fed and, by and large, junk will outperform unemployment. This implicitly diminishes the weight she would the first default in more than 200 years was props for the ark, very few money man- quality. place on maintaining price stability, the other half of the Fed’s simply a bit of bad theatre. agers lie awake at night fantasising about As we have seen, that works until it dual mandate from Congress. That is probably the correct analysis, but outperforming during a nuclear winter. doesn’t, and when it doesn’t it becomes In addition, Yellen has published research laying out an “opti- is not particularly comforting. It probably won’t come and they will all someone else’s problem. mal policy path” that would tolerate inflation temporarily above It ignores the possibility that some day, be out of luck if it does. There may also REUTERS the Fed’s 2 percent target, in order to drive high unemployment down faster. That said, Yellen will know what senators want to hear, and the importance of saying the right things. “I might ask her about long-run inflation and how she feels what would happen if inflation starts rising above three percent,” said Martin Feldstein, a Harvard professor and former senior adviser to President Ronald Reagan. If not the first question, then almost definitely the second, Yellen will be asked if she thinks it would be appropriate to begin scal- ing back the Fed’s bond buying later this year from its current $85bn monthly pace. The Fed badly confused financial markets when it delayed taper- ing this so-called quantitative easing programme in September, after announcing in June that it thought it would begin slowing purchases sometime this year. Echoing an argument Bernanke made last month, Yellen will likely say an uncertain economic outlook, which has been made cloudier by ongoing budget battles in Washington, continues to warrant caution in deciding when to scale back the buying. She will not make the mistake of providing any further guid- ance. Bernanke is chairman until the end of January and the question is one only he should answer. “She’s an excellent and likeable communicator, so she should be able to handle the tough questions,” said political strategist Greg Valliere at the Potomac Research group. Democrats are clearly supporters and several campaigned hard on her behalf when it looked like Obama favoured his former adviser Lawrence Summers as a successor to Bernanke. But Yellen should not bet on an easy ride from progressives worried about the failure of rules to curb the threat of banks considered too big to fail, or who back reinstatement of a law that once split commercial and investment banking activities. That is certainly the position of Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was a strong advocate for Yellen behind the scenes, but who will not miss the opportunity to explore her views. Yellen served in President Bill Clinton’s White House, which oversaw an aggres- sive period of financial industry deregulation. Adam Posen, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee who now runs the influential Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, said the senators must pin down her views on financial stability. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate JPMorgan losses end bank’s era of exceptionalism BY HEIDI MOORE reported that JPMorgan is facing JPMorgan, America’s most profit- bank, it again turned in record Perhaps this seems dire. But revenues because of a rout in bonds. a historic $11bn fine for various able bank. It shows that banks, as – even “triumphant” – profits the fact that JPMorgan is con- In addition, the government he reaper has come for alleged mortgage abuses commit- people thought, work pretty much of $24bn, although Dimon’s pay forming to the same troubles the that once supported these banks America’s strongest ted by two banks it bought during the same: they are commodity was halved to around $11m as a rest of the financial industry has is being forced to look out for bank. the financial crisis: Bear Stearns businesses, churning out prod- scold for the scandal. During all suffered shows that Wall Street is itself. The Department of Justice T JPMorgan, the bank and Washington Mutual. ucts like loans and mortgages on this time, Citigroup couldn’t even entering a new phase of reckon- and others like the Federal that sailed elegantly through the It is a timely lesson for Chase an assembly line, for slim profit make enough money to get per- ing. It’s not a sweeping, biblical Housing Finance Administration financial crisis with no scratches, to pay a high price for alleged margins. There is no glamour mission from federal regulators in deluge of consequences, the one are pressing lawsuits against the just announced its first quarterly mortgage abuses just as the bank in this work. It is, essentially, a order to pay a simple dividend to called for by Occupy Wall Street banks after years of delays. loss since 2004. That nine-year starts a new push into the mort- financial utility. The attempts to its shareholders. Bank of America and the millions of underwater or The result is that banks are winning streak of outrageously gage market, trying to draw more make it an inordinately profitable has rarely been out of the govern- foreclosed homeowners. being forced to stand on their good profits is a prize for any customers and loosening its lend- business usually means lowering ment’s crosshairs. Instead, it’s a slow coming to own, very slowly. At the time, bank. But for JPMorgan, that ing standards. Chase customers standards, which can backfire in With this new loss, and the account. After the financial cri- they are being brought to winning streak is over. JPMorgan will have found emails declaring a wave of losses and fines, as they ones that are likely to follow, it’s sis, large banks survived and account for mortgage abuses is showing its mortality as the “Chase has low mortgage rates! have now. evident that JPMorgan’s victory even thrived on a variety of gov- – again, very slowly and in same plagues that took down its Prequalify today” and promising To call JPMorgan a glorified lap for the past four years was a ernment subsidies: direct bank nowhere the kind of scale of the rivals — litigation, regulation, fall- a cash-back bonus of around $500 utility is something of a heresy significant Wall Street anomaly. bailouts like Tarp or the Federal abuses themselves. ing profits — finally circle around every year for the life of a new in financial circles. JPMorgan, for Wall Street traditionally moves Reserve’s series of tireless meas- JPMorgan had a great run, to the one bank that seemed mortgage if customers have the years, turned in profits — not just in lockstep, with similar same ures to make lending cheaper. when it could avoid questions immune from trouble. payment automatically deducted solid profits, but often spectacular profits and losses; if any poppy These subsidies made it signifi- by turning in profits. Then 2013 The lesson is clear: on Wall from their banking accounts. ones. It did so with Teflon with gets too tall, it doesn’t mean it cantly, measurably cheaper for big came around. Invincibility ends Street, there are no heroes. JPMorgan is now, like its rivals ease even as it hurdled obstacles has found the secret of growth, banks to do business. Small banks when profitability does. No longer Consequences, long delayed, are did long ago, looking for mort- that would have destroyed weaker but only that it has temporarily resented it, but the government shielded by a thick armor of being visited on the financial sec- gage customers in a bigger way. banks. avoided the reckoning that has to persisted. record profits, JPMorgan is sud- tor for its abuses, and JPMorgan’s The fees could be high, but then In 2011, when the European be inevitable. Lehman Brothers, Now those subsidies are fading denly truly vulnerable to criti- bad quarter is the first really tan- so could the price the bank may debt crisis was wreaking havoc too, was once one of Wall Street’s somewhat. (Johnson argues that cism, which it has muted, from gible evidence of that. pay again. with US and international rivals best success stories. During the it’s not nearly enough.) Banks are shareholders. JPMorgan reported a loss of The new mortgage push and the alike, JPMorgan earned even financial crisis, Goldman Sachs struggling a little more to make If the bank is wise, it will lis- $380m for the last three months, fine for old mortgage abuses — not more: clocking in with $19bn for and Morgan Stanley, long con- money. JPMorgan’s revenues are ten and show both humility and largely because the bank is taking committed by JPMorgan, but by the year and awarding Dimon a sidered the two top investment not growing as fast as they were. clear evidence of what it plans to a hit for a tsunami of mortgage the banks it acquired — present a bonus of $23m. In 2012, despite banks in history, came close to Citigroup has reportedly started change — and those changes, like lawsuits and fines that are com- rare moment in financial history. the London Whale losses of staring death in the face. No one warning investors of an upcom- its fines, should be big. ing at the bank soon. It has been This ends the exceptionalism of around $6bn weighing on the is exempt forever. ing 10 percent dip in its trading THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 13 OCTBER 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS
GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday China’s Central Bank expects Weak German exports and Asia 2013 growth to exceed 7.5pc IMF cuts global growth outlook Pacific fears highlight sluggish official target but raises UK forecast global economy BEIJING: China’s central bank suggested that the economy is stabilising after LONDON: The International BERLIN: The sluggishness of the global Japan machine orders highest Weekly drop in US economic forecasting that the growth rate will Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed economy has been highlighted, with since financial crisis confidence largest since ‘08 exceed the official target of 7.5pc for its forecast for global economic German exports rising by less than TOKYO: Japan’s machinery WASHINGTON: Americans’ the fiscal year 2013. “I think for this growth at the same time as lifting expected and leaders from across the orders jumped to 819.3 billion confidence in the economy has year we’re going to have certainly its UK growth projection. It now Asia Pacific region warning that trade yen ($8.4bn) in August, the deteriorated more in the past week is weakening. Exports from Europe’s above 7.5pc growth rate, maybe 7.6pc expects global growth of 2.9pc highest since the collapse of during the partial government largest economy rose 1pc in August something like that,” said Yi said, deputy this year, a cut of 0.3pc from July’s Lehman Brothers Holdings shutdown than in any week since but came in short of the expected 1.5pc governor of the People’s Bank of China estimate. In 2014 it expects global Inc. in 2008 and a sign of a Lehman Brothers collapsed on Sept. increase. (PBOC), according to Chinese news growth of 3.6pc, down 0.2pc. strengthening economic revival. 15, 2008, which triggered a global agency Xinhua. economic crisis. Gallup’s Economic Orders excluding ships and power Confidence Index tumbled 12 points generation rose 5.4 percent from to -34 last week, the second-largest the previous month, more than weekly decline since Gallup began double the 2.5 percent median tracking economic confidence daily forecast in a Bloomberg News in January 2008. survey of 28 economists.
IMF cuts India growth forecast to Financing SA’s budget deficit 3.8pc in 2013 on weak demand; JOHANNESBURG: An increase in tax world growth forecast cut to 2.9pc collection as a means to try to reduce NEW DELHI: India suffered the steepest South Africa’s budget deficit will most cut in the International Monetary Fund’s likely have to come from a fourth (IMF) revised growth forecasts for Brazil corporate downgrades to significant tax. The budget deficit is the year, warning of the need to keep outpace upgrades: Fitch expected to widen to 5.2pc of gross spending in check amid high inflation. Australian jobless rate falls domestic product (GDP) this year, but SAO PAULO: Flagging economic growth The pessimistic outlook comes against SYDNEY: The number of people seeking National Treasury aims to reduce it to will lead to more downgrades of debt a gloomy prediction for global growth, work in Australia fell to a seven-year low, 3.1pc by 2015/16. ratings than upgrades for Brazilian which IMF sees slumping to its lowest signaling disillusionment with the shrinking companies through June next year. since the financial crisis. opportunities in a resource-rich economy Downgrades have outpaced upgrades strained by a sharp slowdown in mining by a ratio of 1.2 times this year, senior investment. Declining participation in the analyst Debora Jalles wrote in a report. job market helped drive a surprise fall in the unemployment rate to 5.6pc in September from 5.8pc a month earlier—mirroring a trend in other major developed economies like the US, where the jobless rate has fallen as people choose to leave the work force.
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Clarke heads Koepka seizes lead leaderboard
BEIJING: Darren Clarke joined defending champion Liang Wen- chong on top of the leaderboard at the Nanshan China Masters at Frys.com Open after firing a four under par 68 yesterday. The 2011 British Open winner American one-shot ahead of Kokrak and China’s number one golfer shared the top spot at eight under, after Liang continued his SAN MARTIN, United earn prize money toward keeping fine form in the tournament with States: Brooks Koepka, who Frys.com Open scores their tour cards as bigger names a two under on day three. needed a sponsor exemption to SAN MARTIN, United took a break in the wake of the Liang was leading going into play this week, fired a seven- States: Scores yesterday after FedEx Cup play-offs. the third round after he fired an under par 64 yesterday to grab the second round of the $5m This year, the event marks the eight under par 64 yesterday. a one-shot lead after the second USPGA Tour’s Frys.com Open start of the 2013-2014 season, Charl Schwartzel, who won the round of the US PGA Tour Frys. (USA unless noted, par 71): and like all six events that will be Masters in 2011, was three off the com Open. played before January will offer leaders in sixth place. 131 Brooks Koepka 67-64 Koepka finished 36 holes at FedEx Cup playoff points and Northern Ireland’s Clarke 11-under-par 131 after making 132 Jason Kokrak 67-65 a coveted Masters berth to the has struggled since winning the eight birdies and an eagle yester- 133 Robert Garrigus 70-63, Jim Herman winner. Open, but he said he was not day at the CordeValle Golf Club 67-66 Kokrak made eagle on his final feeling any extra pressure at the course, outside of San Jose. 134 Camilo Villegas (COL) 68-66 hole to close out a six-under 65 Nanshan International Golf Club’s “It would be big,” Koepka said 135 Scott Brown 68-67, Charlie Wi (KOR) and jump into second place at Montgomerie course in the east- of a possible win. “Obviously, it 67-68, Kevin Tway 70-65, Kyle Stanley 10-under 132. ern province of Shandong. would be nice to win and get sta- 66-69, Billy Hurley 69-66 Robert Garrigus fired an eight- “There is pressure in any event tus over here.” 136 Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-66, Spencer under 63 to grab a share of third -- it doesn’t matter whether it’s The 23-year-old Koepka, who Levin 71-65, Justin Hicks 68-68, Ryo place with Jim Herman (66) at the Open Championship or here is seeking his first career win on Ishikawa (JPN) 69-67, Andres Gonzales nine-under. at the Nanshan China Masters,” the USPGA Tour, is one stroke 74-62, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 69-67, Jeff Camilo Villegas (66) had he said, according to a report in front of fellow American Jason Overton 64-72 sole possession of fifth place at released by the organisers. AFP Kokrak. He has already enjoyed eight-under, a stroke ahead of some success winning tourna- developmental tour. Thanks to Scott Brown (67), South Korea’s ments on the Challenge Tour in that success, he has European Charlie Wi (68), Kevin Tway Europe but feels he is ready to Tour status for the rest of (65), Kyle Stanley (69) and Billy China Masters Scores take the next step and play full- 2013 and 2014. A win this week Hurley (66). Third round (par 72) time on the USPGA Tour. would give him US tour playing Japanese compatriots Hideki 208 Liang Wen-chong (CHN), Darren Clarke “You play good and everything privileges. Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa (NIR) takes care of itself,” said Koepka, The $5m tournament was pre- were among a group of seven 210 Zhang Xinjun (CHN), Kwon Sung-yeol whose globetrotting ways paid viously part of the USPGA Tour’s players tied for 11th place at six- Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland readying a shot during the first round (KOR), Scott Strange (AUS) off this year with thee wins on Fall series, a slate of late-season under 136. Matsuyama is the of the Nanshan China Masters at the Montgomerie Course, Nanshan 211 Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Terry Pilkadaris the Challenge Tour, Europe’s events that in recent years gave highest-ranked player in the field International Golf Club, in Shandong Province, China, yesterday. equivalent of the Web.com rank-and-file pros a chance to at number 30. AFP (AUS), Gareth Paddison (NZL) Jamieson goes close to Thompson ahead in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: American Now ranked 21st in the world, “This game is all about momen- magical 59 Sime Darby LPGA teenager Lexi Thompson over- Thompson has enjoyed a good sea- tum. Once you get a few birdies came a 45-minute rain delay son and besides her brilliant third you feel good and try to keep LISBON: Britain’s Scott Malaysia Scores yesterday to grab a command- place at the Evian Championship going. I really focus on my game Jamieson (pictured) rocketed to KUALA LUMPUR: Leading ing three-shot lead at the Sime last month, she also had top-10 and not my playing partners.” the top of the leaderboard mid- scores after the third round Darby LPGA golf tournament in finishes at the HSBC Women’s Asked about her plan for way through the third round of yesterday in the $2m Sime Malaysia. Champions in February, Mobile tomorrow as she has a good the Portugal Masters yesterday Darby LPGA tournament at The 18-year-old Thompson, Bay LPGA Classic (May), cushion going into Sunday’s final after becoming the 17th player the Kuala Lumpur Golf and who turned professional in 2010, Marathon Classic (July) and round, Thompson said she will to shoot a 60 on the European Country Club: has put herself in a good position Safeway Classic (August). have to play smart. Tour. Third round (Par 71) to end her title drought as she Thompson, who trailed by one “I will be in the final group and Jamieson reeled off 11 birdies and went past the hole,” Jamieson 196 Lexi Thompson (USA) 67-63-66 has not won on the LPGA Tour after Friday’s second round, drew would know how the other players and seven pars at the Oceanico told European Tour Radio. “But the since her maiden victory at the level when Lee bogeyed the sec- are doing. I will see when to play 199 Lee Il-Hee (KOR) 64-65-70 Victoria course in Vilamoura to fact that I gave myself a chance Navistar LPGA Classic in 2011. ond hole. aggressive or when to play smart, finish with a 14-under tally of 199. there at the last hole, I couldn’t 202 Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 67-68-67, Feng Thompson shot a 66 yesterday The American then took the take a two-putt if I have to,” she Shanshan (CHN) 67-65-70 No one has ever returned a ask for any more.” for a three-day total of 17-under outright lead when play resumed explained. Lee said missing a ‘magical 59’ on the tour. Jamieson has only one tour 204 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 68-71-65, Karine 196 to overtake South Korea’s Lee after the rain. Thompson and three-foot putt on the second hole Jamieson has a two-stroke lead victory to his name and that Icher (FRA) 70-66-68 Il-Hee, who led on the first two Lee were both on the green, but made a difference, but was happy over fellow Britons David Lynn came at the Nelson Mandela 205 Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 71-66-68, days but shot a 70 today. Lee could only two-putt for a par to birdie the last hole to cut the and Paul Waring and South Championship in South Africa in Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 66-70-69, Ryu The Florida native could have while Thompson birdied the hole. deficit from four to three strokes. African Hennie Otto who have December. With conditions per- So-Yeon (KOR) 70-65-70, Kim In-Kyung had an even bigger lead going into It was a lead she never relin- “I knew it was going to be big all yet to begin their rounds. fect for scoring in Portugal, he (KOR) 67-66-72 the final round, but her long putts quished going into the last day of for tomorrow. My driver was not The 29-year-old Scot nar- believes he will be overtaken at 206 Park Hee-Young (KOR) 69-67-70, Britany on the 14th and 18th holes were the $2m tournament. good, but I knew it was going to rowly failed with his attempt at a the top of the leaderboard by the Lang (USA) 65-71-70 millimetres too short and she had “I felt pretty good going into be hard to play well for four days,” record-breaking birdie at the 18th end of the round. 207 Alison Walshe (USA) 67-71-69, Stacy to be content with pars. the round. I had a good practice she said. when his chip just missed the cup. “I’m sure the leaders will be 17 Lewis (USA) 69-68-70, Caroline Masson She had a flawless round with session before my round so I felt Defending champion and world “I thought it was going in but or 18 under by the end of the day,” (GER) 67-70-70, Gerina Piller (USA) birdies on the fourth, sixth, sev- confident before (the first tee number one Park In-Bee is 14 unfortunately it hung on the lip he said. REUTERS 70-66-71 enth, 10th and 13th holes. off),” she said. strokes off the pace. AFP
Judo: Tawfiq wins gold in Doha NHL Results Phoenix 2 Philadelphia 1 Los Angeles Los Angeles 2 Carolina 1 Dodgers’ third Florida 6 Pittsburgh 3 baseman Juan Chicago 3 NY Islanders 2 Uribe hits a two- Dallas 4 Winnipeg 1 run single against Calgary 3 New Jersey 2 the St Louis Cardinals during the third inning in NHL: Stars Fadi Tawfiq celebrates game one of the winning gold in the National League overpower Jets men’s 90kg category Championship on the first day of Series game at WINNIPEG, Manitoba: The the 17th GCC Judo Busch Stadium, chemistry developing between Championship at yesterday. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn Qatar Women’s Sports reached critical mass yesterday. Committee Hall in The pair lit up the ice against Doha. The two-day Winnipeg, combining for three event was organised goals and four assists in the Dallas by Qatar Taekwondo Stars’ 4-1 win over the Jets. and Judo Federation “I think we get better every (QTJF) in two catego- day,” said Seguin. Cardinals down Dodgers “We’re becoming good friends ries - Under-18 and Under-21. The two- off the ice and I think that’s only SAINT LOUIS: Carlos Pittsburgh with a game-five vic- Dodgers manager Don going to translate to good things day long tournament Beltran’s walk-off single in the tory on Wednesday, didn’t have Mattingly sent Jansen to the on the ice.” brought together 85 13th inning lifted St. Louis to a long to savor their latest triumph. mound, and Jansen promptly The addition of center Rich players, represent- 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Game two of the series is set fell behind Beltran 3-1. Beltran’s Peverly also clicked as he assisted ing five GCC nations Dodgers yesterday in game for today in St Louis, where the single to right field then left Los on Seguin’s first goal. including hosts Qatar, one of the National League Cardinals will send rookie pitcher Angeles with no play to the plate Seguin, the No. 2 overall pick Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Championship Series. Michael Wacha to the mound and as Descalso raced home. in the 2010 NHL draft, came into the United Arab Beltran did it all for the the Dodgers will give the ball to “Right down the middle,” Friday night’s game with only Emirates (UAE) and Cardinals, driving in all three of ace Clayton Kershaw. Beltran said of the pitch. “I don’t one assist this season in the two Bahrain. their runs and throwing out a It was past midnight in St. blame him, because he was trying games Dallas had played. But the runner at home plate in the 10th Louis when Beltran brought the to make a pitch. He’s behind the team was well rested after its last inning to keep the score knotted four-hour, 47-minute marathon to count and he’s trying to make a home game Saturday and Seguin at 2-2. an end with a single off Dodgers pitch. “But in that case, I was try- seemed to respond. Alex Chiasson His exploits let the Cardinals closer Kenley Jansen that scored ing to hit the ball hard. I wasn’t also scored for Dallas. Blake gain a quick upper hand over the Daniel Descalso from second base. really looking for anything more Wheeler scored for Winnipeg, Dodgers in the opening game of Pinch hitter Descalso had than a hit.” which has lost three in a row after the best-of-seven series, from blooped a single to center off los- Lance Lynn, the seventh starting the season 2-0. The Stars which the winners advance to ing pitcher Chris Withrow with Cardinals pitcher used in the haven’t made the playoffs since Major League Baseball’s World one out in the 13th and Matt contest, was credited with the 2008, and are hoping to change Series. Carpenter then walked on four win after tossing two scoreless their fortunes under new coach The Cardinals, who closed out pitches. innings. REUTERS Lindy Ruff. AGENCIES SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Del Potro sinks Nadal in Shanghai Argentine registers first win over Nadal since 2009; Djokovic bulldozes past Tsonga
SHANGHAI: Rafa Nadal failed one ranking to Nadal last week to reach a final for only the sec- Shanghai Masters despite beating the Spaniard in ATP looking ond time during his incredible the final of the China Open to 2013 season after being blown Results claim his fourth Beijing title in off court by Argentine whirl- SHANGHAI: Results on the five years. into Tunisian wind Juan Martin Del Potro at seventh day of the Shanghai The Serb could add another the Shanghai Masters yesterday. Masters yesterday (x denotes Chinese title to his name after The Spaniard had been hoping seeding): another slick display of return- player to celebrate his return to the top Semi-finals: Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x6) bt ing in Shanghai heaped too much of the world rankings this week Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) 6-2, 6-4; Novak Djokovic pressure on Tsonga who unrav- withdrawal by setting up a final showdown for (SRB x1) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x7) 6-2, 7-5. elled with 35 unforced errors. the second time in as many weeks The world number two and PARIS: Tunisian tennis with chief rival Novak Djokovic. for the first time to level at 2-2 in Australian Open champion was player Malek Jaziri is fac- But Nadal, one of the fastest the second but Hawkeye disagreed quick out of the blocks, racing ing possible sanctions after athletes on the tour, found himself and from then on the world’s best into a 3-0 lead after breaking pulling out of an ATP match outpaced 6-2 6-4 after a breath- player was chasing shadows as Del Tsonga to love in his opening in Tashkent against Israel’s taking semi-final display of power Potro produced one of the best service game. Amir Weintraub under the and touch by the 2009 US Open performances of his career. The The Frenchman looked like orders of his home tennis fed- champion. Spaniard fired a service return dropping another service game eration, according to the play- Serb Djokovic continued his long on match point to leave a but some heavy hitting helped er’s brother. love affair with the hard courts jubilant Del Potro leaping high him get on the board before a The Challenger match had of China as he swotted aside the into the air in celebration. sumptuous backhand crosscourt been scheduled for yesterday, challenge of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga The result condemned French resulted in him breaking Djokovic but Jaziri, who defeated Sergiy 6-2 7-5. and US Open champion Nadal to in the next. Stakhovsky of Ukraine in the The defending champion his earliest defeat since a shock That was as good as it got for previous round, pulled out stretched his unbeaten run in first-round exit from Wimbledon Tsonga, who is in a close race before it started citing a knee China to 19 matches by overcom- in June, the only other time this with Roger Federer, Stanislas injury. ing Frenchman Tsonga. year he failed to reach the final of Wawrinka, Richard Gasquet and But according to the player’s Del Potro’s 1.98-metre frame an event he had featured in. Milos Raonic to grab one of the brother Amir, he was under usually prevents him from Del Potro’s first win over Nadal last remaining places at the ATP Juan Martin Del Potro orders from the Tunisian threatening Nadal’s unshake- since 2009 also handed him a place Tour Finals. of Argentina celebrates Tennis Federation not to play able ability to run the ball down in the season-ending World Tour Djokovic claimed the next after beating world against an Israeli opponent. at every corner of the court and Finals. The Argentine became three games to wrap up the set number one Rafael “Malek received an e-mail the Spaniard’s 8-3 head-to-head the fifth player to qualify for next as Tsonga’s first serve percent- Nadal of Spain dur- from the federation asking him record before the semi-final bore month’s elite eight-man tourna- age fell to 46, coupled with 14 ing their men’s sin- not to play against the Israeli testament to that. ment in London but four spots are unforced errors in comparison to gles semi-finals at the player,” Amir Jaziri told Shems Yesterday though Del Potro still up for grabs as Wimbledon just four by the Serb. Shanghai Masters in FM radio station in Tunisia. barely allowed Nadal, winner of champion Andy Murray has ruled A change of shirt and a renewed the Qizhong Tennis “I hope that this decision will 10 titles this year, a chance as himself out following back surgery. focus helped Tsonga stay on terms Stadium in Shanghai, not have serious repercussions he raced into a 4-0 lead in the Nadal, Djokovic and David at the start of the second set yesterday. on the future of Malek’s sport- first set before bagging it with a Ferrer are the other confirmed before another misplaced volley ing career.” scorching ace. participants. handed Djokovic a break and a A spokesman for the Tunisian Nadal thought he had broken Djokovic lost the world number 4-2 lead. AFP Sports and Youth Ministry, Ahmed Gaaloul, said that the government in Tunis had no official position on the matter. Stosur storms into Japan Women’s Open final “The authorities make no demands either on the federa- OSAKA, Japan: Former US champion, will look to regain two service breaks, the second one Azarenka in Carlsbad in early tion or the players,” he added. Open champion Samantha the title in today’s final against Japan Women’s coming in a long fifth game when August. Bouchard, 19, faced five “The ministry of sports and Stosur of Australia swept aside another up-and-coming teenager, the 39th-ranked Keys served at break points and survived four youth and its minister Tarek American teenager Madison Eugenie Bouchard of Canada. Open Results advantage several times but could of them in beating Osaka native Dhiab did not order Malek not Keys in straight sets to advance Sixth seed Bouchard advanced not convert. Nara, who was also attempting to to play this game.” Women’s singles Semi-finals: Samantha Stosur to the Japan Women’s Open to her first WTA final with an Stosur, whose rank has dropped make a first career WTA final, in In Shanghai where the ATP (AUS x3) bt Madison Keys (USA x6) 6-1, 6-2; final in Osaka yesterday. equally dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory from a season-opening number 1 hour, 26 minutes. Masters Series is holding a top- Eugenie Bouchard (CAN x5) bt Kurumi Nara Third-seeded Stosur, aiming over unseeded Japanese wild card nine to the current 20th, had The 35th-ranked Bouchard and level tournament, a spokesman (JPN) 6-2, 6-2. for her second title this year Kurumi Nara. beaten Keys in straight sets in Stosur faced each other for the for the ATP (Association of and fifth of her career, needed The 29-year-old Stosur faced 18-year-old for the second time their only previous meeting at first and only time last April in Tennis Professionals) told AFP: just over an hour to defeat the only three break points against before serving out the set. Indian Wells earlier this year. Charleston, where the Canadian “We’re aware of it and are liais- number six seed Keys 6-1, 6-2 at Keys -- all in the fifth game of Keys, playing in her first WTA Stosur won in her only other came out with a win when Stosur ing with the ITF (International the Utsubo Tennis Center. the first set. She came back from semi-final, won the opening game trip to a final this year. She beat retired due to injury while trailing Tennis Federation).” AFP Stosur, the 2009 Osaka 0-40 to go up 4-1, then broke the of the second set, but Stosur got then world number three Victoria 6-1, 2-0. AFP QNB Qatar Stars Cup Qatar qualify for Under-19 Finals in Myanmar
DOHA: A brace from Akram Qatar finished with an all-win qualifiers for the FIFA Under-20 Hassan Afif helped hosts Qatar record winning all their group World Cup with the top-four sides edge past Uzbekistan 2-1 and matches to finish with 12 points of the 2014 edition booking a place qualify for the Finals of the AFC while Uzbekistan came second each in the FIFA Under-20 World Under-19 football championship with nine points. Cup to be held in New Zealand to be held in Myanmar. Both India and Turkmenistan, in 2015. Yesterday at Al Arabi Stadium, tallied four points, while Nepal The 2012 U-19 crown was Afif opened in the scoring in the lost all their matches in the five- snatched by Korea Republic who 23rd minute and added the sec- team group. won the final beating Iraq on pen- ond one in the 56th minute in the Qatar join group winners of alties in the UAE. Korea Republic winner takes it all match. the nine groups, five from west have won the competition 12 Uzbekistan pulled one back zone and four from east, who have times since it started in 1959. in the 85th minute through booked a ticket to the October Apart from Korea Republic and Urinboev Zabikhillo. 2014 finals alongside with six best- Iraq, Uzbekistan and Australia Thereafter Uzbekistan exerted placed sides and hosts Myanmar. have qualified for the 2013 FIFA pressure but Qatar defense stood The AFC Under-19 Under-20 World Cup to be hosted firm to the challenge. Championship also serve as the by Turkey. THE PENINSULA Eljaish’s Ismaiel Mahmoud Mardeeli (right) and Al Ahli’s Pedro Carvalho vie for ball possession during their QNB Qatar Stars Cup clash at Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday. The match ended in a goalless draw. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL /ABDUL BASIT
Qatar Under-19 team players celebrate along with coach Felix Sanchez at Al Arabi Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Al Sadd’s Leandro da Silva (left) and Muaither’s Mohd Medhat vie for supremacy at Qatar Sports Club Stadium The hosts won 2-1 against Uzbekistan to qualify for the AFC Under-19 Championship Finals in Myanmar. Qatar yesterday. RIGHT: Al Wakra’s Anwar Diba shields the ball from Al Gharafa’s Hutheaifa Yahya Ali (left) at Al finished with an all-win record in the five-team group. Rayyan Stadium yesterday SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Webber denies Vettel another pole in Japan Front row sweep for Red Bull; Hamilton third fastest
SUZUKA, Japan: Australian Mark Webber led a Red Bull front row sweep yesterday and denied team-mate and Formula Honda Moto GP rider Marc Marquez (right) of Spain and Yamaha One championship leader FROM LEFT: German MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy talk after the qualifying session of Sebastian Vettel a fifth succes- Formula One driver the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit outside Kuala sive Japanese Grand Prix pole Lumpur, yesterday. position. Sebastian Vettel, his Vettel, who can clinch his Australian team-mate fourth successive world title at Mark Webber, both of the age of 26 today if he wins Red Bull Racing, and and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso British driver Lewis finishes lower than eighth, had Hamilton of Mercedes Marquez seals problems with his car’s kinetic AMG GP wave at the energy recovery system (KERS) end of the qualifying and had to settle for second. sesion. The German, out-qualified by Webber for the first time this sea- stunning fourth son, will still be favourite to win given the championship situation, and the likelihood of team orders. Alonso, 77 points behind Vettel with five races remaining, opportunity when you can. We did starts fifth at a circuit where he straight pole qualified only eighth on a sunny the laps when they counted, and was runner-up last year. Japanese Grand afternoon at the Honda-owned it’s a very nice farewell for me on Nico Rosberg qualified sixth Prix Grid SEPANG: Championship Lorenzo with just three more figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit. my final time here at Suzuka and for Mercedes with fellow-Ger- leader Marc Marquez contin- races left in the season after SUZUKA, Japan: Starting “It was pretty good. Sebastian on a phenomenal circuit,” added man Nico Hulkenberg seventh ued his brilliant MotoGP rookie Malaysia. grid for the Japanese Grand had a problem in qualifying so it’s the Australian, who is leaving for Sauber. season by claiming pole position Defending champion Lorenzo Prix after qualifying yesterday: a little bit of a hollow pole posi- Formula One at the end of the Webber’s 12th career pole also for the Malaysian Grand Prix will line up in the second row, tion if you like,” said Webber of season. ended a run of three poles in First row while his main rivals were con- alongside Marquez’s team mate his first pole position since South “It was a real highlight for me. three races for Vettel, who has Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull- signed to the second row at a Dani Pedrosa, after setting the Korea in October last year. I think in general we’ve got a good won at Suzuka three times in the Renault); Sebastian Vettel wet Sepang yesterday. fourth fastest time. His time of one minute 30.915 car for the race.” last four years. (GER/Red Bull-Renault) The 20-year-old Honda rider’s “Tomorrow will be a different seconds was 0.174 quicker than Lewis Hamilton, for Mercedes, Yesterday might be as good as Second row time of two minutes 0.011 seconds story because Lorenzo and Dani Vettel’s best effort. and Romain Grosjean in a Lotus, it gets for the Australian but he Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ on his seventh and final lap was both have great pace so we shall “I’m happy to be on pole share the second row while was not about to roll over without Mercedes); Romain Grosjean the quickest ever at the circuit see if we have a bit of good fortune and you’ve got to grab that Ferrari’s Brazilian Felipe Massa a fight. (FRA/Lotus-Renault) and gave him his eighth pole of and the conditions remain dry,” “He’ll do his race tomorrow and Third row the season and a fourth in a row. Marquez added. I’ll do my race,” said Webber. “It’s Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari); “I’m really happy with this pole Pedrosa, runner up in the title not like it’s the last race of the Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) position particularly as earning it race last year and 59 points behind Maria De Villota death championship... he can’t qualify was a little different to my previ- Marquez coming to Malaysia, had Fourth row on pole in every race. ous poles,” Marquez told MotoGP. dominated the practice sessions Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber- “Let’s see how it’s looking at com. over the weekend but was unable Ferrari); Fernando Alonso linked to crash: Family the end of the race... but in gen- (ESP/Ferrari) “At the start of qualifying there to maintain his advantage over eral we’ll be there for ourselves were two completely wet corners his rivals in the decisive qualifying Fifth row MADRID: The family of former Formula One test driver Maria tomorrow.” which made it shootout. De Villota have said her sudden death on Friday was linked to Vettel was fastest on Friday but Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus- hard to put in “A couple of the severe injuries she suffered in a crash last year. struggled with KERS problems Renault); Jenson Button (GBR/ a hot lap as we Qualifying Results corners were wet McLaren-Mercedes) De Villota suffered serious head and facial injuries, including the yesterday morning, when he sat had to calculate SEPANG, Malaysia: Final and so it wasn’t Sixth row loss of her right eye in the crash, whilst testing for the Marrusia out the end of final practice while the amount of qualifying times yesterday for easy for quali- team at Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire, England last July. the team changed the battery. Sergio Perez (MEX/McLaren- risk whilst still today’s Malaysian motorcy- fying,” Pedrosa Mercedes); Paul di Resta (GBR/ The 33-year-old was found dead in a hotel room in the southern The problem then returned for maintaining our cling Grand Prix at Sepang: said. Spanish city of Seville on Friday morning and the autopsy carried the final phase of qualifying, even Force India-Mercedes) speed. “I managed out on her body confirmed that she had died of natural causes. if the KERS was re-set and work- Seventh row “I knew the MotoGP: 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) to do a great 2:00.011, 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) at “Maria died around six in the morning whilst she was sleeping ing on his second run. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams- final lap of the lap. It wasn’t 0.325, 3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) 0.348, as a consequence of the neurological injuries she suffered on July 3, “I think we have a little bit Renault); Esteban Gutierrez session would be enough today 2012, the forensic doctor has informed us,” Isabel De Villota, Maria’s more time after qualifying now (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari) definitive because 4. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 0.567, 5. Dani but overall I am sister, told reporters. to have a look and see whether the surface was Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 0.681, 6. Alvaro Bautista happy with the Eight row (ESP/Honda) 0.963, 7. Bradley Smith (GBR/ “Maria has gone but she has left us with a very clear message of there is something else broken or drying out and performance.” Pastor Maldonado (VEN/ Yamaha) 1.295, 8. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) happiness and hope and that is what we are moving forward with damaged,” said the German, who conditions were The 28-year- Williams-Renault); Daniel 1.624, 9. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aspar) 2.140, at this time.” refused to use the problems as an getting better by old’s mood was Ricciardo (AUS/Toro 10. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Ducati) 2.525 Isabel De Villota added that her sister would be buried in a private excuse. Rosso-Ferrari) the minute,” said completely dif- family ceremony in Madrid. “We tried everything, it worked Ninth row Marquez. ferent to last De Villota was in Seville to take part in a conference organised sometimes.” “Things worked out for us week when he was left fuming at Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro by the “What Really Matters” foundation promoting human values Alonso hoped to be able to and I set a time I really wasn’t Marquez after his young team- Rosso-Ferrari); Max Chilton and was due to launch her book titled “Life is a gift” in Madrid on make up places today, as he has (GBR/Marussia-Cosworth) expecting.” mate made contact with his bike Monday. done all season, but had no illu- The Spaniard will be joined on at the Aragon Grand Prix, which Tenth row She was the first Spanish female to enter the sport when she sions about the championship. the front row by the Yamahas Pedrosa blamed for his retirement joined Marussia in 2012 as a test driver. He told reporters in the Giedo van der Garde (NED/ of Italy’s seven-times champion from the race. However, disaster struck just four months later when the horrific press conference the main focus Caterham-Renault); Charles Pic Valentino Rossi (2.00.336) and Marquez was handed a third crash left her in a coma and battling for her life. would be on scoring more points (FRA/Caterham-Renault) Briton Cal Crutchlow (2.00.359). penalty point of the season Her return to the public spotlight in recent months had been seen than Mercedes, who are only Eleventh row Marquez is looking for his sev- for his part in a collision, one as a great inspiration of triumph over difficulty and she was seen as a point behind second placed Jules Bianchi (FRA/Marussia- enth win of the year today and point shy of automatic relega- a pioneer for women in a very male-dominated sport. AFP Ferrari in the constructors’ Cosworth); Adrian Sutil (GER/ to extend his 39-point champion- tion to the back of the grid for standings. REUTERS Force India-Mercedes) ship lead over compatriot Jorge one race. REUTERS AZF set for exciting new season of sporting events England call DOHA: Aspire Zone Foundation 15), adults (16 to 39) and veter- up Sterling (AZF) is all set for a new season ans (40 and above). The event fea- of fun-filled events, as sports tures courses of varying distances. A young swimmer is seen for Poland enthusiasts across Doha get The first race will take place on swimming in this file picture. As ready to attend a number of November 2. part of AZF’s events this year, the exciting international sporting Meanwhile, the Khalifa Aquathon, which takes place every match competitions and participate in Stadium Run Around will com- year, and is one of many events community activities. mence later this month, and that will be organised by AZF, Members of the public will be provides participants with the LONDON: England added consists of a race which includes a offered a wonderful opportunity opportunity to exercise in an Liverpool winger Raheem swim at Aspire. to come together again and share iconic arena that has been graced Sterling to their squad yesterday in the spirit of friendly compe- by some of the world’s most ahead of Tuesday’s final World tition by attending the GCC revered athletes. The Run Around Cup qualifier against Poland at Judo Championships and the is set to take place on Thursday, London’s Wembley Stadium. FINA World Cup Short Course October 24, and is open to men athletes in training and seeks to Participants Sterling helped the England Swimming (SWC). and women aged 16 and over. nurture the talents of both elite take part Under-21 team beat their San Organised by Aspire Logistics, Aspire Zone is keen to encour- sportsmen and the wider public. in a sport- Marino counterparts 4-0 on the new season also marks the age the entire community to The Aquathon and Khalifa Tuesday. ing activity, return of several highly-antici- attend and participate in this Stadium Run Around provide He came into the senior set- organised by pated and family-friendly events, season’s action-packed events. ideal opportunities for the general up after manager Roy Hodgson including the ‘Aquathon’ and Spectators and family mem- public to take advantage of these Aspire Zone lost the services of Manchester ‘Khalifa Stadium Run Around’, bers are welcome to attend superb facilities, as a way to get Foundation United’s Tom Cleverley before which have been designed to several international competi- fit and keep healthy. in this file England’s 4-1 qualifying win encourage a healthy sporting tions, including the FINA SWC For more information, and to picture. The over Montenegro at Wembley on culture and improve the quality which will be held at the Hamad register for the Aquathon and events are Friday and then saw Kyle Walker of life for all. Aquatic Center later this month Khalifa Stadium Run Around, designed collect a suspension during that The Aquathon, which takes on October 20 and 21. please visit our website: www. to engage match that ruled him out of place every year at Aspire Zone, Kids aged 14 and below are also aspirezone.qa/events. the whole Tuesday’s fixture consists of five races spread across invited to participate in the Qatar AZF regularly organises and community Victory over Montenegro pre- several months. Gas Chess Festival that will take hosts events designed to engage in Doha to served England’s lead at the top Each race includes a swim in place from October 24 to 26 in the the whole community and inspire adopt a of European qualifying Group H Aspire Dome and a run around Ladies Sports Hall. Registration individuals to adopt active life- active life- and meant they will now secure Aspire Park. Entry is open to both will take place on October 24. styles through enjoyable physical style through a place at next year’s World men and women and, with cat- The Aspire Zone is the world’s activities, such as running and sport. Cup finals in Brazil if they beat egories available for juniors (8 to most comprehensive campus for swimming. THE PENINSULA Poland. AFP SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT
In-form India to Gazi’s century lifts face Australia in first ODI clash today hosts Bangladesh PUNE: Reigning world cham- pions India will aim to retain the top spot in the rankings, Test heading for a draw as rain ends play when the ICC Champions win- ners face an inexperienced Australian side in the ODI CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: series that begins today. Bangladesh’s lower-order bats- India will be keen to main- man Sohag Gazi hit a maiden tain their success in the limited Test century yesterday as the Bangladesh overs match in the seven-match first Test against New Zealand batsman series having enjoyed exceptional in Chittagong headed for a high- Sohag results in one-day format this scoring draw. Gazi (right) year. Except losing a three-match The hosts, lying at the bottom celebrates series to Pakistan at the start of of the Test table in 10th place, after 2013, the world champion side has piled up 501 in reply to New scoring a had tremendous success, winning Zealand’s 469 before being all out century series after series. soon after lunch on the fourth day as team- The hosts had whitewashed Australia captain George Bailey (left) and India captain MS Dhoni are seen with a lead of 32 runs. mate Rubel Australia 4-0 in the February- with the ODI trophy ahead of the seven-match series that begins today. The Black Caps, ranked Hossain March Test series and avenging eighth above only Zimbabwe and looks on that loss would be a Herculean Bangladesh, helped themselves during the task for the visitors, who have to 117-1 in their second innings fourth day come without inspiring skipper before heavy rain forced play to Michael Clarke even as their bats- of the first Misbah, Smith be called off at the Zahur Ahmed men gave a good account of them- Test match Chowdhury stadium. selves in the one-off Twenty20 in Peter Fulton was unbeaten against Rajkot. on 44 and Kane Williamson was New Australia did beat England in on 28 with the Black Caps going Zealand at ODIs post their Ashes debacle but agree Ajmal could into the final day’s play on Sunday The Zahur India are a tough nut to crack in with a lead of 85 runs and nine Ahmed home conditions. And the visitors wickets in hand. Chowdhury have got a fair idea about the task Hamish Rutherford was dis- Stadium in ahead after failing to defend a be key in Tests missed for 32, but both sides face Chittagong 200-plus total in Rajkot. a tough task to force a result on yesterday. The Australian attack was sub- the slow, newly-laid pitch that dued by the Indian batsmen, spe- ABU DHABI: Rival captains for what he can do... he’s a world has offered no assistance to either cially the comeback-man Yuvraj Misbah-ul Haq and Graeme class bowler, I think we’ve had seam or spin bowlers. Singh, who took the game away Smith both agreed Pakistani a good success against him and Gazi, a 22-year-old off-spinner from them with his blitzy 35-ball off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (pic- that’s nice to know,” said Smith, whose highest score in six pre- 77. tured) will be the key in the who returns to international vious Tests was 32, remained Scoreboard The left-hander has always two-Test series starting here cricket after a 21-week break fol- unbeaten on 101 after coming in New Zealand (I innings): ...... 469 25-2-96-3 (nb1); Martin 27-3-113-0; Sodhi been a vital cog in India’s middle- tomorrow. lowing an ankle operation. to bat at number eight. Bangladesh (I innings): 28.5-3-112-2; Anderson 17-7-34-2; William- order and the way he batted in Ajmal, who turns 36 on the first But besides Ajmal, Pakistan He hit 10 boundaries and three Tamim Iqbal c Williamson b Boult ...... 0 son 27-4-83-1. his first game, Australia would be day of the match, took 24 wick- also has the option of playing two sixes. Anamul Haque lbw Bracewell ...... 3 New Zealand (II innings): wary of him. ets when Pakistan humbled then more spinners -- both left-armers Gazi said he was inspired by Marshall Ayub c Watling b Anderson ...... 25 P Fulton (batting) ...... 44 The Australians lack an effec- world number one England 3-0 -- in Abdur Rehman and Zulfiqar New Zealand wicket-keeper Mominul Haque lbw Anderson ...... 181 H Rutherford lbw Nasir ...... 32 tive spinner in their attack hence in the United Arab Emirates last Babar. Bradley-John Watling, who also Shakib Al Hasan c Watling b Williamson ...... 19 K Williamson (batting)...... 28 the pacers need to come up with year. Babar, at 34, has yet to play batted at number eight in the first Mushfiqur Rahim c Taylor b Bracewell ...... 67 Extras (B-11, LB-2) ...... 13 something very special to stop the But Misbah urged his a Test but has been a innings and scored 103. Nasir Hossain c Williamson b Sodhi ...... 46 Total (for 1 wkt) ...... 117 rampaging Indian batting line-up. wily spinner to lift his prolific wicket-taker “I was very motivated by Sohag Gazi (not out) ...... 101 To bat: B B McCullum, L R P L Taylor, Corey J Bowling would be a little worry game. in Pakistan’s domestic Watling’s innings,” he said after Abdur Razzak lbw Boult ...... 7 Anderson, B J Watling, D A J Bracewell, B P for Mahendra Singh Dhoni also as “I think it (bowling season. play was ended. Robiul Islam c Taylor b Bracewell ...... 33 Martin, T A Boult, I S Sodhi pacer Ishant Sharma and spinner to South Africans) will Smith admitted he “We were telling each other in Rubel Hossain c McCullum b Sodhi ...... 4 Fall of wicket: 1-48 R Aswhin were carted around by be a big challenge for didn’t know what to the dressing room that if he can Extras (B-5, LB-8, W-1, NB-1) ...... 15 Bowling: Razzak 7-2-13-0; Rubel 1-0-12-0; the Australians in T20. Ajmal,” said Misbah at expect of Babar. do this, why can’t I? Total (all out) ...... 501 Gazi 6-0-21-0; Shakib 9-1-19-0; Nasir 9-4- This game is the first ODI the unveiling of the tro- “He (Babar) is prob- “There is no help for the bowl- Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-8, 3-134, 4-180, 20-1; Robiul 4-1-9-0; Mominul 4-0-10-0. to be played at the newly built phy for the series. ably the unknown fac- ers on this wicket. If a batsman 5-301, 6-301, 7-371, 8-387, 9-492, 10-501. New Zealand lead by 85 runs with nine wickets Maharashtra Cricket Association Misbah conceded tor for us, we’ve got a plays with a straight bat, it is Bowling: Boult 24-9-50-2 (w1); Bracewell in hand. Stadium that became an interna- South Africans play little bit of footage of tough to get him out.” AFP tional venue last year. AGENCIES Ajmal better than him, some of our guys English batsmen. have seen him bowl “He (Ajmal) was new before, but until you’ve to England and that’s why they really played against someone struggled against him. South there’s always an unknown fac- Ecstatic welcome home for Africans have played him more, tor,” said Smith, whose side has so it’s a big challenge for Ajmal been unbeaten away from home and he will have to lift his bowling since losing 2-0 in Sri Lanka in because he is up against a team 2006. who plays him well,” said Misbah. “We haven’t dwelled on any triumphant Afghan cricketers Excluding his 10 wickets on a of sort of past experiences away spin-friendly Cape Town pitch from home, but I think every time KABUL: Afghanistan’s cricket earlier this year, Ajmal has only you do overcome winning away team received a heroes’ wel- four wickets in four Tests against from home, there’s a certain come yesterday as cheering South Africa. strength that you get as a team.” crowds lined the streets and Smith agreed his batsmen play Smith played down any pres- packed a stadium in Kabul to Ajmal well, but the off-spinner sure of being the world’s best Test greet the players after they can still pose a challenge. team. qualified for the 2015 World “I think last time we were on “I would say only the pres- Cup. this tour, we played Ajmal really sure we put on ourselves, I mean The team was met by an offi- well and I think he ended up naturally, is an expectation of cial reception at Kabul airport missing a few games on the tour,” performance,” said Smith whose before being driven through the said Smith of South Africa’s last team took over as number one war-battered city for a jubilant series here in 2010 when Ajmal from England last year. evening of speeches, dancing and was dropped after taking only The second and final Test will live music. three wickets in the first Test. be played in Dubai from October Cricket only became popular in “He still is a key performer for 23. Both teams will also play five Afghanistan as refugees flooded Pakistan and he’s a world class one-day internationals and two back from Pakistan after the fall performer... it’s real respect factor Twenty20 internationals. AFP of the harsh Taliban regime in 2001. The team’s ascent to the top international level is seen as SA trying to play a symbol of hope and national unity. it cool in heat of “We know the roads to Kabul are insecure, but I couldn’t resist the Emirates risking it to come for this,” Mohammadullah, 28, from the eastern province of Paktia, said. Afghan cricket team captain Mohammad Nabi (right), holds the ACC Cup after the team arrived in Kabul DUBAI: South Africa will use “Me and my friends rented yesterday. Afghanistan’s cricket team received a heroes’ welcome as cheering crowds lined the streets and a range of innovative methods two cars and hit the road to wel- packed a stadium in Kabul to greet the players after they qualified for the 2015 World Cup. to try and keep their cricket- come our team back. Cricket is a ers cool during the Test series sport which can bring all Afghans against Pakistan in the United together.” Afghanistan beat Kenya by seven national football side won its first “I am so much excited to see Arab Emirates where tempera- Security was high for the wickets in Sharjah a week ago to ever title, beating India in Nepal them go to the World Cup, now tures are set to peak in the high players’ vehicle convoy and at secure a place in the 2015 World to lift the South Asian Football I hope the government will also 30s. the national cricket stadium, Cup, which will be hosted by Federation (SAFF) trophy. pay attention to women’s cricket The tourists used a three-day where the team was met by wild Australia and New Zealand. That victory was marked by here,” she said. warmup match in Sharjah to test cheers from fans who had waited The stadium in Kabul was long bursts of gunfire unleashed Afghanistan is drawn in the a variety of garments including for hours to see their returning filled to capacity with cheerful into the night sky in Kabul and same group as four-time cham- a cooling ice vest, iced bandanas heroes. fans waving national flags as the elsewhere, though there was no pions Australia, New Zealand, and discs that can be put on vari- “I have never been this players showed off a golden cup immediate repeat of such cel- England, Bangladesh, 2011 run- ous parts of the body. happy in my life,” team cap- marking their success. ebrations yesterday. ners-up Sri Lanka and one other They were all filled with a gel tain Mohammad Nabi told the An array of pop and traditional Police were on high alert for qualifier. that freezes quickly and provides crowd. “I feel proud and want to singers then took to the stage to the homecoming party as Taliban The squad has received a $1m instant relief from the heat. congratulate the Afghan nation entertain the happy throng. suicide bombers have struck at windfall to help them prepare to “When the guys are on the for the victory and the historic “This achievement tells us several high-profile targets in the face the world’s best players. field they can’t wear a full ice achievement.” that we will be victorious in the capital this year, including the Cricket has boomed since the vest because it is quite cumber- Like many of his team-mates, future. It will inspire all Afghans,” presidential palace, the Supreme 1996-2001 Taliban era despite the South African bowler Morne some and there are regulations Nabi, 28, learned cricket in a ref- Afghanistan cricket board chief Court and the airport. bloody 12-year insurgency, and Morkel tries on an ice-vest in so we use that when they come ugee camp in Pakistan after his Noor Mohammad Murad said. Among those celebrating was games are now a regular sight on Sharjah, Dubai, on Friday. South off or during drinks breaks,” said parents fled Afghanistan in the Afghanistan celebrated Alina Barekzai, 17, a member any piece of open ground ranging Africa will begin their two- strength and conditioning coach wake of the 1979 Soviet invasion. another major sporting suc- of the women’s national cricket from scruffy city parks to rural Test series against Pakistan Greg King ahead of tomorrow’s He hit the winning runs when cess only last month when the team. roads. AFP first Test in Abu Dhabi. tomorrow. REUTERS SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Spain edge closer to World Cup Coach del Bosque demands more despite 2-1 victory over Belarus in Mallorca
MADRID: Spain manager had sprung two major surprises Vicente del Bosque was far in his starting line-up by handing Teams qualified from happy with his side’s dis- Michu his debut ahead of Negredo play despite the fact that they up front and replacing World Cup for Brazil moved to within just a point of and European Championship win- PARIS: Teams qualified for sealing qualification for next ning captain Iker Casillas with the 2014 World Cup so far: year’s World Cup with a 2-1 win Victor Valdes in goal. over Belarus on Friday. Michu hadn’t even been in Del Europe Second-half goals from Xavi Bosque’s original squad and had Netherlands, Italy , Belgium, and Alvaro Negredo put the hosts been called in as a late replace- Germany, Switzerland in command before a late conso- ment for the injured David Asia lation from Sergei Kornilenko Villa. However, the 62-year-old Japan, Australia, Iran, South halved the deficit for Belarus. insisted the Swansea City for- Korea Spain’s build-up play was slow ward had earned his place with South America and predictable throughout and his effort in training despite his Del Bosque is looking for more, largely ineffective showing before Brazil (hosts), Argentina, particularly in the wide areas, being replaced by Negredo on 55 Colombia, CONCACAF: when they host Georgia in their minutes. United States, Costa Rica final qualifier on Tuesday. “I was happy to bring in Michu “The game followed the guide and watch him train. He has a we expected beforehand. All of great spirit and arrives well into Colombia our opponents play like this,” he the box. It was a difficult game for Spain’s Alvaro Negredo heads the ball to score a said. him, but he have confidence in his goal against Belarus during their 2014 World Cup “We didn’t have penetration in value to the team. qualifying match at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de seal World our play, but the most important “Negredo then came on Mallorca on Friday. thing is that we won and we are and scored, which is what we close to the objective. expected. We manage the squad Cup berth “We made the changes that without favouritism and it was a MONTEVIDEO: Colombia we needed in the second-half to good day for Michu to play.” pulled off an amazing fightback have more penetration on the Casillas, meanwhile, finally he has played just 105 minutes is not number one at the Santiago out for a couple of weeks with the to reach the World Cup for the wings. Once the first goal went paid for his lack of match action of competitive action for Real Bernabeu. injury he got in Galatasaray and first time since 1998 on Friday, in though, we began to conserve at club level with his place in the Madrid this season after being “This match and the one against has played practically just one rallying from 3-0 down to snatch what we had which is very dan- national team. usurped by Diego Lopez. Finland are quite distinct situa- match in the whole month. a 3-3 draw against 10-man Chile gerous. I think we need to go look- Del Bosque had kept faith with However, Del Bosque refused tions. In Finland they both had “We will see how the games go in a six-goal thriller. ing for more goals.” the 32-year-old for the qualifier to confirm that Valdes will con- the same rhythm of training and in the future and if we make a Monaco striker Radamel The former Real Madrid boss against Finland last month, but tinue to start as long as Casillas matches. Now Casillas has been change on Tuesday.” AFP Falcao was the hero for the home side, keeping his cool to convert two late penalties as Colombia AFC president South American grabbed the point they needed to be certain of qualifying for next Neymar stunner as pledges to Results year’s finals in Brazil. Brazil qualify automatically for BUENOS AIRES: South the tournament as hosts, while help Iraq host American 2014 World Cup Argentina had already confirmed qualifying results and stand- their qualification last month. Brazil beat South Korea ings after Friday’s matches: matches Falcao’s 84th-minute level- Ecuador 1 Uruguay 0 ler capped an extraordinary SEOUL: Brazil star Neymar KUALA LUMPUR: The Colombia 3 Chile 3 turnaround for Jose Pekerman’s weathered some harsh atten- Asian Football Confederation Venezuela 1 Paraguay 1 Colombia, who had looked dead tion before scoring a stunning have pledged full support to and buried inside the opening half free-kick as he led the World Iraq in their bid to overturn a Argentina 3 Peru 1 hour after Chile raced to a 3-0 Cup hosts to a 2-0 friendly win ban on playing home interna- lead. over South Korea yesterday. tionals after the 2007 Asian CONCACAF However the sending off of The Barcelona forward curled champions were left furious at Chile’s Carlos Carmona for his shot past Korean goalie Jung being stripped of hosting the Results two bookable offences midway Sung-Ryong just before half-time, Gulf Cup. LOS ANGELES: Results through the second half was to with Chelsea’s Oscar getting the FIFA banned Iraq from hosting on Friday in 2014 World be the catalyst for a remarkable visitors’ second shortly after the matches in July in a move criti- Cup qualifying in North and comeback. break. Brazilian forward cised this week by Jordan’s Prince Central America and the Teofilo Gutierrez pulled a goal Neymar, 21, had been in doubt Neymar celebrates Ali Bin Al Hussein, a member of Caribbean: back on 69 minutes to make it for the game after a heavy fall in his goal against the world governing body’s all At San Pedro Sula 3-1 before Falcao’s late show gave training, and he was targed with South Korea during powerful executive committee.. Colombia a share of the points. Honduras 1 (Bengtson 64) some tough challenges and con- a friendly in Seoul AFC President Sheikh Salman Chile had earlier looked certain Costa Rica 0 stant attention in front of a near- yesterday. Brazil won bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, also a to be heading for a win which capacity crowd. the match 2-0. FIFA member and the head of the At Kansas City would have seen them guaran- But the young idol had the Bahraini FA, said checks would be United States 2 (Zusi 77, tee their ninth World Cup finals last laugh at Seoul World Cup carried out to see if war-torn Iraq Altidore 80) Jamaica 0 appearance after a flying start Stadium when he thumped his was safe enough to host matches. At Mexico City at a ground where Colombia had strike over the wall and to the “Both FIFA and AFC have won their five previous matches. right of Jung, who got a hand to agreed that the continental gov- Mexico 2 (Peralta 40, Jimenez Juventus star Arturo Vidal the ball but could not keep it out. erning body will send a working 85) Panama 1 (Tejada 80) fired Chile into the lead on 19 Neymar was targeted from team to assess the situation,” AFC minutes, sending Colombia keeper start to finish as Hong Myung- President Sheikh Salman told David Ospina the wrong way with Bo’s team, already qualified for members at a FIFA-AFC regional a perfectly placed spot-kick to next year’s World Cup, opted development seminar in Manama. silence the home crowd. for tactics of harassment and “The team will present a full Barcelona winger Alexis frustration. report to FIFA which will help Sanchez then doubled the The Brazilian threw up his But after being brought down Heung-Min in the 65th minute, them in this issue.” Chileans’ lead three minutes later hands in exasperation and had for the umpteenth time, Neymar hoping the Bayer Leverkusen The ban was cited as one of the before adding a close-range sec- a few testy moments with other took matters into his own hands winger could add some spark to reasons for the Iraqi city of Basra ond to make it 3-0 on 29 minutes. players, even getting into a as he opened the scoring with his the lethargic attack. being replaced by Jeddah in Saudi Despite the disappointment of shoving match near the teams’ free kick. And the home side were more Arabia as the host of the 2014/15 failing to wrap up qualification, benches late in the first half. Brazil doubled their just three lively in the last half-hour, with Gulf Cup this week. That decision Chile remain firmly on course After a tepid start to the game, minutes into the second half. Lee Chung-Yong heading a corner came after a meeting of the heads for Brazil after results elsewhere Neymar had taken the ball in Paulinho put Oscar through and wide in the 68th minute. of the eight Football Associations worked in their favour. midfield and danced through the midfielder went past the help- It was as close as South Korea who take part in the Middle East Ecuador’s 1-0 win over Uruguay defenders before threading a pass less Jung before putting it into the came to score in the match, as the event for national teams and was means that Chile need only a to Oscar, whose shot travelled gaping net. five-time World Cup champions met with a furious reaction by the point from their final game, over the bar. South Korea brought on Son outclassed the hosts. AFP Iraqi government. REUTERS against Ecuador to qualify. Ecuador will guarantee their place with a draw against the Real Madrid Chileans, making it highly likely Australia sack coach Osieck Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo that Uruguay will now have to deny Bale has controls the ball during the World settle for a play-off against Jordan Cup qualifier against Israel at the to reach the World Cup. slipped disc Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon Ecuador stayed on course for their first appearance after France humiliation on Friday. The match finished at the World Cup since the 1-1. Russia and Portugal look MADRID: Real Madrid SYDNEY: Australia coach Holger Osieck (pic- “The decision is based on the longer term issues 2006 finals in Germany with strongly denied a report in tured) was sacked yesterday just eight months of the rejuvenation of the Socceroos team and the destined to finish in the top two a hard-fought win over the Spain yesterday that world away from the World Cup after the Socceroos preparations for the World Cup and the Asian Cup. in the group. Uruguayans. AFP record signing Gareth Bale has were thrashed 6-0 by France in an international FFA has set a strategic objective of having a highly a slipped disc. friendly. competitive team in Brazil and then handing over Madrid sports daily Marca Despite guiding them to next year’s flagship tour- a team capable of winning the Asian Cup on home published the story claiming that nament in Brazil, the veteran German’s soil in January 2015. Your TV guide for the problem had been identified position was on the line ahead of Friday’s “We have come to the conclusion that when the 24-year-old Welshman match in Paris after the team was hit for change is necessary to meet those objec- live matches today underwent his medical with the six by Brazil a month ago. tives. I thank Holger for his contribution club and that the player may need But the latest embarrassing result to Australian football and wish him well in to undergo surgery. proved the tipping point and the 65-year- his future endeavours.” Event Competition Time Channel “The information published, old, who replaced Dutchman Pim Verbeek FFA chief executive David Gallop said Barcelona II vs Deportivo Spanish 2nd Division 13:00 HD5 claiming that the player has a as national coach in August 2010, has now that current Socceroo assistant coach Ethiopia vs Nigeria World Cup Qualifier 16:00 HD6 slipped disc on the L5-S1 verte- paid the price. Aurelio Vidmar would be in charge as care- brae and a bulge on two others, Football Federation Australia said the taker for their next match against Canada Sporting vs Jaen Spanish 2nd Division 18:00 HD5 is completely false,” said a state- decision was taken after an internal review in London on Tuesday. Coventry vs Sheffield United League 1 18:00 HD1 ment on the club’s website. of the World Cup qualification campaign and sub- Australia’s successive 6-0 defeat drew an angry “The player Gareth Bale sequent international matches, including the 6-0 reaction in Australia after the full-time whistle, Qatar vs Yemen AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 18:30 .TV has a small chronic disc bulge, defeat to Brazil on September 6 and the latest ham- with calls for Osieck to go and the Sydney Morning Tenerife vs Mallorca Spanish 2nd Division 19:00 +3 which is extremely common mering by Les Bleus. Herald deeming it “the most embarrassing pair of Tunisia vs Cameroon World Cup Qualifier 20:00 HD6 among football players and by no FFA chairman Frank Lowy said the long-term results in Socceroos’ history”. means prevents him from carry- interests of Australian football were paramount in In his 44 matches in charge, Osieck had 23 wins, Atletico Miniero vs Cruziero Brazilian Championship 22:00 HD6 ing out his professional activity making the change. 10 draws and 11 defeats. AFP Boca vs Rosario Argentine Primera División 00:15 HD6 normally.” AFP Sunday 13 October 2013 8 Dhul-Hijja 1434 Volume 18 Number 5851 Sport Price: QR2
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DOHA: Qatar will be eyeing to preparation the entire week,” added. Striker Sebastian Soria pick up three points to put pres- Thani said. and fellow forward Khalfan sure on group leaders Bahrain Last Wednesday, Qatar lost to Ibrahim will be key for the home when they host struggling Vietnam 1-2 in their international side. Experienced midfielder Yemen in their 2015 Asian Cup friendly played at the Al Gharafa Wisam Rizq is also available for qualifying match at Al Gharafa Stadium, giving fans the doubt for the game. Stadium today. today’s key Group D encounter. Yemen coach Sami Al Nash Qatar have 3 points from two Mohammed Al Sayed gave admitted he had little info on his games whereas Group D leaders Qatar the lead in the 16th minute rivals though his team had been Bahrain have picked up 6 points but Nguyen Trong Hoang equal- preparing well. from two matches. ised in the 20th and again found “We have been training for this Malaysia are in third place with the target in the 29th. game for three weeks,” Al Nash three points whereas Yemen are “We are not worried about said at a press conference. “The at the bottom of the group after that loss,” coach Fahad said national league has not started two losses. when asked about last week’s yet in Yemen so we have had to “I have confidence in my play- loss. “We are happy that most of arrange a lengthy training camp ers. They can do well. We can our players got on the pitch and for this match. “We had a good win this encounter,” coach Fahad played the game,” he said without workout against Iraq (last week). Thani said yesterday. elaborating. Although we lost (3-2), we got “We have had good training Today’s game starts at 7:30pm impressive performances from sessions so far,” he added. at Al Gharafa Stadium. some of the players,” he added. “We will be playing to pick up “We are not underestimating “I must say we don’t have much three points. That’s our target,” our opponents. They are a good info on our rivals. But we know the coach said. side but we feel we have prepared they are a good side at home and “I feel good after watching our well going into this match,” he can do well,” Al Nash said. “I think the return game (between Qatar and Yemen on November 15) will Qatar team players walk off the Al Gharafa Stadium pitch following a training session in Doha yesterday. Qatar be decisive as to who advances take on Yemen in their 2015 Asian Cup qualifying match at the same venue today. PICTURE: FADI AL ASSAD from this group,” he said. When asked about Qatar’s loss against Vietnam in a friendly last week, Al Nash said: “Yes, we know they lost but Qatar can come back strongly from that match. We just want to do a good job in this match.” He added: “The entire bunch is keen to get on to the pitch and perform. We can’t wait for the match to start.” The game today will be followed by a return match against the same opposition on November 15 (away game). Four days later on November 19, Qatar will take on hosts Malaysia. The 2015 AFC Asian Cup quali- fication matches will determine Qatar coach Fahad Thani (left) and his counterpart Sami Al Nash from the participating teams for the Yemen during their press conferences at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday. event to be held in Australia. Qatar host Yemen in their 2015 Asian Cup, Group D, qualifying match A total of 16 teams will compete at the same venue today. PICTURES: SHAIVAL DALAL in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. THE PENINSULA
Motor racing: F1 drivers to ICC launches honour De Villota at Suzuka World Test SUZUKA, JAPAN: Formula One drivers will hold a minute’s Championship silence at the Japanese Grand Prix today and dedicate the win- ner’s podium to the late Marussia test driver Maria De Villota, ABU DHABI: Cricket’s gov- they said yesterday. erning body launched the World A statement from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), Test Championship 2017 yes- which represents most but not all of those on the starting grid, said terday aimed at preserving the the silence would be held before the drivers’ parade. primacy of the longer format of De Villota, who lost her right eye and fractured her skull in a the game. freak accident during a straight line aerodynamic test in England in The International Cricket July 2012, was found dead in a hotel in her native Spain on Friday. Council (ICC) said the inaugural Her sister said the family had been told the 33-year-old, whose championship will be hosted by father Emilio was once a Formula One driver, had died in her sleep England and will feature the top as a result of neurological injuries she suffered in the crash. four teams in the ICC Test rank- The GPDA said all its members had been saddened by the news ings, with a total prize money of and extended condolences to $10m at stake. the family. “The objective of the champion- “Her positive attitude, ship is to preserve the primacy of maturity and extreme com- Tests and to preserve the future mitment will never be forgot- of all formats of the game,” ICC ten and are something we have chief executive David Richardson learned from,” the statement said at the launch on the sidelines said. “Maria will be missed and of the Pakistan-South Africa two- always remembered by all of Test series starting tomorrow. us.” The championship, originally Japanese fans displayed a planned for 2013 but delayed banner, in the colours of the because broadcasters wanted a Spanish flag, at the entrance to limited overs event, will replace the Suzuka circuit with “Maria the Champions Trophy, the last De Villota. Rest in Peace’ writ- edition of which was hosted by ten on it. REUTERS England earlier this year. F1 test driver Maria de Villota The attractions of Test cricket have faced serious competition in of Spain poses for a picture recent years from the Twenty20 prior to the Australian Grand phenomenon. Prix at the Albert Park Circuit Richardson said the qualifying in Melbourne in this March phase for the Test championship 15, 2012, file photo. runs from May 2013 and will end in December 2016. REUTERS