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Thursday 27 February 2014 27 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5988 Price: QR2

Ooredoo’s sukuk Bolt in running wins ‘Qatar - Deal for Laureus of the Year’ honours

Business | 20 Sport | 28

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Qatar, Senegal hold talks Qatar Exchange to New rules for close on March 2 DOHA: Qatar Exchange will be closed on March 2 because of the official holiday that banks and financial institutions observe on treatment of the first Sunday of March. “This is in compliance with the Council of Ministers’ Resolution No. (33) of 2009, to observe the first Sunday of March every year Qataris abroad as an official holiday,” a QE noti- fication said yesterday. QNA New payment system approved Travel advisory DOHA: With Qatar spending while calling for better and more on Thailand millions of dollars every year advanced healthcare facilities in for treatment of citizens abroad, Qatar. DOHA: In view of the situa- new rules have been laid down There were 2,000 patients who tion in Thailand, the Ministry to ensure that the patients get sought treatment abroad in 2012. of Foreign Affairs has urged paid without delay. According to statistics released by Qataris wishing to go to the The State Cabinet yesterday the Supreme Council of Health country to postpone their travel. approved amendments of some (SCH) earlier a total of QR780m The ministry also advised provisions of the cabinet decision ($213.7m) was spent on nearly Qataris to travel to remote No. 69 of 2012 fixing the allow- 3,000 citizens who received treat- coastal cities and islands far ances being paid to patients who ment overseas in 2010. from the capital Bangkok when are sent abroad for treatment Latest data suggest that a the situation turns normal. and those accompanying them major portion of these patients The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Senegalese President Macky Sall at the Emiri Diwan QNA during the trips. All expenses for are getting treatment in the US yesterday. Talks discussed relations between the two countries and issues of mutual concern. the treatment have been borne and Canada for chronic diseases by the state. like cancer. Qatari patients get- According to the amendments, ting treatment for cancer in the daily allowances are to be paid in US represent one third of the advance for the first two weeks, total citizens sent for treatment and afterwards they have to be to US and Canada last year, Al MPHC shares surge 450pc on first day paid at the end of each week. Sharq reports. The state will also bear the About 1,000 Qataris sought BY SATISH KANADY watch Mesaieed soaring at an expected to cool off in the coming The IPO was coming after a long travel costs of the patients and treatment in the US and Canada ‘unimaginable high’ on its debut days, another analyst noted. “But time and there seems to be a lot of those accompanying them. They last year. Patients treated for DOHA: Shares in Mesaieed on Qatar Exchange (QE). “Even today’s excitement was missing in pent up demand. But the market will get economy class air tickets neurological disorders and those Petrochemical Holding big guys were not expecting such the market during the first day never expected such a huge surge. in normal cases. A higher class who underwent organ transplant Company (MPHC) or Mesaieed a surge. It’s mere speculation tradings of some companies, listed Even in majlis discussions, the ticket will be provided in excep- constituted 10 percent each of the surged by 450 percent on the that drove the stock high. You last time”, he added. investors were expecting some- tional cases that include: total patients. first day of trading yesterday. need to wait for the next couple A top executive of MPHC said thing around 40 percent rise on Trips that take ten hours or A number of children with The shares opened at QR50, up of days to know where the stock he is bullish as he expects active the opening day”, said another more, where the patients and various types of diseases sought from their initial public offer is really heading”, an analyst at participation of institutional inves- market analyst. Mesaieed’s those accompanying them deserve treatment during the year. price of QR10, then trended in a leading investment bank told tors and foreign retailers, who were number of executed transactions travelling on business class; cases Many patients also underwent an upward direction to close at The Peninsula. denied subscriptions to the offer- amounted to 11,801 yesterday, which require a higher class of complicated cosmetic surgeries QR55, after touching an intra- The surge on the opening day ings, in the coming sessions. “We totalling 11,005,599 traded shares travel according to the list deter- and body rehabilitation sessions day high of QR73.90. was mainly because of price fluc- are expecting huge demand from for a total value of over QR674m. mined by competent medical com- necessitated by accidents. Health HE Dr Mohammed bin Saleh tuation being permitted for the foreign investors and local compa- However, the buoyancy could not mittees dealing with the cases. authorities have been working on Al Sada, Minister of Energy and first day of listing. The fluctua- nies who were denied opportuni- help lift the market yesterday, as In 2011, Qatar spent QR1.2bn a new strategy to establish several Industry and Chairman of the tion in prices will be restricted ties to take part in the IPO, Ahmed Mesaieed trading did not impact ($328.76m) for treatment of citi- specialised hospitals in the coun- MPHC Board described the list- from either going up by 10 per- Abdul Hakim, Executive Director, the benchmark index. zens abroad, the Advisory Council try, based on a feasibility study. ing as a ‘milestone for MPHC’. cent or going down from that level MPHC told Al Arabiya. THE PENINSULA said during a session last year, THE PENINSULA The market was surprised to from the second day. The stock is ‘There were lot of expectations. Continued on page 2; see also page 17

Ukraine tense Qatar backs political as Russia to hold military solution for Syria TEHRAN: Qatar’s Foreign loggerheads over the three-year- exercises Minister H E Dr Khalid bin old war in Syria that has torn the Mohammed Al Attiyah said country apart and cost more than KIEV: The Kremlin ordered yesterday his country and Iran 140,000 lives. Tehran is a staunch major military exercises yester- both back a “political solution” supporter of President Bashar day, as concerns about unrest in to the conflict in Syria despite Al Assad’s regime, while Doha is Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula their support for opposite sides. a key backer of the Syrian rebels continued to grow and scuffles “Everyone is agreed on one fighting to oust him. in the region left one person point, that the Syrian crisis Meanwhile, forces loyal to dead. should be resolved through a Syrian President Bashar Al Assad The Russian president, political solution,” Al Attiyah told killed at least 175 Islamist rebel Vladimir Putin, ordered an a joint news conference in Tehran fighters, most of them foreigners, urgent drill of his country’s armed with his Iranian counterpart, in an ambush in insurgent-held forces in western Russia, in what Mohammad Javad Zarif. eastern outskirts of Damascus, appeared to be a display of sabre- “There is a difference of views state media said yesterday. The rattling aimed at the new govern- despite other points of common- attack was led by the Lebanese ment in Kiev. alities. We consider them (Syrian Shia militant group Hezbollah Putin instructed his defence rebels) revolutionary people call- which has joined the government minister, Sergei Shoigu, to place Residents of Syria’s besieged Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp, south of Damascus, crowding a destroyed ing for their rights in the face of in a increasingly sectarian con- Russia’s military in a state of high street during food distribution by the United Nation Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in a picture released by fire and bullets,” Attiyah added. flict. AGENCIES alert for drills in the western mili- the agency yesterday. Qatar and Iran are at See also page 7 tary district, bordering Ukraine. The defence ministry quickly denied the drills had anything to do with the political situation in Kiev, where the government of President Viktor Yanukovich was Al Jazeera calls protests outside Egypt missions in effect toppled at the weekend. But the move comes amid increas- THURSDAYURSDAYRSDAY 27 FEBRUARYFEBRUAR 22014 HilHamilton unveil s ingly forthright statements from DOHA: Broadcaster Al Jazeera Mohamed, an Egyptian — were apparent reference to the Muslim freedom of expression and that F1 simulator Moscow that the rights of ethnic called for vigils outside Egyptian detained in Cairo on December Brotherhood, which has been pro- the journalists raised suspicions at IWC pavilion ormula One cham- things and being innovative and pion and IWC Friend constantly chasing time, so it’s of the Brand Lewis the perfect synergy that we have Hamilton launched with IWC.” the Mercedes AMG “A lot of people just watch the Russians in Ukraine are being embassies across the world yes- 29. testing against the government by operating without official FPetronas Simulator yesterday race from the outside; they don’t at the 11th Doha Jewellery and get to see all work that goes into Watches Exhibition at the Qatar the car. We have almost 2,000 National Convention Centre people in a team to build the car (QNCC). from scratch, nothing is out- Karoline Huber, Brand Director sourced. Everything is designed of IWC Middle East & India, and and hand built by the individu- Jamil Al Majed, Vice Chairman als in the team with attention infringed. terday to press Egypt to free Al Jazeera Arabic’s Abdullah since the army toppled Islamist permission. “We are calling on offAlMjdJ Al Majed Jewellery ll joined ji d tdtilthto detail, the same with ithth these the Mercedes AMG Petronas watches.”atches ” Formula One Team driver durdur- “I’m crazy about watcheswatches, even ing the event held at the IWC more so since I’veI ve seen what goes Schaffhausen Ingenieur Ingenieur-themed themed into itit. To see the guy who puts booth. his heart and soul into it, to see The Swiss watch manufacturer 600 piecespg go into the watch, it’s Shoigu told a defence minis- four of its journalists, three of Elshamy has been detained president Mohammed Mursi on all journalists and supporters of has been the Official Engineeringgg quiteqg unreal to imagine.” Partner of the Mercedes AMG In front of numerous guests PtPetronas Formula F l One O Team T andd jjournalists, li t LLewis i HHamilton ilt sinceilt last year. kikick-started k t t d the th simulator i l t with ith “Being part of the IWC famfam- a virtual race on the Yas Marina ily is truly an honour as we share Circuit Abu Dhabi, Dhabi giving an the same values and find many impressive demonstration of his try meeting that forces must “be whom have been charged with without charge since August 14, July 3 following mass protests. freedom to stage vigils in front of similarities between the racing outstanding skills. world and watch making uni-uni Up until marc 2, exhibition verse,” said Hamilton at the event visitors will have the chance to held in partnership with Al Majed attempt to better Lewis’ lap time JllJewellery. on thehi simulator l and, d at the h same HidHe cited a correlation lib between time,i get as close l as possible ibl to to bebfhiii part of this prestigious carcar-making making and racing and experiencing the feeling of driving event for the second timetime, ” said watch-making as both requiring on a Formula One tracktrack. Karoline Huber. Huber “Fans Fans of high- ready to bomb unfamiliar testing aiding a “terrorist organisation”. 2013, and has been on hunger The government has declared Egyptian embassies all over the creativity and innovation. innovation “ItisanhonourforustohaveIt is an honour for us to have quality mechanical watches can grounds” as part of the drill. The three from Al Jazeera’s strike in protest since January the Brotherhood a “terrorist world,” Ghassan Abu Hussein, Today’s edition includes a four-page Crimea has a largely pro-Rus- English-language television serv- 23, the network said. Al Jazeera group”. The Brotherhood says it international relations manager supplement on sian population. ice — Peter Greste, an Australian; has called the accusations is a peaceful organisation. at Al Jazeera, told a news confer- Doha Jewellery & THE GUARDIAN Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian- absurd. The charge of aiding a Egyptian officials have said the ence in Doha. REUTERS Watches Exhibition See also page 10 Egyptian national; and Baher “terrorist organisation” is an case of the three is not linked to Continued on page 4 THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar 2015 mascot contest winners awarded VCUQatar student bags the first prize

DOHA: The winner of the mas- headquarters of the committee on worked to create the mascot. cot contest for the 24th Men’s Wednesday. “VCUQatar has been honoured Handball World Championship He praised proposals created to work with the committee in the were awarded by Dr Thani by students of the university: “It design and development of the Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, was extraordinary for all of us mascot. Director General of Qatar 2015 to see how many ideas had been “VCUQatar aims to support Organising Committee. presented in the contest not only a generation of young design- In cooperation with Virginia to create a mascot but also to ers to create a thriving, vibrant Commonwealth University in fill it with life. Fahed will be the and sustainable design sector for Qatar (VCUQatar), the commit- face of the championship, he will Qatar and industry-led projects tee initiated the contest to create transport our ideals and dreams enable the university to build a a memorable mascot. to spectators at the venues and culture around creativity and The result of the contest – mas- via TV all over the world.” entrepreneurship. cot Fahed, symbolising a six-year- This contest was launched as a “Sponsored projects bring local old Qatari boy was introduced starting point of common projects organisations and aspiring young to the public during the official of the committee with universities designers together to produce mascot and countdown launch in Qatar prior to and during the exceptional creative work, help- on Qatar National Sport Day, world championship. ing students develop transfera- attended by H E Sheikh Joaan “We want local talents to get ble skills they will need to secure bin Hamad Al Khalifa Al Thani, involved in this event, we are employment in the future. President of the committee, and planning to have internships in “This project embodies the Dr Hassan Moustafa, President departments to interact with uni- spirit of VCUQatar’s mission to of International Handball versities. We are willing to count provide students with world-class Federation. on our future stars to make the education and linking them with “Fahed is more than a mascot. championship a success”, Dr Al industry sponsors to gain insights Mascot Fahed symbolises a six-year-old Qatari boy. He is an ambassador of Qatar for Kuwari said, adding he looked into real life projects and chal- handball and the event, showcas- forward to a fruitful cooperation lenges. This project is the start of ing hospitality, friendship, and with Doha-based universities. a long-term collaboration between to the success of the Handball Al Thani. The second and third to this contest,” Dr Al Kuwari sportive ambitions of the coun- Roger Griffiths, Director of VCUQatar and the committee. Championship in 2015,” he said. participants were presented with said and donated a cheque to try in a charming way,” said Dr Entrepreneurship at VCUQatar, “VCUQatar is thrilled that Griffiths and Dr Al Kuwari cheques. VCQ Qatar for cooperation and Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari explained the run-down of the our students have been able to presented the prize money to the “We are thankful and pleased support. during the award ceremony at the contest and how his students make a significant contribution winner, VCUQatar student Roda by your work and contribution THE PENINSULA Ooredoo signs in Ericsson for Telecom World Conference DOHA: Ooredoo and com- GSMA Mobile World Congress Ooredoo is showcasing a host munications technology leader taking place in Barcelona, Spain. of “Smart City” and “Connected Ericsson yesterday signed an Qatar has appointed Ooredoo to Lifestyle” innovations during the agreement that sees Ericsson organise the forum on its behalf. Congress this year, and aims to become one of the first partici- In signing Ericsson for the engage a number of leading part- pants for the 2014 International event, Ooredoo has engaged one ners like Ericsson in Qatar to Telecommunications Union of the world’s leaders in commu- support its efforts to make Qatar (ITU) Telecom World nications technology – 40 per- one of the world’s best-connected Conference here in December. cent of the world’s mobile traffic nations. Many of these partners The agreement was signed by goes through Ericsson networks will discuss their plans at the ITU Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, - demonstrating the incredible Conference later in the year. CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, and Anders potential for innovation and tech- As part of the development Lindblad, President of Ericsson, nological development that will be plan for the 2022 FIFA World Middle East, at a ceremony at the released through the conference. Cup, Ooredoo is working with the

Ooredoo and Ericsson officials at the event.

developers of a number of leading to make the ITU Telecom World “We see Qatar at the forefront mega projects and key facilities Conference in Doha one of the of this transformation, and our to design and build “networks of best in the event’s long history, participation in ITU Telecom the future”. The technology will and we are bringing our leading World 2014 is a key opportunity make it possible for people to partners to Qatar for the event.” for Ericsson to showcase our access matches, make payments Lindblad added: “We are in innovation and how we are ena- and enjoy Qatar’s incredible facili- the midst of an industry trans- bling, with our partners such as ties using their mobile devices, as formation, and where we are at Ooredoo, the Networked Society,” Doha becomes one of the “smart- the moment is just the begin- he said. est cities” on Earth. ning. As we transition towards The event brings together influ- Sheikh Saud said: “We are the Networked Society, when ential global leaders in ICT from proud to sign this agreement with everything that benefits from a the public and private sectors, for Ericsson, one of the world lead- connection will be connected, new strategic debate, knowledge-shar- ers in communication technology, opportunities are opening up for ing, innovation showcasing and which will add significant value communication in terms of inno- networking at the highest level. to this high profile event. We aim vation and productivity. THE PENINSULA

Rabban Hospitality signs deal

The Chairman of Al Rabban Holding (Rabban), Khalid Mohammed Al Rabban (centre, sitting); Chief Operating Officer for Europe and the Middle East, Frasers Hospitality, Guus Bakker, (right, sitting); Mohammed Khalid Al Rabban (left, standing), directors of Rabban, Nasser Khalid Al Rabban (sitting, second right) and Khalifa Khalid Al Rabban (sitting right); General Manager, Al Sarh Real Estate, Shahadev Naidoo (standing right); Business Development Executive, Arab Engineering Bureau, Lejla Niksic (standing, fourth left); with other officials pose for a group photo after Khalid Rabban and Bakker signed an agreement at the Rabban Towers, West Bay, yes- terday. Frasers Hospitality will manage operations of a 46-storey tower named Frasers Suites West Bay Doha under construction. SALIM MATRAMKOT No new listed firms in index for six months Continued from page 1 Retail investors just want to own the stock- it has “As part of the index law, new listed companies overheated though, and risen far above the consen- will not be included in the index until six months”, sus fair value,” Reuters quoted Ahmed Shehda, head Syed Mohsin Mujtaba Rizvi, Director, Product and of trading at QNB Financial Services, as saying. Market Development, QE said. Mesaieed is the first company to be listed on “QE’s benchmark index dropped 0.14 percent yes- the bourse since the global index compiler MSCI terday. The industrials sector index in which the announced to upgrade Qatar to the emerging mar- MPHC was listed fell in negative territory after ket status. shedding 0.50 percent. With the listing of Mesaieed, the total number of “Institutional investors were almost missing in listed companies on the bourse rose to 43. the market yesterday.” THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Nakilat, two shipyard joint ventures to attend DIMDEX DOHA: Nakilat and its two police, customs and other security DIMDEX 2014, an event of criti- shipyard joint ventures have services and a 98-metre-long frig- cal importance both for Qatar and announced to take part in ate for the purpose of supporting for the entire MENA region. the upcoming DIMDEX 2014 military naval authorities and By showcasing the state-of- exhibition. their counterparts. the-art capabilities of Qatar’s They are gearing up to show- Nakilat, NDSQ and N-KOM Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma case two security vessels, both will also be showcasing their Shipyard at DIMDEX 2014, we equipped with the facility to serve naval and coastguard ship con- are displaying our readiness to the needs of navies, coastguards, struction and repair capabilities serve naval and other maritime police, customs and other security at DIMDEX 2014, which will be security forces both from Qatar services. held from March 25-27 at Qatar and from around the world, both Nakilat’s two joint ventures, National Convention Centre, with in terms of ship construction and shipbuilder Nakilat Damen shipbuilder NDSQ the event’s ship repair.” Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) and exclusive Diamond Sponsor. Nakilat is a Qatari marine ship repairer Nakilat-Keppel Visitors to DIMDEX will be transport company providing Offshore & Marine (N-KOM), able to meet representatives from the essential transportation link Micro tunnelling and excavation works are on track. will extend their strong support Nakilat, NDSQ and N-KOM at in Qatar’s LNG supply chain. Its for the fourth edition of the Doha stand H5-15 throughout the exhi- LNG shipping fleet is the larg- International Maritime Defence bition. In addition, delegates will est in the world, comprising 58 Exhibition and Conference be able to visit two vessels that will LNG vessels. Nakilat also man- (DIMDEX 2014), which is the be moored at Doha Commercial ages and operates four large LPG leading defence exhibition in the Port during the event. carriers. Via two strategic joint Lusail Expressway Meddle East and North Africa Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti, ventures, N-KOM and NDSQ, region. Managing Director of Nakilat and Nakilat operates the ship repair The two vessels on display at Chairman of NDSQ and N-KOM, and construction facilities at the the port will be an 11-metre-long said: “Nakilat, and our strategic Port of Ras Laffan. ultra-high-speed craft to cover partners NDSQ and N-KOM THE PENINSULA work in full swing the needs of navies, coastguards, are extremely proud to support

DOHA: Work on Lusail Lusail City Development, and the micro-tunnels include allowing Expressway project is in full future Sharq (Doha Bay) cross- construction of utilities below swing. ing. The Lusail Expressway will the levels of other existing utili- During a site visit for the also cater for future Light Rail ties and roads, without having to Silatech, SPARK in youth enterprise deal media, Ashghal officials high- Transit and Metro’s Red Line employ more conventional means lighted the project’s micro tunnel- North. of conducting deep excavations DOHA: Silatech and SPARK yesterday signed a ling and major excavation works, The expressway project and backfilling,” said Mohammed memorandum of understanding to collaborate on which are underway at Pearl and also includes tunnels. “Lusail Shamya, Project Engineer, Lusail programmes focusing on career guidance, skills Onaiza interchanges. Expressway project will con- Expressway. “In addition to saving and employability, and youth enterprise develop- Lussail Expressway project, struct approximately 2,900 cost of excavations and temporary ment in the Arab world. which is expected to get complete metres of tunnels of internal diversions, the system helps in Areas of potential cooperation include educational by the third quarter of 2016, will diametre 3,000mm for the con- reducing potential project delays. and training materials, impact evaluation tech- provide a vital connection into veyance of 132kV cabling. In addi- Utilities inside micro-tunnels are niques, enterprise databases, civic engagement train- Doha’s fast growing Lusail City tion, approximately 1,180 metres protected against any of the risks ing, university entrepreneurship programs, online Development area which is cur- of tunnels of internal diameter that surface-laid utilities face and ‘virtual internships’ psychometric assessment tools rently under construction. 2,500mm will be constructed for are fully and easily accessible for to measure entrepreneurship potential, and access It will upgrade the existing Al drainage purposes,” said Ashghal monitoring and maintenance,” he to finance and business development services for Istiqlal Road from south of the in the statement. “The project said. micro- and small enterprises. Al Wahda (Arch) roundabout will have provision for a Light Lusail Expressway project is Silatech is a regional social initiative that works to north of the North Channel Rail Transit tunnel measuring a part of Ashghal’s ‘Expressway to boost employment, entrepreneurship and civic Crossing, and Onaiza Street. The 1,106-metre long, 9.5-metre wide Programme’ that includes more engagement opportunities for young people through- 5.3km will comprise four lanes and 5.5-metre high,” it said. than 34 major projects with 240 out the Arab world. SPARK is an independent inter- of highway with additional lanes Ashghal has almost completed interchanges, over 980 km of new national development organization that develops to provide for traffic movement the tunnelling works under the roads and an array of under- higher education and entrepreneurship to empower between the interchanges. South Canal Crossing and tun- passes, flyovers and multi-level ambitious young people to lead their conflict-affected The project includes three large nelling at the site of the future interchanges to enable smooth societies into prosperity. Officials at the signing ceremony. interchanges and has key inter- Onaiza Interchange is in progress. traffic. THE PENINSULA faces with the Pearl, Katara, “Key advantages of THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Cabinet slams Israeli FM meets Turkish counterpart attacks on Al Aqsa Draft law to regulate government purchases approved

DOHA: The Cabinet yesterday condemned continuing Israeli New building painting rules soon incursions and attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque and their plot DOHA: New rules on painting buildings are expected to be issued to impose its full control on soon. The Cabinet yesterday took measures to issue a draft law Islamic sanctities in Al Quds. amending some provisions of the law No. 4 of 1985 on regulating The weekly session, chaired by buildings. The Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yesterday met his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet the Prime Minister and Interior The proposed amendments largely pertain to authorising the Davutoglu, in Ankara and discussed relations and the situation in the Middle East. Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah municipalities to decide the colour of exteriors of all buildings in bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani their jurisdiction. The owner (licensed person) would not be allowed at the Emiri Diwan, called for an to use any colours not approved by the municipal authorities. urgent Arab and international Last September the Cabinet approved the draft law and referred Qatari writers forum on March 10 drive at the highest level to coun- it to the Advisory Council for recommendations. The Cabinet in its ter Israeli aggressive practices weekly session took note of the council’s proposals. DOHA: Qatari writers and the year will be honoured at the awareness by organising sympo- and its disregard of international THE PENINSULA intellectuals will gather once event. siums, seminars and many other law and legitimacy-related reso- again for the second edition Katara General Manager Dr relevant activities,” he said. lutions, its escalating violations It also aims to support the com- The Cabinet approved a of Katara Cultural Forum on Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti said He said the initiative is an against Islamic sanctities and petitiveness of small and medium proposal by the Minister of March 10 at Katara Building 15. Katara, in organizing such cul- important part of the long-term provocations to increase tension enterprises and national and Communications and Information The forum will discuss the role tural events and activities, aims Strategy of Katara toward sus- in the region. environment-friendly services Technology on fees for frequency of media in cultural development to activate the cultural movement tainable cultural development Such practices would stamp out to achieve justice, equality, equal spectrum. with the participation of media, in the country and strengthen and giving way for Qatari talent any hope for a just, durable and opportunities, transparency and The Cabinet also approved academics, writers, experts and communication among authors, and innovation to interact inter- comprehensive peace that ensures the value for money. Qatar’s subscription to increase concerned individuals. artists, intellectuals and people nationally by creating foundation legitimate and inalienable rights It includes organising con- the capital of Islamic Corporation Topics include the role of concerned on cultural affairs and for real cultural development. of the Palestinian people, includ- tracts to purchase items, services, for Insurance of Investment and TV channels in enhancing cul- cultural institutions in a way that Some of the aims of the Forum, ing the right to establish an contracts for business or rental Export Credit. ture, the present and future promotes the cultural scene in he said, include looking for tal- independent state with Al Quds properties through public ten- The session reviewed a letter role of print media, new media Qatar, GCC and Arab countries. ented Qataris, developing their as its capital, the Deputy Prime der, setting up an ad-hoc tender from the Minister of Labour and and cultural development and “We are trying to make Katara abilities, and encouraging them Minister and Minister of State for committee according to a Cabinet Social Affairs on results of the media freedom and cultural a suitable environment for cul- by publishing their works as well Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin decision and the establishment of 30th session of the GCC Labour development. tural activities and encourage as introducing Qatari culture and Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud one or more committees at the Ministers’ Council in Bahrain last Some authors who published creativity and innovation to con- art locally and internationally. said following the meeting. Ministry of Finance to settle October and took the appropriate books during the first quarter of tribute to disseminating cultural THE PENINSULA The Cabinet approved a draft disputes. decision. law on regulating government Such committee or committees It endorsed a draft memo- purchases. It aims at putting will be headed by a judge or chair- randum of understanding for into force the decentralisation man of the Court of Appeal, with exchange of news between Qatar policy in government contracts two judges of the court and two News Agency and Bulgarian News and upgrading the purchasing people nominated by the Minister Agency and took measures to system to cope with the best glo- of Finance, as members to adjudi- ratify a protocol between Belgium bal standards through the use of cate in disputes arising from the and Qatar on political consulta- latest information technology. application of the draft law. tions. QNA

BIM standards vowed

Officials at the event. Call to focus on renewable energy

DOHA: At the time when energy demand is con- demand continues to rise,” he said. The title of his tinuously rising, countries in the Gulf should focus talk was ‘The Paradox of Renewable Energy in on renewable energy, said Omran Al Kuwari, Qatar.’ He said, “For me, renewable energy is more Co-founder and CEO, GreenGulf. about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean “Solar energy is low-hanging fruit in the region,” technologies all together in one category. In this Al-Kuwari said. “Solar energy fits with our needs... regard, it’s important to think about Qatar in the it’s a good match for our region, and it’s a good context of the Gulf region,” he said. match for Qatar, and it is easy to implement,” said He said Qatar is a very unique country in the Gulf. Al-Kuwari while delivering lecture at Georgetown “It (Qatar) is the only country in the world you can Participants of the Fourth Building Information Modelling (BIM) User Day themed ‘BIM Policy: one industry, University in Qatar (GU-Q) Centre for International safely say has enough gas, enough power, to supply one language’ posing for a group picture at the event organised by Qatar University and HOCHTIEF ViCon on and Regional Studies. “The paradox, is why coun- itself and to have exports for the foreseeable future.” February 24. They agreed to develop common standards for BIM in contracts, manuals and guidelines from tries in the region have not taken full advantage of Al-Kuwari added that Qatar is also in a favourable project level to national level. this abundant natural resource now that renew- position because natural gas is seen increasingly as able technology costs have come down and energy an acceptable option for power generation. “Qatar has been able to utilise the (North Field) gas field, mon- etise it very favourably, and now is in a unique position because it has gas it can use for its needs and export. Qatar is the only country in the GCC that supplies all its power 100 percent from gas.” THE PENINSULA Al Jazeera cameraman recalls Cairo prison horror Continued from page 1 on my knees as I was ques- The network says the tioned by an officer who demonstrations will be kicked me in the face with part of a media campaign his shoes,” he said. that will also see online He had been kept in petitions and other activi- a small prison cell with ties in 30 cities across the 37 others and was only world to be covered on all offered limited amounts of of the channel’s services. food full of insects. “Al Jazeera hopes Badr said he had filed a through the attention of complaint but withdrew it the world’s media and when he was told that if partners, pressure can be he pursued the matter he brought to bear on the would be put in a small cell Egyptian authorities,” Al with insufficient clothing Jazeera said in a statement. during winter months. Mohamed Badr, an Al Interior Ministry’s Jazeera cameraman freed Brigadier Ahmed Helmy from detention in Egypt said anyone with com- earlier this month, said he plaints against the minis- had been abused and sub- try had the right to send jected to brutality almost an official complaint to the daily by security staff dur- Prisons’ Department and ing nearly seven-month human rights organisa- custody. tions and they would be A court acquitted Badr, reviewed. an Egyptian, of charges of “However in this case, committing acts of violence he decided to go out of during clashes in Cairo. Egypt and say what he said Badr was among several from Al Jazeera, instead of people arrested during filing an official complaint clashes in central Cairo, to us, which is not under- days after Mursi was standable,” he said. ousted by the army. All four Al Jazeera jour- “I was slapped on the nalists deny accusations face, blindfolded and forced against them. REUTERS THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Over 100 students to display artworks today They will receive certificates for attending workshops

DOHA: Over 100 students from is designed to connect students educational but stimulating and Independent schools will receive with artworks in the museums, as entertaining.” certificates today after complet- well as encourage visual literacy Throughout the programme ing a series of creative work- and creative expression through students have been introduced shops designed by the Supreme teamwork. to several pieces of art within Education Council (SEC) and The activities are part of the Mathaf. At MIA they viewed two Qatar Museums Authority SEC’s newly developed Art cur- historic carved wooden doors (QMA). riculum, which is currently being from Cairo dating back to the The students will be show- piloted within grades three and Mamluk period, which represent casing their own works of art four at five independent schools. examples of geometric design and inspired by those seen and stud- “The new curriculum is unique craftsmanship. ied throughout the week and will because it allows students to be Students then applied knowl- Ooredoo and Kopin Corporation officials at the Mobile World Congress, Barcelona. be displayed in a student exhibi- creative through engaging with edge of how these doors were tion in Mathaf Garden. They will arts and artistic spaces,” said made to construct eight-pointed be recognised by officials from Haya Al Kuwari, Director of the stars using basic mathematical the SEC and QMA and awarded Education Institute in the SEC. tools and concepts. They also Ooredoo, Kopin to transform certificates. “The participation of a key learned how to write their own The week-long programme, cultural institution such as the names using the historical Ruq’ah created by Mathaf Education QMA in the development and script, the last style of calligraphy and the Museum of Islamic implementation of syllabi ensures to be developed in the Ottoman Art’s (MIA) Education Centre, that the programme is not only court. THE PENINSULA Qatar into a Smart country

DOHA: Ooredoo and the The collaboration was through voice commands and US-based Kopin Corporation launched by Sheikh Saud bin view them while keeping their yesterday announced that they Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo hands free during work. Ooredoo have entered into a strate- Qatar and Dr John C C Fan, is our latest partner who envi- gic partnership to transform CEO of Kopin, in a signing cer- sions using our reference designs Qatar into one of the leading emony at the ongoing Mobile to create products with tremen- Smart countries in the world World Congress, Barcelona. dous life-saving potential.” by introducing cutting-edge Sheikh Saud said: “Driving The agreement is being signed next generation technologies technological advances is a key as part of Ooredoo’s commitment such as wearable comput- goal for Ooredoo, and our part- to deliver Smart Solutions and ing devices and other smart nership with Kopin is designed Services, as the telecommunica- solutions. to open new doors, particularly tions company prepares Qatar Kopin is a leading developer for the public safety and emer- to be one of the best-connected of innovative wearable comput- gency sectors. “Smart Cities” on the planet for ing technologies and solutions. “The new technology devel- the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Its technology portfolio includes oped through this collaboration Ooredoo’s venture into weara- ultra-small displays, optics, will not only benefit Qatar, as we ble technology is aligned with its speech enhancement technology, prepare to welcome the world for ongoing investment into building software, low-power ASICs, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but the fastest and best networks for ergonomically designed smart will also provide life-saving inno- Qatar, so that all companies and headset concept systems. vations for people of all nations, people can benefit from cutting- Under the terms of the as we empower fire-fighters, edge innovations. agreement, the two companies emergency workers and police Ooredoo will provide hands- will collaborate on both the through wearable technology.” free mobile support for a number advancement of existing hands- Dr Fan added said: “Kopin’s of public and private enterprises free headset computing technol- headset computing reference in Qatar, from aircraft mainte- ogy and innovative research to designs enable people to access nance to medical support, fire- expand the range of wearable information, including schemat- fighting and disaster relief. Students taking part in one of the workshops. technology. ics, instructions and diagrams, THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST OIC slams Egypt condemns debate on Jewish prayer 26 to death on at Al Aqsa JEDDAH: The 57-mem- plot charges ber Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) yesterday condemned as a “dangerous escalation” a debate by Israel’s parliament on allowing Jewish ‘Terror group targeted Suez ships’ prayer at Jerusalem’s sensitive Al Aqsa mosque compound. CAIRO: An Egyptian court National Democratic Party, OIC Secretary General Iyad sentenced 26 people to death Ibrahim Mahlab was named Madani described the move as yesterday for forming a “terror interim prime minister on “a dangerous and unprecedented group” to target shipping pass- Tuesday. step that comes as part of Israel’s ing through the Suez Canal, He vowed to fight “terror- racist policy ... aiming to Judaise judicial sources said. ism” and bring back tourists Jerusalem.” Urging world action The death sentences on the as he began work on forming against Israel, Madani warned defendants, all tried in absentia, a new cabinet following the that “this dangerous escalation came a day after the military- surprise Monday resignation provokes the feelings of the whole installed authorities named a of prime minister Hazem Al Muslim nation”. new prime minister, who vowed Beblawi. The Al Aqsa compound, which to fight “terrorism” and lure “This will create the conditions lies in Israeli-annexed east back foreign investors and for investment and the return of Jerusalem’s Old City, is a flash- holidaymakers. tourism,” said Mahlab, who was Egyptians hold signs in Arabic calling for the sacking of the foreign minister and ambassador in Libya as ambulances point because of its significance The Suez Canal links the Beblawi’s housing minister. drive out of Cairo international airport yesterday carrying the bodies of seven Egyptians who were found shot to both Muslims and Jews. Mediterranean with the Indian Since the military ousted dead in Jalluta, near Benghazi in eastern Libya, the previous day. The Knesset on Tuesday began Ocean through the Red Sea and Islamist president Mohamed a debate called by rightwingers to is a key trade route between Mursi last July, militants based demand that Israel end its prac- Europe and Asia. It accounts for in the Sinai have stepped up tice of forbidding Jewish prayer a huge chunk of Egyptian foreign attacks on security personnel, Egypt’s new cabinet faces at the compound. exchange earnings and govern- killing scores and severely dent- In a motion which was not ment income. ing tourism and investment. put to a vote, MP Moshe Feiglin, It also separates mainland The army has poured rein- a hardline member of Prime Egypt from the lawless Sinai forcements into the arid, under- challenges ahead of polls Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Peninsula, where the long- developed peninsula, but that Likud party, said Israel’s fear of standing hostility to authority has not stopped the jihadists igniting Muslim rage amounted to of Bedouin tribes has created from extending their attacks CAIRO: Egypt’s new premier “pursuing his meetings with can- pursue “an economic war against discrimination against Jews. fertile ground for Islamist mili- to other regions, including the worked yesterday to form a gov- didates to ministerial portfolios”, the (country’s) regime of traitors.” “Any terror organisation can tant groups. heart of the capital. ernment tasked with organising state TV reported. Beblawi’s government had raise its flag there (but) there The convictions all relate to Last year, an Al Qaeda-inspired a presidential election expected According to state news agency become increasingly unpopular can be no trace of the Israeli offences allegedly committed group, the Furqan Brigades, to bring the army chief to power Mena, 14 members of the previous despite announcing two economic flag,” Feiglin told the Knesset. between 2004 and 2009, before the attacked vessels passing through at a time of insecurity and eco- cabinet are to be kept on, includ- stimulus packages aimed at kick- “Only Jews are forbidden to pray Arab Spring uprising ended the the Suez Canal and vowed further nomic woes. ing interior minister Mohamed starting the foundering economy at this place.” 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak such attacks. The new government faces a Ibrahim, tourism minister with funds provided by friendly Jews now pray at the Western in 2011. Nearly 200km long, the Suez host of challenges, ahead of an Hisham Zazou and information Arab states in the oil-rich Gulf. Wall plaza below the compound. They were for “founding and Canal is owned by Egypt but election seen as a major step minister Doreya Sharafuddeen. Mahlab was longtime head OIC chief Madani insisted that leading a terror group that governed by an international in a roadmap outlined by the “If Field Marshal Sisi decides of Egypt’s state-owned Arab Al Aqsa is a “red line”, warning aimed to attack people’s free- treaty that guarantees free interim authorities after the to run, he would like to run with Contractors Co, a leading Middle that “such acts not only threaten dom, damage national unity and navigation. military ousted Islamist president a government that has a good East construction conglomerate, the peace process but security and (attack) the Suez Canal,” the A significant proportion of the Mohamed Mursi in July. reputation and can help him before resigning in September stability in the whole region.” source said. world’s oil and gas passes through Army chief Field Marshal by resolving some of the urgent 2012. His supporters describe him They were also convicted of the strategic waterway, from Abdel Fattah AlSisi, who has problems faced by the people,” as an active and powerful figure. possessing firearms and explo- which Egypt earns toll income since emerged as the country’s said Mustapha Kamel Al Sayyid, But critics associate him with Saudi beheaded for sives, manufacturing rockets and that has become all the more most popular political figure, is a political sciences professor at the autocratic regime of president carrying out surveillance of secu- important as a result of a sharp widely expected to run in the Cairo University. Hosni Mubarak, toppled in 2011 killing compatriot rity force buildings in preparation drop in tourist numbers. election, scheduled this spring. Posing a threat on two fronts, by a popular uprising, as he was for attacks. The canal earned 32.5bn Sisi has not yet announced his militants have stepped up their named to the upper house of par- RIYADH: Saudi Arabia The court referred the death Egyptian pounds (nearly $4.6 candidacy but aides say he has attacks on security forces, killing liament in 2010. beheaded one its citizens in sentences to the mufti, a top bn/¤3.4bn) for the 2012-2013 fis- already decided to stand. scores of policemen and soldiers. On the stagnant economic Eastern Province yesterday Muslim cleric who must approve cal year, according to the head of The army chief will retain Jihadist group Ansar Beit Al front, Mahlab will be faced by after he was convicted of mur- all executions and has until the Suez Canal Authority, Mohab his post of defence minister in Maqdis has claimed most of the “multiplying workers’ strikes dering a compatriot, the inte- March 19 to give his decision. Mamish. Mahlab’s cabinet for around two deadliest attacks since Mursi’s and the application of a minimum rior ministry announced. The defendants have the right Meanwhile,the government weeks until an electoral law has ouster, saying they were to avenge wage,” Alia Al Mahdi, an economy Abdullah Al Mabyuq shot dead to appeal. said the number of tourist arrivals been passed, a senior official said. a crackdown by security forces professor at Cairo University, said. Mohammed Al Faraj following a A former state-sector con- had plunged by almost 31 percent Ibrahim Mahlab, who replaced targeting Morsi supporters that Three years of unrest since dispute, said the statement car- struction boss and member in December from a year earlier. Hazem Al Beblawi after his sur- has killed more than 1,400 people. the uprising have crippled the ried by the official SPA news of Mubarak’s now disbanded AFP prise resignation on Monday, is The group has also vowed to Egyptian economy. AFP agency. AFP

Israel tests anti-missile system for planes

JERUSALEM: Israel has successfully com- pleted tests of a new missile defence system for commercial aircraft and plans to start fitting it to its passenger fleet, the defence ministry said yesterday. It said the automatic laser-based “SkyShield” system detects shoulder- fired anti-aircraft missiles and also scrambles their guidance systems, render- Bahraini women hold portraits of Jaffer Al Durazi, 23, who died in hospital the day before as he was detained ing them harmless. by authorities since December 2013, during a rally against his death in the village of Daih, west of the capital “The tests, conducted in Manama, yesterday a test range in the south of Israel, were the most com- plex and sophisticated ever Government move to deter held in the state of Israel,” the ministry said in a state- ment. “The series of tests included a wide variety of Bahrainis from fighting abroad threats that the SkyShield system would have to tackle DUBAI: Bahrain moved yes- his forces attacked demonstra- in a statement carried by BNA in order to protect passen- terday to deter citizens from tors, is believed to have drawn state news agency. “The minis- ger aircraft”. joining Islamist fighters abroad thousands of foreign fighters. try of interior advises Bahraini following similar action by Sunni militants have flocked citizens not to participate or get other Gulf countries aimed at to Syria to support the rebels, involved in regional or interna- Tunisian navy stemming the flow of homeg- while Shia fighters — mainly tional conflicts.” rown jihadists to Syria. from Lebanon and Iraq — sup- The ministry has ordered more rescues 98 The ministry said it has pro- port Assad’s forces. investigations, as well as the posed an amendment to its The ministry statement did not tracking of social media websites migrants anti-terror law, which currently clarify whether it was referring to that recruit or assist fighters, prescribes a maximum five-year Sunni Islamists or Shias accused BNA reported. TUNIS: The Tunisian sentence for fighting abroad, of links to Lebanon’s Hezbollah It also ordered the monitoring navy rescued 98 sub- pledging “more deterrent meas- movement. of donations and financial trans- Saharan migrants yes- ures against citizens committing Bahrain has been deeply actions linked to extremists. terday, including a or taking part abroad in mass vio- divided since a 2011 uprising led The proposed tighter rules nine-year-old Congolese lence or combat.” by its Shiite majority against its come after neighbouring Saudi boy in critical condition, The conflict in Syria, which Sunni monarchy, which brutally Arabia toughened its punishment after their boat started began in March 2011 with peace- crushed the revolt. for citizens fighting abroad earlier taking on water off the ful demonstrations against The Syrian conflict “has this month, and with a pro-gov- coast, the defence minis- President Bashar Al Assad but attracted some Bahraini citi- ernment Kuwaiti MP proposing try said. AFP descended into a civil war when zens,” the interior ministry said similar legislation. AFP THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Turkish president Hezbollah vows revenge on Israel approves bill on judiciary powers Israeli warplanes bomb Hezbollah position on the Lebanese-Syrian border ANKARA: Turkish President Abdullah Gul yesterday BEIRUT: Hezbollah yester- although Lebanese sources had Guards and was the principal Tuesday, Israeli officials refrained “There is no doubt whatsoever... approved a law boosting govern- day threatened to retaliate previously reported the attack. actor in ending Israel’s occupa- from commenting specifically on that it was the Zionist entity ment control over the appoint- after Israel’s first reported air “This new attack amounts tion of southern Lebanon in 2000. the raid, although they confirmed that started in this game, and ment of judges and prosecutors, raid targeting a position of the to blatant aggression against Hezbollah is Lebanon’s only a policy of interdiction of sus- Hezbollah maintains the right to even though he deferred some Lebanese Shia movement since Lebanon, its sovereignty and ter- movement that has not disarmed pected arms deliveries from Syria respond... and there is no doubt elements in the legislation to a 2006 war. The statement ritory,” the militant group said, since the small Mediterranean to Hezbollah. that the Zionist entity’s losses the Constitutional Court. comes two days after Israeli adding that “it will not stand country’s brutal 15-year civil war “We are doing everything that will multiply,” he added. It was The law, along with a regula- warplanes struck a Hezbollah without a response from the ended in 1990. is necessary in order to defend the the first Israeli attack against tion tightening control of the position in eastern Lebanon, Resistance, which will choose It has bases in the south of security of Israel,” Israeli Prime Hezbollah in Lebanon since their Internet already approved by amid fears that the region may the appropriate time, place and Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in the Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 2006 war that killed more than Gul, is seen by Prime Minister be dragged into further conflict. means.” east, and in its southern Beirut said. “We will not say what we’re 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, Tayyip Erdogan’s critics as part “On Monday night... the Israeli Hezbollah said: “This aggres- bastion. The group denied earlier doing or what we’re not doing.” and some 160 Israelis, mostly of a backlash against a corruption enemy’s warplanes bombarded sion did not, thank God, cause reports that Israel’s raids had hit Meanwhile in Damascus, soldiers. inquiry shaking his government. a Hezbollah position on the any deaths or injuries. There “artillery positions or missiles”. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who chair’s According to Waddah Charara, Erdogan has also accused his Lebanese-Syrian border, near the was only some material damage.” On Monday night, a Lebanese Iran’s parliament committee on a sociology professor and author enemies on Tuesday of hacking area of Janta in the Bekaa Valley” The movement’s backer Iran also security source said two raids had foreign policy and national secu- of The State of Hezbollah, the raids encrypted state communications of eastern Lebanon, Hezbollah said the movement had the right hit a Hezbollah target near the rity, echoed Hezbollah’s threat could mark an important turn- to fake a phone conversation sug- said. to respond. Hezbollah, which Lebanese-Syrian border. to retaliate. “I think the resist- ing point. Now “Israel can attack gesting he warned his son to hide Yesterday’s statement was the brands itself a resistance move- Hezbollah’s Al Manar televi- ance (Hezbollah) knows its lesson Lebanon because it knows there large sums of money before police group’s first admission that it ment against Israel, was formed sion channel had denied any raid well and how it should behave,” will be no reaction at the national raids as part of the inquiry. had been the target of the raid, in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary had hit Lebanese territory. On Boroujerdi told reporters. level,” Charara said. AFP The law will give the govern- ment more say in the naming of judges and prosecutors, a role currently fulfilled by the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors Pro-Assad forces kill 175 (HSYK). Critics say the move contra- venes the basic principle of the separation of powers enshrined rebels in ambush: Report in the constitution. Erdogan has hit back at the corruption investigation, which BEIRUT: Forces loyal to Syria’s the area to join fighting in other Salafist Jihadi group that is one began in December with the president killed at least 175 regions. But there were few other of the biggest and best organised arrest of sons of ministers and Islamist rebel fighters, most of details on the attack and none rebel units fighting to topple Assad. businessmen close to the prime them foreigners, in an ambush of the reports said when it hap- Syria’s conflict began in March minister, by reassigning thou- in insurgent-held eastern out- pened. The ambush would be a 2011 with street demonstrations sands of police and hundreds of skirts of Damascus, state media significant advance for President demanding democratic reform, judges and prosecutors in moves said yesterday. Bashar Al Assad’s efforts to but turned into an armed uprising viewed as targeting what he says The attack was led by the cement his hold of the capital and after security forces used violence is a “parallel state”. Lebanese Shia militant group surrounding roads, if the scale of to quell the protesters. Erdogan says his former ally, Hezbollah, which has joined the the casualties is confirmed. Around 140,000 people have Turkish US-based Islamic cleric government in a increasingly sec- It also underlined the com- been killed in three years of Fethullah Gulen, has built that tarian conflict that is pulling in plexity of a fight where Sunni fighting, according to the Syrian “parallel state” through his move- fighters from across the region Muslim Islamist groups, some Observatory for Human Rights, ment’s influence in the judiciary and destabilising Syria’s neigh- of them linked to al Qaeda, have a monitoring group opposed to and police and that the law will bours, said activists. joined mostly Sunni Syrian rebels Assad. The Observatory said counter that sway. Lebanon’s Al Manar television, against Assad, who comes from Hezbollah carried out the ambush “The HSYK has been per- which Hezbollah operates, broad- an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. in cooperation with Syrian gov- ceived by the government as the cast images of dozens of bodies Assad has won the backing of ernment forces. headquarters of this so-called of men strewn along a rural road Shia powers Hezbollah and Iran. “Hezbollah was the main group parallel structure, so with this running through open fields near Syrian state news agency Sana said that implemented the ambush,” law the government is dissolv- Otaiba, a town in the Eastern most of those killed were Saudi, said Rami Abdulrahman, head of ing that centre,” the president People gather around a burning vehicle following reported shelling by Ghouta area outside Damascus. Qatari or Chechen nationals and the Observatory, which is based of the Association of Judges and government forces on Bustan Al Qasr neighbourhood in the northern Syrian It said the Islamists were belonged to the Al Qaeda-linked in Britain but has a network of Prosecutors Murat Arslan said. city of Aleppo, yesterday. ambushed as they tried to leave Nusra Front or Liwa Al Islam, a sources across Syria. REUTERS REUTERS THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Taming the Taliban Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

akistan has at last started cracking the whip against the Taliban. It’s a long-delayed step, but it’s better late than never. P The military has launched new air strikes If Spain welcomes back its Jews, targeting militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal region, killing at least 30 people in one incident. A government official has warned of a big offensive unless the Taliban showed they were serious about negotiations. will its Muslims be next? It’s not just a military offensive. Slowly but decisively, the Pakistan government is moving towards a coherent and clear policy on militancy. The federal cabinet met this week and BY ASHIFA KASSAM In the early 1600s – nearly 120 years that the government shares our posi- made two key decisions: requiring an unconditional ceasefire after Jews in Spain were told to leave tion,” lamented Escudero Uribe. by the TTP for talks to progress and approving the National ERCHED dramatically on a – the Moriscos were also expelled. An The push for citizenship rights is just Internal Security Policy. rocky mountain, the small city estimated 275,000 people were forcibly one part of a larger campaign being Taliban is no ordinary terrorist outfit to be obliterated of Toledo overlooks a bend in the resettled, the majority of them heading waged to raise awareness of Islamic by government action. They are feisty and battle-hardened PTagus river. Within its maze of to Morocco, some to Algeria and Tunisia. influence in Spain, said Antonio Manuel cobblestone streets are buildings that A group representing Moriscos in Rodríguez Ramos, a law professor at the criminals, their networks are deep-rooted and they remain once housed mosques, churches and syn- Morocco recently sent a letter to Spain’s University of Córdoba. “We’re the only hidden in treacherous mountainous terrains where the agogues, hinting at the varied cultures King Juan Carlos asking the country to place in Europe that has estranged itself outside world has no access. But despite all these, there is no that once called this medieval city home. make the same conciliatory gesture to the from its past,” he said. doubt that they can be defeated and considerably weakened Earlier this month, about 50 miles descendants of Muslims. Speaking from The right of return for those with over a period of time. What we saw in Pakistan is not the away from Toledo, the Spanish gov- Rabat, the president of L’Association Spanish Muslim ancestry would be inability of the army to take on this enemy, but the timidity ernment sought to strengthen its ties pour la Mémoire des Andalousstrongly “symbolic rather than practical,” he said. with one of these cultures, announcing criticised Spain’s double standard in While Sephardic Jews may be able to and lack of will of the government. Once the government plans to fast-track the naturalisation of offering to naturalise the descendants of provide proof of their lineage through remains determined, all the machinery of the state will fall Sephardic Jews, whose ancestors were Jews ousted from Spain but not Muslims. their surnames, their language or into place and move in unison against militants. expelled five centuries ago from Spain. The Spanish government “should grant through certification from the federation The immediate trigger for The bill, said the Spanish government, the same rights to all those who were of Jewish communities in Spain, setting the military offensive was the would “correct a historical wrong”. The expelled”, Najib Loubaris told news similar criteria for the descendants of Taliban’s arrogant stance in legislation has yet agency EFE. “Otherwise the decision is Spanish Muslims would be nearly impos- to be approved by selective, not to mention racist.” sible. “But the gesture would go a long Pakistan talks with the government. Both parliament, but The Spanish government’s offer to way in repairing centuries of forgetting.” government the government officials and already consu- Sephardic Jews was “very positive”, said Since the Spanish government’s the Taliban representatives had lates in Tel Aviv Loubaris, in that it showed an acknowl- announcement, columnists around the A proposed law needs to started the talks, which was and Jerusalem edgment of “guilt for the expulsion that world have mused on what prompted widely welcomed, but the militants will fast-track said they have the Spanish state committed against its Spain to reach out to Sephardic Jews. been flooded with own citizens”. Michael Freund, writing in The Jerusalem intensify its put obstacles by making untenable naturalisation requests for infor- Loubaris estimated that 600 families Post, called the decision “decidedly ironic”. offensive demands. It’s a basic rule of of Jews whose mation. Up to 3.5 in Morocco can trace their origins to He explained, “the expulsion happened in any such negotiations that the ancestors were million people Spain. Most no longer speak Castilian part because Spain wanted Jews’ assets, against the around the world Spanish, he said, but their connection to and now they are welcoming Jews back insurgents must not be allowed to expelled 500 years militants. dictate conditions to the state. are thought to Spain is evident in their music, architec- for the same reason”. The government enjoys the ago. Now the have Sephardic tural styles and gastronomy. Others, such as the Portuguese law- descendants of – Hebrew for In Spain, the Junta Islámica reinforced maker who drafted a law similar to wide support of the people in the “Spanish” – the vivid links between the expelled Spain’s that will eventually allow Jews latest action. Even Imran Khan, Muslims who were Jewish ancestry. Muslims and Spain. To this day, across expelled from Portugal five centuries ago who has been criticised for being ousted are also Now the the country there are families “who can to return, insisted that the experiences pro-Taliban, is now agreeing with the government. In publicly seeking the right to descendants of demonstrate their lineages, who can of Muslims and Jews on the peninsula another group show that their relatives were expelled couldn’t be compared. “Persecution of demanding that an unconditional ceasefire by the TTP be return. announced before talks can progress, the PTI has added its who figured prom- hundreds of years ago,” said Muhammad Jews was just that, while what happened inently in Spain’s Escudero Uribe. Whether it is citizen- with the Arabs was part of a conflict,” critical voice to a growing political consensus on the issue. colourful past – ship for Muslims or Jewish descendants, José Ribeiro e Castro told the Jewish The government of Nawaz Sheriff needs to continue before also being expelled – say it’s only he said, “the cause and historical back- Telegraphic Agency. its offensive until the Taliban are brought down from the fair that the same right of return be ground is the same. And for this we want Antonio Manuel Rodríguez Ramos pedestal they had placed themselves on. On Monday, a extended to them. this same right to be extended. From a suggested another reason. The hun- senior leader of the group, Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, Shortly after banishing the country’s legal standpoint, it’s only just.” dreds of thousands of Muslims who left Jewish population, Queen Isabella and His organisation has spent years lob- in the early 1600s couldn’t possibly have was killed in North Waziristan, possibly by a rival faction King Ferdinand turned their atten- bying the Spanish government to natu- been the only Muslim descendants in within the TTP or perhaps even a targeted killing engineered tion to Spain’s Muslims, forcing them ralise the descendants of Muslims. In the country, he insisted. “The majority by the security establishment. Other leaders of the group to covert to Christianity or face expul- 2006, a left-wing party in the autono- of these people didn’t leave when they too must be targeted, keeping up pressure on the militants. sion. The Muslims who converted, known mous region of Andalusia proposed a were expelled,” he argued. “They stayed The country has to declare a war on the militants, and the as Moriscos, often did so in name only, bill that would recognise the rights of and they created a culture that can be country that emerges from this will be strong and stable.• holding on tightly to their customs and Muslims who were expelled. The bill described as most authentic and most traditions. never made it to a vote. “It doesn’t seem Hispanic.” THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Arab crisis network should start now the day OR so many years, even their power jealously and doled it out natural disasters, such as floods or enter Arab countries with the consent decades, the Arab world has rarely, making the likelihood of them desertification, would be felt in neigh- of the respective government. In that been in thrall to the idea of empowering a supranational institution bouring countries. way, even intractable conflicts could Funity, the concept of one Arab like the Arab League unlikely. But if the case is unassailable, the have a humanitarian lifeline. In today’s community, from the Atlantic to the And yet, as the league’s current political reality is fraught. Who would Syria, for example, the Assad regime North Korea is one of Gulf. The desirability of such a union secretary-general Dr Nabil Elaraby fund such a network? Where would might accept humanitarian corridors aside, the reality has become steadily said in Abu Dhabi this week, the region it be based? By what right would this if established and organised by Arab the most closed and impractical. The border between Saudi needs a network that could respond network be able to intervene in con- peacekeepers’. cruel places on earth. Arabia and Yemen separates two to crises, whether they were political flicts, such as the one in Syria? Creating such a network could take culturally similar countries but they upheavals, natural disasters or dis- But these questions can be many years – to build the infrastruc- There’s evil that is are poles apart in terms of income. ease pandemics. The case for such a resolved, with political will. The best ture, train the personnel, organise the taking place there That enormous disparity is reflected network is unassailable. The extensive way would be for a centrally-admin- technology. That is why it should begin elsewhere in the region. links between the countries of the Arab istered fund that each Arab country now. The financial resources exist in that all of us ought to Yet while the idea of unity has per- world mean that any disease could would pay into an amount worked the region. We must not wait for dis- be deeply concerned sisted, the infrastructure has rarely fol- spread rapidly; they mean that crises out according to GDP. This fund could aster to strike before we secure the lowed. Leaders of Arab countries who like the Iraq war or the Syrian civil war create a purely bureaucratic network, political will. about. John Kerry came to power through coups guarded spill over quickly; and they mean that administered centrally, but only able to The National US Secretary of State THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 When death becomes a way of life

Would the situation in his coun- ABDEL AZIZ AL MAHMOUD try have become like what it is if he had introduced reforms to his security system and banned o solution, no they have in mind. Intelligence its manipulation over people’s hope for change,” officials are everywhere and they lives? Was it difficult for him to answered the have unlimited authority. Prisons Men search for survivors amid debris of reform the judicial, educational “Nold man from have a very bad reputation, simi- collapsed buildings after what activists and health systems? the countryside of Damascus, lar to that of Spainish courts of He would not have lost much if said was an air raid by forces loyal to when asked if there was hope for inquisition in the Middle Ages. he had done it. On the contrary, President Bashar Al Assad in Raqqa change or solution. The minds of Syrians are full of he would have won many things. “Not at all,” Abu Ahmed stories about torture, mutilation, province, eastern Syria. Nevertheless, the fact is that riposted in his Damascene dialect. burning and rape and these mem- when regimes prove incapable of This was part of the conver- ories are indelible. changing and coping with chang- sation between the slim Syrian On February 17, the Time ing realities on the ground, they sheikh in his 60s and me. He had magazine published statistics must be changed. a poignant look in his eyes. This about the crimes committed by None – whether rival politi- was how he replied to my ques- the Syrian regime — revealed cians outside Syria or the Free tions, always. by human rights organisations Syrian Army inside – was enthu- Talking about politics in Syria — during the Geneva II confer- siastic about going to Geneva II. is not fun or joyful. When peo- ence. According to them, around Everybody knew that it will be ple talk, they have to be careful 6,000 Syrians were killed between a total failure, even before it in view of the situation. That is the morning of January 22 and started. How could the confer- why they use codes and keywords. the evening of February 14. This ence succeed when the Syrian Syrians avoid saying directly what means 242 were killed every day, delegation refused the idea of or around 10 every hour. pushing Al Assad from power? While they were being killed, The conference was held at a others were waiting for the out- time of intense fighting in Syria come of the conference. However, — between the Islamic State in the delegation of the regime Iraq and the Levant and other refused to discuss demands of factions. the opposition. That is why the At the time lavish Iranian and Around 6,000 gathering was an utter failure Russian support went to the Syrians were that compelled the architect of Syrian regime, the other party the conference, Lakhdar Brahimi, was divided into two groups: one killed between the to say, “I am deeply sorry, deeply disintegrated and suffering inter- morning of January sorry. I apologise to the Syrian nal conflicts and the other stead- people. I apologise to them on the borders, waiting to return then. Rulers stick so strongly to death and humiliation everyday. fast and not ready to compromise 22 and the evening because we could not help them to a place where there is no their thrones, believing that their Sometimes I ask myself why its principles. of February 14. This much during these two meetings.” future or life. thrones are more important than these regimes have failed to I do not know where Abu The thing, however, is his People do not carry arms or their people, their aspirations and upgrade themselves in ways that Ahmed is now. His slim body means 242 were words will never wipe memories fight because they know that their dreams. Rulers brook no help them find a way out of the may not allow him to survive the killed every day, or of these 6,000 people. They will fighting will bring them noth- delay in doing anything that can crises surrounding them. current crisis. I am afraid — is not abolish memories of 140,000 ing but disasters unless they are protect their thrones. Would Bashar Al Assad have he dead? The Syrian regime has around 10 every killed over the past three years. compelled. They do it only when But what people do if they lost much if he reserved the been giving the people a hard hour. They will not bring rest to mil- it is better for them to die car- lose hope and reach the dead presidency for himself for the time, controlling every aspect of lions living in intolerable condi- rying arms than be threatened end, with death on their road. So rest of his life and brought a their lives. Death is the only way tions across the world, in tents, by armed people every now and they prefer to die fighting to face prime minister through election? of life for the Syrians.

KHALID AL JABER Why are Qatari students so tired? Welfare and democracy believe Qatari students are the US because this is an inter- ow does the democratic transition takes place in the more tired than their peers JASSIM IBRAHIM FAKHRO nationally recognised system. Arab world? Do oil revenue states impede the transition I because educational institu- The question is: why all these Hor transformation? Is there an exception? tions have crushed their dreams can go in their country. That is hindrances? ‘Oil revenue’ states is a term that applies to countries where and aspirations. why they go everywhere in the Students have the right to the national budget depends primarily on revenues from oil These institutions have world at their parents’ expense. have information about their exports. These states usually own or control their oil revenues, exhausted and tired them though Meanwhile, non-Qataris enjoy education so that they can take as defined by Ali Khodeir in his book. they were established to help benefits of free education! appropriate decisions without In these states, (countries of the Gulf, Libya and other oil them and prepare them to build Students at the Community exhaustion. revenue states), oil revenues are used to reward people loyal their country. Does the country Our painful College of Qatar are a case in Qatar University has the to the regime. If they do not demonstrate loyalty, they are need its children? point. The college is serious, right to have reservations. But denied rewards. Violence is also used to punish the opposition Our painful education begins at education begins offers quality education, has fine it should meet the college admin- so that regimes can continue to live, along with their social the primary level. Students start at the primary level. staff and faculty and is a good istration to discuss the situation and political alliances. carrying weights on their backs solution for students with low and find a common ground for Even after the Arab Spring, and since the independence era until college, with the blessing of Students start grades. the sake of students and their of most Arab and GCC states, there seems to have no signifi- the Education Ministry. carrying weights But Qatar University does not future. cant changes in terms of concept and application. That is why With due respect, our children accept its students. It does not The other solution for the instead of complaining, it is better to light a candle and look have become nothing more than on their backs until recognise the number of educa- university is to qualify students for solutions to set the ground for work. lab rats, as the status of our edu- tion hours in the college. It only without tiring them. What is the Democracy, as experience from Arab Spring countries has cation system varies constantly. college, with the takes half of the total hours. This role of the Ministry of Higher taught us, is not the magic wand that can solve all chronic prob- I swear by Allah’s name that it blessing of the means students spend a whole Education in resolving the issue? lems. Democracy needs a key. The gate to democracy cannot breaks them before qualifying year in vain. Why? To all concerned, I would say, be opened unless all other gates are opened, or opened simul- them. Education Ministry. Both the university and the “We Qataris our human capital taneously with it, according to Arab thinker George Tarabishy. The most difficult stage for college belong to the government which is limited and educated Tarabishy focuses more on the soil where democracy is students is the one between high and concordance should exist individuals can be counted so required to take root and grow by spreading a democracy- school and college. This can be between them. why are we creating complica- friendly culture than on its mechanisms. This means helping called the “diaspora” stage. importance, most of our students Worse, foreign universities tions and problems for our chil- people understand the meaning of democracy even before they Despite media hype on the do not find solutions to their accept all hours taken as they dren and their future? Are we in go to poll. future of education and its problems or a place where they are acknowledged in Europe and millions? Why is it happening? The real battle lies in confronting the economic culture, where modernisation, knowledge-building, investment in higher education, raising levels of awareness and thinking should be adopted, which will eventually lead to an increase in political, economic and social demands. Elections in Arab Spring countries is one example. They were least representative of all social segments. The management Why do bachelors live in family areas? of states has been dependent on exclusion, banishing others, taking over power, and monopolising it with decisions to serve certain individuals and groups. ur leadership issued law rejection of the existence of bach- Eventually, a coup has happened. Military leaders and cor- No. 15/2010 to preserve RASHID AL OUDA AL FADLI elors among families by building rupt people have come to power again. The lesson we have Othe safety and stability of a city for them in the Industrial learned in the past years following uprisings is that democracy our society and its citizens and comfort of families, spreading The questions frequently asked Zone. as a culture has to come before the ballot — always. ensure the privacy and tran- like a deadly epidemic that eats by citizens are: Why do bachelors The city project was announced quillity of families in residential through our social fabric. live among families? Who allows about a year ago. It must be neighbourhoods. Some Qatari families have them to do so? When will they be equipped with all health, con- Tunisian demonstrators wave their national According to the law, it is illegal abandoned some inherent habits; evicted? What justifies the pro- sumer and leisure services to avoid flag and shout slogans during a protest for single workers to live in “fam- they no longer open their doors crastination in implementing the labour congregation and harass- against the government in front of the ily areas”, which refer to districts wide or gather around they used law? ment of families on vacation. Constituent Assembly headquarters in Tunis. where Qatari families live. to. This hurts us. We are accus- We are fed up with their We also suggest regulatory and The law stipulates measures tomed to being generous towards unpleasant presence, and do not legislative regulations, including against violations and grants our visitors, comfort the grieved need to list what has resulted from building bachelor quarters on municipal employees judicial and help the poor and passers-by, housing them next to families. the main road outside residential power to arrest them. but now the purity of our lives, It would hurt the feelings of the areas, at least 700 meters away Violators are fined and evacu- sleep and rest is disturbed. readers if they knew some of the from girls’ schools and to oblige ated and there is double penalty Some workers are circumvent- cases and things committed by contracting companies to provide for repeat of violation. The law ing the law while some brokers these workers. workers with suitable residence specifies one year for settling and sublease contractors are vio- Silence is not acceptable any- according to the law. issues. So far, it has been clear lating it for vested interests. more, knowing that most of these We expect authorities to and obvious. Some workers arrive with their workers come from societies and respond to our demand to bring The issue date of the law implies families in Qatar, and then send environments different from our back tranquillity and comfort to that it has been in place for three them home, some are married customs and beliefs. families. years but problems still exist and but come without their wives and The law must be implemented We also expect a response from families suffer. some are singles. They are liv- with all seriousness and strictness decisionmakers. May Allah save A large number of foreign ing in residential neighbourhoods without any favour or courtesy to our country and maintain it as an workers are arriving, as compa- unlawfully. anyone otherwise there will be oasis of safety and security over nies compete aggressively to sign There is no doubt that the exist- more violations of the sanctity of the ages. long-term deals, which require ence of bachelors among families families — the issue that threatens massive hiring. is a violation that is unacceptable family security and safety. The views expressed in the articles on this These bachelor workers are by all customary, legal and consti- Logic requires dealing with this page do not reflect the viewpoint of the threatening the privacy and tutional standards. crucial, overwhelming, popular newspaper. THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Ukraine names interim PM, ministers Islamists kill KIEV: Ukraine’s protest leaders yesterday named min- isters they want to form a new government following the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovich, as Russia put 59 students troops on high alert in a show of strength. President Vladimir Putin’s order to 150,000 troops to be ready for war games near Ukraine was the Kremlin’s in Nigeria boldest gesture yet after days of sabre rattling since its ally Yanukovich was ousted at the weekend. Washington condemns attack Moscow denied that the pre- viously unannounced drill in its DAMATURUL, NIGERIA: The Islamists, whose struggle for western military district was Gunmen from Islamist group Boko an Islamic state in northern Nigeria linked to events in its neigh- Haram shot or burned to death has killed thousands and made bour but it came amid a series 59 pupils in a boarding school in them the biggest threat to secu- of increasingly strident state- northeast Nigeria overnight, a rity in Africa’s top oil producer, are ments about the fate of Russian local reporter and security forces increasingly preying on the civilian citizens and interests. said on Tuesday. population. With the political turmoil “Some of the students’ bodies were Militants from Boko Haram, hammering Ukraine’s economy, burned to ashes,” Police Commissioner whose name means “Western educa- the central bank said it would Sanusi Rufai said of the attack on tion is sinful” in the northern Hausa no longer intervene to shield the the Federal Government college of language, have frequently attacked hryvnia currency, which tum- Buni Yadi, a secondary school in Yobe schools in the past. A similar attack bled 4 percent yesterday and is state, near the state’s capital city of in June in the nearby village of now down a fifth since January Damaturu. Mamudo left 22 students dead. 1. Yesterday ’s abrupt abandon- Bala Ajiya, a reporter with the They have killed more than 300 ment of Ukraine’s currency peg Vanguard newspaper who visited the people this month, mostly civilians, sent ripples to Russia where the Specialist Hospital Damaturu, told including in two attacks last week rouble fell to five-year lows and Reuters by phone the death toll had that killed around 100 each, one in bank shares fell. risen to 59, after counting the bodies which militants razed a whole village In Kiev, leaders of the pop- as they came in. and shot panicked residents as they ular protests that toppled “Fresh bodies have been brought tried to flee. Yanukovich named former econ- Protesters stand on an armoured vehicle in central Kiev yesterday. in. More bodies were discovered in That attack prompted US omy minister Arseny Yatseniuk the bush after the students who had Secretary of State John Kerry to con- as their choice to head a new three months of conflict, was and the principle of inviolability safety of facilities, infrastruc- escaped with bullet wounds died from demn Boko Haram for “unspeakable interim government. named secretary of the powerful of frontiers”. Their statement ture and arsenals of the Black their injuries,” he said. ... acts of terror”. The failure of the In a display of people power, National Security and Defence made no direct mention of the Sea Fleet,” in remarks reported Rafai, who had given an earlier military to protect civilians is fuelling the so-called ‘Euromaidan’ Council. Russian war games. by state news agency RIA. estimate of 29 killed, said all those anger in the northeast, the region council made its announcement “This is a government which US Secretary of State John Since Yanukovich’s downfall killed were boys. He said the school’s worst affected by the four-and-a- of Yatseniuk, and candidates for is doomed to be able to work Kerry said Russia should on Friday, all eyes have been on 24 buildings, including staff quar- half-year insurgency. An offensive several other key ministries, only for 3-4 months ... because respect the territorial integrity Putin, who ordered the invasion ters, were completely burned to the ordered by Jonathan in May has after its members addressed they will have to take unpopular of Ukraine and be “very care- of neighbouring Georgia in 2008 ground. not succeeded in crushing the rebels crowds on Independence Square. decisions,” Turchinov said. ful” in its judgments toward its to protect two self-declared President Goodluck Jonathan and has triggered reprisals against Oleksander Turchinov, now In Crimea, thousands of eth- neighbour. independent regions with many called the attack “callous and sense- civilians. A military spokesman for acting president, said the new nic Russians, who form the “What we need now to do is ethnic Russians and others less murder ... by deranged terror- Yobe state, Captain Lazarus Eli, said government would have to take majority in the region, dem- not get into an old, Cold War holding Russian passports, and ists and fanatics who have clearly lost “our men are down there in pursuit unpopular decisions to head off onstrated for independence. confrontation,” he said on then recognised the regions as all human morality and descended to of the killers”, but gave no further default and guarantee a normal They scuffled with rival dem- MSNBC television. independent states. bestiality”. details. REUTERS life for Ukraine’s people. onstrators supporting the new Russia has repeatedly Any military action in The Euromaidan council’s Kiev authorities. The Crimea is expressed concern for the safety Ukraine, a country of 46 mil- proposals have to be approved home to part of Russia’s Black of Russian citizens in Ukraine, lion people that has close ties by parliament, which meets Sea Fleet, which Moscow said it using language similar to state- with European powers and the Spaniards honk the most: Survey today in an atmosphere heavy was taking steps to secure. ments that preceded its invasion United States, would be far PARIS: Spaniards honk, Swedish motorists chat on their mobile with memories of recent blood- One person died in the of Georgia in 2008. more serious — the closest the phones and Italians often forget to strap on their seat belts, according shed, whose hundred or so vic- Crimea protest, apparently of a “In accordance with an West and Russia have come to to a multi-nation survey published yesterday. tims are taking on the status of heart attack during a crush of order from the president of the outright confrontation since the The poll conducted in seven west European countries — Belgium, Britain, martyrs. the crowd, Interfax news agency Russian Federation, forces of Cold War. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden — confirmed some stereotypes The council named career reported. A Reuters corre- the Western Military District Despite the alarm raised by like Italians being the worst drivers but also threw up some surprises. diplomat Andriy Deshchytsya spondent on the scene reported were put on alert at 1400 (1000 the sabre-rattling, many ana- The survey by France’s Ipsos agency for Fondation Vinci Autoroutes as foreign minister. Oleksander surging crowds and scuffles but GMT) today,” Interfax news lysts expect Putin will pull back polled more than 1,000 people aged over 18 in each country between January Shlapak, a former economy min- no major violence. agency quoted Russian Defence before taking armed action. 29 and February 10. Respondents in all the countries unanimously rated ister and former deputy head of NATO defence ministers, Minister Sergei Shoigu as The war games would cause Swedes as the most responsible, followed by the Germans and the British. the central bank, was named as meeting in Brussels, issued saying. tension in Ukraine and Europe Italians figured at the bottom of the rung and even rated themselves as finance minister. Andriy Paruby, a statement supporting Shoigu also said Russia was but were probably for show, said the worst drivers. Overall 50 percent of respondents in all the countries head of the “self-defence” force “Ukrainian sovereignty and also “carefully watching what is Moscow-based military analyst said they were the most unsafe. AFP protecting the Kiev protest zone independence, territorial integ- happening in Crimea” and tak- Alexander Golts. from police action during the rity, democratic development, ing “measures to guarantee the REUTERS

Little ‘pope’ cries Sparks fly Over 30,000 in European Icelanders sign Parliament for vote on EU STRASBOURG, membership FRANCE: A European Parliament debate yes- REYKJAVIK: More than terday on Switzerland’s 30,000 Icelanders — almost one controversial decision in eight potential voters — had to curb immigration signed yesterday a petition to erupted into a barrage demand a referendum on the of bitter exchanges and pursuit of EU membership. insults between right and Thousands of protesters left-wing lawmakers. thronged the streets of Reykjavik Brandishing a Swiss on Monday and Tuesday to demand flag, Italian deputy Mario a referendum after the government Borghezio, a member of said it was dropping its EU mem- the populist, anti-immi- bership bid without a popular vote. gration Northern League, The petition can be signed on a interrupted the debate by website (thjod.is) where the user shouting: “Yes to the ref- needs to provide a Social Security erendum! Yes to the peo- number to guarantee a reliable ple’s freedom! “Enough count. Iceland’s eurosceptic gov- of European dictatorship ernment suspended EU accession over the people!” he added Pope Francis kisses a boy dressed as a pope as he arrives for his talks indefinitely last September in Italian and French. AFP general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican yesterday. in line with an election pledge. On Friday it announced a draft bill to “retract the application for membership of the European Union” which the island nation submitted in 2010. Romania to get new cabinet Opposition parties complained that no time had been allocated BUCHAREST: Romanian The move was triggered by “At this moment, we have a for debate and the bill was post- Prime Minister Victor Ponta growing competition between very instable government,” he poned. The government move is said yesterday he expects to the Liberals and the Social said. The PNL had 10 ministers opposed by Icelanders from both submit his new cabinet to Democrats ahead of the in government. the pro-and anti-EU side who parliament next week follow- November presidential election, The Social-Liberal Union accuse it of backtracking on a ing the breakup of his centre- analysts say. (SLU), a coalition formed by the pledge to put the issue to the vote. left coalition. The Romanian political scene Social-Democrats, the Liberals Iceland has been locked in “I intend to seek parliament’s is notoriously volatile and alli- and two smaller parties, had conflict with the EU over fishing green light next Tuesday,” ances can change fast. won a two-thirds majority in a quotas and a majority of its vot- Ponta told private TV channel Despite the departure of the December 2012 election, riding ers oppose membership, but some B1. The National Liberal Party Liberals, Ponta is expected to on discontent against against argue that joining the bloc would (PNL), a key coalition mem- win enough support from junior austerity measures. But after stabilise the economy. ber, quit the government on parties to stay in power. years of recession and sluggish Recent polls indicate that a Tuesday after failing to reach Romania’s centre-right pres- growth, Romania’s economy majority want the government to an agreement with the Social- ident Traian Basescu called on expanded by 3.5 percent in complete accession negotiations Democrat prime minister on a Ponta to have his new cabinet 2013, one of the fastest growing before putting membership to a reshuffle. sworn in as soon as possible. in the European Union. AFP referendum. AFP THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Top US criminal N Ireland leader prosecutor to leave Justice threatens to quit Department

WASHINGTON: Mythili Raman, the top criminal pros- over IRA trial ecutor at the US Department of Justice, is planning to leave the agency next month, wrap- ping up a year overseeing high- Robinson wants judicial inquiry profile investigations into global market manipulation. LONDON: Northern Ireland’s Ireland, he told BBC television. “I Raman said in an interview this First Minister Peter Robinson want a full judicial inquiry into all week that the agency has made threatened to resign yesterday of these matters so that we can see great strides in holding individu- unless there is a judicial inquiry who knew, when they knew, what als accountable for corporate into the aborted trial of a man they knew. I want all of the letters misdeeds. She said she is hopeful suspected in a 1982 IRA bomb- rescinded,” he added. more traders will face trial in the ing in London. British Prime Minister David United States for their roles in Robinson said the British gov- Cameron told parliament it was international benchmark-rigging ernment had kept him in the dark “absolutely shocking” that a “des- schemes. on the issue of secret amnesty picable mistake” meant Downey The 17-year Justice Department letters given to fugitive suspects would not face trial. veteran served for a year as the — the issue that caused the high- The government’s chief acting chief after her predeces- profile Hyde Park bombing trial legal adviser, Dominic Grieve, sor, Lanny Breuer, left the agency to be abandoned. England’s attorney general, told last year. A judge on Tuesday ruled that parliament Downey should never Protesters demonstrate outside the Old Bailey court in London ahead of the sentencing of Michael Adebolajo “We have a lot to be proud of,” John Downey, 62, should not be have received the letter. and Michael Adebowale yesterday . Raman said, referring the depart- prosecuted for the attack after it Such letters of assurance have ment’s probe into the manipula- emerged he had received an offi- been sent out to 187 so-called tion of foreign exchange rates cial letter in 2007 assuring him he “on-the-runs”, living outside British soldier’s killer jailed for life and a related investigation into would not face prosecution if he British jurisdictions, who sought the manipulation of the London re-entered the United Kingdom. clarification on their status fol- Interbank Offered Rate (Libor) The letters were part of the lowing the 1998 Northern Irish LONDON: A Muslim extrem- Sweeney passed sentence, 25-year-old fusilier to avenge the interest rate benchmark that led 1998 Good Friday agreement that peace accords between its broadly ist convicted of hacking British Adebolajo started shouting deaths of Muslims at the hands of to charges against six people in ended decades of sectarian vio- Protestant British and Catholic soldier Lee Rigby to death on a “Allahu akbar” and Adebowale British troops. the past year. lence in Northern Ireland. Irish communities. London street was ordered yes- called out “that’s a lie” in response Adebolajo tried to behead Rigby She said she is hopeful that Downey was charged with kill- Robinson, whose Democratic terday to spend the rest of his to claims that they had been with a meat cleaver in front of the Libor defendants, currently ing four cavalry soldiers in the Unionist Party is rooted in the life behind bars, while his fellow radicalised. horrified passers-by. all overseas, will see the inside of Hyde Park bombing by the Irish Protestant community, said he killer was jailed for a minimum They then scuffled with guards The pair were shot and a US courtroom. Republican Army. Seven military had been working to ensure that of 45 years. before being carried down to the wounded by armed police at She said her division has bandsmen were also killed in a sep- victims of Northern Irish terror Michael Adebolajo, 29, who holding cells. the murder scene in Woolwich, worked to improve relationships arate bombing on the same day on attacks got justice. received the whole-life term, and Sweeney said the pair’s behav- southeast London, after Adebolajo with foreign counterparts con- July 20, 1982 in London’s Regent’s “Now we find out that they Michael Adebowale, 22, were iour on the Woolwich streets was charged at them waving the ducting related investigations, a Park. Downey was arrested last never would get justice because dragged from the dock at the Old “sickening and pitiless”. cleaver, while Adebowale raised move that could ease the way for May at London Gatwick Airport there are people going round with Bailey court in London after they Yesterday’s sentencing had a rusty, unloaded gun. the defendants to be extradited to while en route to Greece. letters stuffed in their pockets started screaming at the judge been delayed for several weeks A jury found them guilty the United States. A visibly furious Robinson, who which say that even if somebody during the sentencing. because the judge wanted clari- within hours on December 19 and Raman said she has not yet has headed Northern Ireland’s fingers you, you’re not going to The Muslim converts were fication on a European ruling Sweeney said he was considering decided what her next career devolved administration since jail,” he said. “We were lied to.” found guilty in December of that made it uncertain whether whole-life terms. move will be but that she 2008, said he was “incandescent Robinson said his party would ploughing into Rigby with a car whole-life jail terms could still be But the European Court of anticipates returning to the with rage” that he did not know never have entered into a power- before attacking him with knives imposed. Human Rights last year con- agency down the line. Most of about the letters. sharing government in 2007 with and a meat cleaver in broad England’s Court of Appeal demned whole-life terms as a vio- her predecessors have gone to “I am not prepared to be the first Sinn Fein — the IRA’s political wing, daylight outside his barracks in upheld the right to do so on lation of prisoners’ rights, causing private practice, where they minister of a government that is drawn from the Catholic community Woolwich, southeast London, in February 18. the Court of Appeal to launch a defend white-collar criminal kept in the dark” by London on — if it had known about the letters. May 2013. Adebolajo and Adebowale said review. cases. matters relating to Northern AFP Minutes before judge Nigel they had attacked the off-duty AGENCIES REUTERS Maduro seeks peace meeting to end deadly protests

CARACAS: Venezuelan The protests have left at least The atmosphere in Caracas was President Nicolas Maduro 14 people dead and raised alarm in calmer on Tuesday after a night sought to hold a “peace confer- South America, the US and Europe. of sporadic clashes, although in ence” yesterday in an attempt The country with the world’s larg- some middle class neighbourhoods to end three weeks of at times est proven oil reserves has been streets were still partially blocked deadly anti-government pro- rocked since February 4 by protests by barriers of rubble and garbage. tests in the oil-rich but deeply over rampant crime, runaway infla- Small groups of student pro- divided country. tion, corruption and other woes. testers also marched towards the But the main opposition leader And on Tuesday, the United Cuban embassy, another target of Henrique Capriles is not attend- States announced the tit-for-tat opposition ire. “Venezuelans who ing, saying he is tired of what he expulsions of three Venezuelan don’t protest, don’t get out of this. calls government lies and police diplomats. The US action, which Join us,” read one of their banners. repression against students answered Venezuela’s expulsions of But by midday just dozens of protesters. three American diplomats a week people had joined the rally, sug- Capriles, a state governor, was ago, came a day after Maduro said gesting an easing up of pressure narrowly defeated by Maduro in his government would name a new on the eve of the national dialogue elections 11 months ago to succeed ambassador to Washington. convened by Maduro. the late Hugo Chavez. The State Department said the Maduro invited “all social, politi- Maduro’s gathering aims to Venezuelans would have 48 hours cal, union and religious groups” to bring together political, social and to leave and that Caracas needed take part in the “national peace religious figures but he has given to “show seriousness” in order for conference,” although he provided no details over who has commit- the relationship between the two few details. ted to taking part. countries to move forward. AFP

Merkel to get royal treatment as UK Labour party to pledge seeks EU support EU referendum: Report LONDON: Angela Merkel will take tea with Britain’s Queen LONDON: Britain’s opposi- five percentage points over Elizabeth II and address parlia- tion Labour party is prepar- Cameron’s Conservative party. ment today as David Cameron ing to change its policy on the The next national election is still tries to win the German chan- European Union by pledging to 15 months away, however. cellor’s backing for EU reform. hold a referendum on the coun- Labour has yet to publicly Cameron is rolling out what try’s membership of the bloc state whether it wants an EU the British press called the “red- at some point if it is elected referendum, but has been criti- dest of red carpets” for Merkel, in 2015, the Times newspaper cal of a promise by Cameron, it in contrast to a low-key welcome reported yesterday. re-elected, to hold an in/out vote for French President Francois Citing an unnamed source on Britain’s EU membership by Hollande last month. close to the Labour party, it said the end of 2017. In the leader of Europe’s top Labour leader Ed Miliband would If he wins the next election, economy, Cameron sees a poten- seek to reform Britain’s EU ties Cameron has said he would try tial ally for his plans to change and back holding a membership to reform Britain’s EU ties before the EU’s treaties before holding a referendum, but not by 2017 as offering such a vote. referendum on Britain’s member- Prime Minister David Cameron When asked about the Times ship in 2017. Merkel’s speech to has pledged. report, a Labour spokesman members of both chambers of par- The report said Miliband was declined to confirm or deny it. liament is the first by a German open to changing the bloc’s found- “We will keep our position con- leader since president Richard ing treaties and would use any sistent ... We have always said that von Weizsaecker did so in 1986. treaty change as an opportunity any decision about a European The German chancellor will for a referendum. An announce- referendum will be based on the also hold talks and a press confer- ment was expected in the next national interests,” the spokesman ence with Cameron, before going two weeks, the article said. said. “We do not believe committing to Buckingham Palace to meet the If an election was held today now to an in/out referendum in 2017 queen. polls suggest Labour would win is in Britain’s national interest.” AFP since they enjoy a lead of around REUTERS THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Australian navy Ex-editor of HK newspaper stabbed blew up asylum Attack likely to fuel concern among journalists about the erosion of media freedoms boat: Police CILACAP: Asylum- HONG KONG: A former chief Association denounced it and seekers who washed ashore editor of a major Hong Kong called on authorities to “pursue in Indonesia have claimed newspaper known for its criti- his attackers and those malignant the Australian navy blew up cal reporting was stabbed and forces behind them without fear their vessel after forcing the seriously wounded yesterday in or favour.” would-be refugees into a life- an attack likely to fuel concern “The attackers must be brought boat and turning them back among journalists about what to justice as quickly as possible to to Java, police said. many see as an erosion of media allay public fears,” the group said. Indonesian police found freedoms. Hong Kong is a freewheeling the orange lifeboat and 26 A man in a helmet attacked capitalist hub which enjoys a high asylum-seekers Monday on Kevin Lau Chun-to, former chief degree of autonomy and freedom, Java island’s south coast. The editor of the Ming Pao daily, but Beijing’s Communist Party would-be refugees said they slashing him in the back several leaders have resisted public pres- were turned around attempt- times. The assailant rode off on a sure for full democracy. ing to reach the Australian ter- motorcycle with an accomplice. Beijing has agreed in principle ritory of Christmas Island. Lau was in critical condition in for the city to hold direct elections After setting off from the hospital after managing to sum- in 2017, port of Pelabuhan Ratu in mon police himself. Police said Lau was recently replaced by a southern Java, they were inter- they had so far no clues as to who Malaysian Chinese journalist with cepted by the Australian navy might have carried out the attack. suspected pro-Beijing leanings entering Australian waters The attack took place days who takes up his duties this week. and transferred to the lifeboat, after 6,000 journalists marched His removal sparked a revolt in police said. to Hong Kong’s government head- the Ming Pao newsroom by jour- Australia has purchased the quarters to demand the city’s nalists who suggested the paper’s lifeboats as part of its military- leaders uphold press freedom editorial independence might be led operation to stem the influx against what they see as intru- undermined. of would-be refugees by return- sions from mainland China. “We hope the police can swiftly ing them to Indonesia, a policy The motive for the attack was prosecute the culprit as many that has angered Jakarta. unclear and an incident of such cases of attacks against the media After putting the asylum- brutality is unusual in the former in the past have ended up being seekers in the lifeboat, the navy British colony, which reverted to unsolved,” said Phyllis Tsang Pro-democracy activists attend a candlelight vigil to urge the police to solve the stabbing incident involving former destroyed their vessel, Wasidi, Chinese rule in 1997. of the Ming Pao Staff Concern police spokesman in Kebumen chief editor of the Ming Pao daily, Kevin Lau Chun-to, at a hospital in Hong Kong yesterday. The Hong Kong Journalists’ Group. REUTERS district where the stranded boat was found, said. “After they transferred the migrants to the Australian ship, the wooden boat they took from Pelabuhan Ratu was then blown up by the Australian Rights groups condemn Beijing Philippines frees top navy,” said the spokesman, who like many Indonesians goes by BEIJING: Rights groups con- “China’s accusations of sepa- he had lodged a formal request to one name. demned China yesterday for ratism are merely an excuse for meet his client and was awaiting Muslim rebel leader Wasidi said the boat’s charging a prominent Uighur suppression of those with dif- a response. Indonesian crew, who have also critic of government policy ferent political opinions,” said Beijing’s foreign ministry been detained, had given him towards the mostly-Muslim Dilshat Rexit, a spokesman for spokeswoman Hua Chunying MANILA: The Philippine gov- “He is now in good hands,” Milf the accounts. minority with separatism -- the World Uyghur Congress, told reporters: “China’s judicial ernment has freed a top Muslim chief for political affairs Ghazali which can carry the death an exile group. “We call on the authorities will deal with the rel- rebel whose recent arrest had Jaafar said yesterday but declined Japanese fall penalty. international community to moni- evant case in accordance with law threatened to jeopardise a to give further details. “We are Ilham Tohti, an economics lec- tor China and free this Uighur since China is a country under the peace deal to end one of Asia’s happy at the development.” for room fraud turer at a university in Beijing, scholar,” he added in a statement. rule of law.” longest running insurgencies, Jaafar and other senior Milf has been formally accused of the The US-based Uyghur Human Tensions in Xinjiang, a strate- both sides said yesterday. leaders say Tundok is a ranking TOKYO: A group of sin- offence, his wife Guzaili Nu’er Rights Project said in a statement gically important region which Wahid Tundok and his armed rebel commander covered by an gletons in Japan who claim said. that the charge against Tohti abuts central Asia, have risen bodyguards were detained at a immunity guarantee from the they were tricked into buy- Tohti has been one of the most “reflects not only a zero toler- in the past year with a series of government checkpoint near government. ing apartments by real estate prominent critics of Chinese pol- ance policy to Uighur dissent, but deadly clashes. the southern city of Cotabato on A rebel source close to the talks agents feigning a romantic icy in Xinjiang, the vast western also the growing intractability of Police also blamed suspects Sunday ahead of a peace deal with said Tundok had been turned over interest in them launched region where most Uighurs live China towards international criti- from the region for apparently the 12,000-member Moro Islamic to an unnamed local Muslim offi- legal action yesterday. and which is periodically hit by cism of its ethnic policies.” deliberately crashing a car in Liberation Front (Milf) expected cial. The status of his guards was Two men and 10 women, violent clashes between locals and The group also called on China Beijing’s central Tiananmen within weeks. unknown. all aged in their 30s or early China’s security forces. to account for the whereabouts of Square in October, killing two Government as well as Milf Philippine government negotia- 40s, filed a lawsuit against 14 China maintains that unrest in Tohti, who has not been allowed tourists and the three people in negotiators swiftly criticised tors said in a statement yesterday firms, including real estate the region is caused by terrorist to contact his family or see a law- the vehicle. the arrest of Tundok, described that a lower court had rescinded agencies and loan companies, groups seeking an independent yer since his arrest last month. The incident led President Xi by the military as a “high-value its arrest warrant for Tundok. demanding a total of $1.95m in state, an account denied by Uighur Li Fangping, a lawyer appointed Jinping to call for a security push target” facing criminal charges Negotiations to free Tundok compensation. rights groups who complain of by Tohti’s family, said the scholar in Xinjiang. Tohti had challenged including arson. were spearheaded by a joint rebel- According to their lawyers, widespread religious repression was being held at a facility in the government’s account of the The rebels had suggested it government committee monitor- the plaintiffs had become emo- and economic discrimination. Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi, adding crash. AFP could be a deal-breaker. ing the Milf ceasefire. AFP tionally involved with people they met on online dating sites, with many being led to believe Illegal logging they were heading toward tying the knot. Their intendeds, however, were more interested in push- ing property and talked each alleged victim into buying at least one condominium, with an average price tag of $254,000, the lawyers said. Once contracts were signed and sealed, the romance dis- appeared and the estate agent skipped out of the relationship, leaving the new homeowners with the keys to a new front door but not to anyone else’s heart. “These firms’ employ- ees made the plaintiffs buy the condominiums, taking advan- tage of their romantic feelings,” said lawyer Shinichi Hirasawa. “This is a flagrant scheme because the victims were made to purchase the real An aerial photo of East Kotawaringin district in Central Kalimantan province in Indonesia on Monday estate sometimes at prices 30 shows the clearing of trees on a peatland forest. Greenpeace accused US consumer goods giant Procter to 40 percent above the market & Gamble of the destruction of Indonesian rainforests. rate,” he said. AGENCIES Gunfire by night now a norm in Bangkok BANGKOK: Shots fired by yesterday. “As for the perpe- Bluesky TV, the protesters’ the Thaksin regime and join our unknown gunmen yesterday trators, we still don’t know who station, showed demonstrators movement.” rattled parts of the Thai capi- they are,” he said. pushing against the wrought The protesters want to set tal where anti-government “Recently we have been see- iron gates of the national police up an unelected “people’s coun- protesters have set up camp ing more incidents like this hap- headquarters in Bangkok, cil” of the good and worthy to for weeks, with small but pening more frequently ... It is demanding the proper investi- oversee vaguely defined politi- occasionally deadly bombs and noticeable that there are inci- gation of more than 20 deaths cal reforms, including a restruc- gunfire fast becoming the new dents like this every day.” since the beginning of the turing of the police force, before norm in the city. The protesters, whose disrup- protests. new elections are held. No one was wounded in tion of a general election this They did not get into the Charges of negligence are to the shootings in the central month left polarised Thailand compound and dispersed in the brought against Yingluck on commercial area of Bangkok, in political paralysis, want to early afternoon. Thursday by Thailand’s anti- although five people were killed topple Prime Minister Yingluck The protesters have vilified corruption agency relating to a in weekend violence in the Shinawatra and erase the influ- the police as lackeys of Thaksin, rice subsidy scheme that paid city and the eastern province ence of her brother, ousted pre- a former police officer who went farmers above-market prices of Trat, four of them young mier Thaksin Shinawatra, seen on to build a telecoms empire. and has proved financially children. by many as the real power in “We want the police to do ruinous. National security chief the country. their job honestly and straight- Yingluck is in the northern Paradorn Pattanathabutr said Occasional contact between forwardly,” said Anchalee city of Chiang Mai - her fam- there had been no reported the two sides, amid calls for an Paireerak, a protest leader and ily’s home town - and is unlikely deaths or injuries in the inci- end to the violence, has so far former television news anchor. to attend the hearing in person. dents in the early hours of led to nothing. “We urge them to stop serving REUTERS THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

58.7m people living below Obama tells poverty line

LAHORE: As many as 58.7 million people in Pakistan are Karzai of full living in multidimensional poverty with 46 percent of rural population and 18 per- cent of urban households fall- ing below the poverty line, says a survey report. troop pullout The report titled “Clustered Deprivation” is prepared by the Sustainable Development Delay in deal strains relationship Policy Institute (SDPI) with the financial and technical WASHINGTON: US President has asked the Pentagon to ensure assistance of United Nation Barack Obama told Hamid that it has adequate plans in place Development Programme Karzai yesterday that he is now to accomplish an orderly with- (UNDP). planning a full US troop with- drawal by the end of the year The SDPI measures poverty drawal because of the Afghan should the United States not keep on the basis of five dimensions leader’s continued refusal to any troops in Afghanistan after - education, health, water sup- sign a security pact. 2014.” ply and sanitation, household But in a telephone call with The White House had pre- assets/amenities and satisfac- the Afghan president, Obama viously warned that Karzai’s tion to service delivery. also held out the possibility of intransigence on a deal painstak- Further, a person taking agreeing a post-2014 training and ingly negotiated last year meant less than 2,350 calories per day anti-terror mission with the next it had no choice but to mull the and earning less than $1.25 per government in Kabul. “zero option.” day according to the United The US threat was the latest The statement said Obama Nations standard has also been twist in a long political struggle was reserving the possibility of regarded as living below the with Karzai, who appears intent concluding a Bilateral Security poverty threshold. on infuriating Washington until Agreement with Afghanistan In Punjab, higher incidence the day he leaves office, sometime later this year should the new Afghan activists wave flags and chant slogans condemning the killing of 21 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, of poverty was observed in after elections in April. government be willing. during a demonstration in Kabul yesterday. southern districts. The Obama administration is It was the most concrete sign open to leaving behind a resid- yet that Washington could wait Siberian ducks ual US force when its combat out the Afghan electoral process teams leave Afghanistan after before making a final decision on found dead America’s longest war at the end a future role in Afghanistan. Protest in Kabul after Taliban kill troops of this year. Though Karzai has refused to HARIPUR: Dozens of But it will not do so without sign the pact, some candidates to migratory birds have been legal protections enshrined in replace him have indicated they KABUL: About 200 people bloody 13-year insurgency. After the attack on Sunday, found dead at Tarbela Lake in the Bilateral Security Agreement would sign it. The deal has also protested in Kabul yesterday “The situation makes me Karzai blamed Islamabad for northern Pakistan. Wildlife (BSA) which Karzai will not been endorsed by a council of against the killing of 21 sol- angry,” Zohra Mousawi, a 20-year- failing to crack down on Taliban Department officials suspect endorse. tribal elders. diers by Taliban militants as old student at the protest said. safe havens in Pakistan, where the birds might have con- “President Obama told White House spokesman Jay Afghanistan faces up to the “Nobody cares about them, militant leaders seek sanctuary sumed something poisonous. President Karzai that because Carney however said Washington prospect of fighting the insur- every day we have people who die from Afghan and US military The figures, however, are he has demonstrated that it is was not certain a future govern- gents alone after this year. and our president doesn’t care,” operations. contested. While the Wildlife unlikely that he will sign the BSA, ment would sign up. The massacre in the eastern she said. “I blame him.” In a separate rally yesterday, Department claims only six the United States is moving for- “I don’t think we would, given province of Kunar triggered The protesters chanted dozens of people protested out- Siberian ducks have been found ward with additional contingency the experience we’ve had, predict widespread patriotic tributes to “Taliban are not our brother but side the Pakistani embassy, accus- dead, residents say the figures planning,” a White House state- with any great certainty what Afghanistan’s fledging security our enemies” and “Our President, ing Pakistan of supporting the ran in double digits or more. ment said. might happen,” he said. forces as they take over respon- are you with us or with the Taliban. Dildar Khan, an Afghan “Specifically, President Obama AFP sibility for crushing the Taliban’s enemy?” AFP national living in a nearby refu- gees camp, told journalists that he saw dozens of dead birds on the banks of the lake near Khalabat Township Sunday afternoon and informed the Pakistan Railways wants small drones to monitor tracks wildlife authorities. A local farmer said he saw nearly a hundred dead birds. ISLAMABAD: In the face “The authorities first manufacture of drones that are Kamra, Heavy Mechanical monitoring the railways tracks. He believes they were poisoned of high prices of drones at the approached international firms expected to be available at afford- Complex and Pakistan Space The sources said though noth- by someone who was trying to international level, Pakistan for purchase of small drones and able prices,” the official added. and Upper Atmosphere Research ing had been finalised yet, it was scare them off so they stayed Railways has now contacted Google Earth for satellite moni- The sources said the high Commission. expected that the total cost of the away from his wheat crop on three government institutions toring of the railway tracks but officials of Railways had pre- They said accuracy in differ- project would be Rs200m as the the reclaimed land. for purchase of these small both these options are not viable pared a list of requirements ent weather conditions, detection drone that has a range of 3km Tarbela Lake in Haripur is surveillance planes to monitor at the moment due to high expen- related to drones and forwarded of tracks and immediate trans- would have a price of Rs0.3m the largest lake in the coun- railways tracks round the clock ditures,” Pakistan official said. it to the local institutions to fer of information were the basic while the drone having a range try and serves as a temporary countrywide, official sources “So Railways has now get their viewpoint including requirements that locally manufac- of 30km would cost Rs2.5m. habitat for migratory birds. here say. approached local institutions for Pakistan Aeronautical Complex tured drones must carry out while INTERNEWS Abducted officials freed ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad’s new counter-terror policy Pakistani police yesterday morning managed to free the security personnel and health ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cabinet, ending years of wait- Khan said the shelling was officials who were kidnapped yesterday unveiled its first ing for a set of unified rules of in line with the government’s during an armed attack on ever counter-terrorism policy engagement for terrorism. new policy and that strikes the convoy of the Deputy after battling a homegrown The move comes as talks would continue alongside Commissioner of Awaran in Islamist insurgency for more between the government and efforts to negotiate with the Balochistan in southwestern than a decade, announcing the Taliban that began earlier Taliban. Pakistan on Tuesday. that every act of militant this month have stalled follow- “We have made a significant Police said that a raid was violence would be met with ing the killing of 23 soldiers shift in our policy, now we will conducted on a tip-off at retaliation on their bases. being held by militants. react to each and every act of ‘Qasmi Jo’ area in Awaran Interior minister Chaudhry Pakistan has responded by terrorism in the country with where three security personnel Nisar Ali Khan announced carrying out a series of deadly an attack on the headquar- and two health officials were the “national security policy” air strikes in the northwest ters of the militants along the freed. However, the kidnappers before parliament a day after that have left over 100 militants Afghan border,” he said. successfully escaped from the it was formally approved by the dead. AFP scene. Sensitive sites Voter’s registration card trespassed KARACHI: At least 10 for- eigners Italian and French carrying out surveys and excavation works in and around Bhanbhore located in a sensitive and extensive creek system of the Indus delta in southern Pakistan have completed their around six-week-long work without any security clearance from various government agencies amid a confusion among the government officials whether the foreigners needed a clear- ance or not, sources here say. According to sources, these foreigners were working under a licence issued last year by the then Sindh antiquities depart- ment (SAD), which has now been merged with the Sindh culture department (SCD). A top SAD official said that no security clearance was required while a top SCD offi- cial with a vast experience with such matters said the security An Afghan woman shows her voter's registration card while others (background) line up to get theirs, in clearance was a must for for- Herat, Afghanistan yesterday. The Afghan Independent Election Commission recently began voter regis- eigners. AGENCIES tration for the presidential elections scheduled for April 5. THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Barrier-crossing campaign BJP-LJP alliance CPM expels talks now at advanced stage NEW DELHI: Talks for an staunch critic alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) are at an advanced stage and the two parties are discussing seat-sharing agree- Abdur Rezzak ment, sources here said. The LJP, according to sources, initially sought that 10 Lok Sabha Leader sets up Social Justice Forum constituencies should be allocated to it to contest for in Bihar, and wants KOLKATA: The CPM yester- industries minister Nirupam at least eight constituencies now. day expelled veteran leader and Sen, chiefly blaming them for the The party yesterday said it is former West Bengal minister defeat. looking for “alternate allies” and Abdur Rezzak Mollah for “seri- He continued to take pot shots the option for BJP is open. ous anti-party activities” and at the leadership, and earned the “...all steps..., should be taken “belittling the party’s image in party’s wrath after he went for in the interest of the party and public”. Haj, something considered an if an alternative alliance is to be The decision to show the door anathema in a Communist party firmed up, party chief Ram Vilas to the senior legislator, who has known for its atheist philosophy. Paswan should take the decision,” won all nine assembly polls since However, Mollah’s relations LJP leader Chirag Paswan said 1972, was taken at a Communist with the top leadership seemed after a meeting of the party’s par- Party of India-Marxist (CPM) to be improving after he was liamentary board. state secretariat meeting during injured and hospitalised following Rahul Gandhi, surrounded by his security personnel, crosses over a barricade after meeting villagers who were LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, the day. an alleged attack by Trinamool waiting to see him during a road show ahead of the 2014 general elections at Nagaon in Assam yesterday. Chirag’s father, admitted there “It has been decided to expel Congress activists last year. Even were strains in ties with Lalu Comrade Rezzak Mollah from the Bhattacharjee went to see him at Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal party for serious anti-party activ- the hospital. (RJD) and that the talks for an ity and for belittling the party’s But Mollah again donned the alliance with the Congress did not image in public,” the party said dissenter’s hat when he criticised Court allows AAP plea against Dikshit show much progress. He added: in a statement. the party in the midst of the rural “There is a deadlock in our alli- Mollah, a CPM state committee bodies polls last year. ance with RJD, all options are now member, on February 23 launched He called for restructuring the NEW DELHI: The Delhi High decided it did not have the locus Prevention of Corruption Act. They open, including a tie-up with BJP.” “Social Justice Forum” — a pro- organisation, saying the present Court yesterday allowed a plea standi to defend Dikshit. said Dikshit was chief minister and Dalit and minority outfit — which middle-class leaders would not be by the Aam Aadmi Party to Now, after the high court order, also minister in-charge of informa- Police probe Abu would contest the 2016 assembly able to cause a turnaround in the withdraw a petition filed by instead of the government, Dikshit tion and publicity when the alleged polls. party’s fortunes by taking on the the erstwhile Congress govern- would defend herself in the case fund misuse took place in 2007-08. Salem’s wedding For long vocal against his ruling Trinamool Congress. ment against a trial court order on whether the order of lodging Gupta, in his complaint, said it own party leadership, particu- “The problem is majority of our for lodging a complaint against FIR should be quashed or not. was an election year and a number on train larly politburo member and cadres are now prim and proper. former chief minister Sheila A special court on August 31 of government advertisements former chief minister Buddhadeb We need people from the poorer Dikshit for allegedly misusing directed Delhi Police to register were published in newspapers. NEW DELHI: Mumbai police Bhattacharjee, Mollah recently sections who earn their living by government funds. an FIR against Dikshit on the The BJP leader said he filed a yesterday visited Delhi to probe derided the “upper class hegem- breaking sweat,” Mollah said. Justice Sunil Gaur also allowed complaint of Bharatiya Janata complaint before Delhi Lokayukta reports that gangster Abu ony” in the party and accused the Late last month, Mollah lam- an application of the former chief Party (BJP) leader Vijender Justice Manmohan Sarin, who Salem got married on a train erstwhile Left Front government basted his party for nominating minister seeking impleadment in Gupta and a similar plea of Right indicted Dikshit for misusing gov- while being taken by police of neglecting the welfare of Dalits student leader Ritabrata Banerjee the case. The Dikshit government to Information activist Vivek ernment funds for carrying out an to Uttar Pradesh for a court and minorities of the state. as its candidate for the February had moved the high court last year Garg, alleging that Dikshit had advertisement campaign with a hearing. Mollah, a former land reforms 7 Rajya Sabha polls. seeking quashing of two trial court misused Rs.22.56 crore in govern- “political purpose” ahead of the polls. Sources said a team of Mumbai minister, during his ministerial “His nomination proves that orders that sought fresh status ment funds in an advertisement He said the Lokayukta rec- police visited Delhi and conducted tenure openly protested the land people even indulging in club cul- report in the case and ordered a campaign prior to the 2008 polls. ommended to President Pranab an inquiry with Salem’s defence acquisition procedure followed in ture can get nomination. When first information report against They sought registration of FIR Mukherjee to caution Dikshit for counsel, lock-up in-charge and Singur in Hooghly district for the I entered the party, only after her. The high court had suspended against Dikshit and others for the alleged misuse of public funds security personnel who were Nano car plant of Tata Motors. working in the labour and peas- the registration of the FIR. alleged criminal breach of trust and to “advise” her to reimburse deployed for escorting Salem. After the party-led Left Front ant wings could people rise in Arvind Kejriwal, hours before (Section 409 of the Indian Penal either by herself or through her The team will visit Lucknow was dethroned in the 2011 state ranks. But now the party is full his resignation as Delhi chief Code), criminal misappropriation party a sum of Rs11 crore as half the Thursday for a further assembly elections, Mollah ridi- of middle and upper class people,” minister February 14, moved the of public funds and criminal mis- cost of the advertisements in 2008. investigation. culed Bhattacharjee and then Mollah said. high court, saying the cabinet had conduct under provisions of the IANS AGENCIES THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Navy chief quits Akash missile test-fired BHUBANESWAR: India yester- the army by scientists of state-run day successfully test-fired its Akash missile system manufacturer Bharat medium-range surface-to-air missile Dynamic Limited, and defence elec- from a defence base in Odisha, for tronics company Bharat Electronics. after submarine the third time in less than a week, “The test was successful,” test range officials said. The indigenously-devel- director MVKV Prasad said. oped missile, with a 27-km range and The 700-kg all-weather missile can an effective ceiling of 15km, was test- carry a 60-kg warhead at speeds of up accident fired from the Integrated Test Range to Mach 2.5. It can operate autono- of Chandipur in the coastal district of mously and simultaneously engage Balasore, 230km from Bhubaneswar and neutralise different aerial targets. Seven sailors hurt, two officers missing All three tests were conducted for IANS

NEW DELHI: India’s navy hours after the incident. chief resigned yesterday, tak- Without apportioning direct ing personal responsibility for a blame, the government said that string of operational incidents, Joshi had taken “moral respon- the latest of which saw smoke sibility for the accidents and sweep a submarine with two incidents which have taken place officers still missing. during the past few months”. The government said in a Defence analysts said subma- statement that it had accepted rine crew members in the Indian the resignation of Chief of Naval navy were not getting enough Staff Admiral DK Joshi, who will training on one type of vessel be replaced on an acting basis by before moving to another, increas- Vice-Chief of Naval Staff Vice- ing risks that minor incidents Admiral RK Dhowan. could have fatal consequences. A search continued for the two “It’s a very ominous situation to officers after smoke filled parts of be in,” said Uday Bhaskar, a fel- a Russian-built submarine on a low at Delhi’s National Maritime training exercise off the Mumbai Foundation. “The Indian navy is coast in the early hours of yester- going through a blighted phase.” day morning. Handling a ship comes with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with The accident comes months experience and young officers Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari in New Delhi yesterday. after a dockside blast in Mumbai weren’t getting the time needed killed all 18 aboard another sub- on smaller vessels before mov- marine last August, raising con- ing onto bigger ones, said Bharat India, Saudi to sign pact cerns over India’s ageing fleet and Karnad, a senior fellow of national crew training. security studies at the Centre for There were 94 sailors on board Policy Research. “You’re beginning on defence cooperation the submarine when smoke was to see a trend and it’s not a happy reported in the sailors’ accom- situation,” said Rajeswari Pillai NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman bin modation early yesterday, about Rajagopalan, senior fellow at the Abdulaziz Al Saud arrived here yesterday on a three-day offi- 50 nautical miles (80km) in the Observer Research Foundation. cial visit during which the two countries are expected to sign Arabian Sea. Seven sailors were Preliminary reports suggest an agreement on defence and enhance cooperation in hydro- airlifted by helicopter and shifted that the toxic smoke may have carbons and security. Vice-president Hamid Ansari received in an unconscious state to the been caused either due to a fire or Crown Prince Salman on his arrival. naval hospital, INS Asvini, in a leakage in one of the hydrogen Crown Prince Salman’s is the highest level political visit from south Mumbai. Their condition batteries on the vessel. the kingdom after the January 2006 landmark trip by Custodian is reported to be stable. Refitted and renovated in of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Commander Rahul Sinha, a Mumbai in December 2013, the as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. naval spokesman, said the source INS Sindhuratna was on a train- The crown prince, 78, who is the next in line to the throne of the smoke had been removed, ing exercise to familiarise the crew and is the deputy prime minister and defence minister, will call but declined to give details. with operations of the Russian- on President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan “When there is a fire in a subma- built vessel. The vessel was under- Singh and also hold talks with the vice-president, who is a rine, the smoke is extremely toxic. water at the time of the incident former Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia. There will be time before we enter and it was not fitted with weapons The two countries were expected to sign a memorandum of the compartments completely,” of any kind as it was on a training understanding on defence for greater exchange of information Sinha said. The two officers could and familiarisation mission. and training. Also on the cards is enhancing cooperation in areas not be accounted for more than 12 AGENCIES ranging from hydrocarbons to security. IANS

Thursday 27 February 2014 27 Rabial II 1435 Volume 18 Number 5988 Price: QR2

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

MPHC listing ‘a step towards’ national vision Al Sada says going public will strengthen capital market DOHA: The Mesaieed derives its significance from sev- The minister described the list- Petrochemical Holding eral factors; the first factor is the ing as a milestone for the Qatari Company’s (MPHC) decision to vision of His Highness the Emir, petrochemical sector in general, go public is an important step in focusing on several initiatives to and for the MPHC in particular the implementation of the Qatar encourage savings and long-term as it represents an area of interest National Vision 2030. investments. The second factor for the exchange and the Qatari The vision envisages expansion is the great confidence that the citizens, who have invested in the of private sector participation in company will be a new Qatari future and put their trust in this the development process, and success story in the petrochemi- national company. The MPHC provide a real opportunity to all cal industry. Another factor is will benefit the national economy citizens to benefit directly from the great success of the IPO and and Qatari people, especially as it the country’s economic growth, strong response from various seg- combines three established and H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al ments of the society; final factor is profitable petrochemical compa- Sada, Minister of Energy and the role played by the company’s nies founded by Qatar Petroleum. Industry and Chairman of the listing in strengthening and stim- He said the company is qualified MPHC Board, said here yesterday. ulating the capital market. to take advantage of a number At 9.30 am, Dr Al Sada, rang Among others who attended of favourable factors to maintain the Qatar Exchange opening bell the event included H E Sheikh high profitability, excellent liquid- H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada (third from right) with other dignitaries at the listing ceremony yesterday. to celebrate the listing of the Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, ity, low energy costs, and diverse company and the day’s trading. Governor of Qatar Central Bank, base of global clients. Delivering a speech at a cer- Dr Hussein Ali Al Abdullah, “We are expecting bigger activi- capital to local market in short not know the exact numbers and investing public. “We are pleased emony organised by Qatar Acting Chairman of Qatar ties. The MSCI upgrade will bring terms”, Hussein Ali Al Abdullah, the timing of the listing, he said. to welcome MPHC into the family Exchange (QE) to mark the Exchange, and Abdul Rahman in more liquidity to the local mar- Acting Chairman of QE said. MPHC will increase exchange of listed companies on the bourse, first day trading of MPHC, Dr Al Ahmed Al Shaibi, Vice Chairman ket. We expect the upgrade will elp More companies are expected to depth and brings new opportuni- said Rashid Al Mansoori, CEO, QE. Sada said the listing of Mesaieed of MPHC. attract QR3bn to QR5bn foreign come to the market. But we do ties and additional choice to the THE PENINSULA QNB Debt Fund Financial Statements For the period from 1st February 2013 to 31st December 2013

Independent auditors’ report to the unit holders of Auditor’s responsibility Opinion QNB Debt Fund Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International respects, the financial position of the Fund as at 31 December 2013, and Standards of Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with the of its financial performance and its cash flows for the period then ended in ethical requirements and plan and perform audit to obtain reasonable accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable Report on the financial statements assurance whether the financial statements are free from material provisions of Qatar Central Bank regulations misstatement. We have audited the accompanying financial statements of QNB Debt Fund Report on other legal and regulatory requirements (the “Fund”) which comprise of the statement of financial position as at An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidences about 31 December 2013, and the statements of comprehensive income, cash flows the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures We have obtained all the information and explanations which we consider and changes in net assets attributable to unit holders for the period from selected depend on our judgement, including the assessment of the risks of necessary for the purpose of our audit. The Fund has maintained proper 1st February 2013 to 31 December 2013, and notes, comprising a summary material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud accounting records and the financial statements are in agreement therewith. of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information. or error. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal control We are not aware of any violations of the applicable provisions of the Qatar relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial Central Bank Law No. 13 of 2012 and Fund’s articles of association and the statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in Management’s responsibility for the financial statements amendments thereto having occurred during the year which might have had the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on a material adverse effect on the business of the Fund or its financial position Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes as at 31 December 2013. these financial statements in accordance with International Financial evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the Reporting Standards and the applicable provisions of the Qatar Central reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the management, as well Bank regulations and for such internal control as management determines as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. 28 January 2014 Gopal Balasubramaniam is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and Doha KPMG from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. State of Qatar Qatar Auditors’ Registry No 251

Statement of Financial Position The term of the Fund shall be 4 years, starting with the date of Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are initially As At 31 December 2013 In Qatari Riyals registration of the Fund in the Investment Funds Register of the Ministry, recognised at fair value, with transaction costs recognised in profit or renewable by the Founder on approval of the Qatar Central Bank. loss. Financial assets or financial liabilities not at fair value through 31 December 2013 profit or loss are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs Assets The unit nominal value is QR10 with the Fund’s capital ranging from that are directly attributable to their acquisition or issue. QR20,000 as a minimum limit to QR5,000,000,000 as a maximum limit. Cash and cash equivalents 4,479,549 Classification Financial assets at fair value through prot or loss 70,292,851 The Fund is managed by QNB Banque Privée (Suisse) S.A, a Company The Fund classifies financial assets and financial liabilities into the established under the laws of Switzerland (Company Registration following categories: Other receivables 855,915 Number CH-170-3-031-263-3) and having its registered office in Geneva, Total assets 75,628,315 Switzerland. i) Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss: Liabilities HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Qatar Branch (“HBME”) has been Held for trading: debt securities Other liabilities 91,240 appointed as the custodian and administrator of the Fund. ii) Financial assets at amortised cost: Total liabilities 91,240 Objective of the Fund and nature of its activity Loans and receivables: cash and cash equivalents and other Net assets attributable to unit holders 75,537,075 The Fund aims to provide its investors with competitive investment receivables Number of units in issue 7,413,353 returns by investing in fixed income instruments issued by governments, central banks and reputable companies located either in iii) Financial liabilities at amortised cost: Net asset value per unit 10.189 Qatar or other member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Other liabilities: Other payables These financial statements were approved by the Fund Manager and signed 2. Basis of preparation on its behalf by the following. iv) A financial instrument is classified as held for trading if: (a) Statement of compliance If it is acquired or incurred principally for the purpose of selling or Adel Abdulaziz Khashabi These have been prepared in accordance with the International repurchasing it in the near future General Manager - Assets and Wealth Management Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and the applicable provisions of the Qatar Central Bank’s (“QCB”) regulations. On initial recognition, it is part of a portfolio that is managed together and for which there is evidence of a recent pattern of Statement of comprehensive income (b) Basis of measurement short-term profit taking; or for the period ended 31 December 2013 In Qatari Riyals These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost It is a derivative, other than a designated and effective hedging For the period from 1 February 2013 to 31 December 2013 convention, except for financial assets at fair value through profit or instrument loss that are measured at fair value. Fair value measurement Interest income 3,445,639 (c) Functional and presentational currency ‘Fair value’ is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to Net foreign exchange loss (19,910) transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants These financial statements are presented in Qatari Riyals, which is at the measurement date in the principal or, in its absence, the most Net loss from nancial instruments at fair value through prot (1,043,428) the Fund’s functional currency. All amounts have been rounded to the advantageous market to which the Fund has access at that date. or loss nearest Qatari riyal. Total revenue 2,382,301 When available, the Fund measures the fair value of an instrument (d) Use of judgments and estimates Management fees 563,440 using the quoted price in an active market for that instrument. A market is regarded as ‘active’ if transactions for the asset or liability take place Custodian fees 71,508 In preparing these financial statements, management has made judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on Investor service fees 43,079 accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, an ongoing basis. The Fund measures instruments quoted in an active market at a mid price. Administration fees 77,310 income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Legal and professional fees 62,500 Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing Amortised cost measurement basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised prospectively. The amortised cost of financial asset or financial liability is the amount Other expenses 3,130 at which the financial asset or financial liability is measured at initial Total operating expenses (820,967) i). Assumptions and estimation uncertainties recognition, minus principal repayments, plus or minus the cumulative Increase in net assets attributable to unit holders 1,561,334 amortisation using the effective interest method of any difference The Fund classifies a financial asset at fair value through profit or loss between the initial amount recognised and the maturity amount, minus if it is held for trading or is designated as such on initial recognition. any reduction for impairment. Statement of changes in net assets attributable to unit holders Financial assets are designated at fair value through profit or loss, if for the period ended 31 December 2013 In Qatari Riyals the Fund manages such investments and makes purchases and sale De-recognition decisions based on their fair value in accordance with the Fund’s The Fund derecognises a financial asset when the contractual rights to 2013 documented investment strategy. the cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the rights to receive Balance at 1 February the contractual cash flows on the financial asset in a transaction in 3. Significant accounting policies Increase in net assets attributable to unit holders 1,561,334 which substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the The accounting policies set out below have been applied in the financial asset are transferred. Contributions and redemptions by unit holders: preparation of these financial statements. On derecognition of a financial asset, the difference between the carrying Initial subscription 74,630,000 (a) Interest amount of the asset and the consideration received is recognised in profit Issue of redeemable units during the period 16,741,879 or loss. Any interest in such transferred financial assets that is created or Redemption of redeemable units during the period (17,396,138) Interest income and expense are recognised in profit and loss using retained by the Fund is recognised as a separate asset or liability. the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate is the Total contributions and redemptions by unit holders 73,975,741 rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash payments and The Fund derecognises a financial liability when its contractual Balance at 31 December 75,537,075 receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument (or, where obligations are discharged or cancelled or expired. appropriate, a shorter period) to the carrying amount of the financial Cash and cash equivalents instrument. When calculating the effective interest rate, the Fund Statement of Cash Flows Cash and cash equivalents comprise deposits with banks with estimates future cash flows considering all contractual terms of the for the period ended 31 December 2013 In Qatari Riyals maturities of three months or less from the acquisition date that are financial instruments but not future credit losses. Interest received or subject to an insignificant risk of changes in their fair value. For the period from 1 February 2013 to 31 December 2013 receivable, and interest paid or payable, are recognised in profit or loss as interest income and interest expense, respectively. Cash ows from operating activities Offsetting Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in (b) Foreign currency Increase in net assets attributable to unit holders 1,561,334 the statement of financial position when, and only when, the Fund has a Adjustments for: Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into Qatari Riyal at the legal right to set off the recognised amounts and it intends either to settle nrealised loss on revaluation of nancial assets at fair value exchange rate at the dates of transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. 1,037,780 through prot or loss denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are translated Income and expenses are presented on a net basis for gains and losses into Qatari Riyal at the exchange rate at that date. Changes in: from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss and Financial assets at fair value through prot or loss (71,330,631) Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies foreign exchange gains and losses. that are measured at fair value are retranslated into Qatari riyal at the Other receivables (855,915) (f) New standards, amendments and interpretations issued effective exchange rate at that date on which the fair value was determined. Other liabilities 91,240 from 1 January 2013 Foreign currency differences arising on translation are recoganised in The following standards, amendments and interpretations, which Net cash used in operating activities (69,496,192) profit or loss as net foreign exchange loss, except for those arising on became effective as of 1 January 2013, have been applied in the Cash ows from nancing activities financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss, which are preparation of these financial statements: recoganised as a component of net gain from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss. i) IAS 1 (amendment) – Presentation of items of other Proceeds from issue of redeemable units 91,371,879 (c) Fees and commission expenses comprehensive income Payments for redemption of redeemable units (17,396,138) The amendments to IAS 1 require that an entity present separately Net cash from nancing activities 73,975,741 Fees and commission expenses are recoganised in profit or loss as the related services are performed. the items of other comprehensive income that would be reclassified Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 4,479,549 to profit or loss in the future if certain conditions are met from those Cash and cash equivalents at 1 February - (d) Net gain/ loss from financial instruments at fair value through that would never be reclassified to profit or loss. profit or loss Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 4,479,549 The adoption of this amendment had no significant impact on the Net gain/ loss from financial instruments at fair value through profit or financial statements. loss includes all realised and unrealised fair value changes, and foreign ii) Amendments to IFRS 7 on offsetting financial assets and 1. Legal status and principal activities exchange differences. Net realised gain/ loss from investment securities at fair value through profit or loss is calculated using first in first out method. liabilities (2011) QNB Debt Fund (“the Fund”) is an open ended fund incorporated under (e) Financial assets and liabilities Disclosures – Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Law No. 25 of the year 2002 and the Ministry of Business and Trade (amendments to IFRS 7) introduces disclosures about the impact of Decision No. (69) of the year 2004 for issuing by-laws for investment Recognition and initial measurement netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position. Based on the funds of the State of Qatar. The Fund was licensed by Qatar Central Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognised new disclosure requirements the Fund has to provide information Bank (QCB) with license No. S.A/20/2012 and registered with the on trade date, which is the date on which the Fund becomes a party to about what amounts have been offset in the statement of financial Ministry of Business and Trade (“the Ministry”) with a registration No. the contractual provisions of the instrument. Other financial assets and position and the nature and extent of rights of set off under master 58029. The Fund commenced its operations on 1 February 2013. financial liabilities are recognised on the date on which they are originated. netting arrangements or similar arrangements.

QNB Debt Fund

Call +974 4425 2444 or visit qnb.com.qa The adoption of this amendment had no significant impact on (c) Liquidity risk The Fund’s objective to manage operational risk so as to balance limiting the financial statements. of financial losses and damage to its reputation with achieving its Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund will encounter difficulty in iii) Fair value measurement meeting obligations arising from its financial liabilities that are settled investment objective of generating returns to investors. The primary by delivering cash or another financial asset, or that such obligations responsibility for the development and implementation of controls over Adoption of this standard allows the Fund to revalue its assets and will be settled in a manner disadvantageous for the Fund. operational risk rests with the Fund manager. liabilities by using either bid prices for assets and ask prices for liabilities or prices within the bid-ask spread. As the Fund is already The Fund’s policy and the fund manager’s approach to managing using last trade price to revalue its financial assets which is within liquidity is to have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities, including 5. Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss the bid-ask prices of the shares, hence this standard had no significant estimated redemptions of shares, as and when due, without incurring impact on the financial position or performance of the Fund. undue losses or risking damage of the Fund’s reputation. 31 December 2013 iv) Improvements to IFRSs (2011) The Fund’s investment securities are considered to be readily realisable Cost 71,330,631 as they have an active market. The Fund’s liquidity is managed on Improvements to IFRS issued in 2011 contained numerous Loss on revaluation of nancial assets at fair value through a daily basis by the fund manager in accordance with policies and (1,037,780) amendments to IFRS that the IASB considers non-urgent but procedures in place. prot or loss necessary. ‘Improvements to IFRS’ comprise amendments 70,292,851 that result in accounting changes to presentation, recognition i) Maturity of financial assets and liabilities or measurement purposes, as well as terminology or editorial The following table sets out the maturity profile of the Fund’s amendments related to a variety of individual IFRS standards. assets and liabilities. The contractual maturities of assets and 6. Other liabilities There were no significant changes to the current accounting liabilities have been determined on the basis of the remaining policies of the Fund as a result of these amendments. period at the statement of financial position date to the contractual 31 December 2013 maturity date and do not take account of the effective maturities New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but Management fees payable 48,147 not yet effective as indicated by the Fund’s deposit retention history and the availability of liquid funds. Custodian fees payable 6,370 A number of new standards, amendments to standards and Administration fees payable 6,420 interpretations are effective for annual periods beginning on or after Management monitors the maturity profile to ensure that adequate 1 January 2014, and have not yet been applied in preparing these liquidity is maintained. Investor services fees 2,803 financial statements. Those which are relevant to the Fund are set Maturity profile as at 31 December 2013 Other payables 27,500 out below. The fund does not plan to early adopt these standards. 91,240 i) IFRS 9 – Financial instruments 1 – 3 3 – 12 1 – 5 Over No Total Months Months Years 5 Years maturity The IFRS 9 (2009) requirements represent a significant change 7. Issued and fully paid units from the existing requirements in IAS 39 in respect of financial Assets assets. The standard contains two primary measurement categories Units Amount Bank balances 4,479,549 - - - - 4,479,549 for financial assets: amortised cost and fair value. A financial Initial subscription at QR 10 per unit 7,463,000 74,630,000 asset would be measured at amortised cost if it is held within Financial instru- ments at fair value Subscription at dierent NA per unit 1,670,956 16,741,879 a business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to through prot or 70,292,851 - - - - 70,292,851 collect contractual cash flows, and the asset’s contractual terms loss Redemptions during the period (1,720,603) (17,396,138) give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments Other receivables 855,915 - - - - 855,915 of principal and interest on the principal outstanding. All other 7,413,353 73,975,741 Total assets 75,628,315 - - - - 75,628,315 financial assets would be measured at fair value. The standard The authorised number of units of the Fund is 500 million of QR10 par eliminates the existing IAS 39 categories of held to maturity, Liabilities available-for-sale and loans and receivables. value each. Other payables 91,240 - - - - 91,240 The standard requires that derivatives embedded in contracts with Total liabilities 91,240 - - - - 91,240 8. Related party and other key contracts a host that is a financial asset within the scope of the standard are not separated; instead the hybrid financial instrument is assessed Maturity gap 75,537,075 - - - - 75,537,075 Related parties in its entirety as to whether it should be measured at amortised cost (d) Market risk Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability to control or fair value. Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as interest the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in IFRS 9 (2010) introduces a new requirement in respect of financial rates and foreign exchange rates will affect the Fund’s income or fair making financial or operational decisions. liabilities designated under the fair value option to generally value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market present fair value changes that are attributable to the liability’s risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within 8.1 Management fees credit risk in other comprehensive income rather than in profit or acceptable parameters, while optimising the return. loss. Apart from this change, IFRS 9 (2010) largely carries forward The management fee is calculated and payable to the Fund manager on without substantive amendment the guidance on classification and Currency risk a monthly basis at an annual rate of 0.75% of the net asset value of the measurement of financial liabilities from IAS 39. The Fund is not exposed to any currency risk as all the transactions are fund calculated on a daily basis. carried out in Qatari Riyals and US Dollars. Since QR is pegged to the IFRS 9 (2013) introduces a new general hedge accounting standard USD, so there is no significant foreign exchange risk. which would align hedge accounting more closely with risk 31 December 2013 Interest rate risk management. The requirements also establish a more principles- Statement of nancial position items based approach to hedge accounting and address inconsistencies Interest rate risk arises when there is a mismatch between positions and weaknesses in the hedge accounting model in IAS 39. The which are subject to interest rate adjustment within a period. In the Accrued management fees 48,147 new standard does not fundamentally change the types of hedging Fund’s funding and investment activities, fluctuations in interest rates are reflected in interest margins and earnings. The following table sets relationships or the requirements to measure and recognise Statement of comprehensive income items ineffectiveness; however, more judgement would be required to assess out the interest rate risk profile of the Fund. Management fees 563,440 the effectiveness of a hedging relationship under the new standard. As at 31 December 2013 The mandatory effective date of IFRS 9 is not specified but will be Other key contracts determined when the outstanding phases are finalised. However, 1 – 3 3 – 12 1 – 5 Over Non- inter- Total application of IFRS 9 is permitted. The IASB decided to consider Months Months Years 5 Years est bearing 8.2 Custodian fees making limited amendments to IFRS 9 to address practice and other issues. The Fund has commenced the process of evaluating the Assets The custodian fee is calculated and payable to the custodian on a potential effect of this standard but is awaiting finalisation of the Bank balances 4,479,549 - - - - 4,479,549 monthly basis at an annual rate of 10bps of the net asset value of the limited amendments before the evaluation can be completed. fund subject to minimum monthly fees of USD1,750. Financial instru- ments at fair value 70,292,851 - - - - 70,292,851 ii) Amendments to IAS 32 on offsetting financial assets and financial through prot or loss liabilities (2011) 31 December 2013 Other receivables - - - - 855,915 855,915 tatement of nancial position items Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (amendments Total assets 74,772,400 - - - 855,915 75,628,315 to IAS 32) clarify the offsetting criteria IAS 32 by explaining when Accrued custodian fees 6,370 an entity currently has a legally enforceable right to set off and Liabilities and net assets when gross settlement is equivalent to net settlement. Other payables - - - - 91,240 91,240 Statement of comprehensive income items Custodian fees 71,508 The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on Net assets - - - - 75,537,075 75,537,075 or after 1 January 2014 and interim periods within those annual Total liabilities and - - - - 75,628,315 75,628,315 8.3 Administration fees periods. Earlier application is permitted. net assets Interest rate The administration fee is calculated and payable to the administrator on 75,537,075 - - - 75,537,075 - The Fund is not expecting a significant impact from the adoption of sensitivity gap these amendments. a monthly basis at an annual rate of 10bps of the net asset value of the Cumulative inter- 75,537,075 75,537,075 75,537,075 75,537,075 - - fund subject to minimum monthly fees of USD1,750. 4. Financial risk management est sensitivity gap The Fund has exposure to the following risks from the financial The table below sets out the effect on the Fund’s net assets attributable 31 December 2013 instruments: to holders of redeemable units if the interest rate fluctuates by 100 basis points. Statement of nancial position items credit risk Accrued administration fees 6,420 Effect in thousands of QR liquidity risk market risk operational risk 31 December 2013 Statement of comprehensive income items This note presents information about the Fund’s objectives, policies and Fluctuation in yield by 100 bps 2,119,753 Administration fees 77,310 processes for measuring and managing risk, and the Fund’s management 2,119,753 of capital. 8.4 Investor services fees A strengthening of interest rates would have been resulted in an equal (a) Risk management framework but opposite effect to the amounts shown above. The investor service fee is calculated and payable to the custodian on a monthly basis at the following rates: The Fund’s investment portfolio comprises debt securities. The Fund’s Fair value hierarchy investment manager has been given discretionary authority to manage 0 - 350 investors at USD5 per investor per month the assets in line with the Fund’s investment objectives. In instances The fair values for investment securities as at 31 December 2013 is where the portfolio has diverged from target asset allocations, the QR70,292,851 under level 1 of fair value hierarchy. It does not include 351 – 1000 investors at USD4 per investor per month Fund’s investment manager is obliged to take actions to rebalance the fair value information for financial assets and financial liabilities portfolio in line with the established targets, with prescribed time limits. not measured at fair value as the carrying amount is a reasonable Above 1000 investors fees to be negotiated at HBME discretion approximation of fair value. (b) Credit risk USD30 to cover each subscription, redemption or transfer Fair values versus carrying amounts Credit risk is the risk that counterparty to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation or commitment that it has entered into with The fair values of financial assets and liabilities, together with the 31 December 2013 the Fund, resulting in a financial loss to the Fund. It arises principally carrying amounts shown in the statement of financial position, are as Statement of nancial position items from bank balances, investment securities and other receivables. follows: Accrued investor service fees 2,803 The Fund’s policy over credit risk is to minimise the exposure to Held for Loans and Other nan- Total counterparties with perceived higher risk of default by dealing only trading receivables cial liabilities Statement of comprehensive income items with counterparties meeting the credit standards set out in the Fund’s 31 December 2013 Investor service fees 43,079 prospectus and by taking collateral. Bank balance - 4,479,549 - 4,479,549 i) Exposure to credit risk Financial assets at fair value 70,292,851 - - 70,292,851 through prot or loss 9. Net loss from financial instruments at fair value through The Fund’s maximum exposure at the reporting date is represented profit or loss by the respective carrying amounts of the relevant financial assets Other receivables - 855,915 - 855,915 in the statement of financial position. 70,292,851 5,335,464 - 75,628,315 For the period from 1 February 2013 to 31 December 2013 Other liabilities - - 91,240 91,240 Gross Maximum Net loss from nancial instruments held for trading: Net assets attributable to unit Exposure - - 75,537,075 75,537,075 holders Debt securities 1,043,428 31 December 2013 - - 75,628,315 75,628,315 Net loss from nancial instruments held for trading: Bank balances 4,479,549 (e) Operational risk Realised 5,648 Financial instruments at fair value through prot or loss 70,292,851 Unrealised 1,037,780 Other receivables 855,915 Operational risk is the risk of direct or indirect loss arising from a wide variety of causes associated with the processes, technology 1,043,428 Total credit risk exposure 75,628,315 and infrastructure supporting the Fund’s activities with financial

instruments either internally within the Fund or externally at the Fund’s Past due and impaired assets service providers, and from external factors other than credit, market 10. Comparative figures and liquidity risks such as those arising from legal and regulatory No financial assets carried at amortised cost were past due or impaired requirements and generally accepted standards of investment These are the first financial statements of the Fund and hence no at 31 December 2013. management behaviour. comparative information has been presented.

QNB Debt Fund

Call +974 4425 2444 or visit qnb.com.qa THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

QATARI MARKET Ooredoo’s sukuk Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Etihad ‘needs a month’ wins ‘Qatar - Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.50 0.15% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.88 1.05% Aa2 AA Deal of the Year’ Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 120.50 2.27% Aa2 AA to study Alitalia’s books DOHA/DUBAI: Ooredoo yes- Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 114.50 2.58% Aa2 AA terday announced that it has Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 109.63 3.11% Aa2 AA won “Qatar - Deal of the Year” at Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 155.88 4.77% Aa2 AA Debt restructuring, cost cuts are main hurdles the Islamic Finance Awards 2013 Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 117.63 5.16% Aa2 AA held on February 24 in Dubai. Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 108.88 5.15% Aa2 AA MILAN: Etihad Airways is matter said Etihad could be inter- invest in Alitalia if it fits in its Qatar’s telecom leader was Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.94 0.64% Aa2 AA expected to finish examining ested in buying a stake of up to 40 network and if Alitalia has a cred- nominated for its inaugural Alitalia’s books within a month percent in the company. ible plan to return to profit. The $1.25bn (QR4.55bn) Reg S 5 Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 111.25 3.05% Aa2 AA as it ponders whether to invest “The due diligence should be group has met Alitalia’s creditors year sukuk which was launched Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 102.88 0.92% A1 A- in the loss-making Italian air- concluded within three to four in recent weeks. They include in December 2013. The $1.25bn Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.75 1.80% A1 A- line, Alitalia’s chief executive weeks,” Alitalia Chief Executive Italy’s two top lenders UniCredit sukuk issuance was made under QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.25 1.16% NR NR said yesterday. Gabriele Del Torchio said. He and Intesa Sanpaolo, troubled Ooredoo’s $2bn Trust Certificate Alitalia has cut costs and said he was “realistic” about the Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Programme and was four times QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.63 0.97% Aa3 A+ refreshed its fleet since being res- process and did not expect it to be Banca Popolare di Sondrio. over-subscribed. The sukuk was QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.38 1.85% Aa3 A+ cued and privatised in 2008. But easy, or to conclude quickly. The sources have said Etihad issued by Ooredoo Tamweel Ltd, Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.75 1.88% A2 A- a focus on domestic and regional Sources say Etihad wants a was asking the lenders to write off a special purpose vehicle wholly- Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.38 1.28% A2 A- markets has left it vulnerable to heavy restructuring of Alitalia’s big parts of Alitalia’s debt. Other owned by the telecom leader Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.63 2.81% A2 A- competition from low-cost air- debt and was also asking for job options were for banks to post- which is rated A2 by Moody’s, A- lines and fast trains on the busy cuts at the Rome-based airline. pone repayments or convert debt by S&P and A+ by Fitch. Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 108.00 3.45% A2 A- Milan-Rome route. Del Torchio declined to com- to equity, they said. The sukuk matures on December Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 103.88 4.57% A2 A- A tie-up with Etihad could ment on conditions Etihad might Disagreements over a debt 3, 2018 and has a semi-annual Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 102.63 0.91% Aa3 A bring Alitalia the resources to have put on the table, although he restructuring already scuppered profit rate of 3.039 percent. Net Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.88 3.04% Aa3 A invest in a new strategy focused said he did not believe Alitalia’s efforts by Alitalia to secure more proceeds from the sale were used Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.75 3.78% Aa3 A on long-haul routes. Talks with staff headcount of 14,000 was a capital from its shareholder Air by Ooredoo for general corporate the Gulf carrier intensified this big problem. France-KLM last year. purposes including re-financing SOVEREIGNS month and sources close to the Etihad has said it will only REUTERS indebtedness. THE PENINSULA Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.50 0.35% Aa2 AA Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.00 2.17% Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.13 1.51% NR NR Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 108.00 2.26% NR NR Mannai Auto Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 124.00 3.62% NR NR Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 116.50 4.05% NR NR fleet unit posts Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.38 0.16% Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 115.38 2.77% NR BBB best-ever sales Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 108.75 3.87% NR BBB DOHA: Mannai Auto Group’s Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 101.50 5.46% Caa1 B- Fleet division registered its best-performing year in 2013, Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 104.88 3.65% NR BBB- with the most total fleet unit

*Periodic Distribution Amount sales in history. It recorded 38 IMPORTANT NOTE: percent growth year-on-year. Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Mannai Auto is now among is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services the top-three dealers in the GM Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary Middle East network in terms data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising of fleet sales growth. The figures out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not were supported by record sales take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant for Cadillac fleet vehicles. liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not “We currently serve a range a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and of Fleet clients in Qatar and in consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. addition to overall sales figures, we also have the highest SME penetration relative to the market among the top GM brand deal- erships in the region,” said Fadi ElAawar, Fleet Sales Manager, Mannai Auto Group’s team. Mannai Auto.THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Target’s profit dips Spain’s Repsol Credit Suisse accepts $5bn payoff from admits tax Argentina

MADRID: Spanish oil giant Repsol said it had agreed to accept $5bn in compensation ‘misconduct’ from Argentina for the country’s seizure of its subsidiary YPF. The deal seeks to repair the US clients hide billions in Swiss bank financial hit taken by Repsol when Argentina’s President Cristina GENEVA: Switzerland’s sec- on a two-year investigation, Kirchner ordered the nationali- ond-largest bank, Credit Suisse, maintained that Credit Suisse sation of Repsol’s 51 percent stake accused by Washington of help- had “nearly 19,000 US customers in YPF in April 2012. ing US clients hide billions from with hidden Swiss assets totalling “The agreement reached the taxman, acknowledged yes- nearly $5bn” as of 2006. between the Republic of Argentina terday there had been “miscon- That figure represents some and Repsol recognises the compa- duct” by some of its employees 85 percent of the bank’s more ny’s right to receive $5bn as com- but said management was than 22,000 US customers in pensation for the expropriation of unaware. 2006 with Swiss accounts whose 51 percent of the shares of YPF,” “Credit Suisse acknowledges assets at their highest exceeded Repsol said in a statement. that misconduct, centred on a $13.5bn, the report said. Douglas The amount is to be paid in small group of Swiss-based pri- Hornung, a Swiss business lawyer Argentine government bonds. The vate bankers, previously occurred specialised on the banking sec- agreement has yet to be approved at our bank,” it said in a state- tor said Credit Suisse could face by Repsol shareholders and the ment submitted to the US Senate, a US fine of around $2bn for its Holiday shoppers line up with discounted television sets at the Target retail store in Chicago. Target Corp’s Argentine parliament. insisting that the bank manage- misdeeds. net profit almost halved in the holiday quarter as the third-largest US retailer dealt with the fallout of a mas- The deal “stipulates guaran- ment had no knowledge of the Senator Carl Levin, chairman sive data breach and warned that costs related to the event could hurt future profits. tees for effective payment as well misdeeds at the time. of the Senate subcommittee as the termination of all judicial The document included the that led the investigation, cer- and arbitration proceedings and statement Credit Suisse chief tainly took a combative tone on the reciprocal waiver of future Brady Dougan was set to give Monday. claims”, the statement added. before a US Senate panel. On Among the bank’s cloak-and- US home sales hit 5-1/2 year high The expropriation soured rela- Tuesday, a scathing Senate dagger practices revealed in the tions between Argentina and inquiry showed his bank had Senate report, Swiss bankers Spain and sparked international used elaborate measures to help were sent to the United States to WASHINGTON: Sales of new regions along with the Midwest the release of the housing data, outrage including from Spain’s some 19,000 wealthy US clients secretly find clients, leaving no US single-family homes surged have experienced unusually cold while US stocks were trading European Union partners. evade taxes. “We deeply regret paper trail, at events sponsored by to a 5-1/2-year high in January, weather that has been blamed for broadly higher. Kirchner blamed it on Repsol’s that, despite the industry-leading the bank — such as at golf tourna- possibly easing concerns of a holding back economic activity. A separate report showed failure to make agreed invest- compliance measure we have put ments in Florida. Levin cited tes- sharp slowdown in the hous- Sales tumbled 17.2 percent in the applications for loans to purchase ments in the firm. Spain saw it in place, before 2009, some Credit timony from former Credit Suisse ing market. The Commerce Midwest last month, while rising homes fell four percent last week as a blow to its strategic interests. Suisse private bankers appear to clients about being taken to meet- Department said yesterday that 11 percent in the West. from a week earlier, hitting their The nationalisation of its sub- have violated US law,” the state- ings in Zurich on a secret, button- sales jumped 9.6 percent to a New homes are a small segment lowest level since 1995. sidiary in Argentina hit Repsol’s ment said, citing a “broad and less elevator controlled remotely, seasonally adjusted annual rate of the housing market, which lost Sales of previously-owned profits hard in 2013, it said in a deep” independent investigation and receiving secret bank state- of 468,000 units, the highest momentum in the second half of homes tumbled to a 1-1/2 year separate statement announcing commissioned by the bank. ments hidden inside magazines. level since July 2008. last year following a run-up in low in January and housing starts its annual results. Its net prof- The internal probe “found no In 2008, there were more December’s sales were revised mortgage rates and a shortage of recorded their biggest decline in its fell by 90 percent in 2013 to evidence that Credit Suisse’s exec- than 1,800 Credit Suisse bank- up to a 427,000-unit pace from the properties for sale. nearly three years last month, ¤195m, it said. utive management was aware of ers employed to manage US cli- previously reported 414,000-unit Higher borrowing costs and according to data last week. At “constant cost of supply”, a these problems,” it said. However, ent accounts, many of which rate. Sales in the Northeast soared home prices mean that proper- That raised concerns that the measure which Repsol says makes it added that “we accept responsi- were never declared to the 73.7 percent to a seven-month ties are less affordable for many, sector, which is key to the econo- its results comparable to those of bility for and deeply regret these IRS. Transactions were said to high, while the South recorded a especially as income growth my’s recovery, was slowing down US oil companies, it recorded net employees’ actions”. be structured to avoid US tax 10.4 percent rise in transactions to remains tepid. Yields on 10-year sharply. profits of ¤1.8bn, down by 6.7 per- The US Senate report, based reporting requirements. AFP a more than five-year high. These and 30-year Treasuries rose after REUTERS cent from the previous year. AFP Morgan Stanley Rolls-Royce unveils to pay $275m to settle US probe plane engine designs DERBY: Rolls-Royce unveiled future engines, will burn at least WASHINGTON: US bank- yesterday its next generation of 20 percent less fuel and CO2 ing giant Morgan Stanley said fuel-efficient plane engines. emissions compared with the it would pay $275m to settle a Two weeks after announcing a first generation of Trent engines US Securities and Exchange shock profit warning with govern- that entered service in 1995. The Commission probe of mortgage- ment cutbacks on defence spend- Advance could be ready by the backed securities deals. ing impacting its military engines end of the decade, it added. In a filing, Morgan Stanley business, Rolls revealed plans to An even more fuel-efficient said it had reached a preliminary build on its successful Trent XWB model, UltraFan, could be ready agreement with the SEC in late engine used to power Airbus A350 for service from 2025. January to resolve the investi- passenger planes. “Both engine designs are the gation into the bank’s subprime “These new designs are the result of the ongoing research mortgage-backed securities result of implementing our ongo- and development investment, transactions in 2007. ing technology programmes,” of approximately £1bn a year, Earlier in the month Morgan said Colin Smith, Rolls-Royce which Rolls-Royce makes across Stanley reported it would Director, Engineering and its aerospace and non-aerospace pay $1.25bn to the US Federal Technology. “They are designed businesses,” the company added. Housing Finance Agency to settle to deliver ... even better fuel effi- Rolls is the sole engine provider charges that it misled investors ciency, reliability and environ- for the Airbus A350 XWB, a long- on the sale of mortgage-backed mental performance,” he said. range, wide-body plane which is securities ahead of the housing Rolls said that Advance, the slated to come into service at the bust. AFP development name for one of its end of the year. AFP

GM recalls Cobalt, Pontiac G5

The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS on display in Detroit. General Motors is recalling 778,562 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 compact cars from model years 2005 through 2007 to correct technical problems. THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,839.46 0.14 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 17,083.81 0.14 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,373.92 0.13 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,958.63 0.21 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,859.39 0.09 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5446.997 2.979 0.05 5471.8 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,726.23 0.46 % QR157.2763 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4399.26 -15.29 -0.35 4419.13 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 3,968.32 0.50 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0396 QR 6.1245 QE All Share Insurance 2,891.2 3.68 % Dj Indu Average 16179.66 -27.48 -0.17 16588.25 13784.01 Euro ...... QR 4.9786 QR 5.0481 QE All Share Real Estate 2,041.26 1.68 % QR 2.5726 CA$ ...... QR 3.2608 QR 3.3249 QE All Share Telecoms 1,603.64 0.83 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 2,049.73 0.09 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0761 QR 4.1338 Hang Seng Inde/D 22437.44 120.24 0.54 23469.33 21197.78 Yen ...... QR 0.0353 QR 0.0360 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2454 QR 3.3098 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 5105.63 -45.03 -0.87 5150.66 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 26-02-2014 25-02-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0582 QR 0.0594 Index 11,839.46 11,855.94 Karachi 100 In/D 25500.5 -59.11 -0.23 27213.21 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Change 16.48 44.44 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14970.97 -80.63 -0.54 16164.01 13995.86 Peso ...... QR 0.0810 QR 0.0826 % 0.14 0.37 $ 110.16 SL Re ...... QR 0.0275 QR 0.0281 YTD% 14.06 14.22 S&P 500 Index/D 1845.12 -2.49 -0.13 1858.71 1485.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0475 Volume 18,671,682 13,226,450 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0365 QR 0.0373 Value (QAR) 1,086,264,419.61 722,583,877.95 Straits Times/D 3088.25 -15.37 -0.5 3187.8 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3354 QR 0.3451 Trades 15,120 5,065 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 106.37 Up 20 | Down 16 | Unchanged 01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 26-02-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1090.75 6.6 14725 City Union Bk-/D 46.5 0.7 29377 Hind Org Chem-/D 10.6 0.5 55578 Kopran-B/D 23.3 0.35 39550 Rallis India-B/D 161.9 6.15 43568 Kingfisher/D 390.9 -6.5 1216261 Aarti Drugs-B/D 246 8.7 15608 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1450.4 0.25 3074 Hind Unilever-/D 554.95 0.75 61074 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 171.15 8.15 3625 Rallis India-B/D 161.9 6.15 43568 Land Secs Grou/D 1085.5 -7 252171 Aban Offs-B/D 503 -2.15 253301 Colgate-A/D 1313.6 1.85 4455 Hind.Petrol-A/D 262.5 6.2 116716 Lgb Broth-B/D 323.05 0.55 1820 Reliance Indus/D 316.2 -4.8 32271 Legal & Genera/D 241.552 -1.9 2560956 Aegis Logis-B/D 143.6 3.15 2547 Dhampur Sugar-/D 32.3 0.65 20037 Hindalco-A/D 98.35 -0.4 565187 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 12.29 0.33 16281 Ruchi Soya-B/D 30.35 -0.3 16058 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 80.87 -0.36 26449855 Alembic-B/D 12.84 -0.17 24662 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2823.05 49.15 28909 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 819 8 50439 Lupin-A/D 960.45 6.5 67163 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 290 1.65 1797 Marks & Sp./D 506.165 -5 661952 Alok Indus-B/D 6.53 0.02 310533 E I H-B/D 61.75 1.1 53553 I F C I-A/D 23.15 0.1 478154 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.8 0.24 16447 Timexgroup-B/D 9.2 0 15834 Next/D 6590 -40 53706 Apollo Tyre-A/D 128.95 0.7 532440 E.I.D Parry-B/D 126.65 -0.25 2545 Idbi-A/D 55.75 -0.1 72608 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 116.1 2.25 1959 Tinplate-T/D 43.35 -0.4 12525 Pearson/D 1095.5 -3 446568 Asahi I Glass-/D 48.75 0.9 14579 Eicher Motor-A/D 4979.3 77.25 3082 Ifb Agro-B/D 203.6 -4.25 2468 Maha Scooter-B/D 465.05 31.5 38107 Ub Engineer-T/D 8.9 -0.14 4665 Prudential/D 1355 -14 1245078 Ashok Leyland-/D 15.7 0.15 648323 Electrosteel-B/D 13.6 -0.11 31878 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 74.35 1.45 25192 Maral Overs-B/D 16.3 -0.7 9207 Ub Engineer-T/D 8.9 -0.14 4665 Rank Group/D 144 1.7 3733 Bajaj Hold-A/D 943.15 1.25 1344 Emco-B/D 25.8 0.55 123305 India Cement-B/D 56.05 0.15 166345 Mastek-B/D 211.4 -7.35 50493 Ucal Fuel-T/D 44 0.45 1441 Rentokil Initi/D 124.5 -1.6 512414 Ballarpur In-B/D 11.53 -0.03 136390 Escorts Fin-T/D 2.95 -0.1 1850 India Glycol-B/D 85.4 0.8 6184 Max India L-A/D 191.65 9.75 58217 Ucal Fuel-T/D 44 0.45 1441 Rolls Royce Pl/D 961 -18 2364084 Bata India-A/D 1054.4 15.7 13347 Escorts-B/D 114.55 -0.2 121378 Indian Hotel-A/D 69.4 0.1 78785 Mrpl-A/D 38.5 -0.35 50950 Ultramarine-B/D 51.7 -0.55 9543 Rsa Insrance G/D 101.215 0.3 8937041 Bayer Crop-B/D 1484 7.9 1950 Essar Oil-A/D 50.1 -0.45 124031 Indo-Bcount-B/D 38.75 -0.05 11952 Nahar Spg.-B/D 95.75 0.45 12371 Unitech P -A/D 11.75 -0.36 3405286 Sainsbury(J)/D 344 -6.1 3243007 Beml Ltd-B/D 208.1 2.6 59866 Eveready Indu-/D 43.3 1.7 54619 Indusind-A/D 395.95 -5.75 98953 Nath Seeds-B/D 4.38 0.05 14696 Uppergsugar-B/D 24.45 0.2 1167 Schroders/D 2664 2 22756 Bh Electronic-/D 928 -15.85 3060 F D C-B/D 126.05 8.5 107877 J.B.Chemical-B/D 127.75 -1.15 34452 Nation Alum -A/D 32.35 0.3 37087 Severn Trent/D 1824 -8 140610 LONDON Bhansali Eng-B/D 12.65 0.47 1256 Federal Bank-A/D 75.15 -0.15 124458 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.64 -0.26 11616 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.25 -0.15 20609 Smith&Nephew/D 953.5 -6 312225 Bharat Bijle-B/D 352.05 9.45 2417 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.72 0.08 11169 Jbf Indu-B/D 66.2 -0.55 15932 Nepc India-B/D 2.89 -0.14 19658 Smiths Group/D 1382 -4 121625 Bhartiya Int-B/D 183.5 -0.3 3528 Fgp Ltd-T/D 1.92 -0.06 3875 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.94 0.08 40367 Nrb Bearings-B/D 40.5 0.45 14070 3I Group/D 411.36 -3.4 91656 Standrd Chart /D 1286.5 2 958278 Bhel-A/D 162.05 2.6 411698 Finolex-B/D 194.15 3.7 79759 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.2 -0.2 3906 O N G C-A/D 283.95 1.9 137171 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2953 -2 227652 Tate & Lyle/D 641.8456 -1.5 310404 Bom.Burmah-B/D 94.6 -0.55 8166 Gail-A/D 368 10.6 62392 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 139.25 -1 73393 Ocl India-B/D 153.95 0.25 1919 B Sky B/D 937 -6.5 786370 Tesco/D 322 -13.25 17844657 Bombay Dyeing-/D 51.1 -0.15 174386 Gammon India-B/D 12.53 -0.04 6788 Jmc Projects-B/D 82.9 1.95 44659 Oil Country-B/D 34.3 0.4 12621 Barclays/D 253.927 -3.9 17294586 Unilever/D 2458 -13 591050 Canfin Homes-B/D 173.1 -0.1 1309 Gangotri Tex-T/D 0.97 0.04 4000 Kabra Extr-B/D 30 0.7 3002 Onward Tech-T/D 48.55 0 2320 Bg Group/D 1100.587 3.5 3572327 United Util Gr/D 774.05 -14 1597539 Caprihans-B/D 31 0.45 5911 Garden P -B/D 35.05 0.5 4635 Kajaria Cer-B/D 309.65 -5.35 10559 Orchid Chem-T/D 46.25 -1.35 47575 Bp/D 508.255 0.3 5428039 Vodafone Group/D 247.175 0.25 34665291 Castrol Ind-A/D 289 1.3 56824 Goodricke-B/D 134.4 -0.7 2917 Kalpat Power-B/D 81.45 -2.35 30082 Orient Hotel-B/D 16.9 0.91 12503 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3166.725 -9.5 370138 Whitbread/D 4197 5 65959 Century Enka-B/D 132.55 -0.4 5334 Goodyear I -B/D 378.95 3.3 5148 Kalyani Stel-B/D 54.7 -1.05 19717 Orient.Carb.-B/D 127.8 1 13793 Bt Group/D 411.864 -3.1 2406047 Century Text-A/D 316.05 1.4 181331 Hcl Infosys-B/D 27.6 -0.15 459135 Kanoria Chem-B/D 26.1 0.55 3695 Orient.Carb.-B/D 127.8 1 13793 Centrica/D 317.738 -2.4 3561202 Chambal Fert-B/D 38.15 1.95 174772 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8 -0.08 170927 Kg Denim-B/D 13.2 0.1 8825 Oudh Sugar-B/D 17.7 0.3 9829 Gkn/D 414.2 3.5 1744374 Chola Invest-B/D 230.2 -4.4 1973 Himat Seide-B/D 53.5 1.3 10023 Kilburnengg-T/D 20 -0.2 8047 Patspin India-/D 6.35 -0.3 1050 Hsbc Holdings/D 629.05 2 7671049 Cipla-A/D 375.6 1.1 189478 Hind Motors-B/D 7.31 -0.03 108168 Kinetic Eng-B/D 36.95 1.75 1219 Radico Khait-B/D 154.6 -2.6 67231 Imperial Tobac/D 2426 15 668951 THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Harden shines as Qatari player wins bronze Rockets rout Kings Indiana and Houston win comfortably

SACRAMENTO, added 14, leading the Indiana CALIFORNIA: James Harden NBA Results Pacers to a victory over the Los scored 22 of his season-high 43 Toronto 99 Cleveland 93 Angeles Lakers. points in the opening quarter Indiana 118 LA Lakers 98 The victory was the first for the as the Rockets built a 31-point Washington 115 Orlando 106 Pacers (43-13) over the Lakers at lead in the first 14 minutes en Chicago 107 Atlanta 103 home since 2008 and it was their route to a huge win over the Portland 100 Denver 95 NBA-best 27th win at home this Sacramento Kings in their NBA season. Minnesota 110 Phoenix 101 game yesterday. George, who this year became Dwight Howard added 20 Houston 129 Sacramento 103 just the third All-Star Game points and 11 rebounds in 25 min- starter in Pacers history, turned utes, and Houston (39-18) won for the Phoenix Suns. Love’s six the third quarter into his own the ninth time in 10 games. straight games with 30 or more highlight video. Rudy Gay scored 25 points to points extended his own fran- He scored 12 points in the pace the Kings (20-37), who were chise record. It was also his 11th quarter, had three rebounds, two trying to match a season-high straight double-double. steals and a blocked shot. George’s three-game winning streak. Rookie forward Shabazz offensive punch turned a three- Center DeMarcus Cousins Muhammad added a career- point Pacers halftime edge into a finished with 16 points and six high 20 points and forward 21-point blowout. rebounds for Sacramento, but was Corey Brewer had 18 for the Kent Bazemore scored a ejected after picking up two tech- Timberwolves, who won for the career-best 23 points for the nical fouls in the second quarter. fourth time in the last five games. Lakers (19-38) in just his second Cousins has been issued an Markeiff Morris had 24 points start. Qatari player Bashar Hussein won the Bronze medal in the West Asian Billiards Championship after defeating NBA-high 15 technical fouls this off the bench to lead the Suns, Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich his Iranian opponent 9-8. The championship was held in Doha with the participation of 11 teams. season, and is one shy of receiv- who lost back-to-back home made 6-of-7 free throws in the ing a one-game suspension. He led games after winning three final 43 seconds to give the Bulls the NBA last season, too, collect- straight coming out of the All- a win over the Atlanta Hawks. ing 17. Star break. Hinrich, who scored 14 points, Minnesota center Kevin Love Guard Damian Lillard tallied made three free throws with 43.2 had 33 points, 13 rebounds and 31 points and nine assists, center seconds remaining to put Chicago Sabres beat Hurricanes narrowly missed out on a sec- Robin Lopez had 12 points and 10 ahead for good. It was the sixth ond triple-double in a week with rebounds and the Portland Trail win in seven games for the Bulls, BUFFALO, NEW YORK: nine assists as the Timberwolves Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets. who won all three meetings with Christian Ehrhoff scored his rallied from eight points down Forward Paul George scored Atlanta this season. second goal of the game with in the fourth quarter to beat 20 points and guard George Hill Chicago (30-26) got 22 points 43.4 seconds remaining to from forward Mike Dunleavy and lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 20 points and 12 rebounds from 3-2 victory over the Carolina center Joakim Noah. Hurricanes in the first NHL All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan action after the Olympic break fired in a game-high 33 points in on Tuesday. the Toronto Raptors’ victory over Ehrhoff was rewarded for his the Cleveland Cavaliers. effort on the game-winner after The Raptors (32-25) won their the defenseman skated into the third consecutive game, and sec- Carolina zone and around the ond over the Cavs in the last five net before putting the puck in days. The Cavs (22-36) have lost the crease, where it deflected off three in a row. Guard Kyrie Irving a Hurricanes player and into the paced the Cavs with 25 points and net to give Buffalo the victory. nine assists. Ehrhoff also scored in the sec- John Wall scored 27 points ond period for Buffalo (16-34-8) and forward Trevor Ariza had and center Tyler Ennis netted in 22 as the Washington Wizards the third. Goaltender Ryan Miller Buffalo Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers (57) and Carolina Hurricanes downed the Orlando Magic for made 36 saves in the win. center Eric Staal (12) battle for ball possession as Buffalo goalie Ryan their season-high fourth straight Right winger Alexander Semin Miller makes a save during their NHL match yesterday. victory. and center Eric Staal scored for Playing without injured for- the Hurricanes (26-23-9), whose ward Nene, the Wizards (29-28) goalie Cam Ward made 15 saves. on a neat wrist shot from the high goal line with Ennis diving in had four starters score at least 21 It was an unlikely win for the slot with four minutes remain- from the left side of the ice to points, including center Marcin Sabres, who were out-shot 31-10 ing, beating Miller on the goalie’s push the puck into the net for his Gortat, who had 21 points and 10 through 45 minutes and 38-18 glove side. Ennis had earlier made 14th goal of the season. rebounds. Victor Oladipo scored overall. Semin tied the game 2-2 it 2-1 with 7:43 remaining with a Staal had earlier tied the game Portland Trail Blazers’ guard Mo Williams (25) shoots the ball during the 26 points and forward Maurice sprawling effort. at 1-1 on a low wrist shot with 3:08 second half against the Denver Nuggets in their NBA game at Pepsi Harkless had 22 for the Magic After two Sabres shots were remaining in the second period. It Center yesterday. (17-42). NHL Result stopped by Ward, the puck came was his 15th goal of the season. Buffalo 3 Carolina 2 REUTERS to a standstill inches from the REUTERS

Team category opens Russia sees ‘nothing wrong’ for Qatar’s first-ever in athletes inhaling xenon ultra-marathon DOHA: Aspire Logistics Phillip Templar, MOSCOW: The use of the gas by the World Anti-Doping Agency been no specific information about announced yesterday Director of Venues and xenon to improve the perform- (WADA).” her condition. that the International Events from Aspire ance of athletes is not banned and “It is possible that our sportsmen However Komissarova revealed in 6:50, Qatar’s first ever Logistics said: “Aspire there would be “nothing wrong” if have been using xenon inhalators but a message on her Instagram account ultra-marathon, will be Logistics is very excited Russian athletes were using it, a there is nothing wrong with that. that she was currently paralysed from open to teams. about hosting the top Russian medical official said “We use what is not illegal, is not the waist down. The new category will International 6:50 here yesterday. destructive and does not have side “I do not feel my body lower than allow groups of five in Doha as it is the first Cichello to Germany’s WDR television this effects,” he added. my belly button,” she wrote. “But I members to compete in time an ultra-marathon week and other reports this month Russia’s athletes enjoyed a hugely am strong and I know that some day a relay format over the has been held in Qatar. coach national claimed that top Russian athletes successful Winter Games in Sochi, I will definitely be on my feet again.” 50km target, with each The team category gives have been using xenon to improve winning 13 gold medals and topping She added: “I do not know where to team member running people the chance to be volleyball team their performance at Olympic Games the final medals table. begin but I do not want to hide from 10km. introduced to long dis- from Athens 2004 right up to the just The country until recent years had everyone, as everyone is supporting The new category has tance running and also DOHA: Qatar Volleyball completed Sochi 2014 Winter Games. a dire reputation for the doping of me so much, thank you.” been designed as an intro- encourages a social ele- Association (QVA) has Inhaling the gas encourages the athletes dating back to the Soviet sys- Komissarova posted a picture of ductory course for novice ment with the enjoyment announced officialy their signa- production in the body of the hor- tem. However, Russia has now take herself lying down with her fiance ultra-marathon runners. of being able to compete ture with the Argentinian Head mone Erythropoietin (EPO) which steps to clean up its act including the Alexei Chaadayev, also a Russian It is hoped that members with friends and family as Coach Juan Manuel Cichello to encourages the formation of red creation of its own anti-doping agency skier, saying that she would not have of the community looking a team.” take over Qatar National Team blood cells in the body to improve RUSADA. stayed sane without his support. to challenge themselves Registration for the for Men in the next period. performance. According to a report in The “If Lyosha (Alexei) had not been will form a team and also event is open to men and Cichello has good knowledge in Externally injecting EPO is Economist in early February, a docu- there likely I would have gone mad,” participate. woman aged 18 and over. Asian volleyball as he helped his regarded as flagrant doping and its ment formulated by the research she said. The AIMS (Association To sign up, or to find out teacher and fellow Julio Velasco illegal use became notorious in par- institute of the Russian defence “He is my God and even in these of International more information about in Iran National Team which had ticular among cyclists in the Tour de ministry in 2010 set out guidelines moments I continue to stay happy, Marathons and Distance the race, please visit: big developments in the last few France. for the administration of xenon gas even though it is very hard for me.” Races) measured route www.aspirezone.qa/ years and led them to the title The use of another method to to athletes. “All this time he does not go away will feature a five kilom- events. of Asian Volleyball Championship stimulate the natural production of Meanwhile, the Russian freestyle from the bed and gives me all his eter track around Aspire Aspire Logistics con- in 2013 and 9th in World League EPO inside the body is not outlawed skier who was hospitalised after a energy. Our life is continuing and I Zone and each team mem- stantly seeks new and in the same year. He also worked and regarded by many experts as a serious accident at the Sochi Winter pray and believe that everything will ber will be required to innovative ways to shape a with clubs in Argentina, Italy grey area. Olympic Games said she has no feel- be fine!” complete two circuits of healthy, sports-loving soci- and Spain in addition of coach- The head of Russia’s Federal ing from the waist down. While still hospitalised in Russia, the route. ety, and the International ing the Argentinian Under17 and Biomedical Agency (FMBA), in the Maria Komissarova, 23, was flown Komissarova had received a personal The International 6:50 6:50 Race is its latest Under19 National Teams from first reaction by a Russian official to to Germany for treatment for a frac- visit from President Vladimir Putin is set to take place on offering. 2006 to 2011. the reports, said it was possible the tured spine following a crash in train- at her bedside. Thursday, March 6. The Past events include Qatar National Team will par- gas was being used by Russian ath- ing for the ski cross event at Sochi It was soon after that visit that the race will start at 6pm and, Qatar’s Strongest Man ticipate in two big events this letes, without confirming further. 2014, by far the worst accident of the decision was taken to evacuate the with a deadline of 12am, and Doha Jam, Qatar’s year — Asian Games in South “Xenon is not an illegal gas,” said Winter Games. injured skier to a clinic in Munich, runners will have just six premier street basketball Korea (September) and Arab FMBA chief Vladimir Uiba, quoted She has undergone several opera- Germany, which has treated several hours to complete the tournament. Chamionship in UAE (October). by Russian news agencies. “We have a tions in Russia and Germany after high-profile Russian athletes in the course. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA principle not to use what is forbidden the accident but until now there had past. AFP THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Bautista fastest in Sepang test MotoGP World champion Marc Marquez misses the practice with a broken leg

SEPANG, MALAYSIA: Honda’s Ducati was fourth. Riders, however, com- Alvaro Bautista posted the fastest time plained of a dusty track and poor tyre trac- on day one of a test session in Malaysia tion which meant they were unable to get yesterday, as MotoGP world champion close to the track record set three weeks Marc Marquez missed the practice ago by Marquez. Former world champion with a broken leg. Jorge Lorenzo of Spain was fifth in 2:01.158 Honda rider Marquez had torn up the with Yamaha teammate and nine-time Sepang circuit at a test session earlier this Italian world champion Valentino Rossi month, topping the timesheets through all seventh, 0.501 seconds off the pace. three days and signalling he plans a spir- An unhappy Lorenzo lamented that he ited defence of his crown this year. was unable to go fast enough. But the Spanish rider is expected to be “The track was very dusty. There was out of action for a few weeks after break- oil on the track near turn one,” he told ing his leg during a dirt-track training reporters. “The tyres do not give me con- session in his home country last week. fidence. It is scary to ride on them. We His compatriot Bautista topped the say the tyre is dangerous,” he added. timesheet in 2 minutes 00.848 seconds on Marquez’s teammate and fellow Wednesday, while fellow Spaniard Aleix Spaniard Dani Pedrosa was sixth fastest Espargaro on a Yamaha was second fast- in 2:01.160. Marquez, 21, last year became est at 2:00.900. Spanish MotoGP rookie the youngest rider ever to win the world Pol Espargaro, the younger brother of title and the first rookie in 35 years. Aleix, was third quickest, 0.151 seconds He will likely also miss testing at off the pace. Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso on a Phillip Island in Australia next week

Spanish MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista of Go & Fun Honda Gresini team in action during the MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. LEFT: Yamaha Factory Racing rider Valentino Rossi of Italy powers his bike during the first day of the pre-season test.

and will be rushing to get fit before the the tight-turning and often sweltering Island from March 3, followed by another season-opening Qatar GP next month. Sepang circuit in preparation for the at Qatar’s Losail circuit before the new Riders come to Sepang early each year coming season. The current session ends season kicks off at Losail on March 23. for a pair of test sessions to put bikes tomorrow. Malaysia will host the championship in and equipment through their paces on A three-day session follows at Phillip October 26. AFP Rose withdraws Former swimming great Hackett in rehab from Honda Classic SYDNEY: Australian swimming tablets. “His family and friends are be a 100 percent sure,” he said when great Grant Hackett (pictured), enormously proud of his courage in asked what the main issue was. FLORIDA: US Open champion Justin Rose has is seeking treatment for addiction pursuing this course of action.” Hackett’s decision to leave withdrawn from this week’s Honda Classic in to prescription drugs, his man- However, on arrival in Los Angeles, Australia came just days after he was Florida because of tendinitis in his right shoul- ager and father said yesterday, days Hackett told waiting Australian photographed in the early hours with der, the world number six’s camp said yesterday. after he was pictured half-naked in media that he was in the United only a singlet around his waist in the The South Africa-born Englishman has been bat- a hotel lobby looking for his young States for a “retreat”. foyer of a Melbourne hotel, searching tling the injury all year after originally hurting the son. “No, I’m not calling this rehab anxiously for his four-year-old son. shoulder last August. Hackett, who won the 1,500m whatsoever,” he said. “This is a The former great, 33, retired from “While ... rehabilitation continues to help the freestyle at both the 2000 and 2004 retreat, to get away for a while, to the pool in 2008 and has worked for persistent tendinitis in Justin’s right shoulder, Olympics and claimed four world titles recharge the batteries which I have the Nine Network and Westpac Bank scheduling four straight weeks of competition was in a dominant decade at the top, jet- been planning for some time.” since then. But his reputation took a aggressive to start the season. Therefore, Justin must ted to the United States on Tuesday, His father Neville said his son was huge hit after he trashed his apart- withdraw from this week’s Honda Classic,” Rose’s apparently to begin rehabilitation. “in denial”. ment in an alcohol-fuelled rampage camp said in a statement. Rose played in the last It comes just weeks after fellow “I think Grant is a little bit in in 2011 that saw his wife leave him. two PGA Tour events, tying for 45th in the Northern Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe denial, he thinks he just needs a bit The lanky Queenslander burst onto Trust Open before losing to Ernie Els in the second entered rehabilitation for depression of a recharge and a rest,” Neville the scene at the 1998 world cham- round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture after a mixture of painkillers and Hackett told Sydney radio station pionships in Perth as a 17-year-old, Match Play Championship. anti-depressants left him disoriented Triple M. “I’d say rehab is certainly where he lost the 400m final to a Six of the world’s top eight players are scheduled on a Sydney street. something that’s needed there.” 15-year-old Thorpe. to compete in the Honda Classic, which begins on “Grant is currently in transit to He added that his son would not The pair went on to help Australia’s Thursday at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The field seek treatment for a dependency be able to “fool the experts for long”, swimming team to the nation’s best also includes Australian world number two Adam to Stilnox medication,” his man- saying that family had sought help for run of success since the golden days of Scott, Swede Henrik Stenson (3), Phil Mickelson (5), ager Chris White told News Limited him recently. the late 1950s and early 1960s. number Zach Johnson (7) and Northern Irishman papers, referring to the sleeping “I would suspect Stilnox but I can’t AFP Rory McIlroy. REUTERS

QAF gears up for Samsung Diamond League Desert Cup ice hockey kicks-off from today

DOHA: High-flying hockey Doha also boasts the Qatar action to hit the ice in the Doha International Ice Hockey League, desert from today till March which has kept expat and local 1 with teams from around the hockey lovers happy for the past Middle East converging for the decade. Playing on the Gondolania 9th annual CNA-Q Desert Cup Ice Rink in Villaggio Mall, the tournament. QIIHL provides high-octane While ice hockey and the desert action to curious onlookers every may seem at odds, the sport has Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. thrived in Qatar. Teams from Hockey’s spread in Doha is Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) surely guaranteed as many play- nations will be represented, bring- ers volunteer twice a week to ing a mix of players from all over coach youngsters of all ages and the world, including the United sizes in the Qatar Minor Ice States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Hockey Association. Training Slovakia and Germany. Admission children aged 5-17, the program to the games is free. boasts more than 100 young skat- The sport has also developed ers from around the globe. among Qataris more accus- Qatar-based College of the tomed to booting footballs than North Atlantic (CNA-Q) is a slapping pucks. The Qatar Ice main sponsor of ice hockey in the Hockey Federation was formed country, supporting both adult in 2010 with the goal of one day and children’s leagues for years. qualifying for the Asian Games. CNA-Q has roots in hockey- The International Ice Hockey crazed Canada and recognizes Federation welcomed Qatar into the importance of growing the the organization in 2012. sport, including by showcasing The Chairman of Samsung Diamond League Doha 2014 and President of Qatar Athletic Federation (QAF) Dhalan Al Hamad addressing the executive The Qatari National team — The Desert Cup to an interna- members of the Local Organising Committee for the Samsung Diamond League during the second general preparation meeting on Tuesday. Qatar known as Qatar Oryx — will be tional audience. will host the Samsung Diamond League on May 9. ABDUL BASIT participating in the tournament. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 All eyes on H H The Emir Trophies and Sword at QREC races today Season’s two most prestigious races, both to be contested over 2,400m

DOHA: Three days of top- Triomphe card. class horseracing events being Farh also ran at Longchamp contested as part of the H H but the day before the Arc, when the Emir 23rd International she sandwiched a third placing Equestrian Sword Festival in a Group 1 race over 2,000m reach their climax today, when between two wins in the French the younger generation is put to provinces. the test in the season’s two most She is owned by Al Shaqab prestigious races staged at the Racing and will be ridden by Qatar Racing and Equestrian retained rider Frankie Dettori, Club (QREC), both run over who earlier takes over from 2,400m Harry Bentley for his first asso- Qatar’s fastest rising star ciation with the owner’s newest Dubday bids to retain his purchase, Dubday. unbeaten record in Doha in the Bred in Britain, where he was A jockey entertains guests Group 1 H H the Emir’s Trophy in training but never raced as a during the gala dinner of the for thoroughbreds, worth two mil- two-year, Dubday was sold to an H H the Emir 23rd lion riyals, while the programme owner in Germany and showed International Equestrian closes with several horses with sufficient ability as a three-year- Sword Festival in Doha yes- huge potential taking a step up old to be purchased by Sheail bin in grade in the Group 1 H H Khalifa Al Kuwari for €200,000 terday. The three-day H H the Emir’s Sword for Purebred at the pre-Arc bloodstock sale in the Emir 23rd International Arabians, worth QR3m. France, and he has been a revela- Equestrian Sword Festival will Among those challenging for tion in Qatar. end today. BOTTOM: Guests top honours in the Emir’s Sword He won the Qatar Derby attending the gala dinner. are the five-year-old stablem- over 2,000m on his first start in ates Assy, whose record of seven December, and then showed him- consecutive wins from eight out- self to be worthy of top billing by ings includes the H H the Emir’s beating more experienced horses, Trophy at the meeting last year, several of whom were rated more and Al Anga, unbeaten in her last highly, in the Qatar Gold Trophy five races. over 2,200m on February 6. Both are owned by H H Sheikh Dubday’s nearest challenger Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani last time, beaten threequarters and trained by Julian Smart, and of a length, was Very Nice Name, take on each other for the first who was given a patient ride by time as they represent the com- Olivier Peslier on only his second bination who won the race in 2012 outing in Doha after a two-month with Aziz ASF. break at the end of a busy over- Assy continued his winning seas campaign that culminated in run by landing the Qatar Gold a disappointing run in the Arc. Whipper, who was also bought at Sword over 2,200m for Thursday’s Very Nice Name won the Emir’s the pre-Arc sale, for 120,000gns rider Christophe Lemaire on 6 Trophy last year, to complete a out of Ann Duffield’s stable in February, when Dahash, who run of five wins, which also ena- England. tackles his again, finished fourth. bled his connections, the Umm Willie The Whipper, who won Two races earlier at the same Qarn stable run by Alban de two of his eight races and showed meeting Al Anga, ridden by Harry Mieulle, to achieve a record by his best form when second in a Bentley, kept up her charge taking the festival’s two biggest Listed race before being exported, through the ranks by winning the Group 1 races in the same year finished seventh to Dubday on his Qatar Gold Trophy over 2,000m for the first time. Qatar debut, but subsequently by threequarters of a length from Although Very Nice Name has won a handicap over 2,100m, Nashmi. not won since, his efforts in the with Dubawi King, who has been Like Nashmi, Vetlana De Faust, rest of 2013 were rewarded with second and fourth in the last two who dead-heated for third, half third place in the Dubai Sheema Emir’s Trophy races but is on a length behind, Rathowan, who Classic behind St Nicholas Abbey, a losing run stretching back to was a further length away fifth, second place to Japanese super- December 2011, third. and Farraaha, who finished sev- star Orfevre at Longchamp, and a Quel Avantage, who was sev- enth, all renew rivalry with Al rating of 118 in the World’s Qatar enth behind Willie The Whipper Anga. Racehorse Rankings. on his second outing since arriv- Two newcomers to racing in A number of those beaten by ing in Qatar from the French sta- Qatar – Djet Taouy and Farh - Dubday in the Qatar Gold Trophy ble of his trainer Francis-Henri can be expected to throw down a have been given other options at Graffard, was entered for the strong challenge. the Festival, but Polperro (sixth), race at last week’s supplemen- Djet Taouy, owned by the Royal the consistent Peter Anders tary stage. Cavalry of Oman, proved himself (seventh), Testudo (eighth), Loi Mainsail, a half-brother to the one of the top horses in Europe (tenth), Zarkiyr (13th) and Clean Arc winner Rail Link, makes his last year, earning an official rat- Bowled (last of 15) all renew Doha debut for trainer Majid ing of 122 with a good second to rivalry. Safedeenafter winning three of Tabarak at Doncaster and an Dubday has remained with his 12 races and finishing 2nd in equally meritorious fourth placing leading trainer Jassim Ghazali the Group 3 Prix Messidor for behind Mushrae at Longchamp since his sale, and jockey Bentley owner Mubarak Saeed Aljafali on the -Qatar Prix de l’Arc de switches to stablemate Willie The Al Naimi. THE PENINSULA

Second International Women’s Handball Championship Federer pushed to the limit by Stepanek

DUBAI: Former men’s world in the third set. “It was a bit frus- number one Roger Federer trating. I didn’t take advantage had to dig deep to progress to after the first set when you hope the quarter-finals of the Dubai to keep it going. Open yesterday eventually “At the start of the second he beating fellow veteran Radek stuck in a quick break and I was Stepanek of the Czech Republic under pressure for the rest of that 6-2, 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 in their second set. round clash. Stepanek -- who has played The 32-year-old Grand Slam only four games on the Tour this record-holder -- who has won the year -- also showed a remark- Dubai title a record five times -- able ability to raise his game as it struggled for long periods against became evident he had a chance a 35-year-old who is barely a full- of pulling off a big result, and he timer on the ATP Tour these days. mixed up his tactics with unor- Federer was four times within thodox brilliance. a point of going 0-3 down in the When Federer broke back from final set, any one of which could 5-3 down in the second set he have inspired the talented and seemed to be out of danger. unpredictable Czech to close out However the opening point of the game. the tie-break had to be played Once Federer had held on in three times - Federer winning a that game, and broken back, he Hawkeye appeal and the umpire created some momentum of his over-ruling the next line decision own, and the ace which took him - and that appeared to have an to 4-2 signalled he had turned the effect on the Swiss. tide. When Federer double faulted it “It was a difficult match and a left him trailing 6-2, and although bit typical of a second round at he saved two set points, Stepanek Dubai, and I found it difficult to was soon performing one of his Action from Qatar and Kuwait match of the Second International Women’s Handball Championship at Qatar’s Women’s Sports Committee Hall at get rhythm,” admitted Federer. notoriously extravagant celebra- Aspire Zone yesterday. RIGHT: Action from Nepal and Pakistan match. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT “Radek is talented and agile, tions and hop-skipping his way and it didn’t look good for a while into a deciding set. AFP THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

China recruits Perrin as Greek misery for United coach: Reports

Champions League: Moyes’ men face uphill task in second leg BEIJING: China’s football association has appointed former Qatar Olympic team ATHENS: Olympiakos Piraeus five attempts. Moyes opted to champions in 1968, 1999 and coach Alain Perrin to manage made it fifth time lucky on start with two wingers, Antonio 2008, were punished again for its underperforming national Tuesday night, sweeping past an Valencia and Ashley Young, but poor defending 10 minutes into football team, state-run media abject Manchester United team neither made an impact in a first the second half. said 2-0 in their Champions League half in which Olympiakos dis- Campbell, who is likely to fea- “Perrin was appointed coach last-16 first leg at the Georgios played real energy and hunger. ture for Costa Rica against Group of the national football team of Karaiskakis Stadium. After a cautious opening from D rivals England at the World China,” said Yu Hongchen, the Alejandro Dominguez opened both sides amid ear-splitting noise Cup in Brazil in June, did the association’s vice-president, the scoring with a clever first- from an enthusiastic home crowd, damage. according to the China News half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel the first chance fell to Olympiakos He picked up possession 25 Service. Campbell added a sublime second with Dominquez bursting through metres out, jinked past midfielder The national team has been a goal to leave United facing a huge the middle on a solo run only to be Michael Carrick and sent a curl- consistently poor performer and task to overturn the deficit in the denied by a last-ditch tackle from ing left-foot shot around defender is currently ranked 88th in the return match at Old Trafford Nemanja Vidic. Rio Ferdinand and into the bot- world by FIFA. next month. Midfielder Tom Cleverley reg- tom corner of the net. Authorities fired Spaniard Jose “That’s the worst we’ve played istered United’s only effort of Moyes sent on Danny Welbeck Antonio Camacho as coach last in Europe. We didn’t deserve to note in the first half with a 17th- and Shinji Kagawa for Valencia year after a string of defeats, get anything,” United manager minute half-volley that sailed high and Cleverley but it was more a including a humiliating 5-1 loss David Moyes was quoted as say- over the bar. change in attitude than personnel to Thailand. ing by the BBC. Strike pair Wayne Rooney and that was required from United. Camacho was reported to have “I’m surprised, I didn’t see that Robin van Persie were periph- Dutch striker Van Persie signed an $8m-a-year contract, level of performance coming. eral figures for the visitors as summed up his team’s night with putting him among the world’s “I take responsibility, we have pot shots on goal from Giannis five minutes to go. He received top 10 best-paid managers, when to play better. The players are Maniatis and Hernan Perez lifted the ball 12 metres out and turned he arrived in 2011. hurting.” the home supporters. inside a defender before blazing a Disappointing results from the Defeat represented another Olympiakos, wearing red and right-foot shot way over the bar. national team -- in contrast to body blow in an inauspicious white jerseys, red shorts and “We had good possession in the growing success in many other season for the English Premier socks, broke the deadlock seven first half and were controlling the sports -- have become a reliable League title winners. minutes before halftime with a game without really penetrating source of distress for China’s mil- The Champions League is clever piece of improvisation from and causing them any problems,” lions of football fans. United’s last chance of a trophy Argentine forward Dominguez. said Carrick. “But at the same A lack of grassroots support for and they looked sluggish and dis- Patrice Evra’s half-hearted time they weren’t causing us any the game and endemic corruption jointed against an inexperienced clearance from a corner landed problems and the goals came from are blamed for the malaise. Olympiakos side who are bid- at the feet of Maniatis 25 metres nothing. China have qualified for the ding to reach the quarter-finals out and his tame, low shot was “We didn’t start the second half World Cup finals just once, in for only the second time in their expertly diverted past keeper very well, we were a bit sloppy Olympiakos’ Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Dominguez celebrates 2002, when the team was elimi- history. David De Gea by Dominguez’s really, and they scored the sec- after scoring a goal during the round of 16 Champions League football nated at the group stage without It was the first time the flick. ond goal which put us on the back match at Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens, yesterday. scoring a single goal. Greeks had beaten United in United, the European foot.” REUTERS Perrin, 57, who led French side Lyon to a league and cup double Asian Champions in 2008, also managed Saint- Etienne and had an eight-month League Results stint at English side Portsmouth Al Sadd trounce Sepahan 3-1 DOHA: Asian Champions League Group in 2005 -- where he achieved just phase results yesterday: four victories in 20 Premiership Group C DOHA: Qatar Stars League effort. Meanwhile, former QSL matches. Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN) 1 (Karim Ansarifard (QSL) teams had mixed sucess champions Lekhwiya however 82) Al Ittihad (KSA) 0; Al Ain (UAE) 2 (Diaky More recently he managed a in yesterday matches of the crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Ibrahim 12, Asamoah Gyan 65) Lekhwiya team in Qatar, which is to host Rodrigo Tabata AFC Cahmpions League while Al Ain with Diaky Ibrahim and (QAT) 1 (Vladimir Weiss 40) the 2022 football World Cup. (left) of Qatar’s Al Al Sadd won, Lekhwiya were Asamoah Gyan finding the tar- Group D Besides the country’s Olympic Sadd celebrates not so lucky. get on either side of the break. Al Sadd (QAT) 3 (Khalfan Ibrahim 18, Nadir team he was at the helm of its his goal against In Group D, 2011 champions Al Vladimir Weiss scored the only Belhadj 87, Rodrigo Tabata 90+2) Sepahan clubs Al Khor, Al Gharafa and Sadd dominated Iran’s Sepahan goal for Lekhwiya in the Group C (IRN) 1 (Mehdi Sharif 78; Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Umm Salal. Iran’s Foolad (Nasser al-Shamrani 60, 74) Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Mobarakeh for a 3-1 victory here. match. In the anotehr match, two (Luis Antonio Jiminez 53, Grafite 58) The Chinese Football Sepahan with Former Asian Player of the goals from Nasser Al Shamrani Group G Association has attempted to teammate Year Khalfan Ibrahim put the helped Saudi Arabian giants Al Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 (Lee Seun- raise interest in the domestic soc- Abdulkarim hosts ahead in the 18th minute Hilal grab a point in Riyadh. Al Gi 60, 68, Leonardo 70) Yokohama F. Marinos cer league by drafting in David but Mehdi Sharifi equalised for Ahli looked like snatching three (JPN) 0; Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 4 Beckham as its ambassador. Hassan dur- Sepahan in the 78th. away points in their Group D tie (Huang Bowen 59, Alessandro Diamanti 65, The recently-retired former ing their AFC However, a Nadir Belhadj strike when Luis Antonio Jiminez and 85, Elkeson 71) Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 England captain visited China (Pablo Contreras 36, Leigh Broxham 41) Championship off an Ibrahim pass saw Al Sadd Grafite put the UAE side 2-0 several times last year. Group H League match in nose ahead in the 83rd minute ahead by the 58th minute. But the Officials hope he can help Doha, yesterday. Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) 1 and Brazilian pro Rodrigo Tabata hosts rallied through Al Shamrani (Brendon Santalab 1) Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) repair the shattered image of the put the issue beyond doubt for the who struck in the 60th and 74th 3 (Kim Shin-Wook 35, Ko Chang-Hyun 43, league, which has been hit by a defending Qatar Stars League minutes to clinch a thrilling draw. Kang Min-Soo 66); Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) series of match-fixing scandals. champions with an injury-time AGENCIES 1 (Renato 31) Guizhou Renhe (CHN) 0 AFP Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven eye more silverware at Euro level BY ARMSTRONG VAS One the VIP rooms at PSV Eindhoven Stadium is named in honour of former DOHA: Dutch football giants PSV player of the club Erik Gerets of Belgium. Eindhoven - currently struggling in the The former defender is currently the fifth position in the Eredivisie - aim to coach of Qatar Stars League (QSL) use new innovative training techniques at club Lekhwiya since the 2012 season. their academy as they aim to bounce back Besides Gerets, others who have special with top honours in Europe. enclosure dedicated to them is Brazilian Among the many things which the 1988 great Romario, Guus Hiddink and Willy Champions League winners have done this van der Kuylen, both of the Netherlands. year is to increase their budget outlay for INSET: The Marketing Manager of PSV their youth academy by 25 percent while also Eindhoven, Peter Rovers. setting apart a €1.8m for their pet PSV Sport Lab project. “The academy investments have been Currenlty the training sessions by PSV If a player has been instructed by the coach raised by 25 percent to €4m, while we are conducted on De Herdgang, located on to mark an opponent closely, it can now have set aside a budget of €1.8m this year the outskirts of Eindhoven in woodland sur- be revealed indisputably when the striker for the PSV Sport Lab,” informed Peter roundings. With ten fields and fitness facili- gets too much space. And since all the data Rovers, Manager for Marketing, Media and ties, it also accommodates all PSV youth and are stored digitally, the video images being Merchandising at PSV Eindhoven. amateur teams. Its last major renovation made continually from the side of the pitch Rovers was speaking to a group of media occurred in 2006. PSV has also unveiled can be cleverly process. journalists who were on a visit to the its Sport Lab project which the clubs hopes Rovers said the financial status of the Netherlands. will give them an edge over their rivals and club was healthy but playing consistently “As a top academy we have to make the which will help sell them sell more players and with fair amount of success in the difference with competing clubs. So we have to the top clubs and get some revenue. Champions League is one thing which the hired an experienced new person as head “We are open to sharing the innovations club is looking forward. of the PSV Academy and have some of the done at (Sport Lab) with other partners,” “We want to qualify and do well in the top trainers, along which several former said Rovers. first tier of European competitions, the PSV stars.” Expaining the fucntioning of the Sport Champions League, that means a lot for Rovers said they are continuous improve- Lab he said: “Players wear special bibs with the club, for different reasons.” ments of facilities at the academy and they a transponder, a transmitter that commu- Champions League participation and the are moving to a new location. nicates with a number of electronic bea- whopping bonuses from UEFA, the sell-out “We have entered into a partnership with cons positioned around the periphery of the crowds and all the commercial windfalls it International School Eindhoven by which pitch. Since the communication involves brings had in the past helped PSV’s cause. football and education will be at the same several of these beacons, the computer can The club had a continuous presence venue,” the club official disclosed. calculate the position of the players to an between 1997 and 2008 in the Champions accuracy of five centimetres. With each League but since then it has been not been PSV Eindhoven’s point measured being coupled to a point consistent enough. in time, the system can easily and auto- Playing in Europe’s second tier competi- Roll of Honour matically determine the speed and even the tion, Europa League, has seen the club rev- Dutch Champions: 21 times acceleration of the players,” Rovers said. enue dip, which has never been relegated to “This kind of technology has already been a lower division and has €1m as the high- Dutch Cup winners: 9 times applied to the training sessions. It enables to est salary cap for its players and an annual Dutch Super Cup winners: 9 times determine the position, clear tactical skills budget of €64m. The club was founded in UEFA Cup winners in 1978 can be imparted to the players retrospec- 1913 as a team for Philips employees. European Cup winners in 1988 tively. “It makes things that much clearer. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Available every Thursday in all leading 27 supermarkets and shops in Qatar & Bahrain India begin campaign with win Captain Kohli leads from the front, scores 136 in six-wicket victory over Bangladesh

FATULLAH, Bangladesh: on the team’s Scoreboard dismissed in the the chest by a full toss delivery Virat Kohli won the battle of the performance final over attempt- later in the same over and needed England captains as reigning World Cup rather than his ing a big hit. medical attention on the field. BANGLADESH Kohli 1.1-0-6-0. champions India defeated host own stand-out Anamul and Aaron, who had also sent down Anamul Haque b Aaron ...... 77 INDIA Bangladesh by six wickets in the batting. Rahim came a full toss earlier in the match, Shamsur Rahman c&b Shami ...... 7 R Sharma b Ziaur ...... 21 second match of the Asia Cup in “I am very together after was not allowed to bowl by the prepare Mominul Haque st Karthik b Ashwin ...... 23 S Dhawan lbw Razzak ...... 28 Fatullah yesterday. happy with the opener Shamsur umpires for the rest of the innings Mushfiqur Rahim c Sharma b Shami ...... 117 V Kohli b Rubel ...... 136 Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur way the team Rahman and and finished with expensive fig- Naeem Islam c Ashwin b Shami ...... 14 A Rahane c (sub-Kayes) b Gazi ...... 73 Rahim hit 117 off 113 balls, shar- performed,” he Mominul Haque ures of one for 74 from 7.5 overs. for life Nasir Hossain c Karthik b Shami ...... 1 A Rayudu (not out) ...... 9 ing a third-wicket stand of 133 said. “It was were removed by Seamer Mohammad Shami Ziaur Rahman c Aaron b Kumar ...... 18 D Karthik (not out) ...... 2 with Anamul Haque (77), to lift good to see eve- the 13th over with was the most impressive Indian Sohag Gazi (not out) ...... 3 Extras (LB-1, W-9, NB-1) ...... 11 the hosts to 279-7 after India ryone step up the score at 49. bowler with four for 50 from his Mashrafe Mortaza (not out) ...... 1 Total (for 4 wkts in 49 overs) ...... 280 without elected to field. in the absence Anamul 10 overs. Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-12, NB-2) ...... 18 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-54, 3-267, 4-272 Kohli, standing in for the of Dhoni. smashed fast India are without Dhoni for the Total (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 279 Bowling: Mortaza 9-1-44-0; Rubel 10-1-63-1 injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, “And it was bowler Varun entire five-nation tournament due Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-49, 3-182, 4-231, (w1, nb1); Razzak 10-0-55-1; Ziaur 5-0-20-1; then smashed 136 off 122 balls to very important Aaron for two to a side strain suffered during Pietersen 5-241, 6-270, 7-276 Gazi 8-0-49-1 (w4); Mominul 2-0-13-0; steer India past the challenging for someone sixes to long-on, the recent tour of New Zealand. Bowling: Kumar 8-1-41-1; Shami 10-1-50-4; Naeem 1-0-15-0 (w3); Nasir 4-0-20-0 (w1). target in 49 overs. like Ajinkya then reached his Bangladesh were missing LONDON: England will play Aaron 7.5-0-74-1 (nb2, w7); Ashwin 10-1-50- Result: India won by six wickets. The prolific 25-year-old hit 16 to bat through half-century with injured opener Tamim Iqbal and their first major match since 1 (w5); Jadeja 10-0-37-0; Rayadu 3-0-17-0; boundaries and two sixes in his the innings. He another six off premier all-rounder Shakib Al the controversial decision to 19th one-day century, 17 of which played beauti- Ravichandran Hasan, who is serving a three- call time on Kevin Pietersen’s have been in winning causes. fully. He is a very positive guy and board, but the dew caused prob- Ashwin over the bowler’s head. match ban on disciplinary international career when they Ajinkya Rahane (73) provided works very hard. It was a good lems. It made it difficult to grip Aaron, who conceded 56 runs grounds. Shakib will also miss face West Indies in the first of valuable support to his captain, stand with him.” the ball and we had not antici- in 6.5 overs, finally found success the home team’s second match three one-day internationals in adding 213 for the third wicket Bangladesh spinner Abdur pated that. But we will need to when he bowled Anamul with the against Afghanistan on Saturday. Antigua tomorrow with Kohli after India were Razzak, who attended the pres- push more for runs if we bat first last ball of his seventh over, the Defending champions Pakistan, English cricket is still com- reduced to 54-2 by the 13th over entation ceremony instead of his again.” 37th of the innings. who were beaten by Sri Lanka in ing to terms with the decision to of the day-night game. captain, blamed the evening dew Earlier, Rahim hit seven fours Rahim slammed two bounda- Tuesday’s tournament opener, dispense with the services of the Kohli, later named the man for the defeat. and two sixes in his second ries and a six when Aaron bowled take on minnows Afghanistan national side’s all-time leading of the match, preferred to dwell “We had enough runs on the one-day century, before he was next, but the batsman was hit on today. AFP run scorer across all formats. There is a sense that former England wicket-keeper Paul Pakistan Tampering Downton, now the England and Wales Cricket Board’s managing names Latif as director and Test captain Alastair claim will Cook, rested from the Caribbean series, know they will be judged chief selector on the team’s results and so would motivate us: not be as perverse to ‘cut off their LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan nose to spite their face’ by pre- yesterday appointed former Test maturely ditching a world-class captain Rashid Latif (pictured South Africa player. below) as chief selector and It is significant that England tasked him with helping in the CAPE TOWN: Australia have not cited form or fitness as fight against corruption. opener David Warner’s claim a reason for axing Pietersen but The straight-talking 45-year- that South Africa tampered rather a harder to pin down need old is known for taking a stand with the ball during the sec- to “rebuild the team ethic” fol- against match-fixing, which has ond test has “added 10 percent lowing a 5-0 Ashes thrashing in dogged cricket in Pakistan over motivation” ahead of the series Australia. the years. decider, Proteas coach Russell England will also play three “Latif accepted the offer to Domingo said yesterday. Twenty20 internationals against become the chief selector with Warner told Sky Sports the West Indies, the reigning glo- effect from 1st April 2014,” said Radio the Australians felt AB bal champions in cricket’s shortest a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) de Villiers had used his wicket- international format, in Barbados release. keeper gloves to rough up one on this trip ahead of next month’s The position was left vacant side of the ball, helping their World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. after the appointment of another bowlers gain reverse-swing dur- It was in the Caribbean four years former captain, Aamir Sohail, was ing South Africa’s crushing 231- ago that England won their lone cancelled by the new PCB chair- run victory on Sunday. global limited overs title when, man Najam Sethi earlier this “We were actually ques- with Pietersen man of the tour- month. tioning whether or not AB de nament, they took the World Sohail had been appointed chief Villiers would get the ball in Twenty20 title. selector and director of game India’s captain Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century against Bangladesh during their Asia Cup 2014 his hand and, with his glove, Their captain back then was development by Zaka Ashraf, who one-day international (ODI) cricket match in Fatullah, yesterday. wipe the rough side every ball,” Paul Collingwood, still the skip- was replaced as PCB chairman on the left-hander told Sky Sports per of county champions Durham February 10. Radio. and also a temporary member of The PCB said Latif will also “That’s another thing we England’s coaching staff this trip. assist in giving training and lec- have to try to bring up with the “Today you need your X-factor tures on anti-corruption matters. umpires.” players, your mavericks and dif- Latif said he was excited at the Pressure on captains Domingo dismissed the com- ferent personalities, because challenge. ments and said it gave his side people express themselves at a “I will endeavour to build a extra motivation to claim a first whole new level,” Collingwood told strong team, keeping in view the home series win over Australia Guardian newspaper. ICC cricket World Cup 2015,” he in 44 years in the decider at “You don’t need robots. In said in the release. Smith, Clarke in decider Newlands starting on Saturday. fact you cannot have robots any “I will also assist PCB in what- “It’s disappointing when guys more. If you’re going to win things ever way I can in anti-corruption CAPE TOWN: Captains he had a best of 43. Asked about throw these accusations around, you’re going to have to give these matters,” said Latif, who famously Graeme Smith and Michael his recent form after the second it’s added an extra 10 percent mavericks a leash and allow them blew the whistle on his team- Clarke will be under greater Test, Clarke said: “Obviously I’d motivation to the guys follow- to perform,” he added. mates in 1994. than usual pressure when South like to score a hundred every time ing the comments he has made,” Having given what seems a His stance forced the govern- Africa and Australia clash in I bat. Domingo told reporters. textbook definition of the player ment to initiate an inquiry into the series-deciding third Test “I’ve been here before. In this “We pride ourselves on play- England have lost in Pietersen, match-fixing, which resulted from Saturday. game you have some great times. ing the game as hard as we can, how does Collingwood explain in a life ban for former captain Apart from the normal chal- I remember those fondly and I but also in a fair manner. I just the departure of his former Salim Malik and fines for Wasim lenge of trying to win a show- said at the time, ‘it’s swings and don’t think it is a nice comment team-mate? Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq down at Newlands between two of roundabouts, there are tough to make, I don’t think teams “It’s disappointing as an Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq and cricket’s top teams, both skippers times, so make sure you remem- should be accusing other sides England fan that relationships Saeed Anwar. will be seeking to end a run of ber the good times’.” of that.” have broken down,” Collingwood PCB chairman Sethi hailed poor personal form with the bat. Clarke’s “great times” were Proteas manager Mohammed said. “I’m not blaming either side, Latif’s nomination. And both will be facing bowlers exceptional. Moosagee also rejected Warner’s but that’s the disappointing thing “I have keenly followed his who have been a nemesis during In the 2012 calendar year he hit complaint as “sour grapes” -- you’ve got such an amazing forthright views on cricket in the their careers. 1,595 Test runs at an average of and said few people took the player and he’s not going to be past and I trust he will be able to Smith has had scores of 10, 4, South Africa captain Greame 106.33, with a triple century and outspoken Australian’s words involved with England again. bring about positive change in our 9 and 14 in the first two Tests, three double centuries. Two of the seriously. “There were times when I Smith (left) and Australian cap- cricket,” Sethi said. while Clarke has made 23, 17 not double centuries were in a home “David Warner’s remarks are played with KP when he frus- tain Michael Clarke. Latif played 37 Tests and 166 one- out, 19 and 1. series against South Africa. disappointing and discouraging. trated the living hell out of you day internationals for Pakistan as Smith has been out three times The Australian captain, who It takes the gloss off a great -- in a way people on the outside a wicketkeeper-batsman. to left-arm fast bowler Mitchell success as well as failures against before his second innings in Port Proteas team performance, wouldn’t know -- but I always AFP Johnson, who has now dismissed Johnson. Elizabeth said he felt in “great having come back from losing knew he could win player of the him eight times in 10 Tests. “I’ve faced Mitchell a lot of nick”, hoped he wouldn’t have to the first test and then going on tournament or a World Cup. No bowler has claimed his times -- times where he’s had the answer questions about his form to win the next,” Moosagee told “But you have to trust the guys wicket more often in Tests, better of me and times where I in future press conferences. “I’m South African newspaper DFA. in the know. These aren’t easy although Chris Martin of New have had the better of him,” he due,” he said. “It smacks of sour grapes and decisions and they (the ECB) Zealand also got him out eight said before South Africa squared Both captains have had success it could just be a tactical plan to obviously think this is for the best times in 11 matches. the series by winning the second at Newlands. get us involved in matters that over a long period.” Clarke has fallen twice to Dale Test in Port Elizabeth. The last time they came up will distract our attention from England, captained by Stuart Steyn, taking his number of dis- After the double century against each other in Cape Town, this crucial test in Cape Town,” Broad, started their tour with a missals against South Africa’s against Pakistan, Smith made in November 2011, Clarke hit 151 he said. 29-run win over a University of fast bowling kingpin to nine in only 47 runs in four one-day in an Australian first innings total The Proteas would not seek the West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s 13 Tests, equal with Englishmen innings against Pakistan but had of 284 before being dismissed for any action against Warner, who XI that featured a hundred from James Anderson (23 Tests) and scores of 68, 44, 47 and 27 not out two when Australia were routed followed up his first innings 70 rising star Joe Root and a century Stuart Broad (17 Tests). in a two-Test series against India. for 47 in the second innings. with a belligerent 66 in the sec- for the home side from the little Both captains have rejected Clarke’s highest score in 11 Test Smith top-scored with 37 in ond, and would leave it to the known Kyle Corbin. The tour- concerns about their form. innings since he made 148 against South Africa’s first innings of 96, game’s governing ICC to look ists will look to the likes of Root Smith points out that he scored England in the second Ashes Test then guided his side to an eight- into the remarks, Moosagee and wicket-keeper/batsman Jos a double century against Pakistan in Adelaide has been 24. In four wicket win with an unbeaten 101. added. REUTERS Buttler to turn promise into per- five Tests ago and that he has had one-day innings against England AFP formance. AFP Thursday 27 February 2014 Sport 27 Rabial II 1435 Volume 18 Number 5988 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Bolt in running for Laureus honours Serena also in the star-studded short-list

KUALA LUMPUR: Jamaican sprint ace Usain Bolt has been nominated for what would be a record fourth Laureus Award, while US tennis player Serena Williams is also in the star- studded short-list, organisers said yesterday. Joining Bolt as nominees for the prestigious “Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award” are British distance runner Mo Farah, US basketball star LeBron James, tennis ace Rafael Nadal of Spain, Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo and German Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel. Bolt has previously won a Laureus award in 2009, 2010 and 2013. Jamaican sprint ace Usain Bolt (left) and US tennis player Serena Besides Williams, the “Laureus Williams. World Sportswoman of the Year” could go to German foot- ball player Nadine Angerer, This year’s award ceremony will Brazil will stage football’s World US swimmer Missy Franklin, take place in the Malaysian capi- Cup this summer, while Rio de Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann tal Kuala Lumpur on March 26, Janeiro hosts the 2016 Olympics. Fraser-Pryce, pole vaulter Yelena after organisers shifted it from The winners of the awards are Isinbayeva of Russia or Slovenian Rio De Janeiro, which hosted it chosen by the Laureus World skier Tina Maze. in 2013. Sports Academy, whose jury is US golfer Tiger Woods has The ceremony became the sec- made up of 46 sports stars. been nominated for “Laureus ond international sport-linked Bolt won the male award last World Comeback of the Year”, event in recent months to relocate year, his third win, while British together with Brazilian footballer due to Brazilian authorities’ fears athletics queen Jessica Ennis won Ronaldinho, Nadal, Isinbayeva over potential protests against the top prize in the women’s cat- and two others. public spending on sports events. egory. AFP