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Monday 27 January 2014 26 Rabial I 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5957 Price: QR2

Lagoon Capital Australia shock hosts Qatari to businessmen snatch ODI win

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Cyprus President arrives Emir announces Qatar ‘open to’ new Qatar 2022 board of directors DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh suggestions on Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued the Emiri Decree No 4 of 2014 yesterday. After hav- ing reviewed the Constitution and the Emiri Decree No. 27 judicial reforms of 2011 that established the Supreme Committee for Qatar 2022, and the Emiri Decree No. 3 of 2014, and the Emiri Decree UN official calls for improvements No. 28 of 2011 which established the board of directors for the DOHA: A top visiting UN offi- Knaul said she welcomed Supreme Committee for Qatar cial, while lauding Qatar for the establishment of the Public 2022, and as amended by Emiri recognising the independence Prosecution as an institution Decree No. 83 of 2011, we have of judiciary in its Constitution, independent from ministries or decided the following: has called for urgent measures the judiciary, but added that the (1) The Board of Directors is to consolidate this freedom. fact that the Prosecutor-General to be reformed under H H the Qatar, according to the UN had the rank of Minister might Emir as Chairman and H H the Special Rapporteur on the inde- create confusion regarding its Personal Representative of H H pendence of judges and lawyers, independence from the executive. the Emir as Deputy Chairman, is determined to reform its jus- Talking about the lawyers’ Prime Minister and Minister of tice system, and its leadership is association here, she said it had the Interior and include as mem- much more open to suggestions no official competence, so grad- Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades arrived in Doha yesterday. He was welcomed at Doha International Airport bers the following: on judicial reforms. ual but significant steps should by the Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, Qatar’s Ambassador to Cyprus a. H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Gabriela Knaul was here on an be taken towards establishing an Hussain Ahmed Mohammed Al Humaid and Cyprus Ambassador to Qatar Charalambos Panayides. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani , as eight-day visit at Qatar’s invita- independent bar association. the Managing Director; tion and addressed the press yes- This association would provide an b. H E the Minister of terday, highlighting several key umbrella of protection for its mem- Municipality and Urban Planning; issues. The current judicial sys- bers against undue interference in Toyota, Lexus cars c. H E the Minister of Finance; tem is recently established and their legal work and monitor and Women, children can leave Homs d. H E the Minister of Youth continues to face some challenges, report on their members’ conduct being recalled and Sports; especially in relation to the inde- and apply disciplinary measures in GENEVA: Women and children trapped in the city of Homs have e. H E the Minister of pendence of judges, prosecutors a fair and consistent manner. DOHA: The Ministry of been allowed to leave immediately under a deal that marked the first Communications and Information and lawyers. The setting up of such an Economy and Commerce tangible, if limited, sign of progress at the Syria peace talks in Geneva. Technology; The absence of a code of con- organised legal profession is a announced that the local dealer Lakhdar Brahimi, the Algerian diplomat representing the UN and f. H E the Minister of Development duct and ethics for judges affects key element to the independence of Toyota and Lexus cars have Arab League, acknowledged that the agreement on Homs fell short of Planning and Statistics; the independence and impartial- of lawyers. “In Qatar, such func- begun recalling Lexus cars his hope to send a humanitarian aid convoy through to a rebel-held g. H E the Minister of Transport; ity of the judiciary, said Knaul. tions are presently entrusted to RX350/ 2010 models to fix area of the central Syrian city, but, he said, “to bring Syria out of h. H E the President of the The creation of a Constitutional the Ministry of Justice.” manufacturing defects in their the ditch in which it has fallen will take time”. See also page 10 Qatar Football Association (QFA). Court should be underlined as a Knaul underlined the need for brake override system. (2) The term of membership of positive development, she said, transparency during both the The dealer started receiving Al Jazeera scribe slams Egypt detention the board is four years with renewal but wondered why this court was investigation phase and court cars with defects from January CAIRO: An Australian journalist who is being held in an Egyptian for a period or similar periods. not operational over five years proceedings. She said modern 19, said a Ministry release. jail has described his detention as an “attack on freedom of speech” (3) Emiri decree No.28 of 2011 after the law that created it was technology tools should be urgently An announcement was made in letters to his family. Peter Greste and two colleagues working for is hereby null and void passed and four years after its adopted and all hearings should be earlier that the said dealer was Al Jazeera were arrested on December 30 for allegedly holding illegal (4) This decision is effective head was appointed. recorded to ensure proper, ade- asked to recall more than 40,000 meetings with the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Greste, 48, a former on the date of its signature and “I strongly encourage that the quate and transparent administra- Lexus and Toyota cars to fix BBC correspondent, sent the letters from Tora prison in Cairo. is to be published in the official court be formed and start func- tion of justice. THE PENINSULA their defects. THE GUARDIAN newspaper. tioning as early as possible.” Continued on page 6 THE PENINSULA Full report on page 7 QNA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 HOME 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com QA to recruit Qatari talent at London career fair DOHA: Qatar Airways will Qatar Airways. Management Programme and recruit Qatari talent at the 7th The airline, which has increased Jossor Programme. Annual Qatar-UK Career Fair the number of students in its To be part of the scholarship at Grosvenor House Hotel in Qatar Airways Nationalisation programme, students must be London on February 21-22. Scholarship Programme by 100 a Qatari national (or Qatari During the two-day event, the percent in less than a year, hopes mother) and must not be spon- airline aims at recruiting students to continue the successful growth sored by any other company. for the National Scholarship by encouraging Qatari students They need to be self-funded or Programme, the Graduate in the UK meeting educational under HEI sponsorship, have a Development Programme, requirements to apply for schol- valid secondary school certificate the Aviation Management arships provided by the airline. of the current or previous year, Programme and the Internship Qatar Airways sponsors over have an overall average of a mini- Emergency medical dispatcher Nasser Al Yazeedi speaking at the ceremony. Programme. 100 university students in Qatar, mum of 80 percent in high school, “It is our goal with every career the US, New Zealand and the UK, with a minimum of 80 percent in fair we participate in to reach out with a mandate to sponsor more maths, English and science, and to students who are keen to work than 200 students by the end of a minimum score in an English hard to develop themselves and 2014. It provides educational and proficiency exam. their careers. training programmes, including Students should have an Emergency medical “We continue to participate National Scholarship Programme, unconditional offer letter from a in the UK fair as we have had Cadet Pilot Programme, university approved by the com- great success in the past, and Aircraft Maintenance pany and be accepted into one it promises a platform to con- Engineering Programme, of the approved majors, pass the nect with Qatari talent inter- Summer Internship Programme, personal interview, accept the dispatcher honoured ested in careers in aviation,” said Graduate Development department and work at the loca- Dr Kholode Al Obaidli, Vice- Programme, Massey University tion assigned by Qatar Airways. President of Nationalisation, MBA Programme, Aviation THE PENINSULA IAED award for Al Yazeedi from HMC Ambulance Service

DOHA: In recognition of the award. This is a big honour response and clinical care, but Hamad Medical Corporation for the Ambulance Service and unlike the work of paramedics (HMC) Ambulance Service’s HMC,” said Brendon Morris, and the Emergency Department, GU-Q to host lecture on East Asia refugees commitment to provide high Chief Operating Officer of the work of the dispatcher often quality emergency response, Ambulance Service, who intro- remains in the background,” said DOHA: The Georgetown The JRS Asia Pacific office emergency medical dispatcher duced the winner. Morris. University in Qatar (GU-Q) serves refugees and other dis- Nasser Al Yazeedi was given the Al Yazeedi is trained to work He said Ambulance Service hosts a public lecture by Fr. placed people in Australia, Dispatcher of the Year Award quickly and calmly in a struc- is working towards becoming Bambang A Sipayung S J (pic- Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua by International Academies tured way to take essential details an IAED-accredited Centre of tured) at its auditorium in New Guinea, the Philippines, of Emergency Dispatch about the patient’s condition and Excellence. Education City today at 6.30pm. Singapore, Thailand and Timor (IAED) during a recent three- location, dispatch and support Accreditation means an emer- Sipayung is the Regional Leste. day Middle East Navigator Ambulance Service resources gency dispatch centre or public Director of Jesuit Refugee Service Worldwide, 51 countries have Conference in Doha. responding to the emergency safety agency provides superior, (JRS) Asia Pacific and will speak JRS programmes that function The award was created by call, and provide assistance and up-to-date public care and is able about the nearly five million refu- under the umbrella of 10 regional the US-based IAED to identify instructions by phone to the to utilise resources efficiently gees in East Asia. offices, led by an international and recognise individuals who, caller prior to the arrival of the to achieve maximum results in “Looking at the current trend office in Rome. through personal action, have ambulance at the scene of the emergency situations. of displaced people, asylum-seek- Fr. Sipayung is visiting made the most significant con- emergency. HMC is was key partner in the ers and refugees, it is unfortunate GU-Q as a special guest during tribution to further the values “The work emergency medi- conference, organised by IAED as to see unfriendly immigration pol- Georgetown’s Jesuit Heritage and mission of IAED, which aim cal dispatchers do in the control a premier educational venue for icies continue to limit the protec- of floods, landslides and tropical Week celebration. at ensuring that citizens in need room is so important because it’s professionals working in public tion of these people,” he said. storms, such as Typhoon Haiyan The week is a traditional event of emergency, health and social the initial minutes when people safety and emergency response. “Unfortunately, war and vio- or Yolanda, as it is locally known, that celebrates Georgetown’s services are provided with the make an emergency call that help The conference was also an lence do not stop. And, we see that recently hit the Philippines Jesuit identity with spe- most appropriate resource safely, save a life. important venue for highlighting differences and disagreements and left so much damage. cial programmes highlighting quickly and effectively. “There are other things we the ‘Help Us Help You: Know the that unfailingly persist. Add cli- “In short, displacement Georgetown’s Jesuit values, a “We are very proud of Al do to help with survival, provid- 5 Things to Save a Life’ awareness mate change and we see people can occur under a variety of press statement said yesterday. Yazeedi for being honoured with ing a good quality emergency campaign. THE PENINSULA pushed out of their homes because circumstances.” THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Doha team returns after scaling Kilimanjaro Expedition highlights importance of organ donations DOHA: The Doha-based team Fadhil, Director of Qatar Organ passion and motivation. of climbers, who were on a mis- Donation Centre (Hiba) to dis- “It was an innovative and sion to climb Mount Kilimanjaro cuss the climb he was planning inspiring way of thanking all to raise awareness of the impor- and how it could contribute to the organ donors and their families tance of organ donations, has organ donation campaign. and raise awareness about organ returned after their successful “Going to the top of Kilimanjaro donation and how it could give life endeavour. was a life challenge that pushed to desperate patients. Canadian-born Michael Arbow us emotionally and physically, and “At the same time, it was also and his teammates Lori Burns the shortage of oxygen meant we an excellent way of thanking and Don Bastarache, conquered had to take two breaths for each Qatar for the excellent services it Africa’s highest mountain, at one we would normally need to provides to all residents in terms almost 6,000 metres, to raise take in Doha. of organ donation and trans- awareness about organ donation “The challenge was real but plantation, regardless of their and thank donors for their gift what we experienced for a few nationality.” of life. days is sadly what many people Dr Yousef Al Maslamani, Arbow, a lecturer at the College requiring an organ transplant feel Director of Qatar Center for of the North Atlantic Qatar, is the for much longer. Organ Transplantation, said father of a girl born with cystic “We are proud of hoisting the Hamad Medical Corporation is fibrosis. flags at the top of the mountain grateful to the team for their Elspeth required a lung trans- and the role we played in creat- initiative to honour organ donors. plant after her lung function ing greater awareness of Qatar’s “Honouring, respecting and deteriorated. Organ Donation Centre,” said supporting organ donors and their Four years ago, she received a Arbow. families represent a major pillar double lung transplant as a result Dr Fadhil said, “When Michael of the Doha Donation Accord that of an organ donation. approached me and told me the has become a world- recognised Today, at 17, she is studying at story of his daughter and his wish model for promoting organ dona- University of Toronto in Canada. to raise awareness of organ dona- tion,” Dr Al Maslamani added. The team on Mount Kilimanjaro. Arbow contacted Dr Riadh tion, I was deeply moved by his THE PENINSULA WCMC-Q hosts meeting to promote international student exchanges DOHA: To promote international Associate Dean for Global and Public around the world, and we are looking student exchanges among elite medi- Health, was named Chairman of forward to a long and fruitful working cal universities, Weill Cornell Medical International Advisory Committee (IAC). relationship with GEMx and ECFMG.” College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) has Welcoming the members from the US The key function of GEMx is an innova- hosted a meeting of Global Education and other countries, Dr Javaid Sheikh, tive online system through which univer- in Medicine Exchange (GEMx). Dean of WCMC-Q, said: “I am very sities can publish details of the electives GEMx, an initiative of the US excited at the opportunities that being they offer. Students can use the system to Educational Commission for Foreign part of GEMx offers us. apply for the electives, safe in the knowl- Medical Graduates (ECFMG), connects “As we enter a new era of medical edu- edge that the host school has signed up the world’s medical schools and students cation that is far more global in outlook to the ECFMG charter, which guarantees and will allow students and educators to than ever before, GEMx provides a net- established standards of student support engage in a global dialogue. The meeting work through which our students can and pre-agreed learning outcomes. brought the GEMx advisory committee access valuable learning experiences in Students who use GEMx can apply for together with members of the ECFMG locations all over the world. electives in Australia, Bahrain, Colombia, leadership to discuss strategies to expand “I think GEMx and WCMC-Q share a Mexico, the Netherlands, Chile, Malaysia, and enhance the GEMx programme. desire to embrace the exchange of knowl- India and Lebanon, among other coun- Officials at a meeting of Global Education in Medicine Exchange. Dr Ravinder Mamtani, WCMC-Q edge and experience among institutions tries. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Ooredoo aid for Indonesia victims Deal on online employability resources for Arab youth Silatech, to activate customised Ta3mal portal in Qatar

DOHA: Silatech and Microsoft yesterday signed an agreement renewing their commitment to provide online employability resources to Arab youth through the Ta3mal network. The deal will see the acti- vation of the Qatar portal, following successful project implementation in Egypt, Iraq Ooredoo and its Indonesian operating company Indosat offered emergency FROM LEFT: Jeffrey Avina, Director of Citizenship and Community Affairs, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, aid to flood victims in Indonesia. Indosat became the first telecom company and Tunisia. The memorandum of Silatech CEO Dr Tarik M Yousef, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology and former to offer free access to its services for those affected. Floods have rendered secretary-general of ictQatar H E Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, and Microsoft Qatar General Manager Naim more than 50,000 homeless. understanding was signed by Silatech CEO Dr Tarik M Yazbeck. Yousef and Microsoft Qatar General Manager Naim to create a business plan and foster a thriving and diversified Avina said: “Microsoft is com- Yazbeck, in the presence of the market a business idea. Youth economy. mitted to providing the youth in Minister of Communication unemployment in the Arab “I thank Microsoft and the region with access to tools and Information Technology region is around 25 percent — Silatech for their commitment and technologies that will help and former secretary-general the highest in any region in the to Qatar and the region. Our them identify and secure career of ictQatar, H E Dr Hessa world — and lack of access to young people are our future. opportunities. Microsoft’s part- Al Jaber, and Jeffrey Avina, quality employability resources Empowering them to use ICT nership with Silatech began in Director of Citizenship and is a substantial impediment to safely and effectively in their 2012 with ‘MasrTa3mal’ which Community Affairs, Microsoft lowering unemployment rates. work and career choices is a resulted in high demand from Middle East and Africa. Customised Ta3mal country top priority,” she added. countries across the Arab world The network provides Arab portals have been launched in ictQatar is a participant in to create similar employability youth with free access to Egypt, Qatar, Iraq, and Tunisia, the Employability Resources for portals.” resources, including personal- with plans to expand to more All Digital Alliance (eRADA), Dr Yousef said: “The Ta3mal ised advice on how to write a Arab countries. an initiative to develop and network is a product of our CV, career guidance tools and Through coordination with deploy web and mobile-based joint commitment to provide virtual advising to help them local partners, Ta3mal will soon employability resources widespread access to quality determine the career path that provide jobseekers a platform to throughout the region to benefit employability resources for best matches their aspirations. search for entry-level job open- Arab youth. the youth of this region. The Through a partnership with ings and internship opportu- Yazbeck said: “As one of the Silatech-Microsoft partnership ALISON, a leading provider nities in their areas. Country fastest growing economies of for Ta3mal shows what we can of free online courses, Ta3mal partners include Edupartage, the world, Qatar is keen to do when NGOs and the private users have access to over 500 Tunisiana, and ATUGE boost employability rates and sector join our complementary online courses to enhance their (Tunisia), USAID (Iraq), the remain the most competitive strengths and resources to professional skills. Ministry of Youth (Egypt) and market in the region. Our part- achieve real impact.” For aspiring entrepreneurs, the Bedaya Centre (Qatar). nership will allow us to invest Through the Ta3mal initia- Ta3mal offers information and Dr Al Jaber said: “Qatar has our latest technologies to har- tive, Silatech and Microsoft aim tips for starting businesses and long understood that encourag- ness Qatar’s workforce and pro- at providing employability and obtaining funding, as well as ing and supporting innovation vide the youth with tools that entrepreneurship resources to virtual mentoring and entre- and entrepreneurship and spur- will enable them to advance over one million young people preneurship support serv- ring ICT adoption, particularly tomorrow’s knowledge-based in the region this year. ices, including advice on how among our young people, will economy.” THE PENINSULA RasGas Qatari staff take training in Japan

RasGas employees with Chiyoda Corporation officials at the graduation ceremony in Yokohama.

DOHA: A team of Qatari employees During the technical course, provided by instrument and control engineering, cor- of RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) Chiyoda Corporation, the trainees gained rosion and HSE engineering. gained a deeper insight into practical hands-on experience in key elements of The course was part of RasGas’ continu- aspects of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) LNG operations and production processes ing drive to provide value-added training business during a two-month engineering such as project management, controls, opportunities to enhance engineering skills and project management training pro- construction and cost estimation, proc- of young nationals and support their career gramme in Yokohama, Japan, recently. ess engineering, mechanical engineering, progression in the LNG industry. The graduation cer- emony was attended by Chiyoda manage- ment team, including Shogo Shibuya, President and CEO of Chiyoda Corporation. Mohammed Al Sada, Project Manager, CAT III Projects in RasGas Operations Projects Department was present. Recognising the support from Chiyoda Corporation in arranging the pro- gramme for Qataris, Al Sada said such opportuni- ties were unique and was confident that the trainees had gained valuable experi- ence and knowledge which they will utilise in RasGas and ultimately support Qatar’s economic growth and development. “RasGas believes that such interactions will bene- fit both businesses and looks forward to having such opportunities in future,” said Al Sada, expressing his gratitude to trainers, mentors and coordinators. He acknowledged Shibuya’s presence at the ceremony, reflecting the importance Chiyoda Corporation attached to the training. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Families key to jobless Qataris’ 350 experts to attend GCC Digital Forum reluctance to join private sector Focus on ties between governments and private sector to protect the digital economy in Gulf DOHA: Families have a role DOHA: More than 350 dele- Services at the Ministry of “The role of MEEZA is in not in young and unemployed gates are expected to attend the Information and Communications only providing products and serv- Qataris not willing to take GCC Digital Security Forum Technology, said: “Our support for ices to enhance digital security up private jobs, says a senior (GDSF 2014) on February 4-5 at the forum is in line with our mis- but also providing knowledge and official from the Ministry of the St Regis Hotel, organisers sion to support the objectives of understanding and highly profes- Labour and Social Affairs. said yesterday. the Qatar National Vision 2030 sional solutions to be able to effec- “We are trying hard to The delegates represent gov- which encompass fostering eco- tively share benefits of the digital change this perception (among ernment institutions, private nomic and social development by economy. Through the forum, fellow Qataris) that govern- companies, regulatory bodies and providing a conducive environ- MEEZA wants to raise GCC dig- ment jobs are more secure, other organisations from Qatar, ment for long-term growth and ital security discussions to higher plush and promise greater Gulf countries and other parts of development of all aspects of the levels,” said El Rassi. privileges,” said Mohamed Al the world. information and communications She said the forum will be Kholaifi. Under the patronage of the technology sector in Qatar. an annual event that will bring The Head of the Recruitment Minister of Information and “Our mission is to develop poli- together regional and global Section at the Ministry told Communications Technology in cies, regulate the market, super- experts and stakeholders to share local Arabic daily Al Watan Qatar H E Dr Hessa Sultan Al vise the enforcement of rules and ideas and discuss digital security in an interview published yes- Jaber, the forum is organised Ghada El Rassi, CEO of MEEZA, (left) and Faleh Al Naemi, Assistant Secretary design laws and regulations to challenges and solutions. terday that the majority of by MEEZA in cooperation with General, Shared Services, Ministry of Information and Communications provide the most conducive con- Deputy CEO of Al-Iktissad Qatari jobseekers prefer state Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group. Technology, at a press conference yesterday. ditions necessary for the growth Wal-Aamal Group, Faysal Abou employment. More than 25 speakers will of the sector and its services and Zaki, said: “We are at a time when “There is family involvement cover topics including digital spread its benefits across all sec- we can no longer dismiss or ignore in a jobseeker’s choice for a job. security realities today in the understanding of digital security promoting stronger ties between tors of the economy and society,” risks and damage digital attacks Sometimes parents insist their Gulf in terms of legislations, pol- and developing strategies and governments and the private sec- Al Naemi said. and intrusions are imposing on son should get only a govern- icies and pre-emptive measures plans to meet challenges. tor to protect the digital economy Chief Executive Officer of our economies and societies. ment job. They say we want our governments are taking to pro- It will also evaluate how regu- in the Gulf by creating policies, MEEZA, Ghada El Rassi, stressed “We cannot but describe them son in a ministry.” tect their economies from digital latory authorities and CERTs standards, norms and measures the dangers facing digital secu- as dangerous crimes threaten- This is one of the main rea- attacks and crimes. (Computer Emergency Response that help reinforce a secure envi- rity and digital attacks on com- ing not only companies, and gov- sons why the ministry always The forum will discuss dig- Teams) can help enhance digital ronment for networks and elec- panies, government institutions ernment institutions but also has a long list of young and ital security threats and avail- security and deal with incidents tronic transactions over these and individuals. the entire social and economic unemployed citizens. able solutions. It will also talk and breaches on the national networks. She said losses due to dig- security of countries around the “We have a list of 2,300 about how organisations and level. Faleh Al Naemi, Assistant ital attacks and intrusions had world.” unemployed,” said the offi- companies are improving their The forum will focus on Secretary General, Shared reached $1trn dollars per year. THE PENINSULA cial. “They include men and women.” The waiting period to land a government job is long. Then, you need specific qualifications and experience to suit many Pharmacies face closure if they fail to Katara Cultural Village state jobs, said Al Kholaifi. “We are reaching out to more and more of those who renew licences by February 18: SCH are entering the job market to build fitness centre in trying to change their per- DOHA: Pharmacies in the Safety Department at SCH and Municipality and Urban Planning, DOHA: Katara Cultural Village is to add a fitness centre to the lat- ception towards private sector country face closure if they fail its Pharmacy and Drug Control the Civil Defence Department est facilities being built to diversify and enhance services available jobs.” to renew their expired licences Department will conduct inspec- and other concerned authorities, at the cultural hub. The official reiterated that by February 18. tions to ensure all pharmacies to get their licences renewed by Construction of Katara Fitness Centre, one of the latest in the banks remain the top employ- In a circular issued to all phar- comply with the rule. SCH, it was learnt. cultural village development, will be completed within six months, Al ers of Qataris, followed by macies, the Supreme Council of “Pharmacies will face immedi- “This may be a reason for some Sharq reported yesterday. The new building will include a restaurant, a insurance companies. Health (SCH) said it had noticed ate closure if they are found oper- pharmacies to delay the renewal. fitness centre, a swimming pool and a massage centre. It is in Katara’s “However, some positions some pharmacies were not renew- ating with an expired licence after Some pharmacies might have coastal area facing The Pearl Qatar project side. need experience, so Qataris ing their expired licences and the deadline,” warned the circular. stopped working. However, we The project aims at diversifying facilities and services in Katara. are taken in junior positions so those of the pharmacists work- Pharmacies and pharmacists, don’t have an issue in this regard Among other projects in Katara is a commercial centre in the west that they get hands-on experi- ing with them. like other healthcare practition- because we make sure all our side of the village. It will include shops, department stores, office spaces ence for one or two years and The circular has asked all phar- ers and facilities, are required to licences (of the pharmacy and the and a mall. work their way up.” macies to renew their expired renew their licences annually. pharmacists) are renewed well in These projects will improve Katara’s programmes, facilities and THE PENINSULA licences by the deadline. These facilities are required to advance,” said a pharmacist. services as well as enrich Katara’s role regionally and internationally. The Healthcare and Patient get clearance from the Ministry of THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Emir congratulates Yemen President DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Global brands to enter The Pearl Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable to Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, United Development Company, Blue Salon sign agreement to open retail outlets congratulating him on the success of the comprehensive DOHA: As part of efforts to restaurants, The Pearl fea- national dialogue in reaching a develop a world-class shopping tures high-quality merchandise, positive outcome that will meet destination at The Pearl-Qatar, world-class food and the best in the Yemeni people’s demands United Development Company fashion and offers exceptional and aspirations for a new and (UDC), the developer of the The shopping, extraordinary dining modern civil state based on the Pearl, and Blue Salon Company and exhilarating experience for rule of law, justice and equality yesterday inked an agreement all ages among all citizens. to open retail outlets of leading “The presence of these global global brands at the artificial brands at The Pearl, one of the Greetings sent to island. best projects in the region, will It was signed by Acting CEO further raise the profile of the Indian President of UDC, Badr Al Meer, and Vice- island,” he added. Chairman of Blue Salon Nabil Abu Issa said: “The opening of DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Abu Issa at a function at Oyster, new brands at The Pearl is an Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Sales and Marketing Centre important step within our strat- sent a cable of congratula- at the manmade island. egy to provide superior products. tions to the President of India, Present were Ehab Kamel, “We believe the new outlets Pranab Mukherjee, on his General Manager, Retail Leasing, will be a tremendous addition to country’s Republic Day. The UDC, Fawaz Idrissi, CEO of Blue The Pearl in terms of our focus Prime Minister and Interior Salon, and other dignitaries. on proving access to quality Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Blue Salon will facilitate the brands and products in an envi- bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al opening of retail outlets of lead- ronment dedicated to customer Thani sent a similar cable. ing brands such as Blue Salon service and satisfaction. Kids, Nespresso, Ethan Allen, “We are proud to launch these Emir, Premier send Samsung, Mimisol, Toys 4 me, global products at The Peal and Pressto, Gina, Kartell, and Oasis Engineer Badr Al Meer, (second right), Acting CEO of UDC, greets Nabil Abu Issa, Vice-Chairman Blue Salon, as excited about the future that cables to Australia of Soul. Ehab Kamel (right), General Manager, Retail Leasing, The Pearl Qatar, and Fawaz Idrissi, Senior Vice-President, we’re building a vibrant retail Spanning in an area of nearly Blue Salon, look on at the singing ceremony at Pearl Oyster yesterday. ABDUL BASIT scene in Doha that will benefit DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh four million square metres, The the local community and resi- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Pearl is the first land in Qatar to over 32km of new coastline for operating — Ethan Allen and shopping on the waterfront, the dents of The Pearl.” He said The sent a cable of congratulations be available for freehold owner- use as a residential estate with Nespresso in Qatar. presence of high-end marinas, Pearl with a number of retail to the Governor-General of ship by foreigners. an expected 15,000 dwellings and Al Meer said: “The Pearl has and the elegant design of the shops, world-class restaurants Australia, Quentin Alice Louise Nearly 60 percent of the 45,000 residents. succeeded in attracting some of shops that have been inspired by and recreational facilities will Bryce, on her country’s National project is almost complete with The Pearl is the first of its kind the world’s leading brands due Italian, Spanish and Moroccan position itself as a destination for Day. The Prime Minister and 45 percent occupancy, but once location where two high-end to the special environment at architecture. distinctive luxury and elegance. Interior Minister H E Sheikh fully completed, it will create brands will be simultaneously the island, which combines fun “With more shops and THE PENINSULA Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a similar cable. Emir chairs Indian Republic Day marked council meeting DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment for 2014 at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Council H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani was present. The Minister of Finance and Secretary-General of the Council H E Ali Sharif Al Emadi said the council was briefed on the provi- sion related to the follow-up of its previous decisions and proce- dures taken, especially in matters related developments in the pet- rochemical industry and Qatar Petroleum International projects. In a statement to QNA, he said the council was also briefed on QPI’s plan and the investment strategy of Qatar Investment The Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora addressing a reception hosted by the Indian embassy to mark the 65th Republic Day of India, at the Authority and decided to approve Grad Hayatt in Doha yesterday. Members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries were present. (Right) The ambassador hoisting the budgets of the company and the Indian flag at the embassy to mark the occasion. SALIM MATRAMKOT/SHAIVAL DALAL the authority for 2014 and budget of the council for 2014-2015. The council was also briefed on a study on the development of the private sector. Machine Learning and Data Analytics Symposium in March Panel restructured DOHA: Building upon their partnership, domain where algorithms are developed to and anomalies in massive amounts of data Researchers and students are invited to DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Qatar Computing Research Institute learn from data, thus helping to process through machine learning algorithms and submit research abstracts related to the Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (QCRI) and Boeing will co-organise a massive amounts of data through applying data analytics techniques applicable to air- domain, and if accepted, will be asked to issued Emiri decision No. 4 of Machine Learning and Data Analytics predictive techniques. craft maintenance data. This agreement present their research at the symposium. 2014 restructuring the Higher Symposium (MLDAS) in Doha in March. “Co-organising this symposium with will result in the development of statis- Submission guidelines and other details Committee for Projects and It will focus on applications, advances Boeing brings our relationship to a new tical and analytical methods for learning about the symposium can be found by vis- Inheritance. The board of and new solutions in the fields of machine level,” said Dr Ahmed K Elmagarmid, predictors and detectors in plane health iting www.mldas.org. directors has been reformed learning and data analytics. MLDAS will Executive Director of QCRI. “Our joint management. Dr Mohammed J Zaki, Principal under the Emir, with his per- also feature discussions and case studies work in data analytics research has been “Our collaboration with QCRI broad- Scientist, QCRI and symposium co-chair, sonal representative as Deputy by industry leaders from around the world. focused on addressing specific problems, ens and deepens Boeing’s engagement in said, “The symposium features experts Chairman. Members include The deadline for submitting research but this event will provide an open venue Qatar, where we already have strong cus- in machine learning and data mining. It the Prime Minister and Interior abstracts has been extended to January 31. to a wider research audience to exchange tomer and stakeholder relationships,” said serves as a launching pad for the data min- Minister, Sheikh Mohamed bin A growing number of challenges exist as ideas in an area of science that is growing Jeff Johnson, President of Boeing Middle ing, machine learning, and data analytics Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani data generation has become more abundant in importance to science and industry.” East. “Scientists, technology leaders and initiative at QCRI. Partnering with Boeing as Managing Director, the and has taken on new forms, structured Boeing and QCRI signed an agreement students from across the globe will gather reflects our two primary goals of cutting- Minister of Municipality and and unstructured, static and streaming. in early 2013 to jointly investigate ways in Doha to share ideas, identify solutions, edge science for big data analytics and real- Urban Planning, the Minister Machine learning is an expanding research to better recognise patterns, correlations and foster partnerships.” world applications.” THE PENINSULA of Finance, the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, the Minister of Development Permit ‘needed Planning and Statistics, the Draft law to regulate Minister of Transport and the for trading in Chairman of Qatar Football Association. The four-year ivory items’ public money membership can be renewed for a similar period. DOHA: One now needs a permit to import or export being reviewed Al Jazeera Egypt ivory items and mummi- fied crocodiles or tigers, the DOHA: A draft law to and make them paperless, channel relaunched Ministry of Environment regulate public money is Al Sharq reports. DOHA: Al Jazeera network said yesterday. with the authorities con- Meanwhile, the restruc- yesterday announced the re- The ministry tweeted, cerned for study. tured ministries are launch of Al Jazeera Muabasher saying Qatar signed the The law includes more expected to be announced Misr. The military-led gov- Convention on International than 100 articles related with state budgetary pro- ernment in Egypt banned the Trade in Endangered Species to powers and budget- posal 2014-15. ] channel last August for alleged (CITES) in May 2011, and Gabriela Knaul (left), UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, ary proposals on state The expenditures of bias towards the Muslim implemented it in August the and Dr Elobaid Ahmed Elobaid, Head of UN Training and Documentation Centre for Human expenditures. public organisations are Brotherhood. Its offices in same year. CITES was signed Rights in Doha, during a press conference at the centre yesterday. Kammutty V P The proposed law aims expected to be slashed by Cairo have been closed since by 90 countries in 1973 and at upgrading the ministries 20 percent in the next July 3 and the channel had enforced in 1975. and public organisations budget. been broadcasting from Qatar. “The import or export of Qatar has ‘opportunities’ for judicial reforms and strengthening their The new structures Al Jazeera said the channel will any items made of ivory or relations with the Ministry of the ministries include continue to highlight current mummified tigers or crocodiles Continued from page 1 to reinforce its institutions, in particular of Finance. changes in some grades issues in Egypt with feedback will not be allowed without a Ten years after the adoption of the new those related to the justice system, she The law will also help and jobs while some of from Egyptians. AGENCIES permit,” the ministry said. Constitution, Qatar should not miss the said. upgrade technologies of them are being merged. THE PENINSULA opportunity to launch reforms necessary THE PENINSULA the public organisations THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Pro-Qaeda group Egypt declares early claims downing of army copter

CAIRO: An Al Qaeda inspired group has claimed it presidential polls shot down an Egyptian mili- tary helicopter in the Sinai peninsula, in what the army Move to anoint military ruler before parliament vote said was an accident that killed five soldiers. CAIRO: Egypt yesterday by Mursi’s Islamist support- to influence the outcome of par- The Ansar Beit Al Madqis announced early presidential ers and anti-military activists, liamentary elections by forming group, which has taken respon- elections likely to anoint the the health ministry said. As a party that would attract lead- sibility for a series of deadly general who overthrew Islamist Mansour addressed the nation to ing candidates. But Sisi, accused attacks across the country, said president Mohamed Mursi, as announce the early presidential by Mursi supporters of carrying its fighters brought down the the country reeled from a week- election, relatives of those killed out a coup ending the Islamist’s helicopter on Saturday with a end of violence that killed doz- on Saturday assembled outside single year in power, still faces missile. ens of people. a Cairo morgue, chanting anti- a determined opposition and a The military issued a state- Interim president Adly military slogans. semi-insurgency. ment saying five soldiers were Mansour announced the polls in “Down with the military! The Hours before Mansour spoke, killed in a helicopter “accident” a televised address, a day after people want to topple the regime!” militants ambushed a bus carry- as they pursued militants in 49 people died in clashes between they chanted outside the Zeinhom ing soldiers in the restive Sinai the restive peninsula. Islamist protesters and police morgue as they collected the Peninsula, killing four troops. Ansar Beit Al Maqdis said and thousands rallied in Cairo in corpses of loved ones. And an Al Qaeda-inspired the helicopter was shot down support of military chief General A statement signed by nine group in the peninsula claimed near the North Sinai town of Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Egyptian human rights groups it had shot down a military heli- Sheikh Zuwayed with a “sur- Sisi was expected to declare accused the police of using “live copter on Saturday, in what the face-to-air missile, killing all his candidacy for the election, ammunition” against demon- army said was an “accident” that its crew.” scheduled before mid-April, strators. Police in the capital killed five soldiers. The group, The group’s statement was after a show of support including bolstered defences outside their Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, had ear- published on a forum used by Saturday’s large rally in Cairo’s buildings and closed access roads lier claimed responsibility for the Islamist militant groups to Tahrir Square. But the weekend after the weekend bombings that bombings in the capital. claim responsibility for attacks. clashes and bombings also high- all targeted police facilities. Scores of soldiers and police- lighted the interim government’s In his address, Mansour, a SECURITY STEPPED UP men have been killed in mili- precarious grip seven months judge the military appointed The attacks, starting with a car tant attacks since the army after Mursi’s overthrow. as interim president to replace bomb that killed four people out- overthrew Islamist president The violence came as Egypt Mursi, pledged to “uproot (terror- side Cairo police headquarters on Mohamed Morsi in July. commemorated the 2011 uprising ists) and show them no mercy”. Friday morning, underscored the The attacks have spread that overthrew veteran strong- The government says a series resilience of the Sinai-based mili- to the capital, which saw man Hosni Mubarak, leading to of polls that started with a con- tants who had tried to assassinate five bombings over a 24-hour three years of tumult that many stitutional referendum in January the police chief in September. period on Friday and Saturday hope Sisi’s election will end. and will end in parliamentary Police sealed off several main that left six people dead. Over Friday and Saturday, six elections will restore an elected squares in Cairo yesterday and Workers inspect the damage inside the National Library of Egypt that was AFP bombs exploded in Cairo and the government by 2015. used metal barriers to block roads affected by a car bombing two days earlier, in Cairo yesterday. canal city of Suez, killing six peo- A parliamentary election had leading to police stations. ple and wounding dozens in an been scheduled ahead of the In December, a car bombing That bombing was also claimed supporters that has killed more military now rule out dealing escalation of a militant campaign presidential poll, but Mansour outside a police building north of by Ansar Beit Al Maqdis. than a thousand people and jailed with the Brotherhood, which Mansour has pledged to eradicate. said yesterday he had revised Cairo killed 15 people, prompting The Brotherhood’s blacklist- thousands more. Police said they had won every election following Separately, 49 people were the timetable following many the interim government to black- ing, despite its condemnation of arrested at least 1,000 protesters Mubarak’s overthrow in the 2011 killed in clashes when police demands. A presidential election list Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood the attack, was seen as an exten- on Saturday alone. popular uprising. clamped down on protests first may allow Sisi, if he stands, movement as a terrorist group. sion of a crackdown on Mursi The government and the AFP Australian journalist of Al Jazeera tells of Egyptian prison ordeal

CAIRO: An Australian jour- sweat, that I wished the author- nalist who is being held in an ities would have been even a lit- Egyptian jail has described tle bit offended by. Yet too often his detention as an “attack on it has slipped out with infuriat- freedom of speech” in letters ingly little response. to his family. “This assignment to Cairo Peter Greste and two col- had been relatively routine leagues working for Al Jazeera – an opportunity to get to were arrested on December know Egyptian politics a lit- 30 for allegedly holding ille- tle better. gal meetings with the banned “This is not a trivial point. Muslim Brotherhood. He said The fact that we were arrested in his letters the detention had for what seems to be a set of not led him to being charged relatively uncontroversial sto- formally, “much less convicted Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste (right) and producers Baher Mohamed ries tells us a lot about what of any crime”. and Mohamed Fahmy. counts as ‘normal’ and what is Greste, 48, a former BBC dangerous in post-revolutionary correspondent, sent the letters balance that our imperfect trade investigation, considerable Egypt.” from Tora prison in Cairo where demands.” risk, and not a small amount of GUARDIAN NEWS he said he had his first walk in His colleagues, he the “weak winter sunshine” wrote, were being after spending 10 days being held in worse con- locked in his cell 24 hours a day ditions than he was. when not being questioned. “Fahmy and Baher He said he feared writing have been accused of might result in harsh treat- being Brotherhood ment. One letter said: members, so they “I am nervous as I write this. are being held in the I am in my cold prison cell after far more draconian my first official exercise session ‘Scorpion prison’ — four glorious hours in the built for convicted grass yard behind our block terrorists. Fahmy and I don’t want that right to has been denied the be snatched away.” hospital treatment He said he had changed his he badly needs for a mind about remaining silent shoulder injury he about his detention despite sustained shortly risking having his books and before our arrest. pen taken from him. “I want to Both men spend 24 protect them almost as much as hours a day in their I want my freedom back. That mosquito-infested is why I have sought, until now, cells, sleeping on the to fight my imprisonment qui- floor with no books etly from within, to make the or writing materials authorities understand that this to break the soul- is all a terrible mistake, that I’ve destroying tedium. been caught in the middle of a He thanked his political struggle that is not my family for their cam- own. But after two weeks in paign to get him prison it is now clear that this released and those is a dangerous decision. It vali- who had written dates an attack not just on me letters and posted and my two colleagues but on online in his support. freedom of speech across Egypt. “All of it has been All of a sudden, my books seem both humbling and rather petty.” empowering. We He had been in the capital know we are not Cairo for just three weeks before alone. But what is he was arrested along with a galling is that we are fellow journalist, Mohamed into our fourth week Fahmy, and cameraman Baher behind bars for what Mohamed. I consider to be some “We had been doing exactly pretty mundane as any responsible, professional reporting. journalist would — record- “I’ve produced ing and trying to make sense work in the past of the unfolding events with that has involved all the accuracy, fairness and lots of detailed MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial

Syria talks simmer Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HEN Syrian rivals came face-to-face in a room at Geneva II talks in the idyllic Swiss city, the world sat up to notice. United Nations mediator WLakhdar Brahimi said the beginning was good as the warring sides addressed their remarks to him to avoid Gov Walker needs Wisconsin win direct confrontation. The Syrian talks, an important milestone in the conflict that has endured the longest — close to three years — come at a critical phase of the Arab Spring. Calls for to vie for GOP presidential nod ouster of President Bashar Al Assad have been punctuated by countervailing demands by Russia and China, who are the regime’s biggest supporters. BY NICK CAREY charisma. He has not shown an abil- The figure will be updated on Jan. 31. One of the main negotiating points of the meeting has been ity to raise the funds needed to com- For Wisconsin voters who know allowing aid to reach the rebel-held town of Homs which has VER the past year Wisconsin’s pete against Christie or another widely him well, Walker’s governance record been besieged by Syrian troops and where about 500 families Republican governor, Scott backed opponent. is mixed. Walker has earned a repu- are having a hard time accessing basic needs like food and Walker, has worked his way If Walker made it to the general tation as a fiscal hawk, posting a $911 medicine. Opposition members demanded Assad’s troops let Odown a checklist of items election, Republican strategists say, million budget surplus last year after commonly associated with a run at Democrats would hammer him on his inheriting a budget deficit upon taking humanitarian assistance reach hundreds of families in the city. the US presidency. He has written a record, including his backing of a 2011 office three years ago. And he aims to The list of 47,000 detainees that the opposition claimed it campaign-themed book and visited bill that curtailed collective bargain- funnel most of the surplus to residents had handed over also became a point of contention with the Iowa, New Hampshire and other pivotal ing rights of public-sector workers through tax breaks he dubs a Blueprint government denying it had received any such list. election-year s tates. He has stumped and support for a 2013 law requiring for Prosperity. Brahimi has tried to put up a brave face with hardened for candidates nationwide. He even has women seeking abortions to first have “Our reforms are helping the people enemies facing off each other in the cool climes of the central criticized conservatives who challenge an ultrasound. of Wisconsin create more jobs and more moderate incumbents, pleasing party Despite those weaknesses, University opportunity,” the governor said in his European country. However, the noises emerging from elders. of Virginia political scientist Larry January 22 State of the State speech. Geneva II do not seem to be very conciliatory. Presidential With a growing pre-presidential Sabato has Walker as the top potential But the progress on jobs is far short of adviser Bouthaina Shaaban has questioned the legitimacy of checklist, it is little wonder Walker is 2016 GOP contender in his closely fol- what Walker promised during his 2010 the opposition by asking who it beginning to emerge as a top-tier can- lowed Crystal Ball website. election campaign. Walker said he would The Geneva talks represents. didate in a potentially crowded field in “Walker has a lot to prove, but he create 250,000 jobs in his first term, “But these people really don’t 2016. But first, he looks good on paper,” said Crystal Ball but government data show only around have seen some must win a tough managing editor Kyle Kondik. “There 40,000 more people have jobs today than represent the opposition. We can’t reelection race are a lot of questions about how he will when he took office. Wisconsin ranked initial success, discuss the future of Syria with a in 2014, against perform as a national candidate.” 37th among the US states in private- but the flexibility small group of people who we doubt, Walker is best Democratic None of the conjecture will mat- sector job creation in the year ending who do they represent,” said an known nationally for businesswoman ter unless Walker first beats Burke in June 2013, the last period for which data of the warring assertive Shaaban. Mary Burke, his Wisconsin’s 2014 gubernatorial contest. A are available. turning back a recall only announced Marquette University Law School poll of Burke is expected to challenge Walker The Assad aide weakened any sides will be vote in 2012 after his opponent. registered voters last October showed the on the jobs issue. A former Trek Bicycle prospect of a prisoner release “Walker is candidates in a virtual dead heat, with 47 executive, and daughter of the compa- tested when they by saying that the rebels have battle with the state working his way percent of respondents favouring Walker ny’s founder, Burke has a business back- take up what kidnapped many, depriving families employee unions. down the presi- and 45 percent for Burke. But Burke may ground that could appeal to moderate was decided in to meet their loved ones caught in His surprisingly dential to-do list,” have room to build support, with 70 per- Republicans and an emphasis on educa- the crossfire of insurgency. strong 53 percent to said Mordecai cent of those polled stating they do not tion and women’s access to healthcare Geneva I. Lee, a political yet have an opinion about her. that should play well with Democrats. The Syrian conflict’s place in 46 percent margin science professor Walker, by contrast, is polarizing. Burke also is positioning herself as a the Arab Spring revolts is slowly against a well- at the University Fifty percent of those polled view him salve to the tempestuous Walker years. becoming secured as one which of Wisconsin in favourably, 47 percent unfavorably, and “Wisconsinites don’t appreciate the involves considerable political and communal cross-currents. organised union Milwaukee. “He’s only 4 percent have neither a favourable divisiveness of the governor,” she said With many militant groups thought to be fighting beside the effort won him doing the formula or unfavourable view of him. in an interview. armed rebels, and non-state actors like Hezbollah entering the followers. to a ‘T’.” Walker is best known nationally In many respects, the campaign could He is hardly for turning back a recall vote in 2012 shape up as a referendum on Scott battlezone on Assad’s side, the conflict presents an interesting alone. Besides after his battle with the state employee Walker. dimension. Moreover, Russia and China are the two powers Christie, other Republican White House unions. His surprisingly strong 53 per- “We’re seeing incredible grassroots who have firmly stood beside a shaky but belligerent Assad. aspirants include two US Senators, cent to 46 percent margin against a support for getting rid of Scott Walker,” With two members of the UN Permanent Five not letting the Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco well-organized union effort won him fol- said Lisa Subeck, executive director of world community act against a rogue regime, the importance of Rubio of . Others are expected to lowers among conservatives nationwide. United Wisconsin, a liberal group that join in, possibly including Ted Cruz, the The recall campaign also helped worked to recall Walker in 2012. United talks is for anyone to see. Damascus yesterday agreed to allow Texas tea party favorite, or another gov- Walker build a national fundraising Wisconsin’s website features a “Scott- women and children leave the besieged town of Homs, there ernor, such as Rick Perry, also of Texas. apparatus that could prove helpful in Free 2014” fundraising button on its remain many sticking points in the talks. Negotiators today None of them have officially declared the 2014 election and beyond. He raised home page. start talking about the transitional government that was agreed their candidacy as yet. $37 million to defeat the recall, a sub- John Binder, an independent voter in upon in Geneva I. It is this point that will likely prove to be the Still, a Walker run would face big stantial figure for a Wisconsin can- central Wisconsin, is no fan of unions most controversial one and the future of the talks will hinge on hurdles. He is little known outside con- didate, and as of last June had $2.26 but says Walker has been too aggressive. servative circles and is seen as lacking million cash on hand for his campaign. REUTERS how both sides approach it. The other side Quote of Sky is the limit with new US entry process the day NYBODY who has ever immigration channels at their destina- attacks on New York and Washington. and initiatives such as the Schengen suffered through a long-haul tion. It was launched on Friday with In the past, confusion over similar visa waiver scheme that will soon be flight to the United States and an Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to names have caused some residents available to Emirati travellers to Europe. Athen queued for hours to get Washington Dulles International Airport. to face long interviews, searches and The Dallas-based Southwest Airlines through the immigration and customs There are many reasons to wel- other delays before being allowed into Pilots’ Association has expressed con- gates will welcome the news that the come the initiative, starting with the the country. cern that the new arrangement cur- As far as Homs is process is to be simplified. As The obvious convenience of being able to As Dr Ahmad Shikara, of the rently applies only to Etihad Airways, National reported yesterday, a pilot complete a bureaucratic procedure Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies potentially disadvantaging American concerned, there is an programme has begun at Abu Dhabi before an exhausting 14-hour flight. It and Research, told The National, the carriers. While it’s true that the pro- agreement now from airport allowing US-bound passengers also means that any potential problems checkpoint has been set up as the gramme should be extended – not just the armed groups on to clear US customs before they leave that a traveller may face are sorted out result of the sustained good relation- to other airlines but also to Dubai airport the UAE. before take-off rather than on arrival in ship between the UAE and the US, and – the American pilots should be more the inside not to attack This initiative – the first of its kind a foreign land. Often through no fault of its implementation “can only strengthen concerned about the long delays at US an assistance convoy in the Middle East – allows American their own, many passengers from this the relationship further”. It’s a credit to arrival halls that discourage potential border protection personnel to screen region have suffered delays due to the the UAE foreign ministry that it has built passengers. Embracing this strategy entering Homs. passengers and their luggage, who increased rigour imposed at US entry such strong international relationships will help reduce those queues for all Lakhdar Brahimi will then be able to bypass the busy points since the September 11, 2001 that have enabled this arrangement travellers. The National UN Mediator VIEWS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Is British parliament out of date?

this government will deliver.” “Anyone coming from a profes- Men as well On House of Lords reform sional background looks at par- he boldly declared the time for liament in amazement; the idea talk over: “This government will of routine appraisals and general as women replace the House of Lords with HR support and disciplinaries is an elected second chamber where fairly alien to what is an archaic are leaving members are elected by a propor- bubble. Some of the archaic tional voting system.” aspects of parliament either But in 2012 Lords reform was lend it character, contribute to parliament, dropped after Labour and Tory our historic identity or actu- backbenchers blocked progress ally serve a purpose and should though it is and peers lined up to oppose it. not be dismantled, but bringing Clegg also promised a reform of employment practice into the party funding that now looks as 21st century is fairly overdue.” difficult to tell far off as ever. Plans to allow con- Kate Green, the Labour MP for stituents to get together to sack Stretford and Urmston, argues as yet whether MPs found guilty of wrongdoing that parliament regards itself as under a new “power of recall” a workplace apart from the real have got stuck in very long grass. world, one in which some people the exodus will And jewel in the Lib Dems’ crown don’t feel a need to shunt it into — plans to push through reform the modern age. “I think par- be markedly of the voting system — floundered liament should see itself as an in a referendum when the public exemplary workplace. There are refused to back it. Through no people who think it is more of a different from fault of his own, much of Clegg’s club than a workplace. Parliament great manifesto has come to noth- should not be a place where low- the norm at the ing as vested interests worked to level sexual harassment is some- block it. how tolerated.” Rather than enhancing trust Some say modern communi- 2015 election. in politicians and boosting politi- cations, including social media, cal engagement through reform, mean that the pressure and atten- BY TOBY HELM three-and-a-half years of coalition tion is too intense. Tracey Crouch, government seems to have left the Tory MP for Chatham and few days ago the both voters and a good many MPs Aylesford, who worked in vari- Conservative MP more disillusioned with their poli- ous advisory roles in Westminster Pauline Latham stood British Prime Minister speaking on his decision to veto a new EU treaty during prime minister’s tics than ever. Young, and in many before entering parliament, says Aup in the House of question time in the House of Commons in the British Parliament. cases female MPs, are deciding to that for those who are unaware Commons and complained about pack up and leave because of the of its ways, parliament comes as the company she was having to antediluvian political culture in a shock. “I think anyone, male or keep in her Westminster office. —has renewed debate about just Nick Clegg promised to deliver a a QC and Lord Rennard’s legal which they are asked to work, and female, in their 20s, 30s or 40s Her personal space was being how antisocial, peculiar and alien- “new politics”, that would be more adviser, said Clegg’s treatment of the lack of respect in which they will find it difficult. If you have invaded and she found it deeply ating many new members find a transparent and accountable, Rennard had “made the North are held. Political disengagement a young family, or are in a new upsetting. “I was going to ask for place where the archaic some- with an elected House of Lords Korean judicial system seem has become a subject of popular relationship, the hours and the a debate on the mouse infesta- times seems to be valued above and a fairer voting system - has benign, and anything done by discourse. way the job takes you over are tion in my office, but I suspected the efficient and modern. found itself mired in arguments Henry VIII’s thugs to extract Comedian Russell Brand has difficult,” she said. there would be so many members To cap a trying week for that have highlighted its inability confessions from Anne Boleyn’s fuelled the discontent, saying the Sarah Wollaston, the Tory MP scampering into the chamber to Westminster, David Blunkett to deliver, and parliament’s resist- courtiers gentle”. Today, former young shouldn’t bother to vote. for Totnes, a GP who entered take part that it would take up too attacked Russell Brand’s view ance to changing itself. As the Lib party leader Lord Steel spells out “Why vote? We know it’s not parliament in 2010 in response much time, so I shall not do so,” that voting is pointless as a “dis- Dems have torn themselves apart, what he and his colleagues want to going to make any difference,” to David Cameron’s call for more she said. Latham had returned to grace”, highlighting yet again one our largely unreformed parlia- happen. The Lib Dems’ opponents he told on BBC real people to come into politics, the Commons after Christmas to of the themes of this parliament: ment has come across more than can barely believe their luck. One Newsnight. He and the writer has been deeply frustrated that find mouse droppings and urine the growing apathy felt by the ever as a crucible of centralised, Labour frontbencher said: “What Will Self, who said people who she has been unable to do more to all over her papers. “I spoke to my young towards politicians. male-dominated power and tra- you have here is just beyond belief: joined political parties were “don- influence policy on the UK health staff and one of them saw three So is parliament losing the plot dition that seems impervious to the leader of the party that wants keys”, were castigated by former service (NHS). mice on my desk,” she explained when it comes to embodying a progress. to see an elected Lords being told home secretary David Blunkett Men as well as women are leav- later. “I just couldn’t cope with it. modern, accessible politics? The For Clegg, one of the most what to do by unelected peers, for being “cynical”. ing parliament, though it is dif- It is so disgusting.” Rennard affair certainly seems to unfortunate features of the who appear to be semi-tolerant Whether they are cyni- ficult to tell as yet whether the An infestation of rodents is belong to an era which politicians Rennard affair has been the way of small-scale sexual harassment cal or not, a good many MPs exodus will be markedly differ- perhaps not so surprising in a would do well to leave behind. in which unelected Lib Dem peers of women.” are growing weary of lack of ent from the norm at the 2015 building that dates back to the Four women who worked for (hardly standard-bearers of his Clegg is undoubtedly tearing change and modernisation. election. mid-19th century. But a bad week the Liberal Democrats have new politics) have used their posi- his hair out, all too aware that Particularly striking are the What is indisputable is that has left the Palace of Westminster alleged that the peer made inap- tion of authority in the upper the party arrived in government recent announcements from efforts to attract more women showing its age in more ways propriate advances to them house to denounce their party’s full of promises to clean up poli- members of the Tories’ 2010 into parliament appear to be than one. some years ago, abusing his posi- leader over his handling of the tics, tackle vested interests and intake who have had enough. stalling. Less than one in three The under-representation of tion of power. An investigation Rennard crisis. In a nutshell, restore faith in the parliamen- Last week Jessica Lee followed Conservative candidates set to women in the so-called mother of by the independent QC Alistair while Clegg has set in motion tary process. In his first speech three Conservative colleagues fight target seats in 2015 is female. parliaments has long been a press- Webster found 10 days ago that plans for a further investiga- as deputy prime minister, on 19 — Lorraine Fullbrook, Laura Only 16pc of Conservative MPs are ing concern for all parties. The the claims were “credible”. tion into whether Rennard has May, 2010, Clegg was bursting Sandys and Louise Mensch women, against 31pc for Labour unedifying saga of Lord Rennard’s However, Webster muddied the brought the party into disrepute with good intentions. He offered (who left last year), in deciding and 12pc for the Lib Dems. And allegedly amorous approaches to waters by saying he thought it (which could lead to the peer’s a sunshine manifesto of political not to stand for a second term. Britain fares badly in an inter- female Liberal Democrats, and unlikely that “it could be estab- expulsion if the charge is upheld), reform that would restore faith in The reasons for their disillu- national comparisons, with 22pc internal arguments over how lished beyond reasonable doubt a powerful group of Lib Dem peers and respect towards politicians, sionment are many and shared female MPs, way behind countries to deal with those allegations, that Lord Rennard had intended is defying him. The group believes parliament and government fol- by members from all parties. such as Sweden (46pc), and the reawakened resentments about to act in an indecent or sexually such a course would be disastrous lowing the expenses scandal, They range from the antisocial Netherlands (41pc). the abuse of power in an insti- inappropriate way. Without proof and unfair on Rennard, against transferring tranches of power hours to complaints that being a Given episodes such as the tution where men usually occupy of such an intention, I do not con- whom nothing has been proven. from the centre to the citizens in backbencher lacks any meaning Rennard affair, and the constant the top positions. Meanwhile, the sider that such a charge would be They want the matter sorted out one fell swoop. “So, no, incremen- because decisions are made by failure of parliament to reform decision of Tory MP Jessica Lee tenable.” behind the scenes, by mediation, tal change will not do,” said the small power groups at the cen- itself and deliver the “new poli- to stand down at the next election Since that somewhat ambiv- and for Rennard to apologise and new deputy PM. “It is time for a tre. Charlotte Leslie, the Tory tics” its leaders so often promise, — the fourth female Conservative alent verdict, the Liberal stay in the party. wholesale, big-bang approach to MP for Bristol North West, says should anyone be surprised? from the 2010 intake to do so Democrats - the party that under One Lib Dem peer, Lord Carlile, political reform. And that is what time has left parliament behind. THE GUARDIAN Australia Day is a time for mourning, not celebration

BY NAKKIAH LUI Aboriginal people were murdered purely south crosses. For the official 1938 Australia Day because this land was their home. In Sydney we have Yabun, an ’ve been using the dating web- The 1988 bicentennary events was one Aboriginal event working as an alterna- site OkCupid too much lately, and celebrations, the govt brought in “tame of the biggest protests held by Aboriginal tive to Australia Day, which has been held Irecently decided to reply to persistent people from around Australia, and done for the last 12 years. But has the proc- messages from a MrNxtLvl – someone I blacks” from the Menindee reserve. in the name of survival. Around 40,000 lamation of calling it Yabun instead of would usually ignore based on his user- protesters came to Sydney from all over Invasion Day or Survival Day, and hosting name alone. MrNxtLvl asked me what tall ships in Sydney’s harbour. Instead, recognition of what has been happening the country to participate in the march. celebrations instead of protest, depoliti- I was up to on Australia Day. I replied we mourn the declaration of Australia to us for over 100 years. One of the earli- On the same day, Aboriginal people gath- cised the event? with “Nothing. I don’t celebrate Australia as terra nullius (empty land) as well as est Aboriginal protests occurred in 1888, ered at La Perouse Bay to throw their I’m afraid that if we give up on protest- Day’”. He answered with complete bewil- those who have died in massacres, those when Indigenous people boycotted cente- funeral wreaths into the water. ing Australia Day, the blameless myth derment: “You do nuthin? Not even lis- who were dispossessed of their land and nary celebrations. In 1937 William Cooper, I was just two years old when my mum will continue — becoming richer and ten to Triple J’s Hottest 100?” to which homes, those were denied their human- a member of the Aboriginal Progressive took me on this march. I wore a red, black fuller, until we no longer remember the I could only reply, “not even Triple J”. ity, those who were shackled, beaten, Association, declared the sesquicentenary and yellow Aboriginal flag dress, and we past. The Australian anthem, Advanced I’m an Aboriginal woman in her 20s sent to prison camps, and made to live a “day of mourning”, and a protest was held hands as we marched. My mother Australia Fair, says; who cruises dating websites, but it’s in reserves. We mourn those who have held at the Australian Hall in Sydney. says it is the cheering she remembers For those who’ve come across the seas only four generations back that my fam- died in the resistance. This doesn’t stop here. In 1985, the most clearly: the roar of cheers from We’ve boundless plains to share ily felt the direct consequences of for- We also mourn the affects of genocide Sydney Morning Herald noted that: the massive crowds of non-Aboriginal In the anthem you’ll find no men- eigners invading our land. There’s my and colonisation which persists to this For the official 1938 Australia Day people who had gathered to support the tion of stolen land – everything is young great-great grandmother, who survived day. Aboriginal people die younger (an celebrations, the government brought in march as they went through Belmore and new. And as I watch people around a massacre; my great grandfather, who Indigenous male born in 2005-2007 is “tame blacks” from the Menindee reserve. Park in Sydney’s CBD, with many end- the country celebrate the myth that is was forced back to the mission after his likely to live to 67.2 years, 11.5 years less They were taken straight from the train, ing up joining the protest in support of Australia, I am given the option to either father died and wasn’t allowed to own than a non-Indigenous male); the number locked up in a stable at the Redfern Aboriginal people. There are still protests join in or shut up. Well I refuse to cel- land; my grandfather, who was given of Aboriginal children in “out of home police barracks, and guarded by dogs. On every year around the country and at the ebrate, and every Australia Day my heart “dog tags” dictating he was an “honorary care” is staggering; imprisonment rates January 26, 1938, they were brought out Tent Embassy in Canberra, but for many is broken as I am reminded that in the white man” after he returned from being for Indigenous Australians are around 12 dressed in leaves to be chased along the Australians, the extent of their knowl- eyes of many, I am not welcome on my a prisoner of war in World War II; my times those of the rest of the Australian shore by British soldiers with bayonets edge of that would be the saga of Julia own land. Most people just want a day to mother, who was encouraged to not finish population; and people in the Northern and to parade through the street on a Gillard’s missing shoe incident during the celebrate the place that they call home, high school because she was Aboriginal. Territory are still being oppressed under float. The next day they were sent back 2012 Australia Day protests. Twenty-six to be part of a community, and to guide This is why, for us, Australia Day is the Northern Territory intervention, a to their tin sheds on the Darling River. years on from the 1988 celebrations, I do Australia into the future. I am one of a day of mourning. It is not a day to go policy which Amnesty International These days we do the re-enactments wonder: if Aboriginal Australians were these people, so why can’t we celebrate over to my friends’ to sit in a blow up pool described as “blatantly disregarding without the bayonets, and Aboriginal to march through Sydney now in the this on a day that includes all Australians? and enjoy, and it’s definitely not a day to human rights”. elders give a Welcome to Country. This name of survival, would we get the sup- Surely there must be another his- wear red, white and blue while waving a We mourn whilst the rest of the coun- welcome happens on the very same spot port we were given then? I don’t know if torically significant date that can be flag with a Union Jack and a Southern try celebrates around us. where Indigenous people who encountered we would get much support, or if our red, trumped up to include every person in Cross on it. Protesting against Australia Day is the first tall ships yelled “warra warra” black and yellow Aboriginal flags would this country. But ignorance is bliss, right? We do not celebrate the coming of the nothing new; it is an ongoing fight for the (go away). It is the very same spot where be welcome among the Union Jacks and THE GUARDIAN MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Syria to let women, kids leave besieged Homs UN happy as both sides showing respect in the meeting

GENEVA: The Syrian regime Brahimi said. He said talks had Brahimi said the talks would has agreed to allow women and also touched on continued efforts become more general. children to leave besieged rebel- to have convoys of humanitarian “This is a political negotiation, held areas of the central city of aid brought into Homs. everything we discuss is politi- Homs, UN mediator Lakhdar “As far as Homs is concerned, cal,” he said. “I think tomorrow Brahimi said yesterday at peace there is an agreement now from I expect the two parties to make talks in Geneva. the armed groups on the inside some general statement about the “What we have been told by the not to attack an assistance convoy way forward.” government side is that women entering Homs,” he said. Syrian Deputy Foreign and children in this besieged Brahimi admitted the talks Minister Faisal Muqdad con- area of the city are welcome to were progressing slowly but said firmed that women and children leave immediately,” Brahimi told he was pleased with the atmos- would be allowed to leave and reporters. phere so far. blamed rebel forces for blocking “Hopefully starting tomorrow, “I am happy, because in gen- then in the first place. women and children will be able eral there is mutual respect and “I have been personally involved to leave the Old City in Homs.” they are aware of the fact that over the past two years to get He said that as well as women this attempt is important and these women and children out and children, “other civilians are we must continue. I hope that of the Old City of Homs. But we also welcome to leave, but the this mood will continue,” he said. could not. In all these attempts government needs a list of their Talks yesterday also touched we have been prevented by the names first”. on the thousands of people jailed, armed groups, who did not allow The subject of Homs — where kidnapped or missing in the a single person out,” Muqdad told hundreds of families in the Old country. reporters. A man carries a bag amid debris in the besieged area of Homs, yesterday. City are living under siege with Brahimi said the opposition had Talks on Sunday also touched near-daily shelling and the bar- agreed “they will try to collect a on the thousands of people jailed, Meanwhile, the wife of prom- in Geneva were set to discuss the the Syrian government to release est of supplies — has been dis- list of names” of people held by kidnapped or missing in the inent Syrian activist and jour- fate of thousands of people miss- Mazen, Hani and Hussein. I hope cussed at length since the two rebel forces they control or have country. nalist Mazen Darwish, detained ing, jailed and kidnapped since the the authorities will see Geneva parties started face-to-face talks contact with, to hand over to the Brahimi said the opposition had by authorities since February outbreak of the conflict in March II as an opportunity for a real on Saturday. regime to move the process of agreed “they will try to collect a 2012, yesterday appealed for 2011. peaceful solution, and part of “You know that the centre of prisoner exchanges forward. list of names” of people held by his release as a “goodwill ges- Darwish was set to appear that would mean releasing people the city has been under siege for The opposition has said it rebel forces they control or have ture” amid peace talks in before a Damascus court today who are peaceful activists,” said a very, very long time and now I wants the talks today to move contact with, to hand over to the Switzerland. on “terror” charges along with his wife Yara Badr, who is also a hope that we are approaching a to the core issue of a political regime to move the process of Her call came as Syrian govern- his colleagues Hussein Ghreir journalist. solution for at least the civilians,” transition. prisoner exchanges forward. ment and opposition delegations and Hani Zaitani.“We appeal to AFP UAE gives assurances on health of president

RIYADH: The United Arab president of the state, and said negotiations on behalf of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan formidable foreign currency Emirates (UAE) issued a reas- he is in a stable condition,” state UAE government in sectors rang- in 2004. He is also the ruler of reserves to back the military rul- suring message yesterday about news agency Wa m reported. ing from energy and defence to oil-producing Abu Dhabi, the ers of Egypt against the Muslim the health of President H H The agency was referring to investment, domestic politics and richest and most powerful of Brotherhood opposition. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed international affairs. the UAE emirates, which also It is a member of the Gulf Nahyan (left), after he had Al Nahyan, a half brother of On Saturday, state media said include Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Cooperation Council along with surgery following a stroke, state Sheikh Khalifa who is also dep- Sheikh Khalifa had undergone Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, media in the Opec member Gulf uty supreme commander of the surgery after suffering a stroke Ras Al Khaima. Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman, and has a very Arab state reported. armed forces of the UAE, a fed- and was in stable condition. operates a sovereign wealth fund large expatriate population. The “The crown prince of Abu eration of seven emirates at the Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa is that is one of the world’s biggest UAE exported around 2.6 million Dhabi has reassured the kings southern end of the Gulf. known as a pro-Western modern- investors. barrels a day of oil in 2013, official and leaders of brotherly states as Sheikh Mohammed, 52, has iser who has ruled the UAE since The UAE is an ally of the figures show. to the health of His Highness the for much of the past decade led the death of his father Sheikh United States and has used its AFP

Bahraini wounded during Libya and Egypt in talks arrest dies: Ministry over diplomat hostages DUBAI: A young Bahraini prisoner died of wounds he suffered during a police operation to detain him on charges of weapons TRIPOLI: Libya’s government powerful militia, which denied smuggling, the interior ministry said yesterday. However, the Gulf was in talks yesterday with it was involved in the Egyptian kingdom’s main Shia political opposition group said the man died on Egypt to resolve a hostage cri- kidnappings. The abduction of five Saturday as a result of torture during his detention. sis after gunmen kidnapped five diplomats in the Libyan capital A ministry statement said Fadel Abbas Musalem, 20, had been taken Egyptian diplomats in Tripoli in illustrated the fragility of govern- to hospital after being “wounded in the head” on January 8 when police retaliation for Egypt’s arrest of ment control over former rebels tried to arrest him in a Shia village near the capital Manama. a top Libyan militia commander. and militias who two years ago It added that police acted in “legitimate defence” when they fired on a Gunmen grabbed five diplo- helped topple Muammar Gaddafi car carrying Mussalem and another man when it kept driving towards matic staff from their homes in a Nato-backed revolution. security forces despite warning shots. The other man was also arrested. in the Libyan capital within 24 Heavily armed ex-fighters, Musallem was part of a group suspected of “involvement in smuggling hours, including the cultural atta- militiamen and Islamist militants weapons and explosives and in terrorist acts”, the ministry added. che, after the powerful Islamist- who battled Gaddafi forces have Bahrain’s state prosecutor said the group had received training leaning militia reported its refused to disarm and often remain abroad to carry out “terrorist acts”, saying several members had been commander Shaban Hadia was more loyal to their brigades, tribal arrested with “weapons and explosives”. detained in Egypt. leaders or local regions than to Kidnappers on Saturday later the new Libyan government. called Dubai-based Arab channel The Operations Room of Libya’s Al Arabiya, demanding Hadia’s Revolutionaries is nominally under Militants capture soldiers in Iraq release in 24 hours and put one the control of chief of staff to work BAGHDAD: Militants appeared to have captured at least five Iraqi of the Egyptian diplomats on the with the armed forces, but the soldiers near Fallujah yesterday, according to witnesses and online line to plead with their govern- militia has before used military videos, as 13 people were killed elsewhere amid a nationwide surge ment to meet the demands. muscle to make political demands in unrest. The latest deaths push to more than 850 the number of “They are still being held,” on the state. people killed this month in Iraq, where authorities are grappling Libya’s Foreign Ministry spokes- Operations Room commanders with a deadly standoff in Anbar province and a surge in nationwide man said. “Talks between the denied any involvement in the dip- bloodshed. Libyan and Egyptian sides are at lomat abductions. But on Friday, Diplomats and foreign leaders have urged the Shiite-led government the top level, the prime ministers they had warned of a response if to pursue political reconciliation with disaffected minority Sunnis to are talking to each other.” Hadia were not released. undercut support for militants, but with elections looming in April, Hadia commands the The group said he was arrested Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has taken a hard line. Operations Room of visiting Egypt with family for Yesterday, witnesses said between five and 22 soldiers, were captured A Libyan soldier mans a checkpoint in the capital Tripoli yesterday. Libya’s Revolutionaries, a medical treatment. REUTERS by anti-government fighters who also seized several military vehicles. Paper suspended over graft report KHARTOUM: A Sudanese newspaper which reported on com- South Sudan fighting continues despite truce modity shortages and alleged corruption has been suspended from publishing, its editor said yesterday. Idris Al Doma said he was informed of the ban against Al Jarida during a meeting with agents JUBA: South Sudan’s govern- pitting forces loyal to President offensives, our forces only acted networks — is difficult. of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). ment and rebels traded accusa- Salva Kiir against a loose coalition in self-defence,” he said in a state- Army spokesman Philip Aguer “This is because we published stories about the crises in fuel, bread tions yesterday that each had of army defectors and ethnic mili- ment. The army has dismissed the said he had received no fresh and flour,” he said, adding Al Jarida had also written about alleged breached a ceasefire deal by tia nominally headed by sacked reports, blaming the rebels for reports of fighting yesterday. corruption in a government cotton company. attacking the other, but insisted vice president Riek Machar, a attacking their forces. But both sides have also NISS agents had already seized copies of the newspaper at its print- they were committed to ending seasoned guerrilla fighter. Both sides insist they are com- said they doubt the other can ing presses last Wednesday and Friday, Doma said. weeks of brutal conflict. Rebel military spokesman Lul mitted to the deal, and the clashes fully control the forces on the The tactic is regularly employed by the security service, which has Both sides insisted they had Ruai Koang reported Sunday reported since the agreement was ground. also banned some newspapers for varying periods. opened fire only in self-defence “clear violations” of the cease- signed late Thursday appear to Information Minister Michael Rai Al Shaab, the newspaper of the opposition Popular Congress and were respecting the ceasefire, fire, claiming government forces have been localised skirmishes, Makuei, speaking on Saturday in Party, has been shut for two years following an order from NISS. which began on Friday evening had attacked rebel positions in not large-scale assaults. Juba after returning from the talks Motorists in the Sudanese capital found some petrol stations bar- and aims to stop six weeks of the northern oil state of Unity Verifying reports from across in Ethiopia that hammered out the ricaded shut last week while queues formed at others. bloodshed. and in the volatile eastern the vast and remote regions of crucial deal, said the clashes were Residents also complained about shortages of bread, a staple food. Up to 10,000 people are believed Jonglei region. South Sudan — large areas of not unexpected, as the “rebels are AGENCIES to have been killed in the fighting “In all the government’s which have poor if any telephone indisciplined”. AFP MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Berlusconi opts France’s ‘bachelor’ president begins a new chapter for wrinkles : French leader Francois an epoch”. Saying he was speaking partner or spouse. A recent poll on good terms with the president Hollande as telling people close to Hollande yesterday began a new as a private individual, Hollande, by Le Parisien daily showed that and she is better.” him that “women have cost me in image switch chapter in his presidency as a in a terse statement to AFP over 54 percent of French people felt But 59-year-old Hollande came dearly,” referring to his splits with bachelor after splitting from his the phone, said he was ending his it was not. Trierweiler, 48, left under fire from opponents for cheat- Trierweiler and her predecessor ROME: Former premier Silvio partner of eight years following “shared life” with Trierweiler. for Mumbai yesterday for charity ing in his personal life and procras- Segolene Royal, the mother of his Berlusconi, famed for his face an affair with a younger actress. And in an interview to Time work, her first public appearance tinating on announcing the split. four children and a senior member lifts and hair implants, has Under intense media scrutiny magazine just hours before since the scandal erupted. Thousands of people marched in of his Socialist party, from whom opted for a sharp image change since the revelation of the affair announcing the rupture, Hollande She had been convalescing at a Paris yesterday in a “Day of Anger” he separated in 2007. in reaction to the rise of younger two weeks ago, Hollande — who reiterated his desire to keep silent presidential residence in Versailles over Hollande’s policies, some of Citing sources, the weekly said rival Matteo Renzi, agreeing to had pledged a “normal” presi- about his private life. outside Paris after leaving hospi- them alluding to the scandal. Trierweiler would keep an apart- be shown wrinkled and without dency after the domestically tur- “Private life is always, at certain tal last Saturday, where she was An organiser said, without nam- ment the couple shared in Paris’s make-up by a UK newspaper bulent stint of his “bling bling” times, a challenge. And it has to be treated for what was described as ing Hollande, that some leaders middle-class 15th district and also yesterday. predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy — on respected,” he said. “I believe that fatigue brought on by press rev- “were more busy with their affairs... receive “financial compensation”. The Sunday Times carried a por- Saturday formally announced his everybody now understands that elations of Hollande’s affair with than with unemployment and the After Hollande’s announcement trait of 77-year-old centre-right split from Valerie Trierweiler. president or not president, one is 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet. freedom of the French people”. of their separation, Trierweiler leader entitled “Silvio Berlusconi “A Bachelor at the Elysee,” said entitled to have a private life.” Her entourage said she was “Valerie, the new Diana,” tweeted tweeted: “I extend all my grati- after the fall” by photographer the Journal du Dimanche weekly, The split has fuelled debate in accompanied on her India trip Roselyne Bachelot, a former minis- tude to the fantastic Elysee staff. Paul Stuart on the front page adding that Trierweiler’s depar- France about whether an official by a presidential bodyguard. A ter in Sarkozy’s government. I will never forget their dedication of its colour supplement. Major ture as first lady was “the end of role is necessary for a president’s source close to her said: “She is The Journal du Dimanche quoted nor the emotional farewell.” AFP Italian newspapers reproduced the Sunday Times cover. “Il Cavaliere proud of his age”, said Il Giornale, a paper owned by Berlusconi’s family. “He has taken off the mask because masks are not needed any more. Because now the enemy is not the same Ukraine oppn and the same makeup is not needed,” it said. Other Italian newspapers minutely dissected the portrait and concluded that the rise of Renzi, the 39-year-old mayor defiant after of Florence who has shaken up Italian politics since winning the leadership of the centre-left Democratic Party, had persuaded Berlusconi to make a virtue of his PM job offer own age. REUTERS Protests show no sign of ending Stopping atrocities top priority: CAR KIEV: The Ukrainian opposi- erupted between the opposition tion vowed to press on with pro- and police, protesters scored interim premier tests yesterday despite an offer another victory by taking control of top posts made by President of Ukrainian House, a Stalin-era BANGUI: The Central African Viktor Yanukovich, as protest- exhibition hall near the protest Republic’s new prime minister ers seized another official build- zone, ousting about 200 interior said yesterday that his priority ing in the capital. ministry troops using it as a base. will be stopping the massacres Thousands of protesters, some Special forces were allowed to and other atrocities that have clutching baseball bats and wear- exit through a side entrance to Ukrainian opposition supporters shout slogans during the funeral procession of protester Mikhail Zhiznevsky, shaken the country for months. ing gas masks, were again start- cries of “Shame!” from protesters, killed in unclear circumstances during anti-government protests, in Kiev, yesterday. Speaking the day after he was ing to fill the centre of Kiev for after an overnight siege in which named premier by interim presi- new protests as tensions showed protesters threw Molotov cock- Officials say three people have for arrested protesters and to re- “We are not refusing the dent Catherine Samba Panza no sign of ending in the deadly tails as security forces responded been killed in the escalating pro- consider draconian anti-protest offer but we are not accepting it — herself only in office since crisis gripping the country. with stun grenades. tests in Kiev, raising fears of a laws passed this month. either,” he said. He later wrote on Thursday — former banking offi- Two months after the protests The interior ministry said it wider civil conflict as protests Speaking to tens of thousands his Facebook page that the oppo- cial Andre Nzapayeke said ending began over Yanukovich’s deci- had given an order to “withdraw have spread to outlying regions packed into Kiev’s Independence sition should be the one dictating the violence between Christians sion to back out of a European the reserve unit” and essentially of Ukraine — the former Soviet Square late on Saturday, the terms, not the other way around. and Muslims was the key to Union pact, the president offered accused protesters of attempting republic’s worst crisis since inde- main opposition leaders were There was little support for restoring security and a function- on Saturday to share leadership to take the troops hostage. pendence in 1991. The opposition careful to neither accept nor the deal among protesters, who ing state. with opposition figures Arseniy “The goal of the protesters was says six people have died. explicitly reject Yanukovich’s simply want Yanukovich to quit. “I’m going to be speaking with Yatsenyuk as prime minister and taking the security forces captive Yanukovich’s office said after proposals. “We want the authorities to the different groups so that we Vitali Klitschko as deputy prime and exchanging them for arrested Saturday’s talks with opposition “We are not scared of respon- understand that we will stay until immediately stop certain... atroci- minister in a dramatic compro- or detained activists,” it said. leaders that the president was sibility for the future of Ukraine. victory and most of us see that ties being carried out in this mise bid. Protest leaders said the build- willing to shuffle his govern- We take responsibility and are as the departure of Yanukovich,” country. We have to put a stop to Opposition leaders said they ing would now be used as a “press ment and consider constitutional ready to take the country into the said protester Bogdan, 22. all that quickly,” Nzapayeke said would continue negotiations until centre” and an additional place to changes to reduce presidential European Union,” Yatsenyuk told The protests first erupted when in an interview with French radio other demands are met, in par- feed and warm protesters. They power and return to a system the cheering crowd. Yatsenyuk, Yanukovich refused to sign a key station RFI. He said he planned ticular that presidential elections said exhibits stored there from the where the prime minister has the 39-year-old leader of the deal with the EU in November, to “put a team in place that’s due in 2015 be brought forward to collection of Kiev’s history museum more authority. Fatherland party, later said that opting for closer ties with former going to deal with the question of this year. would not be touched, the Interfax The president also agreed to the opposition was “not over the master Russia instead. national reconciliation”. One week after clashes first news agency reported. send parliament an amnesty bill moon” about the proposals. AFP AFP Snow blankets Romania

Ducks swim on a lake in Bucharest yesterday. A thick blanket of snow covered southern and eastern Romania causing the closure of three highways, cancelling 20 rail links and disruptions in air traffic.

German minister dismisses fears of immigration from eastern Europe

BERLIN: German Finance “Germany profits from European search of welfare handouts. Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble integration more than any other Cameron is facing a strong dismissed fears that too many country. We’re dependent on challenge from the anti-EU UK immigrants from Romania workers coming to us. Some sec- Independence Party (UKIP), which and Bulgaria were moving to tors, such as nursing homes and wants strict curbs on immigra- Germany, saying his country had home care, could not function any tion. Britons named UKIP their benefited from European Union more without them.” favourite party in an opinion poll integration more than any other. He also addressed the fears last week ahead of elections to the Schaeuble indirectly criticised of some Germans in his Bild am European Parliament in May. conservative allies in the Christian Sonntag newspaper interview that Across Europe, politicians fear Social Union (CSU), sister party Romanians and Bulgarians were the issue will boost the far-right to his Christian Democrats moving in growing numbers to in the European Parliament elec- (CDU), for fanning fears against Germany to take advantage of its tion. High unemployment and immigrants, saying some sectors generous welfare safety net. austerity fatigue in the euro zone urgently needed migrant workers. “There are, incidentally, have made it easier for fringe par- The CSU has proposed limits to Germans who abuse the social ties to prosper. welfare payments for immigrants welfare system or evade taxes,” As the eurozone’s biggest econ- from Romania and Bulgaria, who said Schaeuble, a respected omy, with a low birth-rate and from January 1 have had full leader in conservative circles in unemployment of just 6.9 percent, access to the jobs market and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party. Germany is a magnet for migrants. social services of the rest of the British Prime Minister David With double-digit percentage rises European Union. Cameron has called for curbs on in net inflows for three years, it “We Germans don’t have any free movement and raised concerns received 67,000 Romanians and reason at all to harbour hostile about migrants from Romania 29,000 Bulgarians in the first half attitudes against others,” he said. and Bulgaria heading to Britain in of 2013. REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Republicans Far-right leader accuse Obama of arrogance Plan to bypass Congress slammed

WASHINGTON: US President legislation through. It takes con- Barack Obama’s strategy to sensus. But that’s what he needs bypass Congress this year with to be doing is building consensus executive orders to advance and not taking his pen and creat- his policy agenda received a ing law,” he said. cold reaction yesterday from Mitch McConnell, the US Republican leaders, who Senate’s top Republican, said his accused the White House of party wanted to work with the arrogance and sidestepping the president on free trade agree- political process. ments and would be willing to Obama and his advisers have extend unemployment benefits signaled for weeks that the pres- as long as doing so did not add to ident would take a more active the national debt. “The president role in using his pen and phone has sort of hung out on a limb and to sign orders that do not require tried to get what he wants through lawmaker approval and cajole the bureaucracy as opposed to others to back his priorities. moving to the political centre,” Senior White House adviser McConnell told Fox News Sunday. Dan Pfeiffer said Obama needed “We’re anxious to help him cre- Congress to pass immigration ate jobs, but we’re not going to go Gabor Vona, leader of Hungary’s far-right Jobbik party, addresses expatriate supporters at a rally in Hyde Park in central London yesterday. Vona, reform and extend unemployment over and endorse more spending, who leads the anti-Roma and openly anti-Semitic Jobbik party, spoke to British-based supporters, with a large police presence in place. insurance but that the president more debt, more taxes and more would telegraph in his State of the regulation.” Union address tomorrow that he The White House’s new strat- would not be patient with law- egy comes after a tough 2013 in makers in areas where he did which his legislative goals on pri- not need them. “The president ... orities such as gun control and Snowden ready to negotiate return to US is not going to tell the American immigration reform died or lan- people that he’s going to wait for guished in Congress. Republicans WASHINGTON: Edward have been contacted yet about be necessary if he were to return some kind of reduced sentence,” Congress,” Pfeiffer told CNN’s have a majority in the House of Snowden would be willing to restarting negotiations,” the legal to the United States on a website he said, adding Snowden was “State of the Union with Candy Representatives and Democrats enter talks with US Attorney adviser said. called “Free Snowden”. potentially facing a life sentence, Crowley” programme. control the Senate. With an eye General Eric Holder to negotiate Holder said in an interview on “Returning to the US, I think, or 25-30 years in jail. “He’s going to move forward to Obama’s legacy, administra- his return to the United States MSNBC on Thursday the United is the best resolution for the gov- Chertoff added that the gov- in areas like job training, educa- tion officials are eager to avoid but not without a guarantee of States would not consider the idea ernment, the public, and myself, ernment has “done deals in the tion, manufacturing, on his own the same fate in 2014 and have amnesty, his legal adviser said of amnesty for Snowden “where but it’s unfortunately not possi- past with spies” — comparing to try to restore opportunity for stressed that they will not judge yesterday. we say, no harm, no foul”. ble in the face of current whistle- Snowden to Robert Hanssen, American families,” Pfeiffer said. the year’s success based on legisla- Jesselyn Radack said she was Radack, who is the director blower protection laws, which a former FBI agent who spied Republicans, speaking ahead of tive achievements. glad Holder indicated last week of national security and human through a failure in law did not for Soviet and Russian intelli- the high profile Tuesday evening The Washington Post quoted one he would talk to lawyers for the rights at the Government cover national security contrac- gence services from 1979 to 2001. address, were not pleased. official saying Obama previously former US spy agency contrac- Accountability Project — a tors like myself,” Snowden wrote. Radack said allegations Snowden “It sounds vaguely like a threat had governed too much like a tor to negotiate his return from whistleblowers’ organisation — Michael Chertoff, former sec- was a spy were unsubstantiated and I think it also has a certain prime minister who needed sup- Moscow, but that Snowden would said Snowden has already suf- retary of homeland security under and the result of a smear cam- amount of arrogance in the sense port from lawmakers and not need better protection. fered because his US passport has President George W Bush, who paign by the government. that one of the fundamental prin- enough like a president who could “It’s a little disheartening that been revoked. appeared after Radack on “Meet “Mr Snowden publicly chatted ciples of our country were the act on his own accord. he (Holder) seemed to take clem- “He has been punished quite a the Press,” said Snowden could with the US this week to deny checks and balances,” Republican Obama plans to unveil a new ency and amnesty off the table, bit already and while we are glad get a fair trial if he returns to being a spy but if people don’t Senator Rand Paul, a potential plan to help people still looking which are two of the negotiating to dialogue and negotiate, he is not the country but was unlikely to want to take my word for it or presidential candidate in 2016, for jobs in the recovering economy points,” said Radack, who was going to come back and face an be granted amnesty. Mr Snowden’s word for it, you said on the same programme. during his Tuesday address and interviewed via satellite from espionage prosecution,” she said. “If he decides he wants to tell can ask the FBI, which decided “Welcome to the real world. will follow that up with a four- Moscow by NBC’s “Meet the Snowden himself on Thursday the US government everything he and still believes he acted alone,” It’s hard to convince people to get state tour. REUTERS Press”. “But again, none of us discussed what conditions would stole he may be able to bargain for she said. REUTERS

Morales in Cuba Seniors’ home fire unacceptable, Fake bomb detector says Quebec scam comes to light premier LONDON: The government documents about Bolton’s deal- accepted thousands of pounds ings with the UK government L’ISLE-VERTE, QUEBEC: from a fraudster to assist a glo- released to the Guardian under Quebec Premier Pauline Marois bal trade in fake bomb detectors the Freedom of Information Act. yesterday said a fatal fire in a despite a Whitehall-wide warn- The government accepted seniors’ residence was “unac- ing that such devices were “no more than £5,000 from the fraud- ceptable” but stopped short of better than guessing” and could ster to supply uniformed Royal saying her government would be deadly. Engineers to promote the bogus make sprinklers mandatory in The Kent businessman Gary kit at international trade fairs, homes for the elderly. Bolton paid the government and to secure the backing of “These are events we very to enlist serving soldiers and Giles Paxman, the brother of the much don’t want to happen, and a British ambassador in what BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman so we have to do everything pos- turned out to be the fraudulent and then UK ambassador to sible to make sure they don’t sale of bomb detectors based on Mexico, who set up sales meet- happen again,” she told reporters novelty golf ball finders. Bolton, ings for Bolton’s firm with senior after arriving in town.. 48, was sentenced to seven years Mexican officials engaged in the Authorities fear 32 people died in jail last year for fraud after country’s bloody drugs war. The early on Thursday when fire claims that use of his handheld British embassy in Manila also ripped through the Residence du devices cost lives and resulted in helped, and Whitehall trade bod- Havre in L’Isle-Verte, a town of wrongful convictions. ies took money to support Global 1,500 people some 230km north- The ability of UK firms to hire Technical at least 13 times from east of Quebec City in eastern top diplomats to arrange introduc- 2003 to 2009 as Bolton made up Canada. tions for as little as £250 a time, to £3m a year. Sentencing Bolton Marois later joined town resi- and serving soldiers to act as sales- last year, an Old Bailey judge said dents at a private memorial serv- men for £109 a day plus VAT, with- the scam “materially increased ice at the town’s simple stone out checks on the authenticity of the risk of personal injury and church. Bolivian President Evo Morales arrives at Jose Marti international airport in Havana yesterday. Havana will hold products, is revealed in Whitehall death”. THE GUARDIAN Roch Bernier, co-owner of the the II Summit of Latin American and Caribbean states (CELAC) tomorrow and on Wednesday. residence, greeted the congrega- tion somberly and was given a standing ovation. “I come to you with a heart full of emotion and at the same British officials plan review of media warning system time enormous suffering,” he told the mourners, saying he consid- ered the residents to be part of LONDON: Officials are plan- as the DA-notice could be made its secretary, Air Vice-Marshal the FBI, the UK’s Government committee’s media vice-chairman, his family. Bernier also called on ning to review the UK’s his- compulsory. Andrew Vallance, raised concerns Communications Headquarters told the Sunday Times: “Any sug- people not to look for blame. toric D-notice system, which The committee is supposed to about the parallel publication of (GCHQ, the secret agency respon- gestion that the current system “Let us find out what we can warns the media not to publish be consulted when news organisa- Snowden’s revelations by news- sible for signals intelligence) the be abolished would potentially be to do to help each other,” he intelligence that might dam- tions are considering publishing papers around the world, noting White House and the Cabinet a precursor of a coercive system, said before returning to his seat, age security, in the wake of the material relating to secret intel- that at the outset the Guardian Office — on more than 100 occa- which I believe the entire British barely able to choke back tears. Guardian’s stories about mass ligence or the military. It is staffed had “avoided engaging with the sions before the publication of media would oppose.” A larger public mass is due to surveillance by the security by senior civil servants and media DA-notice system before publishing stories. On only one occasion was A spokesman for the MoD be held in the town on February 1. services based on leaks from representatives, who give advice on the first tranche of information”. there no consultation with the UK said the department was “con- A spokesman for Canadian Prime the US whistleblower Edward the publication of sensitive stories. However, giving evidence to MPs government before publication, sidering a review of the system”, Minister Stephen Harper did not Snowden. The MoD declined to say why in December, Alan Rusbridger, the when the editor feared an injunc- but no decisions had been made. immediately respond when asked Sources said Jon Thompson, the future of the committee was editor of the Guardian, said the tion could be sought, he said. There are currently five stand- whether Harper would attend. the permanent secretary of the being considered, but minutes of its D-notice committee had found Compliance with D-notices is ing D-notices relating to mili- “My thoughts and prayers are UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), latest meeting say: “The events of nothing published by the paper not compulsory, but there are tary operations, nuclear weapons, with the families of the victims of was setting up an inquiry into the last few months had undoubt- that put British lives at risk. fears the system could become ciphers and secure communica- the terrible fire in L’Isle-Verte,” the future of the committee, edly raised questions in some He said the Guardian had con- more draconian after a review. tions, sensitive installations and Harper said in a statement on raising fears that the voluntary minds about the system’s future sulted government officials and Simon Bucks, associate editor the security services. Twitter. REUTERS censorship system also known usefulness.” In his latest report, intelligence agencies — including at Sky News and the D-notice THE GUARDIAN MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 440,000 prevented from voting in Thailand Protests blight advance voting; anti-government leader gunned down in Bangkok violence

BANGKOK: A Thai protest As the advance polls closed, a of the main figures at the Centre leader was shot dead yesterday leader of the anti-government for Maintaining Peace and Order, as fellow demonstrators besieged rallies was gunned down while which is handling the crisis. polling stations in Bangkok, dis- he gave a speech from the back Away from the capital voting rupting advance voting for hun- of a pick-up truck in the Bangkok went ahead in 66 of the country’s dreds of thousands of people suburb of Bang Na. 76 provinces, including the ruling before next weekend’s controver- Nine other people were injured party’s heartlands in the north sial general election. in the shooting, according to the and northeast, he said. Protesters descended on scores city’s Erawan emergency cen- Yingluck, who has so far refused of polling stations in the Thai cap- tre, with the violence deepening to resign or delay the poll, is set to ital and several southern prov- doubts over whether next week- meet election officials tomorrow inces, stopping ballot officials end’s ballot can go ahead. after the Constitutional Court from entering and prompting Protest spokesman Akanat ruled that the general election election authorities to shut more Promphan accused a “pro-gov- could legally be delayed because than 80 venues nationwide. ernment mob” of carrying out of the crisis. More than two million people the attack which killed Suthin While the protest augurs had been registered to vote before Tharathin — the tenth victim of badly for next weekend’s election, the February 2 election, which political violence in nearly three Yingluck is likely to press on with was called by Prime Minister months of street rallies. it regardless, according to Pavin Yingluck Shinawatra to try to Police later said he died when a Chachavalpongpun, associate pro- calm rising tensions after weeks group of “Red Shirts” — govern- fessor at the Centre for Southeast of mass anti-government protests. ment-supporting activists — from Asian Studies at Japan’s Kyoto Around 440,000 of them nation- a neighbouring province clashed University. wide were prevented from voting, with protesters. Each side in the The demonstrators, who have said Somchai Srisutthiyakorn of bitterly divided kingdom routinely staged a near two-week “shut- the Election Commission, warn- blames the other for the violence, down” of Bangkok to try to ing that “a similar problem” could but the incident will renew fears derail the vote, have rejected the afflict next Sunday’s poll. of wider clashes despite the impo- election. They had insisted they Advance voting is routinely sition of a state of emergency would not obstruct advance vot- offered for those who cannot cast across Bangkok. ers, although analysts have ques- their ballot on polling day. But “Forty-five polling stations had tioned whether the disruption yesterday’s exercise was seen as to be closed out of 50 in Bangkok,” was tantamount to intimidation A Thai voter (left) is strangled by an anti-government protester as he is prevented from entering a polling station, a test of the prospects of holding said Surapong Tovichakchaikul, of the electorate. during advance voting in Bangkok yesterday. the general election. deputy prime minister and one AFP China jails rights activist for four years Manila, rebels to sign

BEIJING: A court sentenced The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate authorities have once again opted peace deal by March one of China’s most prominent People’s Court found Xu guilty of for the rule of fear over the rule rights advocates to four years “gathering a crowd to disturb of law,” Roseann Rife, East Asia MANILA: The Philippine gov- Long years of insurgency have in prison yesterday after he public order”, the court said on Research Director at Amnesty ernment and the country’s main left much of the southern region campaigned for the rights of its official microblog. Xu was tried International, said in a statement. Muslim rebel group said yes- of Mindanao volatile, with a pro- children from rural areas to be on Wednesday. Hu, the dissident, said he was terday that they hoped to sign liferation of unlicensed firearms educated in cities and for offi- Xu’s lawyer Zhang Qingfang prepared to face detention. “It’s within weeks a final peace deal to in the hands of other armed cials to disclose their assets. said he would meet Xu within because I’ve participated in many end decades of deadly insurgency groups, including Al Qaeda-linked Xu Zhiyong’s (pictured) jailing the next two days to determine street protests,” Hu said as police after clearing the last hurdle in militants and offshoots that are will send a stark warning to activ- whether to lodge an appeal. waited outside his door to take 18 years of negotiations. opposed to the talks. ists that the Chinese Communist “He said (in court) that the him away. “I’ve asked for officials A “comprehensive agreement” But Ferrer said that to thwart Party will crush any challenge to last remaining dignity of the to publicly disclose their assets with the Moro Islamic Liberation any possible armed challenges, a its rule, especially from those who Chinese legal system has been and have expressed solidarity with Front (MILF) should be signed joint security group composed of seek to organise campaigns. destroyed,” Zhang said. “It’s not him after he was released. those who’ve been arrested. I’ve in February or March, Manila’s MILF fighters and government It also diminishes hopes for that we can’t bear this result but The government has waged a appealed to many people to watch chief negotiator Miriam Coronel- forces would be tasked to patrol meaningful political change, even that, fundamentally, the guilty 10-month drive against Xu’s “New and promote these street protests.” Ferrer said, following a break- the areas to be covered during the as China pledges to embark on conviction is illegal, is unreason- Citizens’ Movement”, which advo- China has detained at least through announced on Saturday. transition phase. economic reforms. Separately, one able and unfair.” cates working within the system 20 activists involved in pressing “We have just been discussing “There will always be contrar- of China’s most prominent dis- There were chaotic scenes out- to press for change. Hundreds for asset disclosure by officials, the next steps and our goal is to ians, but as far as the partner- sidents, Hu Jia, who frequently side the court as police shoved of citizens have participated in although not all are from the New be able to get a good schedule for ship between the MILF and the accuses authorities of infringing and harassed foreign reporters. activities related to the move- Citizens’ Movement. Two activists that,” she said from the Malaysian government is concerned, we have civil liberties, said police had sum- Zhang was briefly taken away in ment, rights activists say. stood trial on Thursday in Beijing capital Kuala Lumpur where the mechanisms that will allow us to moned him on a charge of “sus- a van by police after the hearing. “This is a shameful but sadly and four others will be tried today. last round of talks was held. “We address peace and order concerns picion of causing a disturbance”. He said police were still tailing predictable verdict. The Chinese REUTERS have set a time frame of between more effectively,” Ferrer said. February and March,” she added. She did not specify any group, The talks that began in 1996 but the toughest challenge to the with the 12,000-strong MILF are peace deal came in September, World Muslim Congregation aimed at ending an insurgency in when hundreds of supporters of the country’s south that has left rebel leader Nur Misuari laid Three activists an estimated 150,000 people dead siege to a key southern port city, since the 1970s. leaving more than 240 dead in shot dead in On Saturday, both sides agreed three weeks of fighting. on a “normalisation” deal detail- Misuari, who remains at large, ing how the rebels will hand over founded the Moro National Bangladesh their weapons and the creation Liberation Front (MNLF), from of a security force to police what which the MILF splintered in the DHAKA: Three activists from will be a self-ruled Muslim region. late 1970s. MILF vice-chairman Bangladesh’s largest Islamist Both sides had previously for political affairs, Ghazali Jaafar, party were shot dead in clashes signed deals on power-sharing, said yesterday that the rebels with security forces yesterday, taxation and governance, but the were “ecstatic” over the new officers said, amid allegations last agreement was more sensitive development but said much work forces are targeting opposition because the MILF had repeatedly remained to be done. supporters for execution. warned it would not lay down its “The next step is that we will Police said the three were killed arms unless other threat groups have to talk about the final word- during two separate gun bat- in the south were disarmed. ing of the comprehensive compact tles between security forces and After the final deal is signed, agreement,” he said. “Meantime, a bomb-throwing activists from President Benigno Aquino is transitional commission will have the Jamaat-e-Islami party in two expected to sign a “basic law” for to start drafting the basic law to southeastern towns — clashes that the creation of a new autonomous be sent to Congress.” also left several officers injured. region for the Muslims. He said he believed a final deal “They threw bombs at us and This would then be passed to would be in place “soon” but that the joint forces opened fire in self- Congress, and subjected to a ref- some members of Congress in defence. A gun fight ensued,” a local erendum, with Aquino hoping to the mainly Catholic country may police chief, Shahjahan Ali, said. Pilgrims arrive on overcrowded trains to attend the Biswa Ijtema or World Muslim Congregation in Tongi, have it completed by the time he oppose the agreement. Jamaat said the men were 30km north of Dhaka, yesterday. ends his six-year term in 2016. AFP arrested and taken to remote places where they were shot dead execution-style. The party said the deaths were the latest in a series of such killings. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Nepali Congress elects Sushil Koirala its PM candidate announced a crackdown on oppo- sition unrest after her victory in a January 5 general election. Jamaat KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress, Koirala agreed to anoint him as the party’s Marxist-Leninist) and the Unified Deuba later called Koirala on phone and said at least 59 opposition activ- the largest party in parliament, yester- acting president. Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in the congratulated him upon being elected to ists and party officials have now day named its president Sushil Koirala Of the total 194 votes cast, Koirala November 19 polls. the post. Following yesterday’s election, been shot dead since December 12 as its prime ministerial candidate, clear- secured 105 votes while Deuba got 89. The Sushil Koirala belongs to Nepal’s Koirala President Ram Baran Yadav is expected when it says the killings started ing a major hurdle in the formation of Nepali Congress has 196 seats in the con- clan which, akin to the Nehru-Gandhi fam- to soon call upon the political parties to Yesterday, one of the bod- a new government in the Himalayan stituent assembly. ily of India and the Bhuttos of Pakistan, form a new government in Nepal. ies, that of a Jamaat official and nation two months after the constituent Deuba has already been the country’s has been deeply involved in the country’s Though Koirala is eligible to become the teacher, was found near a school assembly elections. prime minister three times after the 1990 democratic struggle. prime minister as the leader of the largest at Noudaga village near the town The Nepali Congress emerged as political change when multi-party parlia- If Sushil Koirala becomes prime minister, party, he has yet to win support of either of Kotchandpur. Police said two the largest political party in last year’s mentary democracy was ushered in after a he will be the fourth from the Koirala fam- the second largest party Communist Party young Islamists accused of mur- November 19 polls for a new constituent popular movement which ousted the erst- ily after Matrika Prasad Koirala (1951-52 of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or the dering a ruling party official were assembly. But the new government could while party-less panchayat polity. Koirala and 1953-55), Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala third largest party Unified Communist also shot dead during gunfights not yet be formed amid a row within the has not even served in any ministerial posi- (1959-60) and Girija Prasad Koirala (1991- Party of Nepal (Maoist) in parliament. between security forces and party over who should lead. tion during his 50-year political career. 94, 1998-99, 2000-01 and 2007-08). Nepal, located between India and China, Jamaat activists in the town of Three leaders, Koirala, senior leader Koirala, 75, is single and widely rec- Immediately after the announcement of has been running under an interim consti- Debhata. Jamaat denied any gun- Sher Bahadur Deuba and vice president ognised as a “clean” politician in Nepal. his name as parliamentary party leader, tution since the 2008 abolition of the centu- fight, saying the pair were tar- Ram Chandra Poudel, were in the fray Under his leadership, the Nepali Congress Koirala told media persons that “it is the ries-old monarchy and a prolonged political geted for killing. for the parliamentary party leader’s post. emerged as the single-largest party besting victory of the party, all its members and deadlock that has crippled the economy. AFP Poudel, however, opted out of the race after the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified democracy... not me alone”. IANS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Afghan govt offers 2009 photo as ‘evidence’ of 2014 air strike KABUL: A photograph the taken on September 4, 2009 of a photograph was misrepresented, government began handing it out. had died and he accused the head remain in the country after 2014. Afghan government distributed funeral in Kunduz province after but he accused The New York It also raised questions over the of the investigation team, MP He has also angered Western to back up its claims about civil- a US air strike that destroyed Times, which first investigated authenticity of at least one other Abdul Satar Khawasi, of being a diplomats by drawing parallels ian casualties in a US air strike two fuel tankers, killing at least the error, of running a “politi- photograph in the dossier. “treacherous liar” for exaggerating between the Parwan casualties 10 days ago was actually a 2009 70 civilians. cally motivated story to under- Karzai and the US-led Nato the death toll. and a Taliban attack on a res- AFP photograph of a different “We are taking this issue very mine general opinion about this coalition both confirm there were Civilian casualties have been taurant in Kabul on January 17 funeral, a media investigation seriously to find out who put this incident”. civilian casualties in the joint one of the most sensitive issues of in which 21 people, including 13 revealed yesterday. photograph in the dossier, which “The truth is there -- that there Afghan-US operation on Taliban- the 13-year military intervention foreigners, were killed. The presidential palace gave was made by several government were civilian casualties, houses held villages in Parwan province. in Afghanistan, and Karzai has At a government-organised journalists a dossier compiled departments,” Aimal Faizi, spokes- were destroyed and that this was Nato said “several” civilians often used misguided air strikes press conference in Kabul yes- by a fact-finding team sent by man for President Karzai, said. a unilateral operation and not in died during the 24-hour opera- to berate foreign countries and stir terday, families of the civilian Afghan President Hamid Karzai “There is no lack of evidence cooperation with local authorities,” tion, without giving details, while public anger. victims of the Parwan operation to Parwan province to gather evi- about the operation from at least he said. Karzai backed the investigation He has focused on the Parwan denied that the photograph was dence on the air strike on January ten other photos and matching The New York Times yesterday team’s conclusion that 12 civil- deaths to castigate Washington from 2009 and insisted it was of 15. video in the dossier, as well as from added that some of the material in ians died. as ties between the two allies fray a funeral after the attack 10 days Among the 14 photographs the families and survivors.” the dossier was posted on a Taliban Parwan governor Basir Salangi badly over stalled negotiations on ago. in the dossier is an AFP image Faizi did not deny the website two days before the said last week that six civilians a deal to allow some US troops to AFP

Grease Gunmen kill Suicide attack police guard at Hindu temple on bus kills in Peshawar PESHAWAR: Two gunmen in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar shot dead a police- four in Kabul man standing guard outside a Hindu temple yesterday, offi- cials said, later fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. Roadside bomb kills six in Helmand The attack, which occurred in the downtown Jhanda Bazar area, KABUL: A suicide bomber York Times. The motive for his was the latest target connected to attacked an Afghan army bus killing was unclear, with police Pakistan’s minorities who make in Kabul yesterday, killing four saying only that an investigation up some two percent of the coun- people and wounding up to 22, was under way. try’s population of 180 million. police said, while a roadside Hashmat Stanikzai, the chief “It appears to be a militant bomb killed six civilians and spokesman for police in Kabul, attack. The gunmen killed the wounded more than a dozen said the blast aimed at the bus lone policeman on duty out- others in southern Afghanistan. had also injured a number of chil- side the Hindu temple and then The Taliban quickly claimed dren who were also in the vicinity escaped,” Faisal Mukhtar, a senior responsibility for the Kabul of the attack. police official, said. attack, the worst since a devas- The Afghan capital was hit by Dancers perform during a staging of ‘Grease - The Musical’ in Karachi yesterday. An adaptation of the 1978 Hindus are thought to number tating assault on a popular res- at least two other attacks in the film ‘Grease’, Pakistan’s first licensed musical is now being played in Karachi until February 2. a few thousand in Peshawar, taurant on January 17 killed 21 previous 24 hours, according to Pakistan’s frontline city in its bat- foreigners and Afghans. security officials. tle against Al Qaeda and Taliban The attack in the south hap- Two people were wounded in militants, though the community pened when an improvised an explosion in the north of the is rarely targeted. explosive device hit a taxi in city late on Saturday, while secu- In November last year, a police- the evening, said Omar Zwak, a rity sources said a rocket landed Six children die in grenade blast man standing guard outside a spokesman for the governor of near the international airport on Pentecostal church in Peshawar Helmand province. He added that Kabul’s outskirts without causing PESHAWAR: Six children Ahmed, the district police chief. Hangu itself is regularly tar- was also shot dead by unknown 13 people were wounded. casualties. from the same family were Syed Ahmed Jan, a senior local geted by militants. A Pakistani gunmen. Among the victims of the Kabul The restaurant attack on killed and one injured yester- administration official, added: schoolboy from a nearby village In September, devastating dou- attack was local radio journalist January 17 was the worst on for- day while playing with a hand “The children were playing with sacrificed his life to stop a sui- ble suicide attacks at the historic Shahid Naimi, according to police, eigners since the Taliban were grenade in northwest Pakistan, a hand grenade they found on cide bomber, saving the lives of All Saints church in the main city who happened to be near the bus overthrown by US-led Afghan officials said. nearby open ground.” his classmates earlier this month. area of Peshawar left 82 people when the bomber blew himself up. forces in late 2001 and sent shock- The children, aged five to 12, Badshah said the girl and three The Pakistani Taliban have dead. Naimi was the second Afghan waves through Kabul. were playing near their house in of the boys were siblings, while since 2007 waged a war against Pakistan is rife with violence journalist to die in the past week, Three United Nations staff the town of Hangu when the gre- the two other boys were their the state, intended to force the against religious minorities as Al after the mutilated body of Noor and the International Monetary nade exploded, local police official cousins. government to scrap its alliance Qaeda and Taliban-led militants Ahmad Noori was discovered in Fund’s top representative in Hussain Badshah said. The family had migrated from with the US and to impose the regularly target Christian, Sikhs, southern Helmand province on Afghanistan were among the 13 “Five boys and one girl were the neighbouring Orakzai tribal militants’ brand of Islamic Sharia Hindus, Ahmadi and Shia com- Thursday. foreigners killed in that attack. killed in the blast. One other agency where the military is bat- law. munities in the country. Noori had worked for the New AGENCIES child was injured,” said Iftikhar tling the Taliban. AFP AFP Private schools ignore regional languages in Khyber Thousands flee PESHAWAR: The elementary of the ongoing academic year 10 Primers for the regional lan- The official said after eight years, and secondary education depart- months ago. guages were introduced in nursery the students of the current nurs- ment of Pakistan’s northwestern In 2012, the Awami National classes in government schools at ery classes would reach grade 9 and province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Party-led provincial government the start of the current academic they will have to appear in exami- has failed to ensure introduc- introduced these regional lan- year. nations for the secondary school tribal area fearing tion of five regional languages as guages as compulsory subjects in “With the promotion of the cur- certificate. a compulsory subject in private all educational institutions up to rent nursery classes’ students to “What will the students of pri- schools in the province. the intermediate level. the next grade, regional languages vate schools do at that time if their Pashto, Hindko, Seraiki, Kohar Each of these languages was will have to be taught in the higher schools don’t introduce regional military action and Kohistani have been taught introduced in the areas where peo- classes, up to the intermediate languages as a compulsory subject,” in government primary schools at ple speak them. The aim was to pro- level,” said an official of the educa- he asked. MIRANSHAH: Thousands and up to 13,000 people have the nursery level from the start mote and preserve the languages. tion department. INTERNEWS of people have fled their left several villages in North homes in Pakistan’s north- Waziristan,” Rafiullah, 25, a western tribal district for resident of Musaki village in fear a military offensive Mir Ali, said by phone. Anti-polio campaign against Taliban insurgents is “People are unable to find imminent, residents and offi- houses to go to in Bannu, so Construction of cials said yesterday. many women, children and Residents said some 1,500 old men are lying out in the $7bn Dasu dam families or about 13,000 people open. Many others have gone left their villages around the to Peshawar and Dera Ismail to start this year towns of Mir Ali and Miranshah Khan districts to find some in North Waziristan, to migrate shelter,” he said. ISLAMABAD: Construction of to relatively safer areas outside Pakistani government offi- the $7bn Dasu hydropower project the tribal areas in Bannu, Dera cials said that up to 8,000 people on the Indus River in Pakistan is Ismail Khan and Peshawar. had arrived in Bannu, a town expected to start this year and The exodus began last week bordering North Waziristan. will be completed in two stages and when Pakistan Air Force fighter “We can estimate up to 700 four phases by 2037, with the total jets bombarded the area follow- families and around 8,000 peo- capacity reaching 4,320 megawatts, ing a series of militant attacks ple have arrived in Bannu,” says a project report prepared by on security forces and civilians Arshad Khan, head of the Wapda and published by the World which killed more than 100 peo- FATA Disaster Management Bank. ple in a week. Authority, said. The report says that the first phase North Waziristan is one “No military operation has will comprise installation of the full of seven semi-autonomous been announced in the tribal dam and three of the planned 12 tur- regions in Pakistan’s Federally area. So there are no instruc- bines, while phase two, three and four Administered Tribal Areas tions to make arrangements for will involve the installation of three (FATA) bordering Afghanistan the internally displaced people,” more turbines in each phase. and governed by tribal laws. he added. For construction purposes, the four It is said to be a hub of Al Another government official phases have been grouped into two Qaeda and Taliban-led mili- in Miranshah said a military stages. Under stage-1, the first phase tants and the United States has operation was not on the cards. is planned to commence operation in long urged Pakistan to launch “No military operation 2019 and the second phase in 2022. a full-scale military operation is going to take place in The timing of the start of operation in the area. Miranshah and Mir Ali. So of the second and fourth phases is still Pakistan has so far declined, people should not leave their uncertain. The third phase is expected An Afghan health worker administers polio vaccine to a child on the first day of a vaccination campaign on owing to its own strategic cal- houses and should stay there,” to commence in 2031 and the fourth the outskirts of Jalalabad, in Nangarhar province. A three-day nationwide immunisation campaign against culations and fears of a militant said Siraj Ahmed Khan, a sen- phase in 2037. polio began yesterday. backlash in major cities. ior administration official. INTERNEWS “Around 1,500 families AFP MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 65th Republic Day marked with fervour Military power and rich cultural heritage showcased at the main parade in New Delhi NEW DELHI: Pomp, pag- eantry and patriotic fervour were in the air yesterday as the 65th Republic Day was cel- ebrated across the country with flag hoisting ceremonies, mili- tary parades, cultural extrava- ganzas and pledges to work for a better India. The celebrations were peaceful barring a minor bomb blast trig- gered by militants near the resi- dence of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. In New Delhi, powerful mili- tary punch and rich cultural heritage were showcased at the main Republic Day parade, with chief guest and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe keenly watching the 90-minute event on Rajpath boulevard in the heart of the city. It was the coldest Republic Day in a decade at 9.9 degrees Celsius, forcing commoners and dignitar- ies alike to swathe themselves in layers of protective clothing. For Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it was his 10th and prob- ably last Republic Day parade in office as he has announced that he Members of army band march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi yesterday. RIGHT: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the chief guest in the celebrations, greets his Indian would step down after the general counterpart Manmohan Singh. elections. The day passed off peacefully In Kolkata, West Bengal of the constitution, saying the national flag. In Karnataka, In Kerala, Governor Nikhil After unfurling the national in Jammu and Kashmir amid Governor M K Narayanan unfurled powers of the states had been Governor H R Bharadwaj hoisted Kumar said the government flag at Cuttack, Chief Minister heightened security measures. the tricolour and took the salute at eroded over the years by succes- the tricolour and inspected an was committed to the welfare Naveen Patnaik asked people to Governor N N Vohra hoisted a colourful march-past by security sive central governments. impressive parade in capital of the diaspora. Braving bone- remain wedded to secular values. the national flag in Jammu while forces and students. Also in Punjab, Border Security Bangalore. Republic Day was biting cold, people celebrated Both in Jharkhand and Orissa, Rural Development Minister Ali The simmering tensions over Force (BSF) officers and troop- celebrated across Tamil Nadu, Republic Day across Himachal people defied Maoist orders to Muhammad Sagar did the same the Telangana issue did noth- ers offered sweets to the Pakistan with Governor K Rosaiah pre- Pradesh. The main attraction in boycott the Republic Day celebra- in Srinagar. A strike called by ing to dampen the Republic Day Rangers at the Attari-Wagah siding over the main event at the Shimla was a 13-member band tions. In Ranchi, Jharkahnd Chief separatists, however, affected life spirit in Andhra Pradesh. Besides border near Amritsar and at Marina beach in Chennai. of reformed prisoners from two Minister Hemant Soren hoisted in the Kashmir Valley. the official functions, all political Hussainiwala in Ferozepur Republic Day was celebrated jails — in Kanda near Shimla and the flag. India’s commercial capital parties marked the day in their district. with enthusiasm in Rajasthan. Nahan. Six frontline separatist out- Mumbai witnessed a dazzling own way. In Haryana, the main function Governor Margaret Alva unfurled Bihar Governor D Y Patil fits based in Assam, Manipur, Republic Day celebration, with a Punjab Chief Minister Parkash was held at Gurgaon, adjoin- the national flag in Jaipur here hoisting the tricolour in Patna, Meghalaya and Tripura called colourful parade at a new location Singh Badal used the occasion in ing New Delhi, where Governor and witnessed a parade and col- lauding the state government for for a boycott of the Republic Day — the picturesque Marine Drive. Ludhiana to demand a redrafting Jagannath Pahadia hoisted the ourful cultural shows. combating corruption and crime. celebrations. IANS Serial blasts in Manipur on Republic Day, no casualties IMPHAL: Republic Day cel- official residence of Chief Minister Paona Bazaar, Thangal Bazaar ebrations in Manipur were Okram Ibobi Singh. Police officials and Governor Road and civil sec- marred by four powerful bomb with additional reinforcement retariat areas. blasts amidst high security rushed to the spots and combing Police also enhanced frisking measures after six militant out- operations were on to nab the and patrolling in and around fits called for a boycott of the guerrillas behind the blasts. the city. Six frontline separatist day, police said. However, no one “The bombs were planted in outfits based in Assam, Manipur, was injured in the explosions. four places of the capital city by Meghalaya and Tripura earlier “A powerful bomb exploded the outlawed outfits to kill people gave a call to boycott the Republic near the deputy commission- on Republic day,” police said. Day celebrations and asked people er’s office in the eastern part of The army on Saturday recov- to observe a general strike from Imphal at 8am. There were three ered two explosive devices planted 1am to 5pm. more subsequent explosions by in separate places in Bishnupur Separatist groups have for noon in different parts of the district. Both were safely defused. years boycotted national events city,” a police spokesperson said Security was further stepped and staged violent attacks in the yesterday. up at strategic locations in run-up to the celebrations to Policemen stand guard in Srinagar yesterday. Kashmir was under heavy security with mobile phone services The area where the first Imphal, including the crowded make their presence felt. suspended during the celebrations. bomb went off is close to the commercial areas of Ima Market, IANS 28 dead as boat capsizes off Andaman Advani denies reports of NEW DELHI: At least 28 Governor A K Singh told NDTV. comprising some 572 islands, are medical relief to those who have Rajya Sabha nomination people died after a boat carry- Prime Minister Manmohan flanked by the Andaman Sea and been rescued. The accident took ing tourists capsized yesterday Singh expressed shock over the the Bay of Bengal. place near the Bay Island and the near India’s remote Andaman tragedy and “condoled the loss Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J tourist boat belonged to a private NEW DELHI: BJP veteran L K Advani yesterday denied reports and Nicobar islands, accord- of lives,” he said in a statement, Jayalalithaa expressed deep sor- party, the statement said. that he was being nominated by his party for the Rajya Sabha. ing to officials and local media without confirming the number row at the death of at least 28 She said that out of the total Talking to reporters at his residence yesterday, the Bharatiya reports. The boat was carry- of people killed. people in a boat capsize near 45 passengers, 33 were from Janata Party leader said that contesting the next Lok Sabha elec- ing 43 people when it capsized The prime minister said he has Andaman islands, and ordered Kanchipuram district, around 70 tions is on his mind. between Ross Island and North asked all agencies to help in the officials to take necessary km from here. Jayalalithaa said “I have not said anything (about going to the Rajya Sabha) and Bay near Port Blair, the capital rescue and relief operation. action for providing relief to the majority of the dead were from if somebody offers me this suggestion, I will think about it. But it is of the islands, the Indian gov- The Andaman and Nicobar survivors. Kanchipuram. Orders have been natural, I think, that if I had to consider it I would have done it earlier,” ernment said in a statement. islands are Indian territory, Jayalalithaa said senior state issued to bring the bodies here at Advani said in response to a question. Some 13 people have so far though they are at least 1,000km government officials have been the government’s cost. She also Asked if he will fight the Lok Sabha elections, he said: “That is what been pulled from the water and a from the mainland and are closer ordered to reach Port Blair, the ordered the release of `100,000 as is on my mind.” search and rescue operation was to the coast of Myanmar. Andamans capital, immedi- solatium for the families of each Reports on Saturday suggested Advani and some other senior party underway, the island’s Lieutenant The Andaman and Nicobar, ately to take action to provide of the dead. AGENCIES leaders may be nominated for the Rajya Sabha. Advani, who represents Gujarat’s Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha, had resigned from all party posts when Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was nominated the chief of the party’s campaign panel for Lok Sabha polls. He withdrew his resignation later after the Rashtriya AAP expels rebel legislator Binny Swayamsevak Sangh intervened. Modi was later named the party’s prime ministerial candidate. NEW DELHI: The Aam publicly making false statements AAP leaders countered his Advani, in the recently concluded national council meet of BJP, Aadmi Party (AAP) yesterday against the party and its leader- charges saying he was upset was all praise for Modi, and the decision to field him for the top post. expelled rebel legislator Vinod ship, thereby bringing disrepute about not being given a minis- Kumar Binny, who has been to the party,” it said. terial berth in Delhi cabinet. criticising the party’s Delhi Binny, who defeated A K A disciplinary committee was Tata Motors MD dies after fall government. Walia, the health minister in formed by AAP on January 19, A party statement said the the Sheila Dikshit government, headed by party national secre- NEW DELHI: India’s Tata Motors managing director Karl Slym decision was taken by a dis- from the Laxmi Nagar assembly tary Pankaj Gupta. The other died yesterday after apparently falling at a hotel in Bangkok where ciplinary committee set up constituency in east Delhi, had members of the committee he was attending a board meeting, a company spokeswoman and after Binny went to press with attacked his party and the gov- included Ashish Talwar, Illyas reports said. “Tata Motors deeply regrets to announce the untimely complaints against the Arvind ernment for allegedly backtrack- Azmi, Yogendra Yadav and Gopal and tragic demise of its Managing Director, Karl Slym, in Bangkok Kejriwal government. ing on the promises made in the Rai. Senior Bharatiya Janata earlier today,” the company said in a statement. “This disciplinary committee election manifesto, including on Party leader V K Malhotra “Karl Slym was in Bangkok to attend a meeting of the Board of has decided to expel Vinod Kumar water and power sectors. He meanwhile said Binny would be Directors of Tata Motors Thailand Ltd.” Binny and terminate his primary also threatened to go on a hun- welcomed if he wants to join the Vinod Kumar Binny Slym, 51, died in a fall, Tata spokeswoman Minari Shah said, but membership from the party, for ger strike at Jantar Mantar today. BJP. IANS declined to give further details, saying a post mortem examination was likely to be conducted today. AGENCIES MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME UK unveils ban  News in Numbers    on e-cigarettes CHART: 1 13 Fajr (Dawn) 5:00 for under-18s Shorook (Sunrise) 6:19 LONDON: Britain said yes- Zuhr (Noon) 11:47 terday it would ban the sale of Asr (Afternoon) 2:53 electronic cigarettes to children aged under 18, citing possible Maghrib (Sunset) 5:15 adverse health effects and out- Isha (Night) 6:45 lining a need for further medi- cal research. E-cigarettes, which are puffed like a regular cigarette but deliver WEATHER nicotine by vaporising liquid rather than burning tobacco, have grown in popularity and some Today Tuesday Weather Wednesday Conditions: analysts predict the market could Partly cloudy Mostly cloudy Partly cloudy outpace conventional cigarettes Misty to foggy within a decade. at places at “We do not yet know the harm that e-cigarettes can cause to LINES OF BUSINESS-SPECIFIC PROSPECTS High: 22° High: 24° High: 25° first becoming Low: 15° Low: 20° Low: 18° hazy and adults let alone to children, but we partly cloudy. do know they are not risk- free,” England’s Chief Medical Officer Over the next 12 months, medical and health insurance is expected to Sally Davies said in a statement. be the fastest-growing line of business, fuelled by compulsory insurance She added that e-cigarettes can DOHA - SUN & SEA produce toxic chemicals and that requirements. Saudi Arabia is a particularly illustrative case in point: medical variations in the strength of the and health insurance accounts for more than 50% of the Kingdom’s total non- SUN TIDE SEA nicotine solutions between differ- life premiums. New compulsory schemes are also under way in Qatar and SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND ent products meant they could end up being “extremely damag- Dubai. Construction and engineering business ranks second, reflecting a strong 06:19 17:15 02:30 & 12:00 09:15 & 19:15 03-12 KT ing” to young people’s health. rebound in the UAE after the financial crisis and the subsequent economic The global market for e-cig- THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW arettes was estimated at more downturn as well as a continued construction boom in Saudi Arabia and than $2bn last year by market Qatar. The third most rapidly expanding line is motor, which is benefiting from HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER consultant Euromonitor. strong population growth. This ranking is unchanged from the 2012 survey. Under-18s are already banned MUSCAT 25/17 Mostly cloudy 25/19 Partly cloudy from buying conventional cig- KUWAIT 20/16 Partly cloudy 22/16 Partly cloudy arettes in Britain. Sunday’s BAHRAIN 21/17 Partly cloudy 23/18 Partly cloudy announcement included plans to The fastest-growing lines of business SANAA 26/07 Partly cloudy 27/08 Partly cloudy make it illegal for adults to buy RIYADH 27/14 Partly cloudy 28/17 Partly cloudy regular cigarettes for consump-  DUBAI 24/17 Mostly cloudy 26/18 Mostly cloudy tion by under 18s. 32 BAGHDAD 20/13 Cloudy 17/10 Chance of storm The changes will be written into  Mentions a bill already on its way through THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW parliament and are expected  23 to have cross-party support, HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER although the opposition Labour  party criticised the government 17 ATHENS 12/09 Rain 14/09 Chance of rain for not acting more quickly. WASHINGTON 07/-12 Chance of snow -7/-11 Partly cloudy  The battery-powered metal SYDNEY 27/18 Clear 27/18 Clear tubes of e-cigarettes are seen as  LONDON 12/06 Chance of rain 11/05 Partly cloudy less harmful than regular ciga- PARIS 09/02 Chance of rain 09/03 Cloudy rettes and a useful way to wean  ISTANBUL 08/03 Chance of rain 10/07 Mostly cloudy smokers off their habits. Critics, MANILA 29/20 Partly cloudy 28/21 Partly cloudy however say they can act as a  DHAKA 27/15 Clear 27/15 Partly cloudy gateway to nicotine addiction and Medical Construction & Motor DELHI 21/08 Mostly cloudy 22/09 Partly cloudy that more research is needed on Engineering ISLAMABAD 22/06 Partly cloudy 22/07 Partly cloudy the health implications. Source : http://www.qfc.com.qa REUTERS

Grammys to feature on-air Europeans were dark-skinned until recently PARIS: The DNA of a hunter- Period between 10,000 and 5,000 The Upper Palaeolithic or vitamin D intake associated with blue eyes was not to be found in mass marriage gatherer who lived in Spain some years ago, when La Brana lived, Late Stone Age stretched from this lifestyle change. modern Europeans today. 7,000 years ago suggests that were thought to have already been 50,000-10,000 years ago, followed In the absence of natural vita- It is widely accepted that NEW YORK: Dozens of cou- Europeans were dark-skinned fair-skinned due to low ultravio- by the Mesolithic or Middle Stone min D, the human skin can pro- Man’s oldest common forefa- ples were to marry on air until much more recently than let radiation levels at these high Age that lasted until about 5,000 duce its own in contact with the ther was dark skinned, and that during last night’s live broad- previously thought, researchers latitudes. years ago, when it was followed in Sun — but dark skins synthesise people became more pale as cast of the music industry’s said yesterday. “Until now, it was assumed Europe by the Neolithic or New much less than fair ones -- creat- they moved further north out of annual Grammy Awards as Genetic material recovered that light skin colour evolved Stone Age. ing an evolutionary incentive for Africa into colder climates with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from a tooth of La Brana 1, an quite early in Europe, (during) Lalueza-Fox said light-skinned change. less sunlight. perform their nominated song ancient man whose skeleton was the Upper Palaeolithic... But this Europeans emerged “much later” In La Brana 1, Lalueza-Fox and Subsequent migrations and “Same Love,” which has become dug up in a deep cave system in is clearly not the case,” study co- than once believed — possibly only his team also found the genetic mixing created the wide range of an anthem in the campaign for Spain in 2006, revealed a strange author Carles Lalueza-Fox from in the Neolithic era when erst- signature for blue eyes and dark hues we have today. legal gay marriage, the New combination of dark skin and blue Spain’s Evolutionary Biology while hunter-gatherers became hair. La Brana’s genome is the first York Times reported. eyes, according to a study in the Institute, said. “This individual farmers. While the exact hue of skin of a European hunter-gatherer to Queen Latifah will offici- journal Nature. had the African variants for the The cause, he said, may have cannot be determined, the sci- be fully sequenced. ate at the nuptials, with pop Europeans from the Mesolithic pigmentation genes.” been a change in diet and lower entists say its combination with AFP diva Madonna performing the song with the hip hop duo and featured vocalist Mary Lambert, the Times said. Clean Bandit Lewis said that the weddings, including 34 couples of various ages and races, some gay, some ‘The Boss’ rocks against rising income gap on top of UK straight, “will be in our minds the ultimate statement of equal- CAPE TOWN: Rising income Johannesburg, before flying on South Africa. “It is really incred- top spot in Britain. The album music charts ity, that all the couples are enti- inequality in the United States to Australia and New Zealand on ible and special to be here,” he said. “High Hopes” is a follow-up to tled to the same exact thing,” the and South Africa threatens February 2. One of his fans, waiting since his 2012 album “Wrecking Ball”, LONDON: British four- report said. to tear their societies apart, It is their first concerts in South 10am outside the concert venue which also debuted at number one, piece act Clean Bandit “We’re serious about this,” rocker Bruce Springsteen said Africa since his guitarist Steven about 30km north of Cape Town, and sees his regular band joined by claimed their first ever sin- the Times quoted Ken Ehrlich, yesterday before his first per- van Zandt led a campaign by said they had been waiting for Rage Against The Machine guitar- gles chart number one yes- the longtime producer of the formance in Africa for almost rock musicians in protest against years for this performance. ist Tom Morello. terday as their song “Rather Grammys, as saying. three decades. apartheid nearly thirty years ago. “I love his music, he is left of the “I don’t want to spend years Be” became the fastest sell- Ehrlich, noting that the seg- Riding high on the global charts Springsteen played in neigh- government,” Nico Blignaut said sitting around trying to come up ing track of the year so far, ment reflected his own personal with his latest album “High bouring Zimbabwe and the Ivory of the singer, known to a legion of with the perfect ten songs ... We the Official Charts Company beliefs — he has a gay daughter — Hopes”, the musician stayed true Coast in 1988 as part of the fans as “The Boss”. want to play, we want to get out said. said, “I would not want to make to his New Jersey working class Amnesty International human His latest album debuted on top there and play for people,” said The group, who formed a broad statement that it repre- roots and socially conscious lyrics rights concert series, and he said of the Billboard 200 album chart Springsteen. in 2009 while studying at sents the views of the academy when answering media questions. it was “special” to eventually be in in the United States and also took REUTERS Cambridge University, knocked or the CBS television network,” “There is a tremendous prob- US artist Pharrell Williams off which broadcasts the awards live lem with income inequality in the top spot, selling 163,000 from the Staples Center in Los the States right now and it’s copies in the last seven days. Angeles at 8 pm PST (0400 GMT been increasing and increasing,” Pharrell’s “Happy” charted today). Springsteen said a few hours in second place while new Addressing the potential before his opening night perform- entries from Vamps and for controversy, Neil Portnow, ance in South Africa’s tourist capi- Neon Jungle ranked in third the president of the National tal Cape Town. and fourth place respectively. Academy of Recording Arts and “Initially it tears society apart Former chart-topper “Timber” Sciences, said “I expect that peo- and I don’t think society can make by Pitbull and Ke$ha com- ple with all kinds of opinions good when economic differences pleted the top five. might voice them, and that’s and economic inequalities are so Veteran American rocker healthy,” the Times said. widespread. It is a real problem in Bruce Springsteen’s run at REUTERS the United States and a big prob- the top of the album charts lem here too,” he said. lasted only one week as Ellie A journalist had asked him Goulding, the British singer- whether things had got worse songwriter, reclaimed the since 1988, when Springsteen number one berth with her famously compared “the system- album “Halcyon”. atic apartheid of South Africa” Fellow Briton Sophie Ellis to “the economic apartheid of my Bextor was the only new entry own country,” during an appear- to make the top five with her ance in neighbouring Zimbabwe. new record “Wanderlust”, Springsteen and the E Street which charted at number four. Band will play three concerts in Bruce Springsteen (L) and the E Street Band perform to a full house at the Belville Velodrome near Cape Town. REUTERS Cape Town and another one in Monday 27 January 2014 26 Rabial I 1435 Volume 18 Number 5957 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Analysts upbeat about Qatar, Malaysia sign pact Qatari stocks in 2014 Banks, industrials good bet, says GIH’s GCC analysis

DOHA: Analysts are increas- banks covered by the GIH Research percent of gross financing. The GIH ingly optimistic that Qatari across the region. We remain posi- analysts are optimistic that the stocks are where investors tive on the bank due to its strong bank would manage to tame down should be putting their money growth in loan book, high capital its provision expenses gradually in 2014. The Kuwait head- strength, stable inorganic expan- with decrease in impaired assets. quartered Wealth Management sion and double-digit bottom-line On the industrial stocks Group Global Investment House CAGR”, the research note “GCC the GIH noted Qatar National (GIH) in its latest GCC equity High Conviction Call 2014”, noted. Cement Company (QNCC) which strategic analysis finds Qatar’s On Doha Bank, they noted that is currently operating at cement banks, telecoms and industrials the bank enjoys one of the best utilization level of 81 percent as of are best stock picks for 2014. interest spreads amongst Qatari 2012 is expected to witness a hike In the banking sector, the banks; however, due to expected in demand as the projects related GIH analysts are mainly bullish borrowings to support capital to World Cup 2022 pickup pace. on bellwether QNB, Doha Bank, ratios, the bank’s interest spread Industries Qatar (IQ) revenue The Minister of Commerce and Trade, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani met Malaysia’s Commercial Bank of Qatar, QIB may witness a marginal fall during and earning is expected to grow Minister of International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed and his delegation yesterday. On Saturday, Qatar and Masraf Al Rayan. the next two years. Nevertheless, by a CAGR of 5 percent and 4 and Malaysia signed a cooperation agreement in the field of trade and technology. Commenting on their expec- strong increment in loan book percent respectively during 2013- tations on QNB, GIH analysts would drive the top-line. 17. While its capacity utilization said:“ Following the acquisition of “Masraf Al Rayan Bank is in fertilizer, steel and petrochemi- National Societe Generale Bank- expected to exhibit almost stagnant cal segment is to average around Egypt (NSGB), QNB witnessed volumes for 2013; growth in top-line 100 percent, 110 percent and 100 Emaar Properties appoints new CEO significant growth across line- will therefore be driven by improving percent during 2013-17. items. The bank’s net interest mar- spreads. For later years, we cross out GIH analysts expect Ooredoo’s gin (NIM) also improved on higher further rise in spreads and expect Capex/sales to remain high at 16.2 DUBAI: Dubai’s Emaar and led flagship projects such as founder Mohammed Alabbar, yield. We believe the momentum the bank to show better volumetric percent in 2014 and taper off to 12.7 Properties has appointed a new Downtown Dubai, including con- and work with him on his Asian to continue and expect the bank growth though we forecast the bank percent by 2016. Vodafone Qatar has chief executive, the major real struction of the Burj Khalifa, the real estate development projects, to report a top-line CAGR of 18 to lag the sector markedly.” seen a strong price rally of 28.3 per- estate developer said yesterday. world’s tallest tower. Emaar said in a stock market percent from 2012-2017 period”. QIB managed to improve upon cent in 2013 which has priced in the Abdulla Lahej is the new CEO. He replaces long-serving Low filing. Ping left the CEO post “QNB offers one of the highest its asset quality and restricted its improved outlook of the company. He joined Emaar as an assist- Ping, who will remain an advieor towards the end of 2013. ROEs (return on equity) within the Non-Performing Loan (NPL) at 0.9 THE PENINSULA ant project manager in 2000 to the company’s chairman and REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Al Sada meets Senegalese minister Residential real Saudi Mobily to estate in Abu Dhabi rebounds ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s launch piggyback residential real estate market rebounded strongly last year from a slump, helped by govern- ment intervention, a report by a real estate advisory firm said mobile service yesterday. Prime residential sales prices jumped 25 percent in 2014, with Firm to seek virtual network operators an increase of six percent in the fourth quarter alone, Jones Lang DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Mobily customer service. MVNOs are LaSalle said. will start leasing its mobile widespread in Europe, but Gulf Rents in prime residential phone network to a new opera- regulators have been reluctant to projects increased 17 percent, tor to launch a rival service in allow them, because most of the with a rise of eight percent in the the first quarter, an executive region’s 15 mobile operators are fourth quarter, driven partly by said, kicking off the biggest ultimately government-control- the creation of new jobs in Abu shake-up in the kingdom’s tel- led and a major source of state Dhabi and the removal of a five ecommunications market in six revenue. percent cap on rent rises, it said. years. Oman is the only Gulf state Abu Dhabi’s real estate market The Saudi telecom regulator, in to launch MVNOs, with former slumped about 50 percent from a move to increase competition, monopoly Omantel hosting two its peak in 2008 after the global has required the three mobile on its network. Should MVNOs The Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, met the visiting Senegalese Minister financial crisis triggered a crash. operators — second-biggest succeed in Saudi, which is by far of Energy Maimouna Ndoye Seck (right), yesterday. They reviewed cooperation in the energy field, as well The Jones Lang LaSalle reports Mobily, leader Saudi Telecom Co the largest Gulf market, and help as other issues of mutual interest. suggests Abu Dhabi may now (STC) and Zain Saudi — to pro- boost the revenues of its existing be recovering roughly as fast as vide wholesale capacity to new mobile companies, then neigh- neighbouring Dubai. operators that have no networks bouring nations may follow suit. The capital of the United of their own. “In more developed markets, Arab Emirates has been making The winning bidders, the entry of MVNOs sparked a attempts to boost its residential announced last June, have yet price war, but if we take Oman Qatar Exchange index dips as market through new rules for the to receive their licences. The as an example from this region, last couple of years. Communications and Information ARPU (average revenue per In 2012, Abu Dhabi pressed Technology Commission (CITC), user) stabilised within two years regional bourses tumble public sector employees who which has offered no more details, of MVNOs’ entry,” said Karim reside outside the emirate to declined to comment. Yaici, a telecoms lead analyst at relocate within its borders, which But Karl Michael Henneking, Analysys Mason. “We can expect DOHA: Qatar Exchange index Dubai’s bourse, which has been be the case because the local fun- analysts said aimed to address Mobily’s chief corporate strategy a similar scenario in Saudi.” lost 39.45 points yesterday to driven to hefty gains by local damentals are robust and econo- heavy oversupply in its real estate and marketing officer, said that Analysts expect Saudi mobile close at 11,298.96 points from retail investors, fell 2.2 percent mies are resilient,” Sidani added. market. Many employees com- service would start soon from its companies to retain control of the previous closing of 11,338.41 — recording its biggest one-day In Saudi Arabia, the index fell muted daily from Dubai. partner, London’s Lebara Group. their core networks and spectrum points on Thursday. loss in more than two months as 0.4 percent, coming off Thursday’s Last November, Abu Dhabi “We expect Lebara to launch and to limit MVNOs to targeting The volume of traded shares it came off Thursday’s five-year five-year high. Petrochemical scrapped a five percent cap on services in the first quarter of pre-agreed market segments. fell to 7,966,702 from Thursday’s high. Trading volumes were shares were initially hardest hit annual rent increases. The cap 2014. The CITC is supposed to This would inhibit price compe- 8,757,433 and the value of shares lower than they were during but then recovered and the sec- had been imposed in January 2008 issue the licences at the end of tition and reduce the risk that the decreased to QR453,302,809.84 last week’s gains and the market tor’s index closed up 0.3 percent. after surging demand drove rents January,” he said. MVNOs will cannibalise revenue from QR605,318,483.77 on closed well above the day’s low, China is a major market for Saudi and inflation higher. Lebara will help Mobily “gain from their hosts. Thursday. suggesting buyers are ready to petrochemical products, which “A sustainable recovery is market share in a segment we’re STC has teamed up with Virgin Among the top losers were step in on dips. depend on global demand. dependent on the government con- not so strong in”, Henneking Mobile Middle East & Africa, and Qatar National Bank whose share Neighbouring Abu Dhabi’s “People are taking a little bit of tinuing to implement further sup- added, declining to say which social Zain Saudi with Gulf retailer down 0.96 percent to QR186.20, measure lost 1.8 percent, also profit off the table and being cau- ply controls to ensure a balanced or ethnic group Lebara would tar- Axiom. Saudi Arabia’s mobile International Islamic Bank lost 1.13 retreating from a five-year high. tious - but there is an indication real estate market going forward,” get. He hinted that it would include penetration is around 185 per- percent to QR70, Commercial Bank Gulf economies are mostly insu- liquidity has re-entered the mar- said David Dudley, regional direc- expatriate residents, who account cent, or 1.85 mobile subscriptions of Qatar fell 1.75 percent to QR72.90 lated from a pull-back in emerging ket,” said John Sfakianakis, chief tor and head of the Abu Dhabi for around a fifth of Saudi’s esti- per person, which suggests the and Electricity and Water decreased markets and currency risks there, investment strategist at Saudi office of Jones Lang LaSalle. mated 27 million people. MVNOs will face a battle to carve by 1.09 percent to QR181.00. because of their state budget and investment firm MASIC. Newcomers such as Lebara, out a profitable market share. The Banking and Financial sec- current account surpluses, as well “There is bullishness in the Kuwait works to known as mobile virtual network “Not all MVNOs will be suc- tor index lost 0.83 percent while as continued government spending market and dips offer opportuni- operators (MVNOs), usually pay cessful,” Henneking said. Consumer Goods and Services on infrastructure projects. “The ties. The China story (suggesting get two refineries the host firm a percentage of their He said some Lebara customers sector index dropped 0.39 per- market was registering higher its economy is weakening) is not revenues plus fees. would use its services as their sole cent. The industrial sector was highs and in a way, this was a good so well-founded — and even if it back to full flow Mobily also sees a business mobile account but that a larger up 0.56 percent while insurance trigger for some profit-taking, slows, I don’t see global growth opportunity from having devel- share would sign up to Lebara as sector added 0.75 percent. which is healthy,” Rami Sidani, taking a dive.” KUWAIT: Kuwait hopes to get oped an Internet-based platform a second, back-up service. Meanwhile, shares in Dubai Schroders Middle East head of In Qatar, the benchmark its Mina Abdullah oil refinery to run Lebara’s billing, opera- In addition to the revenue and and Abu Dhabi tumbled yester- investment, said of Dubai. slipped 0.4 percent to trim back to full production today but tions and technology. It is now in fees they pay to host telecoms day, leading a region-wide decline Small-cap shares had led gains January’s gains to 8.9 percent. the Shuaiba refinery is expected talks to sell this system to other companies, the MVNOs will also following a sharp sell-off in US in recent sessions, increasing the Qatari individuals and institu- to take longer to return to nor- potential virtual newcomers pay a licence fee of SR5m ($1.3 m) and emerging markets on fears potential for a sharp pull-back. tional investors were net sellers, mal after a power cut last week, to the Middle East, Henneking and 15 percent of their revenues of slowing growth in China and “We are seeing buyers who have bourse data showed, while foreign the operator said yesterday. said. Such a system allows to the regulator. reduced support from US mon- been waiting on the side for some investors were buyers. The 270,000-barrels per day them to focus on marketing and REUTERS etary policy. correction - this will continue to QNA/REUTERS (bpd) Mina Abdullah refinery was running at about 60 percent of capacity yesterday, a spokesman for state-run Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) said. The 200,000-bpd Shuaiba refin- dealers upbeat about purchase by Fiat ery was running at just over 70 percent of capacity on Sunday. NEW ORLEANS: Chrysler Pamela Burger of Carl Burger CEO Sergio Marchionne won a back to Germany. My opinion.” would have lost $340m in that But it will take longer to return dealers from around the US Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram World hard-fought deal with the union- Chrysler and Daimler-Benz quarter; instead it earned $260m. to full output because Shuaiba is seem revved up by the purchase in the San Diego suburb of La controlled trust fund that owned AG merged in 1998 to form “In South America, Chrysler an old plant, he said. of the US carmaker by Italy’s Mesa, . “They picked the remaining 41.5 percent of the DaimlerChrysler. Sold in 2007 to is seen as a very premium prod- The Opec member state has Fiat SpA. us up out of bankruptcy when stock. With the deal complete, Cerberus Capital Management uct” — much more prestigious been using fuels held in storage to They were attending the we couldn’t even be bought, and Marchionne can push deeper inte- and renamed Chrysler LLC, the than Fiat, said Fiat dealer Juan maintain exports while the three National Automobile Dealers have grown us over five years. ... gration and decide where the joint company filed in 2009 for Chapter Pablo Meivide of TOP West SA refineries that were shut down by Association convention in New They helped us grow instead of company will be based and listed, 11 bankruptcy reorganization. in San Justo, Argentina. Alabama the power fault return to full flow. Orleans yesterday — four days stripping us of money and assets.” as well as its name. Chrysler, of Auburn Hills, state Senator Dick Brewbaker, a The January 22 power outage after Fiat announced that it And, she said, “The quality gets Clay White of Starr Motors in Mich., logged its ninth straight member of the third generation at shut down all three of Kuwait’s had bought the last big chunk better and better.” Suffolk, Virginia, praised Fiat’s profitable quarter in the third Brewbaker Motors in Montgomery, refineries. KNPC returned the of Chrysler stock to make the Fiat has been running Chrysler leadership, “which is something quarter of 2013, earning $464m says he’s very impressed by the 460,000 bpd Mina Ahmadi refin- US company a wholly owned since 2009 and owned nearly 60 per- we didn’t have with Cerberus or and propping up Fiat, which is vehicles’ interior design and the ery back to full production early subsidiary. cent of Chrysler’s shares but lacked Daimler. Daimler just pillaged the struggling in a down European company’s marketing. on Friday. “I think it’s well deserved,” said full control until Fiat-Chrysler money from Chrysler and took it market. Without Chrysler, Fiat AP AGENCIES Venezuela orders price controls

CARACAS: Venezuela decreed mechanism. The law carries of thousands of businesses, prom- a new price control law that prison sentences of up to 14 years ising the effort would push con- sets limits on company profits for crimes including hoarding, sumer prices down by 5 percent and establishes prison terms for “destabilising the economy” and in November. those charged with hoarding or food trafficking, which refers to Prices in fact rose 4.8 percent over-charging, part of social- people buying subsidized goods that month. But polls showed his ist President Nicolas Maduro’s and reselling them mainly in popularity also rose in the wake efforts to tame inflation. neighbouring Colombia. of those measures. Maduro, who was elected last A price enforcement Critics insist the Opec nation’s year to succeed the late Hugo agency called the National real problems lie in a torrid Chavez, blames a 56.2 percent Superintendence for Defence expansion of the money supply, jump in consumer prices in 2013 of Socioeconomic Rights will be inefficiency of state-run com- on an “economic war” led by charged with “determining rea- panies and a sluggish currency political adversaries, while crit- sonable profit margins.” control system that prevents busi- ics call it evidence of the failure of Venezuela has for years nesses from acquiring imported Venezuela’s state-driven economic passed regulations giving state raw materials or machinery. model. officials sweeping power over They also insist that expanding The Fair Price Law, which the private sector, but selective the cadre of state inspectors will carries out many of the same enforcement tends to make the only increase the possibilities for functions as the almost identi- rules less draconian than they corruption. cally-named Fair Price and Cost initially appear. Two high-ranking officials Law of 2011, appears to unify a Previous laws created by of the government’s consumer disparate set of controls that were Chavez called for prison sentences protection agency, known for first created by Chavez in 2003. of up to six years for hoarding or aggressive inspections of private It sets a maximum profit mar- overpricing of food. companies, were arrested last gin of 30 percent and requires Maduro last year launched a year for extorting businessmen in firms to obtain “fair price certifi- theatrical takeover of an electron- exchange for not shutting down cates” to access dollars through ics retailer accused of overpricing their shops. the country’s currency control its products and led inspections REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

European banks Emaar to triple have €84bn capital shortfall: investment in OECD estimate

FRANKFURT/PARIS: European banks have a com- port project bined capital shortfall of about ¤84bn $115bn, German weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported, citing a new study by the Saudi firm begins port operations Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development DAVOS: Emaar Economic City, handling trade for the entire (OECD). a big Saudi real estate firm, region, Rasheed said. French bank Credit has the has started operations at the “Twenty-five percent of global deepest capital shortfall at country’s first privately owned trade goes through the Red Sea ¤31.5bn, while Deutsche Bank port and will more than triple but we’ve never leveraged it in the and Commerzbank have gaps of investment in the facility over region.” 19 billion and 7.7bn respectively, the next five years, the compa- A total of SR2.5bn ($665m) has the magazine reported in a pre- ny’s chief executive said. been invested in the port so far release of its Monday publication. “Shipping lines are redrawing and the amount is expected to rise Financial regulators have been their logistics maps, where they to SR9bn by 2018, Rasheed said. pushing banks to hold more cap- stop and where they go. It will The port’s annual capacity, now FROM RIGHT: Tarek Kanoo of the Kanoo Group, former US Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron, Professor ital to weather potential finan- impact every port around the 1.3 million twenty-foot equivalent Bulent Gultekin, Advisory Board Member of Lagoon Capital, Sunil Talwar, Deputy CEO, Qatar Insurance Company cial headwinds. It was not clear world,” Fahd Al Rasheed said in units, is expected to rise to four and Anuj Khanna, CEO of Lagoon Capital during the forum. whether the OECD had looked at an interview on the sidelines of million TEUs in two years, seven the listed entity Credit Agricole S the World Economic Forum in million in 2018 and ultimately 20 A, which is less well-capitalised Davos. million. Lagoon Capital hosts Qatari businessmen than its parent, Credit Agricole Emaar Economic City, a con- Meanwhile, an industrial Group, an unlisted network of sortium headed by Dubai’s Emaar zone attached to King Abdullah cooperative retail banks, which Properties and Saudi investors, Economic City is expected to be DOHA: Lagoon Capital confidence boost for the inves- markets in order to assess the the Bank of France will regulate is focused on building the King completed by 2020. It has so far Partners Limited, a private tor community. These are size- economic and investment land- in terms of solvency ratios. Abdullah Economic City, a special attracted 70 firms, with factories equity and advisory firm based able economies with close ties to scape across the Mena region for Although it used a different economic zone up Saudi Arabia’s operational in pharmaceuticals, in the Dubai International the GCC and their stability and 2014. With a promising outlook, method of calculating the short- Red Sea coast from Jeddah. building materials, car parts, plas- Financial Centre, hosted a continued prosperity is a shared we see continued opportunity falls, the OECD said it expected The zone is projected to be tics and packaging, Rasheed said. group of some 50 institutional objective”, Professor Gultekin for growth in regional pri- the European Central Bank would the size of Washington DC when Companies are offered very low investors from Qatar, the GCC said at the meeting. vate equity and, in particular, come to the same conclusion later completed, hosting as many as rents and soft loans from the gov- and Europe at a round table Also discussed were prospects Secondary transactions. These this year in its audit and bank two million people and helping to ernment for capital investment. forum in Doha to discuss cur- for private equity during 2014 are an efficient way for inves- stress tests, the magazine quoted diversify the country’s economy “We are now at a stage where rent developments and invest- in the MENA countries and the tors to reposition their port- the study as saying. beyond oil into light industry and we are not only inviting big ment opportunities in the Mena need for the further development folios, a focus for many today, The OECD and Credit Agricole shipping. names to locate in King Abdullah region for 2014. of the regional secondary private and an opportunity to reallocate could not be reached for comment The project is important for Economic City but we also need Professor Bulent Gultekin, equity market. Lagoon Capital, capital towards new priorities outside regular business hours. Saudi economic policy-making third-party developers to co- advisory board member of Lagoon together with its strategic part- in the year ahead.” Commerzbank and Deutsche because, although it has Saudi invest with us to develop faster, Capital and former Governor ner, HarbourVest, one of the pre- Other Advisory Board mem- Bank declined to comment. government backing, it is being especially in housing,” Rasheed of the Central Bank of Turkey mier global institutions focused bers of firm also participated Deutsche Bank said earlier operated by a company with a said. addressed the gathering on on secondary private equity in the event. These include this month its common equity local stock market listing and a He added that Emaar Economic “Navigating change in the MENA investing, are focused on provid- former US Ambassador to tier 1 capital ratio was 9.7 per- significant private investor base City had so far raised $4 billion region”. ing liquidity solutions to regional Qatar, Joseph LeBaron, Tarek cent. Credit Agricole, which will — an effort to involve market dis- of capital and attracted an addi- “While geo-political events and investors on their existing private Kanoo of the Kanoo Group, report fourth-quarter results cipline in the project and spread tional $10 billion to the project shifting alliances have affected equity investment portfolios via Tracy Blackwell Board member, on February 19, reported a wealth generated by it among the from other investors and from currencies and investor confi- secondary transactions. Pension Corporation and Sunil core tier 1 ratio of 9.4 per- broad population. sales. dence, the medium term pros- Anuj Khanna, CEO of Lagoon Talwar, Deputy CEO, Qatar cent as of September 30, while King Abdullah Economic City’s “Our cash flow right now is pects remain promising. The Capital, added, “We are delighted Insurance Company, which is Commerzbank had a core tier port, which began operating on very healthy so we don’t project prospect of stability in Egypt and to be able to engage with this among Lagoon Capital’s found- 1 ratio of 12.7 percent on that January 6, has the potential to any need to raise funds.” resolution of the crisis in Turkey high level group of investors ing shareholders. date. become a global logistics hub, REUTERS should provide the necessary from across the region and global THE PENINSULA REUTERS ADCB’s fourth China urges US to stop quarter net profit jumps 40 percent new dumping probe BEIJING: China’s commerce of German solar manufacturer ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi ministry called on the United SolarWorld AG. The company at Commercial Bank (ADCB), the States yesterday to stop anti- the time said it was seeking to UAE’s third largest lender by dumping investigations into close a loophole in a prior trade market value, posted a 40 per- imports of solar power products case that enabled Chinese solar cent rise in fourth-quarter net from China, expressing “serious panel producers to evade duties profit yesterday, beating ana- concern” and vowing to defend by using cells manufactured in lysts’ forecasts, as impairment its producers. other countries, mainly Taiwan. allowances more than halved. US trade officials on Thursday The Commerce Department ADCB, nearly 60-percent opened investigations into imports investigation and a parallel owned by the Abu Dhabi govern- of certain solar power products inquiry by the US International ment, reported a net profit of from China and Taiwan, a move that Trade Commission (ITC) could Dh879m ($239.5m) for the three could have a major impact on the open the door to expanding duties months to December 31, it said nation’s fast-growing solar market. on some imported solar panels. in a statement. That compares The US Department of Commerce In October 2012, the US set steep with a profit of Dh628m in the said it initiated antidumping duty duties on billions of dollars of solar prior-year period. and countervailing duty investiga- products from China, but turned Five analysts polled by Reuters tions, which will assess whether down pleas to expand the scope of had estimated an average fourth the products are being sold in the its order to include Chinese panels quarter profit of Dh783.50m for United States below their fair value, made with non-Chinese solar cells. the quarter. or if their manufacturers receive In response, many Chinese module Banks in the United Arab inappropriate levels of foreign gov- producers simply began sourcing Emirates have reported strong ernment subsidies. cells from Taiwan. growth in earnings in recent “The Chinese side expresses The ITC is to make a prelimi- quarters thanks to an overall serious concern,” the commerce nary ruling on whether there recovery in the Gulf state’s econ- ministry said in a statement on its is a reasonable indication that omy and lower provisions aris- website. “China urges the United imports from China or Taiwan ing from a reduction in problem States again to carefully handle the materially injure, or threaten loans. ADCB is the first major current ... investigations, be pru- to injure, the local industry by lender in Abu Dhabi to announce dent in taking measures and termi- February 14. A negative finding 2013 results. Profit for full year nate the investigation proceedings.” would stop the investigations. 2013 was Dh3.37bn compared China will assess the impact on If the ITC determines that with Dh2.74bn in 2012. Loan its solar industry and “resolutely the imports could be hurting the impairment allowances dropped defend” itself through various domestic industry, the Commerce sharply to Dh198m in the fourth- mechanisms, the ministry said. department is to make preliminary quarter compared to Dh402m in The investigations were determinations about subsidies in the year ago period, ADCB said. sparked by a complaint at the March and dumping in June. REUTERS end of last year by the US unit REUTERS

Fifty One East sponsors Qatar Masters

DOHA: For more than 15 legendary golfers like Chris Wood, Rolex, the iconic international years, Fifty One East, the Miguel Angel Jimenez, John Daly, timepiece brand and a symbol retail chain in Qatar and Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson, of excellence, performance and Rolex, sponsored the recently Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els who prestige. This also shows our concluded Commercial Bank strived for the total cash purse endless commitment to support Qatar Masters 2014 organ- prize of $2.5m. one of Qatar’s most momentous ised by the Qatar Golf A representative from Fifty sporting events and we look for- Association (QGA), the Qatar One East said: “Fifty One East ward to another future involve- Olympic Committee (QOC), and Rolex were very pleased ment that elevates the country Commercial Bank of Qatar being part of the tangible suc- to be the sporting hub in the and Doha Golf Club. cess of the tournament that was region.” Fifty One East and Rolex, the hosted by Qatar’s Golf Club. We Sergio Garcia’s breath-taking official time keeper were the tour- are certain that this particular trick shot led him to ranked naments’ official sponsors since type of sport best reflects Fifty among the world’s greatest golf 1998. This year’s edition featured One East’s image of elegance players for this seasons. the participation of the world’s and luxury, especially with THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Intel expects Lagarde warns to decide this year on next of risks to new chip plant

TEL AVIV: US chip manu- global recovery facturer Intel Corp expects to make a decision this year on the location of a new multi-bil- lion dollar semiconductor plant Tapering, eurozone price fall cited using new 10 nanometre tech- nology, executives at its Israeli DAVOS: The International alone — was felt throughout the unit said yesterday. Monetary Fund’s managing world, prompting stock markets Israel is one of a number of director warned of the risks to post broad-based declines. countries competing to host the posed to global economic recov- Lagarde also cautioned about new plant. ery from the reduction of the the outlook for the 18-country “Intel will take its decision as US Federal Reserve’s monetary eurozone. Though the eurozone late as possible. Until it needs to, stimulus and falling prices in has emerged from its longest-ever it won’t make a decision,” Maxine the eurozone. recession and many of the bailed- Fassberg, General Manager of Despite growing evidence the out countries appear headed for Intel Israel, told a news confer- global economy is faring better modest growth, inflation has ence. “If we’re looking at the next than it has for years, Christine fallen sharply. At last count, it technology it has to come this Lagarde said policy-makers was down at 0.8 percent in the year, but we don’t know when.” around the world have to be alert year to December, way below the Intel has already held talks to the potential repercussions European Central Bank’s target with the Israeli government, from the Fed’s “tapering,” a policy to keep price rises just below two which must offer incentives to be change it decided to embark upon percent. competitive, said Fassberg, man- in December. Many economists have worried ager of Intel’s Fab 28 plant in the So far, the move has been mini- that the eurozone may be about southern town of Kiryat Gat. mal — it has reduced the amount to suffer a debilitating bout of “There is no certainty it will of bonds it buys each month by deflation, which Japan has expe- German Klaus Schwab (left), founder and president of the World Economic Forum, closes the forum next to US be in Israel. The jury is still out; $10bn to $75bn — but many econ- rienced for the best part of two Cellist and Composer Zoe Keating after a panel session on the last day of the 44th Annual Meeting of the World we are in the game,” said Mooly omists think that it could end this decades. Falling prices can hurt Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Eden, president of Intel Israel and year if the US economic recovery an economy as consumers post- general manager of perceptual gains steam. pone spending in the hope of get- computing. Over the past few years, the ting cheaper deals in the future Buyers’ market for oil firms in Davos Intel Israel’s exports amounted Fed’s stimulus, in its various while businesses fail to innovate to $3.8bn in 2013, down from guises has had a big impact on and invest. $4.6bn the year before. Eden said financial markets. As well as shor- Lagarde said the IMF thinks DAVOS: Oil executives nor- that the world was running out when unfortunately we could not the 2012 number was inflated by ing up stock markets around the there’s 15 to 20 percent chance mally travel the world to win of oil. Five years on, oil is con- access some countries because it inventory carried over from 2011 world, the new money created by that the eurozone may suffer big contracts — but rarely do sidered plentiful thanks to the was all run by national companies. as the plant upgraded to improved the stimulus has flown to emerg- deflation. “The risk is that longer government officials travel the US shale oil revolution and the Today the situation changes,” he technology. ing economies as investors sought term expectations are anchored other way. discovery of massive oil and gas said. “Overall I believe we have a out better returns. Currencies, at a much lower level that it This week in Davos, however, fields elsewhere. Privately-held Lukoil, which is healthy growth,” Eden said. such as the Indian rupee and the is currently associated with,” some of the most powerful oil Some executives are begin- limited in accessing giant fields in In its 40 years in Israel, Intel Brazilian real, have been ben- Lagarde said. CEOs gathered on the sidelines of ning to talk about an easing of its home base Russia, this week has invested $10.8bn in plants and eficiaries. The withdrawal could Getting out of a deflationary the World Economic Forum and resource nationalism, one of the signed a memorandum to study development centres and received prompt a reverse in those flows spiral can be hugely difficult. were presented with an embar- hottest topics in the industry projects in Mexico with state $1.5bn in grants. It employs nearly and see their currencies come Japan is now undertaking a major rassment of riches. over the past decade as countries energy company Pemex as the 10,000 people. under pressure. policy experiment — dubbed While the appearance of Iran’s such as Russia and Kazakhstan country opens up its energy sec- It received grants totalling 28 “This is a new risk on the “Abenomics” after Prime Minister new president and oil minister became increasingly assertive tor to boost production. percent of its investment when horizon and really needs to be Shinzo Abe — involving a massive in front of the heads of BP, ENI, about developing their reserves Mexican President Enrique it built Fab 18, which started watched,” Lagarde said in a dis- monetary stimulus, more govern- Total and Lukoil made most head- themselves. Pena Nieto last month signed operating in Israel in 1999. This cussion about the global economic ment spending and big structural lines, the executives also heard “Today a number of countries a bill into law that ended the amount fell to 15 percent for Fab outlook at the World Economic reforms. The hope is to get infla- presentations by officials from which have huge reserves of oil country’s 75-year-old oil and gas 28 in 2008, and when it upgraded Forum. tion up at three percent. Canada, Mozambique and Mexico. and gas begin to say that they monopoly. Fab 28, the grant amounted to Though the shockwaves that The country’s finance minister, The head of BP Bob Dudley need investments to develop Iranian President Hasan only 7 percent, she said. have hit Argentina this week Haruhiko Kuroda, said the early drew a simple conclusion: “It just them,” said the head of Lukoil Rouhani called on oil companies “Together with the Israeli gov- weren’t specifically about taper- signs were positive and he voiced shows how big the shifts are in Vagit Alekperov. in Davos to return to Iran as part ernment we will do what needs ing, the turmoil the country’s some optimism over the country’s the industry.” “It is not only Iran. It is Mexico, of Tehran’s move for a rapproche- to be done to stay competitive,” currency experienced — it fell by growth. Oil prices peaked at $147 a bar- East Africa. We have seen a ment with the West. Fassberg said. nearly 15 percent on Thursday AP rel in 2008 amid growing fears period of national protectionism REUTERS REUTERS Wal-Mart cuts Global regulators eye benchmark after rigging probe 2,300 jobs at WASHINGTON: A powerful emailed statement. interest rates at which they say it is based on a hard-to-control groups of senior traders are global financial regulator will Britain’s Financial Conduct they could borrow and is published survey of market participants. alleged to have shared market- Sam’s Club scrutinise benchmarks used in Authority (FCA) and the US by the British Bankers’ Association. Others take a less drastic stance, sensitive information relevant for currency trading, it said, a first Department of Justice have been The FSB last July set up two because the benchmark is so the popular WM/Reuters “fix,” or sign that the largely unregu- investigating allegations that groups to make recommendations widely spread. London fix, which is set at 4pm warehouse lated market may be kept on a traders at some of the world’s to reform Libor and similar rates, The FSB is expected to London time, using actual trades. NEW YORK: Wal-Mart tighter leash after allegations of biggest banks manipulated the which underlie trillions worth of announce the efforts to look at WM/Reuters rates are com- Stores Inc said it cut roughly manipulation. largely unregulated $5.3 trillion- contracts ranging from student foreign exchange markets “pretty piled using data from Thomson two percent of total employees, The Financial Stability Board, a-day foreign exchange market. loans and mortgages to complex rapidly,” a source familiar with Reuters and other providers and or about 2,300 jobs, at its Sam’s which coordinates regulation for The continuing probe into the financial derivatives. the situation said, but has not yet are calculated by WM, a unit of Club retail warehouse chain on the Group of 20 leading econo- Libor interest rate brought to One group consists of regula- decided who would be in charge State Street Corp. Friday, its biggest round of lay- mies, is already working on a light how easy it is to manipu- tors, and another — chaired by or what shape the work would In an effort to avoid the further offs since 2010. reform of interest rate bench- late the widely used benchmark Darrell Duffie, a finance professor take. wrath of authorities, banks with The action comes on the heels marks after the Libor interbank and has already triggered heavy at Stanford University — brings “That is something for the FSB major currency operations such of a lackluster US holiday season rate-fixing scandal. fines for banks including UBS and together market participants. The to decide and they would delegate as Citi, Deutsche, JPMorgan and and layoffs announced earlier this “The FSB is in the process of Barclays. groups are due to make recom- to whomever they felt was suit- others have curtailed the use of month from US retailers Macy’s defining the work it will do on The London interbank offered mendations in June. able,” this person said, asking not chatrooms widely used by these Inc, JC Penney Co Inc and Target issues around FX benchmarks,” rate, known as Libor, is compiled A US market regulator has said to be identified by name. traders. Corp. the Swiss-based agency said in an from banks submitting quotes for Libor should be scrapped because In the foreign exchange probe, REUTERS In a review of operations that began before the holiday season, Sam’s Club found that its work- force was the same size, regard- Apple Macintosh design team less of the revenue reaped by the business, company spokesman Congo aims for double Bill Durling said in a telephone interview. The cuts will include hourly and middle management positions. digit growth in 2014 “We’re trying to rebalance our resources,” Durling said. KINSHASA: The Democratic forecast from the International Affected employees who are Republic of Congo’s economy Monetary Fund of 6.2 percent. unable to find new positions at grew by 8.5 percent last year The IMF predicted growth of 10.5 Sam’s Club or Walmart will be and could achieve double digit percent in 2014 for Congo. eligible for severance, Durling growth in 2014, helped by rela- M23 is one of dozens of rebel said. tive calm in the mineral-rich groups in eastern Congo. Millions Wal-Mart is scheduled to east, the prime minister said of people have died from violence, report results from its holiday yesterday. disease and hunger since the quarter on February 20. Congo, a country the size 1990s as armed groups fought for Macy’s has said it plans to of Western Europe, has been control of the area’s deposits of cut 2,500 jobs, or 1.4 percent plagued by conflict for decades, gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt and of its US workforce, but it making it difficult to exploit the uranium. said it expects to add posi- resources beneath its soil worth Ponyo said that Congo had no tions for its growing online trillions of dollars. immediate plans to resume talks business, leaving overall But late last year the Congolese with the IMF over a programme staffing levels unchanged at army, backed by a UN unit, of more than $200m in loans, sus- around 175,000. achieved a series of victories pended in late 2012 after authori- JC Penney said it would close over M23 rebels and signed a ties failed to abide by a request to 33 stores and eliminate 2,000 jobs peace deal with them, ending a publish mining contracts. as part of its efforts to return to 20-month conflict and brighten- However, he assured investors profitability. ing economic prospects. that the country retained close And, Target said it would cut “We can today predict growth ties with the IMF. 475 jobs at its headquarters and in double figures for 2014,” “(IMF Managing Director) other offices in Minnesota and Augustin Matata Ponyo told jour- Christine Lagarde congratulated will not fill 700 open positions Members of the original Apple Macintosh design team gather on stage for a group photo during an event nalists on Saturday. Congo for its exceptional eco- worldwide. celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Macintosh in Cupertino, California. Ponyo’s estimate for 2013 nomic performance,” said Ponyo. REUTERS growth was above a November REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

UK car industry may inspire Gold miners’ reserve cuts more balanced recovery BY DAVID MILLIKEN may mean long-term gain BUMPER year for Britain’s car industry offers some hope the economy will start to grow in a more sustainable way, BY NICOLE MORDANT and other subjective assumptions. Miners come after several consecutive quarters of A with a better balance between investment and spending. revalue their reserves annually, usually at bad news from the sector. In 2013, Britain enjoyed its best year of economic growth since ARRICK Gold Corp’s warning the beginning of the year, and release the Barrick’s price assumption was more con- the financial crisis, outpacing other advanced nations. But there this week that its in-the-ground revisions along with fourth-quarter results. servative than the $1,200 an ounce analysts was a catch. The recovery was driven by consumers spending gold reserves will shrink is widely Barrick, the world’s biggest gold pro- were expecting most miners to use. more and saving less. expected to be echoed in the com- ducer, said on Thursday it plans to update “The fundamental thing is, they’re trying A smooth transition to longer-lasting growth, propelled by busi- ing weeks by miners around the its reserves based on a long-term average to draw a line under the past,” said Adrian ness investment and exports, is a key hurdle for 2014 according Bglobe, spelling more asset write-downs for gold price of $1,100 an ounce, down from Day, chief executive of Adrian Day Asset to the Bank of England. an already beat-up sector. $1,500 an ounce a year earlier. Its rivals are Management, referring to the billions of The car industry is showing signs of leading the way — but For the first time in years, miners from also expected to cut price forecasts. dollars Barrick wrote down over the past there have been false starts before. Canada to Australia will tell their share- Spot gold rose to a two-month high of year on an ill-timed acquisition, weak metal Every year since 2010, Britain’s budget watchdog has predicted holders that reserves — the future source $1,272.70 on Friday. Gold is up one percent prices and a cost blow-out at a major project. a rebound in annual business investment — but it is still a third of production, cash flow and growth — have for the week, on track to record a fifth Valuing reserves conservatively is part lower than before the financial crisis of 2007-2009. It is essential significantly diminished, hit by bullion’s 28 straight weekly gain for the first time since of that process, said Day, who recently sold for Britain’s recovery. percent price slide in 2013. September 2012. down a small position in Barrick’s shares, “The pace of investment — when it comes — will ultimately However painful, the reserve cuts and The more conservative assumptions could but still owns some call options. determine the duration of the current upswing,” BoE policy-maker associated write-downs are seen helping mark a strategic shift away from marginal There is a risk that Australia’s biggest Ian McCafferty said in a speech to businesses last week, adding nurse the sector back to longer-term health deposits, a concrete move to win back inves- miner Newcrest Mining Ltd could write that many firms were operating close to capacity. by discouraging miners from seeking low- tors alienated by the miners’ boom time down as much as A$3bn if it chooses to recal- A string of surveys show firms are more willing to pump money margin growth at the expense of profits. push for growth at all costs. culate reserves and asset carrying values at a into their businesses than at any time since the crisis — in the It is a shift most mining executives have Gold stocks, as measured by the S&P/TSX gold price $100 an ounce below what it used services sector as well as manufacturing. promised over the last year and one that Global Gold Index, are down nearly 40 per- a year ago, RBC Capital Markets analyst Rebalancing is often talked about in terms of moving the econ- investors are keen to see them deliver. cent in the past year. Steuart McIntyre said in a client note. omy towards manufacturing and away from services. But what “To some extent, what has hurt the After 12 years of rising gold prices, 2014 Included in that total is a A$300m to the BoE wants is a shift in spending towards investment and stocks in the past couple of years is this will be the first year for many in which A$400m reduction in the carrying value of away from consumption, rather than between economic sectors. perceived notion of a long mine life with investors really see the impact of lower its Telfer mine due to reserve cuts ahead of Other positive signs include a growing appetite among banks to many ounces. It doesn’t necessarily equate prices on mine lives and tangible book the mine’s expected shutdown in 2018. lend. And Britain’s stronger economic outlook should encourage to more profitability,” said Chris Beer, senior values, said Deutsche Bank analyst Jorge Newcrest, whose results are expected on firms to invest their large cash reserves. portfolio manager with RBC Global Asset Beristain. February 14, previously used a gold price of But, for now, official data on firms increasing investment is Management in Toronto. “These are not your traditional, garden- $1,250 an ounce to estimate reserves. thin on the ground. “You want the best rock, not all of the variety M&A-related or project capex- But not all miners face reserve writ- The exception is the car industry — which benefited from an rock,” he said. related write-downs,” he said. edowns this year. Most small- and mid-tier upturn in demand well before other sectors and saw more than Reserves are estimates of the amount To be sure, reserve write-downs will Australian gold miners are not expected £2.5bn ($4.16bn) of new investment in 2013. of metal that it is financially and techni- likely be smaller than the tens of billions in to trim reserves this time around as they Britons bought 2.265 million new cars in 2013, the highest cally feasible to mine. When gold prices charges taken by miners on assets bought already use a gold price around $1,200 to number since 2007 and an 11 percent rise on the year that bucked fall, reserves tend to drop, but how much at peak metal prices or on development measure reserves. the trend in Germany, where car sales fell four percent, and depends on the deposit, price forecasts projects where costs spiralled. But they REUTERS France, where they dropped by nine percent. One big factor in Britain was probably compensation payments by banks to consumers for mis-sold insurance which were often big enough to be used as a deposit on a new car. Cheap finance deals and record-low rates helped fund the rest. It helped drive Britain to produce 1.510 million cars in 2013, the highest number since 2007, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Britain is a hub for automakers including Nissan, Toyota, Honda, BMW, General Motors and Tata Group’s Jaguar Land Rover. German parts maker ElringKlinger has invested £10m in a new plant in Redcar, northeastern England, to make the light- but-bulky heat shields that protect cars from hot exhaust gases. These will be fitted to BMW Minis built in Oxford, replacing parts made elsewhere in Europe. The investment was only feasible thanks to strong domestic demand, said Ian Malcolm, ElringKlinger’s UK Managing Director. “The growth in vehicle production in the UK is of much greater significance to us, because the product we are starting to supply is much more difficult to ship halfway around the world,” he said. There are some tentative signs that the growth in automotive investment is being replicated more broadly. Manufacturers plan the biggest increase in investment in 2014 since the start of the financial crisis, surveys show, much of it to replace older equipment. Companies in the services sector showed the strongest inten- tions to invest since 2000, according to one survey. And Britain’s economic turnaround means shareholders are more willing for firms to spend their precautionary cash piles, said Ian Stewart, chief economist at accountants Deloitte. But it is too early to tell if this is just cyclical or marks the start of a longer-term approach to investment. Samuel Tombs, UK economist at Capital Economics, said he expected the rebound in investment to be cyclical due to investors’ pressure for short-term profits. “The trend before the recession was for business investment to have a smaller share of GDP. Those pressures may still be around even when the economy is back to health,” he said. Figures from the OECD from 2012 show British gross fixed capital formation was 14 percent below its pre-crisis peak, while US investment was five percent below and German investment was five percent higher than pre-crisis levels. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate BP back in favour despite spill legacy, Russia doubts

BY ANDREW CALLUS peer group — a profit warning at downgrading profit forecasts Greenlight said it had bought whole story, as analysts discov- “BP’s strategic investment in Shell, cost overruns at Chevron, across the sector, analysts at UBS BP stock at an average price of ered to their cost in 2010 when Rosneft allows us access to F YOU had spent 10 pounds and worries about cashflow and predict BP’s return on average $47.39 a share. It said the com- they flagged repeated opportuni- growth opportunities previously on BP shares on April 19, production at Exxon — not to capital employed (ROACE) this pany had a net asset value of ties to buy BP shares — all the unavailable to us in Russia, one of 2010, you would have just mention a price-enhancing share year will be 11 percent — on a par nearly $70 a share, even assum- way down from six pounds to a the world’s largest producers of oil nine pounds now, including buyback programme put in place with Shell’s. ing it will have to pay out far more low of less than three pounds. and gas combined with unparal- dividends. A poor invest- last year, but it is still quite a BP shed a big chunk of its earn- than it has provided for. BP’s Some investors and insiders leled resource potential,” he said Iment, however you cut it, but also turnaround in sentiment from ing power to pay for the spill, but US-listed stock traded at around privately question the direction in October last year. a remarkable recovery. 2010. got prices that now look enviable $48.60 on Friday. and style of management since Spill litigation still takes up A day later an explosion at the Then, the price of credit default as the industry cycle turns down. Deutsche Bank — one of 13 former chief executive Tony a lot of management time, too. Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the swaps on BP bonds showed that Rivals are now falling over each investment banks with a buy or Hayward resigned, taking respon- The outcome of a New Orleans Gulf of Mexico would deal the even its solvency was in question, other to get assets on the block, outperform note on the stock, sibility for the spill. trial under judge Patrick Juneau, United States its worst offshore and Shell thought it might have at the risk of driving prices lower. according to ThomsonReuters Hayward’s replacement, Bob conducted under the terms of US oil spill, and BP would face the to mount a rescue bid. A leaner, meaner asset base has data, compared with three rating Dudley, has extracted about maritime law without a jury, is wrath of President Barack Obama “It wasn’t so much that we emerged, too. Meanwhile, having it underperform or sell — argues $12bn from the company’s trou- still very much in flux. himself for the death and destruc- wanted to buy, more we thought settled criminal proceedings, and that the net present value of spill blesome Russian investment and BP is also banned, due to its tion it caused. the British government might two phases into a three-stage civil litigation has fallen. given some $8bn of it back to criminal conviction for the rig Over the next two months, BP ask us to step in,” recalled Peter trial, an army of lawyers is work- “This is not to say that BP’s shareholders. disaster, from bidding for any new shares lost nearly two thirds of Voser, Shell’s chief executive at ing to push remaining spill fines position in the court trial has But he has yet to prove that the US licences in the Gulf of Mexico. their value as the scale of the the time, in a discussion with and penalties way into the future. improved ... rather... it is likely to remaining half — which became Time will tell, but for some, the disaster threatened to sink the Reuters last year. Barely a week goes by without be multiple years before additional a 19.75 percent stake in state- company still has a long way to go. company. Now, in a change of fortunes, a new legal challenge from the cash of any magnitude over and controlled Rosneft — is anything “BP has become a litigation- Now some investors are sens- Shell has warned investors that British group aimed at keeping a above that already agreed flows more than a high-risk minority dominated company, and they ing a better future than they had it suffered its worst quarter lid on its liabilities. from the BP balance sheet,” the holding in a company based in a have an issue in Russia,” said oil dared to hope. since 2009 at the end of last year Explaining a bet it made on BP bank said in a research note. politically unpredictable country, and gas blogger and independ- The shares are flirting with — albeit with little damage to in a letter to investors last week, The note estimated cash out- despite his seat on the board. ent industry investment adviser post-spill highs, and are the its share price — while BP has US hedge fund manager David flows from future fines at less “Dudley doesn’t seem to have Malcolm Graham-Wood. second-best performer in the reshaped itself. Einhorn’s firm Greenlight Capital than $1bn a year over the next that pally relationship you need “If they have a profit warning industry’s top five behind Exxon BP sold $40bn worth of prime said investors were overlooking decade. with Igor Sechin,” said an indus- anything like Shell’s, they will Mobil since the start of the fourth assets to stay afloat — and spent the company’s improved return That is only about two weeks’ try source who has done business have to buy back a lot more that quarter. $42.5bn on the spill clean-up, fines on capital in its core business and worth of capital spending at cur- with the Rosneft CEO. 7 million shares a day to keep the This may have something to and provisions for future costs. remained too focused on the spill rent rates. The BP CEO himself remains price up.” do with the misfortunes of its In a note published on Friday fallout. But numbers rarely tell the confident of his Russian move. REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,298.96 0.35 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 16,143.62 0.35 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,235.85 0.36 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,788.93 0.37 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,662.24 0.83 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5275.529 -55.804 -1.05 5383.4 5215.5 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,042.73 0.39 % QR146.6338 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4318.76 -6.22 -0.14 4351.21 4213.57 QE All Share Industrials 3,749.97 0.56 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0067 QR 6.0911 QE All Share Insurance 2,549.77 0.75 % Dj Indu Average 16373.34 -41.1 -0.25 16588.3 13623 Euro ...... QR 4.9344 QR 5.0029 QE All Share Real Estate 2,057.9 0.44 % QR 2.3660 CA$ ...... QR 3.2365 QR 3.3013 QE All Share Telecoms 1,628.51 1.77 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,961.31 0.09 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0062 QR 4.0633 Hang Seng Inde/D 22733.9 -348.35 -1.51 23469.33 22567.77 Yen ...... QR 0.0347 QR 0.0354 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.1660 QR 3.2281 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4862.1 8.49 0.17 4868.68 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 26-01-2014 23-01-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0583 QR 0.0594 Index 11,298.96 11,338.41 Karachi 100 In/D 27064.34 49.22 0.18 27213.21 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0343 QR 0.0349 Change 39.45 158.80 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 15695.89 -125.07 -0.79 16164.01 15383.69 Peso ...... QR 0.0797 QR 0.0813 % 0.35 1.42 $ 108.00 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 8.86 9.24 S&P 500 Index/D 1844.86 1.06 0.06 1850.84 1481.16 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0475 Volume 7,966,702 8,757,433 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0366 QR 0.0373 Value (QAR) 453,302,809.84 605,318,483.77 Straits Times/D 3100.24 -33.5 -1.07 3187.8 3115.8 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3297 QR 0.3362 Trades 4,713 5,282 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 104.57 Up 16 | Down 21 | Unchanged 04

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 26-01-2014

Risk aversion supports gold, WTI losing steam near $100/bbl

ANY of the major negative developments as the key provided support. A leaked report the worries about demand from financial markets focus was domestic US issues such Weekly Commodity Update from The International Cocoa China, which consumes 40 percent went against cur- as the increased pipeline capac- Organization showed an annual of global supply, should keep the

rent trends over the ity from the US Midwest to the drop of 17 percent in global stock- focus on the downside near-term. M BY OLE HANSEN past week resulting in increased Gulf of Mexico (WTI Crude posi- piles as of last September and cur- Gold (XAUUSD) continued to volatility and uncertainty about tive) together with the very cold (Head of Commodity rent market expectations point rally and reached a two-month the near-term direction. Worries wind winter which lent support to Strategy, Saxo Bank) towards a supply deficit in the next high following the longest weekly about an emerging market slow- heating oil (ULSD) and especially two years. This outlook has been winning streak since September down heightened risk aversion at a natural gas. underpinning cocoa prices since 2012. Gold’s credentials as an alter- time of year where many investors Natural Gas (NGG4) was the in the weather carries the risk of temperatures currently sweeping last summer and further upside natively investment resurfaced, are still looking for the right trad- best performing commodity for a triggering a significant amount of across the US eastern seaboard. potential exists considering the not least helped by the simultane- ing themes for 2014. This aversion second week, jumping to almost $5 profit taking. Once temperatures return to nor- current price of $2,800 per ton is ous drop in the US dollar, stocks caused the US dollar to weaken, per term, a level which was tested Brent crude oil (LCOH4) under- mal, WTI crude oil is expected to still some 25 percent below the lat- and bond yields. The stock mar- not least driven by JPY buying as but not broken during a couple of performed WTI crude oil which led weaken again amid ample supply est peak in 2011. ket weakness which led to buying overextended short positions were attempts back in 2010 and 2011. to the arbitrage between the two from the continued increase in High Grade Copper (HGH4) of bonds had the most signifi- scaled back. Falling emerging mar- The colder than normal winter global benchmarks dropping back shale oil production. Resistance dropped for a fourth week in a cant impact and as a result, the ket stocks and currencies spread weather in the US has increased below 10 dollars for the first time will increase as it approaches row after manufacturing activ- December high at $1268 per ounce to some of the major stock mar- demand for gas to the extent that since early November. Increase $100 with the trend line from the ity in China slowed for the first was challenged which potentially kets with the S&P 500 falling for inventory levels have dropped to supply from Libya and a potential August high at 98.25 and the 200- time in six months and regula- now could see gold target its 200- a second consecutive week. Bond the lowest since 2005 for this par- slowdown in China hurt Brent day moving average at 99 both tors stepped up their scrutiny of day moving average currently at markets received a boost from this ticular time of year. Some 2,423 crude while WTI crude got a boost having the potential to halt the potential credit risks within cer- $1,318 per ounce. Total holdings with US 10-year government bond billion cubic feet are currently from the news that TransCanada current rally. tain sectors. The fall was some- in Exchange Traded Products yields falling to a two-month low. held in US underground caverns Corp had opened the southern leg Cocoa (CCH4) moved within what cushioned by a continued (ETP) did not lend much support These developments played which is 12 percent below the five- of its Keystone XL pipeline which reach of the highs seen last drop in inventories held at ware- to the rally as it fell by 10 tons to into the hands of gold investors year average. Every weekly draw has a capacity of 300,000 barrels December after jumping the houses monitored by the London the lowest level since 2009. As the with both the physical metal and from here until the end of the per day. This is expected to alle- most in 16 months on Thursday. Metal Exchange. Stockpiles there rally was triggered by emerging gold mining stocks rallying while withdrawal season in late March viate the supply glut at Cushing, Improved economic activity in have been falling 20 weeks in a row risk aversion and worries about growth-dependent commodities could take inventory levels down Oklahoma, the delivery point for Europe, (the world’s largest con- to the lowest level in a year while emerging market slowdown silver such as industrial metals fell. to worrying levels and this has WTI crude oil futures contracts suming region of chocolate), potential supply disruptions out of became a reluctant follower and it Brent crude also struggled while provided the strong support in traded in New York. Just like natu- together with an industry report Indonesia also lent support. The stayed within its established range the US energy sector was some- recent weeks. Upside momentum ral gas, the demand for heating oil pointing towards a significant price remain range-bound within and resistance at $20.64 was left what immune to these potential remain firm but a sudden change has also been lifted by the very low deterioration in global stocks a $3.15 per pound to 3.40 range, but unchallenged. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Nightmare for Woods Choi in charge in Bahamas PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas: South Korea’s Choi Bahamas LPGA Na-Yeon birdied three of her last Classic scores as Woodland leads four holes yesterday to seize a one-shot third-round lead at the Leading third-round scores yesterday in the season-opening Bahamas LPGA Bahamas LPGA Classic (USA unless noted): Classic. 204 Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 70-68-66 Defending champion misses secondary cut The seven-time LPGA Tour win- 205 Lizette Salas 72-67-66 ner posted a seven-under par 66 for 207 Paula Creamer 71-65-71, Jessica a 15-under total of 204 and had a Korda 69-66-72 LA JOLLA: On a day when American Stewart Cink, who one-stroke lead over American 208 Amelia Lewis 69-73-66, Stacy Lewis Tiger Woods’s woes were the talk began the round one stroke behind Lizette Salas — whose own 66 put 69-71-68, Jenny Suh 71-66-71 of Torrey Pines, Gary Woodland Spieth, carded a 79 that left him her on 205. 209 Chella Choi (KOR) 73-69-67, kept mistakes to a minimum tied for 27th. Salas will be seeking her first title Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 70- to take the Farmers Insurance But it was Woods’s woes on a on the Ocean Club course. 71-68, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) Open third-round lead. course playing hard and fast in Overnight leader Jessica Korda 71-69-69, P.K. Kongkraphan (THA) World number one Woods — the absence of the damp weather and playing partner Paula Creamer 69-69-71, Lydia Ko (NZL) 68-70-71, whose eight triumphs at Torrey usual for the Southern California both eagled the par-five 18th to grab Michelle Wie 72-65-72 Pines include seven titles in this coast in January that made the a share of third place on 12-under US PGA Tour event and the 2008 most news. 207. 210 Azahara Munoz (ESP) 70-71-69 US Open — staggered to third- “It was definitely different see- Korda carded a 72. Her eagle 211 Sandra Changkija 71-72-68, Sandra round 79 that saw him notch a ing him making so many bogeys,” at the last, where she landed her Gal (GER) 71-69-71, Christel Boeljon dubious career first in missing the said playing partner Jhonattan second shot within two feet, helped (NED) 71-67-73 secondary cut. Vegas. “You don’t expect to see counter a double-bogey at 13. 212 Morgan Pressel 70-73-69, Brittany Woods’s round included back- that out of him.” Creamer’s closing eagle helped Lincicome 70-71-71 to-back double-bogeys at the 18th Never before has Woods missed her overcome a triple bogey from 213 Tiffany Joh 73-74-66, Kristy and first holes, followed by five a secondary cut — made after the the water at 15. She carded a 71. McPherson 73-71-69, Laura Diaz straight bogeys from the second third round in US PGA Tour Stacy Lewis, the highest-ranked 74-69-70 , Danielle Kang 73-69-71, through sixth holes. events when the halfway cut yields player in the field at number three Park Hee-Young (KOR) 69-72-72 His six-over total of 222 left him an excessive weekend field. in the world, carded a 68 and 214 Karine Icher (FRA) 74-73-67, Gerina 14 shots behind Woodland, who Only the top 70 and ties jumped into a share of fifth on 208. Piller 71-75-68, S Jane Smith (AUS) advanced to Sunday’s final round, She was tied with Amelia Lewis 72-73-69, Alena Sharp (CAN) 75- Farmers Insurance and Woods was tied for 80th. (66) and Monday qualifier Jenny 69-70, Cindy LaCrosse 70-74-70, Despite balmy temperatures Suh (71). Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 75-68-71 Open US PGA Scores and little wind, only 18 players New Zealand 16-year-old Lydia broke par. Ko, playing her first tournament Leading third-round scores yesterday in the Woodland had five birdies to as an LPGA Tour member, carded a 71 that left her in a group of six $6.1m US PGA Farmers Insurance Open counter his bogey at the par-four players on 209. (USA unless noted): 15th and a double-bogey at the Ko, who turned pro last year after a stellar amateur career, is the 208 Gary Woodland 65-73-70 par-four 17th. second-highest ranked player in the field at number four in the world. 209 Marc Leishman (AUS) 66-71-72, Leishman was admirably steady Both Choi and Salas played without a bogey yesterday. Salas briefly Jordan Spieth 71-63-75 with one birdie and one bogey in grabbed sole possession of the lead after her seventh birdie of the day 210 Pat Perez 67-71-72, Morgan his 72. “It was a bit tougher out at the 15th. She couldn’t find another birdie however, and Choi notched Hoffmann 72-66-72 there today,” Leishman said. “The the last two of her seven birdies at 16 and 18 to gain the lead. AFP 211 Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 74-68-69, greens firmed up, got quicker, it Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 72-70-69, Will was had to roll in those putts.” MacKenzie 72-69-70, Scott Stallings Spieth played his first five holes 72-67-72, Brad Fritsch (CAN) in four-over, including a double- 69-70-72, Andres Romero (ARG) bogey at the par-four fifth. He was 72-72-67, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) delighted to find himself just one 69-67-75 Gary Woodland hits out of the rough on the 15th hole during the third round off the lead going into the final round. 212 Robert Streb 73-69-70, Charles of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South in La Jolla, California. Howell 70-72-70, Brian Stuard 70- “The par-fives were gettable, 73-69, Keegan Bradley 69-72-71, you just had to be in the fairway,” Graham DeLaet (CAN) 70-73-69, he said. “I guess a lot of people Jason Day (AUS) 66-73-73, Kevin overcame a bogey and a double- Americans posting even par 72s. were struggling to hit the fairways Chappell 73-66-73, Kevin Tway bogey of his own to post a two- A group of seven players on today, including myself. I think I 69-70-73, Erik Compton 69-69-74, under 70 for a 54-hole total of 211 included Argentina’s Andres only hit three of them. That’s not Russell Knox (SCO) 71-67-74 eight-under 208. Woodland was Romero, whose 67 was the low- going to work tomorrow.” one stroke in front of Australian est round of the day. Japan’s American Phil Mickelson was 213 Ian Poulter (ENG) 75-67-71, Justin Marc Leishman, who posted an Ryo Ishikawa and South African a notable absentee on Saturday. Thomas 68-73-72, Trevor Immelman even-par 72, and overnight leader Rory Sabbatini joined that group After making the cut despite a (RSA) 68-74-71, Noh Seung-Yul Jordan Spieth who carded a 75 to with 69s, while Belgian Nicolas sore back, he opted to withdraw (KOR) 68-73-72 Choi Na-Yeon of South Korea follows her drive on the fourth hole during join Leishman on 209. Colsaerts, who started the day in Friday. He’s due to defend his Missed secondary cut: round three of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at the Ocean Club Pat Perez and Morgan third place, ended up in the group title at the Phoenix Open next course in Paradise Island, Bahamas. 222 Tiger Woods 72-71-79 Hoffman were tied on 210, both at five-under after a three-over 75. week. AFP Qatar triumph could herald amazing year, says Garcia DOHA: Former world number two the US Masters at Augusta in April. It was the eighth straight year the years so the crowd are used to seeing me be too disappointed,” said the 34-year-old Sergio Garcia is hoping his Qatar “I hope this is the start of an amazing 34-year-old had competed in Qatar and which is nice. That always makes you Finn. Masters victory is an encouraging sign year,” he told the tournament’s official victory over Ilonen made amends for his feel comfortable,” added world number 11 “I gave it my best shot but Sergio was a of good things to come for the Spaniard website (www.qatar-masters.com) after near-miss 12 months earlier when he was Garcia who has racked up a total of seven bit better this time. There’s no shame in this season. lifting the grand Mother of Pearl Trophy. edged out by Briton Chris Wood’s last- top-10 finishes in Doha. losing to a great player like him.” The Ryder Cup stalwart picked up the “Last year I had a lot of close calls, hole eagle. “The crowd really made me feel that The final leg of the tour’s three-week 11th European Tour win of his career, and starting here, so I’m very excited to be “I’m thrilled to finally be able to win and hopefully they felt the same way. Desert Swing, which kicked off with his 26th worldwide, by beating Finland’s able to get my hands on this trophy - this here,” said Garcia who ended the regu- It was an exciting finish and you could Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal’s victory in Mikko Ilonen at the third hole of a sud- beautiful and heavy trophy. lation 72 holes alongside the Finn on see the crowd also got excited,” he said Abu Dhabi, will be at the Dubai Desert den-death play-off in Doha on Saturday. “It’s great to set up my year a little bit, 16-under-par 272. after edging past Ilonen at the 18th with Classic that starts on Thursday. Garcia is one of the finest golfers never to win again on the European Tour,” said “I’ve been close several times so it feels his third birdie four at the play-off hole. Among the competitors in Dubai are to have won a major championship and Garcia who last triumphed on the circuit great to finally get over the finish line and Ilonen, who was aiming for his fourth world number one Tiger Woods, third- his performance in the Middle East will when he captured the Andalucia Masters go home with the trophy. tour win, said he lost to the better man. ranked Henrik Stenson and number seven tempt a lot of punters to back him for title in October 2011. “I’ve been coming here for eight straight “I played good golf this week so I can’t Rory McIlroy. REUTERS Huck KOs Arslan to defend title Peterson hands Jean first loss

BERLIN: Germany’s Marco WASHINGTON: American fell to 25-1 but took his first loss and height advantage, evaded Jean Huck defended his WBO cruis- Lamont Peterson kept his in stride. several times to escape trouble in erweight belt with a sixth round International Boxing Federation “Maybe it was just a matter of the third and both fighters became knock-out of challenger Firat light-welterweight title on experience,” Jean said. “I’m defi- more defensive. Arslan in Saturday’s rematch in Saturday with a unanimous nitely leaving with my head held The champion started the sixth Stuttgart. 12-round decision over previ- high. I fought a hard fight. Life round aggressively and pressed the The 29-year-old Huck put the ously unbeaten Canadian Dierry goes on.” attack, pounding Jean against the challenger down twice in the sixth Jean. For Peterson, the goal is a show- ropes with flurries of punches, round with a furious onslaught Judges gave hometown hero down with unbeaten American opening a cut near Jean’s right eye. of punches, but both times the Peterson the triumph by scores Danny Garcia, who holds the “I knew it was his first title fight 43-year-old struggled back to his of 118-111, 116-112 and 115-113, World Boxing Association and and it’s a big stage,” Peterson said. feet. improving his record to 32-2 World Boxing Council crowns, for “I didn’t want him to get confi- Referee Mark Nelson stepped with one draw before 5,668 at the an undisputed title. dence so I got on the gas.” in to put Arslan out of his misery Washington Armory. “I would like to be considered Jean began to connect well with with 1 minute, 56 seconds of the A day after his 30th birthday, the best 140-pounder in the world. single blows in the seventh and round remaining. Peterson revived his career after If it’s Danny Garcia next, then eighth but could not stop Peterson “I want to thank Arslan for a being stopped for the first time that’s what it is,” Peterson said. from taking control of the fight in really hard fight, respect to the last May by Argentina’s Lucas “He’s considered number one the later rounds. guy who is in such good shape at Matthysse in the third round of and rightfully so. I do want to Peterson took the title from the age of 43,” said Huck. a catch-weight bout where his move up to welterweight pretty Britain’s Amir Khan in a con- Having already controversially German WBO boxing champion Marco Huck and his coach Uli Wegner crown was not at risk. soon, so the sooner the better.” troversial split decision at beaten Germany’s Arslan on after his victory over challenger Firat Arslan in Stuttgart. “I had to go out there and show Jean, a 31-year-old born in Haiti Washington in 2011, but a planned points on their previous November people I have still got it,” Peterson but based in Montreal, exchanged 2012 rematch with the Englishman 2012 meeting, Huck took control cruiserweight world champion, Liverpool heavyweight Price, said. “Every time I think I have tentative jabs with Peterson in the was scrapped after Peterson tested of the fight from the fourth round suffered the eighth defeat of his 30, is rebuilding after back- it easy there is another setback. early going. positive for steroids. onwards. career but immediately ruled out to-back defeats by American I have showed I can get back up. Peterson landed a right to the He kept the IBF crown after This was the 26th knock-out retirement. Tony Thompson in 2013. “That’s my purpose in life. I try chin off a clinch in the second but winning an appeal and won his and 37th win of Huck’s career and On the Huck-Arslan under- Hungary’s Ruzsinszky was a to represent something to people Jean used his speed edge to punch only prior defence of the title with the 12th defence of the title he won card, Britain’s David Price late replacement for Kazakhstan’s trying to find a way out of their the champion into the ropes late an eighth-round stoppage of fel- in 2009. enjoyed a first-round knock- Konstantin Airich, who failed a struggles and inspire them.” in the round. low American Kendall Holt last Arslan, a former WBA out of Istvan Ruzsinszky. medical. AFP Jean, in his first world title bout, Peterson, who had the reach February. AFP MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Clippers down Toronto Raptors Club record by Ross not enough to earn victory for Toronto side; Denver beat Indiana

NEW YORK: Jamal Crawford to fashion a 30-point-plus streak beat the Indiana Pacers 109-96. scored a season-best 37 points of 10 games or more. Guard Ty Lawson had 12 points and had 11 assists, and Blake He shot 12-for-17 from the and 10 assists for the Nuggets. Griffin scored 30 points, as the floor, as the Western Conference- Guard Lance Stephenson led Los Angeles Clippers defeated leading Thunder (35-10) won their the Pacers with 23 points and 10 the Toronto Raptors 126-118. seventh straight. rebounds and forward Paul George Terrence Ross led the Raptors James Anderson had 19 points had 18 points and 11 rebounds for by tying the club record with to lead the Sixers (14-30). Indiana. 51 points on 16-for-29 shooting Technically, it was not a dou- The Pacers have been the best including 10-for-17 from three- bleheader sweep but the Memphis team in the league this season but point range. Grizzlies’ 99-81 victory over their big weakness has been the He missed a free throw with Houston was their second win over second of back-to-back games. four seconds to play that would the Rockets in a 24-hour span. Six of their league-low nine have erased Vince Carter’s club The Grizzlies (22-20) had a losses have come in those games, record set in 2000. huge edge in assists (23 to 14) and including on Saturday. NBA scoring leader Kevin owned the boards 52-38. They Forward Paul Millsap had 20 Durant scored 32 points in the shot 46.6 percent (41-for-88) and points and shooting guard Louis Thunder’s 103-91 victory over the earned their seventh win in their Williams added 18 off the bench Philadelphia 76ers, extending to 10 last eight games. as the short-handed Atlanta his consecutive-game streak with Mike Conley paced the Grizzlies Hawks rolled to a 112-87 rout of 30 or more, with 17 points. the Milwaukee Bucks. He added 14 rebounds and 10 Houston (29-17) got 16 points The Hawks (23-20) led by as assists for his second triple-double from James Harden and 10 points many as 33 points in the second of the season, and the fifth of his and 12 rebounds from Dwight half and won for the third time career. Howard. in four games behind 52.6 per- Durant, who missed Friday DJ Augustin scored 28 points cent shooting from the field that night’s victory in Boston with a against his former team, includ- included 13 three-pointers on 26 sprained right shoulder, is just ing 15 in the decisive fourth quar- attempts. the sixth NBA player since 1990 ter, as the Chicago Bulls beat the Center Enes Kanter scored 24 Charlotte Bobcats 89-87. points off the bench and the Utah Augustin, a first-round pick of Jazz rallied to beat the Washington NBA Results the Bobcats in 2008 who spent Wizards 104-101. four seasons with the team, broke Jazz shooting guard Gordon Chicago 89 Charlotte 87 Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) fails to finish against Toronto Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas the 20-point mark for the third Hayward scored 16 points, includ- LA Clippers 126 Toronto 118 time in his last four games. ing a pair of free throws with 3.6 (17) during their NBA game at Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City 103 Philadelphia 91 He hit six three-pointers, seconds remaining, to help Utah Memphis 99 Houston 81 including three in the fourth quar- improve to 15-29. Wall’s desperation heave from to a 115-104 victory over the Matthews added 18 points and Atlanta 112 Milwaukee 87 ter when the Bulls pulled away. Center Derrick Favors finished well behind the three-point line Minnesota Timberwolves. guard Mo Williams came off the Denver 109 Indiana 96 Forward Wilson Chandler with a game-high 14 rebounds and crashed off the rim at the buzzer. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge bench to score 16 for the winners. scored a season-high 25 points, 11 points. The Portland Trail Blazers scored 21 points to lead six play- Guard Kevin Martin bombed in Utah 104 Washington 101 J.J. Hickson had 14 points and 13 The game was not settled broke open a tight game late in ers in double figures for the Trail 30 points for Minnesota (21-22). Portland 115 Minnesota 104 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets until Washington guard John the third quarter and ran away Blazers (33-11). Guard Wesley REUTERS St Louis Blues beat NY Islanders Seahawks aim for NEW YORK: Alexander Steen to kick the puck into the goal. Philadelphia’s only goal. first Super Bowl title and Kevin Shattenkirk scored in Vladimir Tarasenko scored The Bruins (32-15-3) are 3-0-1 NHL Results the shootout to lift the St. Louis twice for the Blues. Goaltender in their last four games and remain Carolina 6 Ottawa 3 NEW YORK: The , who hail from the north- Blues to a 4-3 win over the New Jaroslav Halak made 33 saves. first in the Atlantic Division. west corner of the United States, aim to break into the limelight St Louis 4 NY Islanders 3 York Islanders. Zdeno Chara and Jarome Iginla The Flyers (25-22-6) are 0-3-1 with their first Super Bowl crown in a February 2 showdown TJ Oshie forced overtime for each scored twice to lead the in their last four and have fallen to Boston 6 Philadelphia 1 against the Denver Broncos in wintry New Jersey. the Blues (35-11-5) by scoring with Boston Bruins to a 6-1 victory over eighth in the Eastern Conference. Washington 5 Montreal 0 Seattle, an expansion team that joined the National Football 26.7 seconds left in regulation. the slumping Philadelphia Flyers. Carolina’s Eric Staal and Manny Tampa Bay 5 Colorado 2 League in 1976, reached their only previous Super Bowl following The Islanders (21-25-8) looked Reilly Smith and Patrice Malhotra scored 32 seconds apart Buffalo 5 Columbus 2 the 2005 season but fell 21-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers under the like they had won in overtime Bergeron also had goals, David during a four-goal second period Winnipeg 5 Toronto 4 dome in Detroit with snow falling outside Ford Field. when Thomas Vanek tipped Krejci had three assists and goal- as the Hurricanes continued their They lack the star power of the Peyton Manning-led Broncos and Dallas 3 Pittsburgh 0 in a shot by John Tavares but tender Tuukka Rask registered a home domination of Ottawa with are slight underdogs, but that suits the fiercely confident Seahawks, Anaheim 3 Los Angeles 0 the goal was overturned after a career-best 23rd win. a 6-3 victory over the Senators. who play with a chip on their shoulders and an electric energy that replay because Vanek appeared Claude Giroux scored REUTERS San Jose 3 Minnesota 2 fuels the NFL’s top defence. A roster full of undrafted free agents and late-round draft picks has been astutely assembled by exuberant coach Pete Carroll and Seattle general manager John Schneider under the blessing of team owner , the hometown billionaire and co-creator of Microsoft. “I have never been around such a positive, engaging coach that connects with each player at that level of intensity,” Allen told the Stakes high for Putin Seattle Times about the coach he hired in 2010. “It’s really amazing. Pete really stands out because of his positivity and his ability to connect.” Of the 53 players on the roster for Seattle’s 23-17 win over West in Sochi Games Coast rivals the San Francisco 49ers that put them into the Super MOSCOW: The Sochi Winter The Games’ projected $50bn Bowl, 21 entered the as undrafted free agents Olympics are meant to be price tag looks even more of a and 16 were drafted after the third round. Vladimir Putin’s crowning gamble now that Russia’s economy The offence is run by Russell Wilson, the undersized 1.80-metre achievement as Russian leader has taken a turn for the worse in quarterback taken in the third round of the 2012 draft. The face of but are in danger of becom- the past few months. the NFL’s top-rated defence is cornerback Richard Sherman, drafted ing a symbol of his country’s When Putin almost single- in the fifth round in 2011. problems. handedly won Russia the right The Seahawks joined the NFL 37 seasons ago along with the Tampa When the Games open with to host the Games in 2007, the Bay Buccaneers. Team fortunes took an immediate upswing in 1983 great fanfare on February 7, the economy of the world’s largest when the AFC club hired former Rams and Bills coach Chuck Knox. president will be there to revel country’s was in overdrive, pow- The hard-nosed fundamentalist, who favoured a physical running in the unlikely feat of turning an ered by high oil prices, after reg- game nicknamed Ground Chuck, led the Seahawks to a 9-7 record ageing sub-tropical resort on the istering annual growth of over six good enough for their first postseason appearance. Black Sea into a glittering modern percent in each of the previous Seattle beat Denver and the Miami Dolphins to reach the AFC hub for a Winter Games in seven four years. championship before falling 30-14 to the Los Angeles Raiders. years. But that was before the 2008- The following season, the Seahawks went 12-4 to return to the He hopes the most expensive 09 global financial crisis, and the post-season and they reached the play-offs two more times under Games in Olympic history — sum- political and economic stagna- Knox but went into decline and failed to advance from 1989 to 1998. mer or winter — will validate his tion that has discouraged for- The team was almost relocated by then owner Ken Behring and role as Russia’s supreme leader, eign investment in Russia during was briefly in bankruptcy before Allen bought the franchise in 1997. unite the country behind him and Putin’s third term as president. Two years later Allen hired Mike Holmgren away from the Green show how far it has come since Growth is expected to be only Bay Packers, who he led to the Super Bowl title in 1997 and returned Soviet days. about two percent this year and them to the title game in 1998, by making him head coach and gen- “I would like the participants, Russian banks are starting to look eral manager. fans, journalists and all those who badly exposed. Holmgren stayed 10 seasons and took the Seahawks to the play-offs watch the Games on television Putin sees the Sochi Games, six times including their trip to the Super Bowl as NFC champions, to see a new Russia, see its face which last until February 23, as a having switched conferences in 2002. and possibilities, take a fresh and chance to give the resort a makeo- Seattle outgained the Steelers in the Super Bowl but felt the sting unbiased look at the country,” he ver and revive big infrastructure of several controversial plays ruled against them in the 11-point loss. told the media in Sochi. projects. Sochi has long resembled In fact, four years after the defeat in a rules interpretation session Russian Cossacks patrol at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort in Krasnaya But the preparations for the a huge construction site, but now with Seattle media, the head official of the game, Bill Leavy, admitted Polyana, near Sochi, yesterday. Games have also put the spotlight boasts hotels providing 40,000 new to making mistakes. on Russia’s problems. rooms, state-of-the-art stadiums “I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game, For all his assurances that a and a new road and railway line to Sochi, which lies on the western propaganda” among minors. and as an official you never want to do that,” he said. “ring of steel” around Sochi will the ski resort of Krasnaya Polyana edge of the mainly Muslim North Putin is hoping the spotlight The Seahawks have landed two players in the Pro Football Hall make the Games safe, security that cost about $8bn. Caucasus, scene of an insurgency finally turns on the positive once of Fame in wide receiver and defensive tackle Cortez forces have spent the past week Putin said allegations of cor- aiming to create an Islamist state. the Games begin, and will do all he Kennedy. Additionally, Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon hunting for a woman who is sus- ruption were “nothing but talk”, Islamist leader Doku Umarov can to ensure it is a personal and played two seasons in Seattle toward the end of his career. pected of planning a suicide bomb- underlining that half of the budget has urged followers to prevent the national triumph, even though Other illustrious former players include long-time quarterback ing and may already be in the city. came from private funds and half Games going ahead. he denies having personal ambi- Jim Zorn, running backs Curt Warner and Shaun Alexander, their Tales of corruption, outrage from state coffers. Putin has put about 37,000 per- tions with respect to the Games. Super Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and tackle Walter Jones. over his friends and allies win- About 6,000 athletes, coaches sonnel on combat alert in Sochi “As you know, there is a strong The Seahawks team that will battle the Broncos relies on the hard ning lucrative Olympic building and officials from around 90 and drones and warships are connection between the Olympic running of Marshawn Lynch. This hard-scrabble team has been contracts, worries about damage countries will take part in events being deployed. Security is also Games, progress in sport and virtually unbeatable at their noisy home of CenturyLink Field but to the environment and reports ranging from Alpine skiing to ice high nationwide. the successful development of a they should have no trouble getting sky-high for their fight for the of migrant construction workers hockey and snowboarding. Another potential party-spoiler nation overall,” he said. “I hope it Lombardi Trophy at MetLife Stadium. being mistreated must be ringing The biggest potential threat to could be demonstrations over a law will happen.” REUTERS in Putin’s ears. the Games is a militant attack on banning the spread of “homosexual REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Tour Down Under Final Results ADELAIDE, Australia: Gerrans claims record Results after the 85.5-kilo- metre (53-mile) final stage of the Tour Down Under on the 4.75-kilometre (2-mile) Adelaide street circuit on yesterday. Stage third Tour Down Under 1. Andre Greipel (GER/Lotto-Belisol) 1hr 55min 16 sec 2. Mark Renshaw (AUS/Omega Pharma- QuickStep) same time Cycling: We made sure we stayed at the front, says the champion 3. Andrew Fenn (GBR/Omega Pharma- QuickStep) s.t. 4. Koen de Kort (NED/Giant-Shimano) s.t. ADELAIDE: Victoria’s Simon 5. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/Drapac) s.t. Gerrans celebrated Australia 6. Matthew Goss (AUS/Orica GreenEdge) s.t. Day in style when he claimed 7. Nathan Haas (AUS/Garmin-Sharp) s.t. 8. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL/Lotto Belisol) s.t. a record-breaking third Tour 9. Michal Kolar (SVK/Tinkoff-Saxo) s.t. Down Under in Adelaide 10. Mathew Hayman (AUS/Orica GreenEdge) yesterday. s.t. Riding in an Australian Selected team on national day, the Orica GreenEdge rider finished in the 11. Simon Gerrans (AUS/Orica GreenEdge) s.t. leading group behind Germany’s 20. Geraint Thomas (GBR/Team Sky) s.t Andre Greipel to win the season- 23. Diego Ulissi (ITA/Lampre-Merida) s.t. opening UCI World Tour event by 24. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC Racing) s.t. one second from fellow country- 26. Richie Porte (AUS/Team Sky) s.t. man Cadel Evans. 64. Frank Schleck (LUX/Trek Factory Racing) Italian Diego Ulissi (Lampre- at 10 seconds Merida) finished in third, four General classification seconds further back. 1. Simon Gerrans (AUS/Orica GreenEdge) The sixth and last stage, 18 19hr 57min 35sec laps of a 4.75-kilometre (2-mile) 2. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC Racing) at 1 circuit through central Adelaide, second went perfectly for Gerrans, who 3. Diego Ulissi (ITA/Lampre-Merida) +5 took just a one-second lead into 4. Richie Porte (AUS/Team Sky)+10 the final day. 5. Nathan Haas (AUS/Garmin-Sharp) +27 Gerrans stayed in the front 6. Robert Gesink (BEL/Belkin) +30 section of the peloton all race and 7. Daryl Impey (RSA/Orica GreenEdge) +34 never looked in danger of surren- 8. Geraint Thomas (GBR/Team Sky) +37 dering the ochre leader’s jersey 9. Adam Hansen (AUS/Lotto-Belisol) s.t. he regained after Saturday’s fifth 10. Egor Silin (RUS/Katusha) +47 stage on Willunga Hill. Australia’s Simon Gerrans (centre) of team Orica-GreenEdge is seen during stage six of Selected “We made sure we stayed at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, yesterday. RIGHT: Gerrans holds the trophy 31. Frank Schleck (LUX/Trek Factory Racing) the front, stayed out of trouble,” on the podium after winning the overall race after stage 6 of the 2014 Tour Down Under. +6.27 Gerrans said. Tasmanian Richie Porte won the fifth stage of the Tour Down Under following a brilliant 46. Andre Greipel (GER/Lotto-Belisol) “I’m really thrilled to come out solo attack up the second ascent of Willunga Hill in South Australia. +11.05 unscathed. King of the Mountain “The guys did a fantastic job -- 1. Adam Hansen (AUS/Lotto-Belisol) 28 they kept me right up the front Tour Down Under and to cap it all Berard (AG2R La Mondiale) and Racing teams came to the front Greipel later paid tribute to his points there out of trouble, well pro- off on Australia Day as well, and Maxime Belkov (Katusha) stayed on the 17th lap, before Giant- team-mates. 2. Axel Domont (FRA/Ag2R La Mondiale) 28 tected, to make sure I would avoid racing for an Australian team, it away until the 16th lap, taking the Shimano and then Trek Factory “They rode incredibly fast so points any splits in the peloton and I fin- just doesn’t get much better,” he bonus seconds and effectively end- Racing took over. I could save myself for the last 3. Richie Porte (AUS/Teams Sky) 24 points ished right up there in the front. said. ing Evans’ challenge. However, Greipel’s Lotto- moment,” he said. Sprint So it worked out beautifully.” With bonus seconds available With the field all together Belisol bided their time and took “This is a very nice victory for 1. Simon Gerrans (AUS/Orica GreenEdge) 75 Gerrans said it was particularly at intermediate sprints on laps again, the sprinters’ teams control with a lap to go. us. points special to win on Australia Day in six and 12, the Orica GreenEdge began to set the pace, with Orica The lead-out riders gave the big “I had fast legs today and 2. Diego Ulissi (ITA/Lampre-Merida) 56 front of a massive crowd in cen- team were content to let a three- GreenEdge controlling the front German a perfect springboard to I’m confident in my capacities points tral Adelaide. man breakaway go in the first lap. of the peloton. claim his second stage of the week these days,” he said confidently. 3. Nathan Haas (AUS/Garmin-Sharp) 50 “It’s a huge honour to win the William Clarke (Drapac), Julien Canondale and Evans’ BMC and his 16th overall. REUTERS points

Gamera-Shmyrko wins Osaka Wawrinka steps out of Federer shadow marathon in style MELBOURNE: Stanislas OSAKA: Ukraine’s Tetiana Wawrinka has emerged from Gamera-Shmyrko, running her behind the shadow of Roger first full marathon for a year, Federer to claim his own place won the Osaka women’s mara- in the men’s tennis order by thon for the second straight winning his first Grand Slam year yesterday. title at the Australian Open. After trailing in third spot, the It has been a break-out tourna- Switzerland’s 30-year-old began battling for the ment for the understated Swiss, Stanislas lead with Japan’s Yukiko Akaba whose epic five-set win over Wawrinka poses and Karolina Jarzynska of Poland three-time defending champion with the trophy at 32 kilometres. She broke away Novak Djokovic was followed by after victory after 37 kilometres to win the victory over an injury-hit Rafael race in 2hr 24min 37sec. Nadal in the final. in the singles Akaba, the 2011 Osaka mara- It was the 28-year-old’s first final against thon winner who is due to retire Grand Slam final, and even Spain’s Rafael from competition after this event, though Nadal was struggling with Nadal on day followed home in 2:26:00 with a back injury he coped admira- 14 of the 2014 Jarzynska third in 2:26:31. bly with the pressure to take it Australian Open “I am really happy with my in four sets. in Melbourne second victory here,” Gamera- Adding spice to his achieve- yesterday. Shmyrko, who was fifth in the ment is that Wawrinka has sup- Wawrinka won 2012 London Olympic marathon, planted Federer as the number 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, said before a cheering crowd at one ranked Swiss player, a posi- 6-3 for his first Osaka’s Nagai Stadium. tion his close friend has occupied Grand Slam since 2001. title. Fraser-Pryce Wawrinka’s rise from world number 17 at year-end 2012 to targets World three in next week’s new rank- ings stems from his monumental Indoors event fourth round match with Djokovic at last year’s Australian Open, KINGSTON: World and which went 12-10 in the fifth set. Olympic 100m champion Shelly- He carried this momentum on Ann Fraser-Pryce, targeting to his tight defeat in New York, her first athletics World Indoor and his redeeming victory over a Grand Slam. It’s tough for me important to be really fresh and Championships, opened her 2014 Djokovic in the quarters this to have as a goal to make the final relaxed in my head.” Australian Open men’s champions season with an unusual outdoor week, before yesterday’s break- in a Grand Slam, especially with That also corresponds with the 2014 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 60m yesterday. through win. Novak, Rafa, Roger and Andy arrival of Magnus Norman as his 2013 Novak Djokovic (SRB) Fraser-Pryce won the special Tattooed on his left forearm are (Murray). I knew I had the level coach last April, with the Swede 2012 Novak Djokovic (SRB) event at a meeting in Kingston the words of Irish poet Samuel to beat the top players, but to be formerly in charge of country- 2011 Novak Djokovic (SRB) in a time of 7.11 seconds. Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. in the final you have to do it again man Robin Soderling, who is the 2010 Roger Federer (SUI) “I am happy to know I was able No matter. Try Again. Fail again. and again.” only man to beat clay king Rafael 2009 Rafael Nadal (ESP) to create history by running the Fail better.” Wawrinka has always been Nadal at the French Open back 2008 Novak Djokovic (SRB) first (outdoor) official 60m,” said And Wawrinka has been a admired for his artful one-handed in 2009. 2007 Roger Federer (SUI) Fraser-Pryce, whose outstanding model of perseverance. backhand but it’s his all-round Wawrinka said he was now in 2006 Roger Federer (SUI) 2005 Marat Safin (RUS) 2013 season included an outdoor He lost 14 times in a row before game, also armed with a potent the best form of his career and 2004 Roger Federer (SUI) World Championships sprint dou- triumphing over Djokovic this serve and forehand, that has pro- was better at handling the pres- 2003 Andre Agassi (USA) ble. She is planning to run her week, and also went 12 matches pelled him into Grand Slam con- sure of the big matches. 2002 Thomas Johansson (SWE) first World Indoor Championships without even taking a set off tention over the last 18 months. “Last year I had the feeling 2001 Andre Agassi (USA) in Sopot, Poland, March 7-9, Nadal until beating him yesterday. “I now have more confidence that I was playing better, but I 2000 Andre Agassi (USA) where the 60m will be the elite “The match against Novak gave in myself. I know that when I go was also dealing better with the 1999 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) sprint event. me a lot of confidence and showed on court I can beat almost every- pressure,” he said. 1998 Petr Korda (CZE) “I am excited and looking for- me that I can play on a very high body, even on the big stage like in “I’m more mature. I’m 28 now. 1997 Pete Sampras (USA) ward to the remainder of the sea- level in a very important match a Grand Slam semi-final,” he said. I’ve been on the tour for 10 years. 1996 Boris Becker (GER) son, especially going to my first against one of the bug guys,” “It’s a lot about confidence, Now I feel that it’s my time to 1995 Andre Agassi (USA) world indoors,” she said. Wawrinka said. especially with my game that play my best tennis. I’m enjoying 1994 Pete Sampras (USA) Fraser-Pryce finished ahead of “After the (2013) semi-final at I’m playing quite fast from the more what I’m doing, when I’m 1993 Jim Courier (USA) training partner Carrie Russell, the US Open I knew that I was baseline, trying to always be winning, and also maybe I know 1992 Jim Courier (USA) Stanislas Wawrinka who took second in 7.28sec. close to be there. But it still was aggressive. more how to deal with all the 1991 Boris Becker (GER) AGENCIES far away for me to make a final in “So I take a lot of risks and it’s pressure.” REUTERS MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Lucho quitting Porto for Qatar Oscar’s super strike puts Stars League LISBON: Argentine interna- tional Lucho Gonzalez is leaving FC Porto for a lucrative con- tract with a Qatar Stars League (QSL) side, it was reported here Chelsea through in FA Cup yesterday. Paulo Fonseca, man- ager of the Portuguese club, con- firmed the player was quitting The Blues now meet EPL rivals Manchester City in the fifth round his team, without specifying the identity of his new employers. “FC Porto were sensitive to the LONDON: Oscar helped wishes of the player who wants Chelsea draw a line beneath English FA Cup to go in a separate direction,” Juan Mata’s departure with a Fonseca told local media. fine free-kick in a 1-0 win over Results The 33-year-old midfielder Stoke City in the FA Cup fourth LONDON: Collated English joined former European champi- round yesterday. FA Cup fourth-round results ons Porto from Marseille in 2012 The Brazilian had dis- yesterday: having already played for the side lodged Mata from his position from 2005 to 2009. Chelsea 1 (Oscar 27) Stoke as Chelsea’s main playmaker, City 0 On the international stage he prompting the Spaniard to join Sheffield United 1 (Porter 31) starred for the Argentina team Manchester United, and the qual- Fulham 1 (Rodallega 75) that won gold at the 2004 Olympic ity of his goal demonstrated why Games, and played at the 2006 manager Jose Mourinho rates him Played Saturday World Cup where Argentina lost so highly. Birmingham City 1 (Novak 15) to hosts Germany on penalties in The Blues failed to add to Swansea City 2 (Bony 67, 69) the quarter-finals. Bolton Wanderers 0 Cardiff Oscar’s first-half effort despite Fulham’s hitting the woodwork twice, City 1 (Campbell 50) Colombian although it was a largely com- Bournemouth 0 Liverpool 2 Matthaeus forward Hugo fortable victory, with Stoke rarely (Moses 26, Sturridge 60) threatening to score an equaliser Rodallega Huddersfield Town 0 Charlton expects Kroos and force a replay. attempts an Athletic 1 (Church 54) Chelsea’s reward is a mouthwa- overhead kick Manchester City 4 (Aguero 60, to reject Man tering fifth round trip to Premier during the FA 79, 90, Kolarov 87) Watford 2 League rivals Manchester City. Cup fourth (Forestieri 21, Deeney 30) Mourinho opted to rest a round against Port Vale 1 (Robertson 36) United bid Brighton and Hove Albion 3 number of senior players includ- Sheffield United BERLIN: Ex-Germany cap- (Ince 27, March 43, Obika 78) ing John Terry and Petr Cech, but at Bramall Lane in tain Lothar Matthaeus has Rochdale 1 (Rose 60) Sheffield his decision to include Samuel Sheffield, England, said he would expect Bayern Wednesday 2 (Mattock 51, Eto’o in his starting line-up raised Munich midfielder Toni Kroos yesterday. The Onyewu 57) eyebrows. to turn down a potential bid by match ended in a Southampton 2 (Guly 23-pen, The forward scored a hat-trick English Premier League giants 1-1 draw. Gallagher 70) Yeovil Town 0 in the 3-1 victory over Manchester Manchester United. Southend United 0 Hull City 2 United seven days previously, but (Fryatt 63, 90) There is speculation in the the manager had been expected to Stevenage 0 Everton 4 English media that United will rest Eto’o and hand Demba Ba a (Naismith 6, 32, Heitinga 55, table a bid for the 24-year-old rare start. Gueye 84) German having already signed However, Eto’o wasted little Sunderland 1 (Mavrias 5) Spanish attacking midfielder Juan time justifying Mourinho’s deci- Kidderminster Harriers 0 Mata from Chelsea. sion, quickly impressing himself Wigan Athletic 2 (Watson 36, “I presume Kroos will extend on the Stoke back-line and draw- McClean 78) Crystal Palace 1 his (Bayern) contract in the near ing the foul that allowed Oscar to (Wilbraham 69) future, even if he has offers from break the deadlock in spectacular abroad,” Matthaeus, 52, told Sky Played Friday style. Sports in reference to United. Eto’o’s smart turn and shot Arsenal 4 (Podolski 15, United manager David Moyes in the second minute suggested 27, Giroud 84, Cazorla 89) flew to Germany to join Kroos’ this would be a long afternoon for Coventry City 0 agent Sascha Breese in watch- Stoke, who were hoping to repeat Nottingham Forest 0 Preston ing Bayern’s 2-0 win at Borussia their Premier League victory over North End 0 Moenchengladbach on Friday. the Blues in early December. a memorable free-kick that gave first half, although Stephen Chelsea ‘complete Kroos was outstanding as The visitors’ initial response Mourinho’s side a 27th-minute Ireland did provide a scare when SPL Results Bayern extended their record suggested otherwise, with Peter lead. he fired a left-foot shot into the Salah signing’ LONDON: Scottish unbeaten Bundesliga run to 42 Crouch heading wide after getting Stoke complained angrily that side-netting. Premiership result yesterday: matches and opened a ten-point ahead of his marker David Luiz the decision to penalise Pieters Oscar should have added a LONDON: Chelsea have com- Hibernian 0 Celtic 4 gap at the top of the table. three minutes later. was harsh and television replays second goal when he broke into pleted the signing of Basel (Commons 9, 90-pen, Van Dijk Having made 41 appearances Stoke struggled to put Cech’s suggested they had a point. Begovic’s area and beat the goal- winger Mohamed Salah, man- 77, Pukki 83) for Germany, Kroos is out of con- replacement Mark Schwarzer Their sense of injustice was keeper with a powerful shot that ager Jose Mourinho said before Playing today (1945 GMT) tract with Bayern in June 2015 under real pressure, but they fuelled when Oscar lifted the cannoned to safety off the upright. his side took on Stoke City in and the European champions are Dundee United vs St Johnstone matched Chelsea in the midfield free-kick over the wall and into And Chelsea maintained their the FA Cup fourth round at eager to extend his deal. areas for long periods. the top-left corner, bending so momentum after the break when Stamford Bridge yesterday. Played on Saturday Matthaeus played for Bayern Chelsea, though, looked capable much that it wrong-footed Stoke Andre Schurrle found himself Asked on Sky Sports if the if Kilmarnock 2 (Ashcroft 16, during two spells in his career of capitalising on any Stoke error goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. in a similar position before fir- the deal had been completed, Boyd 74) Inverness CT 0 and still has strong ties with and should have taken the lead Begovic was back in the side ing against the crossbar. Stoke Mourinho said “yes” and nodded. Motherwell 2 (McManus 47, the European champions. He from a breakaway after Marco after a six-game absence with a offered little in return and could Chelsea said they had reached an Francis-Angol 69) Aberdeen 2 insisted live on air that Borussia Arnautovic gave the ball away broken finger, but no blame could have been on the end of a more agreement with the Swiss club to (Rooney 67, Anderson 90) Dortmund striker Robert carelessly inside the home half. be laid at his door. comprehensive defeat if Eto’o had sign the pacy Egyptian winger, Ross County 1 (Songo’o Lewandowski would join Bayern Then, when Erik Pieters Having finally broken through not missed from close range late although Salah had not yet had a 45) Hearts 2 (Paterson 37, -- a year before the deal was con- was penalised for a tackle from Stoke’s defence, Chelsea took on, while Ramires had a penalty medical or agreed personal terms. Robinson 80) firmed three weeks ago. St Mirren 0 Partick 0 behind on Eto’o, Oscar produced control of the remainder of the appeal turned down. REUTERS REUTERS Hibs fail to Mata completes £37.1m United move stop Celtic juggernaut in LONDON: Spanish attack- that United paid Tottenham This file ing midfielder Juan Mata com- Hotspur in 2008 to sign Bulgarian picture taken SPL clash pleted his record £37.1m (44.7m striker Dimitar Berbatov. on May 19, euros) transfer from Chelsea to “He’s been instrumental in 2013, shows EDINBURGH: The relentless Manchester United on Saturday Chelsea’s recent success, with a Chelsea’s Celtic march on retaining the after completing a medical at notable 28 assists and 32 goals in Spanish title continued yesterday as the the English champions. his last two Premier League sea- Glasgow giants sealed their 11th midfielder Juan United had already confirmed sons,” added the United manager. victory in a row with three late Mata (waving) on Friday that they had agreed a “I have been impressed with goals in a 4-0 win over Hibernian deal to sign the 25-year-old for a the excitement he has shown to celebrating at Easter Road. club-record fee. be part of the new Manchester after scoring Victory sent the Hoops 15 “I am thrilled to be joining United. the opening points clear of Aberdeen at the United. I have enjoyed some very “I know our fans have admired goal against top of the Scottish Premiership happy years at Chelsea but the Juan for some time now -- he has Everton at as they extended their unbeaten time has come for a new chal- always played well against us -- Stamford start to the season to 22 games lenge,” said Mata, who played 135 and I know they will be delighted Bridge in and kept their ninth consecutive times for Chelsea and scored 32 to see him in the red of United, London. clean sheet in the league for the goals after joining from Valencia starting on Tuesday (against Chelsea have first time since the 1920s. in 2011. Cardiff).” accepted an When Kris Commons scored “United is the perfect place for Mata was voted Chelsea’s offer worth the opener in the eighth minute a me and I am excited at the chance player of the year in his first two around £37.1m heavy defeat looked inevitable for I have to be part of the next phase seasons, but he fell out of favour ($61.3m, 45.3m Hibs, who have with this defeat in the club’s history.” after Jose Mourinho returned to euros) for Mata lost three in a row. Mata, capped 32 times by Stamford Bridge as manager last to transfer to However, the Easter Road out- Spain, had arrived in Manchester year. fit are one of only three teams to Manchester in style on Saturday, landing in Mata’s signing reflects Moyes’s have take points off the Scottish United. the city by helicopter before eagerness to arrest a startling champions this season in a 1-1 undergoing his medical. decline in United’s fortunes since draw in October and they did “Chelsea is a top club and I he succeeded fellow-Scot Alex Centre-back Rio Ferdinand the player as well as both clubs. club. He is happy in this country their best to derail Neil Lennon’s have many friends there but you Ferguson as manager at the end tweeted: “Welcome to my amigo “I and everyone at Chelsea have and it is good the Premier League side. Only a string of fine saves cannot turn down the chance to of last season. @juanmata10 ! Hoping you enjoy massive respect for Juan and his retains such a talented player.” from Fraser Forster to deny join Manchester United. I look United are currently 14 points ya time here and help continue big talent, and when he told us of Meanwhile, reports in the Abdellah Zoubir and Sam Stanton forward to helping the manager behind leaders Arsenal in the the success at this club.” his wish to move on because he British media on Saturday kept Celtic in front while James and the team be successful in the Premier League and have been Mata will join countryman wanted to play more, we did not claimed that United have opened Collins had a first half penalty coming years,” he told manutd. knocked out of both the FA Cup David de Gea at Old Trafford want to deny him this opportu- talks with striker Wayne Rooney claim turned down. com. and the League Cup this month, and the United goalkeeper gave nity,” said the Portuguese. over a new contract. A 77th minute free-kick from United manager David Moyes although they have reached the his fellow Spaniard a playful wel- “We want him to be successful The 28-year-old England Dutchman Virgil van Dijk made it described Mata as “one of the fin- last 16 in the Champions League. come, tweeting: “Welcome to my in his career and as well as that, striker has 18 months remaining 2-0 before second half substitute est playmakers in the game”. United striker Robin van Persie brother @juanmata10 just one this transfer makes huge financial on his current deal and was the Teemu Pukki fired home in the “It’s a real pleasure to have welcomed Mata’s arrival, writing thing....Not the best clothes!” sense to us at Chelsea. subject of two unsuccessful bids 83rd minute. Commons then net- secured his signature,” he said. on Twitter: “Welcome Juan Mata Chelsea boss Mourinho said “We are pleased Juan will stay from Chelsea during the close ted from the penalty spot in the The deal eclipsed the £30.75m see you all tuesday.” the Mata transfer made sense for in England -- even with a rival season. REUTERS 90th minute. AGENCIES MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Rugby Union: South Africa Australia shock England steam into USA Sevens semis

LAS VEGAS: Reigning USA Sevens champions South Africa to snatch final ODI win steamed into the Cup semi- finals yesterday with a 36-0 demolition of Argentina in the Australia take series 4-1 after England’s dramatic batting collapse fourth round of the IRB Sevens World Series. Cecil Afrika, , ADELAIDE: Australia pulled , and off a stunning five-run final-over all scored tries for victory over a nervy England in South Africa as they smashed the fifth One-Day International Argentina in their quarter-final (ODI) at the Adelaide Oval yes- to line up a clash today with two- terday to sweep the series 4-1. time USA Sevens winners Samoa. England were bowled out on Samoa rallied from 10-0 down the fourth ball of the last over as to beat Australia 12-10, with tries the hosts fought back from what from Sani Niue and Lio Lolo. had looked like a losing position Not only are South Africa eye- for most of the match. Australia’s ing a second straight US crown, The visitors had restricted players they are aiming to overtake series Australia to 217 for nine wickets leaders New Zealand, who top the celebrate with a tight bowling display, but standings with 58 points to the victory after the themselves ended up all out for South Africans’ 56. 212. fifth One-Day New Zealand will play surprise Skipper Michael Clarke praised International packages Canada, who stormed Australia’s spirited fightback. cricket match back from 14-0 down to beat “A magnificent performance by of the series France 17-14 and reach their the boys, with the ball especially,” against England first Cup semi-final since Tokyo he said. in Adelaide in 2000. “I thought our batting was yesterday. Connor Braid scored two tries disappointing today,” Clarke Australia won before Nanyak Dala sealed the admitted. by 5 runs to win. “For us to win the game, we take the five- “I didn’t even know we’d made had to bowl England out.” match ODI one before, so that’s amazing. We And they did just that in dra- series 4-1. are very excited,” Canada captain matic fashion with England need- John Moonlight said of reaching ing just six runs to win. the last four. The visitors contrived to turn New Zealand defeated England another winning position into 24-7 in their quarter-final, defeat. Waisake Naholo notching a hat- “We should have got over the trick in the emphatic triumph. line there. We got ourselves into New Zealand will be without a good position,” said captain George Tisley for their semi-final Alistair Cook. and will be missing Sam Dickson “Credit to Australia: in the end for the rest of the tournament they held their nerve better than after both received disciplinary we did. sanctions following their final “Poor shots were played under Scoreboard pool match against Fiji earlier pressure.” Cook to sit out of England’s yesterday. Cook flies home today after a AUSTRALIA ENGLAND South Africa, New Zealand, miserable tour which included a A Finch b Broad ...... 7 A Cook c Bailey b Coulter-Nile ...... 39 Samoa and France had all 5-0 Test whitewash. ODI tour of West Indies S Marsh c Cook b Stokes...... 36 I Bell c Finch b Coulter-Nile ...... 14 emerged unbeaten in pool play, “Australia have had a great S Watson c Buttler b Broad ...... 0 B Stokes c Marsh b McKay ...... 0 which began on Friday and con- summer against us and they ADELAIDE: Captain Alastair Cook will sit out of England’s M Clarke b Bresnan ...... 8 J Root c Doherty b Faulkner ...... 55 cluded on Saturday. have managed to win the critical limited-overs tour of West Indies as the team prepare for the G Bailey c Broad b Stokes ...... 56 E Morgan c Watson b Faulkner ...... 39 Second-day action also included times,” he said. Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh in March. G Maxwell c Buttler b Stokes ...... 22 R Bopara st Wade b McKay ...... 25 the Bowl quarter-finals, in which “It has been a tough couple Cook, who does not play the T20 format for England, will not be M Wade b Broad ...... 31 J Buttler c McKay b Coulter-Nile ...... 5 Kenya defeated Spain 24-0 to of months for us but, you know, part of the squad to the Caribbean during which the visitors will play J Faulkner c Morgan b Jordan ...... 27 T Bresnan (run out-Maxwell) ...... 13 advance to a clash with Scotland, we’ve got a lot of things we can three ODIs and three T20 matches, starting February 28, officials N Coulter-Nile lbw Jordan ...... 15 S Broad b McKay ...... 7 31-7 winners over Portugal. work on. said yesterday. C McKay (not out) ...... 1 C Jordan (not out) ...... 4 Wales notched their first win of “In 12 months’ time we should Asked if he would be captain against the West Indies, Cook told X Doherty (not out) ...... 1 J Tredwell c Wade b Watson ...... 0 the week with a 12-7 victory over be in better shape for the World Sky Sports: “No I won’t be. The Twenty20 guys have got their World Extras (W-4, LB-9) ...... 13 Extras (W-6, LB-4, B-1) ...... 11 the United States in their Bowl Cup in Australia and New Zealand Cup in Bangladesh and I think we see it as a great six weeks for Total (for 9 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 217 Total (all out in 49.4 overs) ...... 212 quarter-final. They will meet Fiji next February and March,” he them to start build- Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-22, 3-43, 4-64, Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-29, 3-90, 4-154, after Ben Ryan’s side defeated added. ing the team.” 5-112, 6-167, 7-176, 8-215, 9-215. 5-157, 6-174, 7-194, 8-204, 9-209 10-212. Uruguay 38-14. Both sides found batting diffi- He added: “They’re Bowling: Broad 10-2-31-3, Jordan 10-0-37- Bowling: McKay 10-1-36-3, Coulter-Nile 10- Spain, Portugal, the United cult on a day when the bowlers never together very 2, Bresnan 10-0-51-1, Tredwell 7-0-28-0, 1-34-3, Faulkner 10-0-37-2, Doherty 10-1-40- States and Uruguay will all enter were well on top on a slow drop- often and it gives Stokes 10-0-43-3, Bopara 3-0-18-0. 0, Watson 6.4-0-35-1, Maxwell 3-0-25-0. the Shield semi-finals today. in pitch. them, and Broady George Bailey top-scored for (Stuart Broad) Australia with 56 off 74 balls, and Gilo (Ashley Captain while Joe Root hit 55 for England Giles) time, to really Former cricket chiefs attack but took 86 balls to do it. have six weeks Warburton Root fell flicking an attempted together to build for ICC’s ‘big three’ plan ramp shot straight to Xavier Bangladesh.” signs central Doherty at short fine leg off England opener PARIS: Former cricket chiefs yesterday attacked the International James Faulkner at a time when Cook failed to score Cricket Council’s (ICC) proposal for greater decision-making pow- England seemed to be cantering a fifty in the five ers for a three-strong group of the Board of Control for Cricket. contract to victory. matches against The trio concerned are India, Cricket Australia and the England LONDON: Captain Sam Danger man Eoin Morgan had Australia after a and Wales Cricket Board -- who between them represent the game’s Warburton is the first player just gone for 39 off 40 balls after dismal Ashes series, wealthiest nations. to sign a central contract with he struck the first six of the game. during which the The ICC are due to discuss the controversial plan -- which has been the Welsh Rugby Union as the He had looked the only really visitors were white- drafted because of an apparent threat by India to withdraw from major Six Nations holders look to stem comfortable batsman on either washed 5-0 earlier global events unless there is radical reform of the ICC -- in Dubai on a flow of talent out of domestic side until he smacked Faulkner this month. Tuesday and Wednesday. rugby. straight to Shane Watson at The 29-year- However, a growing number of respected former cricket chiefs have The 25-year-old, who led the mid-off. old had hinted at expressed their alarm at such moves -- which would also include a British and Irish Lions to victory Root just needed to stay at the stepping down as two tier Test league with Australia, India and England being protected over Australia last year, was set to crease but fell in a moment of England’s ODI skip- from relegation owing to their financial weight. be out of contract with the Cardiff madness. per after his side Pakistan’s former ICC president Ehsan Mani has written a let- Blues later this year. There had Wickets then tumbled rapidly lost the limited ter to the ICC -- which significantly has been co-signed by Malcolm been fears he would join the and the required rate soared to a overs series against Speed and Malcolm Gray formerly high up in the Australian cricket likes of George North and Leigh run a ball. Australia but later administration and then respectively chief executive and president of Halfpenny, who earlier this week England were unlucky at the said he was “desper- the ICCe -- saying the paper needed to be withdrawn. agreed to join French side Toulon, death to lose Ravi Bopara to a ball ate” to continue in Instead he and the other signatories -- which also include former in playing club rugby out of Wales. that bounced off wicket-keeper his role. West Indies captain Clive Lloyd -- agreed the ICC needed to re-examine “We have been able to strike Matt Wade and just removed the England lost the the conclusions of the 2012 Woolf Report into ICC governance, which a deal which ensures the Welsh bails as the batsman’s foot lifted final one-dayer yes- recommended, among other things, an improvement in governance captain will continue to play his off the ground. terday in Adelaide to standards, the appointment of independent board directors and greater rugby at the highest level here in The stumping decision was a lose the series 4-1. transparency. Mani estimated that if the draft was given the thumbs up Wales,” WRU group chief execu- long time coming. England’s limited- the loss in projected revenue to Associate and Affiliate Members would tive Roger Lewis said in a state- But when Bopara walked off overs coach Ashley be more than $312m, an amount that would instead be redistributed ment on its website (www.wru. after scoring 25, England were Giles said Broad, largely to the boards of India, Australia and England. co.uk). in deep trouble on 209 for nine. who leads England “The biggest gainers are BCCI, ECB and CA,” Mani wrote. “In addi- “I am extremely grateful to the Tail-ender Chris Jordan could in the T20 format, tion, ICC events for the period 2015-2023 will be held only in India, Cardiff Blues chairman, Peter not connect for a boundary and will be promoted by England and Australia. These Boards will receive hosting fees for the Thomas for his understanding James Tredwell clipped Watson the selectors for the events in addition to the ICC Distributions they propose. when the WRU chairman and I to the keeper with two balls ODIs in West Indies. “A point that also needs to be addressed is; why does BCCI need met him on Wednesday to outline remaining. “The plan is we are more money at the expense of other countries? this proposed plan. Nathan Coulter-Nile finished playing three one- “The domestic and international media fees that BCCI receives from “Welsh rugby together cannot with figures of three for 34 runs day games there but playing with other members are massive and underpin BCCI’s financial stand back any longer and watch off his 10 overs and Clint McKay, with the T20 World position. It is the richest cricket board in the world. If cricket is to its best players leave Wales. We all who did much of the final damage, Cup we are probably grow and develop around the world more investment is required in have to act together and act now took three for 36. going to pick a T20 England’s captain Alastair Cook the Associate & Affiliate countries, not less. The Associate & Affiliate in the best interests of the game.” For England, paceman Stuart squad which gives us plays a shot to the boundary during countries represent some of the biggest economies in the world. The WRU intends for the Broad had led the charge, snar- a good preparation the fourth One-Day International “If cricket could be established properly in the United States of flanker to continue to keep play- ing three key wickets for 31 runs time running into against Australia in Perth in this America and China and become an Olympic sport, the ICC could dou- ing for the Cardiff side outside off his 10 overs including two Bangladesh,” Giles January 24, 2014, file photo. ble its revenues in real terms over the next 10-15 years. This requires his Wales duties at no cost to maidens. said. vision and a less parochial approach.” the region, and his salary will be England wrap up the tour “It’s likely that Ali Bacher, who was managing director of the then United Cricket paid by the national body. It also with three T20 matches start- Stuart Broad will Board (now Cricket South Africa) from 1991 to 2001 and tournament ensures he will be released for all ing in Hobart on Wednesday, captain that side.” director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, added his international duties as required Melbourne on Friday and Sydney REUTERS powerful voice to those of Mani and Speed in arguing for a more pru- but does not guarantee him selec- next Sunday. REUTERS dent approach to be taken. AFP tion. AGENCIES Monday 27 January 2014 26 Rabial I 1435 Volume 18 Number 5957 Sport Price: QR2

Garcia eyes Mata move to wins after Man United Qatar victory now complete

Sport | 23 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Motor racing: Lauda and Wawrinka corners Grand Ferrari agree: reliability is key to wins Slam glory in Melbourne LONDON: Reliability will be the key to unlocking this year’s Formula One champion- The Swiss stuns injured Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final ship, Ferrari technical director James Allison said a day after his team’s new car was revealed MELBOURNE: Stanislas on Saturday. Wawrinka held firm in a match The Briton said that while the of high drama to defeat an rate of development in aerody- injured Rafa Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, A handout namics during the course of the 6-3 and win his maiden Grand photo taken season would be steep, it would Slam title at the Australian and released by no longer be the dominant factor. Open yesterday. Tennis Australia “The importance of aerody- The eighth seed roared to a shows Stanislas namics to the championship is two-set lead after top seed Nadal Wawrinka of going to be at least as important struggled with an apparent back Switzerland as the differences in power lev- injury sustained early in the sec- posing with his els between the various engine ond set, but the Swiss was left trophy at the manufacturers,” Allison told the stunned as his opponent suddenly Australian Open Ferrari website (www.ferrari.com). revived in the third at Rod Laver in Melbourne “However, if I had to choose Arena. the thing that was likely to be yesterday. Though restricted in his move- the dominant factor for the whole Wawrinka beat ment, Nadal fought back into the season, I would choose neither match with a barrage of clean Nadal 6-3, 6-2, the level of power nor the aero- hitting, completely throwing the 3-6, 6-3. dynamic development. Swiss off his game who surren- “I would say that this year reli- dered the third set in a hail of ability is going to be absolutely unforced errors. fundamental.” Wawrinka captured a break The new power unit, a V6 tur- in the fourth set, surrendered it “I’m really sorry bocharged engine with energy with a terrible service game, but for you. I hope recovery systems, represents recovered again to earn a chance a huge challenge for engineers. to serve for the match. your back is Drivers are now limited to 100kg He stayed cool when it counted, okay, you are a of fuel in the race, instead of serving strongly and sealing the great friend and a 140kg, and are allocated five win with an imperious forehand engines per year instead of eight. rocketing down the line. great champion,” Former Ferrari champion Niki A relieved Wawrinka raised Wawrinka tells Lauda, now non-executive chair- his hands in the air in celebra- Nadal at the trophy man of the Mercedes team, also tion and after shaking hands with highlighted reliability on a visit a gloomy Nadal, went to console ceremony. to his old team for discussions the Spaniard at his chair. with Ferrari president Luca Di “First, Rafa, I’m really sorry Montezemolo about the sport in for you. I hope your back is okay, thanks to Stan, we have a great to beat the top two seeds at a general. you are a great friend and a great relationship and you really Grand Slam since Sergi Bruguera “The combination of new car champion,” Wawrinka said at the deserve it today, so many con- pulled off the feat at the French and installing the car and engine trophy ceremony. gratulations and all the best. Open in 1993. in a way that (means) you are “You did a remarkable come- “To all the crowd, it’s been an Five days after ending second reliable, this is the biggest chal- back last year. For me it’s the best emotional two weeks sorry to seed Novak Djokovic’s three- lenge,” he told the website. Grand Slam ever. finish this way, I tried very, very year reign at Melbourne Park, “Whoever has less failures this “Right now I still don’t know if hard. Wawrinka denied a distraught year will be world champion.” I’m dreaming. I guess I’ll find out “Last year was a tough when I Nadal from becoming only the in the morning.” wasn’t able to play here, thanks third man to have won all four AFC plans Asian The 2009 champion Nadal shed for your support, see you next majors at least twice. Wawrinka tears at the trophy ceremony, year.” Though Nadal’s injury clearly talks with overcome by the emotion of a The triumph capped a remark- affected his game, Wawrinka had Nadal after Cup expansion roller-coaster match. able fortnight for Wawrinka who been well on top of their match their singles “First thing I want to say, is became the first man in 21 years early on and surged 3-1 clear in final match to 24 teams the first set after an early break. at the Without a hint of nerves, Australian MALAYSIA: The Asian Wawrinka blasted two aces before Open Football Confederation (AFC) holding to lead 4-1, leaving the plans to expand the Asian Cup 2014 in centre court crowd stunned. from 16 to 24 teams as part of LEFT: Switzerland’s Melbourne Wawrinka stumbled when serv- a raft of changes designed to Stanislas Wawrinka ing for the set to fall behind 0-40 yesterday. increase the number of inter- smiles during a but saved them all, as Nadal’s national matches for member press conference returning went awry, and took nations. following his the set with a crosscourt ace. The AFC competitions com- singles final victory In all his previous 12 meetings mittee made the proposal at a against Spain’s against Nadal, Wawrinka had meeting in Oman on Saturday, at Rafael Nadal on never won a set. Breaking that which they also announced plans day 14 of the 2014 jinx propelled him on. to merge regional preliminary Australian Open He broke Nadal in the first qualification rounds for the World yesterday. BELOW: game of the second to march to a Cup and Asian Cup. Nadal reacts 2-0 lead before the Spaniard sud- “Competitions are the main during the final in denly doubled over in pain. products of AFC and I am happy Melbourne. He grimaced after a first serve on his back from a physio at the the sudden momentum switch. that it is in good hands,” AFC and immediately signalled for a change of ends, then underlined Still restricted in his move- president Sheikh Salman bin trainer and winced again after his fighting spirit by holding serve ments, Nadal began gunning Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said in a belting a forehand into the net to trail 5-2, but Wawrinka went for the lines and his stand-and- statement. from the baseline. on to serve out the set with an deliver approach saw him march “We must market our product Nadal successfully held serve ace. to a 5-2 lead. and generate income to sustain to trail 2-1 but quickly left the Whether it was painkillers or With Nadal serving for the set football across the continent. Australian Open court for a medical time out, leav- just pure grit, Nadal showed signs at 5-3, Wawrinka had a chance “I am sure that the changes ing Wawrinka to argue with the of a revival in the third set as he to break back but was unable to that happen will have big impact Results chair umpire about the lack of saved two break points before flush the tension out and con- in Asian football and will benefit MELBOURNE: Collated disclosure over the injury. holding serve with a barrage of ceded the set when he smashed our member associations. results from the Australian Nadal re-emerged after six sweetly-struck forehands. a forehand into the net. Australia will host the 16th edi- Open on Sunday (x denotes minutes amid some jeers from the A searing forehand winner As Nadal battled with his body, tion of the quadrennial Asian Cup seeding): Rod Laver Arena crowd but his down the line gave 27-year- Wawrinka continued to battle next year with the first expanded movement was clearly restricted old Nadal two break points and with his mind as he broke Nadal tournament likely to take place Men’s singles Final and he was unable to generate any astonishingly, the Spaniard broke in the final set and then gave it in 2019. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x8) bt Rafael Nadal pace on his serve. a flat-footed Wawrinka when the straight back. Any proposals made by the (ESP x1) 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Wawrinka simply went about Swiss bunted a bloodless forehand Amid the doubts, the Swiss’ AFC competitions committee Mixed doubles Final his business, marching to a 4-1 into the net. serve never quite deserted him must first be ratified by the con- Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)/Daniel Nestor lead as Nadal double-faulted As Nadal rallied, his eighth- and it carried him to match point federation’s executive committee (CAN) bt Sania Mirza (IND)/Horia Tecau (ROU repeatedly and struggled to reach seeded opponent sunk, spraying before his forehand sealed it to to take effect. There are 47 mem- x6) 6-3, 6-2. wide balls. shots all over the court with his raise thunderous cheers from the ber nations in the AFC. Nadal had more treatment concentration clearly affected by terraces. REUTERS REUTERS