ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Wednesday 9 April 2014 9 Jumadal II 1435 - Volume 19 Number 6030 Price: QR2

Barwa plans Stage set for new projects 2014 Emir Cup this year tournament

Business | 17 Sport | 28

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Global calls Emir meets Sudanese leader OPINION Hatred on social media for release of ver since Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain withdrew Etheir ambassadors from Qatar, Jazeera staff Twitter and other social media 100th day of jailing in Egypt marked have been abuzz with DOHA: Journalists from across the International Documentary citizens the world yesterday marked Association’s letter of support. of these the 100th day of imprisonment In London, Heather Allan, countries of Al Jazeera English journal- Al Jazeera English Head of freely Khalid Al Sayed ists in Egypt, with more than Newsgathering, participated in express- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 900 million people having joined the BBC’s Safety of Journalists The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met the leader of Sudan’s National Umma Party, Al Sadiq Al ing their a Twitter campaign to secure Symposium, hosted by BBC Global Mahdi, who called on him at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. views on the issue. Though their release. News and the Centre for Freedom there is nothing wrong with At the historic Paley Center of the Media at the University of people engaging in a debate, in New York City, Al Jazeera Sheffield, in cooperation with the what is happening in the English’s Executive Producer for BBC College of Journalism. social media in the region is Newsgathering in the Americas, Participants endorsed a state- deplorable and quite shocking Owen Watson, opened a press con- ment that called for increased No Mideast talks breakthrough — there are threats made and ference with a strong call for the safety and protection of journal- foul language used by bloggers, immediate release of Al Jazeera ists, but also called for the release JERUSALEM: Israeli and Palestinian President appeal at an Arab League meet- including some officials. There journalists. of the Al Jazeera staff. Palestinian negotiators ended Mahmoud Abbas responded by ing in Cairo today for political and is no doubt that this deterio- Colleagues from the Associated “Today also marks 100 days since another US-mediated session signing 15 global treaties, includ- economic support in the event of ration in the debate can affect Press, ABC News, The New York the arrest and detention in Egypt yesterday with no sign of a ing the Geneva Conventions on Israeli punitive measures. national security, even if the Times, the Committee to Protect of three respected and highly pro- breakthrough in efforts to save the conduct of war and occupa- Palestinian UN Ambassador governments are allowing Journalists, and sister-channel fessional Al Jazeera journalists, peace talks from collapse, but tions, on behalf of the State of Riyad Mansour said the the discussions. This kind of Al Jazeera Arabic joined him in Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy an Israeli official said they had Palestine, a defiant move that sur- Palestinians were prepared to a debate will create sectar- solidarity. and Baher Mohamed. No cred- agreed to meet again. prised Washington and angered join more international groups if ian tensions and sow hatred Jon Williams, Foreign Editor of ible evidence has been produced In a statement about the latest Israel. Israel retaliated. As a UN non- among people. ABC News, stated, “This is not Al to justify their imprisonment and discussions, US State Department Israeli Foreign Minister member state, Palestinians can In another sense, the Jazeera’s fight. This is our fight as prosecution. A number of other spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: Avigdor Lieberman, speaking on join 63 international agencies and heated debate shows that journalists.” journalists have also been held in “Gaps remain, but both sides are Israel Radio yesterday, said Abbas accords. “If they want to escalate there is a higher level of free- Abderrahim Foukara, Al Egypt for extended periods with- committed to narrow the gaps.” would have to reverse that step in further and try to illegally pun- dom of expression in the Gulf Jazeera Arabic’s Washington DC out adequate access to justice. We The negotiations, which began order for the prisoner release to ish us for doing something legal, now. Since most countries in Bureau Chief, drew attention to call for the release of all those in July, plunged into crisis last be re-addressed. we are ready and willing to send the GCC do not have elected his colleague Abdullah Al Shami, individuals and the freeing of more week after Israel, demanding a Prime Minister Benjamin the second barrage, the third parliaments, Twitter has who has been detained since last than 200 other journalists around Palestinian commitment to con- Netanyahu has threatened barrage and more of what legally become an open parliament August with no charges pressed. the world who are now held behind tinue talking beyond an April 29 unspecified retaliation in response we could do,” Mansour told the for people. There are suspi- Al Shami was on the 78th day of bars only because they were doing deadline for a peace deal, failed to what Israel views as a unilat- UN Committee on the Exercise cions that some governments a hunger strike yesterday. their jobs,” it said. to carry out a promised release eral statehood move by Abbas. of the Inalienable Rights of the are using Twitter and other The press conference con- THE PENINSULA of about two dozen Palestinian Palestinian Foreign Minister Palestinian People. social media to further their cluded with an announcement of Continued on page 3 prisoners. Riad Al Malki said Abbas would REUTERS interests. Continued on page 5 Chelsea, Real in semis Zero violations by manpower Search for MH370 to agencies this year be most expensive DOHA: There has been no violation so far this year by SYDNEY: The hunt for miss- equal to the official €32m ($44m) manpower agencies recruiting ing Malaysian Airlines Flight spent in searches lasting several domestic helps, under the grad- MH370 is on track to cost months spread over a two-year ing system of the Ministry of hundreds of millions of dol- time frame for Air France’s Flight Labour and Social Affairs. lars, becoming the most expen- AF447, which crashed into the “The number of erring agen- sive search in aviation history mid-Atlantic in 2009. cies declined significantly from 10 with 26 countries contributing Just as salvage experts said the in 2013 to only three in the lat- planes, ships, submarines and actual costs for the Air France est grading in 2014,” said Fares satellites to the international operation could have been three Al Kaabi, head of the Manpower effort. or four times higher than the offi- Agencies Department at the A month into the search for the cial figure, the bill for the current ministry. jet, estimates show that at least search is expected to run into “But the explanations of all $44m has already been spent on hundreds of millions of dollars. three agencies have been accepted, the deployment of military ships The $44m estimate for MH370 which means there is no violation and aircraft in the Indian Ocean does not cover all defence assets at all this year,” he said. and South China Sea by Australia, being used by countries including Disclosing the latest grading China, the United States and Britain, France, New Zealand and results, he said out of 124 agencies, Vietnam. The figure is based on South Korea, nor numerous other 24 were in Category A, meaning defence force statistics on avail- costs such as civilian aircraft, they were complying with all the able hourly costs of various assets, accommodation for hundreds of 17 conditions specified for them, estimates by defence analysts and personnel and expenses for intel- 36 were in Category B, fulfilling Chelsea striker Demba Ba (in blue) scores his team’s second goal past Paris St Germain goalkeeper Salvatore costs reported by the Pentagon. ligence analysts worldwide. some of the conditions, and the Sirigu during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match at Stamford Bridge in The figure for the first month REUTERS remaining 64 in Category C, an London last evening. Chelsea won 2-0 and reached the semis on the away goals rule on a 3-3 aggregate. In of the search is already about See also page 12 Arabic daily reported. another match, Real Madrid lost 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund but made the semis on a 3-2 aggregate. THE PENINSULA

MERS case in Experts fault US administration’s policy towards region DOHA: The Obama administration’s become the subject of wide ranging discus- policymaking. WINEP is considered a cen- is not ready to use force to protect them. Abu Dhabi policy of halting direct American inter- sions in the US, with Obama’s second term tre for making policies for the Middle East. The speakers’ views complement analysis ABU DHABI: The Health vention in the Middle East has drawn in office witnessing the rise of regional and The speakers came to the conclusion that saying that Washington has retreated from Authority-Abu Dhabi has criticism from influential policymakers international powers like Russia and Iran. the “policy of retroversion” adopted by the the region after the discovery of shale gas announced the diagnosis of a in the US, says a Doha-based political The discussion at WINEP featured Obama administration in the Middle East in the US and is giving priority to the Far MERS-Coronavirus case in the analyst. Dennis Ross, Stephen Hadley and Robert is reflected in the way the US dealt with East. This ignores the fact that US interests emirate. A 59-year-old male Reviewing papers presented by three Satloff. The first two were influential poli- the Arab revolutions, especially in Syria, in the Middle East go beyond oil and gas resident suffering from diabetes leading US diplomats at the Washington cymakers in the administrations of George and its engagement with Iran on its nuclear and are based on its geopolitical strategy. and final stage renal failure, had Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) Bush Senior and Junior and known sup- programme. The US still exists as an influential power complained of respiratory prob- recently, Mohammed Al Masri, a researcher porters of Israel. This policy has created dissatisfaction in the region with its military and political lems and was diagnosed with the at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Al Masri, in his paper, says the discus- among traditional American allies in the presence. disease. Studies in Doha says that the current sion was important because such research region, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and THE PENINSULA QNA American policy in the Middle East has centres play an instrumental role in US Israel, by sending the message that the US Continued on page 4 WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME ITU launches fourth ‘Young Sheikha Al Mayassa unveils Innovators’ competition DOHA: International Telecom Content’. Union (ITU) yesterday Open to 18-30-year-old start- launched the fourth edition of up founders from ITU’s 193 East-West/West-East its ‘Young Innovators’ com- member states, the competition petition, seeking out talented is looking for the most promis- young thinkers and social ing tech start-ups inspiring the Serra’s one-km landscape near Zekreet a natural corridor to Gulf waters technopreneurs across the creation, aggregation or digiti- globe, and encouraging them to sation of dynamic local content, DOHA: H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint showcase their innovative ideas particularly in non-Latin scripts. Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson, Qatar at the ITU Telecom World 2014 “We are excited to support Museums Authority (QMA), yesterday event in Doha in December. the first challenge in the com- unveiled East-West/West-East, a major The annual competition, petition,” said Sheikh Saud bin landscape commissioned by American art- launched in 2010, offers young Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo ist Richard Serra. people the chance to take part Qatar. Sheikha Al Mayassa was joined by Serra, in workshops on entrepreneurial “We know that new digital prominent filmmaker Mira Nair, QMA offi- skills, opportunities to meet and content can inspire people and cials, artists, representatives of diplomatic network with leading ICT play- open opportunities in their lives, missions, local and international media and ers, and showcase their projects and we believe that each and other guests walking through over one-km at the Innovation Space, a show every market deserves relevant length of landscape to see the towering art floor pavilion at ITU Telecom content in their own languages pieces. World. tailored to their interests.” The installation at Brouq Nature Reserve “I am delighted to announce ITU has partnered with near Zekreet, 60km from Doha, is set in a the first challenge of the lat- Ooredoo for the first challenge natural corridor formed by gypsum plateaus est edition of the ITU Telecom to encourage the development of and consists of four steel plates measured by World 2014 Young Innovators local digital content their relation to the topography and crosses Competition,” said Dr Hamadoun Entries can be submitted by the peninsula of the reserve connecting the Toure, Secretary-General, ITU. start-ups involved in script con- waters of the Gulf. “Last year’s competition tent, resolving technical chal- Serra said the area “has sea in the East brought us inspirational con- lenges of digitising non-Latin and sea in the West. The pieces connect the cepts and projects from inno- scripts through innovative tech- two seas and the two parts of this ancient vative young people around the nologies, or pinpointing fresh landscape.” The plates, which rise to 14.7m world, all of which had signifi- uses for older technologies, such and 16.7m above the ground, are level to each cant potential social impact and as optical character recognition, other; they are also level to gypsum plateaus impressive business potential.” voice recognition or translation on either side. Despite the great distance the H E Sheikha Al Mayassa attending the unveiling of Richard Serra’s installation yesterday. The first challenge of the 2014 software. plates span, all four can be seen and explored edition focuses on ‘Local Digital THE PENINSULA from either end of the sculpture. He said the “placement (of the pieces) is not the height and the length of the pieces.” 4.1-metre-tall steel curves that snake diago- geometrical, it’s topological; they can only be The unveiling coincides with Serra’s first nally through the exhibition space, and works placed where they are to achieve the curvature solo show in the Middle East, at AlRiwaq Doha from different periods of Serra’s 50-year First forum for military of the land. “If one walks through the pieces; Exhibition Space and QMA Gallery at Katara career of sculptures and drawings. he will understand not only the rhythm of where visitors can see an ambitious new large- Serra, one of the most significant artists himself in relationship to the landscape but scale work, Passage of Time. of his generation, will deliver a lecture at colleges inaugurated also the rhythm of himself in relationship to It is made up of two 66.5-metre-long and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar atrium at noon tomorrow/ DOHA: Under the patron- The Commander of the college, The public lecture will focus on his sculp- age of the Minister of State Brigadier Hamad Ahmed Ali Al tures and drawings, including his large-scale, for Defence Affairs H E Major Nuaimi, said in a speech that site-specific sculptures for architectural, urban General Hamad bin Ali Al the forum reflected the college’s and landscape settings celebrated around the Attiyah, the Chief of Staff commitment to excellence. He globe. East-West/West-East is the latest addi- Major-General Ghanim bin described the forum as an unprec- tion to Qatar’s growing public art landscape. Shaheen Al Ghanim yesterday edented event in the region, add- QMA, together with Qatar Tourism Authority, inaugurated the first forum for ing that its purpose is to examine has developed a comprehensive master plan military colleges and universi- international and Arab develop- for eco-tourism outside Doha to ensure the ties at Ahmed Bin Mohammed ments in military training which preservation of the Dukhan-Zekreet region Military College. can help make proposals to where East-West/West-East is located, an Top officers of the armed forces improve academic and military area boasting an astonishing desert landscape, and guests from inside and out- education in military colleges and prehistoric sites and remnants of old settle- side Qatar attended the opening universities. The East-West/West-East landscape at Brouq Nature Reserve. ments. THE PENINSULA ceremony. QNA

Offer valid from 09/04/2014 to 12/04/2014 or until stocks last.

2 Days Only 2 Days BEST Only PRICE

LuLu Shopping Voucher QAR.300 LuLu Shopping Voucher

QAR.425 . 1.25 QAR. 15.75 5.75 QAR. QAR.

QAR. 18.50

QAR. 1999 Onion Loose India QAR. 1399 Ariance Apple France Lulu Omega3 White Eggs Lebon Whole Chicken Samsung Mobile Phone Samsung Mobile Phone 1kg 1kg 30pcs X 1tray 1.1kg X 2pcs Galaxy S3 i9300,16GB Galaxy S4 i9500 ,16GB 3 Days 3 DaysD y Only Only

LuLu Shopping Voucher QAR.150

LuLu Shopping Voucher

QAR.150 R

QAR. QA 9.75 Broasted Chicken Combo ( Broasted Chicken 6pcs

QAR. 1699 2 Days QAR. 22.75 QAR. 14.75 + Bread Bun 2pcs + BBQ Sauce 1pc + Pepsi 355ml ) QAR. 1599 ToshibaToshiba NotebookNotebook Only Crab 1kg Safi Fish 1Kg C50-A491- 3110 Samsung LED TV UA40EH5000R 40” BEST PRICE Purchase limit may apply, Offer valid till stocks last.

R. 2 Days Only

QAR. 15.00 QAR. 9.25 QAR. 9.75 Lux Soap Asstd 170gm X 6pcs Galaxy Chocolate Lulu Palakkadan Matta 100gm X 3pcs 5kg

WITH YOUR DOHA BANK SHOPPING CO-BRANDED CREDIT CARD

TYPE ‘LULU’ & SMS TO 92610 OR VISIT ANY DOHA BANK BRANCH *CONDITIONS APPLY *CONDITIONS

Lulu Hypermarket - D Ring Road: Tel. 974 44667780, Al Gharafa: Tel. 974 44074000, Al Khor: Tel. 974 44533533, Lulu Center: Tel. 974 44322442, Lulu Express: Tel. 974 44800448 HOME WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 British Paraorchestra strikes the right notes Organisers hail overwhelming response to concert

DOHA: The British Paraorchestra they set for achievement. We extend what we are trying to do with our recently performed along our gratitude to the talented Qatar music; get into the minds of the with the Qatar Philharmonic Philharmonic Orchestra for lending audience and change their percep- Orchestra (QPO) for its first their able support to the concert and tions about disabled musicians”. ever concert in the Middle East being such wonderful co-hosts. This To further the ‘Definitely Able’ at Katara Opera House. ‘souls in harmony’ performance is a message, the Paraorchestra visited Entitled Souls in Harmony, the reminder to us all that with oppor- the Al Noor Institute for the visu- concert was part of Sasol’s ongoing tunity, support and dedication, any- ally impaired, where they played ‘Definitely Able’ corporate social thing can be possible.” music and interacted with stu- responsibility initiative. The con- “The British Paraorchestra and dents. Students had the chance cert was attended by the Minister I thank the patrons for the over- to hear, touch and feel different of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E whelming response we received instruments to further understand Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, from the audience and the amaz- the role of each instrument and British Ambassador Nicholas ing hospitality extended to us by musicians within the orchestra. Hopton, South African Saad our friends at Sasol. Collaborating On Thursday, the Paraorchestra Cachalia, and Qatar Foundation for with the (QPO) and raising aware- visited Souq Waqif and surprised Social Work President Saeed Rashid ness of the talents of people with visitors on the streets with an Al Kaabi, among others. disabilities has been a truly phe- impromptu performance. The The British Paraorchestra nomenal experience,” said Charles crowd was amazed to find that is the world’s first professional Hazelwood, founder and conductor the musicians had a variety of dis- ensemble of disabled musicians. of the British Paraorchestra abilities with some on wheelchairs Marjo Louw, President of Sasol The concert opened with the and others with impaired vision. Qatar, said: “As a member of the performance of the soundtrack The Souls in Harmony concert Qatari community, Sasol is pleased Time from the movie Inception aimed to expand on the success to host the first-ever appear- by film composer, Hans Zimmer of Definitely Able, emphasising the ance of the British Paraorchestra which was chosen for its relevance importance of offering equal oppor- outside of Europe. We thank the to the cause. As Hazelwood high- tunities to all citizens in society Paraorchestra for sharing their lighted, “the movie’s plot is about irrespective of their disabilities. talents with us, and for the model entering people’s dreams and that’s THE PENINSULA

Journalism ‘vital for a free, open society’ Continued from page 1 At Columbia School of Journalism, a Freedom of “Journalism is not a crime; it is essential for a free Press Symposium was held in partnership with Dart and open society,” read the statement. Center, Columbia Global Freedom of Expression and Journalists from the BBC also took part in the Information Project and Columbia Global Centres social media #FreeAJStaff campaign, posting photos Middle East. It highlighted the imprisonment of Al and messages of support for all four Al Jazeera staff. Jazeera journalists while reflecting on the changing Al Anstey, Managing Director, Al Jazeera English, geo-political landscape in the Middle East as well welcomed the support: “Over 40,000 people have been as press freedom. actively involved in the campaign, events have been Doha Centre for Media Freedom also joined the held in over 30 countries and in every continent, #FreeAJStaff campaign in pointing out that journal- there have been over 900 million impressions of the ism is not a crime. “Doha Centre for Media Freedom FreeAJStaff hashtag, and there have been repeated believes that one day in prison for practising journal- calls for an end to the detention of our journalists ism is one day too many; one hundred days in prison from governments as well as media organisations is a serious aberration which must be resolved,” the from all corners of the globe,” said Anstey. centre said in a statement. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Lifestyle diseases among workers on the rise Free medical camp for low-income workers at Tariq bin Ziyad Independent School in New Salata on Friday

BY FAZEENA SALEEM sponsored by Ooredoo. It will coin- cide with World Health Day. The DOHA: An increase in the inci- camp has been shown as a model by dence of lifestyle diseases among World Health Organisation, accord- young low-income workers in ing to organisers. “It’s (lifestyle dis- Qatar has been witnessed at an eases) very much on the rise. We find annual medical camp. more and more young people with Prevalence of diabetes is high lifestyle disorders. This is a change among workers, along with high we have seen,” Dr Sameer Moopan, blood pressure and high cholesterol Vice-President, Indian Doctors levels and many are unaware of their Association and IMA-Qatar, said health issues. yesterday. Some also suffer from allergy dis- He was speaking on the sidelines of FROM LEFT: Abdulla Ali Alkhalaf, Director, Public Relations, HMC, Dr Sameer Moopan, Vice-President, Indian Doctors Association and IMA-Qatar, order, uric acid problems, mental a press conference held to announce Mananr Khalifa Al Muraikhi, Senior Manager, Community Relations, Ooredoo Qatar, K C Abdul Latheef, President, IIA, and Dr Hiba Adnan Aboo stress and cardiovascular diseases, the 13th camp and a health aware- Lalava, Coordinator, Campaign and Public Awareness, PHCC, with another official at the press conference yesterday. according to healthcare experts ness programme, at the Holiday Villa involved with the free camp organ- Hotel and Residence. ised by Indian Islamic Association The camp diagnoses many new reduced in the recent years. Lanka. Volunteers have met orthopaedics, cardiologists, der- awareness lectures on ‘Annual Qatar (IIAQ), with Indian Doctors cases of diabetes and other lifestyle The 13th camp will be inau- workers who have health prob- matologists, ophthalmologists, medical check-up,’ ‘Lifestyle Club and Indian Medical Association diseases, said Dr Moopan. gurated by Sanjiv Arora, Indian lems. More than 5,000 people ENT specialists and dentists modification for a healthy heart,’ (IMA). “Diabetics is very common among Ambassador, with senior offi- are also expected to attend. Over will also be available. ‘Is cancer preventable diseases,’ The 13th camp will be on Friday workers, at every camp we identify at cials of PHCC, HMC, Ooredoo 150 doctors and 175 para-med- Free medicines will be dis- ‘Cholesterol- related health dis- at Tariq bin Ziyad Independent least 15 to 20 people with high level and other organisations. ical staff will check blood pres- tributed for common diseases orders,’ ‘Make your home safe School in New Salata, with the of diabetics and they are unaware of The day-long event is sure, blood sugar and cholesterol and those requiring further for kids,’ ‘Lifestyle modification support of Primary Health Care their condition,” said Dr Moopan. expected to benefit over 1,850 levels, oral cancer, eyes, conduct treatment will be referred for healthy heart,’ ‘Back pain, Corporation (PHCC) and Hamad However, he said the incidence pre-registered low-income ultrasound and ECG tests, con- to HMC. The camp will also a modern day health problem,’ Medical Corporation (HMC). It is of pre-symptoms of oral cancer has workers from India, Nepal, sultation and counselling. support deserving patients to and ‘Early detection of breast Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri General physicians, get health cards. It will hold cancer.’ THE PENINSULA

Qatar Strategy Execution Community holds session

DOHA: The third session of the Qatar Strategy Execution Community was held yester- day at Katara. The event, hosted by Katara with Palladium Group, gath- ered leaders, executives and strategy experts to discuss and adopt successful practices and innovative concepts of strat- egy implementation in their organisations. “It is our privilege to host such a community in our premises, contributing to pro- vide an excellent networking Dr David P Norton, Co-founder of the Palladium Group, Khalid Al Sayed, Editor-in-Chief, The Peninsula, Dr platform for leaders and strat- Khalid Al Jaber, Consultant, Strategic Affairs, Katara, and Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, egy professionals to exchange Katara, along with other participants attending the session yesterday. ideas and successful experi- ences, learn, discuss and adopt exchange. “Katara’s mission team supported by a consultant the most developed countries in innovative concepts related to is to steer the cultural move- team from Palladium to facili- the world. Qatar’s fast develop- strategy execution, Dr Khalid ment towards building a crea- tate implementation.” ment, he said, requires setting bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General tive society. Keeping pace with Dr David P Norton, a world a strategic plan for leadership Manager, Katara, said at the the emerging global culture renowned figure on strategy and developing administrative opening of the event. that emphasises the impor- and performance manage- plan to realise aims. “At Katara Foundation, we tance of diversity in human ment, designer and promoter Dr Khalid Al Jaber, are actively implementing and development, the village is the of communities for strategy Consultant, Strategic Affairs, continuously learning from largest and most multidimen- execution and co-founder of Katara, said the aim of the third Norton & Kaplan methodolo- sional cultural project of Qatar. the Palladium Group, spoke on session on leadership strategy gies to ensure results of our It is a place where people come ‘Developing Human Capital for was to exchange experiences in recently developed five-year together to experience the cul- Strategy Execution’ and the developing strategies and long- year strategy plan. For Katara tures of the world. Palladium team on ‘Managing term implementation plans. Foundation it has also been a “Last year we successfully Stakeholders for successful “This will reflect positively on year since we launched our new outlined our strategy plan, while Strategy Execution’. participating institutions in plan, which outlined ambitions this year we continue in our Norton said the leadership collaboration with Palladium and plans towards our vision.” endeavours to implement the strategy meeting is aimed at Group as a leading international He said Katara Cultural full six-stage cycle for premium innovation in management company which supports insti- Village is a project geared strategy execution by Norton & leveraging the current devel- tutions in strategy development towards human interac- Kaplan. opment of Qatar in different and implementation.” tion through art and cultural “We have a internal strategy aspects which make it one of THE PENINSULA Arabs ‘not giving much attention to Palestinian issue’

Continued from page 1 intelligence information “What they (the speak- and military equipment ers) wanted is the adop- to face Al Qaeda and stop tion of George Bush policy the Iranian support for of direct intervention like Houti rebels in Yemen. what we witnessed in Iraq Dennis Ross believes and Afghanistan after that Israel is concerned 9/11,” says Al Masri. about the presence of Al When Obama came to Qaeda and the Sunni fac- power, his intention was tions in Syria, from where to stop all direct interven- it can expand to other tion policies but this has parts of the region. created confusion towards The US should support the Arab Spring revolu- the democratic opposi- tions, especially in Syria, tion in Syria to fight Al in which the US preferred Qaeda and other hardline to use soft power to sup- Islamists. port its regional allies, Speakers believe that argue US diplomats. the US should continue Al Masri has pointed its efforts to take Arab- to several policy sugges- Israeli peace talks ahead tions given by speakers because the situation is at Washington Institute: now more in favour of Keep the sanctions Israel. against Iran effective; Arabs are not giving negotiations of the “five much attention to the plus one” should give Palestinian issue, the enough time for monitor- Muslim Brotherhood has ing the Iranian nuclear lost power and Hamas is programme and the US very weak. should be ready to take Therefore, John Kerry military action against should convince the Iran if it does not comply Palestinians to accept with the agreements. the Israeli conditions for The US should support peace. the Iraqi government with THE PENINSULA HOME WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Implementation of food security plan begins

DOHA: The Qatar National food security. sustainable use of water, land and Food Security Programme “We are proud to see this energy resources to the forefront. (QNFSP) has transferred food next phase of work begin on It puts forward standards and a security implementation and food security in Qatar,” said road map for crop selection, tech- management responsibilities to Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiya, nologies and practices that will the implementation committee Executive Chairman, QNFSP. enable Qatar to produce five times and technical secretariat. “Implementation of the plan more food with the same amount The programme has announced requires coordination across the of land and one-third less water the formal transition of respon- government and the private sec- than is used today. The plan is the sibility for implementing the tor. The committee provides that result of the Emiri Decision No. National Food Security Plan platform.” 45 of 2011 that directed QNFSP to the newly-established The plan is the outcome of four to build on its early research and Implementation Committee. years of research and develop- work with stakeholders to develop Chaired by the Minister of ment, including more than 500 an “integrated national food secu- Economy and Trade H E Sheikh stakeholder consultation sessions; rity plan.” Ahmed bin Jassem bin Mohamed work with experts from Qatar Based on lessons learned from Al Thani, the panel brings and the world. food policies in 80 countries and together government representa- Hailed by global organisations the experiences of local farmers, tives to work with the private sec- as one of the most comprehensive fishermen, and business leaders, tor to facilitate recommendations bodies of work on food security QNFSP developed the plan and of the plan. The committee will policy, the plan aims to improve presented it to the government. be supported by a Food Security overall coordination and resil- QNFSP then transitioned Technical Secretariat comprising ience of the national food system its technical staff to the newly QNFSP technical teams which to secure a safe and healthy food formed Technical Secretariat at worked to develop the plan and supply for the people. the ministry and formerly ended other experts from Qatar. Its recommendations focus on its work this March 31. Following the successful pres- strategically diversifying inter- “We appreciate the individu- entation of the plan to the Emir national trade and investment, als and organisations who have H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad improving the domestic market, joined us in working on this Al Thani last July 31, QNFSP increasing strategic food and vitally important issue. Without worked with the office of the water reserves, and increasing the support of stakeholders and Prime Minister and the ministry water efficiency and productivity experts in Qatar and the world, to develop scenarios for imple- of local food production. we would not have been able to mentation. The committee was Besides closing critical gaps complete our work and celebrate formed from this process and will and building capacities for resil- this important next phase,” Al formally take on responsibility for ient growth, the plan brings Attiya said. THE PENINSULA Hatred, enmity will not help solve problems

Continued from page 1 are attacking and insulting each other as if the issue It’s surprising that only in this region are peo- affects their daily lives. If governments allow diplo- ple behaving like this. Why can’t we have healthy, matic disputes to filter down to the people’s level informed debates when it is possible in other parts and decide to watch their recriminations silently, it of the world? Look at other regions where there are shows that they want to divert public attention from tensions between governments. There are problems larger issues like reforms. The governments must between India and Pakistan, South Korea and North realise that what is happening in the social media Korea, Russia and Ukraine, etc., but the people of will come back to haunt them — people appreciate those countries are not at each other’s throats. the new level of freedom on Twitter and other social Hatred and enmity will not help solve problems, media and would expect to enjoy the same freedom only worsen them. when discussing other issues, after the current ten- The problem in the GCC is between governments sion between the governments ends. due to foreign policy, not between people, but citizens THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Patient-doctor communication art explored through music

DOHA: At a live jazz event organised by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Dr Stephen Scott, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and artists from Jazz at Lincoln Center – Doha explored par- allels between the art of jazz and the art of doctor-patient communication. The ‘Jazz & the Art of Communication’ featured internationally renowned singer Gregory Generet, bass- ist Matthew Rybicki, pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi and drum- www.swiss-belhotel.com mer Shawn Baltazor, who played many pieces and engaged in a Tel dialogue with Dr Scott on music, Fax communication and medicine. The event with an impres- sive audience was held at the Black Box Theatre at Hamad Tel Bin Khalifa University Student Fax Centre on April 2. Dr Scott said: “When we as physicians speak with our patients, we have to be aware that communication involves Jazz artists with officials at the WCMC-Q event. Tel more than simply the content Fax of the words. Body language, inflection, communicating with each other “A script is a necessary start- to interact with patients, so I tone of voice and other cues and communicating with the ing point, but we need to be gained some useful insights. have a great influence on what audience, and reacting to the able to adapt in the moment “I have read some of the Tollfree we hear, as well as the way our feedback. “One key similarity is and respond to our patients in attempts to create a formu- message is interpreted. authenticity – if you put your ways that are more nuanced and laic approach to speaking with Fax “When we play a song, we can true self into music, the audi- intuitive than a script allows.” patients, but in the field I think interpret it in many ways. Each ence is likely to react well to The 45-minute set finished with you need to be able to react to note I sing or that Takeshi or that. The same is true when a question-answer session with the different ways of communi- Tel Matt plays can be sounded in a you’re speaking to someone.” the audience. cating of each individual patient, variety of ways. Dr Scott said students and Ahmed Mushannen, first- which probably comes with Fax “We can play fast or slow, we physicians develop their ‘voice,’ year WCMC-Q medical student practice and by being willing to can make it strong or gentle, or ways of communicating with and Charlie Parker fan, said: listen carefully to every patient and Shawn can subtly change patients, and move beyond a “We are at the stage of our stud- and their needs.” Tel the rhythm. All the time we’re rigid script. ies where we are just starting THE PENINSULA Fax

Tel Fax New CEO for Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre www.doha.hilton.com DOHA: Qatar International development of case man- Court and Dispute agement and IT systems, the Tel +974 44233333 Resolution Centre Qatar Law Forum 2012 on the (QICDRC) has announced rule of law, mediation train- Fax +974 44233000 Faisal Rashid Al Sahouti’s ing and collaborative work on appointment as CEO. legal education. He joined the centre in Lord Phillips, President of 2011 and received legal train- the centre and former presi- ing in Qatar and the UK and dent of the UK Supreme obtained a Master’s in law Court, said: “I am delighted to from Nottingham University. welcome Al Sahouti’s appoint- Al Sahouti replaces Robert ment as CEO. He will work Musgrove, who was previously with me, Sir David Keene, CEO of Civil Justice Council who chairs the Regulatory Tel of England and Wales and has Tribunal, Judge Hassan served as CEO of the centre Abdulrahim Y H Al Sayed at Fax for nearly four years. the centre and the registrar. Faisal Rashid Al Sahouti, new CEO, with Lord Phillips, President of the During his time as CEO, The court has a reputation for centre. Musgrove had been responsi- independence, international ble for considerable progress expertise, and excellence. development of the court. made as CEO to the continuing Tel at the centre, including the With the help of Al Sahouti “I wish to thank Musgrove for development of the centre.” Fax courtroom’s official opening, we look forward to further the valuable contribution he has THE PENINSULA

Tel Panel to review Fax Deal signed to produce, cases seeking sell MSD medicines treatment abroad DOHA/DUBAI: MSD, one of the DOHA: Hamad Medical Tel world’s leading healthcare companies, Corporation (HMC) has set up Fax and Julphar, a UAE-based global phar- a committee to look into the maceutical company, yesterday signed a cases of Qatari patients seek- five-year licensing agreement. ing treatment abroad. It provides Julphar with exclusive rights A grievance committee has Tel to produce, market, distribute and sell cer- been formed to review applica- tain MSD medicines in the UAE, Kuwait, tions rejected by the medical Fax Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Iraq. committee if applicants object It will potentially enhance patients’ to decisions. It will study cases access to cutting-edge therapies for dia- and make recommendations, Al betes, asthma, allergy, pain and inflam- Sharq reports. Tel mation. Both firms will seek authorities’ Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qassimi with Ayman Sahli and The medical committee was Fax approvals for registration and production Søren Bo Christiansen at the signing ceremony. shifted recently from Supreme of the products locally. THE PENINSULA Council of Health to HMC to improve services. THE PENINSULA QU expert contributes to study on modern lions Tel DOHA: A researcher at Qatar peer-reviewed scientific jour- through research to improving Dr Yamaguchi’s study has Fax University (QU) was part of a nal, and was a top story entitled our understanding and conserva- taken him to Morocco, Algeria, recently-published study on the “Modern lions’ origins revealed tion of the lion, an endangered India, Namibia, Botswana, South origins of modern lions. in genetic analysis” on the charismatic species. Africa and many European coun- Dr Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, BBC News webpage, Nature/ “The study results serve to tries where lion specimens are Tel Associate Professor of Animal Environment Section. improve our understanding of kept in natural history collec- Fax Ecology, Department of Biological It involved the genetic analy- the intra-specific phylogeogra- tions, and has resulted in several and Environmental Sciences, sis of living lions from Asia and phy of the lion, which will greatly findings and published papers. College of Arts & Sciences, par- Africa with specimens in muse- contribute to its conservation In 2008, he participated with www.renaissancedoha.com ticipated with scientists from uni- ums and collections around the through the provision of useful researchers from Natural History versities in Australia, Denmark, world. The findings highlight the information for conservation pri- Museum and Oxford University Tel +974 44195000 France, Sweden, the UK, and the possible evolutionary processes oritisation and meta-population on a study that recorded the first Fax +974 44195100 US on the study ‘Revealing the of different subspecies, and sug- management. genetic evidence that England’s maternal demographic history of gest that climate and environ- “I am also pleased if my first lions hailed from North Panthera leo using ancient DNA mental changes likely played involvement in the research con- Africa. He is an expert in mam- and a spatially explicit genealogi- important roles in shaping the tributes to raising the research malogy research and has been cal analysis’. phylogeography of the modern profile of QU, even if it is in a the mentor on the hedgehog The research was pub- lion subspecies. very small way. I thank the project being conducted by QU lished early this month in the Dr Yamaguchi said: “I am department, the college and QU biological and environmental stu- BMC Evolutionary Biology, a pleased to be able to contribute for support and encouragement”. dents. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Nearly half of Arab youth prefer modernity, finds survey

DOHA: Young people in the the uprisings across the Arab including the UK, the US and Arab World are embracing world, I feel the Arab world is Germany. modernity as digital technologies better off”, down from 70 percent Asked to think about their and media reshape behaviour. in 2013 and 72 in 2012. The ris- country’s biggest ally, the youth However, it is opinions and ing cost of living and unemploy- are choosing their GCC neigh- influences of family, friends and ment were identified as the two bours over traditional Western religion that matter most to biggest concerns. About 63 per- countries as Gulf governments’ them, the sixth annual Asda’a cent say they are ‘very concerned’ political weight grows. Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth about rising living costs, while They cite four of the six GCC Survey shows. 49 percent are concerned about members in their country’s top About 46 percent of youth unemployment. This concern is five allies with 36 percent saying agreed that “traditional values strongest in non-GCC countries Saudi Arabia is their country’s are outdated and belong to the with 55 percent citing it as their biggest supporter, followed by the past; I am keen to embrace mod- biggest concern. Though still UAE (33), Qatar (25) and Kuwait ern values and beliefs”. high at 39 percent, the youth in (25). The US is the only Western Although modernists remain a the Gulf are less concerned than country to feature in the top five slight minority, this are the clos- their counterparts in the rest of allies, at 22 percent. est results that have come to par- the Arab world, with governments The findings of Arab Youth ity in the survey’s history, up from providing some reassurance. Survey were presented to media 17 percent in 2011. Favourability towards the pri- yesterday. Don Baer, Worldwide However, family, friends, and Officials at the press conference yesterday. vate sector is steadily rising in the Chair and CEO of Burson- religion remain the greatest influ- Gulf, with 31 percent saying they Marsteller and CEO of PSB; ences on the young, with two- family, particularly parental ties, annual initiative of Asda’a Burson- aged 18-24 in the six GCC coun- would like to work in the sec- Joseph Ghossoub, Chairman and thirds of respondents citing their remains strong. However, exter- Marsteller, the leading public rela- tries, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, tor, up from 24 percent in 2013. CEO of the MENACOM Group, parents (67 percent) as their first nal forces are increasing their tions consultancy in the Mena Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Preference for the private sector the regional parent company source of advice and counsel, fol- sphere of influence, with com- region. Its sister agency, interna- Yemen and, for the first time, in non-GCC countries is declin- of Asda’a Burson-Marsteller; lowed by family (58), religion (56) munity leaders rising from 33 tional polling firm PSB, completed Palestine — between December ing at 31 percent in 2014. For and Sunil John, Chief Executive and friends (46). percent in 2013 to 38 and social the survey for the sixth edition. 2013 and January 2014. the third successive year, youth Officer of Asda’a Burson- In the increasingly urbanised media and bloggers reaching 35. It conducted 3,500 face-to-face About 54 percent of respond- cite UAE as their top choice (to Marsteller, were present. economies, the importance of The Arab Youth Survey is an interviews — men and women ents agree ‘a lot’ with “Following live in) ahead of 20 countries, THE PENINSULA

Gunmen kill Erdogan vows to liquidate treachery five soldiers Turkish PM says local polls gave him strong mandate; battle with cleric Gulen top priority at Yemen ANKARA: Turkish Prime Turkish cultural influence and Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commerce overseas. Cemaat said yesterday that local elec- says the Turkish government is checkpoint tions had given him a mandate already putting pressure on gov- to “liquidate” the enemies he ernments to close down its global ADEN/SANA’A: Suspected sees as contriving a corruption network of schools which have militants killed five soldiers scandal and would go after their been a major source of influence guarding a checkpoint in south- international activities and and revenue. Government offi- eastern Yemen yesterday, local sources of funding. cials say Turkish embassies have officials said, and a leader In his first parliamentary stopped backing schools and busi- of a Shia Muslim party was speech since his ruling AK Party ness linked to Gulen. wounded in a drive-by shooting dominated March 30 municipal Hizmet denies using follow- in the capital Sana’a in which polls, Erdogan said “traitors” ers in the police and judiciary to two guards died. responsible for a stream of graft launch a graft inquiry targeting The incidents underscored the allegations and the illegal tapping Erdogan family members, min- volatility in Yemen more than of thousands of phones would be isters and businessmen, or any two years after long-serving brought to account. involvement in the illicit record- President Ali Abdullah Saleh Erdogan accuses Islamic cleric ing of top officials. stepped down following months Fethullah Gulen, a former ally Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK of protests by Yemenis demand- now based in the United States, Party relied on Hizmet to break ing democratic reforms. of orchestrating the graft scan- the grip on politics of the army, A security source said gun- dal to undermine him. Gulen’s which carried out three coups men in two vehicles stormed the Hizmet network claims millions between 1960 and 1980 and forced Buroum checkpoint on the border of followers and holds influence an Islamist-led government from between Shabwa and Hadramout in the police and judiciary. power in 1997. But he now casts the provinces with automatic fire and Erdogan has accused the move- fight with Hizmet as a continuation grenades, killing the five soldiers. ment of running a “parallel state”, of that struggle against tutelage in The attack was the third in two spying on thousands of govern- any form, the final chapter in a bat- weeks in Hadramout. ment officials over years and leak- tle for democracy and justice. In Sana’a, a security source and ing manipulated recordings in a “They will answer before the witnesses said gunmen riding in bid to unseat him ahead of last courts. But not in front of their a car opened fire on Ismail Al month’s elections. parallel courts; they will answer People try to capture an unidentified man (down) who attacked Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s Wazir, head of the Shura Council “March 30 is the day when the before the court of the nation,” main opposition Republican People’s Party, at the Parliament in Ankara yesterday. of Al Haq party - a political group page was turned on tutelage, when Erdogan said. Erdogan has made associated with Shia Houthi the monuments of hubris were little secret of his ambition to rebels based in northern Yemen. felled, and the privileges (of an take up a powerful presidency, but Oppn leader punched by assailant They said Wazir, who is also a law elite) were lost forever,” Erdogan such is his determination to fin- professor at Sanaa University, was said. “The nation gave us a man- ish the battle with Gulen that it seriously wounded in the pelvis date for the liquidation of the par- remains unclear whether he will ISTANBUL: T he le a der of T u rke y ’s m a i n opp o- 28-year-old Orhan Ovet, reportedly a member of and two of his security escorts allel state. We will not have the run in the first direct elections for sition party was attacked as he entered parlia- an ultra-nationalist organisation who has been were killed. REUTERS slightest hesitation. We shall never the post in August. ment yesterday by a stranger who punched and convicted in the past of several charges including forget the betrayal,” he said. He is barred by AK Party rules kicked him several times, local media reported. an armed attack. He said the government would from standing for a fourth term The assault occurred as Kemal Kilicdaroglu, “I had set my mind to punch (Kilicdaroglu). Iraq attacks kill follow up on what he called the as prime minister, currently a the head of the secular Republican People’s Party I waited for him to enter (the parliament) and network’s international links and more powerful role than the (CHP), was heading to a weekly party meeting punched him at the first opportunity,” Ovet was 15 as soldiers investigate all “illegally collected largely ceremonial presidency; to assess results of local polls that were handily quoted as saying. He did not explain his motive. monies and donations”. but the party could amend those won by the ruling Justice and Development Party. After the assault, Kilicdaroglu addressed law- ambush militants The movement, also known as rules with relative ease if it feels Kilicdaroglu’s bodyguards immediately over- makers and said he would not be bowed by vio- BAGHDAD: Attacks in Iraq Cemaat, “The Community”, has his leadership is needed to see out powered the attacker, who was taken to a lence. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left 15 people dead yester- for decades been a spearhead of the feud with Gulen. REUTERS police station for questioning, the newspaper condemned the attack as “unacceptable” in a day while security forces said Radikal reported. The assailant was identified as democratic system. AFP they killed 25 militants near Baghdad amid worries insur- gents are encroaching on the capital weeks ahead of elections. The latest violence is part of a protracted surge in nationwide Libya cabinet calls for new govt Tunisia parties begin bloodshed that has left more than 2,400 people dead since the start of the year and sparked fears Iraq debate on poll law is slipping back into the all-out within a week, turmoil deepens sectarian fighting that plagued it TUNIS: Tunisian Islamist and be debating now,” said Kalthoum in 2006 and 2007. TRIPOLI: Libya’s parliament the congress would decide whether Last month, after sacking Ali secular parties have begun a Badredine, an assembly member In yesterday’s bloodiest inci- has urged Prime Minister Thinni and his minister could stay Zeidan as head of the government, parliamentary debate on an from the Islamist Ennahda party. dent, soldiers killed 25 militants in Abdullah Al Thinni to form a until a general election expected parliament gave Al Thinni a tem- election law, the final step before Most of the differences are an ambush southwest of Baghdad, new government within a week, for later this year, he said. Thinni’s porary mandate which needs to be setting a ballot date to complete related to positioning by rival the capital’s security spokesman an assembly spokesman said had earlier written to parliament renewed every two weeks. The lat- a transition to democracy in the Islamists and the secular Nida Brigadier General Saad Maan yesterday, apparently rejecting asking for more powers and a est mandate expired on Monday. country that lit the fuse of Arab Tounes party over whether to said. Maan said the fighters were a cabinet request for more pow- longer mandate but denied media “A few days of extensions don’t popular uprisings. hold separate presidential and part of the jihadist Islamic State ers to tackle the disorder crip- reports that it had resigned at a help,” said Lamim. But LANA The elections, expected later parliamentary elections. Smaller of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), pling the country. time of deepening turmoil that has quoted parliamentary spokesman this year, will be only the second parties want ex-Ben Ali regime and that they were planning to A weak central government in hit the North African state’s life- Hmeidan as saying the cabinet ballot since the 2011 revolt that officials excluded from the vote. attack an army base that they had Tripoli is locked in confrontation blood oil exports. “had submitted a conditional resig- ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Three years after its revolt, attempted to hit last week. with parliament and unable to In a typical sign of chaos and nation” - refusing to continue work Ben Ali, and the first since the Tunisia is in its final stages of Elsewhere in Iraq, attacks control militias that helped oust often contradictory information without more power. adoption of a new constitution democratic evolution, with a care- north of the capital killed 15 peo- dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a in Libya, the state news agency Lawmaker Najah Salouh praised internationally as a demo- taker government in power after a ple overall, security and medical 2011 uprising but kept their guns LANA as well as Libyan and Abdulsalam said the GNC had cratic model. compromise between Islamists and officials said, including six mem- and carved out autonomous fiefs. Arab television stations said the written first to the prime minis- Debate started late on Monday, secular opponents to end a political bers of the same family shot dead “The General National cabinet had quit. Asked about ter’s office to inform Thinni that with hundreds of proposals crisis and prepare for elections. inside their home on the outskirts Congress (GNC) has appointed this, cabinet spokesman Ahmed his cabinet was just a caretaker already presented for inclusion, That agreement between con- of the restive city of Mosul. A car Abdullah Al Thinni as the prime Lamim told Reuters: “The gov- government with no right to and is expected to last as long trasts sharply with Libya and bomb set off by a suicide attacker minister under a condition of ernment is working normally make any decisions. Thinni had as two weeks before an election Egypt, which have struggled at a checkpoint in the city of Tuz forming a government within a but there was a letter sent to the then written back asking for more date can be set. “There are a lot of with street turmoil and political Khurmatu killed four police- week,” parliamentary spokesman General National Congress say- powers so they can run the coun- differences, and we have received instability since ousting their own men, while attacks were also Omar Hmeidan said. ing the government needs more try, otherwise they would resign, around 500 proposals for inclu- long-standing rulers. carried out in Baiji and Tikrit in Once a cabinet had been formed, authority to work.” she said. REUTERS sion to adjust the law that we will REUTERS Salaheddin province. AFP WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial

Indian elections Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HERE are several democracies in the world where elections are held regularly. But there are only a few countries whose elections are watched keenly by the Tworld media. India is one among them. There are two reasons for this supreme interest: first, with a population of Bringing together more than 800 million, it’s a mammoth exercise and second, despite the size and other dimensions, the elections are always free and fair with not even one party complaining about its fairness. But the elections this year have generated huge interest for another reason: the Hindu nationalists led by the China and America controversial Narendra Modi are expected to capture power from the Congress-led coalition. The elections started on April 7 and will continue until May BY JONATHAN POWER. relationships with China’s neighbours down of the Concert. World War 1 12. The counting will be held on May 16. Around 814 million are a challenge to its security and sov- begot both Lenin and Hitler. people will be voting in a nine-phased election over six weeks HE widespread percep- ereignty. It rightly feels encircled. There was little idealism in this at more than 930,000 polling stations all over the country. tion that China is or will Yet, mistaken as the US may be in 1815 pact, unlike the creation of the become soon an aggressive, its naval policy and its “tilt”, the US, European Union, two world wars later. In keeping with the diversity of India, the number of parties expansionist power is simply the EU and Japan have done much The big powers simply saw their contesting in the elections is also huge. But the main contest T wrong. It is propaganda, rather than to help along China’s modernisation. self-interest- the cost of seeking is between the Congress-led and BJP-led (Bharatiya Janata fact, a kind of right wing agitprop. They have kept markets wide open hegemony outweighed the benefit. Party) coalitions. Among the main issues are corruption and Far from being an aggressive power, despite much resistance at home. Unrestrained competition would secularism. China is a defensive one, and has long They have given freely of their capital drag everyone down and produce no One major reason the election has attracted global attention been so. It is the one who has been and their technology (as has Taiwan). benefit for any nation. attacked and invaded- by Britain, They have encouraged hundreds of This was not seen as a balance of is the candidature of controversial Narendra Modi as prime France, the US and Japan. These days thousands of Chinese students to power. A Concert requires more than minister in the BJP coalition. Modi has been vilified for bloody China is too integrated into the world study in their universities. They have that: an agreement not to seek pri- communal riots that broke out in his state of Gujarat in 2002 economy and too much in hock to its trained Chinese experts in science, macy in a strategic system. It was an when he was the chief minister. massive savings invested in the bonds international law and technology. agreement to minimise conflict in an As Indians go Though no court has found him of America and Europe to be anything The US stamps on the talk in Japan era when the old balance of power sys- guilty, Modi has been accused of but defensive. of exonerating itself for its role in the tem gave way. to the polls That doesn’t Second World War and any desire it Balances of power do collapse. This turning a blind eye when rioters mean it doesn’t shows for massive rearmament. happened in 1914. It certainly could to elect a new went on a killing spree. Presiding have an urge to It constantly reminds those inde- happen between China and the US, if over the riots has been the most bring Taiwan into pendence-minded politicians in that is what develops. government, disastrous blemish he has been Yet, mistaken the mainland’s Taiwan not to be too loud with their The League of Nations and the carrying, which has made him very fold or that it will rhetoric. United Nations were both attempts to not protect itself Hugh White in his perceptive new resurrect the Concert following world- the Hindu unpopular among Muslims. At as the US against territorial book, “The China Choice”, argues that wide wars. The Second World War nationalists are the same time, Modi is celebrated may be in its losses- includ- what is needed is a new “Concert” This led to the creation of the Security by India’s corporate executives. ing Tibet, Xinjiang harks back to 1815 when the European Council, modelled on the Concert. clearly in the Modi is the preferred candidate of naval policy and a number powers emerged from the Napoleonic Tragically, the potential of this was lead. India’s corporate sector and they and its “tilt”, of islands in the Wars. The leaders of the continent’s not realized as the Cold War broke out are funding his campaigns. Modi South China and five principal powers met in Vienna to and a balance of power, reinforced by East China seas. negotiate a new post-war order. “The nuclear weapons, took the place of the projects toughness as a central the US, the Some Western essence of the Concert was simple”, new Concert. message, offering a vivid contrast with the ineffectual Congress EU and Japan politicos may writes White, “They agreed that none A twenty-first century Concert in party which has been mired in corruption. It’s the dismal quarrel with China would try to dominate Europe, and if Asia would involve China, Japan, India performance of the Congress government led by its prime have done about this (apart any of their number tried the others and China. First and foremost they minister Dr Manmohan Singh and huge corruption cases much to help from Xinjiang), would unite to defeat it”. must accept each other as equals- involving its ministers and officials running into thousands of but China has a The order they created lasted for with equal rights and responsibilities. case for each. 99 years. By that I don’t mean there The US would have to limit its mili- crores of rupees that have made Congress unpopular among along China’s (But on the sea was continuous peace. There were, for tary interest in Asia both to accom- large sections of the electorate. If Modi has been popular and modernisation. issue it should example, the German wars of reuni- modate China but also the other two. has been able to sell his agenda to Indians, the responsibility go along with fication. But there was no continent- In turn this would mean China forsak- for this must be shared by the Congress leaders. It’s their the Philippines’ wide conflagration. Only in ing any future ambition to be the big ineptitude and corruption which have made the public turn to request for arbi- 1914 did the continent descend into boy on the block in Asia. tration by the the abyss of the First World War. This, as I argued above, is not to Modi. judges of the court established by the (And that because of the stupidity, say it has that urge right now but a All opinion polls are saying that the BJP-led coalition Law of the Sea Treaty.) miscalculation and blind stubbornness future generation might, if it is not is likely to win the election. At the same time, most of the China feels that the large deploy- of the then living top politicians who pre-empted by a Concert today. international media have been apprehensive of Modi and ment of the US navy close its waters were certainly not of the calibre of A Concert could be created. But will even wrote editorials saying that Modi is not good for Indian plus the Obama Administration’s “tilt” those who lived in 1815.) We still live it be done? That is the question. secularism. But whether anybody likes it or not, the verdict of towards Asia, plus the US’s defence with the consequences of the break THE PENINSULA the people must be respected. The other side Quote of Climate change consequences the day

AR too much evidence of Japan last week, a comprehensive compromised supply of food and global warming through polluting activ- climate change and global report released by the UN’s widespread hunger; devastating ities, it is the world’s poorest popu- warming has by now stacked Intergovernmental Panel on Climate coastal flooding and inland flooding lations that will suffer the most from Fup to allow the naysayers Change blamed “human interference” that will damage big cities; extreme rising temperatures and rising seas. to keep arguing. Mankind and its for climate change, the effects of weather occurrences disrupting the And this is where smaller, underde- There has to activities are adversely affecting the which “are already occurring on all supply of some of what many take veloped countries such as Pakistan planet, and a process of the wipe-out continents and across the oceans” for granted, such as electricity and need to start formulating plans. As we be justice and of natural and renewable resources is in a world that is mostly “ill-prepared” running water; increased chances of have seen over the past several years, under way. Many of the consequences for the risks posed by the sweeping armed conflicts between nations and this country is not equipped to han- accountability and of humanity’s polluting activities can changes. As the IPCC chair Rajendra communities as a result of water and dle flooding; food scarcity is already a no longer be reversed. The only hope Pachauri said, “nobody on this planet food scarcities. The list is a long one, growing problem; glacier-melt is a real- the situation in lies in the world taking rapid action to is going to be untouched….” and the report says that while humans ity. These issues will only intensify. The Syria should not slow down the pace of deterioration as The consequences sound like a may be able to adapt to some of these world as a whole needs to think green; far and as soon as possible. If all this library of ideas for grand-scale dis- changes, this will only be within lim- countries that are especially vulnerable be allowed to slip sounds apocalypse-like, it is rendered aster movies: decreased water avail- its. Ironically, while it is the developed need to square up to the challenge. through the cracks. all the more so given the source: in ability, changes in crop yields, the world that has contributed most to DAWN Navi Pillay UN Human Rights Chief VIEWS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Syria and genocide legacy in Rwanda The price of failure will remain prohibitively high so long as voters feel little urgency about stopping atrocities abroad. BY JAMES TRAUB Rwanda could happen again, one of the panellists at the Yale event, Edward hen we think about C Luck, the former special adviser on Rwanda today, it is atrocities to UN Secretary-General Ban not the genocide that Ki-moon, pointed out that the shame began 20 years ago over the failure there, and the rise of that we are likely to norms like the “responsibility to pro- Wrecall, but the much more recent inci- tect,” has made both the UN and states dents of repression which President react much more quickly to incipient Paul Kagame is alleged to have perpe- atrocities than they did 20 years ago. In trated against opponents at home and the Central African Republic, to take abroad, and his exploitation of the chaos one current example, a combination of in next-door Congo. Kagame has under- French and African Union forces have mined Rwanda’s reputation, and its vic- so far prevented the mutual massacres of tim status. Muslims and Christians from dissolving We should not, however, allow Kagame’s into wholesale slaughter. That is a suc- misdeeds to obscure the extraordinary cess, if a very tenuous one. achievement of the Rwandan people over The world really is better at preven- the last two decades -- thanks in part tive action, if still not very good. Today, to Kagame himself. At an event at Yale the UN peacekeeping department would University commemorating the mass probably not bury a desperate telegram killing, I had a long conversation with warning of an imminent pogrom, as it Yvette Rugasaguhunga, a Rwandan diplo- did in the case of Rwanda. But the fact mat who as a Tutsi teenager had survived remains that “another Rwanda,” if that the killings by hiding with a succession of expression refers not just to genocides Hutu families, almost all of whom were at but to coordinated programmes of mass the same time actively slaughtering her murder, is happening right now in Syria, own people. Her father, her brother and and there is no reason to hope it will stop Young Rwandan men hold candles during a vigil and prayer for genocide victims at the Amahoro stadium in Kigali on Monday. her grandparents were murdered. any time soon. Yvette described all this with great Rwanda is not the most useful analogy composure until the conversation turned to help us think about the world’s fail- President Barack Obama has also said deeper American engagement will fail, exploding into mass killing. Regional to the accusations against Kagame, at ure to respond to the atrocities in Syria. repeatedly that the situation is Syria is and he knows that such a failure would organizations like the African Union which point she furiously interjected that The Rwandan genocide might have been hopelessly intractable. In a recent inter- have grave political costs. Put otherwise, are now prepared in some cases to send in the months and years after the geno- prevented by decisive action beforehand, view, Obama insisted that it’s “a false his acute awareness of the costs has pre- troops to quell such violence. cide she had been so full of hate that had but the killings happened so fast that, notion that somehow we were in a posi- disposed him to listen to advisers who But when the killing can be curbed anyone given her a weapon, she would once they began, the world’s hesitation tion to, through a few selective strikes, say that intervention of any kind won’t only by the kind of force the West can have happily killed any Hutu she came doomed the Tutsi people. On the other prevent the kind of hardship that we’ve work. The number of the dead in Syria bring to bear, the world will look to the across. She mastered her own vindic- hand, the mayhem in Bosnia, as in Syria, seen in Syria.” Of course, no one has now exceeds 150,000, with the regime in US, which means, to the president. And tive rage, she said, only because Kagame was carried out by a national army and suggested that “a few selective strikes” Damascus rolling barrel bombs out of a sad legacy of Rwanda that we witness demanded that Tutsis seek reconciliation, paramilitary as a matter of state policy, would have toppled the Syrian regime. helicopters into civilian areas. Obama has now in Washington is a president that in part through the use of local gacaca which made it harder to prevent. And Rather, in 2012, several of his most sen- chosen not to destroy those helicopters looks at his options much more scepti- courts which turned the whole country both went on for years, and thus offered ior advisers, including Secretary of State with air strikes, or to equip rebels with cally than advocates of action, including into a sort of truth and reconciliation outsiders innumerable opportunities to Hillary Clinton and CIA Director David the capacity to shoot them down. those in the White House -- both because commission. intervene. Petraeus, proposed a much more serious And yet this is the president who has he is fully aware of the kinks and weak Kagame has earned the right to con- President Bill Clinton desperately effort to arm Syria’s moderate rebels. established an Atrocities Prevention spots of every plan, and because he fears tinue drawing attention to his role in pre- did not want to intervene in Bosnia. Obama declined to act, just as Bill Clinton Board and who has surrounded himself the costs of failure. He will act only when venting reciprocal massacres, as he did He feared the political costs of a failed did until the killings in Srebrenica finally with leading advocates of the responsibil- the probability of success is very high. in a recent interview in Foreign Affairs. intervention in the aftermath of the forced his hand. Obama, too, has hoped ity to protect, including Susan Rice and The price of failure will remain pro- The Rwandan atrocities were bigger and “Black Hawk Down” fiasco in Somalia for a negotiated solution which has never Samantha Power. Obama did, of course, hibitively high so long as voters feel little far more intensely personal than those in in 1993. And he had convinced himself had a ghost of a chance of succeeding agree, if reluctantly, to join the Nato coa- urgency about stopping atrocities abroad. the Balkans; but Rwandans have moved that Balkan blood feuds were immemorial without the threat of force. lition assembled to prevent the expected If, on the other hand, broad publics, and past them much more effectively than and incurable, and thus that any deeper We can’t know for sure what’s going mass killings in Libya were Muammar not just newspaper columnists and politi- Bosnians have. No doubt that has a good American engagement was likely to fail. on inside the president’s head. What Gaddafi to have taken Benghazi in 2011. cal opponents, clamour for some kind of deal to do with the dominant position Clinton worked to bring about a negoti- we do know is that he delayed acting as Yet Syria has proved too hard, as Bosnia intervention, the president’s political cal- Tutsis now enjoy in Rwanda, and the ated solution, hoping all the while that long as he could after his own Srebrenica did for Clinton until Srebrenica. culus will change. But no leader can wait enforced meekness of Hutus; but it would Europe would act. Unwilling to make moment -- the chemical attacks which What, then, is the legacy of Rwanda? for public opinion on so agonising an issue not have been possible without an ethos a credible threat of force, the adminis- killed 1,200 Syrians and thus crossed First, that reconciliation is possible even to change by itself. We need a president of reconciliation. tration “applied a combination of half- his “red line” -- and then seized on a after the most horrific violence. Second, brave enough to explain to Americans This is an essential part of the legacy measures and bluster that didn’t work,” Russian offer to remove the regime’s that the world has now developed mecha- why it is profoundly in their own interest, of the genocide in Rwanda. What about as former secretary of state Madeleine chemical weapons rather than launch nisms, and diplomatic reflexes, that may as well as humanity’s, to act in such dire the international legacy? Asked whether Albright writes in her memoirs. air strikes. Obama is convinced that a be deployed to prevent violence from settings. WP-BLOOMBERG

It’s not Russia that is destabilising Ukraine Is death penalty starting to The west has been needlessly whipping up tension – if we don’t co-operate soon, make global comeback? chaos may take hold. BY JOSHUA KEATING BY SERGEI LAVROV aggravating internal differences. n Indian court last week sentenced three men to death for Ukraine’s realities notwithstand- the horrific gang rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai last he profound and ing, massive support was provided year. They are the first to be sentenced under India’s tough pervasive crisis in to political movements promot- Anew anti-rape law. The sentence hammers home something Ukraine is a matter ing western influence, and it that’s been obvious for some time now: After appearing to be on the of grave concern for was done in direct breach of the verge of abolishing the death penalty entirely, India has now firmly Russia. We under- Ukrainian constitution. This is rejoined the ranks of the world’s executioners. It’s one of a number of Tstand perfectly well the position what happened in 2004, when countries — including some of the world’s largest democracies — that of a country which became inde- President Viktor Yushchenko won have recently re-embraced capital punishment. pendent just over 20 years ago an unconstitutional third round A 1983 Indian Supreme Court decision allows for capital punish- and still faces complex tasks in of elections introduced under EU ment in only the “rarest of the rare” cases, and from 2004 to 2011 the constructing a sovereign state. pressure. This time round, power country didn’t carry out any executions at all. From 1995 to 2012, it Among them is the search for in Kiev was seized undemocrati- carried out only three. Then in 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the last surviving a balance of interests among its cally, through violent street pro- A rally for a secession referendum in Lenin Square, Donetsk, Ukraine gunman of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, was hanged in secret in various regions, the peoples of tests conducted with the direct what appeared to be an unusually swift and haphazard execution. The which have different historical participation of ministers and by those who staged the seces- ultra-nationalist groups. Kashmiri militant Afzal Guru was hanged under similar circumstances and cultural roots, speak differ- other officials from the US and sion of Kosovo from Serbia and We are not imposing anything last year. Seventy-two people in total were sentenced to die in India last ent languages and have different EU countries. of Mayotte from the Comoros to on anyone, we just see that if it is year, including four of the men involved in the gang rape and murder perspectives on their past and Assertions that Russia has question the free will of Crimeans not done, Ukraine will continue of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi in 2012 — a case that shocked present, and their country’s future undermined efforts to strengthen cannot be viewed as anything but to spiral into crisis with unpre- the country and prompted the drafting of laws aimed at speeding up place in the world. partnerships on the European a flagrant display of double stand- dictable consequences. We stand the prosecution of rapists. Given these circumstances, the continent do not correspond to ards. No less troubling is the pre- ready to join international efforts India’s not the only country heading in this direction. Amnesty role of external forces should have the facts. On the contrary, our tence of not noticing that the main aimed at achieving these goals. International’s 2013 death penalty report noted that executions were been to help Ukrainians protect country has steadily promoted danger for the future of Ukraine is We support the appeal by foreign up 15 percent last year — and that’s not even counting China, where the foundations of civil peace a system of equal and indivisible the spread of chaos by extremists ministers of Germany, France the number of executions is a state secret. Just three countries — Iran, and sustainable development, security in the Euro-Atlantic area. and neo-Nazis. and Poland to implement the 21 Iraq, and Saudi Arabia — accounted for 80 percent of executions, but which are still fragile. Russia has We proposed signing a treaty to Russia is doing all it can to February agreement. Their pro- to my mind, the most interesting recent trend has been the countries done more than any other coun- that effect, and advocated the cre- promote early stabilisation in posal – to hold Russia-EU talks that, like India, have been bucking the general global movement away try to support the independent ation of a common economic and Ukraine. We are firmly convinced with the participation of Ukraine from the death penalty. n 2012 Japan carried out its first executions Ukrainian state, including for human space from the Atlantic that this can be achieved through, and other Eastern Partnership since 2010. Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, four rounds of “secret many years subsidising its econ- to the Pacific which would also be among other steps: real consti- states about the consequences of executions” have taken place. omy through low energy prices. open to post-Soviet countries. tutional reform, which would EU association agreements – cor- Nigeria carried out its first executions in seven years last year Last November, at the outset of In the meantime, western ensure the legitimate rights of all responds to our position. and Indonesia its first in five years. Vietnam resumed them after an the current crisis, we supported states, despite their repeated Ukrainian regions and respond The world of today is not a jun- 18-month pause with the execution of seven people by lethal injection. Kiev’s wish for urgent consulta- assurances to the contrary, have to demands from its south-east- ior school where teachers assign It’s true that in terms of number of countries, the world is moving tions between Ukraine, Russia carried out successive waves of ern region to make Russian the punishments at will. Belligerent away from the death penalty. According to Amnesty’s numbers, 37 and the EU to discuss harmo- Nato enlargement, moved the state’s second official language; statements such as those heard at countries had the death penalty in 1994, compared with 22 today. In nising the integration process. alliance’s military infrastructure firm guarantees on Ukraine’s the Nato foreign ministers meet- Europe and Latin America, the practice has essentially been entirely Brussels flatly rejected it. This eastward and begun to implement non-aligned status enshrined in ing in Brussels on 1 April do not banished and an increasing number of African countries are review- stand reflected the unproductive antimissile defence plans. The EU’s its laws, thus ensuring its role as match demands for a de-escala- ing their laws. On the other hand, with the exception of Brazil, where and dangerous line the EU and US Eastern Partnership programme a connecting link in an indivisible tion. De-escalation should begin it’s banned, and Russia, where it’s legal but abolished in practice, the have been taking for a long time. is designed to bind the so-called European security architecture; with rhetoric. It is time to stop the world’s 10 biggest countries are all death penalty states. With India, They have been trying to compel focus states tightly to itself, shut- and urgent measures to halt activ- groundless whipping-up of ten- Japan and Indonesia rejoining the US, the world’s largest democracies Ukraine to make a painful choice ting down the possibility of co- ity by illegal armed formations sion, and to return to serious com- are death penalty countries and the practice has heavy popular support between east and west, further operation with Russia. Attempts of the Right Sector and other mon work. THE GUARDIAN in all of them. WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Syria facing UN envoy pick drought: UN

GENEVA: The UN’s food aid agency warned yesterday that is ‘not viable’, Syria was facing a drought that could put millions of people’s lives at risk, compounding the impact of years of war. “WFP is concerned about the US tells Iran impact of a looming drought hit- ting the northwest of the coun- try — mainly Aleppo, Idlib, and Tehran defends appointment Hama — with rainfall less than half of the long-term average and WASHINGTON: The United nomination would be “extremely potentially major impacts on the States said yesterday that it troubling”. next cereal harvest,” said World had told Iran the selection of a Aboutalebi has insisted he was Food Programme spokeswoman UN ambassador who is allegedly not part of the hostage-taking Elisabeth Byrs. “This could put linked to the 1979 American in November 1979, when stu- the lives of millions at risk if the embassy hostage crisis was “not dents who had overthrown the drought continues,” she said. viable”. pro-Western shah seized the US Byrs said there were huge con- The disclosure from the White embassy, but that he later joined cerns about the drought’s impact House came a day after the US the student group. on Syrian agriculture. The WFP Senate passed a resolution that He has said that he worked as is currently able to get aid to 4.5 would deny the diplomat, Hamid a translator when the students, million people in Syria out of Aboutalebi, a US visa. soon after the hostage taking, the 6.5 million it estimates need “The US government has released 13 women and African help. Byrs said it was not clear informed the government of Iran Americans to highlight what how many more people would end that this potential selection is not they said was Islamic respect for People stand near damaged buildings in the Al Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo yesterday. up counting on food aid supplies viable,” White House spokesman women and poor US treatment of because of the drought. AFP Jay Carney said. minorities. The clash over the ambassado- The remaining 52 diplomats rial nomination threatens to com- spent a total of 444 days in cap- Syria govt abuses far outweigh rebels’: Pillay plicate a key moment in the easing tivity, enraging the United States of relations between Washington and poisoning relations between and Tehran as both sides strive Washington and Tehran for a UNITED NATIONS: Human forces of the government far out- “(Pillay) has become lunatic in Pinheiro’s investigators said they to conclude a deal on the Islamic generation. rights violations by Syrian weigh the violations (by rebels),” her action and is behaving irre- have expanded their list of sus- Republic’s nuclear programme. As the host government, the government forces “far out- Pillay told reporters. “It’s the gov- sponsibly,” Ja’afari told report- pected war criminals from both Iran defended its appointment United States generally is obliged weigh” those by armed opposi- ernment that is mostly responsi- ers. “She’s manipulating, bluffing sides and the evidence was solid of Aboutalebi. “Iran has selected a to issue visas to diplomats who tion groups, UN human rights ble for the violations and all these the truth and she is biased. She enough to prepare an indictment. veteran diplomat with a clear and serve at the United Nations, chief Navi Pillay said yesterday, perpetrators should be identified is using her position in favour of Syria’s civil war has killed more successful (diplomatic) record although there have been excep- prompting the Syrian UN envoy and can if there’s a referral to the making further pressure on the than 150,000 people, a third of as its ambassador to the United tions. The Senate unanimously to accuse her of acting like an International Criminal Court.” Syrian government. “She doesn’t them civilians, and caused mil- Nations,” foreign ministry spokes- passed a resolution that would irresponsible “lunatic.” “There has to be justice and have any credible information lions to flee. woman Marzieh Afkham said. deny Aboutalebi an entry visa. Pillay briefed the 15-member accountability and the situation in with regard to what’s going on UN Secretary-General Ban “Iran considers him to be suitable The House of Representatives is UN Security Council on the human Syria should not be allowed to slip in Syria,” he said after the coun- Ki-moon demanded that the for this job.” also expected to adopt the bill. rights situations in Syria, Central through the cracks,” she said after cil briefing. warring parties in Syria stop vio- “Aboutalebi’s positive record Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican African Republic, South Sudan, briefing the Security Council. The Pillay told the Security Council lence against civilians, including during his diplomatic career and from Texas and vociferous critic Mali and Libya. She again called council has so far been unable to that her office was due to issue a indiscriminate shelling and air his professional capabilities as a of Iran, introduced the bill backed for the situation in Syria, which refer Syria to the International report later this week document- attacks on civilian areas. He also career diplomat speak for itself,” by fellow lawmakers that blocks has been ravaged by a three-year Criminal Court because Russia is ing torture by both government expressed concern that groups Afkham said. US visas for “known terrorists” to civil war, to be referred to the opposed to the move, diplomats forces and opposition groups. listed as terrorist organisations Seen as close to the reformists represent their countries at the International Criminal Court. say. Russia, supported by China, She recounted to the council by the UN Security Council con- and an ally of President Hassan United Nations. Pillay said monitors in her has shielded ally Syria from coun- the case of a 26-year-old woman tinue to “brutalise” civilians. Rowhani, Aboutalebi is currently The US and Iran still do not office and investigators with the cil action during the civil war. who was tortured by govern- “There is a belief by too many the director-general of the presi- have diplomatic relations, but UN commission of inquiry in Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar ment forces. The woman was in Syria and beyond that this con- dency’s political affairs bureau. He Rowhani and US President Syria, led by Paulo Pinheiro, had Ja’afari dismissed Pillay’s accu- hung against a wall for three flict can be won militarily. More has previously served as ambas- Barack Obama have taken steps consistently blamed both parties sations against Syrian govern- days, some of her teeth were violence will only bring more suf- sador to the European Union, to ease tensions through a tenta- to the Syrian conflict for human ment forces as false and lacking pulled out and she was sexually fering and instability to Syria and Belgium, Italy and Australia. tive agreement to freeze parts of rights violations “but you cannot credibility because Pillay and UN assaulted, Pillay said. sow chaos in the region,” Ban said The State Department has pre- Iran’s nuclear programme. compare the two”. investigators had not visited Syria In a report to the UN Human in a statement late on Monday. viously warned that Aboutalebi’s AFP “Clearly the actions of the during the conflict. Rights Council last month, REUTERS

US warns on Eight wounded as New anti-Bouteflika group Iran ‘break-out’ Israeli forces clash with settlers livens up Algeria campaign capability as JERUSALEM: Clashes between ALGIERS: A protest group, interview with the openDemoc- Jewish settlers and Israeli police founded just two months ago racy website. She said the same N-talks start wounded eight people in the when ailing Algerian President politicians had “violated” the West Bank overnight prompt- Abdelaziz Bouteflika controver- constitution by controversially VIENNA: The United States ing the defence minister to warn sially decided to seek re-election, amending it to allow Bouteflika to said yesterday that Iran has the on yesterday that such violence has livened up a lacklustre cam- seek and win a third term in 2009. ability to produce fissile material would not be tolerated. paign from which the incum- “Both physically and mentally, for a nuclear bomb in two months, “Police came to help soldiers bent has been entirely absent. he is in no condition to govern. So, if it so decided, as Tehran and to demolish five illegal construc- Activists of the Barakat we decided with activist friends to six world powers swung into a tions near Yitzhar,” a settlement (Enough) movement have made go out into the street and to say new round of talks in Vienna on in the northern West Bank, police their mark by daring to argue ‘no’.” Barakat has branches in 20 resolving their atomic dispute. spokeswoman Luba Samri said. publicly that the 77-year-old of Algeria’s 48 provinces and has Secretary of State John Kerry’s “After they’d finished, several Bouteflika, who is too sick to take organised eight demonstrations comments in Washington high- dozen settlers began throwing to the campaign trail himself, is since March 1, Bouraoui says. lighted Western concerns about stones, injuring six border police- unfit to govern. The movement is campaigning Iran’s nuclear intentions and the men,” she said. Police responded Around 40 of them were briefly for a boycott of the April 17 elec- wide divisions between the two by using “riot dispersal means,” detained by the security forces tion, which it describes as a “mas- sides that could still foil a deal. and two settlers were injured dur- when they did so at a rally in cen- querade” and “another affront to Iran says its nuclear programme ing the clashes, Samri said. tral Algiers last month. the Algerian people”. is entirely peaceful. Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon Cofounder Amina Bouraoui Made up mostly of activists The over-arching goal of the warned that any repetition of the says the movement was born out in their 20s and 30s, the move- powers — Britain, France, China, violence against security person- of a desire to establish a genuine ment has so far failed to draw Russia, Germany and the United nel would be dealt with severely. democracy in Algeria, and frus- large crowds to its rallies, and is States — in the talks is to per- “We shall not allow them to raise tration at an “archaic” system unlikely to prevent the expected suade Iran to scale back its pro- a hand against the army, the bor- that has shown “contempt for re-election of the incumbent. gramme to the point that it would der police (or) the police,” Yaalon’s the people.” But it remains a surprise take it much longer, perhaps as office quoted him as saying. “This year, we saw politicians factor and an irritant for the much as a year, to produce fuel for Israeli soldiers watch Palestinian farmers as they plant olive trees during a “We shall deal with this violent calling on the president to seek president’s campaign team, who a bomb if it chose to do so. protest against what they say is land confiscation for Jewish settlements activity with the utmost severity.” a fourth term, even though he is have responded with allegations “I think it’s public knowledge in the Jordan Valley, a hotly contested part of the occupied West Bank, Yitzhar has a reputation for being very sick and has been in power that the new group is a tool of today that we’re operating with a yesterday. home to hardline activists. for 15 years,” said Bouraoui, a foreign powers. time period for a so-called ‘break- AFP 38-year-old gynaecologist, in an AFP out’ of about two months. That’s been in the public domain,” Kerry testified at a Senate hearing. Iran’s “break-out” time is defined as how long it would take it to pro- duce fissile material for one nuclear weapon, if it decided to build such Homes torched, displaced cry for aid in Darfur weapons of mass destruction. To lengthen this potential ZAM ZAM, SUDAN: First their homes refuge to obtain a rare first-hand account Union-UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur Government-backed Janjaweed mili- timeline, the powers want Iran were torched, and now the people them- of their condition. “Our money is about to (UNAMID), told the UN Security Council tia were deployed after rebels began an to cut back the number of cen- selves are burning, huddled under crude run out and we don’t know what to do,” last week. uprising. The conflict led to arrest war- trifuges it operates refine ura- shelters to escape Sudan’s fierce desert Ishaq said, calling for food and other assist- He cited several reasons, in particular the rants for Bashir and his Defence Minister nium and the overall amount of sun after fleeing Darfur’s worst violence ance. “We need shelter as soon as possible actions of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein, both of enriched uranium it produces, as in a decade. because it is very hot.” counter-insurgency unit that has “perpe- whom are wanted by the International well as to limit its research into “We got here three weeks ago from north Their home, Mellit, is about 75 kilome- trated attacks on communities”. Rebel Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. new technologies and submit to of Mellit town but until now we haven’t got tres north of Zam Zam, Darfur’s largest offensives, criminal activity and inter-com- “What we saw was terrible, with troops invasive inspections by the United any aid,” said Mohammedin Ishaq, 60, an camp for many of the two million people munal fighting over access to resources have looting and burning everything,” said Omer Nations’ nuclear watchdog. elder among the more than 8,000 people who had already fled violence in the region’s also increased, said Chambas. Adam, 27, who fled more than 120 kilome- The Islamic Republic says its the UN says have reached Zam Zam camp, 11-year conflict. Other newly displaced said The chief assistant to President Omar tres to Zam Zam from El Taweisha in the nuclear fuel-making activity is about 12km southwest of El Fasher, the they arrived at Zam Zam from elsewhere in Hassan Al Bashir, Ibrahim Ghandour, has state’s southeast corner. He declined to say only for peaceful purposes such capital of North Darfur state. the state following the destruction of their dismissed as “nonsense” suggestions that which forces were responsible. as electricity generation, and it Ishaq spoke after calming his angry homes by unidentified attackers. the RSF were behind abuses. The latest “Most people here are women and chil- wants the West to lift crippling cohorts. They initially ordered away an An “alarming escalation of violence” in unrest and a soaring number of displaced dren. We want the government or the UN economic sanctions as part of any AFP reporter who, despite tight govern- Darfur this year has led to the uprooting have evoked comparisons with the early agencies to bring us shelters and water final accord with the powers. ment restrictions on the movement of jour- of more than 200,000 people, Mohamed stages of the Darfur war, which shocked pumps, immediately.” REUTERS nalists in Darfur, reached their parched Ibn Chambas, who heads the African the world more than a decade ago. AFP WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

British soldier’s Queen greets killer appeals life sentence LONDON: A British man sen- Irish president tenced to life in jail without parole for butchering a soldier to death in a London street has appealed against his con- on historic visit viction, the Judicial Office said yesterday. Michael Adebolajo, 29, a self- declared “soldier of Allah”, is Higgins addresses parliament serving a whole life term for murdering Lee Rigby in broad LONDON: President Michael and support those who need to daylight outside his barracks in Higgins became the first Irish complete the journey of making May 2013. head of state yesterday to make peace permanent and construc- He and Michael Adebowale, 22, a state visit to Britain, crowning tive, enduring.” were found guilty in December of a big improvement in historically Despite being at peace, ploughing into the soldier with a fraught relations between Dublin Northern Ireland remains deeply car before attacking him with and its former colonial master. divided and still sees sporadic out- knives in Woolwich, southeast Clashes over British-ruled breaks of violence. London. Northern Ireland saw more Before leaving Ireland, Higgins Sentencing the pair in than 3,600 killed from the 1960s said the challenge was not to February, judge Nigel Sweeney onward until a 1998 peace deal “wipe the slate clean” of all the ruled that Adebolajo, who has two largely ended the conflict between distrust and difficulties of the children and four stepchildren, Catholic groups wanting the prov- past, but to look to the future. was the plot leader and had “no ince to become part of the Irish “We are at a very interesting real prospect of rehabilitation”. republic and Protestant groups point in history, when we have, He ordered him to join a select determined to keep it within the following Her Majesty’s visit group of 53 people serving whole United Kingdom. to Ireland, such good relations life terms in England and Wales, Addressing both houses of between our people,” the presi- including some of the country’s Britain’s parliament yestersday, dent said. Irish President Michael D Higgins (centre right), his wife Sabina (left), Queen Elizabeth II (centre left) and Prince most notorious killers. a privilege only accorded to a few “My hope for the visit, at the Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (right) inspect the Guard during a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Adebowale’s younger age, foreign leaders including Nelson end of it all, is that people will, west of London, yesterday. mental health problems and Mandela and Barack Obama, in ever more numbers, come to “lesser role” meant he escaped Higgins described that 1998 share in experiencing the history, Higgins, who said ties between Republican Army (IRA) guerrilla Higgins, whose office is largely the whole life term, and was agreement as a key milestone but the present circumstances and Ireland and Britain were now chief Martin McGuinness was ceremonial, arrived for lunch at instead given life with a mini- said there was more to be done. culture.” He added: “The challenge “strong and resolute”, is expected to join Higgins at many events, Windsor Castle with the 87-year- mum of 45 years. “Our two countries can take is to hand to a future generation to discuss Northern Ireland dur- including a banquet to be hosted old queen in a horse-drawn carriage Prisoners given whole life terms immense pride in the progress of all of the prospects of the future. ing a meeting with British Prime by the queen at Windsor Castle as a guard of honour played the cannot be released except at the the cause of peace in Northern You are not inviting them to an Minister David Cameron today. outside London yesterday. British and Irish national anthems. discretion of the justice secretary Ireland. But of course there is still amnesia about any deep dispute.” His trip follows a historic visit McGuinness, now deputy first His four-day visit will include or on compassionate grounds. a road to be travelled — the road On Monday, a former British by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth to minister of Northern Ireland, events to highlight the deep economic, The European Court of Human of a lasting and creative recon- government minister said an the Irish republic in 2011, the rejected invitations to attend political and cultural ties between Rights ruled in July last year that ciliation,” Higgins said during his amnesty should be offered to all first by a British monarch since events during the queen’s 2011 visit the two countries. His trip will also the absence of any hope of release speech to lawmakers in parlia- those involved in the 30 years of Dublin won its independence from but shook her hand in Belfast in take in Oxford, Shakespeare’s birth- violated prisoners’ human rights, ment’s ornate Royal Gallery. violence in Northern Ireland in London in 1921. 2012 in a milestone which helped place of Stratford-on-Avon and the calling the sentences “inhuman “Our two governments have a order to help the province move In a sign of how far relations draw a line under the conflict. city of Coventry. and degrading”. shared responsibility to encourage on from its past. have progressed, former Irish Earlier yesterday, 72-year-old AGENCIES AFP

Gitmo panel US accuses Russian agents of stirring Ukraine unrest weighs transfer WASHINGTON/LUHANSK, in the largely Russian-speaking the catalyst behind the chaos Western accusations that Moscow ago, has been in turmoil since of Qaeda fighter Ukraine: US Secretary of State east yesterday, although police of the last 24 hours,” he said in was destabilising Ukraine, saying late last year when Yanukovich John Kerry accused Russian ended a third occupation in a Washington, and this “could the situation could improve only if rejected closer relations with the ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: agents and special forces yes- lightning night-time operation. potentially be a contrived pretext Kiev took into account the inter- European Union and tilted the A suspected Al Qaeda fighter terday of stirring separatist The Ukraine government says for military intervention just as ests of Russian-speaking regions. country back towards Russia. held at Guantanamo Bay U S unrest in eastern Ukraine, say- the occupations that began on we saw in Crimea”. Shots were fired, a grenade That provoked mass protests in military prison could return to ing Moscow could be trying to Sunday are part of a Russian-led Moscow annexed the Black thrown and 70 people detained as which more than 100 people were extremism if freed, a Pentagon prepare for military action as it plan to dismember the country, and Sea peninsula last month after a Ukrainian officers ended the occu- killed by police and which drove assessment said at a parole-style had in Crimea. Kerry said he feared Moscow might referendum staged when Russian pation in the city of Kharkiv dur- Yanukovich from office, leading to hearing yesterday, but the man’s Armed pro-Moscow protesters try to repeat its Crimean operation. troops were already in control. ing an 18 minute “anti-terrorism” Kiev’s loss of control in Crimea. defenders contended he was no were still occupying Ukrainian “It is clear that Russian spe- Earlier, Russian Foreign action, the interior ministry said. In Kiev, Interior Minister Arsen threat to the United States. government buildings in two cities cial forces and agents have been Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed But elsewhere in Ukraine’s Avakov partly pinned responsi- Ghaleb Nassar Al Bihani, a eastern industrial heartland, bility for the Kharkiv occupation 34- or 35-year-old Yemeni, is activists armed with Kalashnikov on Russian President Vladimir suspected of having fought in rifles and protected by barbed Putin. “All this was inspired and Afghanistan for the Al Qaeda wire barricades vowed there was financed by the Putin-Yanukovich extremist group, according to a no going back on their demand - a group,” he said. US Defense Department prisoner vote on returning to Moscow rule. An aide said police went in profile. The US military is unsure In the city of Luhansk, a man when the protesters failed to of his exact age. dressed in camouflage told a give themselves up and surrender A Defense Department profile crowd outside an occupied state their arms. Officers did not open read at the televised hearing of security building: “We want a ref- fire, despite shooting and the gre- the Periodic Review Board con- erendum on the status of Luhansk nade attack from the other side, tended that one of Al Bihani’s and we want Russian returned as he said. One police officer was brothers was a member of Al an official language.” badly wounded and some others Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula The Kremlin’s standoff with less seriously hurt. and six brothers had fought in the West has knocked inves- In Luhansk, a city of around Afghanistan. tors’ confidence in the Russian 450,000, protesters have blocked His family has close ties to high- economy, and the International streets leading to the state secu- ranking Al Qaeda members “and Monetary Fund yesterday cut its rity building with barbed wire, almost certainly would induce forecast of growth this year to 1.3 tyres, crates, metal police barri- YM-128 to reengage in extremist percent, less than half the 3 per- ers and sandbags. activities if he were repatriated to cent it had originally projected. Andrei, who said he had Yemen,” the profile said, using Al Britain expressed fears that stormed the building on Sunday Bihani’s inmate number. Russia wanted to disrupt the but would not give his family run-up to presidential elections name, said the protesters had 200- German cabinet next month in Ukraine, which 300 Kalashnikovs and some stun has been ruled by an interim gov- grenades, but there had been no nod for dual ernment since the overthrow of shooting so far. “Once you’ve taken Moscow-backed president Viktor up arms, there’s no turning back. citizenship Yanukovich in February. We will stay until the authorities Ukraine, which was controlled agree to hold a referendum on the BERLIN: The German govern- A pro-Russian militant holding a bat guards a barricade in front of the Donetsk regional administration building by Moscow until the Soviet Union status of Luhansk,” he said. ment yesterday signed off on a yesterday. collapsed more than two decades REUTERS draft law that will allow young Germans of foreign origin to have dual citizenship, a move that relaxes some of Europe’s strictest nationality laws and will benefit the large Turkish Venezuela opposition to join talks with govt Moscow claims Chechen community. Current rules oblige children of immigrants from most non-EU CARACAS: Venezuela’s oppo- Ramon Guillermo Aveledo, a on Monday he was ready to meet leader Umarov ‘neutralised’ countries to choose at the age of 23 sition said it agreed to attend top opposition official, said the opposition leaders and that he had between German citizenship or that exploratory talks yesterday with Unasur ministers told them the been suggesting talks in public or MOSCOW: Russia’s secu- quoted him on its website without of their parents’ country of origin. President Nicolas Maduro’s government was open to opposi- in private for weeks. But he said rity service confirmed yester- giving any further details. The dual passport issue has government in a bid to end the tion demands, including the pres- his foes rejected the offers. day that Chechen rebel leader The Islamist leader was long rankled among the roughly country’s worst political unrest ence of a “good faith” mediator at Ricardo Patino, Ecuador’s Doku Umarov, whose Caucasus declared a martyr on militant three million people of Turkish for a decade. any substantive discussions. Foreign Minister, welcomed the Emirate group claimed respon- websites last month, but the origin living in Germany, just Clashes between security forces “We accept the foreign ministers’ decision to hold a preparatory sibility for a string of deadly Russian authorities did not give under half of whom have taken and pro-government militants on proposal to hold an exploratory, meeting and said he hoped it attacks, had been “neutralised” confirmation at the time although German citizenship. one side and hooded opposition preparatory meeting to agree the would result in an agreement to after insurgents announced his they are usually keen to rapidly The draft law approved by the demonstrators blocking streets on conditions, date and time for public hold weightier talks. death last month. boast of “liquidating” insurgents government allows young people the other have killed at least 39 dialogue,” Aveledo told reporters. Venezuelan media said Maduro The director of the FSB secu- in the turbulent North Caucasus. to opt for two passports if, at the people since mid-February. As a condition for talks, the would attend the discussions, rity service, Alexander Bortnikov, Interfax news agency on age of 21, they can prove they have Foreign ministers from the opposition has demanded they due to take place at the Foreign said that “the activities of the Tuesday quoted a source familiar lived in Germany for at least eight regional Union of South American be broadcast live. It also wants Ministry. head of the Caucasus Emirate with the situation as saying that years, gone to school in the country Nations (Unasur) are in the capi- freedom for what it calls “politi- Protesters are calling for terrorist organisation, Umarov, Umarov is believed to have died for six years, gained school-leaving tal Caracas, shuttling between cal prisoners” arrested since the Maduro to resign and complain have been neutralised”. from a serious injury he received qualifications here or completed meetings with the administra- start of the unrest, and the dis- about a litany of problems from Bortnikov was speaking at a during a security operation in vocational training in Germany. tion and opposition and seeking banding of armed pro-government rampant crime to food shortages. meeting of the National Anti- 2011. AGENCIES to persuade both sides to talk. militant groups. Maduro said late REUTERS Terrorism Committee, which AFP WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Philippine top court approves birth control law Supreme Court ruling on controversial RH Bill hailed

MANILA: Millions of poor Catholics, an inheritance of three access to reproductive health people in the Philippines will centuries of Spanish colonial rule care,” the United Nations said in have access to free contracep- that ended in the late 1800s. a statement welcoming the ruling. tives for the first time after the And while Pope Francis has It noted that the number of nation’s top court yesterday made comments calling for an women dying while giving birth approved a deeply controversial end to the Church’s “obsession” in the Philippines had remained birth control law. with divorce, gays, contraception high over the past two decades, The Supreme Court’s ruling and abortions, local Catholic lead- and the nation was expected to was hailed by supporters as a tri- ers have maintained a firm line miss a 2015 development target umph in the battle to ease crip- on such issues. The Philippines is to cut maternal deaths to 52 per pling poverty, empower women the only country where divorce 100,000 live births. and curtail a population explosion remains illegal, and abortions are Between 14 and 15 mothers die in the Southeast Asian nation of also outlawed. each day from complications dur- 100 million people. “This monumental decision ing childbirth in the Philippines, But the Catholic Church, which upholds the separation of church according to the British medical had led a bitter campaign for 15 and state and affirms the suprem- charity Merlin. years against efforts to introduce acy of government in secular A spokeswoman for Philippine any form of family planning laws, concerns like health and socio- President Benigno Aquino, who vowed to continue resisting what economic development,” legislator defied church threats of excom- it termed an “unjust” law. Edcel Lagman, the main author munication to shepherd the law “The RH Bill is not unconsti- of the law, said after the ruling. through parliament in 2012, said tutional,” Supreme Court spokes- Women’s rights groups and the government was ready quickly man Theodore Te told reporters as other supporters of the law said to start implementation. The gov- he announced the ruling, striking it would be a powerful tool in ernment had been poised to begin down more than a dozen petitions cutting the Philippines’ fertility implementing it last year, but the against the reproductive health law rate of 3.54, one of the highest in appeals to the Supreme Court led from church-backed groups. Asia that has contributed to the to a temporary restraining order. The legislation requires govern- nation’s brutal poverty. Nevertheless, the Church and Filipinos supporting the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) jubilate after the decision of the Supreme Court upholding ment health centres to supply free More than a quarter of the other opponents insisted they the constitutionality Law in Baguio City, north of Manila, yesterday. condoms and birth control pills, population live on the equiva- would continue campaigning as well as mandating that sex lent of 62 cents a day, accord- against the law, with some of the conciliatory tone that neverthe- said. “The Church can continue Polling over many years has education be taught in schools. It ing to the government, with petitioners flagging an appeal. less indicated the Church in the its mission even with such unjust also shown that most Catholic also requires that public health many million housed in horrific Decisions by the Supreme Court Philippines would continue cam- laws.” Church leaders have helped Filipinos have largely embraced workers receive family planning urban slums and unable to afford can be appealed, but the tribunal paigning against the law. lead two revolutions that toppled less conservative views on social training, while medical care after contraceptives. rarely reverses its own rulings. “We cannot see eye-to-eye with unpopular presidents in recent issues. A survey last month by an abortion will also be legalised. “The full and speedy implemen- Archbishop Socrates Villegas, our pro-RH (reproductive health) history. the respected Social Weather The issues are so controversial tation of the law will be critically head of the Catholic Bishops brethren on this divisive issue, However church-backed groups Stations polling group said 72 in the Philippines because nearly important in reducing maternal Conference of the Philippines, but we can work hand in hand have not attracted massive crowds percent of respondents were in 80 percent of the population are mortality and ensuring universal released a statement with a for the good of the country,” he to previous rallies against the law. favour of the law. AFP Hagel gets earful as China Indonesia Jet hunt: No further visit exposes tensions heads to pings detected polls today PERTH: No further pings later turned out to be unrelated BEIJING: Tensions between from what may be the black box to the missing aircraft. China and the United States recorders of a missing Malaysia But investigators are in a race were on full display yesterday as JAKARTA: Pop stars, actors Airlines jet have been detected against time as the batteries in Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and mechanics — these are just after a weekend of hopeful leads, the Boeing 777’s black box bea- faced questions in Beijing about some of the people hoping to as search teams “throw every- cons are already two days past America’s position in bitter ter- become MPs when the world’s thing” into finding the aircraft their expected 30-day battery ritorial disputes with regional third largest democracy heads to before the black box batteries life. Although some batteries US allies. the polls today in a vote that will are expected to die, investiga- can continue on for longer, it is Chinese Defence Minister heavily influence who becomes tors have said. unknown just how much longer Chang Wanquan, standing side- Indonesia’s next president. The hunt for flight MH370, this aircraft’s batteries might last. by-side with Hagel, called on the Opinion polls predict the oppo- which disappeared from radar “We need to continue ... for United States to restrain ally sition Indonesian Democratic screens shortly after takeoff from several days right up to when the Japan and chided another US ally, Party-Struggle (PDI-P) will dom- Kuala Lumpur one month ago, point at which there’s absolutely the Philippines. inate, increasing the likelihood has narrowed to about one-third no doubt that the pinger batter- Then, Hagel was sharply ques- that its hugely popular candidate of its original search size in an ies will have expired,” said Angus tioned by Chinese officers at the Joko Widodo, widely known as area of the southern Indian Ocean Houston, who heads the Australian National Defence University. One Jokowi, will win the presidency roughly 1,000 miles north-west of agency co-ordinating the search of them told Hagel he was con- in that election on July 9. Perth, where the supposed pings for MH370. “If we don’t get any cerned that the United States was Political parties — there are were picked up over the weekend further transmissions, we have a stirring up trouble in the East and only 12 running compared with 38 by an Australian vessel. reasonably large search area of the South China Sea because it feared in the last election in 2009 — must “We have at least several days bottom of the ocean to prosecute someday “China will be too big a secure at least 25 percent of the of intense actions ahead of us,” and that will take a long time. It’s challenge for the United States national vote or 20 percent of the Australia’s defence minister, very slow, painstaking work.” to cope with”. “Therefore you are 560 seats in parliament to be able David Johnston, said yesterday. The plane’s black boxes, which using such issues ... to make trou- to field a candidate in July’s ballot. “We’re throwing everything at record data from the cockpit, are ble to hamper (China’s) develop- Voting starts in Indonesia’s dis- this difficult, complex task.” hoped to explain why MH370 ment,” the officer said. tant eastern islands and finishes A US navy “pinger locator” on diverted away from its sched- Hagel assured the audience that two time zones away in the densely board Australia’s Ocean Shield uled route to Beijing, flying back America had no interest in trying populated west at 0600 GMT. detected two signals on Sunday over Malaysian territory and to “contain China” and that it took Already much of the debate has apparently consistent with black out towards the southern Indian no position in such disputes. But shifted to who might become the box locator pings, one for over Ocean. Malaysian authorities he also cautioned repeatedly dur- US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel (left) shakes hands with Chinese Minister vice-presidential candidate with two hours and the second for 13 believe the plane was deliber- ing the day that the United States of Defence Chang Wanquan at the end of a joint news conference at the Jokowi, currently governor of minutes. Investigators described ately diverted by someone famil- would stand by its allies. Chinese Defence Ministry headquarters in Beijing yesterday. Jakarta but with no experience the signals as the best lead in the iar with the aircraft but have not “We have mutual self defence on the national political stage. plane’s hunt to date, which has yet found any conclusive evidence treaties with each of those two Chang asked the United States ... we will not take the initiative to According to opinion polls, the been fraught with false leads and to prove foul play. countries,” Hagel said, referring to “keep (Japan) within bounds stir up troubles.” top parties behind PDI-P are sightings of possible debris that THE GUARDIAN to Japan and the Philippines. and not to be permissive and sup- Chang called the Philippines a Golkar, which has nominated “And we are fully committed to portive”, and railed against the nation “disguising itself as a vic- tycoon Aburizal Bakrie for presi- those treaty obligations.” government of Japanese Prime tim” and renewed its opposition to dent, and Gerindra, which hopes China claims 90 percent of the Minister Shinzo Abe, who Hagel Manila’s pursuit of international to field former general Prabowo 3.5 million sq km South China met in Tokyo last weekend. “It is arbitration in its territorial dis- Subianto. The ruling Democratic Sea, where the Philippines, along Japan who is being provocative pute. Hagel, who met the defense Party of outgoing president Susilo with other countries, stake claims. against China,” Chang told a news minister from the Philippines last Bambang Yudhoyono was hit by a China has a separate dispute with conference after talks with Hagel. week, said he raised US concerns series of graft cases last year, help- Japan in the East China Sea over “If you come to the conclusion in Beijing over the tension in the ing push its support to single digits. uninhabited islets that are admin- that China is going to resort to South and East China Sea. Yudhoyono is limited by the consti- istered by Japan. force against Japan, that is wrong REUTERS tution to two terms. REUTERS

Nepalese inducted into ‘Internet Hall of Fame’

HONG KONG: A Nepalese educator who dishes and homemade antennas in 2002. telephone lines. Now they even use his network transformed the way of life in more than He has since built a network connecting to access medical expertise via real-time video 150 remote Himalayan villages by connect- 175 villages to free wireless Internet services, connections to clinics in cities. Pun was among ing them to the Internet was inducted into and plans to continue providing the service to 24 Internet innovators inducted into the hall the Internet Hall of Fame. other remote villages in the country. “I want to of fame, which has previously honoured Tim Mahabir Pun spent more than a decade pro- try my best to breach the physical divide that Berners-Lee, inventor of the world-wide web, viding wireless Internet services to villages is there between rural areas and urban areas, and former US Vice President Al Gore. which had lacked even a telephone service, rich countries and poor countries,” Pun said. Other inductees for 2014 included Eric Bina opening up access to education, commerce and The 59-year-old said villagers had no con- from the US, who co-created the world’s first health care. “I am a strong advocate of a free cept of the Internet when he introduced the widely-used website browser, and Brazil’s Internet, I want the Internet to be available network, but were still very curious and eager Demi Getschko, a key player in connecting to people living under the poverty line,” Pun to use it. They now use it for communication, his country to the Internet. “They fearlessly said here, where the Internet Hall of Fame education and trade. “If they wanted to buy a forged into uncharted territory with innova- held its annual awards ceremony yesterday. buffalo, they could immediately find who was tive ideas, groundbreaking technologies and Pun was inspired by the Internet in the selling a buffalo.” Pun said. collaborative work to connect more people and Family members cry as they light candles on a cake to mark the 21st US, where he studied for university in the Villagers in the past had to walk for days to countries to the Internet,” Kathy Brown, the birthday of a passenger on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight early 1990s, and was able to connect his other locations to inquire about the availability chief executive officer of the Internet Society MH370, at the Lido Hotel in Beijing, yesterday. native village of Nangi using television of products they were seeking, due to a lack of which launched the hall of fame, said. AFP WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Reporter flown Over 3,000 violations to Germany after shooting

KABUL: The Canadian jour- in Afghan election nalist who was badly injured when her Associated Press colleague was shot dead by a policeman in Afghanistan 3 frontrunners in presidential poll file fraud complaints has been flown to Germany for further medical treat- KABUL: Afghan authorities means to lodge complaints at poll- the Taliban to stage high-profile ment, the news agency said have received more than 3,000 ing stations. attacks on the day. yesterday. reports of violations from last “As soon as we get them, Urban participation was unex- Kathy Gannon was shot weekend’s presidential election, it is clear the final number pectedly high, but it is unclear three times in the attack that exceeding the tally following a is going to increase,” said to what extent rural voters killed Pulitzer Prize-winning 2009 vote that was marred by Nader Mohseni, spokesman were deterred by the militant German photographer Anja widespread fraud. for the Independent Election group and what role state offi- Niedringhaus on the eve But just half the 3,103 com- Complaints Commission. cials, including the police, had in of Saturday’s presidential plaints registered so far will be “We cannot ignore the fact that encouraging civilians to back a elections. investigated, a complaints com- during the elections, there were particular candidate. “Kathy Gannon has been mission spokesman said, since the instances of fraud and electoral In Afghanistan’s second city of moved to Germany for further rest were reported by telephone violations.” Kandahar, for instance, residents medical evaluation. Funeral and lacked the required support- More than 2,000 complaints complained police forced them plans for Anja Niedringhaus ing evidence. were investigated during the 2009 to back a candidate supported have yet to be finalised,” Paul The three frontrunners have elections, which were tarnished by President Hamid Karzai’s Colford, director of media rela- complained about fraud in the by fraud that led to more than a brothers. tions for the Associated Press, April 5 vote meant to usher in million votes being scrapped. Karzai’s administration said it said in a statement. Afghanistan’s first democratic Complaints against election would investigate fraud at every Gannon, 60, suffered wounds transfer of power, as incumbent commission staff made up 772 level. to her shoulder and wrist in Hamid Karzai prepares to step of the 1,573 complaints backed “The ministry is committed the shooting in the eastern down after more than 12 years as by documents this time round, to prosecuting individuals at any province of Khost as she and head of state. with another 573 aimed at pro- level, whether he is a provincial Niedringhaus, 48, reported on Midnight on Monday was the vincial council candidates, while police chief, deputy minister or election workers delivering bal- deadline for reporting fraud presidential hopefuls faced 228 ordinary policeman,” said inte- lot papers. and any irregularities, but the complaints. rior ministry spokesman Sediq final figure is expected to rise Afghanistan held provincial Sediqqi. 32 militants as reports flow into Kabul along council elections the same day. There are also fears the Taliban with ballot boxes from around the World leaders have praised the may exploit easing security in the killed in raids country. April 5 vote as a success, because capital and elsewhere to ramp up Independent Election Commission workers compile results in Kabul KABUL: A final tally could take days to of the strong turnout of voters, attacks during the lengthy ballot yesterday. About seven million of the 12m eligible voters cast ballots At least 32 Taliban become available, since observers, estimated at 60 percent of the 12 counting process. despite Taliban threats to disrupt the poll. militants were killed and voters and other parties all had million eligible, and the failure of REUTERS eight others were injured during counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan. The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan issued a state- ment yesterday saying that the militants were killed or injured US panel approves Army ‘will preserve its dignity’ during coordinated operations in the past 24 hours, according to the Afghan. Malala scholarship ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s mil- Musharraf, who first seized said on a visit to a military base The statement further added itary will protect its dignity “at power as army chief in a 1999 in response to questions from sol- that the operations were jointly ISLAMABAD: A powerful The vote took place during con- all costs”, the army chief said on coup and later became president diers about recent criticism of the conducted by Afghan national congressional panel approved a sideration of the measure by the Monday in an apparent show of as well, faces the death penalty army, including, a military source police, Afghan national army proposal yesterday to increase House Foreign Affairs Committee. irritation over the treason trial if convicted. He has pleaded not said, one about the trial. and Afghan intelligence – the number of US scholarships It was approved by a voice vote. of former army chief and presi- guilty. “But it will also preserve its national directorate of security available to women in Pakistan. The legislation requires an dent Pervez Musharraf. The case against Musharraf own dignity and institutional (NDS) operatives. The proposed legislation, increase in the number of schol- Such talk from the army chief, highlights the competition for pride at all costs.” At least 11 Taliban mili- named after Malala Yousafzai, arships for women, and aims General Raheel Sharif, the most influence between Pakistan’s Sharif, speaking at a base in tants were also arrested dur- now goes for a vote by the full to award 50 percent of them to powerful figure in Pakistan, is three power centres: an increas- Tarbela, about 70km northwest ing the operations which were House of Representatives. females. likely to raise concern about ingly assertive judiciary, the fledg- of the capital, Islamabad, did not conducted in Kabul, Maidan “I proudly voted for the proposed The legislation is named after political intervention by the army, ling civilian government and the elaborate. Wardak, Logar, Kapisa, Ghazni, legislation,” said Congressman a Pakistani teen from the Swat which would set back hopes for powerful military, which has ruled The former president Kunar, Nuristan and Helmand Grace Meng, a New York Democrat Valley who was shot in the head the development of democracy Pakistan for more than half of its Musharraf was forced to step provinces, interior ministry who is also a cosponsor of the by the Taliban for opposing the and civilian rule. 67-year-history. down as president in 2008 after said. Malala Yousafzai Act. Taliban’s ban on education for Last month, a Pakistani court Musharraf’s indictment has street protests spearheaded by Taliban militants frequently The act seeks to expand the females. indicted Musharraf on five counts broken an unwritten rule that the judiciary and an election in use improvised explosive device number of college scholarships After her recovery, she of treason over his suspension of the top ranks of the military are which his political supporters (IED) to target Afghan and for economically disadvantaged became an activist for women’s the constitution and imposition untouchable. fared poorly against a pro-democ- coalition security forces. students from rural areas of education. of emergency rule in 2007, when “The Pakistan army looks at all racy party. AGENCIES Pakistan. INTERNEWS he was trying to extend his rule. institutions with respect,” Sharif REUTERS

Nine-month-old murder suspect taken into hiding LAHORE: Relatives of a nine- month-old boy charged with attempted murder in Pakistan have taken him into hiding, one said yesterday, in a case that has thrown a spotlight on Pakistan’s dysfunctional crimi- nal justice system. Baby Musa Khan appeared in court in the city of Lahore last week, charged with attempted murder along with his father and grandfather after a mob protest- ing against gas cuts and price increases stoned police and gas company workers trying to collect overdue bills. “Police are vindictive. Now they are trying to settle the issue on personal grounds, that’s why I sent my grandson to Faisalabad for protection,” the baby’s grand- father, Muhammad Yasin said. An official extinguishes fire after a bomb blast on a train at the Sibi station, some 160km south of its The baby is on bail and due to destination Quetta yesterday. appear at the next hearing on April 12 but Yasin said he was not sure if he would take him to court for the case. “There is immense pressure on me from various cor- Pakistan train bombing kills 14 ners,” he said. At his first appearance in court QUETTA: Fourteen pas- The bomb went off on the The separatists accuse the last week, Musa cried while his sengers were killed and about Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar government of stripping the fingerprints were taken by a court 50 wounded yesterday when Express in a carriage reserved province’s natural resources official. Later, the baby sucked on militants bombed a train in for men, in the town of Sibi, and leaving its people mired in a bottle of milk and tried to grab Pakistan’s Baluchistan prov- 120km southeast of the pro- poverty. journalists’ microphones as his ince, hospital sources and vincial capital of Quetta. They say government-backed grandfather spoke to the media. officials said. “Fire engulfed the (carriage) death squads routinely abduct, “He does not even know how The blast came a day after following the blast causing most torture and execute ethnic to pick up his milk bottle prop- Pakistani security forces said of the deaths,” said a rescue Baluch, accusations echoed by erly, how can he stone the police?” they had killed 30 separatist worker. human rights campaigners. Yasin asked journalists at the militants in one of the biggest Railways Minister Khawaja The security forces deny vio- court last Thursday. clashes in months in the gas- Saad Rafique confirmed the lating human rights. The baby was apparently rich province. death toll. Insurgents have also targeted charged because an assistant sub- The separatist United Baluch The low-level separatist civilians, especially Pakistanis inspector complained in a crime Army claimed responsibility, insurgency in Baluchistan is from other ethnic groups who report that Musa’s whole family saying in a text message, the one of the chronic security have settled in Baluchistan beaten him up and injured his head. bombing was retaliation for the problems undermining stabil- province. REUTERS raids by security forces. ity in nuclear-armed Pakistan. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Three security Facing rigid EC, Mamata agrees to transfers personnel Eight officials to be transferred as ‘constitutional obligation’; CM wants tainted poll official to quit among 5 killed KOLKATA: With the Election as a constitutional obligation. For on Monday too. refused to comply and continued is the gateway to the northeast in J&K gunfight Commission toughening its the time being we are accepting The poll panel had remained her defiance the second day, keep- and Nepal and here Maoists, stand, West Bengal Chief the removal of the officers but adamant on its decision on the ing up with her tirade against KLO (Kamtapur Liberation Minister Mamata Banerjee yes- once the polls are over, they will transfers and mandated the the panel during her addresses Organisation), ISI are active. SRINAGAR: Five peo- terday agreed to its direction to return to their original places,” Banerjee government to comply in Bankura and Purulia districts. Even central agencies recently ple — two guerrillas, two transfer eight officials as a “con- Banerjee told media persons in its order by today. “I cannot be knowingly made to held a meeting for that. If some- policemen and a soldier — stitutional obligation” but also Durgapur in Burdwan district. “The state government had do something which is unjust. If thing untoward happens then the were killed in a overnight demanded a top “tainted” poll She again accused Deputy sought clarification and reconsid- the transfer were genuine, there responsibility solely will rest on gunfight in Jammu and panel official quit. Election Commissioner Vinod eration on the orders regarding the was no problem but transferring the EC and those parties who are Kashmir’s Kupwara district Banerjee’s announcement came Zutshi of involvement in a scam. shuffling. After reconsidering we officers to allow Congress to win behind this,” she said. that finally ended yesterday, hours of the poll panel rejecting “There is a case against this man have iterated that the list that was is not acceptable,” she said during Observing that the integrity of a police official said. the state government’s plea to in Rajasthan involving a land issued on April 7 has to be com- one of her rallies yesterday. the transferred officers has not Three security men and a reconsider the directive to trans- scam. Even a non-bailable war- plied with by 10am Wednesday,” She later relented but said she been questioned, Banerjee accused woman were injured. fer eight officials, including five rant was issued against him but EC Director Dhirendra Ojha said will write to panel today express- the poll panel of working at the “Two militants have district police chiefs and a district he got it stayed by Supreme Court. over the phone. ing her disappointment and that Congress’ behest. been killed in the Zunrishi magistrate. “Why this person in charge Citing administrative concerns, the state government’s opinion was “If something untoward hap- (Chowkibal) gunfight that Terming the order “political of election process in Bengal? Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra ear- not sought before issuing the order. pens then the Congress, BJP and started Monday evening and vendetta”, she said the officers Why a tainted person like him is lier in the day asked the EC urg- She also warned that in case the CPM who are behind this ended yesterday afternoon,” a will be reinstated after the polls. allowed to function. We demand ing it reconsider its decision. of any untoward incident, the will have to give answers,” she senior police officer said. Both “We are not accepting it as the his immediate removal,” said Taking a tough stand against responsibility will be on the EC. asserted. were from the Lashkar-e- EC’s order... rather accepting it Banerjee who had attacked Zutshi the order, Banerjee Monday had “Bengal is very sensitive, it IANS Taiba (LeT) group. “One junior commissioned officer, and two police consta- bles have also been killed in Voting in Mizoram the operation,” he said. Three security men and a local woman were injured during the operation, he said, deferred to Friday adding the woman suffered a bullet injury in her leg and AIZAWL: The election to in November last year, vacated doctors said she is out of the lone Lok Sabha seat from the seat. danger. Mizoram has been deferred Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu A joint team of security to April 11 due to a three-day of the Congress would con- forces, including the army, the shutdown and poll boycott call test against UDF leader H special operations group of the by NGOs and students’ groups, Lalduhawma, who unsuccessfully state police and the Central an official said yesterday. contested the last assembly polls Reserve Police Force (CRPF) The polling was earlier sched- from the same constituency. on Monday surrounded a uled to be held today. Six voluntary organisations and house in Zunrishi village of “The Election Commission, students’ groups led by the Young Kupwara, 130km from here, considering the prevailing situ- Mizo Association (YMA) called Monday following intelligence ation in Mizoram, deferred the the 72-hour state-wide strike and reports that a group of guer- lone Lok Sabha polls in Mizoram urged people to boycott April 9 rillas was hiding in it. to Friday. The commission issued polling. this directive Monday night,” “We launched the agitation as E-visa for tourists Mizoram Chief Electoral officer the Election Commission ignored Aswani Kumar told IANS. our demand not to allow tribal from 180 countries He said: “In view of the refugees in Tripura to cast their fresh directives of the Election votes in relief camps through NEW DELHI: The gov- Commission, we are taking meas- postal ballot,” YMA spokesman J ernment will soon opera- ures accordingly to hold the poll Lalsailova told reporters. tionalise electronic travel April 11 instead of April 9.” Mizoram Chief Minister Lal authorization or e-Visa facil- Another Election Commission Thanhawla, who is also the state Electronic voting machines are being put in a car to take them to respective polling stations on the eve of the ity to inbound tourists from official said that the 72-hour Congress chief, in a letter to the election in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, yesterday. 180 countries. strike, which began yesterday Election Commission, earlier last According to Tourism in Mizoram, affected the move- month urged it not to take votes Secreatry Parvez Dewan, the ment of polling officials across the of the refugees through postal bal- After a slap, Kejriwal fears for life government will operation- state, bordering Myanmar and lots in the Tripura relief camps. alise the electronic travel Bangladesh. The chief minister and the vol- authorisation within a year. Normal life was affected in untary organisations have been NEW DELHI: AAP leader On April 4, Kejriwal was later said that there was no Dewan was speaking at Mizoram since Monday as six demanding the refugees be repat- and former Delhi chief minister punched in south Delhi by a teen- place for violence in a democratic the inauguration of the first voluntary organisations and stu- riated to their villages in Mizoram Arvind Kejriwal yesterday said ager who too pretended to gar- society. edition of Incredible India dent groups called for a three- and then allowed to cast their he faced a threat to life after land him. “This is the fifth attack on Travel Bazaar (IITB), organ- day shutdown and boycott of the votes in normal process. being slapped by a man while Yesterday’s assault took place me in a month... Those who are ised by Federation of Indian April 9 polling to protest postal Of the over 36,000 Reang tribal campaigning for his party here. when Kejriwal, who was Delhi’s attacking me are the victims of Chambers of Commerce and ballot facility to the tribal refu- refugees living in seven camps in “These attacks are scripted. chief minister for 49 days until the system. I have no ill feeling Industry (FICCI) in part- gees living in Tripura for the past Tripura since October 1997 after When they (attackers) are February 14, was campaigning for towards them. These attacks are nership of with the tourism 17 years. fleeing their villages in western arrested, they repeat the (same) AAP candidate Rakhi Birla. Delhi scripted. When they (attackers) ministry. “There was no untoward inci- Mizoram, 11,500 were on electoral script,” Kejriwal told the media goes to polls tomorrow. are arrested, they repeat the Dewan also said that dur- dent anywhere in the state so far,” rolls in Mizoram and 71 percent of after being attacked by an auto- A party member said that there (same) script.” ing the past year India has a Mizoram police spokesman said, them voted through postal ballot rickshaw driver who first gar- was a growing feeling among party Asked whey he was being tar- considerably relaxed its visa but admitted that normal life last week. landed the AAP leader. members that Kejriwal should geted, he said the emergence of regime and expanded the was severely affected across the “In view of a threat given by The attacker then gave a accept the security a former chief the Aam Aadmi Party had spoiled Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) scheme mountainous state. NGOs in Mizoram to obstruct whacking slap, stunning Kejriwal. minister is entitled to. the “setting” between various to include many countries. Government and private offices, counting of postal ballot papers in “Why are all the attacks tak- In a quick tweet, Kejriwal political parties. FICCI said that its mega shops, markets and other institu- Aizawl, the Election Commission ing place only on us?” Kejriwal asked: “Why am I being repeat- But he refused to accept secu- event has drawn 247 for- tions remained closed in capital has decided to count them in later asked. “There will be more edly attacked? Who (are) the rity normally available to senior eign tour operators as buy- city Aizawl and other parts of the Kanchanpur (north Tripura) May attacks, and we can also get masterminds? What do they politicians. “I don’t want security. ers of the Indian tourism northeastern state. Most vehicles, 16,” Kanchanpur Sub-Divisional killed.” want? What do they achieve?” As long as god wants me to live, product. except those of security forces, Magistrate Nantu Das said. The attack in Sultanpuri, a He added philosophically: “...let no one can harm me. The day god “They (foreign tour opera- were off the roads, police said. The Reang tribals — locally dominantly low-income area in them tell me (the) place n time. feels my time is over, I will die, no tors) will engage in business- By-election for the Hrangturzo known as ‘Bru’ —fled their villages west Delhi, left the 45-year-old I will come there. Let them beat one can stop that.” to-business meetings with 246 assembly seat would also be held in Mizoram and took shelter in Kejriwal with a swollen left eye. me as much as they want.” The attacker denounced Indian sellers in 9,000 struc- April 11 instead of April 9. neighbouring Tripura in October The attacker was identified as Kejriwal further said in Hindi: Kejriwal as a “liar” and said both tured pre-fixed meetings over The by-election was neces- 1997 after an ethnic conflict broke 38-year-old Lali, an autorickshaw “The way to truth is difficult, but the Congress and the Bharatiya two days,” FICCI body said in sitated after Chief Minister Lal out with the majority Mizos over driver. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ultimately truth prevails.” Janata Party were better than a statement. Thanhawla, who won from two the killing of a Mizo forest official. supporters roughed him up after The AAP leader, a former gov- the AAP. IANS seats in the assembly polls held IANS the incident. ernment official-turned-activist, IANS Corruption is in Ajay Rai is Congress Congress DNA, says Modi candidate in Varanasi BANGALORE/KASARGOD: NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: candidate,” he said. The Congress The Congress was married to The Congress yesterday had earlier said it will field a strong corruption, BJP’s prime minis- announced Ajay Rai as its Lok candidate against Modi in Varanasi. terial candidate Narendra Modi Sabha candidate from Varanasi Sources said the party deliberated said yesterday as he addressed against BJP’s prime ministerial on several names including that of election rallies in Karnataka candidate Narendra Modi and party general secretary Digvijaya and Kerala. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. Singh as possible candidates. Modi also slammed the The announcement was Commerce Minister Anand Congress-led United Democratic made by Congress spokesperson Sharma and former parliamen- Front (UDF) and its rival Left Randeep Surjewala at the party’s tarian Raashid Alvi were among Democratic Front (LDF) in official briefing in New Delhi. those who had volunteered to con- Kerala, saying there was an Surjewala said the party decided test against Modi from Varanasi. “unwritten agreement” between to field a person who had worked Party sources said Rai, a the two coalitions. at the grassroots level in Varanasi. Congress legislator from Pindra “Corruption and loot seems to “Ajay Rai’s name was finalised in Varanasi, had the wherewithal be in the DNA of the Congress,” after discussions in the party.” to take on Modi in Varanasi. the Gujarat chief minister told a He said Varanasi will not only Rai started his political career rally in Maysore. Modi addressed be a battle between political par- in 1993 and was BJP legislator in five rallies through the day in ties but also between “ideologies”. 1996, 2002 and 2007. He left the Mysore, Koppal, Bangalore and “It will be a contest between party in 2010 after being denied Bagalkot in Karnataka and one those who break and those who a ticket for the 2009 polls. at Kasargod in Kerala. make, those who divide and those A number of criminal cases are “The public is in a mood to who join, those who want to take the registered against him. teach the Congress a lesson,” he country backwards and those who Sources said the party felt that said in Congress-ruled Karnataka. want to empower it,” Surjewala said. a local candidate was best placed He tore into the claims of the Stating that the Congress rep- to challenge Modi. However, party UPA over its flagship programme resents the forces of unity, the leaders admit in private that the MNREGA, saying it had only spokesperson sought support for fight by the Congress would now “filled the pockets of Congress”. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses supporters during the “Bharat Vijay” Rai. “We appeal to all that they be “only token and symbolic”. IANS rally held on the outskirts of Bangalore yesterday. should support the Congress and its IANS

WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Tunisia battles News in Numbers MIDDLE EAST to save Star WEALTH REPORT Fajr (Dawn) 4:00 Wars desert CHART: 10 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:18 Zuhr (Noon) 11:36 set from sand Asr (Afternoon) 3:05 TUNIS: Tunisia yesterday Maghrib (Sunset) 5:55 announced a new interna- Isha (Night) 7:25 tional fundraising campaign to reclaim the set where numerous Star Wars scenes were filmed from the encroaching desert. WEATHER The set for Mos Espa — home- town of Anakin Skywalker, the protagonist in the blockbuster film Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: series who later becomes Darth Clear Clear Partly cloudy Vader — was built at Ong Jmel in Hazy to misty southern Tunisia in the 1990s for at first at places the filming of Star Wars Episode Family office concept gaining ground becoming One - The Phantom Menace. High: 33° High: 33° High: 34° The tourism ministry has Low: 20° Low: 26° Low: 25° relatively hot with some teamed up with several organi- As is the case in other emerging markets researched by Campden Wealth, clouds. sations to launch the “Save Mos Espa” campaign, aiming to the degree of market penetration of the family office concept is relatively raise 300,000 Tunisian dinars low in the Middle East, in comparison to Europe or North America, and DOHA - SUN & SEA (¤137,000) for the restoration of the site, which has been damaged even in comparison with Asia-Pacific. Arguably, this is a consequence SUN TIDE SEA by shifting sand dunes. “Mos Epsa is located in a very of the relatively longer track record of wealth generation in comparison WIND SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW windy region, threatened by sand with the Middle East. At the same time, an allowance must be made for 05:19 17:51 00:15 & 13:30 08:30 & 17:15 04-14/18 KT dunes which the wind moves by around 15 metres a year. One the existence of Europe-based family offices servicing Middle Eastern THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW dune has already buried 10 per- families, which have traditionally been based in either London, Geneva cent of the site,” said Nabil Gasmi, HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER from one of the tourism groups or Paris. Still, it is a fair conclusion that the concept has yet to attain MUSCAT 31/24 Partly cloudy 33/25 Partly cloudy involved in the campaign. maturity in the region. MAKKAH 38/26 Partly cloudy 38/29 Partly cloudy “We managed to remove 8,000 cubic metres of sand in 12 days. KUWAIT 31/21 Clear 31/24 Partly cloudy Unfortunately some of the set BAHRAIN 29/22 Partly cloudy 29/24 Clear Do you have a family office? has already collapsed,” he told SANAA 26/13 Thunderstorm 27/13 Chance of rain reporters. The Tunisian state RIYADH 39/24 Partly cloudy 40/25 Clear has allocated 160,000 dinars to the DUBAI 31/22 Clear 33/23 Partly cloudy project, with an appeal launched BAGHDAD 30/18 Clear 29/15 Partly cloudy on Monday on a crowdfunding website to raise $45,000. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW The ministry hopes to secure HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER the rest of the money from spon- sors and private donations. Ye s No ATHENS 21/14 Clear 20/12 Partly cloudy Fahmi Houki, an official at the ministry, explained that the sand 50pc 50pc WASHINGTON 17/08 Partly cloudy 20/13 Clear clearance was a temporary opera- SYDNEY 24/19 Chance of rain 27/18 Chance of rain tion, because the dunes are con- LONDON 17/08 Mostly cloudy 17/08 Mostly cloudy stantly moving, and would save the PARIS 16/09 Partly cloudy 19/10 Clear set for another eight to 10 years. ISTANBUL 18/11 Clear 18/08 Partly cloudy The North African country’s vital tourism industry suffered from the MANILA 32/24 Thunderstorm 34/24 Partly cloudy violence and political instability DHAKA 37/26 Partly cloudy 37/24 Clear that followed the 2011 uprising that DELHI 33/20 Clear 33/20 Partly cloudy toppled a decades-old dictatorship. Source : http://www.campdenwealth.com ISLAMABAD 28/13 Clear 28/16 Partly cloudy AFP Ming dynasty ‘chicken cup’ Dublin’s Northside feted in tour of poetry

DUBLIN: Not many city tours from the city’s posher Southside bank of the River Liffey which port and British soldiers garri- smashes record in sale start off at what once was once but is part of the band Skipper’s bisects Dublin — focused on an soned in Dublin to keep the rebel- of Europe’s most notorious red- Alley with Yeates, making it all area known for its working class lious Irish in check. light districts, then pass by a right for him to come along, pro- population and also for crime The area has been levelled and former sweat-shop laundry run vided the jigs, songs, banter and and drug use, but which has been rebuilt but Yeates sang a bawdy by the Catholic Church, but all the poetry readings. home to many great Irish poets Irish ballad which celebrates “the that and more fits in to a sight- The poems came from a volume and writers, including the play- Monto” not only as a haunt for seeing jaunt on Dublin’s gritty published by Ireland’s Dedalus wright Sean O’Casey. dockworkers and soldiers, but Northside. Press released under the auspices “Buying Winkles” by poet Paula also, in fanciful Irish fashion, as The Five Lamps Festival bus of Dublin’s “One City, One Book” Meehan captured the local colour having been visited by the Tsar tour gave a Northsider’s eye view programme which encourages and dialect as a girl describes buying of Russia, the King of Prussia and of an Irish capital that has had its everyone in the city, visitors and winkles from a winkle seller, sitting the Queen of England. ups and downs but has always cel- residents alike, to take part in outside the Rosebowl Bar, “with her The strains of the comic song ebrated itself in song and poetry discussions, readings and analy- pails of winkles before her”. had hardly faded before the bus — in this case poems collected in a sis of a specific book chosen for “I’d ask her again to show me took a turn down a street past new volume called If Ever You Go. the year. the right way to do ‘it’/She’d one of the infamous Magdalene “It’s a different look at Dublin,” Two years ago it was James take a pin from her shawl/’Open laundries, where “fallen” women said Roisin Lonergan, who organ- Joyce’s The Dubliners volume of the eyelid so, stick it in till you were made to work long hours for ised the one-off tour on Sunday short stories, last year it was feel a grip/Then slither ‘im out, almost no pay. that used one of the screaming- James Plunkett’s novel Strumpet gently mind you’,” Cummins “You can grow up in Dublin and green “Paddywagon” tourist buses City inspired by a famous lock- recited, reading the poem from still not know much about it,” said to ferry a busload of mostly Dublin out of 20,000 workers in Dublin the collection. Kevin Conroy, 69, a retired Dublin residents from place to place. in 1913, and this year it is poems “The language they use in businessman and a published poet Nicolas Chow, Asia Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s International Head of “The Paddywagon tours nor- collected in If Ever You Go that Dublin is very specific, especially who wished the tour had provided Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, poses with the cup in Hong Kong. mally do backpackers,” Lonergan, celebrate the city, warts and all. in inner city Dublin the language more history of some of the places, who teaches in a Northside college The Northside bus tour was is almost poetic,” he added at the like the synagogue, along the way. HONG KONG: A rare wine of yesterday’s price. With just 16 and runs a local festival named just one of a year-long programme end. But Cathy Power, political cup fired in the imperial kilns of known Chenghua chicken cups sur- for a five-lamped light fixture that includes poetry readings, Yeates, meanwhile, had adviser to a member of Ireland’s China’s Ming dynasty more than viving to the present day, most in across from her school. “I thought walking tours, bike tours and reminded passengers of the city’s parliament, said she’d come for 500 years ago sold yesterday for public museums, only a handful have it would be fun to have it full of even a walk through Dublin’s colourful past when Montgomery the poetry but got a treat when HK$281.2m at a Sotheby’s sale ever come to auction. Only four of ‘Paddies’ for once.” Glasnevin Cemetery to visit the Street, renamed Foley Street, was the tour wound up in glorious in Hong Kong, making it one of these remain in private hands. Singer-guitarist Macdara graves of noted poets and writers. one of the most notorious red- sunshine in the vast Phoenix the most expensive Chinese cul- Prized by Chinese emperors Yeates, 23, a Northside native, and The tour of the Northside — so light districts in Europe, serving Park. tural relics ever auctioned. and afficionados through the piper Patrick Cummins, 23, who is named because it is on the north dockworkers from the nearby REUTERS The tiny porcelain cup from centuries for their quality, rar- the Chenghua period, dating from ity and legendary silky texture, 1465 to 1487, is painted with cocks, Chenghua chicken cups fired in hens and chicks, and known sim- the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen ply as a ‘chicken cup’. are among the most prized, and It is considered one of the most forged, objects in Chinese art. Zimbabwe crocs go veggie for high fashion sought-after items in Chinese art, In a packed auction hall, bid- viewed with a reverence perhaps ding for the delicate, palm-sized equivalent to that for the jewelled cup began at HK$160m and KARIBA, Zimbabwe: meat anymore,” said Oliver 50 percent meat but that has tanneries in Europe, especially Faberge eggs of Tsarist Russia. drew steady bids from three par- Crocodiles are some of the most Kamundimu, financial director gradually been phased out to an France, where the average skin “Every time a chicken cup ties, before being eventually sold feared predators in Africa, of farm owner Padenga Holdings. entirely vegetarian diet. fetches $550. comes up on the market, it totally to major Chinese collector Liu ruthless reptiles renowned for “It actually improves the qual- “We have moved gradually to a Ninety percent of the leather redefines prices in the field of Yiqian for a bid of HK$250m. tearing their prey to pieces ity because we now measure all point where we reduced the meat to becomes high-end handbags, Chinese art,” said Nicolas Chow, The final price of HK$281.2m, before swallowing hunks of the nutrients that we are putting about 15 percent then to seven per- Kamundimu said, while the deputy chairman of Sotheby’s including fees, was a new world auc- meat raw. in there, which the crocodile may cent and where we are now there is remainder makes belts, shoes and Asia, after the sale. tion record for any Chinese porce- But in the baking sun at not get from meat only,” he said zero meat, zero fish,” he said. “It’s watch straps for some of the big- The last time a similar chicken lain, exceeding the $32.4m paid for Nyanyana crocodile farm on in an interview. a much cleaner operation and the gest names in world fashion. cup was auctioned, in 1999, it a Qing double-gourd vase in 2010. the shores of Zimbabwe’s Lake Four hundred kilometers crocs are getting all the nutrients “When you hear names like fetched HK$29m, around a tenth The cup had come from the Kariba, feeding time has a surreal northwest of Harare, Nyanyana they want from that pellet.” Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Gucci celebrated Western collection of edge as the beasts nibble lazily at is home to 50,000 Nile crocodiles Fed every second day, the - those are the brand names we Chinese ceramics, the ‘Meiyintang’, bowls of vegetarian pellets. and is one of three Padenga farms crocodiles are largely docile and are talking about,” he said with a accumulated over half a century by Besides being cheaper than around Kariba, Africa’s largest lie asleep in their enclosures as satisfied smile. Swiss pharmaceutical tycoons the meat, the diet of protein con- man-made lake. workers walk around casually Having survived economic col- Zuellig brothers. centrate, minerals, vitamins, The company has 164,000 croc- cleaning up leftovers. lapse and hyperinflation of 500 bil- With the purchase by Liu, a maize meal and water is said to odiles in all and started feeding The crocodiles are slaughtered lion percent in Zimbabwe, Padenga Shanghai-based billionaire with enhance crocodile skin destined pellets in 2006 at the height of at 30 months, when they are then had to deal with fallout from his own private ‘Long Museum’, the to become handbags or shoes on an economic crisis in Zimbabwe about 1.5 meters long and their the 2008 global financial crisis, and Meiyintang centrepiece is expected the catwalks of New York, Paris, that made meat scarce and very skin is soft and supple. economic contraction in the euro to become the only known genuine London or Milan. expensive. Last year Harare-listed zone, its main market. chicken cup in China. REUTERS “We don’t feed them Initially, the pellets contained Padenga sold 42,000 skins to REUTERS Wednesday 9 April 2014 9 Jumadal II 1435 Volume 19 Number 6030 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Corporate earnings up 9.7pc Islamic Holding Group’s net profit up 40pc in Q1 Qatar’s insurance sector emerges as key contributor in 2013 DOHA: Islamic Holding Group, BY SATISH KANADY percent from the sector’s total Insurance and Reinsurance which UAE. The UAE posted a 21.3 per- one of Qatar’s leading Shariah- earnings, due to strong growth posted a 12.2x growth in its net cent increase, led overall earnings complaint investors, reported DOHA: The growth rate of in net interest and non-interest profit. The rise was due to a and contributed 4.4 percent to the a net profit of QR2.96bn for Qatar’s listed companies’ earn- income in addition to the acquisi- 68-fold jump in fair value gains, incremental rise in earnings. the first quarter of 2014, up 40 ings increased by 9.7 percent tion of Egypt-based NSGB (now reported at QR2.04bn. In a separate note issued yes- percent, compared to QR2.11bn year-on-year to reach $11.2bn known as ALAHLI). Excluding the contribution of terday, Investment Bank SICO in the corresponding period in during 2013, compared to Masraf Al Rayan followed Qatar General Insurance and said Qatari companies’ earnings 2013. $10.2bn a year ago. Five of the with a 13 percent YoY increase, Reinsurance, the sector’s earnings are expected to decline 7 percent Dr Yousef Ahmed Al Neamah total seven sectors posted gains while Qatar Islamic Bank with increased by only 18.6 percent. YoY for the first quarter of 2014 (pictured), Chairman and in their earnings while two a 4 .7 percent rise came next However, the telecommunications due to lower earnings forecast for Managing Director of the group, declined during year 2013. accounting for 7.5 percent, the sector posted a decline of 8.1 per- telecom and industries sector. during a meeting of the board of The overall growth was led by Global Research’s GCC Earnings cent during 2013 due to Ooredoo The Boston Consulting Group directors, said: “The company heavyweight banks and financial Review-2013, said yesterday. as a result of foreign exchange (BCG) said yesterday that the recorded a strong performance, services sector, which accounted The insurance sector also losses. Industrial sector also wit- revenues of banks in Qatar grew and these positive results are for 42.4 percent of the consoli- contributed significantly to the nessed a decline of 2 percent in its by 20 percent in 2013. “In 2013, indicator of growth potential, dated earnings , registering a YoY growth in the consolidated earn- consolidated earnings due to 5.1 loan loss provisions varied sig- according to the opportunities growth of 6.3 percent. Growth in ings with a robust 214.3 percent percent decline in the earnings of nificantly. In particular, banks available.” the banks and financial services YoY increase in earnings. The Industries Qatar driven by lower in Qatar and Kuwait had to Dr Yousef added: “In the sense sector was driven by 13.7 per- sector contributed 7.5 percent to global fertiliser prices build higher provisions due to of optimism that the local econ- for investment, achieving better cent YoY growth in earnings the total earnings of the QE listed Overall, the corporate earnings increasing delinquencies”, BCG’s omy is witnessing in all fields, growth an adequate return for the of heavyweight Qatar National companies. The Insurance sec- in the GCC rose by 12.4 percent Reinhold Leichtfuss said. especially the Qatar Exchange, we shareholders.” Bank (QNB) , accounting for 54.7 tor was driven by Qatar General YoY to $61.8bn in 2013, led by the THE PENINSULA seek to discover new opportunities THE PENINSULA

Six experts get Al Attiyah awards

DOHA: The Abdullah bin Sada, the Minister of Energy and for the Advancement of Sciences; Hamad Al Attiyah International Industry, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa Nobuo Tanaka, Global Associate Energy Awards, instituted last bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al for Energy Security and year to celebrate the legacy Thani, Chairperson of the Board Sistainability at the Institute of of Qatar’s former Minister of Trustees of Qatar Museums Energy Economics, Japan; Prof of Energy, were conferred on Authority, and top energy leaders, Tan Chorh Chuan, President six individuals, including Dr the second edition of Al Attiyah of the National University of Ibrahim Ibrahim, Economic Energy Awards recognised the Singapore; and Walid Khadduri, Adviser to the Emir, for their top energy officials for their dis- the former Editor-in-Chief of the life time achievements in the tinct personal accomplishments Middle East Economic Survey. advancement of the global in the industry over the course Dr Rilwanu, Adviser on Energy energy industry. of their careers. and Strategic Matters to the Held at the Museum of Islamic In addition to Dr Ibrahim President of Nigeria and a former Art in the presence of H E Ibrahim, awards went to Dr Opec secretary general, was pre- Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Adnan Shihab Eldin, Director sented with an honorary award. H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al General of Kuwait Foundation THE PENINSULA H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah (fourth left) with dignitaries and award winners yesterday. KAMMUTTY VP

UAE to launch Mesaieed IPO largest overnight lending facility valued in Middle East DOHA: The recently imple- period last year, and marking the DUBAI: The central bank of mented nearly QR3.3bn worth lowest first quarter total in the the United Arab Emirates will Mesaieed Petrochemical region since 2004. introduce on April 15 a mech- Holdings IPO was the largest Najjar said that Middle Eastern anism allowing the country’s valued offerings during the first investment banking fees reached banks to borrow funds from it quarter of 2014 in the Middle $120.3m, down 17 percent from overnight, to help their liquidity East, according to Thomson the previous quarter and a 2 per- management. Reuters Deals Intelligence cent decline compared to the first The Interim Marginal Lending Middle Eastern Investment quarter of 2013. Facility (IMLF) will let lenders Banking Analysis on M&A “Fees from completed M&A use certain assets as collateral to activities. transactions totalled $46.4m, up obtain one-day loans, according to In a statement, Thomson 19 percent from the same period a letter to banks which was pub- Reuters’ analysis said initial pub- in 2013, and accounting for 39 lished on the central bank’s web- lic offerings (IPO) activities in the percent of this year’s overall site yesterday. Such mechanisms, region during the first quarter, Middle Eastern fee pool. Equity common in developed money witnessed a sharp decline of 37 capital markets underwriting fees Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali, Chairman, Barwa Real Estate (centre) with Vice Chairman Mohammed Abd Al Aziz Saad markets, are especially useful percent compared to the corre- totalled $39.6m, more than twice Al Saad (left) and CEO Abdulla Abdulaziz Turki Al Subaie at the AGM in Doha yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT during times of market stress, sponding period last year. the amount registered during the when banks are reluctant to lend Nadim Najjar, Managing first quarter of 2013 ($17.4m) and to each other because of a desire Director, Middle East, Africa, and marking the best annual start for to maintain their cash holdings Russia/CIS, said: “Middle Eastern Equity Capital Market (ECM) Barwa plans new projects this year and out of fears that the borrower companies raised $1bn from two fees in the Middle East since might default on the loan. IPOs during the first quarter of 2008. ECM fees account for 33 DOHA: Barwa Real Estate is to start on Barwa Al Doha, which GCC,” he said. Banks accessing the IMLF 2014, a 37 percent decline in IPO percent of the fee pool, the high- planning to launch residential will be developed as a strip retail He said Barwa Al Sadd Hotel must borrow a minimum of activity compared to $1.6bn from est first quarter share since 2006,” and commercial projects in the catering to local merchant trad- tower, which was sold to Katara Dh10m ($2.7m) and will be the same period in 2013.” Najjar said. current year. ers,” he said. Hospitality, is almost complete charged 100 basis points over the “The larger of the two IPOs was Fees from debt capital mar- Speaking at company’s Ordinary Barwa had acquired the strip and will start operations in the official UAE Repo Rate for doing the $905m offering from Mesaieed kets underwriting declined 47 Annual General Meeting Salah of land on the eastern boundary second quarter of 2014. Barwa Al so, according to a separate docu- Petrochemical Holdings, a unit percent year-on-year to $17.4m, bin Ghanim Al Ali, Chairman, of Barwa Village in December Khor residential project consist- ment on the bank’s website. of state-owned Qatar Petroleum. while syndicated lending fees fell Barwa Real Estate said Barwa has 2012, which has good road front- ing of 300 residential apartments Eligible assets that can used as It was Qatar’s first IPO since 49 percent to $16.9m. an exciting land bank of opportu- age with high passing traffic and and 50 villas for Qatar Shell staff collateral include bonds, sukuk 2010. Egypt’s Arabian Cement Lazard earned the most invest- nities which are being assessed to it controls the arrival experience is progressing well and is on tar- and securities issued by the UAE Company raised $109m in March. ment banking fees in the Middle identify the best use of the compa- into Barwa Village making the get to achieve the contractual federal government or authorities As sole bookrunner on the East, a total of $28.8m for a 24 ny’s assets with the aim of maxim- land attractive to retail tenants. completion date of fourth quar- in individual emirates, as well as Mesaieed Petrochemical Holdings percent share of the total fee ising shareholder value. “As Barwa “During 2014, we are planning to ter of 2014. banks and corporations based in initial offering, Qatar National pool. Lazard topped the Middle continues on the path to develop start development of the land as Shareholders discussed the the UAE. Bank took first place in the Q1, Eastern completed mergers and integrated communities, another retail space,” he said. Board of Directors’ proposal for For assets to qualify, they must 2014 Middle Eastern ECM rank- acquisitions fee league table, while project that will be launched soon “The company is progress- profit distribution which recom- be tradable and carry a rating ing,” Najjar said. Qatar National Bank was first in is Fox Hills North located in the ing with development of Barwa mended a cash dividend of 20 per- from one of the three main inter- The value of announced merg- the Equity Capital Market under- city of Lusail. This project once Al Baraha Phase-2, which is an cent from the outstanding share national rating agencies, except ers and acquisitions (M&A) writing fee rankings. JP Morgan completed will have about 3,000 extension of current Baraha capital amounting to QR2 per in the case of securities issued by transactions with any Middle and Samba Financial Group units,” he said, adding that Phase Phase-1. Both phases together will share, for profit distribution of local governments in the UAE - Eastern involvement reached took the top spots in the Middle I of this project is Dara, which will accommodate 53,000 workers and the year ended 2013, which was an important caveat as the Dubai $5.7bn during the first quarter Eastern DCM and loans fee rank- be offered to the public this year. is considered the largest workers approved by all shareholders. government currently doesn’t of 2014, 15 percent less than the ings, respectively. “Construction works also expected accommodation in Qatar and the THE PENINSULA have a rating. REUTERS $6.8bn witnessed during the same THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Qatar Exchange Tunisia offers $1.26bn investment plans TUNIS: Tunisia is offering infrastructure and development projects worth 1.99bn dinars ($1.26bn) to various Arab funds breaks rally, during an Arab ministers’ sum- mit in Tunis yesterday, a gov- ernment official said. “It is a projects package in many down 0.22pc sectors which we will propose to different Arab funds for financing to stimulate our economy,” said Noureddine Zekri, secretary for Dubai bull run continues international cooperation. The package includes an invest- DOHA: Qatar Exchange some potential issuers. NASDAQ ment of 660m dinars to build a snapped a 10-day rally yes- Dubai has looser requirements 600-megawatt gas-fired power terday when trading closed at but less liquidity and fewer listed plant in Mornaguia, near the cap- 12,189.69 points, down 27.06 stocks. Emirates REIT’s IPO ital Tunis. The government is also points, or 0.22 percent, from price was roughly equal to its planning to invest 758m dinars in the previous closing of 12,216.75 book value, which Henin said was infrastructure and roads across points on Monday. “a perfect approach” to valuation. the country. Three years after an The volume of shares fell “We should expect the price of uprising that inspired the “Arab to 23,514,316 from Monday’s the stock to be aligned with the Spring” revolutions, Tunisia is on 32,599,378 and the value of shares net asset value,” he said. “The its way to political stability with a decreased to QR915,439,624.65 stock price shouldn’t be too vola- new constitution and the promise from QR,243,074,145.88. tile and its risk profile will be very of elections later this year. Among the top losers were different from that of developers. The caretaker government, led Vodafone Qatar, whose share was A few other property firms and by Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, down 1.17 percent to QR13.56, banks also gained. Shares in con- hopes to boost economic growth to Masraf Al Rayan lost 0.80 per- tractor Arabtec rose 6.1 percent. stave off any social pressures and The Minister of Finance, H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi and Qatar Central Bank Governor Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al cent to QR43.15, The Investors Abu Dhabi’s index edged down protests for more opportunities Thani at the opening ceremony of a forum for Arab financial institutions in Tunis yesterday. fell 5.92 percent to QR60.40 and 0.1 percent to 5,007 points but and over high prices. REUTERS Al Meera decreased by 1.05 per- stayed above the psychologically cent to QR179.20. important 5,000-point mark. The banking and financial sec- Telecommunications operator tor index lost 0.35 percent, while Etisalat , down 0.9 percent, was consumer goods and services the biggest drag as it continued to sector index added 0.39 points. decline after paying out its 2013 ‘Egypt growth The industrial sector was up 0.17 dividend last Thursday. IMF cuts world growth outlook percent while insurance sector Saudi Arabia’s bourse gained gained 0.89 percent. 0.6 percent, largely on the back WASHINGTON: The The report, released ahead emerging market downturn grew to remain slow’ Elsewhere in the region, Dubai’s of agricultural firms, food produc- International Monetary Fund of the annual IMF-World Bank from domestic policy shortcom- main stock market posted its big- ers and banks. cut its growth forecast for spring meetings in Washington ings and tighter financial con- DUBAI: Growth in Egypt’s gest gain in three weeks as real Banque Saudi Fransi climbed the global economy yesterday, beginning Thursday, nevertheless ditions both domestically and economy is expected to remain estate investment trust Emirates 2.4 percent after posting an pointing to the threat from the cut back the global growth fore- internationally. Those economies sluggish this year as politi- REIT listed on the smaller of the estimate-beating 25.2 percent Ukraine crisis and the slowdown cast to 3.6 percent this year and remain especially vulnerable to cal uncertainty keeps tourists two markets, NASDAQ Dubai, rise in first-quarter net profit on in major emerging economies. 3.9 percent in 2015. The global market turbulence as the Federal and foreign investors away, the following the emirate’s first initial Monday. While the world economy has economy grew 3.0 percent in 2013. Reserve slowly tightens US mon- International Monetary Fund public offer in five years. Egypt’s index rose 2.3 percent picked up pace, anchored by the Each estimate was trimmed etary conditions, the IMF said. said yesterday. Shares in Emirates REIT to 7,705 points, regaining some United States and China, the by 0.1 percentage points from China, too, continues to pull The economy of the Arab closed at $1.44, up 5.9 percent ground after a sell-off that began global crisis lender pointed to January, with the downgrade its weight, despite a sharp slow- world’s most populated coun- from the IPO price, with 21.4 mil- in late March. However, one-day looming risks, from the standoff based on data before Ukraine down. The IMF’s forecasts are try was forecast to grow by 2.7 lion shares changing hands out of recoveries have in the last two between Russia and the West over plunged into crisis with an anti- unchanged, seeing growth at 7.5 percent this year after expand- a total of 128.68 million sold in the weeks been followed by even Ukraine, to poorly handled policy government revolt and Russia’s percent this year and 7.3 percent ing by 2.1 percent in 2013, the $175m offer, which was 3.5 times deeper drops. in countries like Brazil, and defla- annexation of Crimea. next, on the belief that Beijing will IMF said in its World Economic oversubscribed. “I think it was a “At this stage it is very difficult tion in the euro area. Blanchard said the outlook for keep a firm hand on the finan- Outlook. very good start,” said Sebastien to say whether that specific cor- “The recovery which was Russia, already sagging before the cial frailties coming to the sur- “Growth in 2014 is expected to Henin, head of asset manage- rection is overdone,” said Khan starting to take hold in October crisis, could likely be worse now, face now. The eurozone, too, has be broadly the same as in 2013, as ment at The National Investor. from Shuaa Asset Management. is becoming not only stronger, as it loses income from energy gained ground, with the outlook political uncertainty will continue “The company listed on NASDAQ Profit-taking, which market but also broader,” said chief IMF sales and sanctions from the West for growth in the 18-nation bloc to weigh on tourism and foreign Dubai and usually investors don’t players say was amplified by heavy economist Olivier Blanchard, begin to bite. But other worries at 1.2 percent this year and 1.5 direct investment,” it said. really like that.” leverage, started when former introducing the IMF’s latest have mounted since the beginning percent in 2015. The slow performance was Dubai’s equity trading is heav- army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi World Economic Outlook report. of the year, including the ability Japan is in a similar situation, likely despite the “fiscal stimu- ily concentrated on the main said he would run for president; “The various brakes that ham- of emerging economies like Brazil, its stimulus still facing challenges, lus” of support from Gulf coun- exchange, Dubai Financial Market local investors, who largely sup- pered growth are being slowly South Africa and Turkey to deal including deflation and last week’s tries, which promised billions of (DFM), but that market requires port him, had built up positions in loosened. Fiscal consolidation is with higher interest rates, lower hike in consumption taxes, which dollars in aid to Egypt after the IPOs to offer at least 55 percent anticipation of the announcement. slowing, and investors are less capital flows and lower commod- could send the economy into army ousted Islamist president of a company, which discourages QNA & REUTERS worried about debt sustainability.” ity prices. It said the “worrying” recession this quarter. AFP Mohamed Morsi in July. AFP

Stéphane EU, Ukraine talk on gas amid tension Special offers from Ritz-Carlton Michel to head for Qatar spring holidays BRUSSELS: Ukraine’s energy news agency as saying Russia’s efforts must be made to fill stor- TOTAL’s Mena minister, EU officials and decision to nearly double gas age well ahead of next winter. MANAMA: The Ritz-Carlton, location on the beachfront instils industry representatives held prices to Ukraine was unjustified Following previous crises in Bahrain Hotel & Spa recently a sense of calm isolation whilst talks yesterday on cutting reli- and Kiev would not pay. 2006 and 2009 over Kiev’s unpaid released special offers on its vil- maintaining a connection to the E&P division ance on Russian gas as ten- “If the situation is not resolved, gas bills, which led to the dis- las coinciding with Qatar spring hotel, restaurants, spa, allowing DOHA: Integrated energy giant sion with Moscow drove home there will be a threat not only ruption of exports to western holidays. the guest to enjoy a complete ‘TOTAL’ has announced that the urgency of finding alterna- for the supply of gas to Ukraine, Europe, the European Union has Set amidst lush gardens and experience,” said Mark Neukomm, the North Africa Division of tive energy sources and supply but also for the transit of gas to taken steps to bolster its energy overlooking the serene Manama General Manager, The Ritz- its Exploration and Production routes. Europe,” Prodan said. security, including increased gas Bay, the villas bring home the Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. (E&P) activities has been Concerns reached a new Moscow also has a great deal storage. Analysts say nowhere signature sophistication of the The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain transferred to the Middle East pitch after pro-Moscow pro- at stake. Its gas exports to the near enough has been done, but Ritz-Carlton brand, imbued with Hotel & Spa features 23 villas, Division, effective from April 1. testers seized buildings in European Union provide state- EU officials say there is renewed an effortless coastal vibe. each with its own swimming In a press statement yes- eastern Ukraine’s mainly controlled exporter Gazprom with determination to act, along- The villas are the perfect anti- pool, private beach, and 24-hour terday, company said that the Russian-speaking industrial an average of $5bn per month in side a recognition that changing dote after the stressful months lifestyle butler to provide the consolidated entity has been heartland, which Kiev said is a revenue. Europe’s energy system will take at work or can serve as a holi- ultimate retreat for guests. Each renamed the Middle East-North replay of events in Crimea, the An invitation to gas industry time. Russia provides Ukraine day home to enjoy quality time villa offers living areas of gener- Africa Division (Mena) and is peninsula Moscow annexed last officials to yesterday’s talks said with around half of its gas and the with the family. “For those in ous proportions and eye-catch- headed by Stéphane Michel, month. At the same time, Kiev Europe’s gas storage levels were European Union with roughly one Qatar looking for a stress-free, ing design; and the luxury guest the Middle East-North Africa missed a midnight deadline to comfortable after a mild winter, third of its demand, some 40 per- laid-back holiday break, the vil- rooms, though old-world in design President. Jean-Daniel Blasco, reduce its $2.2bn debt owed to but it was already time to prepare cent of which flows via Ukraine. las offer a comfortable space with and decor, feature state-of-the- Vice-President North Africa, Russia for natural gas supplies. for the next heating season. Denmark put forward the impeccable service and distinctive art technology so that guests can now reports to him. Michel said: That adds to concerns Russia One source close to the talks, idea, adopted by an EU summit design. Our villas are designed indulge in the best of both worlds. “This transfer enables the inte- could cut off Ukraine’s gas sup- speaking on condition of ano- in March, that the Commission with generous South American Each villa features three well- grated management of our E&P plies, with possible knock-on nymity, said the Commission had should draw up by June a detailed and Mediterranean influences, appointed bedrooms, a beautifully- operations in two highly strate- effects for the European Union. asked member states to report plan on increasing energy security and are thoroughly modern in styled living room, a spacious gic regions for Total – the Middle Ukraine’s Energy Minister Yuri back with full details of infra- and says this time around the mood nature, sporting state-of-the-art dining area and a fully equipped East and North Africa which both Prodan was quoted by Interfax structure and storage, saying is completely different. REUTERS amenities and features. Also, their private kitchen. THE PENINSULA have strong cultural ties as well as close economic relationships, notably in the oil and gas sector. Total has enjoyed long-standing and mutually beneficial relation- ships with countries across the Porsche extending GTS Mena region, and we will be look- ing to develop these relationships further through this reorganisa- to Boxster and Cayman tion. This should also allow us to address the challenges of E&P growth more effectively and to DOHA: Porsche is extending GTS delivers 340 hp. Torque make the most of the many syn- the GTS principle to the Boxster increases by 10 newton metres ergies in our Mena operations.” and Cayman for the first time in each model. Additionally, the In North Africa, Total has E&P ever. Featuring top engines and Sport Chrono package is standard. activities in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, PASM chassis, the Boxster GTS In conjunction with the optional Morocco and Mauritania. Total’s and Cayman GTS stand as the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe production from Algeria and most powerful and fastest of (PDK) gearbox and Sport Plus Libya amounted respectively to these mid-engine sports models mode, this translates into sprints 21,000 and 50,000 barrels of oil from Porsche. from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds equivalent per day in 2013. The six-cylinder boxer engines for the Boxster GTS, with the Combined with the Middle East fitted are based on the 3.4-litre Cayman GTS a tenth of a second production from the UAE, Qatar, units from the Boxster S and faster. The Boxster GTS’s top Yemen, Iraq and Oman, the Mena Cayman S. Thanks to fine-tuning speed with the manual six-speed region accounted for or 26.4 percent they deliver an additional 15 hp: transmission is 281 km/h. At 285 of the group’s worldwide oil and gas the Boxster GTS now has an out- km/h the Cayman GTS is even production. THE PENINSULA put of 330 hp, while the Cayman faster. THE PENINSULA The new Porsche. WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Europe court Germany goes scraps phone, email data for renewable collection law

LUXEMBOURG: Europe’s top court yesterday struck down an energy reform EU law forcing telecoms opera- tors to store private phone and email data for up to two years, judging it too invasive, despite Growth in green power pushes costs its usefulness in combating terrorism. BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Gabriel has also had to accom- By allowing EU governments Merkel’s cabinet approved yes- modate the interests of the to access the data, “the directive terday a reform of Germany’s European Commission and interferes in a particularly seri- renewable energy law designed Germany’s 16 states, which have ous manner with the fundamental to curb a rise in the cost of differing energy priorities. rights to respect for private life electricity in Europe’s biggest Germany’s shift to green energy and to the protection of personal economy driven by the rapid and away from nuclear power and data,” the European Court of expansion of green power. fossil fuels is one of conservative Justice (ECJ) said. The reform will slow the growth Merkel’s flagship policies but the Advocate General Pedro Cruiz of green energy, which accounts cost of ballooning subsidies has Villalon declared the legislation for 25 percent of Germany’s elec- threatened to undermine it. illegal and told the European tricity, and force new investors in Under the draft law, the gov- A woman looks at advertisements promoting Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 3 smartphone in Seoul. Union’s 28 member states to green power to take some risk. ernment plans to increase the take the necessary steps to Although some industrial com- share of renewable sources to withdraw it. panies will have to pay more for 40-45 percent of total electricity The decision to scupper the power in future, the sector has production by 2025 and to 55-60 2006 Data Retention Directive managed to hang on to many of percent by 2035. This is needed to Samsung forecasts profit drop comes as Europe weighs con- the benefits it says it needs to stay offset the elimination of nuclear cerns over electronic snooping in competitive. Household consum- power by 2022. SEOUL: Samsung Electronics largest technology firm by sales — especially China. Research firm the wake of revelations about sys- ers, who have among the highest It will scale back green sub- yesterday posted estimated first recorded operating profits of 8.78 IDC estimated average selling tematic US surveillance of email electricity bills in Europe, are sidies and upper limits will be quarter operating profits of 8.4 trillion won. price of smartphones will fall to and telephone communications. likely to see power bills rise at a placed on onshore wind power trillion won ($7.96bn), marking It marks the second quarter $265 globally by 2017 from $337 The revelation that US agen- slower pace. expansion (at 2.5 gigawatts in a second straight year-on-year of year-on-year decline after in 2013 and $387 in 2012. cies collected data on millions of The blueprint is a victory for capacity per year), photovoltaic decline as global smartphone Samsung posted Q4 operating Nonetheless, estimated profits European citizens — and even Economy and Energy Minister (2.5 GW per year) and offshore sales slow. profits that were 6 percent lower for Samsung’s mobile division tapped the phone of German Sigmar Gabriel. He had to balance wind plants (6.5 GW to 2020). The estimate was in line with than those a year earlier. The grew to 6.2 trillion won in Q1 Chancellor Angela Merkel — maintaining growth in renewa- From 2017 green energy pro- market expectations of operat- company said its first quarter of this year, up from 5.5 trillion sparked a wave of controversy bles with the requirement to keep ducers will have to compete more ing profits between 8.14 trillion sales were estimated at 53 tril- won in the three previous months, and prompted lawmakers on both heavy industry happy with afford- on the market with conventional won and 8.63 trillion won for lion won, up 0.24 percent from a Park said. This follows the earlier- sides of the Atlantic to rethink able power. power generators. The draft is the January-March period at year earlier. Shares in Samsung than-expected release of its latest their data surveillance laws. “Some 100 days after the start due to become law in August. the world’s largest mobile phone fell 0.21 percent to close at 1.39 Galaxy S5 smartphone — which Last month President Barack of the new government we have Since Merkel decided to speed maker. “The operating profits million won in a flat market. Samsung hopes will cement its Obama put forward a long- given the energy shift a new up Germany’s nuclear exit after fell for two straight quarters Fixed first-quarter earnings lead in the global smartphone awaited plan to end Washington’s start,” Gabriel told reporters. Japan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster, year-on-year as profit margins are set to be announced later market — in South Korea, ana- bulk collection of telephone He stressed that he had seen it the energy shift has taken on a in smartphones were falling and this month. The figures come lysts said. records, although critics said the as his task to make sure Germany new importance. the growth rate in smartphone as growth in smartphone sales For the whole of 2014, measures should be extended protected jobs by preserving its Environmental group BUND sales was decreasing due to grow- slow, with mature markets like Samsung’s operating profit is beyond just phone records. industrial base. criticised the plans, saying they ing competition,” analyst Young North America and Europe near likely to be around 37 trillion won, The court’s decision rein- Although Berlin is reducing would slow the ‘green revolution’ Park of Hyundai Securities said. saturation. This, coupled with about the same as last year’s, Park forced a general European stance exemptions from a surcharge and they favoured industry. While the figure marks a 1.08 the rapid expansion of smaller said. The company made more strongly upholding individuals’ which finances green subsidies “Merkel and Gabriel are hand- percent increase on the previous rivals like China’s Huawei, has than 30 percent of all smart- rights to privacy, contrasting and are granted to industry, the ing out gifts to companies at the quarter, it is 4.3 percent lower pressured Samsung to roll out phones sold in the world last year, with a US position that often sup- sector’s contribution will stay cost of ordinary citizens,” it said than a year earlier, when the cheaper handsets to woo con- nearly twice the share of its arch- ports more invasive policies in the roughly the same, he said. in a statement. REUTERS South Korean giant — the world’s sumers in emerging markets, rival Apple. AFP interests of public security. AFP eDreams Odigeo skids on market debut

MADRID: Spanish online travel group eDreams Odigeo’s share price tumbled as it listed on the Madrid stock exchange yesterday, a worrying sign for the richest new entry to the market in nearly three years. Javier Perez-Tenessa, founder of the group which includes Go Voyages, Opodo and eDreams, rang the bell in the Madrid stock exchange’s main hall to mark the start of trade in its stock. But within the first half hour of trade, the stock had skidded 5.89 per- cent to 9.599 euros. The sound of the bell announc- ing a new listing has barely been heard since summer 2011 when banking group Bankia arrived on the market, one year before it required a €20bn state rescue to avoid financial collapse. During two years of reces- sion, from which Spain emerged gingerly in mid-2013, the stock market lured hardly any new players. That changed only in the past few weeks, with two more mod- est listings of real estate firms Hispania and Lar Espana Real. Meanwhile, the Madrid stock market has gained some strength: on Friday it hit the highest level since May 2011. On listing, eDreams Odigeo becomes the largest listed e-business in Europe in terms of profits. In its float, shares were priced Traders look at computer screens next to a banner of Spanish travel at €10.25 each, valuing the com- company eDreams Odigeo during its bourse debut in Madrid yesterday. pany at €1.1bn. AFP

Etihad completes Alitalia check

ROME: Abu Dhabi-based executive Gabriele del Torchio job cuts and an upgrade of Etihad Airways has completed and Etihad chief James Hogan infrastructure. its assessment of whether to “could meet this week” to discuss Alitalia in February reached purchase a stake in Italy’s debt- the deal. a deal with trade unions for the laden airline Alitalia and a draft The report said Etihad was equivalent of 1,900 job cuts and in deal could be imminent, an planning to buy a stake of around September last year sharehold- Italian minister said yesterday. 40 percent, which would make it ers gave unanimous approval for “The due diligence has been by far the biggest shareholder a capital increase to save Alitalia completed. The letters of intent in the carrier and respect the from bankruptcy. Etihad is are being drawn up in these days,” 49.9-percent limit for non-Euro- expanding rapidly and has bought Transport Minister Maurizio pean airlines. minor shares in several smaller Lupi said at a Senate hearing. It also said Etihad could invest carriers including Air Berlin and Italian business daily Il Sole 24 between €300m and €500m in India’s Jet Airways as it competes Ore also cited informed sources return for a restructuring plan with larger Gulf rivals Emirates as saying that Alitalia’s chief that would include up to 3,000 and Qatar Airways. AFP WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS UK extends recovery as Chevron’s drilling in Romania factories boost output Overall industrial output rises 2.7pc; wages also rise

LONDON: Britain’s economy measures to help manufactur- There were other signs yes- extended its strong recovery ers under long-standing plans terday of gathering strength in into this year, data showed to make Britain’s economy less Britain’s economy. A survey by the yesterday, with manufacturing dependent on consumer demand. British Chambers of Commerce jumping by much more than After staging a surprisingly showed six key manufacturing expected, companies report- fast recovery in 2013, Britain’s balances, including investment ing a buoyant first quarter and economy is growing more quickly plans, hit all-time highs in the signs of a pick-up in wages. than almost all other developed first quarter and services were The pound surged as the Office countries, a fillip for Osborne strong too. for National Statistics said manu- who will attend a meeting of the A second survey showed British facturing output expanded by 1 International Monetary Fund employers are raising the sala- percent in February from January this week. Last year, he resisted ries they offer to new permanent — its biggest increase since pressure from the International staff at the fastest rate in nearly September last year. Monetary Fund to rein in the seven years as they struggle to fill Factory production was 3.8 government’s austerity pro- vacancies. But despite the recent percent higher than in the gramme and spend more to get strong growth, Britain has a way People work at Chevron’s drilling site in Pungesti yesterday. The US estimates that Romania and its neighbour- same month of 2013, the biggest the recovery going. to go to recover fully from the ing countries Bulgaria and Hungary together have 538 billion cubic metres of gas, which would be enough increase by that measure in three Annalisa Piazza, an economist effects of the financial crisis. to cover Romania’s consumption for almost 40 years. years. Economists had expected a at Newedge Strategy, said the Manufacturing remains 8.2 month-on-month rise of 0.3 per- ONS data suggested Britain’s percent smaller than it was when cent and a 3.1 percent increase economy grew by 0.7 percent in British overall economic output for the year. the first quarter, maintaining its hit its peak in early 2008. Overall industrial output, pace from the last three months The ONS said in the three Citi to pay $1.1bn for settlement which includes power generation of 2013. months to the end of February and Britain’s North Sea oil pro- Alan Clarke, at Scotiabank, — a smoother reading than the NEW YORK: Citigroup said Leading banks have been settling were represented by Houston duction as well as manufacturing, said the data showed no signifi- sometimes volatile monthly num- it reached an agreement with a huge number of suits tied to the law firm Gibbs & Bruns, which climbed 0.9 percent on the month, cant impact from flooding and bers — manufacturing and indus- a group of 18 institutional sale of mortgage-backed securi- announced similar settlements recovering from a weak January wet weather in February. trial production were both up 0.8 investors to pay $1.1bn to set- ties before the housing market previously with JPMorgan Chase when bad weather hampered With the recovery accompa- percent from the previous three tle claims on some mortgage- tanked in 2007 and 2008. Many and Bank of America. North Sea oil and gas production. nied by subdued inflation, Bank of months, picking up a bit of speed. backed securities sold ahead of of the disputes concern securities The group of institutional The figure was stronger than a England policymakers, who meet It remains to be seen if the the financial crisis. linked to low-quality, sub-prime investors includes affiliates of forecast of a 0.3 percent increase this week, are in no rush to raise strength in manufacturing con- Citi said the agreement mortgages. “This settlement BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, in the poll. Compared with a year interest rates from their record tinues. A survey of purchasing releases it from an obligation to resolves a significant legacy issue among others, Gibbs & Bruns said ago, industrial output was up 2.7 low of 0.5 percent. The Bank has managers published last week repurchase mortgages sold into from the financial crisis and we in a statement. The settlement percent, the ONS said. signalled the second quarter of showed Britain’s factory sector 68 mortgage trusts. The 68 trusts are pleased to put it behind us,” must be approved by the Federal British finance minister George next year as the most likely tim- saw its slowest growth in eight issued $59.4bn in residential mort- Citi said in a statement. Housing Finance Agency and Osborne last month announced ing for a rate hike. months in March. REUTERS gage securities during 2005-2008. The 18 institutional investors trustees of the 68 trusts. AFP

Bank of Japan quashes additional stimulus hopes Indonesia keeps rates on hold as TOKYO: The head of the Bank asset-purchase scheme intro- spending. While it is seen as cru- the positive cycle in the Japanese that the BoJ would not hesitate to of Japan yesterday quashed duced in April last year. The deci- cial to shrinking Japan’s moun- economy will not be stopped and expand monetary easing to reach hopes of an imminent expansion sion yesterday followed a two-day tainous debt burden, the higher the economy will continue to its 2 percent inflation target by inflation eases to its massive stimulus scheme, policy meeting. The stimulus is levy has increased speculation recover moderately,” Kuroda told next year, a goal seen as key to and said the country’s first sales a cornerstone of Japanese Prime that the BoJ will have to add to its reporters in Tokyo. reversing years of deflation. JAKARTA: Bank Indonesia tax hike in 17 years would not Minister Shinzo Abe’s wider bid stimulus sooner rather than later. “I am not considering taking Analysts have been increas- kept its benchmark reference derail a budding recovery. to drag the country out of years of The last time Japan introduced additional easing measures at ingly sceptical about that timing, rate steady for a fifth straight BoJ chief Haruhiko Kuroda, deflation and slumbering growth. a higher sales levy, in 1997, it was this point, because the economy although recent inflation data have month, saying the current level who also stuck to an ambitious Kuroda, the former head of the followed by years of deflation is steadfastly moving towards suggested efforts to reverse fall- was consistent with efforts to inflation target despite grow- Asian Development Bank hand- and tepid economic growth that reaching the stable 2 percent ing prices and lacklustre growth meet its inflation target this ing doubts among analysts, picked by Abe to help steer his defined the country’s protracted inflation goal and that I don’t are taking hold. “But this decision year. made the comments came as growth bid, said that the economy slump. “The sales tax hike is think there is a need for addi- can wait until the second half of The policy stance will also the central bank held fire on was pushing ahead despite fears expected to shake growth tem- tional easing measures.” the year, perhaps until October,” help lower the country’s large expanding a multi-billion-dollar the tax rise will dampen consumer porarily, but the bank believes But Kuroda repeated his view Capital Economics said. AFP current-account deficit, which unnerved investors last year when it climbed to record highs and QATARI MARKET sparked a sell-off in the rupiah. Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Southeast Asia’s largest econ- Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.13 -82.53% Aa2 AA omy appears to have turned a corner with its trade balance Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 0.97% Aa2 AA Microsoft ends Windows XP support reverting to surplus in February Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 120.25 2.19% Aa2 AA and inflation easing. With con- Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 114.25 2.53% Aa2 AA BOSTON: Microsoft Corp second Tuesday of each month, technology officer with cyberse- fidence returning to the rupiah, Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 109.13 3.13% Aa2 AA released its final security which is known as “Patch curity firm Qualys Inc. Bank Indonesia has held rates Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 156.50 4.68% Aa2 AA updates for Windows XP and Tuesday,” a day when they also Microsoft wants users to move steady this year while other major Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 118.88 5.05% Aa2 AA Office 2003 yesterday as secu- publish technical details on the to more modern versions of the emerging economies were forced Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 109.50 5.07% Aa2 AA rity experts warned users that security bugs they are fixing. The operating system partly because to raise them to fend off outflows. they could soon be prime tar- next Patch Tuesday is May 13. it has incorporated new security “Provided inflation falls back as Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.56 0.55% Aa2 AA gets for cyber attacks if they do Security experts say they features into the software over expected and there is no renewed Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 111.63 2.92% Aa2 AA not abandon the products. believe hackers will study that the past decade that make it far pressure on the rupiah, the next Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 102.38 0.83% A1 A- Security experts advise con- data and “reverse engineer” the more effective in thwarting cyber move in rates is likely to be down- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.50 1.74% A1 A- sumers and businesses to either May Patch Tuesday software attacks. wards, but probably not before QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.00 0.97% NR NR replace computers running updates to identify ways to attack The world’s largest software the end of the year,” said Krystal QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.25 0.91% Aa3 A+ Windows XP or upgrade to computers running Windows XP, maker first warned that it was Tan, Asia economist at Capital QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.50 1.67% Aa3 A+ modern versions of Microsoft’s along with Office 2003, which will planning to end support for Economics. software within the next month no longer receive patches from Windows XP in 2007, but secu- All analysts had expected the Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.38 1.87% A2 A- because they will no longer be Microsoft. rity firms estimate that 15 to 25 policy rate to be kept on hold as Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 104.63 1.39% A2 A- protected from newly discovered “Attackers will use this as percent of the world’s PCs still pressures had eased on both the Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.63 2.68% A2 A- threats after the middle of May. an accelerator. It’s an easier run on the version of the operat- current-account deficit and the Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 107.63 3.43% A2 A- Microsoft automatically rolls way to get at machines,” said ing system that was released in rupiah. The Indonesian currency Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 104.38 4.47% A2 A- out new security updates on the Wolfgang Kandek, chief October 2001. REUTERS has rebounded, up 7.7 percent so Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 102.13 0.69% Aa3 A far this year to become Asia’s best Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.50 2.93% Aa3 A performing currency after being its worst last year. Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.38 3.76% Aa3 A Bitcoin conference The central bank also held the SOVEREIGNS deposit facility rate (FASBI) and Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P lending facility rate at 5.75 per- Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.13 -82.05% Aa2 AA cent and 7.50 percent, respectively. Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.75 2.09% Aa2 AA Singapore-based economist at OCBC, Wellian Wiranto, said the Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 107.75 1.24% NR NR central bank may face pressure Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 108.13 2.06% NR NR to cut rates on some views easing Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 125.75 3.27% NR NR inflation should be followed with Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 118.88 3.68% NR NR loose monetary policy. “Loosening Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 102.63 0.44% Aa2 AA the belt to allow more gorging Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.63 2.79% NR BBB may seem immediately gratify- Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 108.25 3.89% NR BBB ing but is hardly helpful to the economy’s long-term health,” Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 104.38 4.81% Caa1 B- Wiranto said. Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 106.38 3.32% NR BBB- Bank Indonesia said the econ-

*Periodic Distribution Amount omy in the first quarter would IMPORTANT NOTE: grow 5.77 percent, a shade faster Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which than the fourth quarter, bolstered is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services by the global recovery. The bank Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary last month trimmed its growth data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not forecast to 5.5-5.9 percent this take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds year from 5.8-6.2 percent, despite can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant an increase in spending for legis- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not lative and presidential elections. a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. Indonesia has reaped from a recovery in commodity prices, mainly coal and crude palm oil, People attend a Bitcoin conference at the Javits Centre in New York City. Topics included market places to which helped turn its trade bal- trade bitcoin, mining hardware to harvest bitcoins and digital wallets to store bitcoins. Bitcoin is one of the ance in February to a surplus of most popular of over one hundred digital currencies that have recently come into popularity. $790m from a $450m deficit the previous month. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

How have these firms Labour on being a one-trick colonised our public life? party on cost-of-living crisis BY GEORGE MONBIOT BY HOPI SEN brutal social security reductions are hiding recession, but they’re working harder and ow do you engineer a bland, depoliticised world, a con- in the budget projections. spending less. As a result, they feel worse sensus built around consumption and endless growth, a ince the budget, a nervous shiver There won’t be a lot of room to make off, and understandably grumpy. dream world of materialism and debt and atomisation, has run through the Labour people better off by spending money. What’s If both partners are working, some Hin which all relations can be prefixed with a dollar sign, party. Economic recovery and a more, the small resources the government costs can become really scary – childcare, in which we cease to fight for change? You delegate your powers chancellor finally grasping that will have need to go on long-term priorities, for example, or a parent needing care. So to companies whose profits depend on this model. helping only the wealthy is a bad not short-term relief. while British middle earners have survived, Power is shifting: to places in which we have no voice or vote. Sre-election strategy, has prompted a series To build a sustainable economy, we need they are right to feel exposed, insecure and Domestic policies are forged by special advisers and spin doctors, of helpful interventions, much of it of the a strong infrastructure plan. We need an vulnerable. by panels and advisory committees stuffed with lobbyists. The “if only you would listen to me” school of industry bank, better childcare, more hous- When Miliband presses on the cost of self-hating state withdraws its own authority to regulate and criticism. ing, and better support for vocational train- living, he’s right on the money. Social care, direct. Simultaneously, the democratic vacuum at the heart of The most recent polling, showing Labour ing and small businesses. That means more train fares, housing costs. global governance is being filled, without anything resembling pulling ahead again, will help to steady taxes, more debt, or more spending cuts These things matter and people need help consent, by international bureaucrats and corporate executives. nerves, but Labour knows it needs an eco- elsewhere. with them. An offer to cap energy prices, To me, the giant consumer goods company Unilever, with nomic policy that exposes the government’s No room for immediate help for the mid- rail or petrol prices, or to offer more child- which I clashed over the issue of palm oil a few days ago, sym- boasts of recovery as hollow, and proposes dle classes there. So Ed Milband’s focus on care, makes total sense. bolises these shifting relationships. It seems to have represen- an attractive alternative. the cost-of-living crisis and the “squeezed Except there’s one problem. That deficit tation almost everywhere. Its people inhabit (to name a few) Yet the next Labour government won’t middle” makes a lot of political sense. By hasn’t gone away. the British government’s Ecosystem Markets Task Force and have many levers to pull to do this. attacking broken markets and rip-off com- Price freezes and delivering better child Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, the International George Osborne’s policy of immediate panies, Labour can show that it can make and social care will offer real relief, but the Fund for Agricultural Development, the G8’s New Alliance for cuts in 2010 choked off the emerging recov- life better for families straight away, without middle classes are exposed to a spike in Food Security and Nutrition, the World Food Programme, the ery for almost three years. This means the spending money. interest rates, and acutely feel the burden Global Green Growth Forum, the UN’s Scaling Up Nutrition deficit is now almost twice as high as the But is this founded on a mistaken insight? of taxation, which may have to rise if we programme and the UN High Level Panel on global development. government had planned. Immediate fiscal New research from the Social Market don’t cut spending. Sometimes Unilever uses this power well. Its efforts to reduce contraction led to greater profligacy and Foundation suggests that the middle has What’s more, the crash has made voters its own use of energy and water and its production of waste, and more pain ahead. managed reasonably well in the recession, sceptical of government, of easy promises. to project these changes beyond its own walls, look credible and The government has responded by mak- and the real burden has been borne by the If fixing broken markets appears to these impressive. Sometimes its initiatives look to me like self-serving. ing life easier this year. poor. voters as a mere shell game, hiding bigger Sometimes it seems to play both ends of the game. For instance, it Yet many of the policies announced in Has middle England even faced a cost-of- deficits and tax increases behind empty says it is reducing the amount of salt and fat and sugar in its proc- the budget provide two or three years of living crisis in the first place? promises on living costs, they may prefer essed foods. But it also hosted and chaired, before the last election, comfort, with a bill to be presented after The answer is yes. The SMF report a tax cut in the hand to a price freeze in the Conservative party’s public health commission, which was seen the next election. The pain has been put makes clear that the middle classes have the bush. by health campaigners as an excuse for avoiding effective action off and fingers are crossed that a solution dealt with the recession by working longer The cost of living is a real issue. It is on obesity, poor diets and alcohol abuse. This body helped to purge will turn up. hours, making sure both partners have jobs, vital Labour addresses it. Yet it’s not the government policy of such threats as further advertising restric- The Institute for Fiscal Studies paints a cutting their costs on food and travel, and whole story, and perhaps that accounts for tions and the compulsory traffic-light labelling of sugar, salt and fat. gloomy picture of the state after the elec- spending less on leisure activities. Labour’s nervousness. The commission then produced a “responsibility deal” between tion. Savage spending cuts, higher taxes or The middle might have survived the THE GUARDIAN government and business, on the organising board of which Unilever still sits. Under this deal, the usual relationship between lobbyists and government is reversed. The corporations draft government policy, which is then sent to civil servants for com- ment. Regulation is replaced by voluntaryism. The Guardian has named Unilever as one of the companies that refused to sign the deal’s voluntary pledge on calorie reduction. This is not to suggest that everything these panels and alliances and boards and forums propose is damaging. But as the develop- ment writer Lou Pingeot points out, their analysis of the world’s problems is partial and self-serving, casting corporations as the saviours of the world’s people but never mentioning their role in causing many of the problems they claim to address. Most of their proposed solutions either require passivity from governments or the creation of a friendlier environment for business. At best, these corporate-dominated panels are mostly useless: preening sessions in which chief executives exercise messiah com- plexes. At their worst, they are a means by which global compa- nies reshape politics in their own interests, universalising their exploitative business practices. Almost every political agent is in danger of being loved to death by these companies. In February the Guardian signed a seven-figure deal with Unilever, which, the publisher claimed, is “centred on the shared values of sustainable living and open storytelling”. The deal launched an initiative called Guardian Labs, which will help brands find “more engaging ways to tell their story”. The Guardian points out that it has guidelines covering such sponsorship deals to ensure editorial independence. I recognise and regret the fact that all newspapers depend for their survival on corporate money. But this, to me, looks like another step down the primrose path. As the environmental campaigner Peter Gerhardt puts it, companies like Unilever “try to stakeholderise every conflict”. By this, I think, he means that they embrace their critics, involving them in a dialogue that is open in the sense that a lobster pot is open, breaking down critical distance and identity until no one knows who they are any more. Yes, I would prefer that companies were like Unilever rather than Goldman Sachs, Cargill or Exxon, in that it seems to have a keen sense of what a responsible company should do, even if it doesn’t always do it. But it would be better still if governments and global bodies stopped delegating their powers to corporations. They do not represent us and they have no right to run our lives. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Fears of Russia fuel European push for fracking BY GRIFF WITTE and energy sources — and fast. Europe’s reserves are only projects from moving beyond the two new energy deals involving Russia runs deep, public attitudes ANTHONY FAIOLA Cameron recently said that slightly less than those in the exploratory stage. Russian companies, including a toward fracking are more favour- Britain has a “duty” to frack, and United States, where there are An official of a fracking firm said continuing partnership between able. But the country’s experience urope’s newest weapon he expressed frustration that it believed to be 567 trillion cubic that even if all restrictions were the Russian giant Gazprom and a offers a cautionary tale. After four in the battle of wills hasn’t happened here as quickly feet and where a boom in pro- lifted tomorrow, it would take German company, Wintershall. years of experimentation, Poland with Russian President as it has in the United States. duction has sent energy prices about four years to deliver mean- Perhaps more important, the has little to show. At one point, EVladimir Putin lies bur- Achieving energy independence tumbling. Europe is also believed ingful levels of shale gas production. standoff with Russia over Ukraine Poland was believed to harbour ied deep beneath the ancient oaks from Russia, Cameron said, needs to have large quantities of shale Most analysts say a decade or more has done almost nothing to change vast reserves of shale gas that and rolling green pastures of this to be “a tier-one political issue.” oil, but the continent has more is likely. They note that the United the mind-set of opponents. They could have met domestic energy quintessentially English village. But for environmental- options to acquire oil than it does States began investing in shale 25 continue to view fracking as out needs for centuries. The estimates, There, wedged in the bedrock, ists, the rush to frack smells of for gas, which is more difficult to years ago and only recently began of step with the “green revolu- however, have since been revised lie vast quantities of oil and natu- rank opportunism and seems a transport and store. The focus of reaping the rewards. tion” that has brought an explo- sharply downward. Several compa- ral gas — enough, when combined discouraging turn away from the recent push has been on gas. Meanwhile, many nations in sion of solar, wind, biomass and nies awarded exploration licenses with the spoils of hundreds of other cleaner energy sources. It has also But extracting that gas is the Europe continue to struggle with other alternative energy sources have abandoned the country after sites like it, to help kick Europe’s unnerved local landowners, who tricky part. From a technical whether to invest in shale at all. in Germany. Before looking seri- determining that reserves were not addiction to Russian energy. Or so worry that the green and pleasant standpoint, hydraulic fracturing Few places better capture the ously at fracking, opponents insist, commercially viable. says David Cameron. lands of the British countryside involves drilling deep beneath the schizophrenic debate in Europe the government must first consider Nonetheless, the Ukraine cri- Ever since Russian forces took are about to be churned up in the Earth’s surface and injecting rock over fracking than Germany, other options, including more sis has spurred renewed efforts hold of Crimea last month, the name of combating the Russian formations with enough water, where there’s a de facto morato- renewable energy projects as well in Warsaw to get fracking off British prime minister has been menace. And yet, Britain is like sand and chemicals to force out rium on large-scale extraction of as the possible build-out of vast the ground. Last month, Prime leading a chorus of conservative North Dakota in one impor- the hydrocarbons. shale gas pending further envi- new terminals at German ports to Minister Donald Tusk proposed politicians and energy executives tant respect: There’s a lot of gas From a political standpoint, ronmental studies. With Germany receive liquefied natural gas from a six-year moratorium on special in a refrain they believe will spark down there, both in the United it means convincing authorities importing Russian natural gas the US, Qatar and other suppliers. taxes for the shale industry. a shale gas revolution in Europe: Kingdom and over vast stretches from the European Union on for roughly a third of its energy Virtually all the alternatives In Fernhurst, the idyllic Frack, baby, frack. of continental Europe. down to local planning commis- needs, Chancellor Angela Merkel would be far more expensive than English village that has become The push for a European boom Estimates of shale gas reserves sions that the gains of extraction recently raised the hopes of the continuing to import Russian gas a battleground in the fight over in fracking has been underway are notoriously imprecise, but are worth the environmental pro-fracking lobby. at a time when even the green- British fracking, many residents for years, but it has taken on new the US Energy Information cost — a challenge made all the But that is easier said than done. thinking German public has hope that time is on their side. urgency in recent weeks as fears Administration last year placed the more difficult by widespread pub- Germany has already committed begun to balk at soaring energy But they fear the opposite — that grow of a revival of the Cold War. amount of recoverable resources in lic scepticism. But even as the to phasing out nuclear energy over bills. Sensing an opening, long- because of the Ukraine crisis, the With Europe leaning on Russia Europe at nearly 470 trillion cubic national government moves full the next decade, complicating any time proponents say now is the government is more committed for a third of its natural gas feet — an amount that could light speed ahead, local authorities in push to drastically move away from time to push for fracking. Still, than ever to allowing the energy needs, the continent’s leaders say cities from London to Warsaw for Britain are far more tentative — Russian gas. Indeed, just last week, opposition remains fierce. companies to drill. they need to develop their own decades to come. and have kept British fracking Germany refrained from blocking In Poland, where mistrust of WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 12,189.69 0.22 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 18,131 0.22 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,851.32 0.27 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,125.52 0.08 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,964.23 0.35 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5409.18 -6.935 -0.13 5477.3 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,404.25 0.39 % QR153.9725 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4396.14 -39.94 -0.9 4496.54 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 4,268.37 0.17 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0497 QR 6.1348 QE All Share Insurance 3,009.85 0.89 % Dj Indu Average 16245.87 -166.84 -1.02 16631.6 14444.03 Euro ...... QR 4.9920 QR 5.0613 QE All Share Real Estate 2,344.5 0.36 % QR 2.3637 CA$ ...... QR 3.3025 QR 3.3669 QE All Share Telecoms 1,636.52 0.76 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 2,153.38 0.05 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0867 QR 4.1446 QE Market Summary Comparison Hang Seng Inde/D 22596.97 219.82 0.98 23469.33 21137.61 Yen ...... QR 0.0353 QR 0.0360 Today Previous day Aus$ ...... QR 3.3663 QR 3.4323 Iseq Overall/D 4946.12 -105.68 -2.09 5195.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 08-04-2014 07-04-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0601 QR 0.0613 Index 12,189.69 12,216.75 Karachi 100 In/D 28653.37 74.41 0.26 28625.35 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0368 QR 0.0375 Change 27.06 118.29 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0808 QR 0.0825 Nikkei 225 Index 14606.88 -201.97 -1.36 16164.01 13995.86 % 0.22 0.98 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 17.44 17.70 $ 106.40 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1897.28 1536.03 Taka ...... QR 0.0465 QR 0.0475 Volume 23,514,316 32,599,378 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0377 QR 0.0385 Value (QAR) 915,439,624.65 1,243,074,145.88 Straits Times/D 3204.09 10.5 0.33 3228.81 2953.01 Trades 11,886 13,266 $ 103.32 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3450 QR 0.3518 Up 18 | Down 20 | Unchanged 04 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 08-04-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1375 11.3 7813 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 61.25 0.15 10830 Hindalco-A/D 137.15 -0.5 540212 Lumax Ind-B/D 304.05 6.95 2935 Salora Inter-B/D 20.5 0.95 3260 Kingfisher/D 422.7 -7.1 2660790 Aban Offs-B/D 551.6 8.5 184583 Dhampur Sugar-/D 47.95 0.4 35436 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 896 0.9 23987 Lupin-A/D 960.9 -15.1 37296 Samtel-B/D 2.15 0.1 2200 Land Secs Grou/D 1008.7841 -16 417105 Aegis Logis-B/D 169.25 0.5 19812 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2602.4 -43.5 113336 I F C I-A/D 25 -0.35 490094 Lyka Labs-B/D 10.94 0.16 2166 Saur.Cem-B/D 19.85 0.9 16345 Legal & Genera/D 212.1 -4.3 9812322 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 130.6 4.75 19117 E I H-B/D 72 1.65 27328 Idbi-A/D 64.15 -1 151717 Mah.Seamless-B/D 229 2.3 4555 Savita Oil-B/D 510.45 33.1 9738 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 72.89 -2.61 95694847 Alembic-B/D 19.75 1.65 936722 E.I.D Parry-B/D 157.35 -0.1 34970 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 81.5 -1.85 2449 Mangalam Cem-B/D 128 2 6085 Thirumalai-B/D 91.75 -1.8 3290 Marks & Sp./D 444.07 -9 3923539 Alok Indus-B/D 7.93 0.13 1260906 Electrosteel-B/D 19.45 -0.5 79668 India Cement-B/D 66.15 0.6 64464 Maral Overs-B/D 19.7 0.1 5876 Timexgroup-B/D 9.89 -0.1 14821 Next/D 6420 -195 153156 Apollo Tyre-A/D 166.2 -1.05 294597 Pearson/D 1003.89 -22 728371 Emco-B/D 28.5 0.4 355917 India Glycol-B/D 96 -0.6 10211 Mastek-B/D 205.65 1.95 7982 Tinplate-B/D 50.55 -0.05 16533 Asahi I Glass-/D 61.05 2.4 7283 Prudential/D 1283.6884 -34.5 1545294 Escorts-B/D 122.75 -0.65 170211 Indian Hotel-A/D 75.55 0.45 54237 Max India L-A/D 200.5 -0.65 5058 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.74 0.45 3170 Ashok Leyland-/D 23.1 -0.4 319155 Rank Group/D 159 1.6 498115 Essar Oil-A/D 53.6 -1.15 394695 Indo-Bcount-B/D 43.3 2.65 42230 Mrpl-A/D 47.05 -0.35 77913 Ucal Fuel-B/D 57.2 5.05 60208 Ballarpur In-B/D 14.84 0.21 288734 Rentokil Initi/D 122.1 -2 778062 Eveready Indu-/D 45 -0.4 11915 Indusind-A/D 498.4 -3.7 29200 Nahar Spg.-B/D 104.05 -2.5 3686 Ucal Fuel-B/D 57.2 5.05 60208 Bannari Aman-B/D 950 0.05 20372 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1044.13 -25 1797178 Bata India-A/D 1085.35 -11.15 5635 F D C-B/D 134.3 -3.8 29437 J.B.Chemical-B/D 137.05 1.55 209018 Nation Alum -A/D 39.1 -0.4 28408 Ultramarine-B/D 53.95 1.15 5019 Rsa Insrance G/D 93.2 -0.75 11269497 Beml Ltd-B/D 326.95 -7.75 66455 Federal Bank-A/D 93 -1.45 168629 Jbf Indu-B/D 90.05 -2.1 5688 Navneet Edu-B/D 59.9 -2 12032 Unitech P -A/D 15.35 -0.01 4984380 Sainsbury(J)/D 304.5 -5.5 7178872 Bh Electronic-/D 1105.05 -29.95 3107 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.73 0.11 26529 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.41 -0.02 49901 Nepc India-B/D 2.99 0.14 21350 Univcable-T/D 29.4 1.4 25550 Schroders/D 2618 -52 181914 Bhartiya Int-B/D 216.05 -3.1 12773 Finolex-B/D 202.6 2.25 600311 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.21 -0.13 112767 O N G C-A/D 325.55 -0.05 72920 Severn Trent/D 1803 -13 143593 Bhel-A/D 177.85 -6.1 355904 Forbes-B/D 496 -4 3250 Jik Indust-T/D 0.8 -0.04 5710 Ocl India-B/D 180.3 0.35 5261 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 899 -11.5 1174932 Bom.Burmah-B/D 104.1 -2.2 13584 Gail-A/D 364.6 2 27872 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 185.15 2.8 104397 Oil Country-B/D 38.9 -0.55 15786 Smiths Group/D 1223 -2 578136 Bombay Dyeing-/D 63.8 0.25 438138 Gammon India-B/D 16.4 0.85 73138 Jmc Projects-B/D 96.8 6.65 10003 Orchid Chem-B/D 55.6 -0.55 76473 3I Group/D 382.1 -9.8 422668 Standrd Chart /D 1273 18 2692888 Canfin Homes-B/D 206.2 1.1 2301 Gangotri Tex-B/D 0.92 0.04 5200 Kabra Extr-B/D 34.95 2.45 3039 Orient Hotel-B/D 17.7 -0.3 12292 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2648 -105 872813 Tate & Lyle/D 654.93 -0.5 685011 B Sky B/D 879.5 -17 720832 Caprihans-B/D 40.9 -2.2 4767 Goodricke-B/D 148.55 -5.6 21025 Kalpat Power-B/D 99 0.95 48670 Orient.Carb.-B/D 162.95 -4.8 7185 Tesco/D 281.1 -2.2 12058327 Barclays/D 235.088 -6.85 17491087 Cast.Bo/D 305.55 -3.25 20082 Goodyear I -B/D 427.4 2.65 12806 Kalyani Stel-B/D 64.65 0.05 46020 Orient.Carb.-B/D 162.95 -4.8 7185 Unilever/D 2574 37 1701810 Bg Group/D 1126 -15.5 1419612 Century Enka-B/D 147.15 2 15071 Hcl Infosys-B/D 44.7 2.1 2275162 Kanoria Chem-B/D 30.9 1.45 4580 Punjab Chem.-B/D 75.5 -0.95 3506 United Util Gr/D 774.125 -13.5 646927 Century Text-A/D 372.3 -2.7 51302 Bp/D 480.65 -4.2 5082674 Vodafone Group/D 214.861 -2.8 24838177 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 9.05 -0.09 375517 Kg Denim-B/D 14.5 0.33 6385 Radico Khait-B/D 144.8 -1.85 32967 Chambal Fert-B/D 42.25 1.05 68775 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3345 16.5 1143133 Whitbread/D 4068.9 -96 130090 Himat Seide-B/D 57.05 1.05 16984 Kilburnengg-B/D 22 0.8 3713 Rallis India-B/D 166.5 -3.5 17757 Chowgule St-T/D 12 0.56 3299 Bt Group/D 363 -12 14519730 Hind Motors-B/D 7.64 0.03 24811 Kopran-B/D 25.55 -0.25 44251 Rallis India-B/D 166.5 -3.5 17757 Cipla-A/D 396.65 -7.45 112160 Centrica/D 334 -0.8 6543860 Hind Org Chem-/D 12.01 -0.32 4228 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 230.8 -3.45 2476 Reliance Indus/D 410.9 1.5 82234 City Union Bk-/D 51.05 -1.25 24465 Gkn/D 376.778 -13 2397504 Colgate-A/D 1388.8 -1.55 5468 Hind Unilever-/D 604.5 0.25 33539 Lgb Broth-B/D 437.4 15.95 10179 Ruchi Soya-B/D 33.35 0.35 59464 Hsbc Holdings/D 607.5 1.3 14770813 Container Cor-/D 905 -9.85 14776 Hind.Petrol-A/D 307 -7.35 77758 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 16.22 1.47 639550 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 327 -7.95 7525 Imperial Tobac/D 2373 -27 706461 WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Yankees beat Orioles 4-2 in home opener MLB: Kansas City Royals defeat Tampa Bay Rays

NEW YORK: Feted by fans Britain’s Mo Farah in front of Tower Bridge during a photocall ahead and celebrated by team-mates of the London Marathon in London yesterday. throughout his final opening day in the Bronx, Derek Jeter hardly felt as if he was starting his 20th Farah faces marathon big league season at home. Jeter gave Yangervis Solarte some assistance with Yankee Stadium tradition, then the baptism of fire rookie helped make the captain a winner yesterday as New York NAIROBI: Britain’s double the one hour mark for 21.1km beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Olympic and world champion (13.1 miles), something his com- in their Major League Baseball Mo Farah makes his eagerly- petitors manage on a regular games. awaited marathon debut in basis. Missing from the win was new London on Sunday, but has his Mutai, who regularly trains Yankees closer David Robertson. work cut out with the jump-in with Kipsang, will also be racing He strained his groin and will be distance and competition from London and will also be a fear- placed on the 15-day disabled list. top Kenyans and Ethiopians. some competitor having won the Jeter doubled high off the left- Kenya’s elite runners say they New York marathon twice, as field wall, nearly getting thrown have little to fear from the new- well as Berlin and Boston, where out at second after he started out comer to the distance, predict- he clocked an unofficial world in a home run trot before turn- ing a baptism of fire for Farah best of 2:03.02. ing up the speed, and scored on as he grapples with uncharted Still, Mutai said the Somalia- Jacoby Ellsbury’s first hit in pin- racing territory coupled with born Farah will be something of stripes in the fifth. Hiroki Kuroda seasoned marathon veterans a dark horse in the pack. (1-1) pitched 6 1-3 sharp innings setting a punishing pace. “He’s actually very fit and in the Yankees’ 112th opener in The 32-year-old 5,000 and he will give us a big push in New York. Behind the strong 10,000m track star spent the London,” Mutai said, adding: pitching of John Lackey and a St Louis Cardinals Peter Bourjos breaks his bat as he hits a single in the first inning against the Cincinnati better part of the winter train- “We are ready for his challenge.” pair of RBI singles from young Reds on opening day at Busch Stadium in St Louis yesterday. ing in Kenya’s high-altitude Rift Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., the Valley region in a bid to raise his Mutai, another rival who holds Red Sox ended a three-game los- game and compete against the the London marathon course ing streak with a victory over the Bradley, a center fielder playing three outs in the ninth. the first inning and the Cardinals world’s best. record of 2:04.40, said Farah’s Texas Rangers. right field with Shane Victorino on Royals shortstop Alcides (4-3) built a 5-1 lead and held Leading the elite field is only hope would be if the Lackey (2-0) turned in his the disabled list, had three hits and Escobar drove in three runs, on in the ninth where the Reds Kenyan Wilson Kipsang, who Kenyans and Ethiopians set out second consecutive strong start delivered his run-scoring singles matching his career best, with a (2-5) scored twice. The Oakland holds the world record after at too fast a pace and hit the of the young season, working in the second and fourth innings bases-clearing double in the sixth. Athletics pounded out early runs clocking a spectacular 2:03.23 wall — repeating what happened seven innings and yielding a run against right-hander Tanner Left-hander C J Wilson carried to blow by the Minnesota Twins in Berlin last year and has won a year ago. (unearned) on five hits. A passed Scheppers (0-1). The Red Sox and a shutout into the eighth inning for a victory. London in 2012. Observers of “I’m only hoping the runners ball helped set up Texas’ lone run. Rangers are both 3-4 on the season. and the Angels provided early run Yoenis Cespedes had an RBI the sport see Farah as being do not try to break each other Left-hander Jason Vargas support in a win that clinched the double in the second inning, and capable of running a time of down in the fight for the lead allowed one run on four hits four-game series for Los Angeles. Alberto Callaspo added one in the around 2:06. during the early part of the race Baseball Results over eight innings as the Kansas Raul Ibanez had three RBIs to third where Oakland (4-3) took “It’s not going to be easy (for like we did last year, to our own NY Yankees 4 Baltimore 2 City Royals defeated the Tampa lead the Angels (3-4) who built an a 5-1 lead and held on the rest of Farah) and he’s not likely to detriment,” he said. LA Angels 9 Houston 1 Bay Rays. Vargas lost his shut- 8-0 advantage over Houston (3-4) the way. Scott Kazmir tossed six win,” Kipsang said. Early pace-setting will be Oakland 8 Minnesota 3 out bid in the ninth, when sec- en route to victory. innings and allowed three runs Farah caused a scare last provided on Sunday by the leg- ond baseman Ben Zobrist led Michael Wacha tossed six to improve to 2-0 on the season. St Louis 5 Cincinnati 3 month when he collapsed endary Haile Gebrselassie of off the inning with a home run. strong innings, allowing just one The Rockies beat the Chicago after the New York City Half Ethiopia, who is under instruc- Boston 5 Texas 1 Greg Holland replaced Vargas run, to lead the St. Louis Cardinals White Sox as Jordan Lyles Marathon, in which he came in tion to take the athletes through Kansas City 4 Tampa Bay 2 after the homer and yielded over the Cincinnati Reds. Yadier allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. second behind Kenya’s Geoffrey the first 30km at the world Colorado 8 Chicago White Sox 1 another run before getting the Molina hit a three-run home run in AGENCIES Mutai and failed again to break record pace. AFP

Connecticut NBA: Three teams tame Wildcats have chance for to clinch title NEW YORK: Connecticut’s experience trumped Kentucky’s youth as the Huskies prevailed final play-off with a 60-54 NCAA national championship victory yester- NEW YORK: Time is quickly Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, day that completed a turna- running out for the few teams Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee round for the recently penalised desperately trying to extend Bucks have been mathematically programme. their NBA seasons after the eliminated from the postseason. Connecticut missed last year’s Houston Rockets, Portland In the West, Houston secured a NCAA tournament, banned from Trail Blazers and Charlotte play-off spot for the second con- the post-season after failing to Bobcats all punched their play- secutive year following Saturday’s meet academic standards, but off tickets over the weekend. win over an Oklahoma City they restored order this season Three teams still have a math- Thunder team that is considered as they surged to a second title ematical chance at securing the one of the contenders for the in four years. eighth and final play-off seed in National Basketball Association Senior Shabazz Napier, one of the Eastern Conference but it title. three players who were also a part is essentially a two-horse race Portland advanced to the of the 2011 championship team, Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) is congratulated by defenceman Ben Lovejoy after the game between the Atlanta Hawks and postseason for the first time in scored 22 points and was named against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. New York Knicks. three seasons following Sunday’s the Most Outstanding Player of In the Western Conference, home win over the New Orleans the Final Four, which was played four teams are battling down the Pelicans. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, stretch for the final three of eight They joined the first-seed San Texas. playoff spots with nine days left Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re Gibson shines as Ducks end in the regular season. and Los Angeles Clippers as West looking at the hungry Huskies,” Charlotte’s overtime victory teams that are headed to the Napier told reporters. “This is over Cleveland on Saturday postseason that opens on April 19. what happens when you ban us.” gave them their second Eastern The West’s Minnesota Point guard Napier’s poise Canucks’ play-off hopes Conference playoff berth in the Timberwolves, Denver down the stretch helped over- team’s 10-year history, and first Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, come the tenacious young since 2010. Sacramento Kings, Los Angels Kentucky team. VA NCOU V ER: Anaheim been out of the playoff picture The Hawks entered the week- Lakers and Utah Jazz have all He set up DeAndre Daniels’ Ducks rookie goaltender John NHL Results for a while, but that did not stop end outside the playoff bubble but been eliminated from playoff layup that gave Connecticut Gibson posted a shutout in Vancouver 0 Anaheim 3 them from dealing a serious blow got two wins, including one on contention. a 58-52 edge with under three his first career start as the Winnipeg 0 Minnesota 1 to the postseason hopes of the Sunday against the second-seed That leaves the Golden State minutes left before the Huskies Ducks blanked the Vancouver New Jersey 0 Calgary 1 New Jersey Devils. Indiana Pacers, to overtake the Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, closed it out at the free throw Canucks. Gibson, a 20-year- Defenseman Mark Giordano New York Knicks for eighth place Phoenix Suns and Memphis line. old Pittsburgh native, recorded scored a power-play goal early in with six games to play. Grizzlies left to determine the James Young scored 20 to lead 18 saves as the Ducks (51-20- the Wild improved to 41-26-12 the third period and goaltender Atlanta have three fewer losses field for the West playoffs. Kentucky, a program that boasts 8) moved within a point of the to move seven points up on the Karri Ramo was flawless with 31 than the ninth-place Knicks, who Golden State are seeded sixth five freshmen in their starting Western Conference-leading St. Dallas Stars and all but solidify saves as the Flames defeated the have four games left, and a two- in the tight West standings, 1-1/2 lineup and took the college bas- Louis Blues. a wild-card spot in the Western Devils 1-0 at Prudential Center. game lead overall. They are also games behind fifth-place Portland ketball tournament by storm by The Canucks (35-33-11) saw Conference. The loss leaves the Devils (34- four games up on the 10th-seed and 1-1/2 games ahead of seventh- reaching the final. their slim play-off hopes finally The Russian-born goalie back- 29-16) three points behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who only place Dallas. They fell behind by 15 points end as they were eliminated from stopped the Wild to a 4-0 triumph Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold have three games to play. Phoenix, coming off Sunday’s in the first half but clawed their postseason contention. over the Pittsburgh Penguins on the final playoff spot in the East. The two-time defending cham- win over Oklahoma City, are a way back to trail just 35-31 at Minnesota goalie Ilya Bryzgalov Saturday night. He is now 6-0-3 The Blue Jackets have a game pion Miami Heat, Pacers, Toronto further half-game back in eight halftime. registered his second straight since being acquired from the in hand and will play today and Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn place while the Grizzlies, who Kentucky were never able to shutout as the Wild slipped out Edmonton Oilers in early March. tomorrow before the Devils’ Nets and Washington Wizards reached the conference finals last take the lead but hung tough of town with a victory over the Charlie Coyle scored the lone next game in Ottawa against the are the other East team’s to have year, are one game back of the down the stretch where they Winnipeg Jets. goal of the game in the second Senators. clinched playoff berths. eighth seed. trailed by just four in the final Bryzgalov made 24 saves as period. The Calgary Flames have REUTERS The East’s Detroit Pistons, REUTERS minute. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Adam Scott to launch Masters defence with Dufner, Fitzpatrick British Open champion Mickelson to join South African Ernie Els and England’s Justin Rose

AUGUSTA, US: Defending champion Adam Scott will join the most recent major winner, Jason Dufner, and Britain’s Matthew Fitzpatrick for the first two rounds of the 78th Masters in groups announced yesterday. Scott, who last year became the first Australian to win a green jacket at Augusta National when he captured his first major title, is traditionally joined by the reign- ing US Amateur champion, who is Fitzpatrick. This time he will be joined by American Dufner, who won his first major title last August at the PGA Championship by holding off Jim Furyk in the final holes. The trio will tee off tomorrow morning at 10:41 (1441 GMT) with two-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in the group directly behind them. McIlroy, a Masters favorite with British oddsmakers this week, will be joined at 10:52 am tomorrow by first-time Masters Adam Scott of Australia speaks with the media prior to the start of the Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland participants Jordan Spieth and 2014 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, (top) and Jason Dufner of the Patrick Reed, both Americans. Georgia, in the US yesterday. US hit shot during a practice The opening round’s last few round. groups also feature some prime contenders, with Aussie Jason his 38th Masters start while his his preparations for the season’s Day joined at 1:04 pm by Sweden’s son Kevin makes his Masters opening major. the play-off bonus of $10m. Two Henrik Stenson and American debut alongside John Huh and “But we are in decent shape. months later, he won Dubai’s DP Dustin Johnson. Welshman Ian Woosnam in Putting has been a little bit off World Tour Championship to Spain’s Sergio Garcia, Britain’s tomorrow’s second group off the maybe the last couple of weeks, end 2013 as the European Tour’s Luke Donald and American first tee. but that doesn’t matter, because number one. Bubba Watson, the 2012 Masters Had this week’s Masters been you don’t need to putt well around Asked whether he had a more winner, are in the next group. staged last November, Henrik Augusta, right?” said the Swede, positive mindset heading into this Two groups behind them are Stenson would have been an who is known for his dry wit. week’s Masters because of his Swede Peter Hanson, American overwhelming favourite to win The interview room erupted in 2013 successes, Stenson replied: “I Keegan Bradley and Frenchman his first major title after produc- laughter, every reporter in there don’t think I questioned my ability Victor Dubuisson. ing a barn-storming finish to his knowing full well the importance even before last year of being able Reigning British Open cham- 2013 campaign. of a razor-sharp short game at to win some good tournaments. pion Phil Mickelson, a three-time Five months on, though, the Augusta National to negotiate the “That was the one thing I Masters winner, will join South Swedish world number three has heavily contoured greens. really felt after winning the (PGA African Ernie Els and England’s very carefully played down his “So that would be the one area Tour’s) Players Championship in Justin Rose, the reigning US chances of clinching a maiden vic- where I need to spend a little bit ‘09 is that it was no different Open champion, in the penulti- tory at Augusta National, mainly of extra time these last couple of some good preparation Monday, the back nine. If you’re up on that really on that Sunday afternoon mate group tomorrow. due to his mediocre record at the days here,” said Stenson, a four- and Tuesday last week, so I don’t leaderboard on Sunday afternoon, the way I played and then han- The first father-son duo to venue and a less than impressive times winner on the PGA Tour really feel like it’s going to be you’re always in with a chance.” dled myself. “The guys that I beat play in the same Masters, Craig start to this year. who has recorded one top 10 on down to knowledge or not pre- Many golf fans will be keeping a would be no different compared to and Kevin Stadler, will not play “When you’re coming to a big the US circuit this season in six paring here on site if I don’t have close eye on the Swede this week winning a major championship. I together. tournament like this one, you starts. a good week. after his remarkably successful know that if I do the right things, Craig, the 1982 Masters win- always want to play a little bit “My game could be better; it “Just go out there and try and campaign last year. In September, I can beat most of them, or all of ner, will play alongside fellow better and be a little bit more could be worse. But experience- play solid and keep patient for Stenson triumphed twice on the them, and it’s just about being up American Scott Stalling and prepared,” Stenson told report- wise, I’ve played this tourna- three, three-and-a-half days, PGA Tour on the way to clinch- there (in contention).” Germany’s Martin Kaymer in ers yesterday before continuing ment so many times and I had and hopefully have a chance on ing FedExCup honours along with AGENCIES Formula One still has a licence to thrill

LONDON: Those who feared duelling down the field, demon- Federation (FIA) president Jean the wheels were about to fall off strated that the sport is still in Todt, attending his first race of Formula One had better think full possession of its licence to the season, met the major play- again. thrill and eager to use it. ers while commercial supremo The sport has come in for a fuel Hamilton’s win, after being Bernie Ecclestone told reporters tank full of criticism lately, much chased by his team mate all the public wanted change and it of it self-inflicted, but Sunday’s evening in a wheel-to-wheel bat- had to happen. Bahrain Grand Prix broke the tle that left them separated by The sound will be altered, with negative spiral with a race that barely a second at the finish, pro- a general agreement to come up lit up the track in more ways than vided the perfect riposte to the with a way of raising the decibels one. critics. after the first European race in The cars were too quiet and not “That made me happier than Spain next month, but Sunday quick enough, likened ludicrously anything really,” commented evening gave Formula One some- to golf buggies with cautious ‘taxi Mercedes technical head Paddy thing else to shout about. drivers’ more preoccupied with Lowe as he celebrated his team’s For that, Mercedes must take saving fuel and sparing the tyres third win in three races this sea- much of the credit by allowing than overtaking. son and second successive one- their drivers to race each other Listening to some people, rac- two finish. all the way rather than forcing ing had become boring and the “It’s a great result for Mercedes them to back off with the sort of glamour sport had lost its mojo. and the team, but more than that dreaded ‘team orders’ that kill the Or maybe not. it’s a great result for Formula One contest. “Unless I am very much mis- because there has been so much Lowe said there had never been taken,” as retired British televi- negative stuff going on around, a moment’s thought about it. sion commentator Murray ‘pants generated perhaps by some of our “Mercedes-Benz has a very on fire’ Walker would no doubt competitors putting in doubt the long history in motorsport and I Mercedes AMG Petronas drivers Lewis Hamilton (right) celebrates on the podium with his team-mate Nico have opined had he been at the nature of this new formula.” think this is just part of the phi- Rosberg after winning the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir Circuit in Manama on Sunday. microphone on Sunday night at Only hours before the race, losophy that we want to follow,” the floodlit Sakhir circuit: Ferrari president Luca Di he said. “And I AM very much Montezemolo - whose cars have “I think it’s the spirit of entertainment and excitement pulling away again rapidly once it Predictable? Not a bit of it. mistaken...” plenty of catching up to do and Formula One and motor racing for all of us. That’s what it’s all came in. Such domination might “It was a massive fight out After a dull race in Malaysia slunk home ninth and 10th - had generally. Team orders, putting in about,” he said. be a recipe for boredom but with there and that’s what I’m here for. the previous weekend, Sunday sauntered into the Sakhir cir- artificial constraints, is just such Mercedes had won comfortably two evenly-matched drivers going For racing like that,” said Rosberg was suddenly showtime again. cuit to hold forth in front of the a terrible thing for the entertain- enough in Australia and Malaysia wheel-to-wheel, this year could on Sunday night. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes television cameras. He referred ment, the spectacle. but Bahrain showed just how really be back to the future and a “I think it was a good day for team-mate Nico Rosberg seized again to the famous ‘taxi drivers’ “So we believe that we should much of a performance advantage classic in the making. the sport, which is important, the sport by the scruff of the neck and spoke firmly of the need to let the guys race, particularly in a the team have. In 1988, during the last turbo because of recent little bits of and, in a superbly illuminated bring back the lost ‘music’ of the situation where we have a pretty Hamilton and Rosberg were era, McLaren team mates Alain criticism. I think they (the crit- night race, gave it full throttle. engines and allow flat-out racing dominant car - it’s become clear in a race of their own, almost a Prost and Ayrton Senna won ics) are all going to be rather And some. from lights to chequered flag. of that now- it’s all the more minute clear of the rest before all but one race between them quiet tomorrow — which is a very They, and other team mates International Automobile important to keep providing that the safety car was deployed and in an epic title battle. Boring? good thing.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Don’t crucify Yuvraj for T20 final flop: Tendulkar MUMBAI: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar has come out strongly in support of the beleaguered Yuvraj Singh after the left-hander’s poor performance with the bat during India’s loss to Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final on Sunday. Yuvraj has been made something of a scapegoat for India’s defeat after he used up 21 deliveries to score 11 runs, which robbed his side of momentum towards the end of their innings. The 32-year-old, who hit England’s Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the 2007 World Twenty20 and was the architect of India’s 50-over World Cup win in 2011, looked a pale shadow of himself, even struggling to rotate the strike. “It is the unpredictable nature of the game that makes cricket such an exciting sport,” Tendulkar, who retired from the game last November, said in a post on his Facebook page. “As cricketers, we always enjoy the applause when we succeed but it is the support and encouragement from fans, during tough times, that we appreciate the most.” Yuvraj was the focal point of all discussions in the cricket-crazy country after the Indian juggernaut in Bangladesh came to a screeching halt on Sunday with a six-wicket hammering by Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. There were even reports in the local media that Yuvraj’s house in Chandigarh was pelted with stones by angry fans. Tendulkar, the most prolific international run-scorer and one of the country’s greatest unifiers, reminded the fans of Yuvraj’s past contributions. “All of us took pride in the heroics of Yuvi when we won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and his outstanding contribution in the ODI World Cup win in 2011 will always be cherished,” he wrote. “Last evening (Sunday), Yuvi had a tough day and he can be criti- cised. But he should not be crucified nor should he be written off.” Yuvraj, who has not been part of India’s test and 50-over sides Sri Lankan Twenty20 cricket captain Lasith Malinga (second left) offers a piece of cake to President Mahinda Rajapakse during a welcoming cer- in the recent past, made an emotional return to the game in 2012 emony at the Presidential Residency in Colombo yesterday. after a lengthy fight with a rare germ cell cancer in his lungs. The diagnosis came after he endeared the whole nation with his all-round performances in the 2011 World Cup, when he was named the player of the tournament as India triumphed on home soil. He later dedicated the victory to Tendulkar, his mentor. Tendulkar backed Yuvraj to come out even stronger after the latest setback. “I have been an admirer of Yuvi’s indomitable Spirit which has overcome many challenges, both on and off the field,” Tendulkar Celebrations marred added. Pakistan was offered ‘Big by retirement row Four’ role: Chairman LAHORE: Pakistan’s cricket chief Najam Sethi has said his pred- ecessor spurned an offer by India to join the so-called “big three” during a major reorganisation of the game’s administration. World Twenty20 champions return to warm welcome The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was initially one of three countries which opposed the revamp of the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved by members in February. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s team tournament may be his final T20 players and the board over pay along with photos of fans who The move handed the majority of the powers and revenues to the flew home in triumph yester- appearance, had been taken as and conditions. mobbed the airport and the “big three” of the game — India, Australia and England. day to a huge street party after notice of his intention to retire, There was no immediate com- streets to greet him and the rest Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting on the reforms, winning the world Twenty20 and based on that he had been ment from the cricket board, but of the team. but since then Sri Lanka have hinted they will sign the draft. tournament, but celebrations criticised by a cricket board an official had earlier criticised The met office had forecast Sethi, who will attend the ICC meeting in Dubai on April 9-10, were marred by controversy official. “I am disappointed and both senior players for allegedly thunder showers in Colombo, said Pakistan were offered a seat at the table but declined. over the retirements of Mahela hurt that an official went public going public about their retire- but the weather was holding up “The big three of the ICC had invited Pakistan to be part of a Jayawardene and Kumar criticising us without first ask- ment plans without prior notice as the team was driven at a snail’s ‘big four’ plan but the administration under former PCB chairman Sangakkara. ing us whether we actually made to the board. pace to meet President Mahinda Zaka Ashraf refused the offer, to the detriment of the country,” Tens of thousands of fans lined those remarks,” he told report- On the eve of the finals with Rajapakse. Sethi said as he was preparing to leave late on Monday. the street from the main inter- ers shortly after landing. “I agree India, the board announced a Fans waved national flags and “In the cricketing scenario, currently there are eight countries at national airport to downtown with what he says,” Sangakkara million dollar bonus for the team cheered as the team bus escorted one side and Pakistan at the other. The ICC doesn’t need Pakistan Colombo, a distance of 35km, added. if it could finally shed its repu- by hundreds of motorcycles and after the rejection of such a rare offer.” causing traffic chaos across the Both said they had been uncer- tation for “choking” in major cars passed by. It was the biggest Reacting to the claims, Ashraf confirmed an offer was floated at one capital as the heroes passed by in tain whether they would play in tournaments. street party since government stage but said it was never a firm commitment. “They did offer us to a motorcade. the World T20 tournament until Sri Lanka hosted but lost the forces crushed Tamil Tiger rebels join the group but when I went to attend the ICC meeting in February Sangakkara and Jayawardene, a few hours before they were due last World T20 tournament in in May 2009. The victory on India stepped back from its offer, claiming two other members of the both former skippers, told report- to leave for Bangladesh. 2012, and were defeated in the Sunday night in Dhaka came 18 body — Australia and England — are not ready to admit Pakistan as ers at the airport there were seri- Sources close to the players said final of the 2007 and 2011 50-over years after Sri Lanka’s triumph a fourth member,” he said. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ous disagreements about their they did not finalise their employ- World Cups. Sangakkara was in in the 50-over World Cup, which sacked Ashraf two days after the “big three” reforms were approved, retirement from T20 cricket. ment contracts with the cricket celebratory mood despite grum- had been followed by a series of reappointing Sethi who himself was suspended by Islamabad high Jayawardene said his remarks board until the eve of their depar- bles with the board. “Its going defeats in the finals of major tour- court in January over alleged irregularities in his appointment. AFP to a local newspaper, that the ture, following disputes between to be a massive day,” he tweeted, naments. AFP

US Clay Court Matfield back Championship Ivorian striker Lacina Traoré as injury toll Results mounts for Bulls Results from the ATP Tour’s US chooses Aspetar for treatment CAPE TOWN: Lock Victor Clay Court Championship yes- Matfield has been drafted back terday (x denotes seeding): into the Bulls side to face the First Round: Dustin Brown (GER) bt Rhyne DOHA: Ivorian striker Lacina Aspetar.” Otago Highlanders in Dunedin Williams (USA) 6-1, 6-2; Jack Sock (USA) bt Traoré is currently receiv- Mathis Bolly is a 23-year old on Friday, a week after it was Ivo Karlovic (CRO x8) 6-1, 6-4; Sam Querrey ing treatment at Aspetar for Ivorian who plays as an offen- announced the former South (USA) bt Alex Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 a thigh injury sustained whilst sive midfielder or winger. He is Africa captain would travel to (8/6); Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) bt Marcos playing for Everton Football considered as one of the fastest New Zealand and Australia as Baghdatis (CYP) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Club. players in the world, according a coach only. Traoré, who joined the English to FIFA records, while his col- The 36-year-old returned to Premier League team on loan league Lacina Traore is consid- Super Rugby this season in a bid Casablanca Open from Monaco, is under close ered the tallest at 2.03 metres. to gain selection for next year’s supervision by Aspetar experts According to the agreement Rugby World Cup, but the deci- Men’s Singles in order to make a full recovery signed between the Ivorian sion had been made to rest him before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Football Federation and Aspetar, for the four-match tour. Results from the Casablanca in Brazil. the hospital will provide a first- However, injuries to loose Open Men’s Singles Round 1 Although given the option of rate medical team to the Ivorian forwards Deon Stegmann matches yesterday: various European hospitals, the National Team at the World Cup. and Dewald Potgieter in last Victor Hanescu (Romania) bt Hicham Khaddari striker chose Aspetar for his Traoré is the third Ivorian The expert line-up includes Saturday’s 25-20 loss to the (Morocco) 7-6(3), 6-3; Albert Ramos (Spain) bt treatment. “I came to Aspetar player this year to choose Dr Cristiano Eirale, an Aspetar Wellington Hurricanes means a Lamine Ouahab (Morocco) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1; Filip due to my personal convictions Aspetar for treatment. Sports Medicine Physician recall for Matfield, who will part- Peliwo (Canada) bt Filippo Volandri (Italy) 7-6(6), and the wonderful global repu- and former doctor for Inter ner current international Flip van 6-3; Roberto Carballes (Spain) bt David Goffin tation the hospital has gained,” Milan, and Aspetar Head der Merwe in the second row. (Belgium) 6-2, 7-5. said Traoré. pitch with Everton in the com- include Trabzonspor defender Physiotherapist for the Qatar “Victor and Flip are a winning “I had been suffering with my ing weeks in addition to securing Souleymane ‘Sol’ Bamba and Football National Team Pascal combination for us,” coach Frans injury for a month but once my a place on the Ivorian National Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder Roche, who previously worked Ludeke told reporters in a telecon- Bogota WTA treatment at Aspetar began, Team, which is set to play at Mathis Bolly. for Paris Saint-Germain. ference. “They have a lot of expe- I started to feel much bet- the World Cup this summer – a Mathis Bolly expressed his Aspetar has also been pro- rience and have played together a Results ter and have even regained my dream since he began playing for deep satisfaction for the treat- viding the Algerian Football lot before. We know we can put confidence.” Abobo Football Club in his home ment he received at Aspetar in National Selection with medical pressure on the opposition ball this Results from the first day of He added, “Aspetar has amaz- country. March, emphasising the immense care since 2010. weekend.” Ludeke said before the the WTA Copa Claro Colsanitas ing capabilities - I was not aware Under an agreement signed capabilities the hospital has. Dr Hakim Chalabi, Acting tour that it had been negotiated (x denotes seeding): of it before. Aspetar is the best earlier this year, Aspetar con- “I spent three pleasant weeks Chief Medical Officer and on Matfield’s return that he would First Round: Alexandra Panova (RUS) bt sports hospital, and there is tinues to provide the Ivory at Aspetar, after feeling very low Executive Director of the not play in the overseas matches Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2; really no comparison with the Coast National Team with top due to my injury,” said Mathis. National Sports Medicine as the franchise were cautious of Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) bt Karin Knapp rest. It has an experienced and medical care. Traoré is the third “I went to Aspetar as per the Program, will personally super- overworking the 2007 World Cup (ITA x3) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4); Lourdes Domínguez professional medical staff, in Ivorian player this year to choose request of the Ivorian Football vise the medical teams attached winner, who won 110 Springbok (ESP x8) bt Teliana Pereira (BRA) 6-2, 6-4; addition to state-of-the-art Aspetar for treatment. Association, and I was greatly to Algeria and Ivory Coast prior caps. The Pretoria-based side Vania King (USA x6) bt Tadeja Majeric (SLO) equipment. I am truly amazed.” Players who have previously surprised. I have returned to to and during the 2014 FIFA also play the New South Wales 6-1, 7-5; Irina Khromacheva (RUS) bt Olivia The striker is adamant that received treatment at the Doha- training and I feel no pain now. World Cup in Brazil. Waratahs and Western Force on Rogowska (AUS) 6-2, 6-2. he will make a return to the based sports medical hospital I am happy to have chosen THE PENINSULA the tour, and are sixth in the 15 team competition. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Qatar football squad members warm-up before their training session in this file photo take in Doha in June 2013. Qatar have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals.

“At QFA, we seek 2022 World Cup host Qatar a better future for all the clubs. We need to be on solid ground in terms game to back home-grown talent development and player skills. That’s our goal until we We want Qatari players to challenge the best, says QFA President reach the year 2021.” BY RIZWAN REHMAT The QFA President added: “Look at Lekhwiya or Al Wakra. DOHA: Qatar, hosts of the 2022 Their performances dipped and “QFA urges clubs FIFA World Cup, is embarking they couldn’t perform like they to undertake the on an ambitious plan to harness used to during certain stages of home-grown talent on and off the season. All in all, it was a responsibility of the pitch, the country’s football good experience to have 14 teams chief said yesterday. in QSL.” launching workshops, QFA President Sheikh Hamad The QFA chief said QSL sides bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani must revive the never-say-die seminars and said the game’s ruling body is spirit to get positive results. set to tweak rules that would “We want them to compete to Qatar striker interactive chat encourage investment on Qatari win. We want them to do well Khalfan sessions with fans fringe players and stop clubs from in the Asian Champions League Ibrahim (right) splurging on foreign imports. (ACL),” Sheikh Hamad said. gets into an that includes senior Qatar, currently ranked 101 on “This promotion-relegation argument with the FIFA computer, has never business is based on the club’s Malaysia’s citizens and young qualified for the World Cup own performances,” Sheikh Shafiq bin finals despite signing top names Hamad said. “It is like punish- Rahim during children and members like Bruno Metsu and Philippe ing your own children when they their 2015 of the media.” Troussier as coaches over the last behave badly. You are not actually Asian Cup decade. punishing them but telling them qualifying All that is about to change once they need to perform better. match played 14 Qatar Stars League (QSL) “Hard lessons are beneficial in in November “First of all, we sides will be the long run,” last year. allowed only he said. need to be realistic Ibrahim, one three overseas “The sides of Qatar’s about our goals and players a sea- that get finest strikers, son against demoted have aspirations. We have a the current reasons to push was named figure of four themselves in QSL Player busy year coming up. signings per the new season” of the Year year, accord- QFA president in the 2012- We have the Gulf Cup ing to the QFA said. 13 season. in November followed president. Sheikh Ibrahim plays “We want Hamad said for Al Sadd. by the 2015 Asian Cup to give greater QFA will also chances to focus on to in Australia. Then we Qatari young reduce on the players. We number of drop- have the 2016 want to encour- outs seen at the age them to junior level. Olympic Games challenge the “A few years qualifying campaign best,” Sheikh ago, we had Hamad said QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin around 2700 to look after.” while hinting at Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani registered the heavy pur- players in chases made the Under-13 by QSL sides in signing overseas bracket. By the time they reached players. the Under-17 bracket, we had only “We have seen clubs recruiting 350 or 400 players. We need to some players at very high prices study the reasons behind the ratio QFA applauds referees but they don’t do justice,” Sheikh of the dropouts,” Sheikh Hamad Hamad explained while giving said. details of the new QFA road-map. “We have to look into this “They aren’t adding much. It is seriously and find answers to for their hard work time to give a chance to invest on our questions,” the QFA presi- Qatari players by giving them new dent said. “I think reducing the DOHA: QFA President yes- Hamad said. “To tackle a huge see fans of Real Madrid are still opportunities,” he added. number of schoolchildren drop- terday urged patience on the a number of matches we had to lamenting some of the decisions “When clubs are allowed four ping out of football is the way for- development of home-grown fast-track young referees who made in the last El Clasico (last overseas players, they usually go ward. Al Sadd probably has the referees, saying officials manag- need time to develop their skills. week). This is a routine exercise for top strikers and that reduces most number of registered play- ing local football matches were We have plans in place to help (to criticise) everywhere in the the chances of home-grown tal- ers. We need to have more at each some of the finest in Asia. them improve their officiating,” world,” he said. ent playing the matches,” QFA club,” he said. “Qatari referees have their Sheikh Hamad explained. “Some referees are even sus- President said. Sheikh Hamad said QFA is also own reputation. They do a fine Earlier this year, Qatar ref- pended for poor officiating. I feel “This way (by promoting Qatari working on getting home-grown job in domestic and international eree Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Al the performances of our referees players) the QSL clubs will focus coaches across the football indus- games. Yes, they make mistakes Jassim officiated in the final of are one of the best in the region,” on quality and performance of the try in the country. as do referees everywhere else,” the Cargills FA Cup played on Sheikh Hamad claimed. local players,” Sheikh Hamad said. “We had Fahad Thani as Qatar QFA President Sheikh Hamad February 22 in the Sri Lankan “When teams lose, officials or When asked about the expan- coach (for two years). We want to bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani capital. fans try to look for a scapegoat sion of QSL to 14 sides, Sheikh see more coaches who are from said yesterday. A tournament that is 75 years and hence they usually blame Hamad said: “I think it was a Qatar. Even if we can’t get a “But they are some of the finest old, it was the first time that a the referees. You (the media) are successful experience (of adding Qatari coach for the national side, in Asia. They are always trying foreign match referee officiated seeking perfection. That is not two teams to a roster of 12 last then we would look for somebody to improve their skills. Last year in the final that was played at possible. So I wouldn’t blame our year). The technical level may who could be an assistant coach. Qatar referee Abdul Rahman we had more than 380 matches. Sugathadasa Stadium. referees. I think they are doing not have been up to scratch or We will apply the same formula Ibrahim Al Jassim who officiated There will be more matches in “It would be wrong to criticise a good job and they will improve the performances of some of the for the trainers and back-room in the final of the Cargills FA Cup the coming season. That’s a huge them for the sake of criticism,” with the passage of time,” he clubs may have dipped but overall staff,” Sheikh Hamad said. played on February 22 in Colombo. number to look after,” Sheikh the QFA chief pointed out. “We added. THE PENINSULA it was successful.” THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani, President of Qartar Sports Club (QSC), and a host of football dignitaries at the Emir Cup draw ceremony in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: The Emir Cup team placements after the draw. PICTURES: KAMMUTTY VP

Spurs defeat

Atletico sweat on Atletico leaves Madrid’s Argentinian Sunderland head coach Diego on the brink, Costa’s fitness Simeone addresses the media says Poyet Gerard Pique missing with a hip injury during a news conference LONDON: Monday’s 5-1 at Vicente thrashing at the hands of BARCELONA: Atletico before Neymar grabbed a draw. Any opportunity in this team is Calderon Tottenham Hotspur has left Madrid hope to have talismanic Costa has been receiving inten- important and you have to be Stadium in Sunderland in need of a mira- striker Diego Costa back fit sive treatment with the aim of ready to take it,” Adrian told Madrid, Spain, cle to avoid relegation from the against Barcelona today when being ready for the home leg and reporters. yesterday. Premier League, according to the La Liga leaders bid to pull is progressing well. However, “It has been a great season so Atletico manager Gus Poyet. off another Spanish surprise by with further crucial games ahead, far and we are all pleased. We Madrid The loss left the Black Cats reaching the Champions League Atletico’s medical staff are wary have done very well but we need will face bottom of the table with 25 points, semi-finals. of him coming back too soon and to keep going game by game. Now Barcelona seven off 17th-placed Norwich Spain’s Costa has hit 33 goals aggravating the injury. we are up against Barcelona in the in their City, and despite having two for Diego Simeone’s side in a Arda Turan is also a doubt with Champions League and we will Champions matches in hand on many of the remarkable season for Atletico, a groin strain and if he does not play it as though it were a final. League, other teams fighting for their top where they have come out of the recover then his place on the right The first leg was a good result but second leg, flight status, Poyet said avoiding shadows of their more affluent wing would likely go to Diego with the tie is very open still.” the drop was looking increasingly match today. neighbours Real Madrid and La Adrian Lopez possibly replacing Barcelona were also below their unlikely. Liga champions Barca. Costa. best but beat Real Betis 3-1 at the “I am realistic,” the Uruguayan, They picked up a 1-1 draw in Adrian came on as a substitute weekend with two more goals who replaced Paolo Di Canio in a typically hard-fought battle at and looked lively during an oth- from Lionel Messi and remain October with the side having the Camp Nou in the Champions erwise tired Atletico display in a on Atletico’s shoulders with the taken one point from their first League first leg last week, where 1-0 home win over Villarreal on two sides also still to meet at the seven matches, told reporters Costa limped off with a hamstring Saturday that kept them a point Camp Nou in La Liga. following the White Hart Lane strain in the first half. clear of Barca at the top of the Their main injury concerns are Pakistan street children return defeat. His replacement Diego hit a Spanish championship. at the back where Gerard Pique is “When you look at the table stunning shot from distance to “I am prepared, we are all missing with a hip injury so Marc to rapturous welcome and you look at the games that we give Atletico a valuable away goal ready for when we have to play. Bartra could again deputise with have left and how many we need Carles Puyol out long term. KARACHI: Pakistan’s street children footballers returned home to win - I think we need a miracle, England, Ireland announce 2015 friendly Barca also have to finish the yesterday to cheers from thousands of fans after clinching the something unique, a shock. season with veteran goalkeeper bronze medal in Brazil, with captain Sameer Ahmed hailing the “And if not, I cannot see it LONDON: England and the Republic of Ireland will play a friendly at Jose Manuel Pinto after Victor “once in a lifetime” experience. happening.” Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on June 7 next year, the Football Association Valdes was ruled out with a knee Competing for the first time in the Street Child World Cup, the Poyet said they would already and Football Association of Ireland announced yesterday. ligament injury. Pakistanis hammered title-holders India 13-0 in their first match have been relegated if not for the “It will be a significant moment for England to play in Dublin again, “It was a tough game (at the before beating Kenya and Mauritius and tying with the United States cup form. and due to the hard work by both organisations on many fronts, we Calderon) where we put in a great to top their group. “As soon as we lost that run the fully expect it to be a fantastic occasion enjoyed by both sets of fans,” effort and now for the return leg They squeezed past the Philippines 3-2 in the quarter-finals before team went backwards - dramati- Club England managing director Adrian Bevington told the FA website. we will be in perfect condition,” losing to Burundi 3-4 in the semi-finals, but beat the US 3-2 on pen- cally,” he said. The historic rivals played out a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium in Pinto told Barca TV. alties in the third-place play-off to cap a remarkable tournament for “I think the desire is there but May 2013, but they have not faced each other in Ireland since a friendly “It is likely to be a tight game, the rookies. we are missing a few things that at Lansdowne Road had to be abandoned due to crowd violence in the same as the first, and small Around 4,000 people gathered at Karachi airport to welcome the are very important in football, the February 1995. details will make the difference. children back home in an overwhelming display normally reserved for quality in certain moments be it Both teams will use the fixture to tune up for Euro 2016 qualifying We hope that these small details the country’s cricketers, Pakistan’s main representatives in interna- scoring a goal or defending. We matches. REUTERS will go for us.” REUTERS tional sports. REUTERS haven’t taken risks.” REUTERS Al Shamal crowned Qatargas League champions

DOHA: Qatar Football been noteworthy for Second Association (QFA) and Division teams Al Shamal and Al Qatargas crowned Al Shamal as Shahaniya who now move on to champions of the first edition of Qatar Stars League. This tourna- Qatargas League, after leading ment illustrates QFA’s objective the season with 44 points. to boost the development of First Al Shahaniya came second fol- and Second Division teams. We lowing their resounding 7-0 win are very proud to have organised against Al Sadd. This goal-glut this league with Qatargas and propelled their total to 35 points, look forward to working with QFA said. them on future joint projects that Al Arabi finished third follow- develop growth of football across ing their 6-1 win against Al Khor the country.” which advanced their total to 33 Qatargas Chief Operating points. Officer-Administration Ghanim Second division clubs Al Shamal Al Kuwari congratulated the and Al Shahaniya now move up to teams and wished them success Qatar Stars League (QSL) and in QSL. will compete as First Division He reiterated Qatargas’ sup- clubs starting next season. port to sports in general and foot- Hundreds spectators compris- ball in particular. ing Al Shamal fans, Qatargas “We are hopeful that our part- employees, and QFA officials nership with the QFA through the watched the goal feast. Qatargas League will contribute Qatargas League, which kicked to enhancing the development of off on September 21, 2013, con- football in Qatar. This is signifi- cluded April 7, 2014. Twelve local cant since Qatar is getting ready teams participated in the League, to host the World Cup in 2022,” organised by QFA at Qatargas’ he said. “Qatargas thanks and winter camp in Sealine. congratulates QFA for organis- Congratulating champions Al ing a fantastic tournament. We Shamal, QFA Vice-President thank them for providing us the Saoud Al Mohannadi said: “We opportunity to be part of it. We laud the efforts of Al Shamal play- look forward to continuing our ers on winning this key tourna- co-operation in the years to come ment as well as the second and that will ultimately benefit foot- Players and officials of Al Shamal after winning the first Qatargas League title. QFA Vice-President Saoud Al Mohannadi handed over the trophies at third placed teams.” ball and our emerging talents in the presentation ceremony. He added: “This season has this important game.” QNA Wednesday 9 April 2014 9 Jumadal II 1435 Volume 19 Number 6030 Sport Price: QR2

Qatar plans to Al Shamal harness own win Qatargas talent: QFA League title

Sport | 26 Sport | 27

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Stage set for 2014 Emir Cup Qatar’s most popular sports event starts on April 21; the final to be played on May 17

DOHA: The draw for the 2014 said: “We have discussed the new Emir Cup was conducted with football calender with our clubs unprecedented fanfare in the for the 2014-15 season. The new presence of QFA President season will be launched with the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Sheikh Jassim Cup and followed Ahmed Al Thani and a host of by the Qatar Stars League and LEFT AND football dignitaries yesterday. the Qatar Stars Cup.” BELOW: The 42nd Emir Cup - the most The QFA President added: Qatari youth popular football tournament in “We reiterate that our doors are carrying the the country - will be held across open to all proposals to benefit Emir Cup five phases. football in Qatar. The fans, the trophy during The champion- players, the clubs the draw ship commences and the working ceremony of on April 21 and staff - we are all at Al Gassar ends on May in the same boat. Resort 17 at Khalifa We all want to in Doha International develop football yesterday. Stadium. in Qatar and BELOW: The event will that’s our col- An anchor kick off with the lective goal. We top four sides in should all keep conducts Qatar Second this in mind. the draw Division compet- He explained; ceremony ing against each “We have a busy PICTURES: other for two year coming up. KAMMUTTY VP slots in round We have the Gulf two. Cup in November Qatar coach followed by the Djamel Belmadi 2015 Asian Cup was also present in Australia. as were coaches Then we have of most Qatar the 2016 Olympic Stars League Games qualify- (QSL) sides. ing campaign to The second look after. The round of the time difference event will fea- between the ture eight teams Gulf Cup and the with four winners making it to Asian Cup is just one month.” round three. The QFA president said: “QFA A similar format will await faces a number of challenges in eight teams in round three. getting our teams ready for key Al Rayyan are the defending events and Qatar squads also have champions. goals to conquer on the domes- Al Shamal and Al Shahaniya tic and international levels. We will also feature in the event after accept these challenges. Football winning promotion to QSL last will become bigger and better and week. we will work together to achieve The Emir Cup will he held at our goals.” four venues - Al Sadd Stadium, Sheikh Hamad said: “From Al Arabi Stadium, Qatar SC the players’ perspective, they will Stadium and Khalifa Stadium. have to do everything to show All the matches will be broad- their worth on the pitch and show cast live on Al Kass Sports the fans the deserve to wear the Channel. national jersey.” QFA President Sheikh Hamad THE PENINSULA The playing format of the Emir Cup

COMPETITION FORMAT League will be drawn to play against each other. to play against the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth Winner of M13 against winner of M14), officials Matches will be played in a knock-out format. Winners of the matches will proceed to the second placed teams of the Qatar Stars League. Winners said yesterday Winners from each round proceed to the next round of the tournament. of the matches will proceed to the fourth round of FINAL MATCH round. If a match ends as a draw, both teams will SECOND ROUND the tournament. The winners of the fifth round matches will play play 30 minutes of extra time which will be divided The two qualifying teams of the first round, along FOURTH ROUND (Quarter-Finals) against each other. Winner of M15 vs Winner of into two halves of is minutes each. In the event with the thirteenth and fourteenth placed teams The top four teams of the Qatar Stars League are M16. the extra time ends as a draw, the QFA will not of the Qatar Stars League will be drawn to play drawn to play against the four qualifying teams of The winners of the final will be crowned H H Emir interfere and both teams will take part in a penalty against the ninth to twelfth placed Qatar Stars the third round. Cup Champions 2013/2014. shoot-out to determine the winner. League teams. Winners of these matches will pro- FIFTH ROUND (Semi-Finals) MATCH VENUES ceed to the third round of the tournament. The winning teams of the fourth round will play Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Grand Hamad FIRST ROUND THIRD ROUND against each other like so for the semi-finals Stadium, Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Khalifa The four Second Division teams from the Qatargas Qualifying teams of the second round are drawn (Winner of Mll against Winner of M12 and then International Stadium. THE PENINSULA United’s cause not so hopeless after all

MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s draws and a defeat in all compe- followed by defeats to Arsenal Neuer’s tendency for South midfielder, Thiago Alcantara, longest winless run for three titions in their last three games. and Manchester City and, most American-style forays out of his is out injured. Those absentees years and poor recent home It is the first time since March recently, a draw against Arsenal penalty creates an additional risk could be a worry even for a team record against English oppo- 2011 that Bayern have endured in the previous Champions League for last season’s treble winners, with as much strength in depth sition have suddenly made a three-match winless run and, round last month. who are aiming for their third as Bayern. Manchester United’s task today even though they have already That game showed that Bayern successive Champions League “We’ve got to play to win, we’ll look a lot less daunting than it sewn up the Bundesliga, it is a can get the jitters when put under final. end up losing if we play for a goal- was when the draw was made. disconcerting statistic for a side pressure, as Arsenal coach Arsene United’s own form, with four less draw,” said Bayern’s Brazilian Bayern will also be without which has become used to chalk- Wenger commented at the time. goals in each of their last two defender Dante. “We’ve got be three key midfielders, includ- ing up wins with monotonous “Bayern are a good side, they Premiership wins, is another aggressive going forward from the ing Bastian Schweinsteiger, for regularity. were more vulnerable this sea- encouraging sign for manager start and try to score.” today’s Champions League quar- Another worry for Bayern is son than last year,” he said after David Moyes, even though Wayne Bayern coach Pep Guardiola ter-final second leg, evenly poised their failure to win any of their a 3-1 aggregate defeat. “I thought Rooney, with a toe injury, and said he also expected United to after last week’s 1-1 draw. last four matches against English Bayern were very vulnerable winger Ashley Young (hand) are play on the break. The Bavarians have lost their opposition at the Allianz Arena. defensively, we didn’t take advan- both doubtful. “They’ll be looking to hit us Manchester United’s English air of invincibility since clinch- The run started with the 2012 tage of that. I felt there were situ- Bayern have Schweinsteiger on the break and at set plays,” striker Danny Welbeck takes ing the Bundesliga title against Champions League final against ations which we could have made suspended following his first leg he said. “We’re in a final on part in a training session Hertha Berlin on March 25 and Chelsea, who won on penal- more of.” sending-off along with Javier Wednesday. It’s a matter of life yesterday. have not won since with two ties after a 1-1 draw. That was Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Martinez while a third key and death.” REUTERS