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Wednesday 19 February 2014 19 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5980 Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Scholars slam Emir honours achievers Danish move on halal meat Sale of meat products may be hit

DOHA: Sale of meat products monitoring group Danish Halal, imported from Denmark in the which launched a petition against local market could be hit with the ban, as saying that it was “a several Qatar-based Islamic clear interference in religious free- scholars coming out heav- dom limiting the rights of Muslims ily against the decision of the and Jews to practice their religion The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with winners of Qatar’s appreciative and incentive state awards in the sciences, arts and literature. Denmark government to ban the in Denmark”. The Emir commended the 10 winners’ distinguished performance in their fields of work, and wished them further success in serving the country. religious slaughter of animals. Last year, politicians in Britain Denmark has banned religious said they would not be outlawing slaughter of animals for produc- religious slaughter despite “strong tion of Halal and kosher meat, pressure” from the RSPCA, the effective from Monday. Kosher is National Secular Society and the Jewish term for meat slaugh- other activists. Egypt militants warn tourists to leave tered according to Jewish religious Reacting to the ban, several traditions. Qatar-based Islamic scholars CAIRO: A militant Islamist minister said yesterday aimed to reeling from political turmoil. organisation, has threatened to European regulations require have made it clear that animals group has warned tourists to undermine the political process State television quoted Prime topple the interim government animals to be stunned before stunned by electrocution are con- leave Egypt and threatened begun after an army takeover in Minister Hazem El Beblawi as say- installed by army chief Abdel slaughter, but they grant exemp- sidered dead and not permitted for to attack any who stay after July. ing Ansar was a threat to tourists. Fattah Al Sisi, who is expected to tions on religious grounds. Muslims to eat. February 20, raising the pros- Ansar Bayt Al Maqdis has It aimed, he said, to derail the road run for president. Denmark has removed this exemp- They called upon the authori- pect of a new front in a fast- said that it does not post state- map to elections unveiled by the Ansar enjoys tacit support from tion, drawing strong protests from ties to be cautious and make sure growing insurgency in the ments on social media sites, but army when Mursi’s fall provoked at least some of the marginalised Jewish and Islamic groups. that all imported meat in the local biggest Arab nation. statements that appeared on the the bloodiest internal crisis in Bedouin community and smug- The ban was called “anti- market is Halal. Popular Danish The Sinai-based Ansar Bayt Twitter account in the past have Egypt’s modern history. glers in the Sinai. This has ena- Semitism” by Jewish leaders and products in the local market Al Maqdis group, which claimed afterwards surfaced on jihadist Ansar has said it was behind bled them to survive several army “a clear interference in religious include chicken and meat burgers. responsibility for a suicide bomb- websites the group says it does use. Sunday’s suicide bombing near the offensives in the largely lawless freedom” by the non-profit group According to Abdussalam Al ing that killed two South Korean Islamist militants have killed resort of Taba. peninsula. Danish Halal. Basyouni, a noted scholar, the issue tourists and an Egyptian on hundreds of policemen and soldiers In another sign of instability, an An army source said that the Defending his government’s is not limited to Denmark since, in Sunday, made the statement on since the army deposed Islamist explosion wounded four Egyptian latest attacks were a reaction to a decision, the minister for agri- his view, there is no proper moni- an affiliated Twitter account. president Mohamed Mursi seven soldiers in the Sinai yesterday, military offensive which was hurt- culture and food, Dan Jørgensen, toring in some Western countries “We recommend tourists to get months ago, but Sunday’s attack state-run Al Ahram newspaper ing militants. “They are breathing told Denmark’s TV2 that “animal to ensure that the meat is Halal. out safely before the expiry of the on a tourist bus marks a tacti- reported on its website. their last breath,” he said. rights come before religion”. Continued on page 4 deadline,” read the tweet, written cal shift to soft targets that could Ansar Bayt Al Maqdis, Egypt’s REUTERS Al Jazeera quoted the THE PENINSULA in English, which Egypt’s prime devastate an economy already most active Islamist militant See also page 6 NHRC sees Iran, world powers start talks on final nuclear deal lobby behind

VIENNA: Six world powers said on condition of anonym- that he did not oppose the deli- between Iran and the West, ease we can agree on an agenda in the and Iran began talks yesterday ity after US Under Secretary of cate diplomacy. the danger of a new war in the next two to three days, it means campaign in pursuit of a final settlement State for Political Affairs Wendy Hours later a senior US admin- Middle East, transform power we have taken the first step. on Tehran’s contested nuclear Sherman’s meeting with Iranian istration official also tamped down relationships in the region and And we will move forward based against Qatar programme in coming months Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas expectations, telling reporters on open up vast new possibilities for on that agenda,” he said. “This despite caveats from both sides Araqchi. Monday that it will be a “compli- Western businesses. agenda ... will be about Iran’s DOHA: Given the large that a breakthrough deal may Sherman headed the US del- cated, difficult and lengthy proc- The talks — expected to last nuclear programme and nothing number of Indians in Qatar, prove impossible. egation, while Iranian Foreign ess” and “probably as likely that two or three days — began last else, nothing except Iran’s nuclear one cannot say the mortality Senior US and Iranian officials Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif we won’t get an agreement as it morning at the United Nations activities can be discussed.” rate among Indian expatri- met separately for nearly 90 min- and Araqchi led Tehran’s nego- is that we will”. complex in Vienna. The venue was Despite his public scepticism ates in Qatar during the past utes on the sidelines of the nego- tiating team at the table with It is the first round of high-level to shift later to a luxury city cen- about chances for a lasting accord two years is alarming, Dr tiations in Vienna. Details were Britain, China, France, Germany, negotiations since a November 24 tre hotel where the chief negotia- with the West, Khamenei made Ali bin Sumaikh Al Marri, not given, but such bilateral talks Russia and the United States. interim deal that has seen Tehran tors were staying. clear Tehran was committed Chairman of Qatar’s National were inconceivable before the Iranian Supreme Leader curb some nuclear activities for Araqchi sounded upbeat about to continuing the negotiations Human Rights Committee, 2013 election of Hassan Rowhani, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the man six months in return for limited the initial 40-minute discus- between Iran and the six powers. has said. a relative moderate, as president with the final say on all matters relief from sanctions to allow time sions but appeared to draw a line “What our officials started A Western media report of Iran. US-Iranian dialogue is of state in the Islamic Republic, for a long-term agreement to be against Tehran’s ballistic missile will continue. We will not renege. has alleged a high death rate seen as crucial to any break- declared again on Monday that hammered out. programme being addressed in I have no opposition,” he told a among Indian migrant workers through nuclear agreement. talks between Tehran and six The stakes are huge. If success- any future talks. crowd in the northern city of in Qatar. “We’re only at the very begin- world powers “will not lead any- ful, the negotiations could help “We had good discussions ... and Tabriz on Monday. Al Marri said a “vested ning of this process,” a diplomat where” - while also reiterating defuse many years of hostility we are trying to set an agenda. If REUTERS interest lobby” was behind a sustained media campaign against Qatar in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Barca beat Manchester City to be hosted by the country. Projects related to the event QE to list MPHC on February 26 employ mostly foreign workers. DOHA: Qatar Exchange will list Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Those publicising the mor- Co, a unit of state-owned Qatar Petroleum, on February 26, it said tality rates must explain the yesterday, opening up trading in the shares to foreigners. circumstances behind the The Foreign Minister, H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, has deaths, France 24 television said foreigners, who account for the majority of the population in the channel’s website quoted Al country, will be allowed to buy up to 15 percent of Mesaieed in the Marri as saying. secondary market. Indians form the largest The exchange said Mesaieed would be listed in the industrial sector expatriate group in Qatar, their with the symbol MPHC. numbers almost double that of See also page 17 Qataris. If one looks at the mor- tality rates of Qataris during Abduction row: Pakistan warns Iran the last two years, one will find that the death rate of Indian ISLAMABAD: Pakistan warned Iran yesterday not to send troops expatriates is “natural”, he said. across the two countries’ shared border to retrieve five kidnapped Sources in India’s exter- Iranian border guards, an incident that threatens to exacerbate nal affairs ministry told The regional and sectarian tensions. Peninsula that of the 241 Indian On Monday, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli deaths in Qatar in 2013, only 14 was quoted as saying Iran might consider sending its forces onto were reported from worksites. Manchester City’s goalkeeper Joe Hart fails to save a penalty kick from Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Pakistani soil if Pakistan did not take the steps necessary to fight Of the 237 deaths in 2012, 13 Messi during the teams’ UEFA Champions League Last 16 first leg football match at The Etihad Stadium in against militants. were reported from worksites. Manchester, England, yesterday. Barcelona won 2-0. See also page 13 THE PENINSULA REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME More architectural sites to be developed as galleries QMA’s Cultural Tourism Unit to unveil strategy at tourism forum

DOHA: Qatar Museum plans, as the country appeals which will attract the MICE “In fact policymakers, tourist Authority’s (QMA) Cultural to its visitors by showing off its business sector.” boards and cultural attraction Tourism Unit will present historical sites and archaeologi- As part of its initiative to pro- managers around the world con- its latest strategy for the cal gems in the best light. mote QMA’s museums and sites tinue to view cultural tourism as country at the ‘Tourism “Having restored many of of interest, the unit has created an important potential source of in Tomorrow’s World’ these – from Barzan Towers tour packages allowing people to tourism growth. Conference on February 23-24 to Unesco World Heritage experience the art and culture “In general, there is an at the Renaissance Doha City Site, Al Zubarah; 19th century of Qatar. increased interest in culture in Centre Hotel. desert forts like Al Thaqab and Whether on an international society partly due to the number The unit is focusing on devel- Arakiyyat to Bronze Age sites stop-over with two hours to of people entering higher educa- oping and raising awareness of such as purple-dye production spare, or a weekend that could tion in Europe being about three cultural tourism sites Qatar site Jazirat Bin Ghanam and take in a day trip to the desert, times as high today as it was 30 www.swiss-belhotel.com has to offer by preserving and the rock carving of Jassassiya the packages allow visitors to years ago. Tel interpreting their history and to Al Wajba Fort which played make the best use of their time “This means that more peo- heritage. the role in the defeat of the in Qatar. ple are in a position to interpret Fax Plans are underway to restore Ottomans in 1893, Qatar has Professor Robert Coelen, and appreciate culture as pre- more architecturally significant places of interest to visit where Executive Dean of Stenden sented by cultural attractions, buildings and sites to develop visitors can soak up its culture University Qatar, said: “Cultural museums and historical sites. them as cultural centres and and history. tourism has a long history, and Modern cultural tourism is a Tel galleries for visitors to experi- “In fact, more exciting resto- is arguably the original form form of tourism that has become Fax ence first-hand the social life in ration projects are on the hori- of tourism. It is also one of the so popular that everybody seems Qatar before the discovery of oil. zon, like restoring the old Fish forms of tourism that most poli- familiar with it and many people Professor Thomas Souq in Al Khor, built of local cymakers seem to be betting on are keen to develop it. For Qatar Leisten, Chief Archaeology, stone and traditional materi- for the future. in particular, authenticity is a Architectural Conservation als; and four villages, including “World Tourism Organisation, key part of its tourism offering Tel and Cultural Tourism Officer the old pearl-diving village Al for example, asserted that cul- and research indicates that the Fax at QMA and Head of Cultural Mafyar. tural tourism accounted for 37 need for authentic experiences Tourism, said: “The future “We are also developing a percent of global tourism, and of the past is particularly high belongs to cultural tourism. It stunning collection of high-end forecast that it would grow at among cultural tourists.” is central to Qatar’s tourism venues for all types of events, 15 percent per year. THE PENINSULA Tollfree Fax American Diabetes Tel QA to launch exclusive Business Fax Association team Class Doha-Heathrow flight visits HMC Tel DOHA: A delegation from Fax American Diabetes Association DOHA: Qatar Airways yes- (ADA), led by its Chief Scientific terday announced the launch and Medical Officer, Dr Robert of a new daily all premium Ratner, visited Hamad Medical Tel Business Class service from Corporation (HMC) recently as Fax its hub in Doha to London part of HMC’s efforts to engage Heathrow. internationally leading organi- www.doha.hilton.com The service will be the first sations in its efforts to tackle of its kind in the Middle East, the rising incidence of diabetes Tel +974 44233333 commencing from May 15, with in Qatar. an Airbus A319 aircraft fitted The delegation included Fax +974 44233000 with an all Business Class, sin- Linda Cann, Vice-President gle aisle, 2–2 seating configura- for Professional Education, tion offering 40 seats. Conventions and International “Today’s (yesterday’s) Affairs; and Paulina Duker, Vice- announcement reaffirms Qatar President for Diabetes Education Airways’ determination to con- and Clinical Programmes. tinue its expansion drive by The delegation met senior improving an already superior executives at HMC, includ- in-flight product,” said Akbar ing Professor Abou-Samra; Al Baker, Chief Executive Colene Daniel, CEO of Hamad Tel Officer. General Hospital (HGH); and “The airline goes to great Dr Mahmoud Zirie, Chief of Fax lengths to consider passenger A VIP jet experience for those travelling between Doha and London Endocrinology and Diabetes convenience and comfort at Heathrow. Division at HMC. every step of its journey. The team also visited National “The Doha-London Diabetes Centre at HGH and had Tel Heathrow route is one of service marks the start of an that recline into fully flat beds a meeting with members of the Fax Qatar Airways’ most popular exciting new era for travel- and state-of-the-art Oryx Qatar National Diabetes Strategy international routes and it was lers to and from the UK, who entertainment system (with Committee at the Supreme only fitting that we introduce can experience complete com- more than 900 entertainment Council of Health. an all Business Class service on fort and privacy with the air- options, including movies, tel- The team visited the centre Tel this key route, where custom- line’s award-winning five-star evision, video games and music. to look at facilities and the dia- Fax ers will also be able to benefit hospitality. Passengers can also remain betes education programme and from our new Qatar Airways The additional flight will in touch with their friends to engage in detailed discussions premium lounge in London step up the frequency on the and loved ones on the ground on how the programme can be Heathrow’s terminal four, Doha– London Heathrow route through the SMS mobile tex- enhanced with the aim of getting and the Premium Terminal in from 35 to 42 weekly services. ting GSM and GPRS service accredited by ADA. Tel Doha,” he said. Qatar Airways’ new A319 on this aircraft, reflect that of HMC and ADA are exploring Fax Qatar Airways operates Business Class seat will have a VIP jet experience for those collaboration in research, as well five daily flights to London one of the highest specifica- travelling between London and as accreditation for healthcare Heathrow and the additional tions for business class travel Doha. professionals involved in diabetes sixth all Business Class daily of any airline with wide seats THE PENINSULA care. THE PENINSULA Tel Fax

Tel DFI to screen Brazilian movie Elite Squad Fax DOHA: Doha Film Institute’s The monthly programme of Qatar Brazil 2014 Cinema Brazilian films was launched Showcase in partnership with last month with a sold-out Qatar Museums Authority premiere screening of Walter presents the second instal- Salles’ Central Station. ment of the series featuring The initiative will con- action-packed crime thriller, tinue throughout 2014 on the Elite Squad by Jose Padilha. last weekend of each month, Tel Elite Squad (2007) is an presenting a selection of Fax intense fictional look at Rio exceptional classic and con- de Janeiro’s notorious fave- temporary films that highlight las, the volatile slums where the rich diversity of Brazil’s drug trafficking militias have cinematic history and bring Tel gained control over virtually all audiences unforgettable works Fax aspects of daily life. from internationally renowned The State Police Special directors. Operations Battalion, which There will be two screen- www.renaissancedoha.com combats drug trafficking, oper- ings of Elite Squad at the MIA ates regular, violent incursions Auditorium. The first will take Tel +974 44195000 into the favelas, and the battal- be on February 27 at 7pm and Fax +974 44195100 ion leader, Captain Nascimento, the second on February 28 at is facing a crisis. 7pm. In addition to pressures of Elite Squad. Tickets priced at QR35 for fighting within war zones, he A scene from the film general public and QR25 for must find and train his own students are on sale at www. replacement. prize of the Berlin International magazine, Screen International, dohafilminstitute.com and at Elite Squad won the Golden Film Festival in 2008 and as “intelligent, energetic and the MIA DFI Ticket Outlet. Bear for Best Film, the top was described by leading film immensely watchable”, THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 SCH appoints GlobeMed Researcher Links Workshop for unified health code DOHA: The Supreme Council Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, of Health (SCH) has appointed the Assistant Secretary-General the GlobeMed Coding School for Policy Affairs. opens at Aspire Academy as the exclusive training ven- Husein Reka, Health dor for the ICD-10-AM train- Insurance Manager at Supreme ing in Qatar. Council of Health explained As a pre-requisite for joining that the ongoing and continu- British Council’s event unites Qatar, UK experts for youth, health and sport the national health insurance ous training is necessary if the scheme, all healthcare providers required quality standards are DOHA: Aspire Academy yes- in Qatar are required to adopt to be achieved since coding and terday hosted the opening of the the International Statistical classification are the building British Council’s Researcher Classification of Diseases and blocks for health information: Links Workshop on Youth, Related Health Problems, “The appointment of Health and Sport. Australian Modification (ICD- GlobeMed Coding School will Researcher Links is a five-year 10-AM) and the Australian address the increased demand initiative of the council, encour- Classification of Health for certified coders with the aging international collaboration Interventions (ACHI), Seventh launch of the National Health between young UK researchers Edition. Insurance Scheme and it will aid and 18 countries from around the Coding according to these providers in building capacity or world. standards is necessary for improving their existing coding Under the guidance of UK aca- claims and data submission to capacity until a National Centre demic institutions, Researcher the National Health Insurance for Classification and Coding is Links provides a forum where Company (NHIC). established”. researchers can learn from each To achieve and maintain “Following our great achieve- other and explore opportunities required capacity and skills for ments in 2013, we, at GlobeMed for building long-lasting research ICD 10 AM coding, all providers Qatar, are confident that we will partnerships, the council said in must receive this standardised be up to this new task entrusted a press release. training approved by SCH. to us and we will continue to The first in a series of work- GlobeMed Coding School was strive to offer superior services shops to be held in Qatar, this established in Lebanon in 2002 that can contribute in taking year’s theme of Youth, Health and through an affiliation with the healthcare to the next levels,” Sport brings together experts in Saint-Joseph University and said Salem Haidar, GlobeMed sports science from Qatar and the expanded to Saudi Arabia in Regional Vice-President. UK. 2011. Amira Eid, Head of the Coding Participation in sports is crucial The GlobeMed Coding School Programme, added, “While we for ensuring the physical health of offers coding programs in health take great pride on this new young people and there is much information according to inter- achievement, as the exclu- scientific interest in exercise as a national classifications and local sive training provider for the preventative medicine in response nomenclatures. healthcare industry in Qatar, to lifestyle-related diseases such The selection of GlobeMed it comes as a result of dedica- as diabetes, cardiovascular dis- was made through a competi- tion, hard work and expertise, ease and some cancers. tive process and by the recom- in the aim of contributing in the The initiative provides oppor- Officials at the opening of the event yesterday. mendation of a special Technical upgrade of the knowledge levels tunities to forge new research ties Committee consisted of main in the healthcare field across the between the UK and countries still a relatively young discipline International collaboration has two countries. stakeholders in the health infor- region.” beyond its traditional academic in Qatar. been shown to improve the qual- International collaboration mation management field, the In addition to regular class- partners. The Director of the council, ity of research, with citation rates improves the quality of research. SCH said yesterday. room courses, the coding pro- Over the next three days, UK Martin Hope, said: “The coun- increasing with international co- Citation rates increase with “Establishing a coding train- grams include online sessions researchers in related fields such cil is delighted to facilitate this authorship, and higher productiv- international co-authorship, and ing programme is a further through iSchool, an electronic as medicine, biology, health and exchange between Qatar and ity levels of internationally mobile higher productivity levels of inter- step towards the improvement learning platform developed by physiotherapy are applying their the UK, which addresses an researchers. nationally mobile researchers. of the quality of coding and GlobeMed, designed to meet the knowledge to the specific set of area of mutual concern for both Qatar has made a strong com- Qatar is expanding its research activity data capturing in the various learning needs. challenges facing young people in countries. mitment to expanding its research capacity as it moves towards a health sector which will not Interested providers can con- Qatar. “The workshop will create capacity under plans to move knowledge-based economy. only improve the transparency tact GlobeMed Coding School Through presentations, round- long-lasting relationships between towards a knowledge-based econ- The initiative will benefit of health care provision in Qatar for details on 4405 6944 or email table discussions and networking, individuals and institutions, and a omy and the Researcher Links research in Qatar and the UK. but will also enable building per- [email protected] participants will identify poten- strong sustainable network lead- initiative will benefit research in More workshops will follow later, formance and quality tools,” said THE PENINSULA tial joint research projects in the ing to joint research projects in Qatar and the UK through sus- organisers said. field of paediatric exercise science, the future.” tained interaction between the THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Ministry focuses on unified fees for recruiting domestic helps QMA to hold ‘Makers Event’

DOHA: The Ministry of Labour officials from several countries, and Social Affairs is working with including Cambodia, Bangladesh, authorities concerned to activate Kenya, Tanzania, and Mauritania. workshops for families a recommendation by Central Qatar Chamber has communi- Municipal Council (CMC) to unify cated with the GCC Federation of charges for recruiting domes- Chambers of Commerce to make tic helps and fix profit margins of rules to select manpower agencies Puppet-making and storytelling sessions will engage kids, parents manpower agencies. operating in exporting countries. A committee of representatives The federation responded that DOHA: Qatar Museums from the Ministry of Labour, the the issue had been raised in the Authority (QMA) is present- Ministry of Interior and manpower ninth meeting of the Committee ing a series of workshops for agencies was set up to prepare for Human Resources and Labour families across Doha in col- mechanism to deal with countries Market of GCC. laboration with cultural and exporting domestic helps and start The committee has recommended educational institutions. talks with other countries to recruit that the GCC ministries of labour From tomorrow until housemaids. and social affairs should be notified Saturday, the workshops will The ministry has rejected a CMC to prepare a draft law to regulate the include puppet-making and recommendation to bring housemaids recruitment of domestic helps. The storytelling sessions which will and drivers for widows, orphans and draft law will be tabled in the upcom- give parents and children the the elderly, saying it is not its job, Al ing meeting of the GCC on people chance to work with local art- Sharq reports. with special needs. ists and storytellers. The ministry discussed with THE PENINSULA The event is for families with children aged three to 11 years and will provide opportunities for intergenerational learning and engagement. The Makers Event will be held in partnership with Children’s Literature Centre, Childhood Cultural Centre, the QMA Public Art Department, Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), Msheireb Museums, Qatar National Library (QNL), Qatar Foundation Community Services, the Hyatt Plaza Mall and QMA Family Programmes. “Puppets are a creative and hands-on way to tell stories,” Creativity and storytelling are important for developing and encouraging love for reading in children. says Jessica Ludwig, Head of Families at QMA. Qatari artists, their lives and reading in children, and the “Giving children the oppor- “The Makers Event will more.” Qatar National Library and tunity to make their own pup- offer families the chance to Carol Mitchell, Head of Qatar Foundation Community pets, and then create puppet show their skills and imagina- Children’s Services at QNL, Services are excited to be pro- shows is not only fun, but also tion, crafting puppets and tell- said: “Creativity and storytell- viding a unique Makers Event builds their narrative skills,” ing stories inspired by Qatar’s ing are important for develop- in the Education City at the QF she added. mangroves, museum collections, ing and encouraging love for Recreation Centre. THE PENINSULA

Al Gharafa Club to QA in deal for Boeing wind updates offer prizes at match DOHA: Boeing and Chief Executive Officer. “In Per Noren, Vice-President, Qatar Airways yesterday a highly competitive business Customer Solutions, Boeing DOHA: The fans assembly has announced a five-year agree- environment, Boeing Wind Digital Aviation, a business invited Al Gharafa patrons to ment to provide Boeing Updates service will provide unit of Commercial Aviation attend the Qatar Stars League Wind Updates services for us with a means to reduce Services. “We salute Qatar match between Al Gharafa and the airline to maximise in- fuel burn and increase rout- Airways as the first Middle Muaither on Friday. flight operational efficiency. ing efficiency, which leads to East operator to use Wind Fahad Al Yahri, First Team Boeing Wind Updates will improved bottom line results.” Updates, as this technology Coordinator, Al Gharafa Sports be integrated fleet-wide across Boeing Wind Updates uses solution supports continued Club, said in a statement that the all Qatar Airways Boeing and industry-leading technology optimisation from pre-flight assembly has arranged a packed Airbus aircraft. and Boeing-developed algo- planning through real time, programme with valuable prizes Boeing Wind Updates pro- rithms to select wind and tem- in-flight optimisation,” he said. for those attending the match at vides customised, real-time perature information specific Boeing Wind Updates inte- the stadium, including TVs, ster- wind and temperature infor- to each flight’s trajectory and grates with existing aircraft eos, phones and flight tickets. mation to aircraft. considers wind conditions at a communications technology A raffle for prizes will take The data allows for more specific time. and systems, and does not place on the same day. The club efficient trajectory prediction The data is individually tai- require additional regulatory has urged fans to support players during pre-flight operations lored to the specific aircraft clearance for airline use. to win the game and benefit from and continuous optimisation type, regardless of manufac- Operators can achieve a the chance to win prizes. in-flight by providing tailored turer, to provide optimised competitive advantage and wind information for crews routing. This advanced capa- significant fuel savings from QP gold sponsor and the aircraft flight man- bility differentiates Boeing improved flight planning, opti- agement system. Wind Updates service from mised cruise speed and cost of DIMDEX 2014 “We are pleased to upgrade similar products in the index performance, improved our wind uplink capability marketplace. altitude selection, optimised DOHA: The Fourth Doha by integrating Boeing Wind “By providing more cur- top-of-descent advisories and International Maritime Defence Updates service into our oper- rent and accurate wind data, more efficient descent tra- Exhibition (DIMDEX 2014) yes- ations to properly predict and Boeing Wind Updates will jectories while using Boeing terday announced that Qatar measure current wind condi- enhance the efficiency of every Wind Updates service. Petroleum (QP) has signed an tions,” said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways flight,” said THE PENINSULA agreement to be a gold sponsor. “We are pleased to sign the sponsorship agreement for DIMDEX 2014 with QP, the country’s largest and most promi- nent corporation,” the Assistant Minister of State for Defence for Action Collab workshops to Financial Affairs and Chairman of DIMDEX Brig Dr (Engineer) Thani A Al Kuwari said. “We value QP’s support for pre- discuss education issues vious editions of DIMDEX and look forward to working together DOHA: Qatar Foundation International (QFI) new learning opportunities and support teach- to ensure that DIMDEX 2014 and the Institute for the Study of Knowledge ers. A few SEC specialists will also go through a would be the largest and most Management in Education (ISKME) are team- Facilitator Training in Arabic that will include an successful edition,” he said. ing up with education specialists at Qatar’s in-depth introduction to the framework, instruc- DIMDEX has established itself Supreme Education Council (SEC) for a two- tion and practice on improve methods, and par- as a leading naval defence and day Action Collab that will address today’s ticipation in role-plays that mimic workshops maritime security exhibition. most pressing education issues in Qatar. scenarios. The Action Collab, a series of workshops that The purpose of this is to develop trained Arabic Scholars slam implement a problem-solving design process as language facilitators who can conduct dynamic a way to learn how to accelerate collaboration workshops that use design-thinking framework Danish decision and creativity, will follow the dynamic, four-step in schools and to build a community of educa- approach of the design-thinking framework: tors that can encourage expansive thought and Continued from page 1 Identify Opportunity, Design, Prototype, and collaboration. “We are very excited to once again Another scholar Muawafi Scale and Spread. Participants will address the partner with ISKME and the SEC to create pio- Mohamemd Azb said, “Denmark’s obstacles and challenges of the current education neering approaches to education-related chal- decision represented a dangerous system and develop innovative ideas and solu- lenges,” said Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive shift that Muslims should take tions that improve student motivation, create Director at QFI. “We are committed to driving seriously. They have to oppose this innovation solutions that are of importance to decision and convince European Qatar such as enhancing critical thinking skills countries exporting meet to Arab and student motivation. This collaboration is world to respect Muslims values part of the foundation that underpins QFI’s and religion because Islam clearly commitment to young people, and to enabling states that eating dead animals is them to be empowered, global citizens.” haram.” This latest Action Collab further expands Ahmed Al Farjani said animals QFI’s relationship with ISKME and the SEC. killed by electrocution is consid- In December 2013, QFI brought 13 teach- ered dead and can not be eaten ers and education specialists from Qatar to by Muslims. the Big Ideas Fest (BIF) in Half Moon Bay, He said even from a scientific California, which convenes teachers, policymak- point view, eating the meat of ani- ers, researchers, eduprenuers, students, and mals killed without spilling the funders who are championing the transforma- blood is not good for health. tion of K-20 education. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Qatar seeks global pressure on Israel to abide by Qatar ‘values South-South ties’ resolutions Arab States Regional South-South Development Expo opens to address challenges DOHA: Qatar has urged the BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB international community to put pressure on Israel to abide by resolutions of international DOHA: The Foreign Minister legitimacy and release all H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Palestinian prisoners, including Al Attiyah yesterday affirmed parliamentarians. that Qatar is committed to the It stressed the need to end the South-South Development Expo differences and divisions between as a main hub to strengthen Palestinian factions and com- ties with southern-hemisphere plete Palestinian national recon- countries, and will always be at ciliation in a way that serves the the forefront in addressing the Palestinian people. region’s “formidable challenges”, This came in a speech by the including youth unemployment, Speaker of the Advisory Council gender equality, food and water H E Mohammed bin Mubarak security and energy efficiency. Al Khulaifi, who is heading a This came in the Minister’s delegation to the meeting of the keynote address at the Arab Parliamentary Union of the mem- States Regional South-South ber states of the Organisation of Development Expo yesterday. Islamic Cooperation at its ninth The speech was read out by session in Iranian capital Tehran. the Assistant Foreign Minister He said, “The Muslim world for International Cooperation is going through critical cir- Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed cumstances which require the bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim strengthening of efforts to Al Thani in the presence of The Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (centre) with other officials confront.” the Minister of Development at the opening of the expo yesterday. He said the conference agenda Planning and Statistics H E Dr include important topics that Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit. He said Qatar hosted the ‘High evidence-based development solu- needed to be tackled objectively to “Qatar is committed to cooper- Level Meeting on Oil and Gas’ tions. “This regional event pro- reach practical results for deep- ating and establishing partnership to maintain strong regional and vides an excellent opportunity ening Islamic solidarity to safe- with countries to address formi- international cooperation. to initiate a strategic dialogue Joint mechanism unveiled guard capabilities of the Islamic dable challenges the region is fac- The Minister said there were among all supporters of South- nation and the holy sites. QNA ing today,” said Dr Al Attiyah. a large number of developmen- South cooperation and their “Hosting the event is an evi- tal and financial projects in the Arab counterparts,” the Assistant to bolster cooperation Qaradawi lecture on dence of our high level of com- Arab world that deserved praise, Foreign Minister added. DOHA: A joint mecha- is designed for effective coop- mitment to overcome issues and added that this year’s expo Zsolt Hetesy, Vice-President of nism between the Islamic eration among countries of the ‘Our nation’ today related to gender equality, women highlights these projects, which the UN General Assembly High- Development Bank, the South. empowerment, youth unemploy- focussed on boosting the status of level Committee on South-South United Nations Development The mechanism aims at pro- DOHA: Noted Islamic scholar ment, food and water security and women and youth in society, food Cooperation, said: “South-South Programme and the United viding practical information Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi will energy efficiency.” security, water, power and renew- cooperation has become an essen- Nations Office for Cooperation and easy to use for government deliver a lecture on ‘Our nation He said Qatar, over the years, able energy. tial bottom-up approach to build- among countries of the South agencies that represent the focal between pain and hope’ today has achieved significant progress He said there was a shift in ing a strong global partnership for in the Arab region was points for the purpose of coop- at the State Mosque after Isha in terms of human development cooperation between countries development.” launched yesterday. eration among countries of the prayer. It is part of a series of and ready to share its experience in the southern hemisphere. “The Sacha Sergio Llorentty Soliz, This came at a panel discus- South, in addition to agencies, lectures being hosted by Cultural with member states. He said the focus is on multi-party coopera- Chair of the Group of 77; Mourad sions on the sidelines of the funds and programmes of the Village Katara, Al Sharq reports. United Nation’s developmental tion unlike in the past when it was Wahba, Deputy Regional Director First Arab States Regional United Nations operating in the Al Qaradawi will speak about programme was another channel strictly bilateral. He stressed that of the Regional Bureau for Arab South-South Development Expo region, which seek to achieve the situation in Arab and Islamic Qatar relies on to strengthen ties. the expo will be a crucial opportu- States at UNDP; Yiping Zhou, being hosted by the Ministry of cooperation among countries nations and risks facing several Dr Al Attiyah said exchanging nity to boost regional cooperation. Director of the UN Office for Foreign Affairs in partnership in line with those reported in regional countries and Arab peo- expertise between southern coun- Held under the theme South-South Cooperation; Dr with the Office of the South- the final document of the UN ple. Dr Khalid Al Sulayti, Director tries will benefit developed and ‘Solutions to Action’, the expo Mukhisa Kituyi Secretary- South cooperation of the United Conference on South-South General of Katara, called the peo- developing countries, particularly has brought together more than General of UNCTAD were also Nations. Cooperation in Nairobi in 2009. ple to attend the lecture. in multi-party initiatives related 400 delegates from 45 coun- present along with other guests The planning mechanism QNA THE PENINSULA to investment and diplomacy. tries to document and present and speakers. THE PENINSULA New book focuses on changing Arab media landscape

DOHA: Dr Khalid Al Jaber and traditional media, radio, newspa- Mokhtar Elareshi delve into the per and TV for updates. changing Arab media landscape This is an era where every in their new book The Future of individual becomes a journalist News Media in the Arab World. and war correspondent while Focusing on the media situa- journalists wait to receive emails tion in Arab countries in recent and tweets ordinary citizens times, the authors encapsulate in send through their smartphones. 232 pages the role media institu- Thus, the game of media is turned tions have played and their impact upside down and cannot anymore on changing the media scene in be judged according to traditional the Arab world. standards and criteria. Through a careful study Dr Al Citizen media has eliminated Jaber presents quantitative and the role of gatekeeper and no one qualitative data on changes that Dr Khalid Al Jaber can control the constant flow of took place in news media on the news and information. eve of Arab Spring and sheds light of information and news impor- The book is a result of collabo- on their impact on the media and tant to the public. They show ration between Qatari publishing media interaction. the emergence of a new media house Dar Al Sharq and German Dr Al Jaber conducted field vis-à-vis the official media which publishing house Lambert research and opinion polls to col- continues to project a good image Academic Publishing. This is lect data and feedback from the of government activities and pro- seen as a way of narrowing the public about the development of mote its achievements. information gap between the West the media in these countries and As TV channels are being and the Mena region and creat- to know who follows up and why, streamed online and with the ing links and cooperation between when, where and how. dominance of new platforms university research institutions. He analyses the data tak- such as Facebook, YouTube and Dr Al Jaber said the next step ing examples of the output and Twitter in which news can be will be to attract more researchers impact of some satellite TV chan- shared instantaneously, news and academic specialists to pub- nels like Al Jazeera, BBC, French- and information reach audiences lish joint research and studies on Arabic TV channels, Al Arabiya worldwide swiftly. News is also political media and issues related and Al Hura, in addition to new reported directly from remote to Arab world to be published in media and social websites. locations facing war and crises by other languages. The authors are Through the book, the authors ordinary individuals using social media professors. Dr Elareshi assert that the Arab media is media. With the latest means teaches at Tripoli University, playing a more effective role and of delivering information, pub- while Dr Al Jaber teaches at Qatar gaining momentum particularly lic opinion on urgent concerns University and is Deputy Editor- in raising sensitive issues such as can reach more people fast and in-Chief of Al Sharq newspaper. corruption of regimes, exchange people are no more waiting for THE PENINSULA 120 births with congenital heart disease every year DOHA: At Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), every year. Newborns with the disease are the most 115 to 120 babies (six to eight per 1,000 live births) vulnerable to die because of factors such as imma- are diagnosed with congenital heart disease every ture organ systems and poor immune defences. year, and about 100 new patients require congeni- No obvious cause of the disease is identified in tal heart surgery, according to data released by most cases, but some conditions can increase the HMC yesterday. risk for the disease, such as Down’s syndrome (a Marking International Congenital Heart Disease genetic disorder that affects a baby’s normal physical Awareness Week, HMC is spreading awareness about development and causes learning difficulties), infec- the importance of timely intervention in preventing tions (such as rubella) affecting the mother during deaths and severe disability from the disease, which pregnancy, and the mother having poorly controlled claims thousands of lives worldwide every year. type 1 or type 2 diabetes. “The incidence of congenital heart disease is on Symptoms of the condition may include rapid the rise in Qatar,” said Dr Syed Abdul Aziz Syed Zin, heartbeat, rapid breathing, excessive sweating, Senior Consultant of Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthesia extreme tiredness and fatigue, a blue tinge on the at HMC. Congenital heart disease refers to a range skin (cyanosis), tiredness and rapid breathing when of birth defects that affect the normal working of the a baby is feeding. Fetal diagnosis and timely inter- heart. It is the most common birth defect, with about vention are key to reducing deaths and disability. one million babies with the disease born worldwide THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Bomb attacks Egypt border police on in Baghdad and alert after bus bombing Hilla kill 49 BAGHDAD/HILLA: Bombs exploded in predominantly Shia districts of the Iraqi capital and Militants target country’s tourism industry in the southern city of Hilla yes- terday, killing at least 49 people, TABA, EGYPT: Egyptian police officer at the border said. and its twisted metallic frame police and hospital sources said. police kept careful watch yes- “But what can we do?” scorched black, was parked at a No group immediately claimed terday as tourists heading to the Yesterday, dozens of tourists local police station. responsibility for any of the Taba border crossing walked disembarked from buses parked Police said a suicide bomber attacks, but Shias are a target past a stretch of scorched pave- at the scene of the attack, walk- boarded the bus and detonated his for Sunni insurgents who have ment where a suicide bomber ing past the scorched pavement payload on the steps, killing three been regaining ground in Iraq killed three South Korean through heavy security towards members of a South Korean tour over the past year and overran sightseers. the Taba border crossing with group and wounding more than a several towns in recent weeks. The Sunday bombing on board Israel. dozen others. Hilla police chief, Major General a tour bus was the first to target “I don’t have time; I don’t have The bombing was claimed by Abbas Abid, blamed groups linked tourists since the July 3 military time”, said a distressed-sounding Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, a Sinai- to Al Qaeda. overthrow of Islamist president Peruvian tourist, part of a group based jihadist group that has “Al Qaeda terrorist groups Mohamed Mursi, raising fears hurrying towards the crossing. launched a string of attacks in stand behind today’s attacks that militants may be shifting When asked if he felt safe in recent months targeting security in Hilla to confuse the security towards so-called “soft targets” Egypt, he briefly answered no, forces in the Sinai, the Nile Delta forces and cause high casualties in their bid to destabilise the shaking his head. and even the police headquarters among civilians,” he said. “They country. James Tomasowa of Indonesia in Cairo. are criminals and they never get When a car stopped near the was at Saint Catherine’s, a 6th The militant campaign has enough of innocent blood”. crossing a policeman immediately century desert monastery and added to the unrest convulsing Prime Minister Nouri Al ran over and shouted at the driver popular tourism site in southern the country since the 2011 upris- Maliki has appealed for inter- to leave, saying: “It’s forbidden; Sinai, when he heard the news. ing that toppled Hosni Mubarak, national support and weapons to you can’t stay here.” “I was a little worried... But whose autocratic regime largely fight Sunni Islamist Al Qaeda, A bag left by a journalist on the now I think it’s okay; it’s fine,” crushed an Islamist insurgency but critics say his own policies pavement nearby also sparked he added, looking around at the in the 1990s. are at least partly to blame for an uproar, with police jumping scores of police fanning out from The lawless Sinai is no reviving an insurgency that cli- to their feet to ask to whom it the border crossing. stranger to militant attacks, maxed in 2006-07. Many in Iraq’s belonged. Mohamed Ahmed, a 29-year- but after a string of bomb- once-dominant Sunni minority The local group that claimed old security guard working at a ings targeting tourists between deeply resent Maliki and feel the attack said it was part of an hotel mall by the crossing, said 2004 and 2006 sightseers had they have been sidelined in the “economic war” on the country’s everyone is now being more returned in growing numbers, Shia-led political order that took military-installed authorities, an vigilant. eager to enjoy its year-round shape following the US-led inva- apparent bid to further devastate “Now we don’t allow cars and sunny beaches, coral reefs and sion in 2003. Some fellow Shias Egypt’s tourism industry, once a buses to park by the hotel, and we ancient monasteries. Tourists depart Egypt via the Taba Land Port crossing yesterday, two days also accuse Maliki of abusing vital source of income. search thoroughly anybody enter- The police officer at the border, after a tourist bus exploded in the south Sinai resort town near the border his power. Powerful Shi cleric Until now the police and sol- ing the hotel,” Ahmed said. who witnessed the attack, said it with Israel. Muqtada Al Sadr, who withdrew diers have borne the brunt of “We even search police and immediately brought back memo- from politics at the weekend, said a jihadist militant campaign army officers and ask for their ries of the 2004 bombing of the second, the street was completely entering Egypt from the cross- Iraq was governed by “wolves that accelerated after Mursi’s IDs.” nearby Hilton hotel, which left empty,” he said. ing struck a philosophical tone. thirsty for blood and money”. overthrow. A few metres (yards) from the more than 30 people dead. As with past terror attacks, the “When your time comes, it “Politics has become a door for “We are not enough prepared. crossing the charred carcass of “It was the same scene, people bombing did not deter everyone, comes,” Ana Joseph, 65, said. injustice and recklessness, despot- We lack men and equipment,” a the bus, its windows shattered screaming and running away. In a and a group of Indian tourists AFP ism and abuse, so that a dicta- tor and tyrant can take over and seize control in order to plunder money, break necks, fight cities and divide sects.” Gul okays law on Internet curbs Nine killed, 14 soldiers kidnapped ISTANBUL: Turkish President not enough,” Akif Hamzacebi of prosecutors in the face of corrup- in five seconds”. “This news story Abdullah Gul said yesterday he the Republican People’s Party tion probe that has targeted close will self destruct by TIB in four in South Yemen had approved a new law tight- (CHP) was quoted as saying Erdogan allies. hours,” he said. ening control of the Internet, by NTV television. Under the The Internet bill could now Erdogan has vehemently ADEN: Nine people were killed in a move bolstering embattled bill, the Telecommunications either be vetoed by President denied accusations of online cen- and 14 soldiers kidnapped yes- Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan Communications Presidency Abdullah Gul and sent back to sorship, and said Tuesday the terday after a clash between but raising concerns about free (TIB) can demand that Internet parliament to include the planned proposed Internet curbs were gunmen and Yemeni troops in speech. providers block pages deemed amendments, or it could be aimed at countering “blackmail” the southern city of Dalea, a Gul said on his Twitter account insulting or considered an inva- approved by the president and the and “threats”. separatist stronghold, local res- he gave his approval after the sion of privacy. amended clauses could be inserted “The Internet will not be idents and the defence ministry Saudi gets government announced it would But the government is now in a separate batch of laws. censored, freedoms will not said. push through parliament an proposing that the TIB will have Leading daily Radikal launched limited,” Erdogan told his law- The incident occurred when first woman amendment of the new legisla- to inform a judge about any deci- an online campaign to protest at makers from his ruling Justice gunmen attacked a truck car- tion in response to the president’s sion to block a web page. the Internet curbs, erasing news and Development Party (AKP) rying food supplies, the defence chief editor concerns regarding two articles The judge would then have to stories, pictures and columns in parliament. ministry said on its website. In in the law. issue a ruling within 48 hours or from its website once every four He said the number of Internet the ensuing clash, four soldiers JEDDAH: A woman in Transport Minister Lutfi Elvan the TIB move would be deemed hours. subscribers in predominantly and one officer were killed and Saudi Arabia has been signalled changes to the legisla- invalid, Hurriyet said. The campaign refers to the Muslim Turkey had swelled to 14 others were abducted by what appointed editor-in-chief tion at a meeting with political The Internet bill has sparked timeframe initially proposed for 34 million from 20,000 since the the ministry called “saboteurs”. of a national newspaper, parties in parliament yesterday, outrage both at home and the TIB to be able to block a web- AKP came to power in 2002. Local residents said four civil- the first female journalist the Hurriyet newspaper reported. abroad and fuelled concerns over page under emergency measures. Defenders of the law say the ians, including a child, were also to be promoted to such a An opposition lawmaker con- the state of democracy in the “We will have a new motto new restrictions protect indi- killed in the incident. The identity public position in a coun- firmed the planned amendments EU-hopeful country under Prime like in the Mission Impossible vidual rights while critics argue of the gunmen was not immedi- try with an appalling to aspects of the bill concerning Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. movie,” Radikal editor-in-chief they amount to nothing more ately clear. Dalea is a stronghold record on women’s rights. some powers of Turkey’s telecom- The legislation came on top of Eyup Can wrote in his column, than a fresh assault on freedom for separatists demanding res- Somayya Jabarti (pic- munications authority. moves to curb the judiciary and referring to the film’s catchphrase of expression and an attempt to toration of the former social- tured), a former deputy edi- “The steps are positive but a government purge of police and “This message will self destruct stifle dissent. AFP ist state of South Yemen, which tor, has become the new boss merged with the North in 1990. at the helm of the Jeddah- REUTERS based English daily Saudi Gazette, the paper’s depart- ing head has announced. Militia ultimatum “There’s a crack that has Bahraini activist been made in the glass ceil- is coup threat, ing. And I’m hoping it will be made into a door,” Jabarti say Libyan MPs said after starting her new fears re-arrest job, according to quotes car- TRIPOLI: Libya’s interim ried by Al Arabiya News. MANAMA: A Bahraini activ- and 6, 2012. In the second, she assembly said it was facing an She added: “Being the ist recently released from is accused of insulting a police impending “coup” yesterday first Saudi woman editor- prison has told Amnesty officer after she defended a pris- after ex-rebel militias gave it a in-chief is going to be double International she fears she may oner that she claims was humili- five-hour deadline to hand over the responsibility … One’s be rearrested when she attends ated in front of her in June 2013. power. The potential crisis actions will reflect upon my court this week to face further “The authorities must take comes exactly three years after fellow Saudi women.” spurious charges. urgent steps to clear Zainab Al the start of the Arab Spring According to Jabarti, of Zainab Al Khawaja was Khawaja’s name once and for uprising that toppled dictator around 20 Saudi Gazette released on Sunday but is due to all. Her convictions must be Muammar Gaddafi but left the reporters only three are appear in court again today in overturned and all outstanding sprawling North African coun- male but the paper’s sen- two separate cases. charges dropped as a matter of try with a weak central gov- ior editorial positions are “The Bahraini authori- urgency,” said Said Boumedouha. ernment that has struggled to mainly held by men. ties must not place Zainab Zainab Al Khawaja spent impose order on former rebel “The majority of our Al Khawaja behind bars yet nearly a year in jail serving brigades. reporters are women — not again. Her release this week several short sentences for Powerful militias made up of because we are biased and was long overdue,” said Said an array of different charges A photograph dated October 21, 2012, shows rights activist Zainab Al former rebels from the western choosing women over men. Boumedoua, Deputy Director before being released on Sunday. Khawaja reacting as two policewomen arrest her, during a march in town of Zintan gave the General There are more women who of the Middle East and North These included destroying gov- southwest of Manama, Bahrain. National Congress, the country’s are interested in being jour- Africa Programme at Amnesty ernment property, insulting a highest political authority, an nalists, and who are journal- International. policewoman, illegal gathering when she finished the strike. assembly in an effort to stamp evening deadline to quit yester- ists,” she said. “The success “She has long been a thorn in and rioting, and inciting hatred Amnesty International had out all dissent since the 2011 day, threatening to seize any law- will not be complete unless the side of the Bahraini govern- against the regime, among designated her a prisoner of con- uprising. maker who ignored it. I see my peers who are also ment, who have repeatedly found others. science held solely for peacefully “Activists must be allowed “We are giving the (General Saudi women in the media, excuses to ensure she remains She told Amnesty exercising her rights to freedom to freely express their opinions National) Congress, whose man- take other roles where they locked up in order to silence her.” International that during her of expression, association and without fear of intimidation, har- date has expired, five hours to are decision-makers.” In the first case, Zainab Al incarceration additional restric- assembly and repeatedly called assment or arrest. All Bahraini hand over power,” commanders News of her appointment Khawaja is accused of destroy- tions were placed on her when for her unconditional release. prisoners of conscience must of the Zintan militias said in a was made public by the ing government property after she went on hunger strike in Zainab Al Khawaja and her be released immediately and televised statement, indicating a departing editor-in-chief, she ripped up a picture of the March 2013. The prison author- family are among many activists unconditionally and the right deadline of around 1930 GMT. Khaled Almaeena. Bahraini King while she was ities responded by denying her who have been targeted by the to freedom of expression and “Any member of Congress who THE GUARDIAN detained in a women’s detention family visits or phone calls to her Bahraini authorities’ crackdown assembly respected,” said Said stays will be... a legitimate target centre in ‘Issa Town on May 4 lawyer. The restrictions ended on freedom of expression and Boumedouha.THE PENINSULA and will be arrested, then judged.” AFP WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Lebanon urges Kuwait to end Saudi-Iran rift Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri makes appeal

BEIRUT: Lebanese parlia- formed a new government in a Iraq during the 1990-91 Gulf ment speaker Nabih Berri possible step towards curbing War when Kuwait was occupied urged Kuwait to keep trying the sectarian violence that has by Iraqi forces. to build bridges between Iran spilled over into Lebanon from Iran has been a stout ally and Saudi Arabia to encourage neighbouring Syria. of Syrian President Bashar Al a rapprochement between two “I requested that all the Gulf Assad in his battle with a Sunni regional heavyweights backing (Arab) countries and in particu- Muslim-led armed uprising bent opposite sides in Syria’s civil lar Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al on ending 44 years of his family’s war. Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah play rule. The Islamic Republic has Wedged between three big a mediating role between the provided military support and regional powers — Shia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran and the billions of dollars in economic aid Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Berri to Assad, whose Alawite sect is Shia-led Iraq at the northern end told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al an offshoot of Shia Islam which of the Gulf, Kuwait has tried to Rai in the remarks published is dominant in Iran. maintain good relations with all yesterday. Saudi Arabia, for its part, has three in recent years. The oil- “The emir has worked and will provided funding and support US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Tunisian Caretaker Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa at the exporting Gulf Arab state is a work in this context, and he will to various rebel groups, includ- President’s residence in Tunis yesterday. Sunni Muslim monarchy but has try as much as possible to bring ing the Western-backed Syrian a sizeable Shia minority active in together the points of view,” Berri National Coalition and more radi- politics and business. said, referring to Kuwait’s leader. cal Islamist factions. All of this makes Kuwait a Sheikh Sabah was foreign Berri is the highest ranking Kerry in surprise Tunisia potential go-between in the minister for four decades before Shia in Lebanese officialdom intractable conflict between becoming emir and is often and an ally of Iran and Assad. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad described as one of the top dip- His Amal movement is part of — whose strongest regional ally is lomats in the Gulf region. He a Lebanese alliance including visit as US-Egypt ties fray Iran — and Saudi-backed Sunni was dubbed the “dean of Arab Hezbollah, a powerful Shia mili- rebels trying to overthrow him. diplomacy” for helping restore tant movement that has sent TUNIS: US Secretary of State Minister Mehdi Jomaa, who people have been engaged in here.” Berri spoke during a visit to relations with Arab states that fighters to aid Assad. John Kerry made a brief, unan- formed a cabinet of independ- The top US diplomat often Kuwait two days after Lebanon supported Saddam Hussein’s “My larger goal on the topic of nounced trip to Tunisia yester- ents in January after a months- refers in his speeches to the Iranian-Saudi rapprochement ... day to back the transition to long political crisis ignited by Tunisian fruit vendor who set is for the benefit of Lebanon and democracy in the North African the assassination of two secular himself alight in protest at his of Syria,” said Berri. He blamed country that spawned the Arab politicians. country’s lack of democracy. the breakdown of peace talks in Spring. “We are very impressed by the The shocking self-immolation Geneva last week on Iran’s exclu- His visit came amid troubled steps that you have been tak- sparked the January 2011 revo- sion from the conference. relations between the United ing, by the rational, thoughtful lution that toppled Ben Ali and “It would have been better to States and longtime ally Egypt approach to the transition,” Kerry ignited the Arab Spring uprisings invite Iran to Geneva and to have over the military overthrow of told Marzouki. across the region. Saudi-Iranian rapprochement,” the Islamist government elected He congratulated Tunisia on “What is unique, or at least he said. The United Nations there in the aftermath of the 2011 its adoption last month of a new striking in particular about rescinded its invitation to Iran uprisings that shook the Arab constitution that has been widely Tunisia, is the willingness of to participate in the “Geneva 2” world. hailed as the most progressive in opposing sides to reach out and talks at the last minute under Tunisia’s agreement earlier this the region, calling it a “big step,” show some inclusiveness and pressure from the opposition year on a consensus government and said he looked forward to cooperation,” a senior US official delegation, which threatened to and a new constitution three elections planned for later this said, asking not to be named. withdraw altogether. years after the ouster of veteran year. Tunisia’s new leaders have Berri also called on Monday dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Before boarding the plane for grappled with a surge in Islamist for Lebanon’s presidential elec- has been hailed as a model by France, his next stop, Kerry said unrest, which saw the murder of tions to be held before May 25 in Western governments uncomfort- the visit was intended to show two opposition politicians, Chokri Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al Ghanim (right) and his Lebanese accordance with constitutional able about events in Egypt. Tunisians “that there are many, Belaid and leftist MP Mohamed counterpart Nabih Berri at a press conference at the Kuwait’s national procedures. Kerry met President Moncef many countries and many people Brahmi. assembly in Kuwait City, yesterday. REUTERS Marzouki and caretaker Prime in the world who admire what AFP WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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ROTESTS against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s rule have rocked the capital Caracas, signifying pent-up rage against his socialist government. PYesterday, key opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who was not seen for several days, handed himself in to police. With How to win Indian election the reappearance of Lopez, who has been spearheading the anti- BY JONATHAN POWER government protests, the opposition against Maduro’s rule is set majority of the working class and the to get a boost. Though Lopez will likely remain under detention, peasantry have not seen much improve- his presence should keep the protesters’ morale high. HE drum beats are already ment in their lives that they can credit The socialist regime of Maduro, a protégé of late Venezuelan sounding for the soon-to-be- Modi with. In contrast the poor have leader Hugo Chavez, has been up against odds after he took held general election in the seen their lives improved, as they have Whoever is elected as world’s largest democracy, in most of India, because of what they over as president following the death of his mentor after bouts T India- the country that shows China receive in the increasingly generous Congress’s candidate must of sickness. A former bus driver, Maduro vowed to tread on how it should be done. financial and social aid from the central go for the soft underbelly of the path set by Chavez who enjoyed a cult status among his There is a sense in the country that government in Delhi. This ranges from Modi. This means attacking supporters. The Venezuelan leader’s political path has been the ruling Congress Party and the influ- income support to guaranteed work, to criss-crossed by anti-government protesters who want to bring ential Gandhi/Nehru core of it is on its subsidised food, to improved health and his chauvinist Hindu-first way out after 10 years of a government educational facilities. Three indicators about change, and Lopez has come up as the prospective driver attitude. There are as many that has hit the high points and the alone prove the effectiveness of these- of that change. lows. To my mind, if the inexperienced the rapid falls in infant mortality and Muslims in India as there are There are pro-government supporters in the streets of the Rahul Gandhi steps back from offering in the deaths of mothers during child in Pakistan. A peace deal capital Caracas and planned marches by the pro and anti- his own candidacy for prime minister birth, and lengthening life spans across with Pakistan should be a and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, president the board. Maduro supporters have ratcheted up tensions in the South political priority. Second, American nation. The chaos in the nation, which is a major of the party, pushes to the fore the very In fact the sub-story of this election clever finance minister, Palaniappan is how well some of the Indian states he or she must highlight oil producer and an important member of the Organisation Chidambaram, Congress is still in with are doing, despite a gloomy set-back for of Petroleum Exporting Countries, embodies the shakeup in a chance. the country as a whole that 3 years ago that Gujarat is not the only authoritarian regimes once a charismatic leader, like Chavez, If not, the BNP candidate, Narendra reached a growth rate of 10%, only to state to have had economic is out of the political arena. Nascent Modi, looks like romping home, despite see it fall back to 5%. success and that many of polities are unable to hold themselves in the cloud hanging over him as chief min- Three other states have done as well the other high growth states Anti- place and struggle hard to find traction ister of the state as Gujarat in their economic growth- of Gujarat at the Maharashtra (that includes Mumbai), have a better record. government in the absence of strong political time of Hindu- Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. protests in structures. Moslem riots in Orissa has done nearly as well and has The democratic structures of In Bihar, when Nitish 2002 when, it is become one of the top destinations for chance to kick start speedy develop- Venezuela offer polities like Venezuela take time to Kumar became chief said, he didn’t foreign companies investing in India. ment in contrast to the overweight fed- mature after they have been rid of the use his authority Two states have done even better- eral government. Moreover, the average an opportunity minister, he reformed to halt the ram- Uttarakhand, at the foothills of the age of state chief ministers at their elec- charismatic sheen of highly populist the crooked paging Hindus Himalayas, and Bihar which used to tion is 56. In the federal government, to its president politicians, in this case Chavez. Lopez who slaughtered be the basket case of India with crip- the cabinet averages 65. Interestingly, to introduce is a Harvard University economist police, ordering Muslims. The pling poverty, extensive kidnapping and the more successful chief ministers are and a distant relative of Venezuela them to move Supreme Court deeply rooted corruption. The novel- unmarried, a highly unusual state in reforms. independence hero Simon Bolivar. aggressively against later absolved ist, V S Naipaul, once described Bihar India. It suggests they are highly focused Maduro’s humble background — he was him and now the as “the place where civilisation ends”. individuals who give all to their careers. all criminals, from US has lifted its These latter two states have experi- Whoever is elected as Congress’s a bus driver— contrasts starkly with robbers to corrupt refusal to give enced growth rates of 12pc over the last candidate must go for the soft under- Lopez’s. The politics of the country will have to pass through him an American five years. belly of Modi. This means attacking his several unstable phases that will help it emerge from a quasi- senior officials. He visa. Many say he In Bihar, when Nitish Kumar became chauvinist Hindu-first attitude. There authoritarian state to a responsible democracy. Maduro has an established a new now has a clear chief minister he reformed the crooked are as many Muslims in India as there important role to play. He has to choose between continuing fast-track court to run. police, ordering them to move aggres- are in Pakistan. A peace deal with Chavez’s controversial but populist strategies and adopting a His other claim sively against all criminals, from rob- Pakistan should be a political priority. hurry their to fame is that bers to corrupt senior officials. He Second, he or she must highlight that saner path to development. Shunning the limelight, which was path to jail. he has presided established a new fast-track court to Gujarat is not the only state to have the leitmotif of Chavez, will do Maduro a lot of good. over the indus- hurry their path to jail. The state, in had economic success and that many Taking up problems and solving them should be the highlight trialisation of the far north, doesn’t have a natural of the other high growth states have a of Maduro’s rule. This should inform all policy debate in the Gujarat that has produced the second market like Gujarat, for the export of better record in helping the poor than country instead of the folksy legacy of the late Socialist leader highest rate of growth of any state in manufactured goods. So Kumar put the Modi’s Gujarat. India- consistently each year over the state’s energies into improving agricul- Third, it must stress that in its out- haunting Venezuelans every now and then. 10% mark, putting it in China’s league. tural yields and encouraged a boom in reach programmes it has done more to Lopez, who is now in custody, represents a force that can (Moreover, these statistics in India are construction. help the poor than any previous Indian shape Maduro’s future path. Instead of trying to get even, more reliable and probably less inflated Although Congress is poorly repre- government. Fourth, it has avoided Maduro’s regime should deal humanely with anti-government than China’s.) sented in most of these states it is the confrontation with Pakistan. protesters and their leader. This is a crucial moment for His critics say there has not been Congress government of Prime Minister Modi deserves to be defeated. It would Maduro. By acting with sagacity, he will pave the right way for much “trickle down” in Gujarat. The Manmohan Singh which has devolved be a bad day for India if he won. middle class has grown fast but the power to the states, giving them the THE PENINSULA Venezuela and Venezuelans. The other side Quote of Hezbollah’s Syria stand the day

ASSAN Nasrallah, leader The pro-Iranian leader’s conten- where political solution is getting doesn’t expand and the different of the Lebanese Shia tion that his forces “would leave difficult to achieve with the passage militant groups are led into a choreo- militant movement, has Syria” only after other foreign intrud- of each day. It is a known fact that graphed dialogue. This will act as a I wanted to come Hcategorically said that his ers had left is a telling statement that the Hezbollah’s presence in Syria deterrent for Al Qaeda and the likes, here today to confirm forces are in action in Syria and will is probably being scrutinised by the has fuelled sectarian discord, and who have made the best possible continue to remain so until and unless powers-that-be in the region. What violence has spilled over the borders use of the upheavals in the region to on behalf of the a broad-based solution is found to war-torn Syria needs is non-interfer- into Lebanon as well. While the pro- mushroom. Nasrallah’s adamant atti- American people and the ill-fated country’s civil strife. In ence and an indigenous solution to Tehran militia calls itself a force of tude may be a boost for the regime saying so he didn’t take refuge behind the problems on hand. But what is stability for Damascus, the result has of President Bashar Al Assad in President Obama our political exigencies, instead calling on actually happening in Syria is just the been somewhat different. Because Damascus but that is unlikely to lead commitment to stand the “political forces in the Arab world opposite, with every power seeker, of Iran’s involvement in Syria, other to a peaceful solution. The warfare to stop the war on Syria”. This makes be they religious, political or ethnic, players have also turned their atten- can come to an end only when the with Tunisia and the the equation more complicated and striving to further their reach. This tion to the country. strife among the militia is ended in a people of Tunisia and open to more and more interference has made Syria a hub of extrem- The least that the Hezbollah can holistic manner. to help move down this from outside powers. ism and it is sliding into a phase do now is to ensure that the war Khaleej Times John Kerry road to democracy. US Secretary of State WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Why ceasefires make it worse in Sudan Ceasefires almost always make a conflict worse, delaying political deals, prolonging killings, and ensuring that the fighting continues long after it has begun.

BY JOHN A STEVENSON My research on all 174 of the internationally recognised new olitical leaders in states that have emerged since South Sudan, the 1900 and scores of mass killings world’s newest state, reveals that international involve- have been murder- ment to temporarily address ing their civilians en the symptoms of the violence Pmasse. According to the United — the mass death of civilians — Nations, belligerents have killed increases the likelihood of greater at least 1,000 civilians and dis- violence and destruction. That is placed 870,000 people since the because ceasefires do nothing to fighting began in mid-Decem- eliminate the root causes of vio- ber. The Obama administration lence against civilians. Instead, quickly called for a ceasefire, both sides use the pause in killing because as spokeswoman Caitlin to solicit diplomatic and military Hayden said, a temporary truce aid while planning and preparing would allow for “an immediate their next wave of attacks. cessation of hostilities to stabi- According to the 2012 Human lise the situation and permit full Security Report, between 1950 humanitarian access to civilian and 2004, 62 percent of ceasefires populations.” succeeded with no resumption of In late January, the two sides conflict in the next five years. The participated in peace talks medi- success of two-thirds of ceasefires ated by the Intergovernmental would seem to support their use. Authority on Development, an Yet, in the civil wars that begin A dissident talks to his comrades in a rebel-controlled area in Upper Nile State, South Sudan, on Saturday. East African regional bloc, and in new or young states, cease- signed a ceasefire. But since fires typically succeed only after then the fighting has intensi- many that do not. In the interim, legitimate authority within the recently Kiir and Machar coop- ceasefire, rebels claim. power by killing civilians will not fied. Forces allied with the South the belligerents busy themselves new country, while attempting to eratively governed through It might seem that the grow- be internationally recognised. No Sudanese government have been rooting out or killing their civil- eliminate their rivals in key parts the Sudan People’s Liberation ing United Nations mission in seat at the UN, no membership on the rampage while rebel forces ian rivals. of the country. Movement. They needed each South Sudan could help save civil- to the World Trade Organization, have responded with attacks on The war in Bosnia is a good Ideally, the governments of other to win independence and ian lives since it is charged with no foreign aid agreements and no military targets. New talks are example. In December 1995, the new states would emerge con- consolidate a new political order. protecting the displaced. But the participation in the World Cup or scheduled to begin on Friday in war ended with the signing of the sensually from political institu- But this changed when Kiir sur- UN mission can only hurt by acci- the Olympics. Nothing. Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Dayton Peace Accords. Four prior tions representing all the political prised party officials by dissolving dentally harbouring political fugi- It may seem that this policy I have bad news and worse ceasefire attempts and peace leaders who wish to govern. all the party posts, firing the vice tives, and through the appearance would be easy to undermine, news. The bad news first: These plans failed despite widespread Unfortunately, that rarely hap- president, and sacking his Cabinet of a peace process, granting both especially if a major power such talks will likely fail, and the bel- international involvement from pens. The typical default position in mid-November. A few weeks Kiir and Malar time to marshal as Russia or China chose to ignore ligerents will continue to kill the European Community, UN of the international community is later Kiir accused Machar of plot- their forces and hire the neces- the sovereignty boycott and offer and displace civilians in large special envoys, UN mediators, to recognise the leaders in con- ting a coup. sary mercenaries and foreign its own recognition and support. numbers. and the so-called quintet of the trol of the national capital. To Kiir, a member of the coun- fighters to finish the job. True, but this new country would And the worst news: The cease- US, Russia, France, Britain and win control, political leaders fight try’s largest ethnic group, enjoys Whether international involve- essentially be agreeing to join a fire is making it worse. Indeed, Germany. one another while looking for any no shortage of foreign support ment comes from small countries club of non-recognised countries. this uncomfortable truth isn’t Amid the haggling and hand- edge that will help them take the because of his country’s oil wealth. such as Cuba in Angola, superpow- Right now these states include the even unique to South Sudan. wringing, at least 100,000 civil- capital. The more support a fac- Petrodollars make up more than ers like the US in South Vietnam, Republic of Somaliland, Nagorno- Ceasefires almost always make a ian lives were lost, 20,000 women tion has from foreign powers, the 90 percent of South Sudan’s or international organizations Karabakh Republic, Republic of conflict worse, delaying political raped, and 2.2 million people dis- less it requires domestic allies or revenues. Likewise, Ugandan such as the European Community South Ossetia and Pridnestrovian deals, prolonging the killing, and placed by the time the final nego- has to go about the painstaking President Yoweri Museveni has in the Bosnian War, it’s all coun- Moldavian Republic. No one wants ensuring that the fighting contin- tiations began in November 1995. work of maintaining broad politi- dispatched his security forces to terproductive. The support of out- to be consigned to this collection ues long after it has begun. South Sudan is the latest example cal coalitions. Indeed, once politi- the South Sudanese capital of side powers, even if well-meaning, of second-class states. The international community is of the international community’s cal allies are no longer necessary Juba to protect Kiir’s regime and gives belligerents the incentive to The killing and destruction laudable in its concern for civilian self-defeating efforts. partners for controlling the seat has pledged that East African fight rather than govern through in South Sudan is horrible. But lives in South Sudan. However, Here is how it usually plays of government, they are simply governments stand ready to coalitions, alliances or hard-won the international community in new countries, the medicine of out. In the process of appearing obstacles to continued rule. That’s defeat Machar, a member of the elections. shouldn’t invest efforts in proc- ceasefires and peace processes are to make peace, belligerents in new often when the killing begins. country’s second-largest ethnic Nevertheless, there is a pol- esses that make the killing worse worse for civilian safety than the states gain de facto international The current outbreak of vio- group. Although various African icy the international commu- when there are easy and inexpen- armed conflict as long as foreign approval for their war gains. They lence in South Sudan is the mediators have been hosting talks nity can pursue that can save sive ways to save lives by keeping powers and international organ- also buy themselves valuable time result of the falling out between since the week the fighting began, civilians from mass killing: We power permanently out of reach izations are directly involved in to muster diplomatic support for President Salva Kiir and Vice- Ugandan security forces remained should make clear that any new of murderous governments. picking winners and losers. their political faction as the sole President Riek Machar. Until active despite the January government that consolidates its WP-BLOOMBERG US undercuts its own power in Iran nuclear talks Yet a close reading of Iran’s political There is no tolerable scene over the past few years reveals that Khamenei’s most important red line end to Iran’s nuclear has not been on the nuclear issue but on preventing moderates from regaining political power. In the aftermath of the imbroglio other fraudulent presidential election of 2009, Khamenei spent the next four years rant- than a negotiated ing against the so-called seditionists and accusing reformers of colluding with the West to undermine the theocratic state. settlement. Plots, conspiracies, fifth columns BY RAY TAKEYH and subversives became the staple of Khamenei’s rhetoric. It appeared that the supreme leader would go to any length n an all-too-familiar ritual of diplo- to prevent the office of the presidency macy, the great powers and Iran from being reclaimed by those who did will gather in Vienna on Tuesday not slavishly conform to his ideological Ito hammer out a comprehensive strictures. nuclear agreement. There will be lofty And then came the 2013 election, rhetoric about mutual understanding by which time the sentiments among and mutual compromise. All sides will be Iranians at large had shifted away from advised to desist from their maximalist the conservative perspective. Confronted demands, as the best that can be achieved with the prospect of enforcing these red is an ambiguous accord that leaves Iran lines through massive violence, Khamenei short of nuclear arms but still having grudgingly opted for the presidency of made great strides toward nuclear capa- Officials from six world powers and Iran before the start of a conference in Vienna yesterday. Rowhani. bility. Such seemingly sober calculations Khamenei may not be a pragmatist, miss the fact that the US is not dealing US allies and the temperament of the by Congress and signed into law by be wise not to insist that Iran ship out but he can be prudent — and faced with with the Soviet Union but a beleaguered mullahs are as important as proliferation President Obama have a secondary its stockpiled enriched uranium or shut- real threats to his power, he will retreat middling power that may still be coerced imperatives. The final agreement may aspect: If enforced, a European bank or ter its many nuclear installations. The from well-delineated positions. into more expansive concessions. not be ideal, this mind-set concludes, oil firm that concludes an agreement rise of pragmatists such as President There is no tolerable end to Iran’s In more than a decade of nuclear diplo- but it will preserve the cohesion of the with Iran would be denied access to US Hassan Rowhani may have made Iran nuclear imbroglio other than a negotiated macy, some analysts have persistently alliance and impose some restraints on markets. The sizable US economy will prone to a compromise, but Khamenei settlement. Given the disparity of power advised Washington to seek a compro- Iran’s nuclear trajectory. always trump whatever deals the Islamic still lurks behind the moderates — and between the US and Iran, Washington mise solution that concedes important Such postulations misunderstand the republic is offering. To be sure, Europe’s his basic injunctions have to be respected. has an opportunity to craft a durable aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme. lure of US commerce and the primacy of business executives will complain and its The supreme leader and his hard-core accord for arms control while preserv- Excessive demands, the thinking holds, US power. It is true that European sanc- intellectual elite will castigate the US as disciples have withstood the pressure of ing its coercive leverage. Such are the would fracture the Western alliance that tions have been an indispensable comple- an arrogant hyper-power, but in the end sanctions and threats of military retri- advantages of being a superpower with has generated an impressive sanctions ment to US efforts to drain Iran’s coffers. they will comply with US prohibitions. bution; they may finally be ready for an the world’s largest economy and intact regime. However, should Washington insist on Some have suggested that the essential accommodation with the West, but they alliances. Moreover, this thinking continues, stringent nuclear terms, it is unlikely “red lines” of Iran’s supreme leader, the will not abandon their nuclear aspira- But for that to happen, the US must Tehran may walk away from the table, that the Europeans would resume large- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, must be taken tions altogether. In seeking an accord, stop underestimating its power and over- raising the spectre of another conflict scale investments in Iran. into consideration as they are unlikely to negotiators should not make perfection estimating its adversary’s resilience. in the Middle East. The sensibilities of The various sanctions bills passed be adjusted. Western negotiators would the enemy of good enough. WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 INTERNATIONAL 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Germany and Seven killed as violence spikes in Kiev KIEV: Ukrainian riot police stormed the main opposition camp in Kiev yesterday after France to hold clashes left at least seven dead in the bloodiest day in three months of protests, triggering international alarm. Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko called on women and meet today children to quit the encampment on Kiev’s iconic Independence Square as riot police began their Cabinets to come together in Paris assault. But some 25,000 protesters PARIS: Angela Merkel dreams energy,” said one French official, remained on the square after of a European communications acknowledging there were no plans the expiry of a 6pm (1600 GMT) network and Francois Hollande to create a company that would be ultimatum from security forces of an “energy Airbus” but the energy sector counterpart of demanding calm be restored. talks between the German and the Airbus manufacturer. Police said five civilians and two French leaders today will be far Likewise, while Paris broadly policemen had died during a day more modest in scope, officials shares Merkel’s concerns over of clashes that turned parts of said. data protection in Europe after central Kiev into a war zone. The meeting in Paris includes reports of mass surveillance in Protesters seized back control their entire cabinets and is the Germany and elsewhere by the of Kiev’s city hall, with around most broad-ranging yet between US National Security Agency, it 30 activists setting up a first aid the two EU partners since the is more non-committal about her point inside the building, which conservative Merkel’s re-election push to find ways to avoid emails the opposition had left on Sunday last year in charge of a “grand and other data passing through as part of an amnesty deal with coalition” with German centre- the United States. the authorities, according to AFP left Social Democrats. The French official noted that reporters on the scene. It comes a month after Berlin France already laid out its ideas The European Union, UN, US applauded Hollande’s public for bolstering the European dig- and Nato all voiced concern over acknowledgment that he needed ital economy — including the the clashes, with EU foreign pol- Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev yesterday. to pursue more business-friendly long-term need to strengthen its icy chief Catherine Ashton saying policies to help companies create Internet infrastructure — last she was “deeply worried about the including through the parliamen- after several hundred attacked raft of powers. Police fired rubber growth and jobs — a stance that October as Merkel was busy nego- grave new escalation”. tary process”. it with Molotov cocktails and bullets and hurled smoke bombs puts French policy more in line tiating her new coalition. UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Yesterday, saw the first violent smashed their way inside but and stun grenades at protesters with the German view. “If they want to call it a for restraint and dialogue, while clashes since mid-January in the later withdrew as smoke con- who threw paving stones and set With European Parliament European communications net- Washington said it was “appalled” Ukrainian capital, which has been tinued to billow from part of the two trucks on fire while trying elections set for May and a new work, why not?” said the official by the violence and said Ukraine’s wracked by anti-government building, an AFP reporter at the to break through to the heavily- European Commission due to be of a German plan that experts say President Viktor Yanukovich demonstrations since President scene said. fortified parliament. in place months later, neither could require Internet giants such must “de-escalate the situa- Viktor Yanukovich in November Fighting flared on Monday German Foreign Minister Paris nor Berlin are planning as Google or Facebook to consent tion”. Nato head Anders Fogh rejected an EU pact in favour of morning after some 20,000 mainly Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned grand new initiatives to forge to basing servers in Europe. Rasmussen said he was “seri- closer ties with historical master peaceful protesters marched from that the clashes could lead to EU deeper union among the 28 mem- Other results from the meeting ously concerned” and urged “all Russia. their sprawling tent encampment sanctions against individuals bers of the EU. are set to be modest. A 250-strong parties to refrain from violence Protesters briefly seized towards parliament to demand responsible for the violence. But even on the more specific Franco-German brigade will and to urgently resume dialogue, Yanukuvich’s party headquarters legislators strip the president of a AFP projects under discussion — from be sent to Mali in June to help energy and the Internet to tax France maintain the peace in its convergence and defence coopera- former colony after it pushed back tion — expectations for the Paris an Islamist insurgency last year talks are limited. Hollande’s call — but the unit will have a mostly last month for the creation of an training role, not a combat one. Breakthrough seen in French Alps murder case “energy Airbus” — a reference France’s hopes of getting to the cross-border European German backing for a new EU law aerospace giant created in 1970 on genetically-modified organisms ANNECY, FRANCE: French of a mysterious motorcyclist seen questioning. A source close to the It is the first time anyone has — was met with stunned surprise (GMO) may also have hit a set- police yesterday arrested a near where the quadruple murder investigation said police carried been arrested in France in con- in Berlin by officials who had not back with the abrupt resignation 48-year-old man in connec- took place. out a search of the man’s home nection with the case, which has been informed of the idea. of Germany’s farm minister for tion with the 2012 killings of “This arrest, which may not in the village of Lathuile near the stumped investigators despite French officials have since leaking information about a law- a British-Iraqi family and a be the only one, was the result scene of the crime, in the pres- major efforts on both sides of the clarified that he was talking sim- maker being investigated for pos- cyclist in the Alps, in their first of witness statements” that came ence of his girlfriend. English Channel. ply about more tie-ups between sessing child pornography. breakthrough in the case. in after the image was released, The source described him as a Another raid was ongoing at French and German research “In this extremely delicate Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud said. “taciturn mountain man” and a a house in Taillores, an upmar- institutes on the storage and context they must be given suf- Maillaud said the man, from He said there was no apparent gun enthusiast who lives on the ket town on the banks of Lake transmission of renewable ener- ficient time. Because in Germany the Haute-Savoie region, was “direct link” between the man and fringes of society. Annecy. An AFP journalist saw gies, details of which will be they have not settled the debate,” placed in formal custody and the victims and sources close to Maillaud said the man bore a police scanning the garden with announced today. “2014 is not the French Farm Minister Stephane detained following the release in the case expressed caution, say- “strong resemblance” to the man a metal detector. late-1960s and aerospace is not Le Foll told reporters. REUTERS November of an identikit image ing the arrest may only be for in the identikit image. AFP Two bodies Punk band girls found at abandoned detained in Sochi SOCHI, RUSSIA: Russian arrested along with several others gold mine police yesterday detained the over accusations of theft from the two most famous Pussy Riot hotel where they had been stay- JOHANNESBURG: South members in Sochi, host of the ing. They were picked up in central Africa’s elite police unit vowed Winter Olympics, questioning Sochi, some 30 kilometres north of to hunt down illegal mining the pair for several hours in a the main Olympic venues. kingpins yesterday, as two bod- theft case. The pair had already been in ies were discovered at an aban- Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Sochi for some two days on a doned gold mine where dozens Maria Alyokhina, who were only visit aimed at recording a new of people had been trapped. released from penal colonies under performance opposing Russian Shadrack Sibiya of the police’s an amnesty late last year, were President Vladimir Putin, who Hawks unit said illegal mining arrested along with several others has spearheaded the Sochi “cannot be allowed to continue” in the morning and then set free Olympics project from the start. as the rescue mission entered its after four hours in police custody. “They are trying to detain us so third day. Kremlin critics slammed the that we don’t walk around Sochi. A total of 25 illegal miners arrests as a public relations disas- We want to say the truth about have emerged from the disused ter for the Winter Games, which what is happening in Sochi,” pit east of Johannesburg, risking still have just under a week to run Tolokonnikova told AFP from arrest, a large fine and a possible in the Russian Black Sea resort. the police station after being jail sentence. Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina detained. “One body was brought to the walked out of the police station She accused the police of using surface by the miners, we have with their faces concealed by the force against them and said they been unable to get to the second colourful balaclavas that have would make a complaint. body,” said Roggers Mamaila, part been their trademark since their “They used rough physical force of the emergency team trying to first performances in 2011. against us. They beat us. The fact coax remaining miners out of They got into a waiting taxi and that they used force is awful... We the shaft. It was not immediately were driven away, an AFP corre- have bruises and scratches.” clear how or when the victims Masked members of Pussy Riot leave a police station in Adler during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, yesterday. spondent said. Police said they were AFP had died. Sibiya said 22 miners were due to appear in court today and had given the police information that could crack the gangs they work for. “We are convinced that infor- Court nod to Berlusconi divorce mation obtained will lead us to Putin opponent’s trial begins the kingpins,” he said. ROME: A northern Italian having an affair with a 17-year-old “We will be going after the court yesterday finalised four- girl. The couple had three chil- MOSCOW: A Moscow court 2012. The unrest led to hundreds Russian Federation”. masterminds. We cannot allow time prime minister Silvio dren together. yesterday opened the trial of of arrests and a crackdown on “I expect nothing good from this to continue. Berlusconi’s divorce from his In October, the court in the radical opposition leader Sergei leaders of the youth-driven anti- this case,” Udaltsov’s attorney Police said the arrested men estranged wife Veronica Lario, city of Monza halved the amount Udaltsov on charges of using the Putin movement that emerged Violetta Volkova told reporters were all aged between 20 and 40, but the amount the billionaire Berlusconi may have to hand over funding of a Georgian politician in response to tainted December outside Moscow City Court. were all foreign nationals, and will have to pay in alimony has to Lario, to ¤1.4m per month to try to destabilise President 2011 parliamentary elections won “Sergei is an absolutely peaceful most did not have immigration yet to be settled, a legal source from ¤3m previously, but a final Vladimir Putin’s rule. narrowly by the ruling party. politician,” said the lawyer. “The papers. told Reuters. ruling on spousal support is still The high-profile case stems Udaltsov and his co-defendant current political regime is thus Emergency responders were Lario, a former actress who pending. Berlusconi remains the from bloody protests involving Leonid Razvozzhayev both face up tightening the screws on its politi- still looking for around five more was married to Berlusconi for leader of his Forza Italia party, tens of thousands of demonstra- to 10 years in a high security penal cal opponents.” men believed to be hiding under- more than 22 years, asked for a an opposition group that is the tors that broke out in Moscow colony on charges of fomenting Both men pleaded not guilty ground and fearing arrest. divorce from the 77-year-old bil- country’s largest right-wing bloc. on the eve of Putin’s swearing-in mass unrest and “destabilising during yesterday’s hearing. AFP lionaire in 2009, accusing him of REUTERS for a third Kremlin term in May the sociopolitical situation in the AFP WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Girl, 15, killed Protest leader when US man shoots up car surrenders CHICAGO: A popular cheer- leader was shot dead during a prank after the father of a class- mate opened fire on a car full of teenagers in the US state of Arkansas, local media reported. in Venezuela Seven teenagers between the ages and 14 and 18 squeezed into the car and drove over to a class- Unrest claims fourth person mate’s house to dump leaves, mayonnaise and eggs on his car CARACAS: Hardline oppo- In the coastal town of Carupano early Saturday morning, KARK sition leader Leopoldo Lopez in eastern Venezuela, residents news reported. handed himself over to said a 17-year-old student struck “It seems to be an ongoing Venezuelan security forces yes- by a car died after a demon- prank between the kids,” Little terday and a fourth person died stration against the socialist Rock police lieutenant Sidney from political unrest over the government. Allen told the station. past week against President That added to three fatal “Mr. Noble’s child allegedly had Nicolas Maduro’s government. shootings last week in Caracas. done a prank to some of the kids Lopez, a 42-year-old Harvard- Student-led protests have on Halloween. As a friendly feud educated economist who has multiplied this month across the they went over there to do some spearheaded the protest move- nation of 29 million people in the pranks on their house.” ment, got into an armoured biggest challenge to Maduro since But father Willie Noble, 48, vehicle after giving a speech to his election last year following was not amused. He threw open an opposition rally in Caracas on Hugo Chavez’s death. Supporters of Leopoldo Lopez surround the National Guard vehicle driving Lopez away after he turned himself in his front door and opened fire on another chaotic day in the South The demonstrators are during a demonstration in Caracas yesterday. the car as the teens were driving American Opec member nation. demanding Maduro’s resigna- away. “I have nothing to hide,” he tion and expressing a litany of deterioration has been fast.” “The armed forces will always Maduro can count on the work- Adrian Broadway, 15, was shot told supporters with a mega- complaints from inflation and Protest numbers, though, are be on the side of justice and devel- ing class,” said oil union leader in the head. One of the other phone, standing next to a statue crime to corruption and product smaller than mass movements opment of the fatherland,” Defense Wills Rangel. teens received minor injuries of Cuban independence hero Jose shortages. in places such as Brazil, Ukraine Minister Carmen Melendez said. In a nation split largely down from broken glass. Marti, minutes before. “The country’s in an unsustain- and the Middle East, with lit- “Every act of violence takes us the middle on political lines, “They was trying to be teen- “I present myself to an unjust able state,” said filmmaker Jose tle sign yet of Venezuelans join- back to intolerance.” ‘Chavistas’ have stayed loyal to agers,” friend Laguyia Bland said judiciary. They want to jail Sahagun, 47, wearing white like ing en masse in the hundreds of Thousands of oil workers and Maduro despite unflattering at a candlelight vigil held Sunday Venezuelans who want peaceful, many among thousands of dem- thousands seen on the streets a Maduro supporters, clad in the comparisons with his famously night. “As you know, teenagers democratic change.” onstrators with Lopez in east decade ago. red of the ruling Socialist Party, charismatic predecessor. Many make mistakes and this was one Lopez, wanted on charges Caracas. Nor has there been any evi- held their own demonstration on Venezuelans fear the loss of popu- of those mistakes.” including murder and ‘terrorism’, “The government’s mask has dence Venezuela’s military might Tuesday, music blaring in a party lar, oil-funded welfare programs says he is being made a scapegoat fallen off. This man (Maduro) has turn against Maduro, the 51-year- atmosphere. should the socialist lose power. Hearing paused by a dictatorial government. held power for 10 months and the old successor to Chavez. “Comrade President Nicolas REUTERS for Cole bombing mastermind

WASHINGTON: A US mili- More Scots would back greater Orger! British speaker tary tribunal postponed pretrial hearings for a man accused of masterminding the 2000 USS Cole suicide bombing to allow devolution over independence: poll slams parliament yobbery time for the defendant to meet with the lawyer he has threat- LONDON: More Scots would housing, and justice, while devo worried about Scotland’s future LONDON: The speaker of PMQs and improve parliament’s ened to fire, a Pentagon official prefer the Scottish parliament max would hand over all powers under independence while only Britain’s House of Commons has image after the expenses scandal. said. to be given greater powers to to Scotland except defence and 28 percent were worried about launched a fresh effort to curb Bercow told The Independent US Army Colonel Judge James control their tax and spend- foreign affairs. Scotland under devo max. the “yobbery” of rowdy lawmak- newspaper he was not expect- Pohl recessed the court until today ing than the riskier option of When asked about Scotland’s “Its popularity seems to rest on ers screaming in the chamber. ing MPs to behave like “Trappist after hearing that Guantanamo independence from the United future, 32 percent of Scots wanted the perception that is a safe option John Bercow, the presiding monks” and he understood that detainee Abd Al Rahim Al Kingdom, according to a survey devo max, 25 percent wanted to that can do little harm rather officer of parliament’s lower “passions will be aroused”. Nashiri is considering drop- released yesterday. retain the status quo, and 31 per- than a widespread belief that it house, said in an interview out However, “there are people who ping his death penalty attorney, Social research institute cent backed full independence. would do good,” Curtice said in an Tuesday he wanted to reform the think culturally the atmosphere Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant ScotCen found further devolution, But when voters were asked analysis. “Acceptance of the likely raucous weekly prime minister’s is very male, very testosterone- Colonel Todd Breasseale said in or “devo max”, was the preferred to choose between independence consequences of devolving power questions (PMQs) session. fuelled and, in the worst cases, of an email. future for many Scots although and more devolution, 61 percent and responsibility for taxation and Parliament’s set-piece debate, at yobbery and public school twit- Nashiri is awaiting trial in this option will not feature when backed devo max and 39 per- welfare benefits lags behind appar- midday Wednesday, is a chance for tishness,” he said. September for allegedly orches- they go to vote on September 18 cent opted for independence and ent support for the idea itself.” backbenchers and the opposition “There’s an inverse link trating the 2000 attack in which on whether Scotland should break ending the 307-year bond with The Social Attitudes survey of leader to fire questions at the PM. between decibels and decorum; al Qaeda bombers steered a boat away from Britain. England. 1,497 Scots taken last year but It usually descends into half an screaming is not scrutiny. full of explosives into the side of But analysts said devolution However analyst John Curtice, only released on Tuesday found hour of partisan barracking and “I don’t think we should be the American warship while it was likely to become more central consultant at ScotCen Social 57 percent support for control school playground-style mockery, prissy about this, but I am not refueled in the Yemeni port of to the debate as the vote neared Research, said the backing for over taxation passing to Holyrood, with pumped-up MPs jeering and sure we’re setting a good example Aden, killing 17 US sailors and and UK parties offered swaying devo max had more to do with Scotland’s parliament, while 22 shouting over each other. to the next generation of voters.” wounding 37. voters sweeteners if they opposed concerns over independence than percent wanted Westminster in Bercow has written to Week in, week out, Bercow goes The judge had scheduled eight independence. a desire for great autonomy, with London to control tax. But 58 Conservative Prime Minister further than the regular speak- days of pretrial hearings to begin Scotland has had its own mixed views on what devolution percent agreed the state pension David Cameron, Labour opposition er’s cry for “Order!”, singling out on Monday, in part to determine devolved parliament since 1999; it would bring. should be the same in Scotland as leader Ed Miliband and Deputy and admonishing MPs for yelling what evidence will be admissible can legislate on issues such as edu- The survey found 55 percent it is in England. PM Nick Clegg of the Liberal across the chamber. at trial, Breasseale said. cation, health, the environment, of people were worried or very REUTERS Democrats in a bid to reform AFP AGENCIES UK judges disagree with EU on life terms

LONDON: A British court ruled yesterday that domestic laws on whole-life prison sentences were compatible with European human rights laws, disa- greeing with a European court in a judgment that fed into a fierce debate on Britain’s ties with Europe. The ruling by five of the most senior Court of Appeal judges also opened the way for two British Muslim con- verts who hacked a soldier to death in broad daylight on a London street in May 2013 to be sentenced to whole- life terms. The judge in charge of that case had delayed sentenc- ing Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who were convicted on December 19 of Lee Rigby’s murder, because he wanted to wait for the Court of Appeal to clarify the position on whole-life sentences. The European Court of Human Rights had ruled last July that British courts had violated three murderers’ rights by jailing them for life with no prospect of release— a judgment that played into an anti-European mood in Britain. But in yesterday’s ruling, the British court instructed judges to keep imposing whole-life sentences when appropriate. “In our judgment, the law of England and Wales ... does provide to an offender ‘hope’ or the ‘possibility’ of release in exceptional circumstances,” the court said. The European court’s decision in July particularly angered the ruling Conservatives, who adopt a tough line on crime and see the court based in the eastern French city of Strasbourg as a threat to British sovereignty. “The UK courts have definitively rejected the ludicrous ruling from Strasbourg demanding the most dangerous criminals are given the chance to be freed,” said Dominic Raab, a Conservative legislator, in a statement after yes- terday’s ruling. “It is a victory for common sense and democracy and shows the government is right to fight the human rights mission creep tooth and nail,” said Raab, who is one of the most vocal critics of the Strasbourg court. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

China confirms Thailand protests bird flu, goat plague cases leave four dead, BEIJING: The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday con- firmed outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu in poultry in the dozens wounded Guizhou Province in south- west and goat plague in northwestern Ningxia Hui BANGKOK: Gun battles Autonomous Region. Last erupted between Thai police week a farm in a village of and anti-government protesters Xixiu district in Anshun City in Bangkok yesterday and four of Guizhou reported 3,629 people were killed and dozens chickens had shown symp- wounded as authorities made toms of suspected avian flu their most determined effort and 976 had died, Xinhua yet to clear demonstrators from reported. The National the streets. Avian Influenza Reference In a day of tangled develop- Laboratory confirmed the ments in Thailand’s long-run- epidemic was H5N1 after ning political crisis, the country’s testing collected samples. anti-corruption body announced Authorities have sealed off it was filing charges against Prime and sterilised infected areas, Minister Yingluck Shinawatra where infected chickens and relating to a rice subsidy scheme A collapsed resort building is seen in Gyeongju, about 375km southeast of Seoul yesterday. goats have been culled. that has fuelled middle-class opposition to her government. S Korea, Japan In a related development, the Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra Government Savings Bank (GSB) resume talks said it was calling back a loan to 10 die in roof collapse SEOUL: the state farm bank, that man- involved in the operation, “Peace South Korea and ages the rice subsidy scheme, for Bangkok Mission,” to reclaim Japan have resumed work- after a high volume of withdraw- protest sites around central ing-level talks after dialogue als by GSB depositors apparently Bangkok’s Government House S Korea President orders probe into auditorium tragedy stopped last year follow- intent on undermining the gov- and other government offices in ing Japan’s Prime Minister ernment’s subsidy programme. the north of the capital. SEOUL: South Korean assembled with rigid frames and stage,” one student told the YTN Shinzo Abe’s visit to the The clashes were the most Yingluck has been forced to President Park Geun-Hye yes- side walls -- of a type normally news channel. Yasukuni Shrine. South intense in the latest instalment abandon her offices in Government terday called for a full inves- used for storage houses and avia- “Then pandemonium broke Korean Ambassador Lee of an eight-year political battle House by the protesters, who have tigation into the collapse of a tion hangars. out and everyone started rushing Byung-kee met Vice Foreign broadly pitting the Bangkok mid- also blocked major intersections student-packed auditorium near Fire officials said the accu- towards the exits, shouting and Minister Akitaka Saiki at dle class and royalist establish- since mid-January. the southern city of Gyeongju mulated weight of the snow screaming,” he added. Japan’s Foreign Ministry on ment against the poorer, mostly Police said about 100 protest- that killed at least 10 people and piled on the roof of the build- Another witness, Kim Monday. In the meeting rural supporters of Yingluck and ers had been arrested in an early injured more than 100. ing appeared to have caused the Ga-Hyun, 20, said the structure requested by Lee, both sides her billionaire brother, former morning operation to clear dem- More than 560 college students structure to buckle, raising ques- continued to cave in as the pan- discussed normalising rela- premier Thaksin Shinawatra. onstrators from another protest participating in a freshman ori- tions about its soundness. The icked students tried to escape. tions and “Takeshima Day.” Witnesses heard gunfire and site near the Energy Ministry. entation were believed to have Ministry of Security and Public “Steel frames collapsed around Japan’s Shimane Prefecture saw police firing weapons in the Trouble started with clouds of been attending a concert in the Administration said 10 people, those who were squeezing through designated the day in 2005 area around Phanfa Bridge in the teargas near Government House building when the roof caved in including nine students, were the exit. We had to tear down to promote Tokyo’s claims old quarter of the city. Police said and soon police were crouching on Monday -- apparently under confirmed dead, with two more window panes to get out,” she over Korea’s easternmost they had come under fire from a behind riot shields as officers the weight of heavy snow -- at seriously injured and 101 others said. Dokdo islets. sniper on a rooftop in the area clashed with protesters. It was around 9.15pm. who suffered “bruises and cuts”. The ground around the building and that M-79 grenades were also not clear who had fired the tear- The auditorium was part of a Some parents of the victims was covered with a thick blanket Firms launch fired. gas and the authorities blamed mountain resort complex near voiced outrage, saying the organ- of snow, which continued to fall “One policeman has died and protesters. Gyeongju that had experienced isers of the orientation event had throughout the night, hampering factory checks 14 police were injured,” national By mid-afternoon, police had unusually heavy snowfall in the failed to ensure the students’ the rescue efforts. police chief Adul Saengsingkaew largely withdrawn from protest preceding week. “It is heart-rend- safety. The auditorium was part of the DHAKA: Safety experts said. “He was shot in the head.” sites and the streets were quiet. ing that so many lives were sac- “What on earth were they Mauna Ocean Resort, which had hired by Western retailers Security officials said sepa- Thailand’s military has rificed... a thorough investigation doing? They didn’t even bother been hosting the freshman orien- such as H&M and Benetton rately four police officers had been remained aloof from the latest must be carried out,” Park told a to take a look at the site before tation for close to 1,000 students will begin a mass inspec- wounded by shrapnel. crisis but an intensification of the cabinet meeting. pushing through with the event from a foreign language college in tion today of clothing facto- The Erawan Medical Center, violence would raise the likelihood The tragedy occurred as the despite such heavy snowfalls,” a the southern city of Busan. ries in Bangladesh, nearly which monitors hospitals, said on of the generals feeling compelled country was still reeling from woman whose 18-year-old daugh- Fire officials said they had dif- a year after 1,135 garment its website that two protesters, to intervene, and possibly remov- news of the bombing of a bus ter was among the dead, told ficulty reaching the resort which workers died in a building both men aged 52 and 29, had also ing the government, to end the laden with South Korean tourists Yonhap news agency. had recorded more than 50 cen- collapse. Dozens of fire offic- been killed. The centre said 59 clashes. in Egypt near the Israeli border. More than 1,400 rescuers and timetres of snowfall in the last ers and structural engineers people had been wounded. It did The protesters are trying to Police said a suicide bomber workers, backed by heavy equip- week. will begin inspecting more not provide a breakdown of how oust Yingluck, whom they view was probably behind the attack ment, had worked throughout the The resort owner, Kolon busi- than 1,500 plants and recom- many of the wounded were police as a proxy of Thaksin, a former on Sunday that killed three South night under arc lights to clear the ness group, issued a public apol- mend safety improvements and how many were civilians. telecoms tycoon toppled in a mili- Koreans and their Egyptian debris and snowfall to reach the ogy over the disaster, promising in an exercise expected until Security officials said ear- tary coup in 2006. driver. The resort auditorium victims. “The ceiling came crash- full compensation and support for September. AGENCIES lier that 15,000 officers were REUTERS was a pre-engineered building, ing down at the front near the the victims. AFP

Water shortage in Malaysia Philippine top Hanoi court upholds jail court approves term for dissident lawyer online libel law HANOI: One of Vietnam’s innocent,” of the charges against MANILA: The Philippine most prominent dissidents lost him. Supreme Court ruled yesterday his appeal yesterday against “I am the victim of a political that a controversial cyber crime imprisonment for tax evasion, conspiracy. I object to this trial,” law penalising online libel is as dozens of supporters pro- said Quan, who was wearing a constitutional, amid claims it is tested outside the court against thick coat and jumper in the intended to curb Internet free- the communist state’s crack- courtroom. dom in one of Asia’s most free- down on dissent. Quan -- who is on the 17th day wheeling democracies. Scores of police encircled the of a hunger strike, according to The court said a section of the Hanoi People’s Court of Appeals, his brother -- looked tired and Cyber Crime Protection Law which upheld a two and a half thin as he stood in the dock and “which penalises online or cyber year jail sentence for Catholic appeared to swoon at one point, libel is not unconstitutional”, lawyer and blogger Le Quoc Quan, prompting security guards to spokesman Theodore Te said. whose conviction in October was prop him up. However the ruling would only denounced by rights campaigners His lawyer Bui Quang Nghiem cover the original sender of the as politically motivated. told the court that the tax evasion allegedly libellous material and “The defendant did not show charges were a joke. not the recipients, Te said. regret and took a disrespectful “If you want to try Le Quoc The law was passed in 2012, attitude towards the court,” said Quan for his activism, you don’t but the high court suspended court president Nguyen Van Son, need to bring him to court for tax its implementation after various confirming the jail term and a fine evasion,” he said. groups sued to have it declared of around $57,000. The 43-year-old lawyer, who constitutional. The television feed to the blogged on a range of sensitive Neri Colmenares, a congress- court’s observation room was cut topics including civil rights, politi- man who was among those who off immediately after the verdict. cal pluralism and religious free- challenged the law, said they may The lawyer earlier told dom, has been in detention since appeal the ruling. “The govern- Residents collect water from a tanker in Hulu Langat district outside Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Recent hot weather the court he was “completely December 2012. AFP ment should not be the pros- in Malaysia and the closure of two water treatment plants since January 28 due to high ammonia pollution have ecutor of stained reputations,” resulted in water shortage in some areas of Klang Valley. Colmenares said, branding it a “draconian law”. “No one should go to prison just for expressing oneself, specially China to spend $330bn to fight water pollution: State media on the Internet, where people express their frustration with government,” he said. President BEIJING: China plans to but the budget has been set, The paper did not say how the percent of samples to be heavily operation, the environment min- Benigno Aquino signed the law in spend ¥2tr, on an action plan exceeding the ¥1.7tr China plans funds would be raised, when the polluted. China emits around 24 istry says. 2012 to stamp out cyber crimes to tackle pollution of its scarce to spend battling its more-publi- plan would take effect, or what million tonnes of COD, or chemi- China is short on water to begin such as fraud, identity theft, water resources, state media cised air pollution crisis, the China timeframe was visualised, how- cal oxygen demand, a measure of with but its water problems are spamming and child pornography. said yesterday. Securities Journal reported, citing ever. Groundwater resources organic matter in waste water, made worse by its reliance on coal But opponents quickly said it China has a fifth of the world’s the Ministry of Environmental are heavily polluted, threaten- and 2.45 million tonnes of ammo- - which uses massive amounts of gave the government wide powers population but just 7 percent of Protection. ing access to drinking water, nia nitrogen, into its water each water to suppress dust and clean to curb freedoms on the Internet its water resources, and the situ- It will aim to improve the qual- Environment Minister Zhai Qing year, Zhai said. the fuel before it is burnt - to due to provisions that impose ation is especially precarious in ity of China’s water by 30 to 50 told a news conference in the cap- Over the next five years, China generate nearly 70 percent of its heavy prison terms for online its parched north, where some percent, the paper said, through ital, Beijing, last week. has previously estimated it will electricity while self-sufficiency libel. The law also gives the state regions have less water per capita investments in technologies such According to government data, need to spend a total of ¥60bn to in food remains a key political power to shut down websites and than the Middle East. as waste water treatment, recy- a 2012 survey of 5,000 ground- set up sludge treatment facilities, priority. monitor online activities. AFP The plan is still being finalised cling and membrane technology. water check points found 57.3 and a further ¥10bn for annual REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Ex-Taliban Taliban kill senior Pakistan officer minister shot dead

Govt suspends peace negotiations ISLAMABAD: A former Afghan Taliban minister ISLAMABAD: Pakistani to distance themselves from the Mulla Abdul Raqeeb was Taliban fighters opened fire at violence and both sides issuing shot dead in Peshawar, police an army car and killed a senior acrimonious statements. said yesterday. Mulla Abdul officer yesterday in an attack The government’s representa- Raqeeb, the former minis- certain to destroy any prospects tives met Sharif in Islamabad yes- ter for refugees, was driv- of meaningful peace negotia- terday and said they felt unable ing his motorcycle home tions between the government to talk to the Taliban any more. after attending a seminar at and the insurgents. “The situation has completely Madrassa Maabul Ulomul An attempt by representatives changed after the Mohmand inci- Quran when armed assailants of both sides to meet and talk dent and the committee is unable on a motorbike opened fire on peace collapsed a day earlier after to carry forward peace talks until him. Police said Raqeeb was insurgents said they executed 23 the Taliban cease all violent activ- shot on the Canal Road after soldiers in revenge for army oper- ities,” the prime minister’s office he left the seminary in the ations in the volatile tribal regions said in a statement, referring to limits of Tehkal Police Station on the Afghan border. the tribal Mohmand district. and died on the spot. Sources “(The) exchange of fire contin- “The committee told the PM said he was in favour of talks ues,” the army’s press wing said that they have unanimously with the Afghan government. in a statement, adding the attack decided not to hold scheduled The killers escaped. Raqeeb took place near the volatile city of talks with the Taliban committee was a scholar, politician, Peshawar on the Afghan border. as it is meaningless now.” social worker and guardian of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif The army identified the killed thousands of orphans. He was made peace negotiations with senior officer as Major Jehanzeb living in Peshawar where he the Taliban a central pillar of his and said three militants were also was teaching at a seminary. rule but repeated failures to find killed. a compromise have frustrated A Peshawar Taliban official Two extremists the nation and prompted calls confirmed the attack but there for tough military action against was no word from the movement’s killed in raids insurgent strongholds. main spokesman. Efforts to engage the banned “Militants attacked the convoy KABUL: Two Taliban mili- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan have of a security official in Peshawar tants were killed and nine been marked by increasingly and killed one army major,” said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (fourth right) with members of a committee formed by the government to injured in operations con- surreal scenes this month, with the official. negotiate with Taliban in Islamabad yesterday. ducted by Afghan forces Taliban representatives trying REUTERS and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the past 24 hours. The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan said operations were conducted in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Govt to lay off contractual appointees Security alert issued for Kandahar, Zabul, Maidan, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and Helmand provinces. Security ISLAMABAD: The govern- government to deny them benefits process imposed by the govern- forces also seized heavy and ment of Pakistan led by Prime which are otherwise available to ment on the directions of prime Chinese in Islamabad light weapons. Minister Nawaz Sharif will regular employees. minister’s office, shall be appli- press ahead with its plan to The layoff is expected to affect cable on - extension in contract ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad in Pakistan on official, business, Roadside bombs lay off all contractual employ- employees within the lowest pay appointment of already recruited police have approached the private and study visas. ees hired by the outgoing scale of 1-5 on an average income contractual employees,” the office Chinese embassy with a view to Except for diplomats and those kill 6 soldiers Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and working in grade 11-16. memorandum states. collecting details of its nation- who are on official visit, the government. According to sources, The memorandum states that als who are working in different whereabouts of other Chinese KABUL: Six Afghan sol- A month after the prime minis- employees of the National extension will not be given to projects to provide them secu- national is not known to the diers and three civilians were ter’s office made the decision, the Database and Registration those who were appointed as con- rity, it was learnt. police and other departments killed in two roadside bomb Establishment Division issued an Authority (NADRA), tingent paid staff. The letter fur- The sources said that the step concerned. attacks in the eastern part office memorandum, barring all Earthquake Reconstruction ther reveals that there will also had been taken after the intelli- “We have requested the of the country, local officials ministries, divisions, autonomous and Rehabilitation Authority, ban on appointment by transfer gence agencies had issued a secu- Chinese Embassy to issue secu- said yesterday. Afghan army bodies and corporations from National Bank of Pakistan and induction. rity alert for the Chinese staying rity advisory for its nationals. spokesman Noman Atefi said extending contracts that expire (NBP), Pakistan Steel Mills After coming into power in in the country. Currently we (police and other a blast occurred in Alasay this month. (PSM), Pakistan International June last year, the PML-N gov- According to intelligence, East concerned departments) are in district of Kapisa Province However, an official privy with Airlines (PIA), Planning Division ernment had imposed a ban on Turkestan Islamic Movement dark about the Chinese,” the as an army unit was return- the development termed the will be affected the most of those recruitment process. (ETIM), a violent separatist officer said. ing from an operation. He measure as the only way to weed employees who were first hired This is not for the first time movement and is often respon- The East Turkestan Islamic said the explosion destroyed out people appointed by the PPP on contract and then regularised that the PML-N has decided sible for incidents in Chinese Movement was banned in an army vehicle. There government. by the PPP government will be to remove the people from jobs province Xinjiang, has planned Pakistan on March 15, 2013 and was no immediate claim of As a policy to control the wage sent to a surplus pool of employ- who were hired by the Pakistan to target the Chinese nationals. it was included in the list of 60 responsibility. The other bill, most workers were hired ees, the sources revealed. Peoples Party. A police officer said that there proscribed organisations. blast occurred in the Paktia on contracts by the previous “The ban on recruitment INTERNEWS were a number of Chinese staying INTERNEWS Province. AGENCIES Pakistan warns Iran not to send troops over kidnapped guards ISLAMABAD: Pakistan “Iranian forces have no author- responsibility for the kidnapping, area looking for the abducted moved to align itself more closely first country to internationally warned Iran yesterday not to ity to cross our borders in viola- according to a Twitter account border guards but been unable with Saudi Arabia, the country recognise the status of Pakistan. send troops across the two coun- tion of the international law. We purporting to belong to the group. to find them in the mountainous, that gave Sharif a home when he As of current, both coun- tries’ shared border to retrieve must respect each other’s bor- Its authenticity could not be sparsely populated area. was exiled after a coup. tries are economic partners and five kidnapped Iranian border ders,” the Pakistani government immediately verified. The area where the kidnap- Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia large-scale tourism and migra- guards, an incident that threat- statement said. “The government of Pakistan pings took place has a history of Iran are arch rivals for influence tion between the two nations has ens to exacerbate regional and Predominantly Shia Iran says regrets the suggestions of negli- violence and sectarian problems. in the Muslim world. increased rapport. This coopera- sectarian tensions. militants seized the guards about gence on its part over the inci- Both countries are Muslim, but Relations between the Islamic tion would continue throughout On Monday, Iranian Interior 5km inside Iran on February dent, especially when Pakistan’s Pakistan is a majority Sunni state Republic of Iran and the Islamic the Cold war with Iran sup- Minister Abdolreza Rahmani- 6 in the province of Sistan- active support against terrorists with a minority of Shias. Iran is Republic of Pakistan have porting Pakistan in its conflicts Fazli was quoted as saying Iran Baluchistan and took them into groups in the past, is well-known the reverse. In both countries, spanned since the common pre- with arch-rival, India. In return, might consider sending its forces Pakistan. and acknowledged by Iran,” the the minority sect complains of historic Indo-Iranian heritage. Pakistan went on to support Iran onto Pakistani soil if Pakistan did A Sunni insurgent Iranian Pakistani statement said. discrimination. After the establishment of militarily during the Iran–Iraq not take the steps necessary to group calling itself Jaish Al Pakistan said it was in contact Since Prime Minister Nawaz Pakistan on August 1947, Iran has War in the 1980s. fight against militants. Adl (Army of Justice) claimed with Iran and had searched the Sharif took office, Pakistan has a unique distinction of being the REUTERS

Provinces to Musharraf in court to get 43 percent share in taxes face treason charges ISLAMABAD: The federal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s about the jurisdiction of this government’s payments to prov- former military ruler Pervez court, and if we decide that the inces on account of their share Musharraf arrived in court to jurisdiction is valid, the accused in taxes have so far remained face treason charges yesterday, can be called again,” he said. largely in line with projections, a victory for the increasingly After two bomb scares pre- allowing the four federating assertive judiciary after months vented him from appearing, units to show surplus budget in of delays. Musharraf was taken to hospi- the first half of the current fis- Musharraf, 70, faces the death tal on Jan. 2 while on his way to cal year. penalty if found guilty of charges court. Since then, he has been at From July to December 2013, related to his suspension of the a military hospital in the city of the centre transferred Rs646.5bn constitution and imposition of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. or 43 percent of annual commit- emergency rule in 2007, when he The case is being closely ments made under the National was trying to extend his rule as watched for any impact on the Finance Commission (NFC) president. relationship between Pakistan’s Award to provinces, accord- Musharraf, who has been in three power centres - the his- ing to a fiscal operations sum- hospital for the past month after torically powerful military, an mary released by the Ministry of suffering chest pains, stood up increasingly independent judici- Finance yesterday. when the judge entered and gave ary and the civilian government, Ideally, the ratio should have him a small wave but did not led by Prime Minister Nawaz been 45 percent. speak. Sharif. There was a gap of about Judge Faisal Arab, who heads Some observers are concerned Rs30bn between the projections the special panel of three judges, that the trial could anger the and actual transfers due to less did not charge Musharraf and army, which has ruled Pakistan than anticipated tax collection by Supporters of former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf shout slogans during his hearing at the Special Court said he would first examine chal- for more than half its history the Federal Board of Revenue. formed to try him for treason in Islamabad yesterday. lenges raised by the defence. since independence in 1947. INTERNEWS “We are inclined to first decide REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 INDIA 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

AAP apologises Lower House votes for new state to Transparency International General strike in Andhra today NEW DELHI: The AAP yesterday apologised to NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: city, but ignored the demand from Transparency International for Amid pandemonium and a televi- Seemandhra leaders that the city citing a report by the organisa- sion blackout of the proceedings, be declared a union territory. tion that said corruption had the Lok Sabha yesterday passed Andhra Pradesh was formed in come down in Delhi after the a bill to carve out a Telangana 1956 with the merger of Telangana, party came to power. The cor- state out of Andhra Pradesh, then known as Hyderabad State, ruption watchdog denied issu- triggering joy in the Telangana with Andhra State, which was ing any such report. region and protests elsewhere in earlier carved out of Madras State. A statement issued by the Aam the southern state. With an area of 114,000 square Aadmi Party (AAP) said one of The Andhra Pradesh kilometres and a population of 35.2 its leaders, Shazia Ilmi, got the Reorganisation Bill was passed million, Telangana will be 12th report from “someone who was by voice vote in the face of noisy largest state in terms of area and an employee of Transparency protests by MPs from Seemandhra population. International” and assumed it to — as the other two regions Those opposing the bill massed be a survey by the organisation. (Rayalseema and coastal Andhra) near Speaker Meira Kumar, some “Since then, we have come to are collectively known — as well as shouting slogans and others hold- know that the said survey had no a section of the opposition parties. ing placards. But they were simply connection with Transparency The passage of the bill, moved ignored as amendments to the bills International and the source of by Home Minister Sushilkumar were taken up and then the bill Shazia Ilmi’s information had quit Shinde, took 90 minutes. was finally declared passed by the by then,” the statement said. If the bill gets the approval of lower house. “We regret this error. We hold Rajya Sabha, the Telugu-speaking So high were tempers in the Transparency International in people will have two states, with house that a group of Congress highest esteem and offer apolo- Telangana becoming India’s 29th members from Andhra Pradesh gies for any embarrassment that state. stood near Shinde as he read out this controversy may have caused Telangana will have 10 districts the clauses in a bid to protect him to the organisation,” it said. including Hyderabad, which will from anti-Telangana MPs. Supporters of Telangana Rastra Samithi party shout slogans as they celebrate the planned creation of Telangana serve as a common capital for a Congress president Sonia GADKARI FILES SUIT state, in Hyderabad, yesterday. period not exceeding 10 years. The Gandhi watched the proceed- BJP leader Nitin Gadkari filed residuary state of Andhra Pradesh ings with visible dismay. Prime a defamation case against Arvind will have 13 districts. Minister Manmohan Singh was of delaying the process. was immediate with central min- one of the ministers, said Kiran Kejriwal, who has resigned as The new state would account not present. A fuming Y S Jaganmohan ister D Purandeswari reportedly Reddy would submit his resigna- Delhi chief minister, in a court for 17 seats in parliament. Participating in the debate, Reddy, leader of the YSR Congress, sending her resignation to Sonia tion this morning. here yesterday, contending that In a move to assure protection Leader of Opposition Sushma which is bitterly against the crea- Gandhi. Central ministers from Kejriwal had tarnished his image to people from Seemandhra liv- Swaraj said her party, the tion of Telangana, dubbed it “a Three Andhra Pradesh minis- Seemandhra hit out at their own by calling him corrupt. ing in Hyderabad, the bill pro- BJP, supported the creation of black day” for the country and ters from Seemandhra resigned party-led government for pass- The court recorded the state- posed that a common governor Telangana but not the way it was called a general strike in Andhra in protest while Chief Minister N ing the bill in an “undemocratic” ment of Gadkari and two other of the two states have powers for being done. Pradesh today. Kiran Kumar Reddy is all set to manner. witnesses and posted the mat- maintaining law and order in the She accused the Congress The reaction to the development quit today. Pitani Satyanarayana, AGENCIES ter for February 22 for further hearing. The complaint said that on January 31, “Kejriwal has delib- erately released the list of India’s most corrupt people mentioning his (Gadkari’s) name in a grossly India will change if Mamata is at helm, says Hazare irresponsible manner”. Kejriwal “deliberately tried to NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: country will change if she is at Roy. Refering to Trinamool chair- Hazare said Banerjee had Banerjee was the only leader to malign (Gadkari’s) image though After an hour-long dinner meet- the helm of affairs. person Banerjee as “didi” (elder accepted all the 17 points he had reply to Hazare’s letter, sent to all he is not involved in any wrong- ing with West Bengal Chief “Today I believe there can be sister, as she is called), Hazare suggested in a letter spelling out political parties. ful or corrupt act,” the complaint Minister Mamata Banerjee change in the country. People also said: “All her life, she has lived pro-people policies. In the mis- Hazare did not give details of stated, requesting the court to in the national capital, social want change. That time is coming,” simply, eaten simple food, she has sive, Hazare had asked the Bengal the discussions, but said he would prosecute the AAP chief for activist Anna Hazare yesterday Hazare said after the talks at the neither a house nor a car. So long chief minister about her stand on make things clear at a media con- defaming the former Bharatiya praised her for leading a sim- residence of Trinamool Congress we did not have any leader like her. implementing the policies if she ference today. Janata Party president. ple life and said he believed the national general secretary Mukul Now we have found (one).” came to power. IANS IANS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Italy recalls ambassador Conspirators in Rajiv Rome summons Indian envoy after hearing in marines’ case is postponed killing escape noose NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: whose leader V Prabhakaran ROME: Italy yesterday recalled said the matter was “under the The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Gandhi’s assassination. its ambassador to India and sum- consideration of the law minis- commuted the death sentences The death sentence of Nalini, moned the Indian ambassador to try” and he needed “more time to of three key conspirators in the who is married to Murugan and express its concern over a delay work out a solution to the issue”. assassination of former prime who became a mother in prison, in court proceedings against two The next hearing will be on minister Rajiv Gandhi, hold- was commuted to life imprison- Italian marines accused of kill- February 24. ing the 11-year delay in deciding ment after her mercy petition ing two Indian fishermen. “This is too much. There is no their mercy petitions “unrea- was accepted. The petition had Ambassador Basant Kumar justice in this case. We are faced sonable and dehumanising”. the recommendation of Gandhi’s Gupta was summoned “to express with an ambiguous behaviour and Political parties in Tamil Nadu widow Sonia Gandhi. the bewilderment and profound a lack of trustworthiness on the as well as the elated families The mercy petitions of the three disappointment of the Italian part of the Indian authorities,” demanded the trio’s release. men were rejected by the Tamil government”, the foreign minis- said Mario Mauro, Italy’s defence A bench of Chief Justice P Nadu governor on April 25, 2004, try said. minister. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and forwarded to the union home The move came just hours after “The decision to recall the and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said: ministry on May 5, 2004. Italy recalled its ambassador to ambassador is not only justified “We commute their death sen- After over five years, the min- India, Daniele Mancini, in pro- but inevitable and reflects the tence into imprisonment for life. istry forwarded the petitions to test over what it described as “a feelings of the Italian people,” he Life imprisonment means end of the president but recalled them new and unacceptable delay by the said. one’s life, subject to any remis- on February 23, 2011. The presi- Indian Supreme Court”. Italian special envoy Staffan de Mistura (right), next to Defence Attache Italian authorities have lob- sion granted by the appropriate dent rejected the mercy petitions “The Indian judicial authori- bied the European Union and the government.” on August 12, 2011, more than 11 Franco Favre, speaks to the media at the Supreme Court in New Delhi. ties’ delaying tactics — two years United Nations on the case, say- The decision takes to four the years after the apex court’s judg- on from the incident — are unac- ing Latorre and Girone should be number of death row convicts in ment. The rejection was chal- ceptable and indicate an Indian accused of killing two Indian fish- marines as quickly as possible,” tried in Italy because it says the the case whose sentences have lenged in the Madras High Court desire to procrastinate beyond all ermen they mistook for pirates Bonino said. incident took place in interna- been commuted. on August 29, 2011. In May 2012, limits,” Italy’s secretary general while guarding a cargo ship in A Supreme Court hearing tional waters. The three who escaped the the Supreme Court transferred of the foreign ministry, Michele 2012. scheduled for yesterday was India denies this, saying it hap- gallows are V Sriharan alias the case to itself. Valensise, said in a statement. Foreign Minister Emma Bonino immediately postponed because pened in Indian waters. Murugan, A G Perarivalan alias In its verdict yesterday, the apex The delay in court proceedings slammed “the evident incapacity prosecutors are still waiting for Girone’s wife, Vania Ardito, told Arivu and T Suthendraraja alias court said the delay in deciding the came in spite of “authoritative of the Indian judicial authorities the justice ministry to decide ANSA news agency that the latest Santhan, currently lodged in Tamil mercy petitions was “inordinate stances taken by different inter- to handle this case” and said Italy which law to try the case under. delay was “an injustice”. Nadu’s Vellore prison. They had and unreasonable”. national organisations”, he said. “will continue and intensify action Attorney General Goolam “We are tired of waiting. sought commutation of their death Chief Justice Sathasivam, junk- The two marines, Massimiliano to defend its sovereign rights in Vahanvati has requested the pair Massimiliano and Salvatore are sentences due to the long delay in ing the government’s contention Latorre and Salvatore Girone, line with international law.” be prosecuted under a maritime innocent and it is time they came deciding their mercy petitions. that the death row convict needed who are staying at the Italian “Italy’s main aim remains try- security law, which attracts a home,” she said. Rajiv Gandhi, who was prime to prove that he suffered during embassy in New Delhi, are ing to obtain the return of the two 10-year sentence, and yesterday AFP minister from 1984 to 1989, was the prolonged delay in decid- killed by Tamil suicide bomber ing his mercy petition, said that Dhanu at an election rally in there was no such requirement in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, on Indian law as well as in interna- May 21, 1991. Fourteen others lost tional judgments. their lives in the blast. Expressing happiness at the Bahrain king arrives No tie-up with BJP: Nitish In 1998, all the 26 accused in the Supreme Court’s decision, DMK case were sentenced to death by a president M Karunanidhi urged NEW DELHI: H M King Prime Minister Manmohan Singh PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister finish... under no circumstances.” special trial court. the central and state governments Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of today, during which some agree- Nitish Kumar yesterday ruled The chief minister said the era In 1999, the Supreme Court to release the convicts from jail. Bahrain arrived here yesterday ments, including one on avoidance out any alliance of his Janata of former prime minister Atal confirmed the death sentences MDMK leader Vaiko also on a three-day state visit at the of double taxation, are likely to be Dal-United with the Bharatiya Bihari Vajpayee has ended in the of four — Murugan, Santhan, demanded their release. head of a high-level official dele- signed. Janata Party-led NDA. BJP and it was “impossible” to Perarivalan and Nalini — while the Elated at the news, Perarivalan’s gation seeking to boost bilateral According to the Bahrain News Making it clear in the state again join hands with the party. capital punishment to the others mother Arputhammal told the ties on his first visit to India. Agency, the royal visit will explore assembly that the alliance chapter Nitish Kumar earlier accused was reduced to varying terms of media that she now hoped the King Hamad, who is visiting various aspects of the growing was closed forever, Nitish Kumar the BJP of breaking the trust imprisonment. Tamil Nadu chief minister would India at the invitation of President “solid historic economic, political, said: “There is no question of the after the party said it will not While Perarivalan and Nalini help in her son’s release. Pranab Mukherjee, was received cultural and mercantile bilateral JD-U’s return to the National name Gujarat Chief Minister are Indians, the other two are Sri Murugan’s mother Somani at the airport by Minister of State cooperation relations between the Democratic Alliance led by the Narendra Modi as its prime min- Lankan Tamils. Sriharan was a thanked the media and others for for External Affairs E Ahamed. two friendly countries.” BJP. We will not ally with the BJP isterial candidate. member of the intelligence wing of their support. The king will hold talks with IANS in future whether we survive or IANS the now vanquished Tamil Tigers, IANS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 BREAK 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PRAYER TIME El Greco artworks return to Toledo Fajr (Dawn) 4:49 for anniversary Shorook (Sunrise) 6:06 TOLEDO: For centuries, Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 Spanish Renaissance painter El Asr (Afternoon) 3:04 Greco was a non-entity. No one studied his startling, unconven- Maghrib (Sunset) 5:31 tional work hanging high in a Isha (Night) 7:01 gothic cathedral, obscure con- vents and Spanish museums. It wasn’t until the 19th century ITION that modern painters rediscov- MPET WEATHER ered the artist — born Domenicos S KU CO Theotocopoulos in Crete then liv- UDO ing and painting in Toledo, Spain, Today Thursday Weather Friday Conditions: from 1577 until his death in 1614. Partly cloudy Clear Clear They found inspiration in his bold Partly cloudy colours and brush strokes. and slight dust. Now the city of Toledo is mark- ing the 400th anniversary of the High: 24° High: 23° High: 24° Low: 15° Low: 15° Low: 14° death of its most famous resident with a series of exhibitions, confer- ences and concerts in the walled, medieval city, as well as in Madrid. WIN The centrepiece of the com- DOHA - SUN & SEA memorations is the biggest ever gathering of El Greco paintings EXCITING CASH PRIZES SUN TIDE SEA — in an exhibition in Toledo that SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND runs March 14-June 14. More than 100 canvases — AND SOUVENIR 06:06 17:31 07:15 & 20:00 00:45 & 14:00 12-20/30 KT many of them painted in the city centuries ago — will be on display THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW in the Santa Cruz Museum and in other famous Toledo buildings HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER such as the cathedral, drawing an FIRST PRIZE QR 10,000 expected million visitors. MUSCAT 24/18 Chance of rain 24/17 Partly cloudy “Almost all of these paintings left KUWAIT 22/11 Partly cloudy 25/10 Partly cloudy Toledo at the beginning of the 20th SECOND PRIZE QR 5,000 BAHRAIN 20/16 Clear 21/16 Clear century. We are gathering them SANAA 21/07 Scattered clouds 21/05 Chance of rain all from the El Greco diaspora,” RIYADH 21/08 Partly cloudy 23/08 Partly cloudy said Gregorio Maranon, president THIRD PRIZE QR 2,500 DUBAI 23/15 Partly cloudy 24/17 Partly cloudy of the El Greco 2014 foundation BAGHDAD 22/08 Clear 24/10 Clear that has been four years prepar- ing anniversary events. Bringing the paintings from THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW major world museums and private HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER collections has been an expensive project. Last Day to Register ATHENS 19/13 Clear 18/13 Partly cloudy REUTERS WASHINGTON 18/01 Chance of showers 12/10 Mostly cloudy 15/03/2014 SYDNEY 26/19 Partly cloudy 23/18 Chance of rain LONDON 10/06 Partly cloudy 10/02 Chance of rain PARIS 13/05 Chance of rain 13/06 Chance of rain ISTANBUL 13/09 Fog 14/09 Partly cloudy mail your entries to MANILA 30/23 Partly cloudy 29/21 Partly cloudy DHAKA 28/15 Clear 29/16 Clear [email protected] DELHI 23/11 Clear 24/12 Clear or call: 4455 7741 ISLAMABAD 22/08 Mostly cloudy 21/09 Partly cloudy Wednesday 19 February 2014 19 Rabial II 1435 Volume 18 Number 5980 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Actavis in talks MPHC shares to buy Forest Labs for $25bn NEW YORK: Actavis Plc is in to be listed on advanced talks to acquire rival drug maker Forest Laboratories Inc in a deal that could value Forest at up to $25bn, the Wall February 26 Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. The deal was expected to be announced late yesterday, but it is Number of QE-listed firms rises to 43 possible that the talks could still fall apart, the Journal said. DOHA: Qatar Exchange 199,000 shareholders) has been Amanda Kaufman, a Forest (QE) will list the Mesaieed registered in the shareholders Labs spokeswoman, said the com- Petrochemical Holding accounts at the QCSD which has pany does not comment on market Company (MPHC) on provided the brokerage firms with rumours. Reuters could not imme- Wednesday, February 26. The special systems allowing them to diately reach Actavis for comment decision to list MPHC on QE know the shareholders numbers outside of regular business hours. resulted after the company (NIN) and the number of shares A combined Actavis-Forest has obtained the approval from allocated to them in order to could offer a range of generic and the Qatar Financial Markets’ facilitate trading process. brand-name medicines, reaping Authority (QFMA) and fulfilled The data will become available economies of scale of its own, the and complied with all necessary at the brokerage firms effective Journal said. Actavis competes listing requirements, the bourse Sunday, February 23, 2014, so with larger drugmakers such as announced here yesterday. investors will be able to submit Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries With the listing of MPHC, the their buy/sell orders directly to Ltd and Mylan Inc. number of listed companies on QE the brokers as of that date. Actavis has turned to acquiring will increase to 43. The MPHC’s decision to go for H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada at the Qatar-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Committee meeting. speciality branded drugs, which QE stated that listing of MPHC a QR3.23bn initial public offer- have far higher profit margins will be in the Industrial Sector ing was announced by H E Dr than generics, to boost earnings. with a ticker symbol MPHC. As Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Qatar-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Forest has a market capitali- usual, price flotation for MPHC Minister of Energy and Industry sation of $19.34bn as of Friday’s will be permitted only for the and H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi, close, compared with $33.40bn for first day of listing however; price Minister of Finance in December Actavis, according to Thomson fluctuation on the second day and 2013. The IPO was open to all Committee holds talks Reuters data. thereafter will be permitted by 10 Qatari nationals and certain Forest had wrangled with bil- percent up/down as the case for selected Qatari institutions. The DOHA: The Qatar- Pakistan investment opportunities and Hassad Food Company. lionaire investor Carl Icahn for all other listed companies. subscription period was open Joint Ministerial Commission cooperation in the fields of The Pakistani delegation years and ultimately struck a On first day of trading, the from December 31, 2013 until held its third meeting in Doha finance, business, civil aviation, included Syed Hassan Raza, the deal with him last summer that standard procedures of IPOs will January 21, 2014. yesterday. human resources development, Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar, averted a proxy fight. It is still apply. Brokerage companies will MPHC’s authorised and issued The meeting was chaired by H education, scientific research and and a number of senior officials facing patent expirations on sev- be permitted to enter any buy/ capital amounts to QR12bn which E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, cultural relations. from the Ministry of Petroleum eral of its biggest drugs, includ- sell orders for MPHC shares in 100 percent is paid up. MPHC’s Minister of Energy and Industry, The Qatari side included a and Natural Resources, the ing Namenda, which is prescribed the pre-open session at 8.30am for business activities include among from the Qatari side, and Shahid number of senior officials from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers to improve cognitive function in the listing morning day only. The others, to establish, manage, own, Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Ministry of Finance, Ministry of of Commerce and Industry, people with Alzheimer’s disease. pre-opening session for all other and/or hold shares, assets and Petroleum and Natural Resources, Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry Ministry of Commerce, Ministry Forest Chief Executive Brent listed companies will remain as interests in companies (and their from the Pakistani side. of Economy and Commerce, Qatar of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Saunders, who joined the com- business usual at 9am. subsidiaries and/or associated The two sides discussed means Petroleum, Qatar Petroleum Resource Development, and pany last October, would stay An official source at the Qatar undertakings) engaged in all man- to enhance relations between the International, Qatargas, Qatar Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd. at the combined company, the Central Securities Depository ner of processing and/or manufac- two countries in various fields, Electricity and Water Company, THE PENINSULA Journal said. Saunders’ exact role said that the MPHC current turing of petrochemical products. mainly energy, commerce and Qatar Holding, Qatar Airways, is still being worked out. shareholders’ data (approximately THE PENINSULA economy. They also discussed Qatar Tourism Authority and REUTERS

Obama pushes for fuel efficiency Gulf ties could UK’s Stanlow refinery aid Islamic finance in Italy to cut capacity by third PARIS: Bankers and academics LONDON: Britain’s second- indicating overall runs will not be in Italy are stepping up efforts largest oil refinery will shut- sharply reduced by the closure of to develop Islamic finance in ter one third of its production crude unit. the country, a campaign which capacity, its owner said yes- The cutback “will further could benefit from growing eco- terday, in further evidence of reduce fuel oil and naphtha pro- nomic links between Gulf coun- losses forcing closures across duction and improve absolute tries and the eurozone’s third the struggling European margins whilst delivering cost largest economy. industry. efficiencies,” the Essar statement Islamic finance has so far made Essar Energy Plc said its said. only marginal progress in conti- Stanlow refinery in northwest After the unit is closed Stanlow nental Europe, mainly in France England will shrink its out- will produce approximately one and Germany. But Italy is seek- put capacity to around 195,000 third gasoline, 57 percent diesel ing trade and investment with barrels-per-day (bpd) from and kerosene and three percent wealthy Gulf Arab states as a way 296,000bpd after it mothballs a heavy fuel oil for shipping and to grow out of its debt problems. crude distillation unit by October. power generation. Kuwait’s sovereign wealth In a statement, the company A source at the refinery said fund announced this month that said the measure is part of a that some jobs were expected to it would invest 500 million euros $100m revamp in an effort to save go at the plant. “We don’t antici- ($685 million) in Italian com- the plant, which supplies about pate any compulsory redundan- panies in coordination with the 15 percent of Britain’s transport cies as there are a lot of workers Italian government’s own strate- fuels, after it posted a loss of in their mid 50s to 60s, but ration- gic investment fund. Italy made a US President Barack Obama departs after making remarks on the economy at a Safeway Distribution Centre $287m last year. alisation and cutting costs is defi- similar deal with Qatar last year. in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, yesterday. Obama pushed his economic plan by calling attention to the better Stanlow is the first European nitely behind the changes,” said Italy’s trade ties with the Gulf fuel efficiency of tractor trailer. refinery to see capacity closures the source at the refinery. are booming; its exports to the this year in the face of sinking He declined to say how many United Arab Emirates hit ¤5.5bn regional refining margins in the workers were at the plant or how in 2012, a 16.7 percent rise from past six months. many posts would be cut. The 2011, government data shows. The industry in Europe has company declined to comment. Only about two percent of Doha Insurance gets nod for rights issue been hammered by weak demand, Around two million bpd of Italy’s population of 61 million over-capacity and huge flows of refining capacity, the equivalent are Muslim. But the hope is that diesel from overseas competitors. of 10 medium-sized plants, will as Gulf companies and investors DUBAI: Qatar’s Doha 24,260,000 new shares offered to Tuesday’s statement to the Qatar Essar said the $287m loss need to shut in the next four years increase their activities in Italy, Insurance said yesterday it had shareholders at a price of QR18 bourse said. resulted from planned mainte- to balance the European market, Islamic finance — which follows received shareholder approval per share. Doha Insurance said last nance, a damaged furnace, and according to Vienna-based con- religious principles such as bans for a capital increase worth The offer price is a substantial month it had received regula- weak refining margins. Each bar- sultancy JBC Energy. on interest payments and pure QR436.7m ($119.9m) aimed discount to the QR27.55 closing tory approval for the rights rel of crude the company proc- Essar Energy, which owns a monetary speculation — will at strengthening its ability to price on Monday. Rights issues issue, which would increase essed in the fourth quarter lost an series of power and oil assets follow. work at home and abroad. in Qatar and across the Gulf financial solvency and further average of $2.61, compared with in India and is controlled by Italian firms raising loans could The insurer said the plan region are usually offered at steep improve its credit rating, which an average profit of $7.22 a barrel India’s billionaire Ruia brothers, use Islamic structures to attract — which will nearly double discounts. would allow it to compete for in the same quarter of 2012. received a £900m takeover offer Shariah-compliant banks from its capital to QR500m — had Shareholders will be allowed mega projects both locally and The refinery is now operat- from its largest shareholder on the Gulf. been approved at a meeting to subscribe for nine new shares internationally. ing at 70 percent of capacity, Monday. REUTERS on Monday and would see for every ten they currently own, REUTERS according to the Essar website, REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS QNB, QDB tie up to finance Al Naqeeb project Offer through Al Dhameen plan

DOHA: As part of its com- major source of income, which mitment to provide easy is in line with Qatar National QNCC Chairman Salem bin Butti Al Naimi (centre) addressing the AGM in Doha yesterday. With him are other board members (from left) Faisal Al Sada, access to banking products Vision 2030.” Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani, Sulaiman Khalid Al Mana, Deputy Chairman; Hassan Al Jufairi, Abdel Latif Al Mohanadi and Mohammad Ali Al and services to local small and Hamad Al Jamali Assistant Sulaiti. SALIM MATRAMKOT medium enterprises (SMEs), General Manager at QNB, added: Qatar National Bank (QNB), “QNB welcomes partners who Al Naqeeb Plastic Factory are looking to set up new facto- and Qatar Development Bank ries in Qatar and we appreciate QNCC for QR1.19bn expansion plan (QDB) signed an agreement to the support that is offered by finance a new project supported QDB.” BY SACHIN KUMAR through QDB’s Al Dhameen The factory will offer 100 per- Smidth of Denmark for a designed for cement will be related to 12,000TPD-15,000 TPD mainly programme. cent custom designed polypro- capacity of 75,00TPD clinker, FifaWorld Cup 2022. driven by ongoing infrastructure QNB, in a press statement yes- pylene woven bags as per the DOHA: Qatar National Cement the contract price amounted “There will be strong demand projects across the country. terday, said that it was the first required specifications of the Company (QNCC), the largest to QR1.19bn,” said Salem bin for Cement in Qatar in next “The market demand of all bank to join Al Dhameen pro- customer. The product is flexible; maker of cement in Qatar, will Butti Al Naimi, Chairman five-six years due to the projects types of cement and washed sand gramme back in 2010, and since double side printed, water and expand its production capac- and Managing Director, Qatar related to football world cup in was successfully met from the then, it has financed most of the dust proof designed, heat/wave ity from 10,000-12,000 tonnes National Cement Company, on 2022,” said Salem bin Butti Al company’s own production main- beneficiaries of the QDB’s loan cut and hemmed top, flat or anti- per day (TPD) to around the sidelines of Annual Ordinary Naimi. “The new plant is planned taining the high quality standards guarantee programme dedicated slip woven and finally ensures UV 20,000 TPD to meet the grow- Meeting of General Assembly. to meet the growing demand,” and keeping the same price for all for the SMEs. protection. ing demand of cement in Qatar. “The expected completion time he said. products,” he said. Al Naqeeb Plastic Factory This brand new factory will be The cement maker will invest for the first cement mill is 17 Qatar has come a long a way in The cement maker is open to will be manufacturing PP located in the SME Industrial around QR1.19bn to increase months and the overall plant will term of consumption of demand. export cement if the supply of (Polypropylene) Woven bags of Area with area of 4,080 square the capacity. be completed within 24 months According to industry sources, cement exceeds the demand in different capacities (25kg, 50kg, metres, with a total built-up “The company has signed a form the effective date of the con- the demand for cement a dec- future. Currently the company is and 100kg). area of 2,230 square metres, letter of intent to construct the tract,” he said. ade ago was just 2000 TPD. Now not importing cement. Woven PP bags are considered which includes the company’s cement line Number 5 with FL The most of the demand the demand for Qatar is around THE PENINSULA to be the toughest packaging bags, offices. which are widely used to pack Al Dhameen programme enables materials such as grains, sugar, lending to businesses that require flour, fertilisers, animal feeds, and collateral. chemicals and can also be used for QNB is a keen supporter of the Temasek to sell other applications. programme and is committed to Al Meera’s 2013 revenue hits QR1.95bn Hamad Al Kubaisi, Executive working in close partnership with Director of Strategy and QDB to help grow the private sec- DOHA: Al Meera Consumer financial statements for the last recommended a cash dividend of $3.1bn stake Business Development at QDB, tor and support the free market Goods Company’s net profit for financial year ending December QR8 per share, which is equiva- said: “We are proud to be work- economy in Qatar. the year-ended December 31, 31, 2013. lent to 80 percent of the nominal in Shin Corp ing with QNB in order to achieve The programme covers a 2013 is up at QR196.1m com- The net profit for the year share value. our goals of supporting the local portion of the risk of funding pared to QR105.7m reported includes a non-recurring profit Notably, the company’s rev- SINGAPORE/HONG KONG: private and SME sectors. These institutes, or banks in case the in 2012, the company said in a of QR.71m from the compensa- enue reached QR1.95bn, which Singapore state investor goals fall directly within Al guaranteed project has failed in statement. tion for Al Khor, which is 85.3 is 30.0 percent higher than 2012. Temasek Holdings Pvt Ltd is Dhameen programme’s efforts in repaying the whole amount or The board of directors of Al percent higher than the previ- The general assembly meeting seeking to sell its $3.1bn stake in order to achieve economic diver- part of it to encourage banks to Meera met on Monday and took ous year, , the company said in is scheduled to be held on March Thai telecom company Shin Corp sification and lower dependency finance enterprises. a number of decisions, including a statement. 26, 2014. and has approached its SingTel on the hydrocarbons sector as a THE PENINSULA endorsement of the consolidated The board has also THE PENINSULA unit as a possible buyer, people familiar with the matter said. Heralding an overhaul of its telecom assets, Temasek held talks with SingTel late last year about selling the 41.6 percent of Shin Corp it owns through a sub- Gold takes a breather, falls after three-day rally sidiary, the people said. Talks over a stake in the com- NEW YORK/LONDON: Gold in three straight sessions after extend recent gains,” Cooper said. term seems to have gathered was a World Gold Council (WGC) pany that controls the biggest fell yesterday as the market weak US manufacturing output Spot gold slipped 0.5 percent to momentum, but analysts remain report that showed global gold Thai mobile telecoms operator took a breather after a three- last week cast doubts over the $1,321.84 by 1709 GMT. Earlier in cautious overall about the longer demand fell 15 percent in 2013 and was bought from the family day rally that pushed it over pace of the Federal Reserve’s the day, bullion touched its high- run, expecting the dollar to as huge outflows from physi- of ousted former prime minister $1,330 an ounce, but prices hov- monetary tightening, sparking est since October 31 at $1,332.10 strengthen and the US economy cally backed investment funds Thaksin Shinawatra have since ered around a 3-1/2 month high better investment demand with in the previous session. to recover. outweighed record consumer stalled amid political tensions in due to lingering worries over rare gains in holdings in gold US COMEX gold futures were More clues on the Fed’s think- demand. Thailand, the people said. SingTel, global economic growth. exchange-traded funds. up $3.80 to $1,322.40 an ounce, ing is due today, when it publishes Indian gold consumption is formally known as Singapore Bullion came under pressure as “In our view, the two drivers with trading volume on track to the minutes of its last meeting. expected to be 900-1,000 tonnes Telecommunications Co, is 52 US equities gained despite disap- that have propelled prices — short finish in line with its 30-day aver- “I suppose the interest around in 2014 on strong jewellery and percent-owned by Temasek. pointing economic reports. Data covering activity and Chinese age, preliminary data showed. the FOMC minutes would be investment purchases, while The move by Temasek, which showed U.S. homebuilder confi- demand — are likely to lose Investors have been seeking what they have to say about the China’s demand should be 1,000- oversees $170bn in assets, is in dence suffered its largest one- momentum in the forthcoming shelter in gold on fears of slowing slowdown in the US economy, 1,100 tonnes, the WGC said. line with its plans to consolidate month drop ever in February, and sessions,” said Suki Cooper, pre- growth in China and as a string which could be providing some Among other precious metals, portfolio companies in industry the New York Federal Reserve’s cious metals analyst at Barclays of US economic data showed the gold direction in the short term,” silver rose 0.7 percent to $21.79 an groupings. This would be its first gauge of manufacturing showing Capital. world’s largest economy had been Macquarie analyst Matthew ounce, having climbed to a three- move toward bringing its tele- weaker-than-expected reading. “Gold needs investor senti- hit by cold weather. Sentiment Turner said. month high at $21.96 on Monday. coms assets under one roof, ana- Gold gained three percent ment to turn decisively positive to favouring the metal in the short Also weighing down on prices REUTERS lysts said. REUTERS ADGM hires ex-Dubai executive as head ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s downtown area, the ADGM said Pricewaterhouse Coopers in new financial free zone has in a statement yesterday. Geneva. hired a former executive from From 2005 until late last year, “He is ideally suited to address neighbouring Dubai’s financial Bladen was chief operating officer our key priorities which are to centre to spearhead its growth. of the Dubai Financial Services develop the legal, regulatory and Jan Bladen will be executive Authority, which is the regula- operational platforms that will adviser and programme leader tory authority for the Dubai provide the foundation for the at Abu Dhabi Global Market International Financial Centre, growth of the Global Market,” (ADGM), a full-service financial the Middle East’s top bank- said Ahmed Ali al-Sayegh, chair- zone which the wealthy emirate ing hub. He also worked as a man of the ADGM. is building on an island near its risk manager at consultants REUTERS

Calling for lower taxes

People taking part in a rally calling for lower taxes and protection for small enterprises in Rome yesterday.

WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS QE index loses 33.71 points Egypt hits 5-year high; weak corporate results hurt Dubai bourse

DOHA: The Qatar Exchange percent to QR27.55. presidential election law,” said It also proposed a 7.25 percent index ended in the red area The banking and financial Mohamed Radwan, director of cash dividend that’s only mar- when trading closed yesterday sector index lost 0.37 percent international sales at Pharos ginally above the previous year’s at 11,690.49 points, down 33.71 points, while consumer goods and Securities in Cairo. 7 percent dividend. “The overall points or 0.29 percent, from services sector index added 0.24 Cairo’s benchmark index rose market has had a nice run but the previous closing of 11,724.20 percent. The industrial sector 1.9 percent to 7,721 points, its fundamentally, it’s becoming points on Monday. dropped 0.08 percent, while insur- highest level since September overstretched. Fresh money won’t The volume of shares fell ance sector was up 0.91 percent. 2008. It broke above the April come in if valuations are high,” to 14,023,380 from Monday’s Elsewhere, Egypt’s bourse 2010 intraday peak of 7,693 points said Ali Adou, portfolio manager 16,013,457 and the value of shares surged to a five-year high after but will need a weekly close above at The National Investor. decreased to QR611,438,127.91 a local newspaper reported that the level to confirm a breakout Analysts and investors have from QR1,131,203,414.65 on discussions over a new presi- from the resistance. been calling for a correction on Monday. Among the top losers dential election law would begin Dubai’s index lost 1.1 percent, Dubai’s market with heavy retail were Qatar Islamic Bank, whose today, while Dubai’s shares fell in slipping off Monday’s five-year activity spurring small-cap stocks shares were down 1.58 percent to profit-taking after mixed earn- high. Shares in Air Arabia tum- in speculative buying. QR80.90, Ooredoo lost 0.99 per- ings reports. bled 4.8 percent to a two-week Saudi Arabia’s index climbed cent to QR150.60, while Vodafone “People are excited about low after the budget carrier 0.2 percent. Banking shares sup- Qatar fell 1.12 percent to QR12.39 the elections, they are build- posted a profit of Dh94m, which ported gains with the sector’s and Doha Insurance lost 9.97 ing positions in anticipation of came in slightly below estimates. index up 0.3 percent. AGENCIES

Oil at highest since January 2 on Libya crude output falls to supply concerns, weak dollar 375,000bpd LONDON: Oil rose towards geopolitical situation on a number maintain the rate of output. $110 a barrel to its highest in of fronts. That seems to have gone The dollar was trading near a TRIPOLI: Libya’s oil output almost seven weeks yesterday, into reverse now.” six-week low against a basket of was down at 375,000 barrels per supported by a weaker dol- Brent crude was up 39 cents at currencies, supporting commod- day (bpd) yesterday with pro- lar, cold weather in the United $109.57 by 1513 GMT and traded up ities such as oil that are priced tests continuing to affect a pipe- Pedestrians walk past an electronic board showing stock market indices States and renewed concern to $109.89, its highest since January in dollars. Oil also drew support line from the major El Sharara in Tokyo yesterday as Japan’s Nikkei share average soared to a one-week about threats to supply in the 2, US crude was up 94 cents to last week from an International field, a National Oil Corporation high after Bank of Japan’s announcement. Middle East and Africa. $101.24 from Friday and reached Energy Agency report showing (NOC) spokesman said. Stirring supply worries, Libya’s its highest point since October that inventories in the developed Protesters last week had output fell, South Sudanese rebels 18. There was no settlement on world had posted their steepest obstructed two pipelines coming BoJ refrains from new easing said they seized control of an Monday as US markets were shut quarterly decline since 1999 in from the Al Wafa field, which usu- oil-producing state capital and for the President’s Day holiday. the last three months of 2013. ally supplies around 30,000 bpd expectations of a breakthrough Compounding supply concerns Reports on US oil inventories will of light oil condensate, and also after weak growth data in Iran’s nuclear talks with from Libya, South Sudanese be released later this week. partially blocked a pipeline from world powers were dampened by rebels said they had seized con- Iran and six world powers the 340,000-bpd El Sharara field. TOKYO: The Bank of Japan percent from five percent — is seen both sides. trol of the capital of oil-produc- began talks on a long-term deal The NOC spokesman said pro- (BoJ) yesterday held off fresh as crucial to bringing down Japan’s “Brent is getting a bit of ing Upper Nile state, Malakal, for Tehran to limit its nuclear tests at Al Wafa had been lifted, monetary easing measures eye-watering national debt, but it help from the weak dollar and yesterday. programme and the West to ease but the protest at the El Sharara after weak growth data exacer- has also raised fears that it will cold weather in the US,” said South Sudan says it has already international sanctions. Progress pipeline continued. He did not bated fears about the economic derail Tokyo’s bid to kickstart the Christopher Bellew, a senior bro- been forced to cut oil output by a in resolving the decade-long dis- give a breakdown of production by impact of an April sales tax rise. world’s third-largest economy. ker at Jefferies Bache in London. fifth to 200,000 bpd, all of which pute would weigh on oil prices field. The NOC had given Libya’s Wrapping up a two-day policy Analysts are predicting the BoJ “There was a moment towards is pumped from Upper Nile. as the lifting of sanctions would oil output on Sunday as 390,000 meeting, the BoJ said it would will launch an expansion of its the end of last year when there Rebel control of Malakal could allow the Opec producer to export bpd, some 70,000 bpd less than keep its massive easing pro- asset-buying plan, launched last was a bit of improvement in the raise doubts about its ability to more crude. REUTERS during the preceding week. gramme in place, while tweaking April, later this year to counter Protesters, former rebels and a loan scheme to banks in a bid any slowdown. tribes often target Libya’s oil to stimulate lending to firms and On Monday, fresh data showed infrastructure as a way to make consumers. “Japan’s economy has that while Japan’s economy demands on its weak central gov- continued to recover moderately, expanded by 1.6 percent over last ernment. Before the 2011 conflict, and a front-loaded increase in year, it slowed to 0.3 percent in production was around 1.6 million demand prior to the consump- the October-December quarter, bpd with exports of around 1.25 tion tax hike has recently been presenting a major challenge for million bpd. REUTERS observed,” the BoJ said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and The sales tax hike — to 8.0 his bid to stoke growth. AFP

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Candy Crush Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.75 -0.46% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.50 1.20% Aa2 AA creator plans Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 120.00 2.39% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 113.75 2.72% Aa2 AA float on NYSE Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 108.75 3.24% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 154.88 4.84% Aa2 AA LONDON: The developer Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 116.75 5.21% Aa2 AA behind the wildly-addictive Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 107.75 5.22% Aa2 AA Candy Crush puzzle game said yesterday it is seeking a list- Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.06 0.62% Aa2 AA ing on the New York Stock Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 110.63 3.16% Aa2 AA Exchange. Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.00 0.93% A1 A- Millions of commuters, teen- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.50 1.89% A1 A- agers — even pensioners — clock QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.25 1.21% NR NR in daily to test their skills at the QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.50 1.08% Aa3 A+ game, which involves lining up QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.25 1.91% Aa3 A+ tiny pieces of coloured sweets to make them vanish from the Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.38 2.02% A2 A- screen of a computer or mobile Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.25 1.35% A2 A- phone. Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.75 2.82% A2 A- King Digital Entertainment Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 107.50 3.53% A2 A- said it had asked the US Securities Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 103.13 4.65% A2 A- and Exchange Commission regu- Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.00 0.55% Aa3 A latory body for a listing. “King Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 107.00 3.02% Aa3 A intends to list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 108.38 3.85% Aa3 A under the ticker symbol “KING,” SOVEREIGNS the firm said in a statement. Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P “The number of shares to be Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.63 0.69% Aa2 AA offered and the price range for Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.13 2.17% Aa2 AA the offering have not yet been determined.” Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.25 1.53% NR NR Candy Crush — King’s top-sell- Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.75 2.37% NR NR ing game — launched in 2012 and Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 123.38 3.73% NR NR can be played online, on Facebook Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 115.38 4.21% NR NR and on smartphones. The highly- Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.17% Aa2 AA addictive game is free, but players Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 115.13 2.85% NR BBB can pay for in-app extras to help Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 108.00 4.01% NR BBB them pass up its more than 500 levels. The game records some Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 100.38 5.68% Caa1 B- 700 million sessions a day and Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 104.75 3.68% NR BBB- racks up daily sales of $850,000,

*Periodic Distribution Amount according to the IDATE digital IMPORTANT NOTE: research and consultancy firm. Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which King Digital has come under is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services fire for trademarking the word Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary “Candy” in the European Union 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 and has filed for a similar trade- take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds mark in the United States. can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant Its chief executive Riccardo liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not Zacconi defended the move last a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. month, saying it was merely to stop copycats cashing in on Candy Crush’s success. King Digital, which did not provide any finan- cial details, has six creative stu- dios across Europe and has offices in Malta and San Francisco.AFP WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Troika heads to Greece for talks Germany and France Creditors to begin discussion on debt after reviewing reform progress move closer to deal on

BRUSSELS: Greece’s inter- national creditors will resume diluted transaction tax talks with Athens this week to review progress on the economic BRUSSELS: Ambitious pro- better than nothing,” Schaeuble reforms it must make to get debt posals for a pan-European said, adding that a consensus was aid funding, eurozone finance financial transaction tax look emerging in favour of starting ministers agreed. almost certain to be scaled back with a tax on share trading. “The Troika intends to return after Germany’s finance minis- He declined to give a time to Athens later this week,” ter acknowledged that the levy frame but said that he hoped Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen could be phased in slowly, start- Berlin and Paris would agree how Dijsselbloem said after chairing a ing with share trades. the tax should look when the cabi- meeting of the 18-nation Eurogroup. The tax failed to gain wide- nets of both governments, includ- “We welcome Athens’ commitment spread support when it was pro- ing German Chancellor Angela to reforms in a number of key areas posed during the eurozone debt Merkel and French President ...(Greece) must now work with the crisis but eventually won the Francois Hollande, meet in Paris Troika so that the review mission backing of an uneasy coalition today. France and Germany are can be successfully concluded,” of 11 states, led by Germany and committed to a agreeing a deal Dijsselbloem said. France. on the tax before the European The so-called ‘Troika’ of the Long-expected revisions, how- Parliament elections in late May, European Union, the European ever, would mark a victory for a French official said ahead of the Central Bank and the International banks and trading organisations meeting. Monetary Fund first bailed out that have lobbied furiously against Austrian Finance Minister Greece in 2010 with a programme the scheme and would reflect Michael Spindelegger, whose worth ¤110bn ($151bn). practical problems and political country is among those support- When that failed to stabilise divisions over the tax. ing the tax, said he did not expect the country, they agreed a much While many critics have high- the levy before 2016. tougher second rescue in 2012 lighted how difficult it would be The resurrection of an idea first worth ¤130bn, plus a private sec- to collect the tax, Paris and Berlin conceived by US economist James tor debt write-off of more than remain at loggerheads over the Tobin more than 40 years ago was ¤100bn. Greece has struggled to shape of the levy and whether it symbolically important in showing meet the terms of this second Portugal’s Finance Minister Maria Luís Albuquerque walks past European Stability Mechanism Managing Director should apply to derivatives, which that politicians were tackling the package but hopes it has now Klaus Regling during a EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels. France opposes. banks and organisations blamed done enough to satisfy the Troika, Last year, as political support for causing the financial crisis. especially in achieving a ‘primary “In view of the progress made, outstanding debt — at more than said earlier. began to wane, officials in Brussels A redesigned levy is expected to budget surplus’ — that is, in the I can confirm we now expect our 170 percent of total annual economic “In August, we will talk about started to look at how the propos- raise only a tenth of the amount black before debt costs. mission ... to return to Athens in output, nearly three times the EU the future,” he said, adding: “The als could be softened, considering originally targetted, officials who Prime Minister Antonis coming days,” Rehn said. 60 percent limit — it is accepted debt has to be reduced and that is a tiny charge on share deals only worked on revised proposals said Samaras said on Sunday that “It is in everyone’s interest, that further help will be needed. precisely what we will talk about and a long build-up to full imple- last year. Greece in 2013 had achieved a especially Greece’s, to do what it But Dijsselbloem said there was after the summer.” mentation of the scheme. Officials in Brussels had primary surplus of more than must do,” he said, adding that the no need to look at that issue until In November, the eurozone German Finance Minister expected the tax to raise up to ¤1.5bn — three times the target review could be finished by March later this year and Rehn stressed finance ministers agreed that Wolfgang Schaeuble appeared ¤35bn ($48.13bn) a year. But and one year early. “Our position is and aid payments then made. that the immediate issue is “to Greece could apply for help in to back this approach yesterday, under the model considered last that the Troika should only return Officials said there is still focus on the current review and reducing its debt so as to offer saying that a phased introduction year, the standard rate charged when enough work has been done ¤10.1bn in outstanding funds that its conclusion.” “If the current pro- some way out for an economy would be better than abandoning on bond and share trades could to offer the prospect of a positive could be paid to Greece under the gramme is fulfilled, then further which has been mired in recession it, suggesting that it could apply to drop to 0.01 percent of the value outcome,” EU Economic Affairs current debt programme which (aid) disbursements can take place for six years and seemed on the shares first and derivatives later. of a deal, from 0.1 percent in the Commissioner Olli Rehn told a runs to end of this year. by May which will take (Greece) point of collapse several times at “We know that step-by-step original blueprint. Eurogroup press conference. Given Greece’s massive through to August,” Dijsselbloem the height of the debt crisis. AFP is not the best approach, but it’s REUTERS

Mining giant BHP’s AT&T, IBM in Peugeot dynasty ends reign big data tie-up profit soars 83pc NEW YORK: AT&T and IBM with China’s Dongfeng tie-up announced plans yesterday to SYDNEY: Global mining giant scaled back or postponed tens of join forces to help cities, utilities PARIS: PSA Peugeot Citroen The deal will come to Peugeot’s which employs nearly 90,000 peo- BHP Billiton said yesterday billions of dollars of investments and others use big data ana- agreed to a capital tie-up rescue after the group, Europe’s ple in France. first-half net profit soared 83 in recent years as commodity lytics to better manage their with China’s Dongfeng and second-largest carmaker, suf- The final deal is expected to percent to $8.1bn on the back of prices slumped, had slashed oper- infrastructure. the French state, a source fered the indignity of needing be signed at the end of next spending cuts and strong pro- ating costs by $4.9bn in the past The companies said in a joint said, ending the reign of one ¤7bn in state-guaranteed refi- month during a visit by Chinese duction across its iron ore and 18 months. “The commitment we statement they will “combine of France’s oldest industrial nancing to rescue its credit arm. President Xi Jinping to Paris. coal businesses. made 18 months ago to deliver their analytic platforms, cloud, dynasties. Peugeot has been among the The source said the Peugeot The result for the six months more tonnes and more barrels and security technologies with pri- In the latest buy-in of a Chinese hardest hit by a European slump board also agreed a tie-up to December 31 was above expec- from our existing infrastructure vacy in mind to gain more insights giant to a struggling Western in car sales, suffering a ¤5bn loss between its financing arm and tations and compared to $4.2bn at a lower unit cost is delivering on data collected from machines firm, the source close to the deal in 2012 and cutting thousands of Spanish bank Santander to begin in the previous corresponding tangible results,” he said. in a variety of industries.” said Peugeot’s board approved jobs. For China, where Dongfeng at the end of 2016 when state- period, with revenues climbing “Annualised productivity led The new project will focus ini- an agreement for Dongfeng and is the second-biggest carmaker, guaranteed funding expires. 5.9 percent to $33.95bn. volume and cost efficiencies total- tially on helping city governments the French government to each the agreement marks the lat- It as well approved the Underlying earnings — which ling $4.9bn are now embedded and midsize utilities analyse vast inject ¤800m ($1.1bn) for 14 per- est high-profile acquisition by appointment of former Renault exclude one-off writedowns — rose and this is expected to increase quantities of data, including from cent stakes in the company. the economic powerhouse of a executive Carlos Tavares as the 31 percent to a higher than fore- to $5.5bn by the end of the 2014 mass transit vehicles, utility The total fundraising effort Western company. Last month, new CEO to replace Philippe cast $7.8bn, with the world’s big- financial year. With strong free meters, and video cameras. could bring in at least ¤3bn Chinese tech giant Lenovo Varin, the man often blamed for gest miner declaring an interim cash flow, selective investment “As a result, cities may be able through the sales of additional bought Motorola from Google in guiding the company into its cur- dividend of 59 cents a share, up and continued simplification, we to better evaluate patterns and shares. Full details of the deal are $2.9bn deal. rent turmoil, the source said. 3.5 percent from a year ago. are well placed to extend our trends to improve urban plan- to be released today along with Under the Peugeot deal, the Last year, a government- The result helped push BHP’s strong track record of capital ning and utilities can better man- Peugeot’s 2013 results. family will see its number of ordered enquiry found that share price 1.6 percent higher at management,” he added. age their equipment to reduce The Peugeot family — which board seats reduced from four Peugeot had made strategic mis- the open of Australian trade to The company said there had costs,” the statement said. “This has controlled the firm since its to two, with Thierry Peugeot takes for years by not seizing fully A$38.63. been strong operating perform- collaboration of two world-class founding in 1810 as a maker of expected to lose his post as the opportunities of globalisation. BHP chief executive Andrew ances across its diversified port- companies will help deliver a more coffee mills and bicycles — will chairman. The company is hoping the Mackenzie said the bumper per- folio, delivering a 10 percent connected planet,” said AT&T vice see its 25 percent stake and 38 None of the three main share- link with Dongfeng will give it formance was driven by improve- increase in production, with president Chris Hill. percent voting rights diluted to holders would be allowed to a boost in China, which is now ments in productivity and extra records achieved across three The services may help in traffic the same amount as the stakes increase its stake for 10 years the group’s number two market volume from its assets. commodities and 10 operations. management, parking and emer- for the government and Chinese — seen as an effort to limit behind France and where it oper- He said the company, which has AFP gency services. AFP state-controlled Dongfeng. Dongfeng’s influence at Peugeot, ates three joint factories. AFP

Malabar Gold’s 110th outlet Everything for one pound except its share listings, at Poundland

LONDON: Poundland, Europe’s million weekly customers now institutional investors of Warburg largest single-price discount come from the more affluent “AB” Pincus’s 76 percent stake, as well retailer, plans a £750m ($1.25bn) demographic. as a partial sale of the balance flotation on the London Stock “We’re very good in austere held by 155 Poundland employ- Exchange, cashing in on the times, but we’re even better in ees, including McCarthy, a former recession-proof allure of goods good times,” said Poundland Chief Sainsbury’s executive and 30-year that sell for just £1 ($1.67). Executive Jim McCarthy, high- veteran of the UK retail sector. The 500-store Poundland chain, lighting a track record of profit The free float will be at least 25 which sells more than 3,000 growth and aggressive store open- percent of Poundland’s equity. products, including about 1,000 ing plans for both the UK and The firm, which will not be issu- branded goods from firms such overseas. ing any new shares to investors in as Cadbury, Heinz, Coca-Cola and According to consultancy PwC, the offer, would seek a valuation of Kodak, said yesterday it would list the UK value general merchandise £700-750m, a person familiar with its shares in March. retail sector was worth £5.2bn in the matter said. British discount retailers 2012. Poundland, the first British The listing of Poundland is one bought up properties left vacant in discount retailer to seek a pub- of many expected in Britain’s retail the economic downturn by failed lic listing, was founded in 1990 sector in 2014. Russian hyper- store groups such as Woolworths at Burton-upon-Trent, central market chain Lenta, newsagent and have outperformed the mar- England, by Dave Dodd and and convenience store McColl’s ket as consumers tightened their Stephen Smith. Private equity and online domestic appliances belts in the face of flat wages and firm Advent International bought retailer AO have all said in recent rising inflation. the firm for £50m in 2002 and weeks that they plan to float. Though the UK economy is sold it on to Warburg Pincus for Pets at Home, Fat Face, House Actress Kajal Agarwal opening the 110th outlet of Malabar Gold & Diamonds in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, slowly improving, the habit of £200m in 2010. of Fraser, Boohoo.com and B&M India, in the presence of Grandhi Kantha Rao, Chairman Crane Industries, M P Ahamad, Chairman Malabar thrift has stuck, and Poundland Poundland’s share offer are also expected to come to mar- Group, Asher, Group Executive Director, Malabar Gold & Diamonds. says nearly a quarter of its 4.5 will comprise a partial sale to ket later this year. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 11,690.49 0.29 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 16,798.44 0.29 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,357.49 0.14 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,907.25 0.17 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,792.58 0.37 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5402.224 7.412 0.14 5402.224 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,603.32 0.24 % QR154.3563 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4313.28 -21.89 -0.5 4352.54 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 3,909.06 0.08 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0443 QR 6.1285 QE All Share Insurance 2,763.89 0.91 % Dj Indu Average 16154.39 126.8 0.79 16588.3 13784 Euro ...... QR 4.9594 QR 5.0290 QE All Share Real Estate 2,035.78 0.38 % QR 2.5186 CA$ ...... QR 3.2923 QR 3.3577 QE All Share Telecoms 1,608.3 1.01 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 2,041.08 0.25 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0651 QR 4.1231 Hang Seng Inde/D 22587.72 51.78 0.23 23469.33 21197.78 Yen ...... QR 0.0352 QR 0.0359 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2569 QR 3.3219 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4934.94 -33.11 -0.67 4977.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 18-02-2014 17-02-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0580 QR 0.0592 Index 11,690.49 11,724.20 Karachi 100 In/D 25884.38 -119.51 -0.46 27213.21 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Change 33.71 177.97 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14843.24 450.13 3.13 16164.01 13995.86 Peso ...... QR 0.0809 QR 0.0825 % 0.29 1.54 $ 108.92 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 12.63 12.95 S&P 500 Index/D 1838.63 8.8 0.48 1850.84 1485.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0475 Volume 14,023,380 16,013,457 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 611,438,127.91 1,131,203,414.65 Straits Times/D 3070.78 1.5 0.05 3187.8 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3308 QR 0.3404 Trades 5,513 7,487 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 106.10 Up 19 | Down 18 | Unchanged 01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 18-02-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1019 6.35 12479 City Union Bk-/D 47.1 -0.3 35425 Himat Seide-B/D 53.4 3.2 32809 Kalyani Stel-B/D 53.65 0.75 26041 Radico Khait-B/D 159.05 7.3 268296 Kingfisher/D 388.89 2.2 914183 Aarti Drugs-B/D 211 -1.35 7031 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1447.4 8 4150 Hind Motors-B/D 7.6 0.13 68029 Kanoria Chem-B/D 25.25 0.2 1539 Rallis India-B/D 159.5 2.5 14405 Land Secs Grou/D 1068 4 336396 Aban Offs-B/D 512 7.95 728785 Colgate-A/D 1310.55 -10.6 4357 Hind Org Chem-/D 9.58 0.36 1555 Kg Denim-B/D 13.8 0.7 29132 Reliance Indus/D 316.2 4.3 48434 Legal & Genera/D 237.9 -4 6946493 Ador Welding-B/D 127 0.5 3273 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 48.8 -1.2 3621 Hind Unilever-/D 561.6 1.35 26117 Kilburnengg-T/D 20 0.35 9952 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.9 0.85 31724 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 81.8 0.04 26759877 Aegis Logis-B/D 146.25 3.85 11826 Dcm Financia-B/D 0.93 0.03 11100 Hind.Petrol-A/D 239 0.85 29051 Kinetic Eng-B/D 34.9 -0.65 2534 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 290.95 -1 2760 Marks & Sp./D 494.7 0.3 469400 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 105.5 0.4 2817 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 36 -0.5 4660 Hindalco-A/D 99.35 0.7 677965 Kopran-B/D 22.5 -0.25 14214 Thirumalai-B/D 89.6 0.6 3125 Next/D 6490 50 82372 Alembic-B/D 12.6 -0.2 33839 Dhampur Sugar-/D 28.95 -0.55 5119 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 803.9 23.35 109831 Lgb Broth-B/D 324 9.7 8122 Til Ltd.-B/D 131.95 1.45 7089 Pearson/D 1104.21 -12 506363 Alkyl Amines-B/D 225.05 -0.75 1000 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2651 11.5 12926 I F C I-A/D 23.3 0.05 608598 Lloyd Metal-B/D 7.25 0.24 508000 Timexgroup-B/D 9.25 0.13 57223 Prudential/D 1322.7563 -8 910401 Alok Indus-B/D 6.52 -0.05 281855 E I H-B/D 56.8 -0.8 10503 Idbi-A/D 56.45 0.5 142208 Lloydsfin.-T/D 0.46 -0.02 2206 Tinplate-T/D 44.65 0.7 7146 Rank Group/D 149.68 -1.6 6283 Apollo Tyre-A/D 117.05 -1.45 671203 E.I.D Parry-B/D 122.45 3.1 1404 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 73.2 -1.55 1986 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 10.9 -0.34 33568 Ub Engineer-T/D 9.45 0.21 2352 Rentokil Initi/D 125.21 -0.4 327168 Asahi I Glass-/D 41.85 1.25 9322 Eicher Motor-A/D 4911.05 9.75 1409 India Cement-B/D 49.8 0.9 80032 Lupin-A/D 920.35 5.7 45446 Ub Engineer-T/D 9.45 0.21 2352 Rolls Royce Pl/D 993.5 -12.5 3136553 Ashok Leyland-/D 15.35 0.05 884371 Electrosteel-B/D 12.95 -0.21 76224 India Glycol-B/D 86.4 0.75 13528 Lyka Labs-B/D 10.26 -0.44 2818 Ultramarine-B/D 47.55 2.15 26143 Rsa Insrance G/D 97.1 -1.1 7286309 Ballarpur In-B/D 11.64 0.18 131643 Emco-B/D 24.25 0.85 85828 Indian Hotel-A/D 60.2 -0.15 40107 Maral Overs-B/D 17.35 0.2 2668 Unitech P -A/D 12.61 0.08 3075104 Sainsbury(J)/D 345.485 0.2 1248134 Bata India-A/D 1019.05 4.55 15646 Escorts-B/D 114.45 0.25 271467 Indo-Bcount-B/D 40.9 -0.35 141102 Mastek-B/D 197.05 -0.45 29527 Schroders/D 2593.9 -13 42989 Beml Ltd-B/D 198.6 1.3 45317 Essar Oil-A/D 51.35 0 196169 Indusind-A/D 389.1 7.75 168462 Max India L-A/D 182.75 -0.45 42542 Severn Trent/D 1797 4 291557 LONDON Bharat Bijle-B/D 334.2 8.4 2987 Eveready Indu-/D 39.2 1 97359 J.B.Chemical-B/D 126.8 -0.45 29453 Mrpl-A/D 39.95 0.1 44432 Smith&Nephew/D 948 -1 243945 Bharatgears-B/D 41.35 1.95 5678 F D C-B/D 117.5 0.45 22017 Jagatjit Ind-T/D 48 -1.5 1305 Nahar Spg.-B/D 92.65 0.25 30234 Smiths Group/D 1389.135 9 210880 Bhartiya Int-B/D 161.75 1.65 6317 Federal Bank-A/D 74.45 0.15 133244 Jagson Phar-B/D 10.2 -0.23 2268 Nath Seeds-B/D 5.07 -0.26 3020 3I Group/D 405.3 -0.2 179356 Standrd Chart /D 1319.5 11.5 1529241 Bhel-A/D 149.7 2.1 303504 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.98 0.59 36257 Jamnaauto-B/D 52.9 0.8 115336 Nation Alum -A/D 32.35 -0.05 42350 Assoc.Br.Foods/D2869.6375 18 148519 Tate & Lyle/D 648.35 -8 938163 Bom.Burmah-B/D 98 0.8 17691 Finolex-B/D 187.1 2.3 83891 Jbf Indu-B/D 67.3 -0.25 15543 Navneet Edu-B/D 53.15 -0.1 7525 B Sky B/D 903.5 5 471638 Tesco/D 327.4 0 2562285 Bombay Dyeing-/D 52.1 0.7 193812 Forbes-B/D 509.5 13.7 1924 Jct Elect P -T/D 0.42 0 3059 Nepc India-B/D 3.06 0.02 2634 Barclays/D 258.35 2.3 17918295 Unilever/D 2390.28 3 652990 Camph.& All-B/D 156.25 -5.3 5066 Gail-A/D 357.15 -5.25 29237 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.87 -0.01 30645 Nrb Bearings-B/D 37.2 1.3 7497 Bg Group/D 1082.243 -2 1101275 United Util Gr/D 750.562 -6 571972 Canfin Homes-B/D 176 -0.55 1318 Gammon India-B/D 12.81 0.32 11391 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.16 -0.29 4552 O N G C-A/D 277 -0.25 136640 Bp/D 492.35 4.65 7696141 Vodafone Group/D 221.657 -0.85 27032239 Castrol Ind-A/D 296.6 -0.6 26427 Garden P -B/D 34 0 3204 Jik Indust-T/D 0.87 0.04 9365 Oil Country-B/D 31 0.5 1073 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3099 -9.5 854106 Whitbread/D 4180 56 106487 Century Enka-B/D 135.05 -0.8 2493 Godfrey Phil-B/D 3491.1 246.4 5121 Jindal Drill-B/D 173 3.85 1499 Orchid Chem-T/D 44.05 0.2 38412 Bt Group/D 408.1 3.8 8973913 Century Text-A/D 301.75 5 103413 Goodricke-B/D 132.3 3.15 5164 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 134.15 -1.55 97516 Orient Hotel-B/D 15.65 -0.34 1363 Centrica/D 309.9 -8.5 8589966 Chambal Fert-B/D 36.6 -0.35 71789 Goodyear I -B/D 360.15 4.6 10637 Kabra Extr-B/D 29.5 0.85 28992 Orient.Carb.-B/D 116.95 -3.2 66998 Gkn/D 410 -3.9 1082900 Chola Invest-B/D 230.75 -3.9 1235 Hcl Infosys-B/D 23.75 0.35 246170 Kajaria Cer-B/D 318.9 8.75 3665 Orient.Carb.-B/D 116.95 -3.2 66998 Hsbc Holdings/D 645.464 -2 7416089 Cipla-A/D 372.35 -2 147541 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 7.91 0 90635 Kalpat Power-B/D 76 2.9 7226 Punjab Chem.-T/D 64 2.05 3587 Imperial Tobac/D 2361.4575 4 472756 WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Russia in quarter-finals with win over Norway The hosts will meet old Olympic foe Finland today for a spot in semi-finals

SOCHI, RUSSIA: Russia bat- going to play hard in the defensive tled into the quarter-finals of zone,” said Ovechkin. “In the first the Olympic men’s ice hockey period we had some good chances, competition yesterday with a and played well. 4-0 win over Norway that did “In the second, we had that big little to inspire the host nation’s goal. I thought our work ethic was Gebrselassie gold medal hopes. always pretty good. “Everybody Russia will next face off against knows we have such a good, tal- to set pace Finland today for a spot in the ented team on offence. semi-finals but the hard fought “We just try to keep our energy, victory over winless Norway will and keep our emotion ... tomor- at London not have provided much of a con- row we’re going to have emotions fidence boost. and strength for the quarter- Finland and Russia are old finals against Finland.” marathon Olympic foes having met six times Alexander Radulov finally LONDON: Haile at the Winter Games with the ended the goal drought early in Gebrselassie will be lead Finns winning four. the second on a brilliant solo pacemaker for the elite An enthusiastic flag-waving effort, racing around behind the men’s race at the London capacity crowd filled the futuris- Norwegian net and sweeping a Marathon, organisers tic Bolshoy Ice Dome expecting a backhand between Lars Haugen’s rout against the Norwegians but pads. announced yesterday. spent most of the game on the Kovalchuk calmed nerves later Ethiopian Gebrselassie, a edge of their seats. in the period when he banged multiple Olympic and world Despite having some of the home a loose puck to give the host champion over 10,000 metres world’s top attacking talent, nation a 2-0 cushion. as well as a former marathon Russia have found goals hard to It looked like that was how the world record holder, will pace come by and again came out fir- game would end until Russia pot- the first 30 km at world- ing blanks against Norway in a ted a pair in the final 67 seconds, record speed at the April 13 scoreless opening period. Radulov firing his second of the event, five days short of his It marked the fourth consecu- game into an empty before Alexei 41st birthday. tive period the Russians, with four Tereshenko closed out the scoring Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin attempts a shot on Norway’s goalie Lars Haugen during the third period of their A strong field will include of ice hockey’s most dangerous from a goalmouth scramble. men’s qualification round ice hockey game at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, yesterday. Britain’s double Olympic and players in Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Sergei Bobrovski made 22 saves world champion distance Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya to collect the shutout. Kovalchuk, were unable to find “We didn’t score much, but it “I think we play better and bet- much and that was a good sign. have to take the time to prepare runner Mo Farah, marathon the back of the net. was a big win for us today,” said ter with each game. “We have less than 24 hours to the best that we can.” world record holder Wilson “We knew the opponent was Kovalchuk. “I think we didn’t give them prepare for the next game. We REUTERS Kipsang and fellow Kenyan and London course record holder Emmanuel Mutai. Olympic marathon cham- pion Stephen Kiprotich of Former Lakers Uganda and London cham- NHL holds fire over 2018 Games pion Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia will also compete. SOCHI, RUSSIA: star Odom joins The are in this process should not be Olympic Committee (IOC) has done each of the other times the “Haile is an icon of distance National Hockey League a shock to anybody.” been a complicated and often NHL players have participated.” running, a man who has bro- (NHL) was non-committal In North America, talk per- tumultuous one. Fehr said the NHLPA will not Baskonia ken 27 world records on the about players’ future partici- sists that Sochi will mark the The NHL has refused to make back going to Pyeongchang until track and road during his long MADRID: Two-time NBA pation in the Olympics yester- final time that NHL players will a long-term commitment to the the membership has been briefed champion Lamar Odom has day, leaving open the possibility be seen on Olympic ice. Bettman Games and indications are that and had detailed discussions. and brilliant career, and we joined Spanish side Laboral that the Sochi Games might be insisted nothing has been decided team owners no longer believe “From our standpoint we have can’t think of anyone better Kutxa Baskonia on a two- the last to showcase the world’s and negotiations would continue, the worldwide exposure they a process we go through,” said to set our elite men up for a month deal. Odom has played best players. as has been the case after every gain from competing is worth Fehr. “We have a significant time crack at the world marathon over 1,000 games over a 14-year The three most powerful men Winter Games. “Let’s try to be shutting the league down for two period in which we talk to the record,” race organiser Hugh career in the NBA, but has been in hockey — Rene Fasel, head very clear, it’s nothing that’s been weeks in the middle of the season players, see what they have to Brasher said in a statement. a free agent since the end of last of the International Ice Hockey discussed, it’s nothing that will and handing over their players say, figure out what they want “Everyone knows how dif- season after being released by Federation (IIHF), NHL com- be discussed while we are here to the IOC. and they tell me what they would ficult it is to break the world the Los Angeles Clippers. missioner Gary Bettman and in Sochi,” said Bettman. Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed like to do and we try to make record on London’s course, Baskonia, currently ninth in NHL Players Association chief “All of us are here to enjoy this Snider has been among the most that happen.” especially with such a com- the 18-team Spanish Liga Endesa, Donald Fehr — had no firm competition, and while I have vocal dissenters, saying before While the NHL waited until petitive field, but with Haile have the option to extend the deal answers for reporters when seen lots of commentary over the the start of the Sochi Olympics, the last minute to confirm their pacing and four of the fast- until the end of the season. asked whether NHL players last couple of weeks the fact of “I hate them”. participation in Sochi, the league est marathon runners in his- Odom played a key role on the would be back in four years’ time. the matter is there isn’t anything “What we do next is something is expected to move quickly to tory in the race, there’s a real Los Angeles Lakers side that “Yes, Rene would love for Don that has been said in the last two we will all have to reason on, make a decision on Pyeongchang. won back-to-back NBA titles in and I to say today that we are weeks that hasn’t been said the taking into account a variety of “I believe my colleague (deputy chance we will see something 2009 and 2010, but has struggled coming (to Pyeongchang), but last eight years.” factors,” said Bettman. “We are commissioner) Daly was quoted special.” to hold down a roster spot since he knows that’s not the case,” Since NHL players were first here because we think it is great earlier in the week he had hoped, Gebrselassie ran the leaving the Lakers the following said Bettman. “This is the fifth welcomed into the Olympics at to be here today for this tourna- as do I, that it could be done in London marathon three year. AFP time we have participated in the Nagano in 1988, the league’s rela- ment. “What comes next we’ll six months,” said Bettman. times, coming third in 2002. Olympic tournament — where we tionship with the International all have to figure out as we have REUTERS REUTERS Al Malki retains squash title

DOHA: Defending cham- pion Abdulrahman Al Malki defeated Azlan Amjad to retain the Professional title at the InterContinental Squash Tournament, organised under the banner of the Qatar Squash Federation. In the final, Malki won the first two games but Amjad came back to clinch the next two and tied the scores. The holder got back into his groove and played well to take the fifth game and match. The Women’s crown was bagged by Mayar Al Saka, who defeated Alaa Hisham in straight A participant receives his prize. but tough games by 11-6 11-8 11-8. Mohamed Sawy emerged the winner of the Men’s Level A category when his rival Gregory Qatar KMCC sports meet Billbult did not take to the court due to injury. Sadam Mehawesh bagged the Men’s Level B crown The winners at the InterContinental Squash Tournament with officials. SHAIVAL DALAL DOHA: Qatar KMCC Kozhikode and walking. Qatar Athletic in four games. The first two games District Committee, an expatri- Federation, Al Arabi Club and were shared and then Mehawesh ate Indian organisation, launched Al Ahli club supported the lifted his game to win the next distribution and gave away the beat Rashid al Hareb 12-10 11-13 Men’s Level A: Mohamed sports festival in solidarity with event. two easily. William Roland fin- trophies and gifts. QSF Technical 11-1 9-11 11-8. Sawy w/o Gregory Billbult Qatar National Sport Day at Al The sports festival will con- ished on the top in the Men’s Secretary Gamal Rasmi con- Under-15: Hamad al Amry Men Over 45: William Roland Arabi Club. clude with a march past and Over 45 category. In the final, he ducted the closing ceremony. beat Abdelaziz Ishaq 11-6 11-8 beat Mohamed Naiel 11-7 11-7 More than 100 athletes tug of war competition at Al posted an 11-7 11-7 13-11 victory RESULTS (ALL FINALS): 10-12 11-9. 13-11. selected from various con- Ahli Stadium on March 8, 2013 against Mohamed Naiel. Under-9:Yousef al Qubaisi Under-17: Umair Zaman beat Ladies: Mayar al Saka beat stituency committees through Friday in the presence of Kerala InterContinental Doha beat Abdel Rahman al Khalaf 11-5 Abdel Wahab Ishaq 7-11 9-11 13-11 Alaa Hisham 11-6 11-8 11-8. preliminary selection trials Education Minister Abdul Rab Resident Manager Gilles Nicolas 11-9 8-11 11-8. 11-5 11-7. Professional: Abdulrahman contested in 100, 200, 400 & 800 and Qatar Athletic Federation and Qatar Squash Federation Under-11: Yousef al Saka beat Men’s Level B: Sadam Al Malki beat Azlan Amjad 11-7 metre sprint, long jump, high representatives. Board Member Mohammed al Mohamed Tareq 11-7 11-3 12-10. Mehawesh beat Abdel Wahab 11-7 2-11 3-11 11-5. jump, shot put, discus throw THE PENINSULA Khulaifi were present at the prize Under-13: Abdelaziz Khalid Ishaq 11-0 8-11 11-2 11-7. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Football: Bayern ‘best in Women’s racing set for boost the world’, says Wenger as Doha prepares for seminar LONDON: Bayern Munich are currently the best team in the world and favourites to win the Champions League, according to Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Michele Mouton are keynote speakers Arsene Wenger. But the Arsenal manager believes his side are in a much DOHA: QMMF President better mental state to overcome Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah the holders in their European and retired French rally star re-match. Michele Mouton will join a host The Gunners welcome Pep of top officials to debate the Guardiola’s all-conquering side growth of women’s side of motor to their Emirates Stadium home sport in MENA region at a key in north London for an eagerly- FIA seminar to be held today. anticipated last-16, first leg tie The FIA Women in Motorsport today. Commission is being hosted for Arsenal were knocked out of the first time in the Middle East, the Champions League by Bayern Al Attiyah, the FIA vice-pres- at the same stage of the tourna- ident for sport for the MENA ment on away goals last year. region, said yesterday. Since then, Bayern have gone Al Attiyah will deliver the from strength to strength and opening speech at the key meet- have only lost twice this sea- ing where Mouton, 62, will make son, to Borussia Dortmund in a presentation on how FIA pro- their domestic Super Cup and motes women in motor sport to Manchester City in the final around the world. group stage match of European Mouton, who became the first club football’s elite competition in president of the FIA’s Women “Any woman who is associated “We will have (Qatar’s first TOP (LEFT): A group of December. and Motor Sport Commission with motor sport in a major way female rally driver) Nada Zaidan five female riders are A year ago, though, it could in 2010, will be joined by WIM is going to be here and they will be who is taking part in this week’s have been all so different had seen before the start of a vice-president Randa Nabulsi, given task force so that they can Qatar International Rally. We Wenger’s men not suffered a round in Qatar Superbike MSA international training pro- challenge the men in this area. have also invited MENA officials hefty 3-1 first-leg loss on home gramme director Susan Sanders, We want to give them the larger too. Officials who are associated Championship at Losail soil which effectively ended their FIA WRC media delegate Hayley picture what needs to be done to with motor sport clubs or activi- International Circuit last hopes of reaching the quarter- Gallagher and FIA commission further women’s role in motor ties are here to share with us week. TOP (RIGHT): finals before recording a remark- manager Frédérique Trouve. sport as a whole,” Al Attiyah their knowledge and experience. QMMF President Nasser able victory in the return fixture Ladies attending the seminar added. This is a good platform to build bin Khalifa Al Attiyah in Munich. include Egypt’s Yara Shalaby, FIA “We need to strike a balance relationships. The regional media shakes hand with Nina And Arsenal manager Wenger WMC circuit project co-ordinator (among men and women side of will also be involved. Prinz of Germany. RIGHT: says his side, who are still chas- Cathy Muller Ehrlacher, Finland’s the sport),” Al Attiyah said. “To “We are basically going to A file photo of retired ing trophies on three fronts Tina Lehmonen, Mexico’s Jenny do that, we need easy communi- engage in many topics related to French rally star Michele after beating Premier League Bertin, former Italian co-driver cation, easy preparation ahead moto rsport and how to encour- Mouton, who became the title rivals Liverpool in the fifth Fabrizia Pons, Moroccan repre- of events and we have to receive age more females to come for- first president of the FIA’s round of the FA Cup on Sunday, sentative Samira Bouhassoune them in this part of the world ward and be part of this sport,” Women and Motor Sport are primed to match fire with fire and Keko Ihara of Japan. with more facilities,” he said. Al Attiyah said. Commission in 2010. against the German giants. Graham Stoker, the FIA deputy Al Attiyah said Doha’s involve- “This is what I am trying to do “Last year, I believe we went president for sport, is also one of ment in the seminar is large scale. - to combine the expertise at FIA out on the away goal,” the the speakers at the seminar which “We have also invited officials and FIM gel with the women’s fast-track women’s participation body). They already know what Frenchman told a news confer- has been planned to hand out from Ministry of Interior and side of motor sport,” Al Attiyah in motor sport, to take it to a bet- Qatar gave to the female riders ence at Arsenal’s training ground tasks to MENA officials for the Hamad Medical Corporation. said. ter level and for better market- in terms raising their profile in yesterday. rest of the year, Al Attiyah said. They will talk about their roles Al Attiyah, who is also a Vice ing,” he said. a sport dominated by men. Now “That shows you it is important “The main target of this semi- when they associate themselves President at FIM, said the plan “What we achieved with wom- Michele she trying to upgrade it is not to concede at home. But nar is is to give them (officials in with our events since they provide to hold a seminar was conceived en’s participation in the FIM side their level. we are in a much better men- Doha) tasks to be carried out in key help during or after events,” last year. was well noticed. We got a lot of “We are not talking only about tal shape than a year ago. And MENA (Middle East and North Al Attiyah said. “Last year when I was thinking female riders into our races and racing. We are also talking about we are really determined to win Africa) region. This was my “We will see in which direction to run for the FIA Vice President international events. Riders like marketing, marshalling, admin- tomorrow. dream to support women’s side we go after this meeting. I am post, during that time I met with Elena Rosell and Nina Prinz and istration, volunteering, logistics, “We know we face the favour- in motor sport when I became pushing hard for representatives FIA’s women’s commission headed many others achieved good results road safety ... so all aspects of auto ites of the competition. They the FIM Vice President. So we from motor sport side on safety by Michele Mouton, the famous in races. racing are taken into account so (Bayern) win every game. They really need to do many things,” and logistics etc so that they also rally driver,” Al Attiyah recalled. “There are members in FIA that women also raise their pro- have won the World (Club) Cup Al Attiyah said when asked about get a chance to dedicate them- “We talked about the pos- (car racing authority) who are file,” Al Attiyah said. and the European Champions the agenda of the seminar. selves to this sport. sibilities as to how we can help also members of FIM (bike racing THE PENINSULA League, so you can only say yes (they are the best team in the world). Williams “But we have belief because we have only had big games in the Yazeed, Edith ready to impress announce Champions League and the FA Cup -- Tottenham and Liverpool,” partnership Wenger added. “Since the start of this season we have known we have had to be at Qatar International Rally with Petrobras 100 percent for every game. We are in a strong position and now DOHA: As competitors from LONDON: Williams have it’s down to us to show how well across the Middle East and LEFT: Yazeed Al Rajhi of signed a multi-year partner- we can show the same focus and Europe make their final prepara- Saudi Arabia is seen with his ship with Brazilian oil company spirit as we did against Liverpool tions for this weekend’s QMMF co-driver Michael Orr. Al Rajhi Petrobras, the Formula One for the rest of the season. Qatar International Rally, round is aiming to become the first team said on Tuesday. “I believe we can do it but that one of the FIA Middle East Saudi driver ever to win Qatar The former champions had is down to tomorrow.” Rally Championship, one man International Rally this week. Venezuelan state oil company While Arsenal and Bayern is preparing to take part in his PDVSA as their biggest spon- possess an abundance of quality fourth event in as many weeks. sor until Venezuelan Pastor in attacking positions, Wenger Yazeed Al-Rajhi has begun a Maldonado left at the end of last believes the Gunners’ defence new season of motor sport action Competitive action season. They have now signed will prove as important if the in superb style and is aiming to in the QMMF Qatar Brazilian Felipe Massa from Londoners are to reach the last become the first Saudi driver ever International Rally gets Ferrari as one of their two driv- eight. to win the Qatar International under way with a ‘super ers for 2014. Wenger, who is expected to Rally. special stage’ on the “Petrobras and Williams have recall Tomas Rosicky with Mikel Three weeks ago he steered his Doha Corniche from 6pm had a successful partnership Arteta ruled out through suspen- powerful Hummer to outright tomorrow evening. before and we are both looking sion, added: “With the qualities of victory across the desert in the forward to reuniting for 2014,” the players on both sides it is vir- inaugural Rally Jeddah, before jet- said founder Frank Williams in a tually impossible to play without ting off to Sweden to contest the statement. “Technologically they style. Football is not a chess game. second round of the FIA World are very strong and that will be In the history of the Champions Rally Championship on the snow important for the team as the League it is the big players who and ice of northern Europe. Edith Weiss seen new regulations have made fuel make the difference on the pitch The Riyadh driver came within with the 1993 FIA efficiency increasingly important.” -- the players are the heroes once a whisker of winning the prestig- Middle East rally the game starts.” ious WRC 2 category for a second champion Sheikh Stage set for He added: “We have been successive season and eventually Hamed bin Eid strong at home recently because finished fourth. Al Thani in Doha Bahrain testing for we don’t give goals away and that He then headed east to the yesterday. “I have will be important in this tie.” frozen wastelands of northern many fond memories F1 teams Jack Wilshere, the Arsenal Russia and, on Sunday, he con- of competing in midfielder, echoed his manager’s firmed a stunning win in the Baja MANAMA: Having trialled comments and believes his team- Qatar and have taken Russia Northern Forest ’14 to their new 1.6-litre turbo-pow- mates must be more streetwise as part in the event for take an early lead the FIA World ered cars in Spain last month, they bid to topple Bayern. Cup for Cross-Country Rallies in the last four years,” the F1 teams travel to Bahrain “The Champions League is the an Overdrive Toyota Hilux. Weiss said. this week to continue their pinnacle for any player and these “It’s been very hectic, very tir- preparations for the 2014 season are the games you want to be ing and very exciting,” said Al in the heat of the desert. involved in and we will definitely Rajhi. Will the Mercedes-and Ferrari- be ready tomorrow,” Wilshere “Now we are back to the powered cars carry their promis- said. “We have spoken about Middle East but this is going to International Rally in 2012, had is the leading lady on the entry Sandawi will be hoping to achieve ing form into Sakhir? Can world the importance of staying in the be very difficult. The local drivers intended to use a Mitsubishi list at the wheel of a Mitsubishi a top-10 finish. Turkey’s top champions Red Bull overcome game. If it is 0-0 at home we still are quick here. It will not be easy Lancer Evolution in this year’s Lancer Evolution IX that she female driver Burcu Cetinkaya their early teething problems? have a big chance of qualifying. to beat them on their home rally. event, but the Qatari has taken acquired recently from Gassner has been forced to miss the open- And how will Lotus’ new E22 The away goal is massive, espe- This will be the third car I have the decision to wheel out his Motorsport, five-time winners of ing round of the Middle East perform in its first public outing? cially in this competition when it driven in four weeks with a third Motortune-run Ford Fiesta RRC the German Rally Championship. series but is present in Doha in All the answers will pop up comes to these big games. You saw co-driver. I hope that Michael with family support. With support from the 1993 a television media capacity. Nada during the second pre-season it last year when we went out on (Orr) and I can be successful.” Edith Weiss has been support- FIA Middle East rally champion Zaidan represents the host nation test of the year. The first race of away goals. This year we have to Meanwhile, Abdulaziz ing Middle East rallying since Sheikh Hamed bin Eid Al Thani, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. the new season will be held from be a bit more intelligent and stay Al-Kuwari, winner of the Qatar the early 1990s and the German Weiss and new co-driver Norma THE PENINSULA March 14 to 16. AGENCIES in the game.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Cricket: Moin confident of Arsenal need perfection Asia Cup title defence

LAHORE: Newly appointed Pakistan cricket coach Moin against Bayern Munich Khan yesterday urged his play- ers to shrug off “the fear of fail- ure” as they prepare to defend Champions League: The EPL side faces daunting task in London today the Asia Cup which starts later this month. Pakistan began a four-day LONDON: Arsenal will be out training camp ahead of the to show they have learnt the competition which starts in the lessons of last season’s painful Arsenal Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on home defeat by Bayern Munich manager February 25. when the sides meet again in Arsene Khan, who replaced Australian the first leg of their Champions Wenger Dav Whatmore under whom League last-16 tie in London looks on as Pakistan won the Asia Cup in today. his players 2012, said the team was gearing Holders Bayern were utterly take part up for the title defence. dominant in 3-1 victory at the “I hope we will give a good in a team Emirates Stadium, and although result and defend our title which training Arsenal went on to salvage pride we won with the same captain, with a 2-0 win in Munich in the session Misbah-ul Haq,” he told reporters return leg, it was not enough to at their after the first day of the camp. prevent the Gunners going out of training Pakistan face Sri Lanka on the the competition in the round of 16 ground in opening day of the tournament, for the third consecutive season. London which also includes India and They face a daunting task to yesterday. Afghanistan. avoid making it four years in a Arsenal is “I think it’s important to take row, however, with the Bayern due to play out the fear of failure, which I juggernaut showing little sign Bayern saw previously in the team,” said of slowing under Pep Guardiola, Munich in Khan. who led Barcelona to victory over the first He was manager of the team on Arsenal at this stage in the 2010- leg of their the last tour to the United Arab 11 season. Champions Emirates, where Pakistan beat Sri Despite recent wobbles, Arsenal League Lanka in the one-day series 3-2 are a sterner proposition this time last-16 tie and squared the three-match Test as they mount their first serious series 1-1. in London Premier League challenge for “It (being manager) was a dif- today. years, and should be boosted by a ferent role but I have benefited 2-1 FA Cup victory over Liverpool, from it as I have seen the techni- eight days after the same oppo- cal problems of the players, got to nents thrashed them 5-1. know their psyche as well,” said German defender Per and an opportunity to beat the shows no sign of slowing, with Despite the comprehensive eye on Arsenal given their Khan. Mertesacker acknowledged that champions. We want to achieve Saturday’s 4-0 win over Freiburg nature of last season’s victory in strong German contingent He has been appointed as coach it would take “two perfect games” something exceptional this sea- coming despite Jerome Boateng, London, where early goals by Toni of Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil for the Asia Cup and the World for Arsenal to progress, but that son, so we have to beat the best. David Alaba, Thiago and Mario Kroos and Thomas Mueller put and Lukas Podolski, as well Twenty20, also in Bangladesh in it was important not to show “That is not only Manchester Goetze being rested. the visitors 2-0 up after only 21 as uncapped youngster Serge March-April. Bayern too much respect City and Chelsea, that is Bayern Their Bundesliga winning minutes, Bayern captain Philipp Gnabry “I am confident that if my “We have to go for two per- Munich in the Champions streak is 13 matches and victory Lahm remained wary of Arsenal “They’re fighting for the cham- performance is good I will get fect games against them,” he told League.” extended their unbeaten run to “That game is a warning sign pionship, that’s not a coincidence: an extension,” said Khan, under reporters. Midfielder Mikel Arteta is sus- 46. Their only loss in this season’s to us,” Lahm said. I believe they have developed as whose captaincy Pakistan won “We know we can beat them pended after being sent off in the Champions League group stage “We had been very good in a team. They’ve become much their first Asia Cup title in 2000. now, so maybe mentally we are in group stage loss to Napoli, while came at home to Manchester City, London, we thought nothing can stronger, the squad is more bal- India have won the title five a better condition than last year. Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna, with qualification already assured. happen to us in the return leg. All anced,” he said. “And they still times while Sri Lanka won it “We respected them too much who remained on the bench They will be without France of a sudden you are 2-0 down and play the way Arsenal always play. on four occasions out of eleven in the first leg then, so it was too against Liverpool, Kieran Gibbs winger Franck Ribery, who is there are still some minutes to They want to have the ball, they events. easy for them. and Santi Cazorla, who were sec- suffering with a buttock injury, play. It shows that things can go like playing it short, and they Khan, who played 69 Tests “Maybe we have learned some- ond half substitutes and Tomas and his potential replacement really quickly in the Champions have outstanding individuals.” and 219 one-dayers for Pakistan, thing from those lessons and will Rosicky, who was rested, were Xherdan Shaqiri, who scored League. We will have that in the The return leg in Germany praised Whatmore. do better this time. expected to return. twice against Freiburg, is also out back of our minds.” will be played on March 11. “Whatmore did very well, “Now we have another chance Bayern’s domestic dominance with a thigh strain. Lahm said he kept a close REUTERS although we lost some Test series, but we produced good results in one-day matches and T20 inter- nationals,” he said. The team will fly to Dhaka on Coach Seedorf February 22. Bayern Munich’s Bastian One catch and Schweinsteiger looking to lift warms up it could have during a training session been different, in Munich Milan in Madrid yesterday. Bayern Munich says Dhoni will play WELLINGTON: India captain MADRID: Clarence Seedorf on the task of lifting them out Arsenal in a Mahendra Singh Dhoni was will need to tap into all the of their slump and reviving past Champions ruing one dropped catch that experience he gained as the only glories. League match cost them a potential series-lev- player to win the Champions “The match against Atletico today. elling victory over New Zealand League with three different will be a great chance to take a in the second Test that ended in clubs if his AC Milan side are big step forward,” Seedorf said a draw yesterday. to get past Atletico Madrid into after Milan won 1-0 at home to The hosts saved the match the quarter-finals. Bologna on Friday. courtesy of Brendon McCullum’s Milan host the Spanish club, “We’ll play our game as Milan triple century - the first by a New who are riding high in La Liga, for always have something extra in taking over at the end of 2011 and on Monday. “Above all they are a “You need time to create your Zealander in Test cricket - and their last 16, first leg today, when the Champions League,” he added. they are joint top of La Liga with balanced team and the coach has style of play and a bit of luck too,” his partnerships with BJ Watling Seedorf will make his coaching “I’m confident that the stadium heavyweights Barcelona and Real imposed a very well defined style he said. and Jimmy Neesham. debut in Europe’s elite club com- will be full as it was in the old Madrid. and character,” he added. “It’s in the club’s DNA to have It could have been a differ- petition after taking over last days with a great atmosphere. They were one of only “Atletico have an advantage, control of the game. If you’re in ent story had Virat Kohli held a month from Massimiliano Allegri. The fans and the stadium will three teams undefeated in the they are the favourites as their control, the adversary can do chance off McCullum when the The 37-year-old former give the players what they need.” Champions League group stage, position in the (Spanish) league less damage. I ask the players to New Zealand captain was on nine. Netherlands midfielder won the Seedorf will be going head to winning five and drawing one, and suggests. stick together and to show fight- He then went on to share a Champions League once with head with a man he knows well are unbeaten in their last four “But let’s not forget one thing. ing spirit to get out of the difficult world-record sixth wicket 352- Ajax Amsterdam and once with from his playing days, Atletico’s away games in Europe. The Champions League is Milan’s situation that we find ourselves run partnership with Watling to Real Madrid before a decade play- Argentine coach Diego Simeone, “Atletico seem like an Italian home. They have won seven in.” bat his side to safety by stumps ing at Milan yielded two more who had stints at Italian clubs or Argentine team since Simeone European titles and the history Atletico have stumbled in on the fourth day. continental titles. including Inter Milan and Lazio arrived, they are extremely is there.” recent weeks, suffering a surprise “That was one of the partner- However, the seven-time and Spanish sides Atletico and tough,” Demetrio Albertini, a Seedorf will need time to fix defeat at Almeria in La Liga and ships that we had to break to get European champions have fallen Sevilla. former Milan and Italy midfielder what has been ailing Milan in being eliminated from the King’s into the lower order batsmen,” on hard times and sit ninth in Simeone, 43, has transformed who also had a brief loan spell at recent seasons but has already Cup by city rivals Real. Dhoni said of the McCullum- Serie A, 31 points behind leaders the Madrid side into genuine con- Atletico, said in an interview with said he wants his players to exert They returned to winning ways Watling partnership. Juventus, and Seedorf has taken tenders in Spain and Europe since Spanish sports daily As published more control. at the weekend with a 3-0 league “From behind the stumps, you win at home to Real Valladolid. try to figure out how to get him Simeone bolstered his squad out. You’ll try everything from with last month’s signing of catching slips to catching covers Hodgson says England must take the heat Brazilian playmaker Diego and to deep square leg to deep point. believes he has enough depth Bowling onto the pads and bowl- RIO DE JANEIRO: England coach Roy troubled diplomatic waters Hodgson said a trip up the River Amazon and a visit to the to compete successfully on two ing outside off. Hodgson said yesterday his side would have England now had to ensure their World Cup Amazonas Arena. fronts. Dhoni also looked enviously at to rise above the World Cup heat when campaign gets off to a solid start, heat or no England have chosen Rio de Janeiro as their “We have a very competitive the make-up of New Zealand’s they tackle Italy in the Amazonian heat of heat. team base in Brazil, providing easy access team now,” he said after the side with two genuine all-rounders Manaus on June 14. Even in a nominal Brazilian winter, humid- to their other pool matches against Copa Valladolid game. When I felt we in Corey Anderson and Neesham, Hodgson was pilloried in the Brazilian ity in the Amazonian region can hit 95 percent America champions Uruguay in Sao Paulo had to keep the ball I brought who took the pressure off their media and by Manaus politicians when he sug- and temperatures rise above 30 Celsius (86 and Costa Rica at Belo Horizonte. him (Diego)on and things became own pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim gested before last December’s World Cup draw Fahrenheit) but Hodgson noted the problem Today, Hodgson heads south to the city of easier and the game was basically Southee and Neil Wagner. that the city was the venue he wanted to avoid. was the same for both teams. Florianopolis for a FIFA workshop with fellow over. “It’s good to have cricketers Since then, the former Inter Milan, “It is hot here, but World Cups are played coaches on facilities and tournament logistics. “We won in two ways today: who can bat and bowl, especially Liverpool, Fulham and Switzerland coach has in the summer. It was hot (in 2010) in South Later, British Foreign Secretary William playing more directly at the start in Test matches. Playing on sur- managed to rebuild diplomatic bridges, pen- Africa and it was very hot in America in ’94,” Hague was due to open a two-day visit to and then closing the game down faces like this, you may need that ning a letter to mayor Arthur Virgilio stress- he reflected, having been coach of Switzerland Brazil by also heading for Manaus to visit the with more possession.” fifth bowler. We have not been ing the trip will be a “highlight” for Team at USA ’94. Amazonas Arena before heading for Brasilia The return leg is at Atletico’s able to get the kind of all-rounder England. But “that is something you have to come for talks with Brazil counterpart Luiz Alberto Calderon stadium on March 11. that some of the other countries Having poured soothing ointment on to terms with,” Hodgson told the BBC after Figueiredo. REUTERS REUTERS have.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum New Zealand plays a shot against India during day five of the second and final Test skipper shows in Wellington yesterday. BELOW: McCullum with the Man- maturity with of-the-Match trophy. triple-century

WELLINGTON: Brendon McCullum showed his growing matu- rity and desire to stamp his mark on New Zealand with an inspi- rational triple-century that salvaged the second Test against India and sealed a 1-0 series win yesterday. The 32-year-old’s 302 at Wellington’s Basin Reserve capped a golden summer for the New Zealand captain, who has tormented India for 535 runs in just two Tests after guiding his team to a com- prehensive 2-0 series win over West Indies. Having long oozed confidence and bristled with aggression at the crease, it was precisely those qualities that McCullum shelved as he rescued New Zealand from a seemingly hopeless position at 94-5 on day three at the Basin Reserve. Suppressing his natural attacking instincts deep within his wiry, 1.70 metre frame, McCullum played with restraint and discretion, wait- ing until he was on Clapping, cheering the brink of his first 100 before belting a six to bring up the milestone. Burning with desire to save the test and win the got the ‘hero’ going series, McCullum batted for 775 min- utes - the most by a New Zealand bats- ‘I will certainly remember that for the rest of my life man in an innings - after combining WELLINGTON: Brendon with wicketkeeper McCullum was unsure of the BJ Watling for a Test magnitude of the task he was record sixth wicket attempting when he walked on partnership of 352. to the Basin Reserve on the fifth “I guess you always day of the second Test against want to lead from India with the opportunity to the front as a captain become the first New Zealander and I haven’t always to score a Test triple century. done that, but that’s The 32-year-old McCullum had what the desire started the day on 281 not out, the is,” McCullum told second highest individual score reporters after the by a New Zealand batsman with second Test ended in New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum Martin Crowe’s 299 in sight and a draw yesterday. is congratulated by India’s Rohit a moderate crowd in nervously “The hardest time Sharma as he leaves the field after expectant mood. to lead the team being dismissed for 302 on day five After four days of brilliant sun- is when you’re not of the second Test cricket match shine, the fifth day at the bou- scoring runs and at the Basin Reserve in Wellington tique-sized ground began under when your character yesterday. heavy overcast skies, suggesting and the kind of per- India’s pace bowlers could exploit son and leader you the conditions to their advantage. are outweighs your own form. The crowd added to the antic- “The team needs the captain to be a strong leader and person ipation with loud clapping with who enjoys other people’s success as well and that’s what I try to do. every ball, and over, McCullum “When I wasn’t scoring many runs, knowing if I kept working survived and were in raptures hard and kept faith in my own game at some point I would be able with every run as he ticked stead- to score those runs and that makes leading a whole lot easier.” ily towards the milestone. The triple-century represents the apex of McCullum’s captaincy “I wasn’t too bad until I saw New Zealand players and officials pose for a team photo after winning the Test series against India after drawing which was born in controversy and questioned after a disastrous the size of the crowd then every the second Test cricket match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday. tour of South Africa. ball that I defended, left or got a A clumsy leadership change saw McCullum handed the reins of single they would start cheering boundary and immediately raised said. He was the 24th player to “I watched Martin Crowe score both the one-day and Test teams late in 2012, after predecessor Ross and it made me a little bit more his arms in celebration as the score a triple century in Tests and his 299 and thought it would have Taylor relinquished both in disgust after coach Mike Hesson felt nervous,” McCullum told report- crowd roared and rose to their it was the 28th time someone had been an amazing feat if he scored McCullum was a better fit for what he wanted to achieve. ers after the match ended in a feet in thunderous applause that achieved the mark. 300 but probably didn’t quite With Taylor, then New Zealand’s top batsman, pulling out of the draw and clinched the series for rolled around and around the World record holder Brian understand how much it meant South Africa tour and the rancour still overshadowing the team, New Zealand 1-0. Basin Reserve for more than a Lara, Virender Sehwag, Chris to the whole country,” McCullum McCullum’s first series in charge ended in humiliation in both Tests, “That’s probably when I under- minute. Gayle and Don Bradman all did added in reference to Crowe’s 1991 including their dismissal for 45 in the first match in Cape Town. stood the magnitude of the task “When 300 came up and the it twice. innings against Sri Lanka on the The team rebounded to win the one-day series and McCullum at hand and the immense joy it applause was ongoing for quite a McCullum denied he had tears same ground. later oversaw New Zealand’s return to respectability with a drawn gives fans of this cricket team to while is really when it hit home in his eyes when he achieved the “I saw Martin on (breakfast home series against England, which the hosts largely dominated. see guys succeed and see records to me that it was quite a sig- mark stating with a grin “I’m television) this morning and he Blessed with a superb eye and quick hands, McCullum emerged broken.” nificant achievement for a New from South Dunedin mate” in was discussing how significant it as a brash wicketkeeper in his 2004 Test debut against South Africa McCullum reached the mark Zealander,” he added. reference to the predominantly would be. and announced himself with an entertaining 96 against England at when he dabbed Zaheer Kahn “I’ll certainly remember that working class suburbs of the “I guess that was one of the Lord’s later the same year. behind square for his 32nd for the rest of my life,” McCullum South Island’s second-largest city. things that made me realise how His attacking mindset in limited overs matches made him an big a moment it would be.” immediate target for big-spending Twenty20 teams, particularly in Triple Centuries in Test Cricket McCullum’s marathon innings India, where he proved his worth to the new Premier League com- of more than 12 and a half petition by smashing a century in the first game of the inaugural 325 Andy Sandham (England) against West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston 3 April 1930 hours ended two balls after he tournament. 334 Donald Bradman (Australia) against England at Headingley, Leeds 11 July 1930 reached the milestone when he A one-day international innings against Bangladesh at Queenstown 336* Wally Hammond (England) against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland 31 March 1933 feathered a catch off Zaheer to in 2007 epitomised his approach. 304 Donald Bradman (Australia) against England at Headingley Leeds 20 July 1934 Mahendra Singh Dhoni and he Needing just 94 runs to win the game, McCullum smashed 80 364 Len Hutton (England) against Australia at The Oval, London 20 August 1938 received another round of raucous from 28 balls, including nine fours and six sixes. 337 Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan) against West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown 17 January 1958 applause as he walked off. The game ended after just six overs of New Zealand’s allotted 50 365* Garfield Sobers (West Indies) against Pakistan at Sabina Park, Kingston 26 February 1958 The captain, however, seemed and television commentators joked that McCullum had booked an 311 Bob Simpson (Australia) against England at Old Trafford, Manchester 23 July 1964 more pleased with the contribu- afternoon tee time at a local golf club. 310* John Edrich (England) against New Zealand at Headingley, Leeds 8 July 1965 tions of wicketkeeper BJ Watling Respect in the Test arena came slower, but after his first centuries 307 Bob Cowper (Australia) against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground 11 February 1966 (124) and debutant Jimmy against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, McCullum underlined his quality 302 Lawrence Rowe (West Indies) against England at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown 6 March 1974 Neesham (137 not out) and the with 115 against India in Napier in 2009, and has haunted the same 333 Graham Gooch (England) against India at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London 26 July 1990 fact they had managed to save the opponents with runs ever since. 375 Brian Lara (West Indies) against England at Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s 16 April 1994 test to win the series. His unwavering confidence has not always been embraced, being 340 Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) against India at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo 2 August 1997 “It was what was required,” he at odds with the often reserved New Zealand psyche. 334* Mark Taylor (Australia) against Pakistan at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar 15 October 1998 added. His demands to move up the batting order from number seven 329 Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 1 May 2002 “Thankfully I had partners at where he struck his first five Test centuries were seen as a demon- 380 Matthew Hayden (Australia) against Zimbabwe at ACA Ground, Perth 9 October 2003 the other end who played brilliant stration of player power that had dogged the team and his three-year innings. I thought BJ and Neesh, period as an opener ended in 2013 with mixed results. 309 Virender Sehwag (India) against Pakistan at Multan Cricket Stadium 28 March 2004 their innings were outstanding. Though having pledged never to change his natural game, 400* Brian Lara (West Indies) against England at Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s 10 April 2004 “We were obviously scrapping McCullum’s ascendancy to the captaincy has seen a change in 317 Chris Gayle (West Indies) against South Africa at Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s 29 April 2005 to save the Test and therefore attitude. 374 Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) against South Africa at Sinhalese S C, Colombo 27 July 2006 win the series and we managed Three times in the home summer, New Zealand have needed the 319 Virender Sehwag (India) against South Africa at M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 26 March 2008 to get some partnerships under right-hander to stick around and occupy the crease. 313 Younis Khan (Pakistan) against Sri Lanka at National Stadium, Karachi 21 February 2009 pressure and then kept batting He has delivered each time, with a century against West Indies 333 Chris Gayle (West Indies) against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium 15 November 2010 and batting and batting. followed by a double and a triple against India. 329* Michael Clarke (Australia) against India at Sydney Cricket Ground 3 January 2012 “So yeah it was pretty satisfy- McCullum’s mountain of runs sealed New Zealand’s first test 311* Hashim Amla (South Africa) against England at The Oval, London 19 July 2012 ing to get us out of trouble and series win against India since 2002, giving the captain another good 319 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) against Bangladesh at ZA Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong 5 February 2014 claim the series win,” he said. reason to swagger. REUTERS 302 Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) against India at Basin Reserve, Wellington 18 February 2014 REUTERS WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 McCullum ends with South Africa ponder team 302 as NZ bag series balance ahead The home side beats India 1-0 in the two-match series

WELLINGTON: of second Test An epic triple Scoreboard century by Brendon McCullum CAPE TOWN: Whether to stick with an all-rounder at number in a record-laden innings took New Zealand (I innings): ...... 192 seven or play an extra batsman to counter Australia’s fiery bowling New Zealand from the brink of India (I innings): ...... 438 attack is the vexed question for South Africa ahead of the second a Test defeat to a remarkable New Zealand (II innings): test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth starting tomorrow. series win over India yesterday. P Fulton lbw Khan ...... 1 The Australians were clearly superior in all three disciplines in The second Test petered out H Rutherford c Dhoni b Khan ...... 35 their crushing 281-run victory in the first Test in Pretoria last week, in a draw with India on 166-3 in New K Williamson c Dhoni b Khan ...... 7 the excellent Ashes form of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson repeated at their second innings after being Zealand’s T Latham c Dhoni b Shami ...... 29 SuperSport Park as he literally hurt the South African batsmen with set a near-impossible target of Brendon B McCullum c Dhoni b Khan ...... 302 12 wickets and numerous body blows. 435 in 67 overs. McCullum C Anderson c&b Jadeja ...... 2 One of those was to the side of the head Shikhar Dhawan (two), Murali acknowledges B Watling lbw Shami ...... 124 of all-rounder Ryan McLaren, who has Vijay (seven) and Cheteshwar subsequently been ruled out of the second his 300 J Neesham (not out) ...... 137 Pujara (17) fell quickly after Test with concussion meaning there will be against India T Southee c Pujara b Khan ...... 11 lunch, giving New Zealand a faint at least one change to the Proteas line-up. during day N Wagner (not out) ...... 2 hope of victory. Extras (B-9, LB-12, W-2, NB-7) ...... 30 It is possible McLaren might have lost But Virat Kohli buried that five of the his position in any event as South Africa second and Total (for 8 wkts decl) ...... 680 notion as he progressed to 105, Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-27, 3-52, 4-87, admit they are considering replacing an all- final Test at his sixth Test century, with Rohit 5-94, 6-446, 7-625, 8-639. rounder with a seventh batsman in Dean the Basin Sharma on 31. Tim Southee took Bowling: I Sharma 45-4-164-0 (6nb); Khan Elgar. 2-50 for New Zealand. Reserve in 51-13-170-5 (2w); Shami 43-6-149-2; Aside from AB de Villiers’ 91 and 48, the It was a miserable tour for Wellington Jadeja 52-11-115-1; R Sharma 11-0-40-0; top six South African batsmen managed cricket powerhouse India, who yesterday. Kohli 6-1-13-0 (1nb); Dhoni 1-0-5-0; Dha- just 57 runs in the first innings in Pretoria won every toss against lowly New McCullum wan 1-0-3-0. and 68 in the second. Zealand yet lost the ODI series was India (II innings): The left-handed Elgar’s Test career, 4-0 and now the Test series 1-0. dismissed M Vijay c Anderson b Southee ...... 7 which started with a pair of ducks on debut against Australia in Perth It was an unimaginable out- for 302, S Dhawan lbw Boult ...... 2 in 2012 when he was bagged both times by Johnson, has been mediocre come midway through the second the highest C Pujara c Watling b Southee ...... 17 with a single unbeaten century against New Zealand and a next highest Test, when the odds were stacked score by a V Kohli (not out) ...... 105 score of 27 in nine innings. heavily in India’s favour to square New Zealand R Sharma (not out) ...... 31 Having chosen not to call up a replacement for McLaren to their the series after losing the first Test squad, Elgar is the only specialist batsman available for selection. batsman. Extras (W-2, NB-2) ...... 4 Test by 40 runs. Total (for 3 wkts) ...... 166 “There (has been) debate around playing an extra batter,” Proteas The most celebrated New Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-54. convener of selectors Andrew Hudson told reporters. Zealand effort was McCullum’s Bowling: Boult 16-5-47-1 (1nb); Southee “Australia went in batting-heavy, relying on their three seamers and 302, the first triple century by 16-3-50-2; Wagner 11-3-38-0; Neesham their spinner, which they did successfully. a New Zealander. He fought off 5-0-25-0 (1nb; 2w); Anderson 4-1-6-0. “We need to consider putting in a batter at seven. Then we can go pain from back and shoulder inju- Result: Match drawn. in with the three quicks and Robbie P (Peterson).” ries during a marathon 13-hour Series: New Zealand won 1-0. Should they opt for another all-round option then Wayne Parnell performance. (pictured above) will get the nod on his home ground, the left-arm “It was what was required,” quick unlucky to lose out to McLaren in the first Test. he said, giving credit to batting cricket fan (I thought) he batted They slowly and carefully took McCullum became the 24th Australia, who have not lost a Test series in South Africa since 1970, partners BJ Watling and Jimmy really well and he was given good New Zealand to 246-5 to avoid an player to score a triple century, also have a selection poser in the lead-up to the Port Elizabeth game Neesham. company by Watling,” Dhoni said. innings defeat and on to 680-8 and he eclipsed the previous best if all-rounder Shane Watson returns to fitness in time. “We were obviously scrapping “Just forget the amount of declared, New Zealand’s highest by a New Zealander, 299 set by Watson exacerbated a persistent calf injury on the eve of the first to save the Test and therefore runs he scored, just playing that Test total, just before lunch on Martin Crowe 23 years ago. Test and watched from the stands as new two players both made sig- win the series, and we managed amount of deliveries and to just day five. McCullum and Watling, who nificant contributions to Australia’s cause in Pretoria. to get some partnerships under keep going he batted really well,” As the toll rose Dhoni’s face made a career-best 124, set a Shaun Marsh scored a century in his first Test appearance in two pressure and then kept batting he said. dropped. Hopes of his world world-record sixth-wicket Test years while debutante Alex Doolan came within 11 runs of a debut Test and batting and batting. McCullum went to the middle number two side snatching a face- stand of 352, and Neesham fin- ton as Australia dominated their hosts to bat them inside four days. “So yeah, it was pretty satisfy- at 52-3 on the third day and an saving win disappeared in a series ished unbeaten on 137, a world “Obviously we’ll have to see what the wicket is like; whether we ing to get us out of trouble and hour later, when Watling joined of well-placed ones and twos and record for a number eight bats- need the extra bowling option. You’d like him to bowl,” Australia claim the series win.” him, New Zealand were 94-5 with the occasional boundary. man on debut. coach Darren Lehman said yesterday, suggesting Watson would not Behind the stumps, as ominous signs of an early defeat. McCullum was dropped on McCullum became just the be selected for his batting alone. McCullum faced 559 deliver- But the two batsmen with nine by Kohli and on 36 by Ishant third man after illustrious “Firstly we’ve got to get him fit, and then we’ll see what happens ies, Indian captain and keeper a reputation for flamboyance Sharma, chances India would Australian Don Bradman and from there. He’s pretty close; he was running on Sunday, but at the Mahendra Singh Dhoni said knuckled down to play with the deeply regret as the New Zealand England’s Wally Hammond in the end of the day we’ve got to get him fit and ready to play test cricket he tried everything to take his diligence they recalled from captain took the game away from 1930s to score double and triple at this level.” wicket, -- but had to admire their time as openers many years them. tons in consecutive Tests. The third and final Test will be played in Cape Town from March 1. the quality of his batting. “As a earlier. In a match of milestones, REUTERS REUTERS Qatar Basketball Cup starts on February 26

DOHA: Al Wakra will take on Al Ahli in the opening match of the Qatar Cup which will be played on February 26, this was announced Mohammed Ali after draws conducted by Qatar Bastketball Federation (QBF). Rashid Al Subaihi In the second game on the same day, Al Rayyan will take on Al Khor (left), Assistant at Al Gharafa Sports Club. Secretary General Also yesterday, QBF also conducted draws for Emir Cup which com- mences on April 1. In the opening game of the Emir Cup, Al Ahli of Qatar Basketball play Al Arabi at 5 pm while in the second fixture Al Rayyan battle Al Federation (QBF), Shamal at 7 pm. THE PENINSULA and Sadoun Saba Al Kuwari, Executive Manager Qatar Basketball Cup Draw of QBF, during the draw ceremony Pool A: Al Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Ahli and Al Khor of the Emir Cup Pool B: Al Sadd, El Jaish, Al Shamal, Qatar SC and Al Arabi at Qatar Olympic (All matches at Al Gharafa Club) Committee (QOC) February 26 building in Doha Al Wakrah vs Al Ahli at 5 pm; Al Rayyan vs Al Khor at 7 pm yesterday.PICTURE: February 27 SHAIVAL DALAL Al Shamal vs Qatar Sports Club at 5 pm; El Jaish vs Al Arabi at 7 pm March 1 Al Gharafa vs Al Khor at 5 pm; Al Wakrah vs Al Rayyan at 7 pm March 13 (semis best of three format) April 8 March 2 Qatar Sports Club vs Al Khor at 5 pm; Al Wakrah vs Al Sadd at 7 pm Al Sadd vs Al Arabi at 5 pm; Al Shamal vs El Jaish at 7 pm Pool 1’s First vs Pool 2’s Second (5 pm); Pool 1’s Second vs Pool 2’s First (7 pm) April 10 March 4 March 20 Al Khor vs Al Wakrah at 5 pm; Al Ahli vs Al Gharafa at 7 pm Al Rayyan vs Al Arabi at 5 pm; Al Gharafa vs Al Ahli at 7 pm March 5 Final – (6 pm) April 11 Al Arabi vs Al Shamal at 5 pm; Qatar Sports Club vs Al Sadd at 7 pm El Jaish vs Al Wakrah at 5 pm; Al Sadd vs Al Khor at 7 pm March 7 2014 Emir Cup draw April 13 All matches at Al Gharafa Club Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli at 5 pm; Al Gharafa vs Al Wakrah at 7 pm Al Arabi vs Al Shamal at 5 pm; Al Gharafa vs Al Rayyan at 7 pm March 8 Pool A: Al Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Ahli, Al Arabi and Al Shamal April 14 El Jaish vs Qatar Sports Club at 5 pm; Al Shadd vs Al Shamal at 7 pm Pool B: Al Sadd, El Jaish, Al Khor, Al Wakrah and Qatar Sports Club March 10 Al Wakrah vs Qatar Sports Club at 5 pm; Al Sadd vs El Jaish at 7 pm April 1 Al Ahli vs Al Khor at 5 pm; Al Gharafa vs Al Rayyan April 17 (semis best of three format) March 11 Al Ahli vs Al Arabi at 5 pm; Al Rayyan vs Al Shamal at 7 pm Pool 1’s First vs Pool 2’s Second (5 pm); Pool 1’s Second vs Pool 2’s Qatar Sports Club vs Al Arabi at 5 pm; Al Sadd vs El Jaish at 7 pm April 2 First (7 pm) March 13 (semis best of three format) April 20 Al Khor vs Al Wakrah at 5 pm; El Jaish vs Qatar Sports Club at 7 pm Pool 1’s First vs Pool 2’s Second (5 pm); Pool 1’s Second vs Pool 2’s April 4 Pool 2’s First vs Pool 1’s Second (5 pm); Pool 2’s Second vs Pool 1’s First (7 pm) First (7 pm) March 15 Al Gharafa vs Al Shamal at 5 pm; Al Khor vs El Jaish at 7 pm April 22 April 5 Pool 2’s First vs Pool 1’s Second (5 pm); Pool 2’s Second vs Pool 1’s Pool 1’s First vs Pool 2’s Second (5 pm); Pool 1’s Second vs Pool 2’s First (7 pm) Al Sadd vs Qatar Sports Club at 5 pm; Al Khor vs El Jaish at 7 pm First (7 pm) March 17 April 7 April 25 Pool 1’s First vs Pool 2’s Second (5 pm); Pool 1’s Second vs Pool 2’s First (7 pm) Al Shamal vs Al Ahli at 5 pm; Al Arabi vs Al Gharafa at 7 pm Final – (6 pm) Wednesday 19 February 2014 19 Rabial II 1435 Volume 18 Number 5980 Sport Price: QR2 SRI LANKA’S WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES Al Rajhi, Edith McCullum    ready for Qatar ends with Test Rally this week best of 302 LANKADEEPA MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY DAR AL SHARQ                  !"#$%&'()#*#+,'-*,)# Sport | 24 Sport | 27

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 ‘Excited’ Wozniacki in easy win The former world number one from Denmark is inspired by forthcoming wedding

DUBAI: Caroline Wozniacki admitted that serves even when under severe pressure from she was being inspired by the imminence of Dubai Championships one of the hardest hitters in the game, but her wedding to Rory McIlroy after bringing also because she got a lot of return of serves about a great survival in the first round of Results back deep. the Dubai Open. That opened up more opportunities to DUBAI: Results from the Dubai The former world number one from attack, and enabled her to make her back- Championships, Women’s Singles, Round 1 Denmark seemed pleased enough with her hand more offensive and to get Lisicki moving matches yesterday performance in recovering from a set, 0-1 rather more. A break of serve early in the and love 40 down to beat Sabine Lisicki, Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) bt final set, to take her to 3-1, consolidated to 4-1, the Wimbledon finalist, but looked trans- Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-1 7-5 also altered the psychology of the contest, an formed with joy when talking about marry- Flavia Pennetta (Italy) bt advantage which Wozniacki, intensifying her ing the former world number one golfer from Kaia Kanepi (Estonia) 7-5 6-4 focus, was determined to cling to. Northern Ireland. Wozniacki now plays, not Samantha Stosur, “I am so excited - it’s such an exciting time,” Annika Beck (Germany) bt the former US Open champion from Australia, Wozniacki said after her 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Samantha Stosur (Australia) 1-6 6-1 6-4 but a qualifier, Annicka Beck, the world Lisicki which, it transpired, had not really 8-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt number 50 from Germany, who prevailed 1-6, been the thing uppermost in her mind. Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 2-6 6-3 6-3 6-1, 6-4. “We have set the date,” she admitted, with- Wozniacki may now fancy her chances of 5-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) bt out being prepared to say when that was. Was winning the Dubai title again, but winning in Maryna Zanevska (Ukraine) 6-4 6-3 it this year? successive weeks can be a difficult proposi- “You never know,” she responded, but with Alize Cornet (France) bt tion, as Simona Halep, whose brilliant per- a mile wide smile which gave the impression 7-Simona Halep (Romania) 6-1 1-1 (Halep retired) formances earned her last week’s Doha title, that it was. quickly discovered. The young Romanian had Wozniacki was more forthcoming when a couple of weeks, and I’m really happy and been fortunate to get through that week with Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki asked whether she is a better golfer than he pumped and excited, and then I don’t play for a persistent achilles problem. waves after beating Germany’s is a tennis player. four months, and then I come back and I’m Now her injury was too fragile to survive Sabine Lisicki in Dubai “It used to be I was a better golfer, but it’s back to zero.” another pounding and she quit after only two yesterday. not any more, because in the off season he was Wozniacki was able to turn the match games of the second set against Alize Cornet, hitting every day,” she said. “So that’s not fair. against Lisicki around partly because she the French number one. “I started hitting it decent after I hit for maintained a very high percentage of first The score was 6-1, 1-1 retired. AFP