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Tuesday 18 March 2014 17 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5607 Price: QR2

Qatar ranked Top gymnasts GCC’s top for Qatar event financial centre from March 26

Business | 17 Sport | 24

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Qatar, Tunisia hold talks Ministry calls QCB asks all banks to around 800 citizens for transfer account data military service DOHA: The Ministry of Move meant to ensure payment of salaries on time Defence has called 700 to 800 government employees for DOHA: The Qatar Central of wages and salaries of workers. “The wage transfer will be compulsory military serv- Bank (QCB) has asked all banks This code should not be used for closely monitored every month,” ice and handed them military to provide it with basic infor- any other purpose. The requested the Minister had said. The new uniforms. mation about their customers’ data includes account number, policy will require opening bank A list of all government accounts, including individuals Qatari ID number, commercial accounts for workers employed employees in various ministries and companies. registration (for companies), cus- with all companies and corpora- and other entities has been pre- The move comes as part of tomer’s name, IBAN, date of open- tions in Qatar. The banks will be pared and will be handed over to measures being taken by the gov- ing the account, among others. forced to open accounts regardless the Minister of Defence Affairs ernment to ensure that wages and All banks operating in Qatar of the amount of a worker’s salary, tomorrow. salaries of all workers in the public have started implementing this said the daily. The list will be transferred and private sectors are transferred directive. The procedures include Once the system is fully imple- to ministries and other institu- to the banks, Al Sharq reports. deposit and direct debit system mented, it will not be permitted tions to inform the concerned The daily said that it had — QATCH — which handles effec- to pay workers’ salaries in cash, individuals about the service so obtained a copy of a circular issued tively the exchange of financial regardless of the amount. The sys- that they can prepare them- by the QCB to the banks asking orders among local banks via a tem aims to organise and ensure selves to join training in the them to send basic information secure electronic network. regular payment of salaries and beginning of next month, said about their customers’ accounts. H E Abdullah Saleh Mubarak make sure that employers don’t Brigadier Mohammed Misfer Al The required data does not Al Khulaifi, the Minister of default or delay payments. Ayadi, Commander of Student include account balance but is Labour and Social Affairs, The QCB will play a supervi- Training Center at the Ministry limited to general information recently said that the Ministry sory role in the system. The bank- of Defence. about the accounts. This data was working with the Ministry ing regulator said it is ready to He added that the training cen- should be sent to the QCB before of Finance and Qatar Central cooperate with other banks to tre took into account the impor- the eighth of every month, said Bank to introduce a wage security solve any problems they would tance of daily work in ministries the daily, quoting the circular. system, which will ensure direct face in implementing the wage The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser and other institutions before pre- A special code — SALA — has transfer of the workers’ salaries security system, said the daily. bin Khalifa Al Thani met Tunisian Prime Minister Mahdi Jumaa in Doha paring the list as there was a need been given exclusively for transfer to their bank accounts. THE PENINSULA yesterday. Talks reviewed bilateral relations and ways to boost them. to strike a balance between the needs of the ministries and the national service. He said that if there is a pos- sibility of daily work getting affected if a particular individual US forces seize is called for service, the con- Qatari-Dutch team identifies MERS virus cerned ministry can request a oil tanker from postponement of the service for DOHA: A joint Qatari-Dutch the World Health Organisation The collaboration between by using the polymerase chain that individual. research team has succeeded in (WHO) in this major discovery. Qatar, Erasmus Medical Centre, reaction (PCR) techniques. This The first phase of training will Libya rebel port isolating and culturing corona The SCH said that Qatar and the National Institute could make the laboratories in include a large number of train- virus (MERS-CoV) in the continues its efforts to deter- for Public Health and the Qatar the first in the Middle ees, while employees are being TRIPOLI: US s p e c i a l for c e s h av e laboratory. mine the source and root of the Environment of the Ministry East for diagnosis of MERS prepared for the next stage. seized a tanker that fled with a This major scientific achieve- virus transmission, resulting in of Health in the Netherlands virus in animals. There is a plan to expand the cargo of oil from a Libyan port ment can increase the knowl- a series of studies including the focuses on research cooperation The SCH said there have been military training centre in Al controlled by anti-government edge for prevention and control latest one. Full details of the and exchange of experiences and no new human cases of MERS Shamal in order to absorb more rebels, halting their attempt to of MERS virus and help in study will be published in a sci- expertise as well as training of in Qatar since October last year, trainees. sell crude on the global market. development of diagnostic tools entific journal. laboratory technicians for the although intensive epidemiologi- On how the employees are Gunmen demanding regional and production of vaccines and Based on recommendations of diagnosis of the virus. cal surveillance of this disease called for service, Br Al Ayadi autonomy and a share of oil treatment for the virus, the the WHO, a national sero survey This resulted in match- is undergoing in collaboration told Al Sharq: “We contact them wealth had managed to load Supreme Council of Health will be conducted by the end of ing laboratory results between between health centres and by telephone directly, and those the ship, which escaped Libya’s (SCH) said yesterday. this month, to determine risk fac- Veterinary biotechnology labo- hospitals in the state and the who cannot be reached by tel- navy and triggered a crisis that The SCH and the Ministry tors for MERS virus and iden- ratories under the Ministry Department of Animal Health ephone are sent letters asking prompted parliament to sack the of Environment worked with tify the source of the virus. The of Environment with the Resources. them to contact the Student prime minister. Erasmus Medical Centre in the survey will include screening of Erasmus Medical Centre in the THE PENINSULA Training Center.” A US SEAL commando team Netherlands with support of animals and workers. Netherlands in virus detection Continued on page 6 THE PENINSULA boarded the tanker Morning Glory from a Naval special war- fare rigid inflatable boat as it sat in international waters off Cyprus West Bank unrest on Sunday night. The seizure was approved by US President Barack Obama and requested by Last word from jet the Libyan and Cypriot govern- ments, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said. No one was hurt in the under spoken by co-pilot two hour operation, and no shots fired. Two AK47 rifles were found KUALA LUMPUR: The last subsequently. Malaysia Airlines and the three Libyans holding the spoken communication from CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya ship remained in US control. The the missing Malaysia Airlines said investigators were looking vessel was now heading west in the plane came from the flight’s co- at mobile phone records to see Mediterranean with a US military pilot, investigators believe. whether anyone on board tried escort. An American crew from But in their briefing yesterday, to make calls or send texts, but the USS Stout, a guided missile Malaysian officials appeared to so far there was no evidence of destroyer, got the tanker under backtrack on Sunday’s statement attempted contact. way toward Libya yesterday. that the words “All right, good- Officials said they were not The Morning Glory had been night” came after a communica- aware of Malaysian media reports North Korean-flagged, but the tions system was turned off. that the plane could have flown government in Pyongyang on Hishammuddin Hussein, trans- as low as 5,000 feet after divert- Thursday said it had notified port minister, said the first officer, ing from its course, allowing it to Libya and maritime authorities Fariq Abdul Hamid, was believed avoid detection by radar. that it had severed all ties with Palestinians hurl rocks toward Israeli soldiers during a clash in the West Bank city of Hebron yesterday. US to have uttered the last words to In all, 26 countries are now the ship because of the vessel’s President Barack Obama told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington that it will require tough Malaysian air traffic controllers involved in the search for the contraband cargo. REUTERS at 1.19am — two minutes before plane. Kazakhstan’s civil aviation decisions and risks to achieve peace with Israel. See also page 7 the plane’s transponder, which authority told the BBC it was communicates with the civil radar not possible for the plane to have system, stopped. reached its airspace undetected, The minister said the last air- noting that it would have had to craft communications address- fly over China, India, Pakistan and EU, US impose sanctions on Russian officials ing and reporting system (Acars) other countries. transmission was at 1.07am, but Three French investiga- VIENNA/WASHINGTON: The US and Crimea-based separatist leaders accused of House, he said the new sanctions increase the added: “We do not know when it tors have joined the multina- the European Union have retaliated over undermining the “democratic processes and costs on the Russian government for its actions. was switched off after that. It was tional team in Kuala Lumpur. the Crimea referendum by targeting sanc- institutions in Ukraine”. European ministers “If Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine, supposed to transmit 30 minutes Investigators from the US, UK tions against Russians and Ukrainians. and EU officials said the 21 people — mainly we stand ready to impose further sanctions,” from then, but that [subsequent] and China are already involved European foreign ministers imposed EU-wide political figures involved in the breakaway of Obama said. The US president said that if transmission never came through.” and Hishammuddin denied a New sanctions yesterday against 21 Russian and Crimea rather than business figures — would Russia did not back off, it could expect addi- Attention has focused on the York Times report that Malaysia Ukrainian officials linked to unrest in Crimea. face a freeze on assets as well as a travel ban. tional sanctions. Russia responded by insisting crew — particularly the pilots — had refused to accept large-scale Washington followed up an hour later with US President Barack Obama is to visit the sanctions would have little impact. because of the difficulty of shut- American assistance. a list of its own, targeting seven top Russian Europe next week for discussion of the crisis THE GUARDIAN ting off the systems and because THE GUARDIAN government officials and politicians and four with allies. Speaking to journalists at the White See also page 11 of the way the plane navigated See also page 12

TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Average 6.7pc pay increase Workers’ villages to be built across Qatar DOHA: Real estate devel- transportation, maintenance likely this year: GulfTalent oper Global Building Solutions and laundry services for all (GBS) yesterday announced Daruna villages. that it is teaming with Qatar- The turnkey approach gives Employment opportunities to grow faster than 2013, says survey based partners to develop high Daruna customers a competi- quality workers’ accommoda- tive labour advantage in bidding DOHA: Employment oppor- to create jobs, respectively,” said the previous year, they continue Optimism about the country’s tion villages. and executing their core busi- tunities and salaries in Qatar the survey. to be below the levels seen before future has increased following The villages will operate ness contracts in Qatar. are expected to rise faster than Hospitality and retail will the crisis. Dubai’s economic recovery and under the brand name Daruna Daruna customers will be able last year, according to a survey dominate job growth in 2014 as “Oman, where employees are successful bid for hosting the 2020 (Our House) and comply to protect their corporate repu- released by online recruitment 61 percent of companies in the expected to enjoy an average pay Expo. with international and Qatari tations and leverage their mar- firm, GulfTalent yesterday. hospitality sector are planning to increase of 8 percent, leads the Expatriates also continue to standards, including Qatar keting advantage by operating According to the 2014 edition of increase their headcount, because field,” said the survey. value the UAE’s stability, espe- Foundation’s (QF) Mandatory in full compliance with Qatari ‘Employment and Salary Trends they expect 2014 to be a year of “Saudi Arabia has the second cially as parts of the wider region Standards for Migrant Workers’ and international standards. in the Gulf’, 75 percent of compa- growth for the industry. highest rate with a projected remain plagued by tensions. Welfare 2013. Daruna is securing sites nies in Qatar will create jobs this In the retail sector, 57 percent average increase of 6.8 percent, Not surprisingly, Dubai and In cooperation with the gov- across Qatar to build villages. year while average pay increase is of firms will create jobs, driven followed by Qatar at 6.7 percent Abu Dhabi are the region’s most ernment, QF, the Supreme The villages will accommo- expected to be 6.7 percent. by the region’s rapid popula- and the UAE at 5.9 percent. attractive cities, followed by Doha. Committee for Development date the ever-growing semi- “The positive development is tion growth and increasing pen- Kuwait and Bahrain are fore- Bahrain remains the least and Legacy, and FIFA, Daruna skilled and unskilled workforce primarily due to the execution etration of retail outlets in more cast to have the region’s lowest attractive destination for will be an end-to-end designer- needed to help deliver every of major infrastructure projects remote locations. salary increases — projected at 5.8 expatriates. builder-owner and operator, infrastructure requirement of gathering momentum, partly in In case of salaries, Oman leads percent and 3.9 percent, respec- The report is based on an providing a vital price-compet- the World Cup 2022 and Qatar preparation for the 2022 World the pack in the GCC while Qatar tively,” added the survey. online survey of 800 employers itive labour solution. National Vision 2030, from rail Cup. is at third position in terms of The UAE has further strength- and 34,000 professionals, as well It has also contracted with and roads to hotels and iconic Next are companies in Saudi average pay increase. ened its position as the prime as 60 interviews with executives a world class operating com- stadiums. Arabia and the UAE, with 63 The survey notes that while destination for expatriates in the and HR professionals. pany to provide catering, THE PENINSULA percent and 57 percent looking salary increases are higher than GCC. THE PENINSULA Kahramaa customers can issue their bills

New application and e-services were launched yesterday, marking the first phase of the Kahramaa’s transformation into smart corporation.

DOHA: Customers of Qatar General The first phase of transforming Electricity and Water Corporation Kahramaa into a smart corporation pro- (Kahramaa) can now issue their vides various e-services on smartphones. consumption bills by taking photo They include bill view and payment, of meter reading and submitting it service tracking, meter reading, cer- on its newly launched application for tificates and more. The application also smartphones. includes sections for Tarsheed, news, The new application and other e-serv- suggestions and complaints. ices on Kahramaa website were yester- The new website, which is more day launched by Engineer Essa bin Hilal user-friendly and encourages user Al Kuwari, President, marking the first interaction, includes e-services such as phase of its transformation into smart electronic certificates, service tracking, corporation. tariff details, tenders, auctions, awards, “The launch of e-services on the a separate portal for the ongoing website and the application on smart- National Program for Conservation and phones is part of a plan to transform Energy Efficiency, as well as Tarsheed’s all Kahramaa services into e-services children site. by the end of 2014 and Kahramaa into “The launch of e-services represents a smart corporation in 2015,” Al Kuwari phase one of transforming Kahramaa told a press conference. into a smart corporation,” said “All human resources services are Engineering Ibrahim Al Emadi. now smart,” he added. THE PENINSULA WWW inventor Sir Tim to speak on its future DOHA: World Wide Web (www) inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee (pic- tured) will speak on future chal- lenges and opportunities in technology in a public talk at Qatar National Convention Centre on Sunday. Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) is hosting the inventor who will talk about the Web’s global impact and emphasise decisions to shape its develop- ment are in society’s hands. The lecture ‘The World Wide Web and the Next 25 Years’ will highlight why principles of integrity, openness, and individuals’ freedom to use tech- nology unimpaired should underpin its governance. QCRI Executive Director Dr Ahmed K Elmagarmid said, “Sir Tim has touched the lives of most people on Earth through Intelligence Laboratory at Massachusetts his invention. He is qualified to help us Institute of Technology) as part of a see the future of the Web, and how we seven-year research agreement signed maximise its benefits for humankind.” in 2012 to collaborate on joint research “QCRI is proud to work with Sir Tim projects of benefit to Qatar. and the MIT-CSAIL team as part of our Time magazine named Sir Time one joint ongoing research that is delivering of the 100 greatest minds of the 20th benefits for people in Qatar and beyond,” century. Queen Elizabeth of Britain he added. knighted him for services to the global The talk coincides with the annual development of the Internet in 2004. meeting of QCRI and MIT-CSAIL The lecture is open to the public and (Computer Science and Artificial starts at 4.30pm. QNA TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HMC wins Healthcare Innovation Award DOHA: Hamad Medical in Cairo. It was received by Director of HMC’s Corporate Corporation (HMC) has won the Mohammad Mubarak Al Noimi, Communications Department. Healthcare Innovation Award Chief of Communication and The award was presented by during the opening session of Staff at the Managing Director’s Egyptian Minister of Health, the 14th Annual Congress of Office at HMC, and Ali Dr Adel Awad, Dr Faiqa Saeed the Arab Hospitals Federation Abdullah Al Khater, Executive Al Saleh, Arab League Assistant

HMC officials receiving the award from the Egyptian Minister of Health Dr Adel Awad and other officials.

Secretary-General for Social provider of healthcare services concurrently with the Council Affairs, and Dr Faouzi Adaimi, in the Middle East to adopt the of Arab Health Ministers, the President of Arab Hospitals Academic Health System, ensur- HMC delegation to the congress Federation. ing all services are provided in also received many Arab Health The award is reward for work accordance with the highest Ministers at HMC’s stand. The and efforts of HMC, the princi- international quality standards. delegation made a brief presenta- pal public healthcare provider It is also in recognition of tion on HMC’s healthcare activi- in Qatar, to meet the healthcare efforts of HMC staff who have ties and capabilities, as well as its needs of the growing population. contributed to the corporation’s pioneering medical and clinical It also recognises HMC’s local and regional achievements. role in Qatar. THE PENINSULA endeavours to become the first With the congress being held

College of Engineering students gain insights into Mowasalat’s work

The QU delegation with officials at Mowasalat headquarters.

DOHA: Qatar University’s (QU) College of on projects and operational challenges to be overcome in Engineering students, faculty members and providing efficient and effective transport services. senior officials visited Mowasalat headquar- Nasser Al Khanji, Executive Director for Support ters for first-hand knowledge about the func- Services, urged the youth to engage with stakeholders and tioning of the public transport company. take part in efforts to achieve the vision of the country They toured facilities and explored the ‘Made which is investing heavily in transport infrastructure. in Qatar Karwa bus – 2nd version’ being assem- Dr Rashid Alammari, Dean of the college, said over bled locally. 30 students and faculty members visited the company The visit was part of Mowasalat’s efforts to to strengthen links and partnership between it and the tap and recruit Qatari talent, see the engage- college in research and education. ment of students in bus assembly and building Shimaa Ali Al Quradaghi, Teaching Assistant at the and hone their skills by working on Mowasalat Department of Industrial Engineering, said “We thank projects. Mowasalat for this good initiative by collaborating with Mowasalat has been in dialogue with Qatar QU to utilise the potential of students to develop Qatar. Foundation and QU since early 2013, on offering “In future, there may be a pre-allocation between project internship, providing an international Mowasalat and QU depending on related majors. I can platform through UITP programmes to display confirm that we at the college will continue working their talent and skills with the objective to tap- with all our departments and majors to achieve excel- ping young talents and offer job opportunities, lent results.” the company said yesterday. Maithaa Al Nuaimi, a chemical engineering student, CEO Khalid Al Hail briefed the delegation said, “Before the visit, we only knew that Mowasalat provided taxi and bus services, but during the visit we saw the industry and maintenance within the company. Now, we have a dream to see Karwa buses transporting us to the university every day, especially after we have seen highly efficient training provided by the company.” Muneera Al Ansari, also a chemical engineering stu- dent, said, “I have seen an aspect of Qatar, which I did not know about. I thank Mowasalat for such huge atten- tion and I will be fully willing to contribute, with the experience I will gain in future, to achieving permanent development.” THE PENINSULA

Ooredoo unveils Philippines SMS Key working with Hala service DOHA: Ooredoo yes- unlimited SMS to the terday launched ‘The Philippines at a cost of 12 Philippines SMS Key’ to dirhams per message, sav- offer a more affordable ing customers 80 percent way for Filipinos in Qatar per SMS on standard SMS to communicate with rates. With an estimated their friends and family 200,000 Filipinos in Qatar, at home. Ooredoo anticipate the The key, which works key to become one of its with Hala service, offers most popular international the most affordable SMS offers. To subscribe, Hala rate to the Philippines customers should SMS from Qatar, at 12 dirhams/ “SPHI” to 121. The key will SMS. It costs QR1 per auto-renew each week. week and offers customers THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Preparations complete New scholarship benefits for Qataris for global culinary journey at food festival Aid up by 20pc, extra incentives for top students, 560 institutions added to list DOHA: Preparations for the fifth Qatar DOHA: Enhancing opportunities International Food Festival (QIFF) is complete, for excellence, Supreme Education organisers Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Council’s (SEC) Higher Education Qatar Airways announced yesterday. Institute yesterday announced new The four-day annual event will open on Thursday scholarship benefits for Qataris. at Museum of Islamic Art Park and include activities Financial incentive for students that will allow guests to enjoy a unique, fun-filled has been increased by 20 percent and experience rich with international flavours. those studying bioscience and medi- Focusing on Qatar’s cultural diversity, this year’s cal science will receive an additional festival will showcase the five-star hospitality and 10 percent. food services available in the country. It will also Students who show extraordinary shed light on friendship between Qatar and Brazil performances would get two extra by highlighting traditional cuisine and entertain- monthly financial incentive, and sup- ment from both countries, as part of the 2014 Year port to continue studies further, busi- of Culture programme. ness class air ticket as a non-financial Several internationally renowned chefs will cel- incentive for those who study abroad ebrate fine dining with the freshest ingredients and as an annual reward, Dr Khaled Al latest food trends, taking visitors on a delightful Hurr, Director, Higher Education Dr Khalid Al Hurr (inset), Director, Higher Education Institute at SEC, addressing culinary journey across continents. Institute, told the first Higher the first higher education forum at Millennium Hotel Doha yesterday. KAMMUTTY V P A family zone will allow visitors to sample eclectic Education Forum at Millennium cuisine in an entertaining and vibrant atmosphere Hotel Doha yesterday. amid live music and fun activities for children. Many A total of 2,092 Qataris are pur- foundation course will be entitled to programme. The applicant should not creative programmes and zones will add to the joy suing bachelor’s degree, master’s do it under the scholarship or study have obtained a degree similar to the of fine dining. and PhD on scholarship at Qatar at a community college for one year degree to be pursued. The festival will feature 11 general zones, including University, in Education City and and change the university. The applicant should have good four food zones, a live cooking zone, 55 food stalls and foreign universities. However, basic conditions to apply grades from high school to enrol for five kiosks of restaurants and exhibitors. To increase the number of students A list of the universities, colleges for scholarships to pursue bachelor’s a bachelor’s degree, have a bachelor’s Rashed Al Qurese, QTA Director of Marketing on scholarship, SEC has raised the and community colleges will be soon degree, master’s and PhD remain degree with good grades if applying for and Promotion, said, “QIFF will bring together the number of universities, colleges and available on the SEC website. unchanged. a master’s, and a master’s with good world’s culinary cultures in a unique event that disciplines. About 43 percent of universities and Only Qataris can apply for scholar- marks if applying for a PhD. reflects Qatar’s diversity and rich culture. The fes- At present Qataris are given schol- colleges on the list are in the US, 17 ships and must not be on any other Those who have studied for one tival will allow QTA to promote Qatar in the region arships to study at 900 universities percent in the UK and three percent scholarship. The applicant must not year on their expense and with out- and the world as a world-class hub with deep cul- in 46 countries. Another 560 institu- in Australia. Nine universities are in be working and, if working in the standing performance can apply for tural roots.” tions mainly in the UK, the US and Arab countries, Dr Al Hurr said. public sector, must be nominated scholarship. Salam Al Shawa, Vice-President Corporate Australia have been added. Also students who need to do a by his company to join the study THE PENINSULA Communications, Qatar Airways, said, “As the award-winning national carrier, the airline is proud to promote Qatar as a destination of choice by co- hosting world-class annual events like the food fes- tival, and through promotional deals to fly more people to the country to attend the event.” QIFF named Qatar Museum Authority, the 55 teams register for third annual Senyar Festival Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, and Qatar Events Diary OnQ strategic partners. Partners DOHA: Participation in Katara’s In view of the unexpected number where pearl divers and sailors will be Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, include Doha Film Institute, BBC Good Food, Al third annual Senyar Festival has of participants, the organising com- received in a traditional way. Katara General Manager, said Katara Rayyan TV, QF Radio, Jeem TV, Baraem TV, Qatar seen an unprecedented increase mittee had to stop registration, said Al Hitmi urged all participants is hosting the cultural and traditional Brazil Year of Culture, Philips and Crown Plaza compared to its previous editions, Ahmed Al Hitmi, Chairman of the to submit the required documents event due to its importance in promot- Hotel. Renaissance Hotel will cater to the ‘dinner say organisers. committee. The rush for registration, before March 27 to Katara Beaches ing Qatari customs and traditions to in the sky’ signature activity, and the BBQ Donut The number of participating teams he said, was driven by the popular- administration. the new generation, taking into con- will be by the Diplomatic Club. for the festival of traditional fishing ity of the competition with Qataris in There will be 55 judges and 60 sideration the strong relation of Qatari The festival is open on Thursday from 5pm until and pearl diving competition has various age groups. committee members and assistants people with the sea. This is one of the 11pm, Friday from 1pm to 11pm, Saturday from 1pm reached 55, each with eight to 11 The competition starts on April 16 responsible to follow up and supervise traditional events that teach partici- to 10pm, and Sunday from 2pm to 10pm. members or 450 to 600 sailors. when teams will embark on a four- the competing teams based on rules pants patience in facing challenges and Entry is free. This means the volume of participa- day journey in Sealine. It will conclude and standards used in the previous risks and solidarity and support for THE PENINSULA tion is three times compared to the on April 19 with Al Qafal arrival cer- editions. The committee will provide each other during the tough journey, inaugural edition two years ago. emony for the participants at Katara 15 speedboats for judging. he said. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HMC marks World Glaucoma Week with awareness drive DOHA: Hamad Medical Glaucoma affects more than 67 Corporation’s (HMC) million people worldwide. Ophthalmology Department is “Half of people with glaucoma are spreading awareness about the unaware of their condition and could importance of prevention and early be slowly losing their sight because detection of glaucoma in observ- their glaucoma has not been diag- ance of World Glaucoma Week. nosed or treated. The week is being observed with “Prevention is the best way to Qatar Foundation officials and long-serving employees at the honouring ceremony yesterday. the awareness campaign led by the fight glaucoma, and early detec- department’s glaucoma team until tion through screening and careful March 20, with a screening booth set life-long treatment are important up for the public at Hamad General to maintain vision in people with Hospital’s Outpatient Department glaucoma,” HMC’s Ophthalmology lobby. Section specialist Dr Zakia Mohamed QF honours 390 employees The booth proved popular last Al Ansari said. year, with dozens of people lining “Elevated eye pressure is often up to benefit from free check-ups as present in glaucoma and considered Certificates awarded to staff working for five to more than 15 years well as educational materials on the a risk factor; however, in rare cases disease. even patients with a normal range DOHA: Qatar Foundation Among those honoured, 328 beginning, helped establish QF thanked the employees and said, Glaucoma is a common eye com- of eye pressure can develop the dis- for Education, Science and have been working for five years, to become an educational city “QF is able to succeed because plaint and the second leading cause ease. The exact cause of glaucoma is Community Development held 37 for 10 years and 25 for more working to unlock human poten- of the great efforts and coopera- of blindness in adults worldwide. It is unknown,” she added. a celebration yesterday, recog- than 15 years. tial in a unique environment. tion of our employees, past and a group of diseases that lead to pro- She urged yearly testing for peo- nising 390 of its longest-serv- Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, As QF strives to lay the foun- present. Because of our loyal gressive damage of the optic nerve, ple at high risk, including those of ing employees for their loyalty President, in his congratula- dations of a knowledge-based and hard-working employees, the part of the eye that carries visual African descent, people with diabetes, and commitment. tory speech, said, “QF is no economy, its mission and goals we can aim for an even brighter information from the retina to the those with a family history of glau- Certificates of appreciation longer only a shining example are constantly evolving to match future. I congratulate you all for brain. The progressive damage can coma, those above 30 and those who were handed to the employees, of learning, but also a hub for modern developments and face the great work you achieved result in gradual, irreversible loss of had an eye injury or trauma. whose services ranged from five innovation. This could not have challenges of the future.” throughout the years, and look vision and blindness if left untreated. THE PENINSULA to 15 years. The event was held happened without the hard work Hassan Al Hammadi, forward to working together at Qatar National Convention and dedication of our employ- Executive Director, Human for many more, to attain new Centre. ees who have, from the very Resources Directorate at QF, heights.” THE PENINSULA

Msheireb Properties wins ISO certification

DOHA: Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation, hosted its third annual Risk Management Forum at the Four Seasons hotel. The theme was ‘Risk Management in Practice’ which involved an in-depth look at practical aspects of risk HMC staff screen a visitor at the glaucoma booth. management while focusing on the global experience relevant to the region. Auditors, consultants, engi- neers, contractors, healthcare and IT experts, oil and gas professionals, project and pro- Gulf Craft to display its gramme managers, real estate developers attended. Officials with the ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management Standard at the third annual risk management forum. Many industry experts spoke on issues, including, mitigat- largest superyacht ing project risk, safeguarding Al Mehshadi, CEO, Msheireb to have achieved compliance efforts to incorporate industry national information and com- Properties. with this risk management best practices into its opera- DOHA: Gulf Craft, recently named boat models such as the Majesty 48, munications systems, managing Theuns Kotze, Regional standard. As a major milestone tions. It is already certified in one of the world’s top 10 superyacht in addition to 2014 models of the cyber risks and getting to grips Managing Director, British in the evolution of our young ISO 9001:2008 for quality man- builders, will showcase a line-up of Oryx sport cruiser and Silvercraft with the human factor in risk. Standard Institution, awarded company, it reflects our commit- agement; ISO 14001:2004 for luxury superyachts, sport cruisers leisure boat range. “Msheireb Properties is Msheireb Properties compli- ment to pursue excellence in all environmental management; and leisure craft at the Gulf Craft “This is the third time we host an proud of the forum as it not ance with international ISO areas of our business and our and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 for Exclusive Preview from tomorrow exclusive showcase of our yachts and only highlights an area of great 31000:2009 Risk Management determination to attain the very occupational health and safety until March 21 at The Pearl Qatar, boats in Qatar as part of a lifestyle importance — risk manage- Standard in recognition of its best in international standards,” management systems. It mis- in association with its local repre- event. Qatar is a market with an ment — but also represents an risk management practice and said Al Mehshadi. sion is to support the wider sentative Aurora Yachts. appetite and appreciation for luxury opportunity for people who have effective implementation of “The certification will ensure aims of Qatar’s National Vision Leading the line-up of models leisure pursuits and has a population expertise to come together and risk management throughout a proactive approach to man- 2030 by changing the way peo- from its Majesty Yachts, Oryx and that enjoys yachting and boating. share insights and experiences. its business, including strat- agement in every aspect of our ple think about urban living and Silvercraft ranges will be the Majesty “Qatar continues to be one of our Our hope is that, in time, this egy, management, communi- operations, improving efficiency, improving their overall quality 135, the largest superyacht to be strongest markets in the Gulf, second forum will become the flagship cations and operations across governance and stakeholder of life through innovations that showcased in Qatar, and the largest only to the UAE, across our product regional platform for high- the organisation and its flagship confidence.” encourage social interaction, model completed by the shipyard to range from superyachts to passenger level discussions and decision- project Msheireb Downtown Msheireb Properties has respect for culture, and greater date. craft. The previous two events met making on risk management,” Doha. incorporated latest risk man- care for the environment. The Majesty 135 (Winner of the with great success and we antici- said Engineer Abdulla Hassan “We are delighted and proud agement procedures as part of THE PENINSULA Best Asia Built Yacht at the 2013 pate a similar response to this year’s Asia Boating Awards), will be joined showcase,” said Erwin Bamps, Chief by other luxury superyacht models, Operating Officer, Gulf Craft. including the Majesty 105 (finalist Visitors will be able to tour yachts in Boat International’s 2014 World and boats on display at Porto Arabia, Superyacht Awards). 18 La Croisette, The Pearl, from Hotlines set The showcase will include the 3.30pm to 10pm. Qatari premiere of new yacht and THE PENINSULA up to control communicable diseases Continued from page 1 People at high risk such as those with chronic diseases should avoid close contact with animals when visiting farms or barn areas where the virus is known to be Officials of Qatar Relief Alliance of Charitable Societies holding a meeting on relief projects. potentially circulating, said the SCH. Others visiting a farm or a barn have been advised to follow gen- Second phase of relief projects eral hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals, avoiding launched in Somalia, Philippines contact with sick animals, and following food hygiene practices. DOHA: Qatar Relief Alliance Crescent, said such projects rice, 25kg flour, 15kg sugar, six The SCH has called on citi- of Charitable Societies yes- were immediately introduced litres of edible oil, 2.5kg child zens and residents to communi- terday announced the launch for implementation after the formula and 2kg dates. Other cate with healthcare providers if 10,341 vacancies at QU for spring 2014 of phase II of relief projects in completion of Phase I where items for each family included they developed acute respiratory DOHA: Qatar University has said until the last week for registration, or Somalia and the Philippines. food and other items were one large blanket, a tarpaulin symptoms, especially if accom- only 10,341 vacancies are available change subjects. To avoid last-minute Following visit findings, it delivered to more than 1,000 sheet, inclusive set of utensils panied by fever and there was a for spring 2014. The university has rush, the university has decided to has been agreed to implement vulnerable families, at a cost and other items for more than close contact with animals. 78,960 seats in different faculties of have a deadline for each course. recovery projects in Puntland of about $1m. “Qataris rushed 70,000 persons. • Hotlines for communica- which 68,565 have been occupied. “Some students choose subjects in eastern Somalia to pur- to help our brothers in both In the Philippines, the alli- ble diseases control in Supreme A total of 14,310 students have not included in the courses. The chase cattle, fishing boats and countries. This is a clear man- ance has formed a technical Council of Health Arabic: applied and 937 have been accepted registration section coordinates with rehabilitate artesian aquifers, ifestation of our culture and team to evaluate the recovery 66740948; English: 66740951 for spring 2014. Nasser Al Marri, departments for adding new subjects healthcare centres and operate teachings that encourage peo- projects of Phase II. Technical • Hotline for Animal health Head of Registration, said, “The for more students in each specialisa- four mobile clinics with total ple to provide rescue and relief study was carried out on some resources: 33611924 challenge faced by the Registration tion and this requires increasing the budget of $1.86m. for people in distress.” projects that will be imple- • Hotline for Ministry of Department is that many students space and faculty,” he added Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Aid package for each affected mented soon at a cost of $4.5m. Environment: 998 (general). don’t meet the deadline. Some wait THE PENINSULA Secretary-General, Qatar Red family in Somalia included 25kg THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA MIDDLE EAST TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Obama urges Abbas to take risks Release final group of prisoners by month end, Abbas tells Netanyahu

WASHINGTON: President Barack of any elusive final peace agreement are US officials fear that if Israel scraps the Obama told Palestinian President well known. release the peace talks could break down. Mahmoud Abbas yesterday that it will “Everybody understands what the “Mr President, we have an agree- require tough decisions and risks to outlines of a peace deal would look like, ment with Israel that was brokered by achieve peace with Israel and said now involving a territorial compromise on Mr Kerry concerning the release of the is the time for leaders on both sides to both sides based on ‘67 lines with mutu- fourth batch of prisoners,” Abbas told “embrace this opportunity.” ally agreed upon swaps that would ensure Obama. “We are hopeful that the fourth In White House talks overshadowed that Israel was secure but would also batch will be released by the 29th of by the Ukraine crisis, Abbas said “time ensure that the Palestinians have a sov- March because this will give a very solid is not on our side” in US-brokered nego- ereign state,” Obama said. impression about the seriousness of these tiations with Israel and called on Israeli Abbas agreed that a solution should efforts to achieve peace.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to entail a Palestinian state built on borders Secretary of State John Kerry brought go ahead with the scheduled release of that existed before the 1967 Middle East Israel and the Palestinians back into a final group of Palestinian prisoners by war, though Netanyahu has declared that negotiations on July 29 after a three- the end of March. Israel would never completely return to year gap, and said at the time that “our Obama, who met Netanyahu two weeks earlier lines it considered indefensible. objective will be to achieve a final status ago, made clear that he was not giving Abbas insisted that the Palestinians, agreement over the course of the next up on the troubled US-led peace proc- in past international agreements, had nine months.” ess despite widespread pessimism about already “recognised the state of Israel.” As the April 29 deadline approaches, reaching a “framework” deal that would But he stopped short of reiterating US officials have scaled back their ambi- extend talks beyond an April deadline. his position on Netanyahu’s demand tions, saying they are now trying to forge “It’s very hard,” Obama said. “We’re that Abbas explicitly recognize Israel a non-binding “framework for negotia- going to have to take some tough politi- as a Jewish state if he wanted peace - tions” by then. Kerry himself suggested cal decisions and risks if we’re able to something the Palestinian president has on February 26 a full peace deal could US President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Oval Office move it forward, and I hope that we can previously said he will not do. take a further nine months but even that of the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. continue to see progress in the coming Looming over the peace effort is the prolonged timeframe faces widespread days and weeks.” question of whether Israel this month skepticism. than six-decade dispute, which include just the leaders of both sides but also Obama insisted that, after decades of will carry out the release of a final batch The two sides do not appear to have borders, security, the fate of Palestinian the people of both sides to embrace this on-off negotiations between Israel and of Palestinian prisoners, which it agreed made much visible progress on narrowing refugees and the status of Jerusalem. opportunity,” Obama said. the Palestinians, the likely parameters in order restart negotiations last year. their gaps on the major issues in the more “I believe that now is the time for not REUTERS Thousands take to streets to support Abbas

RAMALLAH: Thousands of Palestinian education minister and member of with the two sides refusing to budge on key issues Palestinians took to the streets of Fatah’s Islamist rivals Hamas — who joined a such as the borders of a future Palestinian state, West Bank cities yesterday in support 5,000-strong rally in the northern West Bank city security arrangements in the West Bank, the fate of president Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to of Nablus. of Palestinian refugees and the final status of Washington for talks with US President Some 1,500 people turned out in the West Bank Jerusalem, claimed by both sides as a capital. Barack Obama about the peace proc- administrative centre of Ramallah, and more than Israeli President Shimon Peres sought to clear ess with Israel. Demonstrators waved 1,000 in the southern flashpoint city of Hebron. the air yesterday, issuing a statement of support for the Palestinian national flag as well as Abbas yesterday met President Obama in Abbas. “President Abbas is a man of principle; he is that of Abbas’s Fatah party, chanting Washington, nearly a fortnight after Israel’s Prime against terror, against violence. He is a good partner “we are with you, president!” as Abbas Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did the same, and as and I’m glad that our government is negotiating was to weigh up an anticipated US an April 29 deadline for the nine-month negotia- with him,” Peres’s office quoted him as saying in a request to extend the faltering negotia- tions loomed. Palestinian and Israeli leaders have statement. “We are all waiting for peace; it is the tions with Israel. been unable to move the talks forward since US wish of the Israeli and Palestinian people.” “We’re here today to stand up to Secretary of State John Kerry kick-started them Israel has recently kicked up a new obstacle pressures upon us and make sure presi- at the end of July after intense efforts to bring the to ending the decades-long conflict, demanding Palestinians take part in a rally in the West Bank city of Nablus dent Abbas adheres to his convictions,” sides back to the table following a three-year freeze. Palestinian recognition of it as a Jewish state. yesterday in support for President Mahmoud Abbas. said Nasser Eddin Al Shaer — former Bitter recriminations have taken precedent, AFP TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Tortuous regime Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE UN probe report on rights abuses in North Korea paints a grotesque picture of torture and humiliation in the country that is a conspicuous Toutcrop of politics, society and culture. The Missing plane story is the new universe of global political activities, societal traditions and universal culture — it has emerged over the years — finds strange echoes in the North, where citizens wail in unison on the death of their leader, audience claps in chorus as the anti-journalism – all data, no facts president joins hands and obsequious officials dutifully take notes in his presence. BY MICHAEL WOLFF A former North Korean prison guard who later defected in the unknowable. that Flight 370 was purposefully In a way, it’s anti-journalism. diverted and flown possibly thousands is one of scores of people from the North who have described ell, the plane is some- I am hardly the only stick-in-the-mud of miles from its planned route”. their plight. In an incident detailed by the guard, a number where. Although there to observe that the impending takeover Part of the problem in the story is of dogs were let loose on five kids locked up in a cell in the exists the eerie possibil- of Crimea, a precise piece of geopolitical language itself. “Terrorism” is implic- prison where he was posted. In minutes, the children were Wity that it will remain as logistics and confrontation with a full itly connected to Al Qaeda and suggests dead, mostly because of their necks being devoured by the if nowhere — forever lost. menu of international implications – clear cause and effect and tends to trig- And that’s just about the best situa- journalistic red meat – has been blown ger a spasm of maximum responses. So canines. One of the children had his stomach eaten up by tion that exists for journalism: “missing” away by a story with no evident mean- don’t go there until you are sure about the animals. stories trump all others for their inten- ing, other than the likely bleak fate of going there. Hijacking suggests pre- The regime makes extensive use of labour camps to silence sity and stickiness, fueling the imagina- most onboard. cise demands and an evident aircraft. political dissenters and to keep rebels in check. tion of journalists and audiences alike. It is, of course, an ideal story for the Mechanical failure needs a crash site. How egregious can be Kim Jong-un’s regime? There is Journalism exists to provide informa- current journalism era because it costs What words are left, then? Just: no limit to the cruelty which prisoners have to experience. tion. But what’s really compelling is a nothing. Nobody has to go anywhere. diverted. And vanished. lack of information — or what is more Nobody has to cover the wreckage and This may be the first wholly data- Subjected to extremely cruel acts and harsh treatment, particularly being called “an absence of the recovery. Not only is the story pretty driven story. There are no first-hand labour camp inmates often die prematurely. And in the empirical data”. much all just theories — but theories are facts. There are only secondary data guard’s words, they are at times not even buried — just left “It doesn’t mean anything; all it cheap. implications. And so far it has demon- to rot in the open. What prompts a sovereign country’s is a theory.” That was the key quote, There is, too, a gotcha element. strated not the strength of data – that government to engage in or lend from an appropriately unnamed “sen- Mainstream journalism has tried new religion – but its weakness. support to such bestiality. Human ior American to be cautious about its claims. It has “What investigators are left with The UN report official,” in the tried to deny or at least hold the line is an hourly electronic ‘handshake’ or nature is complex and the urge to New York Times’ against the unproven — even when the digital communication, between the on rights hold on to power, or the lust for it, front-page story unproven is obvious. airplane and a satellite orbiting 22,250 violations and can take an individual to heights Mainstream on Sunday about “…as investigators have examined miles above the Indian Ocean,” says of desperation. One can subject journalism has tried the Malaysian the flight manifest and looked into the the Times with some poetry. “But the abuse in North others to extreme suffering and government’s two Iranian men who were on the plane handshake is mostly devoid of data, and sudden conver- travelling with stolen passports, they cannot be used to pinpoint the plane’s Korea is another insulate oneself in a self-adulatory to be cautious about its claims. It has sion to the idea have become convinced that there is no last known location. It is the electronic instance of the cocoon to be on the top of a power that their plane clear connection to terrorism,” said the equivalent of catching someone’s eye in structure. That is what the North tried to deny or at was snatched. Times on Friday night, even as it became the crowd.” totalitarian Korean leader is doing now. He least hold the line “Find the plane, more clear by the end of the weekend The data, in other words, merely regime’s has inherited authority from his against the unproven find the black that somebody had disabled the plane’s reinforces the existential. father, who ruled the country with boxes and then identifying signal mechanisms and Indeed, the most telling data point – even when the we can figure out diverted it from its route and had flown may be that the plane so artfully slipped egregious an iron hand for decades. Since unproven is obvious. what happened. it somewhere! through the data filters leaving so few ideology. Kim’s anointment to the seat of It has to be based Such cautious — or absurd — restraint data points. power has been hereditary, he has on something, and actually propels the story. That the But the plane is somewhere — that’s to keep his domestic constituency until they have something more to go on mainstream media is trying not to devi- the only certain data point. glued together. Fear is an important instrument with which it’s all just theories.” ate from mainstream sources (the recal- It is at the bottom of the ocean, sunk perpetrators try to achieve this. And fear and terror can be Precisely! citrant, in-denial, shell-shock Malaysian without a trace, or in a jungle or rain- And everyone is entitled to his or her government, and the in-the-dark US forest with remarkable discrete pattern achieved by torture and intimidation. own theory — it’s more democratisa- authorities) maintains something illogi- or wreckage. Or, it is on the ground Intimidation by the regime is achieved by purges — tion of journalism — including, but not cal, which in turn agitates or inspires somewhere — indeed, may have been ostensibly on the pretext of state security. limited to: the counter-media (the conspiracists), on the ground somewhere, re-fueled, Former inmate Jeong Kwang-il told the UN investigation a) Terrorism; b) mechanical failure; which was once marginal, but which is and gone somewhere else to land again, that he was almost starved during 10 months in a detention c) hijacking; d) mad or rogue pilot; e) now mainstream itself. After 10 days whereabouts of 239 passengers and crew meteor; d) aliens; e) reality show pro- and counting, mainstream outlets along unknown. It is a new kind of hijack- centre and his weight dropped from 75kg to 36kg. Subjected motion (in this, the 239 passengers and with the Malaysian government catch ing in which the plane can’t be stormed to a technique known as ‘pigeon torture’ to force confessions crew would have been in on it – each up with the story that everybody else or hijackers targeted by sharpshooters where the hands are handcuffed behind the back, he thought paid for their performance). was onto anyway. because plane and hijackers are invis- it was better to die. The UN report should come as an eye The Tweetdeck column flutters like The plane’s been taken! Grabbed. ible. Just when we start to believe that opener to the international community lost in geopolitical a deranged stock ticker, as furious as it Stolen. Commandeered. we know all, that systems track us mer- games of oneupmanship. If humanity is suffering, it is in did for the Woody Allen imbroglio, that It was only yesterday that the Times cilessly, we find we know nothing, and other recent spike of obsessive interest acknowledged the “increasing likelihood the plot thickens. THE GUARDIAN North Korea. The other side Quote of Save Syrian children the day

ROUND a million children time when international actors have Around two million children are said rehabilitation of the children. The are without food and almost given up hope of finding a to need counselling for trauma, and words by Unicef’s executive direc- other basic amenities. negotiated settlement to the dispute the Unicef report warns the situa- tor, Anthony Lake, should serve as AUnicef says children are that has now entered its fourth year. tion is likely to get worse. The fore- a resolve to act: “This third devas- living under siege. An innumerable Diplomacy has taken a backseat most thing that needs to be done tating year for Syrian children must number has become disabled and the advances that the regime is to ensure that aid agencies have be the last.” If Russia continues while scores are dying daily in in Damascus has made, pushing access to these children and sup- The UN Security Council has the absence of food, medicines back the rebels, has exacerbated plies of daily provision are made already voiced its support for reme- to interfere in and proper clothing. Unicef says the conflict. Humanitarian aid agen- available. dial act and that resolution should around 5.5 million children are in a cies suspect that children could be The difficulties that rescue and be implemented without any hic- Ukraine, we stand miserable situation with no hopes of recruited to support the fighting. aid bodies are facing due to the cups. Saving the children is tanta- ready to impose succour and at least 10,000 deaths This is a chilling account and the fighting and absence of open routes mount to saving Syria and its future. have been reported in the last two five-million figure is too big to be must be resolved. The world body Something extraordinary should be further sanctions. years. ignored. Rehabilitating and saving should form a counselling consor- done to rescue a dying nation. This reminder has come at a children should be accorded priority. tium to take care of supplies and Khaleej Times Barack Obama US President TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Why US will keep leading from behind

resolving them. A Pew survey shows 52 percent of In other words, it’s not the problems have become bigger; it’s respondents believe the US should that they’ve morphed, and the US is out of its league. The last serious and effective mind its business internationally. foreign policy team America had was George H W Bush and James BY AARON DAVID unions and other such entities. Baker. In their honest moments, MILLER These days, Americans think even they would probably concede change comes about from masses now that the situations they were ately, those bemoan- of individuals gathering in public dealing with were vastly different ing the fate of the squares, and many people look at than those the country is faced American Experiment history as if it were leaderless. with today. have discovered a new My take on these matters is So what will happen? The US way to make them- somewhat different. I think the won’t be withdrawing into a shell Lselves (and the rest of us) feel polls and the president’s policies behind its two oceans, which one miserable. America is not only in reflect a mix of situational and historian brilliantly described decline and ungovernable, they traditional factors, but also a new once as liquid assets. (They say. It’s withdrawing from the element or two. And I believe that give America a greater margin world. this hodgepodge isn’t a passing for error and for retreat, to be A Pew survey on America’s teen-age phase. It’s here to stay, sure.) The county’s economic “place in the world” shows 52 per- and it will influence how America interests alone will compel it to cent of respondents believe the US decides when, how, and why to US President Barack Obama with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Oval Office of the White House remain active in the world, and should mind its business interna- project its still-formidable weight it is in the middle of the mix on yesterday in Washington, DC. tionally. Only 38 percent disagree, in a world that’s grown so fraught. just about every kinetic foreign the most out-of-whack imbalance Indeed, if you don’t like policy issue there is, many of in the almost 50-year history of America leading from behind, from either political party gets against Germany and Japan. several issues that really count: which may endure for a long time Pew asking the question. you’d better get used to it. Three into another one of these trillion- Today, the US is in a far differ- preventing another 9/11; getting yet: Ukraine, Iranian nukes, the What’s going on? Is this a key factors are driving the coun- dollar social-science projects. Our ent position -- weaker at home out of Iraq and Afghanistan; and Israeli-Palestinian peace process cyclical turn of the wheel that try’s approach to the world. economic travails and the down- and abroad, with the public left weaning itself off Arab hydrocar- and a gazillion counterterrorism runs throughout US history, Iraq and Afghanistan. These sizing of the military and chang- doubting its government and bons. I’m not at all sure how the operations, to name a few. where Americans want to get two wars weren’t as consequential ing nature of how we plan to fight itself. Americans may not feel it as fourth core issue, stopping Iran How effective America will off the roller-coaster following as Vietnam, nor nearly as costly wars guarantee it. acutely now, but the period from from getting nukes, will turn out. be in any of these endeavours is a turbulent period. Or are there or disastrous, but they’ve created Broken Home. The argument the decade or so following 9/11 has And who knows what will hap- another matter. Obama inher- other factors afoot that suggest their own syndrome nonetheless. that foreign policy begins at home left the country exhausted and pen to Syria, the poster child for ited the presidency at the end of a deeper syndrome, a new form They were an effort to counter has already been made in a com- hoping for better times without everything Obama’s critics think a long arc of hyper US involve- of US retrenchment driven by a perceived existentialist threat pelling way by American diplo- really believing they’re coming. is wrong with his approach to ment in the world, which hardly idiosyncratic factors unique to after 9/11, not just by taking the mat Richard Haass. That we have Americans don’t want to dis- foreign policy. America may very comprised a series of slam-dunk some new and unprecedented fight to the enemy or denying him serious problems on our own turf engage from the world, certainly well be dragged into doing more successes. It created enormous American Moment? sanctuary, but by transforming has been evident for some time: I not on the economic side. But the there. ambivalence in the world about Weightier minds than mine battlegrounds into functioning call them the six deadly Ds: debt, last thing they want now is to tilt The real problem, from the per- American power and tremendous have considered this issue and nations. Indeed, they were not deficit, dysfunctional politics, at more foreign windmills in the spective of America’s place in the doubts at home about activities come to a variety of conclusions. just discretionary wars; they were dependence on hydrocarbons, and name of democracy, freedom or world, is that conventional appli- abroad. That sense of uncertainty Stephen Walt, my fellow FP con- driven by the unattainable goal deteriorating educational system anything else. Barring an attack cations of US military and diplo- is going to continue. The world tributor, argues that whatever is of constructing states. There was and infrastructure. And these on the continental US, I’m not matic power are no longer well isn’t coming to an end; but nei- promoting the risk aversion, it is never really any way to define vic- are slow bleeds -- systemic chal- sure what would justify the use matched and as functional as they ther is America going to be the healthy -- a new sobriety when it tory other than by leaving. lenges that evade simple or quick of military force now or in for the used to be, when it comes to fix- master of it. comes to biting off more than we Had there been a draft in the solutions. We will be dealing with foreseeable future. ing the problems that ail human- All presidential successors can chew abroad. Others, includ- US, it would have been highly them for years to come. Our Complicated World. Today ity. Clearly, in the wake of Iraq are bound to some degree by the ing my good friend Robert Kagan, unlikely that America would have If you combine the failed wars the world may actually be a less and Afghanistan, the notion that actions of their predecessors. And aren’t so sure. Kagan argues in stayed in these wars for a decade in Iraq and Afghanistan with the dangerous place for America. I US military power can be used the next president will be bound Politico that the central question or more. In fact, there is some- nation’s domestic woes, you can just don’t believe in these world- to alter the internal character of by what Obama has done and not is not whether America can or thing very wrong about having the begin to see how retrenchment in falling-apart analyses that sug- nations that really aren’t nations done, caught somewhere between should play a role in the world, it’s two longest wars in the nation’s our foreign policy may indeed be gest things abroad are actually or to confront Vladimir Putin in a world that America can no whether the public actually wants history waged by 0.5 percent of different than previous cycles. We getting worse, and we face an end- Ukraine where proximity, geog- longer transform and a public to. And he believes that Barack the population, particularly when also wanted off the roller coaster of-civilization challenge. There raphy and local politics are on that’s lost a good deal of enthu- Obama, rather than pushing there is little sense of shared obli- in the wake of World War II. But are fewer major conflicts in the Russia’s side isn’t even worth siasm for transforming it. The back against the public’s caution gation, challenge or sacrifice. Is it that war gave the country a foun- world, fewer authoritarian pow- debating. And having served in key for the next president will abroad, encourages it. The New really OK for the military to be at dation on which to build a credible ers, more democratic ones, and the two previous administrations be finding the balance between York Times’ David Brooks, on the war if the country is not? post-war policy. People also had despite the threat from jihadists, and having watched this one, I George W Bush’s risk readiness other hand, argues that the real This kind of disconnect, partic- faith in government both because America and its allies are hold- don’t have a great deal of confi- and Obama’s risk aversion in dynamic driving the retrench- ularly in losing wars, undermines of the remedy it had provided ing their own. In the Middle East, dence that the US has the will or protecting America’s image and ment is a loss of faith and trust national resolve. It will be a long during the Great Depression the area I know best, America is skill to take on seemingly intrac- interests. in big units, armies, corporations, time before another president and because of victory in the war actually keeping above water on table conflicts with any hope of WP-BLOOMBERG Obama and his Middle East fallacy Central African Republic: BY JACKSON DIEHL As the April 29 deadline for obtaining wo weeks ago President A nightmare for Muslims Obama took time off from agreement to the US framework for BY PETER BOUCKAERT the crisis in Ukraine to attack, Iyasa was still in shock. “He tried to run Tpursue the foreign policy away from me when we found him,” Kinre said. cause that, together with nuclear peace is getting close, so it’s time for a alima, 25, could not hold back tears “He thought I was the anti-balaka who came disarmament, has been closest to when we met again recently in to kill him.” The Catholics’ humanity, courage his heart: Israeli-Palestinian peace. little presidential arm-twisting. Bossemptele, about 185 miles north and leadership stand out amid the slaughter. Having invited Israeli Prime Minister Hof Bangui in the Central African They are alone in trying to protect the vul- Benjamin Netanyahu to the White think so — and with some reason. acceptance of framework language Republic. The Muslim mother-of-three was nerable. France and the African Union have House, Obama welcomed him by pub- The Palestinian president — who was stipulating that the territory of a living under the protection of the Catholic deployed thousands of peacekeepers; the US licly declaring to Bloomberg View’s elected to a four-year term in 2005 Palestinian state would be equal Church, after the anti-balaka militia slaugh- and other governments have provided support Jeffrey Goldberg that Israel “could and has remained in office for five to, if not exactly the same as, the tered more than 80 Muslims in Bossemptele. to the peacekeeping mission. But their efforts face a bleak future — one of inter- years after its expiration — turned West Bank and Gaza Strip. Some For the past six months, militias have sought to protect civilians pale next to the bravery national isolation and demographic down President George W Bush’s in the Israeli media are betting that to avenge the devastation wrought by the pre- exhibited by the clergy. disaster — if [Netanyahu] refuses request that he sign on to a similar Netanyahu most likely would accept dominantly Muslim Seleka rebel group, which Most places I and a videographer visited to endorse a US drafted framework framework in 2008. In 2010, after that outcome — albeit with many took power last March in this majority-Chris- in a five-day journey were emptied of Muslim agreement for peace,” as Goldberg Obama strong-armed Netanyahu into reservations — even at the risk of tian country. residents, despite peacekeepers in many towns. summed it up. declaring a moratorium on Jewish losing his right-wing governing coa- When we first spoke two days earlier, The outnumbered French and African Union As the April 29 deadline for obtain- settlement construction in the West lition. After all, the price of saying Halima said her husband and father-in-law forces have often acted passively, unable to ing agreement to the US framework Bank, Abbas refused to negotiate for no, repeatedly underlined by Kerry were among the dead and that she had not prevent the looting and burning of homes and is getting close, so it’s time for a lit- nine of the designated 10 months, and Obama, is daunting: more boy- heard from her children since they had run businesses that have forced Muslims to seek tle presidential arm-twisting. As then broke off the talks after two cotts, more anti-Israel initiatives at away from the killers. There were 270 Muslims opportunities elsewhere. Mahmoud Abbas trooped into the meetings. the United Nations, perhaps even left in Bossemptele. Forty-eight hours later, Baoro was once home to at least 4,000 Oval Office yesterday, he should be Abbas agreed to Kerry’s proposal another violent Palestinian uprising. only 80 remained at the mission — almost all Muslims and more than a dozen mosques. met with equally dire predictions of for another nine-month negotiat- In short, Netanyahu has resigned women, children and people with disabilities. Now there are none. The last Muslims of Boali, Palestinian doom if he fails to accept ing window last year in exchange himself to the likelihood that the US In the interim, a convoy of commercial trucks where the local Catholic priest sheltered 700 the framework. for Israel’s release of more than framework will include provisions had come en route to Cameroon. Those strong in his church, left for Cameroon. The last So far, there’s no sign of it: no pres- 100 Palestinian prisoners. Then he he’s not ready to endorse. Abbas has enough took their chances: Parents abandoned Muslims of Yaloke, where more than 10,000 idential interviews, no statements embarked on a campaign to deep-six not. “There is no way. We will not children with disabilities; some men left their had lived, left for Chad. by Secretary of State John Kerry, no the two principal provisions Israel accept,” the Palestinian news agency wives and kids. They were desperate to escape The last Muslim in Mbaiki, Saleh Dido, was leaks of potential US punitive meas- has sought in the US framework, both quoted him as saying of the Jewish- the nightmare that the country has become for murdered by the anti-balaka, as he tried to ures if Abbas — repeating a long per- of which have had US support. One state principle on March 7. Two days Muslims, who have paid with their lives for the find shelter with police. Three weeks earlier, sonal and Palestinian history — says would allow Israeli soldiers to remain later, Abbas persuaded the moribund Seleka’s sins. For paper-thin Halima, who had interim President Catherine Samba-Panza and no. Therein lies the fallacy that has along the Palestinian-Jordanian Arab League to adopt a resolution stopped eating, dying seemed to be the only French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian hamstrung Obama’s Middle East border during an extended transi- backing him up. He’s said much the option. “I did not have the strength to climb had visited Mbaiki and declared it a “symbol diplomacy for the past five years. tion period; the other would involve same about Israeli troops on the bor- on trucks, and no one helped me. I kept calling of living together and reconciliation.” Now, Obama, as he made clear in the Palestinian recognition that Israel is a der. Why does Abbas dare to pub- after them to take me, but they left.” its 4,000 Muslims are gone, their mosques Goldberg interview, perceives Abbas Jewish state. The “Jewish state” ques- licly campaign against the US and All around us were the abandoned. Mikaila, destroyed. Those who remain, such as the 4,000 as the golden key to Mideast peace — tion is hard for many non-Israelis to Israeli position even before arriving 10, and his sister, Zenabu, 15, both paralysed or so Muslims in Boda, live in constant fear. “the most politically moderate leader understand: Who cares what Arabs in Washington? “Abbas believes he by polio, said their parents had dropped them Muslim families there are starving to death. the Palestinians may ever have,” as call Israel, so long as they accept it? can say no to Obama because the US at the mission after a January attack and had A rake-thin man, Al Haj Abdou Kadil, said Goldberg paraphrased it — and But for Netanyahu and his follow- will not take any retaliatory measures not returned. Al Hadj Towra, 70, his hands and he buried two of his children, Mousa, 3, and Netanyahu as the potential spoiler. ers, the question is essential. Arab against the Palestinian Authority,” feet wasted away from leprosy, had been left Mahamat, 4, the day before we met. They had “I believe that President Abbas is sin- leaders have never conceded that a writes Israeli-Palestinian journalist bedridden in his home, where a priest found died from hunger, his wife too weak to speak. cere about his willingness to recog- non-Arab state can hold a permanent Khaled Abu Toameh. Abbas expects him two days later. The US has provided financial and logistical nize Israel and its right to exist,” the place in the Middle East, they say. to sit back if talks fail, submit peti- The only force in this town that seems able support to the mission and more than $45m president said. “You’ve got a partner Until they do so, there will be no real tions to the UN and watch the anti- to protect vulnerable Muslims from the anti- in aid. It should do more to halt the violence, on the other side who is prepared peace, because Palestinians will keep Israel boycotts mushroom, while balaka are Catholic priests and nuns of the starting with making clear its support for a UN to negotiate seriously... for us not to pressing to weaken and eventually paying no price of his own. mission. Father Bernard Kinre said he spent Security Council resolution that would author- seize this moment I think would be a eliminate Israel’s Jewish majority. Perhaps Obama will disabuse him days looking for Muslim survivors after the ise a peacekeeping mission with resources, great mistake.” Obama and Kerry have endorsed of that notion at their meeting. If not, January massacre. He embraced Iyasa, 12, a expertise to protect civilians. Without this basic But is Obama right about Abbas? the Jewish-state principle; their hope another “peace process” breakdown polio survivor, and recounted how he found the security, it will be more expensive and painful Netanyahu, like most Israelis, doesn’t was to use it to leverage Netanyahu’s is surely coming. WP-BLOOMBERG boy abandoned by a river. Five days after the to rebuild the country. WP-BLOOMBERG TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Peres apologises over shooting of Jordan judge

AMMAN: Jordan said yes- call from Peres who, as president Zeiter, saying he attacked them, the wording of his statement left of Israel I would like to express rounds at his chest, the PCHR terday that Israeli President of the state of Israel, apologised igniting a diplomatic row between it unclear as to whether he had compassion to the bereaved fam- said, citing “a witness”. Shimon Peres had apologised to for the martyrdom of Jordanian Israel and the kingdom and spark- issued an apology. ily, (and) I share in their grief.” Jordanian Prime Minister King Abdullah II for the killing judge Raed Zeiter”. ing furore among Jordanians. “Earlier today I conducted an His statement did not mention Abdullah Nsur has held Israel of a Jordanian judge by Israeli “Peres expressed his regrets Israel had previously expressed important conversation with His whether Netanyahu had also spo- “completely responsible” for troops last week. for the incident and said he was regret over the shooting, but Majesty King Abdullah II and ken to the king. Zeiter’s death and demanded Peres for his part issued a deeply affected. He said Israel stopped short of apologising to expressed our deep regret to The Palestinian Centre for an apology for the “hideous” statement saying he had called is committed to work together Jordan, the only Arab country him,” a statement quoted Peres Human Rights disputed the killing. Abdullah to express “deep regret” with Jordan on the probe into the besides Egypt to have made peace as saying. “On behalf of the State army’s account, saying one of the And MPs have demanded the for the shooting of Palestinian incident.” with the Jewish state. of Israel, I wish to express my soldiers pushed Zeiter after he government expel the Israeli Jordanian Raed Zeiter at a bor- The statement added the king The issue ignited a diplomatic deepest condolences to the peo- had disembarked from a bus with ambassador and release Jordanian der crossing, but the statement “also received a similar phone row between Israel and the king- ple of the Hashemite Kingdom other passengers so that Israeli soldier Ahmad Dakamseh, who stopped short of quoting a full call from Israeli Prime Minister dom and caused furore among of Jordan for the death of Judge soldiers could search it. was is serving a life sentence apology. Benjamin Netanyahu,” without Jordanians. Raed Zeiter at the King Hussein Zeiter responded in kind and after he opened fire on a group A Jordan palace statement said giving further details. Peres confirmed he had spo- Bridge on March 10.” other soldiers joined the scuffle, of Israeli schoolgirls in 1997, kill- Abdullah “received a telephone Israeli troops on March 10 shot ken to Abdullah yesterday, but “As the President of the State with one of them firing three ing seven. AFP

Benghazi unrest Sabotage attempt on Arak foiled, says Iran Several attempts reported in past months: Nuclear expert

DUBAI: Pumps at Iran’s last June on a platform to ease interim accord and reach a final planned Arak reactor, seen by Tehran’s isolation. “Intelligence settlement by late July of the dec- the West as a potential source inspections of the nuclear facili- ade-old dispute over the Islamic of plutonium for nuclear bombs, ties indicated that some pumps ... Republic’s atomic activities. were tampered with in a failed of Arak’s IR-40 project had been Zarean first announced the attempt to sabotage the coun- mechanically manipulated in an foiling of the Arak incident on try’s nuclear programme, a sen- effort to disrupt the routine work Saturday when he unveiled a new ior official said yesterday. of the power plant,” Zarean said. lab to combat cyber attacks, but Asghar Zarean, deputy chief He gave no further details. A without giving any details at the for nuclear protection and report by the UN nuclear watch- time. security at the Atomic Energy dog in November last year said a The lab was launched to iden- Organisation of Iran, said the number of major components had tify, prevent and fight threats incident was one of several such yet to be installed at the plant, including modern software attacks foiled over the past few including reactor cooling pumps. viruses, he said in a statement months, the official Irna news It was not immediately clear over the weekend. agency reported. whether Zarean was referring to Iran’s nuclear facilities have He did not name the targets of another type of pumps. previously been subject to an the other alleged attacks or who attack by a computer virus might have been behind them, ARAK DISPUTED AT TALKS known as Stuxnet, which is widely Men walk next to a wreckage of a car after an explosion in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, yesterday. according to Irna. The fate of Arak was a big believed to have been developed Several car bombs exploded at a Libyan army academy in Benghazi, killing at least eight people and wound- Iran has in the past often sticking point in talks between by the United States and Israel, ing more than a dozen. accused its Western and Israeli Iran and six world powers last though no government has taken foes of seeking to sabotage its year that led to a landmark responsibility for it. nuclear programme, which interim agreement to curb Iran’s The virus was discovered in Tehran says is peaceful but the nuclear programme in exchange 2010 after it was used to impair United States and its allies fear for some easing of sanctions. a uranium enrichment facility at Police defuse car bomb in Manama may be aimed at developing a Under the accord that took Iran’s Natanz facility. It was the nuclear weapons capability. It effect on Jan. 20, Iran pledged to first publicly known example of a has also accused its enemies of not install any additional reactor virus being used to attack indus- DUBAI: Bahraini police said it was identified as a stolen vehi- charges and reconciliation talks assassinating Iranian nuclear components or produce fuel for trial machinery. yesterday they defused a home- cle,” it said, adding that an inves- deadlocked. scientists. the plant during the six-month Iran has long denied accusations made bomb in a car on a main tigation was launched. The bloodiest attack since But this was believed to be the duration of the deal. from Israel and Western powers road in Manama. Police on Bahrain remains deeply authorities put down the 2011 first time Iran has made sabo- The powers — the United that it has sought to develop the Sunday “found and defused a divided three years after uprising took place earlier this tage suspicions public since a States, France, Germany, Britain, means to produce atomic weapons pipe bomb and two gas cylinders authorities quashed a Shia-led month when a bomb blast in the major thaw in ties with the West China and Russia — and Iran under cover of a civilian nuclear that had been placed inside the uprising, with regular protests Shia village of Daih killed three after a relative moderate, Hassan are to meet again in Vienna on energy programme. car,” they said in a statement. sparking clashes with police, policemen. Rowhani, was elected president Tuesday to try to build on the REUTERS “The car raised suspicion when scores of Shias jailed on “terror” AFP

Top Ahmadinejad aide indicted

Iran offers to help end Syria war DUBAI: Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s top aide has been indicted, apparently in connection with allegations of TEHRAN/DAMASCUS: for a transitional government in corruption in the previous administration, Iranian media reported Iran’s foreign minister said yes- Syria before it can play a frontline yesterday. terday that Tehran is “ready to role in peace talks. Former Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi has been the target help any logical attempts” to Iran refuses to consent to a of a lengthy judicial investigation into his possible role in several high- end the Syrian conflict, during a transitional government, saying profile bribery and embezzlement cases that also spill into Turkey, as visit by UN-Arab League envoy that “the best solution is to organ- well as Central and East Asia. to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi. ise free and fair elections inside Rahimi has denied all the accusations and last year, while still in Brahimi was in Tehran for the Syria.” office, he said he would “volunteer to have my hands severed if even second day of talks with Iranian Meanwhile, Syrian regime one of these charges is proved against me”. officials about ending the conflict forces were yesterday readying Mohsen Eftekhari, a Tehran judge, told Shargh newspaper that in Syria, a key regional ally of an assault on the last rebel-held Rahimi had been indicted and that his case would be referred to a Iran. areas in the Qalamoun moun- special court. He did not specify the charges against him. Shia Iran has been a staunch tains, strategically located on Rahimi has reported links to jailed businessman Babak Zanjani, supporter of President Bashar the Lebanese border, after over- chairman of Sorinet Group, who is accused of skimming up to $2.7 al-Assad’s regime in its strug- running key opposition bastion billion off illegal oil exports, as Ahmadinejad’s government tried to gle against mostly Sunni rebels Yabrud. bypass international sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear backed by Western powers and The capture of Yabrud on programme. Arab nations. Sunday by Syrian troops and “Iran is ready to help any logi- Lebanese Hezbollah fighters came cal attempts which are based on shortly after the conflict entered Tunisia raid kills 3 ‘terrorists’: Ministry the realities of Syria, particu- its fourth year and marked a sig- larly those efforts made by the nificant setback for the rebels as TUNIS: Tunisian security forces yesterday killed three suspected United Nations (which) are being it severs their supply lines from jihadists implicated in attacks last months that left four people pursued by Lakhdar Brahimi,” across the border. dead, including two policemen, the interior ministry said. Foreign Minister Mohammad It also raised fears of further Special police units surrounded the house of a “takfirist”, or Muslim Javad Zarif was quoted as saying spillover of the conflict into extremist, in the northwest Jendouba region near the Algerian border by official news agency Irna. Lebanon, where Sunni extrem- at around 0200 GMT, ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told “Without being affected by the ists carried out a suicide car reporters. pressures of some countries, the bomb attack late Sunday in a “The terrorist group threw a grenade at the agents... and an exchange UN should play its independent Hezbollah-dominated area that of fire followed between the security forces and these members of a role and continue its attempts to killed two members of the Shiite banned movement,” he said, alluding to the radical Islamist group resolve the crisis,” he added. group, including a local official. Ansar Al Sharia. Three militants were killed in the clash, “one of whom Brahimi said addressing the A security source in Damascus was very dangerous,” and two police agents were wounded. crisis in Syria would “affect the said the army would soon launch Two of those killed were Tunisian and the third was foreign, possibly security and stability of the whole operations “in all areas where ter- Algerian, Aroui said. region,” Irna reported. rorists are to be found,” using the The envoy’s visit came as Syrian regime’s term for rebels battling troops, backed by Lebanese Shiite Unidentified Syrian men detained by the Lebanese army in Wadi Khaled to end the Assad family’s four- Gunmen kill 2 soldiers in Yemen ambush movement Hezbollah, were pre- on the Lebanese-Syrian border, yesterday. decade rule. “The aim of the army paring to launch a fresh offensive operation is to entirely secure the ADEN: Gunmen in Yemen’s southeastern Hadramawt province north of Damascus after taking border and to close all corridors killed two soldiers in an ambush on an army patrol yesterday, a the rebel stronghold of Yabrud on backing takes the form of human- talks after Ban reversed a last- to Lebanon.” security official said. Sunday. itarian aid. UN Secretary General minute invitation when Syria’s The fighting along the bor- “Unknown gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades at an army Tehran has been accused of Ban Ki-moon last week called on opposition said it would boycott der has sparked a fresh flight of vehicle” in the town of Shehr killing both soldiers on board, before supplying Damascus with mili- Russia and Iran to encourage if Iran took part. civilians into Lebanon, which is fleeing, the source said. tary and financial backing, despite Syria to resume peace talks after The United States and other already hosting nearly a million Yemen has seen regular attacks on its security forces usually blamed repeatedly denying it has an offi- the failure of the so-called Geneva Western nations say Iran must refugees, according to the UN on the local franchise of Al Qaeda that remains active in the south and cial military presence in Syria. II process earlier this year. first support a June 2012 declara- High Commissioner for Refugees. east despite several military operations and US drone strikes against it. The Iranian authorities say their Tehran was excluded from the tion by the major powers calling AGENCIES AGENCIES TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Snow storm in Washington Fashion designer 3,859 fined as L’Wren Scott found dead in NY NEW YORK: Fashion Paris curbs car designer L’Wren Scott, the girlfriend of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, was found dead in her New York apart- ment yesterday from an appar- use for a day ent suicide, according to a law enforcement official. Scott, 47, a former model whose timeless style, modern, classic and sexy Even-numbered cars off the roads fashions were favorites among A-List Hollywood stars such PARIS: Paris enforced the people had their cars impounded as Nicole Kidman, was found most drastic traffic curbs in 20 because of their reaction to the fine. hanging from a scarf in her years yesterday, fining almost “Most of the road users understand apartment in the morning. 4,000 drivers who tried the well that this operation has a direct Police confirmed that a female dodge them, but stopping at impact on curbing pollution,” said was found “unconscious and a single day of restrictions as police officer Jean-Pierre Meutelet unresponsive” in an apart- cooler weather brought relief at Porte Maillot on the northwest- ment building on 11th Avenue from pollution. ern edge of Paris. in Manhattan. A spokes- Transport chiefs made pub- The government decided person for Jagger said he is lic transport free in the French against imposing a second day “completely shocked and dev- capital, while drivers with even- of curbs that would have banned astated” by the news. The pair numbered licence plates were told odd-numbered plates from the A worker uses a tractor with a snow brush to clear the walkways in Lafayette Park in Washington, DC yester- have been dating for several to leave their cars at home. streets in their turn, saying a day after another snow storm. With Spring less than a week away, winter is not releasing its grip as another years. Scott, who was raised in Last week’s unseasonably hot change in weather and the traffic 5-10 inches of the white stuff fell in the Washington, DC area overnight. Utah, started her career as a and windless weather across curbs had helped ease pollution. fashion model in Paris before western Europe left cooler air Paris is more prone to smog becoming a designer. Last containing tiny particles from than other European capitals, year, she announced a deal to car emissions and other sources World Health Organisation design a small collection for trapped under a warmer layer. (WHO) figures from 2008 show. Banana Republic stores. French policies to promote the A French tax regime that use of diesel is seen as one factor favours diesel over petrol is reg- Russia risks new cold war: Hague Pistorius ‘knew SA why Paris is hit worse than other ularly cited as a primary cause. cities. Some 700 police officers New registrations of French cars LONDON: Europe is on the over the coming days.” He said of any diplomatic progress. gun safety rules’ posted around the city fined 3,859 in 2012 were 67 percent diesel- cusp of a new cold war with Russia had already suffered seri- “It is certainly true there has PRETORIA: Double- people for failing to respect the powered compared with west- Russia that could last for years, ous isolation, pointing out that it been no sign of de-escalation amputee Olympian Oscar ban by mid-morning. Congestion ern European average of 53.3 William Hague has said as he had used a lone veto on the UN or compromise on the part of Pistorius, on trial for the was 60 percent lower than usual percent — although the propor- warns Russia against destabil- security council at the weekend. Russia. I do think Russia has to murder of girlfriend Reeva thanks to traffic volume that was tion was higher in Ireland at 72 ising eastern Ukraine. The West seems bound on an think about the long-term conse- Steenkamp, was aware of down by a quarter, police said. percent and similar in Spain and The foreign secretary was inexorable course towards deeper quences. These are measures we South African firearms and Car-sharing web site e-loue. Belgium at 66.3 and 64.8 percent speaking on Monday as European sanctions, although there are are taking today and for the com- self-defence laws that say you com reported hundreds of respectively. Union ministers met to discuss likely to be different views within ing months, but for years to come cannot shoot at an intruder requests to hire odd-numbered Denis Baupin, a Green Party the breadth of sanctions to impose the EU about the precise trigger if Russia does not find some way unless your life is in dan- cars yesterday. A long list of MP for Paris who has long cam- against Russian and Crimean for these. Some nations believe to de-escalate this – to directly ger, a court heard yester- exemptions from the ban included paigned for a change in the tax officials and other politicians it will require further military negotiate with Ukraine, to work day. Testifying on day 11 of delivery drivers, taxis, and cars system, said it was time diesel involved in supporting Sunday’s aggression by Russia, and oth- with other nations – there will be the trial, firearms instruc- carrying at least three people, but support was scrapped as emission referendum in Crimea. ers a continued refusal by Russia important costs for Russia. There tor Sean Rens read out a gun the government hailed the move standards tighten and other fuels Hague said the whole world to engage diplomatically over will be a speeding up by the EU to licence test passed by the as a success. improve their efficiency. regarded the referendum, in which Crimea and the new Ukrainian make itself less energy-dependent track athlete, who shot dead “This is a public health prob- “The increase in environmental the majority of Crimeans voted to government. on Russia.” Steenkamp through a locked lem ... we thank everyone who constraints has sent the competi- leave Ukraine and rejoin Russia, Speaking before he went into He predicted: “There will be a toilet door at his Pretoria fell into line,” Transport Minister tiveness of this technology into as illegal. an EU foreign ministers’ meeting real resolve across western nations, home on Valentine’s Day last Frederic Cuvillier said. sharp decline,” he said. He said efforts would continue to agree the range of sanctions including with the US, to take year. One of the questions Drivers who defied the curbs While nowhere near levels to reach a diplomatic settlement, in the wake of the referendum, wider trade, financial and eco- asked whether a home-owner were fined ¤22 ($31) on the spot. seen in some Asian cities, figures but admitted that there was no Hague said: “I am confident we nomic sanctions if Russia moves was allowed to open fire on The anti-smog action is being from the European Environment sign that Russia wanted to de- will agree some sanctions — some into eastern Europe. We have to be burglars on the other side implemented days before voters Agency (EEA) web site showed escalate the crisis, with talks travel bans, some asset freezes on very clear that annexation cannot of a security gate. Pistorius elect city hall mayors across the last week 147 microgrammes between the US secretary of state, individuals in Russia. We will con- be the way in the 21st century to answered: “No”, Rens, who country in a two-round ballot of particulate matter (PM) per John Kerry, and the Russian for- tinue our efforts to make a diplo- conduct affairs, as opposed to nego- taught Pistorius gun safety on March 23 and 30. President cubic metre of air in Paris — com- eign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on matic breakthrough with Russia tiation and the rule of law.” and sold him weapons, told the Francois Hollande’s ruling pared with 114 in Brussels, 104 Friday having failed. in the coming days”. Hague stressed that even court. Asked in the test about Socialists are seen retain control in Amsterdam, 81 in Berlin and Asked on BBC Radio 4 to He denied the proposed sanc- if Russia invaded the mainly the legal basis for using lethal of the French capital. 79.7 in London. The last restricted describe the scale of the crisis, tions were meaningless, arguing Russian-speaking eastern force, Pistorius answered: Policemen at the checkpoints Paris driving scheme was intro- Hague said: “I would not describe that they were unprecedented. Ukraine, he did not support a “The attack must be against said commuters were taking the duced in in 1997. It also lasted one it as a new cold war, but that will But he then spoke of the serious- Nato military response. you, a person and be unlaw- measures well — even though 27 day. REUTERS depend on the course of events ness of the crisis, and the absence THE GUARDIAN ful.” In answer to another sce- nario, Pistorius replied: “No, life is not in danger.” Unrest continues Top mafia fugitive in Venezuela Magnitude 4.4 quake CARACAS: Venezuela’s wins British authorities deployed hundreds of security forces, including extradition battle jolts LA awake troops in combat gear, into an opposition stronghold early LONDON: Convicted mafia LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles under their desk as the quake vis- yesterday to stamp out pro- boss Domenico Rancadore won was jolted awake yesterday by a ibly shook the studio around them. tests against the leftist gov- his fight to avoid extradition relatively powerful magnitude No disruption was reported at the ernment of President Nicolas from Britain yesterday after 4.4 earthquake, but there were no city’s LAX airport. Maduro. The show of force a judge ruled that his human reports of damage or casualties. USGS seismologist Robert came as the death toll from a rights could be breached in Burglar alarms went off and a Graves said small aftershocks month and a half of protests overcrowded Italian prisons. few objects fell off shelves after would likely continue for a few rose to 29, after a National Rancadore, known as “The the temblor, which struck just days, while there was a 5 percent Guard captain shot one day Professor”, was arrested after before dawn some 20 miles north- chance that the quake was a fore- earlier during a protest in evading Italian authorities for 20 west of the West Coast city. runner to a larger earthquake. the city of Maracay died. years. The 65-year-old had been “I woke up to feel the building LA resident Yvonne Villanueva Government forces quickly living quietly in the London sub- swaying from side to side,” Wes told the KTLA TV station: “I was established control after mov- urbs. Italian prosecutors accuse Lashley told KCAL 9 news, while getting ready in the bathroom and ing into the area around the Rancadore of fleeing Italy as he local resident Mary Lyon added: all of a sudden I felt it jolt .. You Plaza Altamira, a focal point faced trial over his alleged Cosa “It felt like a 5.9 or 6 to me.” always have the big one in the back of nightly clashes in eastern Nostra connections. The temblor was initially esti- of your head.” The quake was cen- Caracas between masked pro- Senior District Judge Howard mated as a 4.7 magnitude by the tered 10km northwest of Beverly testers and security forces. Riddle said he had based his deci- US Geological Survey (USGS), Hills and struck at 6:25am (1325 The government described the sion on a ruling in a similar case but later downgraded to 4.4. But it GMT). “I woke up to feel the build- operation as a “liberation” of by the Administrative Court, An employee cleans up hair care products that were knocked off the shelf felt stronger to many Angelenos. ing swaying from side to side,” Wes the neighborhood, an area of which has jurisdiction over lower in a beauty supply store in the Encino area of Los Angeles yesterday. Morning news anchors on the Lashley told KTLA. middle and upper income resi- courts in England. local KTLA television station dove AFP dences and small businesses The ruling represents a turna- called Chacao. AGENCIES round for the judge, who said his original decision was to extradite Rancadore because he was sat- isfied that the European arrest warrant was valid and that to send him to Italy would not Muslims, Christians join forces to combat modern slavery breach his human rights. However, Riddle changed his VATICAN CITY: The Roman Catholic though they differ over women bishops and can work together and this can be impor- After the election of Pope Francis a year decision following a ruling last week Church, Church of England and Al other issues, while Rome’s ties to Al Azhar tant for the theoretical path,” he said. ago, he said, “as soon as we saw positive by the Administrative Court, which Azhar, the Cairo-based seat of Sunni are thawing after three years of frosty Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, signs, we resumed (contacts) right away. binds lower courts in England, Muslim learning, came together yester- separation. head of the Church of England and the We were just looking for an agenda.” involving the court of Florence day for a rare display of interfaith action Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, who spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican The initiative was associated with the and a Somali man, Hayle Abdi among them in calling for an end to signed the document for the Vatican, said Communion, said that Anglicans and Walk Free Foundation, a charity set up by Badre, who said his rights would modern slavery within 20 years. Pope Francis had described human traffick- Catholic had been in close dialogue with Australian iron ore mining magnate Andrew be breached by prison conditions. Their joint statement after setting up the ing and modern-day slavery, raging from each other since 1966. Forrest to combat modern-day slavery. “The judgement of the “Global Freedom Network” declared that forced sex work to indentured agricultural Al Azhar froze relations with Rome in Forrest said the campaign was not connected Administrative Court is binding on “physical, economic and sexual exploitation labour, as a “crime against humanity”. 2011 after then-Pope Benedict condemned with efforts to improve conditions for low- me,” Riddle said. “The higher court of men, women and children” trapped 30 He said the rare example of cooperation attacks on Christians in Egypt, Iraq and paid workers around the world, which he accepted that a similar assurance million people worldwide in slavery. between the Catholic and Anglican com- Nigeria and said they showed the need for said was a separate issue from slavery. But given in that case was in good faith, As well as establishing a world day of munities and Al Azhar in Cairo could help better protection of religious minorities in Azab said that minimally paid work could but was not sufficient.” prayer for victims of slavery, the faiths build closer ties between the faiths. “I think those countries. “prepare the ground” for slavery. The judge discharged Rancadore agreed to “slavery-proof their supply chains it’s the first time we have worked together Mahmoud Azab, who signed the agree- “I consider that being very badly paid, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and investments and to take remedial like this,” he told journalists at the signing ment for Al Azhar’s Grand Imam Sheikh having a very, very low salary is part of in London, but told him he would action if necessary” and press governments ceremony, adding that interfaith relations Ahmed El Tayeb, said the experience of the slavery,” he said. “Profiting from the needs have to wear an electronic tag and companies to do the same. required careful study and treatment. past three years of strained relations with of human beings, taking all their effort and while Italian authorities lodge an Relations between the Vatican and “But for other questions, human ques- the Vatican had shown that meeting simply energy without paying or paying very little, appeal. AFP the Church of England are cordial, even tions, the common values of humanity we to talk “was not sufficient”. is part of slavery.” REUTERS TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

South Korea to return 437 war Missing plane may have flown low dead to China Malaysian media reports say MH370 could have tried to avoid radar detection PAJU: South Korea began to prepare the remains of KUALA LUMPUR: The miss- He dismissed the idea that fly- 437 Chinese soldiers killed ing Malaysia Airlines plane ing at 5,000ft would put exten- in the Korean War for repa- could have flown as low as sive strain on the airframe, as triation yesterday, more 5,000ft (1,500 metres) after some have suggested: “The only than 60 years after the con- diverting from its course, really relevant effect is a dramatic flict ended. allowing it to avoid detection by increase in fuel use — its range Military forensic officers radar, according to Malaysian would be very much shortened by placed the remains in dark media reports. that,” he said. brown coffins after a cere- Investigators are working Jason Middleton, head of the mony watched by Chinese offi- to narrow down the last possi- Aviation Department at New cials and South Korean army ble observation of flight MH370 South Wales University, said Brigadier General Moon Sang- after analysis of satellite infor- avoiding the radar was a well- Gyu at a temporary charnel mation revealed it was in one of known technique used by drug house in Paju just south of the two vast corridors: a northern runners and others. border with North Korea. area stretching from the border He added: “Radar goes in a The move will be the first of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan straight line. If you are in the such return of Chinese soldiers’ to northern Thailand; and a shadow of a mountain or even remains since the three-year southern range stretching from the curve of the Earth – if you war ended in 1953. “It will take Indonesia to the southern Indian are under the radar beam – you about two weeks to place all the Ocean. Twenty-five countries are can’t be seen. remains in coffins and com- now involved in the search for the “The further [radar beams] go plete preparations,” a defence plane, which officials believe was out the weaker they are and the ministry spokesman said. deliberately diverted from its further they need to come back. At the end of March, they route to Beijing not long after it Radars have dead zones which are will be brought to a state cem- took off from Kuala Lumpur just low and also which are far away.” etery in China’s northern city after midnight on March 8. However, pilots might also fly of Shenyang. Malaysia’s New Straits Times low on their way to a landing, if South Korea has described reported that investigators were the cabin was depressurised — to the move as a new milestone considering the possibility that prevent crew and passengers suf- Artists put the finishing touches to a three dimensional artwork that was painted on a school ground in Makati, Metro for relations between the the Boeing 777 dropped to 5,000ft fering oxygen deprivation — or if Manila, yesterday to express sympathy for the relatives of passengers of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. former Cold War enemies. or potentially even lower to avoid they were suffering mechanical detection. problems. Diver’s body It suggested that the aircraft Kazakhstan’s civil aviation Indian official also told Reuters this which has more than 150 citizens Investigators from the US, UK might not have aroused the sus- authority told the BBC it was weekend that the Boeing 777 might on board the flight, said in a state- and China are already involved, found on island picion of those watching military not possible for the plane to have not have been detected by installa- ment yesterday that Malaysia but the New York Times reported radars if it followed commercial reached its airspace undetected, tions on the Andaman and Nicobar must “immediately” expand and that Malaysia had refused to MALANG: A body believed routes. It also cited unnamed noting that it would have had to islands because the radars might clarify the search. accept large-scale American to be that of a Japanese diver sources as saying the plane had fly over China, India and other have been switched off, adding: “We The English edition of the assistance, citing unnamed sen- who went missing with six flown low over the Malay peninsula. countries, while Pakistan’s civil operate on an ‘as required’ basis.” Global Times — a state-run popu- ior officials. Families of the 239 on others off Bali a month ago It is unclear where the altitude aviation authority said checks of The Australian prime minister, list tabloid — ran a scathing com- board have said that investigators’ has been found far from where estimate originated and experts its radar recordings found noth- Tony Abbott, told parliament that mentary on the search effort, belief that the plane was diverted she disappeared, Indonesian said that if it came from radar ing connected to the flight. the country had taken on respon- accusing Malaysia of incompe- deliberately has given them fresh police said yesterday. data it could well prove incorrect. Military radar systems can also sibility for searching a major sec- tence and suggesting it might hope that the passengers and The body, thought to be that Aviation safety expert Sidney be limited in their coverage and tion of the southern Indian Ocean need to hand over responsibility crew might have survived. of diving instructor Shoko Dekker, of the Safety Science may not always be in use. Malaysia’s at the request of his Malaysian for the search operation. David Lawton, an Australian Takahashi, was found at the Innovation Lab at Griffith briefings have made it clear that its counterpart. He added that Najib Three French investigators man whose brother and sister- weekend on Sempu island, East University in Brisbane, Australia, own military did not initially take Razak had also accepted an offer have joined the multinational in-law are on the missing plane, Java province, some 400 kilo- noted: “Particularly over oceanic heed of MH370 when it appeared of additional Australian maritime team in Kuala Lumpur to share told Fairfax Media: “While you’ve metres from where the divers areas, radar coverage is extremely on radar screens heading west- surveillance resources. their expertise from the 2009 got hope, you’ve got worries too.” went missing. unreliable and partial.” wards after diverting. A senior The foreign ministry of China, search for Air France flight 447. THE GUARDIAN AGENCIES China rejects UN report on North Korean crimes Sri Lanka GENEVA: China dismissed a comparable to Nazi-era atroci- accusations and made recommen- Security Council, would have the challenging the United Nations to nabs rights UN report alleging North Korea ties and said officials, possi- dations that were “divorced from power to veto any move to refer act to stop crimes against human- has committed crimes against bly even Supreme Leader Kim reality.” North Korea to the Hague-based ity that ranked among the worst humanity yesterday, effectively Jong Un himself, should face the “The inability of the commis- ICC. Diplomats had already in modern history. activists confirming the fears of human International Criminal Court sion to get support and coopera- warned China was likely to object “Contending with the scourges rights advocates that Beijing (ICC). tion from the country concerned to the report, which also criticised of Nazism, apartheid, the Khmer COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has will shield its ally Pyongyang Chen Chuandong, a counsellor makes it impossible for the com- Beijing for its treatment of North Rouge and other affronts required arrested two leading rights from international prosecution. at China’s mission in Geneva, told mission to carry out its mandate Korean defectors. courage by great nations and ordi- activists including a Catholic The report, published in the UN Human Rights Council in an impartial, objective and The chief author of the report, nary human beings alike,” Kirby priest under anti-terrorism February, accused the reclusive that the independent commis- effective manner,” Chen said. retired Australian judge Michael said. laws, police said yesterday. country of killings and torture sion of inquiry made unfounded China, as a member of the UN Kirby, had opened the debate by REUTERS Father Praveen Mahesan, head of the Peace and Reconciliation Centre in the war-torn Jaffna region, and Ruki Fernando of Rally vs trade pact the Colombo-based INFORM advocacy group were detained on Sunday as they met relatives who lost loved ones during the Tamil separatist conflict. “The two suspects were arrested under provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act for trying to cause communal dis- harmony and disturbance,” said police spokesman Superintendent Ajith Rohana. While the spokesman did not name the pair, the Asian Human Rights Council said that Fernando and Father Praveen were detained on a visit to Kilinochchi. The city was the last major stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels before they were routed at the end of the war in 2009. Udaya Kalupathirana, director of INFORM, also con- firmed Fernando’s arrest. “We have come to know of Ruki Taiwanese protesters hold placards during a protest against a trade agreement with China, outside the Fernando’s arrest as the police had informed the family. Still we are Legislative Council in Taipei yesterday. Opposition has arisen against a deal between China and Taiwan not aware of the charges against signed in June 2014, aimed at further opening trade in services between the two rivals. him. We are looking for more infor- mation,” Kalupathirana said. In a report late last month, Amnesty International said Sri Beijing asks Manila to abandon shoal Lanka had created a “climate of fear” by stepping up harassment of human rights activists in the BEIJING: China warned the country’s sovereignty and ter- States to intervene in defence build-up to a crunch meeting of Philippines yesterday to aban- ritorial integrity is unwaver- of Asian allies troubled by the UN’s Human Rights Council. don a disputed shoal in the ing. We will never tolerate the increasingly assertive Chinese The US has drawn up a draft South China Sea after Manila Philippines illegal occupation maritime claims. resolution calling for an inter- said it planned to challenge a of Ren’ai reef,” Chinese Foreign China claims the Philippines national investigation into alle- Chinese naval blockade of the Ministry spokesman Hong Lei is trying to start construction gations that up to 40,000 Tamil area by sending supplies to its told a daily news briefing. on the reef, which it claims as civilians were killed after govern- troops stationed there. “China is on high alert part of its own territory. The ment forces ordered them into a Last week, a senior for the Philippines possi- Philippines claims the shoal is no-fire zone in the war’s finale. A Philippines military official bly taking more provocative part of its continental shelf. vote is expected on the resolution said his country would send acts in the South China Sea. Beijing’s claim over islands, in Geneva on March 28. civilian supply ships to its sol- The Philippines must accept reefs and atolls that form the Colombo has flatly rejected the diers deployed on a vessel that responsibility for the conse- Spratlys, a group of 250 uninhab- draft resolution, and a report by ran aground on the disputed quences of what will happen.” itable islets spread over 165,000 UN chief Navi Pillay on which Second Thomas Shoal in 1999. Second Thomas Shoal, a square miles, has set it directly it was based, as “unwarranted The shoal is known in China strategic gateway to an area against US allies Vietnam and interference.” Sri Lanka has pre- as the Ren’ai reef and in the believed to be rich in oil and the Philippines, while Brunei, viously said it needs more time to Philippines as Ayungin. natural gas, is one of several Malaysia and Taiwan also lay address issues of accountability “The Chinese government’s possible maritime flashpoints claim to parts of the South and reconciliation after ending attitude on maintaining the that could prompt the United China Sea. REUTERS the 37-year conflict. AFP TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Vigil to thwart attacks 8 rebels die in Khyber province may Afghan raids KABUL: At least eight Taliban militants were killed and six others were injured not meet poll deadline following military operations by Afghan national security forces, the Interior Ministry said. Provincial assembly should approve changes in laws Afghan national police forces conducted the operations in ISLAMABAD: Local gov- promised to devolve powers to believed to be the main cause of coordination with the Afghan ernment (LG) elections in local bodies within six months of the delay: incorporating the bio- national army and Afghan intel- Pakistan’s northwest Khyber coming to power but it has been metrics voter verification system ligence – National Directorate Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province struggling to keep that promise. in the polling process. ECP offi- of Security operatives. are due on April 30 but with a According to ECP officials, the cials say once a final decision is The operations were con- long things-to-do list and disa- KP government has sent them taken to use digital technology, ducted in Kandahar, Zabul, greements, officials believe that copies of their local government the process to procure and install Uruzgan, Ghazni, Paktika the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf- laws, relevant rules and the noti- biometric machines would take at and Paktiya provinces of led provincial government and fication of delimitations the three least three months. Afghanistan in the past 24 the Election Commission of prerequisites for the polls on Moreover, the KP government hours, according to Afghan. Pakistan (ECP) cannot meet March 10. ECP is reviewing these and the election commission are According to a statement the deadline. documents and is expected to com- not on the same page on the use of released by the interior min- Despite persistent pressure plete its review by March 20. the biometric system either. ECP istry of Afghanistan, Afghan from the Supreme Court, none of “But there are certain areas wants to use this technology in national security forces also the provinces, except Balochistan, where KP would have to make limited constituencies as a pilot arrested a suspected militant have any working local govern- further changes in their LG laws project to test its results. during the operations. ment system — a promise all the and rules. It will need to go to the However, PTI insists on using The statement further political parties made in their provincial assembly again,” a sen- the biometric machines to verify added that Afghan security manifestos before last year’s gen- ior official at the ECP’s law wing the identity of voters all over the forces discovered and seized eral elections. remarked. He did not disclose the province. “The local bodies’ elec- some ammunition and explo- Last week, the apex court clauses that need changes. Once tions will not be possible before sives during the operations. asked the Punjab and Sindh gov- these prerequisites are fulfilled, it June or July if we have to use the Afghan police forces discov- ernments to submit in writing by will take ECP at least 45 days to biometric verification devices,” an ered and defused an impro- March 19 a final date on which organise the polls. official of ECP’s IT department vised explosive device during the LG polls will be held. PTI However, the KP government categorically said. the operation. was one of the parties that had has an ambitious demand that is INTERNEWS Pakistani security officials stand guard outside a Hindu temple after secu- rity has been intensified following attacks in Larkana, in Quetta, on Sunday. Thar desert to get warmer New security KARACHI: The already Musharraf may agree to appear in special court existing water scarcity in central Pakistan’s Thar plan for Lahore desert will exacerbate in the ISLAMABAD: Former mili- Constitution. One view is that the the party, the former president is undertake if allowed to skip his next three decades as the gets approval tary ruler Pervez Musharraf said letter was meant to be used being tried by the Special Court court trial and to leave the country, desert is going to become hot- was recently asked to sign an after the Special Court’s judg- for constitutional abrogation and he would not take part in country’s ter and rainfalls are unlikely ISLAMABAD: Federal apology letter to enable him a ment would have been announced. as long as the case is decided politics for next five years. to improve remarkably, says Minister for Interior Nisar Ali bail out to escape his trial on Ruling Pakistan Muslim either way he can neither be The source asserted that had a new study. has approved a new security treason charges and may leave League-N Secretary Information pardoned nor allowed to leave the general signed the said apol- Titled Climate Change plan for the Pakistani federal Pakistan and its politics, a top Mushahidullah Khan, however, the country.” ogy letter, it would have been used Scenario in Pakistan: A Case capital city and a reform agenda confident of the general quoted refused to confirm such a move Another source close to by the government as justification Study of Thar, Sindh, the for the National Database and yesterday by The News daily as saying, “How can Musharraf be Musharraf said, “The said draft for his release in the first place research is part of a series of Registration Authority (Nadra), disclosing to it. pardoned when he is not awarded suggested almost on following and to defame him by releasing it documents and toolkits being official sources said yesterday. The apology letter, the source punishment under Article 6 of the lines, “I accept responsibility of to media, like the former interior developed by the Research and He said that the paramilitary said would have been sanctioned Constitution?” Kargil misadventure and slapping minister Rehman Malik had done Development Foundation, a force Rangers had been delegated by President Mamnoon Hussain He said he was sure there could of emergency on November 3, 2009 by releasing copy of apology letter non-governmental organisation, additional responsibility of mak- to allow former military dictator not be initiated such a move till by suspending the Constitution that was signed by the Sharif fam- under its climate change adap- ing Islamabad a safer city by to leave the country suspending the case in Special Court was and apologise for the same.” ily before going into exile in 2000. tation programme being imple- ensuring security of life and prop- his trial under Article 6 of the decided. Khan said, “In view of He was also required to INTERNEWS mented in Tharparkar district. erty of every resident and giving AGENCIES a boost to the confidence of the people of Islamabad. Holi festival He said the new operational strategy should be visible on the streets of Islamabad by Plea seeking Shariah April 15. He said this while chairing a high-level meeting attended by acting Chairman referred to high court Nadra, Director General fed- eral Investigation Agency, Commandant Rangers and top ISLAMABAD: The Supreme “There are several provisions Islamabad police officials. Court of Pakistan has referred in the Constitution which pro- Nisar said the government to the Islamabad High Court vide the mechanism for achieving would provide necessary funds (IHC) a petition seeking the supremacy of Shariah in the to start joint patrolling by the enforcement of Shariah in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Rangers and police, making it country. More importantly, for this purpose, no direction is efficient and responsive. The the court has been directed to necessary,” stated the court order. minister issued directions for the decide the matter within three After his petition was rejected immediate purchase of vehicles months, sources said yesterday. last year, Sultan Puri challenged for the purpose. The petition was filed by a local the IHC decision in the Supreme He also directed the recruit- lawyer, Azam Sultan Puri, last Court. Appearing before a two- ment of trained retired army week challenging the IHC’s order in judge bench of the apex court on personnel in the police. He asked which it had declared that the for- March 13, Puri contended that the the police to train some of its per- mulation of a society on the basis of IHC judge had rejected his petition sonnel on the pattern of the Elite rules laid down in the Holy Quran without hearing his point of view. Police Force. The federal minister and Sunnah cannot be achieved by He requested the top court to said that the FIA should improve a single order, judgement or iso- direct the federal government to its working. lated effort of an individual. insert in the Constitution through He demanded strict action Justice Shaukat Siddiqui had 9th amendment such provi- against those officials who had also observed that the enforce- sions that make the Holy Quran been found guilty of facilitating ment of Shariah was a lengthy and Shariah the supreme law human trafficking and suggested process that began with the basic of the land, and all overlapping their removal from service. level of educating children and articles and provisions illegal. INTERNEWS People paint each other's faces with coloured powder as they take part in celebrations for the Holi festival in character-building of individuals. INTERNEWS Lahore yesterday. Holi, the popular spring festival of colours, is observed in Pakistan at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month. 8,000 govt employees UN warns Afghan vote-related violence on rise

UNITED NATIONS: The on the frontline against a fierce punishable under international by poverty and violence, with a at the receiving end United Nations warned yes- Islamist insurgency. law,” Kubis said. weak government and fragile terday that election-related “Security will have a major Previous Afghan elections have economy dependent on Western PESHAWAR: About 8,000 case to him, the provincial estab- violence is on the rise in impact on these polls,” Kubis said. been marred by violence. Karzai’s aid. lower grade employees of the lishment department has opposed Afghanistan, where the Taliban “To date, election-related vio- re-election in 2009 was engulfed Kubis warned that “gains are government in Pakistan’s the acceptance of the demand on have threatened to sabotage lence has been of a lower order in damaging levels of fraud. fragile” but said: “Afghanistan is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prov- the ground that it involves impli- next month’s historic transition than 2009 and 2010, even as Another blood-stained election not poised atop an inevitable post- ince find themselves at the cations,” says Fazli Aala, the gen- of power. general security incidents have would damage claims by Western 2014 abyss as some doomsayers receiving end as the succes- eral secretary of superintendents, The United Nations envoy increased. However it is on the donors that billions of dollars have predicted.” sive provincial governments assistants and clerks association, to Kabul, Jab Kubis, made the rise,” he added. spent in Afghanistan since 2001 “The success of the April 2014 ignored their demand for eleva- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. remarks in an address to the Gunmen shot dead two aides have made progress in establish- elections will be of critical signifi- tion of their posts, according to The association’s finance sec- Security Council, which voted of Abdullah Abdullah, one of the ing a functioning state system. cance in reinforcing Afghanistan’s complainants. retary Shah Bakht said the unanimously to extend the man- front runners, in the western city Kubis said preparations were institutional and political stabil- Apart from fighting a legal bat- establishment department had date of the United Nations mis- of Herat in February. better than in the past and urged ity and instilling confidence in the tle with the provincial bureauc- presented the case in a manner sion in Afghanistan by another The Taliban last week urged candidates to make a “serious future.” racy in the Peshawar High Court that chief minister would think year. its fighters to attack polling staff, public commitment to opposing Besides Abdullah, who came for the upgradation of their posts, more than once before taking his Millions of Afghans are eli- voters and security forces in a bid fraud committed in their name.” second in 2009, former foreign the recent move of employees decision because the department gible to vote April 5 to elect a to sabotage the vote. “Technical preparations... minister Zalmai Rassoul and working as senior clerks, jun- had described the move prone to new leader to replace President The United Nations envoy said remain on track and of a better former World Bank economist ior clerks, and assistants to get complications. Hamid Karzai, who took power he was “gravely disturbed” by the quality than previously,” Kubis Ashraf Ghani are the two other their demand accepted by Chief “All Pakistan Clerks shortly after US-led troops Taliban threat to unleash “a cam- told the Council. principal candidates. Minister Pervez Khattak and sen- Association had time and again deposed the Taliban in late year paign of terror”. Kubis urged all eligible Afghans Though Afghanistan has had ior finance minister Sirajul Haq requested for upgradation of 2001. “Targeting civilians or indis- to vote. democratic elections through- has again encountered resistance their posts which were examined Nato ends its combat mission criminate attacks on polling “Do not let spoilers and terror- out the 20th century, the elec- from the top bureaucracy. on their merits in the establish- in December following a 13-year centres and other civilian loca- ists deprive you of your choice, of tion institutions have varied as “In reply to the chief minister’s ment department.” war against the Taliban, leaving tions undermine any claims to your future,” he said. changes in regimes have disrupted directive to formally put up the INTERNEWS Western-funded Afghan troops legitimate political status and is Afghanistan remains crippled political continuity. AFP TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Ringing in spring with colours AAP confident Indian arms of Varanasi, BJP dismisses imports grow Kejriwal threat

NEW DELHI: The BJP yes- terday dismissed AAP leader by 111pc: Sipri Arvind Kejriwal as no threat to its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi but the Aam Aadmi Party said it was ready Russia bags 75 percent of orders for a showdown in Varanasi. “We don’t take Kejriwal seri- NEW DELHI: India has unfounded allegations, and also ously. There is a Modi wave in the become the world’s largest arms due to procedural issues both entire country,” Bharatiya Janata importer over 2004-13 with within the armed forces and the Party’s media convenor Harish Russia winning 75 percent of MoD, but there has been progress Khurana said here. the orders to replace the Indian forward,” the sources said. “Kejriwal has proved that he armed forces’ old, Soviet vintage The Indian Air Force (IAF), is an anarchist. His 49-day rule weapons, Sipri said yesterday, for instance, has selected sev- (in Delhi) was a complete disas- adding the country’s purchases eral systems from combat air- ter and he has lost credibility,” had increased by 111 percent. craft (Rafale MMRCA) to Khurana said. In a report on world arms trans- midair refuellers (Airbus A 330 “Let alone Uttar Pradesh, they fers, the Stockholm International MRTT), Boeing C-17 Globemaster will not be able to win a single Peace Research Institute (Sipri) III heavy lift transport aircraft, seat even in Delhi,” he added. said that South Asia, including Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Special The BJP’s comments came a both India and Pakistan, and the Operations aircraft, Russian Mi day after Kejriwal announced in Arab Gulf states led have shown 17 V5 helicopters, 272 SU-30 MKI People daubed in colours cheer as they celebrate Holi in Guwahati yesterday. Holi, also known as the Festival Bangalore that his party wanted a rising trend in arms imports. combat aircraft and so on. of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India. him to take on Modi in Varanasi During the nine-year period, Agreements have also but that he would take a final specifically 2004-8 and 2009-13, been reached with Russia for decision in the Hindu holy city India’s arms imports grew by 111 co-production of Multirole on March 23. percent, and that of Pakistan by Transport Aircraft (MTA) and A senior AAP leader said that 119 percent over their respective the Fifth Generation Multirole although Kejriwal’s decision would pre-2004 figures. Perspective Aircraft (initially Pakistan Army, ISI causing be known only a week from now, Sipri pointed out that “its data called Fifth Generation Fighter the party was all for a Kejriwal- reflects the volume of deliveries Aircraft) besides acquisition of Modi fight — much like the way of arms, not the financial value of a large number of tanks and tension in relations: Azad Kejriwal took on Sheila Dikshit the deals. As the volume of deliv- armour. in Delhi. eries can fluctuate significantly US supplies to India are being “After Delhi, it is Uttar Pradesh year-on-year, Sipri presents data put at seven percent, but it has JAMMU: The people of India Azad said it was during the people against wasting their votes. and Haryana where our party has for 5-year periods, giving a more now become India’s second- and Pakistan want to live Congress-led regime in the state Azad said the opposition a strong base,” the aide said. stable measure of trends.” largest supplier, replacing Israel, in peace and amity, but the that normalcy was restored and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “The morale of party workers is It has to be kept in mind that which has had a major share due Pakistan Army and ISI were those who had created terror was very much aware that its high. And why not, we are going although India has acquired to the three Phalcon AWACS the biggest hurdles in normal- were taken to task. candidate was not going to win for the kill,” he added. substantial number of weapons, (Airborne Warning and Control ising relations between the “At that time of militancy, the elections and it fielded peo- Addressing an election rally in these do not indicate any aggres- Systems) aircraft, or eyes in the two neighbours, Union Health our sisters and daughters were ple only to cut secular votes in Bangalore Sunday, Kejriwal rub- sive buildup as most of what is sky. Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad harassed and tortured by for- Jammu region. bished Modi’s claims of putting being bought is to replace its Some deals for Boeing’s C-47 said yesterday. eign mercenaries. But when I “Only the Congress candidate Gujarat on a strong economic 30-40-year-old inventory. There Chinook and AH 64D Apache hel- “The notorious intelligence took over as chief minister, secu- is in a position to take on divisive footing and crushing corruption are, in fact, several important icopters, and BAE Systems light- agency of Pakistan, Inter-Services rity and self-respect for women politics of the Bharatiya Janata in the state. deals pending either due to pro- weight M777 howitzers are still Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistani remained my top priority. “And Party... so people should not waste He accused Modi, still the cedural delays or allegations pending but should be finalised Army do not want peace between now things have changed a lot and their votes,” he said. Gujarat chief minister, of promot- of corruption, necessitating soon after the elections, sources the two countries,” Azad said at a people, especially those living in Azad said it was time for people ing “crony capitalism”. inquiries. said. public meeting in Mendhar bor- the border villages, are safe and to vote for secularism and urged In a decision aimed at win- Indian ministry of defence It would not be correct for an der town in Poonch district. living a peaceful life,” he said. leaders to serve people irrespec- ning the maximum number of (MoD) sources told India outgoing government to con- “Those at the helm of affairs Seeking support for Congress tive of caste, colour and creed. Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha Strategic(www.indiastrategic. clude deals, particularly as they in ISI and the Pakistani Army candidate Madan Lal Sharma, State Congress chief seats, the BJP has fielded Modi in) defence magazine that the invariably draw allegations at are minting money by launching who is contesting the Lok Sabha Saifuddin Soz also appealed in Varanasi, one of the holiest of Sipri report is “interesting, not least from some vested interests. a hatred campaign against India. elections from Jammu-Poonch to people to realise that the places for Hindus. The BJP won surprising,” adding that several Appropriately, the Government “Through the hatred campaign, seat, Azad said it was the need Congress at the centre was only 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2009, major systems had been ordered has sought time till July 2014 or the Pakistani army and ISI are of the hour to strengthen secular fighting a battle against forces a performance that eventually in the recent years for all the so from various suppliers, sources ensuring that normalisation of forces in the country. of divisiveness, sectarianism and spiked its chances of ousting the three services. “There are delays, told IndiaStrategic. relations does not happen,” he He said Congress was the sym- communalism. Congress-led UPA in New Delhi. yes, largely due to correct or IANS said. bol of secularism, and cautioned IANS IANS

Rahul’s mediation saves Congress Rahul cut off from reality, Congress ship sinking: Jaitley NEW DELHI: BJP leader opinion polls are jokes and that be the UPA (United Progressive The BJP leader accused the “In Tamil Nadu, the Congress from setback Arun Jaitley yesterday termed the Congress would improve upon Alliance) and Rahul Gandhi story. Congress leadership of lacking is isolated with a single digit per- the Congress “a sinking ship” its 2009 tally. If this is sheer bra- Faced with odds, even senior leaders the required charisma and appeal. centage votes. It barely expects and took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, vado in order to lift the sinking have decided to desert the sinking “For the Congress even its to pick up any seat. In Andhra in Telangana contending the Congress Vice- morale of the Congressman, it is ship. Some are refusing to contest. leadership is proving to be unac- Pradesh, it played the Telangana President was “completely cut understandable. However, if he Others are feigning ill health for ceptable. It lacks the charisma card not out of conviction but out HYDERABAD: Congress Vice- off from reality”. genuinely believes this to be true, not contesting. The blame game is and the appeal which is required of vote bank strategy. It has simply President Rahul Gandhi’s inter- In an article on the BJP’s web- then surely he is completely cut about to begin,” he said. today. At the end of the day, the become a liability for its candidates vention saved the party from site, Arun Jaitley attacked the off from reality,” Jaitley said. Jaitley also contended that Congress goes into the poll with- in Seemandhra. In Telangana, the a setback in Telangana as two Congress over reports that some Rahul had said in an interview the election agenda was loaded out an agenda with inadequate TRS has turned its back on the legislators dropped their plans of its senior leaders were not keen that Congress would improve its against the Congress. allies and without an effective Congress,” Jaitley said. to cross over to the Telangana on contesting elections. tally of 2009 election, when it had “The voters are worried about leadership. If things can go wrong, Referring to the BJP’s backing Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The leg- Referring to an interview given won 206 seats. Jaitley claimed price rise, economy and corrup- they surely will go wrong,” he said. of statehood for Telangana and islators said that after receiving by Rahul, the Bharatiya Janata that some Congress leaders were tion. They want a leadership Jaitley said Congress allies were its demand for additional eco- a phone call from Gandhi, they Party leader said the Congress not willing to contest elections, which is decisive and inspira- deserting the party and no new nomic package for Seemandhra, decided not to leave the party. leader has decided to “talk up apprehending defeat. tional. The Congress and UPA are ally was joining them. He added Jaitley said the party can go to One of them, Nandishwar the morale of his party” in view “Some look good only when the failing to set the agenda. They are a large chunk of seats that UPA both the regions “with our heads Goud, told reporters that he was of odds faced by it. going is good. If the going is tough, at best responding to the agenda got in the last election came from held high”. pleased to personally receive a call “He (Rahul) claims that they collapse. That appears to set by their opponents,” he said. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. IANS from the party vice-president. “He told me that the Congress was a party of backward classes and advised me not to leave the Nihang skills party. I informed him that I did not want to quit but some peo- Chandy gives clean chit ple were creating such condi- tions,” said Goud, legislator from Patancheru in Medak district. Goud met Congress chief in to himself in solar scam Telangana, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, here to convey his decision not to THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nair, along with her live-in partner, quit the Congress. With general elections only weeks is accused of cheating many inves- Another legislator C Pratap away, Kerala Chief Minister tors promising to supply them solar Reddy, from Shadnagar in Oommen Chandy has tried to panels worth millions of rupees. Mahabubnagar district, also give a clean chit to himself in the Chandy lashed out at the media denied that he was leaving the Rs70m solar scam, even as he in Kerala for being negative and Congress. He said he would remain slammed the media in the state prone to sensationalism, leaving in the Congress till his last breath. as “negative and sensational”. little scope for reporting on devel- Both Goud and Reddy were Chandy blamed the Left oppo- opmental issues. “I am not saying reportedly planning to join the sition for hyping the solar scam they (media) have been unfair to TRS, which has not only refused through their protests, when it was me. It’s the same when it comes to to merge with the Congress but ‘exposed’ in 2013, but insisted that other parties and political person- also said a firm no to an electoral with time everything had fallen flat. alities. I know they have nothing alliance. “We will see if Congress “We announced a judicial probe political or personal but it’s just MLAs join TRS or TRS MLAs and till now they (opposition) have that they only want to sensation- join Congress,” TRS chief K not been able to bring out anything alise news,” Chandy said. Chandrasekhara Rao had said on the scam. They tried their best The chief minister, however, on Saturday while announcing to make political capital and all said he does not rely on the media his decision not to enter into an their protests to keep this issue alone as far as popular outreach alliance with the Congress. alive not only failed but also did is concerned. Congress leaders have accused not yield any result,” said Chandy. Asked about his party’s pros- Rao of betrayal by going back on The chief minister’s office had pects in the Lok Sabha polls, his his own word to merge the TRS, A Nihang, or a Sikh warrior, performs “Gatkha”, a traditional form of martial arts during celebrations of Hola been at the centre of the scam in face lit up. “History is going to if the Congress created a separate Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab yesterday. The festival of Nihangs is celebrated to mark the which three of Chandy’s staffers repeat, and it would be even bet- Telangana state. congregation of Sikh devotees from all over the country. were linked to Saritha Nair, one ter than the 2009 result.” IANS of the key accused in the scandal. IANS

TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME New maps News in Numbers MIDDLE EAST show smallest WEALTH REPORT CHART: 2 Fajr (Dawn) 4:24 planet Mercury Shorook (Sunrise) 5:40 Zuhr (Noon) 11:42 is even smaller

Asr (Afternoon) 3:08 CAPE CANAVERAL, Maghrib (Sunset) 5:45 Florida: Detailed maps of Isha (Night) 7:15 Mercury’s cliffs and ditches show the solar system’s inner- most and smallest planet Mercury has lost much more WEATHER real estate due to cooling over four billion years than scientists thought, according to a report Today Wednesday Thursday Weather Conditions: published yesterday. Clear Clear Clear Cooling of Mercury’s massive iron Partly cloudy. core has pared about 14km from the planet’s diameter, more than twice as much as previous estimates. The world’s first sovereign wealth fund, in its modern iteration, was indeed established in the High: 28° High: 27° High: 29° “When you look at the actual Low: 16° Low: 21° Low: 23° Middle East, by Kuwait in 1953, before the emirate even gained its full independence from the number, it’s really pityingly small, British empire. Rather strikingly, however, despite reportedly having assets of about $296 bn compared to the size of a planet. But it doesn’t need to change very much at its disposal, the Kuwait Investment Authority has been surpassed by a number of other to have some effect,” said plane- SWFs established much later, including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) with $627 DOHA - SUN & SEA tary scientist Paul Byrne, with the billion and Saudi Arabia’s SAMA Foreign Holdings with $532bn in assets. Notably, ADIA is Carnegie Institution’s Department the world’s second-largest sovereign wealth fund after Norway’s, which was established in SUN TIDE SEA of Terrestrial Magnetism. Scientists studied more than 1990 and manages about $716bn. This figure, however, is subject to some speculation due WIND SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW 5,900 surface features, includ- to a relative lack of transparency regarding exactly how much ADIA has under management, 05:40 17:45 05:45 & 18:15 12:15 & 00:00 03-10, 3-12/15 KT ing cliff-like scarps and wrinkle with some estimates making it the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world. ridges, to calculate how much THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Mercury has condensed. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Unlike Earth, which as several The Middle East’s Sovereign Wealth Funds plates of crust, Mercury has just MUSCAT 26/20 Clear 29/21 Partly cloudy one rigid, rocky layer which bears Assets (in $ billions) MAKKAH 32/25 Clear 31/23 Chance of storm telltale cliffs and chasms caused KUWAIT 26/19 Partly cloudy 26/19 Partly cloudy by global contraction. BAHRAIN 25/19 Partly cloudy 27/21 Partly cloudy The measurements, made  Abu Dhabi Investment SANAA 27/12 Chance of rain 27/12 Chance of rain with Nasa’s Mercury-orbiting Authority (UAE) MESSENGER spacecraft, match RIYADH 28/18 Clear 31/19 Partly cloudy  SAMA Foreign Holdings DUBAI 25/20 Clear 27/22 Partly cloudy computer model predictions, which scientists use to determine (Saudi Arabia) BAGHDAD 27/13 Mostly cloudy 26/15 Mostly cloudy the planet’s inner composition,  Qatar Investment Authority THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW chemistry and structure. Investment Corporation “An awful lot of a planet’s proc-  HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER of Dubai (UAE) esses are driven by its heat loss - International Petroleum Investment that’s a primary thing that drives   Company (UAE – Abu Dhabi) ATHENS 21/13 Clear 22/14 Clear a planet’s evolution,” Byrne said.   WASHINGTON 05/00 Chance of snow 14/03 Chance of rain “We didn’t set out to prove the Mubadala Development Company SYDNEY 28/20 Chance of storm 24/19 Chance of rain models right, but it turns out this  State General Reserve Fund LONDON 14/10 Chance of rain 18/11 Mostly cloudy number is exactly what the models have been predicting for 40 years.” (Oman) PARIS 18/09 Mostly cloudy 19/09 Partly cloudy Public Investment Fund Previous maps of Mercury’s   ISTANBUL 13/09 Partly cloudy 16/09 Clear surface map date back to the mid- (Saudi Arabia) MANILA 34/22 Partly cloudy 34/24 Partly cloudy 1970s. Nasa’s Mariner 10 space- DHAKA 35/21 Clear 37/21 Partly cloudy craft made three flybys of the DELHI 29/14 Partly cloudy 28/14 Clear planet, imaging about 45 percent          ISLAMABAD 22/12 Rain 25/12 Clear of its surface. REUTERS Source : http://www.campdenwealth.com Trash to treasure: Bicycle brings Military radars Waypoints – geographic Intended flight path (range: 460km) locations used for navigation 3D printing to Taiwan streets Coco Islands MYANMAR TAIWAN: (MYANMAR) THAILAND Cycling through the streets of Taiwan’s capital, staff from a design company turn CAMBODIA discarded plastic cups and bot- tles into pieces of art on the spot Port Blair Gulf of with Mobile Fab — an ordinary VIETNAM bike kitted out with a computer Thailand and 3D printer. Andaman “We wanted to do something to bring both recycling and 3D Islands Igrex printing closer to average people,” (INDIA) said Kamm Kai-yu, a co-founder 6 of the Taipei-based company Kota Bharu SOUTH Fabraft. Festooned with pumps, wires, Igari CHINA SEA Nicobar Gival 5 4 tubes and display panels, the Islands 3 Mobile Fab cuts the plastic into Vampi 2 strips before grinding it into fine (INDIA) powder. The operators feed the Butterworth powder into the 3D printer on the Strait of Malacca Andaman front of the bike, using it as the “ink” to create a small medallion Sea they attach to a coloured light. People who bring plastic items to the roving lab wait a couple of 1 INDIAN OCEAN MALAYSIA hours for the trash to be turned into art. The medallion is meant 250 miles to attach to the spokes of a bike wheel but can be worn in any way 400km INDONESIA the person pleases. It’s given free as long as the 1 00:41 Saturday, Mar 8: Flight 4 01:30: Malaysian military radar person provides the plastic. MH370 departs Kuala Lumpur shows aircraft turning sharply to west Almost any design can be printed but the medallion is the International Airport bound for Beijing and climbing to 45,000ft, following team’s standard output. One of aviation corridor N571. Plane then the few limitations is that the 2 01:07: ACARS (Aircraft printer can only use polypropyl- Communications Addressing and descends to 29,500ft – below normal ene, or No.5 plastic, due to the dif- Reporting System) – which transmits cruising levels – as it approaches ferent melting points of various waypoint Vampi plastics. Kamm and three colleagues at Kamm Kai-yu (right) , a co-founder of boutique design studio Fabraft, engine status – makes final 5 Radar plot indicates plane flies Fabraft, all 20-something gradu- displays a bicycle with a 3D printer installed in front, in Taipei. transmission before being manually towards waypoint Gival ates of design or art schools, are adherents of the “Maker” move- free to download, as are a number in the ultra-competitive Taiwan disabled on flight deck 6 02:15: MH370 last plotted heading ment that brings a do-it-yourself of designs. tech scene. spirit back to hardware after Taking Mobile Fab to the bus- The contraption was partly funded 01:19: In final radio northwest towards waypoint Igrex, so much start-up attention was tling streets of Taipei, Kamm and by the government in line with communication, co-pilot says following aviation corridor P628. focused on software. his colleagues said they have been efforts to foster homegrown talent as “All right, good night” Route would take it into range of Motivational slogans including bombarded with interest from Taipei gets set to become the World “Keep Calm and Make Things” curious bystanders - so much so Design Capital for 2016, an annual 3 01:21: Indian radar but no plots reported and “Make What You Love, that they plan to build a bigger designation by the Montreal-based Love What You Make” adorn version with more printing power. International Council of Societies of which identifies aircraft, location 08:11: Last satellite communication the walls of their garage-style Other machines could be Industrial Design. and altitude – is disabled. Last places MH370 anywhere on one of workshop. swapped with the 3D printer, Taiwan’s obsession with pearl- confirmed position of MH370 on two huge arcs – stretching north to “We built everything from such as a laser cutter to perform milk tea, a beverage sold in No.5 scratch using designs and instruc- similar on-the-spot design tasks. plastic cups all over the island, civilian radar is at altitude of central Asia, and south towards tions freely available online,” But it is Mobile Fab’s concept of means there is a steady stream 35,000 feet near waypoint Igari Australia said co-founder Matteo Chen. combining environmental aware- of “ink” for the Mobile Fab as it The software to manipulate the ness with cutting-edge technology does its rounds. Sources: Agency reports, The Malaysian Insider, FAS © GRAPHIC NEWS printer is also open-source and that has raised Fabraft’s profile REUTERS Tuesday 18 March 2014 17 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5607 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar likely to Qatar ranked GCC’s top financial centre DOHA: Qatar has been ranked favourable assessments to Qatar story of GFCI 15 is that New and rise in the ratings reflects as the top financial centre in with the Americas being signifi- York City overtakes London. But how well the economy is per- the GCC. The Global Financial cantly more favourable than the that misses the bigger picture forming, the competitive business Centres Index (GFCI 15) cover- Middle East/Africa and Asia/ as Hong Kong and Singapore environment and the world class introduce new ing 83 financial centres yester- Pacific respondents. continue to gain against both legal, regulatory and tax platform day showed Qatar’s rating rose Dubai’s overall average assess- traditional leaders. In the GCC, the Qatar Financial Centre offers by 15 points. ment is 710 and it ex-regional Qatar, Bahrain, Riyadh and Abu all firms to grow their businesses The Index, published by the average is 704, an increase in Dhabi all increase their ratings. in Qatar and the broader GCC London-based Z/Yen Group, indi- their respective values from 697 Yet in Europe, 23 of 27 European region. funding norms cates that Qatar’s top rating was and 690 in GFCI 14. It received centres decline. Financial centre The biggest gains in the com- mainly driven by its increasing favourable assessments from its leadership is increasingly uncer- petitive GCC region were seen competitiveness and perceived home region, Asia/Pacific and tain in a world of feeble monetary in Riyadh, which gained 55 significance as a financial cen- North America. Europe, the larg- systems.” points and rose 16 places to 31st. Plan to minimise Europe banks’ role tre. The index saw the ratings est respondent group is slightly Shashank Srivastava, CEO Bahrain, gained 50 points and of Bahrain, Riyadh and Abu less favourable than the mean. and Board Member of the QFC rose 12 places to 40th. Tel Aviv DOHA: Global credit rat- them gas, rather than oil-index Dhabi in the region also increase. “I have moved to Doha recently Authority, added: “I am delighted gained 39 points and rose 11 ings agency Standard & Poor’s based, it said. “We see the effect However, Qatar maintained its and highly recommend it as a that Qatar has again been recog- places to 21st, and Johannesburg, (S&P) expects Qatar, in line of this shift on our project finance leading position. place to do business in the Middle nised as the leading financial cen- gained 55 points and rose 11 places with Saudi Arabia, may soon ratings in the GCC as minimal in Qatar’s average global assess- East”, the report quoted a Doha- tre in the GCC. The GFC Index, to 50th. Abu Dhabi also made an introduce new regulations to short-term. Over the next few ment is 694 and its ex-regional based investment banker as which is published twice a year, is impressive gain of 41 points and minimise the role of European years, the impact on rate projects average is 690, slightly up from saying. a highly relevant and recognised 10 places to 32nd. Although it financial institutions in long- would depend on gas price trends, 690 and 683 respectively in GFCI Professor Michael Mainelli, indicator reflecting the views and gained 18 points, Istanbul declined term lending in the country . rather than whether or not con- 14. All regions except Europe and Executive Chairman of the Z/ opinions of executives from all three places to 47th. The implementation of the tracts are linked to oil,” the report the Offshore centres have given Yen Group, said: “The immediate over the world. Qatar’s position THE PENINSULA Basel III framework for banks said. could have direct impact on the The ratings agency noted tenors for long-term project Nakilat’s LNG shipping vessel financing. SAMA, the central financing transaction should con- bank of Saudi Arabia, has already tinue to benefit indirectly form adopted new regulations affect- healthy commodity prices. Trade surplus ing financial services firms. Qatar “In our view, this will in turn is expected to go the Saudi way improve the financial health of soon, S&P noted yesterday. the key take-or-pay charters in January “We believe any gap left by under the transaction, includ- the banks’ potentially dimin- ing RasGas. Still, we consider shrinks by ishing role in project funding in ratings upside on Nakilat to be the region may spur the use of limited, given the extremely high capital market funding, includ- likelihood of timely and sufficient 1.7pc to hit ing sukuk issues”, S&P’s report extraordinary support from the on ‘Corporate and Infrastructure Qatari government for the com- sukuk issuance in the Gulf mar- pany that we already factor into QR36.98bn ket’ said. its long-term corporate credit and On Qatar, the report said the debt ratings,” it said. DOHA: Qatar’s foreign trade expectations that the oil prices “Despite current global eco- surplus reached QR36.98bn in will remain persistently high will nomic uncertainties and the January 2014, down 1.7 percent likely to continue to benefit the only mild economic recovery we from a year ago. period Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural expect for eurozone in 2014, GCC In January 2014, general gas Co Ltd, Ras Laffan Liquefied commodities players are operat- exports of goods, including Natural Gas Co Ltd (II), and Ras ing under favourable conditions. exports of domestic origin Laffan Liquefied Natural gas While high oil and gas prices and re-exports, amounted to Co Ltd (3) projects (together, support the upstream industry, QR45.8bn, showing an increase RasGas) because liquefied nat- access to competitively priced gas of 2.8 percent compared to the ural gas (LNG) sale contract means that Middle Eastern ethyl- general export value of the cor- terms have about 60 percent of ene and petrochemical producers, responding month of 2013, the their contracts indexed to crude like Industries Qatar and Saudi preliminary figures released by oil prices. Basic Industries Corp retain A shop assistant at an Ono shop in the Andalusian capital of Seville. the Ministry of Development In addition, one of the major a large competitive advantage Planning and Statistics noted repercussions of the current US over naphtha-based crackers in yesterday. shale boom is the potential decou- Europe and Asia,” the report said. On the other hand, the imports pling of gas contracts, making THE PENINSULA of January 2014 amounted to Vodafone buys Ono for $10bn QR8.8bn, an increase of 27.5 per- cent over the value recorded in LONDON: Vodafone agreed Vittorio Colao. “Demand for uni- operation they were lacking in the same month last year. yesterday to buy Spanish cable fied communications products Spain,” said Mike McCudden, The period between January firm Ono as the British mobile and services has increased sig- head of derivatives at online bro- 2013 and January 2014 wit- Emaar’s retail unit spin-off plan phone giant stepped up its nificantly over the last few years ker Interactive Investor. nessed a rise in general exports, expansion in Europe using the in Spain, and this transaction ... “Expect more strategic acquisi- which was due to higher exports won’t affect rating, says S&P proceeds from the sale of its US will accelerate our ability to offer tions from the telecoms goliath as of petroleum gases and other joint venture stake. best-in-class propositions in the the array of European operators gaseous hydrocarbons reach- DUBAI: Standard & Poor’s through a special dividend but The London-listed group will Spanish market. We look forward looks to consolidate,” he said. ing QR31bn in January 2014, plans no rating action relating see Emaar’s main revenue stream purchase Ono for €7.2bn ($10bn) to welcoming the management The Ono transaction, worth that is 2.6 percent compared to to Dubai’s Emaar Properties of recent years divested, won’t including debt, it announced in a and employees of Ono to Vodafone £6bn, is expected to complete January 2013, the preliminary after the emirate’s largest listed impact Emaar’s rating, which was statement. Vodafone, flush with and working together to serve our in the third quarter of this year figures released by the Ministry developer announced plans to upgraded in February to invest- cash from the sale of its Verizon customers across Spain.” but remains subject to regulatory of Development Planning and spin off its retail unit, an ana- ment grade. Wireless stake to partner Verizon The acquisition marks approval. Statistics noted. lyst covering the company said “They are in a comfortable for $130bn, said the Ono deal was Vodafone’s latest move to grow in “This transaction reflects Ono’s However, the increase has yesterday. funding position at the moment, a “significant opportunity” to cre- Europe following its recent €7.7bn attractive position as Spain’s lead- been partially offset by the drop Emaar said on Saturday it hence we are okay with the fact ate a market leader in Spain. takeover of Kabel Deutschland, ing provider of high speed broad- in exports of petroleum oils and planned to list 25 percent of its (that) not only did they increase “The combination of Vodafone the largest cable operator in band, premium pay-TV and fixed oils from bituminous minerals shopping malls and retailing unit the cash dividend but also they and Ono creates a leading inte- Germany, and amid fast-moving communications,” said Jose Maria (crude) to reach QR7.2bn (11 in a public offer expected to raise announced this potential stake grated communications provider consolidation within the industry. Castellano Rios, chairman of the percent), and petroleum oils and around Dh8bn to Dh9bn. sale,” Tommy Trask, director of in Spain and represents an attrac- “This is another shrewd stra- Ono board of directors, in yester- oils from bituminous minerals The move, which would see corporate ratings at S&P, told a tive value creation opportunity for tegic move for Vodafone which day’s statement. (not crude) to reach QR1.5bn cash distributed to shareholders media event. REUTERS Vodafone,” said chief executive brings with it the fixed line AFP (45.9 percent). In January 2014, the major countries of destination for Qatar’s exports were Japan with QR13bn, a share of 28 percent of general exports, South Korea Twitter CEO in China ‘to learn more’ on tech landscape with QR9bn (20 percent), and India with QR6.3bn (14 percent). The Y-o-Y increase in imports WASHINGTON: Twitter Chief year said as many as 35 million people a business model reminiscent of that of reflected in cars and other pas- Executive Dick Costolo (pictured) find ways around the “Great Firewall” Twitter. Weibo reported revenues for senger vehicles, to reach QR0.8bn is visiting China, the biggest mar- and use it. The visit comes after 2013 of $188m, triple the level of 2012, in January 2014, i.e. 26.2 per- ket where the popular messaging Friday’s announcement that Weibo, but has continually lost money, like cent compared to January 2013, service is banned, the company said sometimes referred to as the Chinese its US counterpart, with accumulated Aircraft spare parts to reach yesterday. Twitter, was filing in New York for losses of $274.9m as of December 31. QR 0.7bn (121.0 percent), and The US firm said Costolo “is visiting a share offering to raise $500m. The Despite Weibo’s vast popularity in Telephone sets to reach QR 0.2bn China because he wants to learn more move will allow the popular Chinese- China, its ascent has hit a few speed (64.3 percent). about the Chinese culture and the language social network to spin off bumps recently due to a social media In January 2014, the US was country’s thriving technology sector. from the Internet giant Sina, accord- crackdown by Beijing and the rise of the leading country of origin “We have no plans to change any- ing to documents filed with the US rival Tencent’s mobile app, WeChat. with QR 1.3bn, a share of 15 thing about our service in order to Securities and Exchange Commission. Twitter’s high-flying Wall Street percent of the imports, followed enter the market.” The filing said Weibo had 129.1 million debut in November drew attention to by China with QR 0.9bn (10 per- Twitter’s microblogging platform is monthly active users in December and the growing power of social media, but cent), United Arab Emirates and banned in China, but a study by the 61.4 million average daily active users. it also raised concerns about a poten- Germany with QR 0.7bn each (8 research firm GlobalWebIndex last Weibo was launched in August 2009 with tial bubble in the sector. AFP percent). THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS GM recalls 1.5m vehicles more Loans to real estate Auto major to take $300m charge to cover costs of faulty ignition switches sector moderate DETROIT: General Motors BY SACHIN KUMAR Co will take a $300m charge from QR102.8bn in September to primarily to cover the costs QR106bn in October recording a related to the faulty ignition DOHA: Loans to real estate growth of 3 percent, which was switches linked to at least 12 sector by commercial banks the highest in the year. deaths as well as three more moderated in 2013 as credit to However going forward loans to recalls it announced yesterday. contractors and real estate sec- real estate and construction sec- The No. 1 US automaker, which tor by commercial banks grew tor is expected to surge because of will take the charge in the first by 7 percent to QR108.7bn in government’s focus on infrastruc- quarter, did not provide a break- 2013 from QR102bn in 2012, ture projects. down of how much was related to according to the Qatar Central The government has announced the ignition-switch recall of more Bank data. its plans to create infrastruc- than 1.6 million older-model vehi- The growth can be termed as ture for football world cup 2020 cles. GM also said it is recalling moderate as the growth in credit which will be hosted in Qatar. more than 1.5 million newer sport to real estate sector was higher in Many huge projects in roads, rail utility vehicles, luxury sedans and the previous years. and commercial real estate are full-size vans in three separate Loans to contractors and real expected to commence in coming recalls. While there were reports estate witnessed growth of 11 per- years which will lead to increase of engine compartment fires in cent in 2012 when credit grew to in lending for construction sector. two dealer-owned Cadillac XTS QR102bn in 2012 from QR92bn in Loans by the commercial banks sedans, the company said it has 2011. The growth was even higher to other sectors also witnessed received no reports of accidents a year before when credit grew similar growth. Loans to general or injuries related to the three Chevrolet cars are seen at a GM dealership in Miami. by an impressive 33 percent to trade sector by commercial banks new recalls. QR92bn in 2011 from QR69.5bn grew by 8 percent to QR35.9bn in “I asked our team to redouble in a statement. “That is what company would take an “unvar- led to government criminal and in 2010. 2013 from QR33bn in 2012. Loans our efforts on our pending prod- today’s GM is all about.” nished” look at the process while civil investigations, an internal During 2013, October emerged to consumption sector by com- uct reviews, bring them forward She previously apologised making customer safety and sat- probe by GM and preparations as the best month for real estate mercial banks grew by 13 percent and resolve them quickly,” GM for how GM handled the igni- isfaction the top priority. for hearings by Congress. sector in terms of getting loans to QR80bn in 2013 from QR71bn Chief Executive Mary Barra said tion switch recall and said the The ignition-switch recall has REUTERS as credit to real estate grew in 2012. THE PENINSULA

Etisalat’s Egyptian unit plans listing Global regulators to intensify

CAIRO: The Egyptian arm of has gripped the country since preparations for an IPO had been Abu Dhabi-based mobile oper- the uprising that swept President put on hold because of the political efforts to revive securitisation ator Etisalat is considering Hosni Mubarak from power in climate, but that the recent surge listing its shares but has not early 2011. Egypt’s main stock in stocks due to optimism that decided on which bourse to do index bounced back to a five-and- Egypt’s economy is recovering had LONDON: Global regulators banking counterpart, the Basel next week on ways to boost long- so or who will organise the ini- a-half year high last month. prompted it to resume the plans. will intensify their efforts to Committee, will consider possible term financing. Efforts to revive tial public offering (IPO) for the “Etisalat (Misr) is studying the Etisalat Misr competes in Egypt’s revive a securitisation market remedies. “IOSCO and the Basel securitisation have also been firm, it said yesterday. best option for floating its shares mobile market with Vodafone Egypt tarnished by the financial cri- Committee are close to agreeing caught up in separate regulatory Egypt’s financial regulator on the bourse and the appropri- and Mobinil, which is controlled by sis and now seen by policymak- on a working group to look at attempts to crack down on so- changed its rules earlier this year ate market for them, either on France Telecom. Etisalat owns a 66 ers as a key source of funds for how the securitisation markets called shadow banking, or lend- to boost trading and attract invest- the Egyptian bourse or outside it,” percent stake in Etisalat Misr. the economy, the head of an are working, and to see whether ing outside mainstream methods ment on the country’s bourse, mak- the Egyptian company said in an Etisalat, the UAE’ biggest tel- umbrella regulatory group said. new thinking is needed.” IOSCO such as regulated banks. ing it easier for companies wishing emailed statement. “It is expected ecoms operator by revenue and Securitisation bundles loans secretary general David Wright The EU wants a greater to list on the stock exchange. The that the study will end soon, espe- subscribers, missed forecasts with into interest-bearing bonds to said on the sidelines of a Chatham amount of financing for the econ- last major IPO on the Egyptian cially after the positive indicators a 70 percent rise in fourth-quar- raise money that banks can use to House financial conference. omy from market-based sources exchange was in 2010. Since then, that the Egyptian bourse has wit- ter net profit this month after it fund themselves and lend to small The sector was tarnished when like securitisation. Egypt’s capital markets have been nessed lately.” took impairments on Nigerian and companies. Banks, particularly in securitised products based on Currently about 30 percent hit by the political turmoil that The company said previous Indonesian operations. REUTERS Europe, are traditionally the main subprime US home loans became of financing comes from such supplier of loans but have become untradable in 2007, sowing the sources, the rest from banks, cautious as they focus on rebuild- seeds of a global markets melt- roughly the opposite situation ing their capital buffers. down and banking failures. to the United States which is a The International Organisation The European Union’s execu- model some European policymak- of Securities Commissions tive European Commission is also ers want to match to reduce the (IOSCO), which groups glo- keen to bring securitisation out of concentration of risks at banks bal market regulators, and its the cold and will publish its plans and diversify funding. REUTERS

A scene from the award ceremony in Dubai. Agency 222 wins big at Lynx Awards DOHA: Celebrating the best of not only resonate with our cli- people to get tested by making creative advertising, marketing ents’ target audience but also the experience fun and stress and design in the Mena (Middle make a real difference. Winning free. People were invited to give East and North Africa) region, 2nd place for the MENA wide a finger to Diabetes on World Agency 222 won five awards at Independent Agency of the Year Diabetes Day. At the event spe- the eighth annual Dubai Lynx is another major accomplishment cial tents with professional artists Awards 2014 which took place for Qatar based Agency 222 and took photos of fingers and created on March 12 at the Madinat I look forward to accepting many the participants finger portraits Arena, Madinat Jumeirah. more prestigious accolades such on site. These were then uploaded Agency 222’s campaigns took as this in the years to come.” onto a microsite where people home two silvers and two bronzes Agency 222’s winning works could download them as a profile and topped off this success with involved a campaign for Maersk picture using a special link. In second place in the special award Oil Qatar and Novo Nordisk only three days, over 1500 people category for the Mena wide Gulf’s Action on Diabetes initia- got screened for Diabetes. Independent Agency of the Year. tive, Fingers to Diabetes, which Buckle up with Pride, a Road Hussein Fakhri, CEO, Agency received two silvers for best use Safety Campaign for Mas Holding 222 commented on the achieve- of digital and public interest in won bronze in the Outdoor cat- ment, “I am extremely proud that Promo and Activation and one egory. The campaign used the Agency 222 has been recognised bronze for Branded Content. occasion of Qatar National Day with five awards at the Dubai With Qatar having the eighth 2013 to distribute a seat belt cover Lynx Awards 2014. Established highest rate of diabetes globally that Qataris could be proud of. in 2011, we have achieved a great and most people too frightened to The results were outstanding deal in a short time and proven take the test for Diabetes because with over 600 covers distributed that we can produce insightful of a fear of needles, Fingers to and massive appreciation from and engaging campaigns that Diabetes aimed at encouraging Qatari youth. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Protest against debt team Pak central QE index back bank blocks Meezan stake in green, adds sale: Noor

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s 70.60 points Noor Financial Investment Co said the proposed sale of its stake in Karachi-based Meezan Bank had been blocked by GIS boosts market as it jumps 9.9pc Pakistan’s central bank, which felt the prospective buyer DOHA: The Qatar Exchange The roll-over had been widely had not met its standards for bourse yesterday closed in the expected, but it was still good news suitability. green area, adding 70.60 points, for Dubai, and Abu Dhabi’s deci- Ownership of Meezan Bank, or 0.62 percent, to 11,401.65 sion to deal with both tranches at Pakistan’s first and largest full- points from a day before’s clos- once — rather than waiting until fledged Islamic lender, may be ing of 11,331.05 points. each one matured — appeared to a sensitive issue for regulators The volume of the shares suggest a determination to clear as they seek to develop Islamic traded fell to 14,644,221 from obstacles to growth in the UAE. banking in the country. 17,654,772 and the value of shares Dubai’s main stock index In a bourse filing on Sunday, decreased to QR689,574,299.79 climbed 1.6 percent but total Noor Financial said the prospec- from QR726,151,874.64 on Sunday. trading turnover was only slightly tive buyer would continue to seek Qatar’s index was up largely higher than Sunday’s moder- approval from the regulator, with on the back of a single stock, ate level. Meanwhile, shares in the offer set to expire on April 15. industrial services provider Gulf Dubai’s Emaar Properties added Little is known about the pro- International Services, which 1.7 percent to Dh9.25, testing P ublic sector workers scuffle with police before the arrival of a team of inspectors from the IMF, the spective buyer, identified only as jumped 9.9 percent on average chart resistance at Dh9.16-9.20 European Commission and the European Central Bank at the finance ministry in Athens yesterday. Vision Financial Holdings Ltd in trading volume. Last week, its — the February and March highs a separate filing by Meezan Bank. annual meeting approved a 20 — for a second day after the Last December, Noor Financial percent cash dividend and a 25 company announced a higher said it planned to sell its 49.1 per- percent bonus share issue. 2013 dividend and a plan to list cent stake in Meezan for $190m Among the other top gainers its shopping mall unit. “On the and expected to book a $24m were Qatar Insurance, which was monthly chart the stock is now profit. up 2.09 percent to QR63.50, Qatar seen heading higher to Dh12 and Toyota suspends Indian auto Regulators are stepping up Islamic Bank gained 1.65 percent Dh15 in the coming months,” said their efforts to develop Islamic to QR73.90, Barwa Real Estate Shiv Prakash, senior technical banking in Pakistan, aiming to added 0.56 percent to QR35.95 analyst at NBAD Securities. double the industry’s branch net- and Vodafone Qatar was up by Other property-related names production after labour unrest work and reach a 15 percent share 0.99 percent to close at QR12.22. in Dubai posted even stronger of the banking system by 2018. The banking and financial sec- gains. Builder Arabtec Holding TOKYO: Toyota said yesterday notice. With this background, the The two factories, near the As of December, Meezan Bank tor index lost 0.07 percent, while jumped 6.4 percent and contrac- it has suspended production at company is left with no other city of Bangalore, produce about had a network of 351 branches consumer goods and services sec- tor Drake & Scull added 3.9 per- its two Indian auto assembly option but to declare a lock-out of 310,000 units annually, mostly for and held assets worth Rs329bn tor index rose 20.75 percent. The cent. Banks also lifted the bourse plants in response to threats the premises to ensure the safety the domestic market. ($3.3bn), a 20 percent increase industrial sector added 1.57 per- in Abu Dhabi, which jumped 1.9 against management and of its workers and management The fresh strife comes as Japan from a year earlier. cent, while insurance sector was percent. First Gulf Bank added 4.4 “deliberate” assembly-line stop- personnel,” it added. looks to boost ties with India to There are five full-fledged up 1.77 percent. percent, Abu Dhabi Commercial pages, as efforts to hammer out A Tokyo-based company counter-balance China’s growing Islamic banks and 14 Islamic Elsewhere in the region, prop- Bank rose 3.1 percent and Union a labour deal failed. spokesman said Toyota hoped to influence in the region. windows in Pakistan, with sev- erty and banking shares lifted National Bank gained 4.9 percent. The world’s biggest automaker restart production quickly. But he But the experience of Japanese eral looking to grow or spin off stock markets in the United Arab In Kuwait, Noor Financial said the move will see the lock- could not give a timeline for any firms in India has not always been their existing operations while Emirates after Dubai obtained a Investment Co dropped 4.8 per- out of about 6,400 employees at re-opening of the plants, which rosy. new entrants are also expected. roll-over of $20bn of debt. Other cent after saying the proposed the factories in southern India, make a range of models includ- A 2012 riot at Maruti Suzuki’s Last month, Meezan Bank said markets in the region were mixed sale of its stake in Karachi-based a move that was condemned as ing the flagship Camry sedan, the Manesar plant near New Delhi it was in talks to buy the Pakistan as uncertainty over the Ukraine Meezan Bank had been blocked “illegal” by a union spokesman. Corolla and the Prius hybrid. saw workers chase supervisors operations of HSBC Bank Middle crisis continued to prompt profit- by Pakistan’s central bank. The Company and union officials The move, which was with iron rods, killing a person- East, a 10-branch business which taking by some retail investors. index declined 0.3 percent to 7,409 had been trying to sign a new announced on a bank holiday in nel manager and injuring close to the British lender has been trying Abu Dhabi and the central bank points. contract for the past 10 months, India, sparked sharp criticism by 100 other managers. to sell for the past two years. of the United Arab Emirates said Egypt’s bourse added 0.4 per- with the local government helping the union representing workers The riot, which workers’ rep- Pakistan’s MCB Bank plans to on Sunday that they had agreed cent to 8,161 points, rebounding mediate negotiations. at the two plants. resentatives at the time said was take a 55 percent stake in Islamic to extend for five years $20bn of from Sunday’s dip, but remained “In the meantime, under the “The lockout is illegal as man- caused by unhappiness over wages lender Burj Bank, alongside an loans which were provided to the range-bound between the 8,100- instigation of the union, certain agement did not give the manda- and working conditions, saw additional investment by the pri- Dubai government as emergency and 8,250-point levels. sections of the employees have tory 14-day notice to employees India’s leading carmaker by sales vate sector arm of the Islamic aid during its financial crisis, and The Saudi Arabia index slipped resorted to deliberate stoppages and the state labour office,” said lock out workers for a month Development Bank. were due to mature this year in 0.1 percent to 9,368 points. of the production line, abuse Prasanna Kumar of the Motor and cost it some $250m in lost That deal, which still requires two tranches. QNA & REUTERS and threatening of supervisors Corporation Employees’ Union. production. regulatory approval, would thereby continuously disrupting “The lockout was declared uni- On Monday, the Toyota spokes- involve the sale of Bahraini Bank business for the past 25 days,” laterally though we have been man said there had not been any Alkhair’s 36.9 percent stake in QATARI MARKET Toyota said in a statement. negotiating with management on reports of physical abuse of man- Burj Bank, which it classified as Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P “All these unlawful activities wage hike for this fiscal (year) for agers or workers at its now-shut- held-for-sale in June 2012. AFP REUTERS Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 100.25 0.40% Aa2 AA have been detailed in the lock-out 10 months.” tered plants. Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 1.10% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.88 2.35% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 113.63 2.71% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 108.50 3.26% Aa2 AA Cautious appetite Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 154.50 4.86% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 116.75 5.21% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 107.75 5.22% Aa2 AA for risk lifts gold Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.56 0.81% Aa2 AA Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 110.88 3.10% Aa2 AA Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 102.50 1.19% A1 A- to six-month high Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.25 1.94% A1 A- QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.00 1.24% NR NR LONDON: Gold prices percent this year and was QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.25 1.14% Aa3 A+ briefly hit their highest in headed for its biggest quar- QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.25 1.87% Aa3 A+ six months yesterday as terly rise in 27 years as appetite for risk remained mounting geopolitical ten- Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.13 2.07% A2 A- cautious following Crimea’s sions and fears over slowing Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 104.88 1.43% A2 A- vote to break from Ukraine economic growth spurred Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.00 2.89% A2 A- and Western countries’ demand for the metal as an Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 107.13 3.58% A2 A- sanctions on Moscow and insurance against risk. Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 103.00 4.66% A2 A- Kiev officials. European stocks rose but Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 102.38 0.98% Aa3 A European Union foreign remained close to one-month Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.50 3.14% Aa3 A ministers have agreed to lows, and US shares opened impose sanctions including in positive territory yester- Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.88 3.92% Aa3 A travel bans and asset freezes day. The dollar fell 0.1 percent SOVEREIGNS on 21 officials from Russia and against a basket of currencies, Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Ukraine, Lithuania’s foreign after weaker-than-expected Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 100.33 -0.97% Aa2 AA minister said. New York Fed manufacturing Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.88 2.15% Aa2 AA “As long as the emerging- data. Traders now await the market worries continue, you US Federal Reserve’s policy Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 107.63 1.67% NR NR will see more buying coming meeting on March 18-19. The Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.75 2.31% NR NR through,” BofA Merrill Lynch central bank is expected to Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 124.00 3.60% NR NR analyst Michael Widmer said. announce another $10bn cut Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 117.00 3.98% NR NR “From now on, the market to its bond-buying stimulus. Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.00 0.39% Aa2 AA may be focusing a little bit A series of US economic Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.50 2.93% NR BBB more on the growth story,” data showing that growth Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 107.00 4.17% NR BBB he added. “The gold buying has been hurt by severe cold seems to be exclusively coming weather has recently hit the Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 102.25 5.31% Caa1 B- through from faster money ... dollar, in turn bolstering gold. Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.25 3.58% NR BBB- but that faster money can A weaker US currency makes

*Periodic Distribution Amount move out of the market and dollar-denominated assets IMPORTANT NOTE: reallocate back into equities such as gold cheaper for for- Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which again as soon as growth starts eign investors. is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services to pick up.” “The (Fed’s) March policy Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary Spot gold hit its highest statement tomorrow will steal 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 since September 9 at $1,391.76 the market’s attention, but take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds an ounce in earlier trade but until then gold will trade on can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant was at $1,380.85, down 0.1 risk sentiment still watching liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not percent, by 1455 GMT, as Ukraine,” VTB Capital said. a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. equity markets regained some New money has been strength. US gold futures rose flowing into gold-backed to a near six-month high exchange-traded funds of $1,392.60 an ounce and (ETFs) as investors seek were later up 0.1 percent at safety from riskier assets $1,381.40. during times of uncertainty. Bullion has gained 15 REUTERS TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS DBS buys SocGen’s Asia private banking business $220m deal to boost access to the region’s super rich

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s scale of its wealth management industry, which is a very fast- DBS Bank said yesterday it business,” Singapore’s leading growing segment of the global had agreed to buy the Asian bank said. Jean-Francois Mazaud, financial services industry,” said private banking business of head of Societe Generale Private Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief French lender Societe Generale Banking, described DBS as “the economist at IHS Global Insight. (SocGen) in a deal worth most suitable choice”. “The concentration of acquired $220m, boosting its access to “The commercial partnership assets in Singapore and Hong the region’s super rich. we intend to implement together Kong is also positive in terms DBS said in a statement to the will also represent a great oppor- of the geographic distribution of Singapore Exchange that the deal tunity for our private banking assets under management, since “will accelerate DBS’s ambition of customers to fully benefit from Singapore and Hong Kong are the becoming a leading wealth man- the very best of the two banks in two leading international finan- ager in Asia”. Europe and in Asia,” he said. cial centres in Asia,” he said. DBS Bank Group Head, Consumer Banking and Wealth Management, Tan Su Shan (left) and Olivier Gougeon, the The acquisition comes at a time DBS’s clients will have access Kenny Kan, market analyst Regional CEO, Asia Pacific of Societe Generale Private banking Asia in Singapore yesterday. of growing competition to manage to Societe Generale Private at CMC Markets in Singapore, the wealth of Asia’s growing ranks Banking’s offerings in Europe, said the deal marked a “strategic of millionaires and billionaires. DBS said. It said the deal would positioning” by DBS “in view of is growing in affluence, and mint- Sg$109bn at the end of last year, Asia. DBS’s expertise is “pre- Under the agreement, DBS increase its high-net-worth assets the growing need for wealth man- ing more millionaires every day he said. Those of high-end cli- dominantly in Asian investment will buy Societe General’s Asian under management by more than agement in Asia with its ever- than anywhere else in the world,” ents came to Sg$69bn, up from products and deal flows”, he said. private banking operations in 20 percent. increasing millionaires”. he said in the memo. Sg$39bn in 2010. Gupta said the deal should Singapore and Hong Kong and “From a strategic perspective, DBS chief executive Piyush He said that in the 2013 finan- Calling the deal complemen- be completed by the end of the parts of its trust business. “This this acquisition will propel DBS Gupta said in an internal memo cial year, DBS’s wealth franchise, tary, Gupta said Societe Generale year following legal and regula- transaction is in line with one of forward in its strategy to grow to staff it was time for the including the private banking Private Banking’s client base was tory approvals. The deal comes DBS’s strategic priorities to be a its regional financial services foot- Singapore bank to accelerate its business, reported record income largely focused on “ultra high net as Asia’s strong economic growth leading wealth manager in Asia print and become a leading bank private banking business through of Sg$924m ($730m). The bank worth” individuals, many of whom results in a boom in the ranks of and will significantly increase the in the Asian wealth management an acquisition. “As you know, Asia managed wealth assets totalling come from outside Southeast the ultra-rich. AFP Russian tycoon to buy RWE’s oil unit for $7.1bn Eurozone inflation FRANKFURT: Shares in indicative bids came in a range one of the few future growth driv- to StarMine. The transaction is troubled utility RWE rose after of €3.5bn-€5bn, with Fridman ers of the company,” said Equinet not expected to face regulatory it reached a deal to sell its oil making the highest offer. analyst Michael Schaefer. hurdles, to be obtained in all 14 dips to rate-cut level and gas production arm to The transaction is raising eye- DEA, which accounted for countries DEA is active in, and investors led by Russian tycoon brows at a time when East-West about 9 percent of RWE’s operat- RWE on Sunday said it had Mikhail Fridman for €5.1bn relations have deteriorated over ing profit in 2013, employs about informed the Germany govern- BRUSSELS: Eurozone annual expects inflation to only pick up ($7.10bn), a high price but the an ongoing crisis in Ukraine’s 1,400 staff and owns stakes in ment about the transaction and inflation dropped back in slowly, to 1 percent this year and group will lose one of its main Crimea region, putting Russia at about 190 oil and gas licences or received no indication that it February to the level that trig- 1.5 percent in 2016, and a mini- profit drivers. odds with the United States and concessions in Europe, the Middle would be opposed to the deal. gered a surprise cut in interest mal dip to 0.7 percent last month “Good news that RWE has Europe. Some analysts also argue East and North Africa, some of A spokeswoman for Germany’s rates in November, revised data seems unlikely to prompt a sig- finally sold DEA at a higher that DEA was an important part which do not produce and are in Economy Ministry said Europe’s showed yesterday, underlining nificant policy change. price than we and consensus were of RWE, which is suffering from need of large investments. biggest economy was not worried deflation risks in the bloc. “The downward revision to expecting,” Santander analyst an industry crisis caused by a The deal values DEA at about that the deal would be a threat The year-on-year inflation rate the February inflation figures is Oscar Najar Rios said in a note, rise in renewable energy sources, 5.4 times EBITDA, includ- to natural gas supplies. Fridman in the 18 countries sharing the unlikely to be enough to trigger adding the group should now forcing it to book its first net loss ing assumed debt, a discount was one of the “group of seven” euro was 0.7 percent in February further near-term monetary eas- focus on cost cutting and lower- since 1949 earlier this month. “We to the 6.3 times average for the businessmen who funded former against 0.8 percent in January, the ing,” said Martin van Vliet, sen- ing its €30.7bn debt pile. frequently criticised the transac- European oil and gas exploration Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s European Union’s statistics office ior economist at ING. “This will Sources previously said that tion in general as it takes away and production sector, according re-election bid in 1996. REUTERS Eurostat said. also require a deterioration of the The reading was the joint- activity and or a further signifi- lowest in four years and a touch cant strengthening of the euro.” below the initial February esti- A strong euro has weighed on Egypt’s GDP mate of 0.8 percent. The annual prices, and the currency fell in inflation print last fell to 0.7 per- reaction to yesterday’s data, dip- cent in October — a decline that ping against the dollar and paring grows 1.2pc persuaded the European Central gains against the yen. Month-on- Bank to cut its key interest rate month inflation was 0.3 percent in CAIRO: Egypt’s economy grew to a record low of 0.25 percent February, driven by a 0.5 percent 1.2 percent in the first half of the following month. Inflation has rise in prices of services and a 0.4 fiscal year 2013-14, the minister not dropped below that level since percent increase in costs of non- of planning said yesterday. November 2009, when it stood at energy industrial goods. Ashraf al-Arabi said Egypt 0.5 percent, Eurostat said. Prices of food, alcohol and had spent 25bn Egyptian pounds The ECB, which targets infla- tobacco fell 0.1 percent on the ($3.59bn) of 64bn pounds pledged tion at close to but below 2 month, while highly volatile in stimulus packages, with much percent, considers the risk of energy costs inched up 0.1 percent. of that money coming in aid from eurozone deflation as “quite lim- In February, there were four the United Arab Emirates. ited”, its president Mario Draghi eurozone countries with negative “We aim to achieve a growth said last Thursday. The bank left annual inflation rates, Portugal rate in the third quarter of more borrowing costs unchanged at its and Slovakia both with -0.1 per- than 2 percent,” al-Arabi added. most recent meeting on March 6. cent, Greece with -0.9 percent Egyptian gross domestic product Draghi also said the bank has and Cyprus at -1.3 percent. in the last fiscal year, which ended been preparing additional policy “Today’s CPI figures are a clear on June 30, was up 2.1 percent. steps to guard against possible reminder that low inflation may Egypt’s finance minister last deflation, and that the longer have become the new normal for week revised down the growth inflation remained low, the higher the eurozone, which certainly target for the current fiscal year was the probability of deflationary won’t make it easy for some coun- to between 2 and 2.5 percent from risks emerging. tries to reduce their debt over- 3 to 3.5. REUTERS But the ECB has already said it hangs,” van Vliet said. REUTERS Yuan takes a hit after reform

SHANGHAI: China’s yuan weakened against the dol- lar yesterday after the central bank doubled the trading band for the currency, which the United States has long insisted is undervalued. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) said on Saturday it would allow the yuan to move up or down 2 percent daily —double the previous 1 percent — on either side of a mid-point set under the guidance of the bank, which says it polls market makers. The yuan ended at 6.1780 to the dollar yesterday, the first trading A clerk counts 100 Chinese yuan banknotes at a branch of China Merchants day after the reform, compared Bank in Hefei yesterday. with Friday’s close of 6.1502, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. uncontrolled movement of funds against the dollar in 2013, rising Analysts said the long-waited in and out of China. more than 3 percent. financial reform would introduce The US government said in “We view this move as another greater volatility in trading on October that the yuan remained major step in the direction of the national foreign exchange undervalued despite appreci- allowing the market to play a market, but stressed the central ating last year and called on more important role in exchange bank could still exercise control Beijing to disclose more about rate setting,” investment bank over the yuan. its market intervention. But the Goldman Sachs said in research Policymakers have pledged US Treasury stopped short of note released yesterday. to move gradually towards full officially branding China a “cur- But it added: “If the PBoC wish convertibility of the yuan — also rency manipulator”, a designa- they can still move the rate in the known as the renminbi — allow- tion that could spark sanctions direction they want, since this ing it to be freely bought and by Washington. band only affects how much (the) sold, and bringing with it the The yuan steadily appreciated rate can move intra-day.” AFP TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Britain’s low earners Do we really need to keep and moaning taxpayers managers or let them go? BY CHRIS HUHNE BY GUY BROWNING Whatever you think of the building, it’s One of the truly irritating things about t is the budget again, and time for another supposed attack an ugly business model and not really sus- our new sense of empowerment is that eve- on the middle classes from this radical coalition govern- hanks to the information revolu- tainable. There are three words that explain rything you have been empowered to do, you ment. If you believe the Daily Mail, you would think that the tion, we can all self-manage. If how damaging the shard model can be: boss is empowered to undo. Icoalition is in the pay of left-wing union leaders because it managers aren’t doing anything Goodwin, Fred, and Sir. Real empowerment is about being able to is so determined to tax “hard-working, aspirational, self-reliant for your company, let them go. The alternative model to the pyramid is make all the decisions that count and keep- middle Britain”. Have you ever looked across also taken from ancient history; it’s called ing them made. Naturally you’ll make them Two former Tory chancellors, Nigel Lawson and Norman Tthe office at your manager and thought, the tablet. Traditionally, managers ran with all the other people that have some- Lamont, have made the case for alleviating what is billed as a “what exactly do they do?” You’re not alone. things because they knew more than you did. thing useful to say, but that’s what tech- disincentive to work, risk-taking and prosperity. They want the Pretty much everybody at work wonders Information was power. But technology has nology is for. But you also need the purse government to take more people out of the 40 percent income what their manager does and that also democratised information. You can now have strings and then you can truly self-manage. tax band rather than increasing the tax-free personal allowance. includes your manager. all the information about business at your But hold on. What about wise heads? When Lawson introduced 40 pence in the pound in 1988 as the They look across with x-ray eyes through fingertips while you’re in bed. Information What about experience, maturity, acquired top rate of income tax, 1.7 million people paid it. Now it starts the partition wall and they too wonder what transparency is the enemy of hierarchy. knowledge? Surely we don’t want to throw at an annual income of £41,866, and catches 4.4 million people. their manager does. Without wishing to be So, knowing you’ve got the same infor- all these away? Clearly not, but do we want Many have only recently started paying the 40p tax rate, as one too radical I’d like to politely suggest that mation they have, take a long look at your to value them above innovation, creativity, of the coalition’s surreptitious tax increases has been to cut the all management is scrapped. Or, to use one boss and ask yourself if they are really bet- daring and outrageous optimism? starting point. However, don’t cry for middle Britain. There are of their favourite phrases, let go. ter qualified to make decisions than you. In business the half-life of useful experi- more than 30 million people in work across the country. Just 15 If this were to happen tomorrow would After all, they are now detached from the ence has never been shorter. Experience percent of taxpayers earn enough to pay the 40 percent rate, and we have a headless chicken, a driverless frontline. They are no longer serving the is often the enemy of progress. This isn’t they do not pay the higher rate on their entire income but only train or an efficient beehive? Well in the customer. They are no longer producing a generational thing either, it’s a state of on the extra income above that starting level. first few days we’d have a train wreck of or creating value. What they know about mind thing. You’re either open to continual What about the 85 percent of income earners who are not pay- headless chickens stirring up a hornets’ nest, the frontline is probably out of date, out of shifting complexity and fluid new connec- ing the 40 percent rate? They include the vast majority of the but then things would settle down. Why? touch, irrelevant and quite possibly danger- tions or you’re more interested in building middle class, let alone blue collar workers. The Oxford English Because most people are now self-managing. ous. So why don’t we just bin them all? something safe and solid and permanent Dictionary says that middle is “used of that member of a group When you work from home do you have Defenestrating managers all sounds (which nothing really is). or sequence, or that part of a whole, which has the same number your boss in the spare room to make sure rather exciting and revolutionary but there’s Everyone should be valued for the differ- of members or parts on each side of it”. you’re OK? No, you don’t. Technology and one big hairy fly in the ointment. And that is ence they make, however they make it. We On this definition, the income of someone exactly half way empowerment have liberated us from the money. Increasingly, the difference between want managers to make a difference, too. between the bottom earner and the top was precisely £26,884 a traditional hierarchy. you and your boss is that they have a bigger In your business, whatever it is, if manag- year in April last year. Hierarchical business models have been budget than you. ers don’t make a difference, don’t make a We can safely dismiss the argument – a little sign of despera- breaking down for a long time. The pyramid As you go up the business ladder you’ll manager. If you already have one and don’t tion here from the chancellor, reportedly faced with hostile Tory should have been flattening out, yet for some find that your time is increasingly taken really like it, then comfort yourself with this backbenchers – that people like paying the higher rate because it reason the apex and base are now much up with two things: law and finance. Money essential truth about old-style managers: is a sign of their success. The same argument would have us back further apart, ending up looking a bit like still talks and your manager will translate they can’t manage without you. at Denis Healey’s 98 percent on unearned income in no time at all. the Shard. for you. THE GUARDIAN There is, of course, a respectable case for any tax cut: it may boost the incentive to work more; and it boosts spending, par- ticularly if aimed at low earners who can afford to save less. The economic evidence also suggests that it is the poorest earners, not the highest earners, who are most discouraged by high tax rates on extra income. Money means more to them because they have less of it. Before they take a job or work more hours, the low paid count their bus fares and look at what they will lose in income tax, national insurance contributions and in-work benefits. The low paid also suffer far higher rates of tax and benefit withdrawal on extra income than 40 percent: many face 70 per- cent effective tax rates on each extra pound they have. That is why it is so much more important to lift the low paid out of tax altogether than to provide concessions to upmarket folk who are deluded enough to think that they are merely middling. There is no easy answer, but the Liberal Democrat policy of increasing the allowance you can earn without paying any income tax helps to provide the poor with paths out of poverty through work. The government could lift low incomes more directly through higher benefits, but that would be at the cost of state dependence and, worse, work disincentives. It is crazy that we legislate for a minimum wage – now £6.31 an hour but set to rise to £6.50 in October – and then tax people on it. Yet anyone on the adult minimum wage throughout the year will earn £13,000 and will pay both income tax and national insur- ance worth in excess of £1,200. Both tax and national insurance starting points should surely be raised above the minimum wage. What will the chancellor do on Wednesday? George Osborne has riled his Liberal Democrat colleagues by trying to take the credit for the increase in the starting point for income tax from £6,475 to £10,000, a notably popular policy that has lifted about 2 million people out of income tax altogether. But it made no appearance in the Conservative manifesto – Osborne famously panicked Gordon Brown into postponing the election by promising inheritance tax cuts – but was the first priority for the Liberal Democrats. Osborne’s attempt to grab the credit for this is not going well, judging by the Ipsos-Mori poll last week that showed 45 percent rightly thought the Liberal Democrats deserved most credit. If Osborne wants to steal more of the credit he is going to have to go further than the Liberal Democrat manifesto, however hard the Daily Mail and the ghosts of chancellors past may find it. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Sick of hearing the financial crisis was Labour’s fault? BY ALEX ANDREOU or insistent with its selective ren- party that crashed the British feature regularly. One only needs important, the teller of the tale I think “looking through a dering of the past. economy.” This is despite all par- to listen to either a Democrat or a begins to believe it as the only and straw” best describes the polar- he first time I saw Essentially, the narrative being ties acknowledging, at the time, Republican in the US explain the definitive version of the truth. It ised political climate in which we Akira Kurosawa’s film, put forward is this: the historical that they were in the midst of reasons for their coming so peril- evolves into unshakeable dogma. live. The truth is often somewhere Rashomon, I was left effect of all previous events and an international maelstrom and ously close to a “fiscal cliff” a few We all do this. The birth of every in the middle. Tslightly disappointed – governments, up to and includ- broadly endorsing, applauding months ago, or observe how the child, for instance, has its own Extremely cold weather may not with any aspect of the film- ing Margaret Thatcher’s and John even, Gordon Brown’s reaction Crimean situation is perceived by mythology. It is usually based on a play a part in the economic down- making, which is clearly masterly. Major’s, is erased, even when it is to events. Russia and the west respectively, kernel of truth, but the more time turn of one quarter, just as much The problem was that my 16-year- direct. The universe in which we Anything negative that has to observe the Rashomon effect that passes, the more exagger- as mild weather in the upturn of old brain, accustomed as it was to live begins at the 13-year Labour occurred since May 2010 is down in full swing. ated and unshakable the “facts” the next. Poor or astute policy the linearity of Teen Wolf, Porky’s administration. to external factors – namely, EU One could dismiss it as cynical become. decisions played a part in both, and The Goonies, expected a rev- The clearest example of this is regulation, immigration, profli- political positioning, just spin – By the time we reach puberty, too. elation of the definitive version of the idea that the energy oligopoly, gate southern European econo- and perhaps this is how it begins. we know with certainty that we Rashomon was concerned with the truth at the end. which is causing so many prob- mies, the euro crisis, aggressive However, when a particular nar- were either born in minutes or the apportioning of blame, but I felt cheated and confused by lems in that market, is a result of Chinese expansion, the weather rative is repeated often enough, that labour lasted eight days and also with the right way to move its absence. Many years later, Labour’s policies and specifically being too hot, too cold, too wet or two things happen. nights; that we were very early or forward, how to distribute wealth, when I saw it again, I understood those of Ed Miliband as energy too dry, the “mess we inherited”, First, it becomes dominant, and very late; that our mother had no whom to trust with the raising of that this was precisely the point secretary in the year and a half the extra bank holiday, the dog alternative versions of the truth warning at all or 10 false alarms; the next generation. – to examine how we all construct between October 2008 and May eating our homework. are suppressed. We have actually that the obstetrician was called We cannot allow discourse the truth from a plausible, but 2010. Conversely, every plaudit for seen this very clearly with opposi- Jimmy and the midwife Hendrix. about the future of the country misleadingly selective, sifting of The direct contribution of pre- anything positive is due exclu- tion to the cuts. We cease to question it. It makes to become a sort of battle between the past. vious Conservative governments, sively to the “difficult decisions” Once it became clear that the us feel special. VHS and Betamax, where one I was reminded of the for example, in privatising energy this government is making. bulk of the media had tuned I discussed the tendency to must prevail and the other perish. Rashomon effect recently, while and setting up the regulatory This is, by no means, a phe- into the idea that cuts to public edit the past with the author of When it becomes this patho- watching Nick Clegg depu- framework is nil. nomenon unique to the British services were necessary (rather How to Stay Sane, psychologist logical, it is unhealthy and, vitally, tise for David Cameron during The global financial crisis in political scene. Whenever I am than stimulation or increased and regular Guardian contributor, it affects our ability to make Prime Minister’s Questions. On 2007-08 was the result of Labour’s in Greece, listening to Prime revenue – the other side of the Philippa Perry. “Selecting what to informed decisions going forward; a number of occasions he man- spending record. It was having too Minister Samaras’ speeches, I deficit equation), dissenting voices focus on is necessary,” she says, we begin to become confused, to aged to repeat what has, of late, many nurses and teachers that often have a sense that they are became paranoid that they may “otherwise we would be swamped disengage – like the commoner become a mantra-like timeline of caused the sub-prime lending direct translations of Cameron’s be perceived as shrill or irrational, by an overload of incoming infor- outside the Rashomon gates – by events, a highly selective, simpli- bubble, the US housing bubble, equivalent scripts. and so adopted this narrative of mation and be so overstimu- seeing the lie in every version, fied version of what went wrong and the collapse of Fannie Mae, “Difficult decisions”, “the necessity and moved on to the lated we couldn’t function. If it’s rather than finding the truth in and how we got to where we are. Freddie Mac, Northern Rock mess we inherited”, “we are on next battle (of how much, how really bad, I call it ‘looking at life it; it hinders our collective politi- I don’t remember another gov- and Lehman Brothers. In Nick the right track, but need more fast and what we ought to cut). through a straw’, only able to see cal ability to problem-solve. ernment being quite as intricate Clegg’s words, “Labour was the time”, “hard-working people” all Second, and possibly more what backs up a rigid opinion.” THE GUARDIAN TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 11,401.65 0.62 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 16,791.06 0.62 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,471.96 0.88 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,904.38 0.66 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,750.53 0.07 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5335.183 -11.957 -0.22 5477.3 5072.7 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,892.46 2.75 % QR161.9497 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4242.52 26.15 0.62 4432.5 4080.6 QE All Share Industrials 3,988.85 1.57 % SILVER UK ...... QR 6.0146 QR 6.0995 QE All Share Insurance 2,744.08 1.77 % Dj Indu Average 16065.67 0 0 16588.25 14382.09 Euro ...... QR 5.0329 QR 5.1028 QE All Share Real Estate 2,171.22 0.11 % QR 2.5057 CA$ ...... QR 3.2625 QR 3.3264 QE All Share Telecoms 1,499.9 0.16 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,996.92 0.03 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.1400 QR 4.1976 Hang Seng Inde/D 21473.95 -65.54 -0.3 23469.33 21197.78 Yen ...... QR 0.0355 QR 0.0362 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2790 QR 3.3433 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4908.68 33.31 0.68 5195.97 4522.4 CRUDE OIL 17-03-2014 16-03-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0591 QR 0.0602 Index 11,401.65 11,331.05 Karachi 100 In/D 27229.1 104.63 0.39 27427.04 25273.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0365 QR 0.0372 Change 70.60 12.33 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 14277.67 -49.99 -0.35 16164.01 13995.86 Peso ...... QR 0.0808 QR 0.0825 % 0.62 0.11 $ 107.60 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0282 YTD% 9.85 9.17 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1883.57 1536.03 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0475 Volume 14,644,221 17,654,772 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0371 QR 0.0378 Value (QAR) 689,574,299.79 726,151,874.64 Straits Times/D 3092.14 18.42 0.6 3187.8 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3350 QR 0.3437 Trades 9,441 9,287 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 104.37 Up 25 | Down 10 | Unchanged 05

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 17-03-2014

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 1248.75 4.15 18437 Chola Invest-B/D 258 -0.7 3653 Goodyear I -B/D 410.75 -6.15 17338 Kabra Extr-B/D 29.2 -0.55 6238 Orchid Chem-B/D 48.75 -1.55 75863 Kingfisher/D 412.4 10.7 2485205 Aarti Drugs-B/D 258.85 -4.45 1719 Cipla-A/D 385.85 5.6 116258 Hcl Infosys-B/D 38.8 5.4 3413130 Kajaria Cer-B/D 320 5 5402 Radico Khait-B/D 141.55 1.7 106373 Land Secs Grou/D 1047.21 13 695231 Aban Offs-B/D 472.9 -7.85 254558 City Union Bk-/D 49.4 -0.35 23812 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.03 -0.02 190638 Kalpat Power-B/D 85.45 -1.55 17749 Rallis India-B/D 159.9 -1.55 21672 Legal & Genera/D 228.7 0.9 3016081 Ador Welding-B/D 135.05 -1.95 1639 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1414.65 -21.55 6292 Himat Seide-B/D 57.2 -1.35 36107 Kalyani Stel-B/D 54.6 -0.7 32162 Rallis India-B/D 159.9 -1.55 21672 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 79.088 0.69 32943021 Aegis Logis-B/D 148.5 -2 12107 Colgate-A/D 1310.65 -3.3 3858 Hind Motors-B/D 7.03 -0.08 55236 Kanoria Chem-B/D 27 -0.05 7293 Reliance Indus/D 359.3 -8.3 140490 Marks & Sp./D 466.6 5.3 1307908 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 109.9 1.65 3773 Container Cor-/D 818.8 0.25 51832 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.48 0.8 49512 Kg Denim-B/D 13.8 -0.4 7448 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.8 -0.2 27204 Next/D 6648 70 97131 Alembic-B/D 14.17 -0.51 92540 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 51.5 -0.3 1100 Hind Unilever-/D 555.05 -6.2 76225 Kilburnengg-B/D 20 1 7721 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 288.05 -0.5 10638 Pearson/D 1020 14 1023015 Alok Indus-B/D 6.65 0.11 223277 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 46.05 -0.4 4355 Hind.Petrol-A/D 285.05 -5.45 295136 Kopran-B/D 22.85 -0.55 18849 Thirumalai-B/D 91 0.3 15324 Prudential/D 1351 5 1390960 Apollo Tyre-A/D 132.9 1.8 509760 Dhampur Sugar-/D 37.85 -1.1 17771 Hindalco-A/D 115.25 -0.4 679653 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 241.35 11.45 55636 Til Ltd.-B/D 160.1 -3.4 28734 Rank Group/D 145.1 1.1 14608 Asahi I Glass-/D 53.7 -1.45 8495 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2775.9 41.75 25464 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 854 -12.25 789874 Lloyd Metal-B/D 6.85 0.12 3348 Timexgroup-B/D 9.69 0.16 10740 Rentokil Initi/D 127.8 0.9 177971 Ashok Leyland-/D 17.45 0 797830 E I H-B/D 63.15 0.15 51967 I F C I-A/D 24.85 0.15 1217634 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.45 0 6500 Tinplate-B/D 49 -0.7 22757 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1036.8 4 1198333 Bajaj Hold-A/D 960 0.3 3625 E.I.D Parry-B/D 131.9 -3.7 47987 Idbi-A/D 59 -0.4 120147 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 13.9 -0.33 17976 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.79 0.05 2830 Rsa Insrance G/D 94.9 1.7 6942152 Ballarpur In-B/D 11.85 -0.2 233796 Eimco Elecon-T/D 164 -3.15 1416 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 76.55 -0.1 2650 Lupin-A/D 945.55 -4.55 32877 Ultramarine-B/D 52.5 1.4 14352 Sainsbury(J)/D 308.7 -4.9 5227668 Bata India-A/D 1099.55 11.9 28044 Electrosteel-B/D 13.86 -0.08 51966 India Cement-B/D 54.45 -1.95 125508 Lyka Labs-B/D 10.38 -0.12 9168 Unitech P -A/D 12.18 -0.12 3651427 Schroders/D 2591.4679 8 101360 Beml Ltd-B/D 260.6 -2.05 186798 Emco-B/D 25.85 -0.25 21952 India Glycol-B/D 90.2 -0.9 11982 Maha Scooter-B/D 461.05 -7.5 5056 Severn Trent/D 1843 30 246314 Bh Electronic-/D 999.6 3.65 1149 Escorts Fin-B/D 3.03 0.14 4900 Indian Card-B/D 86.1 0.45 1720 Mangalam Cem-B/D 109.75 1.2 4528 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 929.5 0.5 600923 Bhansali Eng-B/D 12.45 0.94 1007 Escorts-B/D 117.1 0.1 256414 Indian Hotel-A/D 69 -0.1 57708 Maral Overs-B/D 16.75 -0.05 1549 Smiths Group/D 1337.135 6 235725 Bharat Bijle-B/D 434.55 -0.5 14466 Essar Oil-A/D 51.35 -1.35 848101 Indo-Bcount-B/D 36.5 -1.9 13236 Mastek-B/D 208.6 -1.45 37398 3I Group/D 403.1 2.2 134561 Standrd Chart /D 1192.5 2 1530264 Bhartiya Int-B/D 205.65 5.95 11023 Eveready Indu-/D 42.85 -0.1 47913 Indusind-A/D 467.85 -0.25 177132 Max India L-A/D 198.85 2 638842 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2840 4 174974 Tate & Lyle/D 636 1 443813 Bhel-A/D 187.55 4.65 388606 F D C-B/D 123.55 0.5 9753 J.B.Chemical-B/D 130 0 24986 Mrpl-A/D 41.5 -0.85 26429 B Sky B/D 932 4.5 611101 Tesco/D 298.494 -5.25 9441783 Bom.Burmah-B/D 94.15 -0.8 13216 Federal Bank-A/D 83.4 -0.05 135275 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.85 0.13 3028 Nahar Spg.-B/D 94.45 -1.6 12341 Barclays/D 230.236 -0.9 19919689 Unilever/D 2362.65 -8 776789 Bombay Dyeing-/D 52.25 -1.35 207417 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.1 0.08 8419 Jbf Indu-B/D 68.5 0.15 3922 Nath Seeds-T/D 3.95 -0.2 4240 Bg Group/D 1069.5 -1.5 921626 United Util Gr/D 791 4.5 647816 Camph.& All-B/D 164.1 -0.85 1347 Fgp Ltd-B/D 2.14 -0.11 2001 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.39 0.01 1704 Nation Alum -A/D 34.8 -0.4 80851 Bp/D 476.1 -1.15 6597359 Vodafone Group/D 225.325 3.2 18978976 Canfin Homes-B/D 186.65 1.65 6122 Finolex-B/D 192.8 -3.6 8242 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.72 0 101752 Navneet Edu-B/D 55.85 -0.5 16071 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3182.5 -41.5 1082214 Whitbread/D 4290.9 56 142206 Caprihans-B/D 38 -0.6 44599 Gail-A/D 371.9 2.75 65192 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.15 -0.15 2395 Nepc India-B/D 2.38 -0.12 35087 Bt Group/D 392.8 3.8 5413314 Castrol Ind-T/D 297.85 13.85 15400 Gammon India-B/D 13.35 0.16 4208 Jik Indust-T/D 0.93 0.04 9200 Nrb Bearings-B/D 42.25 -0.15 3174 Centrica/D 331.58 1.1 3547843 Century Enka-B/D 132.35 -1.55 4994 Gangotri Tex-B/D 0.9 0.02 12456 Jindal Drill-B/D 169.25 0.5 1120 O N G C-A/D 322.7 -1.75 254611 Gkn/D 377.5 4.1 1584149 Century Text-A/D 335.3 2.45 75046 Garden P -B/D 38.45 1.55 5032 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 158.7 -1.25 197264 Oil Country-B/D 34.4 -0.25 3284 Hsbc Holdings/D 596.728 -1.5 10489128 Chambal Fert-B/D 39 0.05 71840 Goodricke-B/D 138.7 0.6 2821 Jmc Projects-B/D 80.15 -1.4 2091 Onward Tech-B/D 47.6 2.25 11534 Imperial Tobac/D 2419 3 466127 TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

England can win Griffin leads Clips past Rugby World Cup, says Lancaster Cavs to 11th straight win LONDON: England coach Stuart Lancaster believes his team can win the World Cup on home soil next year NBA: Davis’ career high 40 points help Pelicans to beat Boston following a successful Six Nations campaign. England missed out on the LOS ANGELES: The Los off the bench as the Suns defeated title on points difference to Angeles Clippers captured their NBA Results the Toronto Raptors. Ireland but won four games in 11th consecutive win, rolling to Charlotte 101 Milwaukee 92 With the victory, Phoenix (38- a row after losing their open- a 22-point rout of the Cleveland Phoenix 121 Toronto 113 28) swept the season series with ing match in France. Cavaliers in their NBA game Miami 113 Houston 104 Toronto (37-27) and snapped the “I’ve always believed that yesterday. Raptors’ four-game home win- New Orleans 121 Boston 120 (we can win the World Cup) Blake Griffin led the way for the ning streak. and I’ve believed it from Pacific Division-leading Clippers, Minnesota 104 Sacramento 102 Raptors guard Kyle Lowry fin- minute one,” Lancaster told who had seven players score in Dallas 109 Oklahoma City 86 ished with a team-high 28 points reporters yesterday.“It has double figures, with 21 points, 11 San Antonio 122 Utah 104 but appeared to hurt his neck been a steep curve and we have rebounds and eight assists. Golden State 113 Portland 112 after taking a knee to the head had to do it quickly,” added Chris Paul scored 16 points LA Clippers 102 Cleveland 80 from Suns forward P J Tucker Lancaster who took over as and handed out 15 assists for the with 1:36 remaining in the fourth coach two years ago. Clippers, while center DeAndre quarter. Lowry was checked on “We have been through our Jordan added 15 points and 11 With Thunder guard Russell the bench during a timeout and period of transition. I look at rebounds. Westbrook sitting out to rest, remained in the game. other international teams with The win allowed the Clippers the Oklahoma City offense ran Kevin Martin made six free a lot of over-30s playing for (48-20) to pull within a game of through forward Kevin Durant, throws in the final 30 seconds and them and think ‘they are going the second-place Oklahoma City who scored 30 points but made the Timberwolves held on for a to have to go through a period Thunder, who were pounded by just 8-of-20 shots. victory that officially eliminated of transition at some point’. the Dallas Mavericks yester- Dallas (40-27) received the Kings (23-44) from playoff “We’ve been through that day, in the Western Conference a balanced attack as Vince contention. and have got a very young side. race. Carter recorded 18 points off Martin scored a game-high This team will be around well The Cavs fell to 26-41 with the bench and Dirk Nowitzki 31 points and Kevin Love added beyond the next World Cup their first loss in three games. added 17 to help the Mavs snap 26 points and 10 rebounds for and way through to 2019.” Ray Allen came off the bench an 11-game losing streak to the Timberwolves (33-32), who England lost 26-24 in to score 14 of his 25 points in Oklahoma City. won for the third time in the France after conceding a late the fourth quarter where Miami Manu Ginobili scored 21 points last four home games to keep try but they beat Scotland closed the game on a 15-2 run to and the San Antonio Spurs won their own wafer-thin playoff 20-0, Ireland 13-10 and Wales beat Houston and break out of their 10th straight game, beating hopes alive. 29-18 before finishing up with their malaise. the Utah Jazz. Kemba Walker scored 21 a crushing 52-11 victory in The Heat, who entered the con- Spurs guard Tony Parker points to lead the Charlotte Italy. test having lost five of their past scored 18 points and the Spurs Bobcats to a win over the They ran in seven tries six games, also got 24 points each improved to 50-16, the best record Milwaukee Bucks. against the Italians after from forward LeBron James and in the NBA. Gary Neal continued to shine scoring seven in the previous guard Dwyane Wade. Utah fell to last in the Western for his new team with 18 points four games and Lancaster Houston led 102-98 with four- Conference at 22-45. for the Bobcats (33-34), while is under no illusions about and-a-half minutes remaining but Anthony Davis recorded Milwaukee fell to a league-worst where England need to failed to compete in the closing career highs with 40 points and 13-54. improve most. stages. 21 rebounds and guard Tyreke Klay Thompson’s three-pointer “Attack,” he said. “There James Harden finished with Evans scored five of his 26 points with 11.1 seconds was the dif- is still room for a 10 percent 30 points, while Dwight Howard in overtime to carry the New ference in the Golden State improvement in every area. had 21 points, 14 rebounds, five Orleans Pelicans to victory over Warriors’ wild victory over the There is a long way to go but assists and two blocked shots for the Boston Celtics. Portland Trail Blazers. this Six Nations has been a the Rockets (44-22). Just one game after setting Guard Stephen Curry scored good step forward for us. The Heat (45-19) trail the his career high with 36 points in 37 points and Thompson added “I’m never satisfied Indiana Pacers by two games in a loss to Portland, Davis made 27 for the Warriors (42-26), who and always want to keep the loss column in the battle for 14-of-22 from the field and all 12 rallied from an 18-point deficit improving.” the best record in the Eastern of his free throws to set a new to pick up the win following two England play three tests in Conference. record points tally. straight defeats. New Zealand in June before Shawn Marion scored 19 points Jeff Green had 39 for Boston. Guard Damian Lillard scored the November series of inter- to lead the Dallas Mavericks to He made a three-point play to 26 points and handed out seven nationals against the All victory over the Oklahoma City pull the Celtics (22-45) within assists, and forward Nicolas Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters (3) is fouled by Los Angeles Blacks, South Africa, Samoa Thunder. one with 5.7 seconds left but the Batum collected 23 points, 14 Clippers’ centre DeAndre Jordan (6) as he drives to the basket during and Australia. The 23-point loss represented Pelicans (27-39) were able to run rebounds and five assists for the the second quarter action of their NBA game at Staples Center, Los REUTERS the largest margin of defeat for down the clock. Trail Blazers (43-24). Angeles, yesterday. the Thunder this season. Gerald Green scored 28 points REUTERS Vancouver Canucks get the best of Luongo with shootout win SUNRISE, FLORIDA: Eddie Lack got the better of former goaltender team-mate Roberto Luongo, as he made 26 saves to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a shootout win (4-3) over Florida in their NHL game yesterday. Luongo was traded to the Panthers (25-35-8) on March 4 after he spent parts of eight seasons in Vancouver (31-29-10). He made 29 saves against his former team but surren- dered the lone shootout goal by Nicklas Jensen that proved the difference in the game. Goaltender Antti Niemi made 41 saves, including 20 in the first period, to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 1-0 win over the New York Rangers. San Jose improved to 45-17-7 this season. Logan Couture’s short-handed goal in the first period was all San Jose needed as the Sharks swept the sea- son series from New York (36-29-4). The Sharks have won six in a row and nine of their past 11. Winnipeg Jets’ defenceman Dustin Byfuglien (33) scores against the Dallas Stars in their NHL game at Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist MTS Centre yesterday.

NHL Results made 28 saves for the Rangers. Simmonds. Matt Read gave Senators. Colorado (44-19-5) Philadelphia 4 Pittsburgh 3 Philadelphia scored the first Philadelphia a 4-2 advantage in were coming off a 6-4 loss to Vancouver 4 Florida 3 three goals of the game and the second where Pittsburgh’s the Anaheim Ducks, while the Washington 4 Toronto 2 held on for a victory to sweep (44-19-4) Jayson Megna pulled Senators (28-26-13) were una- Edmonton 2 Carolina 1 Pittsburgh in the home-and- the team within one but could ble to regroup from blowing a home series between the teams. get no closer. 4-1 lead in the final 3 1/2 min- San Jose 1 Ny Rangers 0 The Flyers (35-25-7) shut out Backed by 38 saves from goal- utes of Saturday’s game against Colorado 3 Ottawa 1 the Penguins 4-0 on Saturday, tender Semyon Varlamov, the the Montreal Canadiens. Andre Montreal 2 Buffalo 0 and quickly followed it up with Colorado Avalanche jumped Benoit, Nick Holden and John Chicago 4 Detroit 1 a three-goal first period that back on the winning track Mitchell had the Colorado goals. Winnipeg 7 Dallas 2 included two scores from Wayne with a victory over the Ottawa REUTERS TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Top gymnasts for Qatar event 7th FIG World Challenge Cup Artistic Gymnastics to take place from March 26 to 28

DOHA: A host of Olympic and World champions have con- firmed their participation for the 7th FIG World Challenge Cup Artistic Gymnastics which will be held here at the Aspire Academy Dome from March 26 to 28, officials of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) announced here yesterday. Addressing a press conference, President of QGF said more than 200 gymnasts from 37 coun- tries, will gather in Doha for the event and thanked International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for reposing faith in Qatar to host the prestigious championship for the seventh time. “It is a pride that we have earned the trust of the International Gymnastics federation (FIG) to host an important event like this here in Qatar, which is hosting a lot of championships like this in different sports,” said Al Hitmi. Al Hitmi said Qatar has all the infrastructure and personnel to host the world championships. “We have the best possible facilities and infrastructure to host any world class event.. We have qualified manpower work- ing professionally, all these makes us ambitious to go for bigger events and we are gearing up to host 2018 Artistic Gymnastics The President of Qatar Gymnastic Federation, Ali Al Hitmi (fourth right) with other officials and sponsors of the 7th FIG World Challenge Cup Artistic Gymnastics after the sponsorship World Championships,” the QGF agreement signing held at the Holiday Villa Hotel in Doha yesterday. PICTURE BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT President, who is also the chair- man of the Higher Organisation Committee of Artistic Gymnastics Qatar will host the second The Qatar championship will Cup has attracted the best in the He won the world title in 2005 feature in the men’s events. World Series. leg of the seven-stop World Cup be held for both men and women business. and 2007, and was the World Cup While in the women’s, Shaden Qatar has submitted the bid file Series events. and after each event there will The men’s challenge, which has Final champion in 2000 and 2004, Wohdan, who won two gold med- to host the 2018 Artistic World The first leg finished in Cottbus, be a World Ranking lists for each attracted 99 entries, will be led by having also won European title als at the Arab Games in 2011, Cup and the host country will Germany, on Sunday. piece of apparatus, six for men 2012 Olympic Champion Epke Jan three times. Farah Mahmoud and Ahlam Al be officially named at the FIG Besides Qatar, the other stops and four for women. Zonderland of the Netherlands. Among women – all eyes will Habshi will be in action. The Council’s next meeting in Kuwait for the World Cup Series events The men’s competition will The 27-year-old, nicknamed be on Larisa Andreea Iordache tickets are available for free at the on May 9 and 10. are April 18 to 20 in Ljubljana be in Floor Exercises, Pommel ‘The flying Dutchman’, was gold of Romania. She won a bronze City Center and Landmark malls “We are working hard to realise Slovakia, from April 25 to 27 in Horse, Rings, Vault, Parallel medalist at the London Games in medal as part of the Romanian Thursday, March 20 onwards the dream of hosting the World Osijek Crotia, May 29 to June 1 in Bars and Horizontal bar, while the high bar and the next year team at the 2012 Olympics. At between 4pm and 10 pm. Championships in 2018. I am Anadia Portugal, August 23 to the women will compete in Vault, he sealed his supremacy in the the World Championships last Gymnasts from the follow- hopeful we will be able to achieve 24, in Ghent, Belgium and from Uneven Bars, Balance Beam and event, winning the 2013 World year, she won bronze in the Floor ing countries will be taking part it. We have a very good chance,” September 5 to 7 in Medellin, Floor Exercises. Championship in Antwerp. Exercise events and has also won in the championship namely Al Hitmi said. Colombia The competitions will feature At the moment, he holds the two golds and a silver at the 2012 Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, qualifications, which will be held European, Olympic, and World European Championships. Belarus, Brazil Bulgaria, China, 7th Artistic Gymnastics FIG Challenge Cup on March 26 and the finals – championships titles. The other star athletes to take Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, where best eight gymnasts per In the Pommel Horse competi- part in the event are Marcel Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Date Phase Time apparatus will feature – will take tion, Olympic champion Krisztian Nguyen of Germany, who won Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, 25 March Podium Training First session 2:00pm place on March 27 and 28. Berki of Hungary will be the star silver in London in the all- Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Mongolia, Second session 5:15pm The total prize money for the attraction. He is also the 2010 and round gymnastics category and Netherlands, Norway, New 26 March Qualifications event First session 2:00pm event is $50,000, with first-placed 2011 World Champion, and was a Swiss world number four Giulia Zealand, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Second session 5:15pm apparatus walking away with silver medallist in the 2007 and Steingruber. Qatar, Romania, Singapore, 27 March Apparatus Finals 5:30pm $1,500, while the second and third 2009 editions. There will be six Qatari Slovenia, Switzerland, Taipei, 28 March Apparatus Finals 5:30pm placed gymnasts with be richer by Parallel bars World Champion gymnasts in the competition. Turkey, USA, Uzbekistan, Venue: Aspire Academy Dome $1,200 and $800. Mitja Petkovsek of Slovakia will Mahmoud Alsaadi, Ahmed Venezuela and Vietnam. The three-day World Challenge also be in action. Aldyani and Malik Alyahri will THE PENINSULA

PGA Valspar Late heroics give Aussie Championship Scores PALM HARBOR, United States: Senden second US title Leading scores after yesterday’s final round of the $5.7m US PGA Valspar Championship (par 71, PALM HARBOR, United States: Australian USA unless noted): John Senden birdied two of the last three holes in impressive fashion Sunday to win the 277 John Senden (AUS) 72-71-64-70 Valspar Championship, his first US PGA title 278 Kevin Na 70-68-68-72 in eight years. 279 Scott Langley 71-69-69-70 The 42-year-old from Brisbane sank a 68-foot 280 Will MacKenzie 73-70-68-69, Luke chip shot to birdie the 16th and a 22-foot birdie Donald (ENG) 71-72-67-70, Robert putt at 17 on his way to claiming the $1.02 mil- Garrigus 69-66-70-75 lion (733,600 euros) top prize at the $5.7m (4.09m 281 George McNeill 73-71-67-70 euros) event. 282 Graham DeLaet (CAN) 75-68-71-68, “I’m just so happy to come out on top,” Senden Gary Woodland 72-71-70-69, Matt said. “I just went out there and felt comfortable Every 68-71-72-71, David Hearn (CAN) throughout the first 10 or 12 holes. 71-70-70-71, Matteo Manassero “Then I started to make a few little errors and (ITA)69-70-71-72, Justin Rose (ENG) get a little uptight on the back nine, but made 71-68-69-74 some really nice saves and putts coming down 283 Bae Sang-Moon (KOR) 72-73-71-67, the stretch.” Charles Howell 71-70-74-68, Bill Haas Since his lone prior US PGA win at the 2006 John Senden of Australia stands with his tro- 69-73-72-69, Jason Dufner 72-73- John Deere Classic, Senden had played 205 events phy after winning the Valspar Championship at 68-70, Chesson Hadley 75-70-67-71, with four runner-up efforts his best showings. Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Jason Kokrak 74-68-68-73 Senden fired a one-under par 70 in the final Florida, yesterday. 284 Carl Pettersson (SWE) 71-70-71-72, round to finish 72 holes at the Copperhead Course Jordan Spieth 71-70-71-72, Jim Furyk at Innisbrook on seven-under par 271, defeating 71-69-71-73, Freddie Jacobson (SWE) American Kevin Na by one stroke. birdie attempt at the last but missed, settling for 70-71-70-73, Ted Potter 73-71-67-73 “With the difficulty of the course, the winning his best US tour finish since 2011 at Las Vegas. score always stays in single figures so I knew if “I made two great birdies coming in, but it I could just stay in the moment I could just give wasn’t good enough,” Na said. “I’m really pleased World Rankings it a shake,” Senden said. with how I played. I just got outplayed the last 1. (1) Tiger Woods (US) 9.70 Senden, who was second at this event in few holes.” 2007 and 2008, booked a berth in next month’s American Scott Langley was third on 279, 2. (2) Adam Scott (Australia) 8.34 Masters and became the first over-40 winner one stroke in front of England’s Luke Donald 3. (3) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 8.22 on the US PGA Tour since American Woody and Americans Will MacKenzie and Robert 4. (4) Jason Day (Australia) 7.03 Austin last July. Garrigus. 5. (5) Phil Mickelson (US) 6.39 Clinging to a share of the lead, Senden sank his Garrigus, who led when the day began, stum- 6. (7) Justin Rose (Britain) 6.25 pitch from the rough at the par-4 16th to seize bled with double bogeys at the third and sixth 7. (6) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 6.19 the top spot, dropping the wedge shot short and and a bogey at the fourth to fall back, opening watching the ball roll into the cup. the door to a fistful of rivals. 8. (8) Dustin Johnson (US) 5.97 “It was just like a magic shot,” Senden said. Senden had a tap-in birdie at the par-5 open- 9. (10) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 5.96 On 17, he followed with the long birdie putt to ing hole and sank a three-foot birdie putt at 10. (9) Zach Johnson (US) 5.90 grab a two-stroke edge and parred the last to set the fifth to take sole possession of the lead at 11. (11) Matt Kuchar (US) 5.55 the mark to beat. eight-under. 12. (12) Bubba Watson (US) 5.41 “At 17 I had the line and struck in well and it Na sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the fifth to 13. (13) Jordan Spieth (US) 5.30 went right in the middle,” Senden said. match him for the lead briefly but followed with 14. (14) Steve Stricker (US) 4.71 Na sank a 14-foot birdie putt at 17 to give him- back-to-back bogeys and a double bogey on the self a chance to force a playoff with a 40-foot next three holes to fall back. AFP 15. (15) Graeme McDowell (Britain) 4.70 TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

BNP Paribas Open Results Men Final Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Roger Federer Djokovic beats Federer (SUI x7) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) Women Final Flavia Pennetta (ITA x20) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x2) 6-2, 6-1 for Indian Wells crown ATP Tour Singles Standings 1 (1) Rafa Nadal(Spain) 13130 2 (2) Novak Djokovic(Serbia) 10900 Pennetta beats injured Radwanska to lift women’s trophy 3 (3) Stanislas Wawrinka(Switzerland) 5650 4 (4) David Ferrer(Spain) 5150 INDIAN WELLS, US: World 5 (8) Roger Federer(Switzerland) 5045 number two Novak Djokovic 6 (6) Andy Murray(Britain) 4795 rallied to beat Roger Federer in 7 (5) Tomas Berdych(Czech Republic) 4540 a three-set thriller yesterday to 8 (7) Juan Martin Del Potro(Argentina) 4270 win his first title of 2014 at the 9 (9) Richard Gasquet(France) 2905 Indian Wells ATP Masters. Djokovic defeated Federer 3-6, 10 (13) John Isner(U.S.) 2670 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to add a third title 11 (10) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(France) 2615 in the California desert to those 12 (11) Milos Raonic(Canada) 2575 he captured in 2008 and 2011. 13 (12) Tommy Haas(Germany) 2435 Italy’s Flavia Pennetta captured 14 (14) Fabio Fognini(Italy) 2295 the biggest title of her career 15 (15) Mikhail Youzhny(Russia) 2135 oyesterday when she beat Poland’s ailing Agnieszka Radwanska in 16 (16) Grigor Dimitrov(Bulgaria) 2130 the women’s final. 17 (17) Tommy Robredo(Spain) 2050 As Radwanska struggled with 18 (18) Kevin Anderson(South Africa) 1940 a knee injury, Pennetta cruised 19 (19) Nicolas Almagro(Spain) 1795 to a 6-2 6-1 victory in less than 20 (20) Jerzy Janowicz(Poland) 1715 an hour and a quarter in the Californian desert. “I’m just very happy and thrilled to be able to win the first ‘Smart’ racket title in this season,” Djokovic said. “I played, three, four matches in three sets, a couple of matches offers tennis had to come from a set down. Mentally this definitely helps my revolution confidence.” Having gained an early break PARIS: Aluminium and for a 2-1 lead in the third, graphite swept away the Djokovic served for the match at wo o den racket that Bjorn Borg 5-4 but was broken. used to win 11 Grand Slam From there they went to a tie- titles, but smart rackets that breaker that Djokovic dominated. analyse power and spin prom- “You always have to dig deep ise a new tennis revolution. against Roger,” said Djokovic, who Novak Djokovic (left) of Serbia and Flavia Pennetta of Italy hold trophies after winning men’s and women’s finals respectively at the BNP Paribas One such intelligent racket is put every first serve in play in Open Tennis in Indian Wells, California, yesterday. already on sale in the United that ninth game and still dropped States and will be launched in his serve. doubt ... I might have made a few title to go with those he won in of youth. She reached the semi- champion Li Na in the semis Europe in May. “When I served for the match, too many errors when it really 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012. finals of last year’s US Open and and was never in trouble against The Babolat Play will cost he played a fantastic game. I mattered.” “As I said before the match, has now won one of the biggest Radwanska. ¤399 ($555), about twice the couldn’t do much about it. I man- Federer saved one match point very few points will decide a win- events outside the four grand She chalked up 20 winners and price of a classic tennis racket. aged to regroup and get into the with an ace, but Djokovic ended ner, and that’s what happened.” slams. saved both break points she faced Eric Babolat, head of the tiebreak. it on his first opportunity on his The 32-year-old Federer was “Today was my day and I really as she claimed the 10th singles French company that devel- “That was absolutely great for own serve when a Federer back- trying to become the oldest player enjoyed this moment,” Pennetta title of her career and her first oped the racket, said “it is like me, I mean, from the first to the hand found the net. to win a Masters title since a said at the trophy presentation. in four years. Star Wars is coming to tennis.” last point.” A break of Djokovic’s first serv- 34-year-old Andre Agassi won at “After so many years of work- “After so many years and so But sensors inside the handle Federer sent a backhand long ice game in the match for a 2-0 Cincinnati 2004. Instead, Djokovic ing hard, this is the best moment.” much work and everything, this record the power of a stroke, the on the first point of the breaker, lead was the only opening Federer claimed the 17th elite Masters Radwanska went into the is the moment I’ve always waited impact of the ball on the racket and Djokovic seized a quick 3-0 needed to take the first set in 31 title of his career. match as a slight favourite but for,” said Pennetta. strings, the kind of stroke, the lead with an overhead smash minutes. In the 33rd career meeting was unable to play near her best “And it’s coming when you don’t spin and game time and send off a lackluster Federer lob and He put 74 percent of his first between the tennis heavyweights, because of a knee injury that expect it, because in the beginning the information to a smart- another errant backhand from serves in play and didn’t face a Djokovic avenged a loss to 17-time severely restricted her movement. of the week I never expected to be phone, computer or other device. the Swiss. break point. Grand Slam champion Federer She called for a medical time- the champion or to be in the final Babolat, whose company is “I think I played a good game The second set was tightly in the semi-finals last month at out early in the second set and or semi-final. one of the oldest tennis equip- to break back,” Federer said. contested, and it wasn’t until the Dubai, where Federer went on to struggled to control her emotions “I was here and tried to play ment makers in the world hav- “Got the first serve returns back, eighth game that Djokovic mus- win his first title in nin months. at the ceremony. my best tennis...so for me it was ing made the first animal gut and then played well from the tered the first break point of the The Swiss great will rise from “I’m sorry I could run as much something I was waiting a long strings in 1875, is convinced that baseline.” set. eighth to fifth in the world on as I could,” she sobbed. time, and finally I have a good within 10 years all rackets will He said playing into the wind Federer saved it with a service the strength of reaching the final “But I had a great week, it was trophy in my hands.” be equipped this way. likely made it harder for Djokovic winner, but a mishit forehand on here. my first final here. For Radwanska, it was a for- The Babolat Play’s basic to serve it out, but then the Serb the next point cost him the break Better known as a doubles “It’s disappointing to lose but getful day. The 25-year-old was design is an updated version had the wind with him for the and Djokovic confidently served player, Pennetta had contem- Flavia was just playing too good chasing her 15th career title and of a racket produced by the first six points of the tiebreaker. out the set. plated retiring last year after today.” her first in Indian Wells but never Lyon company already used by “He took advantage of that,” “It was a very even match,” said tumbling down the world rank- Pennetta beat rising American got into the match and was clearly Chinese women’s star Li Na. Federer said. “So it was an Djokovic, who denied Federer an ings, but the veteran Italian Sloane Stephens in the quar- limping at stages. AFP interesting end to the match, no unprecedented fifth Indian Wells has rediscovered the fountain ter-finals and Australian Open AGENCIES Korea skating official quits after Sochi flop Cav cruises to Tirreno stage

SEOUL: The powerful vice can seek help from him later MILAN: Tour de France sprint chairman of the Korean we will.” South Korea is the king Mark Cavendish cruised to Skating Union (KSU), Jeon traditional powerhouse of short victory in the sixth and penulti- Myung-gyu, resigned yester- track speed skating, topping the mate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico day as South Korea moved medal count in the sport at five yesterday, with Spaniard to put a disappointing Sochi of the past six Olympics. Alberto Contador retaining the Olympics behind it and But at Sochi, South Korea overall lead. start building for the 2018 failed to win a single medal in Following a crash in the final Pyeongchang Winter Games. the four men’s races, while the bend caused by a Lampre rider The KSU came under fire women won two golds, a silver and which took down another after the men’s short track team and two bronze medals. The from the Lotto team, Cavendish failed to win a medal in Sochi, men’s woes were compounded by went on to surge from behind the while Viktor Ahn, who won former team mate Ahn’s storm- wheels of three Omega-Pharma three golds for Korea in 2006 ing show. teammates in the final 150 before switching allegiance to The skater, racing under the metres of the 189km stage from Russia, took three more titles name Ahn Hyun-soo, won three Bucchianico to Porto Sant’Elpidio for his adopted country. golds and a bronze for South to win solo. Speculation was rife that fac- Korea at the Turin Games Italian teammate Alessandro tional infighting and favourit- before falling out with the KSU Petacchi finished second with ism was behind Ahn’s switch, after being passed over for Slovakian Peter Sagan in third and President Park Geun-hye Vancouver in 2010 and taking place. ordered an investigation into up Russian citizenship. Less than a week from the sea- British cyclist Mark Cavendish of the case. However, a KSU He won three golds and a son’s first major one-day classic, Omega Pharma winning the sixth official said yesterday that bronze for his adopted coun- the Milan-San Remo, Cavendish stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 Jeon’s decision to step down try in Sochi and confirmed his said he was delighted with the cycling race from Bucchianico to was based purely on the Sochi place as the sport’s greatest form that has seen him win one Porto Sant’Elpidio, in central Italy, disappointment. Olympian. South Korea’s speed stage on the Tour of the Algarve yesterday. “His resignation today has skating team brought home a as well as his victory yesterday. nothing to do with the allegation gold and silver medal, but 500 “I’m really happy because I’m (that he is behind the factional metres champion Mo Tae-bum in great shape. I can’t wait for infighting). He took the respon- and 10,000 holder Lee Seung- Milan-SanRemo,” the Isle of Man sibility for the disappointing hoon finished out of the medals. rider told Rai television. pulled clear of the peloton after for the final dash for the line. It left a small group of riders performance of the Korean KSU chairman Kim Jae- Earlier, Sagan’s Cannondale it had caught an earlier four-man A right-hand bend proved fatal to go on and contest the win, team in Sochi,” the official said yeol told local media: “We have team upped the pace when it breakaway. for the sprinters looking to pre- but with three teammates pac- by telephone. launched a committee aimed at became clear that sprint rival However the Belgian, who will vail on the long home straight, ing him in furious fashion in the “Since he has accomplished improving Korean skating for Marcel Kittel was struggling on also fancy his chanwces in San with Germany’s Andre Greipel finale there was little chance of a lot for Korean skating, if we Pyeongchang. REUTERS one of several climbs. In the clos- Remo on Sunday, was reeled in one of several caught up in the Cavendish facing an upset. ing kilometres Philippe Gilbert as Omega-Pharma upped the pace ensuing melee. AFP TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Stirling’s 60 brings Ireland last-ball win over Zimbabwe World Twenty20 championship: Netherlands thrash UAE by six wickets

SYLHET, BANGLADESH: beat Afghanistan and debutant Brief scores Opener Paul Stirling smashed Nepal downed Hong Kong in 60 off 34 balls to set Ireland Group A matches on the open- Zimbabwe 163-5 in 20 overs (B. Taylor 59, E. up for a last-ball victory over ing day of the World Twenty20 on Chigumbura 22, H. Masakadza 21; G. Dock- Zimbabwe in their first-round Sunday. The two top teams from rell 2-18, A. McBrine 2-26) match in the World Twenty20 each Group will join the top eight Ireland 164-7 in 20 overs (P. Stirling 60, W. championship yesterday. seeds in the Super-10 stage, start- Porterfield 31; T. Panyangara 4-37) Jayawardene Stirling’s fifth Twenty20 half- ing from March 21. Ireland won by three wickets. century, including nine fours and The Netherlands eased to a to follow a six, helped Ireland to a three- six-wicket win against first- wicket victory on St Patrick’s Day timers United Arab Emirates in Brief scores at the Sylhet stadium. other opening round of the World Sangakkara Ireland needed four runs off Twenty20 at Sylhet Stadium. UAE 151 all out in 19.5 overs (Shaiman An- the last over but lost Ed Joyce Opener Stephan Myburgh hit war 32, Khurram Khan 31; Ahsan Malik 3-16) in T20 exit (22) and Max Sorensen, run out a punishing 36-ball 55 with two The Netherlands 152-4 in 18.5 overs (S. My- DHAKA: without scoring, before winning sixes and seven boundaries to burgh 55, Tom Cooper 34 not out) Top Sri through a bye off the last ball of help the Netherlands overhaul The Netherlands won by six wickets. Lankan batsman Mahela the over — bowled by paceman a modest 152-run target with Jayawardene (pictured), Tinashe Panyangara who finished seven balls to spare. It was a said yesterday he would with 4-37. Stirling and skipper clinical finish by the Netherlands 16 balls while Wesley Barresi (24) retire from international William Porterfield, who scored who are vying to progress from and Tom Cooper, who was 34 not Twenty20 cricket after a 23-ball 31 with three fours and Group B for a place in the main out with four boundaries and a this month’s World Cup a six, had given Ireland a fiery rounds. In Group A Bangladesh six, completed the task. in Bangladesh, days after 80-run start in 8.2 overs as their and Nepal registered wins on the UAE, who won the toss and a similar announcement run chase began confidently. opening day on Sunday. batted, lost their openers for from teammate Kumar A ruthless Stirling hit pace- Six qualifiers along with hosts 12 runs after just ten deliveries Sangakkara. man Panyangara for four bound- Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are before Swapnil Patil (23) and In comments posted on the aries in one over before he fell competing in the first round and skipper Khurram Khan (31) International Cricket Council with the total on 100. Ireland Ireland cricketer Alex Cusack winners of each group will then put on 67 for the third wicket to website, the 36-year-old said then lost three quick wickets to tries to catch a ball during contest the Super-10 round with steady the innings. he had taken the decision as Panyangara, including that of the ICC Twenty20 Cricket the top eight Test nations — Shaiman Anwar, who hit a solid he knew this tournament hard-hitting Kevin O’Brien (17), World Cup cricket match Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, 19-ball 32 with the help of four would be his last World Cup before their last-gasp victory. against Zimbabwe in Sylhet, England, New Zealand, India, Sri boundaries and a six, lifted the and he did not want to block Zimbabwe earlier owed their yesterday. Lanka and the West Indies — UAE past the 150-run mark. a younger player. total to a solid 46-ball 59 by from March 21. Rohan Mustafa made 20 before “It makes more sense for Brendan Taylor. The Zimbabwe Michael Swart (26) partnered medium pacer Ahsan Malik a youngster to come into the skipper hit six boundaries and Myburgh in a quickfire 69-run stopped the final over slog with a mix and establish himself,” two towering sixes, while Elton (2-18) and debutant Andy put Zimbabwe in a tight corner opening stand as the two put their career best 3-16. said Jayawardene, who has Chigumbura made 22 and McBrine (2-26) restricted as only one team will go on from team on the right track within Cooper took 2-18 to complete played 49 T20 internation- Hamilton Masakadza scored 21. Zimbabwe to 163-5 in their 20 each of the two Groups into the the first seven overs. Swart hit an all-round performance for the als and scored a record 1,335 But spinners George Dockrell overs. The Group B defeat has Super-10 stage. Hosts Bangladesh three boundaries and a six off just Netherlands. AFP runs for Sri Lanka. Jayawardene has appeared in all four T20 World Cups and was the captain of the side which lost in the final of the Clarke scored century with fractured shoulder last tournament, at home against the West Indies. SYDNEY: Australia captain month, being hit on the forearm, he played with a fractured left Town,” said Australian team and without the nail after being The elegant right-hander Michael Clarke’s courageous elbow, shoulder and helmet in a shoulder that has ruled him out physiotherapist Alex Kountouris. struck during another Morkel did not say how much longer century in the decisive Third fiery spell of short-pitched bowl- of the domestic Sheffield Shield “We have since done a series of stint. “I’ve got a few injuries he intended to play on in Test against South Africa took ing by Morne Morkel. final this weekend, where he had scans that have demonstrated a from that second last innings, so Test matches or ODIs. on added significance yesterday He went on to a make a piv- hoped to play for New South fracture near his shoulder joint. I’ll spend some time recovering He is the highest scorer when it was revealed he played otal 161 not out, hailed by many Wales against Western Australia. “We expect that this will heal and trying to get my body right in Test match cricket among with a fractured shoulder. as the best knock of his career, “Michael Clarke was injured with a period of rest.” and hopefully I’ll be able to play current players, with 11,319 Clarke weathered a fearsome to help his team deliver a 2-1 as a result of being struck on the Clarke was, however, cleared in the Shield final for NSW,” runs from 143 matches. barrage of bouncers on the first series victory. The results of left shoulder during the third of any serious injury to his Clarke said upon his return from He is also the seventh- day of the Cape Town Test this scans released yesterday showed Test against South Africa in Cape thumb, which was left bloodied South Africa. AFP highest scorer in the history of one-day cricket. Speaking at a press brief- ing in Dhaka yesterday Sangakkara expanded on his decision to quit the short- est form of the international game after the tournament which began in Bangladesh on Sunday. “I don’t think it was a surprise.I think for a lot of people who analyse the situ- ation they understand that it’s the natural progression,” Sangakkara, who is also 36, told reporters. “Whether I announced it or not, this tournament would have been the last of my international T20s,” he added. Sri Lanka, the world’s number one T20 side, are the favourites in Bangladesh -- especially after their recent victory in the Asia Cup. They have been drawn against England, New Zealand and South Africa who are their first oppo- nents in the tournament on Saturday in Chittagong. Sangakkara, who has been in sparkling form recently, Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez plays a shot during the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament said he held high hopes for a warm-up match against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. team which has yet to win a World T20 trophy but has got to the finals twice. “Everyone comes here to win the tournament, so that’s Pakistan win warm-up our ambition and that is how we prepared,” he said. Asked about how Sri Lanka would cope after his tie against New Zealand and Jayawardene’s exits, Sangakkara said the “transi- tion is going to be fine”. DHAKA: The Pakistani Akmal, who has returned to toss. They managed to score 145 “If you take the younger cricket team defeated New the side for the tournament, runs for the loss of nine wickets. crop of batsmen, especially Zealand by six wickets, shook off the cobwebs with a Brendon McCullum scored 59 (Lahiru) Thirimanne and with one ball remaining in a half century of his own. runs, smashing Pakistani bowl- (Dinesh) Chandimal, I think warm up match ahead of the Nathan McCullum was the ers for four sixes and remained they are more than capable of World Twenty20 in Dhaka pick from the bowlers from not out. playing any format of cricket yesterday. New Zealand, managing to take Umar Gul was the pick from starting from now.” Captain Mohammad Hafeez two wickets for 21 runs in his the bowlers from Pakistan, “I think we are in very good scored 55 runs off 39 balls, pep- allotted four overs. claiming three scalps in his four hands, we’ve got a lot of tal- pering his innings with three Earlier, New Zealand opted overs, conceding just 16 runs. ent.” AFP fours and five sixes. Kamran to bat first after winning the AGENCIES TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Berlusconi gives Seedorf Ibra sets PSG goals record Milan backing

Striker has 40 goals this season, beats Bianchi’s 1977-78 record MILAN: AC Milan owner and president Silvio Berlusconi has given under-fire coach Clarence PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic increased the pressure, coming Seedorf his backing amid specu- took his season tally to a club close twice through Ibrahimovic lation the Dutchman could be record 40 goals as the Sweden and Edinson Cavani. on his way out of the club. forward’s double inspired runa- Both combined perfectly in the Milan suffered their third con- way leaders Paris St Germain 42nd, and Ibrahimovic stabbed in secutive league defeat on Sunday to a 2-0 home win against St a close-range volley with the out- in a 4-2 reverse at home to Parma Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday side of his foot from the Uruguay having been reduced to 10 men night. forward’s perfect cross. inside 10 minutes when goal- The French champions main- St Etienne had a clear chance keeper Christian Abbiati was tained their eight-point lead over to reduce the arrears after the sent off, second-placed Monaco, who had break but Benjamin Corgnet inex- The result dropped Milan to Dimitar Berbatov to thank for a plicably shot wide from point- 12th, a massive 40 points behind 3-2 win at Olympique Lyon. blank range. leaders Juventus and 12 behind PSG have 70 points from 29 Earlier on Sunday, Dimitar city rivals Inter, who sit fifth matches after Ibrahimovic sur- Berbatov scored one goal and set and in the first available Europa passed Argentine Carlos Bianchi’s up two more in Monaco’s win at League spot. PSG record of 39 goals scored in Gerland. Media speculation yesterday all competitions in a single season Berbatov created Valere suggested Milan had already lost (1977-78). Germain and James Rodriguez’s patience with Seedorf, who took St Etienne stayed fourth on first-half goals before chipping in up his first senior coaching posi- 48 points, five points adrift of the third. tion in January when he inher- third-placed Lille who occupy the Lyon stayed fifth on 45 points. ited an ailing side from former Champions League third qualify- Germain put the visitors ahead handler Massimiliano Allegri in ing round spot. after four minutes from close January. Laurent Blanc’s PSG side pre- range after Berbatov had tapped However Berlusconi, the former dictably dominated possession but the ball into this path. Italian prime minister, insisted: the first clear chance was for St The Bulgarian was at it again “Seedorf is not up for discussion, Etienne when Salvatore Sirigu in the 27th minute, setting up he will remain our coach even tipped away Franck Tabanou’s Rodriguez from close range again. next year.” spectacular rising shot on the But Lyon did not give up and Milan’s latest league defeat, turn from outside the box in the reduced the arrears five minutes their fourth in nine games under 13th minute. later as Jimmy Briand latched Seedorf, prompted dozens of Ibrahimovic, however, opened onto Miguel Lopes’s pass to beat hard-line supporters to stage a the scoring in the 16th minute at Danijel Subasic. protest outside the club’s shared the end of a bizarre move. Rodriguez repaid Berbatov’s Paris Saint Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores a goal past St Etienne’s French goalkeeper San Siro ground on Sunday after The Swede played the ball into favour by setting up the former Stephane Ruffier during the French L1 match, at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris yesterday. a brief meeting was held with Blaise Matuidi, who was flagged Tottenham and Manchester Seedorf and several key play- offside but referee Lionel Jaffredo United striker for Monaco’s third, ers, including Kaka and Mario ignored the linesman’s call and a fine chip past Anthony Lopes. Germain’s replacement goal- to continue winning titles.” PSG in 2011 but has played just Balotelli. the ball fell for Ibrahimovic who Remi Garde’s team, however, keeper Nicolas Douchez has Douchez is PSG’s second choice 23 times with the club. Seedorf, speaking to Sky Italia, found the back of the net with a were back in contention with 12 extended his contract with the goalkeeper behind Salvatore “We’re very happy to count on played down the incident. low cross shot. minutes left as Briand scored his Ligue 1 leaders until June 2015, Sirigu and only features in French Nicolas Douchez for an additional “It’s a very delicate situation TV replays showed that sixth league goal of the season the French club confirmed on Cup and League Cup ties. year,” said PSG president Nasser but it was a peaceful meeting and Matuidi had gained posses- with a volley. Monday. But club bosses appreciate his Al Khelaifi. the fans who are close to the club sion from St Etienne defender But it was not enough as the “Continuing with Paris Saint team spirit and the respect he “Nicolas is an experienced goal- have every right to express their Mustapha Bayal Sall’s back pass. Monaco defence, perfectly mar- Germain is obvious for me,” said commands in the dressing room. keepr, a stalwart in the dressing feelings, before, during and after Brandao was lucky to escape shalled by Ricardo Carvalho, held the 33-year-old. The former Rennes and room and always delivers when the match,” Seedorf said. a red card after elbowing Yohan on. “I’ve had so many unforgettable Toulouse player, has played 191 the coach calls on him.” Seedorf, who earlier this week Cabaye in the face as PSG Meanwhile, Paris Saint moments at the club and I want Ligue 1 matches. He arrived in AGENCIES complained he had inherited an “ailing” team from Allegri saw his side crash out of the Champions League after a 5-1 aggregate Pirlo magic keeps Juve on track for scudetto reverse to Atletico Madrid last week. Finishing among the top five MILAN: Andrea Pirlo produced a piece terms of Juve’s likely title chances. “It was the process earned four yellow cards in that played the game of its life. “I don’t and securing a Europa League of free-kick magic to keep Juventus on an important goal, I hope it helps.” the first half alone, during which two goals want to speak of the title, but we’ve taken place now looks a hard task, but track for a third consecutive scudetto Juventus now have 75 points and a from Pablo Daniel Osvaldo were ruled off- another big step foward.” the 37-year-old Dutchman said thanks to a late 1-0 win away to Genoa 17-point lead on Roma, who host Udinese side.Genoa continued to harry and were Earlier, former AC Milan striker he is fully committed to the club on Sunday night. on Monday but also have a game in hand. unfortunate when Bertolacci controlled Antonio Cassano struck a brace in a 4-2 where he spent 10 success-laden Juventus looked to be heading for only Napoli sit third, a further three points well on the edge of the area only to send win for Parma at 10-man Milan which years from 2002-2012. their fourth draw of the season, having seen off the pace, ahead of their trip to Torino his shot straight at the advancing Buffon. dropped the Rossoneri to 12th, now 40 “I will defend this club to the goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon save Emanuele on Monday when Rafael Benitez’s side Juve had claims for a penalty waved away points behind Juve and 12 points off the hilt, as well as my players,” added Calaio’s 72nd minute penalty and two other will look to avoid any slip-ups following on 68 minutes when Fernando Llorente’s first Europa League spot. Defeat prompted Seedorf. great earlier chances for the hosts. Fiorentina’s 3-1 win Sunday night over cross hit the arm of Luca Antonelli. dozens of angry fans to congregate outside “We have to look ahead in a However Antonio Conte’s men were outclassed Chievo. Genoa won a penalty moments later due Milan’s shared San Siro ground to protest, positive way, continue to work handed a lifeline when Fabio Quagliarella Juan Cuadrado, Alessandro Matri and to a more convincing handball from Arturo some of whom got to meet under-fire coach hard and, with a little more atten- won a questionable free kick on the edge Mario Gomez were on target for La Viola, Vidal, however Buffon was equal to Calaio’s Clarence Seedorf to vent their frustrations. tion to the details, try to get our- of the area, and Pirlo stepped up to send while Alberto Paloschi scored Chievo’s tame spot-kick. Seedorf, speaking to Sky Italia, played selves out of this negative spiral.” a curling drive over the wall and past the only goal, who are back up to fourth but When Quagliarella won a free kick at down the incident. Milan’s next league game is an outstretched hands of Mattia Perin. with only a one-point lead on Inter and the death, Pirlo stepped up to hit his fourth “It’s a very delicate situation but it was away trip to Lazio next Sunday. “We knew it would be a hard game but a seven-point deficit to Napoli in the last goal of the season. a peaceful meeting and the fans who are Lazio are one of several Serie A for us it was crucial to take the win back Champions League spot. Conte did not underestimate the value close to the club have every right to express sides fighting for one of the two to Turin,” Pirlo told Sky Italia before turn- Genoa looked determined to give no of the win: “Only a big team like ours could their feelings, before, during and after the allotted Europa League spots. ing his focus on what his goal cold mean in quarter to the Serie A champions, but in come to this stadium and overcome a team match,” Seedorf said. AFP AFP

Give me a brake, Kobayashi tells Reliability fears temper Mercedes win MELBOURNE: Nico Rosberg said Mercedes would have to work critics hard to improve the reliability of their new F1 car despite his emphatic win in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Australia organisers MELBOURNE: Japan’s While Rosberg was dominant in his fully functioning W05, his pole- Kamui Kobayashi sarcasti- sitting team-mate Lewis Hamilton lasted only four laps before a mis- cally hit back at his critics firing cylinder ended his race. complain cars too quiet yesterday after an investi- World champion Sebastian Vettel was also an early retiree after gation found his Australian power problems in his Red Bull, underlining this year’s unpredictability MELBOURNE: Australian home straight. “We are resolving Grand Prix crash was due to as teams grapple with new hybrid technology. Grand Prix organisers yes- that with Bernie (Ecclestone). brake failure. “Despite our success, we also know that there is still some work terday complained their It’s clearly in breach of our The Caterham driver was to do,” said Rosberg, who streaked away from third on the grid for a contract may have been contract. taunted on Twitter after he wire-to-wire victory. breached with new Formula “I was talking to him last ploughed into the back of Felipe “We saw over the weekend that reliability is still a concern and it Ones rules making the cars night (Sunday) and it’s not what Massa’s Williams at the first prevented us from having a strong two-car finish. too quiet, detracting from we paid for. It’s going to change. turn, taking both cars out of “We have two weeks to improve that. I am very much looking forward what fans wanted. He’s horrified about it. It will the race. to (the next race in) Malaysia and I would love to race again tomorrow.” The sport is pushing the be an issue for all promoters all But after a probe found Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from second place for boundaries of hybrid technology round the world. faulty brakes were to blame, violating fuel rules, in another illustration of the challenges facing this year with 2014’s F1 machines “Everybody was talking about Kobayashi tweeted: “Someone teams this year. running races on 35 percent less it,” he added. criticize me on twitter but I But McLaren were rewarded for getting both their cars to the fin- fuel than last season. “When you take the excite- want ask how can I stop the ish line, with debutant Kevin Magnussen classified second and Jenson Turbocharged engines are ment away, you have trouble sell- car with out rear brake? I need Button third after Ricciardo’s disqualification. back for the first time since ing tickets. You have to create jump out to push back the car?” “We know that reliability will be crucial to this long season and we 1988, with last year’s 2.4-litre demand and part of that demand Before the investigation was will be working hard to improve the situation for the race in Malaysia,” V8s replaced by 1.6-litre V6s. is people liking the noise of the completed, an angry Massa said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. But Australian Grand Prix race cars.” had called for a one-race ban Hamilton, the 2008 world champion and the pre-race favourite after chairman Ron Walker, while Australian Grand Prix chief for Kobayashi, comparing it to a a thrilling drive in qualifying, said Mercedes would learn from their delighted with the overall suc- executive Andrew Westacott crash caused by Lotus’s Romain “costly hiccup”. cess of Sunday’s season-opening agreed with Walker, saying he Grosjean in 2012. “Of course I’m disappointed with my own race and when I think event won by Nico Rosberg in a didn’t even need earplugs in the But a stewards’ inquiry found about all the work that has gone on back at our factories, it’s tough to Mercedes, said the lack of noise pit lane. Sunday’s incident was “caused have a costly hiccup,” he said. was not what he paid for or what “One aspect of it was just a lit- by a serious technical failure “However we have achieved an incredible amount to get here, to be the fans expected. tle bit duller than it’s ever been completely outside the control at the front and to be so competitive. We will bounce back and learn “I was absolutely delighted before and that’s part of the mix of the driver”. from this. There is a very long way to go this season.” German Formula One driver Nico with the whole weekend, but and the chemistry that they’re Caterham were ordered to Rosberg claimed his fourth grand prix win but with the sport in so Rosberg of Mercedes AMG GP I was not too happy with the going to have to get right,” he work with the technical dele- much flux, he is far from raising hopes of emulating his father Keke’s lifts up his trophy after winning sound,” he told Fairfax radio, said, adding that hardcore rac- gate from the sport’s governing 1982 world championship win. the 2014 Formula One Grand adding that if you sat in the ing fans in Europe will likely be body to address the dangerous However, Rosberg drew great encouragement from the performance Prix of Australia in Melbourne, grandstand you could hardly even less impressed by the qui- flaw. AFP of his “unbelievably quick” car, which finished nearly 25 seconds ahead hear the cars coming down the eter cars. AFP Australia, yesterday. of Ricciardo. AFP Tuesday 18 March 2014 17 Jumadal I 1435 Volume 19 Number 5607 Sport Price: QR2

Griffin leads Stirling’s 60 Clips past Cavs brings Ireland to victory last-ball win

Sport | 23 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Chelsea welcome Drogba; Marquez begins title defence in Qatar DOHA: The floodlit Marelli. Furthermore, teams Commercial Bank Grand Prix must select either ‘Factory tough task for United of Qatar will signal the start of Option’ or ‘Open’ as their bike the 2014 MotoGP season this specification. weekend, as 21-year-old Marc Factory Option machines Schalke hope to save face against Real Madrid Marquez (pictured) looks to drop from 21 litres of fuel in 2013 begin the defence of the World to 20 this year, whereas those Championship title he histori- running Open bikes are obliged LONDON: Manchester United cally won on the first time last to use the spec ECU software as will be clutching at the final year well as the hardware. straw of a sobering season This weekend’s race will In-turn, Open runners will when they attempt to over- be the 11th at the Losail enjoy privileges such as a maxi- turn a 2-0 deficit against Greek International Circuit, which has mum of 24 litres of fuel across side Olympiakos and reach the been on the calendar since 2004. a race distance, 12 engines per quarter-finals of the Champions The track first welcomed the season (as opposed to five for League today. season-opener in 2007 and has Factories) and no subjecting to The final four places in the hosted an evening the new engine freeze quarter-finals are up for grabs race since 2008. regulations – allowing this week, although unlike United The first Qatar work on the machines who remain hopeful of salvation, winner was Sete during the season. Zenit St Petersburg and Schalke Gibernau, although Open runners can travel to Borussia Dortmund and in more recent times also enjoy unlimited Real Madrid respectively facing one looks to Jorge testing. mission impossible. Lorenzo who has As Ducati Dortmund won the first leg 4-2 claimed the last two Team recruits Cal in Russia while Spanish league events. Crutchlow alongside leaders Real ran riot in Germany, Riding for Andrea Dovizioso, winning 6-1. Movistar Yamaha Monster Yamaha Premier League Chelsea still MotoGP, Lorenzo Tech3 places Moto2 have plenty of work to do, how- faired better in the World Champion ever, as they welcome back former Phillip Island test Pol Espargaro next striker Didier Drogba to Stamford than at the preced- to Bradley Smith. Bridge hoping the Ivorian does ing pre-season gathering at Spaniard Pol is one of four rook- not help Galatasaray continue Sepang and will now be threat- ies in the 2014 premier class, but the English exodus from the com- ening for a hat-trick of Losail unfortunately sustained a broken petition after last 16 defeats for victories. collarbone during the final min- Arsenal and Manchester City. Galatasaray’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba is pictured during a training session in London, yesterday, ahead However, team-mate utes of the last pre-season test. Jose Mourinho’s side were held of the forthcoming UEFA Champions League, round of 16, second leg match at Stamford Bridge. Valentino Rossi will also be The other three debutants to a 1-1 draw in Istanbul in the looking to challenge, having bat- come in the form of Frenchman first leg and will start as favour- tled hard with Marc Marquez Mike di Meglio (Avintia Racing), ites to finish the job on Tuesday. appear to be by somehow winning have only on one occasion man- they lost 1-0, had midfielders last year. Marquez heads into Moto2 runner-up Scott Redding With a top-four finish in the competition for a fourth time aged to overturn a first-leg deficit Willian and Ramires red-carded the 2014 campaign somewhat on of England (GO&FUN Honda the Premier League now look- in May. in the Champions League, crush- and manager Jose Mourinho sent the back foot, having suffered a Gresini) and Australian Broc ing a remote possibility after Judging by the current malaise ing Roma 7-1 in 2007 after losing from the dugout. broken leg in a training accident Parkes (Paul Bird Motorsport, a 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool at Old Trafford that would seem the first leg 2-1. Olympiakos will In Drogba, Chelsea know the exactly six weeks before the day team-mate to Michael Laverty). on Sunday, United’s only realis- a fanciful notion, but under-pres- also be buoyed by a 2-0 win over Turkish club have a player more of opening free practice. However, it was Aleix tic hope of competing alongside sure manager David Moyes said Panathinaikos on Saturday that than capable of capitalising on The Repsol Honda Team rider Espargaro – elder brother of Europe’s elite next season would his side would fight tooth and secured a 41st Greek title. any hangover from the Villa deba- may well be thinking of the long Pol - who was the revelation nail to keep the season alive. “The “We know we are very close cle, although he has mixed feel- game, whereas team-mate Dani of the off-season thanks to his Champions League players are well aware of what it to achieving something great,” ings about the task ahead. Pedrosa will certainly be hoping lap times with NGM Forward means on Wednesday and what Olympiakos’s Costa Rica for- “First of all I’m happy to play for a first race win in Qatar. Racing. Making best use of a Champions League last-16, second-leg fix- we have got to do,” Moyes said. ward Joel Campbell, a loanee from against my ex-club, against my Ducati Team generated plenty Yamaha lease deal, Aleix has tures (all matches 1945 GMT) “We’ve got something to go for Arsenal who scored in the first friends,” he told UEFA.com. “But of headlines over the winter been tipped by paddock insid- Playing today so hopefully we can do that.” leg, said tomorrow’s return. at the same time it is a very spe- break with its much-publicised ers for some major surprises, as Chelsea vs Galatasaray United have a 100 percent “Performing at Old Trafford is cial moment because I do not switch to Open bikes. he and Pol look to become the Real Madrid vs Schalke 04 record at home against Greek extremely important. I believe it know what my reaction will be. From 2014, all bikes in the first siblings to share a premier Playing tomorrow opposition while Olympiakos have is every player’s dream.” You know that I spent eight years field are obliged to run the spec class podium since Nobuatsu Manchester United vs Olympiakos Piraeus lost each of the 11 matches they Chelsea will need to clear their at Chelsea, so I really don’t know, ECU hardware as supplied by and Takuma Aoki at Imola in have played on English soil. heads quickly after Saturday’s I am quite apprehensive about it.” Dorna Sports and Magneti 1997. AGENCIES Borussia Dortmund vs Zenit St Petersburg Worryingly for United they meltdown at Aston Villa where REUTERS Dutch player accuses team of cheating in World T20

SYLHET, BANGLADESH: became unexpectedly available learned to deal with the limi- Netherlands cricketer Tim for the Dutch team after nar- tations and the pain. In fact, Gruijters has accused team rowly missing out on the Sheffield my back is better than it has management of cheating by Shield final,” Gruijters said in the been in a while. I think I am in forcing him out on medical video. “Tom Cooper is probably the best form possible for this grounds so they could bring in the best batsman eligible to play tournament.” Tom Cooper as a last-minute for the Netherlands. The KNCB said Gruijters’ ver- Sri Lankan play- replacement for the World “Fact two, on the same day, sion of events differed from that ers celebrate Twenty20 in Bangladesh. some team mates and I had talked of the team management’s. after winning “It’s clear that the Dutch about Tom’s availability. We all “The Board... regrets the con- the warm up coaching staff decided to misuse agreed that no one was injured, troversy which has arisen fol- cricket match the rules, hoodwink the ICC, and so it would be impossible for Tom lowing the departure of Tim against India get Tom Cooper in for me. It’s a Cooper to play. Gruijters from the Dutch squad during the ICC disgrace, it’s a cheat, and I would “Fact three, the next morning, at the World Twenty20 tourna- World Twenty20 like to state that I do not want to the 14th of March, the coaching ment in Bangladesh.” it said in a tournament be part of it,” he said in a Youtube staff called me to their room. statement on its website. at the Sher-e- video. They told me that I would have “The account of Tim Gruijters Bangla National The Netherlands cricket board been in the first eleven had Tom himself regarding the course of (KNCB) said it had launched an Cooper not been available. events differs from the account Cricket Stadium investigation. “We need someone to be injured of the team management in in Dhaka, The International Cricket they said, we need you to have a Bangladesh. yesterday. Council (ICC) allowed Gruijters scan so that we can get the ICC’s “The KNCB Board has as a to be replaced in the Netherlands approval.” result of the current controversy squad by Australian-born Cooper The 22-year-old, who has initiated an investigation and earlier this week due to a lower- played five one-day internationals shall take evidence from all the back injury. and eight T20s for Netherlands, relevant parties in order to gain Cooper, whose mother is from said he was bullied into hav- understanding of the course of the Netherlands, became available ing a scan on a long-standing events.” for the World T20 when his team back-injury. The Netherlands eased to a a punishing 36-ball 55 with two progress from Group B for a place the top eight Test nations -- South Australia failed to qualify “The scan showed I have a bad six-wicket win against first- sixes and seven boundaries to in the main rounds. Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, for the Sheffield Shield final after back. No surprise there. I have timers United Arab Emirates in help the Netherlands overhaul a Six qualifiers along with hosts England, New Zealand, India, Sri the last stage of round-robin had a bad back for years, just like the opening round of the World modest 152-run target with seven Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are Lanka and the West Indies -- games ended on Friday. others have had bad shoulders Twenty20 at Sylhet Stadium balls to spare. competing in the first round and from March 21. “Fact number one, on Thursday and bad knees,” he added. yesterday. It was a clinical finish by the winners of each group will then The final is on April 6 in Dhaka. the 13th of March, Tom Cooper “Like all sportsmen, I have Opener Stephan Myburgh hit Netherlands who are vying to contest the Super-10 round with AGENCIES