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1 February 2014 1 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5962 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY

Kerry warns Syria on chemical weapons BERLIN: US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday warned Syrian President Bashar Al Assad he could face consequences for failing to live up to international agreements on remov- ing his chemical weapons stockpile. “We now know that the Assad regime is not moving as rapidly as it promised to move the chemical weapons out of Syria,” he said. “I would remind Bashar Al Assad that the agreement that we reached in New York with the (UN) Security Council makes it clear that if there are issues of non-compliance, they will be referred to the Security Council for Chapter 7 com- pliance purposes.” See also page 9 Pro-Mursi protests held in Egypt

CAIRO: Two roadside bombs exploded near a patrol car in Cairo yesterday, and police fired tear gas at supporters of ousted president Mohamed Mursi in Alexandria. One policeman was slightly wounded when his patrol car was hit by two road- side bombs in a Cairo suburb, the interior ministry said. Police fired tear gas to disperse a pro- Mursi demonstration when the deposed Islamist’s supporters clashed with oppo- nents in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, security officials said. Similar pro-Mursi demonstrations were staged in Cairo, Sharqiya and Fayoum, they said. See also page 9 SCHOOL CRUNCH Cameron in fresh EU referendum push

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged yesterday to THE ISSUE force through parliament a bill guaran- teeing an in-or-out referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017, after Expatriate families have been list of 2,800 for enrolment to various grades. estimated to be 40,000 strong, has just one the upper house killed off legislation. “This is almost the strength of the school,” school, which is run by the country’s embassy. He pledged to wield the Parliament growing in number literally by the said a source familiar with the problems the The school is old and has two levels of edu- Act, which enforces the supremacy of the

day as immense job opportunities school has been facing. Contacted for com- cation: Basic (from grades 1 to eight), and Design: Abraham Augusthy elected lower House of Commons over the are being created by projects ment, the principal of the school, Dr Ahmed three Secondary grades (nine to 11). appointed upper House of Lords. El Gabbari, confirmed the school had a long “We have immense pressure,” said the prin- The act is only rarely used to over- linked to the FIFA 2022 event, waiting list for enrolment. cipal of the school, Faisal Kambaal. There are come the Lords blocking the will of the but for many of these families Community sources said the school, despite on average 50 students in a class and, accord- Commons. It has only ever been enacted ensuring their children’s schooling the increasing population of Egyptians, many ing to reliable sources, education sector regu- a handful of times since it was introduced of whom are coming over with their families, lator, the Supreme Education Council, ignores in 1911. amid a severe shortage of schools has not been able to expand its infrastructure this flagrant breach of its rules considering the is an uphill task. to cope with growing demand. fact that there is just one school for the entire Israel worried at “The school is the same that it was when Sudanese community. opened in 1989,” said the source. El Gabbari The school has a science stream at the sec- boycott threat he Egyptian community, an esti- would only confirm there has been no ondary level but no laboratory due to scarce mated 70,000 strong, probably faces expansion. space and lack of funds. It has seen hardly any JERUSALEM: Israeli government the worst predicament of all as the The other Egyptian school (it follows expansion due to the above reasons. and business leaders are alarmed by a Ttwo Egyptian schools in Doha can- Egyptian curriculum) is private, and has lim- According to sources, the Sudanese com- growing international boycott move- not take in more than a limited number of ited seats. “We need many more schools for the munity did try to open another school to cater ment and the likely effect of EU meas- students. community,” said the source, bemoaning that to its increasing needs but the effort didn’t ures against exports from Jewish The situation, therefore, is such that hun- no new schools were being set up. bear fruit. settlements in the occupied West Bank. dreds, if not thousands, of Egyptian families The result is that many Egyptian families The average annual fee at the existing school Cabinet ministers are to meet next are forced to teach their children at home. are getting their children tutored at home, is QR8,000 — a sum middle-income Sudanese week to hammer out a strategy against The Egyptian embassy in Doha, at the end while some have succeeded in the past in get- families can easily afford, but enrolment being a growing international campaign to boy- of an academic year, conducts examinations ting their children enrolled in other expatriate a problem, many families look elsewhere to get cott trade linked to settlements, Haaretz for these home-tutored students based on the community schools, including Indian ones. a place for their schoolgoing children. newspaper reported yesterday. grades they have studied for. But now other community schools, facing Many Sudanese students study in other And a group of top Israeli business- There are two Egyptian schools in Qatar. pressure from their own communities, cou- community schools, including Indian schools, people has launched a publicity cam- PAGEOne of them, Egypt 6 Language School, is run by pled with official restrictions, have stopped but enrolling in those schools is difficult these paign urging Prime Minister Benjamin the Egyptian embassy. According to commu- the practice. days. Netanyahu to make peace with the nity sources, the school currently has a waiting The Sudanese community, which is Continued on page 4 Palestinians for the sake of the economy. See also page 8

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Home ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Soaring population, too few schools Expat parents run from pillar to post to get admission for their children

DOHA: The fast-growing expa- triate population of Qatar has increased demand for private schools, leading to long waiting lists for enrolment and a severe space crunch in many existing schools. The situation has forced some community schools to stop enrol- ment even before they started it, while others are exploring the possibility of expansion to meet an expected rush in the next aca- demic year. School sources say that the closure of several kindergar- tens in recent years and a ceil- ing imposed by the Supreme Education Council (SEC) on the number of students allowed in a classroom have boosted demand and, at the same time, reduced the capacity of schools to accom- modate more students. A look at the private schools in the country shows that their growth has not kept pace with the massive increase in the expa- Pics: Salim Matramkot & Shaival Dalal triate population. According to Mesaimeer saying, “admission He said a lasting solution student through the SEC website. data released by the SEC, there closed for all classes.” would be opening of more Indian Asna Nafees, principal of DPS- are 130 private schools in Qatar Several private kindergartens were closed The early announcement has schools. Modern Indian School, which and 70 private kindergartens. shocked many parents, since “We understand that at least recently shifted to new premises These schools have been down in recent years following imposition of Indian schools usually start three new schools will be open- in Al Wakra, said the school had broadly classified into interna- enrolment in March, ahead of ing in the near future,” he added. about 4,500 students and could tional schools, mostly following strict rules by the authorities, which has led their new academic year, which Syed Shoukath Ali, principal of accommodate another 500 in the British or American curricula, to a steady rise in demand for enrolment in begins in April. School principal Ideal Indian School, says there is forthcoming academic year. Arab private schools, and com- A K Srivastava says the prob- hardly any vacancy in the school, “The SEC should either facili- munity schools catering to differ- existing schools, especially in lower classes. lem has not cropped up all of a especially in the higher classes. tate opening of new schools ent expatriate communities. sudden. “We have a few seats in the KG or relax rules related to class The number of international “Several private kindergartens classes but none in the higher strength until the schools find schools has been put at 66 and Asian countries in recent years, crunch. These schools are said were closed down in recent years grades. Just today a parent told alternatives,” said Nafees, adding the remaining 64 are Arab/ the number of schools catering to have reached a “saturation following strict rules imposed by me he would bring his family that “thirty students in a class Asian private/community schools. to this segment of the expatri- point” as far as capacity is con- the authorities, which has led from India only if I assured seats is an ideal number and we are International schools have stu- ate population has not crossed 20, cerned, while recently opened to a steady rise in demand for for his children, but I am totally strictly following it.” dents from many countries, which partly explains the crisis schools have very few seats for admissions in existing schools, helpless,” said Ali. Some parents are, however, including Qataris, while the com- they are facing. new students. especially in lower classes. The He pointed out that a new soft- critical of these schools for what munity schools give priority to The nearly a dozen Indian At least one Indian school – SEC rule restricting the number ware introduced by the SEC has they call a failure to anticipate students from their community. schools that accommodate the Birla Public School -- has put of students in a class to 30 has made it impossible to enrol more the situation and develop their Despite a huge influx of for- largest number of students are up a big notice board in front also forced schools to limit admis- than 30 students in a class since facilities. eign workers from several South perhaps worst hit by the space of its purpose-built premises in sions,” said Srivastava. the school has to register every Continued on page 3 FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Home www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 ON SATURDAY Central Station opens Qatar Brazil 2014 Cinema Showcase Brazilian classic, contemporary films every month to highlight diversity

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA Museums Authority (QMA). “This is our third year of DOHA: Critically acclaimed celebrating international diplo- and multi-awarded Brazilian macy and intercultural dialogue film Central Station served through film after the success of a perfect opening to Qatar the Japanese and the UK cin- Brazil 2014 Cinema Showcase ema showcases over the past on Thursday at Museum of two years. We are delighted to Islamic Art (MIA) auditorium. take local audiences on a jour- Beautiful and heart-wrench- ney into the Brazilian culture ing, the road movie tells the though the eyes of some of its story of Dora who writes let- most acclaimed filmmakers,” www.swiss-belhotel.com ters for the illiterate at Rio said Abdulaziz Al Khater, DFI Tel de Janeiro’s Central Station Chief Executive Officer. and whose life is dramatically “Through cinema, we learn so Fax changed as she accompanies much about other cultures and nine-year-old Josue on the the world around us. Brazil is a search for his long-lost father. country with a rich cinematic Written and directed by history and tonight’s screening Tel Walter Salles, the film won the marks a year of programming Fax Golden Bear for Best Film at that will bring to audiences the 1998 Berlin International FROM LEFT: DFI CEO Abdulaziz Al Khater, Qatar Brazil 2014 Project unforgettable facets of contem- Film Festival, a Golden Globe Head Rafah Mouafak Barakat and Brazilian Ambassador Hildebrando porary Brazilian works.” and a BAFTA, among others, Tadeu Valadares at the event. He praised Central Station as and stars Brazilian film icon a movie with a story distinctly Tel Fernanda Montenegro as Dora. He praised the Showcase as “In this context, this cinema Brazilian but whose message is Fax “Central Station is indeed a major component of Qatar nouveau movement was our universal. a beautiful delicate movie. Brazil Year of Culture. main contribution to the sev- Qatar Brazil 2014 Project Fernanda Montenegro an icon In addition to football and enth art,” he said, adding in Head Rafah Mouafak Barakat in Brazil, successfully defeats World Cup, cinema is another terms of Brazilian contempo- said the film initiative will Tollfree any temptation to allow senti- Brazilian passion, he said, trac- rary culture, cinema nouveau present Brazilian classic and mentality to wreck her perform- ing the history of Brazilian cin- is as important as bossa nova. contemporary movies monthly, Fax ance,” Brazilian Ambassador ema from the 1930s to its rise to The Showcase is presented highlighting the rich diversity Hildebrando Tadeu Valadares wide acclaim from the 1960s to by Doha Film Institute (DFI) of Brazilian cinema. told the packed auditorium. the present. in partnership with Qatar THE PENINSULA Tel Fax

Tel Some schools planning to open new branches Fax

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Tel +974 44233333 Fax +974 44233000

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Continued from page 2 as one child is in Grade 12 and “Qataris show a great inter- Tel “Instead of investing in infra- we have to send her back to Sri est in learning French,” said Fax structure, most schools had been The Sri Lankan Lanka, and she has to study the Porretti, explaining the reason relying on portakabins to accom- community has only local curriculum so she will be behind many Qatari students modate new students until the one school in Qatar able to enter a university,” said seeking admission at Lycee SEC imposed a blanket ban on functioning under the a father of two girls studying at Voltaire. such structures. Now they are SSLSD. American School Doha and Tel Sri Lankan embassy not finding space to expand fur- “It’s too expensive for us to Newton International Schools Fax ther, and building new premises and has problems send children to foreign univer- are also expanding their facili- will take time,” said an Indian with the curriculum, sities,” he said. ties due to a huge rush for parent, adding that ultimately besides a shortage of Due to a shortage of places at admissions every year, it is families were the losers. the Sri Lankan school, many Sri learnt. The number of Qatari Tel The problem is apparently not seats. Lankan students are studying in students seeking admission in so severe for Pakistani schools, international schools or other international schools has grown Fax apparently due to the relatively Asian community schools. after the introduction of the low number of Pakistani expa- “There is need for more Sri Education Voucher programme triates in the country. The school, with about 1,000 Lankan schools in Qatar, but by the SEC, which allows Qatari “We will start admissions only students on its rolls, introduced unfortunately the community students to join select private Tel in March, and we have vacancies the Sri Lankan curriculum only members are not taking any ini- schools with state support. Fax in most classes. However, the last year. Students in grade tiative to invest in this sector” Several parents complain number of new students is nine can choose to study either lamented another Sri Lankan that uncertainty about secur- growing every year,” said Noor the Sri Lankan curriculum or parent. ing a place in a school is costing Ahmed, a senior official of Pak to continue with the British Several international schools them heavily. They apply to sev- Shama School. curriculum. are preparing to open new eral schools and most of them Filipino schools are also However, parents of students branches. Lycee Voltaire, the put their children on a wait- exceptions. “We have very at the senior secondary level say French school officially inaugu- ing list. An application form at limited space for new students. they are facing many challenges rated in 2008, set up its second the international schools cost There are more than 300 because they were forced to branch last year and is planning between QR200 and QR500. Tel students in the waiting list educate their children under to open a third one next year. “I was lucky enough to get Fax this year,” said an official of the British Curriculum. The school has more than admission for my son last Philippine School Doha, the To enter a university in 1,000 students enrolled in the year in the kindergarten. But largest Filipino school in Qatar Sri Lanka, the students have two branches. Teaching is done many of my friends still have with more than 2,800 students to pass General Certificate in French, Arabic and English. their children on waiting lists. Tel on its rolls. of Education advanced-level “Every year we get more new If one applies to many schools Fax The Sri Lankan community exams, completing grades 12 students, and this academic one has to spend more just for has only one school in Qatar and 13 at school. year alone 160 children were the application while not being functioning under the Sri Only three percent of the admitted to the kindergarten,” sure of getting admission,” said www.renaissancedoha.com Lankan embassy and has students in foreign countries are said Olivier Porretti, Director, a mother of two children. problems with the curriculum, given a place in a university in Primary Section, Lycee Voltaire. A parent of children going Tel +974 44195000 besides a shortage of seats. Sri Lanka. The only alternative “Because of the increasing to a British school said, “Some Fax +974 44195100 The Stafford Sri Lankan for others is to go to a university student population we need a schools keep accepting applica- School Doha (SSLSD) offers abroad, as Sri Lanka does not new campus for the secondary tions even though their classes education from Lower Reception have private universities. school,” he added. are full. Schools should stop this to GCSE Advanced Level and “When we came here we had About 40 percent of the stu- practice so that parents do not prepares students for the IGSCE no option but to send our chil- dents are Qataris, 20 percent have false hopes about that par- and GCE exams under the dren to the Sri Lankan school. French and the rest are of other ticular school.” British National Curriculum. Now we are facing a problem nationalities. THE PENINSULA FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home 16 teams to take part in Indian embassy received 291 QGP football tournament on National Day labour complaints last month DOHA: On National Sports Faisal bin Qassim, Chairman of Day on February 11, Qatar Al Faisal Holding, and Sheikh ICBF to hold medical camp for workers in Dukhan and Zikreet on Feb 7 Germany Partnership (QGP), Nawaf bin Nasser Al Thani, a community organisation, Chairman of NBK, along with DOHA: The Indian embassy mission said. An embassy team who could not bear their travel premises of Galfar Al Misnad will hold a football tournament representatives of the German received 291 labour-related visited the facilities to enquire expenses, to facilitate their Camp at the Dukhan Safety and at Al Sadd Sports club with 16 embassy and heads of participat- complaints from Indian work- about the welfare of the detainees. deportation. Service Area. teams from local and German ing companies. ers last month, an embassy The death toll in the Indian The Indian Community A monthly open house was held companies, including Nasser The event will be a day of statement said yesterday, with- community in 2013 was 241, Benevolent Forum (ICBF) con- at the embassy yesterday and Bin Khaled (NBK) and Sons football games, family enter- out giving details and nature of according to the embassy. The tinues to assist Indian work- ICBF President, Kareem Abdulla, and Al Faisal Holding, a press tainment and social activities grievances. number of deaths recorded in the ers through welfare measures Ambassador Sanjiv Arora and statement said yesterday. including a kids area and a ‘bake The embassy’s community wel- community in 2012 was 237. such as providing air tickets, other officials of the embassy met QGP was founded in 2011 sale’ corner with proceeds going fare section received 3,558 labour On the basis of requests medical treatment and financial complainants and discussed their under the patronage of German to charities and a raffle draw complaints in 2013 and 3,385 the received from Qatari authorities assistance. problems. Industry and Commerce Office with prizes for all the audience. previous year, said the statement. for travel documents for detain- The ICBF is holding a medi- They assured them that the Qatar by a group of German The games start at 9am and However, details like how many ees at the deportation centre, the cal camp in association with the embassy would follow up their companies operating in Qatar are expected to end by 4pm. complaints were taken up for embassy issued 25 emergency cer- Indian Doctors’ Club and Aster cases with Qatari authorities, the and major Qatari business Other games which will also redressal were not provided. tificates last month. Medical Centre, for workers in statement said. owners. be held on the sidelines include Some 72 Indians were in the The embassy also issued 30 Dukhan and Zikreet on February The ICBF functions under the QGP organises and sponsors Treasure Hunting and Shoe central prison and 140 at the air tickets in December 2013 7, a Friday. aegis of the embassy. events that support the Qatari Mixing (open for everybody), deportation centres last week, the and three last month to Indians The camp will be held at the THE PENINSULA and German communities. Balloon Relay and Race (for Major sponsors and/or par- kids between three and six ticipants of the friendly-tour- years), Obstacle Race (seven nament include Mercedes Benz, to 10 years), Sack Race (11 and Audi, Volkswagen and Puma. above) and Obstacle Race also The tournament will be for parents. held in the presence of Sheikh THE PENINSULA Earth Harp maestro strikes a chord with fans

DOHA: For 90 minutes, American musician William TAMUQ, QScience partner to Close astonished hundreds of fans at Katara Drama Theatre as he played the largest stringed publish book on excellence instrument in the world on Thursday and yesterday. Tonight, the America’s Got and impact of research Talent 2012 finalist is set to mes- merise the audience for his last DOHA: Texas A&M University pure sciences and liberal arts. performance in Qatar, using the at Qatar (TAMUQ) has part- Its faculty and research groups Earth Harp he created 15 years nered with QScience to publish are dedicated to discovering and ago. A unique musical instru- a book ‘Excellence and Impact creating new knowledge and ment, the harp has 22 strings set of Research.’ devising solutions to challenges up on the floor of the stage and The book will showcase the uni- encountered by Qatar’s industrial extended up to the middle of the versity’s research endeavours and and commercial sectors. theatre. successes in creating new knowl- With the support of local Wearing cotton gloves, Close edge for Qatar and the industry. partners and worldwide col- moved from one string to another Dr Mark H Weichold, Dean laborations, TAMUQ is helping to create melody that enthralled and CEO of TAMUQ, said, “The raise Qatar’s profile in the glo- hundreds of fans of different ages university is engaged in research bal scientific community by par- and nationalities. which creates new knowledge ticipating in scholarly discourses The strings which extended addressing the needs of Qatar and that amplifiy understanding and above the audience created an the region. Its dynamic research inspire innovation. interactive mood in the perform- programme is a hub for inno- The book will include techni- ance further accentuated with the vation and produces outcome cal papers that reflect the signifi- lights which flashed in sync with that are critical to Qatar’s goal cance of the university’s research the music. of becoming a knowledge-based expertise and how it is leveraged Close said the Earth Harp is a economy. to support Qatar’s growth and unique instrument whose struc- “TAMUQ is pleased to partner development by fulfilling main ture was inspired by the beauty Close playing the 22-string Earth Harp at Katara Drama Theatre on the second day yesterday. His final show is with QScience to produce this pillars of the university’s mission of nature and his surroundings. tonight. book highlighting the breadth and such as generating new knowledge His love for music combined depth of the university’s research by conducting research and dis- with skill in art drove him to shares his gift teaching others to to diversify Katara’s presenta- come together from different programme.” seminating results and serving create over 50 unique musical make instruments. tions to suit various tastes of the parts of the world with the aim of Over the past decade, TAMUQ the needs of Qatar and the region instruments. Aside from creat- Katara General Manager Dr people. exchanging experiences to bridge has developed a robust research through broad expertise. ing musical instruments and Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti “We are keen to make Katara a the gap among peoples and cul- programme covering engineering, THE PENINSULA performing on stage, Close also said the aim of the show was place where different innovations tures.” THE PENINSULA QU goes green with Prysm LPD video walls Qatar News Agency DOHA: Qatar University has chosen energy efficient laser launches new website posphor display (LPD) technol- ogy of Prysm Inc for its College DOHA: Qatar News Agency It is more user friendly as it of Business and Economics, (QNA) yesterday launched its facilitates smooth surfing of the installing a four-metre wide new website, as part of its con- website. New search engines have and 2.25 metre high video wall tinuous effort to improve its been added to the website as well. for its multi-purpose meeting electronic service and reach out Another feature of the website hall. to the widest range of web surf- is that it is more interactive and It has also awarded the system ers possible. more accessible, as it is available integrator, Techno Q, four sites Engineer Khalid Al Mutawa, on smartphones and tablets. where video walls will be installed Director of the Technical Affairs New sections have been added in the first half of 2014. Department, said the news agen- to the website, including a video “An LPD video wall uses 75 cy’s website, www.qna.org.qa, was and photo section that compli- percent less power than legacy updated to cope with develop- ments political, cultural, economic projection solutions previously ments of websites of news organi- and sports materials on the web- used in an installation of this sations worldwide. site. Another feature is important kind. With its unsurpassed energy The new website will aid QNA’s information news about Qatar efficiency, Prysm LPD technology mission as a leading source of col- It is the latest effort of QNA to lowers cost of ownership, helping lecting, publishing and analysing establish a modern news website meet the university’s sustain- news stories. He said the new that serves users in and outside ability goals,” said Ibrahim Saad, website is available in Arabic, Qatar. Head of Sales, Techno Q. English and French. QNA LPD technology uses solid state, ultraviolet lasers to deliver stunning image quality and brightness. The energy efficient Philippine schools face video walls run cool requiring no upgrades in electrical or HVAC infrastructure. Scalable to over 100 feet wide, The LPD technology enables beautiful, scalable, and versatile video walls that deliver immersive and engaging admission pressure multiple users can interact simul- user experiences. taneously with Prysm video walls Continued from page 1 facing admission pressure. through touch, motion sensing Everyone gets a great view of annotation and mobile device around the world include Beijing The Filipino community in Real estate expert, Khalifa Al and their mobile devices. the content no matter whether interaction. TV’s new state-of-the-art broad- Qatar is, arguably, the third larg- Muslemani told The Peninsula “It’s our first installation in they are in a conference hall or The university has an ongoing cast studio, Infoblox Silicon est after Indians and Nepalese. Qatar needs no less than 200 new Qatar, and our first collabora- auditorium.” focus on sustainability and has Valley headquarters, Wallenberg They have just three schools, leav- private schools to cater to a rising tion with Techno Q. LPD tech- LPD video walls will provide played a leadership role in pre- Auditorium at the Royal Swedish ing the community struggling to population. nology is a great display solution the college with an immersive serving the environment through Academy of Engineering Sciences ensure schooling for their chil- But few are coming up even for higher education,” said Tanvir digital canvas for lectures, meet- solutions that prioritise the use of (IVA) building in Stockholm, and dren in Philippine curriculum as the country’s population has Osama, Prysm’s VP of Sales for ings and corporate events. environment-friendly materials IAC headquarters in New York. schools. breached the two million-mark. the Middle East and India. It will display video and user- and technologies. Qatar based Techno Q is an One of the schools, the An education sector source said “Its ultra-wide 178 degrees generated content, such as pres- Prysm Inc, which invented LPD industry-leading systems integra- most popular of the three, the that if corrective measures are viewing angles and the smallest entations, spreadsheets, design technology, is a privately held tor, founded in 1995, specialising Philippine School Doha (PSD), not taken and new private schools video wall seams in the industry layouts, maps and more. video wall designer and manu- in audio-visual, security, control, said it already has a waiting list are not set up, foreign workers, provide a platform that delivers The LPD platform can also be facturer headquartered in Silicon fire, lighting, IT, broadcast, and of 300 for the new academic year especially professionals, might an immersive and compelling enhanced to support a wide range Valley, California. hospitality management system that starts in June. hesitate to come over to take up presentation experience. of interactivity, including touch, Recent LPD installations solutions. THE PENINSULA The other schools are also jobs. THE PENINSULA FEBRUARY 1, 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 ON SATURDAY

Qassim Rahmatullah

Family getaway

he Abu Dhalouf Park offers an alternative getaway for families in Qatar at the weekend. The park, nestled Tbeside the sea in the northern town of Al Ruwais, is a place where visitors can picnic, barbecue, swim or enjoy a boat ride. It has become popular with families of different nationalities because of the variety of activities possible at the park, which has facilities like toilets and playgrounds. Among other attractions in the area are traditional dhows and motor boats berthed by the shore, and a historical building. FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Views

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ORMER military ruler of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf is finding it difficult to extricate from the net he is entangled in. The more he tries to escape, the more Fentangled he becomes. A special court constituted to try the former military ruler for high treason charges now Why Russians feel adrift has rejected his application seeking permission for medical treatment outside Pakistan and has summoned him on February 7. The 70-year-old is facing treason charges over his imposition of a state of emergency in 2007 while he was in a post-Soviet world president. Musharraf must be desperately looking for ideas to flee BY DAVID GREENE the only visitors. Kulakova, with shortly fading. Aside from Russians’ pride in cropped gray hair, pulled up a chair next their music, museums and great liter- from Pakistan and flee from the problems he had heaped on ALINA Kulakova, who grew to the glass cases that held her medals ary figures — children as young as 7 or himself with the decision to return to his country from self- up milking cows on a col- and old newspaper clippings about her 8 recite Pushkin — there’s no national imposed exile. The whole episode now sounds like a scene out lective farm in the Soviet Olympic runs. purpose. of a drama: a former ruler coming back to rescue the country GUnion, left Japan with a fist- “I was watching some of the biath- “Questions about who we are and from the multitudes of problems it’s facing and finding himself ful of gold. The fierce, compact woman lon qualifying runs on TV,” she told who we want to be are increasingly in a position requiring rescue. was unstoppable on skis, winning every me, speaking of a skiing-and-shooting prominent in our society,” Putin noted cross-country event at the 1972 Sapporo sport long ruled by Soviets. “They didn’t in a September speech . “We have left Musharraf has been in a military hospital since falling Winter Olympics. look that good. I don’t know, maybe the behind Soviet ideology, and there will ill with heart trouble while travelling to the special treason Today you’ll find Kulakova in a tiny training isn’t as good now. We really be no return.” Instead of offering a tribunal on January 2 and his lawyers had argued he needed village 700 miles east of Moscow. The accomplished things in the past. Today, new vision, though, Putin trashed other specialist treatment abroad. But the former general’s place may as well have been frozen for I’m really ashamed.” countries, particularly in Europe, which name is on the “exit control list”, meaning he cannot leave 42 years, with unpaved streets cov- Was she speaking just of sports, I he said are “implementing policies that Pakistan. Yesterday, a three-member special court reserved ered with muddy snow and ramshackle asked, or her country as a whole? equate large families with same-sex homes near piles of firewood draped in She ducked the question. partnerships, belief in God with the its decision on the medical report of the former president. tarps. On one street, a yellow house I’ve spent much of the past five belief in Satan.” While announcing its decision, the court also issued a bailable stands out, not just for its modern look years in Kulakova’s country, listening This hardly seems like a unifying arrest warrant against the ex-army but for the plaque identifying it as the to Russians speak their minds about national idea. Yes, there is a vocal, strongman. The bail bond was Galina A. Kulakova House Museum. democracy and their president (many hateful nationalist movement afoot in fixed at Rs 2.5 million. The court This is also are lukewarm about both). With few Russia. But its numbers are small. I Kulakova’s home. exceptions, they told me they feel listless believe there are far more people who observed that Musharraf’s medical The former Not long ago, local and confused about where the nation is are unmoved by Putin’s attacks on report submitted by doctors did leaders wanted to headed. They toil in an economy that minorities. But Russians are desper- military ruler not state anywhere that he could remind people of rewards the elite. Small villages are ate for something. It explains why many has gravely not appear before it, adding there Today, many her triumphs. So dying, and one-industry towns that once are even growing nostalgic for Joseph was no choice but to issue a bailable they built a place did their part to power the Soviet Union Stalin, remembering him for bringing miscalculated arrest warrant against him. Russians see a where Kulakova, are seeing their factories crumble or order, purpose and meaning, never mind now 71, could live close. Often, people can’t rely on police his atrocities. Many Russians speak with the decision The tussle between Musharraf country searching and be honored. or public services unless they pay bribes. fondly of Soviet times — even young to end his self- and the court is likely to continue for a post- (They also bought During Soviet times, the harsh life people who never lived through them. with both sides determined not her a new SUV.) was offset by a feeling that the coun- Last year, in a poll measuring exile. to give in. Musharraf is a shrewd Soviet identity All this would try was mighty. Sacrificing, doing one’s Russians’ feelings about their country, politician and can be expected to and striving for have felt more part to contribute to national greatness, 42 percent said there was nothing to be devise novel ways to outwit the fitting in the was a Russian legacy long before the proud of (up from 37 percent in 2005). relevance. Soviet years. Bolsheviks. Nineteen percent said it was difficult court, and even enlist the support Each time Soviet Today, many Russians see a country to answer the question. The poll was of the military when going gets athletes held up a searching for a post-Soviet identity and taken by the All-Russian Center for the extremely tough. The court too has the power to make sure gold medal, they striving for relevance. Of course, you Study of Public Opinion, which is gener- that its writ along runs. If Musharraf fails to appear before the embodied a country brimming with won’t see this on television in the com- ally respected though government-run, court in its next hearing, then a non-bailable arrest warrant pride. The Soviets were first in space, ing weeks. Sochi is becoming a Potemkin diminishing its credibility. Still, the fact they dominated many sports, and they village, a phrase dating to the 18th that the government collected and pub- is likely to be issued against him. It’s difficult to predict how were spreading their ideology around century, when the governor of Crimea, licized these disappointing numbers sug- future episodes will unfold, but there will be plenty of suspense the world. Grigory Potemkin, so the story goes, had gests that these feelings could be even and high-tension moments. It is highly unlikely that the In 1980, when the United States and fake communities built along a river, a more pervasive. country’s powerful military will allow one of its members to dozens of other countries boycotted the virtual utopia to impress the visiting Russian athletes’ failure at Sochi be sent to jail, but the executive and judiciary can do enough Moscow Summer Games to protest the Empress Catherine the Great. could reinforce the country’s feelings things to make Musharraf’s life miserable. Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, The Sochi Games will be President of fading dominance. We saw that in Soviet influence and expansion seemed Vladimir Putin’s Potemkin village on Vancouver in 2010, when Russia’s Whether Musharraf wins or not, one thing is clear: he at a maximum, and Soviet pride was at crack: He’s spending about $50 billion vaunted hockey team was bounced from had grievously miscalculated with his decision to come back. or near its height. — making this by far the most expensive the tournament by Canada. Fans were It would be interesting to hear what he has to say on this. In contrast, the Sochi Games of 2014 Olympics in history — to put on one so humiliated, Russia’s coach joked that Perhaps, his advisers were to blame. The world has enough see Russian pride at or near a new low. giant display of Russian glitz. his players would be sent to the guil- examples where the coteries have caused the downfall of Last year I walked into Kulakova’s But he is doing it, it seems, because lotine on Red Square as soon as they leaders. museum, where my friend and I were he knows that faith in the country is arrived home. WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Americans still waiting for an Obama they can believe in the day FTER five years in the Congress highlights doubts about In a speech that reflected the frus- governments. It may prove the same White House, President the limits of what he can do. It also tration of a president elected twice for the otherwise inspirational Obama Barack Obama needed a reinforces that he expects more of with big ideas but who stagnates on presidency. Abreakthrough idea in his what he called ‘’stale political argu- 43 per cent popularity among poten- The Herald supports many of the Britain’s right State of the Union address to shake ments’’ to block his way during the tial voters, he said: ‘’Let’s make this Democrat’s domestic policy concerns. Americans out of their rhetorical next three years. a year of action. That’s what most Likewise, he deserves credit for tak- to hold a vote flourish fatigue. He had to convince It was no clearer than in the stan- Americans want.’’ ing a relatively cautious approach in them he could deliver on his proposals dout line, ‘’Let’s give America a Australians will recall how the then world affairs. Certainly the President’s perfectly respected for stronger growth and a fairer nation. raise’’. He implored businesses as prime minister Julia Gillard said in late State of the Union flourish was memo- For the large part he fell short. well as state and local authorities 2010: ‘’Australians want their govern- rable in defence of his withdrawal of but we can’t While the US economic recovery and Congress to increase the mini- ment to govern. So 2011 will be a troops from Afghanistan as well as may yet save his administration from mum wage beyond his plan to lift it year of delivery and decision.’’ his diplomacy-first approach to the impose the British lame duck status, President Obama’s from $US7.25 to $US10.10 an hour As history shows, promising big Syrian tragedy and pursuit of reduced choice on Europe. focus on taking his own direct for employees of companies fulfilling and delivering small was a fatal nuclear capabilities in Iran. Francois Hollande action to sideline an obstructionist government contracts. flaw of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd ALP The Sydney Morning Herald French President FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Views www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 ON SATURDAY Democrats avoid Obama in campaigns Deciding how to handle a president in their party whose approval ratings are down is a common quandary for candidates in midterm elections. BY JOHN WHITESIDES and gas development and the issuance of logging permits. pooked by President Barack “I don’t need him campaigning for me. Obama’s low approval ratings, I need him to change some of his policies,” some of his fellow Democrats in Begich told CNN. tough November election races Democratic senators are not the only have begun their campaigns by candidates in their party keeping some Sdistancing themselves from the White distance from Obama. In Wisconsin, a House and asserting their independence state the president won in the 2012 elec- from Obama’s policies. tion, Democratic candidate for governor In what amounts to a survival-first Mary Burke skipped an appearance by strategy among embattled Democrats Obama in Waukesha on Thursday. She crucial to the party’s effort to keep con- said she had a previously scheduled trol of the senate, some candidates in commitment. conservative states Obama lost in 2012 Deciding how to handle a president are aggressively criticizing his healthcare, in their party whose approval ratings energy and regulatory policies. are down is a common quandary for The group includes three incumbent candidates in midterm elections. Many senators, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Republicans stayed away from then- Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mark President George W Bush in 2006, when Begich of Alaska, as well as Natalie his slumping approval ratings and the Tennant, who is seeking to replace retir- unpopularity of the Iraq war helped fuel Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid talks with reporters after the Senate Democratic Policy Luncheon on Tuesday in Washington, DC. ing Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller a Democratic blitz that gave the party of West Virginia. Other Democratic sena- control of both houses of Congress and tors facing tough battles for re-election most state governorships. This year, the Republicans have launched ads in sev- strategists, meanwhile, are casting the criticism of Obama after the president’s have not been as critical of Obama, but problem for Democrats is reflected in eral states reminding voters of the ties November elections as contests between speech before Congress on Tuesday. have signalled they might not do much Obama’s sagging approval ratings after between Obama and local Democrats, candidates, not a referendum on the Pryor highlighted his opposition to campaigning with him. a year in which his healthcare overhaul especially senate Democrats who sup- president. Obama’s push for gun control and addi- Democratic Senator Kay Hagan of got off to a rocky start, and critics have ported the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 “What those candidates have to decide, tional farm regulations. Pryor also was North Carolina recently passed on a cast his policies as causing a decline in healthcare law also known as Obamacare. especially in those tough states, is how critical of delays by Obama’s administra- chance to appear publicly with Obama, American influence around the world. The law aims to help millions of unin- they are going to talk about these big tion in deciding the fate of the Keystone saying she had another commitment. Reuters/Ipsos tracking polls on sured Americans get health coverage and issues like Obamacare,” said Democratic XL pipeline, which would help bring oil Begich and another Democrat up for re- Thursday indicated that 38 percent of provides a range of consumer protections. strategist Chris Kofinis. “They have to be from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the election, Mark Udall of Colorado, have Americans nationwide had a favourable Republicans say it will raise costs and on the offensive.” US Gulf Coast. Pryor supports the pipeline. expressed scepticism about the idea of view of the job Obama is doing, while nearly limit healthcare choices. Senator Landrieu, who is likely to “I’ve always said that I’ll work with campaigning with the president. 53 percent disapproved. A year ago, 52 “It’s going to be very difficult for a lot face a difficult re-election battle against the president when I think he’s right, Each of the Democratic senators is fac- percent viewed Obama favourably and 43 of these Democrats because they will own Republican Rep Bill Cassidy, recently but oppose him when I think he’s wrong,” ing persistent criticism from Republicans percent did not. Obama’s low ratings have Obama’s agenda, no matter how hard introduced legislation to allow people Pryor said in a statement. “I’ll continue who cast them as rubber stamps for parts contributed to Democrats’ worries that they try not to,” said Brad Dayspring, a to keep their health insurance poli- to oppose his agenda when it’s bad for of Obama’s agenda that are particularly regaining a majority in the Republican-led spokesman for the National Republican cies even if those policies did not meet Arkansas and our country.” unpopular in their states. US House of Representatives could be out Senatorial Committee. Obamacare’s new requirements for cov- West Virginia Democrat Tennant, who The growing distance between these of reach, and losing control of the senate “Obama will be a drag on them because erage. In her first campaign ad, she criti- has an uphill battle against Republican Democrats and Obama’s White House is a possibility. he reminds voters of how far the party cized Obama for breaking his promise Shelly Moore Capito to keep a Democrat was evident this week in Washington, In the 100-seat senate, where has shifted to the left.” Obama and his that all Americans who liked their health in Rockefeller’s seat, has been criticizing where their responses to the president’s Republicans need to win a net six seats aides have largely sidestepped questions plan could keep it. the administration’s regulation of the coal State of the Union address ranged from in the November 4 elections to reclaim about the efforts of fellow Democrats “This is a promise that you made. industry, saying it was eliminating jobs muted to chilly. a majority, Democrats must defend seats to distance themselves from the presi- This is a promise that you should keep,” in her state. Begich said after the speech that, if in seven states where Republican Mitt dent, who will talk with senators at a Landrieu, who voted for Obamacare, “If the president wants to promote Obama came to Alaska, he would be “not Romney beat Obama in 2012. Obama’s Democratic retreat next week. says in the ad. Pryor, who faces a chal- opportunity, he needs to rethink his really interested in campaigning” with ratings are particularly low in those Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid lenge from Republican Rep Tom Cotton energy policies. The president is wrong him, but would “drag him around” to states: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, said this week he expected the party’s in Arkansas and is perhaps the most on coal and I will fight him or anyone else show him how the administration’s poli- Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota senate candidates to welcome Obama vulnerable senate Democrat up for re- who wants to take our coal jobs,” Tennant cies have hurt the state by limiting oil and West Virginia. into their states to campaign. Democratic election, seemed to echo Republicans’ added. REUTERS As world revolts, great powers will keep watch Blair’s bleak prospect the government of President Salva as ME peacemaker Non-intervention Kiir last week signed a ceasefire agree- ment with the forces of his former BY JOSHUA KEATING has as many, or vice president Riek Machar. Almost instantly, both sides accused the other t’s not exactly breaking news that, particularly since of breaking the agreement. Now a the 9/11 attacks, many Western leaders have been more, victims as return to hostilities seems likely. The inconsistent in their support for democracy in the two men come from rival tribes. The IMiddle East, but few leaders seem to vacillate between intervention. new nationhood of their country has military interventionism and defence of the autocratic been too weak and there is too much status quo to the same degree as former British premier BY JOHN LLOYD in contention between them to unite Tony Blair. them in support of the state, and to Blair is in Cairo this week, defending the legitimacy of ivil wars, those raging and rule out a struggle for power. a military government currently putting the country’s those yet to come, present In Ukraine a division between deposed president on trial in a soundproof glass cage. “The the largest immediate threat EU supporters and the government fact is, the Muslim Brotherhood tried to take the country Cto human societies. Some widens and compromise efforts fail. away from its basic values of hope and progress,” Blair have similar roots, but there is no President Viktor Yanukovych, faced said. “The army have intervened, at the will of the people, overall unifying cause; except, perhaps, Smoke ascends after a Syrian military helicopter allegedly dropped one of two with a revived protest movement but in order to take the country to the next stage of its a conviction that the conflict is a fight barrel bombs over the city of Daraya, southwest of capital Damascus, yesterday. over the past few weeks, offered the development, which should be democratic. We should be to oblivion. Victory or death. premiership to an opposition figure. supporting the new government in doing that.” Syria currently leads in this grisly month said that aid from Russia In Egypt, the Shia are an even The opposition rejected the offer as You may also recall that during the uprising against league. Deaths now total well over was increasing. Michael Hayden, smaller community. The conflict “poisoned.” Protesters have occupied Hosni Mubarak, Blair defended the longtime dictator as 100,000 in the war between the the former head of the CIA, said there is between the supporters of the Justice Ministry in Kiev and “immensely courageous and a force for good.” Blair, of country’s leader, President Bashar in Washington last month that an the ousted Muslim Brotherhood and mounted demonstrations in cities in course, will probably be best remembered internation- Al Assad, and opposition forces. Assad win might be the best “out of the army-dominated state power. The Ukraine’s east, an area traditionally ally for his backing of the Iraq war. Though he based his The Syrian Observatory for Human three very, very ugly options.” latter’s leader, General Abdel Fattah aligned with Russia. case for war primarily on the threat posed by weapons of Rights reported nearly 126,000 dead Another ugly option — according to Al Sisi, will likely stand for presi- A civil war in a country that strad- mass destruction, he later defended his actions, saying that last month, and said it was probably Hayden the most likely — is continu- dent in an election brought forward dles the divide between Russian and though the weapons had never been found, “The world is much higher. More than 2 million ing conflict between Sunni and Shia in a bid to establish stability, while European civilizations is today pos- a better place with Saddam in prison.” Syrians have left their country as factions. It could create a larger civil numbers of deaths and arrests at sible. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez’s Blair’s outreach to Muammar Gaddafi while in office refugees, and 4.25 million have fled war, dragging one Muslim country Brotherhood demonstrations grow. legacy, presided over by his successor, may have been justifiable at the time, but reports that he their homes to other parts of Syria. after another into deepening conflict The Brotherhood still has wide sup- Nicolas Maduro, also endeavours to considered asking the Queen to bestow honourary knight- Last week, a report by three former over the two branches’ differing inter- port. As the economic situation deteri- woo an opposition that won’t soften. hood on Bashar Al Assad are a bit more embarrassing. war crime prosecutors alleged that pretations of the legacy of the Prophet orates in Egypt, a wider conflict is still The army had been solidly behind More recently, Blair urged Western governments to stop some 11,000 prisoners had been Mohammad. The Shia, the minority in possible — this time pitting poorer, Chavez, a military officer. It is less “wringing our hands” and intervene militarily in Syria. tortured, many to death, in “indus- the Muslim world, is the majority in rural areas against both the military loyal now to Maduro, who has nei- “I hear people talking as if there was nothing we could trial scale killing” by the regime of Iraq. There the Sunni minority, which and their urban supporters. ther élan nor success on his side. do: the Syrian defence systems are too powerful, the issues President Assad. had been the most loyal supporters of A similar split runs through Little can be done about these and too complex and, in any event, why take sides since they’re We are watching a relentless hor- the late dictator Saddam Hussein, are Thailand’s politics — except that other conflicts. Intervention — aside all as bad as each other?” Blair wrote in August. “It is time ror unfold. The current negotiations attacking Shia centres and provoking the rural poor support the present from an occasional foray, as French we took a side: the side of the people who want what we between the various factions of the counter attacks. government of Yingluck Shinawatra, forces still fighting Islam extrem- want; who see our societies for all their faults as something opposition and the Assad govern- Yet in two other Muslim states, the sister of former prime minister ists in Mali attest — is now shunned to admire; who know that they should not be faced with ment in Montreux may have saved the feud is largely irrelevant. In Thaksin Shinawatra, who was dis- rather than embraced. The impetus a choice between tyranny and theocracy.” some women and children from the Afghanistan the Shia are no more missed from power by the military for peace must come from within. It often seems as though Blair’s two default positions besieged city of Homs, but at the than 5 to 10 percent of the popu- in 2006. Shinawatra remains popular This is the emerging shape of the on Middle Eastern governments are to wholeheartedly core remains a presently insuperable lation. The growing power of the in the countryside because redistri- present world, which, sooner or later, support them as modernizing defenders of freedom, or clash of aims: the regime insists that Taliban now threatens the central bution policies played to their ben- will be settled by superior force — as advocate military intervention against them. Assad remain in power, the oppo- government, whose authority and efit, but the city dwellers charge his was the civil war in Sri Lanka, five Blair was in Cairo in his capacity as the Middle East sition that he depart immediately. armed forces are proving inadequate administration with rampant cor- years ago. We have learned that non- peace envoy of the Quartet — the UN, the US, the EU, Assad’s forces appear to have the to the task of taking over from Nato ruption and have forced the post- intervention has as many, or even and Russia — an office one Palestinian official memorably advantage. once its troops withdraw this year. ponement of elections that were more, victims as intervention. Yet described as “useless, useless, useless.” Support from Iran and Russia for An unannounced civil war is already scheduled for February 2, which the rich world will watch, send aid, Given his track record, Blair’s prospects as a peacemaker Assad’s forces is steady and signifi- under way as the prize of state power Shinawatra was thought sure to win. keep out. in the region seem pretty limited. cant. A Reuters report earlier this once more seems achievable. In the new nation of South Sudan, REUTERS WP-BLOOMBERG FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Middle East Israel strikes Boycott threats worry Israel in Gaza after rocket attack

European organisations blacklist Israeli firms involved in building settlements in occupied areas GAZA CITY: Israeli fighter jets attacked in the Hamas- JERUSALEM: Israeli govern- soft-drink machine maker that ruled Gaza Strip last morn- ment and business leaders are hired Johansson this month, ing, sources on both sides said, alarmed by a growing interna- says it hadn’t chosen to set up in hours after a rocket fired from tional boycott movement and Maale Adumim settlement, east the Palestinian enclave hit the the likely effect of EU measures of Jerusalem, but simply inherited Jewish state. against exports from Jewish the facility when it acquired the Palestinian security sources settlements in the occupied business in 2007. said two strikes targeted train- West Bank. The CEO Daniel Birnbaum ing sites of Ezzedine Al Qassam Cabinet ministers are to meet told New York Jewish weekly Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, next week to hammer out a strat- The Forward said: “We will not in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. egy against a growing interna- throw our employees under the In two additional air strikes tional campaign to boycott trade bus to promote anyone’s political at sites west of southern Gaza linked to settlements, Haaretz agenda,” saying he “just can’t see city Rafah two Palestinians were newspaper reported yesterday. how it would help the cause of the injured, the sources said. And a group of top Israeli Palestinians if we fired them.” The attack came a short while businesspeople has launched a Senior executive Yonah Lloyd after a rocket fired from Gaza hit publicity campaign urging Prime told the Jerusalem Post that would an open area in southern Israel, Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to mean making 800 Palestinians causing no damage or injuries. make peace with the Palestinians and 500 Israelis jobless. A statement from the Israeli for the sake of the economy. Commenting in Haaretz, military said that in response In the latest developments, Egyptian-Belgian journalist Khaled to the rocket, its aircraft tar- Norway’s sovereign wealth fund Diab said that while boycotts could geted “a terror activity site and blacklisted on Thursday two change the behaviour of commer- a weapon manufacturing facility Israeli companies involved in cial enterprises they were unlikely in the northern Gaza strip and a building settlements in Israeli- to change state policy. weapon storage facility” in south- occupied east Jerusalem and The film Lost in Translation ern Gaza. US actress Scarlett Johansson brought Scarlett Johansson global Tensions have recently risen stepped down as Oxfam ambas- fame. Will the actress’s latest role in and around Gaza after a sador amid a storm over her ad — lost in the occupation — earn year of relative calm, with six campaign for a firm operating in her widespread infamy,” he asked. Palestinians and an Israeli killed a settlement in the occupied West “Even at the height of anti- since December 20 and militant Bank. An injured Palestinian protester is carried by comrades during clashes with Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of apartheid sanctions, South Africa rocket fire sparking retaliatory These incidents highlight the Jalazun refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. managed to find ‘sanctions-bust- air strikes. creeping success of a campaign ing’ alternatives, and began a On January 22, the army killed to boycott trade linked to settle- process of recalibrating its econ- two Palestinians, one of them ments built on Palestinian land moves to boycott products and to the economy. Israel is a coun- ($5.7bn) annually; GDP will drop omy and finding alternative trad- identified by Israel as a militant seized during the Six Day War of services linked to the settlements. try dependent on exports, with 33 some 11bn shekels,” he said. Last ing partners.” from the Popular Front for the 1967, and viewed by the interna- He said initiatives in Europe percent of its foreign trade con- May, the Palestine Liberation “In addition, sanctions had Liberation of Palestine who the tional community as illegal. to require separate labelling for ducted with the European Union, Organisation published an esti- some unintended consequences,” army said was behind recent Meanwhile, the European goods manufactured in the settle- he told a security conference. mate of EU imports of goods pro- he added. “For instance, it forced rocket attacks. AFP Union recently moved to block all ments were gathering pace every “Europe is our primary mar- duced on settlements, which it put the country to innovate more, grants and funding to any Israeli time Israel announced a new ket,” he said. “Even a 20 percent at ¤229m a year. such as developing alternative entity operating beyond the 1967 round of construction. fall in our trade with Europe While some Israeli companies energy technologies.” Militants kill lines, sparking growing alarm in Israeli Finance Minister Yair would mean 9,800 workers being set up in occupied territory to “Like with South Africa, the Israel. Lars Faaborg-Andersen, Lapid warned on Wednesday fired immediately,” he said. take advance of tax breaks, low United States should end its mili- the EU’s ambassador to Israel, that the breakdown of current “Even a partial European boy- rents and soft loans, others do so tary aid to Israel until it ends the 15 soldiers said last week that, in addition to peace talks with the Palestinians cott would be felt by every Israeli, for ideological reasons, believing occupation, which might possibly coordinated action by the body, could strengthen the boycott, and the cost of living would go in the Jewish religious imperative be the single most effective eco- in Yemen Israel’s constant settlement con- divestment and sanctions (BDS) up,” he added. “Exports will to settle the biblical land. nomic action any party can take struction was fuelling private movement and deal a body blow drop by some 20 billion shekels SodaStream, the home to end the occupation.” AFP ADEN: Fifteen soldiers were killed and four wounded by suspected Al Qaeda militants in an attack on an army check- Bahrain protest point in southeastern Yemen yesterday, an army official said. The soldiers were ambushed as they were having lunch in a desert area near the city of Shibam, in the eastern province of Hadramout, residents said. The army official said the gun- men were likely to be al Qaeda militants. Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, is struggling to restore state authority after long-serving President Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to step down in 2011. Security in Yemen is closely watched by Western and Gulf Arab countries because of its proximity to top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and the presence there of an al Qaeda branch that has plotted bomb attacks against international airlines. Hadramout, a centre of Yemen’s modest oil production, has been hit by sporadic fighting between government forces and a big tribal confederation, after a senior tribesman was killed in a shootout at an army checkpoint in December. Yemen’s challenges also include rising sectarian ten- A Bahraini woman holding the national flag takes part in an anti-govern- sion in the north and a secession- ment protest against the closing down of a Shia clerics’ council earlier ist movement in the south. this week, in the village of Abu Saiba, West of Manama, yesterday. REUTERS Iran nuclear talks set for Feb 18 in Vienna: Ashton MUNICH: EU foreign affairs talks with Iran over its nuclear and cutting back its enriched ura- head Catherine Ashton met programme which resulted in an nium stockpile. and agreed yesterday with the initial accord in November. Accordingly, on January 20, the Iranian foreign minister that Iran agreed then with the European Union and the United the next international talks on five permanent members of the States began lifting sanctions, lay- Iran’s contested nuclear pro- UN Security Council — Britain, ing the groundwork for the next, gramme will be held February China, France, Russia, United six-month stage of the process. 18, an EU official said. States plus Germany (known as During this period, the United “We had a really interesting E3+3) — that it would open up States and the EU have promised meeting and the most important its nuclear programme so as to to impose no new sanctions. outcome at this stage is that we allay fears it was seeking atomic Iran has insisted repeatedly have agreed that we will start weapons. that its nuclear programme is the talks between the E3+3 and In return, the world powers peaceful, but in an atmosphere Iran on 18 February ... in Vienna,” agreed to a progressive lifting of complete distrust the West Ashton said. of tough sanctions which have applied ever tighter sanctions “I very much look forward to caused immense damage to the seriously impacting its economy. working together with you then,” Iranian economy. Despite the initial progress, the said Ashton after meeting Iranian Earlier this month, the UN’s core of these sanctions remain in Foreign Minister Mohammad nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, cer- place. The accord provides for Javad Zarif on the sidelines of tified that Tehran had stuck to their ultimate removal if Iran the Munich Security Conference. its side of the initial deal, giving lives up to all its commitments. Ashton has led the international access to key nuclear installations AFP FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Middle East www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 ON SATURDAY UN plans fresh Syria talks from Feb 10 Assad regime vows no concessions as first round of dialogue wraps up

GENEVA: The UN aims to bring Syria’s warring sides back to the negotiating table from Talking in Geneva, February 10, mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said yesterday, despite a regime vow not to give any ground. killing in Syria “I suggested we resume, on the basis of an agreed agenda, BEIRUT: As Syria’s regime and opposition held high-profile on February 10,” Brahimi told talks in upscale Swiss hotels, their country’s brutal conflict reporters after a week of closed- claimed the lives of nearly 1,900 people, far from the interna- door negotiations wrapped up. tional spotlight. President Bashar Al Assad’s government, and “The delegation of the opposi- the opposition National Coalition, have little to show for the talks tion agreed to this date. That of that began on January 22 in the Swiss town of Montreux and the government said they needed wrapped up yesterday in Geneva. to consult with Damascus first.” On the ground there was no let-up in the brutality that has Getting the rival camps to sit devastated the country since March 2011, with more than 130,000 down for the first time in almost people killed in nearly three years and some nine million displaced. three years of fighting has been No ceasefire was agreed, talks on a transitional government never seen as a triumph in itself for began, and a deal to allow aid into the besieged Old City of central Brahimi, a veteran peacemakers. Homs went nowhere. “Progress is very slow indeed, but In the nine days between the start of the conference through the sides have engaged in an accept- to Thursday night, 1,870 people were killed in Syria, the Syrian able manner,” Brahimi said. “This is Observatory for Human Rights said. a very modest beginning, but it is a “There should have been a total halt to military operations and beginning on which we can build.” arrests during the talks,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman “The gaps between the sides said. Instead, the fighting continued as fiercely as ever, with an aver- remain wide. There is no use pre- age of 208 deaths a day, he said. tending otherwise. Nevertheless, The Britain-based Observatory said that at least 498 civilians were during our discussions, I observed among those who died as the peace talks were under way. a little bit of common ground, Supporters of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad carry national flags and portraits in front of the European Fighting between the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant perhaps more than the two sides headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. (ISIL) and rival rebel groups that erupted in early January contin- realise or recognise.” ued unabated. Syria’s regime yesterday vowed waved a huge Syrian flag and opposition, to bring the two sides “The regime started this armed Activists also spoke of harrowing raids by regime forces on the not to give any ground in peace brandished pictures of President together. Opposition spokesman conflict. The protests were peace- northern city of Aleppo and the town of Daraya in Damascus prov- talks with the opposition, as a first Bashar Al Assad. Louay Safi said that the regime ful, had the regime responded ince which were both hit by explosive-packed barrel bombs. week of negotiations wrapped up Zohbi said his no surrender had been forced to negotiate. peacefully there would have been “During Geneva II, explosive barrel bombs have rained down on with no concrete progress beyond message was not only for the “The fact that the regime has no conflict,” said Safi. Brahimi said us,” activist Abu Kinan said yesterday from Daraya. AFP a pledge to meet again. rebels, whom he accused of “ter- been forced to come to Geneva that despite a difficult start, the “Neither in this round, nor rorism”, but also for their allies in — this is the result of the fight- talks had got down to specifics. in the next will they obtain any Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and ing of the Syrian people,” Safi told “This week we started to discuss the rebel ranks, has slapped a “ter- situation in the country. concessions from the Syrian del- Jordan, and anti-Assad groups in reporters. the specific areas of the cessation of rorist” label on the broader oppo- He earlier said he was “very, egation,” Information Minister Lebanon. Syria’s conflict erupted in violence in all its forms, including sition — which counters that it is very disappointed” that no Omran Al Zohbi told pro-regime Asked about Zohbi’s remarks, March 2011 after a regime crack- the fight against terrorism, and the itself fighting the jihadists, claims progress had been made towards demonstrators outside the UN’s the 80-year-old Brahimi quipped: down on peaceful Arab Spring- transitional governing body exer- there is regime complicity with the fulfilling the only tangible prom- European headquarters in Geneva “I hope he’ll change his mind!” inspired protests. It morphed into cising full executive powers.” hardliners, and underscores the ise to emerge from the talks: the where the talks were held. The Algerian veteran mediator a sectarian-tinged civil war which The two sides agree that they role of Iranian-backed Lebanese regime’s promise to allow women “They will not get through has suggested the talks resume has to date claimed over 130,000 must beat terrorism — but not militia Hezbollah on the Assad side. and children safe passage from politics what they couldn’t get on February 10. It took months of lives and driven millions from on what it is. Damascus, point- Brahimi noted that the talks ended rebel-held areas of Homs that through force,” Zohbi insisted, as pressure from Syria’s ally Russia, their homes, sparking a devastat- ing to groups of ultra-Islamist with no breakthrough in address- have been besieged since June the applauding 250-strong crowd and Washington, which backs the ing humanitarian crisis. Syrian and foreign fighters within ing the desperate humanitarian 2012. AFP UN raises Lakhdar Brahimi: A master of patience alarm over GENEVA: Despite the slim He has not been afraid to drop he speaks Arabic, the fact that pickings from a week of the smiles when, as alleged, a he understands the culture, must Egypt media UN-brokered peace talks regime delegate accused him of play a role,” Syrian opposition between Syria’s warring sides, being biased because he is a Sunni spokeswoman Rafif Jouejati said. crackdown getting them to the table at all Muslim like most of Syria’s rebels, He also works to ensure that was a huge feat in itself. tersely calling the individual to all players get a hearing, however GENEVA: The UN’s human But for international mediator order. The Geneva talks marks irreconcilable their views, acting rights office yesterday Lakhdar Brahimi, that was all in the biggest international push as a conduit between them. expressed concern over a a day’s work in a job that requires so far to end a war that has “Our delegation has expressed crackdown on the media by patience, persistence, strong will cost more than 130,000 lives and their gratitude to Mr Brahimi for Egypt’s military-backed rul- and fine-tuned diplomacy. driven millions from their homes. facilitating the discussion and for ers, spotlighting the treat- The 80-year-old Algerian They were organised after giving us an opportunity in the ment of reporters working has long been one of the most intensive shuttle diplomacy by framework of Geneva II, giving for Al Jazeera television. respected envoys in the world, Brahimi in the Middle East and us the opportunity to present the “We are extremely con- called in when the mission seems the capitals of world powers, vision of a future Syria to the dic- cerned about the increas- impossible. notably Washington, which backs tator,” said Jouejati. ingly severe clampdown and “I’m not disappointed, because I the opposition, and Moscow, an Brahimi, also fluent in French physical attacks on media in did not expect any result this first ally of Syrian President Bashar and English, earned his spurs in Egypt, which is hampering time,” he said of the glacial pace Al Assad.Brahimi wears two hats, 1989 by helping the Arab League their ability to operate freely,” of talks this week. UN-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi gestures during a press as the Syria envoy of the UN and broker the deal that ended said Rupert Colville, spokes- Saying that his dearest hope briefing at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva yesterday. the Arab League. As a veteran Lebanon’s 15-years civil war. He man for the UN high commis- was end the brutal war, he warns of Algeria’s war of independence was UN envoy to South Africa sioner for human rights. that there is no “magic wand”. week,” he told reporters. humour. “At this rate, we’ll need against colonial ruler France over during 1994’s watershed elec- Colville said there had “I know that this will not hap- With tensions aplenty behind 20 years. You’d better hurry up, as five decades ago, and later a for- tions that saw Nelson Mandela been a string of reports of pen in a day, or tomorrow, or closed doors in the Geneva talks, I won’t be around in 20 years,” he eign minister, he carries weight win office, then moved on to civil harassment, detention and the day after tomorrow, or next Brahimi has kept his sense of purportedly told delegates. in the Middle East. “The fact that war-torn Yemen. AFP prosecution of national and international journalists. Egyptian prosecutors Wednesday referred 20 jour- nalists working for Qatar- based international station Bombs in Cairo Al Jazeera television to trial. “The vague charges, includ- ing ‘aiding a terrorist group’ and ‘harming the national wound policeman interest’ are of great concern,” Colville said. “These are people carrying CAIRO: Two roadside bombs interior minister, was killed out- cameras, not guns,” he added. exploded near a patrol car in side his home by gunmen on a “This has not only placed a Cairo yesterday, and police fired motorbike. sharp focus on the systematic tear gas at supporters of ousted Supporters of Mursi, who was targeting of Al Jazeera staff president Mohamed Mursi in ousted by the army on July 3, had — five of whom are in custody Alexandria, security officials in called for protests yesterday. — since the fall of the previous Egypt said. Police fired tear gas to disperse government last July, but also One policeman was slightly a pro-Mursi demonstration when led to increased fears among wounded when his patrol car was the deposed Islamist’s support- the media in general, both hit by two roadside bombs in a ers clashed with opponents in the national and international, Cairo suburb, the interior min- Mediterranean city of Alexandria, which is clearly deeply detri- istry said. security officials said. mental to freedom of expres- The capital has been rocked Similar pro-Mursi demon- sion and opinion”. by several bombings and shoot- strations were staged in Cairo, Coville said that journalists ings targeting police over the past Sharqiya and Fayoum, they said. working for other media had week. The military-installed author- reported being attacked by On January 24, a day before ities have launched a deadly government supporters after the third anniversary of the crackdown on Mursi’s support- being accused of working for 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni ers, mostly Islamists, since his Al Jazeera. Mubarak, a car bombing hit police removal. Rights group Amnesty The UN has received headquarters, one of four bombs International says that at least numerous reports of local targeting the force in the city. 1,400 people have been killed in journalists being sacked for Six policemen were killed that the crackdown. reporting on sensitive issues, day. Mursi supporters continue to Colville said. AFP Four days later, police general stage regular protests demanding Mohamed Saeed, an aide to the his reinstatement. AFP A soldier sits on top of an army vehicle at Nasr street in downtown Cairo yesterday. FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com International

Snowden, Ashton, Ukraine president signs amnesty into law Kosovo and Serb Yanukovich repeals anti-protest legislation; abducted activist reappears, alleges torture PMs proposed for

KIEV: Ukraine’s embattled family friend of Yanukovich, Nobel peace prize President Viktor Yanukovich has stepped in as interim prime yesterday signed into law an minister. BRUSSELS: Fugitive NSA amnesty for demonstrators Underlining its economic lever- contractor Edward Snowden, detained during mass unrest age over Ukraine, Moscow says top EU diplomat Catherine and repealed anti-protest legis- a new government must be in Ashton and the premiers of lation, in a fresh bid to take the place before it goes ahead with Kosovo and Serbia were pro- heat out of the political crisis. a planned purchase of $2bn of posed for this year’s Nobel peace But the move by Yanukovich, Ukrainian government bonds. award by European Greens and who remains politically active That reluctance, and the tur- Socialist leaders yesterday. despite going on sick leave on moil more generally, contributed Snowden, currently in hiding Thursday, was not likely to be to a 2.5 percent fall in the value in Russia, was officially named by enough to end the sometimes vio- of the hryvnia currency against the Greens group in the European lent anti-government protests on the dollar yesterday to its lowest Parliament in honour of “his con- the streets of Kiev and beyond. level for 4-1/2 years. tribution to the protection of our Many protesters rejected the US Secretary of State John universal rights, including the amnesty outright, because it is Kerry plans to meet opposition right to privacy and freedom of conditional on occupied buildings leaders, including boxer-turned- expression”. being cleared of activists, and a politician Vitaly Klitschko, on the The names of Ashton, along radical Ukrainian nationalist sidelines of a security conference with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica group behind much of the violence in Munich yesterday. Dacic and his Kosovo counterpart pressed new tough demands on “Our message to Ukraine’s Hashim Thaci, were personally Friday. opposition will be the full sup- put forward by the president The 63-year-old leader, who port of President Obama and of of the powerful Socialists and looks increasingly isolated in a the American people for their Democrats group in the parlia- tug-of-war between the West and efforts,” Kerry said in Berlin on ment, Hannes Swoboda. Ukraine’s former Soviet overlord Friday before the meetings. Ashton brokered a ground- Russia, suddenly withdrew from “But we will also say to them breaking agreement between the view on Thursday, complaining that if you get that reform two last year aimed at closing the of a high temperature and acute agenda... we would urge them to door on tension in the Balkans. respiratory ailment. engage in that because further Both premiers have been linked He has been under pressure standoff, or further violence that to trouble in the wars that fol- since November, when his deci- becomes uncontrollable, is not in lowed the break-up of the former sion to accept a $15bn loan pack- anybody’s interests.” Yugoslavia, Dacic as former age from Russia instead of signing Kerry also called on Russia to Protesters walk near one of the barricades during the continuing protest in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. spokesman for the late Slobodan a trade deal with Europe infuri- keep its distance. Milosevic and Thaci as a one-time ated many of his compatriots “We would ... say to our friends Some protesters sleep in tents one of the leaders of anti-gov- foreign policy chief Catherine guerrilla fighter named in crimi- and sparked huge protests in the in Russia this does not have to and warm themselves from wood- ernment protest motorcades Ashton said she was appalled nal probes including organ traf- capital. be a zero (sum) game, this is not fuelled braziers through the night, called ‘Automaidan’, was taken by signs of torture inflicted on ficking during the war. At least six people have been something where Ukraine should but many hundreds also sleep on to hospital after he appeared on Bulatov. Swoboda said they should be killed and hundreds more injured become a proxy and trapped in the floors of occupied public build- Ukrainian television. “All such acts are unaccept- given the Nobel “not only as a in street battles between anti- some kind of larger ambition for ings including Kiev’s City Hall. “They crucified me. They punc- able and must immediately be reward for the progress achieved government demonstrators and Russia or the United States.” An anti-government activ- tured my hands,” he said, point- stopped,” she said in a statement. already, but also as a motivation, police, which have escalated With opposition leaders away ist who vanished a week ago ing to marks on the backs of A far-right nationalist group possibly as the last push that is sharply after the authorities in Munich and freezing night appeared on television on Friday, his hands. “They cut off my ear, called Right Sector, seen as being needed for lasting peace.” toughened their response. temperatures gripping the capi- his face badly beaten and with slashed my face,” he said. “But I behind violent clashes with police Deadlines for nominations The crisis forced Prime tal, protest organisers have not wounds to his hands, saying he am alive, thank God.” in Kiev, meanwhile demanded the for the prestigious peace award Minister Mykola Azarov to called for a big rally on Sunday, was kidnapped and tortured by The United Nations’ human release of activists held by police, are February 1, more than eight resign, and as yet there is no sign when the biggest demonstra- his abductors who had “crucified” rights office called for an investi- threatening to take the law into their months before the announcement of a successor. Serhiy Arbuzov, tions tend to be held on Kiev’s him. gation into reports of kidnappings own hands to free their comrades. of the laureate. Azarov’s first deputy and a close Independence Square. Dmytro Bulatov, 35, who was and torture, and European Union REUTERS AFP

Man washes UK nuclear plant detects high radiation, staff told to stay at home up in Marshall LONDON: Britain’s Sellafield on the coast of the Irish sea in a spokesman from Nuclear in a statement, adding that only for five days, belching radiation Islands ‘after 16 nuclear fuel reprocessing plant northwest England, was operat- Decommissioning Authority. “At essential workers were being into the atmosphere. said yesterday it had detected ing normally. the moment we don’t know where asked to report to work. It is the site of a civilian nuclear months adrift’ higher than usual levels of radi- A higher than normal radia- the radiation is coming from.” The British government said it power station that is being ation and ordered all non-essen- tion reading was logged overnight Sellafield, a patchwork of grey was in constant contact with the decommissioned by a consortium MAJURO, Marshall Islands: tial staff to stay at home. via an air monitor at a perimeter buildings, industrial cylinders site, about 480km northwest of of British company Amec , French An emaciated man whose Sellafield, the site of Britain’s fence, but Britain’s state nuclear and cooling towers surrounded London, and that there was no group Areva, and US firm URS. boat washed up on a remote worst nuclear accident in 1957 and decommissioning agency, which by grassland, said the deci- risk to the public from the raised Now one of two nuclear fuel Pacific atoll this week claims once the producer of plutonium owns the site, said the source of sion to keep staff at home was level of radioactivity. reprocessing plants in Europe he survived 16 months adrift for nuclear bombs, said there was the reading was unclear. conservative. Once the source of plutonium along with Areva’s La Hague on the Pacific, floating more no risk to the public, a statement “It is far too early to say there “As a result of a conserva- for Britain’s nuclear bombs, plant in France, Sellafield receives than 12,500km from Mexico, a echoed by the government. is a leak. Everything being done tive and prudent decision, the Sellafield was the site of the spent fuel from power plants researcher said yesterday. The operator said the facil- is precautionary. There is no dan- Sellafield site is operating nor- October 1957 Windscale fire, across the world, including Japan. The man, with long hair ity, just outside Britain’s strik- ger to the workforce, communities mally but with reduced man- Britain’s worst nuclear accident, It employs over 10,000 people. and beard, was discovered on ing Lake District national park or wildlife,” said Bill Hamilton, ning levels today,” Sellafield said when a plutonium reactor burned REUTERS Thursday when his 24-foot fibre- glass boat with propellerless engines floated onto the reef at Ebon Atoll and he was spotted by two locals. “His condition isn’t good, but Guilty verdict stuns he’s getting better,” Ola Fjeldstad, a Norwegian anthropology stu- dent doing research on Ebon, the southern most outpost of the Knox, vows to fight on Marshalls, said by telephone. Fjeldstad said the man, dressed FLORENCE, Italy: An emo- never go willingly back... I’m going to only in a pair of ragged under- tional Amanda Knox said yes- fight this to the very end,” she said, pants, claims he left Mexico for El terday she had been left reeling adding “it’s not right and it’s not fair.” Salvador in September 2012 with after an Italian court again Knox, 26, spent four years in an a companion who died at sea sev- found her guilty for murder, and Italian prison after being initially eral months ago. vowed she would never return convicted of the murder of her Details of his survival are willingly to serve her sentence. roommate Kercher in Perugia, Italy, sketchy, Fjeldstad added, as the Knox, 26, was sentenced in where they were both studying. man only speaks Spanish, but he absentia to 28 years and six months She was freed when an appeals said his name was Jose Ivan. in prison for the 2007 murder of court threw out the conviction in 2011, “The boat is really scratched up British student Meredith Kercher but Italy’s supreme court ordered the and looks like it has been in the in the latest dramatic twist in the case retried and an appeals court water for a long time,” said the long-running legal saga. found her guilty Thursday. researcher from Ebon. Both Knox and her former “I did not expect this to happen. Ivan indicated to Fjeldstad lover Raffaele Sollecito, who I really expected so much more that he survived by eating turtles, was sentenced to 25 years, have from the Italian justice system. birds and fish and drinking turtle fiercely maintained their inno- They found me innocent once blood when there was no rain. cence and vowed to appeal. before,” Knox said in her first tel- No fishing gear was on the boat Fighting back tears, Knox told ABC evision interview since the latest and Ivan suggested he caught tur- US student Amanda Knox (right) during an exclusive TV interview with Robin Roberts (left) at Good Morning television yeserday the court’s guilty verdict was announced. tles and birds with his bare hands. America in New York, yesterday. verdict “hit me like a train.” “I will AFP There was a turtle on the boat when it landed at Ebon. Stories of survival in the vast Pacific are not uncommon. In 2006, three Mexicans made international headlines when Hollande warns Cameron over EU membership renegotiation plans they were discovered drifting, also in a small fibreglass boat near the Marshall Islands, in BRIZE NORTON, United held at an airbase in Oxfordshire, Under pressure from euroscep- the British choice on Europe.” need to know in the UK is that the middle of the ocean in their Kingdom: French President west of London, Hollande indi- tics in his Conservative party, Cameron said he remained an in-out referendum... will hap- stricken boat, nine months after Francois Hollande dealt a blow cated he might be open to Cameron has promised to renego- optimistic of achieving the pen by the end of 2017. There is setting out on a shark-fishing yesterday to Prime Minister treaty change in the future to tiate Britain’s position in the EU changes he wanted and insisted absolutely no doubt about that.” expedition. David Cameron’s hopes of rene- ensure the eurozone was “better and put the new deal to a referen- the vote would go ahead, provided The first Anglo-French sum- And in 1992, two fishermen gotiating Britain’s membership coordinated”. dum after the next election in 2015. he is re-elected next year. mit since Hollande was elected from Kiribati were at sea for of the EU before a referendum But on the wider issue of Hollande told a joint press “My position absolutely in 2012 saw agreements signed 177 days before coming ashore in in 2017, saying treaty change reform, he said: “We feel that conference that he “perfectly remains that we want to see those in the fields of defence, nuclear Samoa. was “not a priority”. revising the treaty is not a prior- respected” Britain’s right to hold changes, we want that renegotia- energy and space exploration. AFP At an Anglo-French summit ity for the time being.” a vote, but said: “We can’t impose tion,” he said. “What people really AFP FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Asia www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 ON SATURDAY China hits back at US criticism over scribes Washington ‘must behave in a way that is more conducive to media exchanges and mutual trust’

BEIJING: China yesterday hit back at between the two countries”. the issue of China’s treatment of foreign China in 18 months, it pointed out in a have said that Ramzy breached visa the US condemnation of its treatment Hong’s sharp retort came after the journalists privately with Chinese leaders statement. rules by not changing his status after of foreign journalists, as tensions rise White House said it was “deeply con- during a visit to Beijing. “In these circumstances it is difficult to leaving Time, but the FCCC disputed over a New York Times reporter who cerned that foreign journalists in China Beijing has blocked the websites of both avoid the conclusion that the authorities the accusation. left Beijing after not receiving a visa. continue to face restrictions” following the Times and Bloomberg after they pub- are punishing the New York Times for On Thursday, the White House said The case of reporter Austin Ramzy, Ramzy’s departure for Taipei, where he lished investigations in 2012 into the fam- articles it published concerning Premier the US was “very disappointed” that who departed Beijing for Taipei on will report while continuing to seek a visa ily wealth of former premier Wen Jiabao Wen Jiabao and his family.” Ramzy was obliged to leave China and Thursday, has sparked protests from the for mainland China. and President Xi Jinping, respectively. Chris Buckley, a veteran Reuters that Beijing’s actions “stand in stark con- White House and elsewhere that China is Ramzy, who had been based in China Authorities also reportedly con- China correspondent hired by the Times, trast with US treatment of Chinese and seeking to retaliate against news organi- for more than six years, left Time maga- ducted unannounced “inspections” similarly had to leave Beijing when his other foreign journalists”. sations such as the Times and financial zine in mid-2013 to work for the New York of Bloomberg’s offices in Beijing and previous visa expired in December 2012. “The United States is deeply con- news agency Bloomberg that have pub- Times. But Chinese officials had not yet Shanghai last month and demanded an Philip Pan, the Times’s designated cerned that foreign journalists in China lished investigations into the family granted him a new visa before his previ- apology from its editor-in-chief amid a Beijing bureau chief, has been waiting continue to face restrictions that impede wealth and connections of its top leaders. ous one expired, effectively obliging him controversy over an unpublished arti- for nearly two years for Chinese authori- their ability to do their jobs, including “China does not accept the unjusti- to leave Beijing. cle on the government ties of a Chinese ties to grant him a visa and covers the extended delays in processing journal- fiable accusations by the US side, and “China is forcing out Austin Ramzy billionaire. country from Hong Kong. ist visas, restrictions on travel to certain demands the US side to respect facts and today after 6.5 years,” Times China cor- The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Asked about China’s treatment of locations deemed ‘sensitive’ by Chinese take cautious words and acts,” Chinese respondent Ed Wong wrote Thursday China (FCCC) said it “strongly regrets” foreign journalists, foreign ministry authorities and, in some cases, violence foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Twitter. Ramzy confirmed his arrival that Ramzy “has been forced to leave” spokeswoman Hua Chunying denied any at the hands of local authorities,” it said said in a statement reported Friday by in Taipei via Twitter Thursday night. In and criticised China’s behaviour, say- expulsions. “There’s no such thing as in a statement. the official Xinhua news agency. an earlier message, he wrote: “Sad to be ing it “falls well short of international foreign journalists being expelled from Last week, foreign journalists covering Hong added Washington must behave leaving Beijing. Hope I can return soon.” standards”. China,” Hua said Wednesday at a regu- the trial of activist Xu Zhiyong in Beijing in a way that was more “conducive to Ramzy’s departure comes a month He is the third New York Times jour- lar news briefing, adding: “It is Chinese were harassed and manhandled by uni- media exchanges and mutual trust after US Vice President Joe Biden raised nalist not to be authorised to stay in domestic affairs. Chinese authorities formed and plainclothes police. AFP US official arrives Thailand poll without pre-election buzz BANGKOK: Thailand goes to the polls tomorrow, but the usual pre-election buzz, ban- in Lanka to push ners and loud-hailers on the backs of trucks are noticeable by their absence in the capital, Bangkok. for reconciliation Anti-government protesters have blocked major intersections and flyovers for weeks, setting up COLOMBO: A top US official allegations that troops committed camps in neat rows of tents. arrived in Colombo yesterday war crimes during the decades- They have boycotted the elec- to push for reconciliation in Sri long conflict between troops and tion and vowed to disrupt the Lanka which is under increas- Tamil rebels, or face international voting, prompting a huge security ing international pressure over investigations. operation involving thousands of rights abuses during its separa- Sri Lanka has consistently police and troops. tist war, diplomats said. denied what the UN calls credible Election preparations are under Nisha Biswal, the assist- allegations that up to 40,000 civil- way, but the casual observer has ant secretary of state for South ians were killed by Sri Lankan to look hard for clues. and Central Asia, will travel to troops in the final months of the At a polling station at a school a former war zone to meet with war that ended in 2009. in the Don Muang district in ethnic minority Tamil leaders as Biswal is expected to hold talks north Bangkok, the only evidence part of her two-day visit, a US with Sri Lanka’s foreign minister is a signboard listing the candi- embassy spokesman said. and other top government offi- dates, propped up against the wall “She will discuss with Sri cials during her visit. “The new under a staircase. Lankan (government) officials resolution will be part of the dis- Outside the district office, a Anti-government protesters cheer during the Bangkok Shutdown rally at a protest site camp outside MBK shopping on the need to do more to ensure cussions that she will have with sign says “Your voice = the power centre in Bangkok yesterday. reconciliation and accountability,” Sri Lankan officials,” the embassy of democracy. Move forward with the spokesman said. spokesman said. the election and reform together Biswal is the second US envoy The opposition Tamil National on February 2, 2014.” control the situation and violence were forced shut. “If we look at said. “But we will have to leave to travel to Sri Lanka in recent Alliance (TNA), which controls But that call has been lost on breaks out,” Election Commission the overall picture, the problem is security to the police.” weeks after war crimes investi- the highest level of local govern- the protesters who want their official Somchai Srisutthiyakorn in Bangkok and in the 15 southern Prasai Wanta, 30, a teacher at gator Stephen Rapp caused con- ment in the former war zone own reform of the political land- said. provinces,” he said. the school polling station, said he troversy by visiting a former Sri of Jaffna, has said it will send a scape, setting up a “people’s The commission has said the Labour Minister Chalerm would vote because that was his Lankan battleground earlier this representative to Geneva for the council” to run the country after vote should be postponed warning Yoombamrung, in charge of a right. “But we will have to moni- month. upcoming UN meeting. bringing down Prime Minister that the situation is too volatile. state of emergency, urged the tor the situation closely,” he said. The visits come ahead of Britain’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. A protest leader was killed protesters not to disrupt the vote, Election officials in Don Muang, a United Nations’ review of David Cameron warned dur- Ten people have been killed and and about a dozen people were warning that people would “beat where residents largely voted for Colombo’s human rights record. A ing a Commonwealth summit in at least 577 wounded in politically wounded in a clash near a polling each other to a pulp.” the government’s ruling Puea third US-initiated censure motion Colombo in November that he related violence since the end station during advance voting, for During a visit to a Buddhist Thai Party in the 2011 election, against Sri Lanka is set to be dis- would use London’s position at of November and many voters those who can’t vote tomorrow, at temple in Don Muang, business- said they would start setting up cussed at the UN Human Rights the UN to press for an independ- fear tomorrow’s vote will end in the weekend. man Suwit Sakhajorn, 32, said booths at 5am tomorrow with 10 Council in March. ent investigation unless Colombo bloodshed. Commission head Puchong people were too scared to put up officials and one policeman over- Sri Lanka has come under showed progress in probing its “The government must take Nutrawong said polling stations election posters. seeing each of the constituency’s increasing pressure to investigate own troops. AGENCIES responsibility if police can’t in 49 of Bangkok’s 50 districts “We are afraid of bombs,” he 199 booths. REUTERS

Nepal protest US to wind up China eyes new air defence zone refugee scheme TOKYO: China is considering declaring a new Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea, according in Myanmar to a Japanese report yesterday, a move likely to fan tensions in an area riven by territorial disputes. The report comes months WASHINGTON: The US is after Beijing caused consternation with the sudden declaration of winding down a programme an ADIZ above the East China Sea, covering islands at the centre which has helped to resettle of a sovereignty row with Tokyo. It also comes as countries in 73,000 refugees from Myanmar the region grow increasingly concerned about what they see as over almost a decade, a US offi- China’s aggressive territorial claims. Working level officials in the cial confirmed on Thursday. Chinese air force have drafted proposals for the new zone, which After being introduced in could set the Paracel islands at its core and spread over much of 2005 primarily to help Karen the sea, the Asahi Shimbun said, citing unnamed sources, includ- and Hmong minorities that have ing from the Chinese government. The draft was submitted to been displaced in Myanmar, also senior Chinese military officials by May last year, the daily said. known as Burma, “we’re reach- ing the natural conclusion” of Minister quits to run for president the program, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. JAKARTA: Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said “With our robust resettlement yesterday he had resigned, effective immediately, to focus on program, the number of eligi- his campaign to win the presidential nomination for the ruling ble Burmese refugees has been Democratic Party. The US-educated former investment banker reduced significantly, and not is one of 10 candidates vying for presidential nomination by the all Burmese who are eligible for Anita Rani Thebe, mother-in-law of Sobha, cries while protesting outside a hospital in Kathmandu yesterday. party, whose fortunes have been slumping in opinion polls. “I resettlement consideration are According to family members, Sobha, 25, died after having a normal delivery. Nepal in 2010 had a maternal already met the president two days ago and he accepted it,” he interested in permanent reset- mortality rate of 170 in 100,000 births, according to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals project. told reporters. AGENCIES tlement,” she said. Refugees from Myanmar who are still interested in resettling in the US should get their applica- tions in quick, Psaki added. Panama releases 32 North Koreans in Cuba arms shipment case “If those who are eligible are interested, they should apply PANAMA CITY: Panamanian authori- on arms trafficking charges, prosecutor on July 10 on suspicion of carrying drugs as crew and ship. The fine was imposed for now, and we will see the process ties have released 32 of the 35 North Nathaniel Murgas told reporters. it tried to enter the Panama Canal. endangering the waterway and providing through for all those who apply.” Koreans detained since July after an He said the organized crime office A search uncovered 25 containers of “distorted information” about the “danger- Human rights groups have long undeclared cargo of Cuban arms was ordered the sailors’ release on Tuesday, and Cuban military hardware, including two ous” cargo, the Panama Canal Authority raised concerns about the liv- found on their ship, prosecutors said on that they were turned over to immigration Soviet-era MiG-21 aircraft, air defence sys- (ACP) said. ing conditions of the Karen and Thursday. authorities. The other crew members face tems, missiles and command and control But North Korea “has not yet paid us. Hmong minorities, many of whom The remaining three North Koreans -- up to 12 years in prison if convicted of arms vehicles. Earlier this month, Panamanian The vessel remains held in canal waters,” have fled persecution. the Chong Chon Gang vessel’s captain, first smuggling. officials said North Korea had agreed to ACP administrator Jorge Quijano said. AGENCIES officer and political secretary -- face trial The North Korean freighter was stopped pay a $666,666 fine for the release of the AFP FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Philippines 53 dead as troops overrun insurgents Three child soldiers among guerrillas buried: Army

MANILA: Three child soldiers rebel group, the Moro Islamic the guerrillas buried soon after recruited by hardline Muslim Liberation Front (Milf), success- their deaths, according to rebels in the Philippines were fully concluded peace talks with Islamic custom. among 53 people killed in a five- government negotiators last week “The armed forces is strongly day military offensive in the aimed at ending a decades-long denouncing (the use of child sol- restive south, an official said insurgency that has killed tens of diers) and we have communi- yesterday. thousands. cated this to the government’s Regional spokesman Colonel The BIFF is a small group of Commission on Human Rights Dickson Hermoso said the militants opposed to the peace and to other organisations to offensive against fighters of the effort with the Milf, which has take cognisance of these findings,” Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom carried out many deadly attacks Hermoso added. Fighters (BIFF) group in the in recent years in a bid to derail The website of the UN special strife-torn southern island of the peace process. representative on children and Mindanao had resulted in the Philippine President Benigno armed conflict said that it “con- President Benigno Aquino III (centre) exchanging a token gift with chief negotiator for the Milf, Mohagher Iqbal, deaths of 52 rebels, including the Aquino has vowed to crush mili- tinued to receive credible reports (left) during a courtesy call at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila yesterday. children, and one soldier. tants opposed to an imminent that the (BIFF) armed group was “They are employing child sol- peace deal, saying the army oper- actively training and providing diers with guns and camouflage ations were meant to “seriously weapons to children”. a bid to prevent the rebels from protect the peace process because said Zagala. The Milf had coop- uniforms. When we encounter degrade their abilities to again act National military spokesman derailing the peace process with by doing (these bombings), they erated in the operations against them, we cannot discriminate as spoilers”. Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala the Milf. are spoiling the peace process,” the BIFF by holding back their if they are children or not,” he Hermoso said soldiers and said that troops had captured “Our objective is to curb the he said. own forces and not letting the said. local residents confirmed the BIFF’s headquarters as well use of IEDs (improvised explo- Fighting is likely to end by hardliners seek refuge in Milf The military offensive the three child soldiers, aged as their bomb-making factory in sive devices) so as to protect the Saturday as part of an arrange- territory. came after the main Muslim between 15 and 17, were among remote villages of Mindanao in people and the community and ment with the main Milf group, AFP Two dead in Envoy to UN begins 120 sea turtles recovered from swamp Quezon City

PUERTO PRINCESA: under the branches of mangroves, kilometres from Manila because car accident Philippine police said yester- he said. the animals often congregate fast today for action day they rescued 120 protected “They were just stored there in there, the police chief added. MANILA: A motorist who sea turtles found hidden in a the swamp. They (the perpetra- Sea turtles are protected under reportedly fell asleep at the pen inside a mangrove swamp, tors) probably just visited them Philippine law and catching them wheel smashed a family’s apparently intended for sale to occasionally when they added is punishable by at least 12 years makeshift home – a push- over climate change foreign traders. newly-caught turtles,” Martinez in jail. cart parked on the curb – It is just the latest case of sea said. The turtles were set free but In recent years, Philippine in Quezon City before dawn MANILA: A Philippine dip- people around the world con- turtles captured in the western no one was found tending the hid- authorities have frequently yesterday, leaving two per- lomat who went without food nected via social media to follow island of Palawan where various den pen. caught foreigners, often Chinese, sons dead and three others for 14 days last year will lead his example, in what he believes species are known to congre- Martinez said an investiga- catching or buying sea turtles in injured. another fast today in a bid to will be a growing movement gate said local police chief Senior tion was on-going to determine the waters off Palawan. The motorist, John Oyos, 33, pressure world leaders over cli- ahead of the Peru round of talks Superintendent David Martinez. who captured and stored the sea Turtles are often sold as exotic fled the scene of the accident, mate change. in December. A police patrol in Balabac town turtles. pets, end up in food markets or leaving behind the Honda Civic Naderev “Yeb” Sano, the The Peru gathering is vital on Tuesday came upon a huge pen Such seizures of illegally- are used by practitioners of tra- (WTF-308) he was driving and Philippines’ lead negotia- in trying to secure a global pact containing 120 live sea turtles of captured turtles are common ditional medicine. a female passenger, according tor at United Nations climate by 2015 that would limit global various species and sizes hidden in Balabac, located about 850 AFP to Inspector Marlon Meman, talks, drank only tea and water warming to 2.0 degrees Celsius commander of the Quezon City throughout the last meeting in over pre-Industrial Revolution Police District Traffic Sector 2. Poland in November, garnering levels. Realma Cerbito, 7, was killed world headlines and praise from Sano’s fasts have been pro- on the spot while her father, developing nations. moted by Nobel laureate Al Edgar, 37, died at the East Sano’s latest symbolic one-day Gore’s Climate Reality Project, Govt urged to apologise to Hong Kong Avenue Medical Center. hunger strike is an attempt to which has 143,000 followers on The rest of their family – maintain pressure ahead of the its Twitter feed @ClimateReality. Cerbito’s wife Rowena, 37; and next UN talks in Peru, with his About 300 people around the MANILA: Senators yesterday shared the concern as he also to [the Hong Kong government]… their two children Edron, 5, tactics beginning to attract fol- world have committed to fasting urged Macalañang to apologise asked the Department of Foreign Unfortunately for us, they don’t and Miguelito, 2 – were also lowers around the world via social in solidarity with Sano, accord- to Hong Kong over the Manila Affairs (DFA) to look again on the think that this is sufficient injured. Residents helped the media. ing to Ashwini Prabha-Leopold, hostage crisis in 2010 where issue and reconsider its decision enough, they want our national victims into a taxi, whose “The objective is to keep con- a spokeswoman for the Climate eight Hong Kong tourists were not to apologize over the bungled government to do so,” Ejercito driver brought them to the necting with the people who Action Network, a global coalition killed by a dismissed policeman. police rescue operation for the said. hospital for treatment, Meman believe in climate justice ... I’ve of more than 850 non-government “The refusal to apologize I Hong Kong tourists. The senator said that Vice said. always believed in fasting as an organisations that is working to find hard to understand,” said “I think its too much pride on President Jejomar Binay should He said the accident hap- important instrument in provok- keep climate change to sustain- Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” the part of the DFA,” Senator be tapped as an emissary to help pened along Don Mariano ing change,” Sano said. able levels. Marcos Jr. Sotto said, adding that there’s ease the tension between the two Avenue when Oyos’ Civic Sano will carry out his February “However this has not been Marcos cited the efforts of no harm in asking for an apol- governments. hit the pushcart, where the fast while visiting Tacloban, a promoted widely and we expect former President and now Manila ogy for something that cannot be “If PNOY is reluctant to say five victims were sleeping, at city in the eastern Philippines a growth in number as we move Mayor Joseph Estrada, who has controlled. sorry now, may I suggest instead around 3am. that was devastated when Super this initiative onto a bigger plat- said that he will try to reach out Senator JV Ejercito, mean- that we send an official emis- “The wooden pushcart was Typhoon Haiyan tore across the form from February 1,” Prabha- to Hong Kong officials to nego- while, was saddened by the Hong sary to HK to resolve this issue,” badly crushed by the impact,” region in November. Leopold said. tiate its decision to cancel visa- Kong government’s decision, Ejercito said. Meman said. Haiyan, which was the strong- The World Council of Churches free arrangements for Philippine which came even after his father, “VP Binay is doing good in his Oyos’ passenger, who was not est typhoon ever to make land- has also called on its Twitter officials and diplomat passport Mayor Estrada, issued a public job as defender of OFW.” identified, claimed he was driv- fall and left 8,000 people dead or feed for people to join Sano in holders. apology over the hostage taking “Since it involves hundreds of ing home to Smile Citihomes missing, triggered Sano’s original fasting on the first day of each “Erap’s efforts are a good step fiasco. thousand OFW, Binay is the right Subdivision when he fell asleep decision to fast at the UN climate month, promoting the hashtag knowing how this problem affects “The City of Manila, where man for this job,” Senator Ejercito behind the wheel, Meman said. talks in Warsaw. #fastfortheclimate. our Filipino workers there,” he the incident happened, already added. Sano said he expected other AFP said. Senator Vicente Sotto III issued formal and public apology THE PHILIPPINE STAR Granddad holds boy hostage Year of the Horse welcomed MANILA: A man held Nationwide jail his seven-year-old grand- Haiyan survivors brace son hostage in Navotas City Wednesday afternoon. inspections soon Alejandro de Antonio, 55, was arrested after two hours of MANILA: With the recent dis- for storm Kajiki negotiating with police officers covery of the so-called “wheel of TACLOBAN: Hundreds of towns and leaving about 8,000 and Mayor John Rey Tiangco. torture” inside a police camp in people who survived Super dead or missing. In the island’s Investigators said De Laguna province, the Philippine Typhoon Haiyan are bracing for still-ruined capital of Tacloban Antonio, brandishing a knife, National Police has ordered an a new storm that was expected City, about 150 families living near suddenly grabbed his grandson inventory and inspection of all to hit the central Philippines the coast evacuated ahead of time at around 4pm while they were of its lock-up cells and custodial last night, officials said. before the storm hit. at the second floor of their facilities nationwide. Tropical storm Kajiki, packing The residents, who are still house. Their relatives sought PNP public information office maximum winds of 100 kilome- housed in tents after Haiyan the assistance of police offic- head Chief Superintendent tres per hour, is expected to hit destroyed their homes, fled to ers. Tiangco, hearing of the Reuben Theodore Sindac said the the central island of Leyte before higher ground or took refuge hostage-taking, went to the inspection and audit teams from midnight, cutting through the with friends or relatives, said city area and tried to convince to the Directorate for Investigation archipelago as it heads towards administrator Tecson Lim. let go of the boy. and Detective Management and the South China Sea, the govern- Housewife Bising Alberta, 55, De Antonio said he wanted the Human Rights Affairs Office ment weather station said. said her family had decided to to talk to his daughter, Jenny, were sent to account for all lock- Although Kajiki is far weaker voluntarily flee “even before the the mother of the boy. Jenny up cells in regional, provincial, than Haiyan -- one of the strong- government told us to evacuate,” was outside the house when city or municipal police units to est storms ever to hit land with as she and her loved ones packed her father took his grandson check on the condition of inmates winds reaching 315 kilometres up to find shelter in a crowded hostage. While the two were and offenders in police custody. per hour -- authorities are still boarding house. talking, several policemen He said that aside from the warning it could bring new flash- During Haiyan’s fury, her house managed to sneak onto the physical headcount and audit, floods and landslides to communi- was wiped out by large waves and second floor and rescue the boy. they will also review case records ties living in already rudimentary she had to be hospitalised for her Relatives told police that De of detainees to determine the shelters. subsequent injuries. “I am a sur- Antonio was a former patient basis of their continued deten- The province of Leyte suf- vivor (of Haiyan). I am scared of of the National Center for A fireworks display lights up a mall during the Chinese New Year cel- tion and verify if there are certain fered the worst casualties when water now. Even if it is just driz- Mental Health. ebration in Chinatown in Manila yesterday. The Chinese New Year, which issues on custodial jurisdiction. Super Typhoon Haiyan struck zling, I am already frightened,” AGENCIES THE PHILIPPINE STAR welcomes the Year of the Horse, falls on January 31. in November, flattening whole she said. AFP FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Pakistan / Afghanistan www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 ON SATURDAY Afghan poll campaign begins tomorrow Warlords, old politicians dominate the list of candidates

KABUL: Afghanistan’s elec- which is likely to trigger a second- -- plunging relations with the tion campaign kicks off tomor- round run-off in late May between US, Afghanistan’s key donor, to row, with 11 candidates vying the two strongest candidates. a fresh low. to succeed President Hamid Tipped to go through to US Defence Secretary Chuck Karzai as the country enters an the run-off stage is Abdullah Hagel said Karzai’s foot-drag- uncertain new era without the Abdullah, the suave opposition ging risked leaving Washington aid of Nato combat troops to leader who came second to Karzai no time to plan its post-combat fight the Taliban. in the chaotic and fraud-riddled mission. A dispute between Kabul and 2009 election. “You can’t just keep deferring Washington over whether a small Among the other heavyweight and deferring because at some force of US soldiers stays behind candidates are former finance point the realities of planning and beyond 2014 is likely to dominate minister Ashraf Ghani, Karzai budgeting collide,” the Pentagon the two-month campaign, which loyalist Zalmai Rassoul and the chief told reporters on Thursday. will culminate in Afghanistan’s president’s low-profile elder But US officials concede that first-ever democratic transfer of brother Qayum Karzai. they are waiting for a change at power. Karzai has ruled the coun- Afghan politics has been the top. Karzai “is the elected try since the fall of the Taliban focused for months on the bilat- president of a sovereign nation, in 2001, surviving assassination eral security agreement (BSA), and our ability to influence what- attempts and the treacherous which would allow about 10,000 ever decisions he makes is lim- currents of Afghan political life US troops to be deployed in the ited”, Hagel said. as billions of dollars of military country after Nato withdraws by Western and Afghan officials and development aid poured into December. say all 11 candidates support the the country. Karzai was expected to sign BSA but, except for Abdullah He is barred from seeking a the deal late last year, but he has Abdullah, they have declined to third term, leaving an open field stalled and said his successor say so publicly for fear of clashing Labourers print posters of presidential election candidates at a printing press in Kabul on Wednesday. to compete in the April 5 vote, might now complete negotiations with Karzai. AFP

Court issues Musharraf’s arrest warrant Anti-terror law tilting to ‘draconian practices’ ISLAMABAD: Whether mild The PPO amendment has been was dictated by the army, said, the law on the missing persons ISLAMABAD: A court in tinkering or radical overhaul, widely criticised in legal circles “We will revisit this. There will issue,” said Salman Akram Raja, Pakistan yesterday issued whenever the Pakistan’s anti- for being shoddily drafted and be safeguards and review boards a Supreme Court lawyer. “Now, by the arrest warrant of former terrorism legislative frame- incompatible with constitution- and the like. There will need to using terms like enemy alien and President Pervez Musharraf work has been reworked the ally guaranteed fundamental be sunset clauses,” a reference to specifying that Article 10 will be in a high treason case as results have tilted in a particu- rights. Even senior government time limits on legislation. applicable to enemy combatants, he had not appeared in the lar direction: towards draco- officials, speaking on the condi- As for the army, a lawyer who they are using the language of the court despite several orders, nian, security-state practices tion of anonymity, make little has advised its leadership on legal constitution.” court officials said. and away from a fundamental attempt to defend it - and readily matters claimed there is a nascent But Raja and other legal ana- A three-member bench also rights-based approach. explain its true purpose. realisation within the army lead- lysts suggest that even if the legal rejected Musharraf’s request Historically, the reasons for “The original PPO, in October, ership that the old way of doing challenges to the second PPO are to allow him to go abroad for that tilt have been relatively that was very much something business may have to change. fended off, the legislation is more medical treatment as his name straightforward: civilian politi- that the prime minister himself “Before it used to be, ‘We need legal Kabuki than a meaningful is included in the list of those cians have quickly and wholly had also wanted. This one (the this, now make it happen.’ Now attempt to resolve the missing- people who cannot leave the deferred to the army’s demands latest ordinance) came from the they ask what the legal position persons issue. country. and opinions on the security brass because of institutions - is first and what can be done,” the Said one prominent constitu- Musharraf was taken to a front. But history appears to be the (Supreme) Court’s direction lawyer said, speaking on the con- tional expert who spoke on the military hospital earlier this repeating itself with the PML-N that the missing persons issue be Ex-attorney general Munir Malik dition of anonymity. condition of anonymity, “The ret- month when he was heading to government’s decision to promul- addressed through legislation,” a “It’s particularly true when it rospective effect of the PPO is the the court to stand in the high gate the controversial Protection senior government official said. “But I also believe a balance has comes to the international cli- most problematic area. But even treason case. of Pakistan (Amendment) In truth, there are few true to be struck between protection of mate and it began after 2008. The with that in place, the army has The former military presi- Ordinance, 2014. advocates of a rights-based fundamental rights and dealing Mumbai attacks made them real- been denying before the courts dent is still under treatment at “I thought we were not a police approach in any corner of the with the terrorist threat. Both are ise how much legal trouble they they have the missing persons in the Armed Forces Institute of state anymore, that we are a wel- state apparatus when it comes to of vital importance to the state.” could be exposed to.” their custody, so how will they Cardiology in the garrison city fare state,” said Munir Malik, dealing with the terrorism threat. Still, it is question of degree - Domestically too the twin be able to admit they have them of Rawalpindi near Islamabad. attorney general of Pakistan Most echo the approach of and the civilian leadership tends Protection of Pakistan Ordinances now?” until his resignation earlier this Akram Sheikh, the go-to lawyer to be more aware of the need to are seen by some legal analysts Meanwhile, a familiar problem Water sources month. of the PML-N leadership, said, uphold constitutional safeguards as an improvement over past continues to plague the efforts to “The fundamental problem is “I am a proponent of fundamen- and protect fundamental rights. practice. revamp the country’s anti-terror getting polluted we are unable to go on, to get tal rights, even the fundamental The senior government official “Previously they (the army) legal framework: ad hoc-ism. away from the past,” Malik added. rights of a terrorist. who admitted the recent PPO was operating completely outside INTERNEWS ISLAMABAD: Water sources of Islamabad are get- ting high pollution load due to discharge of domestic and industrial waste and leak- ages of municipal sewers. Bomb kills three troops in Pakistan Islamabad shows concerns According to data shared by Environmental Protection Agency Director General Asif QUETTA: A bomb blast yes- a major earthquake in September spokesman of Frontier Corps over Kabul after US pullout Shuja Khan at a recent meet- terday killed at least three last year. Abdul Wasay said. ing of the Senate Standing paramilitary soldiers and Baluchistan, which borders Iran Pakistani officials refer to Baluch Committee on Human Rights, wounded four others in and Afghanistan, is rife with sepa- insurgents, who have been waging a ISLAMABAD: Any possi- Sartaj said: “I would not like to the capital has about 26 small Pakistan’s restive southwest- ratist and Islamist militants and bloody low-level separatist struggle ble deal with the Taliban and predict a civil war. I think our and large freshwater streams, ern province of Baluchistan, plagued by sectarian bloodshed. for a decade, as “miscreants”. potential repercussions or fall- expectation is that if the present which take hill torrent-rain- officials said. “At least three soldiers were Nobody immediately claimed out of the US withdrawal from status quo system continues in water and pass through resi- The roadside bomb hit a patrol martyred and four others were the responsibility for the attack. Afghanistan remained a com- which elections take place and dential sectors to converge into vehicle in the Jahoo area of remote wounded, two of them seriously Local intelligence officials con- mon concern and hence a rea- new government comes in, man- two main streams when they Awaran district, a stronghold of when a bomb planted by mis- firmed the bombing and casualties. son for cooperation between the ageable insurgency as it is going leave Islamabad. separatist rebels that was hit by creants exploded on a roadside,” AFP US higher-ups and Pakistani on now, Afghan security forces are In these streams, the dis- officials during their ministerial there, the Northern Alliance is solved oxygen after mixing level strategic dialogue. much stronger than it was before, of waste was found as low as Militants captured While the Americans seek so the possibility of being overrun 0.9 mg/l and biological oxygen Pakistan’s help to bring the Afghan by the Taliban is not really likely.” demand and chemical oxygen Taliban to talks, the Pakistani side He, however, was worried too demand were found as high had its own cautious yet confus- that pressure on Pak-Afghan bor- as 63.5 mg/l and 162.5 mg/l ing take regarding the post-2014 der could rise once the western respectively. scenario in the region. forces leave Afghanistan. The spill Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s over, he hinted, could be problem- Briton appeals adviser for National Security atic. Pakistan already has over and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, three million Afghan refugees, against death led the delegation that included half of them registered. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Meanwhile, approximately ISLAMABAD: Lawyers Secretary Interior, Foreign 100,000 Afghans cross into for an elderly Briton sen- Secretary and others. Pakistan every day. He insisted tenced to death in Pakistan Sartaj emphasised that that Pakistan has no intention for blasphemy filed an appeal Pakistan believes in non-interfer- to support any particular group yesterday, saying the court ence in Afghan affairs. The joint in Afghanistan. He said the had failed to consider “over- statement issued after Kerry- Afghan Taliban could join hands whelming” evidence of his Sartaj meeting noted: “Both with the TTP in Pakistan, which mental illness. sides reiterated their call on the could prove disastrous. He, then, Mohammad Asghar, a Taliban to join the political proc- stressed the need to monitor the British-Pakistani with dual ess and enter into dialogue with Afghan-Pakistan border. nationality, was sentenced the Afghan government.” At another event he reiterated by a court in Rawalpindi last Although Pakistan offered to the Nawaz government’s commit- week for writing letters claim- do what it could in this regard, ment to facilitate an inclusive, ing to be a prophet of Islam. Sartaj Aziz was sceptical. In both Afghan-led and Afghan-owned British Prime Minister David his public and private meetings peace and reconciliation process Cameron has said he is “deeply he mentioned that the Afghan to restore peace and stability in concerned” about Asghar, who Taliban were unwilling to coop- that country. was diagnosed with paranoid erate with the Karzai government He also highlighted some of the schizophrenia in Britain in hoping that it might happen after steps taken by the government 2010, and officials have raised a fair round of presidential elec- that had resulted in improve- the matter with the Pakistani tions in Afghanistan. ments in ties with Afghanistan. authorities. A lawyer for the He rejected any possibil- On internal security situation 69-year-old said an appeal had ity that a civil war could break Sartaj said that the Pakistani gov- been lodged with the Lahore Afghan security officials show Taliban militants along with the arms seized during an operation in Marjah district out in Afghanistan. Speaking ernment will announce a compre- High Court. AGENCIES yesterday. At least 13 militants and a policeman were killed during the operation. at the Johns Hopkins School of hensive counter-terrorism policy Advanced International Studies, soon. INTERNEWS FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com India

Top court stays AAP targets ‘corrupt’ leaders execution of car bomber Kejriwal accuses Rahul and Modi of spending over $800m on image-building exercise NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court yesterday stayed the exe- NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Yeddyurappa and BJP MP Anurag cution of the death sentence of Minister Arvind Kejriwal yes- Thakur. As he finished reading 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict terday named over 20 top politi- the list, the nearly 400 AAP lead- Devender Pal Singh Bhullar cians including Congress leader ers and senior members gathered and issued notice to the Centre Rahul Gandhi as “corrupt”, from all over India roared “No!” on his petition seeking commut- and attacked him and BJP’s in unison in response to his ear- ing of his death sentence to life Narendra Modi for spending lier question whether these people imprisonment. over “`5bn ($800m) on branding” should be voted to parliament. The plea for commuting the and image-building exercise. After he finished with the death sentence to life imprison- Addressing the Aam Aadmi names, a section of the audience ment is on the grounds of inor- Party (AAP) national executive took Congress vice president dinate delay by the president in here, Kejriwal outlined the party’s Rahul Gandhi’s name. Prompted, deciding his mercy plea and the objective vis-a-vis the Lok Sabha Kejriwal took Gandhi’s name too, state of his mental health. polls: “We have to ensure that no only to be greeted by his support- The apex court bench of Chief corrupt person is elected to the ers’ vocal approval. Justice P Sathasivam, Justice parliament.” An AAP spokesman later R M Lodha, Justice H L Dattu Reading out what seemed to said that Kejriwal did not have and Justice Sudhansu Jyoti be a prepared list at a packed Gandhi’s name on his list of “cor- Mukhopadhaya, while staying auditorium at the Constitution rupt people” but took his name the execution of Bhullar’s death Club, Kejriwal said he had a list after being prompted by party sentence, also issued notice to the of “corrupt people” in politics. “I delegates. Delhi government. have made a list of corrupt people. Kejriwal, who took over The court asked Delhi-based This is just the beginning and the as Delhi’s chief minister on Institute of Human Behaviour list will grow. “I am presenting December 28, went on to attack and Allied Sciences to examine the names to you, and you decide Modi — the Bharatiya Janata Bhullar and submit a report on whether these people should be Party’s prime ministerial candi- his state of mental health within elected to parliament or not.” date — and Rahul Gandhi over a week. Kejriwal went on to name their campaign expenditure. At the outset of the hearing, the former BJP president Nitin “They spend `5bn for brand. judges inquired if they could hear Gadkari, cabinet minis- Will those who spend so much on the grounds raised by Bhullar for ters Sushikumar Shinde, P brand ever be able to give an hon- revisiting the verdict on his death Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid, est government?” asked Kejriwal. A worker from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) speaks on his mobile phone at the party headquarters in New Delhi. sentence in a curative petition. M Veerappa Moily, Kapil Sibal, Kejriwal said the Congress and The court said curative petition Kamal Nath, Sriprakash Jaiswal, the BJP should make it public government — and the BJP to audit within five days (of taking Lt. Governor some days back to could only be made if there was a Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar, from where they get the financial task for what he said were their power),” Kejriwal said. demand a probe.” miscarriage of justice or direct or Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi, resources on building the image of failures despite having ruled Delhi The activist-turned-politician On the Lok Sabha election, indirect bias in the verdict sought BSP chief Mayawati, Samajwadi their prospective prime ministers. in the past. also condemned the BJP and the Kejriwal said it did not matter to be re-looked. The court said Party leader Mulayam Singh “We have to ensure that no “Electricity charges have Congress for merely demand- in how many constituencies the that in this situation, a member Yadav, central minister Farooq corrupt person is elected to par- increased in the last five years. ing all these years a probe AAP fielded candidates since the of Bhullar’s family should file an Abdullah, Assam Chief Minister liament.” Amid intermittent clap- People wanted a CAG audit. But into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots party’s main goal was to fight cor- independent petition. Tarun Gogoi, DMK’s Kanimozhi, ping, the chief minister took the the (two) parties refused to get that left hundreds dead. “We ruption. Bhullar was represented in BJP’s Ananth Kumar and B S Congress — which props up his an audit done. “We ordered an came to power, and I met the IANS the case by senior counsel K T S Tulsi. Bhullar’s curative peti- tion came for hearing Friday as Chief Justice Sathasivam, Justice Fog disrupts travel Lodha, Justice Dattu and Justice Mukhopadhaya, after considering it in the chamber Jan 28, decided US downgrades India’s to hear it in the open court Jan 31. Chief Justice Sathasivam had Jan 24 directed the hearing of Bhullar’s plea Jan 28 after senior counsel Tulsi had told the court air safety ranking that the curative petition was pending since September 2013.

NEW DELHI: US aviation Ghana and Indonesia, according track after outrage in December authorities have downgraded to FAA. over the arrest and strip search Student beaten India’s safety ranking in a “dis- The downgrading effectively of an Indian envoy in New York. appointing” and “surprising” bars Air India and Jet Airways The envoy, Devyani to death in Delhi move that will hit air links from increasing flights to the US, Khobragade, was arrested on between the countries, India’s and additional safety checks will charges of visa fraud involving NEW DELHI: A 20-year- aviation minister said yesterday. now be imposed on existing flights her domestic servant and lying old student from Arunachal The US Federal Aviation to the United States, the FAA’s about how much she paid her. Pradesh was allegedly severely Administration downgraded website shows. Currently, Air Khobragande denied any wrong- assaulted by shopkeepers in India after conducting an audit India has 21 flights to the US per doing and eventually returned Delhi and died on Thursday, last year of the country’s aviation week while Jet Airway flies seven. to India after a deal was struck police said. regulator that found 31 issues of Indian airlines will also have to between the two nations to mend Nido Taniam died of his injuries safety concern, a ministry state- snap ties with US airlines, accord- their relations. while being treated at a hospital. ment said. ing to the website, but DGCA In a bid to head off the down- He was beaten up on Wednesday. The issues include the need chief Prabhat Kumar said the grade, the government announced Police said they are questioning for more and better trained full- downgrade would not affect the two days ago that 75 new positions the shopkeepers in the capital’s time inspectors employed by the code-share agreement. would be created in the DGCA to Lajpat Nagar-I area, where the regulator tasked with carrying Jet has a code-share agree- carry out safety inspections. incident took place. Speaking to out safety checks on all types of ment with United Airlines cur- “This is an important step the media, Taniam’s cousin said aircraft and helicopters in India, rently, while Air India is joining that will aid in India regaining he saw an injury mark on his neck it said. Star Alliance. Singh said 95 per- its former Category 1 status in and his lips were torn. “They have downgraded us to cent of issues raised by the FAA the future,” the FAA said in its “Taniam’s body has been taken category 2. It is very disappoint- have been resolved, while the notes to the DCGA and released to the All India Institute of ing and also surprising,” Aviation remainder were expected to be by the minister. “The United Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The Minister Ajit Singh said at a press resolved by March, adding it was States Government commends family has been informed. As they conference in New Delhi. the first time India had suffered the Indian government for taking won’t be able to come here, we The FAA has “determined that a downgrade. these important actions and looks will take the body back home,” India at this time is not in compli- “They (FAA) should have based forward to continued progress by Taniam’s cousin said. ance with the international stand- their decision on the situation Indian authorities,” the FAA said. ards for aviation safety oversight,” now,” said Singh, adding that the India’s aviation sector has according to FAA notes given to FAA’s downgrade was based on air grown enormously in the last dec- Uttarakhand CM Indian regulator the Directorate safety in September. ade, as the 1.2-billion population General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The downgrade is the latest becomes more affluent, boosting Bahuguna quits A horse cart driver transports goods through thick fog on the outskirts The rating downgrade brings controversy between the US and the number of international and of Amritsar, yesterday. Winter fog disrupted travel across Punjab and India below Pakistan and on a par India, which are attempting to domestic passengers. DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Haryana states, with the minimum temperature hitting 2 degrees Celsius with countries like Bangladesh, put diplomatic relations back on AFP Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in some parts of the region. resigned yesterday. Central minister Harish Rawat is widely tipped to take charge of the hill state. While the writing was on the wall for Bahuguna for over a week, the chief minister Kashmir shuts down to was told to put in his papers on Thursday night, a highly placed source said. The source said the decision protest military court verdict had the consent of both party president Sonia Gandhi and vice SRINAGAR: Large parts of in the city’s old town area. “we want justice”, according to president Rahul Gandhi. Kashmir shut down yesterday Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who a police officer. The five victims The 66-year-old chief minister and protests were held against also heads a faction of the All were killed days after the massa- told the media that he was resign- a military court verdict last Parties Hurriyat Conference, a cre of 35 Sikhs in the remote vil- ing as the party “high command” week that exonerated five army grouping of separatist organisa- lage of Chattisinghpora in March had asked him to do so. officers involved in the killing of tions, urged Kashmiris to “raise 2000. Bahuguna, party insiders said, civilians 14 years ago. our voice against the verdict”, in The army claimed the victims had paid the price for the poor Most shops and businesses were a statement this week. were “foreign militants”, accus- rehabilitation the state saw after closed and public transport halted Police detained more than a ing them of being responsible for the June 2013 flash floods and in the main city of Srinagar and dozen activists after they tried the massacre. But a subsequent heavy rains in which thousands other areas of the restive region to stage a protest near a central probe by India’s top investigat- perished. A Congress legislature after separatist groups called a commercial district in Srinagar, ing agency, the Central Bureau party meeting has been called A police officer fires a tear smoke shell at Kashmiri protesters during clashes strike over the court’s decision. a photographer said. of Investigation, described the today in which a new leader will in strike-hit Srinagar yesterday. Scores of protestors shouting Hundreds of residents also pro- killings as “cold blooded mur- be elected. Bahuguna handed over anti-India slogans pelted stones tested near the graves of the five der”, paving the way for a trial his resignation to the governor during clashes with police and civilians in the southern village in a military court held behind cleared last Thursday as “the evi- of the accused persons”, according and has been asked to continue paramilitary forces who fired tear of Brari Angan, in the state of closed doors. dence recorded could not estab- to an army statement. until alternate arrangements are smoke canisters to disperse them Jammu and Kashmir, chanting The five soldiers were however lish a prime facie case against any AFP made. AGENCIES FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Business www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 ON SATURDAY

Dubai Financial ECB under pressure as inflation drops Market issues Rate slows to 0.7 percent, far below target; officials to meet on Thursday securities lending rules BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT: will fan investor concerns that The ECB’s policy conundrum is even if the nominal interest rate Governing Council focus on the An unexpected drop in euro- deflation may be gripping the complicated by a sell-off in emerg- is constrained by the zero lower medium-term outlook rather zone inflation raises pressure 18-member bloc as it starts to exit ing markets that risks pushing up bound,” Coeure said. than monthly swings in prices. DUBAI: Dubai Financial on the European Central Bank a sovereign debt crisis. the euro’s exchange rate - a devel- After their January policy “If they are going to cut rates, Market (DFM), the emirate’s to consider fresh policy action The inflation data would “set opment that would keep down- meeting, ECB President Mario which I think they will, it’s more main stock exchange, has issued next week to counter deflation alarm bells ringing at the ECB,” ward pressure on prices and could Draghi set out two scenarios that likely that they will hold off until rules allowing the lending and risks and support a weak euro said Commerzbank economist snuff out the robust start to 2014 could trigger fresh policy action: a March,” said Commerzbank’s Dixon. borrowing of securities, part zone recovery that may be run- Peter Dixon, adding: for business. deterioration in the medium-term Speaking in Budapest, ECB of efforts to make the market ning out of steam. “With some of the sentiment ECB policymakers meet next inflation outlook and an “unwar- Governing Council member more flexible ahead of an influx Inflation slowed this month numbers in the course of recent Thursday. ranted” tightening of short-term Ewald Nowotny said he expected of foreign funds. to 0.7 percent from 0.8 percent weeks having beaten expectations, Highlighting the bank’s capac- money markets. very weak growth in the euro area Lending and borrowing of in December, confounding mar- I don’t think it is going to be time ity to act if it wants to, Executive The ECB will present fresh eco- this year. securities is expected to begin in ket expectations for a rise to 0.9 next week for the ECB to press Board member Benoit Coeure nomic forecasts from its staff in The outlook remains frag- the first quarter of this year, if percent and matching a low hit that panic button”. said central banks have tools March, and a downward revision ile despite the ECB’s move last investors are ready, DFM said in last October. The ECB responded A survey released last Thursday available to lift low inflation back to the inflation or growth projec- November to cut its main inter- a statement seen yesterday. then by cutting its interest rates showed the euro zone’s private to target even when interest rates tions could prompt the Governing est rate to a record low of 0.25 Securities lending and borrow- to record lows. sector started 2014 in much bet- are at zero. Council to ease policy. percent, and to lower the deposit ing will help the development of The latest weakening of price ter shape than expected, with “There are monetary policy Although the ECB cut in rate it pays banks for holding other products on DFM such pressures took the inflation rate stronger growth across the region instruments that could be used November after the slowdown their cash overnight at the cen- as exchange-traded funds, said further below the ECB’s target marred only by a continued down- in the event of downward risks in inflation a month earlier, poli- tral bank to zero. Maryam Fekri, an executive vice- of just under two percent and turn in France. to medium-term price stability, cymakers on the 24-member REUTERS president of DFM. The United Arab Emirates market regulator, the Securities and Commodities Authority Obama visits GE plant (SCA), approved regulations for securities lending and borrowing Keystone oil pipeline in October 2012 but exchanges have taken considerable time to introduce the practice, partly because of concern about causing review looms instability. DFM’s rules say approved WASHINGTON: The US in Alberta that produce high lev- agents must be involved in the State Department is poised to els of carbon dioxide emissions. practice and appear to stop short issue an environmental review After several more steps that of allowing full-fledged short- of the proposed Keystone XL could take months, the final word shelling of stocks. oil pipeline that will likely say on Keystone will come from the In the “initial phase”, securi- the project will not appreci- president. ties lending and borrowing will ably increase carbon emissions, A decision in favor of the pipe- only be for market-making and sources said late Thursday, forc- line could undermine Obama’s settling securities deliveries that ing President Barack Obama environmental credentials and have failed, DFM said without closer to a tough decision. anger activists who are some of elaborating. Rumors swept through the Democratic Party’s strongest Dubai was one of the best- Washington late Thursday that supporters. A decision against the performing stock markets in the the long-delayed review of the pipeline could undercut Obama’s world last year, with its main 1,900km pipeline to bring oil from pledge to boost employment and index rocketing more than 100 Canada to Nebraska would finally US energy security while alien- percent, and is expected to attract be released. ating an important international hundreds of millions of dollars of “The Environmental Impact ally and oil supplier. fresh foreign money after May, Statement is in the final stages Canadian officials said this when index compiler MSCI is due of preparation and we anticipate month they expected the report to upgrade it to emerging market a release of the document soon,” to come out soon after Obama’s status. a senior State Department official annual State of the Union speech, REUTERS said late on Thursday, speaking on which took place on Tuesday. US President Barack Obama tours General Electric’s Waukesha Gas Engines facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin. condition of anonymity. And the American Petroleum The comment gives a clearer Institute, the oil industry’s top insight into where the long- lobbying group, has predicted awaited assessment stands. One that the report could be released government official said the over- this week, citing administration due report, part of a process last- sources. Qatari stocks expected to move higher ing more than five years that has “We’re expecting to hear the strained relations with Ottawa, same conclusion that we’ve heard DOHA: After falling sharply told Al Arab. The MPCH had going to see a lot of buying inter- 7.48 percent during January 2014. would be released on Friday. four times before: no significant over the past few sessions, restricted the maximum shares ests in the coming weeks”, Al Arab Trading value for the whole month Supporters say the impact on the environment,” Qatari stocks are expected allotted to individual applicants quoted a local analyst as saying. increased by 49.07 percent compared TransCanada Corp project would Jack Gerard, API president, told to move higher in the com- to 1,633 shares. The QE benchmark index lost to the previous month. Trading vol- create thousands of jobs and Reuters in an interview last week. ing weeks. With the Mesaieed Qatari banks were too liberal 182.68 points or 1.61 percent in ume rose by 0.08 percent, while the reduce US reliance oil imports Most indications for some time Petrochemical Holding in supporting the citizens for the past week. All the trading number of transactions rose by 10.16 from nations that are less friendly have been that the updated report Company Holding (MPHC) IPO subscribing to the MPCH shares. sessions, except one, ended in red. percent. Market capitalisation rose than Canada. They also point to will hew close to last year’s draft, successfully closing, the surplus Many banks offered a 100 percent Of the total seven sector indices, by 6.07 percent at the end of January US government reports about which said the project will not add funds available with the inves- financing to help take part in the five dropped, including the heavy- 2014 to reach QR589bn. the dangers of moving crude oil substantially to carbon emissions. tors are expected to be pumped MPCH IPO. Since maximum weight Banks & Financial Services QNB, Industries Qatar, Barwa by rail as an alternative to the That is sure to disappoint envi- into the market. shares allotted to individual appli- and the Industrials. Trading vol- Real Estate, Qatari Investors Group pipeline. ronmentalists. But the report is The fact that the MPHC cants were restricted, the surplus ume decreased by 11.95 percent and Masraf Al Rayan were among Critics of the pipeline plan say likely to show a nuanced inter- equity offer was oversubscribed fund is expected to flow into the compared to the previous week. the top gainers of the month. The it would harm the environment pretation of the environmental five-times means there are a lot market, analysts believe. The number of transactions all Banks and Financial Services sec- and hasten climate change by benefits and costs of Keystone. of funds still available with the “The surplus funds of investors dropped by 5.59 percent. tor led the trading value in January. promoting oil-harvesting methods REUTERS investors, local market analysts will enter the market and we are The Index, however, surged THE PENINSULA

South Africa cycle business Honda net profit doubles to $1.56bn

TOKYO: Honda said yesterday rose 23 percent, with its sales in Japanese economy is expecting net profit doubled to $1.56bn in North America up 30 percent is a consumption tax hike slated the three months to December, year-on-year owing to healthy for April. thanks to brisk global sales and sales of four-wheeled vehicles, it “The impact of the consump- a weaker yen. said. tion tax hike on the industry Net profit for October- Honda also enjoyed good sales is quite uncertain. The market December rose to 160.7bn yen in the motorbike business in Asia, is paying close attention to it,” ($1.56bn), while revenue rose 24.5 where profit was up more than 50 Mizuno said. percent to 3.02 trillion yen in the percent from a year ago. Japanese industry has benefited quarter. Recovery in North America’s from the big-spending and easy- The results were “mainly due to automobile sales was particu- money policies of Prime Minister a rise in automobile and motorcy- larly tangible in the latest three Shinzo Abe, with huge easing cle net sales as well as the posi- months, with profit up 85 per- measures from the premier’s tive impact of foreign exchange cent year on year, the company hand-picked team at the Bank effects”, the company said. said. of Japan helping push down the A sharp decline in the yen this “Like other Japanese car- currency. financial year has boosted profit- makers, Honda has enjoyed the The weaker yen boosts Japanese ability at major Japanese export- positive impact of a weak yen manufacturers’ bottom line by ers, including Honda rivals Toyota for the period. The forex impact making them more competitive and Nissan. is significant,” Tatsuya Mizuno, overseas and inflating repatriated For the nine months to auto analyst at Mizuno Credit overseas profits. December, Japan’s third-largest Advisory, said. In the nine months to automaker logged 403.60bn yen “But the weak yen trend December Honda’s global motor- A bespoke bicycle shop called Whippet Cycles sells handmade bicycles in downtown Johannesburg, South in net profit, up nearly 40 percent appears uncertain now. It will be bike sales rose 8.4 percent, while Africa, yesterday. The Maboneng Precinct in the city has uplifted the downtown area and there are several from the same period the previ- a major risk element if the trend sales of other vehicles climbed 4.8 Whippet Cycles amongst the small businesses. ous year. reverses.” percent. Revenue for the three quarters One negative factor that the AFP FEBRUARY 1, 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Business ON SATURDAY 16

Rise in US consumer spending Lower zinc Russia survived output hurts Vedanta’s low point, says revenue

BANGALORE: London- economy chief listed mining and oil company Vedanta Resources Plc’s third- quarter revenue fell three per- cent as an unplanned shutdown Growth less than half of 2012 at its international zinc unit hit production. MOSCOW: Russia’s economy lack of structural reform con- Revenue in the quarter ended chief said yesterday that the strain long-term growth,” Fitch December 31 fell to $3.45bn from country had survived the worst Ratings said in a report. $3.57bn a year earlier. of its sharp growth slowdown Investor mistrust of Russia’s Revenue from zinc interna- and was on the path toward economic reform efforts contrib- tional was down 39 percent, with cautious expansion in the com- uted to the ruble being swept by overall revenue from zinc 14 per- ing year. a wave of currency depreciation cent lower during the quarter. But the latest data yesterday that struck emerging markets at Third-quarter production at its showed that the economy grew the end of last week. zinc international business fell 19 by only 1.3 percent last year, less The Russian currency — sub- percent due to a maintenance than half the 2012 performance. ject of two devastating post- shutdown at Skorpion in Namibia And a precipitous ruble selloff Soviet devaluations that forced in November and December after that sliced seven percent off the many to question the wisdom of a tank failure, the company said. currency’s value since the turn market economics — was trad- Claudia Zamora shops at Goldie in Miami, Florida. Data out from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed The unit accounts for about 5 per- of the year and showed few signs ing down 0.8 percent against the that real gross domestic product grew at a rate of 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter 2013, which reflects growth cent of total revenue. of slowing down yesterday puts euro at 47.83 rubles and near its in personal consumption expenditures among other things. Vedanta, controlled by Indian President Vladimir Putin under historic low. billionaire Anil Agarwal, said growing pressure despite the The dollar was worth 35.31 group core earnings or earnings upbeat forecast. rubles — also up 0.9 percent and before interest, taxes, deprecia- Economy Minister Alexei once again approaching a five- tion, and amortisation (EBITDA) Ulyukayev said he thought year high it had set on Wednesday. Turks hoard dollars fearing lira rout increased three percent to $1.14bn Russia’s $1.1-trillion economy had Russia’s Central Bank this year with oil and gas as the key suffered its most dire phase in the reduced the amount of its direct contributor. fall of 2013 and that agriculture interventions on the market as it ISTANBUL: Turkish house- Thursday, suggesting they are not “It will be more difficult for the Core earnings from the oil and and industry were now both pick- proceeds with the planned intro- holds and firms are hoarding selling dollars as they did in the central bank to reverse this mood gas unit, which accounts for about ing up steam. duction of a fully-convertible dollars, suggesting they have lit- past in currency crises to benefit of local investors, if global risk 22 percent of revenue, rose one “It seems to me that we passed ruble exchange rate by the start tle faith the lira will be spared a from a cheaper lira. sentiment remains weak,” he said. percent to $615.7m. the low point somewhere around of 2015. further emerging markets sell- “Corporates have started buy- Erdogan has said “a Plan B or The miner also said it was the third quarter of 2013,” news Its First Deputy Chairwoman off despite a massive rate hike ing forex for hedging purposes as a Plan C” for the economy may ramping up iron-ore produc- agencies quoted Ulyukayev as tell- Ksenia Yudayeva gave the this week. It is adding to pres- they think the lira will not appre- be announced by the government tion in the southern Indian state ing a ministerial meeting. Moscow market a further fright sure on Prime Minister Tayyip ciate,” said a senior forex manager in the coming days or weeks, of Karnataka to a run-rate of “Promising symptoms are on Wednesday by telling The Wall Erdogan as elections near. at an Istanbul bank. although his ministers have given around 0.5 million tonnes per becoming visible of a gradual Street Journal that stress tests The central bank raised inter- “Moreover, individual investors no details, beyond saying capital month, and expected to com- improvement in the situation,” showed Russian banks being able est rates by around 500 basis and households - who used to sell controls are out of the question. mence sales through auctions the economy chief said. handle a 30-percent ruble decline. points at an emergency meeting as much as $10-15bn whenever The lira fell 17 percent in 2013 shortly. Figures updated yesterday Economists attribute a part of on Tuesday despite Erdogan’s the lira depreciated — are hoard- and extended its slide this year Vedanta resumed mining iron showed Russia’s economy expand- the ruble’s troubles to a deterio- vocal opposition, stunning mar- ing dollars and even increasing as a graft scandal hit the govern- ore in Karnataka in December ing a hugely disappointing 1.3 per- rating current account balance kets and causing a spike in the their holdings, piling extra pres- ment, heightening investor con- following clearance from a court- cent last year — the second-worst that is being hurt by a steady battered currency. sure on the lira,” he said. cern about political stability just appointed panel. performance since Putin became outflow of foreign investor cash. But the lira has since erased Ratings agency Moody’s said as a gradual end to U.S. monetary The company simplified its byz- prime minister in 1999 and just a Capital flight reached $63bn much of those gains, returning yesterday the pressure on the cur- stimulus dampened appetite for antine structure last year when quarter of the Kremlin’s original in 2013 and the government had to where it was just before the rency was likely to persist despite emerging market assets. it overhauled its web of subsidi- target of five percent. hoped to see the figure shrink to rate hike. It is still some way the central bank’s actions, which The slump means Turks now aries and created Sesa Sterlite The economy grew by 3.4 per- $25bn this year. from Monday’s record low of 2.39, it said had also significantly weak- need more than twice as many — an umbrella unit that groups cent in 2012. But First Deputy Economy however, trading at 2.2735 to the ened Turkey’s growth prospects. lira to buy dollars as they did at most of its assets. Shares in the Fitch Ratings yesterday attrib- Minister Andrei Klepach said dollar. “Locals continue to accumulate the currency’s peak six years ago, company were down 1.8 percent uted the slowdown to a “decline that investors’ recent turn against Locals’ forex holdings rose 2 FX,” said Istanbul-based TEB- hitting their pockets as they pre- at 822 pence at 0905 GMT on the in investment and the inventory emerging markets could result in percent to $122bn in the week to BNP Paribas strategist Erkin pare to vote in a cycle of local, London Stock Exchange yester- cycle” and forecast an expansion up to $35bn leaving Russia in the January 24, jumping 13 percent Isik, estimating Turks’ total forex presidential and general elections day. They had dropped as much as rate of 2.0 percent this year. first three months of the year alone. year-on-year, according to data holdings had risen some $5bn in beginning in March. four percent in early trade. “A shrinking labour force and AFP from the central bank released on the past three weeks. REUTERS REUTERS

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Indian small cars fail crash test: Safety body Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.00 (0.46 %) Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.13 1.36 % Aa2 AA NEW DELHI: The Tata Nano, All would leave the driver fac- working-class consumers upgrade Alto had “inadequate” struc- Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.63 2.49 % Aa2 AA billed as the world’s cheapest ing life-threatening injuries. from two- to four-wheelers. tures that meant that even air Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.75 2.91 % Aa2 AA car, and a host of other top- “It’s worrying to see levels of The NCAP said the five vehi- bags would “not be effective Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 107.38 3.43 % Aa2 AA selling small models from India safety that are 20 years behind cles it tested accounted for about in reducing the risk of serious Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.75 4.93 % Aa2 AA have failed their first independ- the five-star standards now 20 percent of all new cars sold in injury”. Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 115.88 5.27 % Aa2 AA ent crash tests, a global safety common in Europe and North India annually. As a result of the tests, Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 106.88 5.28 % Aa2 AA group said yesterday. America,” said the head of NCAP The Tata Nano was the brain- Volkswagen has withdrawn its The five entry-level vehicles— Global, Max Mosley, the former child of the former boss of the Polo model without airbags, Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.00 0.74 % Aa2 AA including the country’s best-sell- chief of international motorsport. Tata conglomerate Ratan Tata NCAP said. Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 109.88 3.29 % Aa2 AA ing small car the Suzuki-Maruti NCAP also tested the cars in who wanted a cheap car for the The models tested were bought Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.25 0.84 % A1 A- Alto 800, as well as the Ford a crash simulation according to masses. But it has flopped since locally and any exports from Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.75 2.15 % A1 A- Figo, the Hyundai i10 and the United Nations standards — a its launch in 2009, partly due to Hyundai, Ford and Volkswagen, QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.36 % NR NR Volkswagen Polo — scored no frontal collision at the slightly poor marketing. which have factories in India, QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.63 1.07 % Aa3 A+ stars out of five for protection. slower speed of 56km an hour — The NCAP tested only the basic would be subject to safety regu- QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.00 2.02 % Aa3 A+ The tests, carried out by the and none of them passed. models of the cars in question and lations in their final market. New Car Assessment Programme Small vehicles are the big- it said the Figo and Polo would Tata has said it would like to Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 103.88 2.21 % A2 A- (NCAP), saw the basic models, all gest segment of the price-sen- provide much better protection export the Nano but has previ- Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.00 1.48 % A2 A without airbags, driven at 64km sitive Indian car market, which if fitted with airbags, which were ously raised safety problems as an Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 123.75 3.04 % A2 A an hour into a block simulating a is coveted by global brands and an optional extra. impediment. Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.88 3.79 % A2 A head-on collision. domestic manufacturers as But the Nano, the i10 and the AFP Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 100.88 4.90 % A2 A Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.13 0.69 % Aa3 A Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.88 3.12 % Aa3 A Costa Rica unemployment Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.75 3.96 % Aa3 A SOVEREIGNS Electrolux ends Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.13 (0.90 %) Aa2 AA tough 2013 with Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 121.63 2.30 % Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.13 1.73 % NR NR big Q4 loss Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.25 2.56 % NR NR Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 120.63 4.18 % NR NR STOCKHOLM: Swedish home Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 112.50 4.61 % NR NR appliance maker Electrolux Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.38 0.47 % Aa2 AA posted yesterday fourth-quar- Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.88 3.14 % NR BBB ter losses far beyond analysts’ Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 106.50 4.29 % NR BBB expectations owing to weak demand in European markets. Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 99.00 5.94 % Caa1 B- Quarterly figures showed a loss Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 103.00 3.98 % NR BBB- of 987m kronor ($151m), while

*Periodic Distribution Amount analysts polled by Dow Jones IMPORTANT NOTE: Newswires were expecting a loss Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which of 621m kronor. is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services A year earlier, Electrolux Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary posted a 242m-kronor profit. 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 It was the first quarter the take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds company was in the red since can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant 2009, with a one-percent revenue liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not decrease to 28.89bn kronor and a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. restructuring charges of 1.5bn kronor. Last October, Electrolux announced 2,000 job cuts, with a Roberto Hurtado, who is unable to find a job in his profession as an automotive mechanic, sells snacks in factory closure in Australia and the central avenue of San Jose yesterday. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin staff cuts in Europe. America and the Caribbean, Costa Rica has an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent. AFP FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Business Views www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 ON SATURDAY US angst over China buyouts

Value of increasing BY SHIHOKO GOTO for US assets spiked roughly two decades Shuanghui’s determination to buy ago — Japan’s buying spree ranged from Smithfield despite the many obstacles dem- or some people, Jim Beam may Rockefeller Center in New York City to onstrates that the corporation is serious be more American than apple pie. the Pebble Beach golf course in California — about making this investment yield returns the minimum wage Yet the US public took it in stride American hostility toward Japan also surged. for the entire Chinese economy, not just the earlier this month when Suntory, But it eased as Japan’s economic fortunes company’s bottom line. BY MELINDA HENNEBERGER a Japanese conglomerate, bought plunged and the Japanese relinquished their Meanwhile, US consumers should be Fthe bourbon distillery for $13.6bn. hold on some major purchases — many of worried about how the new ownership may he cameras were rolling as Labour Secretary Thomas This was a sharp contrast to US reac- which had been based on irrational business affect their diet. Though it may increase US Perez asked Daniel Whitney how he likes his job at Ace tion when a Chinese meat producer sought decisions. agricultural export opportunities, it could Hardware in Washington’s Mount Vernon Square area, to buy the ham producer Smithfield Foods China’s spree, however, is far differ- also result in lowered standards. Twhere all employees are paid more than the minimum last year. The deal came under heavy attack. ent. Not only does the Smithfield deal give Food safety scares are an increasingly wage. If you guessed that Whitney’s response was positive, you Shuanghui International Holdings faced China’s biggest meat processor a US foot- serious problem in China. Pesticides are win a free key. (Okay, you can get one copied gratis regardless, formidable opposition on Capitol Hill last hold, it is viewed as a template for many often misused and toxins have been found thanks to Ace’s “free-key Friday,” not to be confused with the summer. Union workers and consumer future large-scale buyouts of US companies in many staples, including milk. Perhaps Disney movie in which a mom and daughter trade souls for a day advocates voiced well-publicized concerns by Chinese conglomerates. the most notorious incident, the poisoning and come away wiser.) about food safety and security. What sets these Chinese acquisitions of baby formula, sparked outrage among Sales associates in green vests and big smiles showed Perez how By year end, though, Shuanghui was able apart from most other foreign purchases Chinese and foreign buyers alike. to carve a key, mix a quart of paint and cut a piece of Plexiglas. to close the deal for $4.7bn, the biggest take- is that Chinese entities are state-owned — Such concerns did not arise from But the real point of the visit to the locally owned retailer was to over of a US company by a Chinese group. and so driven by national interests as well Suntory’s buyout of Beam Inc. After all, highlight President Barack Obama’s State of the Union message But worries about Chinese takeovers of as economic. Chinese investments in the Maker’s Mark whisky or Courvoisier cognac about raising the federal minimum wage. Increasing it to $10.10 key US companies are a deepening concern United States doubled in 2013, according are non-essential to the American diet. and indexing it to inflation would help Main Street, he argues, to both policymakers and consumer advo- to a recent report on Chinese foreign direct Moreover, even as worries about Japanese because more money in the pocket doesn’t stay there for long. cacy groups. And the American public has investment trends by the Rhodium Group. products have increased following the 2011 “Paying folks a fair wage,’’ Perez said at the store, “is the essence reason to be wary of these acquisitions. After the Smithfield buyout, Chinese com- Fukushima nuclear disaster, the country of growing a small business.” It would be folly to dismiss worries panies are now better equipped to address still has a high food safety standard. He disputed a reporter’s question about how unlikely it is that about the Smithfield buyout as a cultural the various hurdles that future acquisitions Most important, the strong US-Japan a Republican-controlled Congress will pass legislation to raise the misunderstanding or irrational fear. US may face. It has allowed Beijing to think bilateral ties are military and political as wage: “I think Congress can act and will act,’’ he said, because concerns about Chinese buyouts are not through what its real needs are, and to well as economic. The US public indiffer- “people in red states and blues states understand no one who works simply déjà vu of the American worries dur- experience the public relations campaigns ence toward Suntory’s buyout of Jim Beam full time should live in poverty.” ing the Japanese buying spree of the 1980s critical to winning over the US public. reflects the two allies’ close relationship. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 and the District of and 1990s. Instead, we need to understand Beijing’s appetite looks strategic — focus- Gone are the days when American law- Columbia rate is $8.25, but Ace owner Gina Schaefer pays workers China’s rationale behind this acquisition, ing on energy and real estate, as well as makers gnashed their teeth against yet at her nine stores as least $10 an hour, and partly matches their and examine how it may affect US consum- food. These economic sectors are key to another US buyout by Japan Inc. In addi- withholding for 401(k) retirement accounts, too. ers. We also should explore how this deal fits ensuring China’s domestic growth. Buying tion, once the Japanese economic bubble Another draw, sales associate Steve Held said, is a low-stress into the larger picture of Beijing’s overseas out Smithfield or Chesapeake Energy is no burst, many of the investments were, in work environment: “They trust us to do the right thing and focus asset-buying strategy. vanity purchase, driven by a company’s ego turn, sold off. How resilient the Chinese on the customer.” Some now dismiss the current US fear — like so many of Japan’s acquisitions at the economy is, however, remains to be seen. Even those who said they don’t support such an increase weren’t of an insatiable Chinese appetite for all height of the 1990s economic bubble. Rather, It’s also unlikely that Chinese investors will unconflicted. “I’m pretty conservative,’’ said Tiffany Morris, a things American as an over-reaction. After it reflects Beijing’s longer-term vision for its relinquish their US purchases so rapidly. Virginia lawyer who was browsing books at Busboys & Poets, all, the argument goes, when Japanese lust own national security. REUTERS down the block from Ace Hardware, “so I’m sympathetic to peo- ple working for lower wages, but you have such an issue of the government thrusting all these costs on small business already.” Whatever you think the right answer is, the most striking thing about the big push might be how few people would benefit directly: Only 1.5 million Americans made the federal minimum wage in 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — in addition to the 2 million who earned less, such as certain disabled workers and those who get tips. Most of the people I stopped on the same block Perez visited said they didn’t know one person who makes minimum wage. Because they also hastened to make clear that they themselves didn’t earn such a lowly sum, maybe they do know someone in that situation and aren’t aware of it. One who said she does know many people working multiple minimum-wage jobs, though, is dance instructor/gym employee/ graduate school student Zahra Carpenter, whose ultimate aspi- ration is to “create this new career of ‘dance scientist,’ to help people heal.” Carpenter, who was having a salad at Sweetgreen, said she has had a few minimum-wage jobs in past years, and has been jug- gling part-time gigs since she was in high school at the District of Columbia’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts. But teachers there gave her an important way to think about moving beyond those early jobs, she said, by continually telling her that “if the opportunity isn’t there, you create it.” Most of those making minimum wage are young, white, Southern, and female — in fact, fully 50 percent are white women. And many of those stuck in such jobs haven’t had the kind of practice or encouragement Carpenter was talking about. My sister, who owns a clothing store in Los Angeles, says she can’t afford to pay minimum wage; she needs to pay much more. “I need smart, engaging, funny girls and am willing to pay a pre- mium” to hire and keep them, she said. “There’s a lot to learn, and I can’t have new people in here every week.” The real value of minimum-wage jobs isn’t only in leaving them behind, as Carpenter did, but in learning from them, for instance, not to become the kind of person who throws a fit over the late arrival of an entree. The president seems to hope there’s some worth in the issue, too, in positioning his party in opposition to those who want to keep minimum-wage workers with no more purchasing power than they had 40 years ago. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate To grow, Bitcoin may need to shed its world of intrigue

BY EMILY FLITTER Keith Miller said on Monday. - for those who provide mar- have already shown they can there will be less need to exchange officer and also hiring lawyers One thing is clear, though, after ketplaces where Bitcoins can be attach real names to the Bitcoin them for mainstream currencies, with extensive Silicon Valley itcoin enthusiasts were a week that included not only exchanged for dollars and other addresses of suspected criminals, and less interaction with the experience. buzzing about the arrest Shrem’s arrest but also two days currencies. which means the digital currency authorities. One of their main points of of a high-profile promoter of testimony about Bitcoin regula- The old Bitcoin world spawned is no longer a cloak for some to “I think regulation will actu- focus is the “know your cus- Bof the digital currency at tion to a panel of financial regula- people such as 29-year-old Ross hide behind. ally normalize the whole thing,” tomer” rule, which puts the onus Monday night’s weekly Bitcoin tors in New York: Bitcoin users Ulbricht, who was charged in The loss of much of the ano- said James Barcia, the commu- on financial services providers trading session in Manhattan’s are finding that their freewheel- October with counts relating to nymity of Bitcoin trading may nications director for the NYC to make sure they are not doing financial district. ing ways are no longer acceptable. drug trafficking, money laun- diminish its appeal before it has Bitcoin Center, which hosts the business with criminals. To follow Charlie Shrem’s detention on Tighter controls will undermine dering and computer hacking. the chance to get traction with weekly trading sessions. it, Bitcoin businesses are going money laundering charges the the anonymity that had been a Prosecutors accused Ulbricht of larger numbers of potential users, Some of the most successful to have to collect some informa- day before shocked New York’s major attraction of the digital involvement in the anonymous some experts say. Bitcoin entrepreneurs say there tion about who their customers Bitcoin community, which meets currency. Internet marketplace Silk Road, “With a fluctuating price driven is no choice but to work with gov- are and how they are using their in a small conference room to The pressure is on promoters of which they said sold drugs and by speculators and an uncertain ernments and traditional banks if funds. trade the currency. It is con- Bitcoins, which are not backed by criminal services in exchange for legal regime, Bitcoin’s viability as Bitcoin is to grow. “We’ve seen a change in the templating the end of a world of a government or central bank and Bitcoins. Ulbricht has maintained a consumer currency is still up in Fred Ehrsam, a co-founder types of people who are attracted intrigue away from the watchful whose value fluctuates according his innocence through statements the air,” said Matthew Rhoades, of the Bitcoin trading platform to Bitcoin over the last few years,” eyes of police and regulators. to demand, to either comply with by his lawyer. director of the cyberspace & Coinbase, said his company took said Jeremy Liew, a venture capi- “Charlie’s a good kid, and he the demands of the police and It was the world in which security program at the Truman a position early on that it would talist who invests in businesses serves good drinks,” said Jacob regulators or face prosecution. Shrem, a computer whiz from Project and Center for National not fight regulators. Regulators dealing in the digital currency, Dienelt, who trades Bitcoins The authorities are not only Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish com- Policy. have cited it as an example of how in testimony to officials from himself. swooping down when they suspect munity, rocketed to prominence Certainly, the strongest Bitcoin others should behave. New York’s Financial Services Dienelt said he wanted the criminal activity but regulators as a wealthy businessman, with a supporters say there are still “The whole reason we have Department. Liew said criminals world to know Shrem, who was also want to set rules for Bitcoin Bitcoin trading platform and the plenty of attractions despite the such confidence in our company and people with strong political charged on Monday with conspir- entrepreneurs in the same way bar to his name. changes, including the speed of is that from the start we said opposition to governments were acy to commit money laundering they police banks and others in Now, exchanges will likely have transactions and lack of central- this has got to be something that among the currency’s earliest and operating a money changing the traditional financial system. to team up with traditional banks ized control. They are banking on plays nicely with the traditional adopters but were not the peo- business without a license, was In particular, they are demanding or at least imitate some of their mass adoption of the currency to financial world,” Ehrsam said in ple he saw as being good for the not a bad person. reporting of any suspicious trans- anti-money laundering practices, smooth out awkwardness created an interview. Bitcoin business. Shrem, who resigned as actions. New York’s top financial keeping meticulous records of by its wild price fluctuations and Coinbase quickly hired Silicon “The Bitcoin community is vice chairman of the Bitcoin regulator on Tuesday even raised customer identities and report unwieldy technology. They say if Valley’s top compliance experts, moving in the direction of greater Foundation after his arrest, is the idea of creating a “BitLicense” any suspicious activity to regu- the majority of businesses can luring away the online payment legitimacy,” he said. presumed innocent, his lawyer - rather like a banking license lators. Law enforcement officials be convinced to accept Bitcoins system PayPal’s chief compliance REUTERS FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Classifieds

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XXXSBDRBUBSDPN FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ON SATURDAY 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Sport

Qatar racing star Nasser bin Saleh Al Attiyah (centre), is seen with QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah at Losail International Circuit.

Rally star Al Attiyah set for Doha round Round 4 of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge DOHA: The region’s lead- In his first outing in the new track I will adjust. I just cannot ing drivers have welcomed the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Al Attiyah wait for the action to begin.” presence and added competition recorded respectable times Former champion Abdulaziz of Qatar racing star Nasser bin around the Losail International AlFaisal has welcomed the Saleh Al Attiyah, who is set to Circuit, but is adamant that he competition and experience Al make his debut for Team QMMF will improve his time as he adjusts Attiyah will bring to the series. (Qatar Motor & Motorcycling to the Porsche and the whole new He said: “It is a fantastic addition Federation) in Round 4 of the concept of driving. to the series and we need more Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Looking forward to his first individuals like Al Attiyah. He is Middle East on the home ter- competitive action, Al Attiyah one of the best rally drivers in the ritory of Losail International said: “Firstly I would like to thank world and to have him competing Circuit this weekend. QMMF and Federation President in the GT3 Cup Challenge is only An all-round sporting hero who Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah good for the region and Qatar. He won bronze in the men’s skeet for the opportunity to race in is a championship driver who will event at the London Olympics the most competitive and profes- not only improve the series but in 2012 and has competed in five sional series in the region. It is a also help young drivers by pass- Olympic Games, Al Attiyah is set great feeling to be associated with ing on his knowledge. I personally to test himself for the first time this leading series and it will be welcome the challenge and look in a Porsche adding to his illustri- a totally different challenge for forward to the battles. We wel- ous career in rally driving. The me. All my life I have competed come Nasser with open arms.” Qatari is a Dakar Rally champion in rallies and have won many Porsche motorsport fans can and recently finished third in the championships and the greatest come along to watch Al Attiyah annual off-road endurance race rally race of them all, the ardu- and other world-class drivers as well as a nine-time FIA Middle ous Dakar Rally. But this will be a in action for free as the Losail East Rally Championship winner. totally different challenge against International Circuit goes under The previous round under the quality drivers from the region. I the lights for an action-packed lights saw the region’s leading am looking forward to it and test- weekend. drivers encounter tough condi- ing myself against the very best For the full race schedule, tions in Qatar as it heads towards in the Middle East.” driver profiles or latest news on the business end of the season He added: “The new Porsche GT Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge where every points counts. 911 GT3 Cup is an amazing car, Middle East fans can visit the Reigning champion Clemens poles apart to what I am used to official website: www.gt3cupchal- Schmid of Al Nabooda Racing, but I have enjoyed it so far. I am lenge-me.com or follow series’ currently leads the championship new to this sort of racing and news at www.facebook.com/por- by 27 points, will be targeting two have to get used to the corners scheGT3CCME or on Twitter @ victories as he closes in on his sec- and how to tackle them but with PorscheGT3CCME. ond title. more time and experience on the THE PENINSULA Thorpe’s management denies rehab claims

SYDNEY: Australian swim- ming great Ian Thorpe’s han- Former dlers yesterday denied he was in Australian rehab for depression and alco- swimmer and hol abuse and said he instead multiple gold entered hospital for shoulder surgery. medallist It followed a front page splash Ian Thorpe in The Sydney Daily Telegraph that listens to an the 31-year-old was injured in a introduction fall this week leading his fam- before ily to seek medical help for the launching his swimmer, with Thorpe report- autobiography edly admitted to hospital on ‘This Is Me’, Wednesday for depression and in Sydney alcohol abuse. Australia, in “Ian is not in rehab,” his man- this October agement firm SEL said following 31, 2012, file the report. “Ian was in hospital photo. for an operation on his shoulder and is pleased to let his friends and fans know that he is now out of hospital and on the mend.” Thorpe, who came out of retire- decorated Olympian with five The five-time Olympic gold ment in 2011 in a bid to make the gold medals at the 2000 Sydney medallist, one of Australia’s most team for London but failed to and 2004 Athens Games, with his recognised sporting figures, has qualify, released an autobiogra- extraordinary success attributed struggled to adjust to life after phy in 2012 in which he admitted partly to his abnormally large feet swimming and with the disap- a struggle with depression and and hands. pointment of a failed effort to alcohol. He became the first person to reach the 2012 London Olympics. “Not even my family is aware win six gold medals at one world And he has been open about his that I’ve spent a lot of my life bat- championships, in 2001, among battle with depression and alcohol tling what I can only describe as 11 world titles overall -- along in the past. crippling depression,” he wrote. with 10 Commonwealth Games The newspaper quoted broad- “It’s a terribly dark place in gold medals. But the demands of caster Alan Jones, one of Thorpe’s which to hide.” a celebrity lifestyle and grinding closest associates, as saying: “Yes, He added: “I suppose it was training sat uncomfortably with it’s serious but there’s not a lot I inevitable that I’d turn to other, Thorpe and he quit in 2006, dab- can or want to add. Ian is a beau- artificial ways of managing my bling in jewellery design and tele- tiful person but he has difficulty feelings, and I found alcohol.” vision after his retirement, before recognising his problems.” Thorpe is Australia’s most the failed comeback. REUTERS FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 ON SATURDAY

World Cup hero Imran blasts New Zealand thrash India ICC’s ‘colonial’ The home side bags five-match ODI series 4-0 with win in Wellington revamp KARACHI: Pakistan leg- WELLINGTON: A Ross end Imran Khan (pictured) Taylor-inspired New Zealand Scoreboard slammed controversial plans to crushed India by 87 runs in the NEW ZEALAND S Dhawan c N McCullum b Henry ...... 9 reform cricket’s governing body fifth and final one-day interna- M Guptill c Shami b Aaron ...... 16 V Kohli c (sub-Young) b N McCullum.....82 yesterday, saying they would tional in Wellington yesterday J Ryder c Rahane b Kumar ...... 17 A Rahane lbw Henry ...... 2 take the to extend the tourists’ miserable K Williamson c Rahane b Aaron ...... 88 A Rayudu c Williamson b Henry ...... 20 game back to run against the Black Caps. R Taylor c Dhawan b Shami ...... 102 M Dhoni c Williamson b Neesham ...... 47 the days of India could manage only 216 in B McCullum c Sharma b Kohli...... 23 R Ashwin b Williamson ...... 7 colonialism. reply to New Zealand’s 303 for J Neesham (not out) ...... 34 R Jadeja c Guptill b Mills ...... 5 Moves five, slumping to a 4-0 series loss to restruc- L Ronchi (not out)...... 11 B Kumar c Ronchi b Henry ...... 20 despite a battling 82 from Virat ture the Extras (B-1, W-5, LB-6) ...... 12 M Shami (not out) ...... 14 Kohli. International Total (for 5 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 303 V Aaron b Neesham ...... 0 Veteran batsman Taylor blazed Cricket Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-41, 3-193, 4-243, Extras (LB-1, W-4, NB-1) ...... 6 his second successive century to Council (ICC) set India the imposing run chase 5-274. Total (all out in 49.4) ...... 216 to hand power before seamer Matt Henry skit- Did not bat: N McCullum, M Henry, K Mills, Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-20, 3-30, 4-78, to India, tled the world champions’ top M McClenaghan. 5-145, 6-167, 7-174, 8-181, 9-215. Australia and England, the order in a dream debut, claiming Bowling: Shami 10-3-61-1 (2w); Kumar Bowling: Mills 10-1-35-2; McClenaghan 10- game’s financial powerhouses, four for 38. 8-0-48-1 (2w); Aaron 10-0-60-2 (1w); Ash- 0-45-0; Henry 10-1-38-4; Neesham 5.4-0- were passed in principle during a The result completes New win 6-0-37-0; Jadeja 9-0-54-0; Kohli 7-0- 45-1; N.McCullum 10-1-33-1; Williamson board meeting on Tuesday. Zealand’s best one-day winning Brendon McCullum, captain of New Zealand, holds the ANZ One-Day 36-1. 4-0-19-2. Khan, who captained Pakistan streak against India in 33 years series trophy after the fifth and final ODI against India in Wellington at INDIA Result: New Zealand win by 82 runs. to their sole World Cup win in and provides a huge psychological Westpac Stadium yesterday. New Zealand won by 82 runs. R Sharma c Taylor b Mills ...... 4 Series: New Zealand win 4-0. 1992, said the proposals harked boost ahead of a two-Test series back to the days when England next month. and Australia had effective right Meanwhile, India’s failure to Taylor, fresh from an unbeaten Jesse Ryder (17) snicked an out- Taylor notched his own half of veto at the ICC. perform against modest opposi- 112 in the fourth match, laid the side edge from Kumar to Ajinkya century a few balls later as the Flower steps “If I was the PCB (Pakistan tion has seen them ousted from foundations for victory with a Rahane at gully and Martin pressure India had painstakingly Cricket Board) head I would have top spot in the one-day rankings commanding 102, receiving able Guptill was out for 16 after hit- built early in the innings dissi- down as strongly objected the new colonial by Australia, and will raise ques- support from Kane Williamson ting the ball straight to Shami, pated. Williamson departed on system,” Khan said. “I think the tions about their form away from (88), who has posted a half-cen- who took the chance after a nerv- 88 when he sliced a Varun Aaron England head answer is to make the ICC more home ahead of next year’s World tury in every match of the series. ous juggle. delivery to Rahane at point productive for the betterment of Cup. Dhoni urged his pacemen to That brought the in-form part- and was replaced by Brendon cricket.” Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni “use their brains” after losing nership of Williamson and Taylor McCullum, who provided a use- coach No international cricket has said the result was disappointing the fourth match on Tuesday, and together and they immediately ful 23 off 18 balls before he was been played in Pakistan since but showed opposition teams were the new-ball pair of Mohammed lifted the glacial run rate, scor- caught at cover trying to drive LONDON: Andy Flower has 2009, when militants attacked targeting India because of their Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ing more boundaries in their first Kohli. Taylor brought up his 10th stepped down as England the visiting Sri Lankan team, recent success. initially responded to the three overs at the crease than ODI century after 105 balls with a head coach following his side’s and Khan warned the new pro- “It’s a phase that we’re going challenge. New Zealand managed in the boundary hit through mid-wicket, humiliating 5-0 Ashes defeat posals would hit his home country through but what will be crucial Shami began with two maidens, previous 12. but was out next ball attempting in Australia, the England and hardest. He said Tuesday’s meet- is what kind of solutions we have while Kumar showed improved They brought up their third to belt Shami over the boundary. Wales Cricket Board said ing at ICC headquarters in Dubai got, how we plan to get out of it,” accuracy as the New Zealanders century partnership of the series Jimmy Neesham contributed yesterday. reminded him of one he attended he said, adding that he was deter- were restricted to just 10 runs in in 108 balls, with Williamson an unbeaten 34 off 19 balls to take The Zimbabwean, who had in 1993. mined to stay positive despite the the first five overs. reaching his fifth consecutive 50 New Zealand past 300. been in charge since 2009, found “Then India and Pakistan were defeat. The hard work paid off when in the 30th over. REUTERS his position under increasing on the same page and they fought pressure after England suffered to end the imperialism in the ICC heavy defeats in the Test series and wanted it to be run in a dem- and he is now set to be given a ocratic way,” Khan said. new role with the national acad- “It became democratic until In-form Aussies pocket T20 series emy in Loughborough. India, because of its big money “Following the recent very dis- influence and supported by MELBOURNE: Australia con- appointing Ashes defeat it is clear Australia and England, made it Scoreboard tinued England’s miserable tour to me that this is now time for back to square one.” with an emphatic eight-wicket England cricket, led by (captain) PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf ENGLAND victory to claim the Twenty20 Alastair Cook, to rebuild with went into Tuesday’s meeting A Hales c Starc b Hazlewood ...... 16 series with a match to spare at a new set of values and goals,” saying Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri M Lumb c Coulter-Nile b Hazlewood .....18 the Melbourne Cricket Ground Flower said in a statement on Lanka and South Africa were L Wright c Hodge b Starc ...... 0 yesterday. the ECB website (www.ecb.co.uk). united against the so-called “Big J Root (run out-Maxwell/White) ...... 18 England only posted 130 for “This has been a very difficult Three” plans. E Morgan (run out-Hodge) ...... 6 nine after winning the toss and decision to make and I remain He said the PCB’s Board of J Buttler lbw Coulter-Nile ...... 22 the home side coasted to victory committed to England cricket and Governors will meet in Lahore on R Bopara c Maxwell b Muirhead ...... 6 with 5.1 overs left at 131 for two. would like to wish Alastair Cook Monday to discuss the next move T Bresnan b Hazlewood ...... 18 Skipper George Bailey clubbed and Paul Downton every success. ahead of a second ICC meeting on S Broad (not out) ...... 18 an unbeaten 60 off just 28 balls During his time in charge, February 8. J Tredwell b Hazlewood...... 0 with three sixes and seven fours, the former Zimbabwe wicket- “We are not against anyone, Extras (LB-4, W-4) ...... 8 while opener Cameron White keeper batsman helped England neither did we try to form any Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 130 continued his magnificent series to win the Ashes three times and forward block, we just want Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-30, 3-42, 4-55, with 57 not out off 45 balls. masterminded their first World to move with all members and 5-63, 6-87, 7-96, 8-130, 9-130. England will finish their trou- Twenty20 title in 2010. the matter will be discussed on Bowling: Hodge 1-0-10-0; Coulter-Nile bled tour of Australia in Sydney Flower also steered England Monday,” Ashraf said at a press 4-0-29-1; Starc 4-0-19-1; Hazlewood on Sunday in the final dead rub- to number one in the world Test conference in Lahore. 4-0-30-4 (2w); Maxwell 1-0-7-0; Muir- ber T20 game after losing the Australia’s Cameron White (centre) speaks with England’s Jade Dernbach rankings in August 2011 following He also said he would seek head 4-0-17-1 (2w); White 2-0-14-0. Ashes 5-0 and the one-day series (left) and Ravi Bopara after the second T20 international cricket match a 4-0 home victory over India. guidance from Pakistan Prime AUSTRALIA 4-1. in Melbourne yesterday. Australia won by 8 wickets. “Andy has been the most suc- Minister Nawaz Sharif. C White (not out) ...... 57 Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood cessful coach in England’s his- Khan, who played 88 Tests and A Finch lbw Bresnan ...... 10 was named Man-of-the-Match tory and we at the ECB are very 175 one-day internationals for G Maxwell c Bresnan b Tredwell ...... 2 with career-best T20 figures of Broad said. “We need to get some said his side’s bowlers had set disappointed to see him leave Pakistan, said the game was in G Bailey (not out) ...... 60 four for 30 in England’s innings, momentum from somewhere. It’s up the win. Bailey paid credit to the role as Team Director,” Paul “genuine crisis”. Extras (LB-1, W-1) ...... 2 including two wickets with his been a long tour, it’s been a long Hazlewood and also 20-year-old Downton, managing director of “There is a lack of quality in Total (for 2 wkts in 14.5 overs) ...... 131 last two balls. 100 days in Australia and it would leg-spinner James Muirhead (1-17 England cricket, said. “We respect players, if you talk of spinners Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-53. “Australia outplayed us fantas- be nice to finish with a win. off 4 overs). his decision and the reasons for or fast bowlers or batsmen, and Bowling: Broad 3-0-29-0; Dernbach 3-0- tically today. They held length “We have not (win) a series White posted his second suc- it but we are keen to keep Andy’s unless a correct mix is not found 42-0; Bresnan 3-0-11-1 (1w); Tredwell pretty well and we didn’t react over here which is heart-breaking cessive half-century in his first experience and outstanding cricket will suffer,” he said. “The 3.5-0-36-1; Bopara 2-0-12-0. to that and the two needless for Team England, but we can fin- T20 International series since knowledge within the ECB. We revenue is coming but money Result: Australia won by 8 wickets. run-outs hurt us in the middle ish on a high before we fly two October 2012 in a follow-up to his are at advance stages of negoti- should not be decisive and that’s Series: Australia lead series 2-0. which cost us getting a decent hours later.” 75 in Wednesday’s opening T20 ating a role for Andy within the why the quality is suffering which score,” England skipper Stuart Australian captain Bailey match in Hobart. REUTERS ECB structure.” REUTERS is disastrous.” AFP Red Bull’s Formula One test nightmare continues

JEREZ, SPAIN: Red Bull track,” Ricciardo told reporters. the past only to end up dominant. Danish rookie Kevin designer Adrian Newey went “Adrian is pretty happy work- Vettel won the last nine races Magnussen was fastest overall back to his drawing board on ing in his office back at Milton of 2013, a record for a single sea- on the third day with a lap of one Thursday after another night- Keynes and he’ll definitely be get- son, and 13 in total as he wrapped minute 23.276 seconds in his first mare day for the Formula One ting involved in trying to sort out up a fourth successive title with experience of the car he will be champions in pre-season test- the next step.” three races to spare. racing this year. ing in southern Spain. Newey, who has designed title- Red Bull’s race-engineering co- Brazilian Felipe Massa was Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winning cars for three separate ordinator Andy Damerum said second quickest for Williams, who has replaced compatriot teams, actually has an old-style the team had worked hard to now powered by Mercedes after Mark Webber as quadruple drawing board in his office that make changes overnight but the a switch from Renault, with champion Sebastian Vettel’s team he likes to work on with a pen- measures taken had only partially 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton mate, broke down on his first lap cil and jokingly refers to himself solved the issues. third on the timesheets for the of the day and managed only two as the last of the dinosaurs in a “It’s obviously not where we Mercedes team and Jenson further circuits before Red Bull computer-generated age. want to be and naturally the Button fourth for McLaren. called time. He has a real challenge on his whole team is frustrated by these Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso Vettel flew home from Jerez on hands now, with Formula One issues,” he said. “However we’re made his first appearance of the Wednesday night after managing undergoing the biggest techni- pretty good at bouncing back year in front of his home fans and only 11 laps in two days following cal transformation in a genera- from this type of thing.” completed 58 laps/257km with the battery problems with the new tion with a new turbocharged V6 While the Renault-engined fifth best time. Renault power unit. The team and complicated energy recovery teams struggled, with Toro Rosso “I’ve missed it for a few months said Thursday’s issues were simi- systems as well as revised aero- managing only 30 laps after none now, even if I’ve spent hours in lar to the previous day’s. dynamics rules. on Wednesday and Caterham fail- the simulator in Maranello, and A member of Ferrari F1 team checks a Pirelli tyre outside his box during “Adrian has gone back to the Ricciardo said time was still ing to set a timed circuit, those the feeling I got from the track pre-season testing at the Jerez racetrack in southern Spain. drawing board. There is only so on Red Bull’s side, with the team with Mercedes and Ferrari units was as exciting as ever,” said the much they can do here at the making slow starts to a season in racked up the mileage. Spaniard. REUTERS FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Sport ON SATURDAY 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com QSL leaders Lekhwiya

Rory McIlroy of Northern hammer Muaither 5-0 Ireland tees a shot during the second round of the 2014 Omega Dubai Al Gharafa in 1-1 draw against Al Rayyan; Eljaish win Desert Classic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday. DOHA: Youssef Msakni fired two goals while Dame Traore, Sebastian Soria and Nam Tae- Hee added one each to power Lekhwiya’s points leaders Lekhwiya to Luiz Martin a convincing 5-0 win over Carlos Muaither yesterday. Junior The three points helped (second McIlroy holds Lekhwiya to gallop ahead in the right) Qatar Stars League (QSL) point celebrates race with a tally of 40 points from during his 19 matches. team’s 5-0 In other matches yesterday, on to lead at win over second-placed Eljaish crushed Muaither hosts Al Wakra 4-1 to keep title in a Qatar hopes alive. Stars Brazilian forward Nilmar League Dubai Classic scored two goals (10 and 23) while Jeddo (37) and Jires Kembo (QSL) Ekoko (54) powered Eljaish to an clash at Al DUBAI: Rory McIlroy endured easy win at Al Wakra Stadium Gharafa a frustrating day on the greens Dubai Desert where Wisam Rizq scored the Stadium in at the Dubai Desert Classic only goal for the home side in the Doha. yesterday, but he still reached Classic Second 19th minute. the tournament’s halfway stage In another match, Al Khor with a one-stroke lead. Round Scores drew 3-3 with Al Arabi at Al The Ulsterman struggled off Khor Stadium. the tees early on in his second DUBAI: Leading scores yes- In the last match of the day, round, but by the turn he had terday in the second round hosts Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan briefly eased three strokes clear of the $2.5m Dubai Desert played a 1-1 draw. of the field, only for his putting Classic, part of the European Today, defending champions woes and a charge by rising US PGA Tour:- Anderson Martins Al Sadd will visit Qatar Sports star Brooks Koepka to keep him Majlis Course, par-72 (second left) Club, Al Sailiyah will play Al in check. 133 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 63-70 celebrates with Kharaitiyat while Al Ahli, the McIlroy had a 70 to stand at 134 Brooks Koepka (USA) 69-65 surprise package this season, take his team-mates 11-under 133, with Koepka, a during Eljaish’s 136 Damien McCrane (IRL), 66-70, Danny on Umm Salal at Qatar Sports year younger than McIlroy at 23, Willett (ENG) 71-65, Julien Quesne 4-1 win over Club Stadium. equalling the day’s best round of (FRA) 66-70 THE PENINSULA hosts Al Wakra at 65 to get to 10 under. 137 Justin Walters (RSA) 69-68, Henrik Al Wakra Stadium “It was a round that could have Stenson (SWE) 70-67, Robert Rock yesterday. RIGHT: been much better. Still, shooting Today’s QSL Fixtures 67-70 (ENG), Thongchai Jaidee (THA) Action from a couple under par and finish- 4:30pm Al Ahli vs Umm Salal at Qatar SC 68-69, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 65- ing with a nice birdie the way I Stadium Eljaish’s match 72, Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 66-71, did. I’m leading the golf tourna- 4:30pm Al Sailiyah vs Al Kharaitiyat at Al against Al Wakra. Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 69-68 ment. I’ve been in this position Khor Stadium before and I’ve gone on to win,” 138 Morten Orum Madsen (DEN) 71- 7:00pm Qatar SC vs Al Sadd at Qatar SC McIlroy said. Three strokes off 67, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 69-69, Stadium the pace on eight under came Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 71-67, Soren Damien McGrane (70) of Ireland, Hansen (DEN) 67-71, Roope Kakko Englishman Danny Willett (65) (FIN) 69-69, Magnus Carlsson 69-69, and Julien Quesne of France (70). Symon Dyson (ENG) 69-69 Defending champion Stephen 139 Chris Doak (SCO) 71-68, Thorbjorn Rugby Six Nations Gallacher of Scotland (71) and Olesen (DEN) 71-68, Kim Shi-Wan European number one Henrik (KOR) 70-69, Joost Luiten 70-69, Fixtures NBA: Stern ends historic Stenson of Sweden (67) were Brett Rumford 69-70, Jaco Van Zyl among those on seven under. (RSA) 71-68, Gregory Boudry (FRA) LONDON: 2014 Six Nations It was another disappoint- 71-68 , Paul Lawrie (SCO) 68-71, championship fixtures (times ing day for Tiger Woods, who Soren Kjledsen (DEN) 68-71, Richard GMT): struggled with the putter all the Sterne (RSA) 66-73, Marcel Siem 30-year run as the boss way en route to a 73, which left (GER) 72-67 February 1 him eight shots adrift of playing Wales vs Italy (1430) NEW YORK: David Stern partner McIlroy and well down tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, France vs England (1700) steps down today after 30 years Thomas Davis (left) of the field. Looking to make it two McIlroy then birdied the fifth and February 2 as commissioner of the NBA, a the Carolina Panthers, wins and a second place in his last the seventh to increase his lead at reign that saw him transform three tournaments, McIlroy had the top to three shots. Ireland vs Scotland (1500) Jay Freely (centre) of the league from a downtrodden the luxury of taking the morn- But just when it looked like February 8 the Arizona Cardinals afterthought into a global sport- ing off watching to see whether he was about to clamp a serious Ireland vs Wales (1430) ing powerhouse. and Charles Tillman anyone could overhaul him after stranglehold on a tournament of the Chicago Bears Scotland vs England (1700) The 71-year-old son of a New his stunning nine-under 63 on which was his first triumph as a pose with the 2013 February 9 York deli owner revitalised the Thursday. professional in 2009, McIlroy let it NBA with business and market- Walter Payton Man Several challengers came briefly slip - missing a two-footer France vs Italy (1500) ing moves that took full advan- of the Year Award and went, especially McGrane, for par at the 13th and erring off February 21 tage of the skills of such stars as following a press Willett and Italian Ryder Cup the tee at the 16th. Wales vs France (2000) Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, conference at Super star Edoardo Molinari. But no- Koepka, who opted to play on Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal Bowl XLVIII week one was able to dislodge McIlroy the European Tour Challenger February 22 and LeBron James. in New York, US, from the lead. circuit after graduating from his Italy vs Scotland (1330) “This has been a great run,” yesterday. This year’s For a brief moment it looked US college in May, 2012, was flaw- England vs Ireland (1600) Stern said. “I’ve had a lot of fun.” Super Bowl will be like he would do that all by him- less with seven bogeys in his 65. March 8 A league that had some playoff played tomorrow. self as he started his second “It reminds me a lot of games shown on tape delay when round with three wayward drives. American courses,” the Floridian Ireland vs Italy (1430) Stern began now telecasts the He dropped one at the first, but said. “It’s weird, it’s a course set Scotland vs France (1700) NBA Finals into 215 nations in scrambled to save par at the sec- up for a drawer and I fade the March 9 47 languages. for at least the last 22 years we Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and ond, and a superb bunker shot ball. So it’s a little tougher for England vs Wales (1500) “We had to get the finals off have done together.” Chicago Bulls are all valued at at the par-five third gave him me, but I’ve been playing well so tape delay,” Stern said. “We had Mark Tatum, the NBA execu- $1bn or more. a birdie as he got back to nine I can’t complain.” March 15 not to cut out franchises. We tive vice president of global mar- Stern navigated the rough under. Woods, playing in his second Italy vs England (1230) had four getting ready to file keting partnership, will take waters, including money disputes Watched by wife-to-be, tournament of the year after Wales vs Scotland (1445) bankruptcy.” Silver’s former job. with players resulting in lockout- missing the final cut at Torrey The once-weak NBA now Stern was hired as the NBA’s shortened seasons in 1999 and Pines last week, never looked France vs Ireland (1700) generates $5.5bn in annual rev- general counsel in 1978, a year 2011-2012 but also bringing a sal- like getting fully into his stride, enues, has a worldwide fan base, before Bird and “Magic” joined ary cap and luxury tax rules that despite an encouraging birdie at teams worth an average of $634m the league and the same year the levelled expenses and brought a the third. Bogeys at six and nine NHL Results and players who average $4m in NBA made its first step overseas measure of parity to teams. set him back and from there on in Los Angeles 1 Pittsburgh 4 annual salary. when the Washington Bullets Stern helped solidify the NBA’s he was unable to get any momen- “I’m very happy with where plated Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. image after a brawl between tum going in a tournament he has Dallas 2 New Jersey 3 we are,” Stern said. “I’m looking Stern became commissioner Indiana and Detroit players twice won. Ottawa 5 Tampa Bay 3 forward to perhaps travelling for in 1984 and guided the league spilled into the stands among “I just didn’t hit it close enough. Anaheim 5 Philadelphia 3 the NBA on an international basis through good times such as the spectators and bolstered the Didn’t hit it well. Struggled with Colorado 5 Minnesota 4 and enjoying watching its contin- US Dream Team of NBA stars at league’s credibility when referee it and had a bad warm-up as Calgary 4 San Jose 1 ued growth.” the 1992 Olympics and the steady Tim Donaghy was found to have well, and just one of those days,” Phoenix 2 Buffalo 3 Stern’s tenure, the longest rise of team values as businesses made calls to alter outcomes to he said. Boston 1 Montréal 4 among active US sport league as fan interest grew worldwide aid gamblers. World number three Stenson bosses, will end today when Adam and business operations expanded When Magic Johnson moved ominously up the lead- Toronto 6 Florida 3 Silver, the long-time NBA deputy to China, Europe and India. announced in 1991 that he had erboard as he recovered from a Columbus 5 Washington 2 commissioner, takes over Stern’s “We had a few international contracted the HIV virus, Stern horror start to Thursday’s open- job exactly 30 years to the day players, a few international mar- sat beside him. ing round when he was three when Stern’s reign began. kets,” Stern said. Stern banned players for life Rory McIlroy’s partner and tennis over after just five holes. The big NBA Results “He has been the commis- “This season we started with (a over drug issues in the 1980s, star Caroline Wozniacki (left) of Swede had five birdies in his 67 sioner for the last 10 years. They record) 92 non-US-born players cleaning up the league’s reputa- Denmark is seen during the that hoisted him up the leader- NY Knicks 117 Cleveland 86 just haven’t given him the check,” on our rosters.” tion and even imposed a dress second round of the 2014 Dubai board at seven under on a course Golden State 111 LA Clippers 92 Stern said. “He is going to be The league expanded from 23 code to help turn NBA players Desert Classic yesterday. he knows as well as anyone. Indiana 94 Phoenix 102 great. Everything we have done to 30 teams and the New York into marketing icons. REUTERS REUTERS FEBRUARY 1, 2014 Break Time www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 ON SATURDAY

Jai – Ho (2D/Hindi) – 2.30pm SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER TEL: 444933989 444517001 TV LISTINGS 1 Oru Indian (2D/Malayalam) – 5.15 & 8.00pm Lone Survivor (2D/Action) – 11.00pm The Nut Job (3D/Animation) – 2.15pm 0500 Inter Channel 7:30 Talk To Al Jazeera 07:50 What 8:00 Buddha Frozen (3D/Animation) – 4.00pm 0600 English 8:00 News Happened 8:30 Buddha Championship, 8:30 News Next? 9:00 Bollwood Cut Spiders (3D/Thriller) – 6.00 & 9.45pm Nottingham Forest V 9:00 Witness 08:40 Mythbusters 9:30 Bollwood Cut 2 Watford 10:00 News 09:30 Bear’s Mission 10:00 Khana khazana Ride Along (2D/Comedy) – 7.45pm MALL 0800 Football Asia 10:30 Inside Story Everest 10:30 Science with Raze (2D/Horror) – 11.30pm 0830 Transworld Sport 11:00 News 10:20 Driven To Brain Café 0930 Omni Sport 11:30 Listening Post Extremes 11:00 LOL () Raze (2D/Horror) – 3.00pm 1000 English 12:00 News 11:10 River Monsters 14:00 Dance India Championship, 12:30 Counting the Cost 12:00 World’s Top 5 Dance Season The Package (2D/Action) – 5.00pm Scunthorpe V 13:00 NEWSHOUR 17:00 Destroyed In 4 (Clubbed Fleetwood 14:00 News Seconds Repeat) Lone Survivor (2D/Action) – 7.00pm 1145 Coppa Del Rey, Real 14:30 Inside Story 17:25 Destroyed In 17:00 Fear Files 3 Madrid V Espanyol 15:00 Meltdown Seconds 17:30 Fear Files Labor Day (Drama) – 9.15pm 1330 Bryan Robson, Stars 16:00 NEWSHOUR 18:40 Gold Rush - 18:00 Zee Connect Sparks (Action) – 11.15pm 1400 Omni Sport 17:00 News South America Season 4 1430 Football Asia 17:30 Artscape 19:30 Gold Fever 18:30 Bh Se Bhade Oru Indian (2D/Malayalam) – 2.30 & 8.00pm 1500 Transworld Sport 18:00 NEWSHOUR 1600 Atp Tennis Magazine 19:00 News 1 Rummy (2D/Tamil) – 5.15 & 10.45pm 1630 Fifa World Cup 19:30 People & Power Magazine 20:00 News The Nut Job (3D/Animation) – 2.30pm 1700 Rugby Six Nations, 20:30 Inside Syria 04:00 Dead Man 14:25 Eastenders Frozen (3D/Animation) – 4.15pm Wales V Italy And 21:00 NEWSHOUR France V England 22:00 News Running 15:50 Only Fools And Sparks (Action) – 6.15pm 2245 Italian League, Milan 22:30 Listening Post 06:00 Men In Black 3 Horses V Torino 23:00 Al Jazeera World 08:00 Pizza Man 16:20 Only Fools And 2 The Package (2D/Action) – 8.00pm 10:00 Brake Horses LANDMARK 12:00 The Fast And 18:10 Tough Guy Or Ride Along (2D/Comedy) – 9.45pm The Furious: Chicken? Tokyo Drift 19:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Raze (2D/Horror) – 11.45pm 14:00 Ice Road Terror Man 16:00 Brake 20:30 Luther Spiders (3D/Thriller) – 3.00 & 1130pm 0530 English Premier 13:25 Jessie 18:00 When A 21:25 Him & Her Labor Day (Drama) – 5.00pm League Netbusters 13:45 Austin & Ally Stranger Calls 21:55 Stewart Lee’s 3 0600 English Premier 14:10 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Ice Road Terror Comedy Vehicle Lone Survivor (2D/Action) – 7.00 & 9.15pm 1000 English Premier 14:35 Code: 9 21:45 Blown Away 22:25 Moone Boy League Classic 15:05 Ratatouille 16:50 22:50 Last Man Oru Indian (2D/Malayalam) – 2.30 & 10.45pm Match Toy Story Toons Standing 1030 Football’s Greatest 17:00 Shake It Up 1 Rummy (2D/Tamil) – 5.15 & 8.00pm Teams: Celtic 17:20 Jessie 1100 The Global Game 17:45 Dog With A Blog Frozen (3D/Animation) – 3.00pm 1200 English Premier 18:10 Gravity Falls Raze (2D/Horror) League Transfer 18:30 Wolfblood – 5.00pm Programme 18:55 My Babysitter’s A 06:00 Shark Tale 15:00 Big, Bigger, 2 Sparks (Action) – 7.00pm 1300 English Premier Vampire 08:00 The Year Dolly Biggest League Match Pack 19:20 Good Luck Charlie Parton Was My 16:00 China Circus ROYAL Lone Survivor (2D/Action) – 9.00 & 11.15pm 1400 English Premier 19:40 Jessie Mom 17:00 Jean Michel League Saturday 20:05 Austin & Ally 10:00 Celtic Pride Cousteau’s PLAZA The Nut Job (3D/Animation) – 2.30pm Club 20:30 Good Luck Charlie 12:00 Spy Hard Ocean 1500 English Premier 20:50 Dog With A Blog 14:00 Look Who’s Adventure Labor Day (Drama) – 4.15pm League, Newcastle 21:15 Gravity Falls Talking 18:00 Aftermath Spiders (3D/Thriller) – 6.15 & 1130pm V Sunderland And 21:40 Shake It Up 16:00 Celtic Pride 19:00 Big, Bigger, 3 Stoke V Manchester 22:00 Austin And Ally 18:00 10 Things I Hate Biggest Ride Along (2D/Comedy) – 8.00pm United 22:25 A.N.T. Farm About You 20:00 World’s Toughest 2100 English Premier 22:50 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Dazed And Fixes The Package (2D/Action) – 9.45pm League, Everton V 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Confused 21:00 World’s Toughest Aston Villa Place 22:00 Wanderlust-R Fixes

HYPER C RSO S W O RD

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