ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Monday 3 February 2014 3 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5964 Price: QR2 GCI deals drive Arsenal QNB’s profit bounce back growth to the top Business | 18 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Italian PM in Qatar Scattered rains Arab Spring likely today DOHA: The Meteorology Department has forecast strong winds today with chances of more, scattered rains. ‘will lead to Many parts of the country, espe- cially the north, received intermit- tent rains yesterday, with cloudy weather and an overcast sky over the country for most of the day. “We are expecting more scat- democracy’ tered rains tomorrow, especially in the morning. Strong winds could lash the country by afternoon, FM sees consolidation in ten years leading to high seas. The weather is likely to be cloudy, similar to DOHA: Qatar sees the Arab Qatar has always been optimis- what has been experienced since Spring gradually leading to tic about positive changes result- this morning,” a forecaster told democracy in the Middle East ing from the Arab Spring and it this daily last evening. and consolidating itself in the would come to its logical end, he However, the temperature next 10 years. said. could be up slightly today, hov- The changes that began a little Answering a question about the ering between 17 degrees Celsius more than three years ago would Arab Gulf region and whether and 23 degrees Celsius. The eventually see the region’s politi- changes were taking place here minimum temperature recorded cal landscape change. as well, the foreign minister said yesterday was 15 degrees Celsius “And that should take about the social fabric of Gulf societies and the maximum was 20 degrees a decade from now to happen,” was such that it was protecting Celsius. said the Foreign Minister, H E Dr the region from harm. The highest temperature today Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. Responding to a question about is expected in Doha, between 19 He was speaking while taking Iran and its nuclear programme, degrees Celsius and 22 degrees part in a debate on the “Future Al Attiyah said Qatar wanted a Celsius, and the lowest in Dukhan, of the Middle East”, on the side- peaceful solution. “Qatar is Iran’s The Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, welcomes Italian Prime Minister at 15/22 degrees, followed by Abu lines of the Munich Conference on neighbour,” he reiterated. Enrico Letta on his arrival at the Doha International Airport yesterday. See also page 6 Samra, at 16/24 degrees. International Peace and Security About accusations that Qatar in the German city yesterday. supports extremists, the foreign Protesters vow Others who participated in minister said this question was the discussion were Abdul Latif posed to him at almost all the to oust Thai PM Al Zayani, Secretary-General of conferences he attended. the GCC, Turki Al Faisal, head of “Who is an extremist in Syria: Ministries to start cutting costs BANGKOK: Thai anti-gov- King Faisal Research and Islamic those who are using dangerous ernment protesters planned to Studies Center in Saudi Arabia, weapons against their own people DOHA: The ministries and luxury cars, and also cancelled suit soon, reports Al Sharq. forge ahead today with efforts to US Senator John McCain, and or those who are trying to defend government departments are room bookings in some luxury The state budget for the finan- topple Prime Minister Yingluck Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet the innocent, including pregnant likely to begin cutting their hotels. cial year that begins on April 1 Shinawatra, a day after a dis- Davutoglu. women, the elderly people and expenses soon in response to a The department is instead aims at slashing government sec- rupted election that is unlikely In the coming 10 years, when children,” he asked. state directive issued earlier to mulling making accommoda- tor expenses (not public spend- to settle the country’s long-run- democracy has deepened its roots Referring to an international reduce their expenditure by 20 tion arrangement for guests ing) by 20 percent in line with ning political conflict. in the Middle East, the region report on genocide in Syria, Al percent to help meet the long- elsewhere. the above directive, the daily said. The demonstrators blocked would emerge as one of the influ- Attiyah wondered why the world term national goal of sustain- The department has even can- The idea is to make the gov- balloting in a fifth of the country’s ential blocks in the world, Al was silent on the issue. able development. celled subscriptions to some for- ernment sector optimally utilise constituencies and say Yingluck Attiyah said. In such a situation it is nec- At least one key government eign newspapers and periodicals state resources to help achieve must resign and make way for The changes would eventually essary to give an indication that department has already begun to cut costs. This isn’t exactly an sustainable development over the an appointed “people’s council.” see democracy prevail and con- there is a community in the world slashing its extra expenditure in austerity drive but an effort to long term. Voting was disrupted in 69 out of solidate itself in the Middle East, which is siding with justice and compliance with the state’s call. cut unnecessary expenses. A draft law to regulate use of 375 constituencies nationwide. he said, adding, “We are seeing dealing with the people neutrally The department has cancelled Other government depart- public money is with the authori- See also page 13 the outcome of the Arab Spring and in a fair manner, he said. contracts it had inked earlier ments, ministries and agen- ties for study. THE PENINSULA & in Tunisia and Yemen.” THE PENINSULA with car rental companies to hire cies are likely to follow THE PENINSULA REUTERS Egypt court acquits Al Jazeera cameraman US warns Israel over CAIRO: An Egyptian court Prosecution had accused them prosecutors last week referred to the other three foreigners are “on yesterday acquitted a camera- of “carrying out acts of violence trial “20 journalists” working for the run from the law”, the authori- man working for Al Jazeera tel- and thuggery ... after an attempt the Qatar-based Al Jazeera net- ties said, and the four if proved evision and 61 others accused of to storm a police station and tar- work, after accusing them of por- guilty could face jail term of up to Kerry’s statements taking part in clashes in Cairo, get police officers with firearms traying Egypt in a state of “civil seven years. judicial sources said. and birdshots”. war” and “airing false news”. Al Jazeera says the charges JERUSALEM: The US hit “The risks are very high for Mohamed Badr, an Egyptian, Badr’s lawyer Shaaban Saeed They include 16 Egyptians and against its crew are “silly and not back at Benjamin Netanyahu Israel,” he said at an international was arrested along with the oth- confirmed his client had been four foreigners — Australian Peter based on any reality”. yesterday after the Israeli prime security conference in Munich. ers during clashes that erupted in acquitted, adding that Badr was Greste, two Britons and a Dutch International rights groups minister warned that calls for “People are talking about boycott. Ramses Square in central Cairo, not involved in any other case. woman, the prosecution said. have condemned the Egyptian boycotts of Israel to pressure That will intensify in the case days after the July 3 ouster of “His release is expected tomor- While Greste, an award-win- authorities for referring the crew it over settlements in the occu- of failure. We all have a strong Islamist president Mohamed row,” Saeed said. ning journalist who previously to trial. pied Palestinian territories are interest in this conflict resolution. Mursi by the army. In a separate case, Egyptian worked for the BBC, is in custody, AFP “immoral and unjustified” and Today’s status quo absolutely, to a would not achieve their goal. certainty, I promise you 100 per- In a public spat that reflected cent, cannot be maintained. It’s tensions over slow-moving Israeli- not sustainable. It’s illusionary. Palestinian peace talks, the state There’s a momentary prosperity, department rebuked Netanyahu there’s a momentary peace.” Syrian forces for apparently misrepresenting The US statement department the words of the US secretary of spokesperson, Jen Psaki, noted step up attacks state, John Kerry. Another senior that Kerry had been referring right-wing minister accused Kerry to the actions of others and on Aleppo of serving as a “mouthpiece” for resolutely opposed boycotts. anti-semitic views. “Secretary Kerry has always DAMASCUS: Syrian forces Speaking on the record at expected opposition and difficult bombarded Aleppo with barrel the start of the weekly cabi- moments in the process, but he bombs and air raids for a sec- net meeting, the Israeli prime also expects all parties to accu- ond day yesterday, with 121 peo- minister said that the growing rately portray his record and ple killed in 48 hours, a monitor international boycott movement statements,” she added pointedly. said, after peace talks ended would only “push peace further Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief nego- inconclusively. away” by encouraging Palestinian tiator, said Kerry was merely At least 36 people were killed intransigence. “expressing concern” for Israel’s in yesterday’s attacks alone on “No pressure will force me future. Syria’s second city, the Syrian to give up the vital interests of Netanyahu’s coalition gov- Observatory for Human Rights the state of Israel, above all the ernment has registered alarm said, after reporting 85 deaths the security of the citizens of Israel,” at growing talk of boycotts.