Doha event set to tackle corruption in sport

Sir Ronald Flanagan is chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption unit.

Corruption in sport will be a key topic discussed at Doha GOALS 2013, a global forum being held next week in the Qatari capital city.

Sir Ronald Flanagan, chairman of the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit, and Cherie Blair CBE, chair of Omnia Strategy (UK), will be part of an expert panel discussing corruption in sport.

The panel, which also features Ronald K Noble, secretary general of Interpol, Michele Verroken, CEO of Sporting Integrity and board member of the Commonwealth Games Federation (UK) and Jean Francois Vilotte, president, ARJEL (France), will discuss the need for new and better methods for prevention, detection and punishment to combat Illegal betting and match-fixing in sport.

Former police Chief Flanagan said: "I've seen first-hand how the issue can infiltrate sport across international boundaries and have identified that collaboration between stakeholders is vital in the fight against illegal betting and match-fixing.

Phase 1 of Dubai's $3.3bn solar park goes live

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Phase one of Dubai's $3.3bn Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park went live on Tuesday as part of a push to diversify energy supplies in the UAE.

The 13-megawatt photovoltaic plant is the biggest of its type in the Middle East and North Africa, Saeed Al Tayer, the head of Dubai’s state utility, said in a statement.

First Solar, the biggest US solar-panel manufacturer, built the facility which is expected to generate 24 million kw of power per year - enough to meet the average annual electricity needs of more than 500 households.

"This plant represents an important step in the implementation of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to diversify Dubai's energy mix. For the first time, we are harnessing the sun to power growth and prosperity in the emirate, which is a significant achievement," said Al Tayer, CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Qatar said to mull Turkish power plant investment

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Gulf Arab state Qatar is considering investing in Turkey's Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired power plant project, which the UAE dropped out of this year, the Turkish energy minister said on Thursday.

Turkey is keen to make the most of its own coal resources to reduce its dependence on imported natural gas, and Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that the talks could result in a deal being agreed within two to three months.

"We see that Qatar has intentions about this. We have held very good meetings," Yildiz told CNN Turk television, referring to his and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's meetings in Doha on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (TAQA) and Turkey's state-owned Electricity Generation Company in January agreed on a $12 billion project to build several power plants using lignite coal reserves inTurkey's Afsin-Elbistan region

Arsenal consider Morata loan if Suarez joins Real Madrid

The Liga giants are plotting a move for the Liverpool star and Arsene Wenger hopes to take advantage by snapping up the highly-rated youngster

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey

Arsenal are weighing up a January loan move for Alvaro Morata - but will only get him if Real Madrid signLuis Suarez in the winter window.

Arsene Wenger has turned his attention to striker Morata as he prepares to reinforce his front line next month.

The Frenchman is an admirer of Morata, a Spain Under-21 international, but sources have said that he will only be loaned out by Real in January if the Spanish giants can clinch the sensational signing of Suarez.

Goal revealed on Friday that Real will make a move for Suarez in the forthcoming window after making the in-form Liverpool man their marquee target for 2014. It is understood Real will pay up to €71 million to prise the Uruguayan from Anfield.

A side effect of what is likely to develop into one of next year's principal transfer sagas is the future of Morata.

The 21-year-old has only started one Madrid match this season, but he has come off the substitute's bench on 13 occasions, scoring two goals.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted on Friday that the forward could be loaned out next season but ruled out the possibility of a move in the second half of this campaign, describing the subject as "closed".

However, that would change if Real are successful in what is expected to develop into a concerted push for Suarez.

Wenger’s priority remains to capture a top striker after moves for Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain, Stevan Jovetic and Wayne Rooney all fell through last summer, while the Gunners were also unable to agree a last-ditch loan deal for Chelsea’s Demba Ba.

Wenger is well aware of the difficulties in landing A-list options in the notoriously difficult January window, when the big clubs are reluctant to sell their best players.

Arsenal accept that Liverpool will not sell Suarez to them in the new year and, despite receiving encouragement that Rooney is still unsettled at Manchester United, have turned their attention to more realistic alternatives.

The Gunners are also keeping close tabs on a second Serie A forward, Stephan El Shaarawy, although any move for the AC Milan player is expected to be delayed until next summer.

Livorno-AC Milan Preview: Rossoneri hope to continue mini-revival

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Resurgent Milan will be fancied to continue their upturn in fortunes when they travel to struggling Livorno on Saturday.
Massimiliano Allegri's side secured their first away victory of the season in Serie A with a 3-1 win over Catania last weekend.
That triumph came five days after Milan's 3-0 Champions League win at Celtic, and a run of five games without defeat has lifted the gloom at San Siro.
In-form midfielder Kaka scored for the third game in a row at Catania, while striker Mario Balotelli made it two goals in as many games.
Milan could welcome back goalkeeper Christian Abbiati (back) and defender Philippe Mexes (eye) at Livorno, but defender Ignazio Abate (ankle) is a doubt and forward Robinho (shoulder) is definitely out.
Long-term absentee Giampaolo Pazzini (knee) is closing in on a return and the striker - who has been out since May - is relishing the prospect of helping Milan climb the table.
He said: "We're a good group, we've always been that and this year is the same. I just want to get back playing and helping my team-mates.
"Confidence comes from winning and the victory against Celtic was good for us. When will I be back? I'm close."
Allegri's charges will fancy their chances of making it three consecutive wins on their travels at Stadio Armando Picchi this weekend.
Livorno have slumped to three defeats in a row and find themselves languishing in the relegation zone, with coach Davide Nicola reportedly fighting to save his job.
Nicola's side have also failed to score in each of those three defeats and have registered only three victories on their return to Serie A.
Full-back Cristiano Piccini and attacking midfielder Ruben Botta are injured for Saturday's encounter, while goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia is still suspended.
Livorno were beaten 3-0 at fellow strugglers Chievo last weekend, and Brazilian midfielder Emerson is determined to help turn their fortunes around.
"We must prepare for Milan at the most. They are a great champion," he told the club's official website.
He added: "I too am a rookie in (Serie) A. Being here is fantastic and the debut with Rome was the most beautiful moment. Now that I'm in I want to stay there

Saudi's Sabuco awards $293m butanol plant contract

Saudi Butanol Company (Sabuco), a joint venture of local petrochemicals firms, has awarded South Korea's Daelim Construction Co a SR1.1bn ($293m) contract to build a butanol plant, Sabuco shareholders said on Sunday.

Construction of the plant in Jubail Industrial City will start in January 2014, with completion expected by May 2015.

The plant will have a capacity of 330,000 tonnes a year of n-butanol, a type of alcohol used to make other chemicals, and 11,000 tonnes a year of iso-butanol.

Sabuco is a joint venture between Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co, Sadara Petrochemical Co. and Saudi Acrylic Acid Co (SAAC). Saudi Kayan and others announced the project in bourse statements.

Saudi Kayan is an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), Sadara is a joint venture between state oil company Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical Co SAAC is owned by Sahara Petrochemical Co and National Industrialisation Co. (Tasnee)

Oman Chlorine to set up $70m chemicals plant in UAE

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Oman Chlorine is setting up a $70m chlorine-alkali plant in Abu Dhabi to cater to the oil and gas sector in the Gulf, its managing director said on Tuesday.

Union Chlorine, a joint venture between Oman Chlorine and Abu Dhabi-based private firm Horizon Energy, would produce 70 tonnes per day of caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite. The plant would begin commercial production in the third quarter of 2015.

"It is the natural second step for the company to expand outside Oman. There is a lot of drilling activity going on in the region," Walid Azhari told reporters. He did not detail how the project would be financed.

Muscat-listed Oman Chlorine, set up in 2000, at present caters mainly to its domestic market. It produces 45 tonnes per day of caustic soda and acids, and also has a joint venture in Qatar called Gulf Chlorine.