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Sunday 26 May 2013 16 Rajab 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5711 Price: QR2

‘Milaha Ras Al Rayyan Laffan’ on retain Emir 100th voyage Cup title

Business | 17 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 New norms No fee rise in soon to save power, water private clinics DOHA: Qatar has one of the highest per capita electricity and water consumptions in the world and to reduce the average, the country has completed tech- and hospitals nical studies that would help it frame new standards and speci- fications for air-conditioners SCH rejects all requests for hike and lighting systems to ensure they are energy-efficient. BY MOHAMMED IQBAL detailed price list to the depart- New guidelines on what kind ment for approval. They cannot of air-conditioners and lighting DOHA: In an unprecedented impose any hike in the approved systems will be required in the move, the Supreme Council prices if not sanctioned by the SCH. country to prevent waste and save of Health (SCH) has stopped Dr Jamal Rashid Al Khanji, energy are being prepared and any further increase in prices Director of the Healthcare expected to be ready for imple- of private clinics and hospitals Quality and Patient Safety mentation soon. until the proposed national Department, told The Peninsula They will also cover water con- health insurance scheme is fully that the PLC had acted tough to sumption and prescribe upgraded implemented. stop any unjustified increase in standards and specifications for The decision is driven by an the prices. “We have been flooded taps and distribution systems enormous increase recently in with requests from private clin- within homes, offices and other requests from private healthcare ics and hospitals to raise fees commercial establishments, gov- facilities seeking permission to and most of these demands are ernment ministries, industries, hike fees, a senior SCH official said unjustified. Bayern Munich's German defender Philipp Lahm lifts the trophy after the UEFA Champions League final football schools, mosques and other places. yesterday. The Healthcare Quality “All facilities are seeking major match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. Utility distributor Qatar and Patient Safety Department increases without any valid rea- General Electricity and Water at the SCH has issued a circular sons. The PLC felt the need to Corporation (Kahramma) is to all these facilities, saying the intervene to protect the interests developing the guidelines and department will not accept any fee of customers. “The SCH is not they will be implemented as soon increase requests “until comple- authorised to fix prices, but can Bayern win Champions League as they are ready, hopefully within tion of application of the health freeze them to prevent a further this year, it is learnt. insurance system”. hike, if there is a need,” said Al LONDON: Bayern Munich already won the German league pace, was full of superb attacking Ministries and offices are likely The circular was based on a Khanji. “Through this move, the overcame the heartbreak of los- title and face VfB Stuttgart in the football and seemed destined for to be covered in the initial phase decision (No 10) taken earlier PLC wants to send a strong mes- ing two finals in three seasons Cup final in Berlin next Saturday. extra time until Robben burst of the implementation of the this month by the Permanent sage to those facilities that are by beating Borussia Dortmund “It’s a final, we were at the same through a gap in the defence and guidelines. Licensing Committee (PLC) at trying to hike their fees without 2-1 in a memorable all-German level, we both had our chances,” rounded outstanding Dortmund Kahramaa then plans to rope the SCH. “The only exception any justification,” he added. Champions League final yester- Robben told ZDF German TV. keeper Roman Weidenfeller to in the private sector in its energy to this decision is adding new He said those facilities that day to become European cham- “I was able to push the ball score. and water-saving campaign. medical services after getting are adding new services may be pions for the fifth time. through at the end. It means a Dortmund began at blistering The plan is to reduce per capita the required approval from the given permission to revise their Goals from Croatian Mario lot to me. It’s still hard to fathom. pace which they maintained for electricity and water consump- department,” said the circular. fee structure, after a through Mandzukic after 60 minutes I’ll be able to put it in words later. almost 30 minutes with Marco tion by 20 percent and 35 per- The department which is scrutiny. “This is an exception to and Dutchman Arjen Robben, There are so many emotions right Reus and Robert Lewandowski cent, respectively, over a five-year responsible for licensing and the rule, but we will also check with a stunning 89th-minute now, it’s incredible. pulverising the Bayern defence. period. monitoring private healthcare if anyone is trying to misuse this solo strike, settled a superb final “So many people told me I’d Lewandowski had the first Kahramaa is also conducting facilities has also asked them to by manipulating their prices and after Dortmund had levelled with score a goal tonight. the first few of their seven first-half scoring studies to encourage the use of strictly comply with the approved services.” He said the decision will a 68th-minute penalty from Ilkay chances I missed. I got another chances, powering in a 30-metre solar water heating systems in price list. also apply to new facilities. Guendogan. chance at the end and took shot which goalkeeper Manuel homes, industries and commer- All private clinics and hospi- THE PENINSULA The victory kept alive Bayern’s advantage of it.” Neuer turned over the bar for a cial establishments, among other tals are required to submit their Continued on page 7 hopes of a treble as they have The match, played at a ferocious corner. REUTERS places. THE PENINSULA Continued on page 7 Nasrallah vows Syria victory Green areas may Syria opposition struggles be mandatory in for unity as battle rages in new buildings ISTANBUL: Syria’s opposition resumed talks yesterday to close DOHA: The Ministry of their fractious ranks, as government forces launched a fierce Municipality and Urban onslaught on a rebel-held border town to try to gain the upper hand Planning is studying a proposal in the civil war. A failure of the opposition to unite could weaken the to make it mandatory for all hand of Russia and the US, co-sponsors of a proposed peace confer- new buildings to include green ence on the war, which has killed 80,000 and threatens to spill over areas in their design. borders and whip up wider sectarian violence. The US and Russian It part of a plan to expand foreign ministers are to meet in Paris on Monday to discuss how to green spaces across the country shepherd President Bashar Al Assad and the opposition into the under the Qatar National Vision talks in Geneva. Full report on page 10 2030, Al Sharq reported yesterday. The ministry will soon start Qatar keen to supply more gas to India work on 45 new public parks. Renovation of the Al Munataza DOHA: Negotiations between India and Qatar to supply an addi- park, one of the oldest, is also tional three to four million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) expected to begin in a few months. a year continue, the Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr The ministry is also working Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada said yesterday. Qatar is keen to meet on a plan to provide cooling sys- India’s growing LNG demand, he told The Peninsula on the sidelines tem in some parks, the daily said, of an agreement signing ceremony to set up ‘Nebras Power’ com- without giving details. There are pany. Gas Authority of India Ltd and some private firms from the also plans to install equipment energy-starved economy, which sources nearly 13 to 14 percent of for physical exercise and provide Lebanese Hezbollah supporters listen to a televised speech of the movement’s chief Hassan Nasrallah in Qatar’s LNG exports, have sought additional Qatari gas, but talks Internet facility in more parks. are lingering over a mutually agreed pricing. Full report on page 17 Mashghara in the western Bekaa Valley yesterday during a ceremony marking the 13th anniversary of Israel’s THE PENINSULA military withdrawal from Lebanon. Nasrallah vowed “victory” in Syria, where his people are fighting alongside troops against rebels trying to topple the regime. Two-child limit for Myanmar Muslims LONDON: Muslims in a province of Myanmar have been ordered not to have more than two children in an attempt by the govern- ment to stop Buddhist attacks on Muslims. State officials said the Attacks on Muslims rise after Woolwich murder two-child limit in Rakhine would ease tensions between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya neighbours. Local officials said the new meas- LONDON: Anti-Muslim attacks in Britain country,” he told the BBC. allegedly of a racist or anti-religious nature. ure was part of a policy that will also ban polygamy in two Rakhine have soared since Wednesday’s murder of “Secondly, some of them are quite aggres- A second man was visited by officers and townships that border Bangladesh and have the highest Muslim Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich. sive; very focused, very aggressive attacks. warned against his activity on social media, populations. Buthidaung and Maundaw are about 95 percent Faith Matters, an organisation that works And thirdly, there also seems to be significant according to the police. The charge comes Muslim. The measure was enacted a week ago after a government- to reduce extremism, said it had been told online activity… suggesting co-ordination of after two men in Bristol were arrested and appointed commission investigating the violence issued proposals to of about 150 incidents in the last few days, incidents and attacks against institutions or released on bail for making alleged offensive ease tensions, which included family planning programmes to stem compared with four to eight cases before places where Muslims congregate.” comments on Twitter about the murder. population growth among minority Muslims, said Rakhine state Wednesday. Police have reported several arrests since A 23-year-old and a 22-year-old, both from spokesman Win Myaing. The panel also recommended doubling the Director Fiyaz Mughal said incidents were Wednesday. Benjamin Flatters, 22, from Bristol, were held under the Public Order number of security forces in the volatile region. “The population happening on the streets and online. “What’s Lincoln, was arrested on Thursday after Act on suspicion of inciting racial or religious growth of Rohingya Muslims is 10 times higher than that of the concerning is the spread of these incidents. complaints were made to Lincolnshire police hatred. Rakhine (Buddhists),” Win Myaing said. “Overpopulation is one of They’re coming in from right across the about comments made on Twitter that were THE GUARDIAN the causes of tension.” THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 Don’t stay behind your glasses 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME ... for the rest of your life Application for WISE Learners’ Voice opens FemtoLasik ... The latest in vision correction DOHA: WISE (the Word initiatives and has, since 2009, selected to participate. Innovation Summit for successfully identified a commu- Students and recent gradu- Education) has begun its glo- nity of 78 exceptional students ates can either apply personally bal search for the world’s top 30 and recent graduates from around or be nominated by representa- young learners (aged 18 to 25) the world who have contributed tives of institutions, organisa- from diverse backgrounds and their voices to WISE. tions, programmes and networks. disciplines to join the Learners’ Now through June 25, the call Applicants and nominees must Voice programme. for nominations and applications be between 18 and 25 years old. Now in its fourth year, the will be open to outstanding stu- Participants should be currently programme is one of WISE’s dents and recent graduates. enrolled in (or recently graduated most important global education This year, 30 Learners will be from) a course of study at a recog- nised college, university or training programme and be UCL Qatar willing to contribute their time to the programme throughout the year. WISE Learners’ Voice brings the all important views of students to the task of rethinking educa- tion. A selected group of young learners will play an active role in the Summit Musawwarat es Sufra and will have the oppor- tunity to participate in in Northern Sudan: several WISE activities throughout the year. a Unique Archeological Site In 2012, 30 students from 24 countries were selected from hundreds of applica- tions and nominations. In addition to participating in the annual WISE Summit in Doha, the 2012 Learners Dr. Ahmed El-Antably are currently taking part in a year-long Executive Cornea and Refractive Surgery Consultant Education Programme that combines online sessions, practical workshops and project-based work. They have also attended a selection of high-profile conferences and events, including the Asian Youth Forum in New Delhi, India, and Empower 2013, Rota’s A lecture presented by Annual Youth Conference on Leadership, Service Pr. Steffen Wenig Learning and Global Citizenship in Doha. Official nomination or Tuesday May 28th 2013 application forms can be downloaded from the 6.30 pm -7.30 pm WISE website: www. wise-qatar.org/content/ Auditorium wise-learners-voice-0. Georgetown Building RSVP not required Entries should be sub- Reception to follow mitted online by 18 GMT on June 25. Education City [email protected] THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 QIIB supports charity art, photo auction Proceeds go to Qatar Red Crescent

DOHA: Prominent Qatari charity initiatives.” entrepreneur and philanthro- The proceeds from the auction pist, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah will go to Qatar Red Crescent. Al Thani and International “Art and creativity are beautiful Islamic (QIIB) CEO, Abdulbasit and when they are used to remove A Al Shaibei participated in the pain, and heal wounds, they have celebrations held as part of the greater value. Representing busi- ‘Charity Art and Photography ness sector in such an initiative is Auction’ at the College of really gratifying,” he said. North Atlantic–Qatar (CNA-Q) He congratulated the organis- recently a press statement said ers and participants of the auc- yesterday. tion and said the event was very Over 100 selections of art and constructive and noble. photography were up for bids. Al Shaibei said: “International The majority of these pieces Islamic’s support of Charity have been donated by members Art and Photography Auction of CNA-Q’s Art and Photography at CNA-Q reflects the bank’s clubs, consisting students and support of social and national employees. projects. Institutions such as Additionally, much of the art Qatar Red Crescent are commit- was produced by a variety of ted to serving the local commu- international professional art- nity and others in need. Through ists as part of two art symposia various projects they under- Guests visiting the Charity Art and Photography Auction at College of North Atlantic-Qatar. held at CNA-Q over the past two take such initiatives. The pro- years. ceeds from the Charity Art and activities. But we believe these are nation building,” he said. on slogans. We constantly support Dr Ken MacLeod, President, Sheikh Ali said: “International Photography Auction go entirely not the only important aims of our He added that International all worthy and charitable causes and students and volunteers who Islamic Bank’s participation at to Qatar Red Crescent.” bank. We are committed to social Islamic believes in “action match- and that’s why we are here today,” have actively participated in the the noble event reflects the coop- “As a responsible financial and humanitarian endeavour and ing words”. Al Shaibei reiterated. Charity Art and Photography eration between the business sec- institution in Qatar, we focus on all activities that are meant for “Our commitment towards the The International Islamic CEO Auction. tor and educational institutions in growth and derive profit from our the progress of the society and society must not remain merely complimented the CAN-Q led by THE PENINSULA

Art teachers get a lesson in drawing inspiration from environment

DOHA: Among the many 100 teachers from over 30 schools “To create an art workshop activities lined up for the World attended the workshop that was that includes creative and inno- Environment Day (WED) cel- conducted by Faber-Castell crea- vative content is always a chal- ebrations in Qatar, IAID, in tive artists Yayu Afliyani Rahayu lenge. However, with the help of association with the Friends and Rizal Susanto. Faber-Castell we were able to turn of the Environment Centre Teachers received lecture on a typical teachers art workshop (FEC), organised a workshop basic drawing techniques, basic to a memorable experience. We on arts recently, at the Virginia drawing presentation, drawing are very grateful for the support Commonwealth University in session and arts and crafts. of the teachers who attended this Qatar (VCU-Q). “We organised this workshop for event and for VCU-Q for providing It was held with the objective of teachers to help them respond to us an apt venue for this project, helping art instructors in Qatar the environmental challenges we it was truly an inspiring day for find deeper meaning and pleasure face, and this was just one step in everyone”, said Marianne Indrinal in visual arts using environment our ongoing efforts to raise aware- Project Manager, WED 2013. as their inspiration. The workshop ness and spread the adoption of Paulita D Pal, a participating was conducted in collaboration environment friendly behaviours teacher from Philippine School with Faber-Castell. Known as the and attitudes amongst Qatar’s Doha, explained her satisfaction, world’s leading brand for its high residents,” said Rajesh Jadhav, saying, “I have been teaching arts quality professional arts supplies in Production Head, WED 2013. for the last few years, but the work- the art and graphic line, fine writ- A host of fun games were also shop has given me a new under- ing instruments and accessories held during the workshop, where standing on how to use creative in creative design, Faber Castell six participants got a chance to skills and know how to see and has been actively supporting the win prizes that included, free understand the environment in a WED celebration in Qatar since it courses from IAID and drawing simple and positive way.” Teachers attending the arts workshop at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. started seven years ago. More than material from Faber-Castell. THE PENINSULA Ooredoo supports environment day events

DOHA: Ooredoo is supporting a wide Design Contest Presentation at Virginia pioneered electronic waste recycling, and variety of environmental events related Commonwealth University in Qatar. recently joined major companies around to World Environment Day, which falls Participants chosen from more than 175 the world in marking Earth Hour. on June 5, as part of its corporate social entries and 500 participants showcased The FEC is a non-profit organisation responsibility (CSR)programme. innovative designs of turning recyclable that seeks to enrich the concept of envi- This year’s theme, ‘Think.Eat.Save,’ materials into fashion. ronmental conservation and community focuses on avoiding food wastage and food The following weekend, FEC hosted a education. In line with Qatar National loss encouraging people to reduce their food Painting Contest, with an expected 2,500 Vision 2030, the organisation is committed footprint. participants from more than 80 schools, to making a difference in the environment In Qatar, World Environment Day has along with a seminar on sustainable con- and to mobilising youth to do their part for been celebrated since 2007. This year’s sumption by a nutritionist from IAID. the planet. events are co-sponsored by the Friends of The celebrations will close on June 7 with IAID is a leading academy for performing the Environment Centre (FEC) and the exciting activities including an art exhibit, arts in Qatar, and promotes environmental International Academy for Intercultural fashion show, awards presentation, speeches awareness through the medium of Arts. Development (IAID), and held under the and performances at the Al Rayyan Theatre Since 1972, World Environment Day auspices of Dr Saif Ali Al Hajari, Chairman, in Souq Waqif. has been an annual event organised FEC. Through its CSR programme, Ooredoo by the United Nations Environment World Environment Day activities supports a wide variety of environmen- Programme. kicked off on May 17 with the Eco-Fashion tal initiatives. Among these, Ooredoo has THE PENINSULA

Mall of Qatar to make debut at Cityscape

DOHA: The Mall of Qatar (MOQ), will The Mall’s leasing partner Macarthur + over 20 million visitors in its first year make its debut next week at Cityscape Company, the world renowned retail spe- of operations. Qatar which is taking place between May cialists, will also be officially launching its Conveniently located at the intersection 27 and May 29 at the Doha Exhibition leasing campaign at Cityscape, using the of Al Rayyan Highway and Celebration Centre. event to meet retailers and brief prospec- Road, the project is adjacent to the popular A launch ceremony will be held at the tive tenants on how they can take up the Al Rayyan Sports Club and a future FIFA Mall of Qatar exhibition stand V20 on fantastic opportunity the Mall of Qatar 2022 World Cup Stadium. Wednesday May 27 following the official presents.’ Celebration of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup opening of the CityScape exhibition to the Construction work is already under theme is planned to be a significant part of public. way and the Mall is scheduled to open the design element throughout the Mall as An interactive scale model of the Mall in the third quarter of 2015 providing a lasting legacy will be unveiled at the event that comes just over 400 shops, 7,000 parking spaces, A dedicated Metro Station integrated days after the Mall was officially launched a major hypermarket, five department into the mall, as part of Doha’s new trans- at a press conference outlining plans to cre- stores, 20 international restaurants portat system, will give all of Doha and sur- ate ‘the place to be’ that will become one of and an indoor streetscape with double rounding regions unrivalled access to the the region’s leading shopping and leisure height flagship stores from across the Mall. destinations. globe. The Mall anticipates attracting THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatargas CEO Forum focuses on trainees Khalid bin Khalifa meets young Qatari employees

DOHA: Annual Qatargas CEO and under the guidance of session at the forum, employees Forum was held recently to H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh had the chance to ask any ques- focus on the development of Al Sada, Minister of Energy tions or raise concerns directly the company’s national gradu- and Industry and Chairman of to the CEO. ates and trainees, and pro- Qatargas, the development of The CEO also presented vide updates on the company’s national workforce is a top pri- awards to the best graduates Qatarisation programme. ority at Qatargas. As we move and trainees for their outstand- Qatargas Chief Executive closer to realising our vision of ing performance in 2012. The Officer Khalid bin Khalifa Al being the world’s premier LNG coaches who excelled in train- Thani met with young nation- Company, competent national ing and mentoring the national als working in the company at employees continue to play a employees were also honoured by the 12th Annual Qatargas CEO key role in our success,” said the CEO. Forum held under the theme Khalifa Al Thani. This forum is one of several ‘Commitment to Success.’ As part of the forum, Qatari platforms, which provides an It provides the opportunity nationals who have excelled in opportunity for Qatari national to share their experiences in their careers and progressed to graduates and trainees to engage Qatargas, highlight challenges key positions in the company in open discussion with the com- they face and gather their feed- after completing their develop- pany’s senior management and back and suggestions in order ment programmes shared their contribute to decision making, Participants at the Qatargas annual CEO Forum. to further improve the training success stories with the partici- underlining their active involve- and development programmes in pants. There were also several ment in their own personal workforce and helps forge a strong all of its employees. In particular, to benefit from the knowledge place for nationals. group activities and presenta- development. The CEO Forum relationship between the young the company is committed to the and expertise of its high calibre “As envisaged in the human tions, including a motivational at Qatargas reflects the com- professionals and their coaches. development of its Qatari work- diverse workforce and interna- development pillar of the film. mitment made by the company’s Qatargas is committed to force. Qatargas provides unique tional shareholders. Qatar National Vision 2030, During a question and answer senior management to its national develop, promote and recognise opportunities for young nationals THE PENINSULA Qatar Workers Cup teams in semi-final

DOHA: Basketball and Cricket fans were treated to an action-packed weekend of sporting excitement with the quarter finals of the Basketball and Cricket Qatar Workers Cup taking place in Al Gharaffa and Al Wakra stadiums. The Qatar Workers Cup, sponsored by Ooredoo and delivered by Qsports Leagues with Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee as strategic partners, is a pioneering initiative in Qatar to engage with all sections of the community and promote sports participation and activity for all. Companies are encouraged to register for the competi- tion and allow their employees to play representing them. The Basketball Workers Cup saw Nael and Bin Harmal Hydro Export narrowly beat Jaidah Group 54-50 at the Al Gharaffa Sporting Complex. Other teams who progressed to the semi-finals were tournament favourites JCI Ballers along with Team Creation Stars and Unibeton Ready Mix. The quarter finals featured a huge hitting display from Redco Al Mana Team scoring a massive 226 runs from 10 overs as they demolished opponents Al Fowriya Trading. Team AAB and Milaha Rangers also progressed while Irinatech beat G4S by one run to squeeze into the final four. The semi-finals and final for Basketball and Cricket will be held on Friday. The 2013 season will then conclude with the Ooredoo Volleyball Qatar Workers Cup sched- uled to commence in early June. The Workers Cup Programme forms an integral com- ponent of efforts to reach out and engage with all sections of the community in Qatar. THE PENINSULA

Players vie for the ball during the basketball match between Nael and Bin Harmal Hydro Export and Jaidah Group.

SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Huge rush for children’s registration in KG class Call to extend online registration deadline in all schools

DOHA: There is a huge rush advantage of the rush for admis- private kindergarten in place of for children’s registration in sion is that more such facilities independent school so he could kindergartens of Independent are opened across the country be fluent in English but their Schools which has led school leading to competition, a parent admission tests are very tough,” managements to increase the said. said Ibtesam Al Ghifari, mother number of students in a KG “The problem presently is that of a child. How a four years old class to 33 from 25. there aren’t enough kindergar- child can pass such touch tests The clamour or admission, tens to meet the demand,” an and what they (school) supposed obviously, is mainly from citi- aggrieved parent told local Arabic to play a role if we (parents) send zens, an operator-cum-director daily Al Raya. Many parents said an educated child there, said the Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Jassem Al Thani laying the foundation stone for the orphanage in Sana’a. of a large education complex (Al that due to the shortage of kin- angry mother. Bayan) has said. dergartens they have to send “Private schools asks QR5,000 Many parents prefer to get their children for schooling to to book the seat for one child, I QC lays foundation for orphanage in Sana’a their children registered in sev- far-off places. have three children so I have to eral schools for admission so they The country’s population has pay QR15,000 to reserve seats for can choose the best one among been increasing rapidly but the them,” said Zaynab Al Ashkinani. DOHA: Qatar Charity has laid The project is expected to be of over $1.4m for humanitarian them. number of kindergartens remains The online registration system the foundation stone for a house carried out in a year and a half. projects in the country. A number of parents who send more or less the same, claim par- should be started in all schools, to rehabilitate 50 orphans aged The two-storey building includes Under the first agreement, their children to private kinder- ents. “We demand more kinder- including privates, independents from one year to 15 in Yemen’s bedrooms and a living room, a hall QC grants $1.089m for a project gartens aren’t quite happy as they gartens and additional seats in the and community ones to make capital Sana’a at a cost of QR1m. for the teaching of the Holy Quran, of restoration 130 house of say they keep increasing their existing ones to cater to a growing the registration system fair and QC said in a press statement shops and apartments to be rented those affected by confrontations fee from time to time. The par- population,” said Umm Hayan, a smooth, she added. yesterday that during a QC del- as offices or housing as well as between the armed forces and Al ents have called on the education mother who is looking for a suit- More private schools should egation’s visit to Yemen led by offices for the management of the Qaeda militants in Zinjibar. QC sector regulator, the Supreme able school to register her child. be added in the list of SEC for Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al complex’s waqf, a restaurant for also donated $100,000 to perform Education Council (SEC), to The fee slabs of foreign kinder- issuing education vouchers that Thani, QC General Assembly orphans and rooms for female baby 55 heart operations for Yemenis ensure that kindergartens don’t gartens start from QR16,000 per include only 32 schools so for, so member and the General sitters, a kitchen and a mosque, by a specialist medical team from raise their fee unjustifiably. year while those of Arabic ones the citizens could benefit more in Inspector of the Qualitative toilets and a hall for games. Hamad Medical Corporation and The best way to ensure that range up to QR8,000. all over the country. Projects in Yemen, the founda- QC and Yemen has ealier Qatar’s Al Ahli Hospital. kindergartens don’t take undue “I admitted my child in a THE PENINSULA tion stone of the project was laid. signed three agreements worth QNA INJAZ holds annual Young Enterprise of the Year awards

DOHA: INJAZ Qatar, a non- ExxonMobil Qatar Inc (platinum and Co-Founder and Executive remarkable innovation, planning the youth of Qatar to showcase Mubadara 2013 competition, profit organisation and mem- sponsor), Katara Cultural Village Manager of ibTECHar. and dedication by achieving their their entrepreneurial projects “Entrepreneurship is an essential ber of Junior Achievement (JA) (strategic partner), Siemens (sil- Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin entrepreneurial goals as part of and share their creative business building block of any local econ- Worldwide, held Mubadara, the ver sponsor), ibTECHar (partner) Khaled Al Thani, Chairperson Mubadara. Following months of approaches with key stakehold- omy and a job multiplier. Through 6th Annual Young Enterprise and Afif Programme (partner). of INJAZ Qatar, said in her hard work on behalf of the partic- ers in the country. Through ini- this program, ExxonMobil Qatar of the Year competition awards The event was hosted by opening speech: “Today, we are ipants as well as the INJAZ team, tiatives like Company Program, is proud to support the country’s ceremony at Katara. Khalid Aboujassoum, winner of extremely proud of the six par- we are glad that Mubadara once we aim to continue inspiring the budding entrepreneurs who pos- Mubadara 2013 is sponsored by the Stars of Science 2012 show, ticipating teams that have shown again provided a platform for youth and equipping them with sess such great potential to fur- the skills they need to become ther economic progress, create successful entrepreneurs. I would jobs and drive the innovations of like to thank the volunteers, com- tomorrow.” panies, schools, teachers, sponsors Ta’alam wa Tamata’a from Al and of course, participants and Resala Independent Secondary their families, who have helped School for Girls won the ‘Best made this programme a huge Student Company – School Level’ success.” Award sponsored by ExxonMobil; Ahmed Al Sayed, Vibrohear from Qatar University Deputy General Manager, won the “Best Student Company Katara, said: “We are thrilled to – University Level” Award spon- enter this new strategic partner- sored by ExxonMobil; Educom ship with INJAZ Qatar. It has from Tarek bin Ziyad Independent been our pleasure to host such Secondary school for boys won an event at Katara. Seeing these the ‘Best Marketing Plan’ Award talented and driven high school sponsored by Katara; Q-Wood students shows that INJAZ Qatar from Omar bin Abdul Aziz is headed in the right direction, Independent Secondary school aiding the socioeconomic as well for boys won the ‘Most Innovative as cultural development of Qatar Product or Service’ Award spon- - a goal we, at Katara, share with sored by INJAZ Qatar; Restyle the organization.” from Al Kawthar Independent Bart Cahir, President and Secondar School for girls won General Manager of ExxonMobil the ‘Best Social Impact’ Award Qatar Inc congratulated the sponsored by Siemens. The winners of different competitions with officials during the awards ceremony. winners of the INJAZ Qatar THE PENINSULA Aspire structures to follow green building guidelines

DOHA: As Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), in a new environment friendly move, has announced that green building guidelines will be applied across all AZF structures. In addition, AZF has banned the use of harmful chemicals in all its facilities and venues, using only environmentally friendly alternatives for cleaning and maintenance. The decisions have been taken following the recycling of 40,000kg of paper — the equivalent of 680 trees. Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud, Director General of Aspire Logistics, a member organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, said: “The fact that our core function is as a sporting facility doesn’t mean that we do not have a responsibility to contribute to other aspects of human and social development. On the contrary, we work hard to play an active and vital role in the various fields that relate to promoting healthy lifestyles and the creation of safe, sustainable spaces for community and family members, and protecting the environment is a crucial aspect of this role, not least because it is one of the main pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.” In a further bid to promote recycling, the organisa- tion has relocated Khalifa International Stadium’s old electricity poles to Aspire Zone’s outdoor pitches and is in the process of reclaiming Qatar’s old wooden telephone poles in order to use the recycled material throughout Aspire Park. Moreover, AZF continues to help the envi- ronment further by making use of solar energy technolo- gies throughout AZF, and is using its artificial lake as an irrigation tool for the park as another example of its environmentally-friendly practices. Aspire Zone Foundation regularly spearheads non- sporting corporate social responsibility initiatives, includ- ing programmes encouraging community members to lead healthier lifestyles. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 HOME/MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Mena award for QMA official Jordan King greeted Rights group on National Day DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a cable of greetings to King urges UAE not to Abdullah Jordan, on the occa- sion of his country’s National Day. The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the deport strikers Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani also sent cables to Jordan on the Issue resolved amicably: Arabtec same occasion.

DUBAI: Human Rights Watch First phase of yesterday urged the United Arab Emirates not to deport insurance migrant building workers for staging a rare strike to demand scheme soon better pay and conditions. The UAE “It would be scandalous if the authorities should UAE deported workers who have Continued from page 1 taken a courageous stand for their be investigating “Before granting approval, we basic rights,” HRW Middle East whether local Sharoq Ibrahim Al Malki (centre), Chief Human Capital Officer at Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), won the will scrutinise their prices to Director Sarah Leah Whitson employers have 5th Annual Mena HR Excellence Awards in the category, HR Professional of the Year – Public Sector, at the ensure they conform with the said in a statement. prices existing in the market.” violated the law, HR Summit and Expo 2013 in Dubai. Al Malki was nominated by experts in the industry in recognition of her The New York-based group outstanding achievements in advancing the HR division in QMA. The first phase of the national cited media reports claim- not penalising health insurance scheme is to ing authorities in the UAE had poorly paid and be implemented very soon, but it slapped deportation orders on 43 would take two to three years to migrants who joined a strike by unprotected Energy-efficient fully implement the system. workers at the Arabtec construc- workers. Asked no facility will be tion giant. Qatar News Agency lighting, A/C allowed to raise their fees dur- Arabtec said on Wednesday ing this whole period, Al Khanji that thousands of mainly Asian tenders soon said: “The insurance scheme will workers had ended a strike that police and other official bodies. launches new logo Continued from page 1 standardise the healthcare serv- began at the weekend. But Whitson sharply criticised ices and fees in the country and “This strike is a stark reminder the government for its response DOHA: Qatar News Agency The energy-saving drive has the decision could be reviewed of the UAE’s failure to reform to the industrial action. (QNA) launched yesterday its already been introduced to indus- once we have a clear idea about its exploitative labour system,” “The UAE authorities should new logo at a ceremony held at tries that are major consumers, the market. Then we will be able Whitson charged. be investigating whether local the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and was accounting for a 35 percent share to accurately assess who is charg- Strikes are banned in the UAE, employers have violated the law, attended by a number of offi- in total consumption, and per capita ing more and who is charging where unions do not exist and the not penalising poorly paid and cials and prominent personali- consumption of both the precious less.” He said all facilities have government does not stipulate a unprotected workers,” she said. ties in the media field. utilities is already down two percent. also been asked to prominently minimum wage. HRW said that UAE authori- The launch commemorates the of the agency’s work since 2009, The corporation plans to soon display their prices for informa- Unskilled workers earn a ties reportedly deported 70 32nd anniversary of QNA which when an Emiri decree was invite tenders for installing tion of the customers. monthly salary of no more than migrant workers after a similar was established in 1975. issued to regulate QNA’s work. energy-efficient air-conditioning “Big facilities like hospitals Dh900 (about $245). strike by Arabtec labourers in QNA Director General Ahmed The decree focused on enhanc- and lighting as well as water dis- may have practical problems The workers were demanding January 2011. Saad Al Buainain underlined that ing the technological facilities pensing systems in schools and in displaying the full price list their Dh350 ($95) food allowance Arabtec is part of a consor- the agency had managed to adjust in order to provide more its mosques all over the country. with their hundreds of serv- paid with their wages rather than tium that built Dubai’s landmark to the great challenges posed on news services to its regional The idea is to reduce water and ices. We have asked them to the three daily meals provided by Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest media outlets in the past decades, and international partners. He electricity consumption by four keep a comprehensive file for the company, English-language building. It also has won a $654m particularly those relating to the noted that the agency produced and 37 percent, respectively, in reference by the customers. daily The National reported. contract to build the Louvre Abu development of new media, in 2,356,000 news items in the past these places where the utilities are The customer has the right to Arabtec said the strike was a Dhabi art gallery, set to open in addition to the shift interests of few years, 320,000 of which were supplied by the corporation free. know the fee for each service, result of “a minority group who 2015. Rights groups have repeat- the public opinion. local news. It has said it will be training its before availing of it. If they have will be held accountable for their edly criticised the UAE and other He added that QNA was always He expressed his thanks to the staff to monitor effective imple- any problem in accessing the actions”. Gulf countries for their treatment committed to promote media pioneers who worked tirelessly to mentation of its energy-efficiency information, they should im- It said the issue had been of millions of foreign workers, practice based on professionalism, help the agency reach the high- drive and arm them with judicial mediately launch a complaint “resolved amicably” with coop- mostly Asians. responsibility and transparency. status it now occupies. powers to act against violators. with our department,” he said. eration from the labour ministry, AFP Al Buainain gave an overview QNA THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA/QNA

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Stuck in Syria Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HO is winning in Syria? It’s difficult to give a definitive answer. Sometimes, it’s the rebels, sometimes the regime forces, and both sides Japan’s own worst enemy? always claim they are closer to victory. But W BY TOBIAS HARRIS we certainly know who is losing in Syria: the people, and by Japan’s parliament, Abe could institute still making its way into the hands of extension, people of the entire region. the economic reforms that Japan needs households and businesses, the Bank As the battle rages on, the death toll is soaring. Even the NCEREMONIOUSLY forced to — if he doesn’t get distracted by right- of Japan’s asset purchases are still resign as Japan’s prime minis- wing obsessions. too small, and the third arrow growth daily killings fail to move the world as those killed become Uter in 2007 after only a year in That’s what happened in 2006, when strategies are at the moment still aspi- just a number in the casualty list being constantly updated office, Shinzo Abe spent five years in he took power as the anointed heir of rational. The danger remains that Abe by various agencies. It’s a harsh reality of war that the dead the political wilderness. Few expected his immensely popular predecessor will redirect his attention to the right- are reduced to numbers. What Syria is going through is not that he would return to lead the Liberal Junichiro Koizumi. During his five years wing issues close to his heart. “Many a revolution, but a full-fledged war. Democratic Party (LDP), one of Japan’s in office, Koizumi focused on economic people know that the real interest of According to latest reports, the opposition is suffering two major political parties, let alone the reform, cleaning up the balance sheets of Prime Minister Abe is not in economics,” country. But in September 2012, the Japan’s banks, privatizing inefficient pub- Taro Aso, Abe’s finance minister, told the a setback. It’s also true that the official and popular party reinstated him as its leader, and lic corporations, and limiting the growth Wall Street Journal in April. “When he is perceptions in the United States and Europe of the Syrian three months later, so did Japan’s vot- of government deficits. Many hoped Abe equipped with full power and authority, war have changed. After two years of shouting that the end ers. “Japan is back,” Abe declared in a would continue fixing the economy, but he would rather work harder for his pet of Bashar Al Assad is near, there is a feeling in the West February speech in Washington; he could he instead expended his political capital interests such as education and consti- that Assad has some staying power. This perception has have been talking about himself as well. on changing the country’s education law tutional amendments.” His government enjoys public approval to emphasize patriotic education, elevat- In advance of this summer’s elections been supported by the gains being made by the regime forces numbers as high as 72 percent, a level ing the defense agency to a full ministry, for the upper house of the Diet, Abe had in Qusair. Assad’s forces reinforced by Lebanese Hezbollah not seen this far into a Japanese prime and laying the groundwork for revising indicated that his government’s plan to fighters unleashed heavy artillery and tank fire to try to minister’s term for more than a dec- Japan’s pacifist constitution. Instead of revise Article 96 of the Japanese con- seize more rebel terrain in the Sunni border town of Qusair ade. His economic program — dubbed practicing multilateral diplomacy with stitution, which dictates amendment yesterday. The loss of the town for rebels and its gain by “Abenomics” — is winning plaudits at unstable North Korea, Abe’s govern- procedures, would be the centerpiece of Assad forces will be a game home and abroad as a bold attempt ment obsessed over resolving the issue his party’s campaign. If this succeeds, it to tackle Japan’s “lost two decades” of of Japanese citizens abducted by North would make it easier to pass more sub- changer. The road to victory will sluggish growth, stagnant wages, and Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. stantive revisions, like changing Article 9, Predictions be easy for the side which keeps persistent defla- In his Dec. 2012 campaign, Abe prom- which prohibits Japan from waging war. about the Syrian Qusair. tion, while vot- ised to overcome deflation and restore Abe has drawn criticism from across Asia All eyes are on the talks ers are tolerating economic growth. Since entering office, for remarks he made in the Diet in late uprising have between the opposition and his attempts to he has proposed a “three arrows” eco- April questioning whether it is proper to Assad sponsored by Russia and deliver on cher- nomic policy: raising the Bank of Japan’s say that Japan “invaded” its neighbors gone wrong. If there is one ished conservative inflation target and instituting a $1.4 — not unlike during his first term when the US. In the current scenario, goals like revising trillion bond-buying program; unveiling he questioned whether sex slaves used Now all eyes are peace talks seem the best option enduring fact the constitution a $116 billion fiscal stimulus package; and by the Japanese military during the war on the planned to find a way out of the impasse, about Japanese and strengthening developing an economic growth strat- had been coerced. And in early May, he and any effort which has the Japan’s military. egy emphasizing, among other things, sent an envoy to Pyongyang to explore US-Russia- backing of all sides needs to be politics, it is As Japan’s bench- more resources for medical technology the possibility of resolving the abductions mark index the and opportunities for women in the issue, even though it could undermine explored. the public’s sponsored talks. Nikkei reached workforce. U.S. and South Korean efforts to contain But one of the biggest willingness to a five-year high, Reforms are indeed necessary — the North Korean regime. obstacles in Syria has been the support any leader and the Japanese Japan’s economy is in bad shape. Despite But his victory in December and still- lack of unity among rebels. The uprising would have seen economy grew at faster-than-expected GDP growth, busi- lofty approval numbers do not signify more far progress had the opposition been united. Talks who promises an annualized 3.5 ness investment continued to fall in that the Japanese public is also moving have resumed in Turkey aimed at unifying the opposition to improve the percent rate in the first quarter. Moreover, Japanese to the right. A mid-May poll by the major the first quarter, salaries and bonuses have stagnated for daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun suggests and much would depend on its success. A failure of the economy, and then it’s tempting to more than a decade, while employers that the basis for the cabinet’s support opposition to unite could weaken the hand of Russia and the follows through on call Abe a success. have become increasingly dependent on is the government’s economic policies, United States, co-sponsors of a proposed peace conference, The Economist low-wage temporary workers, who now and not support for Abe or his party. and the vacuum that follows will be filled in by terrorist his promises. did — in their make up more than a third of the work- Multiple polls show that the public is groups which already have established a solid presence. May 18 issue, the force. Indeed, some economists wonder deeply divided over whether and how to Even as the preparations for the talks are going on, the editors put Abe on whether Japan’s aging population, nearly revise Japan’s constitution. While dis- the cover, dressed a quarter of which is over 65, will ever cussing constitution revision is no longer war is spilling into Lebanon. Hezbollah has plunged into as Superman. be able to make up the demand shortfall the taboo it once was, it is by no means the war and its leader Hassan Nasrallah announced for the Although the Nikkei’s 7.3 percent that has produced prolonged deflation, a priority for most Japanese. first time yesterday that it would stand by Assad until the drop on Thursday may remove some of or whether the Japanese economy will If there is one enduring fact about end and will not rest until victory. As he spoke, firefights in the shine, the fact remains that Abe is be able to achieve increases in produc- Japanese politics over the past decade, northern Lebanon between Sunnis and Alawites continued perhaps in the strongest position of any tivity sufficient to offset the shrinking it is the public’s willingness to support Japanese prime minister since the eco- workforce. any leader who promises to improve the and 30 people have been killed so far. nomic bubble burst in the early 1990s. It is hard to say how much credit Abe economy, and then follows through on No Arab country has witnessed a revolution as With opposition parties in disarray and deserves even for the positive figures. his promises. complicated as Syria • a comfortable LDP majority in the Diet, The government’s stimulus package is WP-BLOOMBERG Letters Quote of Small fish will be made scapegoats in spot-fixing scandal the day HIS is in reference to the news good education and a lucrative job? hearing ball to ball radio commentary, and politics get involved in the game? on spot-fixing in Indian Premier • Doesn’t the greed to have more when the word patriotism was absent • What about the betting that takes League cricket matches. There multiply as one acquires money? in the dictionary of such players? place in horse races? Tis a hue and cry over the • Didn’t Indian cricketers get ‘les- • Isn’t betting present in some form • When stock markets, the bullion We will continue alleged betting, spot-fixing, involvement sons’ on the advantages of being or the other in Indian society? trade and the real estate sector are in of players, officials of teams, etc. The professional players when they used • Why make an ordinary middle- turmoil, where are the so-called rich along the matter has been publicised much and to take part in Kerry Packer’s World class person like Vindu Dara Singh investing to make more money? the president of the Board of Control for Series Cricket in Australia in the 1970s? Randhawa a scapegoat? I have full sympathy with (BCCI road... bear the Cricket in India (BCCI) is under pressure • Was only batting, bowling and • If betting or match fixing did not chief) N Srinivasan and his son-in- to quit. fielding in the minds of players like Sunil exist in the past, how come Chetan law Gurunath Meiyappan, Randhawa, responsibilities and I would like everyone to ponder a bit Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri? Sharma bowled a full toss to allow Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and his fel- the sacrifices. This on my assertions: • Why is it that when we wanted Javed Miandad to hit a six in the last low players who are embroiled in the • Can anyone become rich just by these players to perform well, they used ball of the final of Sharjah Cup in 1986? spot-fixing scandal, wherein only the battle is ours... and I saving a part of his salary? to get out on the very first ball? • If money is not involved in a big small fish are caught and will be made • Can someone tell me the honest • Don’t we repent now when we way, why does BCCI always have a big scapegoats to cover up the acts of cor- promise you victory ways of becoming a millionaire without recall our childhood and realise that businessman at the top? Why do fig- ruption of the big names. in Syria. Hassan Nasrallah having a strong financial background, we wasted our precious study time ures from Bollywood, business houses (Name withheld on request) Hezbollah Chief SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 When killers strike, should Syria’s suffering we listen to what they say? benefiting Iran BY MICHAEL OREN the country’s military nuclear programme. he world is, understand- Those discussions, conducted Just as Breivik’s ably, focused on the with the five permanent members Middle East. The map of the UN Security Council plus views on Islam did Tof the region — drawn Germany, were also overshadowed a century ago by European pow- by crises in the Middle East. ers to reflect imperial interests Virtually overlooked was the not deserve a hearing rather than ethnic realities — is year-long diplomacy that pro- unravelling. duced nothing but a hardening by the right, the Syrians and Iraqis are being of Iran’s position. massacred, and Jordan is flooded Although sanctions led by with the half-million who have President Barack Obama and left should not use fled. Turkey, a formidable power, Congress continue to cut into also struggles to meet the chal- Iran’s economy and undermine Woolwich to make its lenges of refugees and terrorist its currency, the nuclear program attacks. progresses. Russia, meanwhile, seems bent Iranian rulers believe that they case on foreign policy. on supplying Syrian President are paying a high price but will Bashar Assad with deadly weap- eventually achieve their nuclear BY JONATHAN FREEDLAND ons such as the S-300 anti-air- aspirations. craft system. This will enable They are not yet convinced that he killers got their bloody hands on Assad to enforce a no-fly zone the prize will be denied them by the front page first, but they strug- over all of Syria and even parts military action. gled to keep the public’s attention. of neighbouring countries. Still, the ayatollahs are taking On Friday, the focus moved to Lee Given such seismic activity, it is no chances and trying to protect Rigby, the man they killed, and the easy to overlook the most explo- their nuclear assets. Iran has col- Tfamily he left behind. sive development of all. For the laborated with Assad to supply Even on the previous day, when the vic- Iranian regime, the situation in Hezbollah with precision-guided tim was still nameless, the killers were not the Middle East is a convenient missiles. the stars of the spectacle they had scripted distraction. If successful, the terrorists and staged. How galling it would be for them As world leaders deliberate could target Israeli jets, vital A policewoman stands near floral tributes to Drummer Lee Rigby of the British Army’s 2nd Battalion. to know that the person attracting the most whether and how to intervene installations and population intense interest was not the men with knives, in Syria, how to grapple with centres. but Ingrid Loyau-Kennett — who had volun- repugnant as his action, we put our fingers in West Bank. Enter the Stop the War coalition, Iraq, how to shore up Jordan and The goal is to deter Israel tarily stepped off a bus to insert herself in a our ears. A useful comparison is with the case whose statement on Woolwich similarly made Turkey, and how to engage the from defending itself against an lethal situation that she could so easily have of Anders Breivik, who in 2011 planted a bomb the connection with “western foreign policy in Russians, the Iranian nuclear imminent Iranian nuclear threat avoided, armed only with a Brownie leader’s in Oslo that killed eight people and who went the Middle East and south Asia”, ending with program advances unchecked. designed to wipe us off the map. knowledge of first aid. on to murder another 69, mostly teenagers, on the declaration that events had proved their While the Middle East roils, the But Israel will not remain pas- She spoke calmly to the murderers, very the island of Utøya in Norway. position “absolutely right”. Iranians have amassed some 182 sive. We will prevent these sophis- possibly preventing further bloodshed – an He did not spread his message via bystand- Be in no doubt, Livingstone and the anti- kilograms of uranium enriched to ticated missiles from reaching act of such quiet heroism it astonishes as ers’ cameraphones, but through an 1,801- war movement would be appalled if their argu- a level easily enhanced to weapons Hezbollah. much as it inspires. It was her, not them, we page manifesto that denounced what he ments were played back to them in reverse. grade. We will closely monitor the wanted to know about. If she is not included saw as the evils of mass immigration and Imagine what they would say to the claim that This stockpile stops short of the movement of chemical and other in the next honours list, then Britain’s gongs multiculturalism. Breivik’s terror vindicated the old rivers-of- red line drawn by Israeli Prime game-changing weapons in Syria. are more pointless than their most damning At the time there was no shortage of voices blood warnings, predicting that decades of Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Together with the US, we will critics assume. on the right rushing to denounce what Breivik multiculturalism would end in disaster, and but the Iranians are quietly pre- develop more advanced anti-bal- Even at the moment of highest drama, as had done, before suggesting he was voicing a now it was time to change course. paring to cross it. listic systems. Yet we can never one of the men addressed an amateur camera, widely felt sentiment, adding that perhaps a Consider their reaction if the right had The media is focusing on lose sight of the ultimate threat. his hands drenched red, he did not dominate frank conversation about the excesses of diver- seized on the bombing of the Admiral Duncan Middle East atrocities; mean- If Iran gets the bomb, so too the scene. Watch it again and your eye goes to sity and the alienating effects of globalisation pub in 1999, casting it as the inevitable result while, the Iranians have installed will a number of Middle Eastern two women, unhurriedly walking past him as and migration was overdue. of a liberalisation of gay rights that was bound 16,000 centrifuges — an immense states that can pose not only he speaks of horror and violence, one of them As I wrote at the time: “To listen to it, you’d to radicalise a certain young male demo- number by any standard — most regional chemical but also global wheeling a shopping trolley. In its own way, think Breivik had simply wanted to start a graphic and that therefore a policy shift was of which are spinning. nuclear threats. it was a peculiarly British moment, surre- debate, that he’d perhaps written a provocative in order. Iran is introducing 3,000 An Iran with military nuclear ally recalling the old Morecambe and Wise pamphlet for Demos, rather than committed an Of course they’d have rejected such logic advanced centrifuges that will at capabilities will dominate the sketch that had Eric stride across the back act of murderous cruelty.” utterly. But if it’s wrong for the right to seek least triple its enrichment rate Persian Gulf and its vast oil of a busy stage, wearing a coat and cloth cap Some shook their heads ruefully, sadly not- vindication in acts of brutal violence, then it’s and more than double its total deposits, driving oil prices to and carrying a shopping bag, as if oblivious ing that they had long warned such violence surely wrong for the left to do the same. output. extortionary highs. of the mayhem around him. would be the result of the headlong rush to a Nor is it any good for the latter to say, “we’re According to an International And Iran can transfer nuclear That the two women were black, while multicultural, rainbow-hued future. not justifying, we’re simply explaining”: the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) weapons to terrorists who can Loyau-Kennett spoke with a French accent, Liberal and left opinion knew what it right said the same about Breivik. report published this week, the launch them at foreign ports in only completed the tableau of modern, plural thought of such talk. It was wrong to accord Nor can they claim theirs is no more than a Iranians have already installed shipping containers. The entire London: superficially unrecognisable from the Breivik’s warped beliefs such a respectful cold, analytical judgment, merely forecasting 689 of these centrifuges, which world will be endangered. London of 1940, but still a city that knows how hearing. rather than endorsing the logical consequences will shorten the time they will The images emerging from to keep calm and carry on. Airing his ideas this way was to reward his of a current course of action. Their opponents need to reach weapons capacity the Middle East, though agonis- The behaviour of these women raises a massacre, surely providing an incentive for could and did say the same about multicultural- to several months and maybe even ing, must not camouflage Iran’s challenging question for the rest of us: when others to repeat the slaughter. ism after Breivik. weeks. nuclear designs. killers strike in this way, should we listen to His actions should be treated as murder, As it happens, I too once made the case that And we may not be able to see These, we still believe, may yet what they have to say? Or should we walk on, plain and simple. To respond by debating his the war in Iraq would only fuel more terror on this happening. Iran is also build- be thwarted by a combination of pretending we can’t hear? grievances was to cede him, and violence itself, our own soil. But what happened in Norway ing additional nuclear plants that, escalating sanctions and a credible Judging by our responses to Woolwich and too much power. has made me hesitant to use that argument like the formerly covert facility at military threat. comparable acts of violence, the truth is we Yet when the killer’s cause is the matter any longer. For now we know that there are Fordow, will be heavily fortified Iranian rulers must not only don’t know. If you were kind, you would say of western intervention in Muslim countries, minds twisted enough to be provoked to kill and possibly beyond the reach of hear about the policy of all options we are confused. it seems some left voices find their previous by any policy they despise. IAEA inspectors. on the table, they must fear it. Less charitably, you’d say that we are guilty fastidiousness has deserted them. Cue a BBC If you believe western foreign policy is On April 8, Iran celebrated Iranian nuclear installations of double standards and hypocrisy. It seems interview with Ken Livingstone, who spoke wrong, then argue that case. But don’t rest its “national nuclear technology may make for bland photographs, we’re ready to listen when we have some so powerfully after the 7 July bombings in your argument on the threat of blowback vio- day” by opening a new under- especially when compared with sneaking sympathy, not for the act itself, but London. lence against us. For as we have learned at ground uranium processing site the region’s lurid scenes, but they for the cause it seeks to highlight. Now, he linked Woolwich to Iraq, great cost, in today’s world horror can come — just two days after partici- foreshadow a cataclysmic picture. But when we find the killer’s motive as Afghanistan and the Israeli occupation of the from any direction. THE GUARDIAN pating in talks designed to end WP-BLOOMBERG Putin’s goal is to destroy Russian civil society BY LYUDMILA ALEXEEVA For demanding fair elections and respect have been active in the human rights scene here since the dark days of for the constitution, Russians are being the Soviet Union. As I look across Itoday’s Russia, I have every reason to believe that at the very top, the Kremlin treated as spies and traitors. has decided to destroy my country’s civil society for daring to raise its head in pro- neither the Russian government nor big as a foreign agent, several weeks ago the test against government repression and business will support organisations whose authorities began a mass wave of inspec- to demand fair elections and respect for goal is to protect citizens from violations tions across the country led by the state the constitution. of their rights by the state. prosecutor, the ministry of justice and the From the end of the 80s to the mid- The foreign agents’ law should not tax authorities. We are aware of about dle of this century’s first decade, a lively apply to human rights NGOs, as they 500 NGOs that have undergone such and active civil society formed in Russia. do not engage in politics. However, the inspections — there are probably many Today, it is an obstacle in the path of law defines the term “politics” as includ- more. President Putin and his circle, who aim ing “influencing the formation of public By law, the prosecutor has the right to to form a harshly authoritarian, perhaps opinion” — and, of course, human rights conduct inspections only where there is even totalitarian, regime. NGOs do exactly that. For violating this evidence that a given organisation has, It is precisely to destroy civil society – law, NGOs face closure and fines of up or is planning to, violate the law. The and primarily the human rights groups to 500,000 rubles (£11,000), while their simultaneous inspection of hundreds of that form its backbone — that a series leaders face fines of up to 300,000 rubles NGOs is a clearly illegal action by the of repressive laws were adopted in 2012 and up to two years’ imprisonment. prosecutor, whose mission is to ensure by Russia’s Duma, elected fraudulently If the law demanded that NGOs reg- the law is obeyed. and obedient to Putin. One of these laws ister as organisations receiving foreign Several dozen of the inspected NGOs requires that NGOs which receive fund- grants, all of us would register, as this have now received instructions stating ing from abroad and “engage in politics” would reflect the truth. But we cannot that they are required to register as for- voluntarily register as “foreign agents”. register as foreign agents. In Russia, “for- eign agents. Golos, which organised elec- Russian President Vladimir Putin with students and lecturers of the Southern Federal This demand is the equivalent of Nazi eign agent” means “traitor”, “spy”. We tion observers who uncovered massive University at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Germany’s demand that Jews don a yel- are not agents of foreign governments or falsifications during the parliamentary low star. private foundations, as we do not carry and presidential elections of 2011-2012, The Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia’s is to destroy all independent civic activ- This law is directed against human out their instructions. To register as was the first to be sanctioned by the oldest human rights organisation, awaits ity. It is clear he fears that otherwise he rights organisations that have to receive their agents would mean sacrificing our courts, receiving a fine of 300,000 rubles. this fate by the end of May, as do others. will not succeed in retaining his office, financing from foreign donors in order reputation. All of these organisations are on the It is absolutely clear that Vladimir Putin’s let alone strengthening his authoritarian to maintain their independence — since Because not a single NGO registered verge of being closed down. goal, as he begins his third term in office, regime. THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Egypt court rejects revised election law The move by Supreme Constitutional Court will further delay parliament elections CAIRO: Egypt’s highest court election law approved by parlia- parliament for review. now begin in October, completing controversial judicial reform law accuse the Brotherhood of try- ruled yesterday that parts of ment and repeated threats to boy- The ruling is the latest sign the democratic transition from that was being discussed inside ing to control state institutions a revised election law setting cott the vote. of friction between the judiciary, Mubarak’s rule. the chamber. rather than pressing genuine out terms for a parliamentary The court ruled that four pro- which Islamist lawmakers accuse A separate court ruling last Parliament voted to continue reforms. The Brotherhood denies election were unconstitutional, visions of the bill were unconsti- of being loyal to deposed leader year dissolved the Muslim discussions of the law, anger- this. Mursi has faced a revolt casting fresh doubt over a poll tutional, a judicial source said Hosni Mubarak and obstruct- Brotherhood-led lower chamber ing secular MPs who wore black against Islamist attempts to force that has already been delayed. In its decision, the court took ing elections and legislation, and elected in 2011-12. sashes condemning it. out thousands of judges and he The Islamist-dominated upper issue with parliament’s removal of President Mohammed Mursi’s Egypt has been plagued by polit- Islamist lawmakers allied to has alienated some of his aides. house of parliament had approved a long-standing ban on religious Muslim Brotherhood. Mursi, an ical instability since Mubarak’s the Brotherhood are pushing the Earlier this month, senior the law last month and sent it to slogans in electoral campaigning. Islamist elected last year, origi- ouster, scaring away investors and bill, which would force out more Egyptian judges halted talks with the Supreme Constitutional Court The ruling said that failing to nally called elections for April but tourists who are needed to keep than 3,000 judges by lowering the Mursi on judicial reforms after to check the legality of the voting include a specific clause in the postponed them when the court the economy afloat. retirement age. parliament decided to discuss the procedures for a new lower house. law banning religious slogans annulled the decree setting the Outside parliament, baton- The bill has also angered lib- proposed laws despite presidential Opposition politicians had could “undermine national unity.” dates. wielding police pushed back activ- eral, leftist and ultra-conservative promises to seek consensus first. denounced the text of the revised The bill will now be sent back to Mursi has said elections could ists who were protesting against a Islamist opposition groups which REUTERS

Hezbollah will Syrian opposition struggles to find unity bring victory ISTANBUL: Syria’s opposition ministers are to meet in Paris tomor- Assad, whose Alawite faith resumed talks yesterday aimed row to discuss how to shepherd is an offshoot of Shi’ism, to Assad, says at closing their fractious ranks, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Arab states which as government forces launched a and the opposition into the talks in support Assad’s mostly fierce onslaught on a rebel-held Geneva. Sunni enemies. George Nasrallah border town to try to gain the As opposition leaders met in Sabra, head of the oppo- upper hand in the civil war. Istanbul, Assad’s forces reinforced sition Syrian National BEIRUT: The leader of A failure of the opposition to unite by Iranian-backed Shia Lebanese Coalition, said thousands Lebanese guerrilla movement could weaken the hand of Russia Hezbollah fighters unleashed heavy of fighters from Iran and Hezbollah said yesterday his and the United States, co-sponsors artillery and tank fire to try to seize Hezbollah were involved in group would stay in the Syrian of a proposed peace conference on more rebel terrain in the Sunni the attack on Qusair, close war “to the end of the road” the war, which has killed 80,000 and Muslim border town of Qusair yes- to the Lebanese border, and bring victory to its ally threatens to spill over borders and terday, sources on both sides said. and in battles in the capital President Bashar Al Assad. whip up wider sectarian violence. Syria is becoming a proxy con- Damascus. Assad’s forces Hassan Nasrallah, head of the The US and Russian foreign flict between Shia Iran which backs are believed to have seized militant Shia group, said in a about two-thirds of Qusair televised speech that Syria and and largely surrounded the Lebanon were facing a threat rebels. But the price was from radical Sunni Islamists, high and rebels insisted which he argued was a plot they were preventing fur- devised by the United States and ther advances. its allies to serve Israel’s interests The insurgents see in the region. Qusair as a critical bat- “We will not rely on anyone ... tle to preserve cross-bor- like all the battles before this one: der supply lines and deny We will be its people, its men, and Assad a victory they fear we will be the ones who bring it may give him the edge in victory,” he said, speaking from an the prospective peace talks undisclosed location. next month. “We will continue to the end of More than 22 people in the road, we accept this responsi- opposition-held areas were bility and will accept all sacrifices killed by yesterday after- and expected consequences of this noon, most of them rebels, position,” he said in the televised and dozens wounded, footage, which showed thousands according to pro-opposi- A Lebanese woman and supporter of Hezbollah holds a picture of Iran’s of cheering people watching him tion monitoring group the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashghara, in the western Bekaa on big screens in the Lebanese Syrian Observatory for Valley, during a ceremony marking the 13th anniversary of Israel’s military town of Mashgara. Human Rights. The pro- withdrawal from Lebanon. Assad comes from the minor- opposition Syrian Network ity Alawite sect, an offshoot of for Human Rights said Shia. He has been bankrolled 73 people were killed by the Syrian National Coalition to said major players would focus by regional power Iran and Assad’s forces. The United resolve its divisions and bring on such international demands now increasingly by Hezbollah, States, concerned by the more liberals into the fold. for a broadening of the Islamist- Tehran’s Lebanese proxy which rising influence of hard- Sources at the coalition, which dominated group, leaving leader- was founded as a resistance move- line Islamists, has pressed began its third day of meetings, ship issues for later. REUTERS ment to Israel. REUTERS Jordan plans major military exercises with 18 countries

AMMAN: More than 15,000 soldiers from 18 differ- ent countries will take part in a joint military exercise in Jordan in the coming weeks, a military official said yesterday. Jordan’s armed forces will host the exercise, “Eager Lion 2013”, with troops from “friendly coun- tries”, including the United States, taking part, the official Petra news agency cited the official as saying. They will participate in battlefield, logistics and humanitarian exercises alongside troops from Britain, Bahrain, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen he added. The official did not say when the manoeuvres were due to begin but said they would run for two weeks and would follow last year’s “successful” operation. Jordan is a major beneficiary of US military and economic aid, with Washington granting $2.4bn (¤1.85bn) in the past five years, according to official figures. Saudi official websites attacked

RIYADH: Cyber hackers attacked several official Saudi websites yesterday, posting an Algerian flag on their homepages that later vanished, local media reported. The website of the information ministry was among the hacked sites, according to state news broad- caster Al Ekhbariya and newspapers. The websites of Al-Ekhbariya itself, along with sports channel Al Riyadiyah, Channel One and Quran Radio, as well as King Fahd Cultural Centre, were all hacked. No one claimed responsibility for the electronic raid, while those websites went down. Earlier this month, the website of the Saudi interior ministry was among several official websites that came under hacking attacks. Bomb attacks kill 10 in Iraq

BAGHDAD: A roadside bomb attack on an Iraqi army convoy and a car bomb targeting Iranian pil- grims killed 10 people and wounded 19 yesterday, secu- rity officers and doctors said. Iraq is struggling to contain a wave of violence that has killed more than 430 people so far in May — the second month in a row in which over 400 people died in unrest. A roadside bomb hit an army convoy near Heet, a town in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, killing five soldiers including a lieutenant colonel, army Brigadier General Haqi Ismail and a doctor said. AGENCIES SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 MI5 under pressure over soldier murder Spy agency ‘tried to recruit’ London killer

LONDON: Britain’s intel- harassed by MI5, this is some- Both murder suspects were ligence agencies came under thing that he specifically men- known to the intelligence serv- fresh scrutiny yesterday follow- tioned to me” when they spoke six ices and Adebolajo had links to ing claims that MI5 had tried months ago, Abu Nusaybah said. the banned radical Al Muhajiroun to recruit one of two Islamists He added: “He was explicit in movement, but ministers and accused of butchering a soldier that he refused to work for them security experts have warned of in London. but he did confirm that he didn’t the difficulty in keeping track of Abu Nusaybah, who says he know the individuals” they were everybody with extreme views. is a childhood friend of murder asking about. In his BBC interview, Abu suspect Michael Adebolajo, was Adebolajo and his alleged co- Nusaybah admitted he had toyed arrested by counter-terrorism conspirator Michael Adebowale, with radical Islam himself but was police shortly after making the 22, remain under armed guard appalled at his friend’s actions. claims on BBC television on Friday in separate hospitals after being He was arrested at the BBC on night. His comments come amid shot by police during their arrest suspicion of “commission, prepa- community tensions following the at the scene of the grisly murder. ration or instigation of acts of ter- murder of 25-year-old Lee Rigby rorism”, police said. The arrest is outside a barracks in Woolwich, not thought to be linked directly Dancers perform during a summit marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the African Union, in Addis southeast London, on Wednesday French soldier to Wednesday’s murder. Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday. afternoon by two men spouting The backgrounds of the two Islamist rants. stabbed in neck murder suspects are remarkably An inter-faith group reported similar. Both were brought up a large spike in anti-Muslim inci- PARIS: A French soldier by Nigerian Christians and con- Africa celebrates progress dents, while up to 2,000 members patrolling a business area of verted to Islam in their teens, and of the far-right English Defence western Paris was stabbed in recently were seen handing out League (EDL) staged a pro- the neck yesterday by a man extremist literature in the streets test in the northeastern city of who quickly fled the scene — to the concern of their families. and 50 years of ‘unity’ Newcastle. and was still being sought, a Adebowale’s mother, Juliet Adebolajo, 28, was captured on police source said. Obasuyi, sought help from friends ADDIS ABABA: African lead- the continent. Today’s 54-mem- mortality, economic growth and film after the murder brandishing The soldier, patrolling as and an imam after growing ers yesterday celebrated the ber AU is the successor of the democracy — have improved a bloodied knife and meat cleaver part of France’s Vigipirate increasingly concerned about her African Union’s 50th birthday Organisation of African Unity steadily in the past 50 years. and claiming he had killed the sol- anti-terrorist surveillance son, particularly when he dropped against a backdrop of economic (OAU), established in 1963 in the Africa is home to some of dier because British forces killed plan, was injured in the stab- out of university nine months ago. growth but also awareness of heady days when independence the fastest-growing economies Muslims every day. bing around 1800pm but would “He is from a strong Christian the armed conflicts and the from colonial rule was sweeping in the world, according to the He had reportedly tried and survive, the source said. family but he is turning to Islam other myriad problems faced by the continent. International Monetary Fund, failed to previously travel to French daily Le Parisien and turning against the family,” the continent. African leaders were joined and has attracted huge amounts Somalia to fight alongside Al cited police sources as saying she was quoted in newspapers as AU Chairman and Ethiopian by UN Secretary General Ban of foreign investment in recent Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents. the suspected attacker was a telling a Muslim neighbour. Prime Minister Hailemariam Ki-moon, French President years. Brazil announced yesterday Abu Nasaybah said his friend bearded man of North African “He needs spiritual guidance Desalegn set a tone of optimism Francois Hollande, Brazilian it was cancelling $900m worth had recently travelled to Kenya, origin about 30 years old, and before he radicalises himself.” when he launched extravagant President Dilma Rousseff, US of debt in 12 African countries — where he said he was rounded was wearing an Arab-style gar- The University of Greenwich, celebrations by urging leaders to Secretary of State John Kerry with Congo-Brazzaville the high- up and physically and sexually ment under his jacket. near Woolwich, meanwhile con- “create a continent free from pov- and European Commission head est with $352m written off — as abused by local security services. President Francois Hollande firmed Adebolajo was a student erty and conflict, and an Africa Jose Manuel Barroso. part of a broader strategy to boost On his return Adebolajo said there was “at this stage” for two years but said his work whose citizens enjoy a middle China’s Vice Premier Wang ties with the continent. appeared changed, his friend no apparent link between a was “unsatisfactory” and he was income status.” Yang was also reported to be in Despite the celebration, 24 out said, while he had also attracted knife attack on a soldier in not permitted to finish his course. But Saturday’s party in the attendance. Africa remains the of the 25 nations at the bottom the attention of Britain’s security Paris and the murder of a sol- Vice-chancellor David Maguire Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa world’s poorest continent and of the UN’s human development services, who called at his home dier in London this week. said the university had launched will be followed by a more sober- its most war-prone but develop- index are in Africa, with several several times. AFP an investigation into any potential ing two-day AU summit meeting ment indicators there — includ- of those suffering from unrest or He was “basically being links to extremism. AFP to tackle the range of crises facing ing health, education, infant conflict. AFP Female suicide Sexual assault a scourge bomber kills one, wounds on US military: Hagel 14 in Dagestan NEW YORK: Defence percent in 2012, to about 26,000 Secretary Chuck Hagel called cases from 19,000 the previous sexual assault a “scourge” yes- year. MOSCOW: A suicide bomber terday as he addressed gradu- At West Point in New York identified as the widow of two at e s of the US M i l ita r y Ac a demy state, Sergeant First Class Islamists blew herself up in at West Point, where a sergeant Michael McClendon was charged Russia’s Dagestan yesterday, stands accused of videotaping last week with four counts, includ- killing one person and wound- female cadets in the showers. ing indecent acts, dereliction of ing over a dozen in the second “Sexual harassment and sex- duty and cruelty, the Army said. attack to hit the volatile north- ual assault in the military are a McClendon had served as a tac- ern Caucasus region this week, profound betrayal — a profound tical non-commissioned officer at officials said. betrayal — of sacred oaths and the academy since 2009, a job that “In total, 14 people were hurt in sacred trusts,” Hagel said. “This put him in charge of mentoring the attack carried out by a female scourge must be stamped out.” and training a company of about suicide bomber at the Dagestan His comments came a day after 121 cadets. The incidents have capital Makhachkala,” said Denis President Barack Obama deliv- embarrassed the US military and Strukov, a police spokesman. ered a similar message to gradu- prompted members of Congress “One woman later died in hos- ates at the US Naval Academy, to introduce legislation designed pital from her injuries,” he added. saying sexual assault threatened to toughen up the Pentagon’s han- Earlier in the day, the Dagestan to erode trust and discipline in dling of sex crimes. health ministry had said that America’s armed forces. Hagel, in his address, noted 18 people were wounded in the The Pentagon is reeling from that budget cuts were impacting attack which struck not far from a series of sex-related scandals military readiness and morale. the interior ministry building in in recent weeks, including cases But he cited sexual assault and the centre of Makhachkala. in which military advocates for sexual harassment among other, An unidentified woman came victims of sexual assault were growing threats to America’s all- up to traffic policemen and deto- themselves accused of sex crimes. volunteer force. “You will need to nated an explosive, according to A study released by the Defence not just deal with these debili- the Moscow-based Investigative Department two weeks ago esti- tating, insidious and destructive Committee. “Two police who were mated that reports of unwanted forces but rather you must be the closest to the suicide bomber are sexual contact in the military, generation of leaders that stop it,” in an extremely serious condi- from groping to rape, rose 37 he said. REUTERS tion,” the regional police said ear- lier in a statement. It was unclear if the woman who succumbed to her injuries was one of the two. Celebrations The force of the explosion was around 500 grams in TNT equiva- lent, the statement added. Russian anti-terror agency identified the suicide bomber as Madina Aliyeva, widow of two Islamists killed by Russian forces. Aliyeva “was married twice, first to Ali Aliyev, killed in the summer of 2009, and later to Kurban Dzhapayev, killed in the summer of 2012,” said the agency in a statement quoted by news agency Interfax. Aliyeva, who died in the attack, had left her parents’ home with- out any explanation, and had been reported missing since May 13, said a police source quoted by Interfax. State television broad- cast a picture of a young woman, her head covered with a scarf, Thousands of followers of Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez suggesting that she might have de Kirchner concentrate in the centre of Buenos Aires yesterday, to been behind the bombing. celebrate ten years of “transformations and equality in the country.” AFP SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Manila vows Thousands defy Malaysia govt to hold rally PETALING JAYA: Tens of thousands of people rallied near Malaysia’s capital yesterday night against alleged electoral fraud, further raising the politi- restraint in cal temperature after divisive recent polls. The latest in a series of protest rallies over the May 5 elections — which the opposition says were maritime row won fraudulently by the 56-year- old ruling coalition — saw a large crowd gather in an open field out- Caution meant to avoid escalation side Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s Home Minister MANILA: Despite China’s lat- Zahid Hamidi had earlier called est incursion into Philippine the rally a “provocation”, coming waters and other acts of prov- Taiwan protests after four people were arrested ocation, Manila is exercising Philippine ships in including two opposition politi- maximum restraint and is stick- cians, actions that sparked allega- ing to diplomacy in addressing disputed waters tions of a post-election crackdown the situation, Malacañang said on dissent. yesterday. TAIPEI: Taiwan yesterday There were no reports of any “Of course, we view it (China’s protested to the Philippines police action against the lat- provocation) with grave concern, for sending naval ships to est rally, which was to include which is why we have chosen the disputed South China Sea speeches by top opposition figures path that we did — we are for islands in the latest diplo- including leader Anwar Ibrahim. the diplomatic (solution),” deputy matic spat between the two Opposition speakers vowed to presidential spokesperson Abigail governments. expose electoral fraud and keep Valte said over state-run radio “The foreign ministry up the pressure on the Barisan People wave flags as they gather at a stadium during a rally to protest against the results of the country’s 13th dzRB. expresses its serious concern Nasional (National Front) A Chinese fishing flotilla — and firm opposition over the government. general election in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. accompanied by armed naval ships Philippines’ dispatch of naval “We are never disappointed — recently swarmed into Ayungin vessels to Renai (Second because we have won decisively, elections. They were later released. plans to file court challenges to government Friday to end what Shoal in the Spratlys. Manila’s Thomas) Shoal in the Spratly the moral victory. Tough times Prime Minister Najib Razak, the result in 27 parliamentary it called a “post-election crack- diplomatic protests to Beijing over Islands,” it said in a statement. never last, only tough people do. who before the elections sought seats. If all are successful, the down”, saying it was using the the incident remain unanswered. Taiwan’s government We will prove to (the govern- to portray himself as a reformer, opposition says it would give them Sedition Act “against peaceful “We’ve not changed our stance, “denies all unlawful claims to ment) how tough we are,” Anwar’s had pledged last year to repeal the victory. protestors”. if you notice in the maritime dis- sovereignty over, or occupation daughter, parliament member decades-old Sedition Act. It is highly unlikely the oppo- Barisan gained only 46.6 per- putes that we’ve had in the past of, these areas by other coun- Nurul Izzah, told the crowd. The home ministry last week sition would prevail, as critics cent of the popular vote but won years, and it’s deliberate,” Valte tries” it said. Two senior opposition also said it had seized some 2,500 widely accuse the courts and a firm majority, which critics said. AFP politicians and two activ- copies of opposition-party news- Election Commission of being in blame on Barisan tinkering with “We’ve chosen not to respond to ists were detained last week papers for allegedly failing to thrall to the ruling coalition. districts to give its strongholds provocative statements and pro- with the issue. “If you notice, when under the Sedition Act for meet printing regulations. Global rights group Amnesty more weight. vocative actions that may not be it comes to maritime disputes, we criticising the conduct of the The three-party opposition International urged the Malaysian AFP productive for the path that we’ve have only one approach – that we chosen to take. So our choices are need to resort to the diplomatic deliberate, that we will go through solution, we adhere to the rules- peaceful means,” she said. based approach, and our policy is The Department of Foreign to find the best way to have a reso- Affairs (DFA) has warned that lution,” Valte pointed out. the current maritime tensions Asked if President Aquino 12 die as Philippine troops, rebels clash could lead to armed hostilities in would convene the National the disputed areas, particularly Security Council or call for a full ZAMBOANGA: Twelve people Sayyaf group were also killed by the Abu Sayyaf on nearby was involved in the firefight. with the armed patrols being Cabinet meeting like he did when were killed in the Philippines in the firefight, military spokes- Basilan island two days after her “The close-quarter combat conducted by China. Chinese vessels first swamped yesterday as troops clashed man Brigadier-General Domingo abduction, he said. resulted casualties on both sides,” The Department of National Panatag Shoal, Valte said Aquino with a militant group blamed Tutaan said in Manila. The wounded marines were he told reporters by telephone. Defence, for its part, said it is had made clear that “given the for the country’s deadliest ter- “It was an early-morning fire- airlifted to a military hospital in Founded using seed money ready to defend the country’s ter- capacity, our capabilities at hand ror attacks, the military said. fight. Our forces were tracking the southern port of Zamboanga, from Al Qaeda in the 1990s, the ritory up to the last soldier. and our limitations, we will con- The fighting left seven Filipino those responsible for some recent Tutaan said, adding none of their Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the Valte said DFA Secretary Albert tinue to deal with the problem in marines dead and nine others kidnappings in the area, includ- injuries was life-threatening. worst terror attacks in the coun- del Rosario was right in his assess- the way that we have dealt with wounded on the remote southern ing the wife of a soldier,” Tutaan Colonel Jose Cenabre, com- try, including the firebombing of ment that the South China Sea the others, meaning through island of Jolo, military spokesmen added. mander of a marine brigade in a ferry in Manila Bay and kidnap- was a potential flashpoint and that resources that are available to us.” said. The social worker wife of a the area, said a marine recon- pings of foreign tourists. care should be taken in dealing THE PHILIPPINE STAR Five members of the Abu marine had been freed unharmed naissance team under him AFP

Leftist rebel Japan PM vows help for Myanmar Sri Lankan monk dies held in Davao YANGON: Japan’s premier -- in particular in infrastructure international community after a MANILA: Authorities yesterday pledged “all possi- building -- to Myanmar, which nominally civilian government was intercepted yesterday after- ble assistance” to kick-start desperately needs investment to installed in the year 2011. after self-immolation noon six anti-tank impro- Myanmar’s ailing economy, hail- drive a much-anticipated eco- In the first visit by a Japanese vised explosive devices (IED) ing a major industrial zone near nomic revival. premier since 1977, Abe is seeking COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan including police throwing buckets from a suspected member of Yangon as a symbol of devel- “Thilawa SEZ (special economic to cement a role for his country Buddhist monk died yesterday of water to put out the flames. the leftist New People’s Army opment for the impoverished zone) is a milestone in the rela- in resource-rich and strategically of severe burns a day after set- “This is a sacrifice of a life. This (NPA) in Davao, the local nation. tionship between the two govern- key Myanmar, whose untouched ting himself on fire to protest is not a suicide,” the monk told military said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who ments and the private sector,” markets have caught the eye of the slaughter of cattle, an offi- the local Swarnavahini television The explosive devices or is touting the potential of Japanese said Set Aung, Myanmar’s deputy global investors. cial said. cameraman minutes before the landmines were caught in the businesses to boost the once junta- minister of National Planning and Unlike its Western allies, Japan Bowatte Indaratna, 30, suc- self-immolation bid. “There are possession of Joey Atienza, ruled nation’s economy, visited the Economic Development. maintained trade ties and dialogue cumbed to his injuries at the over 5,000 cattle slaughtered in at Upper Mabuhay village Thilawa project — a 2,400 hectare “This will create quick wins with Myanmar during junta rule National Hospital in Colombo Sri Lanka each morning and it in Paquibato District, said site which will include a port and for the people of Myanmar and which ended in 2011, saying a hard where he was rushed on Friday must stop.” Lieutenant Colonel Inocencio industrial park. Japanese businessmen,” in terms line could push it closer to China. after his self-immolation bid in In a leaflet distributed to dev- Pasaporte, commander of the Praising the jointly-developed of jobs and much-needed “techni- During his trip Abe is also front of the highly venerated otees outside the Temple of the 69th Infantry Battalion of the scheme as a symbol of “bi-lateral cal assistance”, he added. expected to unveil almost $1bn in Temple of the Tooth in the central Tooth in Kandy, 115 kilometres Philippine Army. co-operation” which will create An environmental impact development aid and a plan for a town of Kandy. east of the capital Colombo, the badly needed jobs, Abe said his assessment of the site will be com- nationwide electricity grid as part “He died of severe burns. He monk said he was also against Easter Island government “is ready to provide all pleted in August, he said. of a strategy to tout Japanese had 95 percent burns and was proselytising by Christian groups. possible assistance” as Myanmar Japan and Myanmar in infrastructure firms around the fighting for his life,” hospital His unannounced protest came statue in Japan edges towards democracy. December agreed to start work world. spokeswoman Pushpa Soysa said. as the country celebrated Wesak, “Japan is happy to support this year on the Thilawa project He is being accompanied by He becomes the first Sri the commemoration of the birth, TOKYO: A giant statue from nation-building in Myanmar,” he with the zone due to be up and a 40-strong business delegation Lankan Buddhist monk to enlightenment and the death of Chile’s Easter Island yester- added, according to an official running in 2015. bosses of some of Japan’s top com- self-immolate. the Buddha, in the Buddhist- day found a new home in a translation of comments made Abe follows in the footsteps panies including trading houses A local television channel majority country which marks small tsunami-devastated after his visit to Thilawa. of other world leaders who have Mitsubishi, Mitsui and infrastruc- showed dramatic images of the the occasion with two days of Japanese town where it During his trip Abe is pushing flocked to the former pariah state ture firms Taisei and JGC. monk using a cigarette lighter to holidays. will become a symbol for its the expertise of Japanese firms since it was welcomed back to the AFP set himself ablaze and bystanders, AFP recovery. The three-metre Moai statue is a gift from Chile, Buddha’s birthday which pledged to supply a new statue to the fishing com- munity of Minami Sanriku Doubts over N Korea dialogue offer after the town’s original was destroyed in the disaster. SEOUL: South Korea’s press that dialogue included the talks down the road, the North must yesterday expressed scepticism aimed at persuading Pyongyang to not be allowed to play for time.” Japanese PM’s over an apparent offer by North abandon its nuclear programme, There was no comment from Korea that it was willing to chaired by China and also attended the South Korean government house haunted? return to six-party nuclear dis- by South Korea, the United States, but Yonhap news agency said offi- TOKYO: A delay in Japanese armament talks. Russia and Japan. cials were mostly sceptical. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe North Korean special envoy “North Korea appears to be “Who would believe what the and his wife moving into Choe Ryong-Hae met Chinese backing away from provoca- North said now after it said so their official residence, the President Xi Jinping and report- tive acts and extending an olive many times it will push through site of past assassinations, edly handed him a letter from branch,” South Korea’s largest with a policy of promoting has revived talk of ghosts leader Kim Jong-Un in a sign circulation daily Chosun Ilbo said both nuclear buildup and eco- in the corridors, prompting Pyongyang may be backing away in an editorial. nomic development,” said one the government to deny any from confrontation with the “But we must not leap to a government official quoted by knowledge of hauntings. international community. conclusion that North Korea is Yonhap. Asked by an opposition Choe said that North Korea seriously minded to come to the The Joongang Ilbo also said it lawmaker about the reported was willing to take positive dialogue table for denuclearisa- remained unclear whether North hauntings, the government actions to solve problems through tion. It is more interested in mol- Korea would come back to the issued a statement on Friday Nepalese Buddhists offer prayers at Swayambhunath during Buddha dialogue, China’s official Xinhua lifying an angry China. six-party dialogue but its latest saying it was not aware of ghost Purnima, which marks the Buddha’s birthday, in Kathmandu yesterday. news agency said, after months “North Korea has offered talks gesture meant it has “not lost sightings, Asahi newspaper and Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlighten- of high tensions over Pyongyang’s for talks’ sake and it has no inten- touch with reality to step back other media reported. ment and his passing away on the full moon day of May. nuclear and missile tests. tion to disarm. No matter what when necessary”. AGENCIES Choe was quoted as saying kind of dialogue may take place AFP SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Karzai lauds forces for swift action Beating back rebels ‘a great success’

KABUL: The Afghan gov- buildings destroyed or damaged ernment yesterday lauded its by rocket-propelled grenades, security forces for beating back gunfire and explosions. a Taliban assault on central “The gunmen moved to four Kabul that left one policeman, other buildings. The fight con- two civilians and all four mili- tinued till 11pm, and the three tants dead. remaining attackers were killed,” Explosions rocked the city for he said. several hours on Friday after The IOM, a UN-affiliated body insurgents launched a coordi- that works to improve manage- nated suicide and gun attack ment of cross-border migra- centred on a compound of the tion, said that doubts remained International Organisation for whether it was the specific target Migration (IOM). of the attack. The effectiveness of Afghan “It could have been an NDS security forces is crucial to the (National Directorate of Security government’s ability to defeat the spy agency) building next Taliban insurgency as Nato-led door,” IOM spokesman Richard troops withdraw by the end of Danziger said. 2014. The Taliban claimed the attack The police, army and special was against a guest house alleg- forces are being trained up by edly used by Afghan and US intel- Volunteers distribute balloons to residents during ‘We Believe In Balloons’, an art project promoting peace. in Kabul yesterday. the international coalition, but ligence staff. there are widespread fears that Danziger added that one they will not be able to impose Italian female staff member badly security after 12 years of war. wounded by a grenade blast was Day after Kabul attacks, 10,000 peace balloons President Hamid Karzai issued evacuated to Europe overnight. a statement praising the “brav- A total of 17 people were KABUL: After a day of explo- launched a major suicide and gun of the Afghan working week — selling bananas on the street, dis- ery, devotion and quick action wounded, including seven sions and gunfire, residents of attack on a compound of the IOM more than 100 young Kabul art- missed the idea, saying: “What’s of Afghan security forces who Nepalese guards and one eight- Kabul woke up yesterday morn- in central Kabul. ists and students distributed the the benefit of this? It is not going gunned down the terrorists and year-old Afghan boy. ing to be greeted by a public “I did think of calling it off bright pink balloons to workers, to help bring peace here.” prevented more casualties”. Also, late on Friday, a large art project in which volunteers last night but all the volunteers shoppers and families living in the Arboleda, who is based in New Interior ministry spokesman explosion inside a mosque in handed out 10,000 neon-pink insisted it continued,” Arboleda dusty capital. York, has arranged similar bal- Sediq Sediqqi told a news confer- Ghazni province killed eight “peace” balloons. said. “I could hear explosions from At distribution points in the loon projects in Nairobi in Kenya, ence in Kabul that the operation Taliban and three civilians. Organised by Yazmany my house but everyone was just city centre beginning at 7am, Bangalore in India and Yamaguchi had been “a great success”. The provincial government Arboleda, a 31-year-old con- ignoring them and doing the last- adults were given one balloon in Japan. “The attackers were brain- said the bomb, hidden in fuel jugs, ceptual artist from the United minute preparations unaffected.” each and encouraged to keep Called “We Believe In Balloons”, washed to kill our people... but our exploded accidentally when insur- States, the project was an unu- “They said that this is what them until the end of the day. the event was paid for by individ- forces contained and killed them. gents were praying with villagers. sual attempt to bring a dose of happens in their city, and they “The balloons are not worth any uals and groups around the world There were four attackers with The continuing threat to Kabul creativity and fun to the Afghan have to get on with their lives. money but they are distributed in sponsoring each balloon for $1. heavy and light weapons.” was underlined yesterday when a capital, which has been wrecked How people have embraced this the cause of peace so we admire “I tell people that this balloon Sediqqi said one insurgent det- suicide bomber killed himself in by decades of war. shows how much creativity, this initiative,” said Waheedullah is to bring a smile to your face,” onated himself at the entrance of the south of the city as he was The timing of the event , which positivity and love there is here Nizami, a soldier who received a said Nargis Azaryoon, one of the the IOM compound at the start preparing explosives, police said. had been kept secret, came just despite everything.” balloon. volunteers. “I want to see my peo- of fighting, which left several AFP hours after Taliban militants had Yesterday morning — the start But Haji Mohammad Khan, 62, ple happy.” AFP

New govt urged Sharif to visit 16 children perish in school bus fire to end rising Saudi, China LAHORE: Sixteen children power outages and a teacher were killed when LAHORE: Load shedding- their school bus caught fire in stricken people in Punjab and Turkey central Pakistan yesterday, have called for an early for- police said. mation of the new federal ISLAMABAD: Nawaz Sharif, Seven other children were and provincial government Pakistan’s upcoming prime min- injured in the blaze which of Pakistan Muslim League- ister, will undertake whirlwind destroyed the vehicle. Nawaz, in a hope it will act visit of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and The van was carrying 24 chil- upon their promises to end China next month after assum- dren to a private school in Gujrat, menace of power outages. ing the office of the prime minis- about 112kms (70 miles) north of The caretaker government ter since Pakistan would like to the eastern city on Lahore, when has completely failed to control discuss methods with world com- it caught fire, local police chief the load shedding issue, which munity to overcome its problems, Dar Ali Khattak said. “The fire is swelling with the passage especially the energy crisis. erupted in the vehicle when the of time. Power shortfall has Pakistan and China have children were only a few kilome- reached around 8,000 MW already decided to convene a tres from their school,” he said. causing the worst ever energy meeting of Joint Energy Working The blaze was apparently crisis in the extremely hot Group (EWG) to discuss pressing caused by a spark when the driver weather, said sources in the energy requirements of Pakistan of the dual-fuel van switched from Ministry for Water and Power. and identify as to how this coop- gas to petrol, he said, adding that eration can move forward in the fuel gas cylinder was intact. Initiatives for future. The EWG will have an The children were aged emergency meeting soon. between five and 15 years old, he workers abroad The Foreign Office has received said, adding that a female teacher dozens of invitations from world also died. ISLAMABAD: The PML-N capitals for new prime minister to Another police official, Abid leadership is consider- undertake visit to their respective Khan, said the driver fled after ing policy initiatives to gain country at the earliest but Nawaz the fire. Five of the injured chil- maximum economic ben- Sharif will be visiting to the three dren were in serious condition, Men stand around a burnt-out school bus, after a gas cylinder in it exploded, killing 16 children and a teacher on efit from remittances sent by countries on priority basis. hospital officials said. the outskirts of Gujrat, 170km southeast of Islamabad yesterday. Pakistanis living abroad. The INTERNEWS AFP party is also working on a plan to offer people a 100-day relief package relating to electricity and economic crises. A party leader in Lahore said that PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Gunmen kill 7 policemen in ambush Sharif was recently briefed by former senator Enver Baig on PESHAWAR: Gunmen killed “Militants who were armed frontline of a nearly seven-year the concerns of expatriates. seven police in an ambush with light and heavy weapons Taliban insurgency and borders attack in Taliban-plagued opened fire killing six police offi- the semi-autonomous tribal belt $15bn Saudi northwest Pakistan, officials cials in the lead police van,” Khan where Pakistani troops are fight- said yesterday. The target of the said. Three others were wounded ing against homegrown militants. aid a long shot late Friday attack was top police including Bangash who was trav- No one immediately claimed officer Dilawar Bangash who elling in the other vehicle. responsibility for the attack. ISLAMABAD: The Saudi “survived with minor injuries” The gunmen also attacked a The attack follows the May 11 Oil Facility ranging from $3bn two officials said. police rescue team killing one election in Pakistan, won by former to $5bn will only be possible Bangash was heading from the policeman and wounding two more, prime minister Nawaz Sharif, giv- if Islamabad opts to go to the region’s main city of Peshawar to he said. “The firing was sudden and ing him an historic third term as IMF Buta package of $15bn, the garrison town of Kohat near intense, the exchange of gunfire head of the centre-right Pakistan which is simply impossible, offi- the lawless tribal region when the continued for quite sometime, but Muslim League-N party. cial sources said. “If $15bn actu- attack occurred. Allah saved my life,” Bangash said. Former cricket star Imran ally is given, there will be no “More than a dozen gunmen Another police official Fazal Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf need to go the IMF,” the sources opened fire from both sides of the Naeem said police retaliated but (PTI) party has said it will form said. Saudi Arabia can provide road” as Bangash’s vehicle, which he had no details on possible mili- a coalition with the right-wing a breathing space on the condi- was escorted by another police tant casualties because the inci- religious Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and tion that Islamabad enters into Policemen carry the coffin of one of the seven colleagues killed in Kohat van, crossed the militant infested dent took place around midnight. the secular Qaumi Watan Party scrutiny of the IMF to ensure town of Matani, senior police offi- Northwestern Khyber (QWP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. financial discipline. AGENCIES yesterday. cial Shafiullah Khan said. Pakhtunkhwa province is on the AGENCIES SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Maoists kill New law to curb 17 including 12 Congress unfair practices leaders

RAIPUR: Heavily-armed Maoist rebels yesterday in sports soon killed 17 people, including 12 local Congress leaders, after ambushing a convoy in a remote tribal belt of central India, Minister calls for resignation of cricket chief a top police officer said. “We can confirm 17 deaths. Among NEW DELHI: Amid widening ambit such possibilities - not the outcome of those who have been killed are of investigations into the IPL-6 spot a match alone but the course of game,” five policemen. The rest are all fixing scam, Law Minister Kapil Sibal he said. leaders of the state Congress yesterday said that the government Sibal said BJP leader Arun unit,” Rajinder Kumar Vij, the will soon bring a stand-alone law to Jaitley and Minister of State for chief of anti-naxal operations of deal with malpractices in sports. Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla Chhattisgrah state, said. “We have decided to enact a stand- met him on Friday and discussed the Heavily-armed Maoist rebels on alone legislation to deal with unfair contours of the proposed legislation. Minister of Foreign Affairs Salman Khurshid (left), with Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Salman Saturday killed a local Congress practices in sports. We cannot let down He said the two leaders, who are also bin Abdul Aziz in Jeddah, yesterday. leader and kidnapped at least four millions of fans for whom cricket is a cricket administrators, accepted that others after ambushing their con- passion, almost a religion,” Sibal told there was need of a stand-alone legisla- voy in a remote tribal belt of cen- reporters here. tion. Jaitley is a vice president of the tral India, police said. He said that the new law would not Board for Control of Cricket in India Khurshid in Jeddah as India “The Maoists targeted the be specific to cricket and that it would (BCCI) while Shukla is the Indian convoy returning from a politi- cover all sports and the sports ministry Premier League (IPL) chairman. cal rally. They started firing will give it a final shape. Sibal said the new law would apply scrambles to help workers indiscriminately and killed state “It will apply to all sports in which to foreign and domestic players, includ- Congress leader Gopi Wadhwani,” such unfair practices are used for ing corporates, bookies and criminals. JEDDAH: External Affairs economic growth of India and and the Nitaqat policy seeks to police director general Ram Niwas changing the outcome of the game in a “Any act, signal or contact, whether Minister Salman Khurshid emphasised the importance deal firmly with this. said. The guerillas have abducted particular event. We would like the law through technology or other means yesterday discussed bilateral we attach to the welfare of the The new law also makes it at least four other party lead- to be as broad as possible,” Sibal said. that can change the course of the game issues, including the Nitaqat Indians abroad,” Khurshid said. mandatory for foreigners to ers including Chhatisgarh state Sibal said that though he felt the or its outcome, will be brought under law, with his Saudi Arabian The Indian minister’s only work for their legal spon- Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel central government had the power unfair practices,” he said. counterpart Prince Saud Al visit comes when the Indian sors, and their spouses can’t along with his son, Niwas added. to frame a law in respect of sporting About the BCCI, he said: “I expect Faisal as the Indian missions Embassy in Riyadh and the take up jobs. The expatriates Veteran Congress leader and events of national and international the BCCI to do what it can. I am not there scrambled to help over consulate in Jeddah and other cannot perform any job other former cabinet minister Vidya nature, he decided not to move for- here to advise the BCCI.” 55,000 Indian workers leave centres in Dammam and than the one mentioned in Charan Shukla was also “criti- ward without obtaining the opinion of Parliamentary Affairs Minister the kingdom in adherence to the Eastern Province have their job cards - a rule which cally injured” in the attack, car- Attorney General G E Vahanvati. Kamal Nath had earlier yesterday said its new stringent work policy. issued a second lot of 27,000 many Indians were flouting. ried out in a thickly forested area Sibal said the attorney general had that BCCI chief N Srinivasan should Addressing a joint press con- Emergency Certificates to There are currently 2.8 mil- of Jagdalpur district, 284km from conveyed that crimes like match-fixing quit following the arrest of his son-in- ference with his Saudi Arabian enable Indian citizens to leave lion Indian workers in Saudi state capital Raipur. and spot fixing were abhorrent and law Gurunath Meiyappan in the IPL counterpart, Khurshid thanked Saudi Arabia for home due to Demanding a halt in the The attack is the latest in a sim- need to be dealt with in a holistic man- spot fixing scandal. the Saudi kingdom for “the the Nitaqat policy. implementation of the Nitaqat mering conflict that pits the insur- ner. He said that Vahanvati had also Meiyappan was sent to the custody concessions that Saudi Arabia The kingdom last month law in Saudi Arabia, the BJP gents against local and national conveyed that changes could brought of Mumbai police till May 29 in con- announced for expatriate work- announced a three-month Saturday said here that it authorities in the forests and rural into the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to nection with investigations related to ers to correct their status or grace period, which expires would work against Indian areas of mainly central and eastern cover match-fixing and spot fixing. the IPL spot fixing scam. return to their country without July 3, after which they will interests. “The Nitaqat India. The guerrillas, who say they Sibal said the first draft of new law He was questioned about his role and penal action”. begin to deport illegal workers. scheme shall primarily work are fighting for the rights of tribal will be ready in three-four days and it involvement in the spot fixing scam, his He said Indians are the Under Nitaqat, it is manda- against the Indian interests. people and landless farmers, often will be sent to the sports ministry. “We betting habits and links. He reportedly most preferred community tory for local companies to hire A minimum of two to three collect funds through extortion and are committed to introduce it as soon lost `10m at the behest of Bollywood in Saudi Arabia due to their one Saudi national for every 10 years moratorium to imple- protection rackets. AFP as possible,” Sibal said. actor Vindoo Dara Singh Randhawa, hard work and discipline. “I migrant workers. Over 300,000 ment it is demanded,” said “Law must be such that definition who is also in police custody. pointed out the contribu- firms in Saudi Arabia report- BJP’s Convenor of Overseas of unfair practices must include all IANS tions of Indian Diaspora in the edly do not employ any locals Affairs Vijay Jolly. IANS Bangalore hospital gives new life to Nigerian girl

No decision on Modi BANGALORE: An eight-year- old African girl from Nigeria got a new life after she was cured as PM: BJP leader of a brain tumour at Narayana multi-specialty hospital in this tech hub. Though Angel (name PANAJI: A decision on Gujarat office bearers, chief ministers, changed) underwent surgery in Chief Minister Narendra Modi opposition leaders, organising 2011 at the hospital’s Mazumdar as the BJP’s prime ministerial secretaries, state presidents, etc. Shaw Cancer Centre when she candidate will only be taken by BJP leader L K Advani, was six years old, doctors diag- the party’s parliamentary board President Rajnath Singh and nosed her of being relieved of “when it is appropriate” and not some past presidents would also the dreaded brainstem tumour when the national executive be present, Nadda said. (glioma) after monitoring her meets here next month, a BJP Among the key issues to be progress for two years. “The leader said yesterday. discussed at the meeting would complicated surgery has set a BJP general secretary J P include the working out vari- benchmark in pediatric oncol- Nadda told reporters: “The deci- ous strategies with an eye on ogy,” the hospital’s radiation sion for the post of prime minis- the forthcoming Lok Sabha oncologist, Sandeep Jain, who terial candidate is for the party’s polls and discuss issues related treated Angel, said. parliamentary board to decide. to United Progressive Alliance’s Brainstem is a part of brain They will take a decision on the (UPA) malgovernance, corrup- connected to spinal cord and is issue when it is appropriate.” tion and its disregard of constitu- located in the lowest part of brain, “The decision for the post of tional bodies like the office of the just above the back of neck. It con- prime ministerial candidate is for Chief Vigilance Commissioner, trols breathing, heart rate, nerves the party’s parliamentary board Comptroller Auditor General, Joint and muscles used in seeing, hear- to decide. They will take a deci- Parliamentary Committees and ing, walking, talking, and eating. sion on the issue when it is appro- even the Supreme Court of India. A brainstem glioma is a cancerous priate,” Nadda said. “The UPA is at the height of tumour in the vital organ. Nadda was in Goa to brief arrogance and frustration. The Angel was suffering from the reporters about the forthcoming BJP feels that the UPA has no complicated brainstem tumour national executive, scheduled to right to stay and it has never been (glioma), which was pressing be held in June. Nadda refused honest to the cause of the people,” over critical areas. As a result, to admit that the BJP was play- Nadda said. she had loss of balance and had ing cautious about deciding on its Nadda also said that the meet trouble walking. “The fatal dis- prime ministerial candidate. would also discuss new alterations ease had left her nearly paralysed The party’s national execu- to India’s external affairs strategy before her parents consulted us tive will be attended by 340 party which he claimed was in shambles for radiotherapy treatment two leaders, including all national at the moment. IANS years ago,” Jain said. IANS

Hunger strike

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik (centre), with supporters during the second day of a 48-hour long hunger strike in Srinagar, yesterday. They began the strike to press for the return of the mortal remains of parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru and party founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat.

SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK

PRAYER TIME Cambodian documentary Fajr (Dawn) 3:18 Shorook (Sunrise) 4:45 wins Cannes prize Zuhr (Noon) 11:31 Asr (Afternoon) 2:56 CANNES: A documentary using small clay Maghrib (Sunset) 6:18 figures to tell the story of how Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh’s family perished Isha (Night) 7:48 under the Khmer Rouge regime won the top prize in the second most important competi- tion at the Cannes film festival yesterday. L’Image Manquante (The Missing Picture) WEATHER was among the 18 films that premiered in the Un Certain Regard category that was set up to Weather Today Monday Tuesday encourage emerging and innovative filmmakers Conditions: and run alongside the main competition at the Clear Clear Clear world’s top film festival. Hazy, some Panh, 49, a prolific filmmaker whose films clouds. concentrate on the brutality in Cambodia when High: 42° High: 37° High: 38° an estimated 1.7 million people were killed dur- Low: 29° Low: 29° Low: 30° ing the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime, said the prize was important for his country. “For a country that has emerged from its difficulties and years of war, it is important to say we are still alive,” Panh told Reuters after DOHA - SUN & SEA receiving his award at a red carpet ceremony in the French Riviera resort. SUN TIDE SEA The jury led by Danish director Thomas SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND Vinterberg, whose film “Jagten” (The Hunt) won Mads Mikkelsen the best actor award at 04:48 18:18 04:30 & 18:30 00:30 & 10:45 08-15 KT Cannes last year, described the documentary THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW as “one of the most powerful films I have seen in many years”. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER The runner-up was Omar by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad, a political thriller MUSCAT 35/29 Clear 38/30 Clear involving Palestinians living under Israeli MAKKAH 44/30 Partly cloudy 43/29 Partly cloudy occupation in which a young baker, Omar, is KUWAIT 41/28 Clear 40/29 Clear tortured by Israel’s secret police to betray his BAHRAIN 37/28 Clear 37/29 Clear friends. SANAA 29/16 Clear 29/14 Partly cloudy Omar, which was shot in the West Bank RIYADH 41/27 Clear 39/26 Clear and Israeli-Arab town of Nazareth last year, DUBAI 40/29 Clear 40/28 Clear received a standing ovation at its premiere as BAGHDAD 40/24 Partly cloudy 36/22 Clear the first film fully funded by the Palestinian cinema industry. THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW “It is the only festival that I think still cares about different films,” said Abu-Assad, known HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER for the 2005 award-winning film “Paradise Now”, as he received his award. ATHENS 33/20 Clear 31/18 Clear Another director in Un Certain Regard to WASHINGTON 23/09 Clear 24/13 Clear get a standing ovation was Iran’s Mohammad SYDNEY 20/15 Partly cloudy 20/10 Chance of rain Rasoulof who was jailed in 2010 for anti-regime LONDON 18/10 Partly cloudy 18/11 Clear propaganda but came to Cannes this year with PARIS 16/09 Chance of rain 19/13 Mostly cloudy “Manuscripts Don’t Burn”, shot in secret in his ISTANBUL 24/19 Clear 25/16 Clear home country. MANILA 32/26 Chance of storm 33/26 Chance of storm The non-professional actors of La Jaula de Oro (The Golden Cage), a film about three young DHAKA 33/26 Chance of storm 34/26 Mostly cloudy Guatemalans trying to cross the Mexico-US DELHI 42/31 Clear 43/30 Clear border from director Diego Quemada-Diez won ISLAMABAD 36/22 Partly cloudy 37/24 Clear an award for best cast. REUTERS Sunday 26 May 2013 16 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5711 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Egypt to return Qatar keen to meet India LNG demand taxes collected Talks to supply additional three to four million tonnes of gas still going on, says Al Sada from QNB deal

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB shares a special relationship with gas (shale) in the US indicate that standards for cars, particularly CAIRO: Egypt will refund India. Demand for LNG in India foundations of global energy sys- in the US, will further shift the taxes collected from Qatar DOHA: The negotiations is increasing, and we are discuss- tem are shifting rapidly in favour global energy dynamics. National Bank’s acquisition of between India and Qatar to ing with the parties to supply of importers as they have a better In addition, natural gas prices National Societe Generale Bank supply an additional three to more gas.” bargaining position. in Europe are five times those in to shareholders today, an official four million tonnes (mt) of According to reports, the delay This major shift is driven by the US, and eight times those in from a clearing company told liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the proposed deal is learnt to three important factors, one of Asia. This big difference in gas Reuters yesterday. a year, are still going on, be due to pricing, as Qatar is ask- them being surprising increase in prices in the US and the rest of The clearing company will the Minister of Energy and ing for a price which is 15 to 16 oil and gas production in a few the world is very critical, provid- return 10.2m Egyptian pounds Industry H E Dr Mohammed percent of the Japanese Crude courtiers such as the US, Canada ing price competitive edge to the ($1.5m) total in taxes it col- bin Saleh Al Sada said. Cocktail (JCC), the average price and Iraq. US. lected from NSGB shareholders, Al Sada, while speaking to The of customs- cleared crude oil “We expect a significant The US, the world’s larg- said Tariq Abdel Bari, Managing Peninsula on the sidelines of an imports to Japan, while India is increase in oil and gas produc- est energy consumer, and until Director of Misr for Central agreement signing ceremony held willing to pay 14.5 percent of JCC. tion in these countries which recently the world’s largest energy Clearing, Depository and Registry. to set up ‘Nebras Power’ company, Qatar, taking a cue from the will change the dynamics in the importer, has witnessed a rapid The Islamist-led government had said that Qatar was also keen rapidly changing global energy global energy market soon,” Dr growth in unconventional oil and shocked foreign investors in March to meet India’s growing LNG dynamics, is shifting its LNG Fatih Birol, Chief Economist at gas production. And experts when it imposed a 10 percent tax on demand, and dialogue between export base from Europe to Asia. International Energy Agency believe that within the next five investment gains from the takeo- the two parties were on. The share of Qatar’s LNG exports (IEA), said during a presentation years, it will become the world’s ver by QNB of local lender National Gas Authority of India Ltd to Asia has reached 73.5 percent of Global Energy Outlook 2012 in largest oil producers replacing Societe Generale Bank (NSGB), (GAIL) and some private com- in January 2013 witnessing a Sweden recently. Saudi Arabia, something that was Egypt’s second-largest private sec- panies from the energy-starved sharp jump of over 30 percent as Minister of Energy and Industry H E Secondly, after the Fukushima difficult to imagine few years ago. tor bank by market value. economy, which sources nearly compared with 56.4 percent in Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada incident in Japan, there is a “The centre of global energy is The announcement of the 13-14 percent of Qatar’s LNG 2012, according to Barclays’ lat- retreat from nuclear power in moving from West to East. Until refund came after Egypt cancelled exports, has sought an additional est market research. UK suffered by far the largest some countries such as Germany mid 1970s the OECD countries a tax on stock market dividends Qatari gas, but talks are lingering The LNG shipment from Qatar losses of Qatari LNG last year, and Switzerland. And, very consumed two third of global and share gains in takeover bids. over a mutually agreed pricing. to Japan increased 4.1 mt, or 35 down six mt, or 37 percent, from recently, Japan, a major nuclear energy, but very soon its share will Investors in the country’s strug- Asked if price was the main percent (year-on-year) followed 2011. energy reliant country, announced decline to one-third; and people in gling equity market had protested factor for the delay in additional by South Korea (+2.9 mt) with 37 Recent developments in the that by 2030, it will have zero China, India and the Middle East, the tax plans, which were unveiled supply of gas to India, the Energy percent increase, and China (+2.7 energy markets, especially due nuclear power in its energy mix. in search of better life, will con- in December as part of auster- Minister said: “There is no spe- mt) witnessing a massive growth to a silent revolution in the pro- And, thirdly, analysts suggest sume more of energy,” added Birol. ity measures to control a soaring cific reason for the delay. Qatar of 118 percent. Meanwhile, the duction of unconventional oil and that the recent fuel efficiency THE PENINSULA budget deficit. REUTERS ‘Milaha Ras Laffan’ sets off on 100th voyage DOHA: RasGas Company RasGas’ customers across the this milestone,” said Captain Limited’s (RasGas) second globe. Iain Scally, RasGas Shipping dedicated liquefied natural gas Her voyages include trips to Manager. (LNG) carrier, ‘Milaha Ras Barcelona, Cartagena, Sagunto, The vessel, built by Samsung Laffan’, set sail last Monday Huelva, Incheon, Tong Yeong, Heavy Industries Co Ltd of 647-9 from Qatar to Yung An, Taiwan, Dahej, Hazira, Senboku, Futtsu, Yoksam-Dong, Kangnam-ku, on its 100th delivery voyage, a Zeebrugge, Murgados, Rovigo, Seoul, Korea, was delivered to press statement said yesterday. Yung An, Taichung, Guanabara RasGas on April 27, 2004. Upon its arrival in Yung An on Bay, and South Hook. “Milaha Ras Laffan” is owned June 8, Milaha Ras Laffan will “RasGas has reached another by Societe Generale, and Qatar have shipped almost 13.61 trillion significant milestone with the Shipping Company, a fully owned (13,613,720 million) cubic metres 100th loading of the Milaha Ras subsidiary of Milaha (formerly of LNG. This will be a major mile- Laffan. It further underscores Qatar Navigation) group, with a stone event for both RasGas and RasGas’ ability to meet our cus- respective shareholding of 60-40 the vessel. tomers’ needs across the globe. percent in the company. The vessel (Milaha Ras Laffan) This milestone is the result of RasGas’ integrated shipping delivered RasGas’ first ever cargo the outstanding commitment to fleet consists of 27 long term char- shipment to Barcelona in May safety and reliability from every- tered LNG vessels. Our diverse 2004 and has since travelled one involved in the supply chain. modern fleet consists of fourteen almost one million (1,000,000) I would like to take this opportu- conventional ships, twelve Q-Flex nautical miles delivering LNG nity to thank each and every one tankers and one Q-Max. cargoes from Ras Laffan to for their contributions towards THE PENINSULA

The ‘Milaha Ras Laffan’ is set to arrive in Yung An, Taiwan, on June 8. SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Eurozone bank YPF-Repsol battle union progress likely by June Next group meeting in Luxembourg

BRUSSELS: Key obstacles to we will have managed” that, a banking union, seen as a key- Wieser said. “In terms of sub- stone in locking down the debt stance we are nearly there,” he crisis, should be resolved within added. “The big question of direct the next few weeks, the offi- recapitalisation was how do you cial in charge of the day-to-day deal with so-called legacy assets?” operation of the eurozone said or debt incurred before the ESM in an exclusive interview. was set up. Thomas Wieser, who heads the Some member states such as working group of the 17-nation bailed-out Ireland want the EMS eurozone led by Dutch Finance to cover these liabilities but others, Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, such as Germany, the EU’s power- said the next group meeting in house economy and main paymas- Luxembourg on June 20 should ter, are opposed on the grounds the see the remaining problems EMS is supposed mainly to help settled. governments in need. “Come June we will have man- “That is an issue for the sin- aged (it),” Wieser said, detailing gle supervisor,” he said, refer- A man walks inside a YPF fuel station in Buenos Aires. A year after Argentina seized the local business of Spanish oil firm Repsol, there seems little three key areas of dispute over ring to the Single Supervisory prospect of a quick deal on compensation despite signs that both sides would rather avoid a costly, drawn-out legal battle. a banking union which is meant Mechanism, the incoming regime to prevent any repetition of fail- under which the European ing banks coming close to causing Central Bank will oversee the systemic failure in the financial eurozone banking system. system and economy. With the SSM meant to be in The first issue is to establish place by the end of the year, it is Jordan economy set to the hierarchy of creditors — who hoped the ESM would be allowed Bausch & Lomb near is first, and then next in line to to help the banks directly from grow 3.5pc this year take the inevitable heavy losses March 2014. when a bank is restructured or Wieser said that “less than DEAD SEA: Jordan’s economy is expected wound up. ¤80bn” out of the amount of about to grow around 3.5 percent this year driven This ‘bail-in’ process was cen- ¤750bn headline ESM war chest by remittances, higher domestic consump- $9bn sale to Valeant tral to the Cyprus debt rescue would be set aside for propping tion and some pickup in construction activ- reached in March but proved up failed banks. Member states ity, the kingdom’s central bank governor said NEW YORK: Canadian pharmaceuti- suitors were put off by Warburg’s reported hugely controversial when savers could still be expected to assume yesterday. cal company Valeant is close to a deal to asking price of about $10bn. with bank deposits of less than 10-20 percent of the cost even Ziad Fariz said on the sidelines of a World acquire US eye health company Bausch Warburg took Bausch & Lomb private when ¤100,000 ($130,000) — a level sup- well after the new supervisory Economic Forum conference on the Middle East & Lomb for about $9bn, a person familiar it bought the company in 2007 for $4.5bn, posedly protected by EU guaran- regime enters force. that the latest estimate, compared to 2.7 percent with the matter said on Friday. including debt. Besides Warburg, another tees —were told they would have Wieser said it was “logical” that growth posted last year depended on several fac- A deal could come as soon as next week, major stakeholder is investment firm Welsh, to pay up too. there would be “a declining scale tors, including the extent of the impact of a large the person said. Unless the deal falls apart, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, which owns about The bailout was subsequently of contributions from member Syrian refugee influx on the aid dependent econ- the transaction will replace a plan launched 11 percent of the eyecare company. changed to protect them, while states” over transitional years omy that would only become clearer by year-end. in March for Bausch & Lomb to undertake A purchase of Bausch & Lomb by Valeant savers with more than ¤100,000 through, probably, to 2018. Jordan’s economy, which imports almost all its an initial public offering. The takeover talks Pharmaceuticals International Inc would fol- were hit even harder as the coun- “One wants to retain a certain energy and commodity needs, has suffered from were first reported on Friday by The Wall low a series of some 15 recent acquisitions try’s bloated banking sector was incentive that the member state Arab Spring uprisings in the region. Tourism Street Journal. Contacted by AFP, spokespeo- by the Canadian company over the last year cut back into line with its small in question does not encour- receipts, remittances from Jordanian workers ple for Valeant and Bausch & Lomb declined totaling $3.5bn. But Bausch & Lomb would economy. age a bank to engage in reckless abroad and investment inflows have been hit. to comment on the potential deal. be a far bigger target, enabling the Canadian The second area concerns to behaviour because it figures the The IMF said earlier this year that it expects Founded in 1853, privately held Bausch & firm to double its revenues in one fell swoop. what extent the eurozone rescue European taxpayer will pick up the economy to expand above 3 percent in 2013, Lomb, based in Rochester, New York, is best The US company, which employs 11,200 backstop, the European Stability the tab anyway,” Wieser said. reflecting an increase in government capital known for its contact lenses and for products worldwide, last year reported revenues of Mechanism can directly recapi- Supervision is just one spoke spending, a recovery in exports and higher related to maintaining contact lenses, such as around $3bn, according to a filing with US talise weak banks, since that on a wheel that ends with bank domestic consumption. PureVision, Optima and ReNu. securities regulators. Valeant reported rev- involves taxpayers’ money, and “resolution,” or winding-up. The Fariz said inflation was also expected to ease The company also manufactures eye drops enues of $3.3bn and had about 7,000 employees then overall supervision of the aim, for European political lead- slightly to around 5 percent this year from an for treating eye dryness, glaucoma or allergies at the end of 2012. Both companies had losses banking system to ensure that ers, is to break the link whereby higher 6 percent estimate with lower food and materials used in eye surgery. for 2012, with Bausch & Lomb reporting a loss there is no repetition of a crisis governments use taxpayer funds prices. It stood at 4.5 pct last year. Other signs According to recent press accounts, Bausch of $68.3m and Valeant a loss of $116m. now dating back to 2008. to bail out failing lenders, some- of recovery include foreign reserves which have & Lomb’s principal shareholder, private-equity The potential Bausch & Lomb deal would “On creditor hierarchy you times going broke themselves in been boosted by at least $1.5bn of Gulf money firm Warburg Pincus — which holds about 87 come on the heels of Valeant’s unsuccess- need more political push to get the process, as in Ireland. and greater confidence in the local economy by percent of the business — has been seeking ful bid to buy US pharmaceutical company there and I think that as of June AFP investors, officials say. REUTERS a buyer for Bausch & Lomb. But potential Actavis for more than $13bn. AFP

WTO panel to examine Japan, China row over steel duties

GENEVA: The World Trade Organisation said that its dispute settle- ment board had agreed to a request from Japan to create a panel to exam- ine its dispute with China over steel duties. Japan had requested for a panel to evaluate its com- plaint against China for imposing duties on steel tube imports, which Beijing claims were being sold at prices below market levels. Japan charged that the duties violated international agreements, in the latest volley in a slew of trade rows between China and its key trade partners that have seen tit-for-tat duties put on a range of goods. China announced the new duties — ranging from 9.2 to 14.4 percent — late last year on imports both from Japan and the European Union of steel tube mainly used in industrial boilers. China expressed disap- pointment on Friday with Japan’s request, insisting the imposed duties were in line with its obligations under global trade rules. Beijing has insisted the duties are needed since it claimed the imports were being sold at below market prices and causing “sub- stantive harm” to Chinese industry. It launched a probe earlier this month into the alleged dumping. AFP SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Lagarde avoids Ford plant in France charges in payout scandal IMF chief named ‘assisted witness’

PARIS: IMF chief Christine “Now it’s time for me to return Lagarde avoided immedi- to Washington to pursue my mis- ate charges but was named an sion as managing director of the “assisted witness” after French IMF,” she said outside the court. prosecutors grilled her for two Lagarde, considered one of the days over a state payout to a world’s most powerful women, disgraced tycoon when she was won respect as France’s first finance minister. female finance minister for her Lagarde was questioned for a no-nonsense attitude, intel- total of 24 hours by prosecutors lect and style. Criminal charges working for a court that probes against Lagarde would have been cases of ministerial misconduct an embarrassment for the IMF, over her 2007 handling of a row after her predecessor Dominique that resulted in ¤400m ($515m) Strauss-Kahn, also from France, being paid to controversial busi- resigned in disgrace in 2011 over A Ford Fiesta on display in a new unit plant in Blanquefort, southwestern France, yesterday. This plant only assembles automatic transmissions. ness figure Bernard Tapie. an alleged assault on a New York “My status as assisted wit- hotel maid. ness is not a surprise,” she told “The board will be briefed again reporters as she left the Paris in the coming days,” IMF spokesman courthouse late on Friday. “I Gerry Rice said in a statement on have always acted in the best Friday. “The Executive Board has public interest and in accordance been briefed on this matter sev- Majid Al Futtaim eyes $1bn investments with the law,” said Lagarde, 57, eral times and on each occasion who has consistently denied any expressed confidence in the man- DEAD SEA, JORDAN: UAE’s East and Africa. The developer growth in 2013, he said. Sales good purchasing power from the wrongdoing. aging director’s ability to effectively Majid Al Futtaim Holding (MAF) and operator of shopping malls outlook for 2013 was “hopefully suppliers and we pass this on to “My explanations came as a carry out her duties,” he added. — the sole franchise of hyper- will go on a roadshow to raise the in line with a 10 rise” in Q1, com- consumers,” he said. response to the doubts that had The investigation concerns market chain Carrefour in the money from institutional inves- pared to 9 percent growth last MAF’s major regional invest- been brought up regarding the Tapie, a former politician, who Gulf — said that it foresaw capital tors for the purchase of its minor- year, Malas said. ment was a retail and entertain- decisions I had taken at the time,” went to prison for match-fixing investments of up to $1 billion this ity share, Malas said. “Clearly Dubai is our big base ment complex in Egypt at an she added. during his time as president of year as it steadily expanded its Sales growth in the region had but our focus is on retail and shop- investment worth around $600m. While Lagarde avoided being French football club Olympique foothold in the region. not been affected by the Arab ping malls. These sectors have The firm was also looking at a placed under formal investiga- de Marseille. Prosecutors work- This did not include a $680m spring because consumption continued to do well everywhere presence in Libya and had just tion — the closest equivalent ing for the Court of Justice of the purchase of a 25 percent minor- rates continued to grow and even because the average Egyptian or expanded in Lebanon, with a large in French law to being charged Republic (CJR) suspect he received ity share from Carrefour Groupe investments continued to grow. Jordanian still wants to eat and project that was opened recently. — her “assisted witness” status favourable treatment in return for in the company announced last “In 2010 we spent capex of over we are low cost provider. We are But a prime investment in Syria means she could still face further supporting Nicolas Sarkozy in the week that will give it full owner- $1bn and since then it slowed not offering high end offering we before the 2011 uprising remains questions — and possibly charges 2007 presidential election. ship of the Carrefour franchise in down a little bit not because we are offering something for the suspended because of the civil war — at a later stage. They have suggested Lagarde the region, Iyad Malas, the chief want to but we are not seeing mass,” Malas said. and one Carrefour store in Syria’s Lagarde said she would now — who at the time was finance executive officer said in an inter- things moving as fast,” Malas said. The emirate’s population has Aleppo was shut as a result of the return to Washington and report minister — was partly responsi- view yesterday. MAF, the franchisee for been swelled by people seeking violence. “We just opened our last to the board of the International ble for “numerous anomalies and “Our capital investments could Carrefour hypermarkets in 19 refuge from political strife in store in Beirut and we will con- Monetary Fund, which again irregularities” which could lead to be anywhere between $600m and countries in and operator of some the Middle East and economic tinue to expand into the rest of the expressed confidence in its first charges for complicity in fraud and $1bn this year,” said Malas on the of the biggest malls across the malaise in Europe, which is also territory this year with a healthy woman leader after learning of misappropriation of public funds. sideline of the World Economic Middle East and North Africa, supporting retail sales. outlook,” Malas said. the court’s decision. AFP Forum (WEF) on the Middle was expected to maintain healthy “We are a big buyer, we have REUTERS News Corp board approves split

NEW YORK: News Corp’s true value of both companies and and The Times of London. It board yesterday approved the their distinct assets, enabling also includes digital real estate break-up of the conglomerate investors to benefit from the services, book publishing, digital into two independent companies, separate strategic opportunities education and sports program- separating the high-flying enter- resulting from more focused man- ming and pay-TV distribution in tainment assets from the strug- agement of each division.” Australia. gling newspaper operations. One company will focus on Doug Mitchelson at Deutsche The decision, which sets a date news and publishing, to retain the Bank said the new News Corp faces for the split for June 28, all but News Corp name, and another on “structural challenges” but added assures the implementation of a television and film, to be called that “investors may be surprised plan proposed last year by News 21st Century Fox. how little of its value the ‘troubled Corp chief Rupert Murdoch. The split spins off the publish- assets’ represent,” and maintained EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION It must also be approved next ing operations, which have been that “management is working dili- month by shareholders, but the hit by the slump in the newspaper gently to revitalise them.” Murdoch family holds a majority industry, from the more profitable The 21st Century Fox unit of the voting shares. entertainment assets. includes the Fox studios in “Today’s announcement is a The company announced the Hollywood and a global array The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee invites Expressions of Interest for Pre-Qualification for significant step in creating two restructuring last June, a move of cable and broadcasting net- provision of construction services for an Early Works Package on a design/build/maintain basis for independent companies with partly seen as a nod to sharehold- works and properties, includ- construction of site offices, access roads, car parking, site hoardings, site security, IT and utilities the world’s leading portfolios of ers angered by the reputational ing Fox broadcasting and cable publishing and media and enter- damage and costs inflicted by a operations, National Geographic connections. tainment assets,” said Murdoch, phone hacking scandal in Britain, Channels, Fox Pan American who will be chairman and chief and partly because of troubles Sports, MundoFox, STAR, and 28 Deadline for Pre-Qualification Closing executive of 21st Century Fox, and within the group’s publishing arm. local television stations. It has Pre-Qualification Title Pre-Qualification No. Submission of Deadline executive chairman of the new The new News Corporation will pay-TV services in Europe and Expression of Interest News Corporation. include newspapers in Britain, Asia, including Sky Deutschland, “We continue to believe that Australia and the United States, Sky Italia and stakes in BSkyB Early Works Package 0004 6 June 2013 at 10:00 AM 23 June 2013 at 12:00 PM the separation will unlock the including The Wall Street Journal and Tata Sky. AFP Potential and interested local companies or consortia should submit an Expression of Interest in writing to the following address:

Australian coal miners in spot Secretary of the General Tenders and Auctions Committee Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee Al Bidda Tower, 34th Floor Doha, Qatar Email: [email protected]

The Expression of Interest must confirm that the Company or Consortium meets the following minimum pre-qualification criteria:

t
Have been trading and carrying out such construction activities for a minimum of 5 years t
Be experienced in the provision of such construction services and have provided the same services for other projects t
Be legally licensed to provide the offered services t
Have the financial capability to provide construction related services

Upon receipt of a compliant Expression of Interest, a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) will be sent to companies or consortia to be signed. Upon receipt of the signed NDA, the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire will be issued.

Coal loading operations proceed at Coal and Allied’s Mount Thorley Warkworth mine in the Hunter Valley, about 140km north of Sydney. Australian coal miners are steeling themselves for years of production cuts, job reductions and asset sales as swelling shipments from international rivals lower hopes of a recovery in prices for coal. SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Luxury brands prepare for US boom Affluent US consumers feel it’s safe to spend again; China second to US in 2012 luxury retail growth

PARIS/NEW YORK: Most Evidence is already showing visa applicants and is expanding men might balk at spending through. Ralph Lauren this week or building new consulates in $600 on a pair of Dior sneak- forecast US sales growth of 4-7 China and Brazil. ers but for US shoppers like percent while high-end depart- Tourism from China is expected E ph ra i m , a n upb e at 30 -ye a r-old , ment store Saks reported quar- to more than triple to 3.9 million such indulgences are becoming terly sales up 5.9 percent, almost people by 2017 from 2011. Tourism increasingly commonplace. double what analysts had forecast. from Brazil is forecast to rise 83 Ephraim is the kind of man “(There is) renewed confidence, percent to 2.8 million, accord- who gives luxury goods makers a genuine rebound in fashion and ing to the U.S. Department of high hopes that the US market luxury consumption”, said Sidney Commerce. can fuel future growth, as China Toledano, head of French fash- “We have not had a major runs out of steam and demand in ion house Christian Dior, part of breakthrough yet. However, it is Europe sags. “There is a cultural LVMH. moving in the right direction,” shift,” Ephraim says while brows- Major brands like Prada, said Omar Saad, senior manag- ing at Saks Inc’s New York City Hermes, Burberry, and Hugo Boss ing director and head of the lux- flagship. “Men are becoming more are opening shops or expanding ury team at ISI. The appeal of fashion forward.” existing ones in the United States, America to Brazilians is twofold - The growing appeal of luxury and are stepping up their adver- it is closer than Europe and prices goods to men and increased con- tising spend. In July, Alexander are much lower than at home. A fidence among affluent spenders McQueen will open a 3,900-foot Burberry man’s coat costs $3,100 as the US economy and asset store on New York’s Madison in Sao Paulo against $995 at the prices recover have boosted sales Avenue. Next year, Burberry New York flagship on 57th street. and encouraged luxury brands to plans to launch a new flagship on Pam Danziger, president of step up their investments in the Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. marketing consulting firm Unity United States. LVMH and PPR, soon to be Marketing and author of stud- More foreign shoppers are renamed Kering, are also expand- A sign is seen for high-end retail store Versace along 5th Avenue in New York recently. ies on the US luxury industry, also thronging stores as the US ing in the United States while believes growth is also being government eases visa restric- putting the brakes on China, “We have noticed a rise in men’s gap with Europe, where visitors than for France or Italy. driven by what she calls HENRYs tions to attract more tourists. which had been the major driver purchases, particularly in the account for about half of luxury The United States would earn — “high earning, not rich yet” Luxury spending in the United for luxury sales until last year. last two years,” said Chavez. Ties, sales. That contrasts with 15-20 $20bn more from luxury sales if it Americans making $100,000- States collapsed after the 2008 “I think the US holds a lot more shoes and $8,000 custom-made percent in the United States. had as many tourists from emerg- $249,000 a year. She estimates financial crisis but roared back potential than people believe while three-piece cashmere suits are “We will never have as many ing markets as Europe, New York- about 24.2 million households are to pre-crisis levels by 2012. Last the focus has very much been on all doing equally well. tourists as in Europe but I think based brokerage International HENRYs. year, the world’s No.1 and No.3 the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, In the ¤212bn luxury market that ratio could reach 30 percent Strategy & Investment Group To capture those buyers, brands luxury groups LVMH and PPR China) countries,” said Robert as a whole, the United States out- over the next few years,” said (ISI) estimates. The US State are now expanding beyond New saw higher growth rates in the Chavez, head of US operations at guns China, even before the new Milton Predaza, chief executive of Department says it has cut the York, which accounts for a third United States than in China for Hermes. The French group, which growth spurt. Bain & Co values Luxury Institute, a US consultancy. wait for a visa-related interview of US luxury sales, and the next the first time in years. opened its only shop dedicated to the US market at ¤59bn, Europe In 2010, 6 million tourists in Brazil, where most US luxury two main cities of Los Angeles Sales in the Americas are men on Madison Avenue in 2010, at ¤74.2bn and China-Hong Kong from Brazil, India and China flew shopping tourists come from, to and Miami. Last month, Hermes expected to grow 5-7 percent this now makes about 15 percent of its at around ¤22bn. to Western Europe compared two days. Clerks at Saks said opened in Greenwich, Connecticut year, compared to 6-8 percent in sales in the United States, up from PPR boss Francois-Henri to 2.6 million to the United they had noticed an increase in and plans to expand in cities like mainland China and 0-2 percent 10 percent five years ago. Pinault reckons that rising num- States. Travel agents say US visa Brazilian tourists. LA, Miami, Houston, Dallas and in Europe, according to consul- China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and bers of tourists to the United approvals require more proof of The State Department also Boston over the next two years. tancy Bain & Co. Macao account for 20 percent. States will enable it to narrow the employment history and finances plans to waive interviews for some REUTERS

LatAm economies lack stimulus options Russia hires J P Morgan to MEXICO CITY: Latin Critics say countries have interest rate across major Latin inflation even as growth remains avoid ratings downgrade American countries have little lagged on important economic American economies has fallen to sluggish. On the fiscal side, the room to boost growth with fiscal reforms to increase productivity 4.8 percent from 9 percent before region’s average surplus in 2007 or monetary stimulus as their and boost tax revenue to give gov- the 2008 financial crisis. has slumped into a deficit. MOSCOW: Russia’s finance min- “The continued weakness of economies slow and a slump in ernments room to provide fiscal Mexico cut its benchmark inter- The IMF warned in April that istry said that it had hired the US Russia’s economy has led to ques- commodities prices undercuts stimulus if growth worsens. est rate to record low of 4 percent Brazil and other Latin American banking major J P Morgan as a tions about what policymakers a pillar of recent strength, top “The short-term task is to this year, while Colombia’s has countries need to realize their consultant for helping improve its can do to stimulate growth and, officials said. re-establish the working room dropped its main rate to 3.25 per- economic boom could be over image with the world’s three main with the central bank reluctant to After years of strong growth, that monetary policy and fiscal cent, near its lowest ever, in a bid to because of cooler global demand ratings agencies amid worries of loosen monetary policy, there is a Latin American economies have policy had, as they are practically jolt the economy and fend off port- for their minerals and farm goods. an imminent downgrade. growing likelihood that the govern- slowed and policymakers may exhausted to a large degree across folio investments has strengthened Softer demand in China and The announcement came days ment will turn to fiscal measures to have overestimated the speed at Latin America,” said Guillermo its currency and hurt the competi- the potential tapering off of after Deputy Finance Minister revive the economy,” the London- which they can expand without Ortiz, Chairman of bank Banorte tiveness of local exporters. extraordinary monetary stimulus Sergei Storchak confirmed that based Capital Economics consul- high commodities prices, officials and former Mexican central bank Brazil has begun raising its in the United States could lead to one of the ratings giants had sent tancy said in a research note. and executives told Reuters Latin chief. main rate from an all-time low even lower prices for the region’s a team to Moscow with a view of Any sovereign rating down- American Investment Summit. The average benchmark of 7.25 percent to fight a spike in raw materials. REUTERS reviewing its grade for Russia’s grade would make Russian for- credit. Storchak never spelled out eign borrowing more expensive whether this review intended to and put a further strain on a raise or lower Russia’s investment budget that is expected to reach outlook. a deficit this year. Russia today Brazil cancels $900m But the markets are con- has similar investment-grade cerned that the revision will be ratings with Standard and Poor’s made to the downside owing to (BBB) as well as Moody’s (Baa1 in African debt rapidly slowing economic growth and Fitch (BBB). and inflation that has outpaced But Moscow has set itself the ADDIS ABABA: Brazil said part of Brazil’s efforts to boost expectations. goal of securing the highest rat- yesterday that it plans to can- economic ties with Africa, Russia’s First Deputy Prime ings possible from the three agen- cel $900m (¤700m) worth of home to some of the world’s Minister Igor Shuvalov essentially cies by 2016 at the latest. debt in 12 African countries, fastest growing economies. confirmed that Moscow was try- Storchak told the RIA Novosti as part of a broader strategy to He added that Brazil ing to avoid a sovereign ratings news agency that “we have agreed boost ties with the continent. recently established an agency downgrade in comments earlier with J P Morgan for it to be our “The idea of having Africa to support investments in this week. “We have been warning official partner in relations with as a special relationship industry and development in experts and the ratings agencies the ratings agencies.” for Brazil is strategic for Africa and Latin America. about certain negative conse- He said the bank, the largest Brazil’s foreign policy,” presi- “The idea is to concentrate quences in view of slow rates of US lender had beat out a number dential spokesman Thomas Brazilian help,” including in economic growth,” Shuvalov said. of competitors with its offer but Traumann told reporters on agriculture, social programs, “We have no additional signs (of provided no other details. J P the sidelines of African Union as well as direct financial sup- an economic) slowdown.” Russia’s Morgan itself issued no immedi- celebrations to mark 50 years port of Brazilian companies, growth outlook has already been ate comment. of the continental bloc. he said. slashed to 2.4 percent of gross The Russian authorities have Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, visiting the domestic product from 3.6 per- already hired the US investment Rousseff was in Addis Ababa Ethiopian capital for the AU cent while inflation has consist- banking leader Goldman Sachs as for the celebrations, her third celebrations, has met with ently stood at more than seven its official adviser on its overall trip to Africa in three months. several African leaders includ- percent. economic image. Russia has spent Among the 12 countries ing Ethiopian Prime Minister This double-edge sword has most of the past decade trying to whose debts were pardoned, Hailemariam Desalegn, with paralysed the central bank—una- polish its image in order to attract Congo-Brazzaville was the whom she signed a series of ble to stimulate growth through investment to a Moscow market highest with a $352m debt cooperation agreements on lower interest rates because of the that has been hurt by low stock cancelled, with Tanzania’s agriculture, education, air inflation risk—and sparked specu- liquidity and wild price swings $237m debt the second largest. transport and science. lation among analysts for a need that most closely reflect those of Traumann said the move was AFP for urgent fiscal measures. the global oil market. AFP

Arabtec unit wins $107.7m

• Bullion - Mumbai hospital contract in Saudi Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 26500 Silver (1 kg) Rs. 43430 RIYADH: A subsidiary capital, Riyadh. The client is • Indian Rupees QR1 = 15.15 of Dubai-based contractor Aldara Medical Corporation, • Sensex Arabtec Holding has won a the statement said. BSE 19704.33 SR404m ($107.7m) contract The contract was awarded NSE 5983.55 to build a hospital in Saudi to Arabtec Terna, which • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent Arabia, the company said in is 60 percent owned by return p.a. (in dollar) a statement yesterday. Arabtec, the company that • Housing loan from HDFC LTD The Aldara Hospital and built Dubai’s Palm Island. • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, Medical Centre is scheduled The company said it wants Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. for completion in early 2015 to expand in the Gulf region • Advise on Indian Income Tax matters for NRIs. and will house a 105-bed, and do more specialised con- Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] six-storey hospital and two struction projects. medical centres in the Saudi REUTERS SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Rot has set into high German economy to pick street as we opt for up, but short of fixed pace

Tesco over grocers BY SARAH MARSH But that will be an ephemeral effect. sector after decades of protecting the inter- Germany’s DIHK Chambers of Commerce est of national rail operator Deutsche Bahn BY DEBORAH ORR ermany’s economy will recover cut its growth forecast for this year to by preventing long-distance bus services. from a bout of winter weak- 0.3 percent from 0.7, citing concerns that Another cause of uncertainty is the oppo- eople in Britain are purchasing less food than they have ness but fall well short of the exports will pick up less strongly than sition centre-left’s “soak-the-rich” elec- for 10 years, according to the Office for National Statistics. dynamic growth rates of previ- expected Capital investment is also depend- tion campaign promises of new taxes even Prior to the financial crash, food sales had been rising ous years as euro zone reces- ent on world markets since so much of though Merkel, who governs with the pro- Psteadily for a generation. This statistic may sound bleak. Gsion and global slowdown stunt exports German industry is geared towards exports. business Free Democrats, is still expected to The rise of food banks confirms that people in this country are and investment. There are home-grown For example, Lanxess, the world’s largest be Chancellor after September’s polls. going hungry. But the main reason for the decline in food sales is problems too. What hue of government will synthetic rubber maker, has reined in its Gross domestic product is 1.3 percent much more likely to be that people have simply stopped buying result from September elections is injecting investment budget for 2013 due to weak higher than pre-crisis levels, according to quite so much food that they later throw away. uncertainty and foreign investors cite wor- European car tyre markets. Tim Moore at Markit research group, an Before the crash, in 2005, figures collated from different sources ries about over-regulation and Germany’s Demand for German goods in fast-grow- achievement euro zone peers and Britain suggested that Britain was wasting between 30 percent and 40 future energy mix after Chancellor Angela ing emerging markets such as China has can only dream of. Private consumption, percent of all the food it bought or grew, at a cost of somewhere Merkel turned her back on nuclear power. compensated somewhat for Europe, mired which was the only factor driving growth between £8bn and £16bn each year. A report from Prudential Europe’s paymaster was long resilient to vimmed even that beacon of hope. in the first quarter, is the main bright spot. insurance around that time, surveying 1,000 households, found the euro debt crisis but contracted at the Exports to countries outside the European German consumers were more upbeat going that 61 percent threw out at least one bag of prepared salad a end of last year and only eked out meagre Union dropped 0.2 percent on the year in into June than at any point since September week, without ever removing the packaging. A similar number growth in the first quarter. the first quarter. Sales to the euro zone 2007 and unions have negotiated rises of on threw out uneaten bread and fruit, while nearly as many discarded But even the government forecasts just were down 3.9 percent on the year. Japanese average 3 percent this year, well above infla- milk, cheese and meat. 0.5 percent growth in 2013 and economists exports, meanwhile, have risen strongly tion which stands at 1.2 percent. That’s obscene, when one considers the time and effort that doubt German companies will start invest- since a new government there demanded Metro, which runs supermarkets, elec- goes into growing an apple, or wheat for breadmaking, or the ing heavily in the short term. expansionary money printing. tricals stores and department stores said pittance people are paid to bag salad for our convenience. Yet all “Nobody expects strong growth for this Kai Carstensen, a senior Ifo economist, Germany was its highlight in the first three that waste must have been good for business, good for the economy, year now especially as the first quarter was expects investment to pick up slightly in the months of the year. Nonetheless, there are good for jobs, good for growth, despite the fact that on no level so sobering,” said Christoph Schmidt, head second quarter given the resolution of the limits on how much domestic demand can was it remotely sustainable or healthy. of the German Council of Economic Experts, Cyprus bank crisis and the appointment of a drive growth unless the economy is rebal- It’s grotesque that affluence is so largely and so demonstrably advisors to the government known as the government in Italy. But investment would anced away from export reliance. “Germany the ability to waste the inability to accept that your family is “wise men”. “Trade will not contribute much, only rise sharply when firms felt more confi- still needs to do more in order to dynamise less interested in either eating or simply curating fruit than you it could even drag on growth, so that leaves dent, said government advisor Schmidt, and its domestic economy,” said the OECD’s believe it ought to be. Yet, figures confirm that this was the general domestic demand,” Schmidt said. “Private this would only come with a comprehensive Andreas Woergoetter. “It can do more in attitude of the majority of households. consumption is relatively stable but invest- solution to the euro crisis. In the medium- de-regulating its service sectors. “If this Templeton’s probably wasn’t much bigger than the booze section ments are restrained and the key question term, the lack of a government road map for happens, over the long term we can assume of a large supermarket now. But at that time, it was “the future will be when and how much they pick up.” dealing with rising energy prices following not only the export sector will be attractive of shopping” to buy new essentials like cars and freezers as well Economy Minister Philipp Roesler gave Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to switch for investments but so will the domestic as food. Twenty years on, in the mid-1980s on a trip to Mexico to an upbeat spin, telling Reuters “the positive to green energy from nuclear is also weighing economy,” he said. “This in turn will help visit a friend, I thought she was mad when she announced that we development of the economy will continue” on investment. growth and... make a further contribution really had to visit a supermercado. Giant hangars of… everything. and investment would revive. Germany only just liberalised the bus to rebalancing in the euro area.” REUTERS The return to shopping on a more manageable and human scale has its advantages. But it also represents the painful completion of a sad transfer of emphasis, away from small businesses rooted in their communities, to large businesses that have the power to call the shots in their relationships with producers, while moving profits away. First, the small, specialist family businesses closed, then immi- grants willing to work all hours stepped in to make a living from selling stuff people had forgotten to buy at the supermarket, and now, there is intense pressure on those businesses in turn, from the advent of small, local, but largely multinational-owned shops. It’s a classic example of the way that free markets generate not choice, but homogeneity. And even if consumer choice and convenience have been improved, then the option whereby you have your own modest business, make it work and pass it on to the next generation, has certainly been narrowed. One of the major problems with developed western economies is the small number of times that money changes hands locally. Buy something from the baker, and he’ll buy something from the butcher and the candlestick-maker with his profits, and they in turn will do the same. How did the chains acquire their dominance? By selling us food so cheap that we were happy to buy it and throw it away. Who, after all, can compete on price when they are ordering in such supply-dominating bulk? The idea that humans can build economies by trading rests on the assumption that anyone with a skill can create something that others will want to buy. Yet, despite all the talk of unleashing entrepreneurship, people are encouraged not to hone their crea- tivity but their employability. Stacking shelves at a supermarket is now seen as a job in itself rather than just one of the many functions of shopkeeping, for example. Everyone hates automated tellers in shops, but uses them anyway. Britain has thrown away a lot of food in recent decades. It’s thrown away much else, too. The dominance of big retail encouraged us to give our money to a small number of large companies, in return for stuff we largely left to rot. Now, even as we buy less, it will still be from them. Tesco this week announced that it will be using its scale and clout to reduce the “amount of food wasted by its customers and elsewhere in its international supply chain”. I bet it will. And, gosh, won’t it look caring and responsible when it hits all of its oh-so-admirable targets. Ever feel like you’ve been had? THE GUARDIAN Low-carat gold at Irish end of US corporate rainbow BY CARMEL CRIMMINS number of jobs in foreign-owned and more meaningless. They do not multinational sector to boost 7.39bn euros in 2012, equivalent to managed instead from another and CONOR HUMPHRIES firms fell by 9 percent, according necessarily reflect real economic economic growth and ensure the 5.5 percent of GNP. city, often London or New York, to state enterprise board Forfas. activity,” said Chris Van Egeraat, country emerges from an EU-IMF Shire Pharmaceuticals and and based in Ireland to shrink rish officials and business Total employment fell even more. an economist at the National bailout smoothly this year, after Beazley PLC are among compa- their tax bills. While Ireland’s leaders like to trumpet What the FDI figures help illus- University of Ireland Maynooth. the country’s debt levels quad- nies to have moved their domicile local banking sector has been their success in attracting trate is how large international “You see exports growing and rupled on the back of a property to Ireland in recent years, both decimated by a highly leveraged IUS investment as proof the companies and funds use Ireland FDI growing in certain sectors, bubble and banking crash. citing tax advantages among binge on property, the IFSC has country is on the road to recovery. as a base to route their profits but you see unemployment grow- But foreign companies that their reasons. Ireland’s FDI fig- gone from strength to strength, At a conference in Dublin on and investments to cut their tax ing in those sectors; that should relocate their headquarters to ures illustrate what a big impact boosted by the global financial cri- Friday the head of Ireland’s larg- bills. This practice was laid bare ring some alarm bells about how Ireland for tax purposes with- corporate repatriations can have. sis, which has seen a big market est bank gave small business lead- this week when the US Senate we should interpret these FDI out really operating in the econ- Another big factor at play in the in sales of distressed debt. ers the “15-second elevator pitch” revealed that computer giant figures.” omy, known as brass-plate firms FDI figures is Ireland’s shadow There were 704 financial vehi- he gives to US executives when he Apple had paid little or no tax Suffering from high unemploy- because their presence sometimes banking sector, investment firms cle corporations or special pur- is in New York or Boston. on tens of billions of dollars in ment for most of the 20th century amounts to little more than a and funding vehicles that operate pose vehicles operating in Ireland “I’ve mentioned to US investors profits channelled through Irish and with strong ties to the US name on a door sign, are flatter- out of Dublin’s financial services as of the first quarter of this that US companies have more subsidiaries. due to generations of emigration, ing the country’s economic output centre, on the banks of the river year, nearly a quarter of the euro capital invested in Ireland than “Ireland is a conduit for firms. Ireland’s governments have spent figures and its balance of pay- Liffey. These investment funds, area total and the highest in the they do in Brazil, Russia, India One implication of that conduit decades courting US companies ments, often used as a measure money market funds and special bloc, according to data from the and China put together,” said is they are making billions here such as Dell, Intel and Pfizer with of competitiveness. purpose-style vehicles account for European Central Bank. Richie Boucher, Chief Executive but just paying a tiny proportion generous tax concessions and low Ireland had a current account around 1.7 trillion euros of assets, “I say to those people who of Bank of Ireland. in tax,” said Jim Stewart, Senior rates. surplus last year of 6.1 percent of more than 10 times the size of the invest in the country from out- “We have had a record year of Lecturer in finance, Trinity The policy has yielded some gross national product (GNP), domestic economy and greater side, you will never have a gov- FDI (foreign direct investment) College Dublin. real benefits, with multinationals but this falls to 0.6 percent when than the traditional banking sec- ernment as open to listening and in 2012.” Three main factors appear to accounting for almost one in every foreign companies’ retained prof- tor, which has assets of around 1.1 working with business in the About $30bn of net FDI flowed be at work in the large jumps in 10 jobs in Ireland. Every four mul- its are stripped out, according trillion euros, according to central interests of employment and jobs in to Ireland from the US in Irish FDI; multinationals shifting tinational jobs Ireland attracts to research by the Economic and bank statistics. and growing the economy,” Kenny 2011, the last year data is avail- income from units in other coun- adds three more indirectly in the Social Research Institute (ESRI), Some 32,700 people are told the small business conference able. That is double the level at tries to Ireland — which counts local economy, according to the an independent think-tank partly employed in the Irish Financial on Friday. the peak of Ireland’s boom and on the export side of balance-of- state Industrial Development funded by the Irish government. Services Centre (IFSC), helping Despite that openness, Irish the equivalent of 6,670 euros for payments figures; company take- Agency (IDA), which is tasked The ESRI does not say how to administer over 1 trillion euros unemployment has been stuck every man, woman and child in overs; and inflows into Ireland’s with attracting foreign firms. many such redomiciled companies in hedge fund assets alone. But above 14 percent for almost three the country. shadow banking sector. Prime Minister Enda Kenny there are in Ireland, but the ESRI many of the funding vehicles have years. And yet in the real economy, the “FDI figures are becoming more is relying on the export-focused estimates their retained profits at no employees in Dublin; they are REUTERS SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday China factory activity shrinks for first time in seven months: Flash PMI Germany reports sluggish first-quarter UK first quarter growth unchanged BEIJING: China’s factory activity shrank for growth of 0.1pc the first time in seven months in May as US retailer bonds fall behind LONDON: the UK’s economy grew at 0.3pc BERLIN: Germany’s economy barely grew in the new orders fell, a preliminary manufacturing as shoppers spend less in the first three months of the year, official first quarter of 2013 as exports and investment survey showed, entrenching fears that its figures have confirmed. The figure from the WASHINGTON: Bonds of US shrank, figures show. But higher domestic economic recovery has stalled and that a Office for National Statistics is unchanged retailers from Target to Wal- consumption - thanks to rising wages - helped sharper cooldown may be imminent. The Japan debt crisis is 30 times from the initial estimate it gave in April. It Mart Stores are posting their offset the declines in foreign trade and capital flash HSBC Purchasing Managers’ Index bigger than Greece worst losses since 2006 amid confirms the UK avoided falling into a triple- investment, raising hopes it will help drive a TOKYO: Japan has fueled much of dip recession, and suggests signs of recovery (PMI) for May fell to 49.6, slipping under the smaller consumer income sustained recovery. Gross domestic product 50-point level demarcating expansion from this latest rally in stocks, driving and slowing growth in the US in the economy. rose 0.1pc from the previous quarter, but contraction for the first since October and the marketing first with promises economy, even as the broader contracted 1.4pc compared with a year earlier. sending Asian financial markets sharply of money printing by the Prime corporate debt market generates lower. Minister in November 2012, and gains. The Bank of America then a massive $1.2 trillion QE Merrill Lynch US non-food and programme announced by the drug retail index lost 0.5 percent SA growth ‘completely Bank of Japan last month. in 2013 after reinvested interest, inadequate’— Gordhan compared with a return of 0.84 JOHANNESBURG: The Treasury expects Indian rupee eyeing new highs percent for the firm’s measure of growth to pick up modestly to 2.7pc NEW DELHI: The rupee has been on a investment grade bonds from all this year from 2.5pc last year, before slippery path due to global economic industries. accelerating to a robust 3.8pc next uncertainties, domestic macro concerns, year. Many analysts do not foresee as political apprehension and broad based Brazil freezes $13.7bn in significant an improvement. “I think the dollar strength globally. At the start of government spending to meet growth target is overly ambitious — I May 2013, domestic equities shrugged fiscal target think it will average around 2.8pc for off a depreciating rupee and rallied to each of the coming three years,” said 30-month highs largely supported by BRASILIA: The Brazilian government Meganomics economist Colen Garrow. ample liquidity in global markets. Despite on Wednesday announced that it would Australian consumer sentiment “The global economy is still struggling, strong FII inflows into the market, the freeze up to 28 billion reais ($13.7 falls sharply and locally we have economic policy rupee continued to depreciate over billion) in obligatory and discretionary SYDNEY: Australian consumer sentiment fell uncertainties.” Finance Minister Pravin concerns on fiscal deficit and a stronger spending this year, following weak for second straight month, denting hopes Gordhan said. dollar globally. economic growth forecasts that could that households may lead a recovery in cut into its primary surplus target. weaker parts of the economy such as retail sales as a decadelong mining boom slows. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment fell by 7pc to 97.6 in May from 104.9 in April to its lowest level since August 2012.

TENDERS

TENDER TENDER CLOSING TENDER TENDER CLOSING No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE

Provision of mud chemicals, equipment 03/06/2013 1 GT13105800 QR 700,000 N/A 16/06/2013 21 ST13MT0138 Fire/safety & rescue accessories QR 7,000 QR 100 & engineering services for offshore (12:00hrs) 27/05/2013 22 ST13MT0141 Secunia corporate software inspector QR 30,000 QR 100 Replacement of instrument cables at (12:00hrs) 2 ST13103000 QR 30,000 QR 200 10/6/2013 KIM & KN degassing stations in Dukhan 1- Mat tresses (good qualit y) 03/06/2013 23 ST13MT0145 2- Playwood for bunkbeds and single QR 8,925 QR 100 (12:00hrs) beds (good quality) Replacement of MV panel at sub-station 3ST13102900 QR 50,000 N/A 3/6/2013 ‘C’ QP RAA Doha Combination water pipe fighting vehicle/ Aerial firefighting appliance, 6 x 4 (1 30/06/2013 24 GT13MT0019 QR 300,000 QR 1,000 No.) form/water fire fighting vehicle, 6x4 (12:00hrs) Supply, implementation, maintenance & 4ST13103200 QR 50,000 QR 200 10/6/2013 (1 No.) support of record management system Supply and installation of sports and 09/06/2013 25 LT13MT0003 QR 45,900 QR 500 fitness equipment (12:00hrs) Electrical maint. support services at QP GT13105300 QR 650,000 QR 500 30/06/2013 Supply and installation of exceed on 09/06/2013 offshore locations 26 LT13MT0034 QR 110,000 QR 500 demand system (12:00hrs) Spares of self-contained breathing 17/06/2013 Epic of stp workshop laboratory building 27 ST13MT0142 QR 17,000 QR 100 6 GT13104400 QR 230,000 QR 500 26/05/2013 apparatus (12:00hrs) & Guardhouse witihin Dukhan fields SKF Micro LOG vibration analyzer 17/06/2013 28 ST13MT0171 QR 15,000 QR 100 software (12:00hrs) Construction of changing rooms 7GT13105600facilities & public toilets at Dukhan QR 200,000 QR 500 30/06/2013 township Printing various media publication for 29 4/2013-2014 QR 140,000 QR 500 3/6/2013 the SEC institute and departments Provision of diving services for QP, joint Supreme 8 GT13105700 QR 7500,000 QR 500 23/06/2013 venture partners and affiliates Education council

Maintenance support services for 2014 One (1) years price agreement for supply 9GT13105500 QR 500,000 QR 500 30/06/2013 L T C 16/06/2013 shutdown at NFA 30 of it consumables (toner cartridges, CDs QR 18,000 Qr 500 699/2013 (before noon) & DVDs) Price agreement for various types/make 17/06/2013 10 ST13MT0167 QR 28,000 QR 100 of V-belts (12:00hrs) Installation of emergency TFSs & Internal Piping improvement in selected RPSs EPC contract for the emergency Sale and removal of waste water 3% of 09/06/2013 11 LT13MT0033 Free tanker filling station at (8) existing treatment plants (plant nos. 2,3 & 10) quoted price (12:00hrs) RPS in Qatar, standby pump houses in existing tanker filling stations at Sale & removal of cold separators (10) existing RPS in Qatar, 40 nos. 11 / 0 7/ 2 0 13 3% of 10/06/2013 GTC QR 12 ST13MT0147 (v1101 & V-1101B) and Glyocol coalescer Free 31 Diesel Engine driven generators and QR 20,000 before 12:00 quoted price (12:00hrs) 524/2012 4,000,000 (v-1107A & V-1107B) associated building for emergency noon cases; but with continuous permanent specifications inside existing RPS, Sale and removal of motor pump, improvement of internal piping at imaging system, calibrator device, 10/6/2013 13 ST13MT0148 QR 2,000 Free selected RPS and laying of fiber optic televisions, projectors, charger, (12:00hrs) cables from Doha south RPS to NWCC instrumentation, monitors etc. building

20/06/2013 Two years call-off agreement for supply QR SAP phase 3 Implementation- 32 GTC 557/2013 QR 20,000 Time fore 14 GT13105100 QR 500,000 QR 500 16/06/2013 of power cables 18,000,000 consultancy & traning services 12:00 noon

RFP-supply & delivery of promotional 14:00hrs 28 Sale and removal of central HVAC unit 33 CNAQ-2013-07 10% of Bid N/A 10/06/2013 items May, 2013 15 ST13MT0149 and air conditioning system with unit QR 2,000 Free (12:00hrs) packages etc 14:00hrs 28 34 CNAQ-2013-08 Tool cabinets 10% of Bid N/A May, 2013

Sale and removal of 3RD stage pump/ 10/06/2013 14:00hrs 28 16 ST13MT0150 QR 2,000 Free 35 CNAQ-2013-09 Tablets, Monitors, Printers 10% of Bid NA actuator/ telecom spares & fuses (12:00hrs) May, 2013

Sale and removal of KIA Sportage 10/06/2013 AF/D/ Medical malpratice insurance for June 2nd, 17 ST13MT0152 QR 2,000 Free 36 QR 20,000 QR 500 (Model-2009) (12:00hrs ASPO130/13 Aspetar 2013 Supply, delivery and installation of AF/C/ June 2nd, 37 digital Radiographic (DR) system for QR 75,000 QR 700 Development of emergency response ASP5279/13 2013 18 LT13104100 QR 60,000 N/A 26/05/2013 Aspetar plan for Halul Island Comprehensive maintenance of AF/M/ specialised landscape & turf services QR June 2nd, 38 QR 1,000 Epic for replacement of flow computers AL2047/13 and irrigation to Aspire Zone & Aspire 1,500,000 2013 19 LT13104200 in NGL 1,2 & 4 plants, gas operations, QR 25,000 QR 200 26/05/2013 Park Mesaieed AF/D/ Management planning & organising June 11th, 39 QR 180,000 QR 1,000 AFD0133/13 public activities at Aspire Zone 2013

Supply, delivery , installation and Containerized package for oil spill and 26/05/2013 AF/C/ June 9th, 20 LT13MT0029 QR 120,000 QR 500 40 maintenance/ Support of MAC Book pro QR 30, 000 QR 500 high speed booming system (12:00hrs) AF5289/13 2013 & Mac pro on call-off basis AZF SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Pacers edge Heat, level series Indiana bounce back to beat defending champs; James unhappy with performance

MIAMI: The Indiana Pacers bounced back from a heart- breaking game one defeat to US basketball team driven edge LeBron James and the Miami Heat 97-93 yesterday by international talent and level the NBA Eastern Conference finals at one game NEW YORK: The star-stud- National Basketball Association’s apiece. ded US national basketball (NBA) teams to appreciate the With the win in Miami, the team cannot afford to get com- growth of the game globally. Pacers seized home court advan- placent about being the sport’s “There are a lot of great teams Paul George (24) of tage in the best-of-seven series superpower given the pace out there and you see these guys the Indiana Pacers from the reigning league champi- of emerging talent around playing in the NBA,” Krzyzewski ons, and they will try to maintain celebrates with Ian the globe, head coach Mike said at Duke University in the momentum when they host Mahinmi (28) after a Krzyzewski said. Durham, North Carolina, where game three today. dunk in the second According to Krzyzewski, he has led the Blue Devils to The winner of the series half against the having the privilege of coaching four men’s college basketball advances to the NBA finals to Miami Heat during teams that have boasted NBA championships. take on the Western Conference Game Two of the All-Stars LeBron James, Kobe “Twenty-one percent of champions for the league crown. Eastern Conference Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo the NBA is international and San Antonio lead Memphis 2-0 in Finals at American Anthony and Chris Paul does not these teams can have anywhere the Western finals. Airlines Arena in come with a guarantee of beating between 10 and 12 NBA players “This whole team has just Miami, Florida, competition. on them. And we have 12 NBA shown great desire,” Pacers coach yesterday. “People think that because players. Frank Vogel said of his young we have all these guys you just “And we’ll have five of them squad, who had fallen 103-102 to roll out a ball and you’re going out there at one time and they’ll the Heat on Wednesday. to win,” Krzyzewski said at a have five. As long as it’s five “They believe we can win this news conference to announce he against five we could lose at any series, and they’re giving it all would return as coach of the US time. their might, all their might.” national team through the 2016 “And that’s the respect you James, who earned NBA Most Rio Olympics. have to give your opponent Valuable Player honours this “If you do your programme and that’s what we do with our season for the fourth time in his that way, you’re going to get preparation.” career, was forced into two crucial beat.” Krzyzewski took over as turnovers in the final 43 seconds. Respect for the competition national team coach in 2005. Roy Hibbert, who was on the forced the two late turnovers by another James pass with 8.3 sec- “Very disappointing, of course, is fundamental to Krzyzewski’s Two years earlier, the Americans bench when James provided the James. onds remaining. for me. That’s the first thing I approach and the lessons he has failed to reach the medals round game-winning layup in overtime West stole a pass from James Hill came up with the ball and always look at on the stat sheet drilled into his US teams have at the world championships. in the series opener, delivered a with 42.9 seconds left and Indiana was then fouled by James, calmly is my turnovers,” James said. paid off with a 62-1 mark that The US were humbled again dominant performance, leading ahead 95-93, although the Pacers making his free throws to seal the “I had two key ones at a big includes two Olympic gold med- in Krzyzewski’s first major com- the Pacers with 29 points and 10 did not score from the ensuing win. point of the game. I am very dis- als and a current 50-game win- petition when Greece kept the rebounds. possession. James scored a game-high appointed in my judgment and ning streak. Americans out of the 2006 world George Hill scored 18 for the On Miami’s next possession, 36 points with eight rebounds, my plays down the stretch. But Krzyzewski said all you have championship final with a semi- Pacers and David West added 13 with the Heat needing a field goal but also had five of Miami’s 15 I’ll make up for them,” added the to do is look at the rosters of the finals victory. REUTERS points and seven rebounds -- and to tie the game, West batted away turnovers. American. AFP

Penguins book Eastern Kuchar one ahead at Finals berth weather-hit Colonial PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh FORT WORTH, Texas: Penguins have advanced to American Matt Kuchar held a the National Hockey League one-shot lead at 10 under par Eastern Conference Finals for after 15 holes when the weather- the first time since 2009 after hit second round was suspended smashing the Ottawa Senators for the day at the Crowne Plaza Matt Kuchar 6-2 in Game Five yesterday, Invitational in Fort Worth, taking the semi-final series 4-1. Texas yesterday. smiles as he walks James Neal notched a hat-trick Kuchar, who clinched his onto the fourth and added an assist to help clinch fifth PGA Tour title at the hole during the a place in the Eastern finals for WGC-Accenture Match Play second round of the top-seeded Penguins for the Championship in February, will the Crowne Plaza first time since they last won the Brenden Morrow (10) of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores in the first period line up a 40-foot birdie putt at Invitational at Stanley Cup. past Craig Anderson (41) of the Ottawa Senators in Game Five of the the par-three 16th when play Colonial at Colonia Brenden Morrow opened the Eastern Conference semi-finals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup play- resumes at 7:15 a.m. local (1215 Country Club in scoring in the seventh minute offs at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, yesterday. GMT) today. Fort Worth, Texas, of the opening period for the World number 13 Kuchar, the yesterday. Penguins who then scored three highest-ranked player in this goals in the second, which proved Malkin quickly allayed any come- between Neal’s final two goals week’s field, raced to the turn the difference. back fears to restore the three- during the match. in four-under 31 before record- A power-play goal for Neal goal margin. Pittsburgh will meet the winner ing his fifth birdie of the round was followed by Kris Letang’s Neal grabbed his second and of the series between Boston and at the par-four 14th to take over blast and while Milan Michalek third goals of the game in the the New York Rangers. Boston at the top. gave Senators’ fans some hope final period. lead the semi-final series 3-1, with The second round had already to reduce the lead to 3-1, Evgeni Kyle Turris scored for Ottawa Game Five today. REUTERS been suspended for just over two US PGA Crowne Plaza hours earlier in the day due to Two share lead the threat of lightning at Colonial Invitational Scores Country Club, giving the late FORT WORTH, Texas: in Bahamas starters no chance of completing Partial second-round scores the full 18 holes. yesterday in the weather-dis- NASSAU, BAHAMAS: Italy’s MLB: Tigers thrash Twins 6-0 Overnight pacesetter Ryan Silvia Cavalleri and American rupted second round of the Palmer, who tied the tourna- $6.4m US PGA Crowne Plaza Heather Bowie Young shared DETROIT: Detroit’s Anibal ment record low for the open- Invitational. the clubhouse lead yester- Sanchez was denied a no-hitter Baseball Results ing round after a flawless 62 on day as weather continued to 130 Matt Kuchar (US) 65 65 but still struck out 12 batters in Friday, was at eight under with bedevil the inaugural Pure Silk Washington 5 Philadelphia 2 131 Graham DeLaet (Canada) 64 67 a pitching gem as the Tigers sent six holes to play after mixing Bahamas LPGA Classic. the Minnesota Twins crash- Baltimore 10 Toronto 6 three birdies with one bogey and 132 Josh Teater (US) 65 67; Jordan Spieth Torrential rain earlier in the (US) 65 67; Steve Flesch (US) 68 64 ing to their 10th straight defeat Detroit 6 Minnesota 0 a double-bogey. week that flooded the Ocean Club with a 6-0 victory yesterday. Canadian Graham DeLaet was 133 Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 66 67; Chris Golf Course had already prompted Sanchez was heading towards a Boston 8 Cleveland 1 the leader in the clubhouse, hav- Stroud (US) 67 66; Chris Kirk (US) 67 66 organizers to shorten the event, second career no-hitter with one ing succumbed to the infamous 134 Boo Weekley (US) 67 67; John Rollins wiping out play on Friday. Cincinnati 7 Chicago Cubs 4 out in the ninth inning before Joe “Horrible Horseshoe” before (US) 63 71; Ken Duke (US) 66 68; Scott In a bid to get 36 holes played Mauer punched a single up the NY Yankees 9 Tampa Bay 4 rebounding with two closing bird- Stallings (US) 69 65; Chez Reavie (US) by Sunday night on the ravaged middle to deny the Venezuelan ies to grab the early spotlight. 70 64; Matt Every (US) 65 69; Zach course, officials came up with a chance to become the 28th Chicago White Sox 4 Miami 3 In pursuit of his first PGA Johnson (US) 69 65; Marc Leishman a plan to play 12 holes per day, pitcher in Major League history Tour victory, the 31-year-old (Australia) 66 68; John Huh (US) 66 68; although 27 players were unable LA Angels 5 Kansas City 2 Ryan Palmer (US) 62 72; Ben Kohles (US) with multiple no-hitters. from Saskatchewan put a wel- to complete even the revised 67 67 The win catapulted the Tigers Milwaukee 2 Pittsburgh 1 come smile back on his face as first-round layout on Friday after Toronto Blue Jays’ third baseman 135 Brian Davis (Britain) 67 68; Derek Ernst (27-19) back to the top of the Oakland 6 Houston 5 he carded a three-under-par 67 lightning in the area forced a American League Central, in Mark DeRosa reaches into the to post a nine-under total of 131. (US) 66 69; Jim Furyk (US) 69 66; suspension of the play for almost Roberto Castro (US) 67 68 front of the Cleveland Indians crowd to catch a foul ball of Arizona 5 San Diego 2 Americans Josh Teater (67), three hours. (27-20), while Minnesota (18-27) Baltimore Orioles’ Matt Wieters Jordan Spieth (67) and 2004 Cavalleri and Bowie Young both Texas 9 Seattle 5 remain rooted to the bottom in in the eighth inning of their MLB champion Steve Flesch (64) Pure Silk Bahamas carded six-under 39 on the par- the standings. American League baseball game St Louis 7 LA Dodgers 0 were tied for second, with Swede 45, 12-hole course. Detroit’s charge up the stand- in Toronto, yesterday. Fredrik Jacobson (67) and LPGA Classic Four players, including major ings was aided by Boston’s John Colorado 5 San Francisco 0 American Chris Stroud (66) a winner Anna Nordqvist of 39 Silvia Cavalleri (ITA), Heather Bowie Lackey, who also pitched an further stroke back at seven Sweden, were tied for fourth on Young impressive game to lead the Red Boston improved to 29-20 to pitcher David Phelps to injuries under. five-under par 40. Sox to an 8-1 victory over the keep pace with the Yankees (29- after both were struck by fast- DeLaet completed his 67 before 40 Austin Ernest, Paola Moreno “It’s just Mother Nature, and Indians. 18) in the American League East moving balls. the siren sounded to halt the (COL), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Lisa as a golfer you grow up with this,” Lackey allowed just two hits after the Bronx Bombers proved Granderson suffered a hand action, and was delighted with his McCloskey Bowie Young said. and one unearned run over seven too strong for Tampa Bay (24-23) fracture and will be sidelined for overall position after going bogey- 41 Park Hee-Young (KOR), Karine Icher She added yesterday after her- innings, striking out eight, while in a 9-4 win. at least a month while Phelps has bogey-bogey on his back nine over (FRA), Jane Rah, Brittany Lang, round: “You just go when you can, Mike Carp helped the offence However, it was not all good some bad bruising but should be the “Horrible Horseshoe” stretch Suzann Pettersen (NOR), Lee Il-Hee and they’re making the absolute with a three-run homer in the news for the Yankees on the night, on the mound for his next sched- of holes from the par-four third (KOR), Julieta Granada (PAR), Tiffany best of the situation. I’m really second. who lost Curtis Granderson and uled start. REUTERS to the par-four fifth. REUTERS Joh, Alena Sharp (CAN) glad we’re playing golf.” AFP SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Who are you? The guide on top seeds World No.1 blocks Nadal PARIS: Who are the men handed the task of taking down Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the top three seeds at the French Open? path to Paris super eight Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) vs David Goffin (BEL) Belgian 22-year-old David Goffin, the world number 57 from Liege, enjoyed a stunning French Open: This is where I want to win, says Novak Djokovic debut at the French Open last year when he came through qualifying as a lucky loser to PARIS: Rafael Nadal can his campaign against Germany’s become the first man to win the Daniel Brands, the world number reach the last 16 where he took Spain’s a set off Federer before losing same Grand Slam title eight 60. David Ferrer in four. times at the French Open, but Australian Open champion “He’s got great potential in the Spaniard may have to get Djokovic, beaten in last year’s final attends terms of his touch and the past Novak Djokovic before he by Nadal, starts against Belgium’s a training way he reads the game. He even contemplates history. David Goffin, who reached the last session on impressed me and I enjoyed the Having pulled clear of Bjorn 16 in 2012 after coming through the eve of match,” said Federer. Borg’s record of six wins at Roland qualifying. the French Goffin has yet to get beyond the Garros with a seventh champion- Federer, seeded two and the Open at third round of a tour event in ship in 2012, the 26-year-old has 2009 champion, has lost four the Roland 2013. already confounded the critics title matches to Nadal in Paris Garros Roger Federer (SUI x2) vs who had written him off during but enjoyed the better fortune in Stadium Pablo Carreno-Busta (ESP) a seventh-month injury absence. Friday’s draw where his first two in Paris Carreno-Busta, is at 166 in the Since his return to the tour in opponents will both be qualifiers. yesterday. February, Nadal has shaken off Djokovic, who captured the sea- world having started at 654 in INSET: the heartbreak of missing the son’s opening major in Australia, January, an ascent boosted by World winning seven Futures events. Olympics, as well as the US and needs a French Open to join Australian Opens, to collect six Nadal and Federer as active play- number However, he is still only Spain’s one Novak 16th-best player and has come titles from eight finals. ers to have completed a career Djokovic through qualifying to make his But he is keen to play down the Grand Slam. But he has endured Grand Slam debut against a hype at the French Open, espe- a bitter-sweet relationship with during man who was the 2009 cham- cially after Friday’s draw placed Roland Garros, seeing a 41-match a press pion and is playing in a 15th him in the same half as top seed winning streak ended by Federer conference. Roland Garros and 54th suc- Djokovic, which means that one of in the semi-finals there in 2011 cessive major. them will definitely not be playing before losing the 2012 final to Carreno-Busta, 21, made the in the June 9 final. Nadal. semi-finals on clay at Oeiras “To talk about numbers, to talk Having relieved Nadal of last month where he lost about history, you have to analyse his Monte Carlo title in April, a three-setter to Stainslas when somebody finishes Djokovic lost his Wawrinka. his career, not in the Madrid opener to Serena out to tame Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) vs middle,” said Nadal at Grigor Dimitrov and Daniel Brands (GER) a chilly, damp Roland then slumped to a quar- Brands, 25, is the world Garros where he is the ter-final loss in Rome number 60, made the last 16 at third seed. “To play at to Tomas Berdych. Roland Garros always “This is the tour- French Open demons Wimbledon in 2010 and began the year with a semi-final run is a special feeling and nament that is the in Qatar. Has lost all four first I feel very emotional number one priority PARIS: If momentum counts France’s Virginie Razzano, which With no Justine Henin and round matches he has con- every time that I am this year. This is where for everything in tennis, noth- saw a frustrated Williams stomp Kim Clijsters around, and with tested at Roland Garros and back here.” I want to win and I’m ing will stop Serena Williams off the Philippe Chatrier Centre sister Venus a non-factor on now must try and snap that No man has ever going to go for it. I from winning the French Open Court in a decided huff. the red dirt, the main threat to record by defeating the seven- collected more than think my game is there, for just the second time in her Since her 2002 triumph, amaz- Williams would normally come time champion whose Paris seven titles at the same and I’m very, very moti- career in Paris on June 8. ingly she has only once managed from defending champion Maria record, by comparison, stands major. Roy Emerson, vated,” said Djokovic. At 31, the superstar of the to get past the quarter-final stage. Sharapova of Russia or the best of at 52 wins and only one defeat. with six, is the Australian Open’s But with a losing 15-19 record women’s game is on an unprec- But, on the face of it, all that is the new wave, Victoria Azarenka Has some claycourt form at most successful while William against Nadal, the Serb was wary edented winning run going in to about to change. of Belarus. the moment having reached Renshaw, Pete Sampras and of allowing the Spaniard, against the consecration of the claycourt All but down and out after So what could get in the way the semi-finals in Munich this Roger Federer (pictured) all whom he has lost four times in season at Roland Garros. missing 11 months in 2010 and of a 16th Grand Slam title for year for the second time in his triumphed at Wimbledon seven four at the French Open, to get Four straight tournament wins 2011 with a right foot injury fol- Serena? career. times each. into his head. at Miami, Charleston, Madrid and lowed by a life-threatening pul- John McEnroe says that his Bill Larned, Bill Tilden and After world number two Andy Rome (the last three coming on monary embolism, Williams has own experiences of failing to win Richard Sears were seven-time Murray, a semi-finalist two clay) and 24 matches in all for the re-dedicated herself to her sport in Paris when being hot favourite winners at the US Open. years ago, pulled out to nurse his loss of just four sets represents and the results have been hugely gives him an insight. On any given Since his French Open debut injured back ahead of Wimbledon, the best unbeaten streak of her impressive. day, things can go wrong. in 2005, Nadal has only lost once Nadal and Djokovic should have career. A repeat of last year’s debacle, “I mean it’s been done before. in Paris -- an injury-hit fourth their only serious rival in Federer, Nothing suggests that is about she says, is out of the question -- I’ve done it myself, but you sort round exit to free-hitting Robin the record 17-time Grand Slam to end in Paris. And yet there are the lesson has been learned. of have to beat yourself. The level Soderling in 2009. His record title winner. But Federer, with his demons to be confronted for the “I have been playing a lot more she’s at when she’s playing well, I stands at 52 wins against just that 32nd birthday fast approaching, American diva in the city she says tennis. I have been spending more don’t think anybody can beat her,” single blip against the Swede. heads to Paris not having won a is her favourite place in the world. time on the court,” she said at McEnroe said. This year, Nadal may have lost trophy in the year for the first Namely, 11 previous campaigns Roland Garros on Friday. “Anybody, no matter how great his Monte Carlo Masters title time since 2000. and just the one championship “I felt this past year coming they are though, everybody has to Djokovic after an eight-year The world number three is win -- in 2002 when she defeated back I had nothing to lose and just bad days. monopoly, but he swept to vic- playing in a 54th consecutive sister Venus in the final -- as really wanted to enjoy my career. “On clay, it’s her worst surface. tory on clay in Madrid and Rome, Grand Slam event, just two off the first step on the road to her You know, in the past when I The odds would increase. The where he allowed Federer just the record held by South Africa’s famous “Serena Slam” of all four played I was always so stressed pressure is greater obviously at four games in the final. Wayne Ferreira. Grand Slam titles. out and always wanted to win, the French because she’s only Nadal, playing in his first “It’s incredible. I never thought Since then a combination of win, win. won it once. I would say at some Grand Slam event since a shock I was going to play that many, injuries, lack of focus and clay- “And now I’m definitely having stage in the event, it would be second round exit to Lukas have that many opportunities court calamities have brought a lot more fun than what I used likely that she won’t have one of US tennis player Serena Williams Rosol at Wimbledon last year to do well at the slams,” said the losses to the likes of Katarina to have on the court and really her best days. Depending on her during a press conference in Paris. sent him home to Manacor for Swiss. “But they don’t buy me vic- Srebotnik and, most surpris- enjoying every moment of me opponent that day, someone might lengthy rehabilitation, begins tories.” REUTERS ingly, in last year’s first round to walking out there.” have a shot at her.” REUTERS Basketball: Qatar target glory at top FIBA event

DOHA: Qatar’s national team Championship. That will be our will be targeting glory in the next main event. In the com- 2013 FIBA Asia Championship ing years, we will be focusing on to be held in August this year, the taking part in the 2016 Olympic president of Qatar Basketball Games in Rio de Janeiro.” Players and Federation (QBF) has said. Sheikh Saoud said a highly officials of Al Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman competitive national league struc- Rayyan are seen Al Thani, the QBF president, said ture was proving to be a major with Sheikh Qatar had earned the reputation help in building a strong Qatar of ‘fighters’ having won a number squad. Saoud bin of key events at regional and “The support we need comes Abdulrahman international level. from our clubs,” Sheikh Saoud Al Thani, The 2013 FIBA Asia said. President of Championship for Men is the “The backroom staff, the Qatar Basketball intercontinental championship coaches and team behind the Federation (QBF), organized by FIBA Asia and the scenes deserves credit for rais- at a season- winner in Manila, the Philippnes, ing the profile of the sport in the ending gathering will qualify for the 2014 FIBA country,” Sheikh Saoud said. in Doha. Al World Cup in Spain. Earlier this year, Sheikh Saoud Rayyan won the The tournament will be held heralded a new concept - prom- Emir Cup earlier from August 1–11 and Qatar is ising a free basketball for every this season. one of the participating sides. child in the country. Speaking at the season-ending In February, QBF announced gathering, Sheikh Saoud said: that it was to ensure all chil- “This has been a satisfying season dren living in the nation will for our teams. We won the GCC benefit from being handed a free Club Basketball Championship basketball. recently. One of our teams also In line with the wider vision Working with a local sponsor, Basketball festivals are also and officials of Al Rayyan (Emir team player, said: “I believe we won the FIBA 3x3 championship and strategy to further develop QBF was able to ensure the allo- held from time to time, allowing Cup winners), Al Sadd (national are moving in the right direction. just last week. Sometime back we and ignite passion for basketball cation of 50,000 basketballs for QBF to get young kids involved league title champions) and Al Achieving good results is tough won the gold at the Arab Games.” in Qatar, Sheikh Saoud, who is the project, an initiative which in one of the most popular disci- Gharafa, the three champion but we can do it. I believe we are He added: “We have a strong also the Secretary General of seeks to get more kids playing plines at the Olympics. sides this year. building a strong base for a good base for the national team. Our the Qatar Olympic Committee basketball on the streets and in Sheikh Saoud later handed over Yasin Ismail, the Al Rayyan national side for years to come.” next target will be the FIBA Asia (QOC), initiated the new project. every playground in Qatar. mementos to playing members skipper and key Qatar national THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Olympics: Rosberg wins pole position Istanbul bid is about Monaco Grand Prix: Top Briton Lewis Hamilton joins Rosberg on grid 1 building MONTE CARLO, MONACO: Nico Rosberg (pictured below) bridges: Arat claimed pole position for today’s Monaco Grand Prix with a bril- PARIS: Istanbul winning the liantly-judged drive in capri- right to host the 2020 Olympic cious conditions as he and Games would help bridge the Mercedes team-mate Lewis gap between different cultures Hamilton locked out the front and religions, the bid’s chief row of the grid. executive Hasan Arat said. The 27-year-old German deliv- Arat, a former top level bas- ered a fastest lap of one minute ketball player turned successful and 13.876 seconds in the final businessman, is the frontman for seconds of a rain-hit session to what is Istanbul’s strongest bid outpace 2008 world champion yet of the five times they have Hamilton by 0.091 seconds. tried to host the quadrennial It was Rosberg’s third succes- sporting extravaganza. sive pole, the team’s fourth in a Turkey is a fiercely secular row and the fourth of his career, state, despite being a majority and it set him up perfectly to Muslim country. attempt to become the first son Arat said the International of a victorious former Monaco Olympic Committee (IOC) mem- winner to triumph on the streets bers would be making an historic of the Mediterranean principality. choice if they voted for Istanbul His father Keke Rosberg, ahead of Madrid - second to Rio watching the action from the German Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG in action during the third practice session at the Monte Carlo Circuit in Monaco yesterday. de Janeiro for the 2016 Games - paddock, won the race 30 years RIGHT: Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Nico celebrate in the parc ferme after the qualifying session ahead of today’s Monaco and Tokyo, the only one of the ago in 1983. Grand Prix. three to have previously hosted “You know, it’s always nice to the Games in 1964, on September hear statistics like that,” Rosberg 7 in Buenos Aires. junior said. “But it doesn’t change outpaced by Rosberg in all three an excuse,” said Vettel.” “There “Istanbul 2020 would be the much for tomorrow. Of course, practice sessions as well as quali- was more than a tenth missing Monaco Grand Prix starting grid first Olympics in the region,” I’m very happy. But, in Barcelona, fying, said: “I’ve been struggling - I think I had that today, but it 1. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:13.876 Arat told AFP by telephone from we were struggling such a lot in all weekend and my pace has been didn’t come together on the last 2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:13.967 Istanbul. the race (after starting from pole) slacking. I’ve struggled with the lap. If anyone is to blame, then 3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault 1:13.980 “It would be a bridge to excel- and I finished 70 seconds behind car and this is the first time that’s it’s me. The car was very good. 4. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:14.181 lence. A bridge to a new culture. the winner. happened since 2005. It’s been a I’m not entirely happy with my 5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 1:14.822 “A bridge to an historic impact. “We’re improving step by step, difficult weekend so I’m happy last lap but happy there’s not a It will unify the Olympic move- 6. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1:14.824 but there are still a lot of ques- to have been able to lock out the Lotus or Ferrari ahead so there- ment by bridging together dif- tions remaining. It’s still our front row for the team. It’s been fore sitting in third I think is still 7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren 1:15.138 ferent cultures, religions and weakness. But we will make the a massive improvement for me.” a good result and should be a good 8. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 1:15.383 generations. Istanbul is already best of it and who knows.” On a day when two German opportunity to win the race.” 9. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:15.647 the fifth most visited city in the Hamilton, who has been clubs were to meet in football’s Finn Kimi Raikkonen, the 10. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:15.703 world.” European Champions League 2007 champion, was fifth for 11. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber - Ferrari 1:18.331 A more physical version of a final, it was perhaps fitting that Lotus ahead of two-time cham- bridge was also at the forefront 12. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:18.344 the Mercedes team dominated pion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, of Arat’s belief that Istanbul could as they seek to become the first Mexican Sergio Perez of McLaren 13. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Renault 1:18.603 prevail: a third bridge along with Mercedes works outfit to win in and German Adrian Sutil of Force 14. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams - Renault 1:19.077 two tunnels would alleviate some Monaco since 1937. India. 15. Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham - Renault 1:19.408 of the traffic problems that weigh The Mercedes men, Monaco Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 16. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 1:21.688 heavily on IOC members’ minds neighbours, good friends and keen world champion, qualified ninth 17. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - Mercedes 1:26.322 when it comes to voting. rivals, qualified first and second in the second McLaren ahead of Those construction projects 18. Charles Pic (France) Caterham - Renault 1:26.633 ahead of a clearly disappointed Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of along with a recently-proposed defending triple world champion Toro Rosso. 19. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari 1:26.917 third airport have also reinforced Sebastian Vettel, who was third Alonso’s Ferrari colleague 20. Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - Cosworth 1:27.303 the impression that the Turkish ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa did not 21. Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - Cosworth Government led by Prime Australian Mark Webber. take part after mechanics failed 22. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan “It was very close. Mercedes to repair his car in time following ** 1-10: Third and final qualifying session is fully behind the bid. were very quick all weekend. a high-speed crash in the morning “The airport will be new (and 11-16: Second qualifying session We know they’re quick one lap. that his team attributed to ‘driver at 22.15bn euros the biggest ever I don’t want that to sound like error’. REUTERS 17-22: First qualifying session tender in Turkey). We will have three airports,” said Arat. “We didn’t mention the third bridge and third airport in the bid book as they were not tendered at Al Aseiri tops that time. “The Eurasia tunnel will be rescheduled Al Kuwari emerges fastest opened on October 29. Trials will begin on August 1. It is good for round at Losail the bid as after August 1 there will be a train passing from Asia to Europe, for the first time, the Circuit driver in official qualifying silk road from London to Beijing by train. DOHA: Mohamed Al Aseiri, DOHA: In the fifth round of “The first tunnel, the Marmaray piloting a Porsche GT3, Qatar National Road Racing Abdulaziz tunnel, is only for trains. The sec- emerged as the fastest driver Championship (QNRRC) yes- Abdulla and ond tunnel, the Eurasia tunnel, in the rescheduled round of terday, Ahmad Ghaith Al Mohamed will be a road tunnel for cars. The Qatar National Road Racing Kuwari powered his way to pole Al Aseiri are third bridge will be for trains and Championship (QNRRC) at position under floodlights at seen in action cars and construction has already Losail International Circuit. the iconic Losail International during round begun.” The round was rescheduled Circuit. five of Qatar Arat, who says he has had to after the third leg was washed Earlier, the Qatari driver National turn away private businesses out due to heave rains in March Mohamed Nasser Al Aseiri, Road Racing who wished to invest in the bid this year. behind the wheel of his Porsche Championship because they are already so well The Qatari driver, who started GT3, was the fastest driver in the (QNRRC) supported, said Erdogan, a former in the fourth position on the grid, first free practice with a lap time at Losail professional footballer, was giving grabbed the lead in the second lap of 2.23.345 in the Open Class. them invaluable help also on the International and later took the checkered flag The second best time was reg- diplomatic front. Circuit. with a gap of 1.366 over Abdulaziz istered by Pavel Nedobity from “That is one of the strongest Abdulla, who finished second in the Czech Republic with a time Ahmad Ghaith parts of the bid. The prime minis- his Porsche Carrera. of 2.23.675 (Lotus). Al Kuwari ter, the president and the govern- The third place was secured by In the Production Class yes- powered his ment are all united in support for Talal Wehbe who was driving a terday, David Andrew Walker way to pole the bid. They are giving the bid Lotus car. produced the best time with his position under big support,” he said. In the Production Class, the Honda car, 2.36.107. floodlights. “The Prime Minister is men- winner was Qatari driver Nasser In the Qualifying Practice, Al tioning the bid all the time as he Sheghail Al Abdulla. Kuwari clocked the top time of was a former mayor of Istanbul.” David Walker from Great 2.22.354 in his Mitsubishi and will “I am very happy with my time Arat, who says the vibrant Britain and Rhodelin Senga from start the race from the front grid. today and I am sure that the com- economy is also aiding the bid the Philippines finished second Next to the Qatari driver will petition in the race will be very with credit agency Moody’s and third respectively. be Mohammed Nasser Al Aseiri tough as the front cars are very recently raising their credit rat- Abdulla Al Kharaan of Qatar who registered a lap time of close with the timings,” Al Aseiri ing to investment grade, said IOC finished in fourth spot while 2.22.648. said. members could also be assured American driver Eric Febbo was In the Production Class, the Abdulaziz Abdulla, who that athletes would compete in the fifth fastest driver in the best time was secured by David emerged as the fourth fastest, total safety and security. Production Class. Walker of Great Britain. said: “The race tomorrow will be a His remarks come in the wake Later, Sultan Al Morraikhi, “It was wonderful today. I tough race as the qualifying times of twin car bombings which killed Qatar Motor and Motorcycle thought the weather will affect show that nobody dominated the 51 people in the border town of Federation (QMMF) Board the track because of the dust, but qualifying sessions. I have to do Reyhanli in the southeastern Member, presented trophies to it was okay,” Al Kuwari said. some alignment in my car and I Hatay province on May 11, in an the top three drivers. “I didn’t expect a good track hope to be better tomorrow.” incident that raised fears of the In the points standings, the as normally we drive after the Walker, who grabbed the top growing regional impact of the Australian driver Wehbe and bikes but the line seemed fine,” spot in the Production Class, was Syrian conflict. Abdulla from Qatar are leading he added. delighted that his vehicle had said “The Olympic family can be the championship as both drivers “I did what we had to do. I goodbye to ‘troubled times’. assured of a safe and secure have a tally of 28 points each. pushed the car to the maximum. “I feel great today as I had so games in an iconic setting,” he Al Aseiri is in third place with We did the first qualifying of the many car troubles in the last few said.“It (terrorism) is a global 15 points. season and I will try to keep the weeks,” Walker said after last issue which affects major cit- Nasser Al Abdulla is in first first place in race also,” the Qatari night’s qualifying. ies throughout the world. If you place in the Production Class added. “Now the car is running beauti- David Walker of Britain and Nasser Al Abdulla of Qatar during the look at the history of major cities with 20 points. Walker and Saif Al Aseiri, who finished second fully and I feel very confident for rescheduled third round of Qatar National Road Racing Championship throughout the world, we have to Al Naimi have a tally of 8 points fastest, was delighted with his the race tomorrow,” he added. (QNRRC) at Losail International Circuit. be very careful when we are com- each. THE PENINSULA performance. THE PENINSULA peting in a high level.” AFP SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, Vice President of Qatar Olympic Committee handing over the Emir Cup trophy to Al Rayyan team captain at Al Arabi Indoor Hall yesterday. Al Rayyan defeated Police in three sets to one ( 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22) in the final to win the Emir Cup and completed a domestic treble. Al Rayyan also won the Qatar Volleyball League and the Heir Apparent Cup this season. RIGHT: An Al Rayyan player tries to spike past the Police players in the final. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT Al Rayyan retain Emir Cup title Volleyball: Coach Travica’s side defeats Police in the final, completes domestic treble

BY DENZIL PINTO of the competition. It’s been a fan- having just joined the club for the tastic season for us having won campaign one week ago. DOHA: Defending champions this Cup. I am very pleased and The Bulgarian said: “It was an Al Rayyan completed a domestic grateful for everyone at the club.” incredible result. My team was treble after successfully defend- He added: “Yes it was a very very new and I only arrived a ing their Emir Cup title by beat- good performance by us. Police week ago. It is very difficult to ing Police 3-1 in an entertaining caused us many problems during create good team but we did that final yesterday. the match. They recovered from well. My team-mates and coaches Al Rayyan won 25-22, 25-23, a slow start and came back into were incredible and we did a very 23-25, 25-22 in a closely-fough- the match well.” good job.” ted encounter in front of a packed Michael Sanchez, who played a With Al Rayyan two sets up, venue at Al Arabi Indoor Hall. significant role in yesterday’s vic- Police deservedly clinched the Police, who came through the tory for Al Rayyan said: “It was third set. qualifying stages and had beaten very hard as Police played very Al Rayyan, who had won the top teams in this year’s campaign, well. We were very tired after Qatar Volleyball League title and most notably former champions playing so many matches but I’m Heir Apparent Cup this season Al Arabi in the semi-finals, put very happy I won today. The team recovered from the minor setback on a spirited performance. worked very well to get this win.” in the third set. Al Rayyan coach Ljubomir He added: “This is my first time Both sides cancelled each other Travica was delighted with the in Qatar, so it was a wonderful out, but a rejuvenated Police Emir Cup triumph. Travica, who season for me to win three Cups. side found themselves 20-17 up. was holding a clipboard and giv- I think this has been the best year However, Travica’s side showed ing team orders throughout the of my career so far. I hope we can their resistance and nerve to level match said: “This match was very perform well for the next season.” the score and later claimed the important for us and we wanted Al Rayyan’s Matey Kaziyski winning point to cap a remark- An Al Rayyan player spikes during the final. to end this match as the winners said it was an ‘incredible’ result able season. THE PENINSULA

Four Qatari players enter Saif’s pro status a big boost for snooker second round in Qatar, says QBSF president Al Ramzani DOHA: Recently crowned Asian Snooker champion Mohammed DOHA: Ahmed Saif turn- Al Ramzani said the qualifying for the next two years. Saif, beat Saleh of Afghanistan, current ing professional is a big boost tournament in United Kingdon Jamie Clarke 4-1 in the final world champion Muhammad for snooker and one which will was not an easy cake walk for round with a top break of 57 to Asif of Pakistan and Amir motivate more players from Saif. become the first snooker profes- Pakistan’s Sarkhosh of Iran topped their the country to aspire for suc- “A host of former professional sional from Qatar. respective groups to qualify cess, says Mohammed Mubarak players competed in the UK The QBSF official said Saif’s Mohammed for the pre-quarter-final stage Al Ramzani, President of event. The former profession- success will motivate the players, Asif aims for of the Second 6-Red Asian Qatar Billiards and Snooker als, who had dropped out from officials and coaches at the fed- a shot during Snooker Championship. Federation (QBSF). the tour for different reasons, eration to improve the standard the group Yesterday at the Qatar Billiards Speaking to The Peninsula were competing with some of the of the game in the country. league match and Snooker Federation Hall, on the sidelines of the 6-Red promising players, so Saif had to “His qualification makes us of the 6-Red the hosts has something to cheer Asian Snooker championship, work hard for it. He kept his cool happy. It will make us work hard Asian Snooker about as four Qatari players also Al Ramzani said: “First, I wish throughout the tournament and for more success, and we will also Championship made it to the next stage. Among to congratulate Ahmed Saif on the rest is history as they say it. like to encourage him to continue at Qatar the local players who made it to behalf of Qatar Billiards and So, it is a very pleasant feeling for with his success. He will be an Billiards and the next round were the Obaidly Snooker Federation for winning us, that he has qualified and will example, a role model for his fel- Snooker brothers Ali and Mohanna, who the Q School qualifying tourna- be eligible to play along with some low players and for all the players Federation will clash in one of the eight ment in the United Kingdom and of the world champions.” who aspire to make it big in the Hall in Doha matches due to take place in the book a place on the professional The 29-year-old from Qatar sport.” yesterday. morning session. Ahmed Saif, Tour. His (Saif’s) feat has brought was among the four players to Al Ramzani said Saif will not who last week qualified to play on joy to all of us at the Federation make it through Q School quali- be the first one nor the last as the professional circuit, also made and to the people of Qatar. He is fying event held at Sheffield, there were more talented play- it to the next stage. The fourth the first snooker player to break England, last week to earn a ers in Qatar waiting to move to qualifier from Qatar is Mosen into the pro tour from Qatar.” place on the World Snooker Tour the challenging professional tour Bukshaisha. THE PENINSULA set up. Regarding the hosts player’s been held in Qatar, an event sanc- “We hope in the next two or chances at the ongoing 6-Red tioned by the Asian Confederation 6-Red Asian Snooker three years we have more players Asian Snooker Championship of Billiard and Snooker Sports on the tour,” he said. Al Ramzani said the local play- (ACBSS). Championship And, the QBSF president said ers were getting use to the new The individual event will be fol- Third day schedule the first year on the professional format of the game. lowed by the team event on May 10 to 12 noon, 2.00pm to 6.00pm tour will be a learning experience “The format is new to our play- 28, in which Pakistan, Iran, Hong at Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation for the Saif. ers and this is the first time they Kong, Kuwait, China, Iraq, UAE, “The first year will be tough for are taking part in a tournament Mongolia, Thailand, Afghanistan, Qualifiers him transiting from an amateur of this nature. Even for our top Jordan, India, Singapore and Ali Jalil Ali (Iraq), Fung Kwok Wai(hong to a pro class. People should not players it is a complicated system, Saudi Arabia will be seen in Kong), Amir Sarkhosh (Iran), Ehsan accept quick results. We should but, they are getting used to it. action. Heydarinezhad(Iran), Abdulraouf Hassan be patient. His game will improve Cueists from Pakistan, India, Hosts Qatar will field two Saigh (Saudi Arabia), Lee Chun Wai(Hong gradually as he will play some top Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, teams – Qatar A and Qatar B. Kong),Ali Obaidly (Qatar), Mohanna Obaidly level players throughout the year. Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, Singapore, Last year, the QBSF hosted the (Qatar),Wang Yuchen (China), Mohammad When you play with high ranked Hong Kong, Thailand, UAE, Saudi Asian Snooker Championship, Al Joakar ((UAE), Khaled Sulaiman Al player, definitely, your level will Arabia, Kuwait, Palestine, Jordan, which saw Aditya Mehta beat- Astal (Palestine), Passakorn Suwannawat gradually improve. A higher level besides hosts Qatar are taking ing Pankaj Advani in an all-India (Thailand), Mohamed Shehab (UAE), Lim Chun player will beat you some time but part in the championship which final. Kiat (Singapore), Muhammad Asif (Pakistan) not all the time. Winning and los- ends with the final on May 27. QBSF also plays host annu- Wang Zepeng (China), Ahmed Saif (Qatar), ing is part of the learning proc- The Six-Red format is a short- ally to the World 9-Ball Pool Muhammad Sajjad (Pakistan), Shivam Arora ess. So, Saif will learn from his ened version of the game which Championship, which is contested ( India), Laxman Singh Rawat (India), Saleh Mohammed Mubarak Al Ramzani, President of Qatar Billiards and mistakes, gain by playing against features only six red balls on the by the top players of the world. Mohammed Mohammadi (Afghanistan), the top players of the world and table as opposed to the conven- This year’s championship will be Mosen Bukshaisha (Qatar), Ammar Mored Snooker Federation (QBSF) speaking to The Peninsula at the QBSF Hall yesterday. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT become a top player,” said Al tional 15. This is the first time the held from September 2 to 13. Taqi (Kuwait) and Yuttapop Pakpoj (Thailand). Ramzani. individual 6-Red Championship is THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 26 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

BCCI president Srinivasan says Ton-up Root puts England he won’t quit MUMBAI: “I have no inten- tion to resign,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan said on top against New Zealand here yesterday after his son-in- law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested in connection with the Indian Premier League (IPL) The 22-year-old lights up homeground with maiden Test century spot fixing scandal. “I have not done anything wrong, I have no intention to LEEDS, United Kingdom: Joe Scoreboard resign. I cannot be bulldozed into Root’s maiden Test century, resigning. The BCCI will follow on his Yorkshire home ground, England (I innings): its rules. There is no question of left England well-placed in the England’s A Cook c Brownlie b Bracewell ...... 34 my stepping down. If someone second and final Test against Joe Root N Compton c Brownlie b Southee ...... 1 wants to replace me, let him get New Zealand at Headingley celebrates J Trott c McCullum b Wagner ...... 28 elected. If I have done something yesterday. wrong, then it is a different mat- after reaching I Bell c McCullum b Williamson ...... 30 England were 337 for seven at ter,” Srinivasan told NDTV, after his first Test J Root c McCullum b Boult ...... 104 stumps on the second day after landing here to meet his son-in- century as J Bairstow c McCullum b Boult ...... 64 Root made 104, having come in M Prior (batting) ...... 38 law yesterday. with England in trouble on 67 for New Zealand’s The clamour for Srinivasan’s Doug S Broad c McCullum b Boult ...... 0 three following Friday’s first day G Swann (batting) ...... 21 resignation got louder after Bracewell wash-out. Extras (B-5, LB-7, W-4, NB-1) ...... 17 Chennai Super Kings team prin- (right) looks Together with Yorkshire col- Total (for 7 wkts) ...... 337 cipal Meiyappan on Friday was league Jonny Bairstow (64), Root on during To bat: S Finn, J Anderson. arrested by the Mumbai police. shared a fifth-wicket stand of 124. the second Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-67, 3-67, 4-146, “There will be no discrimi- However, left-arm quick Trent Test match at 5-270, 6-279, 7-286. nation for Gurunath. He will Boult brought New Zealand back Headingley Bowling: Boult 19-4-48-3 (2w); Southee be treated like everyone else. into the match with a new-ball Cricket 24-6-72-1 (1w); Wagner 23-4-73-1 (1nb, Whatever steps will be taken, will burst of three wickets for three Ground 1w); Bracewell 19-3-83-1; Williamson 9-0- be taken objectively and fairly,” runs in 13 deliveries to remove in Leeds, 49-1. Srinivasan said. both Yorkshiremen and Stuart England, New Zealand: Peter Fulton, Hamish Ruther- Srinivasan remained in the Broad. yesterday. ford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Doug line of fire with Sahara Group But Matt Prior, dropped on 21, Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum chief Subrata Roy and former was 38 not out at the close, and (capt/wkt), Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Doug International Cricket Council Graeme Swann, who survived the Bracewell, Trent Boult. (ICC) and BCCI president Sharad hat-trick chance, 21 not out with Pawar’s Nationalist Congress their partnership so far worth 51 Party (NCP) calling for his res- in just 59 balls. the sunny blue skies overhead Neil Wagner. carelessly caught behind for 30 by four, an on-drive off Wagner, saw ignation on moral grounds. The 22-year-old Root, in his providing seemingly ideal condi- And next ball left-hander Cook McCullum, keeping wicket after the son of late Yorkshire and The IPL scam, which seems sixth match at this level, was tions for batting. flat-footedly edged recalled pace- BJ Watling was ruled out with a England wicket-keeper David to be getting bigger by the day, the first Yorkshire batsman in But Tim Southee, who took man Doug Bracewell, part of a knee injury he suffered at Lord’s. Bairstow, to a 73-ball fifty and came to light when Rajasthan the county’s 150-year history to 10 wickets at Lord’s, had a static four-man seam attack with spin- It was the end of a stand worth also raised a century stand with Royals cricketers S Sreesanth, make his first Test hundred at Nick Compton excellently caught ners Bruce Martin (injured) and 79 and, at tea England were 178 Root. Such was the crowd’s nerv- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan Headingley. head-high by third slip Dean Daniel Vettori (unfit), to Brownlie for four with Root 61 not out and ous expectancy regarding Root’s were arrested on spot fixing It was another composed dis- Brownlie for one. England then as 67 for two became 67 for three. Bairstow 13 not out. progress that even Headingley’s charges last Wednesday. play by Root following his 71 in made largely untroubled progress At lunch, both Ian Bell and Root then surpassed his previ- usually raucous Western Terrace England’s 170-run first win in during a second-wicket stand Root were nought not out. ous Test best of 73, made on his was subdued. Umpire Rauf will the first of this two-Test series of 56 between Cook (34) and Conditions became tougher debut against India at Nagpur in But the silence was well and at Lord’s last week and means Jonathan Trott (28). for New Zealand’s seam- December, with three fours in as truly broken when Root’s steer fight to clear he has now scored 861 first-class But Trott, driving well away ers but occasional off-spinner many balls off Williamson -- a for four through the slips off runs in seven innings this season. from his body, was caught behind Kane Williamson lived up to drive and a sweep followed by a Bracewell saw him complete a name, says family Earlier, England captain by New Zealand captain Brendon his reputation as a partner- cheeky reverse sweep. 156-ball century, including nine Alastair Cook won the toss with McCullum off left-arm seamer ship breaker when he had Bell, Meanwhile Bairstow’s seventh boundaries. AFP KARACHI: Troubled Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf will fight to clear his name in an ongo- ing spot-fixing scandal in India, family sources said yesterday- IPL final: Chennai stand in Mumbai’s way day, saying he had returned to his home in Lahore. KOLKATA: Amid the intrigu- for the opponents, especially on a The International Cricket ing but dark saga of the unfold- IPL Champions and slow turning Eden track. Council (ICC) this week with- ing spot fixing and betting scam, On the other hand, Mumbai drew the 57-year-old umpire from two-time champions Chennai Runners-up Indians have been blowing hot and next month’s Champions Trophy Super Kings take on traditional KOLKATA: A list of winners and runners-up cold. They powered themselves in England in the wake of media underachievers Mumbai Indians in IPL history since the first edition held in into the knockout stage by fin- reports that he was under police in the final of the controversy- 2008. ishing second, but were humbled investigation. ridden sixth edition of the 2008 Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super by Chennai in the first play-off Mumbai police on Friday Indian Premier League (IPL) at Kings before stuttering past Royals in refused to confirm whether Rauf the iconic Eden Gardens here the second to seal the final berth. would be called in for question- 2009 Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers today. Opener Dwayne Smith has ing, as media outlets in India Bangalore A formidable but beleaguered been in red hot form and so long and Pakistan tried to track the Super Kings, who topped the 2010 Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai as he is out batting in the field, umpire down. Rauf’s family said round robin league on way to Indians Mumbai look favourites to win he returned to his home in Lahore the title round, would hope for a 2011 Chennai Super Kings, Royal any game. The West Indian so far a few days ago. replay of the 2010 finals to dash Challengers Bangalore has amassed 414 runs and his last “Rauf has nothing to hide, he Mumbai Indians’ quest for an elu- M S Dhoni ... CSK captain 2012 Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai R Sharma ... MI skipper two innings read-62 (44), 68 (28). reached Lahore after complet- sive IPL crown. Super Kings While Tendulkar has been ing his matches in the league (in Three years back, the forced to lay low with a wrist India),” a family source told AFP Mahendra Singh Dhoni led On the other hand, Mumbai seasons is a further proof of their finally the trio of Dhoni, Dwayne injury, his replacement Aditya without elaborating. Chennai had carved out a 22 run would draw confidence from their status as chokers. Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja to fin- Tare has grabbed attention with The ICC has said it felt it was win over Mumbai to bag their 2-1 win-loss record over Chennai Today gives them yet another ish things off in style. his big hitting. in “Asad’s best interests as well as first IPL title. in this edition of the league. chance to redeem themselves. Their potent bowling is led by The middle order compris- those of the sport and the event It will be a test of cricketing MI had won both the round Both the teams look evenly all-rounder Dwayne Bravo who ing skipper Rohit Sharma (536 itself” for him to no longer par- skills as well as mental toughness robin games, but lost in the first matched on paper. with 28 scalps is the joint high- runs) and keeper-batsman Dinesh ticipate in the Champions Trophy. for the Chennai outfit which has play-off. Chennai though have been more est wicket taker this season along Karthik (489) looks solid. Rauf, who has overseen 48 been making news outside the Through the IPL years, they consistent. In their armoury is with Rajasthan Royals’ James The big hitting prowess of Tests and 98 one-day internation- 22 yards with the fixing scan- have fielded sides packed with orange cap holder Michael Hussey Faulkner. Kieron Pollard needs no introduc- als, was one of the umpires during dal reaching its doorstep follow- superstars and promise, only to (732 runs) to provide a blister- The spin twin of Ravichandran tion. The burly allrounder has the the Indian Premier League (IPL) ing the arrest of chief executive bow out in crunch games. Failures ing start, a Suresh Raina (548) to Ashwin (15 wickets) and Jadeja ability to turn a match on its head at the centre of the corruption Gurunath Meiyappan. in the play-offs over the last two carry the momentum forward and (13 wickets) can also be a handful in a short span. IANS probe. AGENCIES Birla Public School wins under-17 tournament

DOHA: Hiral Agarwal turned Sidra Tahir of IIS and Khadija in a dominant all-round display Ahmed of PEC were declared the to power Birla Public School to Best Wicketkeeper and Best All- an overwhelming 91-run vic- rounder, respectively. tory against MES Indian Public In all, six schools participated School in the final of the Qatar in the tournament and were Under-17 Schools Girls Cricket divided into two groups of three Tournament. each. In the final held at the West The Group A consisted of Bay Grounds, Birla Public School Pak Shamaa School & College, amassed 160 for no loss in 20 Dukhan English School and Birla overs. Hiral struck a fine 46 not Public School. out and Santhiya contributed an The Group B involved M.E.S undefeated 36. Indian School, Pakistan Education MES Indian School failed to Centre and Ideal Indian School. come up with suitable response Gul Mohammad Khan Jadoon, and collapsed to 69 in 19.5 overs. the Head of the Domestic Cricket Only two players – Feba with 17 at the QCA, was the chief guest and Emi with 13 - could reach and distributed the prizes. the double figures. Those present during the Hiral and Amal were the prize distribution included Miss. wreckers in chief, sharing six Mariam Gul Khan Jadoon, Syed wickets. Aditi picked two, while Hassan Raza, Paramjeet Kaur Ananya and Divi grabbed one Bhullar, Sajida Bibi and Shivani apiece. Mishra. Hiral was later chosen as the Brief scores: Birla Public Player of the Final. She also School (160 for 0 wickets) beat Players and officials of Birla Public School and MES Indian Public School are seen with Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) officials after the final of the bagged the Awards for Best M.E.S Indian School (69 all out) Qatar Under-17 Schools Girls Cricket Tournament at West Bay Grounds in Doha. Birla Public School won the final by 91 runs. Batswoman and Best Bowler. by 91 runs THE PENINSULA Sunday 26 May 2013 16 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5711 Sport Price: QR2 LATEST NEWS UPDATES LATEST NEWS UPDATES IN TAMIL FROM PHILIPPINPHILIPPINES Serena out to Chennai take TAMIL TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER AVAILABLE tame French on Mumbai in AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS Open demons IPL final today Available every Wednesdays in all leading IN QATAR supermarkets and shops in Qatar & Bahrain FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: TEL: 4465 0600 TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected] Sport | 24 Sport | 27 EMAIL: [email protected]

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Snooker: QBSF, WPA extend Djokovic and cold weather 9-Ball Pool Championship contract threaten Nadal’s Paris bid BY ARMSTRONG VAS DOHA: The Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) and Yannick Noah says present French players can’t win at Roland Garros World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) have agreed to extend the contract for hosting of the PARIS: Old foe Novak Djokovic World 9-Ball Pool Championship and damp weather conditions for another four years. are the most likely obstacles “The World Pool-Billiard to claycourt machine Rafael Association (WPA) has agreed to Nadal’s bid for a record-extend- extend the hosting rights of the ing eighth French Open title Serbia’s World 9-ball Pool Championship over the next two weeks. Novak with Qatar Billiards and Nadal, who last year beat Djokovic Snooker Federation (QBSF) till practises Bjorn Borg’s record of six Roland Switzerland’s 2017,” Mohammed Mubarak Al during a Garros crowns, has lost only one Roger Federer Ramzani, President of QBSF, said training match on the Paris clay and has is pictured yesterday. already won five titles on the slow session on The current contract between during a surface this year. the eve of the two parties is set to end with training However, Serbia’s Djokovic the start of this year’s championship, which session on ended the Spaniard’s eight-year the French will be held from September 2 to the eve of the reign at the Monte Carlo Masters Open. 13. French Open to show he is beatable on the red Djokovic Ian Anderson, President of at the Roland dust after all. has won six WPA, had dropped sufficient Garros Stadium Cold and wet weather could Grand Slam hints at last year’s championship in Paris also threaten Nadal, whose dev- singles that Qatar will host the World astating top spin works best on yesterday. 9-Ball Pool Championship beyond titles: the dry courts. Winner of 17 2013. 2008, 2011, Temperatures are set to barely Grand Slam The QBSF has been hosting the 2012, reach 15 degrees Celsius in the titles, Federer event since 2008 and though the and 2013 first week of the French Open, bagged his current contract with the WPA Australian with rain showers forecast every only French ends in ’13, Anderson had said the Open; day from Tuesday onwards, Open title four tournament is here to stay. the 2011 conditions reminiscent of 2009 years ago. “The QBSF has been a very when the Spaniard lost to Robin Wimbledon good host. It has been doing a Soderling in the fourth round. and the good job over the years and has “The only negative thing is this 2011 US organised this tournament with- cold,” Nadal, who came back this Open. out any hassles whatsoever. The year from a seven-month knee facilities here — be it at the train- injury layoff, told a news confer- ing hall or at the competition ence on Friday. venue — are fantastic and truly Nadal, with 11 Grand Slam world-class,” he said. “Players are titles on all surfaces to his name, also very happy with the hospi- is just happy to be back playing tality that they receive in Qatar. and winning at Roland Garros Djokovic, who lost early in a smooth-looking draw until a no good. It’s just that the guys is Tsonga’s defeat to Djokovic in They enjoy coming here every again this year is not the be-all Rome and Madrid, could meet potential quarter-final clash with ahead of them are stronger. last year’s quarter-finals when he year. I see a bright prospect for and end-all. Nadal in the semi-finals of a tour- his sometime nemesis. “Jo (-Wilfried Tsonga) is capa- let slip four match points in the the QBSF hosting the event well “If you can ask me if I win one nament deprived of world number Meanwhile, Yannick Noah ble of beating a top five player at fourth set before losing 6-1 in the beyond ’13,” Anderson had said. Grand Slam during the whole two Andy Murray, who pulled out believes that none of the cur- any time, if he plays an excep- fifth. It was an eye-opener for the The prize money of the tourna- year or win six tournaments like because of back problems. rent crop of French players are tional match, but he can’t do that popular Tsonga, who, like Noah, ment has also seen a steady rise I already did, I will choose to win “This is the tournament that capable of matching his exploit twice in a row. Nadal, Djokovic, has an African-born sports- over the years. six tournaments,” said the third is the number one priority of my in winning the French Open 30 Federer, over five sets, they are man father who married a white In the first two editions, it seed, who first meets Germany’s year, of my season. This is where years ago. just better.” French woman. was $150,000. It was raised to Daniel Brands. I want to win and I’m going to go The dreadlocked star’s straight “Jo hasn’t been as fortunate as “After that match I realised $200,000 in the subsequent two World number one Djokovic, in for it,” Djokovic, who beat Nadal sets win over Mats Wilander in I was, that’s for sure. I think that that there was a huge gap between editions. This time, it was fur- contrast, has put a lot of pressure in the Monte Carlo final, told a 1983 remains the last male home overall we have similar levels, it’s me and those kind of players. ther increased to $300,000 and on his shoulders having yet to tri- news conference. title win, coming as it did 37 years just that a door opened up for me. So I did everything I could and Anderson believes it augurs well umph at the French Open. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard after the previous one by Marcel “There was one guy to beat everything that was possible to for the tournament’s profile. He has asked his support Gasquet, seeded sixth and sev- Bernard in 1946. (that year) - Lendl - and I crushed improve,” he said. “Ever since the QBSF started team and reporters not to tell enth respectively, will be out to In that time, only Henri him (in the quarter-finals). “I took a coach so I could prac- hosting the event in ’08, it has him who his potential second or end France’s 30-year drought for Leconte in 1988 has managed to Against Mats, at that time, I had tise even more seriously, and I got a huge facelift. The organis- third round opponents are so he a men’s Grand Slam champion. reach the final for France and he no problems. I was able to domi- also tried to have very well bal- ers make sure that the cream of can focus on his opener against In Tsonga’s way stands sec- lost in straight sets to Wilander. nate him with my game.” anced training sessions. I was pool players come here every year. Belgian David Goffin. ond seed Roger Federer, who has “It’s not that I think they are Bearing out what Noah said totally committed.” AGENCIES THE PENINSULA I can never thank the fans enough, Canizares shows form to says Garcia VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND: Sergio Garcia lead Championship field spoke of his unending gratitude to the Wentworth galleries after Spanish golfer soaring into title contention at Alejandro VIRGINIA WATER: Spain’s Westwood admitted it will be much more in tune with my swing the PGA Championship with Canizares plays Alejandro Canizares, playing ironic if his first victory since and had a lot better distance and a sizzling four-under-par 68 in a shot from the his first event since a meningi- moving to Florida comes in direction control with my irons yesterday’s third round. rough on the tis scare, leads Ryder Cup star England, where the World No.12 and set up a lot of chances. It was The 33-year-old Spaniard was 18th hole during Lee Westwood by a single shot could win the European Tour’s one of the most fun days I have embroiled in a racism row with the third round going into the final round of the flagship event for the first time ever had on a golf course. It was Tiger Woods earlier this week and of the PGA BMW PGA Championship at at the 20th attempt. Westwood good to see a lot more smiling had to issue an unreserved apol- Championship Wentworth Club. goes into the final round one shot faces and a lot more people pre- ogy after making a “fried chicken” Canizares yesterday birdied the behind after a 67 gave him an pared to take their hands out of at Wentworth jibe at the world number one. final two holes to complete a 68 as eight under par total of 208 at a their pockets and applaud.” Golf Club in “It’s getting better every day, he seeks a second European Tour gloriously sunny Wentworth Club. Asked if a win today would there’s no doubt everybody has Surrey, England, title in his first event since pulling “I’m still far from holding the be the biggest of his career, the made it so much easier for me,” yesterday. out of the Volvo China Open at trophy but it would be ironic,” 40-year-old added: “It would be he told reporters after finishing the start of the month after being said Westwood, who has cred- right up there, probably in the with a five-under total of 211. diagnosed with viral meningitis. ited the vast improvement in his top three. Dubai (in 2009) was “The crowds here, I don’t have Italy’s Matteo Manassero (69) short game to moving to the US probably the biggest because words to explain what I feel and Briton Marc Warren (70) in December last year. that was to win the money list as towards them. They have been were a further shot adrift on 209 “It would be great and I am well, while in 1997 I went down to amazing, every single tee, every while Sergio Garcia, the talk of after as many wins as I can get, Australia and beat Greg Norman single green, cheering me on, and the town following his racism row but it’s a crowded leaderboard for the Australian Open in a play- I can never pay them back.” with Tiger Woods, was lurking and I will have to play as well if off and I rate that highly.” REUTERS ominously on 211 after a 68. not better than I did today. I felt AGENCIES