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Emir meets Canadian minister OPINION Cabinet okays Influence of Iran, Brotherhood draft health on GCC states here is confu- Tsion insurance law among Gulf citizens about the role of Iran Govt to pay premiums of Qataris and its inter- Khalid Al Sayed vention in EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DOHA: The State Cabinet membership of a representative their domes- yesterday ratified the draft of Qatar 2022 supreme commit- tic affairs, law on mandatory health tee to the National Committee for and the role of Muslim insurance and referred it to Occupational Safety and Health Brotherhood, or what is called the Advisory Council for its established by cabinet Decree No. political Islam, which is domi- recommendations. (16) of the year 2011. nating the Arab Spring states. The law will facilitate imple- With the uprising in Syria mentation of the proposed Other cabinet decisions in its third year, it is clear for national health insurance scheme Other decisions of the meet- any observer that Iran has that will cover all citizens and ing include: Approving the draft spread its security and intel- expatriates, including visitors to bids regulation for Public Works ligence influence in the Gulf. the country. Authority. Recently, the Saudi Ministry The first phase of the manda- Approving the draft of Interior disclosed that it tory health insurance scheme is Memorandum of Understanding has busted an Iranian spy net- expected to be implemented by (MoU) in the field of urban plan- work comprising of 16 Saudis the end of this year. The Cabinet ning and infrastructure between and two others from Iran and ratified the draft law at its regu- Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality Lebanon. Similarly, Bahrain lar weekly meeting chaired by and Urban Planning and South The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird at the Emiri revealed the arrest of a ter- the Prime Minister and Foreign Korea’s Ministry of Transport Diwan in Doha yesterday. They reviewed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. rorist cell which was planning Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin and Land and Maritime. to form an armed opposition Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani. The law Approving the entry into force force under the name “Al will lay down rules and regulations of the provisions of Law No (24) Emam Army” with the aim of for licensed healthcare providers as of the year 2002 on retirement attacking military bases in the well as the institutions authorised and pensions for Qatari work- country. to provide health insurance. ers at the Thani bin Abdullah’s Media freedom centre criticised Kuwaiti political thinker According to the draft law, Foundation for Humanitarian Dr Abdullah Al Nafisi said health insurance will be obligatory Services (RAF). DOHA: Hav i ng be come a lau g h- have a role to play locally and linked to freedom of expres- last week that Iran has plans and include mandatory health Taking the necessary meas- ing stock for taking up issues regionally like similar centres else- sion. “We guess Dr Mohamed Al to train Shia youth in the insurance services in addition to ures to ratify the Memorandum related to freedom of expression where. There is a similar centre in Jaidah’s arrest has something to Gulf states. According to preventive, curative, rehabilitative of Understanding (MoU) between in places like Syria and Sudan Kuwait and it regularly publishes do with freedom of speech. But him, Tehran is planning to and medical examinations serv- the governments of Qatar and and turning a blind eye to such reports on media freedom in the the DCMF hasn’t uttered a word take these youth to Sada in ices against payment of health Algeria on cooperation in the field issues closer home, the Doha region,” said a prominent Qatari and not even enquired why he Yemen from where they will insurance premiums. of oil and gas. Centre for Media Freedom journalist asking not be named was detained,” said the Qatari be transferred to four Eritrean The government will pay pre- The cabinet also discussed the (DCMF) eventually says it is due to the sensitivity of the issue. journalist. In a column late last islands which are rented and miums on behalf of Qatari citi- following issues and took the nec- busy publishing a report on According to him, a famous fel- month, prominent Qatari jour- used as military training cent- zens. A company called National essary decisions: media laws in the GCC. low Qatari journalist and author, nalist, Khalid Al Jaber, quoting ers by Iran. The youth will be Company for Health Insurance The letter of the Tax Appeal Modelled after ‘Reporters Abdulaziz Al Mehmoud, was some- New York-based Human Rights trained by Iranian revolution- will be established and will be Committee on the report of the Without Borders’, critics of the time ago prevented from entering Watch, said that the authorities ary guards there to destabilize responsible for implementa- Committee’s work during the Centre say it is nowhere close to the UAE and the DCMF didn’t say in the GCC states had pursued, the Gulf region. Dr Nafisi said tion and management of the period from July 1 - to December the France-based media freedom a word about him. prosecuted and jailed activists the regime in Bahrain would health insurance scheme under 31, 2012; The letter of Qatar’s watchdog and lacks a clear vision More recently, late last who called for political reforms have almost fallen had the the supervision of the Supreme Standing Committee of the about what its objectives and ide- February, a Qatari medical doc- and freedom of the press. Al Jazeera Shield forces not Council of Health. Population on its annual report als, if at all, are. tor was detained at Dubai air- THE PENINSULA intervened. Continued on page 7 The Cabinet also approved the for 2012. THE PENINSULA “The DCMF doesn’t seem to port apparently because of issues Continued on page 7

Fire at Sidra parking lot Journalist’s bounty on Assad’s head Average monthly pay

DOHA: A in banks is QR30,250 famous Aljazeera Arabic channel’s news reader has DOHA: The average monthly half that of the banking industry. announced a prize salary in the country’s bank- The financial services providers of $1m for any- ing and financial services sec- had a slightly lower average of one who brings tor was QR23,750 in 2011, more QR15,000. her the head of than three times the national The QSA figures show that the Syrian President Bashar Al average, figures released by the insurance industry’s pay actually Assad, Al Sharq reports. Qada national statistics agency show. marginally declined in 2011 over Owais’s (pictured) announce- Since the average was the previous year, from QR15,833 ment is a tit for tat for a busi- QR19,416 in 2010, rising over 20 to QR15,333, while that of the nessman close to Al Assad who percent the next year, it can be financial services sector improved recently announced that anyone assumed that the salaries in the to QR15,000 from QR12,083. who catches a correspondent of sector might have improved fur- There were 19 banks, 14 insur- Al Jazeera or Al Arabia TV net- ther in 2012. ance providers and 72 financial works will be given away a prize Banks were the highest pay- services companies (including of $50,000. Owais has covered masters, with their monthly real estate developers and stock the Syrian crisis in Alleppo, the average salary being QR30,250 in brokers) in the country in 2010, daily said. THE PENINSULA 2011, data released by the Qatar totalling 105. Their number grew Statistics Authority (QSA) yes- marginally to 109 the next year Qaradawi’s fatwa terday suggest. (in 2011) as two new insurance Smoke rising from the underground parking lot of Sidra Medical and Research Center in Doha after a fire, Insurance companies ranked firms and two financial services on IPO subscription yesterday, in a picture by Tamador Mohammed Al Sulaiti, published on the website of The DailyQ, a student second but their average monthly providers sprang up. pay — QR15,333 — was almost THE PENINSULA publication of Northwestern University in Qatar. There was no report of casualty. Report on page 4 DOHA: Prominent Islamic scholar Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi has issued an edict (fatwa) urging fellow Islamic clerics and senior members of man- UAE Islamists’ trial slammed N Korea okays strike on US agement of Islamic banks and Dubai’s new airport to open on October 27 financial services companies DUBAI: Seven international human SEOUL: North Korea dramatically DUBAI: Dubai’s new international air- operations into Dubai World Central, to encourage Qatari citizens to rights groups yesterday criticised escalated its warlike rhetoric yesterday, port, which started cargo operations in Dubai Airports said in a statement. actively subscribe to the mega a “secret” trial in the United Arab warning that it had authorised plans for 2010, will open its long-delayed passen- Dubai World Central is designed even- initial public offering (IPO) Emirates of 94 Islamist dissidents, say- nuclear strikes on targets in the United ger terminal on October 27 with two tually to cater to 160 million passengers, to be launched by the state- ing refusal to open it up to the public States. “The moment of explosion is budget airlines launching services there, which would make it the world’s largest backed Doha Global Investment was suspect. The groups said even rela- approaching fast,” the North Korean mil- airport authorities said yesterday. airport on completion. It is supposed ulti- Company. tives of the defendants were barred from itary said, warning that war could break European low-cost carrier Wizz Air and mately to replace the emirate’s current THE PENINSULA attending the trial. See also page 9 out “today or tomorrow”. See also page 15 Saudi Arabia’s nasair will begin passenger international airport. REUTERS

THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Ambulance service of the Hamad Medical Corporation and Red Crescent at the Villaggio mall after the fire scare at the Topshop store. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH

Fire at Sidra Fire alarm causes panic at Villaggio underground Mall closes for over an hour as short circuit in a clothing store leads to evacuation parking

DOHA: A fire alarm at the circuit, remained closed. first I felt a smell of something employee of a store in the VIP were no casualties or injuries DOHA: Fire broke out at an Villaggio Mall, caused panic The Ministry of Interior, said burning, and then heard a less area. caused. Villaggio mall, after the underground parking lot of yesterday, making shoppers on its Facebook and Twitter noisy alarm, later a louder one,” A team of police and Civil tragic May 28, 2012 fire which Sidra Medical and Research and staff to evacuate the accounts that Civil Defence had said a shopper at Topshop. Defence officials rushed to the claimed 19 lives — 13 of them Center yesterday. building. The alarm was went evacuated Villaggio mall as a pre- “Then security guards told eve- mall after hearing the fire alarm. children — was reopened on As a precaution, all person- off around 1.40pm caused by caution after an electric default ryone to leave the building imme- They inspected the clothing store September 20 after its manage- nel were called off the site and a short circuit in a clothing in an air condition. Later, public diately,” she added. and recorded statements from ment installed new fire safety the fire was brought under store near gate 2. were allowed to the mall after The fire alarm was set off more employees for more than one systems complying with safety control. No damage was reported. ensuring all safety measures. than once according to some hour, before reopening the mall rules. “We will keep the commu- Normalcy soon returned although Fire alarm at Topshop and employees working for outlets for business. On December 17, 2012 too nity informed about the cause there was an evacuation and the Topman, first set off and it was inside the Villaggio mall. Ambulance service of the the alarm was set off around by of the fire, pending investiga- shopping mall was closed for more followed by the alarm at the shop- “The fire alarm went off twice Hamad Medical Corporation and smoke from the kitchen of a res- tion,” said a statement issued than an hour. However, Topshop ping mall. around 2pm and the building was Red Crescent too rushed to the taurant in the food court. by the Sidra Medical and and Topman, which had a short “I was inside the trial room, evacuated immediately,” said an Villaggio mall, although there THE PENINSULA Research Center. It said Sidra is being built to the highest standards of safety in accordance with the American Institute of Qatar to take part in Quran contest Architects’ code of practice for hospitals. Sidra is part of the Qatar DOHA: Qatar will par- participants from more than at the ministry, said. Foundation, which is recog- ticipate in the 4th Kuwait 50 countries. Ba’ashir’s par- Al Badr also expressed hope nised as having an extremely International Quran ticipation in this contest that Qatari graduates would high competency in health and Recitation and Memorisation comes within the framework play a prominent role in teach- safety in building design and Contest, which runs at of the pioneering efforts of ing the Holy Quran and spread- rigorous implementation of the International Islamic the Ministry of Endowments ing its sciences. testing and standards. Charitable Organisation in and Islamic Affairs to guide The completion is held in Staff at Sidra will be fully Kuwait until April 10. promising Qatari students to categories including memo- trained in health and safety Contestant Youssef Ba’ashir, win international prizes and risation of the entire Quran, procedures and how to oper- memoriser of the entire Quran provide necessary support and recitation, Tajweed and the best ate in an emergency situation. represents Qatar in the compe- assistance to them, Sultan technology dveloped for serving THE PENINSULA tition that will bring together Saad Al Badr, a senior official the Holy Quran. QNA

Doha Film Institute plans workshops to train local talent

DOHA: Doha Film Institute (DFI) has launched the Transmedia Workshop series aimed at strength- ening local talent and opening doors to innovative filmmaking techniques and emerging story-telling platforms. DFI will conduct three Transmedia Workshops, each spanning across four days starting from April 15 to 18. The workshops will give participants the opportunity to create their own ‘Transmedia’ projects by provid- ing insights into the ‘Storyworld Principle’, and gradu- ally strengthening their skills to master cross-platform narratives. The second workshop will be held from May 2 to 4, during which participants will expand their logline and underline the scope of experience of the audience’s role. Finally the third workshop will be held from June 7 to 9 where individuals will investigate whether their story world can be told in real time. The workshops will be tutored by Julian McCrea, Founder of Portal Entertainment, a cross-platform pro- duction company, and Mike Jones, an award-winning writer and media producer. “As the mediums to capture and narrate stories evolve, it is important that filmmakers and film enthusiasts understand and adopt the newer platforms. Through the ‘Transmedia Workshop Series’ we will connect film- makers with the innovative channels developed by their generation, and provide them the opportunity to deliver their own narratives to a wider audience,” said Mahdi Ali Ali, Manager of Gulf Film Development, under DFI’s Film Financing arm. The ‘Transmedia Workshop’ series will be open to a maximum of 30 participants and will be held from 6.30pm to 9pm. Those who are interested in participating in the workshops can visit www.dohafilminstitute.com/transme- dia-storyworld THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

PM meets Chinese envoy New envoys Call to mark present copies of credentials No Paper Day to minister DOHA: The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Initiative receives good response Attiyah yesterday received new ambassadors of Syria, DOHA: Qatar Green Building Lebanon, Singapore and Council (QGBC) called for Pakistan, who presented cop- individuals and organisations ‘No Paper Day Qatar’ ies of credentials. nationwide to take part in an has asked participants During separate meetings initiative today to reduce paper to record the amount of with Nizar Hassan Al Haraki waste in the country, estimated paper they use in a day and (Syria), Hassan Qassim Nijm at 5.4 million sheets a day. (Lebanon), Wong Kok Bonn ‘No Paper Day Qatar’ has asked compare it with the amount (Singapore) and Sayyed Hassan participants to record the amount they save today. Raza (Pakistan), Dr Al Attiyah of paper they use in a day and wished them success in their compare it with the amount they assignments. save it today. event in a larger report on waste He also wished further devel- It also encouraged those taking produced in Qatar later this opment and growth in rela- part to ‘upcycle’ used paper prod- month.” tions between Qatar and their ucts into creative projects, such as QGBC founded the Solid Waste countries. weaved baskets or paper flowers. Interest Group (SWiG) in 2010 to A number of officials from As of yesterday, more than a raise awareness about solid waste the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dozen organisations and count- issues in Qatar’s built environ- attended the meetings. less individuals had registered to ment. Its aim is to help organisa- participate in the day. Businesses tions and individuals eliminate or Culture minister in the construction, hospitality, oil minimise solid waste generation and petroleum sectors took part and handle unavoidable waste returns from Cairo alongside schools and educational in an environmentally conscious organisations. manner. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani received China’s DOHA: The Minister of Al Sharq newspaper is media As part of No Paper Day Qatar, special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike. They reviewed latest regional and international developments. The Culture, Arts and Heritage H partner for the day, with an SWiG provided the public with prime minister also held separate talks with Philip Lombard, President of the Swiss Senate and his delegation, E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al advance series of articles on the tips on how to save paper in their and Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird. Kuwari returned from Egypt issue. daily lives, whether at home, in where he participated in the “As part of the Qatar National the office or at school. Advice annual conference of the Arabic Vision 2030 to strike a balance included sharing magazine and Language Academy in Cairo between developmental needs newspaper subscriptions with a recently. and the protection of the nation’s friend or colleague, signing up for During his visit, the Minister environment, we must continue to electronic bill payment and notifi- Cabinet plans e-sitting met a number of Egyptian offi- raise awareness of the important cations, and refraining from using cials. QNA role individuals and businesses disposable goods. play in preserving the country’s In November 2011, the group DOHA: The Deputy Prime The Deputy Prime Minister came as part habitats for future generations,” conducted Qatar’s first waste Minister and Minister of State said that the plan aimed to mod- of the overall said Meshal Al Shamari, Director composition analysis at a beach for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmad ernise and update the modus plan for the of QGBC. clean-up. They have also led a bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud said operandi at the Cabinet General development “No Paper Day Qatar, which major educational initiative in that the e-sitting system of the Secretariat, which was launched and modernisa- will be an annual event, is a partnership with The Pearl- Cabinet had been finalised. in July, 2012 when the e-min- tion the General national call to be more conscious Qatar to turn discarded bottle This follows directives of the isterial portfolio system was Secretariat has of the paper we waste every day tops into art. Student and adults Prime Minister and Foreign launched, enabling the ministers been witnessing and how at the national level we participating in the project col- Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin to minutely follow up files and to facilitate and can do more to conserve our nat- lected more than 60,000 bottle Jassem bin Jabor Al thani. The documents of the Cabinet and key develop action, ural resources. tops across Qatar, and the result- system will ensure the best use data whether the ministers were keeping in line “Our Solid Waste Interest ing Bottle Top Art project can be of advanced technological means inside or outside the country. with modern Group is at the forefront of this found on permanent display at when reviewing and handling Al Mahmoud said the execu- management initiative, and together we will The Pearl-Qatar. Cabinet sitting-related files and tion of the electronic system and methods. be examining the results of this THE PENINSULA appendixes, said Al Mahmoud. the electronic portfolio system QNA THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Spiny-tailed lizard

Some of the fake oil cans seized at an outlet. Fake engine oil seized

DOHA: The Consumer protection law and received 389 Protection Department (CPD) complaints from the public in the at the Ministry of Business and past one month. Trade has acted against an out- Majority of the violations were let selling low quality engine oil related to fake promotions (21 under the name of a popular cases) and failure to display the brand. product prices (18 cases). Workers at the shop were The violations also included found filling substandard engine selling used and expired tyres oil in empty cans of the branded and failure to replace damaged company. All the fake stocks were goods or refund the money to the seized and legal action was taken customers. One vegetable supplier against the shop, the CPD said in was caught selling his products a statement yesterday. directly to a retailer at the auc- The department also detected tion yard in the central market. 21 violations of the consumer THE PENINSULA An Arabian spiny-tailed lizard spotted near the Wakra Family Beach, yesterday. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH Qatari job seekers throng Career Fair Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at Qatar National Convention Center receives 336 applications

DOHA: Many private and public lawyers, translators, experts on administration, accounting, phys- includes professional help with to attract the best and brightest graduates as future employ- institutions at the Qatar Career international relations and con- iotherapy, pharmacy, lab science, identifying a suitable individual Qatari talent at the Qatar Career ees, part of the company’s Fair 2013 have announced that sultants at different medical spe- radiology and socials works. The career path, as well as informa- Fair 2013. Offering numerous Qatarisation policy, and has as its they have received many appli- cialisations. The pavilion also has duration of study varies depend- tion on the requirements for spe- opportunities to young students objective at the Fair ‘to increase cations from Qatari youth seek- a special section to receive appli- ing on the field of study; however cific job sectors. and fresh graduates, the Company Qatari students’ awareness about ing different opportunities. cations for scholarship for higher HMC sponsors education fees and Throughout the next six days, is opening its doors to an exclu- the importance of Aluminium Several other companies are studies in those fields related to offers students financial assist- HBKU will engage Qatari second- sive visit to its facilities at Ras industry and find in QCF a great hosting different activities to the Ministry. ance during the period of study. ary school students, fresh gradu- Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) as opportunity to communicate with attract Qatari talents. ates, and mid-career professionals part of its recruitment drive for Qatari students.’ HMC HBK UNIVERSITY to highlight the learning and this year’s QCF. MINISTRY OF INTERIOR A large number of young Hamad bin Khalifa University career opportunities the univer- “As one of the world’s leading MASRAF AL RAYAN The pavilion of the Ministry of Qataris expressed their interest (HBKU), a member of Qatar sity and Qatar can offer them. LNG producers, we are always Masraf Al Rayan has formed a Interior at the Qatar Career Fair in career opportunities at Hamad Foundation (QF) for Education, In the workshops and activities, on the lookout for young Qataris team of human resource profes- 2013 has received a significant Medical Corporation and have Science and Community visitors will learn about best prac- looking to build a dynamic career sionals and career advisors who number of Qatari job seekers on already been invited to submit Development, is taking part in tices in career development and in the energy sector. In addition will be offering unique career the first and second day for both their applications at the booth. Qatar Career Fair, for the first exploration, skill based practices to presenting opportunities at growth plans to Qatari graduates military and civil jobs. “We are accepting applications time. Through the Fair, HBKU in future planning, and university our QCF stand, we’re opening at their Stand No. BF-S03. The pavilion received 336 appli- from candidates who have at least will meet with Qataris to show preparation. In addition, selected our doors for a visit to RLIC this “We are truly committed to cations till Tuesday afternoon. 100 completed their high school edu- them how they can be the driv- sessions will offer visitors the month, to give them an insight the Country’s aspirations to out of these applicants are women cation regardless of the comple- ers of Qatar’s knowledge economy, chance to meet with commu- into our core business which is the carve a generation of qualified looking for civil jobs while 70 males tion date,” said. Fatima Haider, and to demonstrate how higher nity role models in order to help extraction, processing and storage and experienced nationals who have applied for police jobs. 90 Acting Executive Director of education can help them fulfill inspire them envision their own of natural gas from Qatar’s North can assume leadership roles and applicants are graduates while 80 Human Resources at HMC. their potential. career path. HBKU’s HR rep- Field,” said Erhama Al Kaabi, inspire younger generations to persons applied for higher studies “We would like to encourage The QCF provides nationals resentatives also are present to Chief Employee Development and become active participants in the on Ministry scholarship. Qatari nationals who also have with the opportunity to learn discuss current and future career Welfare Officer at RasGas. overall socio-economic develop- The ministry has placed many professional experience to apply.” more about Qatar’s job market opportunities with the university. ment of the Nation. The Career jobs in different specializations in Haidar said that HMC offers as well as the local educational QATALUM Fair is the most ideal opportunity this career fair including commu- scholarships in different fields and career development sup- RASGAS Qatalum is taking part as an to witness a wide range of Qatari nication, electronic and computer of study including medicine, port systems available, directly RasGas Company Limited exhibitor —at booth EI-G09 — talent on a single platform. engineers, statistics researchers, nursing, engineering, business from those that offer them. This (RasGas) has taken an extra step to attract Qatari students and THE PENINSULA QF Fan Zone draws crowds

DOHA: Hundreds of excited fans and spectators visited Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development on Tuesday night to participate in a series of foot- ball-themed competitions before watching a live screening of the Paris St-Germain (PSG) vs FC Barcelona (FCB) Champions League quarter-final first leg. At the Qatar Foundation – FC Barcelona Champions League Fan Zone, signed FCB shirts were awarded to those members of the assembled crowd who dem- Mohammed Alansari, Director, Field Marketing and Events, Ooredoo, presenting a cheque to Rashid Saad Al onstrated especially skillful foot- Mohannadi, Director of Qatar Red Crescent’s Al Khor branch. work. An enthralling match then Aslam Simjee, the winner of the ticket to Barcelona (top), and winners of played out on a giant screen in signed FCB shirts. front of the captivated audience. Ooredoo donates marathon proceeds Qatar Foundation’s ongoing partnership with FCB is under- pinned by a shared mission to DOHA: Ooredoo has presented Mohannadi, Director of Qatar whole community to take part in. unlock human potential, and to the Qatar Red Crescent with Red Crescent’s Al Khor branch “This donation to the Qatar encourage the pursuit of excel- the proceeds from the compa- and Director of the Disaster Red Crescent continues our tra- lence in young people worldwide, ny’s first marathon. Management Training Camp. dition of being one of the larg- and those present were treated to More than 1,200 people par- The Marathon event included est supporters of giving back to a superb demonstration of sport- ticipated in Ooredoo’s Marathon a half marathon (21.1km), a 10 the community and support- ing endeavour. in January this year. The money km race and a 1km fun run for ing one of the country’s most The match finished 2-2, with generated by the Marathon’s children. Participants came from important charities. As we make the tie poised ahead of next week’s entry fees, which were QR50 for all walks of life in Qatar, and plans to expand the Marathon second leg. One winner, who cor- adults and QR30 for children, was included teams from businesses, next year, we hope to raise even rectly guessed the time of the donated to the Qatar Red Crescent educational institutions and ath- more money for good causes in first goal, will be travelling to so many people to our Fan Zone passion drives us all.” Society at a recent ceremony. letic clubs. Qatar and around the world,” Barcelona to witness the game, event, which has been a roaring Qatar Foundation will be open- The donation would go towards Ooredoo plans to expand the Mohammed Alansari, Director, courtesy of Qatar Foundation. success. We received a varied ing up its Fan Zone for the second the Qatar Red Crescent’s Disaster races in 2014 to include a full- Field Marketing and Events, Tariq Al Sada, Head of the cross-section of the community, leg of the FCB vs PSG tie, begin- Management Training Camp, length marathon at 42.2 km, and Ooredoo, said. Press Office at Qatar Foundation, who really entered into the spirit ning at 8pm next Wednesday, according to Rashid Saad Al make it an annual event for the THE PENINSULA said: “We are delighted to welcome of things, demonstrating that April 10. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Fresh boost for Qatar-UK cultural ties Tripartite agreement signed between Qatargas, Qatar Museums Authority and British Council

DOHA: Qatargas, Qatar “Our association with this ini- Museums Authority (QMA), tiative gives us an opportunity to and British Council yesterday build on that relationship and add signed an agreement whereby value to the cultural, educational Qatargas will become a Platinum and arts side of it,” he added. Sponsor of the Qatar-UK 2013 Phil Lawrie, Chief Commercial initiative aimed at forging new Officer at QMA said engaging in partnerships between Qatar cultural dialogue and educational and the United Kingdom in the programs to build bridges between fields of art, culture, education, nations has been a core objective sport and science. of QMA since its inception. The agreement was signed “Not only is this a tremen- by Ghanim Al Kuwari, dously exciting year from a cul- Chief Operating Officer— tural perspective, this cultural Administration, Qatargas; Phil partnership is also moving Qatar Lawrie, Chief Commercial Officer, closer to realizing its National Qatar Museums Authority and Vision 2030 by igniting an inter- Martin Hope, Director of British national exchange of ideas. The Council. mission of Qatar UK 2013 will “We are very much delighted to cultivate mutual recognition, be part of this significant initia- understanding, and appreciation tive which has been undertaken of Qatari and British cultures in by QMA in cooperation with the both countries throughout the British Council to strengthen year through events that both the cultural ties between the entertain and educate,” he said. two countries and help build Martin Hope, Director of new bridges for increased cul- British Council, said: “We are tural exchange and understand- grateful to Qatargas for sup- ing,” said Ghanim Al Kuwari, porting Qatar-UK 2013, a major Chief Operating Officer – programme of cultural events Administration, Qatargas. which will contribute to stronger Al Kuwari said Qatargas has a long term partnerships between strong relationship with the UK Qatari and UK organizations in as a major customer to which a number of fields relevant to Qatargas supply nearly 20 per the Qatar 2030 National Vision: cent of its gas needs and is set to the arts, education, science and FROM LEFT: Phil Lawrie, Chief Commercial Officer of Qatar Museums Authority, Ghanim Al Kuwari, Chief Operating Officer, Administration at Qatargas grow in the coming years. sport.” THE PENINSULA and Martin Hope, Director of British Council Qatar, during the signing ceremony at Museum of Islamic Arts yesterday. SHAIVAL DALAL

Blind Children art project backed GCC must stand united to DOHA: The Orientalist Museum’s ‘Afrehom’ initiative - art culture,” she said. Museum has recycled the ban- which means ‘make them happy’ The idea for the tote bags came ners from its Art of Travel in Arabic — and looks at ways to about after the exhibit ended face threats against security exhibit into limited edition recycle art material for charity. its residency at Al Riwaq Doha tote bags to be sold at the MIA Dr Olga Nefedova, the exhibition space. The project Park Bazaar this Saturday, Orientalist Museum’s director, was initiated and developed by Continued from page 1 He accused these groups of both countries and other sister proceeds of which will benefit said the project is the first initia- Kabir Abdulrazak, the Orientalist Iran considers Kuwait, Bahrain ‘not believing in statehood or countries. Qatar Charity’s Blind Children tive of the Museum in the field Museum Head of Operations, and and Qatar as geographical frag- sovereignty’. These developments show that art project. Over 200 bags have of charity projects. “We hope the Fatema Sorore, the Orientalist ments, and has networks in The UAE has arrested a the GCC must stand united to been created, each one featuring Orientalist Museum, through the Museum Head of Events. “The Kuwait, the eastern region of Saudi number of people affiliated to face threats against their security unique design elements taken museum-charity organization collaboration with Qatar Charity Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the Brotherhood and accused them and citizens should not be influ- directly from art collateral. partnership becomes an impor- will bring the recycled graphic United Arab Emirates. He made of plotting to overthrow the enced by ideology that could draw Made from sturdy canvas, each tant educational resource for the banners to life,” said Sorore. The it clear that calling the demon- government. them to sectarianism and damage tote bag tells an individual story larger community of blind or visu- Tote bags will be sold for QR75 strations in the eastern region of Dhahi Khalfan, Dubai Police their national and social fabric. from The Art of Travel exhibition. ally impaired children, who must each at MIA Park Bazaar on Saudi and Bahrain as legitimate Commander, has repeatedly The Gulf governments must They form part of the Orientalist have access to the world’s visual Saturday. THE PENINSULA protests against tyranny is not cor- said the Brotherhood has global also launch measures for the rect, because those who struggle plans against the GCC states. benefit of their people and focus for freedom do not use Khomeini’s Saudi Arabia and the UAE on citizenship issues. We must all photos. arrested organised groups who work together to ensure the secu- Deal with Doha issues, DCMF told Therefore, Gulf countries need were planning to carry out rity and stability of our region. to be cautious about reactions activities against the security of THE PENINSULA Continued from page 1 Contacted for comment, a senior always keen to pursue such issues from Shias on their soil Lashing out at the DCMF official said the Centre did since there is a lot of political activ- in the event of the fall of authorities, he said: “It post an article on Bassem Youssef on ism on the new media. Bashar Al Assad’s regime is not acceptable to see its website. Ayman Bardawil, though, Prodded if that meant that the in Syria. someone who sent a text replied in the negative when asked new media was not within the scope On the other hand, one message, tweeted or com- if the Centre had written to the of coverage of the DCMF, Bardawil major outcome of Arab mented in the media to be Egyptian government protesting the said briefly, contradicting his earlier Spring has been the rise convicted by a court”. legal action taken against the popular assertion: “New media…we are not of political Islam and its The situation being this, TV host. “We didn’t,” he said. excluding”. control of power. the Qatari journalist critic Asked why the Centre chickens Interestingly, the image of the This made the UAE of the DCMF asked: “Has out when it comes to tackling issues DCMF in the Qatari community is Foreign Minister Sheikh the Centre ever uttered related to freedom of speech in the that of a training centre providing Abdullah bin Zayed Al a word about freedom of GCC region, Bardawil said: “It is training to school students in jour- Nahyan to call on the speech issues in the GCC? not true. Very soon we will publish nalism. Some in the community do GCC states last year to We always thought they a report on media laws in the GCC”. believe that over time the DCMF has cooperate in preventing a would begin by dealing Asked about Dr Mohamed Al actually changed it role to become a Muslim Brotherhood con- with issues at home and in Jaida, Bardawil said he had heard journalism training center for stu- spiracy against the GCC the rest of the region first about him, hinting the DCMF is not dents. THE PENINSULA governments. and then move elsewhere.” The Centre instead talks of media freedom in dis- tant lands as though this region has no problems at all, said the journalist. “If you say Qatar isn’t the right place to raise such issues locally and region- ally, then I would say we have Aljazeera (TV chan- nel) as an example.” Critics of the DCMF point to the popular Egyptian satirist, Bassem Youssef, who has been dragged to court by the government for his TV shows pooh-poohing the Muslim Brotherhood regime, and say they are surprised the Centre didn’t even issue a statement. The Center has kept conveniently mum all along even as the Brotherhood in Egypt has been targeting journalists and news pho- tographers who they think do not toe their line. The DCMF remained tight-lipped even when some members of the Syrian regime announced that anyone who caught a correspondent of Al Jazeera and Al Arabia TV networks would be awarded $50,000. THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Regular tests to detect prostate cancer advised Men over 59 vulnerable: Experts

DOHA: Men aged 50 and above efforts to raise awareness on the have been advised to undergo importance of screening in the regular health checks to avoid early detection of prostate cancer, prostate cancer, as the risk of as well as to update the knowledge getting the disease increases of physicians and surgeons on the with age. management of prostate cancer,” Prostate cancer is one of the said Dr Khalid Al Rumaihi, Head most common cancers in men. In of Urology at HMC. Qatar, about 63 new patients with Dr Al Rumaihi said the inci- prostate cancer are treated every dence of prostate cancer in Qatar year at HMC’s Urology Section. is not as high as in Europe and The importance of regu- the US. However, prostate can- lar checks for men in this age cer currently constitutes the group was highlighted by top most number of cancer cases of experts at the recent Prostate the urogenital tract seen at HMC. Cancer Symposium held by “Ten years ago we saw more Hamad Medical Corporation’s cases of bladder and renal cancer (HMC) Urology Section in col- among cancer cases involving the laboration with the American urogenital tract. Nowadays we Austrian Foundation (AAF) and are seeing more cases of prostate the European School of Urology cancer. This is partly because of Dr Khalid Al Rumaihi (left), Head of Urology at HMC, and Dr Juan Palou Redorta, Director of the European School of Urology, speaking at the meeting. (ESU). our efforts to raise awareness and Prostate cancer may not show improve diagnostic methods, which Dr Juan Palou Redorta, “There are several treatments involves removing the prostate cancer,” said Redorta. symptoms in its early stages. have resulted in an increase in the Director of the European School established and available for gland to remove the cancer. Men over 50 in Qatar are Besides age, family history and number of patients diagnosed at of Urology said there is now evi- the treatment of prostate can- Some urologists may also offer advised to go to their physician race are also considered risk fac- an early stage when the cancer dence showing that early detec- cer. Radical prostatectomy or brachytherapy, a form of radio- or visit Primary Health Care tors in prostate cancer. can still be effectively treated and tion can decrease the number of surgery is the main treatment therapy where a radiation source Centres for regular health checks. “The symposium is part of our cured,” Al Rumaihi added. deaths from prostate cancer. offered by urologists, which is placed inside or next to the THE PENINSULA

NU-Q students Aspire plans events to mark World Health Day to graduate in DOHA: A s p i r e Z o n e F o u n d a t i o n Dr Mohammed Gaith Al order to confirm that they com- massage treatments at Chantara participating in AZF activities. (AZF) is set to celebrate World Kuwari, Director of the Healthy pleted the entire course. Spa, and two dinner vouchers Prizes include an iPad for the Health Day with a range of fam- Lifestyle Programme at Aspetar, Aspetar nurses will be on from The Torch-Doha Hotel. first place winner, a lunch or Middle Eastern ily activities on Saturday, from said: “High blood pressure is one hand at the start and finish of Children are also encouraged to dinner voucher at Three Sixty 4pm to 7pm at Aspire Park. of the most serious diseases of the circuit in order to measure complete the walk alongside their Restaurant at The Torch-Doha studies Each year a theme is selected our time that can be combated blood pressure readings to dem- parents. The young participants Doha for the second place and a for World Health Day to high- with walking. AZF has sponsored onstrate the positive effects of will receive their eat-well food one-month membership to Aspire DOHA: In a move to further light a priority area of public this event to increase awareness walking. plate at the start of the walk, and Active for third place. equip future communication health concern in the world, and in a manner that is both prac- Pedometers will be given for they will need to fill it with right Other education awareness and journalism professionals this year’s theme is ‘High Blood tical and entertaining to spread free to participants with high portions of food at every traffic campaigns will be held for Aspire with historical, political, and Pressure’. awareness about the dangers of blood pressure to encourage light. Active members, aimed raising cultural knowledge of the region, “AZF’s celebration of the World high blood pressure, by demon- continued walking to help lower Games will also be at the back awareness of the risks of high Northwestern University in Health Day is the culmination of strating the direct correlation blood pressure levels. A selection of the plate. Gifts will be pre- blood pressure and the impor- Qatar (NU-Q) has begun offer- the foundation’s commitment to between increasing the number of prizes will be awarded to those sented to those who complete tance of exercise and a healthy ing students a certificate in improving the physical and psy- of steps we walk a day and lower- who complete the trail. To qualify, the given tasks at the multi- diet to help reduce levels. Middle Eastern studies. chological health of all members ing blood pressure.” individuals will be required to fill ple checkpoints throughout the Dr Al Kuwari will be giv- Several seniors are expected of the community in Qatar. “Step One of the activities designed out a short quiz. course. Furthermore, a mini ing an awareness presentation to graduate with the certificate into Health” was the most recent for the whole family includes a Prizes include one-month golf course will be available for to AZF employees on Sunday. this May, having already com- and most unique initiative in structured walking circuit, which free membership (one male, children. Highlighting the theme of high pleted the course requirements this area, and it was launched in will feature traffic lights direct- one female) from Aspire Active, An Instagram competition will blood pressure, the lecture that include four graded courses. partnership with the Commercial ing participants along the trail. one-month free swim member- also be held in which members aims to increase awareness of a Seniors must submit an applica- Bank, Ooredoo and RasGas,” said Individuals will be given a card ship in Al Sadd Club, one-month of the community are encour- healthy lifestyle among AZF staff tion by April 21 to ensure the Hamad Bu Hindi, Public Relations at the start of the walk that will membership to JBA, one-month aged to take photographs on the members. certificate is placed in their tran- and Media Manager at AZF. be stamped at each traffic light in membership to The Venue, three social media application while THE PENINSULA scripts before graduation. “This certificate will ensure that our students are better posi- tioned to meet the demands of a Corniche Road closure job market that increasingly relies on specialised knowledge of the region,” said NU-Q Dean and CEO, Everette Dennis. “The speciality will not only serve NU-Q students and others in Education City, but will also have appeal on the home campus which will be sending exchange students to Doha. “Today with this certificate we have taken a significant step closer to establishing a minor at NU-Q,” said Dennis, adding that students enrolled at other universities would be able to obtain the certificate by fulfilling the same requirements. NU-Q currently offers over 20 qualifying courses such as Arab Television Industries, Globalisation of Youth Cultures in the Middle East, and Survey of Egyptian Cinema. Qualifying offerings at other campuses at Education City include Arabic Culture and Literature at Carnegie-Mellon University in Qatar, classes on Gulf society, Gulf politics and mod- ern Arabic poetry at Georgetown University in Qatar, and classes A section of the Corniche road will be partially closed for traffic from tonight as part of works to install on Islamic and Middle Eastern traffic lights at the intersection close to the Doha Port. Ashghal will temporarily close one lane on each art at Virginia Commonwealth side of the Corniche street near the port entrance towards Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) roundabout. University in Qatar. Another lane will be closed on the Al Meena street leaving Al Rufaa intersection and heading to Corniche. “NU-Q provides a unique edu- cation not least because of its posi- tion among neighboring campuses with whom we can collaborate to CMU-Q to host 3-Day Startup form a solid and incomparable selection of course offerings,” said Sandra L. Richards, Liberal Arts DOHA: Some 40 university three days and to build entre- Doha will form teams over the Director at NU-Q. students across Doha are set preneurial capabilities amongst weekend, pick the best idea for Richards played an important to create their own businesses student communities. a startup during the brain- role in the development of the in just 60 hours for the first “3-Day Startup is a great way storming session on Thursday. certificate, alongside a commit- time. Starting this weekend, to get the community excited The goal is to build enough tee of professors with expertise Carnegie Mellon University in about entrepreneurship and momentum among a network of in the region, including: Khaled Qatar (CMU-Q) will host the to spend an intense weekend motivated people to sustain the Hroub, Professor of Liberal Arts 3-Day Startup, a three-day with creative people who want company beyond the weekend. in Residence; Joe Khalil, Associate competition. to actually bring an idea to life. In the past, 50 3-Day Startups Professor of Communication in The competition is organ- It’s also a social and business on four continents gave rise to Residence; Ibrahim Abusharif, ised by CMU-Q professors experiment to see how much a 28 companies receiving $9.5m in Assistant Professor of Journalism Thomas Emerson (pictured) group of passionate people can funding. The public is invited in Residence, and Zachary Wright, and George White. The idea of accomplish over the course of to the final presentations on Assistant Professor of Liberal Arts/ the competition is to help stu- 60 hours,” Emerson said. April 6. History and Religion in Residence. dents create tech-company in University students across THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Rights groups Dhahi Khalfan urge UAE to open Islamist rails against trial to public

DUBAI: Seven international human rights groups yester- day criticised a “secret” trial Brotherhood in the United Arab Emirates of 94 Islamist dissidents, saying refusal to open it up to the pub- ‘Group sowing subversion in Gulf’ lic was suspect. The groups, including Amnesty DUBAI: Sunni Muslim-ruled personal views, diplomats say they International and Human Rights Gulf Arab states are often wary reflect concerns among the UAE Watch, said refusal by authori- of subversion from their pow- ruling elite about the regional ties to bar even relatives of the erful Shia neighbour Iran, but popularity of Islamists and the defendants from attending court Dubai’s veteran police chief possibility that the West will proceedings violates fair trial reserves most of his wrath for engage with them. rights. the “dictators” of the Muslim Khalfan complained that the “Preventing independent moni- Brotherhood. West “sympathises, adopts and tors and family members from Dhahi Khalfan’s suspicions supports” the Brotherhood, say- entering the court only increases focus mostly on the Egyptian ing he did not understand why. the suspicions as to why the branch of the Sunni Islamist His stance testifies to new ten- authorities need to hide what organisation, propelled to power in sions in the Arab world arising Dubai police chief Dhahi Khalfan in his office during an interview. is being said and done inside,” the most populous Arab country from two years of popular fer- said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW in elections since the overthrow ment that has unseated auto- He said the defendants, who Brotherhood leader Mohamed up their activities, angering offi- regional director. of President Hosni Mubarak in a crats in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya include lawyers, teachers, judges Badie. cials in a state where no political “If the UAE authorities can popular uprising in 2011. and Yemen, although it has so far and a member of the ruling fam- The Brotherhood in Egypt, one opposition is permitted. present admissible and credible “The Brotherhood as a rul- spared US-allied dynasties in the ily of one of the emirates, had of whose members, Mohamed Asked to describe threats to evidence that these defendants ing party in Egypt has no right Gulf and elsewhere. reached an advanced stage in Mursi, was elected head of state the UAE, Khalfan said at least have committed crimes, why to interfere with other countries. Khalfan, one of the Gulf’s their alleged conspiracy. in June, rejected Khalfan’s accusa- two Emiratis had gone to Syria would they shroud the proceed- They are no longer a political party longest serving security officials, Foreign reporters and interna- tions that the group was involved to fight for rebels trying to depose ings in secrecy,” she asked. and should respect the independ- defended a trial of the 94 alleged tional human rights groups have in subversion abroad. President Bashar Al Assad, but The statement also pointed to ence of other countries,” Khalfan Emirati plotters that human not been allowed to attend the “We do not act outside the law suggested al Qaeda-style militants the arrest of Abdullah Al Hadidi, said in an interview this week. rights groups have criticised as trial that began on March 4. in any country. We guard the pres- were not widely supported in the the son of one of the defendants, He reiterated charges that unfair. “These are dictators,” he UAE newspapers have said the ervation of the law,” Brotherhood Emirates. who was detained on March 21 Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood was said of the Brotherhood, which defendants belong to Al Islah, a spokesman Ahmed Aref said. “He The main Islamist current on charges of “publishing in bad linked to an alleged plot to topple is banned in the UAE, a wealthy, local Islamist group. Al Islah says (Khalfan) has no evidence of this, in the UAE was the Muslim faith false details of a public trial the UAE government, saying the politically stable federation of it wants peaceful reforms and has of any conspiracy.” Brotherhood, he said. via the Internet.” group’s ultimate goal was Islamist seven emirates including free- no direct links to Egypt’s Muslim UAE-Egyptian ties have been On Iran, Khalfan, head of Defendants’ relatives were rule in all Gulf states. wheeling global trade hub Dubai. Brotherhood, although it acknowl- strained since the fall of Mubarak, Dubai’s police force for three allowed to attend hearings when Khalfan, who has often railed “They want to change regimes edges that its ideology is similar. an ally of Gulf Arab states and a decades, criticised what he called the trial opened on March 4, but against the Brotherhood on his that have been ruling for a long “The UAE... acted at the foe of the Brotherhood, which was Tehran’s interference in the affairs authorities announced on March Twitter account, is one of only a time, but they also want to rule right time to stop the Muslim founded in Egypt in 1928. of Gulf Arab states and its threats 20 they would stop letting them few UAE officials to speak pub- forever...We have evidence this Brotherhood plan that is being Some UAE Islamists, inspired to close the Straits of Hormuz in into the courtroom. licly about politics. group was planning to overthrow directed by the Murshid,” by the rise of religious groups in its standoff with the US. “The detention of Abdullah Al While he says his tweets are rulers in the Gulf region.” Khalfan said, referring to Egypt’s Egypt and Tunisia, have stepped REUTERS Hadidi appears to be an escala- tion of the authorities’ attempts to obstruct independent scrutiny of the trial,” the statement said. The watchdogs, who also include Arab rights groups, also urged UAE Kuwait parliament approves personal debt relief law authorities to investigate “alle- gations of torture” made by the defendants, whom they describe KUWAIT: Kuwait’s parliament about the long-term sustainability loans stemming mostly from a Mubarak said ahead of the vote. the measure as a political move. as “critics of the government. approved a law yesterday to buy of such measures and say Kuwait 1982 stock market crash caused She said the central bank had not The government and parlia- Prosecutors say the accused are some citizens’ personal loans should concentrate its funds on by investors speculating on stocks done enough to check the rates ment have had a fractious rela- linked to the Al Islah group, which and write off the interest after infrastructure development, not with borrowed money. banks were charging Kuwaitis for tionship in recent years and an has ties with the outlawed Muslim lawmakers argued that banks financial aid. Finance Minister Mustapha Al loans. agreement on the loans’ issue may Brotherhood. Attorney General had overcharged Kuwaitis for Such largesse has a long history Shamali said on Tuesday that the Under the law, banks would have make it easier for the government Salem Kobaish has said they credit. in Kuwait. government was expecting to pay to pay back any overcharged inter- to get lawmakers’ support to pass would be tried for “having cre- Kuwait is one of the world’s The government wrote off up to KD744m ($2.6bn) for the est to citizens. This would apply to other legislation. ated and led a movement aimed richest countries per capita and almost all consumer debt after latest plan, which covers personal interest charged at more than four “I think the legislation first at opposing the basic foundations many lawmakers elected in a the 1991 Gulf War that ended loans taken out from commercial percent over the discount rate and of all is a clear reminder that on which the state’s political sys- new parliament in December had Iraqi occupation, one of a series of banks before the end of March it was not immediately clear how although the make-up of parlia- tem is built and at seizing power.” made debt relief a priority of their handouts helping Kuwaitis return 2008. Loans from Islamic banks much this would cost. ment has changed its populist The defendants have pleaded campaigns and put pressure on from exile and restart life in the are not included. “It’s obvious for the banks, for nature has not,” Liz Martins, sen- not guilty, and the next hearing is the new cabinet to approve a plan. country. “The banks were accumulating Kuwait as a banking centre, that ior regional economist at HSBC in set for April 16 at the state secu- Economists and government It then wrote off millions more their interest in an unfair and this does not look very good,” a Dubai, said. rity court in Abu Dhabi. officials have voiced concerns in a plan to settle $20bn in bad unjust way,” MP Maasouma Al banking source said, criticising REUTERS AFP

UAE relaxes Abbas to meet Kerry travel curbs on Canadians in Jordan on Sunday RAMALLAH: Palestinian to comment on the issue. DUBAI: The United Arab President Mahmoud Abbas is to According to the Maariv daily, Emirates has reinstated a visa meet on Sunday in Amman with Kerry was planning to visit Jerusalem waiver for Canadian citizens it US Secretary of State John Kerry, and Ramallah “once every two weeks” withdrew amid a dispute over who is pushing for a renewal of in what it said was partly a bid to landing rights more than two peace talks, a Palestinian official “resuscitate” the Arab Peace Initiative. years ago, a move suggesting said. “US Secretary of State John “Israel should therefore consider the the disagreement may be near- Kerry will meet President Abbas on advantages it may gain from such an ing a resolution. Sunday in Amman,” the official said initiative,” the paper said. Canada was one of more than yesterday. The Arab Peace Initiative, tabled in 30 countries, mostly Western, Israeli press reports said Kerry 2002 by Saudi Arabia and endorsed by that benefited from a visa waiver would arrive in Israel on Saturday the Arab League, proposed a normali- the UAE offered to their citi- night for talks with the leadership, sation of ties with Israel in return zens. But Canadians were told in but there was no confirmation from for its pullout from all lands occupied November 2010 they had to obtain the office of Prime Minister Benjamin during the 1967 Six Day War. a visa in advance at a cost of as Netanyahu, whose spokesman refused AFP much as $1,000. Dubai carrier Emirates had been lobbying the Canadian gov- ernment to boost its thrice-weekly A Palestinian protester peeks at Israeli troops from behind old doors used as cover during clashes in the direct flights to Toronto and more West Bank city of Hebron yesterday. Canadian destinations, with sup- port from the UAE government, but failed to gain greater access. Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways had Palestinians stage general strike also sought to increase its flights. The reinstatement of the waiver RAMALLAH: Palestinians four Israeli jails and stone- mass rally, another correspond- was announced in a joint statement across the West Bank and throwing clashes erupted ent said. carried by the official UAE news Gaza were observing a gen- in Hebron, Abu Hamdiyeh’s A strike was likewise being agency WAM following a meet- eral strike yesterday, with hometown, that continued observed in annexed east ing on Tuesday between Canadian prisoners refusing food to yesterday. Jerusalem ahead of the arrival Foreign Minister John Baird and mourn the death of a fellow As a show of mourning, of Abu Hamdiyeh’s body at his UAE counterpart H H Sheikh inmate in an Israeli jail. schools, shops and offices were Abu Dis medical centre where Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The death on Tuesday morn- closed in Hebron at the start it was to undergo a Palestinian “Just over a year ago, we set out ing of Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh, of what officials said would be autopsy on Wednesday after- an agenda between our countries a 63-year-old from the West a three-day general strike, as noon ahead of a funeral in to ... facilitate travel requirements Bank town of Hebron suffer- stone-throwing youths clashed Hebron on Thursday. to increase business, tourism and ing from throat cancer, sparked with the army in the city centre Meanwhile, thousands of joint prosperity for our citizens, outrage across the territories for the second day running, a Palestinian prisoners refused by restoring the visa regime,” the with the Palestinian leader- correspondent said. their breakfast at the start statement said. There was no word ship accusing Israel of medical A full strike was also being of a one-day hunger strike in in the statement about changes in negligence. observed in the northern West protest over Abu Hamdiyeh’s landing rights, but Emirates said As news of his death spread, Bank city of Nablus where death, an Israel Prisons Service it welcomed the move. disturbances broke out among thousands of demonstrators spokeswoman said. REUTERS Palestinian prisoners in at least gathered in the city centre for a AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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ENSION is again gripping the Palestinian territories as Israel is unleashing its military might. Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian Guantánamo detainees’ last Tyouth, aged 17, in a confrontation in the occupied West Bank yesterday. The violence in the territory in the past few days is the most serious since Egypt brokered a ceasefire in November after eight days of violence in which resort is to hunger strike 167 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed. Israel was hit by more than 1,400 missiles during the fighting. BY JONATHAN HAFETZ The latest violence has been triggered by the death of a based on slim and often unreliable evi- Palestinian in the Israeli prison, said to be from cancer. The dence. They have ruled, moreover, that violence first started in Gaza and resulted in Israel’s first ENSIONS continue to rise at even when detainees win, they lose – The latest hunger strike air strike on the Hamas-run coastal enclave since the truce. Guantánamo, where the US because judges lack the authority to Tmilitary acknowledges that 39 order their release from the base. The demonstrates that the The protests soon spread to West Bank where Israeli forces detainees – nearly one-quarter of the supreme court has shown no desire to problem of indefinite clashed with dozens of Palestinian protesters in the city of 166 prisoners – are engaged in a hunger intervene again. Hebron, where Maysara Abu Hamdiya who died in jail on strike. Attorneys for detainees say the Eighty-six prisoners – more than detention will not Tuesday aged 64, is due to be buried on Thursday. number is significantly higher. Although half of the remaining population – disappear, even if courts Israelis and Palestinians must avoid an escalation in the hunger strike has attracted inter- have been cleared for release by the national attention, it should come as no Obama administration. But Congress grow silent. It underscores tension because the situation could spiral out control, leading surprise given the sense of despair that has imposed draconian restrictions on – more powerfully than to a repetition of the past crisis. With Syria in the throes of a pervades the prison. the president’s ability to transfer these any legal brief can – revolution, an Israeli-Palestinian conflict could add fuel to the Detainees claim that guards mis- prisoners to other countries. The presi- regional flames and also result in more deaths. Robert Serry, treated their Qur’ans during routine cell dent has regrettably yielded to these that the only solution the United Nations’ Mideast envoy, has expressed concern searches. The military denies the allega- restrictions. Earlier this year, the to Guantánamo lies in that the November 21 ceasefire might tions, maintaining that guards followed administration shut down the office it charging the remaining established procedures and treated the had established to implement his order be unravelling. “The United Nations Qur’ans respectfully. to close Guantánamo, signaling that the prisoners with a crime or Israel is condemns the indiscriminate firing of The truth may president has effectively abandoned his setting them free. responsible rockets into civilian areas and calls on never be uncov- promise. Israel to act with restraint,” Serry said. ered. But it is The public, meanwhile, has grown habeas corpus at Guantánamo. I for the latest Israel is responsible for the latest largely imma- increasingly complacent. It has accepted defended habeas as the most impor- spasm of violence as it has a duty to terial. The real the rationale that suspected terrorists tant check in the constitution against flare-up in Stuck in a cause of the hun- need not be tried and sentenced like arbitrary imprisonment by the govern- violence in protect the lives of Palestinian prisoners Kafkaesque legal ger strike is that criminals, but can be held indefinitely ment. And I celebrated judicial victories in its custody. Abu Hamdeya died after more than as wartime prisoners in a war seemingly as vindications of the rule of law and Palestinian because he was denied treatment by limbo created by a decade of con- without end. important steps towards justice. territories. the prison authorities. Palestinian ‘war on terror’ finement, all but Even legal victories have become But detainees do not just read officials, citing a lawyer who visited Abu a handful of the obstacles to release. Last year, a federal about court decisions; they experi- exceptions remaining prison- appeals court ruled that the government ence them. And they experience law Hamdiya, said he had complained of to rights, the ers have not been could not prosecute detainees in mili- at Guantánamo as, at best, ineffective throat pain since August 2012 but that inadequate treatment charged with a tary commissions for materially sup- and, at worst, a trap. Law has helped to had led to a critical delay in the diagnosis. prisoners have crime and do not porting a terrorist organization because legitimize Guantánamo without altering Abu Hamdiya, a retired general in the Palestinian no redress but know when, if this offense is not recognized as a war the reality of the prisoners’ continued security services, was arrested at the height of the protest. ever, they will be crime under international law. confinement. Palestinian uprising in 2002 and was serving a life sentence. released. At first blush, the decision seems to A hunger strike provides detainees Guantánamo, benefit low-level detainees who form the with a way to reassert some measure of Palestinians are extremely sensitive to the plight of to be sure, has bulk of Guantánamo’s prison population. control over their own lives. By refusing prisoners in Israeli jails and any death or mistreatment of come a long way since the first pris- They never plotted or committed a ter- to eat, they force the world to recog- prisoners by Israeli authorities in the past had triggered oners were taken there in early 2002 rorist attack, but might otherwise have nize their existence and humanity and protests and violence. and placed in outdoor cages. The last been charged with providing material to confront the reality of their contin- At the same time, Israel has been criminally neglectful of decade has witnessed a historic struggle support, based, for example, on attend- ued imprisonment. Legal rulings can be the condition of prisoners and has been accused of denying to bring law to a law-free zone. Notable ing an al-Qaida-affiliated training camp rationalized or ignored in a way that a victories include US supreme court years ago. dying prisoner cannot. them even basic rights. alestinian Authority President decisions upholding the right to habeas Appearances, however, are deceiv- The latest hunger strike demon- Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called the “arrogance” corpus, thus guaranteeing prisoners the ing. Being prosecuted as a war criminal strates that the problem of indefinite of Israeli authorities, who he said had rejected attempts by opportunity to present their case to a has provided one of the few ways out detention will not disappear, even if Palestinian officials to secure Abu Hamdiya’s early release federal judge. of Guantánamo for low-level detainees courts grow silent. It underscores – for medical treatment. The Palestinian Prime Minister, But rights have made little practical who have typically been released soon more powerfully than any legal brief can difference. Lower courts have chipped after their conviction. That avenue no – that the only solution to Guantánamo Salam Fayyad, denounced “the continued policy of medical away at the supreme court’s rulings, longer exists. lies in charging the remaining prisoners negligence of Israeli prison authorities” and called for interpreting habeas corpus narrowly As a lawyer, I worked on legal chal- with a crime or setting them free. international monitoring of Israeli jails • and upholding continued imprisonment lenges that established the right to THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Easing the peninsula tension the day EGRETFULLY, the situation terse warning that nuclear weapons are bombers to the ROK to participate in undesirable scenario become a reality, on the Korean Peninsula is “the nation’s life” and will not be traded joint military drills. Harboring a deep- the outcome may be very difficult to heading toward dangerous even for “billions of dollars”. rooted enmity toward the US and the predict or control. The Brotherhood Rterrain. The game of tit-for- Pyongyang’s latest statement on ROK, Pyongyang naturally regards the The dire consequences of a head-on tat retaliations has raised tensions in developing a “self-reliant nuclear ongoing war game in the region as a clash will be in neither party’s interest. as a ruling party in a volatile region on China’s doorstep. industry” is in open defiance to the threat and a provocation. Experience shows us that neither The contested parties should each take international community’s opposition Since the DPRK launched its third saber rattling nor sanctions have Egypt has no right a step back and exercise the utmost to its nuclear program. The country nuclear test on Feb 12, the situation worked as an effective remedy for to interfere with restraint, as this is the only way to should understand it too has a stake on the peninsula has gone from bad mitigating the perennial crisis. The de-escalate the tension. in peace and stability on the peninsula. to worse. The exchange of aggressive provocation-punishment paradigm only other countries. In its latest show of hostility The further it chooses to challenge the rhetoric and the tit-for-tat retaliation is sows more seeds of mistrust, misun- They are no longer toward its neighbor to the south, the international community, the less flex- leading both sides onto a dangerous derstanding and animosity. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ibility it will have to deal with its external track. Though many believe that war The contested parties should show a political party and said on Saturday that it has entered environment. is a distant possibility on the peninsula, political wisdom and take practical should respect the a “state of war” with the Republic of Pyongyang’s latest outburst came there is no guarantee that a clash of steps to prevent the deteriorating situ- Korea. Pyongyang’s hard-line stance after the United States sent B-52 stra- limited scope may not occur in the ation from spinning out of control. independence of other Dhahi Khalfan continued on Sunday when it issued a tegic heavy bombers and B-2 stealth foreseeable future. Should such an China Daily countries. Dubai Police Chief THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Crisis of the Syrian revolution

ome members of the Syrian society as well as those writer Saqr Abu Fakhr says progress in Syria because of Alawite sect a few KHALID AL JABER of Syria’s neighbouring coun- that the triangle of landown- their conservative nature. days ago decided to tries, chiefly Lebanon, and also ers, traders, and men of religion, Abu Fakhr concludes in his distance themselves conflicting regional and interna- three categories of people who book that this was probably the from the regime that how Syrian political researcher from the excessive force used by tional interests. are Syria’s notables, one of the hidden force behind the rise of Shas been ruling in their name, Munzer Eid Alzamalkani puts it. the regime to suppress it – are In his book, Damascus last category being Mohamed the contemporary authoritarian a short time after the regime’s Adding to the complexity of the conflicting interests of the Notables and the Obstruction of Al Bouti, who was killed in state in Syria. crackdown on the Syrian upris- the Syrian revolution – apart ethnic groups that make up the Secularism in Syria, Palestinian an explosion, had obstructed By the same token, authori- ing entered its third year, with tarianism or despotism was not the death of 70,000 people and an option for either the ruler or forced migration of millions of the ruling elite. It was rather the Syrians. indirect result of the domination Questions about the differ- of the notables over politics and ences between the Syrian and wealth in the capital. This did French revolutions arise now. not happen only in Syria, but The French revolution achieved also across all the other coun- success because both the peas- tries of the Levant. ants and the bourgeois were The future is both uncertain fighting a common enemy. In the and obscure. The dominant case of the Syrian revolution, social system in Syria nourished however, the revolutionaries sectarianism and class divisions are the common enemy of both for decades. This is why a sec- the regime and the bourgeois. tarian and tribal dimension is as This is the first major differ- clear as the light of day in the ence between the French revo- Syrian revolution. This dimen- lution and the Syrian revolution. sion has evolved into a process of This difference makes the case score settling among the various for the Syrian revolution more religious and ethnic groups of complicated and difficult. This is the Syrian society. This state of affairs might continue to persist even after the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and his coterie. The future of Alawites is strongly linked to the future of the regime in Syria. The Druze might want to have autonomy. Authoritarianism or Kurds might seek separation and self-rule. As for Christians, despotism was the they might decide to leave Syria indirect result of altogether. the domination of The crisis of the Syrian revo- lution is that there are so many the notables over small states inside the larger politics and wealth Syrian state. The scenario of in the Syrian Damascus can repeat itself any- where else. Lebanon is not far capital. from Syria. Other Arab coun- tries are not far from Syria’s borders, either.

JASSEM SAFR Violations of law by real estate agents, firms Tutorials and education hen a landlord leases article by relating a story which his/her house, after AHMED AL MUHANNADI is quite common. It is about Wa short time it turns companies that exploit expa- into a number of properties triate labour. These companies due to internal partitions, and leave on the roads. of tenants has led to an increase wash their hands of workers if gradually begins to look like a The tenants usually know only in such disorganised structures something happens to them. beehive because of the number of the real estate broker who is, to inside houses although these One such worker fell down rooms and the number of people them, the owner of the house. houses look as good as any other from the top of a building. He living there. Such ‘landlords’ earn hun- from outside. kept begging for help for two Tenants and real estate bro- dreds of thousands of Qatari riy- This has also led to the pres- hours, but his colleagues could kers turn almost every corner of als by leasing several houses in ence of many stray workers not call an ambulance lest the the house into a separate flat. A the same neighbourhood. After brought to this country by real company that had hired him be kitchen becomes two kitchens all, it is an easy business that and fake companies that get brought to account, although and a room becomes two rooms only needs wooden barriers and thousands of riyals from them the fine the company would have or more. some paint. It is a lucrative busi- and then leave them to wander paid was trivial compared to the Portable toilets are placed ness that grows with time. on the streets. importance of saving the man’s everywhere, and corridors are Other real estate agents lease Sometimes, some of these life. also used. A house with a foyer is commercial properties and re- workers can be seen begging on The worker’s colleagues ideal for these real estate agents lease them at higher prices. They the streets or looking for jobs. instead took him in a private e spend money on tutorials thinking that they will because that is where they can sometimes keep the shops empty One thing common to them is car to his house and called the help us achieve success. Unfortunately, the student’s create several rooms and kitch- until they re-lease them at the that they are ready to do any hospital from there to make it Wfuture becomes dependent on these tutorials, which ens that can be used by several appropriate time, although sub- work. look as if he had fallen down at many adults think are essential for their children to achieve families or tenants. leasing these properties is ille- The authorities know the home, not at work. academic success. Students spend this money to get degrees and Internet ‘cafes’ pop up inside gal. The real estate market has places frequented by these peo- God only knows the harm this progress from grade to grade. When they get such success, they rooms and are magnets for those its own mafia. ple very well, but despite that man suffered as a result of the are congratulated by others. who want to make phone calls – Where is the real landlord they do nothing. delay in his reaching the hospi- The shocking thing is that the majority of parents encourage sometimes using webcams – to then? A friend of mine hired one of tal, assuming that he lived to see their children to have tutorials, believing that the guidance of a their relatives and friends back Few of the landlords are una- these workers some time ago for the hospital. tutor will bring them success. Tutors can simplify boring educa- home. Beverages are also sold ware of what is happening in some job at his home and gave I hope the Ministry of Interior tional material for students. Still, how have these tutorials turned there. their houses. Most of them, how- him QR2,000 in advance. The raids work sites regularly. I also into an inseparable part of our education system? All this is done with total dis- ever, turn a blind eye; they have worker never returned after hope that municipal councils Parents think tutorials are the first step on the way to success. regard to security and health their eyes fixed on the money getting the money. Another monitor leased houses for work- But some people are critical of this and say that all levels of our considerations, leave aside the they will get from the real estate worker vanished without com- ers or families. So many viola- education system are suffering due to these tutorials. Primary- noise these tenants make with agent. pleting his work. tions of law are taking place in level students need tutors through all grades, and the same is their many vehicles, which they A steady rise in the number I would like to conclude my these houses. true in the higher grades. This means education has become dependent on money. This is a problem that needs to be studied to end our depend- ence on tutors and take the sheen off these ‘stars’ of our society. Students in school and university complain that there is not enough explanation of concepts in their lessons and there are not enough teaching aids, so they cannot acquire the knowledge Unemployed Qataris and the labour market required for them to pass tests, and this makes it necessary to look for tutors, who embody the success they dream of. The students, however, have to pay the tutor for his services. The question is round 3,000 Qataris are government sector. Many Qataris how much do they have to pay? searching for jobs or bet- KHALID ABDULLAH AL ZIYADA are scientifically and technically One tutorial class can cost a student between QR500 and Ater opportunities. They qualified and fresh graduates get QR700 or more, depending on for how long the student needs the are unemployed citizens in the better capacity-building training. tutor and how much the tutor will charge. The children certainly true sense, contrary to what the of these unemployed people to for workers in different fields. With expatriates dominating know that the tutor has a cost that you have to pay unwillingly. Chairman of the Administrative the population of Qatar, includ- There are many foreign workers the labour market and many Despite this, most families scramble to get tutors’ services. Control and Transparency ing expatriates? here and we thought they were citizens unemployed, there is a This makes us question the Supreme Education Council (SEC) Authority (ACTA), H E Abdullah This means that in a way the occupying high positions in the dire need for adopting a special about the responsibility of the schools and teachers. Why does bin Hamad Al Attiyah, said at the statement of the ACTA chairman government sector, more than programme of Qatarisation to this phenomenon prevail? Similarly, parents need to be asked inauguration of the Invent Qatar is true. Qatar is the only country dominating the private sector. increase the number of qualified how much will they keep paying for tutorial classes, and does it fair last month, that “these peo- in the world that does not have This created a gap between the local workers in the labour mar- have any impact on the student’s achievement? ple are not unemployed in the unemployment in the real sense. citizens and expatriates, who ket. This programme should be Why has the SEC let tutors gain such prominence? Why is an real sense.” We have a few jobless, apart from actually dominate the labour realised and adopted by Invent entire generation left in the hands of tutors and made to scram- This figure was obtained from those who are looking for bet- market. Qatar, which may provide mar- ble for tutorial classes? Why did it make the search for these recent statistical data and these ter jobs. Those looking for bet- Many writers and analysts had ginalised citizens with job oppor- “genius” tutors part of the students’ lives, making them think 3,000 Qataris are youths, who ter jobs may have achieved their forecast this phenomenon, offer- tunities, as the aim of Invent that they hold the keys to success and excellence? What is the make up a quarter of our popu- primary goals. Consequently, the ing solutions to the problem of Qatar is to find innovative solu- Council doing to overcome this growing phenomenon? Have our lation. What is the percentage figure of 3,000 may have declined unemployed Qataris. To solve the tions to meet the demands of students’ educational standards become so poor? Our education of the unemployed –excluding and unemployment may have problem of having unemployed citizens. is now linked to this phenomenon and an entire generation has older men and women, chil- vanished. citizens, we may need to encour- become dependent on tutorial classes. dren and the disabled – to the Al Attiyah is known for being age local workers to seek jobs in The views expressed in the articles on this employed? They are few in com- optimistic. He said Qatar was the private sector as long as expa- page do not reflect the viewpoint of the newspaper. parison. What is the percentage the most attractive country triates occupy positions in the THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Air raids hit rebel-held Syrian areas Europeans join rebels: British study

BEIRUT: Syria’s air force Britain-based watchdog added. staged new strikes yesterday on And in Damascus province, several rebel-held areas across warplanes carried out three air the country, including Raqa in strikes on Ziabiyeh and another the north, Homs in the centre on Mleiha, the Observatory said, and Damascus province, a mon- without elaborating on casualties. itoring group said. Fresh battles were also “New air raids struck the reported in several flashpoints city of Raqa,” said the Syrian on the outskirts of the capi- Observatory for Human Rights, tal, as a military source loyal three weeks after rebels seized to President Bashar Al Assad’s total control of the provincial regime pledged that Damascus capital. “will remain secure”, according Amateur video filmed by activ- to a pro-regime newspaper. ists and distributed online showed “We have warned the ter- an area identified as the city’s rorist groups again and again... Bedouin neighbourhood mostly that if they come anywhere near reduced to grey rubble, as a cam- Damascus it will mean certain eraman was heard blaming an air death both for them and for their strike. leaders,” an unnamed military “Civilians have been targeted,” official told Al Watan. said the unnamed cameraman, as “The army and all its units are a siren went off. ready to defend Damascus, which The city has been the target of has not and will not be desecrated A Syrian Army tank bearing a Syrian national flag is seen in Sheikh Maksoud, Aleppo, yesterday. frequent air strikes since the pull- by the terrorists... Damascus is out of troops from the first major safe and it will remain safe,” he accusing them of giving up on Meshaal “cannot believe his by Iran and a longtime backer the International Centre for the city to have fallen out of regime said. resistance against Israel. luck. After an acclaimed history of Shiite Lebanese movement Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at control in Syria’s conflict, which The latest violence across Syria The report comes two days of struggle, he has returned to the Hezbollah, maintains that it is the King’s College London. the UN says has killed more than came a day after 133 people were after Meshaal’s re-election as safe Qatari embrace, wealthy and last Arab bastion of anti-Israeli “Between 140 and 600 70,000 people in two years. killed, according to a count dis- head of Hamas’s politburo for fattened in the age of the Arab resistance. Europeans have gone to Syria Warplanes also targeted the tributed by the Observatory another four-year term. Spring’s storms,” the newspaper In the meantime, a British since early 2011,” said researcher edges of the village of Abel in the which relies on a network of Hamas has shifted “the gun added. study said that as many as Aaron Y Zelin. central province of Homs, said activists and medics. Among them from the shoulder of resistance After years of alignment with 600 Europeans have joined the Up to 441 Europeans are still the Observatory, which relies on were 58 civilians, 48 rebels and (against Israel) to the shoulder Damascus, during which he used rebels fighting government in the country, he added. a broad network of activists, doc- 27 soldiers. of compromise”, Al Thawra said. Damascus as a base, Meshaal forces in Syria. Jihadists from The ICSR based the figures on tors and lawyers for its reports. Meanwhile, a Syrian regime “Today, as Meshaal becomes relocated in 2012 to Doha, sever- 14 European countries including some 250 “martyrdom notices” Meanwhile, clashes pitting newspaper yesterday slammed the head of Hamas for the fifth ing ties with President Bashar al- France, Germany, Britain and the posted on jihadist websites as well rebels against troops raged Palestinian movement Hamas time... the West Bank, Gaza and Assad and declaring his support Netherlands are among those to as hundreds of Arab and Western in Joussiyeh, in a restive area and its leader Khaled Meshaal the whole of occupied Palestine for the revolt against his regime. enter the conflict, according to media reports. near the Lebanese border, the for breaking with Damascus, have no reason to celebrate.” The Assad regime, supported research published on Tuesday by AGENCIES

Cairo summons Israel issues warning against fire from Golan, Gaza UAE diplomat JERUSALEM: Defence “We shall not allow in any form After the overnight Israeli Muslim lands north of Gaza using peace process, Robert Serry. “It over detained Minister Moshe Yaalon warned the establishment of a routine strikes which hit open fields near six missiles on the morning of is of paramount importance to yesterday that Israel would of sporadic firing at our civil- Gaza City and in the north, caus- April 3,” a statement said. refrain from violence in this respond to any attacks on its ians or our forces,” Yaalon said ing no damage or injuries, mili- The Gaza border has been tense atmosphere and for par- Egyptians territory and not allow its peo- in remarks communicated from tants fired two more rockets at largely quiet since November ties to work constructively ple to come under fire “in any his office. Israel, police said. when an Egyptian-brokered in addressing the underlying CAIRO: Egypt’s foreign min- form”. Yaalon said Gaza’s Hamas Both landed in an open area ceasefire ended a deadly eight-day issues,” he said in remarks com- istry summoned the charge His warning was issued after rulers were responsible for any near the border town of Sderot, confrontation between Israel and municated by his office. d’affaires of the United Arab militants in Gaza fired a rocket at fire directed at Israel from the causing no casualties. Hamas militants. Violations of the ceasefire Emirates over the case of 11 southern Israel, and as a Syrian coastal enclave, and in the same The rocket fire on both days Until five weeks ago, the risked “unravelling the grad- Egyptians detained in the Gulf mortar shell and small arms fire way, President Bashar Al Assad’s was claimed by radical Salafist truce deal had been completely ual but tangible improvements state on suspicion of training hit the Israeli-occupied sector of regime was to blame for whatever Islamist group the Mujahedeen respected by both sides. achieved since (the truce deal),” Islamists to overthrow govern- the Golan Heights. fire emanated from Syria. Shura Council, which said it But since late February, there he said. ments, it said in a statement The Israeli military was quick to “In the Golan Heights, our pol- was a response to the death of have been four instances of rocket On the Golan Heights, there yesterday. respond in both cases, with a tank icy is that we have no intention of a Palestinian prisoner who died fire on Israel, three of which were has in recent months been an The detainees were arrested in firing back across the Syrian armi- allowing a daily routine of firing of cancer while serving life in an claimed by Salafist militants. uptick in stray fire from the two- January in a crackdown on what stice line towards the source of fire from Syria towards Israeli ter- Israeli jail. The rocket fire from Gaza year civil war raging in Syria, the UAE called an “Egyptian and the air force mounting three ritory, whether it is stray fire or “In response... to Jewish crimes prompted a statement of with Israeli forces firing back at Muslim Brotherhood cell” in air strikes on Gaza, in the first such not, and we will respond to that against oppressed prisoners, we concern from UN Special the source of the shooting. the Gulf state, which has previ- raids in more than four months. with a firm hand,” he warned. struck Sderot which squats on Coordinator for the Middle East AFP ously voiced strong distrust of the Islamist political movement which took power in Egypt last year. Hollande arrives in Morocco Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Ali Al Ashiry Tunisia jails jihadist over called in UAE diplomat Ahmed Al Menhaly and asked him “to convey to the UAE authorities Egypt’s concern with completing call to join Syria rebels the investigation of the Egyptian detainees in the security case TUNIS: Tunisia has jailed He said Abu Zaid was expected swiftly,” the statement said. an Islamist militant on suspi- to face trial in the next few Ashiry also asked that the cion of incitement to terrorism weeks on charges of incitement authorities allow families of the after he called on television for to terrorism. detainees to visit them. young compatriots to join the The case arose from an inter- Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood armed uprising in Syria, a jus- view Abu Zaid gave on a local had said in January that some of tice ministry spokesman said television channel last week in its members had been wrongfully yesterday. which he urged Tunisians to join arrested. He said Abu Zaid Tounsi jihad (holy struggle) in Syria and Relations between Cairo issued the call after returning said he has no regrets about going and the UAE soured after vet- from a stint with rebels fight- there to fight. eran Egyptian President Hosni ing in Syria, heightening fears His remarks drew strong criti- Mubarak was toppled in 2011. of young men coming home radi- cism from opposition secularist The UAE has voiced distrust calised from battle there jeop- parties who accused Tunisia’s of the Muslim Brotherhood that ardising security in their North government, led by moderate helped propel Egyptian President African homeland. Islamists, of staying silent on the Mohamed Mursi to power. President Moncef Marzouki matter and doing little to stop Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and French President Francois Hollande arrive at the royal palace in Casablanca REUTERS last month likened young attempts to lure Tunisians to the yesterday. Tunisians returning from serv- rebel cause in Syria. ice in Syria’s increasingly Islamist Tunisia was the launchpad in insurrection to Algerians who 2011 of a series of popular upris- joined a 1990s insurgency against ings against entrenched autocrats their government after fighting in across the Arab world, with the Kidnapped Eritreans face extreme violence: Amnesty Afghanistan. longest and bloodiest raging on Tunisian media say thousands in Syria. of young Tunisians recruited by Moderate Islamists who KHARTOUM: Eritrean refu- said it has received “numerous majority of the victims report that captivity they are subjected to shadowy networks are fighting in came to the fore after the fall gees kidnapped in Sudan are reports” since 2011 that residents they are sold between different acts of extreme violence and bru- Syria’s two-year-old civil war. of Tunisian strongman Zine Al raped, beaten, chained and of the Shagarab refugee camp in criminal groups along the route,” tality, including rape of men and “An investigative judge ordered Abidine Ben Ali two years ago sometimes killed after being eastern Sudan near the Eritrean it said. In Sinai they are held pris- women,” the watchdog said. “Some the jailing of Abu Zaid Tounsi subsequently won a free election forcibly transported to Egypt’s border have been abducted. oner while ransom payments are of those who are unable to pay a after an investigation opened and the government last year Sinai peninsula and held for “Most of those kidnapped have extorted from their relatives. ransom are killed. Some die as a against him on anti-terrorism expelled the Assad government’s ransom, Amnesty International been forcibly taken out of Sudan “According to testimonies and result of ill-treatment or the ter- grounds,” the justice ministry ambassador to Tunis. said yesterday. over the border into Egypt, in information received by Amnesty rible conditions of their captivity.” spokesman said. REUTERS The London-based watchdog most cases to the Sinai region. The International, during their AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Minister’s lie deals blow to French govt Never protected Cahuzac: Hollande

PARIS: The French govern- admission of guilt, two weeks ment yesterday fought to limit after he resigned his post and the damage from a former nearly four months after he made minister’s admission that he an earnest plea to parliament of had lied over the existence of a his innocence, was merciless. foreign bank account, as crit- Le Monde daily said he had ics suggested it had been either dropped a bomb that had shaken naive or complicit. Hollande’s authority. The left- President Francois Hollande, leaning Liberation ran one word, already battling to convince the “Shameful”, over a front-page world he has France’s finances photo of Cahuzac looking sheep- under control, said he had never ish. Right-wing media compared protected Jerome Cahuzac, his the affair with France’s biggest budget minister until mid-March, sleaze scandals and ranked him and personally ordered him to alongside former US presidents quit the moment an inquiry was Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton opened into the affair. for public fibbing. Ending months of denials, Jean-Francois Cope, head of the Cahuzac admitted on Tuesday conservative party ousted from to having an undeclared foreign power last May, said Hollande had account and was placed under either been in the dark, suggest- formal investigation for fraud. ing a high level of naivety, or had The scandal is a grave blow to known all along. Hollande as the first sleaze scan- Asked why the government dal to hit a 10-month-old gov- took Cahuzac at his word when ernment he had promised would he denied the existence of a Swiss be irreproachable. The man in account in December and did not Policemen watch flames rising from the burning ‘Grozny City’ luxury apartment tower in Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia, yesterday. charge of France’s budget had a make checks, ministers agreed foreign bank account he hid from public confidence would suffer. the tax authorities and then lied “It’s devastating for public life,” about for four months. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Fire rages in showpiece Grozny skyscraper The affair looked set to leave told BFM television. “What is a deeper stain on the ruling awful is to ask oneself what con- MOSCOW: A fire raged in a the emergency situations min- no casualties. A witness photo- Hillary Swank and action star Socialist Party than the 2011 fidence public opinion is going to 40-storey skyscraper in the istry said in a statement on its graph posted on Twitter showed Jean-Claude Van Damme. arrest of its onetime presiden- have in politicians.” Chechnya capital Grozny yes- website. flames and smoke pouring from The glitzy gala, which coincided tial hopeful, Dominique Strauss- Cahuzac, a onetime plastic terday, a building which is a “We have no reports of casu- the building in the Grozny-City with Kadyrov’s 35th birthday, cul- Kahn, in a sex assault case. surgeon who used to run a hair centrepiece of a drive by local alties... The fire is currently complex named the Olympus minated in a firework display over “Jerome Cahuzac did not ben- implant clinic, was in charge of a authorities to promote the city spreading across the building’s tower, which is topped by a giant the skyscrapers. Russian media efit from any protection, other crucial programme to slash public as a glitzy and modern hub. facade via the plastic outer pan- clock face and stands 475 feet tall. reported that Kadyrov handed than the presumption of inno- spending by ¤60bn by 2017. State television pictures els,” the spokesman for the North The complex of skyscrapers is a French actor Gerard Depardieu cence,” Hollande said, as French Le Parisien cheekily ran showed a huge plume of smoke Caucasus regional branch of the key symbol of the once war-torn keys to a five-room apartment media raged that the minister had a photo of him speaking in rising into the sky and clinging Emergency Situations minis- city’s rebirth under strongman in the complex in February after deceived the nation so long. November before a podium slo- to the sides of the building with try, Kantemir Davydov, told the local leader Ramzan Kadyrov. President Vladimir Putin granted “What has happened is a shock gan entitled: “The fight against bursts of yellow flames snaking Interfax news agency. Kadyrov feted its opening in him Russian citizenship. because it’s a lapse in Republican tax fraud”. He risks five years down the facade. Eighty firemen were at the 2011 with an open-air concert NTV television reported that morals,” Hollande said in a brief in prison and a ¤375,000 fine if “The fire broke out at 6:15pm scene, the emergency situations featuring pop singer Seal and Depardieu’s apartment was in a televised speech. charged and found guilty. (1415 GMT) in a 40-storey unin- ministry said. The interior min- violinist Vanessa Mae and with neighbouring skyscraper to the Media coverage of Cahuzac’s REUTERS habited building in Grozny-City,” istry also confirmed there were guests including US actress one on fire. AFP

WHO urges more Blow to Serbia’s EU bid as effort to beat high blood pressure Kosovo talks deadlocked BRUSSELS/BELGRADE: decision in June by the 27-mem- GENEVA: Individuals and gov- Crunch talks to end the eth- ber EU on whether to open acces- ernments need to step up their nic partition of Serbia’s former sion talks with Serbia, a process efforts to battle high blood pres- Kosovo province broke up with- aimed at cementing stability in sure, which is estimated to affect out result yesterday , in a poten- the region more than two decades more than one in three adults tial blow to Serbia’s hopes of since Yugoslavia unravelled in war aged over 25, the World Health starting European Union mem- and ethnic cleansing. Organisation said yesterday. bership negotiations this year. Offering some hope a deal Around a billion people around Serbia is under pressure from might still be reached, Ashton the globe suffer from the condi- the West to relinquish its hold said the prime ministers of Serbia tion, also known as hypertension, on a Serb-populated pocket of and Kosovo would return to their the United Nations health agency majority-Albanian Kosovo if it capitals for consultations “and said. The condition is one of the is to secure accession talks with will let me know in the next few most important contributors to the EU, in what would be a major days of their decision.” Serbian heart disease and stroke, which boost for the biggest economy to Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, a together make up the world’s emerge from the collapse of fed- former wartime aide of late Serb number one cause of premature eral Yugoslavia. strongman Slobodan Milosevic, death and disability. Kosovo seceded in 2008 but said, “This isn’t the end”. Researchers estimate that Serbia does not recognise it as His Kosovo counterpart, former high blood pressure contributes independent. After eight rounds of guerrilla commander Hashim to nearly 9.4 million deaths from talks in Brussels, and a marathon Thaci, mooted the possibility of cardiovascular disease each year, 12-hour meeting that ended over- another meeting next week, but the WHO said. It also increases night, the EU said the gap between did not say under whose auspices The operation centre of the European Space Agency’s Space Weather Coordination Centre in Brussels. the risk of conditions such as kid- the two sides was “very narrow, but it might take place or where. ney failure and blindness. deep”. It said they would not meet “We hope they (Serbia) will “Our aim today is to make peo- again formally under the media- use the time in the coming days Europe readies for solar storm risks ple aware of the need to know their tion of the EU’s foreign policy chief, for sincere reflection,” Thaci told blood pressure, to take high blood Catherine Ashton. reporters. “I remain hopeful an BRUSSELS: Europe launched put navigation out by 100 metres according to ESA. But probably pressure seriously, and then to A mid-April progress report by agreement can be reached.” its first space weather coordi- — enough to miss a runway. the biggest threat to Earth lies in take control,” the WHO Director Ashton will form the basis of a REUTERS nation centre yesterday to raise Earth’s atmosphere and mag- electric power grid surges. General, Margaret Chan, said. the alarm for possible satellite- netosphere protect the planet “In the worst case, what could Detecting high blood pressure sizzling solar storms that also from radiation released during happen is that the transformers is the first step in preventing threaten astronauts in orbit, solar flares and geomagnetic in the power grid are damaged and controlling it, the agency plane passengers and electricity storms — some of the most severe and in that case, replacement of underlined. People can cut the grids on Earth. forms of space weather. the transformers can take weeks risks by consuming less salt, eat- WWII bomb defused near Though impossible to predict, a Smaller eruptions usually have or months,” said Luntama. Even ing a balanced diet, engaging in worst-case scenario mega-storm little noticeable effect — perhaps if only a small part of the grid is regular physical activity, avoid- can happen at any time, leaving the slight problems with car naviga- damaged, overloading in neigh- ing tobacco use and cutting down Berlin’s main train station world without Internet, telephones, tion systems or mobile phones. bouring systems can lead to more on drinking, it said. television, electricity and air and But a major solar storm on blackouts that spread domino-like, According to WHO data, the BERLIN: German sappers suc- The bomb was found about rail transport for days on end. the scale of an event in 1859 that such as the nine-hour power black- prevalence of hypertension is high- cessfully defused a World War 1.5km north of the main station Limited precautions can be crippled global telegraph systems out in Quebec in Canada in 1989. est in Africa, where it affects 46 II bomb unearthed near Berlin’s and the rail operator, Deutsche taken, but early warning is key, could have severe impacts today. Astronauts orbiting Earth on percent of adults, while the low- main train station in a delicate Bahn, said up to 50 regional and say experts at the European A “coronal mass ejection”— the International Space Station, est prevalence is in the Americas, operation that snarled rail and long-distance trains had to be re- Space Agency (ESA) which runs which sends electromagnetic closer to the source of the radia- where 35 percent have it. road traffic for several hours directed to other hubs for nearly the centre from Brussels. radiation flying towards Earth tion, could be at high risk of a High-income countries overall yesterday. four hours. “A pilot can always land a plane... at a speed of some 2,500km per severe solar storm, as could plane have a lower prevalence of hyper- The 100kg explosive was Suburban trains were unaf- because they have alternatives (to second and plays havoc with crews and passengers flying over tension, 35 percent of adults, than dropped by an Allied plane dur- fected and the main station itself satellites) for navigation, but if they long transmission lines — caused the polar regions. Precautions their low- and middle-income ing the Second World War and remained open. However resi- get the disturbance without warn- surges on telegraph lines so strong would include turning off satel- counterparts, where 40 percent discovered on Tuesday, a police dents in the immediate area were ing, at the wrong time, that can be in 1859 that offices caught fire and lites to lessen the risk, reduc- are affected. spokesman said, adding that ordered to evacuate as a precau- dangerous,” Juha-Pekka Luntama, operators received electric shocks. ing the load on power grids, and That difference is thanks to experts believed it was a Soviet- tion, streets were cordoned off head of ESA’s space weather divi- Such a storm today could planes being diverted or even targeted health policies and bet- made bomb. “The operation to and ship traffic on a neighbouring sion said at the launch. claim about 50 to 100 satellites — grounded if communications ter access to care, the WHO said. defuse the device took about half canal was stopped. Even a slight satellite glitch can 10 percent of the total in orbit, become unreliable. AFP AFP an hour,” the spokesman said. AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL US lawmaker Hagel warns of further belt-tightening gets death Military’s hierarchies need further re-examination, says US Defence Secretary threats over

WASHINGTON: Defence world’s pressing security chal- out a responsible national security said “fiscal realities demand” the Secretary Chuck Hagel (pic- lenges have political, economic strategy and its implementation”. Pentagon take another look at the gun control bill tured) told the US military yes- and cultural components and “do In looking at areas where the number and mix of military and terday to brace for a new round not necessarily lend themselves Pentagon needed to further reduce civilian personnel it employs. WASHINGTON: A US con- of belt-tightening as he car- to being resolved by conventional spending, Hagel took aim at some “Despite good efforts and gresswoman said yesterday that ries out a sweeping review that military strength”. of the key factors that have been intentions, it is still not clear she received death threats this could slash the number of gen- Hagel took the helm at the driving up costs at an unsustain- that every option has been exer- week for introducing a bill that erals, pare back civilian work- Pentagon in February as it was able pace, including excessive cised or considered to pare back would tighten the nation’s gun ers and stem spiraling costs of struggling with $487bn in budget bureaucracy, creeping personnel the world’s largest back-office,” laws. new weapons. cuts over a decade beginning last costs and unwieldy weapons- Hagel said, referring to the size Representative Carolyn Maloney But Hagel, in his first major year. An additional $500bn in development programmes. of the Pentagon’s administrative said she informed police that some- policy speech, also warned that cuts over a decade began March “In many respects, the biggest bureaucracy compared to num- one phoned her New York con- the United States could not allow 1 under the across-the-board cuts long-term fiscal challenge facing bers of combat troops. He said gressional office on Tuesday and its current fiscal and budgetary known as sequestration. the department is not the flat or the military’s hierarchies needed threatened her over her pending crisis to force it to retreat from Under those cuts, the Pentagon declining top-line budget, it is the further re-examination as well. legislation, which comes three its role in the world. must slash $41bn by September growing imbalance in where the “Today the operational forces of months after a school massacre in “America does not have the lux- 30, the end of the 2013 fiscal year. money is being spent internally,” the military — measured in bat- neighbouring Connecticut. ury of retrenchment — we have Next year it is facing another Hagel said. talions, ships and aircraft wings “Yesterday, several death too many global interests at stake, $50bn in cuts unless Congress and He said he was concerned — have shrunk dramatically since threats were phoned into my including our security, prosperity the White House agree on alter- that the military was looking at the Cold War era,” he said. “Yet New York office in response and future. If we refuse to lead natives to reduce federal budget and the possibility of cyber attack “systems that are vastly more the three- and four-star com- to news reports about a bill I ... someone will fill the vacuum,” shortfalls. from several countries. expensive and technologically mand and support structures authored requiring gun owners he said in remarks prepared At the same time, Hagel, a Hagel, while maintaining he risky than what was promised or sitting atop these smaller fight- to have insurance,” Maloney said. for delivery to students at the Vietnam veteran, is winding did not “assume or tacitly accept” budgeted for” as it attempts to ing forces have stayed intact, with “The calls were fielded by young National Defence University here. down the war in Afghanistan and that further deep budget cuts modernise its weapons. minor exceptions, and in some interns, who were understandably But at the same time, he grappling with a host of security would endure, said the Defense While recognizing the sacrifices cases they are actually increas- shaken by this experience.” stressed the limits of military challenges, from North Korea’s Department could not “simply of troops and their families over ing in size and rank.” The 11-term Democrat’s New power, saying that most of the threats to Iran’s nuclear advances wish or hope our way to carrying nearly a dozen years of war, Hagel REUTERS York district office received three menacing phone calls which left her so disturbed that she missed a planned awards dinner Tuesday Honour for Hillary night, according to the New York Daily News. “They said they were UK press rules may set going to kill me,” she told the paper. Maloney is a strong backer of President Barack Obama’s push for legislation to reduce gun violence, bad global precedent efforts which have been vehemently opposed by several Republican law- LONDON: Prime Minister system will be voluntary, but there makers and gun advocates like the David Cameron’s plan for press will be strong financial incentives National Rifle Association. She said regulation threatens press to encourage newspapers to opt her bill would require gun owners freedom and could serve as a into it. Newspapers that do not join to carry liability insurance, “just precedent for authoritarian the new regulatory system could like car owners, to give innocent governments across the world face exemplary costs and damages victims of gun violence some who want to gag their journal- under future new legislation, if recourse if they are injured. ists, a leading media watchdog they breach the rights of ordinary “Nearly 100,000 Americans are said yesterday. people, Cameron said. injured by guns every year,” she The Committee to Protect The proposed new press regula- added. “Carrying insurance is the Journalists (CPJ) urged Cameron tor could levy fines of up to £1m responsible thing to do.” Maloney to amend the plans which include ($1.5m) and oblige newspapers to said she was particularly disturbed a decree and legislation aimed at print prominent apologies where by the threats, given the December protecting the public from news- appropriate, prompting threats by shooting in Newtown, Connecticut paper reporters aggressively some press barons to boycott the that left 20 small children and six searching for salacious stories. new regulatory regime. staffers dead. “I take the threat of The proposals, supported by Britain’s Conservatives, their more gun violence very seriously,” Britain’s three largest parties, are junior coalition partners the Maloney said, “but it is not some- a response to the public uproar Liberal Democrats and the Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton (right) is greeted on stage by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg thing that I will allow to stop me created when it emerged in 2011 opposition Labour party reached before addressing the Vital Voices Global Awards ceremony at the Kennedy Centre in Washington. The event from doing my work.” that reporters at one of Rupert a compromise after agreeing to honours “women leaders from around the world who are the unsung heroines to strengthen democracy, increase AFP Murdoch’s newspapers had hacked enact legislation to ensure the economic opportunity, and protect human rights,” according to the group’s website. into a murdered schoolgirl’s phone. new system could not be easily “Prime Minister, we urge you to altered later. The actual new reg- take a step back from the current ulatory body will be established by proposals, which do not take into royal charter, a formal document account the implications for press issued by the monarch. British class system alive, growing: Survey freedom beyond Fleet Street,” the When unveiling the cross-party New York-based CPJ said in an agreement, Cameron said the sys- open letter to Cameron. tem would not be a law as such LONDON: British people can now aspire to LSE Professor Mike Savage said. “At the oppo- the Precariat and New Affluent Workers at 15 “Any attempt, no matter how and would support investigative and despise four new levels of social classes, site extreme, we have discerned the existence percent each, the Traditional Working Class well-intentioned, to embed press journalism and protect the rights according to a new survey conducted by of a sizeable group (the Precariat) — 15 per- at 14 percent and the Technical Middle Class regulation in law has far-reach- of the vulnerable. Hacked Off, a researchers in partnership with public cent of the population — which is marked by and the Elite both at six percent. ing implications for press free- lobbying group for victims of the broadcaster the BBC. the lack of any significant amount of economic, The researchers also highlighted that the dom across much of the world,” press in the UK, has welcomed the The Great British Class Survey found that cultural, or social capital.” Traditional Working Class, whose occupa- it said, adding the proposals also proposed plans, saying it combined the prevailing notions of a system comprised In between those two classes, researchers tions included care workers, van drivers, did not clarify rules for bloggers the rights of the press as well as of the Upper Class, Middle Class and Working Savage and Manchester University Professor cleaners and secretaries, were economically and online journalists. of victims of aggressive reporting. Class only related to a slice of the UK popu- Fiona Devine alongside others found that the better off than Emergent Service Workers The CPJ warned Cameron that “The signal to the world, if they lation, when analysed according to income, vast majority of the UK population can be bro- and the Precariat, but were also the oldest governments seeking to pass leg- read beyond the headlines of what assets, social connections and social activities. ken down into an “Established Middle Class”, demographic group with an average age of 65. islation to restrict media freedom is happening in Britain and beyond An “Elite” class and a “Precariat” (precari- a “Technical Middle Class”, “New Affluent “To this extent, the traditional working could feel encouraged by his plans. the scare-mongering of some ous proletariat)were the two most extreme Workers”, the “Traditional Working Class” class is fading from contemporary importance, “It would be highly regrettable if national newspapers, is that it is groups at either end of a new social scale of and “Emergent Service Workers”. and clearly is less prominent than the estab- such leaders could point to the possible to protect citizens from seven classes produced by researchers from Of all the classes, the Established Middle lished middle class,” the researchers said. British parliament as precedent for the kind of abuses that made the the London School of Economics (LSE) and Class was the biggest, representing 25 per- The survey turns on its head the traditional introducing statutory media con- Leveson inquiry necessary, while at University of Manchester based on two surveys cent of the population and referred to by British notion of class, best represented in trols or regulations,” the CPJ said. the same time protecting freedom conducted by the BBC and research firm GfK. researchers as the “comfortably off bulwark a black and white 1960s television sketch by Following an inquiry into press of the press,” said Brian Cathcart, “It is striking that we have been able to dis- of British society” who live predominantly in comedians Ronnie Corbett, Ronnie Barker and behaviour led by judge Brian a founder of Hacked Off. cern a distinctive elite, whose sheer economic small towns or rural areas. They were followed John Cleese for the “Frost Report”. Leveson, Britain’s new regulatory REUTERS advantage sets it apart from other classes,” by Emergent Service Workers at 19 percent, REUTERS

Floods in Argentina Former BBC driver 370,000 people call for UK charged in Savile minister to live on breadline abuse probe LONDON: An online petition The online petition, hosted at calling for a British minister www.change.org, says: “This peti- LONDON: British police inves- to survive on £53 ($80) a week, tion calls on Iain Duncan Smith tigating the Jimmy Savile abuse after he claimed he knew what it to live on this budget for at least scandal charged a former BBC was like to live on the breadline, one year. This would help realise driver yesterday with sexually had attracted the support of over the Conservative Party’s current assaulting a teenage boy. 370,000 people by yesterday. mantra that ‘We are all in this David Smith, 66, is the first The petition was launched together’. “This would mean a 97 person to be charged under after works and pensions minis- percent reduction in his current Operation Yewtree, the high- ter Iain Duncan Smith told a man income, which is £1,581.02 a week, profile Scotland Yard probe set who runs a market stall that he or £225 a day, after tax.” up in the wake of revelations that could live on the measly amount Duncan Smith, a former leader late BBC star Savile was a prolific if he had to. Duncan Smith, of of the Conservative Party, told his sex offender. Prime Minister David Cameron’s local constituency newspaper in The scandal rocked the BBC Conservative Party, dismissed the northeast London that he had and has led to the arrests of sev- petition as a “complete stunt”, but twice been unemployed in his life eral celebrities including singer it has prompted a wider backlash and knew what it was like “to live Gary Glitter, comedians Freddie against a raft of welfare reforms on the breadline”. Starr and Jim Davidson and radio which come into effect this week. “This is a complete stunt which presenter Stuart Hall. Market trader David Bennett distracts attention from the wel- Smith was charged with five asked on BBC radio on Tuesday if fare reforms which are much more offences including gross inde- Duncan Smith could live on £53, important and which I have been cency on a boy under the age of to which the minister replied “If I working hard to get done,” he said 14 and buggery of a boy under had to I would”. The petition was in the Wanstead and Woodford 16. The offences are alleged to subsequently set up by a musician, Guardian. Duncan Smith is mar- A man climbs up a vehicle damaged by flooding in La Plata, Argentina, yesterday. Casualty figures have risen have taken place in 1984 and challenging the minister to give ried to an aristocrat and lives in a to 41, with 35 in La Plata, due to the heavy rains in Buenos Aires province, said authorities. relate to one victim. up his £134,565 yearly salary and 17th century mansion. AFP live on just over £200 a month. AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Tubbataha reef N Korea blocks access to Kaesong evaluation starts MANILA: Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard Seoul warns of ‘military action’ if safety of workers in the industrial zone is threatened (PCG) and US navy yesterday started the ecological assess- SEOUL: North Korea blocked Describing the Kaesong ban as ment of the Tubbataha Reef, access to a key joint industrial “very regrettable”, South Korea’s where the USS Guardian zone with South Korea yester- Unification Ministry urged ran aground last January day — a sharp escalation in a the North to normalise access 17. PCG Palawan District military crisis that Washington “immediately”. head Commodore Enrico blamed on Pyongyang’s “reck- “Otherwise, not only will Evangelista said representa- less” behaviour. inter-Korean relations be nega- tives of the Coast Guard North Korea informed Seoul tively affected but North Korea Environmental Protection in the morning that it was stop- will invoke greater criticism and Command, Tubbataha ping the daily movement of South isolation from the international Management Office (TMO), Koreans into the Seoul-funded community,” the ministry said in World Wildlife Fund, and Kaesong complex — 10km inside a statement. US Navy will also proceed the North side of the border. It added that 33 South Koreans to the grounding site to join However, it added that the 861 had returned from Kaesong, with the assessment team. During South Koreans currently in the hundreds staying on to keep their the ecological assessment, the zone were at liberty to leave. companies running smoothly. divers will place markers and Any move on Kaesong — estab- Many routinely stay for periods take photos of the area. The lished in 2004 and a crucial source of several days. team was scheduled to return of hard currency for North Korea Around 53,000 North Koreans to Puerto Princesa City in — carries enormous significance. work at 120 South Korean plants Palawan on Friday. The USS Neither of the Koreas has at the complex, which was still Guardian ran aground off allowed previous crises to signifi- operating normally yesterday. North Koreans attend a rally against the US and South Korea in Nampo, yesterday. The sign in Korean read, Tubbataha Reef last January cantly affect the complex, which Lee Jae-Young, manager at a ‘Safeguard to the death’. 17, with the TMO initially is the only surviving example of watchmaking plant in Kaesong, estimating some 4,000 square inter-Korean cooperation and was among those prevented from metres of the reef may have seen as a bellwether for stability crossing into the North. “Shutting the whole thing down of our eastern borders,” he said. region, Washington has deployed been damaged. on the Korean peninsula. “I feel anxious about my col- is financially significant enough to “In the current tense atmos- nuclear-capable US B-52s, B-2 South Korea’s defence ministry leagues there. This is an emer- cause a riot among these people,” phere, it would only need an stealth bombers and two US Atheist blogger said it had contingency plans that gency situation and it doesn’t look he added. elementary human error or tech- destroyers to South Korean air included “military action” in case good,” Lee said. In Moscow, Deputy Foreign nical problem for the situation to and sea space. held in Dhaka the safety of its citizens working Cho Han-Bum, an analyst at Minister Igor Morgulov expressed go out of control and plunge out US Secretary of State John there was threatened. the Korea Institute for National concern over the “explosive” sit- of control.” Kerry on Tuesday denounced the BANGLADESH: Police in The latest North Korean Unification, said Pyongyang was uation in the Korean peninsula Tensions have been soaring on “unacceptable rhetoric” emanat- Bangladesh arrested a self- move fitted into a cycle of esca- unlikely to risk a complete shut- in which a simple human error the Korean peninsula since the ing from Pyongyang and North styled “militant atheist” lating tensions that has seen down of Kaesong. would be enough to light the North launched a long-range Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. yesterday for anti-religious Pyongyang threaten missile “There are more than 53,000 fuse and lose control over the rocket in December and con- “What Kim Jong Un has been writings as part of a crack- and nuclear strikes against the North Koreans working there, situation. ducted its third nuclear test in choosing to do is provocative. It is down on bloggers in the face United States and its ally South most of whom have immediate “Russia has to be worried as we February. Both events triggered dangerous, reckless and the United of pressure from radical Korea in response to UN sanc- and extended family members are talking about an explosive sit- UN sanctions. States will not accept as a nuclear Islamist groups. The arrest of tions and joint military drills. who depend on them,” Cho said. uation in the immediate vicinity In a rare show of force in the state,” Kerry said. AFP Asif Mohiuddin, comes a day after the detention of three other bloggers and ahead of an Islamist march this weekend towards the capital Dhaka to demand the death penalty for online atheist Another man hit by Manila rebels to restart talks writers. “The detective police arrested Asif Mohiuddin on MANILA: The Philippines and Senate and the entire member- The conflict has claimed an charges of hurting religious Muslim rebels will resume talks ship of parliament’s lower cham- estimated 150,000 lives, although sentiment through his writ- bird flu dies in China next week aimed at ending one ber, the House of Representatives. most of the deaths occurred in the ings on blogs and Facebook,” of Asia’s longest insurgencies, The elections are crucial to 1970s and ceasefires put in place Dhaka police spokes- BEIJING: China has found developed any flu-like symptoms. with both sides hoping to final- Aquino’s hopes of ending the for the past decade to allow peace man Masudur Rahman two more cases of a new strain Of the seven other victims, two ise a deal by May, negotiators rebellion, because congress would talks have largely held. said. Mohiuddin survived a of bird flu and one of the vic- have died in Shanghai. The other said yesterday. have to pass a law approving the Milf chief negotiator Mohagher machete attack by suspected tims has died, state media said five are in a critical condition in Philippine President Benigno peace deal. Iqbal also expressed confidence Islamists in January. yesterday, bringing to nine the hospital in Nanjing. Aquino had authorised the new Ferrer said the next round that a final agreement could be number of cases. The Agriculture Ministry round of talks with the Moro of talks would start on Monday reached over the next few weeks. Court frees A 38-year old cook became ill said it had yet to find any ani- Islamic Liberation Front (Milf), in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Both negotiators spoke at an early last month while working mals infected with H7N9, though after postponing negotiations in Malaysia that has for 15 years event in Manila where members Russian tycoon in the province of Jiangsu, where added it was possible it had been late March so he could have more hosted on-again, off-again talks of a 15-member “transition com- five other cases were found. He brought to China by migratory time to study the planned pact, between the Milf and various mission” tasked to draft a law PHNOM PENH: A died in hospital in Hangzhou city birds. they said. Philippine administrations. creating the autonomous region Cambodian court provision- on March 27, the Xinhua news Vietnam announced an imme- “We are at the home-stretch. Aquino’s government agreed in began its preliminary work. ally freed Russian real estate agency said. Samples tested pos- diate ban on all Chinese poultry We are working on a target to fin- October on a road map with the Once a final peace deal is tycoon Sergei Polonsky yes- itive for the new H7N9 strain imports and stepped up border ish all the annexes (outstanding Milf that envisions a new autono- signed, the government is hop- terday but ordered him not yesterday. controls. Hanoi imposed the ban issues) and a final deal before the mous Muslim region in Mindanao, ing congress will pass the law to leave the country, where The second patient, 67, also to “actively and efficiently pre- elections on May 13,” chief govern- the southern third of the mainly to approve it before then end of he faces trial on charges of in Hangzhou, is under treat- vent the intrusion of the H7N9 ment negotiator Miriam Coronel Catholic nation of 100 million. 2014. After that areas included assault and illegal detention, ment. Xinhua said no connection virus into Vietnam”, according to Ferrer told reporters in Manila. The Milf, which has about in the planned autonomous a defence attorney said. A between both cases had been an urgent message signed by the The Philippines goes to the 12,000 armed followers, has been region would need to endorse it 40-year-old, Polonsky, who discovered, and no one in close Minister of Agriculture, Cao Duc polls in May to choose more than struggling since the early 1970s in a plebiscite. was worth $1.2bn before the contact with either patient had Phat. REUTERS 18,000 officials, including half the for self rule. AFP global financial crisis, was detained in January with two other Russians over allega- Kite fair tions they forced crew mem- bers to jump from a boat at knife point and punched one. Elderly Chinese “The court has ruled that he is released on bail due to ill jailed for murder health,” one of Polonsky’s law- yer, Long Salux, said, adding during revolution the alleged offence was being treated as a misdemeanour BEIJING: A Chinese court rather than a more serious jailed an elderly man for a mur- felony. der during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, officials said yester- day, after a trial that sparked Marine abducted anger over seemingly selective justice. and shot dead Qiu Riren, in his 80s, was con- demned to three and a half years NARATHIWAT: A Thai in jail for the 1967 killing, said a marine has been abducted court official, in the eastern prov- and killed in Thailand’s deep ince of Zhejiang. south in a revenge attack by Chinese media said Qiu had militants who carried out a been arrested last July. But it was botched raid on a military unclear why his case went ahead base, police said yesterday. several decades after the Cultural Maela Tolu, a 24-year-old Revolution, a violent and chaotic Muslim private at the base, period the government has sought was snatched from his home to move beyond without releasing by eight gunmen on Monday a full historical account. evening, his wife told police Qiu had belonged to an “armed in Narathiwat, one of several group” and strangled his victim, a insurgency-plagued prov- doctor thought to be a spy, before inces near the Malaysian cutting off his legs and burying A 138-metre kite in the shape of the Great Wall and China’s first emperor Qin flies above Daming Palace National Heritage Park during a kite fair in border. His blindfolded body him, the state-run China News Xi’an, yesterday was found with two gunshot Service said. wounds and his hands bound Social media users decried the on a village road in another trial when state media announced district late Tuesday, as kill- it in February, pointing out that Malaysian PM dissolves parliament for elections ing in the region continues senior officials who stirred up the despite recent peace talks social and political upheaval had KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian way for the 13th general election.” independence in 1957. think the chances of winning are between Thailand and one of never been held accountable. Prime Minister Najib Razak The election commission will The opposition three-party very good amid signs of despera- the rebel groups. Police said Then-leader Mao Zedong had dissolved parliament yester- meet shortly to decide on a date Pakatan Rakyat, led by the char- tion in the leadership of Najib,” the white wire cable used to urged ordinary Chinese to struggle day in preparation for a general for the poll, which is likely to take ismatic Anwar Ibrahim, a former Anwar said. “My major concern tie the victim’s hands was the against the privileged, resulting in election seen as the toughest place within the next few weeks. deputy premier, made unprece- is they may resort to fraud dur- same as that found on the attacks on officials, intellectuals challenge yet for the ruling coa- Analysts predict the election dented inroads in the last polls ing the polls and violence in the bodies of militants killed in an and others. Neighbours and family lition after 56 years in power. will be the closest ever amid con- in 2008. run-up to the elections,” he added. attack in February that saw members turned on one another “This morning I met the king cerns over corruption, the rising “For Pakatan Rakyat it is the Activists and the opposition have scores of heavily-armed gun- while young people formed “Red and asked for his consent to dis- cost of living and crime under best possible chance to offer a via- demanded free and fair elections, men storm the Narathiwat Guard” units that destroyed cul- solve the parliament,” he said. the Barisan Nasional coalition, ble alternative for democracy and staging several mass rallies calling base. AGENCIES tural relics. AGENCIES “This dissolution will pave the which has ruled Malaysia since a more responsible government. I for change. AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Taliban kill 44 in Afghan court attack Insurgents tried to free colleagues standing trial

HERAT: Taliban militants bombed in Kabul in December target government compounds stormed an Afghan court yes- 2011, killing 80 people. equipped with suicide vests, rock- terday, killing at least 44 peo- “The attack is over, but the ets and machine-guns. ple in a bid to free insurgents casualties have unfortunately “At around 8:00am (0330 GMT) standing trial, officials said, in risen,” Farah Provincial Governor five attackers riding in two mil- the deadliest attack for more Mohammad Akram Khpalwak itary-style vehicles drove to the than a year. said, putting the final death toll provincial court building, one It was not immediately clear as high as 46. (vehicle) detonated at the gate whether the accused men had “In total, 34 civilians and 12 and three attackers entered the escaped the court complex in the (Afghan) security forces have building,” Agha Noor Kentos, western town of Farah, although a been killed in the attack. We have police chief of Farah said. hospital doctor said one prisoner also discovered the bodies of eight Wakil Ahmad, a doctor at Farah was among those being treated attackers, more than 100 people hospital, said medics were treat- for injuries. have also been injured.” ing scores of wounded including The multiple bomb and gun The governor added a group of two judges and one court prisoner. assault will raise further ques- Taliban had been brought for trial Abdul Rahman Zhawandon, tions about the Afghans’ ability to yesterday, without giving further spokesman for the governor of secure the country as Nato winds details. Farah, said the area was sealed down its combat mission in the Taliban militants fighting the off as firing continued through war-torn country by the end of US-backed central government the day and some attackers had next year. claimed responsibility. also entered a Kabul Bank office “I can confirm that 34 civil- “Our fighters attacked several attached to the court building. ians, six army and four policemen government buildings in Farah The governor’s compound was Afghan security officials check a vehicle as security was intensified following militant attacks on the provincial have been killed and 91 people, according to their planned tactic. around 200 metres away from the court and the bank building, in Herat, yesterday. the majority of them civilians, They conducted the attack with scene of attack. have been injured,” Najib Danish, small arms and grenades,” the The Taliban insurgency has Interior Ministry deputy spokes- group said on its website. raged since a 2001 US-led inva- focused their attention, to other forces, but there are fears that the killed seven people. man said. “The fighting happened after sion ousted their five-year regime areas such as Farah which bor- violence will increase with their In November a roadside bomb “Nine attackers have also been information that (President from Kabul. ders Iran. departure. planted by Taliban insurgents killed.” Hamid) Karzai’s administration The militia has increasingly Nato combat troops are due Last year gunmen dressed in killed 17 civilians — mostly women The death toll was the high- wanted to try several fighters in widened its attacks outside its to pull out of Afghanistan by the Afghan police uniforms and wear- and children — on their way to est in Afghanistan from a single a cruel way in this court.” main powerbases in the east and end of 2014, leaving responsibil- ing suicide vests stormed a gov- a wedding party in the province. attack since a Shia shrine was Taliban fighters frequently south, where Nato forces have ity for security to Afghan security ernment compound in Farah and AFP

80,000 prisoners may miss voting Shariah backed in Pakistan poll Injured Afghan spy chief returns home by youngsters RAWALPINDI: More than KABUL: Afghanistan’s spy able to get so close to one of ISLAMABAD: More than 80,000 prisoners detained chief returned home yesterday Afghanistan’s most prominent half of young Pakistanis in different jails of Pakistan from lengthy medical treat- officials raised questions about believe democracy has not may not be able to use ment in the United States after whether the visitor was an insider been good for their country their right of franchise in being badly wounded by a sui- known to Khalid. and nearly 40 percent are the general elections to be cide bomber who hid explosives But the revelation that the in favour of having Shariah held in May this year, said in his underwear. explosives were hidden in his rule, according to a survey Global Foundation Executive The bomber posing as a underwear also suggested that published yesterday. Pakistan Director Ulfat Kazmi. Taliban peace envoy wounded he was not thoroughly searched goes to the polls in a historic Kazmi appealed to Chief National Directorate of Security — an omission in many security general election on May 11, Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar (NDS) chief Asadullah Khalid routines in Afghanistan. but the report by the British Muhammad Chaudhry and at a guest house run by the Khalid, known for being a Council found deep pessi- the Election Commission of intelligence agency in Kabul on fierce anti-Taliban figure and mism about the political sys- Pakistan for taking steps so December 6. close to President Hamid Karzai, tem among voters aged 18 to that prisoners could cast their “The enemies of peace and had only been in the job for a 29. An overwhelming 96 per- votes in the elections. security attacked the director couple of months before the cent of those surveyed in the In Punjab, more than 50,0000 of NDS in a strike that failed attack. ‘Next Generation Goes to the people are detained, includ- and he was taken for treatment He was treated at a US-run Ballot Box’ report said the ing 800 women. In Khyber- first inside and then outside the military hospital at Bagram country was heading in the Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and country,” the spy agency said in a airbase outside Kabul before wrong direction and almost Sindh, the number is 30,000. statement. being flown for treatment in a third said they would pre- In Adiala Jail, there are “Finally after around four Asadullah Khalid Washington DC. fer military rule to democ- 4,332 male and 159 female months of treatment, with the There he was by both Karzai racy. Just 29 percent chose prisoners, while 765 people help of God, today at around spy chief when he detonated the himself, according to officials at and US President Barack democracy as the best system are in Attock Jail, including 15 8.30am, he returned home with bomb. the time. Obama. for Pakistan, a constitutional women. As many as 772 men good health.” The bomber, who died, was Large posters and banners Karzai said the attack was Islamic republic, with 38 per- and 14 women are in Jhelum Based on the witness account eating in the guesthouse when bearing photographs of Khalid planned in neighbouring Pakistan, cent favouring Sharia, say- Jail and 185 mmen are in of a man who survived the attack, Khalid entered the room and blew were erected on main roads in an accusation that Islamabad ing it was the best for giving Chakwal sub-jail. officials said the attacker was himself up after Khalid answered Kabul to welcome him home. rejected. rights and freedom and pro- INTERNEWS about a metre (3.3 feet) from the his mobile, apparently identifying The fact that an assassin was AFP moting tolerance. ‘UK aid helping Zardari’s party’ LAHORE: The Benazir Billions missing from Caretaker cabinet sworn in Income Support Programme is being used to buy support ISLAMABAD: Portfolios yes- government on matters like the Kasi the railways portfolio and for the Pakistan People’s terday were allocated to the 14 Mumbai attacks, was given the Asadullah Mandokhel the port Party, a leading develop- Musharraf’s accounts members of Pakistan’s interim law, human rights and parliamen- and shipping and communications ment economist has claimed administration, with caretaker tary affairs portfolios. portfolios. in evidence to a parliamen- Prime Minister Mir Hazar Malik Habib, a retired inspec- Mir Hassan Domki will be tary inquiry, reports the ISLAMABAD: The billions articles worth Rs6m. Khan Khoso retaining the key tor general of police, was named the caretaker Food Security Telegraph. Ehtisham Ahmad, owned by former dictator Pervez Musharraf has mentioned Foreign and Defence ministries. the caretaker Interior and Minister, Sania Nishter the care- a visiting fellow at the Musharraf and reportedly that his personal expenditure is Khoso allocated portfolios to Narcotics Control Minister. taker Science and Technology London School of Economics, stashed in offshore accounts Rs8m. the ministers who were sworn in Musaddaq Malik was given the and Education Minister, Feroze said Britain’s Department for are missing from assets details On January 08 last year, it was yesterday by President Asif Ali crucial water and power portfolio Jamal Shah Kakakhel the care- International Development given by the ex-army chief who reported that Musharraf has Zardari, according to local media and will have to play a key role in taker Minister for Overseas was pouring money into a once ruled the country. made huge saving investments reports. tackling a crippling energy crisis. Pakistanis, Younis Soomro the scheme. “It is not stolen to Musharraf, who has landed abroad to earn large profits. As expected, senior journalist Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf Sheik caretaker Housing and Works the extent to which previous back in the country with the In just one Dubai-based Arif Nizami was given the infor- was allocated the industries and Minister and Shahzada Jamal the cash transfers were stolen, intention to contest election online trading service — MMA mation portfolio and Ahmer Bilal production portfolio, Maqbool H caretaker Religious and National but this is the mechanism and become the nation’s saviour, — Musharraf had $1,600,000 Soofi, an expert on international H Rahmatoola the textiles and Harmony Minister. which is funded partly by the is facing criminal cases in the (Rs145m) in 2011. law who has advised the Pakistan commerce portfolios, Abdul Malik QNA department to make friends courts. Pakistanis has never seen In the Union National Bank, and influence people. This is a dictator being dragged into which is an investment bank in the re-election campaign of the court in the past 65 years Abu Dhabi, Musharraf and his Demining Zardari, which is funded by of which they have been ruled spouse Sehba Musharraf, had a the department,” he said. by the dictators for more than joint account in which the amount thirty years. in mid-2011 was almost UAE 14 suspects According to reports, Dirhams 17,000,000 (Rs391m). Musharraf had Rs2.156bn in In the same bank the couple has held in Karachi eight foreign accounts in 2011- another joint account, which is a 12 but what he mentioned in his dollar account. ISLAMABAD: Fourteen nomination forms is in no match This particular account in 2011 people, including Hanif alias with his ‘billions’ in offshore contained $535,325 (Rs48m). In Chitta on the most wanted list, accounts. Where have those bil- yet another dirham account in were arrested during a police lions gone is a multi-billion dollar the same financial institution raid in Karachi in Landhi question. the Union National Bank Sehba area yesterday. Police said Musharraf’s nomination form and Musharraf had almost UAE operations were launched fol- submitted in Islamabad (NA- dirhams 7,600,000 (Rs174m) in lowing tip-off that some sus- 48) reveals that his net assets 2011. pects were present in their were worth Rs645m on June 30, In the fourth account, in the hideout at Landhi 89. They 2012 after having an increase of Union National Bank, they had raided the place and arrested Rs129m in one year. dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs184m). them. Police also recovered Documents say that In the fifth account, in the same weapons during the raid, Musharraf’s wife Sehba has bank Musharraf and his wife had according to Pakistan’s Geo invested Rs1961465 in Bank US$ 8,000,000 (Rs728m). News. A contingent of 500 Alfalah shares. In the sixth account, Sehba police commandos, including Besides 170 tolas of gold, the Musharraf and Pervez Musharraf women, took part in the raid. ex-dictator has Rs5m cash in had dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs184m) Afghan deminers clear mines from a field in Sangaw village on the outskirts of Kabul. AGENCIES bank and also owns furniture and in 2011. INTERNEWS THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Talks on with Saudi over work policy No significant rise in people returning home due to new policy: Official Kerala for relief to diaspora NEW DELHI: India is holding Riyadh, Madinah and the east- “is trying to merge a corporation move to another job, or go with talks with Saudi Arabia over ern province. to recruit people, which will be a one sponsor but then move on to THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “We have requested the the kingdom’s new work policy “Senior Indian ministers could government company”. another sponsor. Kerala yesterday set up a min- Centre to intervene... and have Nitaqat, that seeks to reserve a even meet the Saudi minister of “Labour in an important com- “The Saudi government is isterial committee to prepare a requested that our people be percentage of jobs for locals, an labour if the necessity is felt. The ponent of our relations. There clamping down on such people, rehabilitation package for the put to minimum difficulties. We official said here yesterday. Saudi minister is not in the coun- is ongoing dialogue with Saudi including those who have brought diaspora in the wake of tight- wish that Saudi Arabia declare He added that there has not try and would return in the lat- Arabia on labour and we are in them and are not fulfilling the ening of Saudi labour laws. an amnesty period for all to set been any significant rise in Indians ter half of April. He would be the discussions of taking their sup- requirement,” the official added. The commitee is headed by right their papers,” said Chandy. returning home due to the policy. right interlocutor for the govern- port of our electronic attestation On Nitaqat, the official said Diaspora Minister K C Joseph, “We have asked the Centre Indian ministers may also meet ment of India to interact with on of labour contracts. There are a the kingdom has asked for a and includes K M Mani (minister to see that such people are Saudi Arabia’s labour minister the issue,” said the spokesperson. number of issues we are talking minimum of five percent of jobs for finance) M Ali (municipali- repatriated at the expense if the situation so requires, the He added that the ambassador about and we want to understand to be reserved for Saudi employ- ties minister), Shibu Baby John of the Centre, free of cost,” official said. (Hamid Ali Rao) has placed offi- what is the reality,” an official ees. “They are not asking for the (labour minister), and Adoor said Chandy. “To start with, “We have not seen any signifi- cials in Damman and other ports said. moon. They are only looking after Prakash (revenue minister). we have asked the collec- cant increase in number of peo- to help those who want to come Indians are an actively pre- their own interests, and we can- The ministerial committee will tors at Kasargode, Kozhikode, ple coming out due to Nitaqat. back and do not have the relevant ferred community in the Gulf. not question it,” the official added. liaison with the central govern- Malappuram and Kannur to We have seen a slight increase travel documents. “They work better, work very “While one should be con- ment and commercial banks here prepare a list of people who hail in the number of people coming External Affairs Minister hard and do not involve them- cerned about the situation, there to draw a rehabilitation package. from their districts and are in back due to irregular appoint- Salman Khurshid and the selves in local politics,” said the is no need to get paranoid,” he Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Saudi Arabia but do not have ments or irregular working Minister of Overseas Indian official. There are 6.5 million added. On Monday, Khurshid said they are in touch with the proper documents, by talking to hours,” said Syed Akbaruddin, Affairs Vayalar Ravi met Kerala Indians in the Gulf, including 2.45 had said that there was “no need central government to know their kith and kin here. Once we the external affairs ministry Chief Minister Oommen Chandy million in Saudi Arabia. to panic” and the Indian govern- about the happenings in Saudi get the list of such people, we will spokesperson. “We are trying to said on Tuesday. Kerala sends the According to the World Bank, ment was ready to provide any Arabia after a new labour policy send it to the Indian embassy in ameliorate their conditions,” he maximum number of workers to in 2012, Indians worldwide sent assistance to affected Indian has come into effect. Saudi Arabia,” added Chandy. added. Saudi Arabia. They agreed that back remittances of $70bn, with workers. “If somebody has to go “We have been told that According to the new Nitaqat He said India is holding an Kerala “will give assurance of around 60 percent of it coming to another country, he has to sat- not a single Keralite has been policy of the kingdom, 10 per- ongoing dialogue with the Saudi checking identities” of all those from those working in the Gulf. isfy the rules of that country. But sent back or asked to return cent of jobs are to be reserved government and that the Indian going to the Gulf countries for Saudi Arabia is trying to if there is inconvenience caused to on account of the new policy. for locals. The policy is aimed at ambassador met the governors employment. identify and send back Indians any Indian citizens, then what- See, we have no right to ques- expanding employment opportu- of the provinces of the king- To tackle the huge number of who are flouting the work rules ever assistance we can give, we tion the policies of another nities for Saudi nationals. dom last month where Indians illegal workers or those flouting — those workers who go to the will provide,” Khurshid had said. country,” he said. IANS are concentrated, including in Saudi labour norms, the kingdom kingdom on a specific job and then IANS

Giant copter Man wins legal battle deal faces more delays over ‘indecent’ kiss MUMBAI: A man arrested for under section 110 of the Bombay NEW DELHI: A giant indecency after he kissed a female Police Act of 1951. “It was worth it,” contract to supply 197 friend on the cheek says he has said Sarup, who owns a production light helicopters to the finally been acquitted after a battle company and said he wanted to take Indian army which is lasting more than a year against a stand against such arrests. “What being sought by European Mumbai police. is decent and indecent, police need a and Russian firms faces Kuber Sarup, 26, was hauled to a bit more clarity on that.” more delays due to cor- city police station in February last Police at the station in Khar sub- ruption fears, reports year after an officer witnessed the urb, where Sarup was taken, said said yesterday. alleged obscenity — a goodbye hug that the case happened too long European manufacturer and a “peck on the cheek” — in the ago to comment, while local media Eurocopter and Russia’s fashionable Bandra suburb. praised Sarup for having “the cour- Kamov are competing for “He gave me a lecture on Hindu age to stand up to the system”. “For the contract, worth an culture and asked me if I understood far too long, citizens have accepted estimated $550m and seen it,” Sarup said yesterday. “He said if the moral standards set by laws as vital for Indian troops you want to argue you have to go the enacted decades ago,” said the posted in high altitudes police station.” Sarup said he was told Times of India. “Societal mores and such as the mountainous to pay a fine of Rs1,200 or face a night moral standards cannot be etched border with China. in a police cell, so he paid up but went in stone; they change.” Newspapers reported to court the next day to contest the Mumbai police have come under fire that the army has asked charge. before for overzealous “moral policing” for a probe into allegations Nearly a dozen court appearances and using outdated laws, especially last Police spray water on two protesters who covered themselves in kerosene, but were stopped before they could that a brigadier involved in later, a magistrate finally agreed on year after a spate of raids on popular immolate themselves, at the Rajkot Municipal Corporation premises, in Rajkot, yesterday. testing the helicopters had Monday that there was no evidence bars and nightclubs threatened to ruin asked for a bribe to swing of public indecency, which is banned the city’s party scene. AFP the contract in favour of Italy’s AgustaWestland. One dead as family of five The claim came to light during a separate investi- gation into a deal won in 2010 by AgustaWestland to supply 12 helicopters set themselves on fire for use by Indian VIPs. The AHMEDABAD: Five people set “But when their request was said to be stable, he added. Rajkot Italian firm was eventually themselves on fire near here, leav- not granted they poured kerosene municipal corporation commis- disqualified from the 197 ing one man dead as they pro- on themselves and set themselves sioner Ajay Bhadoo said authori- light-helicopter contest. tested official plans to raze their on fire,” Sinh said. ties had launched a probe into the The Times of India said home in a drive to remove illegal Municipal officials in Rajkot burnings. “We are enquiring into the controversy around structures, police said yesterday. had declared the family’s home the matter, into today’s incident.” the light helicopter deal The five people, including three illegal and issued an order to tear Indian cities are home to tens “has virtually pushed women, belonged to the same down the structure, leaving them of thousands of illegal buildings, this critical acquisition family and turned up at a city in a desperate state, Sinh said. with officials sporadically launch- into cold storage”. Both government office in the western “The five have been identified ing demolition drives to tear down Eurocopter and Kamov state of Gujarat carrying kero- as Rekha, Asha, Vasumati, Bharat allegedly unauthorised structures. were hoping to secure the sene-filled containers around and Girish .... Out of which Girish, In the run-up to the 2010 deal in 2013 after years of noon, local police said. who was 35-years-old succumbed Commonwealth Games, Delhi delays due to India’s slow Ram Sinh, a police official based to injuries in hospital,” he said. civic authorities evicted countless decision-making and cor- in Rajkot city, where the incident The burn victims sustained people from their homes as they ruption allegations which took place, said the group came “to severe injuries and have been razed thousands of slum dwellings regularly disrupt the pro- request the officials to stop demoli- admitted to a local government in an attempt to beautify the city. curement process. tion of illegal encroachments”. hospital, where their condition is AFP AFP

Outrage as thousands join student’s funeral

KOLKATA: Thousands of Leftists yes- activists of her party had been killed when a lamp post, said an SFI member. “He was terday joined the funeral procession of a they crashed into lamp posts while travel- hit on his head so hard that one of his eyes Students Federation of India activist, whose ling by trains. State Left Front chairman popped out,” added West Bengal SFI joint death in police custody here triggered out- and CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose said secretary Shatarup Ghosh. rage cutting across the political divide. Banerjee’s comment on the SFI leader’s Police, however, said that the activist The row was triggered with police claim- death before any inquiry was “wrong”. died after he crashed into a lamp post while ing that the death of Sudipto Gupta was an “The chief minister has made some com- being taken to jail. The West Bengal Human accident, while the opposition Left Front ments. She is not only a chief minister but Rights Commission ordered a probe into alleged he succumbed to injuries sustained also holds the home portfolio. If she comments his death, for which celebrated filmmaker during a heavy lathi-charge by police. on the death, then is there any scope of an Mrinal Sen blamed Banerjee. West Bengal Chief Minister and inquiry,” Bose told a media conference here. “Who is responsible? The one who rules Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata The SFI is the student wing of the the state, under whom the police are, that Banerjee was on the defensive as she called Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI- is the chief minister is responsible for this the Tuesday death of Gupta “unfortunate” M) Gupta, 24, a post-graduate student of death,” Sen said. Gupta’s body, wrapped in and pledged to help his distraught family. Rabindra Bharati University and an SFI the CPI-M’s red flag, was taken in a flower- The Left Front, however, lambasted activist, died allegedly after policemen bedecked hearse from the hospital to the Banerjee for commenting on the death of the assaulted him in custody. Left activists said Netaji Nagar College where he was general activist in police custody before a probe had Gupta was “mercilessly beaten” while he and secretary of the students’ council. been conducted. It also alleged that she was other students who had staged a protest seek- The body was then taken to Gupta’s resi- trying to establish the death as an “accident”. ing elections in colleges were being taken in dence where his father broke down. The The chief minister visited the state-run a bus to the Presidency Correctional Home. inconsolable 63-year-old Pranab Gupta, a hospital Wednesday afternoon where Gupta In the process, Gupta reportedly fell from widower, said he would not let the death go succumbed to his injuries. She said many the bus and collapsed after crashing against in vain and fight for justice. IANS THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Kashmir tourism Girl’s stalker 2G records guns down her father NAGPUR: A college profes- sor was shot dead early yes- with JPC, terday by a man who stalked his daughter in Maharashtra, police said. The accused was arrested. Anwar Khan killed Yogesh Dakhore and critically injured his wife PM to Sinha Kusum around 3am in Nagpur’s Hudkeshwar area, police said. Khan used to Nothing to hide, says Manmohan stalk Dakhore’s 24-year-old daughter, an M Tech student, NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Singh had something to hide. and wanted her to accept Manmohan Singh yesterday Talking to reporters in Chennai, his proposal for friendship, virtually rejected BJP leader Sinha said if the prime minister police said. Police said Khan Yashwant Sinha’s demand that said his conscience was clear, he entered Dakhore’s house he appear before the JPC on the should offer to appear before JPC. from the terrace, went to the 2G spectrum controversy, say- “By not appearing before the JPC, first floor and shot him with ing that all records in the case the prime minister is sending a a home-made firearm, police were with the panel and he had signal loud and clear that he has said. “He attacked Dakhore’s nothing to hide. something to hide,” he said. wife with a knife and bludg- “You are aware that all per- Sinha also accused JPC A Kashmiri shepherd uses an umbrella for shelter as rain falls at the edge of Zabarwan Forest on the outskirts eoned her with an iron rod,” tinent records and documents Chairman P C Chako of behav- of Srinagar, yesterday. Tourist arrivals are picking up in the Himalayan state after a sharp fall, officials said. an official said. Khan also available with the government ing in a “partisan manner”. took Dakhore’s daughter to have already been placed at the Chacko rejected Sinha’s demand the terrace and threatened disposal of the JPC,” the prime for prime minister’s appearance to push her off if she did not minister said in response to before the panel probing the 2G accept her friendship pro- Sinha’s letter. “I have said from issue, saying the committee had posal, police said. Neighbours the beginning that neither the passed that phase. “We are now 4 sisters suffer acid attack in UP later overpowered Khan and government nor I have anything preparing the draft of the com- handed him over to police, an to hide in this matter,” he said. mittee report for which the com- NEW DELHI: Four sisters investigated, with other family boyfriends or their relatives. official said. “The decision as to what evi- mitee has authorised its chairman walking home in north India members set to be questioned to It has called for India to reg- dence should be sought and which unanimously,” said Chacko, who have suffered severe burns after identify possible suspects. The ulate the sale of an acid called Class nine student individuals should be asked to is also a Congress spokesperson. being attacked with acid by two three other sisters were all teach- Tezaab which is designed to clean appear before the JPC is a matter Chacko on Tuesday rubbished men on a motorbike, police said ers at a local government school rusted tools but is commonly used commits suicide that needs to be decided internally Sinha’s demand for calling the yesterday. and were returning home from in attacks. by the JPC and its chairman,” the prime minister before the JPC as The youngest sister, a 19-year- work. They were taken to hospital “Acid has become the cheapest NEW DELHI: A class nine prime minister wrote. a “political stunt”. Chacko also old student, was admitted to hos- for treatment but not admitted. and most effective tool for men to student committed sui- In a letter on Monday, Sinha rejected criticism for not calling pital after the attack on Tuesday The incident prompted senior attack women in India,” said activ- cide by hanging herself at had asked the prime minis- Raja before the panel despite the evening in the Shamli district of police officers in the state of Uttar ist and victim Archana Kumari, her house here, police said. ter to appear before the Joint DMK leader’s insistence. Uttar Pradesh state. “The victims Pradesh to meet. They decided to who hails from northern Uttar She had fared poorly in her Parliamentary Committee (JPC) He said if Raja was called before were walking together when two ask shopkeepers to register the Pradesh state where Tuesday’s annual exams. “Pinky, 14, looking into the 2G spectrum the committee, all the telecom men on a motorbike made lewd name and address of people buy- attack took place. “Why is the was spotted by her mother, allocation. Sinha had said that ministers, who served between remarks and the man who was ing acid, said senior state officer government not stopping the sale hanging from a ceiling former minister A Raja had lev- 1998 and 2009 would have to be riding pillion splashed acid on all Atul Saxena. “We have no pow- of acid? Why are they supporting fan at her house at Narela elled “serious allegations” against summoned. The 2G spectrum of them,” Abdul Hameed, the sen- ers to stop the sale of acid. It is a weapon that has the power to kill area in north Delhi,” said the prime minister and he should was allocated by the government ior police officer investigating the for the local government to curb and ruin a woman’s life?” she said. a police officer. No suicide appear before the panel if he had in 2008. Raja and his party col- case, said. the availability of the dangerous The country’s top court in note was found. Her par- nothing to hide. league Kanimozhi, former telecom “The youngest sister suffered chemical,” he said. February ordered the federal gov- ents told police that she was With the prime minister hav- secretary Siddhartha Behura and maximum burn injuries and she Campaign group Stop Acid ernment to find ways to curb the depressed over her exam ing rebuffed his demand, Sinha said Raja’s personal secretary R.K. had to be rushed to a hospital in Attacks has accused the federal sale of acid, and draft a new set of results since Saturday. The yesterday that failure to do appear Chandolia were among those Delhi.” Hameed said no arrests government of ignoring the grow- laws that promise compensation body has been sent for a before the JPC would send a loud arrested in the case. The accused had been made and the motive ing trend of such assaults, which and medical aid to the victims of post-mortem, said an officer. and clear signal that Manmohan are out on bail. IANS behind the crime was being are often perpetrated by jilted acid attack. AFP Rapist tantrik held in Delhi NEW DELHI: A tantrik Girl tops GRE with full marks raped a woman after giv- ing her some sedatives here, MUMBAI: Mu m b a i g i rl A s h w i n i very coachable and ensured police said. The accused was Nene has topped the Graduate that she made every classroom arrested and sent to judicial Record Examination (GRE) — a session count by absorbing all custody. The tantrik Hira pre-requisite for admissions to concepts and applying them effec- Lal, 54, raped the 23-year- most US graduate schools and tively during practice,” said KIC old woman in her house in for some other countries — by Education’s founder and chief Delhi’s south campus area scoring full marks of 340/340, an mentor G Kohli. on Tuesday night on the official said here yesterday. Nene said that the strategies pretext of freeing her family Nene, 20, is a student of Sardar taught by KIC Education were from being possessed by evil Patel Institute of Technology, brilliant and she used them while spirits. The accused send Andheri. The GRE results were giving the actual test, besides the victim’s husband outside announced by Educational Testing specific instructions for different and raped her while she was Services, a US-based organisation question types, 20-30 tests in hard unconscious after consum- that conducts the examinations and soft formats, which help her ing the sedatives. A case was worldwide. get 340/340. registered and the accused Coached by KIC Education in “It is hard to predict what was arrested. He was pre- Andheri, Nene is one of the few (questions) one will get and sented in a local court and students globally to have scored though I expected to get close to sent to judicial custody. a full marks in a revised and 340, I did not anticipate an abso- “The victim’s family had tougher GRE format this year. lute score. Now, I shall focus on problems after she got mar- “Ashwini Nene has many great my academic and build a strong ried. The woman and her attributes which went into pro- profile to qualify for the best uni- husband had approached the ducing the special score. She versities in the US,” Nene said. tantrik on the recommen- stands out for her humility, is IANS dation of a relative,” said a police officer. IANS Kerala govt flays oppn for unruliness

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: adjourned for a brief while, and State Forests Minister Ganesh The Oommen Chandy govern- when it reassembled, they created Kumar, 46, submitted his resig- ment yesterday flayed the Left a ruckus forcing the speaker to nation to Chandy on Monday opposition for its “unruly behav- rush through the listed business night after his estranged wife, iour” on the floor of the Kerala of the day and adjourn the house,” Yamini Thankachi, accused him of assembly. Joseph said. domestic violence. She also lodged Addressing reporters after Speaker G Karthikeyan did his a complaint with the police. the day’s session ended in chaos, best to restore order. “I can func- “Chandy used his official resi- Minister for Parliamentary Affairs tion only as per procedure. If you dence to plot against Thankachy, K C Joseph said all levels of decency were so particular, you could have who now has a case against her and etiquette were being flouted by sought leave for an adjournment lodged by Kumar. While action the Left opposition. motion and it would have been should have been taken against “The assembly functions accord- taken first after Question Hour. Kumar to protect the right of the ing to the rules of procedure, prec- Please do not blame me for your woman, she now finds herself in edence and convention... and the bad strategy and poor floor man- dire straits. Chandy should quit,” Left opposition should fall in line so agement,” an angry Karthikeyan Achuthanandan said. that the proceedings of the house told the Left opposition. The Crime Branch has been pass peacefully,” said Joseph. Achuthanandan later said that asked to probe the cases that “As per the procedures, submis- Chandy was running away from have been registered against the sions in the house come up after the real issue of how he cheated former minister — who, in turn, the calling attention motions. the estranged wife of his former has charged his wife with assault. But today, they wanted a sub- cabinet colleague, K B Ganesh Kumar, the only member in mission to be moved by Leader Kumar. He said this was the sub- the assembly from the Kerala of Opposition V S Achuthanandan mission which was not taken up. Congress (B), first made scandal- immediately after Question Hour. “Chandy misused his official res- ous news when a local newspa- “The Speaker and Chief idence to conspire against a hapless per reported that a minister had Minister Oommen Chandy lady who, according to her, was tor- been beaten up by his lover’s wife. pointed out that he can put up mented by her minister husband Although the newspaper did not his submission at the appropriate for 16 long years. When she came divulge his identity, the chief whip time, and it would be answered by to make a complaint of harass- of the government, P C George, the chief minister. But they were ment to Chandy, he did nothing made a statement that the min- adamant that the submission be and instead put her in the dock,” ister in question was Kumar. taken up first. The house was Achuthanandan said. IANS

THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK PRAYER TIME Rolling Stones announces grand tour LONDON: The Rolling Stones unveiled York last year ... and had such a good time that Fajr (Dawn) 4:06 details of their biggest tour in six years yes- we thought ... let’s do some more.” Shorook (Sunrise) 5:23 terday, playing nine dates in North America The band, working with privately held tour as well as two British concerts after a stage promoter AEG Live, will also play in San Jose, Zuhr (Noon) 11:37 comeback last year to celebrate 50 years in Las Vegas, Anaheim, Toronto, Chicago, Boston Asr (Afternoon) 3:06 music. and Philadelphia in May and June with tickets The band said they would kick off their going on sale from April 8. Maghrib (Sunset) 5:52 “50 and Counting” tour in Los Angeles on The stage design for the tour is based on the Isha (Night) 7:22 an unspecified date and then play Oakland, band’s tongue and lips logo, which extends out California, on May 5 and seven other North into the crowd, allowing Jagger, with his trade- American cities before performing in London’s mark swagger, to strut out into the crowd. Hyde Park on July 6. They will then return to Britain for the WEATHER The veteran rockers, who played sell-out Glastonbury festival and Hyde Park. shows on a mini-tour of London, the United Guitarist Keith Richards said Hyde Park Today Friday Saturday Weather States and France last year, had already held great memories for the band which played Conditions: been named as headline act at Britain’s big- A file photo of veteran British rock band The there 44 years ago, with the concert a tribute Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Chance of rain gest musical festival, Glastonbury, on June 29 Rolling Stones. From left: Charlie Watts, Keith to founder member, guitarist Brian Jones, who Partly cloudy which is also a sell-out. Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger. drowned two days earlier. with a chance of As part of their 50th celebrations, the band “It seems like yesterday,” Richards told the High: 34° High:35° High:36° scattered rain. last year released a greatest hits collection, a & Counting”. “‘50 and Counting’ has been BBC. “It’s going to be a great summer, man ... Low: 23° Low: 25° Low: 23° documentary, and a photographic book and pretty amazing so far,” lead singer Mick Jagger All the gigs we haven’t done or wanted to redo then sparked rumours about more concerts said in a statement yesterday. are popping up.” with a March 29 website post saying: “5 Days “We did a few shows in London and New REUTERS

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA Madonna selling SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND painting to fund 05:23 17:52 11:15 & 00:00 07:45 & 16:30 08-18/22 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW girls’ education

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER LONDON: Madonna is selling an abstract painting by French MUSCAT 32/25 Partly cloudy 36/23 Partly cloudy artist Fernand Leger worth up MAKKAH 35/25 Clear 34/21 Clear to $7m, saying she wants to KUWAIT 31/23 Partly cloudy 29/20 Partly cloudy trade something valuable for BAHRAIN 32/25 Partly cloudy 34/22 Partly cloudy something invaluable — art for SANAA 26/13 Showers/Clear 27/11 Partly cloudy education. RIYADH 37/22 Clear 35/17 Fair The singer said she was sell- DUBAI 37/23 Clear 35/27 Partly cloudy ing the painting, “Trois Femmes a la table rouge”, to raise funds BAGHDAD 34/17 Partly cloudy 26/16 Clear for girls’ education projects in THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries where female education HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER is rare or non-existent. The move comes as Madonna is in Malawi, southern Africa, ATHENS 23/12 Fair 21/13 Clear home of her two adopted chil- WASHINGTON 13/07 Partly cloudy 13/03 Rain dren, where her plans to build 10 SYDNEY 23/14 Showers/Clear 21/14 T-storms schools have sparked controversy LONDON 05/00 Snow/Showers/Sun 08/01 Cloudy over costs and mismanagement PARIS 09/03 Sprinkles 10/02 Cloudy and a project for a school for 400 ISTANBUL 21/10 Fair 22/14 Fair girls collapsed last year. MANILA 36/26 Partly cloudy 34/26 Showers/Clear Madonna, 54, said selling the DHAKA 39/25 Fair 37/21 Clear 1921 painting, that she bought DELHI 33/20 Clear 34/20 Clear at auction in 1990, combines her passions for art and education by ISLAMABAD 24/12 Partly cloudy 26/13 Clear raising funds for the Ray of Light Foundation. REUTERS Thursday 4 April 2013 23 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5659 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Hassad buys Indian basmati rice firm Company acquires majority equity in Bush Foods

DOHA: Hassad Food, Qatar’s This milestone acquisition will trying to achieve and will deliver premier investor in the agri- position Hassad Food on the glo- what is expected from it” Al Hajri culture and livestock sectors, bal business map as major pro- concluded. has acquired a majority equity vider in the basmati rice domain Bush Foods Overseas facili- interest in India-based Bush and will be considered another ties are equipped with a brand Foods Overseas Pvt Ltd. achievement for the Qatari com- new $30m state-of-the-art next The transaction was announced pany since its establishment in generation fully automated tech- yesterday in a press conference 2008. nology rice mill with an annual in New Delhi by the Chairman On the occasion, Nasser Al capacity of 180,000 MT of top of Hassad Food Nasser Al Hajri said: “We are very excited quality premium Basmati. Hajri, and Virkran Awasty, about this acquisition which is Virkran Awasty said: “We are Managing Director of Bush Foods a strong testament that Hassad very happy with the deal. Bush Overseas and in the presence of Food is on the right track toward Foods Overseas has worked hard Hassan Mohammed Al Emadi achieving its vision in becoming to be a respected name in the Ambassador of Qatar to India. a leading global provider of high basmati rice domain worldwide Bush Foods Overseas current quality food products.” and now it has become one of turnover is $235m. The company “Hassad’s mission is to own and the first Indian food companies Chairman of Hassad Food, Nasser Al Hajri (centre) with the Managing Director of Bush Foods Overseas, Virkran specialises in premium basmati develop an efficient, profitable, to be acquired by a world reputed Awasty, (left) and Ambassador of Qatar to India, Hassan Mohammed Al Emadi, during the press conference in rice and has diversified into value growth-oriented global brands, food company from Qatar like New Delhi yesterday. added processed foods such as contributing to the welfare of Hassad Food and I am confident RTE (ready to eat), spices and Qatar and other societies by that Hassad Food is the ideal other ethnic range of interna- providing high quality products long term majority partner that (USA), Sam’s Clubs (USA), Wal- Wazzan (Kuwait), Al Maya Group This major strategic finan- tional brands which are available while using the latest technology can take the company to an even Mart (Canada, USA and UK), (Dubai), AX Foods (Sweden), cial transaction, which took in 60 countries worldwide. in harmony with the environ- higher level.” Biglots (USA), Riso Gallo(Italy), Migros (Switzerland), Pic n Pay few months to be completed, Bush Foods’ flagship brands ment and adhering to the high- Bush Foods caters to some of the Union Trade(Italy), Albert (S.Africa), Ali Bin Ali (Qatar) witnessed the engagement of Neesa, Himalayan Crown and est standards of corporate social finest quality names in the world Heijn Supermarkets(Holland), and major Indian supermar- QInvest and Ambit as Financial Indian Star, are considered among responsibility and I am confident like Westmill Foods (UK), Loblaw Carrefour (UAE, Kuwait, ket chains, Bharti Wal-Mart, Advisors to Hassad Food and the most trusted and reputed bas- that the acquisition of Bush Food Group of Companies (Canada), Bahrain), Leclerc (Poland), Spencer’s, Reliance, ABRL, KPMG Corporate Finance, India mati rice brands globally for their Overseas and its international Metro Super Markets (Canada), Jumbo Super Market (Holland), Metro, Food world, Spar to name as advisors to Bush Foods. consistent quality. brands is in line with what we are Sobeys (Canada), BJ’s Club Aljazeera (Bahrain), Jassim Al a few. THE PENINSULA Ooredoo SIIL given green light secures $1bn to start share trading revolving DOHA: The Court of Cassation that in the wake of the Court has stayed the execution of the of Cassation’s pronouncement, credit facility judgment of Court of Appeal that it was looking forward to the nullified Salam International QFMA to issue an order permit- DOHA: Ooredoo has signed Investment Limited’s (SIIL) ting the Salam International to a $1bn four-year revolving decision to merge a number of resume the trading of its shares credit facility. The facility companies into it in 2002 and on QE. will be used for general cor- 2005. The company has published porate purposes including The Apex court’s decision also the new judgment and the previ- the partial refinancing of an annulled the Qatar Financial ous related judgments on QE to existing $1.25bn Revolving and Marketing Authority’s update the shareholders and the Credit Facility which (QFMA) decision to suspend potential investors on the issue. matures on the 23rd of May SIIL’s share on Qatari bourse, The SIIL board of directors in 2013, the company said in a Salam International announced its recent meeting has expressed Qatar Exchange filing. yesterday. surprise by QFMA’s decision for The facility was arranged by The QFMA originally the continued suspension of trad- the following banks: Bank of announced the suspension of ing. It observed that the suspen- America NA London Branch, SIIL’s share trading on the Qatari sion of the trading and prolonging The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi bourse in 2011 as the company its period will only lead to harm UFJ Ltd, Barclays Bank PLC, allegedly failed to meet the set shareholder rights and interests Citibank NA Nassau, Bahamas standards of the regulatory body. of the company on the one hand Branch, DBS Bank Ltd, Salam International in a filing and to undermine the confidence Deutsche Bank Luxembourg to Qatar Exchange yesterday said: in the company’s shares on the SA, HSBC Bank Middle East “Salam International is pleased other hand. Limited, J P Morgan Chase to announce to its shareholders The board of directors also Bank NA, Mizuho Corporate and interested investors, that the noted that the SIIL cooperated Bank Ltd, Morgan Stanley Court of Cassation has decided fully with the QFMA by provid- Senior Funding Inc, Qatar to stop the execution of the judg- ing them with the required docu- National Bank SAQ, The ment of the Court of Appeal No. ments to include those related to Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, 71 and 104/2011, implying the nul- the different stages of the merger Sumitomo Mitsui Banking lification of the executive proce- process. SIIL has also furnished to Corporation and Samba dures for mergers of 2002 and the QFMA the contingency plan Financial Group. 2005 until reaching the decision and the disclosures to deal with Qatar National Bank SAQ on the appeal in cassation of judg- the Court of Appeal’s decision if also acted as General Financial ments Nos. 67 and 71/2013”. it becomes in its executive form. Advisor, Documentation The company said yesterday THE PENINSULA Coordinator and Facility Agent to Ooredoo. Reuters reported in January the company was close to com- pleting the loan deal, having Volkswagen in legal row initially approached banks in November about securing the transaction. with former Qatari partner The Gulf state’s largest tel- BERLIN: Volkswagen is in a legal dispute with former Qatari ecoms operator, has been on distributor Saad Buzwair Automotive (SBA) over the cancella- an acquisition drive in recent tion of import licences, the German carmaker said yesterday. months, raising stakes in its SBA is demanding about ¤150m ($193m) in damages for lost subsidiaries as it takes advan- sales after VW awarded import licences for VW brand and Audi tage of the gas-rich Gulf state’s vehicles to a different company, German newspaper Die Welt healthy financial position at a reported yesterday. The Audi sales contract with SBA was ter- time when other large telecoms minated in 2011. companies are shying away Volkswagen terminated a 2007 agreement with SBA for the from deals. distribution of its Audi luxury cars in Qatar after a contract for The operator is in talks to sales of its VW brand models expired, the German company said acquire Vivendi’s 53 percent in an emailed statement. VW spokesman Enrico Beltz, contacted stake in Maroc Telecom, though by telephone, declined to comment on details of the arbitration it faces competition from oth- case, which is pending at a Paris-based court, citing confidentiality. ers including the United Arab A spokesman for Doha-based SBA didn’t immediately return Emirates’ Etisalat. calls seeking comment. REUTERS THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Mazaya to invite tenders for Marina Mall Project is part of a 30-year deal with Qatar Foundation to develop and manage QR1bn shopping centre

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB its expansion plan, the company has acquired a piece of land about DOHA: Mazaya Qatar Real 30,000 sq m near Doha Festival Estate Development, the City, next to the recently opened Shariah-compliant real estate IKEA Store, for the development company, is slated to announce of a commercial complex. tenders for its ambitious “The project will be a multi- project, Marina Mall, to be con- use commercial complex includ- structed in the upcoming Lusail ing a gas station, hotel, offices, City and residential units. Currently, The company is also set to ink we are at the discussion stage a deal next week to sell one of its with the local municipality,” said properties, Gloria Hotel, located he. along Al Safliya Street, a sen- Mazaya Qatar, listed at the ior official of the company said Qatar Exchange, acquired Gloria yesterday. Hotel a couple of years ago as CEO of Mazaya Qatar, Seraj Al part of its strategy to diversify Baker, said: “We are expecting to its income generating portfolios strike a deal to sell Gloria Hotel and assets. CEO of Mazaya Qatar, Seraj Al Baker next week. But we are still nego- The company, with over QR1bn tiating; it is yet to be finalised… capital, was risk averse about And as far as the Marina Mall is venturing into new real estate according to earlier reports, the concerned, we are in the tender- projects due to market prevail- company had received an offer ing stage to choose a main con- ing conditions after 2008, and its worth QR170m to buy one of its tractor, which will be announced deposits in banks were not yield- investment properties. within a month.” ing good returns. “This is a well studied part of Marina Mall project is part “Although, the property was our work. We have not funded A computer graphic image of the ambitious 57,605 sqm Marina Mall project. of a 30-year agreement between yielding about 10 percent to 12 this project. But now it is operat- Mazaya and Qatar Foundation to percent returns on investment, ing well, and valued at more than today and hopefully the deal will many other ideas that are being are always open to new ideas develop and manage the QR1bn we believe that the asset has now QR300m,” he added. close next week. We do not have cooked in the company to enter and opportunities. As part of our shopping centre, on a build, oper- matured for us, it has served our “I cannot tell you much about to sell anything. The company into projects that would not philosophy to mitigate risks, we ate and transfer (BOT) basis. purpose, and we are selling it,” Al the hotel deal, because we are is very liquid. We have not yet only provide steady income but are now looking forward to join Marina Mall, on completion, will Baker told The Peninsula. still negotiating. Somebody might exhausted our capital, but if we also have least amount of risks hands with schools, hospitals to extend over 57,605 sq m, on two Although he didn’t disclose misconstrue it, and the buyer get a right price even my desk is involved. work together on a BOT model floors plus the ground floor. the exact amount of the deal may get upset. I can only say that there for sale,” he said. “We are not only limited to for a win-win situation,” said Al Al Baker said that as part of and the name of the buying party, I have to send some documents In addition, he also shared building things on ourselves, we Baker. THE PENINSULA

Top Abu Dhabi Qatar Exchange continues upswing trend lender names DOHA/DUBAI: Qatar rose 0.74 points. Elsewhere, lowest level since December 6. almost starting, we haven’t seen YESTERDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS CEO with Asian Exchange pursued its upswing Cairo’s bourse fell to a new 2013 The index broke the 5,000 psy- a major push in the market - the QATAR: The index climbed 0.2 per- trend yesterday, adding 19.51 low as foreign investors sold chologically critical level, also drag could be from the global cent to 8,569 points. points (or 0.23 percent) to stocks on fears that Egypt’s cur- sparking selling by investors that news flow.” SAUDI ARABIA: The index ticked experience advance to 8,568.63 points rency would be further devalued. follow technical indicators. European shares eased yes- up 0.08 percent to 7,178 points. from 8,549.12 on Tuesday. The Egyptian pound has fallen Large-caps tumble with terday as investors awaited this ABU DHABI: National Bank BAHRAIN: The index slipped 0.2 The volume of the shares sharply against the dollar on Commercial International Bank week’s policy decisions by the of Abu Dhabi named the banker traded was up to 7,295,779 the black market in the last few losing 4.3 percent. Orascom Bank of Japan and European percent to 1,090 points. who led Australia and New from 4,178,426 on Tuesday and days, due to dwindling supply of Construction Industries fell 2.6 Central Bank followed by US DUBAI: The index climbed 0.6 per- Zealand Banking Group’s push the value of shares increased the US currency. percent and Orascom Telecom employment data. cent to 1,854 points. into Asia as its chief executive to QR340,262,728.43 from A further decline is expected shed 2 percent. In Dubai, bargain hunters ABU DHABI: The index advanced yesterday, as it expands abroad QR163,780,015.74 on Tuesday. unless more hard currency In Saudi Arabia, the index helped lift the market after a 0.5 percent to 3,022 points. from its saturated local market. Among the top gainers were enters the market. ticked up 0.08 percent as inves- recent correction. KUWAIT: The index gained 0.8 per- Alex Thursby, currently ANZ’s Qatar National Bank which was The value of the dollar is 17 tors hesitated to increase risk Small-caps dominated trade cent to 6,814 points. chief executive for international up 1.19 percent to QR136.30, percent higher yesterday than ahead of the weekend due to with mortgage lender Tamweel OMAN: The index rose 0.8 percent and institutional banking, will Qatar Insurance rose 1.10 per- the official rate said Mohammed uncertainty on the global front. surging 9.1 percent and insur- to 6,057 points. take over on July 1 at NBAD, cent to QR55.00, Doha Insurance Radwan, director of interna- “We’re still being driven by ance companies also rising. EGYPT: The index fell 2.2 percent where he will also face the chal- gained 1.19 percent to QR25.50 tional sales at Pharos Securities. sentiment from Europe and the Trading and momentum has to 4,926 points. lenge of fighting off pretenders to and International Islamic Bank “The dollar has shot up dra- US and unless we see some- slowed in recent sessions as the bank’s number one domestic up by 0.97 percent to QR51.80. matically on the black market thing positive coming out of investors await first-quarter to 14.6 percent and up for a sec- position. The banking and financial sec- - that’s why people are selling on there, it’s getting difficult to earnings to justify increasing ond day since Monday’s two- NBAD, almost 70-percent tor index up 0.56 points while the devaluation worries — they want see a rally in the short-term,” risk after an early-year surge. month low. owned by Abu Dhabi’s govern- consumer goods and services to get out before FX losses get said Muhammad Faisal Potrik, UAE companies are expected to Abu Dhabi’s index gained 0.5 ment, has the largest market sector index added 0.57 points. higher,” said Radwan. research analyst at Riyad post results in late April. percent, but remains in a tight capitalisation and profitability The industrial sector gained 0.54 Cairo’s benchmark dropped Capital. The emirate’s index climbed trading range since the last four of the 50 local and international points while insurance sector 2.2 percent to 4,926 points, its “Even with earnings season 0.6 percent, extending 2013 gains weeks. QNA/REUTERS banks in the UAE. Like other UAE banks such as Emirates NBD, First Gulf Bank and Union National Bank, it is keen to expand overseas due to stiff competition in the local market. Bahrain halts telecom “It is not going to be easy com- peting with some peer banks that have adopted an aggressive spectrum auction approach to win business locally as well as abroad, particularly in Asia and the Middle East,” said a senior Abu Dhabi banker, who did as operator appeals not want to be named. In his new role, Thursby suc- ceeds Michael Tomalin whose DUBAI: Bahrain’s telecom bank Kuwait Finance House — retirement after 14 years at the regulator is locked in a dis- said in an emailed statement helm was announced a year ago. pute with a wireless broadband yesterday. Tomalin will remain in a non- operator that has halted the “Menatelecom’s entry into this executive director’s position. sale of radio spectrum for next- auction enhances competition in British-born Thursby was put generation networks, delaying the market and ensures a larger in charge of ANZ CEO Mike improvements to the kingdom’s scale of financial competitiveness Smith’s push for the Australian communications infrastructure. by the bidders.” lender to become a super regional The Telecommunications LTE potentially allows data bank in Asia six years ago. ANZ Regulatory Authority (TRA) speeds to more than double and aims to double earnings in Asia to was due to auction 12 lots of is likely to be used in many mar- up to 30 percent of its total inside spectrum primarily for long-term kets as an alternative to expensive five years. evolution (LTE), or 4G, networks fixed-line fibre-to-the-building Thursby was touted as a from March 31 and the winners networks. potential CEO at ANZ last year were expected to be announced The auction was originally open when Smith was approached by in mid-April. to all bidders, potentially allow- Barclays Plc. But the regulator, which pre- ing new entrants into a crowded A Petronas logo is seen below its twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Thursby will face a similar viously described the country’s market. challenge at NBAD, which has communications infrastructure as The three mobile operators turned its focus outward, particu- inadequate, has halted the process — Bahrain Telecommunications larly towards Asia, and wants its “pending further notice”, accord- Co (Batelco), Kuwait’s Zain and CNPC, Petronas eye Angola oil fields international division to contrib- ing to a statement on its website. Viva Bahrain, an affiliate of Saudi ute 25 percent of operating profit The postponement comes after Telecom Co — all opposed this and HONG KONG/SINGAPORE: companies, under pressure from for these large state companies in five years and 40 percent by menatelecom won a court injunc- they appeared to get their wish China National Petroleum shareholders and taking advan- because they have access to cheap 2021. tion overturning its exclusion when the TRA last month issued Corp (CNPC) and Malaysia’s tage of Asian interest to sell out government-backed funding. NBAD is already the most from the sale, a senior official at a notice saying the government Petronas are considering bids of non-core assets. “The Asian national oil com- international of UAE banks, with the TRA, who did not want to be had decided to limit the auction for Marathon Oil Corp’s stakes In total about $16bn of oil and panies are expected to pursue operations in 14 nations on four named, said yesterday. to this trio. in two Angolan offshore oil and gas blocks are being sold globally, overseas acquisition opportunities continents. It targets presence in The regulator has appealed But menatelecom, which uses gas fields, people familiar with with $11bn of that in Africa. despite substantial economic wor- 41 by 2021, mostly in Asia, Africa against the injunction, the offi- WiMax technology to provide the matter said. It also signals another banner ries and geopolitical uncertainty,” and the Middle East. cial said, with the case due to be long-distance wireless broadband, This would be potentially the year for oil and gas M&A, after a said Gupta. Thursby also has a reputation heard on Thursday. There are two won its injunction, derailing the third major energy deal in Africa record $345.9bn last year. Asian CNPC, China’s largest oil and for conservative risk manage- other related court cases pending sale. this year, a major new front for firms’ share has more than dou- gas company by production and ment, an approach which should for later this month. Bahrain’s population of 1.3 Asian state energy firms looking bled in a decade. the parent of listed company fit well at NBAD. “Menatelecom believes it should million is also served by about 10 to fuel fast growing economies. Sanjeev Gupta, an Ernst & PetroChina Co Ltd, last month ANZ shares closed down 1.9 be granted the right to participate Internet providers in arguably the Estimates reveal that at least Young partner and co-author of agreed to buy a $4.2bn stake in a percent in Sydney, while NBAD as a licensed service provider,” the most liberalised telecoms market $6bn worth of oil and gas blocks a report on oil and gas M&A, Mozambique offshore natural gas shares were flat on the Abu Dhabi company — a subsidiary of Islamic in the Gulf. REUTERS are being sold by US independent said affordability is not an issue field. REUTERS bourse yesterday. REUTERS THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 New Cypriot FM vows to revive economy US urged to NICOSIA: The new finance sector workforce and privatise minister of cash-strapped some state-owned firms. Cyprus yesterday vowed to Cyprus is already in recession, do “whatever it takes” to sort with unemployment at around out the EU country’s teetering 15 percent and expected to grow finances and put the economy sharply this year and next. boost trade back on its feet. Forecasts before the deal was Harris Georgiades was speak- agreed saw GDP contracting by ing hours after President Nicos 3.5 percent this year. Anastasiades swore him in, warn- Georgiades, who became labour ing of “difficult days ahead” for an minister when Anastasiades island struggling to recover from was elected in February, was a near financial meltdown and the appointed after Sarris stepped with Asean need for a crippling eurozone bail- down on Tuesday. out. Anastasiades said this would Sarris had been chairman last entail “firstly, collectivity and, sec- year of failed Laiki Bank, whose China’s influence a concern: Lee ondly, consistency and fiscal disci- collapse was a major contribu- pline and all those measures that tor to the crisis. He said he was WASHINGTON: Singapore experts say that pact is not will contribute to kick-starting resigning to cooperate with a Prime Minister Lee Hsien expected to be as comprehensive the economy as soon as possible.” panel of judges appointed to inves- urged the US yesterday to pur- or groundbreaking as the TPP The new minister, a 40-year- tigate the causes of the crisis. sue a more active trade agenda agreement. old British-educated economist, His departure came as the gov- in Southeast Asia in response to Japan has recently expressed vowed to implement the terms ernment wrapped up talks with China’s growing economic influ- interest in joining talks on the of the bailout “fully... we shall the IMF, European Commission ence in the region. TPP. meet all time frames and meet and European Central Bank that “Over the last decade, China “I welcome Japan’s decision all targets.” will open the way for Cyprus to has become the top trading part- to join the TPP,” Lee said. “It is “We... shall do whatever it takes receive a ¤10bn bailout. ner of almost all Southeast Asian a strategic move that brings an to fix our public finances and put The International Monetary nations, including US allies such important US ally in Northeast our economy back on track for Fund managing director Christine as the Philippines and Thailand,” Asia into this important growth.” Lagarde yesterday said the IMF’s Lee said in a speech to US busi- grouping.” “Even though today’s cir- contribution would be approxi- ness groups. Both the TPP and the RCEP cumstances might be bleak, the mately ¤1bn. “The US must adopt a more are considered stepping stones medium- and long-term pros- “This is a challenging pro- active trade agenda with Asean to the long-term goal of an even pects remain excellent. We have gramme that will require great (Association of Southeast Asian broader Asia Pacific agreement, received a blow but I’m absolutely efforts from the Cypriot popu- Nations). In Asia, trade is strat- potentially including all 21 mem- confident we shall overcome,” said lation,” Lagarde said in a state- egy,” Lee said. bers of Apec and the 10 members Georgiades. ment, but it “provides a durable The US is already involved in of Asean, with some overlap. Under the terms of the bailout, and fully financed solution to free trade talks with four Asean Lee said he welcomed US Cyprus will drastically reduce the the underlying problems facing Newly-appointed Cypriot Finance Minister Harris Georgiades attends a nations — Singapore, Vietnam, President Barack Obama’s deci- size of its bloated banking sector, Cyprus and provides a sustainable ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, yesterday. Malaysia and Brunei — as part sion to put “trade at the centre of raise taxes, downsize the public path toward a recovery.” AFP of negotiations on the proposed his agenda” by pursuing the TPP Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), pact, a free-trade agreement with a regional agreement including the European Union and by seek- 11 countries on both sides of the ing “trade-promotion authority” Pacific. from Congress. But the TPP talks are limited That legislation, long consid- Norway’s biggest bank refunds savers for bad deals to members of another regional ered essential for US trade nego- grouping, the Asia Pacific tiations, allows the White House OSLO: Norway’s biggest bank core capital and has announced the bank of losing his investment institutions to re-examine each Economic Cooperation (Apec) to submit trade deals to Congress DNB said yesterday it would cuts across the board. of that amount some 10 years ago individual complaint in light of forum, which does not include to vote on without amendments. compensate hundreds or even “We are now going to clean by selling him products described the Supreme Court ruling. Asean members Myanmar, Lee also discussed US-China thousands of savers after the things up and follow the instruc- as “guaranteed”. Bjerke said yesterday DNB Cambodia and Laos. relations, which he said was of Supreme Court ruled it mis- tions outlined in the ruling,” DNB But the information the bank would immediately compen- All 10 Asean members are importance to every country in informed its customers about chief executive Rune Bjerke said provided him was partially sate around 300 people who had negotiating a free trade agree- the region. some of its products. in a statement. incorrect. invested in similar products and ment with China, Japan, India, “The US, as the incumbent The move could cost the bank On March 22, Norway’s The case was seen as a test run who had also reported their cases South Korea, Australia and New superpower, which will remain several hundreds of millions of Supreme Court ordered DNB for thousands of similar cases. to the Complaints Board. That Zealand known as the Regional dominant for decades to come, kroner (tens of millions of euros to reimburse 230,000 kroner The Norwegian Financial was expected to cost the bank Comprehensive Economic naturally has interests to pro- or dollars), at a time when the ($40,000), plus interest and court Services Complaints Board has around 60 million kroner. Partnership (RCEP). Trade tect,” Lee said. REUTERS bank is striving to increase its costs, to a plaintiff who accused asked DNB and other financial AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS India’s MRPL seeks more Saudi oil BRIEFLY Refiners await New Delhi action on new reinsurance scheme to cover Iranian crude

NEW DELHI: Indian state- Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and contract to 55,000 bpd for the fis- up from about 45,000 bpd in the insurers and the Oil and Industry owned refiner MRPL has asked Hindustan Petroleum Corp have cal year ending March 31, 2014, last fiscal year. Development Board (OIDB) for more Saudi Arabian oil in both said they will halt oil imports the industry source said. It is also looking at signing an under the federal oil ministry may April, according to an industry from Iran in April if insurance The volume including the extra annual deal with Total to buy jointly set up a fund to back local source close to the matter, as it cover is not available for their barrels would be around 70 per- about 40,000 bpd Basrah crude oil. insurers. awaits clarity from India’s gov- refineries. cent higher than the 46,000 bpd Indian Oil Corp, the country’s A government source said ini- UAE marine ernment on how it will insure Europe and the US introduced that MRPL took from Saudi biggest refiner, plans to ship in tial talks included a proposal for plants using crude from sanc- tough sanctions last year target- Aramco in 2012/13, the source two million barrels of oil from insurers and OIDB to contribute firm signs tions-hit Iran. ing Iran’s oil exports to force the said. HPCL is turning to Iraq to Iran this month. IOC’s refinery `10bn ($184.21m) each for the Indian insurers said in February Islamic nation to the negotiating replace Iranian barrels it won’t be insurance policy is not due for planned reinsurance scheme. $2.4bn deals they could no longer cover refin- table over its disputed nuclear lifting from April. renewal until November, a com- That may not be enough to cover eries processing Iranian oil as programme. Those sanctions gave HPCL doesn’t want a firm con- pany source said. an accident or incident at a refin- ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi European reinsurers had stopped rise to a similar reinsurance issue tract with Iran for 2013/14 but State refiners have made pro- ery, and it is unclear how the rest Marine Operating Company helping them hedge their risk. that stopped non-Iranian ship- wants an option to take up 20,000 visions for Iranian crude in their would be funded. (ADMA-OPCO) has New Delhi and industry officials owners from carrying Iranian oil. bpd, about 57 percent lower than annual import plans, but those The Indian Express Newspaper signed two Engineering, have been considering estab- MRPL, Iran’s biggest Indian last year, according to company are pending a decision from the last week reported that the federal Procurement and lishing a domestic reinsurance customer, has asked for an extra sources. government on resolving the government could extend a sover- Construction (EPC) contracts scheme, but it is unclear how that 23,000 barrels per day (bpd) of HPCL aims to buy 60,000 bpd insurance problem. eign guarantee of up to `100bn. valued at around $2.4bn for would be funded. oil from Saudi Aramco for April, from Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Oil Secretary Vivek Rae The finance ministry declined to the Satah Al Razboot (SARB) Mangalore Refinery and after already increasing its annual Organisation (SOMO) in 2013/14, last month said that Indian comment. REUTERS Full Field Development Project with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company (HDEC) and Petrofac International, Abu Dhabi. According to Emirates UK’s gas prices up News Agency, the develop- ment project is part of the overall scheme of ADMA- OPCO to add 300,000 bpd of as cold spell bites additional production from its new offshore fields, with about LONDON: British spot gas according to National Grid, though 100,000 bpd coming from SARB prices rose slightly yesterday with supplies seen at 320.2 mcm, oilfield to be developed through morning as cold weather and low the system was seen 8.4 mcm 7 packages. storage kept the system tight oversupplied. although supply from liquefied Traders said high supply was natural gas (LNG) helped meet mainly a result of a number of Poll: Saudi non-oil high demand. tankers that delivered LNG to Gas prices for delivery within Britain in recent days. business growing the day were trading at 79.05 Around 616,000 cubic metres of RIYADH: Already-robust pence per therm at 0940 GMT, gas were delivered to Britain from growth in non-oil, private up two pence from the previous LNG cargoes between March 25 sector business activity in morning, and prices for delivery and 31, and another 261,000-cubic- Saudi Arabia accelerated in the next day were up 1.25 pence metre delivery was expected to March for the second succes- since Tuesday at 79.25 pence a arrive on April 10. sive month, a survey showed therm. With fewer LNG tankers sched- yesterday. The slight rise followed a sharp uled to arrive in Britain in the next The seasonally adjusted drop on Tuesday, and analysts said week and the weather expected to SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia the uptick was the result of rising remain cold, the UK’s storage sites Purchasing Managers’ Index demand and lower supplies from could come under pressure again. rose to 58.9 points in March Norway and continental Europe. Britain’s gas storage sites from 58.5 points in February, “The day-ahead contract is remain very low, currently stand- well above the 50-point mark bullish due to higher forecast ing around 6.37 percent, according separating expansion from consumption and a drop in supply to Gas Infrastructure Europe. contraction. today,” analysts said. Since the beginning of March, A man carries cooking gas cylinders at a selling depot in Cairo, yesterday. Egypt increased the prices of state- Non-oil private sector com- “Current flows and nomina- they have dropped from 21.49 per- subsidised cooking gas cylinders as officials prepared to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund on a panies in the world’s top crude tions indicate lower imports from cent, at an average daily depletion much-needed $4.8bn loan to revitalise an economy battered by political upheaval and strikes. exporter reported an increase Norway and the continent for rate of 0.45 percent. Despite this in new orders due to improving today,” they said. drop, the LNG arrivals have given economic and political condi- Britain’s gas demand was the system some pause, and stocks tions, the survey said; orders expected to be 311.8 million cubic are up from a record low of 5.13 grew at their sharpest rate metres (mcm) yesterday, 17.6 percent at the end of March. in five months. Employment percent above the seasonal norm, REUTERS IMF commences talks on growth also accelerated further in March, with companies cit- ing new business as the main reason. QATARI MARKET $4.8bn loan to Egypt Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Cambodia to launch Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 104.43 0.71 % Aa2 AA CAIRO: An International Egypt, despite on-off talks first tenth of its value against the dol- Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.94 1.51 % Aa2 AA Monetary Fund (IMF) team with an army-led government lar this year and is trading even new carrier soon Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 124.38 2.20 % Aa2 AA resumed long delayed negotia- and now with Mursi’s Muslim lower on the black market, driving PHNOM PENH: Cambodia Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 117.25 2.48 % Aa2 AA tions with Egypt yesterday on a Brotherhood-led administration. up inflation. is expected to launch a new Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 112.25 2.91 % Aa2 AA $4.8bn loan to ease an economic Economists say the IMF appears Shortages, meanwhile, threaten airline later this year after Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 169.00 4.11 % Aa2 AA crisis in the most populous Arab to question whether Egypt has the to exacerbate tension in the street, a deal was struck between Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 129.38 4.50 % Aa2 AA country, a government official political consensus needed to enact where Mursi’s opponents have one of the country’s big- Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 119.69 4.52 % Aa2 AA said. reforms, doubts that months of been airing political grievances gest tycoons and Philippine After two years of politi- turmoil have done nothing to ease. in protests that frequently turn conglomerate San Miguel Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 105.25 1.18 % Aa2 AA cal upheaval, foreign currency Parliamentary elections that violent. The US and the European Corporation. Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 114.63 2.77 % Aa2 AA reserves have fallen to critically were due to start this month have Union have urged Egypt to build a Kith Meng, chairman of Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.75 1.38 % A1 A- low levels, limiting Egypt’s ability been pushed back until October broad political consensus in sup- Royal Group — a hotel, media Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.50 2.20 % A1 A- to buy wheat, of which it is the and a new legislature may not be port of reforms required by an and telecoms empire — inked QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.50 2.01 % NR NR world’s biggest importer, and fuel. in place until December. IMF programme, but the main the deal late on Tuesday QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.88 1.61 % Aa3 A+ President Mohammed Mursi’s Finance Minister Al Mursi Al political parties have become with the Manila-based firm, QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.56 2.15 % Aa3 A+ government initialled an IMF deal Sayed Hegazy said on Monday increasingly polarised. which already owns a con- in November but postponed ratifi- the government hopes to have a US Secretary of State John trolling stake in Philippine Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.63 2.27 % A2 A- cation in December due to unrest loan agreement completed by the Kerry said on Tuesday that Airlines (PAL), according to a Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.50 1.76 % A2 A ignited by a political row over the IMF’s spring meetings, held later Egypt was at a “tipping point”, statement. Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 130.69 2.49 % A2 A extent of Mursi’s powers. in April. But IMF officials have not telling reporters: “We share a The Cambodian business- Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 111.75 3.06 % A2 A The IMF mission met officials given a timeline and some private very real concern in the Obama man will retain a 51 percent Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 110.75 3.91 % A2 A at the Finance Ministry and was economists say a full deal before Administration about the direc- share of the newly-minted car- Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 106.25 1.22 % Aa3 A expected to meet Prime Minister the parliamentary polls seems tion that Egypt is apparently mov- rier — Cambodia Airlines — the Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 108.13 3.35 % Aa3 A Hisham Kandil later. unlikely. ing in.” statement said, adding that the Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 110.88 3.63 % Aa3 A Cairo must convince the global Just before the visit, the gov- “We have been working very, Philippine company will own lender it is serious about reforms ernment announced an increase very hard in the last weeks to try the remaining 49 percent. SOVEREIGNS aimed at boosting growth and in the price of subsidised cooking to get the government of Egypt The new airline, the coun- Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P curbing an unaffordable budget gas. But it has postponed plans to to reach out to the opposition, to try’s second, will “contribute to Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 104.88 0.60 % Aa2 AA deficit. That implies tax hikes and ration subsidised fuel using smart deal with the IMF, to come to an Cambodia’s economic growth Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 125.50 2.20 % Aa2 AA politically risky cuts in state sub- cards until July 1 and some reports agreement which will allow Egypt by creating employment oppor- sidies for fuel and food including say that date may be pushed back to begin to transform its economy tunities, bringing investors Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.13 2.48 % NR NR bread. further. and improve the lives of its citi- and building a strong aviation Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.31 2.98 % NR NR An IMF deal has long eluded The Egyptian pound has lost a zens,” Kerry said. REUTERS industry”, Kith Meng said in Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 124.25 3.98 % NR NR the statement. AGENCIES Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 117.00 4.18 % NR NR Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 105.44 0.94 % Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 115.63 3.22 % NR BBB Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 109.88 3.87 % NR BBB Tunisia inflation at 5-year high Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 86.00 8.42 % Caa1 B- Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 106.13 3.56 % NR BBB- TUNIS: Tunisia’s consumer the February assassination of an *Periodic Distribution Amount • Bullion - Mumbai price inflation jumped to 6.5 opposition politician. IMPORTANT NOTE: Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29535 Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which percent in March, the high- In addition to high food prices, is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services Silver (1 kg) Rs. 53400 est rate in at least five years, the economy is struggling because Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.81 from 5.8 percent in February, of the debt crisis in the euro zone, data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising • Sensex boosted by rapidly rising prices the main market for Tunisia’s out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds BSE 18801.64 of food and clothing, official exports and the source of most can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant NSE 5672.90 data showed yesterday. of its tourists. The central bank is liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not Food and drink prices climbed not aiming for a particular infla- • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and 8.8 percent year-on-year, while tion rate but the most that should consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. p.a. (in dollar) clothing and footwear gained 7.5 be tolerated is 5 percent, central • Housing loan from HDFC LTD percent. bank governor Chadli Ayari said • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, Rising inflation may add to earlier. Inflation rose last year Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. pressure on the government of partly because of depreciation of Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] Prime Minister Ali Larayedh as it the Tunisian dinar against the struggles to restore stability after dollar. REUTERS THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

QE Indices Summary WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Index 8,568.63 0.23 % QE Total Return Index 12,238.41 0.53 % RATE QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,577.14 0.43 % QE All Share Index 2,179.13 0.58 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,054.14 0.56 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4995.525 15.657 0.31 5174.4 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,212.31 0.57 % QR184.5492 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3773.25 41.83 1.12 3871.58 3600.81 UK ...... QR 5.4716 QR 5.5483 QE All Share Industrials 3,012.9 0.54 % SILVER QE All Share Insurance 2,008.83 0.74 % Dj Indu Average 14572.85 -5.69 -0.04 14605.7 12035.1 QR 3.2052 Euro ...... QR 4.6390 QR 4.7042 QE All Share Real Estate 1,560.77 1.98 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5595 QR 3.6306 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,170.84 0.47 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8170 QR 3.8709 QE All Share Transportation 1,463.11 0.27 % Hang Seng Inde/D 22367.82 68.19 0.31 23944.74 21975.9 Yen ...... QR 0.0386 QR 0.0394 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7851 QR 3.8603 Iseq Overall/D 3997.36 39.09 0.99 3993.49 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0663 QR 0.0676 03-04-2013 02-04-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 18345.74 73.63 0.4 18327.11 16036.31 Index 8,568.63 8,549.12 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0375 Change 19.51 48.16 Nikkei 225 Index 12003.43 -131.59 -1.08 12650.26 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0882 QR 0.0900 % 0.23 0.57 $110.30 SL Re ...... QR 0.0285 QR 0.0291 YTD% 2.51 2.28 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1570.57 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0462 QR 0.0471 Volume 7,295,779 4,178,426 Straits Times/D 3317.59 10.01 0.3 3321.62 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0418 QR 0.0426 Value (QAR) 340,262,728.43 163,780,015.74 $107.55 Trades 3,676 2,544 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3897 QR 0.3990 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 21 | Down 13 | Unchanged 04

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 03-04-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED

A B G Infra-B/D 58.5 5.2 1351 Chola Invest-B/D 272.7 -8.8 3453 Himat Seide-B/D 33 -0.55 5597 Kinetic Eng-T/D 55.7 -1.85 4105 Reliance Indus/D 393.45 1.35 781930 Kingfisher/D 290.4 -0.6 1237864 A C C-A/D 1159.5 -17.2 15719 Chowgule St-B/D 11.25 0.19 13587 Hind Motors-B/D 9.02 -0.33 202775 Klg Systel-B/D 12.45 0.59 5634 Ruchi Soya-B/D 68 0 24414 Land Secs Grou/D 838.5 0.5 321667 Aarti Drugs-B/D 150 7.1 3245 Cipla-A/D 389.25 -2.65 114075 Hind Org Chem-/D 12.4 -0.59 19999 Kopran-B/D 14.14 -0.55 37140 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 417.9 -4.85 8494 Legal & Genera/D 173.6 -2.1 2703162 Aban Offs-B/D 283.4 -3.3 93262 City Union Bk-/D 54.5 0.05 44644 Hind Unilever-/D 462.15 -8.2 96158 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 28.05 -1.7 3072 Saur.Cem-B/D 22.1 -0.55 1642 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 49.495 0.115 43701383 Aegis Logis-B/D 135.95 0.55 14939 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1435.55 65.05 10395 Hind.Petrol-A/D 282.8 -3.15 63719 Lloyd Steel-B/D 10.26 -0.55 85145 Savita Oil-B/D 484.05 0.6 3073 Marks & Sp./D 395 1.5 1561276 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 102.35 -4.6 12564 Colgate-A/D 1312 11.45 10566 Hindalco-A/D 90.7 -2.4 867116 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.71 -0.03 18100 Thirumalai-B/D 107.55 -0.2 40251 Next/D 4425 17 145140 Alembic-B/D 16.3 0.05 38204 Container Cor-/D 1102.25 18.65 9576 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 810.45 -6.5 51713 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 16.49 0.36 28202 Timexgroup-B/D 13.67 -0.38 40526 Pearson/D 1150.5 -30 543402 Alok Indus-B/D 9.19 -0.02 1288548 Dhampur Sugar-/D 42.95 -1.45 10995 I F C I-A/D 27.7 -0.5 2572391 Lupin-A/D 634.1 -2.55 29055 Tinplate-B/D 42.05 -0.2 17191 Prudential/D 1073.5 -10 1559670 Andhra Paper-B/D 201.95 -6.85 10676 Dr. Reddy-A/D 1834.85 -4.05 6653 Idbi-A/D 82.35 -1.8 234713 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 101.1 -4.65 1546 Ub Engineer-T/D 23.95 -0.2 10144 Rank Group/D 163.5 -1.5 17405 Apollo Tyre-A/D 83.85 -2 90561 E I H-B/D 57.5 -0.45 33793 Ifb Agro-B/D 170.1 -0.35 2866 Mah.Seamless-B/D 204.05 -6.45 4139 Ub Engineer-T/D 23.95 -0.2 10144 Rentokil Initi/D 101 0.3 734628 Asahi I Glass-/D 50.25 0.5 409138 E.I.D Parry-B/D 149.5 -5.75 148725 India Cement-B/D 83 -2.15 57962 Maha Scooter-B/D 373.7 -13.55 1670 Ucal Fuel-B/D 53.1 -0.6 1890 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1138 3 718497 Ashok Leyland-/D 22.3 -0.15 211359 Electrosteel-B/D 16.85 0.35 127416 India Glycol-B/D 138.2 -0.15 31315 Mangalam Cem-B/D 140 2.45 2235 Ucal Fuel-B/D 53.1 -0.6 1890 Rsa Insrance G/D 112.088 -5.7 13161592 Bajaj Hold-A/D 901.75 -4.8 1403 Emco-B/D 20.55 -0.2 25709 Indian Hotel-A/D 55.7 -0.5 29798 Mastek-B/D 124.5 -2.2 2553 Ultramarine-B/D 64.1 1.45 16277 Sainsbury(J)/D 386.8545 1.3 997781 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.8 -0.4 20256 Escorts Fin-B/D 2.91 -0.08 1705 Indo-Bcount-B/D 10.75 0.19 2750 Max India L-A/D 226.45 -1.55 4749 Unitech P -A/D 24.55 -0.6 3303610 Schroders/D 2195 60 218368 Bata India-A/D 724.5 -18.15 19976 Escorts-B/D 55 0 130160 Indusind-A/D 421.45 -2.35 61025 Mrpl-A/D 50.45 -1.4 64703 Severn Trent/D 1688 -12 295752 LONDON Bayer Crop-A/D 1162.45 -2.05 2685 Essar Oil-A/D 80.3 -1.9 627636 J.B.Chemical-B/D 82.4 0.05 25084 Nahar Spg.-B/D 76.2 -1.5 6245 Smith&Nephew/D 767.5 -1 290547 Beml Ltd-B/D 171.4 5 185571 Eveready Indu-/D 17.6 -0.3 67729 Jagson Phar-B/D 10.86 0.5 6405 Nation Alum -A/D 34.6 -0.05 311485 Smiths Group/D 1265 -1 128429 Bh Electronic-/D 1206.25 47.65 3722 F D C-B/D 91.25 -0.7 8142 Jbf Indu-B/D 104.25 -0.15 255973 Navneet Pub.-B/D 59.95 0.25 15687 3I Group/D 315.3 -2.3 354354 Standrd Chart /D 1722.5 -17.5 1176646 Bhansali Eng-B/D 14.61 -0.49 5827 Federal Bank-A/D 481.5 -6.45 32927 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.43 0.01 5800 Nepc India-B/D 1.85 0 7538 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1937 6 201588 Tate & Lyle/D 867 -3.5 369896 Bharatgears-B/D 40.25 0.45 2518 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.67 -0.33 26412 Jct Ltd-B/D 0.96 0.07 53461 O N G C-A/D 310.3 -6.4 173281 B Sky B/D 890 -0.5 533678 Tesco/D 383.05 -2.4 6315151 Bhartiya Int-B/D 201.9 0.2 3646 Fgp Ltd-B/D 2.5 -0.05 1340 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 3.15 0.1 5207 Ocl India-B/D 150 2.9 3127 Barclays/D 293.1721 -4.65 9797272 Unilever/D 2835 4 996841 Bhel-A/D 182.85 -2.15 477419 Finolex-B/D 103.05 -0.45 124937 Jik Indust-B/D 0.96 -0.04 19109 Oil Country-B/D 44 -0.8 3099 Bg Group/D 1143.5 -11 1066037 United Util Gr/D 710.938 4.5 760256 Bom.Burmah-B/D 116.9 -2.9 12539 Forbes-B/D 633.95 13.95 3314 Jindal Drill-B/D 213 -17.9 2705 Onward Tech-T/D 40.05 1.1 6491 Bp/D 462.65 0.15 8400074 Vodafone Group/D 188.229 -3.8 58823929 Bombay Dyeing-/D 91.55 -2.45 89368 Gail-A/D 314.35 -7.25 48019 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 101.85 -0.4 3775 Orchid Chem-B/D 66.3 -1.15 234264 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3587 -3 801015 Whitbread/D 2564 -12 92311 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.8 0.4 3100 Gammon India-B/D 24.85 -0.35 27938 Jmc Projects-B/D 79.35 -2.65 2871 Orient Hotel-B/D 18.15 -0.45 2975 British Airway/D 276.4574 0 0 Camph.& All-B/D 166.05 -1.4 1692 Gangotri Tex-B/D 2.15 -0.23 2365 Kajaria Cer-B/D 192 1.35 25524 Orient.Carb.-B/D 92.1 0.85 4659 Bt Group/D 279.4364 -2.3 3827472 Castrol Ind-A/D 315.8 -4.85 14145 Goodricke-B/D 137.1 0.95 4577 Kalpat Power-B/D 81.55 -0.1 18190 Orient.Carb.-B/D 92.1 0.85 4659 ‘Centrica/D 376 2.2 2508410 Century Enka-B/D 105.9 -1.85 8596 Goodyear I -B/D 262.2 -3.8 3553 Kalyani Stel-B/D 39.55 -0.2 28173 Oudh Sugar-B/D 18.5 -0.65 4827 ‘Gkn/D 270.8 4.1 1707658 Century Text-A/D 292.9 -9.45 70641 Hcl Infosys-B/D 39.3 0.3 45085 Kg Denim-B/D 15.45 0.95 103445 Rallis India-B/D 120.55 0.5 85910 Hsbc Holdings/D 705.6 -5.6 4330979 Chambal Fert-B/D 52.15 -0.6 133397 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.86 -0.08 478327 Kilburnengg-B/D 12.93 -0.03 29394 Rallis India-B/D 120.55 0.5 85910 Imperial Tobac/D 2303.3 -9 418160 THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Sabres end Penguins’ NBA: Lakers top Mavericks winning streak PITTSBURGH, Pennsyl- Bryant scores triple-double for winners; Shaq honoured by Lakers vania: The Buffalo Sabres halted the Penguins’ march toward NHL history yesterday, LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant’s beating Pittsburgh 4-1 to snap 19th career triple-double lifted the Pens’ winning streak at 15 the Los Angeles Lakers to a games. 101-81 triumph over the Dallas The Penguins were closing in Mavericks yesterday in a duel on their own NHL record of 17 between teams fighting for a consecutive wins, set during the Western Conference playoff 1992-93 season. spot. But with star Sidney Crosby On a night when the Lakers sidelined after being hit in the honored former center Shaquille face by a puck on Saturday, O’Neal by retiring his jersey No. the Penguins lost for the first 34 in an extended halftime cer- time since a 4-1 setback against emony, Bryant and his current Carolina on February 28. teammates showed their minds Pittsburgh’s 15-game streak were firmly fixed on the future matched the New York Islanders’ and not the past. run from January 21 to February Bryant scored 23 points with 11 20, 1982 as the second-longest in rebounds and 11 assists. Big man league history. Dwight Howard scored a game- Kevin Porter notched his first high 24 points and also grabbed 12 two goals of the season to help rebounds and Earl Clark contrib- support a 19-save effort from uted a double-double off the bench Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. of 17 points and 12 rebounds. “Hopefully this is something Pau Gasol added 14 points, we carry forward,” Miller said of 10 rebounds and six assists and the win. Steve Blake chipped in 11 points Steve Ott and Cody Hodgson as the Lakers pulled level with the also scored for a Buffalo team that Utah Jazz for the eighth and final had lost four in a row and are last spot in the West -- although Utah in the Northeast Division. own the tiebreaker between the The Penguins had built their two clubs. streak despite the absence of “I just thought our defense in Russian star Evgeni Malkin for the first half was great,” Lakers 10 of those games with a concus- coach Mike D’Antoni said. sion and shoulder injury. “I didn’t think we had a great Top goaltender Marc-Andre game offensively ... didn’t get Fleury and defenseman Kris ‘hot’. But we were playing so hard Former Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal poses with his old jersey during a ceremony to retire jersey #34 in honor of O’Neal during halftime Letang missed multiple games defensively we won it that way.” of the NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles, yesterday. RIGHT: Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (right) looks to pass as Dallas during the run. The Mavericks were led by Mavericks’ OJ Mayo defends during first half action of their NBA game in Los Angeles, California, yesterday. But Crosby’s broken jaw, which Chris Kaman, who scored 14 will have the Canadian star side- points before fouling out. lined indefinitely, proved too OJ Mayo scored 12 points and prolonged for the tribute to pulled away. Bryant again played Former Lakers coach Phil you put in,” he added. O’Neal much to overcome. Dirk Nowitzki, Darren Collison O’Neal, the Lakers came out flat all but a few seconds of the Jackson then spoke about O’Neal, dedicated the night to late Lakers “All in all, we just weren’t very and Vince Carter scored 11 each. and Dallas closed the gap to 63-58 contest. who played eight seasons with the owner Jerry Buss. He thanked his good,” Penguins defenseman Matt The Lakers led by as many as with three minutes left in the “I’m a little sore right now,” Lakers from 1996-2004, wining parents and six children. Niskanen said. “The execution 16 in the first half, and took a third quarter. he admitted after the game. “My three titles in four NBA finals “It’s a dream come true. It’s a was poor. Battle level was poor.” 55-40 lead into the interval. However, Clark and Antawn back’s a little sore, hamstring’s appearances. blessing,” O’Neal said of the honor Recently acquired Jarome After a halftime break Jamison combined to score nine a little sore... I’ve got to push “Fun, fun, fun, did we have of having his jersey retired. Iginla scored his first goal as straight points to help the Lakers through it a little right now.” fun!” said Jackson, who received “I didn’t do it by myself. I had Penguin, but it wasn’t enough. NBA Results finish the quarter strongly and In pre-recorded video played a rapturous welcome from the a lot of help -- great teammates, “At the time it felt good to get take a 72-61 lead into the fourth. at halftime, Bryant called former Staples Center crowd. great organization, the Buss fam- my first as a Penguin... but it’s a Washington 90 Chicago 86 With just over four minutes teammate O’Neal “the most gifted “For me, Shaquille, I want to ily, great leadership from Phil disappointing feeling now because NY Knicks 102 Miami 90 to play the Mavericks trailed by specimen I’ve ever seen play this thank you for your dedication, Jackson.” AFP I know these guys had worked LA Lakers 101 Dallas 81 seven, but the Lakers inexorably game.” leadership and the hard work hard at this streak,” Iginla said. Pittsburgh goalie Tomas Vokoun, who had back-to-back shutouts in the Penguins’ last two games, stopped nine of 13 shots before he was pulled in favor of Fleury early in the second period. Darvish falls one out AFP NHL Results Boston 3 Ottawa 2 shy of perfect game NY Islanders 5 Winnipeg 2 Washington 5 Carolina 3 HOUSTON: The Texas against the wall.The Astros’ Buffalo 4 Pittsburgh 1 Rangers’ Japanese hurler Yu Baseball Results Rick Ankiel followed with a line Florida 3 Tampa Bay 2 Darvish came within one out drive that Moreland grabbed Baltimore 7 Tampa Bay 4 Nashville 3 Colorado 1 of pitching a rare perfect game before Darvish struck out Justin Cleveland 4 Toronto 1 Phoenix 3 Los Angeles 1 yesterday, retiring 26 batters Maxwell to end the inning. Colorado 8 Milwaukee 4 before surrendering a ninth- It marked the ninth time in his inning single to Houston’s Texas 7 Houston 0 first 30 Major League starts that Marwin Gonzalez. St Louis 6 Arizona 1 Darvish has struck out at least Cardinals deal Darvish struck out 14 in a 7-0 Seattle 7 Oakland 1 10 in a game. victory, but his bid for a slice San Francisco 3 LA Dodgers 0 In the bottom of the ninth, for Palmer of Major League Baseball his- Darvish induced Jason Castro and NEW YORK: The NFC tory was foiled by Gonzalez, who batted in while Nelson Cruz, Carlos Corporan to ground out West continued to be National smacked a single up the middle Andrus and Mitch Moreland before Gonazalez ended his night. Football League’s hottest divi- that rolled between the pitcher’s drove in a run each in Texas’ first His narrow miss of the perfect sion for offseason moves as the legs. win of the fledgling season. game left Hideo Nomo, who did it Arizona Cardinals and the San Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus Darvish struck out nine of the twice, as the only Japanese-born Francisco 49ers made major couldn’t stop it either, and with first 12 batters he faced and baf- pitcher to throw a no-hitter in acquisitions yesterday. Gonzalez on base Darvish -- who fled the Astros with a blistering the US Major Leagues. The Cardinals acquired quar- had thrown 111 pitches -- was fastball and an array of breaking There have been just 23 perfect terback Carson Palmer from the Texas Rangers’ pitcher Yu Darvish reacts after a hit by Houston Astros’ relieved by Michael Kirkman. balls. games -- a victory in which no Oakland Raiders for a conditional Marwin Gonzalez goes through his legs and he lost his perfect game Ian Kinsler hit a two-run home He got valuable support in the opposing player reaches base -- pick in the 2014 draft. with two outs in the ninth inning of their MLB American League baseball run for Texas, who notched 12 fifth inning when Houston’s Chris in Major League Baseball history. The Raiders will receive a sev- game in Houston, yesterday. hits. Carter led off with a fly to deep A record three of them came enth-round draft pick if Palmer Lance Berkman had two runs left that David Murphy caught last season. AFP starts 13 games for the Cardinals in the 2013 season. The 33-year-old veteran had refused the Raiders’ request to accept a pay cut from the $13m he was owed in 2013. CBSSports.com reported Pacquiao likely to fight again in September Palmer will make up to $20m over two seasons with the Cardinals. MANILA: Philippine boxing currently on the campaign trail. then suffered his shock knockout NFL.com indicated that $10m is hero Manny Pacquiao plans to Tamayo said Pacquiao wanted defeat to Marquez. guaranteed. fight again in September, with his next fight to be outside the His losses prompted calls for A Palmer trade was anticipated the bout likely to be staged out- United States, where he has tra- him to retire, but Pacquiao has after the Raiders acquired quar- side the United States to avoid ditionally fought in front of huge consistently signalled his inten- Manny terback Matt Flynn from Seattle high taxes, his spokeswoman crowds and for enormous pay- tion to keep on fighting. Pacquiao of on Monday. Palmer was effective said yesterday. per-view television revenues, to Pacquiao’s sporting achieve- the Philippines in 2011 in his first year as the Negotiations are ongoing for avoid high taxes. ments lifted him and his family posing dur- Raiders’ starter, passing for 4,018 a rematch with Mexican Juan “Manny wants to fight outside out of deep poverty, as he became ing his yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 Manuel Marquez, who knocked the United States because of the one of the highest paid sportsmen weigh-in with interceptions in 15 games, but the Pacquiao out in his last fight in taxes... Singapore is one of the top in the world and an endorser Juan Manuel team struggled in his two seasons. December, although the opponent places for consideration. There is of a myriad of products in the Marquez of In San Francisco, cornerback and the venue are yet to be final- also Macau and Dubai,” Tamayo Philippines. Mexico (out Nnamdi Asomugha agreed to a ised, Rose Tamayo said. said. He translated his boxing suc- of frame) in one-year, $1.35m contract with “The fight is definitely in Pacquiao has won an unprece- cess into the political ring, win- the 49ers. Asomugha can earn up Las Vegas, September. We will talk about the dented eight world titles in differ- ning a seat in the nation’s lower to an additional $1.65m in incen- Nevada in this opponent and the place after the ent weight divisions, and was until house of parliament in 2010. tives. He will also be paid $4m in May 13 elections,” Tamayo said, recently regarded by many as the Pacquiao is running for re-elec- file photo of 2013 by the Philadelphia Eagles, citing comments Pacquiao made best pound-for-pound boxer. tion unopposed in the May polls, December 7, who released him earlier this to her yesterday. But Pacquiao lost his World while seeking to build a power 2012. offseason. Pacquiao, 34, is running for Boxing Organization welter- base for his family. Pacquiao’s wife Meanwhile, Cornerback Tracy re-election as a congressman weight crown in June last year and brother are also running for Porter agreed to terms on a one- in next month’s Philippine in a controversial points decision political posts in the May elec- year contract with the Raiders. mid-term elections, and he is to US fighter Timothy Bradley, tions. AFP REUTERS THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Referees Qatar’s Lekhwiya go top grilled in AFC Cup QSL champions beat Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor 3-1; Al Rayyan lose match-fixing DOHA: Qatar international Soria’s header from Junior’s back Sebastian Soria scored two late post cross looped perfectly over probe goals as unbeaten Lekhwiya AFC Champions Juraev and nestled in the side beat Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor 3-1 netting. yesterday to leapfrog the top of League Results “The defeat was a surprise SINGAPORE: Three Lebanese Group B of the AFC Champions for us because we wanted to get football referees were dropped League. SINGAPORE: Results from a positive result and we man- from an AFC Cup tie in Issiar Dia set the Qatar cham- the AFC Champions League aged to do so in the first half. Singapore and questioned by pions on their way midway yesterday: However, things changed in the anti-corruption officers yes- through the first half at Lekhwiya Group F second period and after conced- terday in the city-state’s latest Stadium only for Gulom Urunov Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) (Genki Haraguchi ing two goals we lost the game,” match-fixing scare. to pull Pakhtakor, who entered 6) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 (Lee said Pakhtakor coach Murodbek The three “are currently the match with a perfect record Seung-Gi 51, Lee Dong-Gook 64, Eninho 70) Ismailov. assisting the Corrupt Practices after posting wins over Ettifaq “We played with a good balance Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 4 (Dario Conca and Al Shabab Al Arabi, level in the first half and we came from their investigations”, the Football 51, 90, Muriqui 58, Gao Lin 84) Muangthong before half-time. a goal behind while the players Association of Singapore (FAS) United (THA) 0 But Soria restored the home followed the instructions well. said in a statement, warning of side’s lead with six minutes Group H “However, Lekhwiya put a lot of “zero tolerance” for match-fixing. remaining before the striker Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 2 (Bojic 50, pressure on us in the second half Referee Ali Sabbagh, and sealed Lekhwiya’s second win Sainsbury 81) Guizhou Renhe (CHN) 1 (Ryan and they scored two goals. assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah in Group B with his third of the 73-og) “The defeat is the first loss for Taleb, had been due to officiate campaign in stoppage time as Eric Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 (Choi Jae-Soo 52, us in the competition and I hope in Tampines Rovers’ fixture with Gerets’ side moved a point clear of Stevica Ristic 73-pen) Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) that we can make a good come- East Bengal. Replacement offi- the Uzbekistan champions at the 6 (Junya Tanaka 16, 66, Ryoichi Kurisawa 51, back in the next match.” cials were brought in for yester- top of the table with three games 75-pen, Masato Kudo 53, 90) Meanwhile, inaugural AFC day’s game, which was won 4-2 by remaining. Champions League winners Al the Indian team. Group B “We deserved to win because Ain bounced back from their “The match officials in ques- we played well. Our players had a Lekhwiya (QAT) 3 (Issair Dia 21, Sebastian defeat at the hands of Esteghlal as tion... were brought to CPIB great game and they showed huge Soria 84, 90+1) Pakhtakor (UZB) 1(Urunov Omar Abdulrahman inspired the earlier this morning,” FAS said, desire to win and get the three Gulom 40) Emiratis to a 2-1 win over Qatar’s referring to Singapore’s anti-cor- important points and they man- Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 1 (Naser Masood Al Rayyan in Group D yesterday. ruption agency. aged to win with a great fight- 81)Al Ettifaq (KSA) The United Arab Emirates “Singapore and FAS have a ing spirit,” said Lekhwiya coach Group D international and Gulf Cup MVP zero-tolerance policy when it Gerets. set up goals for Jires Kembo- comes to match-fixing and foot- At Al Ain City “In the first half we were a lit- Ekoko and Alex Brosque as Al ball corruption which includes the tle bit surprised with the pres- Al Ain (UAE) 2 (Jires Kembo-Ekoko 34, Alex Ain fought back after going imposition of permanent suspen- sure and attacks from Pakhtakor, Brosque 70) vs Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 (Nilmar 32) behind to a strike by Nilmar as sion from all football activities on but we knew how to make a good Al Hilal (KSA) vs Esteghlal (IRI) Cosmin Olariou’s side move on to any player or official convicted in comeback in the second half to six points from three games in a court of law for football corrup- score two goals which helped us with a rasping first-time drive at this year’s campaign. tion offences,” the football body to win and go top of the group.” the second time of asking after The Qataris took the lead added. Dia opened the scoring with the midfielder’s initial attempt against the run of play as Al Ain Singapore has a long record of a fine solo goal after 21 minutes had been blocked just outside the dominated the opening exchanges, match-fixing scandals and crim- as the Senegal international cre- Lekhwiya area. with Mirel Radoi and Kembo- inals from the tiny but wealthy ated space for himself on the edge Lekhwiya twice came close to Ekoko both going close from long Southeast Asian country have of the Pakhtakor penalty area regaining the lead at the start range in the first quarter of the been blamed by Europol for before curling his effort into the of the second half as a free-kick game. orchestrating an international far corner away from goalkeeper Korea Republic midfielder Nam Al Rayyan, meanwhile, remain network responsible for rigging Temur Juraev and via the inside Tee-hee struck the outside of the at the foot of the group having hundreds of games worldwide. Sebastian Soria of Qatar’s Lekhwiya celebrates after scoring a goal against the upright. post before Juraev had to be on picked up just one point from In February, Singapore came Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor during their AFC Champions League soccer match But Pakhtakor were back on his toes to push away a stinging their three games as the battle for under pressure to act against at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Lekhwiya won 3-1 levels terms before half-time as effort from Luiz Junior. a place in the Round of 16 intensi- the cartels, whose activities to maintain their unbeaten record in Group B. Urunov found the bottom corner But with six minutes remaining fies. THE PENINSULA fuel illegal gambling estimated to be worth billions of dollars, when the head of Interpol called for the arrest of an alleged ringleader. Barca left to rue ‘expensive’ night in Paris Singapore police later said the suspect, Tan Seet Eng or Dan MADRID: The Catalan press keep him out for six weeks. to be clearly in an offside position. meaning either Alex Song will Tan, was assisting investiga- were left to reflect on a bit- “A good but very expensive Stark was the referee when have to play out of position at tions, but he was not arrested or tersweet evening for Barcelona draw,” reflected Barcelona sports Barcelona beat Real Madrid in centre-back or the inexperi- charged with any crime. after they conceded late and daily Sport on its front page. the semi-final first-leg in 2011 enced Marc Bartra will start the While no arrests have been lost Lionel Messi (pictured) El Mundo Deportivo struck a that precipitated Jose Mourinho’s return-leg. made, the incident and mere and Javier Mascherano to similar tone as under the headline “why, why, why?” complaint over Moreover, two of the first- mention of matchfixing by the two injury in a 2-2 draw with Paris “very expensive,” they expanded: what he saw as the Catalans choice defenders who are fit, organisations is sure to unsettle Saint-Germain in Tuesday’s “Barca achieved a good result in always getting favourable deci- Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba, are fans of the world’s most popular Champions League quarter- Paris, but lost two key men, con- sions in European competition. just one yellow card away from a sport in two countries which have final first leg. ceded an offside goal and another, “Why, Stark?” sarcastically suspension should Barca make it suffered heavily in recent times. After weathering an early deflected one, in the last breath.” asked Mundo Deportivo, whilst to the semi-finals. In February, European anti- storm, Messi had appeared to put Indeed other than the under- Sport claimed that only the “inju- “Mascherano breaks down crime agency Europol said hun- Barca in control of the tie with a standable frustration at the ries and Stark prevented a Barca and obliges Barca to improvise,” dreds of soccer matches had been fine finish seven minutes before injuries suffered by Messi and victory.” said Gabriel Sans in Mundo fixed in a global betting scam run half-time, but he pulled up with a Mascherano, there was much However, there was some Deportivo, whilst in the same from Singapore. hamstring injury soon after and is bemoaning the performance of genuine concern at how the La paper Fernando Polo argued that It identified some 680 suspi- now doubtful for the return leg at German referee Wolfgang Stark. Liga leaders will cope without in the presumed absence of Messi cious matches, including qualify- the Camp Nou next Wednesday. PSG’s first equaliser arrived Mascherano. and Mascherano, it was time for ing games for the World Cup and Mascherano meanwhile is defi- 10 minutes from time when ex- Injuries to Carles Puyol and singings in recent seasons such as European Championship, and for nitely out after suffering a lateral Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic Adriano have left Barca already Song, Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Europe’s Champions League. knee ligament injury that will prodded home despite appearing extremely stretched at the back Sanchez to step up. AFP AGENCIES English clubs eye redemption in Europa League

LONDON: After a collective replay 48 hours in the Premier following a crushing 4-0 defeat blow-out in the Champions later set them up Europa League League, host to Manchester City on Saturday. League, England has a three- nicely for an end- Quarter-final fixtures (kick-off1905GMT): Basel, the Swiss Manager Alan Pardew, who pronged attack on Europe’s of-season push for champions for was handed a remarkable eight- second tier competition with silverware. Chelsea (ENG) vs Rubin Kazan (RUS) the last three year contract at the start of the Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur “My priority is seasons. season, has promised fans that and Newcastle United all vying the top four and Tottenham (ENG) vs Basel (SUI) The Swiss his side will put in an improved for Europa League success. trying to win the Benfica (POR) vs Newcastle (ENG) have lost only display in Lisbon. The three Premier League next game, in the two league “It’s one of the great European sides were all kept apart in the Europa League,” Fenerbahce (TUR) vs Lazio (ITA) matches since adventures, trust me,” Pardew draw for the last eight and head Chelsea’s persist- Murat Yakin, said. into Thursday’s quarter-final first ently under-fire a former “Their stadium is going to be legs looking to earn back some interim manager Rafa Benitez Switzerland defender, took over rocking on Thursday night - and of the country’s European lustre. said after Monday’s hard-fought as coach at the end of October after our result they will be look- European champions Chelsea 1-0 win. and are unbeaten domestically ing forward to us coming. host Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, “We’re in the semi-finals of this year. They are the only reign- “But we will certainly be better London rivals Tottenham wel- the FA Cup, quarter-finals of the ing domestic champions still in than we were on Saturday.” come Swiss side Basel and Europa League. It’s a great season the Europa League. Fenerbahce host Lazio with the Newcastle travel to Benfica. at the moment. It could be even They last reached the quarter- Turkish side looking to improve Fenerbahce’s clash with Lazio better.” finals of a European competition on a dismal record against Italian is the only quarter-final not to Chelsea start as overwhelming in 2005/06 when Middlesbrough teams, having lost 10 of 13 clashes feature a Premier League club. favourites but Rubin are no push- knocked them out of the then to date. For Chelsea, today’s match overs having knocked out hold- UEFA Cup. “We are extremely Lazio are fifth in Serie A after against Rubin is the start of a ers Atletico Madrid and their La excited about this draw,” said their 2-1 win over Catania on gruelling fixture pile-up that Liga rivals Levante in two previ- Yakin. “Tottenham Hotspur are a Saturday but still have an out- involves playing five matches in ous rounds to reach a European great team from a wonderful city. side chance of finishing third and 13 days as they look to do battle quarter-final for the first time. We have nothing to lose against a place in the Champions League in three competitions. The club from the Volga region, them. We have earned the oppor- next season. Defeat to Southampton in the the last remaining Russian side in tunity to play against teams like Coach Vladimir Petkovic, who Premier League on Saturday left the competition, warmed up for these. It’s already a huge accom- speaks eight languages, said of them looking vulnerable in a the Chelsea clash with a 2-0 home plishment to be in the last eight Fenerbahce: “They are very good, three-way fight with Tottenham win over Lokomotiv Moscow of the Europa League.” especially at home. and Arsenal for the final two on Saturday, moving them into For Newcastle, the Europa Turkish sides don’t usually Chelsea’s Ramires (left), Victor Moses (cetnre) and Cesar Azpilicueta take Champions League qualification fourth place in the league table. League is a distraction from shine when they play away, how- part during a training session at Cobham in Surrey southern England, spots. Tottenham, who like Chelsea their domestic battle to avoid ever. “We have great respect for yesterday. Chelsea will play Rubin Kazan in the first leg of their Europa But victory over Manchester are almost certainly prioritising relegation with the club three them but they are not unbeat- League quarter-final today. United in an FA Cup quarter-final their fight for a top-four finish points above the drop zone able.” AFP THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Ms Raija Mattila, co-chair of International Working Group on Woman and Sport (IWG), and Ms Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana, Chairperson of the Qatar Women’s Sport Top-ranked Committee (QWSC). pose Serena wins for a picture with other sports officials in Doha WTA clay yesterday. opener CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: World No. 1 Serena Williams (pictured above) served nine aces yester- day during her first match this Qatar and IWG sign pact season on clay, beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3 at the $795,000 WTA Family Circle Qatar Olympic Committee endorses ‘Brighton Declaration’ in Doha Cup. Williams did not commit a dou- ble fault but took full advantage DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Mana, Chairperson of the Qatar Saoud said. “We will do every- of 12 by her 85th-ranked rival to Committee (QOC) yester- Women’s Sport Committee thing and give our full support to win after 82 minutes in her first day endorsed the ‘Brighton (QWSC). make sure this event becomes a match since capturing the WTA Declaration’, saying Qatar was “We are delighted to be here reality.” Miami crown last Saturday by fast developing a healthy envi- today signing a very important After the special declaration beating Maria Sharapova in the ronment to support women’s declaration for women’s sport,” was signed in front of the IWG final. participation in sports. Sheikh Saoud said. members, Raija Mattila, co-chair “It wasn’t great for me -- I Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman “Since the late 90s and early of the IWG, extended a warm played well, but I wasn’t great, Al Thani, Secretary General 2000s we have tried to work hard invitation for Qatar to join them footing-wise,” Williams said of of QOC, joined hands with the improving women’s sport and the at next year’s world conference the switch from the hard courts International Working Group number of who play it. I think we in Helsinki. of Miami to the clay courts of on Woman and Sport (IWG) to have worked hard to officially “I would like to voice our appre- Charleston. put pen to paper on the IWG’s establish the committee in charge ciation to the Qatar Olympic “I was just trying to get my ‘Brighton Declaration’ – an of all the women’s sport in Qatar,” Committee and the Qatar stability. I only had one or two agreement which challenges he added. Women’s Sports Committee for days of practice. But I felt good. governments, public authorities, “Qatar has been involved in a making today possible,” Al Mana I’m glad I came here and hope I businesses and other relevant lot of events in the last few years said. “They have graciously agreed can get ready for what can hope- organisations to promote, develop regarding women starting with to bring the IWG to the Arabian fully be another good clay court and support women’s sport. the Busan Asian Games in 2002, Peninsula for the first time in our season.” In a ceremony at the Hilton the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, history. Next in the path of Williams, Hotel in Doha, Sheikh Saoud Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 “Today sees some of the most who was among eight top seeds endorsed the IWG’s ‘Brighton and then the London Olympics dedicated people in women’s sport to receive a first-round bye, is a Declaration’ before committing Games last year. in the world come under one roof third-round match against either to greater support for young “The support we have received here in Doha. Germany’s 15th-seeded Sabine girls keen to take up sports as a from Qatari leadership under the “We have cause to celebrate Lisicki or US qualifier Mallory profession. directives of the Heir Apparent, H the endorsement of the ‘Brighton Burdette. Already 335 world renowned H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Declaration’ from the Qatar Others reaching the third sporting organisations all over the Thani has been incredible. Women’s Sport Committee on round included Swiss Stefanie globe have endorsed the ‘Brighton “Also, special praise must go behalf of the Qatar Olympic Voegele, who ousted Spanish sev- Declaration’. to Ms Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Committee. enth seed Carla Suarez Navarro The IWG convened in Doha Mana for the work she has car- “With this symbolic action 6-2, 6-4, and Romanian 11th seed for their annual meeting ahead ried out in recent times. Qatar has affirmed the commit- Sorana Cirstea, who defeated of next year’s world conference “All her members in the sports ment to the important role that Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues on Women and Sport in Helsinki. community have done a great job sport and physical activity play in in a walkover. Sheikh Saoud spoke of his to develop sport which is the most women and men, girls and boys, US wildcard Bethanie Mattek- pride at meeting with the IWG, important thing for us. and that Qatar will be one of the A member of International Working Group on Woman and Sport (IWG) Sands rebounded from a mara- particularly after seeing first- “We will be more than happy nations to achieve excellence in takes a photograph of Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary thon first-round victory on hand the work carried out by to welcome them back in 2018 for sports,” she added. General of QOC, and Ms Raija Mattila, co-chair of IWG, in Doha yesterday. Monday to topple fourth-seeded Ms Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al the General Assembly,” Sheikh THE PENINSULA compatriot Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-0 and reach the third round. Among first-round winners were Britain’s Laura Robson, who dismissed Spain’s Estrella Akram to Cabeza Candela 6-2, 6-2, and New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic, Ryder is out of hospital who eliminated Slovakian Daniela work with Hantuchova 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. CHRISTCHURCH: New suburb of Christchurch. Two men wanted to do in hospital and then Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder have been charged with assault they were happy to let him go Pakistan fast (pictured left) has been and are scheduled to appear in home. He’s still very tired and still WTA Charleston released from a Christchurch court today. struggling energy-wise with the results bowlers hospital and returned to his “He was thrilled to be back effects of the concussion, but he’s home in Wellington after spend- home, he just couldn’t wait. It’s obviously well enough to be dis- CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Results KARACHI: The Pakistan ing almost a week recovering been a hard week so he just charged from hospital and travel yesterday from the second day of the Cricket Board (PCB) has turned from serious head injuries, local wanted to get home,” the New home, it’s great.” $795,000 WTA Family Circle Cup (x denotes to former captain and fast media reported yesterday. Zealand Herald quoted Ryder’s Ryder, one of New Zealand’s seeding): bowler Wasim Akram and will Ryder, 28, was taken to hospi- manager Aaron Klee as saying. most gifted batsmen, has been in 2nd round prepare special pitches for the tal early last Thursday after two “He’s been doing well over the a self-imposed exile from inter- national team ahead of the ICC altercations outside a bar and fast last couple of days so just needed national cricket after a series of Stefanie Voegele (SUI) bt Carla Suarez Champions Trophy in England food restaurant in Merivale, a to complete all the testing they alcohol-related incidents. AFP Navarro (ESP x7) 6-2, 6-4 in June. Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Camila Giorgi The PCB said yesterday that (ITA) 6-2, 6-3 former left-arm quick Akram would be supervising a 10-day Sorana Cirstea (ROM x11) bt Anabel Medina specialised camp for fast bowlers Rising Australian fast bowler Garrigues (ESP) walkover in Karachi. Jessica Pegula (USA) bt Mona Barthel (GER “Besides the national team x8) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 pace bowlers some upcoming young and raw pace bowlers will Varvara Lepchenko (USA x12) bt Mathilde also attend the camp which will Starc hits contract jackpot Johansson (FRA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 be conducted by Wasim for the Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) bt Sloane board,” a PCB official said. SYDNEY: Cricket Australia and into the seven-figure pay case for future inclusion through Stephens (USA x4) 6-2, 6-0 Pakistan’s chief selector Iqbal unveiled yesterday a list of 20 bracket, the newspaper said. his performances.” Contracted Qasim recently said recently that contracted players for the new Starc was one of the few Last year 17 players were ini- 1st round the team could face a fast bowling season amid reports that star Australians to stand out in all tially given contracts and an addi- players 2013-14 Sabine Lisicki (GER x15) bt Anna Tatishvili crisis as pace talent was drying up bowler Mitchell Starc (pictured three forms of the game meaning tional nine players were upgraded George (GEO) 6-0, 6-0 in the country. right) is celebrating a million he scored highly on the complex to contracts during the season. Bailey, His comments came after a dollar pay-day. formula used to rank top players. “Phillip Hughes has made a lot Michael Marina Erakovic (NZL) bt Daniela disappointing show from the With the retirements of former National selector John of runs throughout the past 12 Clarke, Ed Hantuchova (SVK) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 Pakistani pacers in this year’s skipper Ricky Ponting and stal- Inverarity suggested the door was months and is a young player who Cowan, Vania King (USA x14) bt Yaroslava Shvedova test series against South Africa in wart Mike Hussey, funds were still open to some big names who we are looking to become a reli- Patrick (KAZ) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 which they suffered a whitewash. freed up for a changing of the did not make the list. able and prolific run-scorer, while Cummins, Pakistan’s most experienced guard in the lucrative 2013-14 ros- “Jackson Bird, Moises Ed Cowan worked hard in the last Xavier Julia Goerges (GER x10) bt Yulia Putintseva pace bowler Umar Gul managed ter. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said Henriques, Usman Khawaja and 12 months to earn an upgrade,” Doherty, (KAZ) 6-2, 6-3 just five wickets in two Tests Starc was the big winner when Steve Smith were all very close to he said. James Faulkner, Brad Madison Keys (USA) bt Alexandra Cadantu at an average of 45 as the team the National Selection Panel making this contract list and we “George Bailey has been one of Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben (ROM) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 handed debuts to three pace bowl- (NSP) made its pick. expect them to take opportunities our most successful ODI batsmen Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Jelena Jankovic (SRB x9) bt Melanie Oudin ers including Mohammad Irfan, The 23-year-old left-armer that are presented across formats since he debuted in that format Mitchell Johnson, Nathan (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 the lone success story of the tour, broke onto the scale last season to represent Australia and make a in March 2012. Clint McKay’s Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Clint Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil. with a base deal reportedly worth case for an upgrade to a CA con- success as an ODI player was McKay, James Pattinson, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) bt Romina Akram is Pakistan’s most suc- Aus$230,000 ($240,000) a year. tract, as the year unfolds,” he said. reflected in him being awarded Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Oprandi (SUI) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 cessful fast bowler with 414 Test His match-winning efforts saw “Aaron Finch hasn’t made the Australia’s One Day Player of The Matthew Wade, David Laura Robson (GBR) bt Estrella Cabeza and 502 one-day international him surge up the elite rankings contract list on this occasion but Year at the Allan Border Medal.” Warner, Shane Watson Candela (ESP) 6-2, 6-2 wickets. AFP alongside captain Michael Clarke the NSP hopes he will make a AGENCIES THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Rossi takes on Spanish Armada MotoGP veteran set to be tested by Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez

LONDON: Valentino Rossi is Pedrosa, runner-up to Lorenzo back on a Yamaha but it will last season, leads the works Honda take some heroics for the age- line-up following the departure of FROM LEFT: ing Italian great to wrest the double champion Stoner and has MotoGP riders MotoGP title from Spanish his best chance yet of a first title Marc Marquez, hands in the season that starts after a storming finish to last year Stefan Bradl, under the Qatar floodlights this with six wins in the closing eight Dani Pedrosa, weekend. races. Jorge Lorenzo Honda’s Dani Pedrosa lines “The team has worked hard and Valentino up as the early favourite, closely to get us in the best place for followed by Rossi’s team-mate the start of the season and I’m Rossi during and reigning champion Jorge pleased with my physical situa- a press Lorenzo, while Honda new boy tion,” the injury-prone rider, now conference Marc Marquez completes a trio in his eighth MotoGP season with at Losail of Spanish frontrunners in a Honda, said in a team preview for International new era following the premature Sunday’s night race at the Losail Circuit retirement of Australian Casey desert circuit. yesterday. The Stoner. Marquez is 20 but arrives after riders will take Rossi, a 4/1 shot for the title winning last year’s Moto2 title, part in the with British bookmakers William and the 125cc crown the year opening race of Hill, is their closest rival as fourth before, and even Rossi sees some- the 2013 season favourite with no other rider thing of his younger self in the on April 7 at the given better than odds of 40/1 Spaniard after impressive times same venue. ahead of the season-opener. in pre-season testing. PICTURES: The charismatic Italian has His partnership with Pedrosa SHAIVAL ditched his uncompetitive Ducati and the comparisons with their DALAL to return to the Yamaha works Italian rival will be one of the fold - the team where he won 46 leading storylines of the year Grands Prix and four of his seven ahead, with nobody ruling out world titles in the top category - Marquez taking the title in his alongside Lorenzo, but at 34 he debut season. is starting to feel the ravages of “If he can stay healthy, he is MotoGP season time. really going to shake things up “My comeback to Yamaha is a this season,” said 2006 MotoGP calendar Lorenzo sees positives great story and a great bet, for champion Nicky Hayden, who DOHA: Calendar for the 2013 MotoGP sea- me but also for Yamaha,” said the remains with Audi-owned Ducati. son starting in Qatar on Sunday: Italian, winner of 105 Grands Prix “He has been very, very impres- April 7 Qatar --- Losail Circuit in all classes, during testing last sive and very fast...he could be a April 21 Austin, Texas --- Circuit of the month. game-changer to MotoGP.” in Rossi’s Yamaha deal Americas “Unfortunately I am quite old, Cal Crutchlow, fastest in May 5 Spain --- Jerez BY RIZWAN REHMAT this is true, but I feel very good...I Pedrosa’s absence on the final hope I can fight again for the day of testing at Jerez with the May 19 France --- Le Mans podium and to win some races. Tech3 Yamaha team, is aiming to June 2 Italy --- Mugello DOHA: World champion After that we’ll see where we are become the first British winner June 16 Catalunya --- Barcelona Jorge Lorenzo believes veteran in the championship ranking.” in MotoGP since the late Barry June 29 Netherlands --- Assen MotoGP rider and new team- Rossi and Lorenzo were uneasy Sheene 32 years ago. mate Valentino Rossi will add July 14 Germany --- Sachsenring team-mates in 2010, when the He also has a new team-mate power and purpose to Yamaha’s Mallorcan was the young hot- in an all-British line-up with July 21 US Laguna Seca title chase in the 2013 season. shot and won his first title, but Bradley Smith making his debut Aug 18 Indianapolis --- Indianapolis Lorenzo, a four-time winner at the latter is now a double world in the top class. Motor Speedway (US) Losail International Circuit, will champion and the atmosphere On the track the big novelty of Aug 25 Czech Republic --- Brno start the new season alongside promises to be much friendlier. the 18-race season is the F1-style Sept 1 Britain --- Silverstone nine-time world champion Rossi “Probably our relationship knockout qualifying format. who switched camp from Ducati Sept 15 San Marino --- Misano is better than three years ago,” The 10 quickest riders from the at the end of 2012. Lorenzo said at the launch of the three free practice sessions will Sept 29 Aragon --- Motorland Aragon “Yes, that is very positive that YZR-M1 machine last month. go forward to the second phase (Spain) Valentino came back to Yamaha,” “Now we are a bit older, more of qualifying along with the best Oct 13 Malaysia --- Sepang Lorenzo said a day before the first mature, especially me as I was two riders from a separate first Oct 20 Australia --- Phillip Island free practice session of the 2013 only 20 when I arrived in MotoGP. qualifying that otherwise decides Oct 27 Japan --- Motegi season. “We do not have to be friends... grid places from position 13 “It is positive for the team and Nov 10 Valencia --- Spain but if the relationship is good this downwards. for myself. For the last two sea- is much better for us but also for There is also a new penalty ** Some of the countries stage more than sons, I think he didn’t get the the team. We will try to stay calm points system for riders who col- one race results he expected (of himself),” and to push together in the same lect regular warnings for endan- ** Pre-season testing was done in Sepang the Spaniard added. FROM LEFT: MotoGP riders Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo direction.” gering others. REUTERS (Malaysia) and Jerez (Spain). “I think it is good for Yamaha. and Valentino Rossi fool around after a press conference at Losail We are a good combination. It International Circuit yesterday. American is good for me. It gives me good MotoGP rider motivation (to do well),” Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden who has managed nine podiums Lorenzo admitted the 2013 quite strong in the winter testing. in as many as starts in Qatar, would be ‘an open season for the Anyway, we have to wait for the of the Ducati explained. riders’ with title favourites hard races. But my feelings are very Team attends Rossi first joined Yamaha in to pick in this year’s race. good. I am quite fast. The level is a press 2004 and achieved four MotoGP “The competition this year, it very high.” conference World Champion titles with the will be hard to get to the podiums. Nicknamed ‘The Doctor’, Rossi at the Losail Yamaha YZR-M1 in 2004 and Everyone starts with zero points,” added: “The other factory guys International 2005 and again in 2008 and 2009. Lorenzo said. are very fast. It will be a great Circuit The Italian won 46 Grand Prix “Everybody is excited. We motivation to raise my level and yesterday. races with Yamaha over a seven- have lost a strong rider in Casey speed to fight for the podium.” The 2013 year period before leaving at the Stoner who retired (at the end Rossi said he was happy with MotoGP World end of the 2010 MotoGP season. of 2012). But then now we have the inclusion of two 15-minute Championship Rossi said the team mechan- Marc (Marquez) and Stefan qualifying sessions for MotoGP season’s first ics in the Yamaha camp can cope (Bradl) is there too. For sure, we riders from this season. race will be with bike settings for the two have four or five strong riders,” “We needed something new. held at the stars with vast difference in rid- 25-year-old added. For sure, (it is) more exciting same venue on ing styles. “Three of four are extremely from television point of view. April 7. “Jorge uses a different setting fast and talented riders,” he said. From our side, (it is) not a big dif- compared to mine,” Rossi said. Lorenzo, who won six races last ference except that there will be “For me, it is quite difficult year besides managing 16 podiums 12 bikes on the track and trying to to ride with these settings (that in 2012, said Yamaha is ready for do maximum speeds,” Rossi said. Hyped as the most exciting prospect to enter the MotoGP class for Lorenzo uses). But you know, the new season. “Yes, the riders were asked in some time, Marc Marquez (pictured right) will be looking for a success- Yamaha bikes are suitable for “Yes, we had a good pre-sea- the safety commission meeting ful debut under the floodlights. The youngster said: “Sure I will be little different style of riding,” the son,” Lorenzo said. “In Sepang (last year). The discussions were bit nervous. Here will be the first time of many things. The first race in 34-year-old added. (Malaysia) we were fast and then with me sometimes and on other MotoGP! Tests are very different from a race in MotoGP. I don’t know “For this reason we are trying at Jerez (Spain) we were better,” occasions with Jorge,” Rossi said. how a MotoGP race is. I’ll try to enjoy it and do my best, and enjoy. From use different settings in general. he added. “We spoke about our point of the beginning I felt good on the bike. I was a little bit surprised. From the I have a good feeling,” Rossi said “We will see what happens in view. They said they have new team, Honda and Repsol I don’t have pressure, but the general expecta- about his chances. the first five or six rounds in the ideas. tion is quite big. With the experience Honda has it’s a big help for me. “It (the bike setting) is not a championships,” the 2012 world “They wanted to use some ideas Sure it (winning maiden race) will be so difficult. If you’re mentality is big difference. For the develop- champion said. for a good (television) show and that (you can win the first one) it could be dangerous.” ment of the bike, we can go in the Rossi sounded confident about for the riders also,” he said. same way,” he added. his chances when he said: “I was THE PENINSULA

Stefan Bradl (pictured right), New grandstand at Losail Circuit Nicky Hayden (pictured right), who was the 2012 MotoGP Rookie who remains with the Ducati of the Year, hopes to take his Team for 2013, will be hoping that career to the next step this sea- his hard work over the years will son and secure his first ever pre- pay off as the Italian outfit contin- mier-class podium: “I think every ues to search for a turnaround in year in MotoGP is interesting and its fortunes. The American said: important. I have one year’s expe- “It hasn’t been an easy off-season, rience, which is not so bad. I hope especially the first Sepang test. it’s going to be positive. I’m ready Since then we’ve improved, with for the first race here. Our prior- weight balance and some things. ity is to be constant and fast, and The bike started to improve on not loose time when the tyre was corner entry. We know it’s not older, which was my advantage going to be easy, especially with last year. I think it’s possible yes these guys; and the level very high. (to fight with the factory riders). But it takes time. I’m happy to It will be of course very, very, dif- start another season and to see ficult. It will also be a challenge to some positives coming. There’s be the best satellite rider.” already been some big changes. THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31 QMMF celebrates 10th anniversary of Grand Prix of Qatar Qatar, UAE share spoils Palestine trounce Bahrain

DOHA: In only their second and the players are nervous. This competitive match, the Qatar is the first time they have experi- girls’Under-14s celebrated a enced anything like this. point against the United Arab “Give them five more tourna- Emirates in the AFC Under-14 ments and then I think they will Championships yesterday. be able to handle situations like After a disappointing 5-0 at the this a little better. hands of Palestine on Tuesday, the In the second match, Palestine young Qataris showed real grit to recorded their third win of the hold on for their first point of the Championships with a command- tournament. ing 5-1 win over Bahrain. The This was the first goalless game group joint favourites took their of the competition so far – but tally for the competition to a stag- that is something coach Monika gering 17 goals as they made it Nassser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), is flanked by MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi (left) of Italy Stabb will not be concerned about nine points out of nine. The match and Jorge Lorenzo (right) of Spain at QMMF’s 10th anniversary celebrations at St Regis Hotel in Doha. Dorna Chief Carmelo Ezpeleta (second left) after watching her young stars followed a familiar pattern to the also attended the special ceremony. This week QMMF will stage the 10th edition of the Grand Prix of Qatar that was first held on October 2, 2004. regain some confidence with a previous games with Palestine morale-boosting draw. star Rozeen scoring all five goals. “I think the team gave their The prolific striker opened the best again, just like our last scoring when she flicked the ball game,” Stabb said. past Bahrain keeper Roza from “We were slightly limited in our just six yards to give Palestine capacity and abiity to go forward. the lead. “We really wanted a point from No sooner had Rozeen scored this game and we were really her first she grabbed her second happy today to have achieved our to slot under the Bahrain goalie. goals. Bahrain lost a critical third “Today we won a point. I think after the 54th minute when in the first half the UAE had more Rozeen scored her third hat-trick of the ball and we had to spend a of the tournament from the spot. lot of time defending. She followed that up with a fourth “They had some big players moments later with a shot that which was difficult for our young crept through the legs of keeper ones. They are only 10 or 11 years Roza and into the back of the net. old. Rozeen rounded off the victory “They were a bit slow because with her fifth of the night after a we hadn’t really recovered from great run and finish with the last the game. kick of the ball to score her 13th “This is the first time the play- goal of the tournament. ers have played in a competition THE PENINSULA

Dorna Chief Carmelo Ezpeleta presents to Nassser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of QMMF, the MotoGP World Championship trophy in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: World champion in 2012, Jorge Lorenzo of Spain, presents a signed helmet to Al Attiyah.

Qatar midfielder Sara Mohammed Al Suwaidi (right) and United Arab Emirates Naeema Ibrahim Gharib Juma (30) vie for ball possession during their AFC Under-14 girls’ Championship football match at Al Arabi Stadium, yesterday. PHOTO BY KAMMUTTY VP Al Sadd enter Emir Cup semis BY DANOTZKI SANTOS The QMMF family is seen with MotoGP World Championship trophy. Rashid Suliati (second right), Sultan Al Muraikhi (sixth left), Board Member, Emir Cup Fixtures DOHA: QMMF, and Marielou Cruz (seventh left) are seen with QMMF President Nassser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah (second left) and Dorna Chief Carmelo Ezpeleta. Al Sadd wanted a vic- Today’s Matches tory to get to the semi-final Al Wakra vs Rayyan, 5.00pm round outright and did it in style by overpowering a fighting Al Arabi vs Qatar SC, 7.00pm Eljaish, 85-78, in the Emir Cup Al Gharafa Indoor Hall basketball Group 1 at the Al at 55-37 before Mahammed Bakir Gharafa Indoor Arena. led an 11-0 by Army to trim the Rashad Anderson hit his stride deficit at 48-55, with 5:09 remain- from the outside at the onset and ing in the period. Khalid Suliman scored on a pair Southall slammed one in after of fast-break lay-ups to give Al Al Sadd sued for time, Suliman Sadd a 9-3 advantage at the onset scored on a lay-up off a turn-over but Eljaish came up with an 8-1 and Saad Abdurahman sank a spurt capped by Al Turki’s try to try for a 7-0 run before the white wrest the lead 11-10 midway in shirts sealed the third period with the first period. an 8-4 wind-up for a 70-52 count. Al Sadd would then string up Eljaish went on a 7-0 run at the 13 straight markers including start of the final quarter but Al Thomas Ibrahim’s 9 points in a 3 Sadd hit back with a 10-2 spurt to minute-spell to soar up high with make it 77-61 as the game entered 23 points against Army’s 13 at the the final 5 minutes of play. end of the first quarter. Army would not give up The white shirts executed bet- and unleashed a 4-minute 17-6 ter on offense at the start of the onslaught to move closer at 78-83, second period, and with Michael with 52 seconds in the game Benjamin Southall and Ibrahim time. As Al Ahli squeezed past dominating the boards on both Al Shamal, 81-79, earlier in the ends kept a 32-20 lead towards evening to finish the preliminaries the remaining 5 minutes of the with a 2-1 slate and notch second half. The Qatar League champi- place honours in Group 1. Alpha ons remained top at 45-32 before Bangura, who finished the match the half time break. with 31 points, worked harder in Anderson drew first blood in the final period to help his team A view of the guests that assembled at St Regis Hotel for QMMF’s 10th anniversary celebrations in Doha. More than 350 guests that included MotoGP the second half of play drilling overhaul a 62-65 third quarter riders and mechanics attended the celebration dinner. On April 7, the opening race of the 2013 season will be held at Losail International CIrcuit, the back-to-back long bombers while deficit and bring them into their venue of the first ever MotoGP race held in the Middle East in October 2004. Southall and Ibrahim added a first play-offs after a long while. basket each to pull Al Sadd away THE PENINSULA Thursday 4 April 2013 23 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5659 Sport Price: QR2 LATEST NEWS UPDATES LATEST NEWS UPDATES IN TAMIL FROM PHILIPPINESPHILIPPIN Lakers Qatar’s TAMIL TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER AVAILABLE overcome Lekhwiya go AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS Mavericks top 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 | 27 Sport | 28 EMAIL: [email protected]

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Ruthless Real ease to 3-0 win Debutants Malaga deny Dortmund to keep Champions League dream alive

Champions League MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo, two defenders to find Benzema between two attack-minded sides. Karim Benzema and Gonzalo unmarked for the second. Dortmund’s Mario Goetze was Champions League quarter- Higuain scored to give ruth- Higuain replaced the twice clean through on goal in the final first leg results lessly efficient Real Madrid a Frenchman midway through first half but was unable to get At Paris 3-0 home win over Galatasaray the second half and flicked Xabi the better of Caballero and the Paris Saint Germain (FRA) 2 Barcelona in their Champions League Alonso’s whipped in freekick past Germany international skewed (ESP) 2 quarter-final first leg yesterday. Muslera for the third. a shot wide when well placed 25 At Munich, Germany Portugal forward Ronaldo Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, minutes from time. became the tournament’s high- up against his former coach Jose Isco had Malaga’s best chance in Bayern Munich (GER) 2 Juventus (ITA) 0 est scorer with nine goals when Mourinho, provided the main the 66th minute when he smashed At Malaga, Spain he burst away on to Mesut Ozil’s threat for the visitors, blaz- a first-time shot through a crowd Malaga (ESP) 0 Borussia Dortmund (GER) 0 pass to lob the opener after nine ing one effort wide, and setting of players but Dortmund keeper At Madrid minutes at the Bernabeu. up Emmanuel Eboue for their Roman Weidenfeller punched the Real Madrid (ESP) 3 Galatasaray (TUR) 0 Benzema slotted the ball inside clearest chance before the break, ball away to leave the teams goal- Fernando Muslera’s near post which Lopez parried with his foot. less ahead of Tuesday’s return leg Second legs for the second after 29 minutes The return leg is in Istanbul in Germany. April 9 and substitute Higuain flicked a next Tuesday. Malaga had the first clear At Dortmund, Germany header into the top corner at a Meanwhile, Debutants Malaga chance of the match in the sev- Borussia Dortmund (GER) vs Malaga (ESP) freekick in the 73rd. kept their Champions League enth minute when Javier Saviola At Istanbul Galatasaray, backed by rau- dream very much alive when found space in the area but sent cous support, rarely threatened they held Bundesliga champions his close-range effort wide of Galatasaray (TUR) vs Real Madrid (ESP) but when they did keeper Diego Borussia Dortmund to a 0-0 draw Weidenfeller’s left post. April 10 Lopez was on hand for the hosts, in their quarter-final first leg at Dortmund gradually began to At Barcelona, Spain who remain well on course for a the Rosaleda yesterday. assert themselves and after Willy Barcelona (ESP) vs Paris SG (FRA) shot at a tenth European Cup. Malaga goalkeeper Willy had twice denied Goetze, Martin At Turin, Italy After taking an early lead, Caballero was in inspired form Demichelis sprinted across Real looked dangerous every for the Qatar-owned La Liga club to steal the ball from Robert Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the opening Juventus (ITA) vs Bayern Munich (GER) time they broke forward, and and the home side created several Lewandowski as he bore down goal during their Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Semi-final draw - Friday April 12 Michael Essien’s cross evaded chances in an entertaining clash on goal. AGENCIES Galatasaray Istanbul at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, yesterday. Knight Riders off to a flying start

KOLKATA: Holders Kolkata second wicket stand after Bisla’s Knight Riders gave a fluent dismissal. The South African start to their campaign with an departed in the eighth over by emphatic six wicket win over a miscuing a shot to mid wicket, depleted Daredevils in the sixth Gambhir, who was lucky to Indian Premier League opener have been dropped at 14 by Ashish here yesterday. Nehra, then added 41 more in MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo The hosts proved their all- partnerhip with Tiwary to ena- round might by first skittling ble the home side establish a tight out the Daredevils for 128, with grip. Commercial Bank Caribbean offie Sunil Narine Gambhir returned in the 14th (4/13) doing the main damage over, but then the dye was already Grand Prix of Qatar taking a wicket in each of his four cast. Schedule overs, and then coasted to victory Earlier, sent in to bat on a slug- Today with eight balls to spare before a gish wicket, the Delhi franchisee 13:45: National Superbike Free Practice capacity crowd at the iconic Eden found strokemaking difficult and Gardens here. most of their batsmen threw their 18:00-18:40: Moto3 Free Practice 1 Eoin Morgan hit the winning wickets cheaply in their bid to 18:55-19:40: Moto2 Free Practice 1 single as the Knights reached force the pace. 19:55-20:40: MotoGP Free Practice 1 129/4 to send owner Shahrukh The sole exception was skip- 20:55-21:35: Moto3 Free Practice 2 Khan into a delirium, as he waved per Mahela Jayawardene (66: 52 21:50-22:35: Moto 2 Free Practice 2 and cheered from the super hos- b, 8x4, 1x6), who played a smooth 22:50-23:20: National Superbike Qualifying pitality box. knock and got out only in the Tomorrow Save an initial shocker, when penultimate over as he went for opener Manvinder Bisla (5) fell an uppish shot off Brett Lee and 13:30-13:50: National Superbike Warm-Up in the second over, the Knights was taken by Narine in the covers. 15:00: National Superbike Race 1 (15) laps never really looked in danger of Jayawardene, who completed 16:30-17:15: Tissot Presentation 2013 losing their way, despite slow- 1,500 runs in the IPL, reached his (MotoGP VIP Village) ing down after Gautam Gambhir half-century off 46 balls. 18:00-18:45: MotoGP Free Practice 2 (42; 29 b, 5x4, 1x6) and Manoj Except Jayawardene and 19:00-19:40: Moto3 Free Practice 3 Tiwary (23; 23 b, 2x4) fell in quick Warner (21), none of the Delhi 19:55-20:40: Moto2 Free Practice 3 succession. willowers could reach double 20:55-21:40: MotoGP Free Practice 3 In the end, Morgan (14 not figures. out) and Yusuf Pathan (18 not The match had a sensational 22:10: National Superbike Race 2 (15 laps) out) carried the team to victory start, with Aussie pacer Brett Lee April 6 without any fuss. straightaway dislodging the young 17:00-17:20: MotoX2 But it was Gambhir and Kallis Unmukt Chand’s off stump with 17:00-1745: MotoGP VIP Village Pit Lane (23; 20 b, 5x4) who set the stage a sharp away-cutter, much to joy Walk for KKR’s triumph with a 47-run of the packed crowd. IANS 18:00-18:40: Moto3 Qualifying 18:55-19:40: Moto2 Qualifying Scoreboard 19:55-20:25: MotoGP Free Practice 4 DELHI DAREDEVILS Bowling: Brett Lee 4-0-40-2; Jacques Kaliis 20:35-20:15: MotoGP Qualifying 1 U Chand b Brett Lee ...... 0 3-0-23-0; Balaji 4-0-20-1; Narine 4-0-13-4; 21:00-21:15: MotoGP Qualifying 2 D Warner c Kallis b Narine ...... 21 Bhatia 4-0-23-2; Shukla 1-0-8-0. 21:40-22:00: Moto3 Warm-Up M Jayawardene c Narine b Lee ...... 66 KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS 22:15-22:35: Moto2 Warm-Up M Juneja c Shukla b Balaji ...... 8 M Bisla c Chand b Nehra ...... 4 22:40-23:10: MotoX2 N Ojha c Lee b Bhatia ...... 9 G Gambhir lbw Botha ...... 42 April 7 J Botha lbw Bhatia ...... 7 J Kallis c Chand b Nadeem ...... 23 I Pathan c Tiwary b Narine ...... 4 M Tiwary c Ojha b Nadeem ...... 23 17:00-17:20: MotoX2 A Russel c&b Narine ...... 4 E Morgan (not out) ...... 14 17:00-17:45: MotoGP VIP Village Pit Lane S Nadeem (run out) ...... 4 Y Pathan (not out) ...... 18 Walk A Nehra c Shukla b Narine ...... 0 Extras (B-2, W-3) 5 18:00-18:20: MotoGP Warm-Up U Yadav (not out) ...... 0 Total (for 4 wkts in 18.4 overs) ...... 129 19:00: Moto3 Race (18 laps) Extras (B-1, W-4) ...... 5 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-52, 3-93, 4-99. 20:20: Moto2 Race (20 laps Total (all out in 20 overs) ...... 128 Bowling: I Pathan 2-1-15-0; A Nehra 3-0-20- 22:00: MotoGP Race (22 laps) Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-44, 3-59, 4-79, 5-88, 1; U Yadav 3-0-23-0; S Nadeem 4-0-22-2; J Venue: Losail International Circuit: 6-97, 7-113, 8-125, 9-128. Botha 3.4-0-23-1; A Russel 3-0-24-0. April 5-7