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Sunday 14 April 2013 4 Jumada II 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5669 Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 New SCH rule Miraculous escape on blacklisted practitioners Ban on working in health sector

DOHA: Doctors, nurses and working in administrative or cler- other healthcare practition- ical jobs in some health facilities. ers blacklisted by the Supreme The new decision is intended Council of Health (SCH) for to stop this practice,” Dr Jamal errors or law violations have Rashid Al Khanji, director of been banned from taking up Healthcare Quality Management any job in the health sector in Department at SCH told The the country. Peninsula yesterday. Earlier, they were allowed to do The Department is responsible clerical and administrative jobs for licensing and monitoring the in the sector. Based on a deci- healthcare facilities and practi- sion (No 9 of 2013) issued by the tioners in the country. Minister of Health H E Abdullah He said it was not desirable to bin Khalid Al Qahtani recently, retain a blacklisted practitioner the SCH has instructed all pub- in the heath sector as his or A Lion Air Boeing 737 veered off the runaway at Bali’s international airport near Denpasar in Indonesia and landed in the sea, yesterday. Though lic and private healthcare facili- her presence can pose a threat no one died, dozens of the more than 100 passengers and crew members were injured as the plane’s fuselage split. Report on page 11 ties not to employ any blacklisted to public health. “There may be health professionals for any work. some incompetent practitioners They have been given three working in senior positions such months to get rid of all such prac- as administrators on the merit of titioners, if they have employed their experience in the industry. one. The SCH has also warned of Such people can influence the Qatar-Bahrain causeway redesign ready strict monitoring after expiry of health sector in the wrong way,” the deadline to ensure that they said Al Khanji. DOHA: The third redesign 2008 to include train tracks. quoted Qatar-Bahrain Causeway approve and implement the plans. follow directive. The rule applies He hinted that they may still be of the 40-km Qatar-Bahrain Another redesign was made in Foundation board member Raed Foundation board chairman Dr to healthcare professionals black- allowed to work in the country in causeway is almost ready — 2011 so the project could include a Al Salah as saying. Ahmed Al Ammadi will submit listed not only in Qatar but also in areas not related to healthcare. 12 years after the project was railway that would connect all the “The designs are in the semi- the report to the foundation in other GCC countries, and interna- He said SCH would blacklist proposed. Gulf countries. Believed to be the final stages where 70 percent of Doha to get approvals,” said Al tionally. The Ministerial decision a practitioner if he/she is found The revised project with an world’s longest man-made bridge, them are complete. They include Salah. was based on a recommenda- totally unfit or incompetent to estimated cost of $2.9bn is likely it was originally due to open to the plan to have a railway con- Travel time from Qatar to tion by the Permanent Licensing work in the sector or if the per- to have four vehicle lanes and two traffic this year. necting GCC states”, the daily Bahrain is expected to be reduced Committee (PLC) at SCH, a sen- son is involved in serious viola- railway tracks, Bahrain’s Gulf But rising costs associated with quoted Al Salah as saying. from four-and-a-half hours to ior official said yesterday. tions of the law. Of late, the SCH Daily News reported yesterday. global financial turbulence meant “However, the decision to start around 30 minutes as a result “We can say for sure that no had blacklisted a number of doc- Quoting top officials, the report it might only be ready shortly construction can only be made of the causeway, which will also blacklisted person is currently tors and nurses trying to get jobs said the new design will be sub- before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, by the two governments, which provide a connection for future working as a healthcare prac- in Qatar using fake certificates. mitted to the causeway founda- being hosted by Qatar, the report at first need to approve the final high-speed freight and pas- titioner in any public or private They will never be able to enter tion headquarters in Doha. Plans added. designs,” he added. senger rail lines between the facility in Qatar. However, there the country or take up jobs here, for the causeway were announced The new design for the project “From a design perspective, countries. are a few blacklisted practitioners said Al Khanji. THE PENINSULA in 2001 before being modified in is almost complete, the daily we are awaiting directives to THE PENINSULA Signals that Al Sadd win QSL turn green for Judge steps aside ambulances in Mubarak retrial DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will CAIRO: The judge in ousted attempted murder of hundreds soon introduce a new smart Egyptian president Hosni of peaceful protesters on January system at several intersec- Mubarak’s retrial stepped aside 25-31, 2011. tions to detect ambulances yesterday, in a chaotic opening The former president and Adly and other emergency vehi- hearing that lasted just seconds had both received life sentences in cles and give them the green and saw a proud and combat- a first trial in June, but all six of light. ive Mubarak smile and wave in the security chiefs were acquit- Motorists find it difficult the dock. ted, sparking protests across the to give way to ambulances in Head judge Mostafa Hassan country. Months of rumours that heavy traffic at intersections, Abdallah told the court he would Mubarak was too weak to attend especially when the lights are recuse himself and send the case his retrial were put to rest yes- red. Many are also scared of to the Court of Appeal, which will terday when the former leader running the red light. then refer the trial to a new cir- seemed healthy as he sat up in a Once the new system is in cuit, sending the case of the ex- stretcher in the defendants’ cage, place, the traffic lights will strongman back to square one. smiling and waving to supporters. turn green giving way to an As the judges filed out of the “We love you, big man!” a hand- appropaching emergency vehi- courtroom, uproar erupted with ful of his supporters yelled at him. cle, as well as other vehicles people shouting and waving His sons Alaa and Gamal, who waiting in those lanes. their arms. Civil society lawyers are also facing a new trial for cor- Ashghal has invited tenders Al Sadd players celebrate with the Shield after winning the Qatar Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium in attending the trial chanted: “The ruption, appeared to be in good to design, install, operate and Doha, yesterday. Al Sadd beat Al Kharaitiyat 3-1. Report, more pictures on page 28. (SALIM MATRAMKOT) people want the execution of the spirits as they smiled and chatted maintain the new system, Al president.” with their father. Sharq reported yesterday. In October, the same judge had Earlier yesterday, televi- Under the new system, the acquitted defendants in the infa- sion footage showed Mubarak movement of emergency vehi- Abbas accepts PM Italian journalists China, US agree mous “Battle of the Camels” trial, wheeled out of an ambulance on cles at traffic lights will be who were accused of sending men a stretcher and taken into the monitored at a central control Fayyad resignation freed in Syria on North Korea on camels and horses to break up Police Academy in a Cairo suburb room, giving them way when a protest during the 2011 uprising for the hearing. needed. The testing phase RAMALLAH, WEST ROME: Four Italian journal- BEIJING: The United States that toppled Mubarak. A handful of supporters out- of the project is expected to BANK: Palestinian President ists held hostage in Syria for said yesterday that China “This judge and this circuit side the courthouse held up last for 90 days. Ashghal last Mahmoud Abbas accepted the more than a week have been had agreed to help rid North acquitted all the defendants in the posters of their former leader, year launched the first phase resignation of Prime Minister freed, Prime Minister Mario Korea of its nuclear capability battle of the camels and there is chanting: “Where are the days of its Traffic Signals Control Salam Fayyad yesterday, the Monti announced yesterday, by peaceful means, but Beijing a lot of doubt over their position. of Mubarak?” but they were out- Room project by installing 29 official Palestinian news agency and they were flown home from made no specific commitment This prevents him from conduct- numbered by security personnel. CCTV cameras at as many said. Fayyad had offered his res- Turkey. in public to pressure its long- ing this trial,” said Amir Salem, a Mubarak was flown to the intersections. ignation in a letter to Abbas fol- Italian media reported that time ally to change its ways. US lawyer for the families of victims. academy that was once named The project has been imple- lowing weeks of sparring over the four, who worked for state Secretary of State John Kerry Mubarak, his former interior after him by helicopter from the mented in collaboration with Fayyad’s handling of the gov- television network RAI, arrived met China’s top leaders in a bid minister Habib Al Adly and six Cairo military hospital where the Traffic Department. ernment and an economic crisis in Rome aboard a small govern- to persuade them to push reclu- security chiefs were in the dock he is being treated, the official THE PENINSULA afflicting the Israeli-occupied ment jet. sive North Korea. — albeit briefly — for their alleged MENA news agency said. AFP West Bank. Full report on page 9 Full report on page 8 Full report on page 11 complicity in the murder and Picture on page 8 SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Experts Ukraine seeks LNG from Qatar to speak Eastern European country opens mission in Doha, plans to diversify sources of natural gas

BY ISABEL OVALLE $40m. Mykytenko said that “Qatar is a heavyweight coun- President of the European coun- at Qafac Ukraine buys chemical products try and the biggest energy sup- try visited Qatar during separate DOHA: Ukraine recently from Qatar, and sells agricultural plier in the world. It has the trips. opened an Embassy in Qatar produce and steel. brightest perspectives and a very Approximately 25 Qataris workshop to coincide with the 20th anni- “Unfortunately, they are small high speed of development,” the have requested visas since the versary of relations between quantities but we have great pos- envoy said. Ukraine wants to Embassy started issuing them on the two countries. The Eastern sibilities to export different metals take part in this process, con- April 2. The two countries have DOHA: Qatar Fuel Additives European country looks at and other materials to be used in tributing with manpower and the agreements to give visa excep- Company (Qafac), the lead- Qatar as a future supplier of construction. In addition, we have export of construction materi- tions for diplomatic and special ing producer and exporter of natural gas, a commodity that it very qualified manpower,” he said. als. There are approximately 400 passports. Methanol and MTBE in Qatar, now imports only from Russia. The first diplomatic delega- Ukrainians here. The ambassador presented has spearheaded the creation “We try to diversify our tion from Ukraine visited Doha The Ambassador admitted that his credentials to the Emir last of a platform for discussion in sources of gas, that’s why we in 1993. Two decades later the the two states still have to work week. During the meeting the the region on MTBE by organ- look upon Qatar as well,” said the country has opened a permanent in the widening of their relations, sides discussed the current state ising a first-ever Qafac MTBE Ambassador, Yevhen Mykytenko, mission here. the first step being the upcom- of cooperation between Ukraine Workshop: “Clean Fuel, Clean who has vast experience in the “We understand that Qatar at ing opening of a Qatari Embassy and Qatar in the fields of trade, Air,” to be held here on April 23, region, with previous postings that time was busy with different in Kiev in approximately three investment, energy, tourism, and from 8am to 1pm, at the Sharq in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Abu things, while we were a very young months. the prospects of development of Village Hotel, a press statement Dhabi, among others. country that needed to establish In 2011, the Emir H H Sheikh the legal framework, in particu- said yesterday. Trade between the two coun- relations with our neighbours and Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani lar in the areas of science and Ukraine Ambassador Yevhen The workshop, to be held under tries is $24m by products, a figure other European countries first,” travelled to Ukraine, and in technology, health, and culture. Mykytenko. the patronage of the Minister which, with services, was around explained the diplomat. 2012 the Prime Minister and the THE PENINSULA of Energy and Industry and Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum (QP) H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, will bring together experts on methyl tertiary butyl ether or MTBE – the most widely used oxygenate Ooredoo takes new path to wireless networks octane enhancer in petrol. The speakers at the workshop DOHA: In an alliance that in a statement recently. In addi- has made each upgrade a chal- will include the Vice Chairman of could have major benefits for tion, by installing the radio equip- lenging process. QP’s Board of Directors, Chairman operators around the world, ment on tower tops instead of “Ooredoo is embarking on a of Qafac and CEO of Ras Gas Ooredoo has tied up with the typical large air-conditioned radical plan to upgrade network Company limited Hamad Rashid CommScope to develop a new shelters, Ooredoo expects to halve sites as part of our mission to Al Mohannadi, the General approach to building wireless electricity costs in a cost-effec- stimulate human growth. We Manager of Qafac Nasser Jeham Al networks, which will improve tive, environmentally-friendly believe this is a first for our indus- Kuwari, the Executive Chairman of installation quality and on- solution. try, and it is a source of consid- Wentworth Resources Ltd Robert going network performance The pre-assembled tower tops erable pride that it was designed P McBean, the Executive Director and reduce deployment times. also provide greater network and developed within the region of Asian Clean Fuels Association The two companies have devel- capacity, significantly reduces to serve our customers,” Group Clarence Woo, Director General oped one of the world’s first fac- installation time and on-going Chief Technology Officer at of the European Fuel Oxygenates tory-assembled tower tops for electricity consumption, and Ooredoo, Paul Salmon, said. Association (EFOA) Dr Graeme base station remote radios, which frees-up valuable space at the top The tower top solution will Wallace and Vice President at are pre-assembled according to of the tower. become Ooredoo’s standard cell Business Development- Asia, a single global design standard. It had become increasingly site design across its markets in Safety, Health & Environment- Pre-assembly of the tower tops complex, time-consuming and the Middle East, North Africa Asia, AECOM Alex Leon. is expected to reduce the instal- expensive for operators to and Asia. As Ooredoo’s customers The workshop aims to increase lation time by approximately 50 maintain existing cellular sites. across its global footprint increas- awareness about MTBE’s rel- percent, leading to safer working Typically, the infrastructure had ingly demand data, the new tower evance in today’s world, to learn conditions for installation staff to be assembled on-site at the top top solution will provide simplic- how clean fuel and clean air can be and reduced network downtime of the tower, and the lack of a ity in optimising networks. achieved through MTBE; to share for customers, the company said single tower top design standard THE PENINSULA expertise, knowledge and experi- ence on the responsible care for handling and using MTBE; and to learn, share and discuss the chal- lenges and opportunities presented by MTBE. “Qafac’s commitment to safety and the environment is para- mount,” said General Manager of Qafac Nasser Jeham Al Kuwari. “It is in line with our unwaver- ing commitment that we strongly believe it is essential for this region that experts on MTBE from across the world gather together to share and exchange knowledge, experi- ence and expertise about it. “As a major producer of MTBE we feel that it is our social duty and responsibility to further raise awareness and in-depth under- standing about it and further complement its positive contri- Ooredoo officials explain the workings of a model of the world’s first factory- bution to contemporary society,” assembled tower tops. Al Kuwari added. THE PENINSULA

TAMU-Q admissions open till May 1

DOHA: Texas A&M University at Qatar’s (TAMU-Q) admis- sions process for its graduate programme will remain open through May 1 for enrolment in the fall 2013 semester. The pro- gramme is the first of its kind in Qatar and offers two graduate degrees in chemical engineer- ing, a Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Engineering (MEng). Dr Kenneth Hall, associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies at TAMU-Q, said: “An international research experi- ence has become an integral part of an outstanding graduate edu- cation. Responsive research and creative endeavours are key com- A student following a degree in chemical engineering at TAMU-Q. ponents of graduate education at Texas A&M at Qatar. Through responsive research we actively “Research is the key to develop- programme appeals to Texas A&M lead and participate in research ing and transforming Qatar into graduates and to top graduates of that is innovative, technology-led a knowledge-based society, and a other universities in the region and collaborative. After gradua- graduate programme is essential and globally. It certainly appeals tion, our students have the skills to any research endeavour,” he to those who have already started to begin a career in industry or added. “Our graduate programme their career, and the University pursue PhD studies.” does not only provide a source for offers classes at convenient Dr Eyad Masad, assistant researchers, but it enables Texas evening times to accommodate dean for Research and Graduate A&M at Qatar to hire top quality working professional schedules.” Studies at TAMU-Q, said: “We faculty members. We must have The masters programme is the are dedicated to achieving Qatar’s people trained and well equipped latest example of TAMU-Q’s com- National Vision 2030, and the to create knowledge; this is our mitment to address the needs of graduate programme is a major core goal for research.” Qatar in partnership with Qatar step in preparing human capital Bill Mercer, manager of Foundation, and is critical to the with the necessary knowledge to Graduate Studies and Continuing success of the university at Qatar’s support the country’s vision and Education Services at the ambitious research programme. future.” University, said, “Our graduate THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Qatar’s green initiatives go on show Energy Minister opens QP’s annual Environment Fair

DOHA: The seventh QP the exhibition and expressed con- as dedicated areas highlighting Environment Fair, an annual fidence that “such projects would a marine environment, a planta- event that showcases the envi- make a difference in the effort for tion, and a desert ecosystem. ronmental programmes and sustainable development”. An Arabic environmental play, initiatives in Qatar, was inaugu- Held with the theme “Clean entitled “What is happening on rated by the Minister of Energy Energy for a Sustainable World,” the island?,” is also being staged and Industry and Chairman & the QP Environment Fair 2013 is by Sasol on all days of the event, Managing Director of Qatar open to the general public from while an exciting competition Petroleum H E Dr. Mohammed today until April 16 from 8am to called the QP Environment Race bin Saleh Al Sada, here 8pm. will be held on April 15 and 16, yesterday. Over 35 exhibitors, consisting with school teams competing with In comments he made on the of QP directorates and depart- each other in a range of physical occasion, Dr Al Sada stressed ments, its subsidiaries and joint and mental tasks. the need for improved national venture partners as well as other The list of participating QP environmental performance and oil and gas operators, are taking directorates and departments in called for “enhanced efforts to part in this year’s edition of the the QP Environment Fair 2013 protect Qatar’s environment event. includes the Corporate HSE for our children and future The QP Environment Fair 2013 Department, Dukhan Operations, generations.” also features the exhibition stands Gas Operations, the HSE He said “the QP Environment of government entities, environ- Regulations and Enforcement The Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum H E Dr Mohammed Fair represents the comprehen- mental organisations and aca- Directorate, Offshore Operations, bin Saleh Al Sada opening the seventh QP Environment Fair yesterday. sive measures being undertaken demic institutions. QP Industrial Cities, QP Refinery, by Qatar’s oil and gas sector Apart from the exhibition, the and the Public Relations and include Dolphin Energy Limited, Qatar Fuel (WOQOD), Qatar Company Limited (RasGas), and toward the implementation of three-day event includes a wide Communications Department, Gulf Helicopters, Oryx GTL, Fuel Additives Company Ltd. SEEF Limited. environmental objectives outlined range of educational and enter- which is the main organiser of Qatar Aluminium (Qatalum), (Qafac), Qatar Petrochemical In addition, the QP by Qatar National Vision 2030.” taining activities for the benefit the event. Qatar Chemical Company Limited Company Ltd (Qapco), Qatar Environment Fair 2013 also fea- The Minister expressed admi- of all visitors. These include sto- Many QP subsidiaries and (Q-Chem), Qatar Electricity & Petroleum International (QPI), tures the exhibition stands of ration of the wide range of envi- rytelling sessions, handicraft sta- joint ventures also have a strong Water Company (QEWC), Qatar Qatar Steel, Qatargas Operating many industry stakeholders. ronmental projects on display at tions, live performances, as well presence in the exhibition. These Fertilizer Company (Qafco), Company Ltd. (Qatargas), RasGas THE PENINSULA Chicago marks fifth North American gateway for Qatar Airways DOHA/CHICAGO: Qatar The addition of Chicago takes US-based and international jour- strengthening relationships and five gateways across the region. seamless access through Chicago. Airways marked yet another the airline’s global network to nalists to a press conference to the bond between Chicago and He spoke of two key develop- And later this year, we hope to route milestone this week with 126 diverse destinations span- discuss the new route and the air- Doha.” ments this year that will further officially become a member of the official launch of scheduled ning six continents, covering a line’s increasingly pivotal role in The US remains a focal point raise the carrier’s profile in the the oneworld alliance that will passenger flights to Chicago – wide range of destinations across the global aviation industry. for the airline, with Al Baker United States – a new code share provide Qatar Airways with a its fifth North American des- Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia “We are looking forward to hinting at the possibility of addi- agreement started with American stronger network around the tination, said a press statement Pacific, North America and South connecting the Midwest to the tional routes within the country Airlines will strengthen Qatar world, including the vitally impor- yesterday. America. Middle East and beyond,” said Al over the next few years. Airways’ position in the US, in tant US market.” Initially starting as a thrice- Following the inaugural Baker. He said the airline launched its particular Chicago, one of its Over the next few weeks and weekly service, the Doha-based flight and airport ceremony at “With the Chicago route going North American operations in the US partner’s hubs, together with months, Qatar Airways has plans airline will enhance capacity on Chicago O’Hare International daily from June 15, and our pres- summer of 2007 with flights to membership of the oneworld glo- to launch flights to Salalah in the non-stop Chicago route to a Airport recently, Qatar Airways ence here for more than two New York and Washington DC, bal airline alliance. Oman, Chengdu in China and daily operation from June 15. CEO Akbar Al Baker welcomed years through dedicated freighter followed by Houston, Montreal “With the new American the Iraqi cities of Basra and services, it clearly demonstrates and now, Chicago with a total of Airlines code share, we are able Sulaymaniyah. Qatar Airways’ commitment to 27 scheduled flights each week to to connect more passengers with THE PENINSULA this key city. “The economic benefits will extend to key regional industries as well — engineering, education, and commodities trading in par- ticular. Many travellers and busi- nesses will benefit from additional access to and from the Middle East.” He added: “We anticipate a large influx of travellers not just from the energy community, but also from construction, the arts, finance and technology to name a few. “Qatar Airways has been voted the best airline for two years running and we are eager Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker with Senior Vice President - Commercial to introduce this city to our Bart Vos and Country Manager - USA Lisa Markovic at the press briefing award-winning business, actively at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. engaging with local leaders and deserving community projects,

Apple app to make life easy for Ooredoo customers

DOHA: Ooredoo has launched a free app for Apple mobile devices that enables customers to easily manage their sub- scriptions and accounts at their fingertips. The app is avail- able through the iTunes Store at www.ooredoo. qa/app, customers can view their usage and pay their Ooredoo bills, top-up their Hala credit, manage their Shahry accounts, and redeem their Nojoom Points. Customers can also reserve Easy-to- Remember numbers and search the phone direc- tory, from any Apple mobile device, including the iPhone, iPad and iPod. “The Ooredoo app gives Ooredoo customers yet another way to interact with the company,” the company said in a state- ment yesterday. To reach more custom- ers, Ooredoo app develop- ers are working to make the app available for Android and BlackBerry smartphones soon. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Not many Filipinos keen to vote Low turnout as voting begins at Philippine Embassy

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA voters in previous elections. “It counts,” said Serafica. The best requires more effort to vote here way to articulate one’s concerns DOHA: An official of the than in the Philippines,” he said to the government is by electing Philippine Embassy has adding requesting for off day and one’s own representatives to the reminded his compatriots in traveling to the Embassy as some government; that’s the best way Qatar of the significance of of the hurdles faced by Overseas to make voices heard, that’s why exercising their right to suf- Filipino Workers (OFW). voting is very effective in bringing frage in shaping the country’s Qatar is not the only country about change, she said. future amid the low turn-out where low turnout of voters is “If you don’t vote, don’t com- of registrants for the Overseas observed. It has been a trend in plain. Don’t complain to the gov- Absentee Voting (OAV) which all countries around the world ernment if you yourself is not started yesterday. where OAV is being held. In the doing your right and obligation as “Don’t miss your chance to 2010 elections only 25.99 percent a citizen to cast your vote. Other shape the future of our country. of Filipino absentee voters around people vote for people you don’t Don’t think one vote is insignifi- the world cast their votes. like so vote for the candidate that cant; your vote can affect the out- “Maybe OFWs have not yet you like,” she added. come of the elections,” said Third seen the link of their votes to Manuel Teclere, one of the Secretary and Vice Consul Melvin the results of elections and to the voters, said he voted because he C Almonguera, urging Filipinos progress of the country,” he said. wanted a change in the system for here to fulfil their important obli- Nikki Pascual-Serafica of the the better. gation to their country. National Citizens’ Movement for “The President has already Based on the Certified List Free Elections (Namfrel)- an elec- started a good system. I hope it of Overseas Voters in Qatar of tion watchdog in the Philippines, would continue so Filipinos won’t the Commission on Elections was of the same view on the issue anymore have to go abroad,” said (Comelec) there are a total of saying there is lack of interest Teclere, who has been in Qatar for Third Secretary and Vice Consul Melvin C Almonguera (left) and Culture Attache Richard Billedo (right) at the 23,260 registered voters here, a among OFWs to participate in 26 years and has been an absentee Philippine Embassy in Doha yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT far cry from the total population the elections. voter ever since OAV started. of Filipinos in Qatar which is over “OFWs may have not yet real- But with extensive campaign 200,000. ised it but their vote counts. done by the Philippine Embassy, on the proposed sites where we avenues to promote the elections better than in the previous elec- Although there has been no Election is a great equaliser Almonguera is optimistic there are going to conduct field vot- through all Filipino organisa- tions,” he said. study conducted yet, Almonguera because whether you are rich or would be higher turnout com- ing, including Al Khor, Dukhan, tions and media. In addition we Casting of votes is held daily said the unique situation here poor you only get to vote once. pared to last election. a gathering of evangelicals and at also remind all those who come at the Embassy from 8.30am to could be the factor for the low In the Philippines where there “We have already got in touch the Catholic church,” he said. to the embassy of their obligation 4.30pm. Voting will close on May turnout in registration and of is multi-party system, every vote with various Filipino organisations “We have maximised all the to vote. We hope turnout will be 13 at 2pm. THE PENINSULA

Authorities urged to name restaurants flouting laws DOHA: A majority of respond- The third question in the sur- ents to an online survey are vey asked if they felt the violators calling on the authorities to were strictly monitored, 63 per- reveal the names of the restau- cent said the monitoring was not rants and shops violating the at all strict and there was a need consumer protection law and for more severe penalties. the health and safety rules in Many people said the authori- the country through media. ties needed to be more cohesive In an online weekly survey con- in their efforts, stressing that ducted by Al Sharq, people were there was a need to increase the asked if there was a need to dis- number of inspectors. This would close the names of eateries violat- allow officials to keep checks in ing the health rules to which 90 more areas. People also said that percent of the respondents said the name of violators should be Ezdan Holding Group top officials with the guests at the opening ceremony of the customer care centre yesterday. ‘yes’. Nine percent said there was announced through media. no need to reveal their names Jabir Rashid Al Mirri said that to the public. Many people also there were several violations, expressed their dissatisfaction at especially in the small eateries the existing inspection methods, that are operating in residential Ezdan opens unique customer service centre saying the performance of inspec- areas. tors was not good enough. He said while making sand- DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group, centre will offer services including for the Group’s exceptional serv- for all its tenants who have On the performance of the wiches and other food items, Qatar’s leading property devel- house cleaning, car wash, insur- ice. The event was attended by the entered into a one year agree- inspection campaigns conducted many cooks did not take care of oper, has launched its customer ance, venues for hosting recep- Group’s top executives including ments. They will be able to enjoy by relevant authorities, 73 per- hygiene or wear sanitary gloves. care centre (Ezdan Plus) that tions, tours and travels, vehicle Ali Mohammed Al Obaidily, CEO, the Ezdan Plus services using cent said their performance was “The inspection should be con- would offer a wide range of serv- maintenance, healthcare, rent-a- Ezdan Holding Group; Dr Ayub these cards. The residents will not good, while 19 percent of the ducted in cafeterias on daily basis ices to the residents at its vari- car and cargo to its tenants. Khalil Al Faraj, General Manager, also get exclusive discount cards respondents said it was ‘okay’. to protect consumer rights,” Al ous projects. Over 25,000 residents of Ezdan’s Ezdan Real Estate Company. from the Group’s Mall-Ezdan Eight percent remained neutral. Mirri said. THE PENINSULA The unique customer care various properties will be eligible Ezdan will issue special ID cards Mall. THE PENINSULA Shafallah stars to open Ezdan Mall DOHA: Preparations are being made for the launch of the India’s Mather Builders initial phase of Ezdan Mall scheduled for tomorrow. Malik Awan, General Manager of Ezdan Mall said: “Ezdan Mall is a social place for families to shop, with efforts chan- showcases new projects nelled toward connecting with the community. Keeping this in mind, it gives us great pleasure to partner with our won- DOHA: Kerala-based real apartments in the past, now offers derful brothers and sisters from Shafallah Centre in making estate group is in Doha to a state-of-the-art residential this launch happen. We will also soon announce a job place- promote two residential villa villa project called Metro View ment programme within our mall for some of the Shafallah projects at the bustling Cochin along the Alva-Cochin National graduates.” suburb of Aluva and a holiday Highway behind the proposed Over 100 trainees from the Shafallah Centre will be present home near Ooty, Tamil Nadu Komet Metro Station at Aluva as ‘Honoured Guests’ to officially announce the launch of the state. Garage. The villas range from initial phase of the Ezdan Mall. THE PENINSULA Mather Builders, which was 2,300 sq ft four-bedroom homes established in 1997 and has suc- to 2,800 sq ft six-bedroom homes cessfully completed and handed on a 2.1 acre land. over hundreds of villas and The second project, Green Ranch, is located near the famous Union Christian College, Aluva on a 2.75 acre land. Both projects are only a few kilometres away from the Cochin International Airport, Aluva railway station, many educational institutions and modern hospitals. “We offer 56 villas providing all modern amenities in these projects. We will also provide solar power connection in each villa as part of our commit- ment to ensure eco-friendly living,” said Mohammed Mather, Managing Director of the firm. The company also offers 24 English style holiday homes at Love Dale near the South Indian hill station of Ooty. There are 24 two-bedroom villas in this project, Misty Meadows. Misty Meadows project is located close to the Love Dale railway station and the renowned public school St Lawrence Higher Secondary School. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 ROTA announces deal with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation DOHA: Reach Out To Asia partnership will go a long way in collective impact by supporting to encourage global philanthropy. resource mobilisation, advocacy in Asian and/or Middle Eastern (ROTA) and Bill & Melinda expanding our efforts and cre- dynamic public libraries that help Similarly, both parties will seek and public awareness. In addition, countries that are mutually iden- Gates Foundation have ate new opportunities that will people have access to the opportu- to explore opportunities around to programme specific coopera- tified and fit within the program announced a three-year collab- improve the lives of many people nities offered by the digital world.” development, public libraries, tion, the parties may also share priorities of ROTA and the Gates oration deal to increase public in the quest for a more equal soci- Under the terms of agreement, information access, and educa- and learn from one another’s Foundation. access to libraries in Asia and ety, and thereby make a differ- the two parties will collaborate to tion resources in general and approach to grant making, includ- The landmark agreement will the Middle East. ence,” said ROTA Director Essa bring public access to libraries/ specifically with respect to the ing strategy development, grant enable the Gates Foundation to The agreement is a testament Al Mannai. information in developing coun- implementation of the Gates implementation, and operations. work with ROTA to ensure that to the common belief that ROTA “Public libraries are power- tries in Asia, in addition to shar- Foundation’s Global Libraries Furthermore, ROTA, through its efforts will be recognised and the Gates Foundation share ful development institutions ing opportunities for learning, strategy and programs through- its international programme appropriately and provide ROTA that achieving the Millennium that improve lives by opening a advocacy and implementation. out Asia. capabilities will seek to jointly with information and access to Development Goals will require world of knowledge, informa- The objectives of the agree- In addition, ROTA and the develop and fund a pilot program global events to ensure ROTA is new partnerships between all tion and opportunity,” said Joe ment are to share learnings and Gates Foundation also agreed to with the Gates Foundation to well represented as a funder for sectors and global societies, Cerrell, director of Global Policy develop opportunities for advanc- collaborate on facilitating rela- implement a Global Libraries ini- global development issues. along with new mechanisms to and Advocacy for Europe and the ing education and development tionships with individuals and tiative in a mutually agreed upon ROTA, on its part will ensure encourage others with significant Middle East at the Bill & Melinda efforts by providing public access organisations to advance each of country. Based on the success of that funds generated for the ini- resources to engage. Gates Foundation. to information in Asia and the their respective charitable goals. the pilot programme, ROTA and tiatives will be allocated in align- “ROTA is very pleased to be “We are very pleased to work Middle East that will accelerate This includes identifying other the Gates Foundation will deter- ment with the Gates Foundation’s a part of this important agree- with ROTA and the Qatar the impact which these organi- areas of mutual interest in the mine a timeline and framework grant making in the related pro- ment. We are confident that this Foundation. We can expand our sations seek to reach, as well as areas of global development for to consider additional initiatives gramme areas. THE PENINSULA Andalus win Workers Football Cup Call for more sports events

BY FAZEENA SALEEM Qatar Workers Football Cup 2013 had never had a proper opportu- DOHA: Participants at the nity for sports before. first Qatar Workers Football The winning Al Andalus Cup 2013 expect that more International’s coach Tariq Ali sports events will be opened for said the tournament was a rare them in the future as it would opportunity for the workers to give recognition for their tal- showcase their talents. ents and an opportunity to get He explained that his team’s involved in sport activities. players practised for the tour- Many of them from African nament every day after work. and Asian countries yesterday However, he said, on a regular night gathered at Al Arabi sta- week they get an opportunity only dium for the final match of Qatar on a Friday to do sports activities Workers Football Cup 2013, the and most of the workers do not first ever tournament organised get involved in any physical exer- for the blue collar workers in cises on a regular basics. Qatar. Thomas Kwakudoe, a player The team represented by Al representing Tragst Company, Andalus International won the whose team was placed third at Qatar Workers Football Cup 2013 the tournament, said: “We have and a cash prize of QR18,000 by played football back home, but winning the final match against here this is the first time. This Atlantic Contractors. tournament is very inspiring, as The score was 1-0. it gave us a chance to get out of The runners up received a the usual work and do something trophy and QR9,000 cash prize, we are interested.” while Abdul Aziz was selected as “The tournament refreshed us,” the best goal keeper of the tour- he added. Al Andalus football team with Legacy Ambassador of QSL Saud Al Attiyah and other officials at Al Arabi Stadium yesterday. KAMMUTTY VP nament and Sufiane Rersa was His colleague, Ebenezen Teboah, the best player of Qatar Workers too shared similar thoughts. “We Football Cup 2013. don’t get enough time to do sports Many spectators and football and came to watch the match. diverted from work pressure and and QSports Leagues. It is one The low-paid workers despite activities, but it’s something we fans too were present at the As many other workers we also will give them recognition too,” of many initiatives being planned their presence in large numbers would like to do. This tournament Al Arabi stadium to watch the don’t get an opportunity for sport said Mohammed Jamseed, an to implement positive social and rarely get an opportunity for was a good opportunity. Hope this final match between Al Andalus activities, especially such tourna- Indian expatriate. lifestyle changes in the country sport and no events are exclu- will continue and workers like us International and Atlantic ments. If more such events are Qatar Workers Football Cup in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA sively organised for them. Some will get the opportunity to prac- Contractors. introduced, it will be an oppor- 2013 was held in cooperation World Cup. players and spectators at the tice their talents he said. “We heard about this match tunity for the workers to get with the Qatar Stars League THE PENINSULA Curtain falls on African fest at Katara DOHA: The Katara African Chad, Sudan, Liberia, Somalia, Festival would continue in the Gambia, Swaziland, Egypt, future, said Katara General Mauritania, Djibouti, Libya, Manager Dr Khalid bin Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa Ibrahim Al Sulaiti at the con- and Benin. clusion of the inaugural festi- The seven-day festival show- val yesterday at Katara. cased the best of African art, “This will not be the last time dance, music, film and cuisine. for this festival. Katara African It featured African arts fair Festival will continue in the and art workshops, circus, Cine future,” said Dr Al Sulaiti. Zone, African Parade Caravanes He said the festival was held des Rhythmes and Kids Zone in line with Katara’s strategy among others. to promote creativity and the Well-known musicians from diverse cultures of various coun- Africa staged well-attended tries around the world. concerts at the festival including “It has been a very successful Johnny Clegg, Manu Dibango festival with thousands of peo- and Cheikh Tidiane Seck. ple from various communities Congo Brazzaville’s Culture, enjoying the events. I appreciate Arts and Tourism Minister the embassies of various African Jean Claude Gakosso came to countries here for playing a big the festival. He presented a lec- role in making the festival a ture on ‘African Music – Vector resounding success,” he said. of Authenticity and Factor of ABOVE: An African dance item and (BELOW) large crowds at the Katara Fifteen embassies took part Emergence’. African Festival. in the festival including Kenya, THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Delaying justice Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE LATEST development in the trial of Hosni Mubarak is symptomatic of the chaos and confusion prevailing in Egypt since the overthrow Big brain projects highlight Tof the autocrat. In a stunning development, the new trial for Mubarak ended just minutes after it opened yesterday morning at a court in Cairo when the presiding judge withdrew from the case, igniting howls of protest. drug research gaps The recusal of Judge Mostafa Hassan Abdallah has serious consequences. First, it will cause huge delay in a case which BY BEN HIRSCHLER and KATE has already been delayed. It could take weeks for a new judge KELLAND At a festival of neuroscience on the is still popping plenty of pills for men- to be appointed in the Mubarak case. The slow process of banks of London’s River Thames this tal illness, patent expiries and tumbling justice for Mubarak and other former government officials week, 2,000 neuroscientists from all prices as cheap generics hit the market has become a long-standing source of anger in the country OVERNMENTS on both areas of the field tried to bring their mean industry profits are eroding fast. sides of the Atlantic are work to life for the public. Worldwide sales of antidepressants, and a reason for deep suspicion about the impartiality placing big new bets on the Wearing blue badges saying “ask me which peaked at $15bn in 2003, are set to of courts. Public anger is likely to swell over the delay. future of brain science, just about brains” enthusiasts from universi- fall to $5.4bn 2018, while antipsychotics Second, the judge’s action will deepen the erosion of trust as much of the pharmaceu- ties, charities and patient groups invited are expected to tumble from a record Gtical industry retreats from the field. visitors to “knit a neuron” or stimulate $21bn in 2011 to $9.8bn, according to in the judiciary. Bringing Mubarak to justice is key to restoring normalcy in Egypt. Mubarak symbolises an era of Brain disorders ranging from depres- their grey matter by interacting with a consensus analyst forecasts compiled sion to Alzheimer’s are extracting an walking man-sized sponge brain. by Thomson Reuters Pharma. dictatorship and a delay in punishing him for his omissions ever greater social and economic cost In rooms set back from the fun, brain Yet there is still a big unmet need, and excesses will be interpreted as an act of collusion of the across the globe. But while the United scientists presented data on the pre- with depression alone expected to be the new administration with the remnants of the old system. It’s States and European Union are funding frontal cortex and decision making, and largest cause of disability worldwide by also an indication of the failure of the Mursi government to ambitious efforts in neuroscience, the delivered lectures on neuropsychiatry in 2030, according to the World Health impose order. private sector is often sceptical about the 21st century. Organization. According to some reports, the the prospect of rapid breakthrough Some were buoyed by the news that The economic consequences are also cures. world leaders have finally begun to huge, with the World Economic Forum judge resigned on the grounds Many pharmaceutical companies har- notice their field, and are stumping up estimating in 2011 that the cumula- The recusal of that any judgment he made would bour deep doubts about whether neuro- serious cash, but there is also a fear the tive global impact of mental disorders be viewed suspiciously because of science is worth their investment dollars big brain projects may generate more in terms of lost economic output would the judge during his involvement in controversial as a boom period for once highly profit- hype than help. amount to $16 trillion by 2030. Mubarak’s trial trials of Mubarak-era officials. He able psychiatric medicines comes to an “There’s going to be a lot of hype about Finding new drugs to treat brain dis- had acquitted 24 officials accused end and new drugs prove hard to find. this, just as there was at the beginning orders is notoriously tough. Early tests yesterday is President Barack Obama unveiled a of the Human Genome Project,” said on animals are of limited value, since of coordinating the clash between major initiative last week to map the Stephen Rose, a professor of biology and mice cannot tell scientists what they are another blow revolutionaries and the regime in individual cells and circuits that make neurobiology at the Open University and feeling, and placebo drugs - or sugar pills 2011. up the human brain. That announce- the University of London. - tend to have a major impact in human to the Mursi The 84-year-old Mubarak, ment followed a EU decision in January “(Obama’s BRAIN plan) will no doubt studies, making it very hard to know if government and his two sons and several former to award up to $1.3bn to a Swiss-based advance neuroscience, but whether it a particular drug is working. project aiming to create a synthetic will advance patient care is a differ- David Nutt, a professor of psychop- security officials are facing the country’s “computerised” brain. ent question,” he said, confessing also harmacology at Imperial College London, charges related to corruption and The two programmes — Brain to “considerable scepticism” about the also says restrictive rules on the drugs judiciary. the killing of protesters during Research through Advancing Innovative European brain project. That, he said, researchers can use to explore the brain Egypt’s 18-day uprising in 2011. A Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) and the would probably do more for computing are hindering progress. judge overturned Mubarak’s initial Human Brain Project — have been com- than it would for brain science. “Most of the studies we do in animals life sentence and ordered a retrial for all six defendants in pared with the Human Genome Project, Moncef Slaoui, head of research at that tell us about the brain use drugs the 13-year venture to map human DNA GlaxoSmithKline, knows the ups and which we cannot use in humans,” he told January, after both the defence and the prosecution filed completed in 2003. In fact, they are even downs or the neuroscience field. Reuters. “We need to have a toolbox for appeals. more ambitious, given their open-ended His company is one of those that has human use. We need to have them made The government of Mursi can regain public trust only nature. cut back its research and development available so that we can ask fundamental by speeding up the trial. A new judge needs to be appointed Yet it will be years, possibly decades, work in neuroscience areas such as pain questions about human brains.” fast, and the government must make sure that he doesn’t before the findings of these programmes and depression, although it is still invest- Companies that have cut back neu- relinquish his responsibility at a critical juncture. make any significant difference to the ing in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, roscience work in recent years include millions of people worldwide suffering Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Britain’s GSK, Merck, Novartis and AstraZeneca, According to an official present at the court, Mubarak from brain disorders — a challenge for biggest drugmaker also has a new vision with the latter taking a further step to appeared alert despite his frailty, waved to those present, both neuroscientists and industry. for treating disease by developing “bio- downgrade the area last month. But conversed with his sons and smiled. “When I saw Mubarak Brain science may be on the cusp of a electronics” to target the electrical sig- not everyone is quitting. Eli Lilly and today wearing his sunglasses and smiling, you kind of knew new era, but in the short term it is prov- nals transmitted by nerves. Johnson & Johnson still have major what was going to happen,” an official said. The confidence ing frustratingly hard to improve on the “With the investments that are being investments in neuroscience, while uneven effectiveness of existing drugs made now in brain mapping, I am very Roche — best known for cancer treat- of Mubarak could derive from his knowledge of what is going — such as the 25-year-old antidepres- confident that major breakthroughs will ments — has recently increased its on. It seems that he is not worried about the law, which sant Prozac — or to find new Alzheimer’s come — I just don’t know when,” Slaoui investment on brain disorders. could be due to his knowledge of what is likely to happen. • treatments. told said. Although the Western world REUTERS The other side Quote of Al Nusra shows its true colours the day HEN something is left Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. Such bickering would be laughable It is also possible that even now, to rot, it is not surprising At the same time Mohammed denied except that it is taking place between Al-Nusra members are being infil- that puss will run out that his jihadists had joined up with the ruthless killers. The clear danger for trated into the rank and file of what will Wof it. The international Iraqi wing of Al-Qaeda, as announced Syria’s revolution is that once Assad become the new Syrian armed forces, We are able, the community, by refusing to intervene the day before by that terror group’s and his cronies have been toppled, as the units of the Free Syrian Army that United States decisively in Syria has brought about leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. He they assuredly will be, the agony of the will need to protect the liberated coun- the alarming growth of the Al-Qaeda- had said that both groupings would Syrian people may still not be over. The try and keep the peace. In addition it and China, to linked Al-Nusra Front, which is proving now be known as “The Islamic State horrific possibility exists that the victori- must be wondered if these Al-Qaeda itself one of the most effective units in Iraq and the Levant.” Mohammed ous Free Syria Army will find itself with a thugs will wait until Assad is over- underscore our joint challenging the forces of the Assad protested that the first he had known new opponent in the shape of Al-Nusra, thrown, before they begin their assault regime. This is not a case of an enemy’s of this was when he read about it in which at present is nominally one of its on the real revolutionaries. Could it be commitment to the enemy being one’s friend. Whatever its the newspapers. Meanwhile there are formations. The fear must be that the that as the tide of battle moves deci- denuclearisation internal disputes, Al-Qaeda is united reports that because of a falling out group is already planning its campaign sively in the rebels’ favor, Al-Nusra will in a fanatical bigotry and is nobody’s between the two groupings, Al-Qaeda against its current allies, assembling begin a murderous campaign targeting of the Korean friend but its own. On Wednesday, in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been dumps of arms and explosives to be senior commanders and political figures peninsula in a Al-Nusra chief Abu Mohammed openly urging jihadists not to go to Syria to used, not against Assad but against within the revolutionary ranks? John Kerry declared his group’s allegiance to fight with Al-Nusra. the triumphant Syrian people. Arab News peaceful manner. US Secretary of State SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Failure to lead at the UN Iron Lady is dead but It is the world’s most Thatcherism lives on BY GARY YOUNGE at almost any time during the important organisation, 1980s. n 1966, a little more than a Hers is a living legacy of mar- year after Martin Luther ketisation, privatisation, economic yet remains one of the King won the Nobel peace stratification and social disloca- Iprize, only 33 percent of tion. Its victims and beneficiaries most dysfunctional. Americans had a favourable are not only still alive; they are view of him, as opposed to 63 still being born. Old, unhealed BY DAVID ROHDE percent who viewed him unfa- wounds about pit villages and vourable. It’s not difficult to see hunger strikers are being exposed t is the world’s most important organi- why. He was a civil rights leader as new ones about disability ben- sation, yet remains one of the most in a country where 85 percent efits and the bedroom tax are dysfunctional. of whites thought blacks were being inflicted. A poll shows that This week, a former United Nations “moving too fast for racial equal- Thatcher’s policies — such as employee described a pervasive culture ity”. He had also become a vocal cutting income tax and raising Iof impunity inside the organisation – one in opponent of the Vietnam war. VAT, privatisation and cutting which whistle-blowers are punished for expos- Just six days after King’s death top tax rates for the rich — are ing wrongdoing. James Wasserstrom, a veteran in April 1968, the Virginia con- among the least popular today, American diplomat, said he was fired from his gressman William Tuck blamed but these are the very ones the job and detained by UN police – who searched King for his own murder, telling coalition government is pursuing. his apartment and placed his picture on wanted the House of Representatives that Appreciation of her breaks down posters – after he reported possible corruption King “fomented discord and strife pretty much on party lines: 90 among senior UN officials in Kosovo. between the races ... He who sows percent of Conservatives said she “It’s supposed to be maintaining the ide- the seed of sin shall reap and har- was good or great, as opposed to als of human rights, the rule of law and anti- vest a whirlwind of evil.” just 23 percent of Labour voters. corruption,” Wasserstrom said in an interview. French peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon take part in a military parade But in the intervening 45 years, This is why attempts at hagiog- “And it doesn’t adhere to them on the inside.” in Tiri village, southern Lebanon, in 2010. the mud slung at him has been raphy and canonisation are con- The United Nations is under attack as well cleaned off and his legacy buffed to tinually interrupted by outbursts for its decision last month to pay no com- resemble that of a national treas- of outrage, incredulity and, occa- pensation to the families of 8,000 Haitians The Security Council last month author- York, Geneva and Rome. Firing employees – ure. In 1986, his birthday became sionally, even jubilation. Of the who died and 646,000 who fell ill from a 2010 ised the creation of a 3,000-soldier-strong even those caught stealing from the organisa- an annual national federal holiday. complaints the BBC has received cholera outbreak that experts believe Nepalese UN “intervention brigade” in Congo, with an tion – takes an enormous amount of effort in By 1999, a Gallup poll revealed that about its coverage of her death, UN peacekeepers set off in the country. unprecedented mandate to fight with govern- the UN’s ponderous internal justice system. King tied with John F Kennedy 35 percent believe it has been too The organisation, though, remains a vital ment troops against rebels, or on its own. An Wasserstrom, the whistle-blower, says the and Albert Einstein as one of the favourable, 29 percent that it has tool. On Thursday, President Barack Obama 11,000-troop United Nations peacekeeping problem lies with top UN managers, includ- most admired public figures of been too critical, and 36 percent used a White House meeting with UN mission is also expected to arrive in Mali as ing Ban, who call for reform but do little. In the 20th century in the US. More that it has been too much. The Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to pressure French forces wind down their battle against a six-year legal battle, Ban’s office challenged popular than Franklin Delano Telegraph has shut down website North Korea. Administration officials hope militants there. A mission in Somalia is pos- every aspect of Wasserstrom’s claim, he said. Roosevelt, Pope John Paul II and comments on stories about her that punishing new UN economic sanctions, sible as well. In a landmark victory last year, a judge in Winston Churchill. Only Mother because of a flood of abuse. “Ding supported by China for the first time, will “We’re talking about a new era of big the UN’s internal judicial system ruled that Teresa was more cherished. In Dong, the witch is dead” from The cause North Korea to end its sabre rattling. demands on peacekeeping,” said Kieran Wasserstrom was the victim of retaliation. 2011, King’s memorial was opened Wizard of Oz is in the top 10 in the “It’s important for North Korea, like every Dwyer, spokesman for the UN Department of Yet a UN review panel in March awarded on the National Mall in DC, with a midweek charts and destined for other country in the world,” Obama said, Peacekeeping Operations. “We are on the cusp.” Wasserstrom only $65,000 of the $3.2m 30-foot statue sitting on four acres No 1 next week. When a promi- “to observe the basic rules and norms that Current and former UN officials worry he sought in damages, a move he said was of prime, historical real estate. nent statue of her was erected in are set forth, including a wide variety of UN about a repeat of the 1990s debacles. designed to discourage whistle-blowers. America came to appreciate 2002, a man decapitated it with resolutions.” Undermanned, poorly equipped peacekeep- In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry King only once it had reached a metal pole. Appeals to national The United Nations has been, and will ers with vague instructions about when to use this week, Wasserstrom called for the State a consensus that legal segrega- unity in mourning the death of always be, an imperfect institution. Its greatest force were deployed to Somalia, Rwanda and Department to enforce an American law tion was wrong, that the Vietnam an elder stateswoman – which strength – and weakness – is its 193 member Bosnia. Civilians who expected to be protected that requires the withholding of 15 percent war was a mistake and that the are generally heeded – have not states. Getting a majority to agree on major were abandoned. of American aid to the UN if the organisa- other things he said about wealth been so widely observed this time issues, pass reform or refrain from political In by far the most shameful case, 500,000 tion does not have adequate whistle-blower redistribution, American milita- because, while Thatcher is dead, patronage can be maddening. Russia’s shame- Tutsis and moderate Hutus died in the 1994 protections in place. rism and affirmative action had Thatcherism is not. ful blocking of Security Council action against Rwandan genocide. The 1995 UN promise A new system put in place in 2006 to defend conveniently been forgotten. At It is also why so many of those Syria, for example, has shown the continued to protect the town of Srebrenica in east- whistle-blowers is failing, according to a study that point his legacy could be outbursts smack of impotent rage. limitations of that antiquated body. ern Bosnia also proved fallacious, and 8,000 by the Government Accountability Project, understood by enough people, Thatcherism was a gift Thatcher But the United Nations is likely to grow Muslim men and boys were executed. an American organisation that defends whis- not as the source of division – as bequeathed to the British politi- more important in the years ahead as Current and former UN officials fear that tle-blowers. The group found that the UN’s his contributions were seen at the cal class. Tony Blair entrenched Washington’s fiscal problems curtail US over- the “intervention brigade” in Congo sets a ethics office received at least 343 inquiries time – but of resolution. her agenda, saying he felt his seas ambitions. Sadly, as the United Nations dangerous precedent. And poorly equipped from whistle-blowers about protection against The polarised, polemical and “job was to build on some of the enters a potentially dangerous phase of peace- UN peacekeepers in Mali will be no match for retaliation as of last June, but only one per- at times problematic response things she had done rather than keeping missions, Ban’s leadership is lacking. committed jihadists. cent of the claims were ultimately validated to Margaret Thatcher’s death reverse them”. David Cameron The 68-year-old former South Korean “Well-established principles of peacekeep- as retaliation. In the letter, Wasserstrom said has highlighted that, in her case, has expanded and deepened it. foreign minister has highlighted the need ing are being set aside,” said the UN official, that track record “defies logic, probability and there has been no resolution and Clegg has willingly conceded to it. to combat global warming, create sustain- who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I don’t common sense.” therefore there can be no con- Ideologically, the left has ade- able development and increase the number think the long-term implications are being Wasserstrom’s case, the Haiti outbreak and sensus. Coming at a time of ris- quately countered the rationale of women in leadership positions. But he has thought through.” the new peacekeeping missions are examples ing unemployment and economic for Thatcherism. But organisa- failed to provide the dynamic leadership and Meanwhile, American officials are call- of the UN’s worst dynamics. Unwilling to take inequality, declining social mobil- tionally and strategically it has reforms the institution desperately needs. ing for sweeping management reform at the major risks themselves, member states ask the ity, entrenched poverty and wel- failed to establish the where- “It’s a very mixed record,” said a senior United Nations, which spent $769m on travel organisation to solve the world’s most complex fare cuts, with a Conservative-led withal to respond adequately to United Nations official, who spoke on condition alone over the last two years, eight times the problems. UN staffers, meanwhile, blame all of government pursuing swingeing it and, electorally, it has failed of anonymity. “He spends a lot of time in Davos, amount budgeted. The United Nations has their difficulties on members not giving them austerity measures, her death to convince enough people of its the Arctic Circle or Monaco, and meanwhile cut some spending, but proposals to modern- enough resources. Both sides can be more serves as a proxy for debate not alternatives. there are critical issues – such as the future of ise its operations have stalled in the fractious committed, intrepid and innovative. only about divisions of the past The trouble isn’t just that some peacekeeping – facing a real crisis.” General Assembly. As Washington steps back in the world, a but of the present. The front-page people can’t get over her agenda; To the alarm of some, the United Nations Employee unions and their allies have blocked dynamic United Nations must step forward. headline of the Financial Times on it’s that many are still going is returning to the ambitious peacekeeping a measure that would force UN staff, like most So far, the UN of Ban Ki-moon has not been Thursday read: “Prosperity gap through it and have yet to find a operations of the 1990s – some of which ended other diplomats, to rotate between hardship up to the task. widens as welfare cuts hit north way to get round it. disastrously. posts in war zones and posh postings in New REUTERS hard.” It could have been written THE GUARDIAN N Korean threat in an age of Pentagon cuts BY NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT of expensive advanced weapons money into a flagging economy. tens of thousands of jobs in the of irrelevant and overpriced that may not be necessary; and Now all that has changed. military’s middle management. equipment.” t may not feel like it, but we an unsentimental assessment of Fiscal hawks from the Tea Party “Today, the operational forces of The absolutism of fiscal con- are closer to nuclear war the need for all of the domestic rule the roost, and it is hard to the military — measured in bat- servatives should work in Hagel’s than at any time since the military bases. find a military hawk prepared to talions, ships and aircraft wings favour. In a rare confluence of ICuban missile crisis of 1962. Hagel invited “change that come out in the open and argue — have shrunk dramatically since forces, both sides of the politi- The temptation to dismiss North involves not just tweaking or his case. The fiscal hawks are the Cold War era. Yet the three- cal divide are prepared to con- Korean dictator Kim Jong-un as chipping away at existing struc- behind allowing the sequester and-four-star command and sider bringing defence spending a cartoonish figure of fun belies tures and practices but, where to take effect. For defence, this support structures sitting atop into line with the change in the the real and present danger his necessary, fashioning new ones” means $47bn in largely arbitrary these smaller fighting forces have nature of potential US opponents. samurai sword rattling presents. because “left unchecked, spiral- cuts by September to forces’ stayed intact, with minor excep- The age of the big battalions and A strange time, then, for Defence ing costs to sustain existing struc- pay, to reducing flying hours tions, and in some cases they are massed tanks has long gone. We Secretary Chuck Hagel to set out tures and institutions, provide for air patrols, to cancelling the actually increasing in size and now face dangers that are best on the most thorough reappraisal benefits to personnel and develop deployment of the aircraft car- rank,” he said. Cutting the num- met by stealth fighters and bomb- of US defence spending since the replacements for aging weapons rier USS Harry S Truman to the bers of military fat cats “leads to ers, cyber-warriors, special forces end of the Vietnam war. platforms will eventually crowd Arabian Gulf, to cutting army and more agile and effective organisa- making incisive interventions, It is no secret that Hagel rel- out spending on procurement, marine training, and other hastily tions and more empowered junior cruise missiles and drones oper- ishes the chance to slim the operations and readiness.” The arranged improvised savings that leaders.” It is time, Hagel said, to ated from thousands of miles away. armed forces to a more afford- American military is too large, will hamper the ability to respond “to pare back the world’s largest If Hagel gets his way, we able size. It is what commended Hagel argued. “How many peo- to events like the craziness ema- back office.” should end up with a leaner and him to President Barack Obama. ple do we have,” he asked, “both nating from Pyongyang. The fiscal Hagel also proposes closing meaner military that is within US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel He has already commissioned military and civilian? How many hawks find these hasty, careless, redundant military bases at home. the budget. But it means some a wholesale “strategic choice do we need? What do these peo- risky, reckless cuts to the military And he wants to cut the benefits frank talking to those who prop and management review” of the ple do? And how do we compen- strength of the military was a top acceptable simply because the provided to current and former up outdated military structures Defence Department, which has sate them for their work, service priority for the GOP. Maintaining sequester shrinks the deficit and members of the armed forces. In and who maintain a deleterious been told to think the unthinkable and loyalty with pay, benefits and high spending on the military, shrivels the size of government. In an argument that should appeal system that keeps large commu- in terms of cutting spending. This healthcare?” come what may, was a key policy a battle between fiscal rectitude to fiscal conservatives — for it is nities of families dependent on week, before defending his vision Until recently, such a radical difference with the Democrats to and patriotic military prepared- the same argument they make the Pentagon for their livelihoods, before the House Armed Services approach to military spending be played up at every turn. Since ness in today’s GOP, balancing the for cutting benefits to civilians — their housing, their education and Committee, he offered a glimpse would have been greeted with a Eisenhower, all Republican pres- books wins every time. Hagel warns that “we’re not going training. Weaning so many thou- into what he has in mind: a slim- chorus of disapproval, not just idents have spent like drunken In the meantime, the same con- to be able to sustain the current sands off the Pentagon’s largesse ming of the desk-bound mid- from those whose constituencies sailors on the military to coun- gressmen resist adopting Hagel’s personnel costs and retirement will take courageous congressmen dle management whose pay and include the military bases that ter fiscal conservatives in their carefully planned defence budget. benefits. There will be no money making hard-nosed decisions. But perks cost more than the value of provide a vote bank for those ranks who demanded that the Hagel, a former Republican sen- in the budget for anything else.” the temptation to dodge the bul- their contribution to the nation’s who argue for the maintenance federal government be put on ator from Nebraska and, more If the cuts are not made, the let and continue with a bloated defence; a clear-headed look at the of high defence spending, but also a diet. Lavish spending on the importantly perhaps in this con- Pentagon would become ossi- military may be too hard to resist, generous health and retirement from the united Republican lead- forces was used as a counter- text, a distinguished Vietnam vet- fied, “an agency administering even for those who claim to put benefits the nation’s military and ership. Until George W Bush left weight to fiscal conservatism: eran who served on the front line benefit programmes, capable of fiscal rectitude before all else. veterans enjoy; the abandonment the White House, protecting the backdoor Keynesianism to pump as a lowly sergeant, plans to cut buying only limited quantities REUTERS SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Use of chemical Mubarak’s retrial aborted weapons found in Syria: Report UK scientists have forensic evidence

LONDON: British military sci- the Ministry of Defence’s chemi- entists have found forensic evi- cal and biological research estab- dence that chemical weapons lishment at Porton Down, it added have been used in the conflict in the front-page story. in Syria, the Times newspaper Diplomats at the United reported yesterday. Nations said on Thursday that A soil sample thought to have Western Nations have “hard evi- been taken from an area close to dence” that chemical weapons Damascus and smuggled back to have been used at least once in Britain has provided proof that the Syrian war, without giving “some kind of chemical weapon” details. had been fired, it quoted defence The British team were unable sources as saying. to discern whether the weap- The tests were carried out at ons had been fired by President Bashar Al Assad’s regime or by the rebels fighting him, nor could Four Italian they say if there had been wide- spread use, The Times said. Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak sits inside a cage in a courtroom at the police academy in Cairo yesterday. The retrial of Mubarak was aborted It cited an unnamed source as when the presiding judge withdrew from the case and referred it to another court, causing an indefinite delay that sparked anger in the courtroom. scribes freed saying: “There have been some reports that it was just a strong DAMASCUS: Four Italian riot-control agent but this is not journalists who had been the case — it’s something else, held hostage in Syria for although it can’t definitively be Israel rejects nearly two weeks have been said to be sarin nerve agent.” Tensions in Libya over bill released, say officials in Italy. The Ministry of Defence had The three men and a woman no comment when contacted by plea to free were filming a documentary for AFP, although the Foreign Office Italy’s Rai television in north- said it was deeply concerned targeting Gaddafi officials hunger-striker: ern Syria when they were about the possible use of chemi- seized on around 4 April, BBC cal weapons. reported. Italy’s state news “We are deeply concerned about TRIPOLI: A bill banning interim constitutional declaration enjoy.” It did so by introducing a Palestinians agency Ansa said they were multiple reports alleging the use associates of former dictator making it impossible to appeal the new article “authorising the tem- now safe in Turkey. of chemical weapons in Syria,” a Muammar Gaddafi from politics law before it is passed. porary exclusion of some Libyans RAMALLAH: Israel has The journalists have not spokesman said. “We have shared risks inflaming tensions in Libya In January, heated debates about from political life.” rejected appeals to release to the been officially named, but our concerns with the UN secre- and could see top officials includ- the bill created a climate of ten- “The immunisation (protection West Bank a Palestinian pris- have been identified in the tary general and fully support his ing the premier and the assembly sion in a country which is already against any potential legal chal- oner on a life-threatening long- Italian media as Rai journal- decision to investigate. chief removed from their posts. unstable because of the weakness lenges) of the political exclusion term hunger strike, Palestinian ist Amedeo Ricucci, freelanc- “The use of chemical weapons The bill, first proposed in of the country’s security organisa- law is the first stage in success- Prisoner Affairs Minister Issa ers Elio Colavolpe and Andrea would be a horrific crime. Those December, will target those who tions. These tensions reached their fully creating a law based on fair, Qaraqea said yesterday. Vignali and Italian-Syrian who order the use of chemical worked in 36 job categories during peak in March, when Megaryef’s impartial and objective criteria,” Qaraqea said Israeli officials reporter Susan Dabbous. weapons, and those who partici- Gaddafi’s four decades in power. car was raked by gunfire in Tripoli former political prisoner Sami Al told him that Samer Issawi, who In a statement, Italy’s Prime pate in their use, will be brought Supporters of the new law say as he left a meeting hall besieged Saadi said and added that he was has intermittently refused food Minister Mario Monti thanked to account.” Assad’s government that it has popular backing “out of by demonstrators. aware that the law “could affect for more than eight months, “is all those who had “enabled a has asked the United Nations to respect for the sacrifices made by However, the GNC has said honest patriots,” but said that the in critical condition and might die positive outcome of this affair, investigate its claims that oppo- the country’s martyrs” who were that it is determined to see the bill needs to be passed to avoid at any moment”. which was made all the more sition rebels fired a chemical killed fighting the former regime bill through to the statute books. exceptions that could put an end Issawi, 33, was first arrested in complicated by the extreme weapon shell in Aleppo province in the 2011 uprising. “The law will be passed with a to the law on the grounds that it 2002 and sentenced to 26 years danger of the situation”. on March 19. In its current draft, the bill could majority of 100 votes plus one out targets one political movement or for militant activity in the left- Syria is ranked as the most In response, the UN assembled remove many of the country’s new of 200 members of the assembly, party over another. ist Democratic Front for the dangerous country in the world a team of international experts, leaders from their posts, including while previously approval would The law’s critics say it was Liberation of Palestine. He was for reporters by the campaign led by Ake Sellstrom of Sweden, Mohammed Megaryef, president of have required a majority of 120 “tailor-made” to isolate Mahmud released under a prisoner swap group Committee to Protect in the region. the General National Congress and votes,” GNC spokesman Omar Jibril, head of the liberal National in October 2011, but rearrested Journalists. It says 28 jour- But Syrian Foreign Minister Libya’s highest political authority, Hmeidan said. Forces Alliance, who won legisla- in July for violating the terms of nalists were killed in fight- Walid Muallem wrote to UN chief his deputy Jumaa Attiga and Prime Hmeidan added that the assem- tive elections in July 2012 ahead the agreement by travelling to the ing there in 2012 and at least Ban Ki-moon this week saying the Minister Ali Zeidan. bly had cleared another hurdle in of Islamists. Libya’s mufti, Sheikh Israeli-occupied West Bank from 21 abducted. All sides in the government could not accept an Observers said that the bill the interim constitutional decla- Sadeq Al Ghariani, called on citi- annexed Arab east Jerusalem. conflict have been accused of inquiry that extended to claims moved one step closer to ratifi- ration which says that “Libyans zens to come out in their thousands An Israeli official said on Friday attacks on journalists. QNA against its own forces. cation on Wednesday, when the are equal before the law and in to support the passing of the bill. that Issawi had gone to the West AFP assembly made a change to the the civil and political rights they AFP Bank to establish “terror cells”. Israel has ordered that he serve the remainder of his original sen- Bahrain protest tence. Issawi’s health has deteri- Libya navy orated because of his prolonged fast, and he is being held in an rescues 89 Israeli hospital. The Israeli offi- cial said he could “immediately migrants from be released to Gaza.” Qaraqea said the Palestinians drifting boat had requested that he be released temporarily to the West Bank. TRIPOLI: Libya’s coast- “We proposed that they release guard has rescued 89 him to Ramallah for a while and sub-Saharan African they refused,” he said. “We agreed migrants who had been to send him to Europe for a few drifting in a boat for five months to receive medical treat- days and had to dump ment and then come back again the bodies of five people but they refused.” who died on the journey Around 250 of Issawi’s sup- overboard, the state news porters rallied peacefully in agency said yesterday. Abu Discarrying his picture and The Libyan authorities calling for his release. A group were alerted by a fisher- of Israeli intellectuals, includ- man that the boat was ing writers Amos Oz and A B adrift off the western port Yehoshua, wrote to Issawi urging of Zawiyah, naval official him to call off his hunger strike, Colonel Ayub Omar Gacem Israeli army radio and news web- was quoted as saying by site Ynet reported. the Libyan news agency “Your act of suicide will add LANA. another element of tragedy and “Many of them were Bahraini riot police run for cover from petrol bombs thrown by anti- despair to the conflict between taken to hospital when regime protesters during clashes following a demonstration in soli- the two nations,” Ynet quoted the they were brought to darity with jailed political activists and against the upcoming Bahrain message as saying. shore, the rest were pro- Formula One Grand Prix which will take place on April 21, in the village AFP vided with food and medi- of Sanabis, west of Manama, yesterday. cine on the spot,” Ayoub was quoted as saying. The migrants told their rescuers that five people had died and they had dis- Libya deposits $2bn in Egypt central bank posed of their bodies at sea. North Africa is a launch- TRIPOLI: Libya has deposited $2bn in Egypt’s Mena reported Libya would give Egypt a $2bn five- point for maritime migra- central bank deducted from investments Tripoli year, interest-free loan under an agreement signed tion to southern Europe, has inside its neighbour, the central bank gover- that day. with Italy the main desti- nor said yesterday. It quoted a finance ministry official as saying the nation. Thousands of people Saddeq Omar Elkabber said the amount was a loan would have a three-year grace period and was have been killed attempting “central bank deposit not a loan”, but did not give intended “to support the Egyptian economy and the the dangerous crossing in further details. “Libya’s investments in Egypt total state budget and foreign currency reserves”. overcrowded and frequently around $10bn. These are in banks, property and Also on Wednesday, Qatar agreed to give Egypt unsafe vessels. other sectors,” he said. $3bn more in aid by buying Egyptian government Ayoub said this was the “Egyptian stability is important for Libya,” he bonds, as the Arab world’s most populous nation second such incident in said. “This is like when the European Union helped seeks to secure an IMF loan to ease its deepening two weeks after Libya’s Greece.” economic crisis. coastguard saved another Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said “there was The new financial injections will buy Egypt time 34 people, including women no loan” made to Egypt but added the Libyan central as it seeks to avert social unrest over fuel shortages and children, off the west bank “was free to make deposits where it chose”. and food price increases during a long, hot summer. coast. AFP On Wednesday, the Egyptian state news agency REUTERS SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Palestinian PM resigns after row with Abbas Abbas to name new premier soon

RAMALLAH: Palestinian would be key to overseeing such Prime Minister Salam Fayyad projects. resigned yesterday, leaving the Fayyad has served since mid- Palestinians without one of 2007 as prime minister of the their most moderate and well- Palestinian Authority, the self- respected voices just as the US rule government that adminis- is launching a new push for ters roughly 40 percent of the Mideast peace. Israeli-controlled West Bank. The A statement from the official 61-year-old political independent Palestinian news agency Wafa has focused his efforts on devel- said President Mahmoud Abbas oping the foundations of an inde- met with Fayyad and accepted pendent Palestinian state. his resignation, thanking him A squeaky-clean public image for his service. According to the and willingness to take on statement, Abbas asked Fayyad to entrenched interests has often Palestinian farmers burn mints at a farm in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. continue to serve in his post until landed him in trouble with Abbas’ Abbas forms a new government. long-ruling Fatah movement. Abbas was expected to name a The relationship between Fayyad new prime minister within days, and Abbas has been tense for some Gaza farmers burn tonnes of basil, mint according to Palestinian officials, time, and the prime minister told who spoke on condition of ano- Abbas already late last year that he GAZA: Palestinian farmers in harvest two tonnes of mint and ended with an Egyptian-brokered it because there is very little local nymity in line with regulations. wanted to quit. Abbas told Fayyad Gaza began destroying three a tonne of basil, adding that the ceasefire. After three months of consumption,” Abu Naja said. Abbas and Fayyad had been repeatedly to wait. But the con- tonnes of herbs yesterday, say- herbs were now past their prime quiet, militants fired a rocket into To date, some 30 dunam (7.4 locked in an increasingly bitter dis- flict between the two escalated ing a prolonged closure of the for the European market. Israel at the end of February, with acres) have been turned over to pute over the extent of the prime last month over the resignation crossing into Israel meant the “It was too late and we regret very occasional salvos following herbs, including 20 inside the minister’s authority. Fayyad offered of Fayyad’s finance minister, Nabil plants were no longer fit for that we have had to throw away in subsequent weeks. Israel has former Israeli settlement of Gush his resignation on Thursday, but Kassis. Fayyad accepted the resig- export to Europe. the farmers’ harvest,” Jamal Abu responded each time by closing Katif, from which Israel pulled Abbas did not respond to Fayyad’s nation, but Abbas then overruled Last October, Israel lifted a Naja, director of Gaza’s commu- the Kerem Shalom commercial settlers and soldiers in 2005. offer until yesterday. the prime minister, effectively chal- five-year ban on the lucrative nal agriculture association, said. crossing. Some 40 Palestinian men and His departure could spell lenging his right to hire and fire export of Gazan herbs and spices, “Repeated closures are threaten- Abu Naja urged farmers to take women who used to work in the trouble for Abbas. Fayyad, a Cabinet ministers. imposed after the Islamist Hamas ing this hopeful project.” advantage of the decision to lift settlements were the backbone of Western-trained economist, is Fayyad told confidants in recent group seized control of the coastal The Palestinian economy is the curb last year, pointing to high the current planting teams. “We well respected in international days that he was determined to enclave, and farmers had hoped to bound closely to Israel’s through demand in Europe for spices and chose 40 people, including seven circles, and he is expected to play leave. The prime minister also cash in with their latest crop of infrastructure and has few foreign herbs, with traders paying $26 a women, who had good experi- a key role in US efforts to revive complained about what he said mint and basil. trading partners. Israel’s security kilo for the Palestinian produce ence in order to assure success. peace talks. was an attempt by leading Fatah But Israel shut its sole com- cordon around Gaza and its secu- against $0.27 on the home market. Settlers had mainly depended on As part of that effort, US members to undermine him. mercial crossing into the isolated rity restrictions in the occupied Some 15 tonnes of spices have planting spices when they were Secretary of State John Kerry has Fayyad has good ties with the Palestinian territory last Monday West Bank limit Palestinians’ abil- been exported since January, but here,” Abu Naja said. said he plans to announce a series US and is credited with cracking in response to a rocket salvo fired ity to compete in export markets the latest crop was mowed down Unlike other produce that Israel of measures to boost the West down on public corruption, secur- out of Gaza, allowing only a brief and contribute to an unemploy- yesterday and will be burnt after allows to be exported to Europe, Bank economy in the coming ing foreign aid and preparing the reopening on Friday to enable the ment rate of almost 25 percent, it has dried in the sun, farmers such as strawberries, cherry days. Fayyad, a former official at groundwork and infrastructure import of certain goods. the World Bank said last month. said. “It took a month to grow this tomatoes and flowers, spices can the International Monetary Fund for a future Palestinian state. Farmers said the closure came Israel and Hamasfought an mint and if you don’t export it at be planted and exported the year with expertise in development, AP just as they were preparing to eight-day war last November that the right time, you have to burn round. REUTERS Hamas arrests ‘collaborators’ GAZA CITY: Security forces Shahwan said that some peo- into Israel before they could be in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip ple had surrendered during the apprehended. have started arresting suspected amnesty but did not give details During an eight-day conflict “collaborators” with Israel after on their likely treatment. Under with Israel last November, at least a month-long amnesty ended, a Palestinian law, collaboration with seven people were gunned down Hamas official said yesterday. Israel is punishable by death. after being accused of being col- “Since yesterday (Friday), we All executions must be laborators. The bodies of six were arrested several collaborators approved by the Palestinian dragged behind vehicles through with the Israeli occupation,” inte- president before they can be the streets of Gaza City. The rior ministry spokesman Islam carried out, but Hamas no killings were claimed by Hamas Shahwan said. longer recognises the legiti- militants from the Ezzedine Al On March 12, Hamas macy of incumbent Mahmoud Qassam Brigades in notes pinned announced a month-long grace Abbas, whose four-year term to their bodies, which accused period for collaborators to turn ended in 2009. A Gaza official them of being traitors. themselves in return for leniency. said that five or six suspects fled AFP

Tunisia publishes suspects’ images in leader’s killing

TUNIS: The Tunisian government published the names and photographs of five people it said were An Iraqi policewoman casts her vote at a polling station in Karbala, 110km south of Baghdad, yesterday. suspected of involvement in the February assassina- tion of a secular politician and asked citizens to help Iraqi forces cast ballots track them down. The killing of Chokri Belaid on February 6 pro- BAGHDAD: Iraqi soldiers and them about 650,000 members of Arab minority. The polls are seen voked the worst unrest in policemen cast their ballots for the security forces. as a key barometer of Maliki’s the North African state provincial elections yesterday, “We have done our duty, and popularity ahead of parliamentary since the overthrow of a week ahead of the main vote now we hope that they (candi- elections next year. strongman Zine Al Abidine that comes amid an uptick in dates) will do their duty also,” The premier has battled alle- Ben Ali two years ago that violence and a long-running said federal police Colonel Abbas gations from his opponents of launched the Arab Spring political crisis. Kadhim, who cast his ballot in west monopolising power, and little in wave of popular uprisings. The credibility of the elections, Baghdad. “We wish that they will the way of landmark legislation “We ask all citizens to the first since March 2010 par- fulfil the hopes of the Iraqi people.” has been passed by parliament, contribute to the search liamentary polls, has been drawn Election centres where vot- but Maliki insists he is attempt- for the main suspect and into question following deadly ing was completed closed at 5pm, ing to make the most out of an the rest of those involved attacks on candidates and a gov- although those where security unruly coalition. in the assassination of the ernment decision to partly post- forces were still waiting to vote Provincial councils are respon- martyr Chokri Belaid,” the pone voting that means only 12 of could remain open later, an offi- sible for nominating governors Interior Ministry said. Iraq’s 18 provinces will take part. cial from Iraq’s Independent High who take charge of the prov- The website posted the At least a dozen election Electoral Commission said. inces’ administration, finances names and pictures of five hopefuls have been killed while Voters persistently complain and reconstruction projects. men and pledged to pro- others have been wounded or kid- about poor basic services such The police also ostensibly fall vide protection and confi- napped in the run-up to the polls. as electricity and sewerage, under provincial remit, but the dentiality for anyone who Although security has markedly rampant corruption and high federal government has typically helped locate suspects in improved since the height of unemployment. held sway over security matters. the killing. Iraq’s confessional conflict, March The latest elections come with Six provinces will not vote Police believe Belaid’s was still the deadliest month since the country mired in a political cri- in the polls — the three of the killer was a member of a August, according to AFP figures. sis that has pitted Prime Minister autonomous Kurdistan region, radical Islamist Salafist More than 8,000 candidates are Nouri Al Maliki against several of the disputed northern province of group who is on the standing in the elections, with 378 his erstwhile national unity cabi- Kirkuk, and two Sunni-majority run, Prime Minister Ali seats on provincial councils up for net partners, and amid more than provinces where authorities say Larayedh said recently, grabs. An estimated 16.2 million three months of anti-government security cannot be guaranteed. without giving more details. Iraqis are eligible to vote, among protests by the country’s Sunni AFP REUTERS SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Russia slaps entry ban on 18 Americans Moscow in tit-for-tat measure

MOSCOW: Moscow said yes- said were linked to the “legalisa- terday that Washington had tion and application of torture” dealt a severe blow to rela- — David Addington, a former tions by barring 18 Russians chief of staff of Vice President from the United States over Dick Cheney, and John Choon alleged human rights abuses, Yoo, a former Justice Department and in retaliation it banned lawyer. 18 Americans from entering The list includes two ex- Russia. commanders of the US mili- US President Barack Obama’s tary detention centres at the administration had on Friday Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, issued a list of 18 people subject whose detainees have included to visa bans and asset freezes Russian citizens. in the United States under the As counsel to Cheney, Magnitsky Act legislation passed Addington pressed for more by Congress late last year. coercive interrogation tactics “Under pressure from while Yoo issued a legal opinion Russophobic members of the US that said federal laws on the use Congress, a powerful blow has of torture did not apply to inter- been dealt to bilateral relations rogations conducted overseas. and mutual trust,” a Russian Geoffrey Miller, a commander Foreign Ministry statement said. at Guantanamo in the Bush era, The mutual blacklisting could was sent to Iraq to advise on dim hopes voiced publicly by both interrogation tactics and was an Handout picture released by the Venezuelan presidency shows Venezuela’s acting President Nicolas Maduro (left) and Argentina’s football legend Diego sides of rehabilitating a rela- adviser on interrogations at Abu Maradona visiting the tomb of late President Hugo Chavez, at an old military barracks perched in a hillside in Caracas. tionship increasingly strained Ghraib prison. Jeffrey Harbeson since President Vladimir Putin was a Guantanamo commander returned to the Kremlin last May. during Obama’s first term. Obama’s national security The list includes law enforce- adviser is to have talks tomorrow ment authorities involved in Chavez loyalists mobilise on poll eve with senior officials in Moscow — the prosecution of Viktor Bout, the highest-level face-to-face con- a Russian arms trader serving CARACAS: Venezuela’s gov- Capriles, who accused the govern- troops brought him back to the The acting president railed tact since the US president began a 25-year US prison term after ernment mobilised behind Hugo ment of unfairly using state media presidency after his brief, 47-hour against the “putschist right- a second term in January . his arrest in Thailand, and of Chavez’s image yesterday as and funds during the campaign, ouster, a presidency source wing” after claiming throughout The Foreign Ministry listed Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was the opposition complained that wrote on Twitter that channel told AFP. the campaign that opponents and 18 Americans subject to visa detained in Liberia and sentenced campaign rules were being VTV was “shamelessly violating Information Minister Ernesto former US officials were plotting bans and asset freezes under to 20 years on drug-trafficking ignored on the eve of a vote to the electoral rules.” Villegas called for a “tuitazo,” or a to destabilise the nation. a retaliatory law Putin signed charges in the United States. choose a successor to the late Maduro planned to visit the massive Twitter campaign to send On Friday, Vice President Jorge in December that allowed such “The war of lists is not our leader. Caracas hillside barracks where messages about Chavez. He also Arreaza and other top officials steps against Americans deemed choice, but we have no right not Although the campaign offi- Chavez was laid to rest to com- wrote a series of Tweets criticis- displayed gun magazines that to have violated the human rights to respond to blatant blackmail,” cially ended late Thursday, act- memorate the creation of a ing the opposition. were seized from a company and of Russians abroad. That law also the ministry statement said. “It ing President Nicolas Maduro civilian militia formed by the Maduro already visited the announced that alleged Colombian banned the adoption of Russian is high time for politicians in has regularly appeared on state- late president after a short- tomb on Friday with Argentine paramilitaries were detained. children by Americans. Washington to finally realise that run television, calling on voters lived coup against him in April football icon Diego Maradona, a The opposition voiced doubts The Americans barred from it is futile to build relations with to flock to the polls today and 2002. close friend of Chavez, and he used about the latest claims and coun- Russia include two officials from a country like Russia in a spirit of vowing to carry on his mentor’s The event will “celebrate the airtime to urge Venezuelans to tered that the government’s accu- President George W Bush’s mentoring and outright diktat.” socialist revolution. Chavez’s return to power” 11 vote to “continue the legacy” of sations were “completely false.” administration who the ministry REUTERS Opposition candidate Henrique years ago on April 13, when loyal the late president. AFP

Queen Beatrix Pope Francis forms Bersani refuses tie-up advisory body for reopens major help in governance museum with Berlusconi for govt ROME: Italy’s centre-left political deadlock has put the VATICAN CITY: Pope AMSTERDAM: Fireworks leader Pier Luigi Bersani said PD at risk of splitting, and the Francis, in his first major deci- and fanfare accompa- again yesterday he would work need for a government has even sion, yesterday set up an advi- nied Dutch Queen Beatrix with right-wing former prime led to an unprecedented “pact” sory board of cardinals from as she yesterday reopened minister Silvio Berlusconi to between employers’ lobbies with around the world to help him Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum elect a president but not to form labour unions calling for economic govern the Catholic Church treasure trove of Golden Age a government with him. reforms. and reform its troubled central masterpieces after a 10-year The February election left Parliament begins voting to administration. renovation. parliament split between three elect a new president on Thursday. The eight cardinals will help The reopening is Beatrix’s last hostile blocs, none of which can The election will be vital because him put into place changes in major public appearance before govern alone, making an early constitutional rules prevent cur- an administration which has she abdicates in favour of her return to the polls a growing rent President Giorgio Napolitano been held responsible for some son Willem-Alexander on April possibility. from dissolving parliament at the of the mishaps and scandals that 30, and performers from around Speaking at a small theatre in end of his mandate. plagued the eight-year reign of the Netherlands and its over- an impoverished suburb of Rome, So Napolitano’s successor, who Pope Benedict before he resigned seas territories took part in the Bersani said the next president will receive a seven-year mandate, in February. A Vatican statement ceremony. should be a figure of “national will have another chance to find a said the group would “advise him After the queen turned a key in unity”. But he rejected forming a solution that allows the formation in the governing of the univer- a symbolic lock on a vast orange government with Berlusconi, say- of a government, or else he will sal Church” as well as in making carpet at midday, a long queue ing: “A grand coalition is not the have to call new elections. administrative changes, a sign immediately formed of people right response to the problems of Under intense pressure, the that Francis wants to consult wanting to visit the world-famous the country.” 61-year-old Bersani was more more widely than Benedict did museum, open for free until Bersani has been under mount- feisty and animated during his before making decisions. midnight. ing pressure from inside and speech yesterday than he was dur- The eight prelates come from The museum, built in 1885 outside his party to back a gov- ing the lacklustre campaign ear- Italy, Chile, India, Germany, for 200,000 annual visitors, now ernment with centre-right leader lier this year in which Berlusconi Democratic Republic of Congo, hopes to double the one million Berlusconi, who is unpalatable for closed a 10-percentage-point gap the United States, Australia, and people that it was hosting prior many PD voters, to end the politi- and came up just short of the Honduras, indicating that Francis to the renovation. cal stalemate now in its second PD. “After the president of the intends to take seriously calls by Queen Beatrix, 75, was given a month. Republic (is elected), a govern- bishops from around the world tour of the renewed museum by The PD rally was called as a ment is needed,” Bersani said. to have more say in Vatican deci- director Wim Pijbes. “protest against poverty” and Since failing to woo the 5-Star sions that affect their areas. The ¤375m revamp, master- Bersani repeated his recipe to Movement to join him, Bersani REUTERS minded by Spanish architects try to create jobs and loosen has hoped to form a minority Cruz y Ortiz, has run over time the suffocating austerity that government tolerated by enough 12 Congo army and over budget but has been has worsened Italy’s recession, members of the rival parties to hailed by observers. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (not visible) ignites fireworks at the which already equals the long- pass a limited set of reforms. officers arrested AFP Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, yesterday. est in postwar history. But the REUTERS GOMA, CONGO: A top Congolese official says 12 sen- ior army officers have been At least 26 killed in Peru bus crash arrested on charges of responsi- bility for mass rapes committed LIMA: At least 26 people died an official with Otuzco’s police Thatcher’s opponents celebrate demise by several army units in eastern and seven were injured early force. Authorities blamed the Congo in November 2012. yesterday after a bus plunged region’s treacherous, winding LONDON: Hundreds of oppo- and students to drink to the Iron Among the crowd were ex-min- Justice Minister Wivine 200 metres down a ravine in roads, the poor condition of the nents of Margaret Thatcher Lady’s demise. An effigy of the ers from the north of England, Mumba confirmed the arrests to northern Peru, police said. vehicle and driver error for the filled London’s Trafalgar Square former Conservative leader was who saw their communities The Associated Press yesterday. The bus veered off a mountain accident. last evening for a rain-soaked carried through the crowd, com- devastated in a wave of pit clo- The arrests come more than two road near the town of Otuzco Road accidents are common celebration of the former British plete with her trademark string sures under Thatcher’s 11 years weeks after the United Nations some 570 kilometres north of in the Peruvian Andes due to prime minister’s death earlier of pearls, blouse and flowing hair in power from 1979 to 1990. pressed the Congolese govern- Lima. poorly maintained roads, incon- this week. made from orange plastic bags. David Douglas, a retired miner ment to take action in the case. “So far, we’ve recovered 26 sistent vehicle maintenance, and Former coal miners involved There was a strong police pres- who worked at Hatfield Colliery In November, the Congolese bodies, and seven people have the propensity of overworked in the year-long strike against ence for the demonstration, an in Yorkshire, said he was “very army was defeated by the M23 been hurt,” said Asto Moreno, bus drivers to speed. AFP the Iron Lady’s government in informal gathering organised on pleased” at news of Thatcher’s rebels who seized the provincial the 1980s joined far-left activists social media sites. death. AFP capital of Goma. AP SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 US, China agree on Japan quake North Korea steps China does not publicly say it will exert pressure BEIJING: The United States devoted most of its reports to said yesterday that China had Manila to let US preparations for tomorrow’s cel- agreed to work together to rid ebrations marking the birth date North Korea of its nuclear capa- use bases in war of state founder Kim Il-Sung. bility by peaceful means, but But Rodong Sinmun, the rul- Beijing made no specific com- MANILA: The US would ing Workers’ Party’s newspaper, mitment in public to pressure be allowed to station forces issued a fresh denunciation of its long-time ally to change its at military bases in the joint US-South Korean military ways. Philippines if it went to war exercises, saying: “If the enemies US Secretary of State John with North Korea, Foreign dare provoke (North Korea) while Kerry met China’s top leaders in Secretary Albert del Rosario going reckless, it will immediately a bid to persuade them to push said yesterday citing a treaty blow them up with an annihilat- reclusive North Korea, whose between the allies. ing strike with the use of powerful main diplomatic supporter is “Our mutual defence treaty nuclear means.” Beijing, to scale back its bellig- calls for joint action if either South Korea’s Yonhap news erence and, eventually, return to the Philippines or the United agency, quoting a government nuclear talks. States is attacked,” del Rosario source, said North Korea had not Kerry wants to see China take said in comments at a time of moved any of its mobile missile a more active stance towards heightened tensions on the launchers for the past two days A concrete wall collapsed at Awaji city in Japan after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit western Japan early North Korea, which in recent Korean peninsula. after media reports that as many yesterday, injuring at least 24 people and destroying some houses. weeks has threatened nuclear “It would then be logical to as five missiles had been moved war against the United States and assume that in the event of an into place on the country’s east South Korea. attack on the Philippines or on coast. Kerry and China’s top diplo- our treaty ally, the US would It said this suggested no missile mat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, be allowed to use our bases,” launches were imminent. said both countries supported the he added. Meanwhile, China and the US, Plane misses runway, lands in sea goal of denuclearising the Korean AFP which are embroiled in a bitter peninsula. dispute over hacking, have agreed DENPASAR: An Indonesian to Lion Air just last month, came lifejacket) and slowly swam out “We are able, the United States “We maintain that the issue to set up a cybersecurity working plane carrying 101 passengers to rest partially submerged not far of the plane and to the shore.” and China, to underscore our joint should be handled and resolved group, Kerry said. broke in two after missing the from the end of the runway, with Dewa Made Indra, local head of commitment to the denuclearisa- peacefully through dialogue and “All of us, every nation, has an runway at Bali airport yesterday inflatable slides deployed from the the national disaster agency, said tion of the Korean peninsula in consultation. To properly address interest in protecting its people, and landing in the sea, leaving front exits and a gaping crack in that 52 people were taken to hos- a peaceful manner,” Kerry told the Korea nuclear issue serves protecting its rights, protecting dozens injured but no fatalities. the fuselage towards the rear. pitals after the crash. Forty-four reporters, sitting next to Yang the common interests of all par- its infrastructure,” he told report- The new Boeing 737-800 was “The plane plunged into the had since been discharged and at a state guest house in western ties. It is also the shared respon- ers on a visit to Beijing. operated by budget airline Lion sea at high speed,” said passenger eight remained in four different Beijing. sibility of all parties,” he said, “Cybersecurity affects eve- Air, which recently sealed big Ignatius Juan Sinduk, 45, from his hospitals on the island, he said. But North Korea has repeatedly speaking through an interpreter. rybody,” he said. “It affects air- orders for hundreds of new hospital bed in Denpasar, where A hospital doctor said one said it will not abandon nuclear “China will work with other planes in the sky, trains on their planes but is banned from US he was being treated for breath- female passenger had suf- weapons, which it described on relevant parties, including the tracks, it affects the flow of water and European airspace over safety ing difficulties after his chest was fered a life-threatening brain Friday as its “treasured” guaran- United States, to play a con- through dams, it affects transpor- concerns. injured in the crash. haemorrhage. tor of security. structive role in promoting the tation networks, power plants, it The domestic flight ended with “Everybody screamed and Three foreigners were on board Yang said China’s stance on six-party talks and balanced affects the financial sector, banks, passengers screaming in terror as water suddenly surged into the the Lion Air flight when it crashed maintaining peace and stability on implementation of the goals set financial transactions. the aircraft hit the water after plane. Passengers panicked and at around 3pm — a Frenchman, the peninsula was clear and con- out in the Sept. 19 joint state- “So we are going to work imme- missing the runway at the popular scrambled for life jackets. Some a Singaporean woman and a sistent, repeating phrasing used ment of 2005.” diately on an accelerated basis on resort island’s Denpasar airport, passengers fell, some ran into oth- Singaporean man, according to the by the Foreign Ministry since the North Korean television made cyber.” despite fine weather. ers, it was chaos. airport’s head of communications. crisis began. no mention of Kerry’s visit and AFP The plane, which was delivered “I managed to grab one (a AFP

Bird flu reaches Beijing Church opposes pro-choice candidates Gunmen attack BEIJING: A seven-year-old previous cases had been confined MANILA: The Philippines’ challenges filed by the church’s Tamil paper in girl is Beijing’s first human case to eastern China, hundreds of powerful Catholic Church is to Absentee voting allies. of H7N9 bird flu, local authori- kilometres from the capital. ask Filipinos to vote candidates The Philippines is to hold mid- Sri Lanka ties said yesterday as China’s One of the newly reported who support birth control out begins abroad term elections on May 13 for the outbreak of the disease spread cases was a man in Shanghai of office in the May elections, a MANILA: Sixty percent House of Representatives, half the COLOMBO: Gunmen opened to the capital. whose wife had been confirmed Church official said yesterday. of the 737,759 registered 24-seat Senate, and thousands of fire and torched the office of the The girl, whose parents are with H7N9 and died earlier this The guidelines, to be read at absentee voters abroad are local government posts. main Tamil newspaper in north- poultry traders, was in a stable month, the official Xinhua news Sunday masses across the coun- expected to cast their ballots About 80 percent of the ern Sri Lanka yesterday, the condition in hospital, the Beijing agency reported, but it quoted try, are seen as an attack on with the month-long overseas Philippines’ 100 million people owner said, the latest in a wave health bureau said. Her mother health experts saying there was President Benigno Aquino’s allies absentee voting (OAV) start- are Catholic. of attacks against privately- and father had been quarantined insufficient evidence to show he who pushed for a controversial ing yesterday. The Church remains one owned media in the country. for observation but had shown no had acquired it from his wife. birth control law that was passed Commission on Elections of the nation’s most powerful Three armed men carried out symptoms so far, it added. Cheng Jun, vice-director of last year. (Comelec) records show institutions, helping ensure that the pre-dawn arson attack on the She developed a fever, sore Ditan hospital, where the girl was Archbishop Socrates Villegas, 281,372 overseas absentee vot- the Philippines remains one of Uthayan office and printing press throat and headache on Thursday being treated, told state broad- vice president of the Catholic ers are in the Middle East, the few places on earth where in Jaffna, the city and former and her parents took her to hospi- caster CCTV: “Ever since the Bishops Conference of the 228,309 in Asia, 125,604 in both abortion as well as divorce war zone 400 kilometres north of tal. Samples from her tested posi- outbreak started in Shanghai we Philippines, said in a copy of the the US, 75,666 in Europe, and remain illegal. Colombo, owner Eswarapatham tive for H7N9 the following day, have been making preparations.” pastoral letter: “Pro-choice is 26,808 are seafarers. Reacting to the pastoral let- Saravanapavan said by telephone. and the national disease control Beijing, which has a popula- anti-life.” Comelec Chairman Sixto ter, Aquino spokesman Ricky “Employees preparing to centre confirmed the results on tion of more than 20 million, He added: “We advise you not Brillantes said absentee voting Carandang said: “We trust in the deliver the morning newspaper Saturday. has already banned live poultry to vote for the candidate if the in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi wisdom of the Filipino voter.” fled as the gunmen stormed in... Chinese officials announced trading and pigeon releases, the candidate cannot declare a cat- Arabia will start on April 16. The document also urges It has to be either the government nearly two weeks ago that they health bureau said. egorical and clear ‘no’ to divorce, THE PHILIPPINE STAR Catholics to shun candidates or paramilitaries. Who else can had found the H7N9 strain in More than 500 birds were abortion, euthanasia, total birth who are “antagonistic to church carry firearms freely in Jaffna?” humans for the first time, and the culled in the area where the fam- control and homosexual mar- mandates that sex education be teachings and practices”, philan- Saravanapavan said, adding there number of confirmed infections ily lives in northeastern Beijing riages or death issues.” taught in schools. derers, drug dealers, and those were no injuries but the printing rose to 49 yesterday, 11 of whom but samples tested negative for The law requires state health However, the Supreme Court who destroy the environment, press had been destroyed. have died. H7N9, Xinhua said, citing officials. centres to hand out free con- has temporarily suspended the buy votes or engage in terrorism. “Just last week we asked for Until the girl’s illness, all AFP doms and birth control pills and law as it resolves at least six legal AFP security from the police after one of our offices was attacked elsewhere,” he said, referring to a previous incident at another Thai new year Uthayan office in the north. There was no immediate com- Suu Kyi arrives in Japan ment from the authorities. Saravanapavan is an opposition TOKYO: Myanmar’s democ- Myanmar’s Muslim minority Tamil National Alliance legislator. racy hero Aung San Suu Kyi Rohingya in Japan has expressed arrived in Japan yesterday, her disappointment after being told Marcos son rejects first visit to the country where his community was not wanted at she spent time as a university events welcoming Suu Kyi. US report researcher nearly three dec- Activists have expressed dis- MANILA: Deposed Philippine ades ago. appointment that Suu Kyi, a dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ son A group of well-wishers includ- 67-year-old Nobel laureate who has rejected a recently released ing Burmese gathered at Tokyo’s was locked up for 15 years by US government account that his Narita airport to greet the Suu the former military regime, has late father forced military chiefs Kyi, now her country’s opposi- remained largely silent about to parade in drag at a party. tion leader, but were denied the several episodes of communal Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he chance to meet her as she left bloodshed. had himself seen generals per- through a backdoor. Suu Kyi’s connection to Japan form skits which were “meant to “I respect her like my mother,” stems from her father, General make the audience laugh”, but the one of Burmese women said in an Aung San, who led the independ- account of them being made to interview with public broadcaster ence movement in the country dress in drag against their will NHK. “I want to tell her that I then known as Burma against was “like a stereotypical scene” support her strongly.” British colonial rule. from a Hollywood film. During her six-day trip, the From late 1940 he spent several According to secret cables pub- Nobel laureate is expected to months in Japan, whose Imperial lished by whistle-blowing website have meetings with some of the Army — then involved in a brutal WikiLeaks this week, Marcos approximately 10,000 Burmese campaign of conquest across Asia forced his military chiefs to who live in Japan, as well as with — had offered succour, including parade as women during a birth- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and cash, weaponry and manpower. day party planned by his wife. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Two years later he established The documents were among a It is Suu Kyi’s first visit to a Japanese-backed government, series of criticisms of Ferdinand Japan since spending time as a but by 1945 had enlisted the help and Imelda Marcos made by US People take part in water battles as they celebrate the Songkran festival in Bangkok yesterday. Songkran, the researcher at Kyoto University in of the British to liberate Burma ambassador to the Philippines in Thai new year, is celebrated on April 13 in various ways, including by splashing water on each other. 1985-86. from Tokyo’s colonial rule. the mid-1970s, William Sullivan. But a leader of about 200 of AFP AFP SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Militants blow up poll office in Pakistan Bombing likely to fuel concerns that violence will mar the national and regional elections on May 11

MIRANSHAH: Militants blew said, adding that all three rooms first to die in the election cam- the area, the source disclosed. KP Police have suggested deploy- feared any untoward incident in up the election office of an inde- of the office were destroyed. paign, in an attack claimed by the After bomb attack in Bannu ment of Quick Response Force to future can even affect the election pendent candidate in northwest Residents in Miranshah con- Taliban. on an a provincial assembly can- ensure peaceful polls. process. Pakistan yesterday, adding to firmed the bombing and said Pakistan says more than 35,000 didate Adnan Wazir last month, “Under instructions from the Though the ANP leadership is security fears ahead of historic that an adjacent mosque was also people have been killed as a result the life attempt on seasoned Election Commission of Pakistan, claiming it isn’t scared of such national polls next month. damaged in the blast. of terrorism in the country since nationalist leader Arbab Ayub politicians can keep five civilians attacks and would continue its No one was hurt in the bomb- Khan is a former legislator the 9/11 attacks on the United Jan on Thursday showed that with licensed arms as guards. They mission of restoration of peace in ing in Miranshah, which is the from North Waziristan who sup- States. the political leaders and candi- need to be verified from the police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, main town in North Waziristan ported the outgoing government Election candidates allowed dates are under threat during first,” the Additional Inspector the two attacks have triggered and a known hub of Taliban and led by the Pakistan People’s Party, to keep five civilian armed electioneering. General Police, Operations, concerns among the voters in Al Qaeda linked militants, bor- the official said. bodyguards Arbab Ayub Jan, the ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Masood general and the workers of the dering Afghanistan. Nobody immediately claimed After the attacks contenders candidate from NA-4 Peshawar, Khan Afridi, said. political parties, especially ANP, But the bombing is likely to fuel responsibility for the attack. would now be allowed to keep five escaped a bomb attack on his He said the situation would in particular. concerns that violence will mar But umbrella Taliban faction civilian bodyguards with licensed car near his house when he was improve if the platoons of the Most candidates of different the national and regional elec- Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has arms during the polls cam- returning along with his son Frontier Constabulary deployed political parties, busy in election tions on May 11, which will mark made death threats against the paign, official sources said here Arbab Usman, who is a candidate in other parts of the coun- campaign in rural Peshawar and the country’s first democratic three main secular parties that yesterday. for PK-9, from a public meeting try are returned to Khyber southern districts of KP, haven’t transition of power after a civil- made up the outgoing government Also, the police in Khyber in Tarnab Farm Thursday night. Pakhtunkhwa. been provided adequate security ian government has served a full and who backed army operations Pakhtunkhwa which is more The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arbab Ayub Jan and the senior by the government. Some of these term in office. against the Islamist militants. prone to militant attacks has Police has forwarded its sugges- ANP leader and candidate from contenders have arranged one or “Militants blew up the elec- On Thursday, militants shot done categorisation of polling tions and demands to the gov- NA-1 Peshawar Ghulam Ahmad two gunmen on their own but the tion office of Kamran Khan with dead a candidate for outgoing stations in all the districts where ernment for ensuring peaceful Bilour on Thursday asked for ade- measures taken by them are not explosive at around 5.00am,” an coalition partner the Muttahida deployment would be made as elections in the province, the quate security to the candidates enough to counter a bomb attack. intelligence official in Miranshah Qaumi Movement (MQM), the per the sensitive situation in source said. It added that the and politicians. Arbab Ayub Jan AGENCIES

Counterterror talks with China Bomb blast on bus kills nine in Peshawar ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China will devise new PESHAWAR: A bomb fighting between Pakistani troops methods to counter terror- exploded on a bus in Pakistan’s and militants has killed 23 soldiers ism in their respective coun- troubled northwestern city of and 110 militants in Khyber this tries with mutual cooperation Peshawar yesterday, killing at week. when the fresh round of dia- least nine people and wounding Khyber straddles the Nato sup- logue between the two coun- seven others, officials said. ply line into Afghanistan, used by tries takes place in Beijing “At least nine passengers have US-led troops to evacuate mili- early next week. been killed and seven injured. tary equipment ahead of their Additional Foreign Secretary Bomb disposal officials told me 2014 withdrawal, and officials Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has that it was a timed device,” Fazal say it is key to protecting secu- left for Beijing to take part in Wahid, a senior police official said. rity in Peshawar for elections next the high echelon talks with the Shafi Ullah Khan, another month. Chinese senior officials on the police official, confirmed the Another senior police official, question of counter terrorism. attack which occurred as the Imran Shahid said police were It would be first interaction was bus passing through the city’s investigating the possibility a sui- of the senior officials of the Matani suburb. cide bomber was involved. two countries for the purpose Sayed Jameel Shah, a spokes- Subhan Ullah, a shopkeeper in ever-since new government has man for Peshawar’s main Lady the nearby market, who sustained taken up reign in China. Reading Hospital said nine dead an injury on his left shoulder said The new Chinese govern- bodies and 19 injured, including from his hospital bed that the bus ment is keenly interested in three women, had been brought was moving when the blast took strengthening cooperative ties to his hospital. place. with Pakistan. There was no immediate claim “The bus was moving at the of responsibility for the blast, but time of the blast. It stopped for a PML-Q struggling Peshawar, which is the capital of while in the market and the blast the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prov- took place some minutes after it in Pakhtunkhwa ince, is routinely targeted by the took on passengers,” he said. PESHAWAR: Former rul- Pakistani Taliban who are waging Hours earlier, militants blew ing coalition party Pakistan an insurgency against the state. up the election office on an inde- Muslim League-Q of Shujaat An intelligence official in the pendent candidate standing in Hussain has sunk into obscu- city said the attack may be a reac- elections next month, adding to rity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tion to a fresh military push in security fears ahead of historic A man injured in a bomb explosion is rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment, in Peshawar, yesterday. province after leading politi- the Tirah valley of the Khbyer national polls next month. cians left it one by one before tribal district, where the army A recent wave of terror attacks the general elections. has been fighting Taliban and has fuelled concerns that violence first democratic transition of Pakistan says more than 35,000 the 9/11 attacks on the United The party hardly figures Lashkar-e-Islam militants. will mar general elections on May power after a civilian government people have been killed as a result States. on the political scene in the Military officials said heavy 11, which will mark the country’s has served a full term in office. of terrorism in the country since AFP province as its activities have almost frozen at a time when other political parties are intensifying election campaign. It failed to hold political rallies in Peshawar and other cities of the province for many months, Over 10,000 Baluchis join army Afghan probe finds which indicates the inability of the party to attract people. ISLAMABAD: A total of there is a tremendous response five years, the sources counted a Apparently it seems to have 10,082 youth from Baluchistan to the army’s recruitment drive college in Sui, Baluchistan Public weakened so terribly that province have joined the in Baluchistan,” said the sources. School in Sui, Quetta Institute of 17 died in air strike hardly any of its candidates is Pakistan Army as officers and “The enthusiasm among the Medical Sciences (QIMS), GIT KABUL: Both Taliban insur- air strikes, causing the deaths. in a position to win election. soldiers during the last three youth of the province to join (Gwadar Institute of Technology), gents and the US military were The death of Afghan civilians years, authoritative sources the armed forces, especially Chamalang Beneficiary to blame for an air strike a caught in crossfire has been a Britain gives £117.5m have revealed. the army, is unambiguous.” The Education Programme (CBEP), week ago that killed 17 people, major point of contention between Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) sources asserted that the army BITE (Baluchistan Institute of including a dozen children, dur- international forces and the for jobless youth General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani chief was taking a keen interest Technical Education) and Army ing a fierce battle in eastern Afghan government. Earlier this LONDON: A British had allotted 10,000 vacancies for in the affairs of the province so as Institute of Mineralogy (AIM). Afghanistan, President Hamid year, Karzai banned his troops Pakistani entrepreneur has the youth of Baluchistan in the to play his part in improving the They said these institutes had Karzai said yesterday. from requesting coalition air been entrusted with the army during the years 2009-2011 economic standing of Baluchis. been launched to promote educa- Karzai made his comments strikes following another deadly task of leading efforts to and announced an additional Highlighting the educational tion and enlighten the youth of after an Afghan investigation into air strike in Kunar. deal with the serious issue of 5,000 vacancies for 2012. projects undertaken by the mili- the province. the April 6 attack raised the civil- While he said that air strikes on youth unemployment by the “We are happy to note that tary in Baluchistan in the last INTERNEWS ian death toll from 11 to 17, includ- residential areas were unaccept- British Prime Minister, David ing 12 children, four women and able, he also strongly condemned Cameron. one innocent man. An American insurgents for taking cover in James Caan has been Killing poppy civilian adviser was also killed civilian houses during the battle. appointed as chairman of The during the fighting. Karzai also ordered govern- Start-Up Loans Company, The Afghan report says the US ment officials to offer immedi- which administers the Start-Up strike occurred after the Afghan ate help to the families who were Loans scheme. The Start-Up intelligence service came under harmed in the attack, the state- Loans Company has been given attack by militants during an ment said, without elaborating. a total of £117.5m by the gov- operation to arrest two insurgent The investigation was carried ernment to help young people commanders in the Shigal district out by a government delegation build their own businesses in a of Kunar province. The area is a sent from Kabul that worked with time where there are limited major infiltration route for insur- 75 tribal elders in the area. opportunities and little support gents from sanctuaries in north- Afghan forces have been available to do so. western Pakistan to Afghanistan. increasingly taking the lead in The US-led coalition has con- combat operations as interna- Study to promote firmed that it launched air strikes tional forces move to complete in Kunar province that day but it their withdrawal by the end of solar heaters has not confirmed civilian casual- 2014. But US and other foreign KARACHI: Pakistan’s ties, saying the probe is on. troops still participate and pro- Alternative Energy Afghan forces came under fire vide air support as they try to Development Board (AEDB) with heavy and light weapons as clear areas of insurgents and pre- will undertake a two-phase they were about to leave the area. pare the Afghans to take control. study in collaboration with It was in that fighting that the In other violence, Taliban mili- the World Bank for promot- American was killed, causing the tants fired rockets at the coali- ing and introducing solar Americans to call for air support tion-controlled section of the water heaters in the country, to move the body from the area at airport yesterday in Jalalabad, 125 a step that will divert some the same time houses believed to kilometres east of Kabul, damag- demand away from conven- be containing suspected insurgents ing a helicopter. tional sources of energy. were bombarded for hours from A coalition spokesman con- For the study, AEDB has the air, according to the report. firmed in an email that the air signed an agreement with the Afghan security officials destroy opium poppy in a field in Norgal district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, It said most of the houses were base came under fire by rockets World Bank. yesterday. made of wood and mud and col- or mortar shells. AGENCIES lapsed under the shock of the AP SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Tulip Garden in Srinagar Mamata leaves JD-U against hospital KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was yesterday released from a pri- vate nursing home here, but the Modi as PM doctors advised her to take two weeks’ rest. Banerjee was admitted to the nursing home on Wednesday after she complained of breathing problems, palpitation and body candidate pain besides low blood pressure and low pulse rate. Since Friday, Banerjee had been expressing her BJP is a friendly party: Official wish to go back home, though the doctors were in favour of an NEW DELHI: Exhibiting its candidate yet. “Until the BJP’s extended hospital stay. antipathy to the projection of parliamentary board takes a “The medical team has advised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra decision on the prime ministerial her to take rest for at least two Modi as the NDA’s prime minis- candidate, we will not comment,” weeks,” a nursing home bulletin terial candidate in the 2014 Lok he said. said. “Her vital parameters have Sabha polls, the JD-U yester- Citing speeches of party leaders stabilised. However, pain still per- day found fault with the alliance from states such as Karnataka, sists in spite of medications and management of the BJP but did Jharkhand and Rajasthan at the other supportive care,” the bulle- not signal that it was moving meeting of national executive, tin said. Earlier tests had showed closer to the Congress. Tyagi said they had said the BJP Blooming tulips are seen in a tulip garden in Srinagar yesterday. The site is the largest tulip garden of Asia and fluid deposits in Banerjee’s knee. Janata Dal-Untied (JD-U) had been “not honestly followed is spread over an area of about 12 hectares. The Tulip Garden has become the prime attraction for tourists at IANS spokesperson K C Tyagi raised the coalition dharma”. home and abroad. Since April this year, over 75,000 tourists have visited the garden, officials said. questions over Narendra Modi’s Also distancing his party from role in containing the 2002 riots in the BJP’s stance on Kashmir, he the state as chief minister. “As chief said the political resolution will minister, Narendra Modi had not spell out the differences. shown the alacrity and sensitiv- Tygai said the party’s ity in dealing with the riots which national executive meeting dis- occurred in 2002,” Tyagi said after cussed organisational matters. Mercury on the rise in Kerala the first day of national meeting of Answering queries, he said Bihar the party here. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: us. If we do not take note of this With no rain, water level in a brand new LCD TV as a Vishu Answering questions on the not a claimant to the prime min- With the summer rain playing ‘test dose’ that nature is adminis- the state’s dams is receding. gift. Leader of opposition V.S. prime ministerial candidate of the ister’s post. truant and the sun blazing down tering, we will face bad times. The The state is heavily dependent Achuthanandan said that he had NDA, he indicated that the issue About the Congress, he said “it like never before, Kerala has need of the hour is to take the on dams for water and electric- handed back the TV, with a note would be answered in the party’s was not our friendly party”. He become a furnace of sorts. The environment seriously and initi- ity, and delayed rain could cause to the minister that this was not political resolution at the meeting said Congress did have right to mercury has been rising and ate measures to protect it,” Chief enormous problems. the appropriate time for such a of national convention on Sunday. speak on secularism like the JD-U has already crossed 40 degrees Minister Oommen Chandy said. “In neighbouring states, there gift, given the drought scenario. The JD-U is opposed to Modi as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took Celsius in Palakkad district. Chandy was referring to media are power cuts for very long Chandy, who was away for as the prime ministerial candi- place when its government was The average temperature in reports of people in the state suf- hours. All what we have here is two days in the UAE, returned date. There has been growing cla- in power in Delhi. some districts of the state has fering sun strokes. What began as a power outage of just one hour, yesterday to make an on-the- mour in the ranks of the BJP for Reaffirming the JD-U’s com- gone up by over two degrees above a few isolated cases kept mounting with 30 minutes duration each in spot assessment of relief works projecting Modi as the candidate mitment to secularism, Tyagi the average for this time of year; by the day, and Friday saw about the morning and the night. The for the drought-affected at for the post. Tyagi did not put a said that the erstwhile Janata Dal Punalur witnessed 38 degrees a dozen fresh cases of sunstroke. power situation is such that there Pathanamthitta district. Chandy timeframe for the BJP to declare leaders had been instrumental in Celsius. The state government has “There has been a shortage of should be a power outage for six will also travel to other district its prime ministerial candidate, arrest of BJP leader L K Advani issued instructions that manual rain, with just isolated showers. It hours, but we are not going to do headquarters in coming days. which will clear the air on Modi. during his yatra to Ayodhya. He labourers would be given hours is natural that temperature would it as it would bring untold mis- Meanwhile, a fisherman who had Asked if the party would give a said party’s alliance with BJP was off work in the afternoon, when rise. We expect, however, that the ery to our people,” Power Minister returned to the shore and lay tired timeframe to the BJP, Tyagi said: 17 years old and was formed after the heat was at its height. situation will change towards the Aryadan Mohammed said. on the beach at Kollam said: “This “The BJP is a friendly party and an agreement on national agenda Alappuzha district, incidentally, end of the month, and more rain Just as the heat hit headlines, heat is killing. I have been a fish- there is no business and pressure that did not include issues like recorded the lowest temperature is expected next month,” said the media pointed to the largesse erman for two decades, but I have tactics which is adopted with an Ram temple at Ayodhya, uniform among the 14 districts of the state director of the state office of the offered by state Agriculture never before experienced this. We ally.” He said that the BJP had civil code and Article 370. — at 33 degrees Celsius. India Meterological Department, Minister K P Mohanan, who can’t stay in the sea for long.” not named a prime ministerial IANS “This is a warning sign for all of K Santhosh. granted the state’s 141 legislators IANS Girl with swollen Man immolates self in head needs miracle: Parents bus over ticket fare tiff JIRANIA KHOLA: A desper- AMRAVATI: A passenger in a state transport bus set himself on ate father whose young child fire, even as the bus continued to ply, over an argument with the suffers from a condition that conductor on the ticket fare in this Maharashtra district, a police caused her head to swell up to official said. The incident occurred around 8pm on Friday, when an enormous size said yesterday the conductor of the bus plying on the Tivsa-Chandur Road route that he is praying for a “mira- demanded that the passenger buy a ticket. Reportedly drunk, the cle” to save her life. passenger entered into a heated argument with the conductor over Eighteen-month-old Roona the fare. As the bus plied, the argumentative passenger grabbed a Begum was diagnosed with hydro- can of petrol that he had carried with him, emptied it on himself cephalus, in which cerebrospinal and set fire, an official of Tivsa Police Station said. The man died fluid builds up in the brain, just of burn injuries. As the bus ground to a halt, at least 17 other pas- weeks after her birth in a gov- sengers sustained burn injuries. ernment-run hospital in remote Tripura state. The potentially Class 12 student beaten to death fatal illness has caused Roona’s head to swell to a circumference NEW DELHI: A Class 12 student was beaten to death near of 91-centimetres, putting pres- his house here by three people, including two juveniles studying sure on her brain. in Class 6 and 7, police said. All the attackers have been caught. Her father, Abdul Rahman, 18, “Sumit, 17, was beaten up by the attackers in Kanjhawala area who lives in a mud hut with his in west Delhi on Friday. The scuffle was an outcome of the fight family in the village of Jirania between Sumit’s younger brother and one of the accused in their Khola, said he prays for “a mira- school,” said a police officer. “Sumit died due to internal injuries,” cle” that will save his only child. officer said. Accused Mahinder, 19, and the two juvenile suspects, “Day by day, I saw her head grow- all residents of Kanjhawala area, were caught on Friday. On April ing too big after she was born,” 10, the victim’s brother and one of the accused had a fight in the said the illiterate labourer who school. The matter was later sorted out with Sumit’s intervention, works in a brick-making factory. police said. The accused were angry with Sumit’s intervention and Doctors told him to go to a spe- attacked him Friday to vent their anger, police said. cialist hospital in a big city such as Kolkata to get medical help but Rahman, who earns Rs150 a day Class 10 girl kills self in Delhi working in the brick plant, said he NEW DELHI: A Class 10 girl, who was scolded by her father the does not have the money to take day before, committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan her. “It’s very difficult to watch in her house here yesterday morning, police said. No suicide note her in pain. I pray several times a was found. “The body of Ritu, 15, was found hanging by her mother, day for a miracle — for something who informed other family members,” said a police officer. Police to make my child better,” he said. said her family member told that her father had scolded her a day The US government’s National before, due to which she was depressed. Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates about one in every 500 children Man kills self ahead of wedding suffers from hydrocephalus. NEW DELHI: A factory worker committed suicide by hanging him- The most common treatment self from a tree here after his family members fixed his wedding in involves the surgical insertion of a May without his consent, police said. The body of Bunty, an Uttar shunt system to drain cerebrospi- Pradesh resident living in north Delhi’s Sultanpur area, was found nal fluid away from the brain and hanging on Friday in a forest in north Delhi’s Bawana area. “No sui- towards another part of the body cide note was recovered from Bunty. Initial inquiry suggested that where it can be easily absorbed he wanted to marry off his sisters before his wedding, but his family into the bloodstream. members fixed his marriage without his consent,” said a police officer. Cases like Roona’s, where the head has doubled in size in a AIR may get 24-hour news channel relatively short span of time, are extremely rare, according to lead- NEW DELHI: The government is considering the launch of a 24-hour ing Indian neurosurgeon Sandeep news channel on All India Radio (AIR) and has evolved a scheme to Vaishya. “It’s difficult to assess strengthen transmission facilities in border areas. Addressing a meet- the situation without seeing the ing in Amritsar with Punjab-based heads of various media units of patient, but a surgery, even at this I&B including AIR, Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Press Information late stage, would give her brain Bureau and the Directorate of Field Publicity, Information and the best chance it has to grow and Broadcasting secretary Uday Kumar Varma said the proposed 24-hour develop normally,” Vaishya said. news channel on AIR would be on the pattern of Doordarshan News. AFP IANS

SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Crocus bloom

Fajr (Dawn) 3:54 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:13 Zuhr (Noon) 11:34 Asr (Afternoon) 3:04 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:57 Isha (Night) 7:27

WEATHER Weather Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: Clear Clear Partly cloudy Hazy at places at first becoming High: 38° High:33° High:33° relatively hot and Low: 25° Low: 24° Low: 26° slightly dusty with scattered clouds.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA

SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:13 17:57 06:15 & 20:00 01:45 & 12:30 05-15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

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MUSCAT 34/26 Partly cloudy 33/27 Partly cloudy A field of crocuses blossoms at the castle on the Lake Constance island Mainau, Germany, yesterday. MAKKAH 39/26 Clear 39/27 Clear KUWAIT 32/24 Clear 33/24 Clear BAHRAIN 32/24 Partly cloudy 29/23 Clear SANAA 28/13 Thunderstorm 28/13 Chance of storm RIYADH 34/21 Clear 33/20 Clear DUBAI 37/25 Partly cloudy 34/23 Partly cloudy Russian buys Onassis island Skorpios BAGHDAD 32/17 Clear 32/20 Clear MOSCOW/ATHENS: The Ionian Sea off western Greece, co-founder of the Russian potash abuse, weight issues and four THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW daughter of Russian billionaire from Onassis’ 28-year-old grand- producer Uralkali, has a history failed marriages. Onassis, his Dmitry Rybolovlev has bought daughter, Athena Onassis Roussel, of snapping up trophy properties. son Alexander, who was killed HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER the Greek resort island where the only surviving descendant of Aristotle Onassis purchased in an airplane crash aged 25, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis the shipping magnate. Skorpios in 1963 and turned the and Christina were buried on ATHENS 25/15 Partly cloudy 20/14 Chance of rain famously married Jacqueline “Ekaterina is delighted that barren island into a luxury resort Skorpios. Athena Onassis Roussel WASHINGTON 20/11 Partly cloudy 24/14 Mostly cloudy Kennedy in the 1960s, Rybolovlev’s the trust has negotiated this by planting thousands of trees and was three when her mother died. SYDNEY 28/15 Partly cloudy 26/16 Partly cloudy investment office said. purchase,” a representative of importing sand. In 1968 he mar- The mayor of the nearby island LONDON 22/11 Mostly cloudy 18/09 Partly cloudy The sale price was not dis- Rybolovlev’s family investment ried Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of Meganisi, Efstathios Zavitsanos, PARIS 23/11 Partly cloudy 21/10 Chance of rain closed. Greek media reports office said on condition of anonym- of the assassinated US president who is administratively responsi- ISTANBUL 15/10 Rain 11/09 Chance of rain yesterday placed the value of ity. “She regards the acquisition as John F Kennedy. ble for Skorpios, said the deal was MANILA 35/24 Partly cloudy 36/24 Partly cloudy Skorpios island at over $100m a long-term financial investment.” After Aristotle Onassis’s death likely to be a long-term lease since, DHAKA 40/26 Partly cloudy 36/25 Partly cloudy and said Ekaterina Rybolovlev, She also acquired the small in 1975, Skorpios passed to his according to some lawyers, Aristotle DELHI 35/22 Partly cloudy 36/23 Partly cloudy 24, wanted it not only for leisure neighbouring island Sparti. daughter Christina, who died of Onassis’s will stated that Skorpios but also business purposes. Dmitry Rybolovlev, owner of a heart attack at 37 in the late could not be sold or leave the family. ISLAMABAD 32/19 Partly cloudy 34/17 Partly cloudy She purchased Skorpios, in the the AS Monaco Football Club and 1980s after a history of drug REUTERS Psy chases new hit with Gentleman Paulo Coelho brings

SEOUL: South Korean pop people... we are going to sing out mother-father gentleman.” red-coloured jumpsuit and match- timeless ideas to novel star Psy unveiled yesterday the loud. We are going to shout out “Gonna make you sweat. Gonna ing knee-length socks. hip-swinging dance and music loud and we are really close to make you wet. You know who I At the press conference, Psy NEW YORK: Like his interna- video for his new song, aimed them, so they can hear,” he said. am? Wet Psy!” he sings in English, acknowledged the “enormous tional best seller The Alchemist, at replicating the global success “Hopefully with my Gangnam calling himself a “party mafia.” pressure” of following a global Paulo Coelho’s new novel weaves of Gangnam Style and its famed style, Gentleman, and my music It was the video of Gangnam phenomenon like Gangnam Style, a story that takes place in the horse-riding dance. video, choreography ... hopefully Style, and in particular Psy’s sig- but argued he had been singing past while the ideas it explores, The singer showed off the they might enjoy it too,” he added. nature horse-riding dance, that too long to be called a one-hit he says, are more relevant than much-anticipated dance moves The video showed Psy, wearing pushed him to global stardom wonder. ever to the present. — a simple swaying, grinding hip his signature sunglasses, dancing last year after it was posted on Gangnam Style was always Manuscript Found in Accra is movement — at a promotional at various locations in and around YouTube and turned into a viral going to be a hard act to follow, set in 1099 in Jerusalem on the concert in Seoul, held at a time the capital Seoul including a high- sensation. and Gentleman has had a mixed eve of the Crusades, where a wise of heightened military tensions end clothing store, restaurant and A satire on the luxury lifestyle of reception as Psy acknowledged, man known as the Copt dispenses with North Korea. swimming pool. Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district, although he was happy with its philosophical guidelines for liv- The long-awaited video, The story line featured the it has become the most-watched initial chart showing. ing to an audience of Christians, released a day after the new obnoxious Gentleman singer teas- YouTube video of all time, regis- “Many expressed disappoint- Jews, and Muslims gathered to single Gentleman hit online ing and playing practical jokes tering more than 1.5 billion views ment, saying I made too many ask questions and listen. stores worldwide, was posted on on women, such as pulling their since it debuted last July. calculations and I should have “You still have the same prob- YouTube shortly after the concert chairs away as they were about The quirky singer/rapper belted remade some of the songs I did in lems right now that you had back which was streamed live on the to sit, before meeting his match. out some 20 hits of his own and the past. But this is the best song, then,” Coelho said. “The book is video-sharing site. The song contains more English other artists at the packed con- best work and the best choice I to share my views on values that At a press conference before lyrics than Gangnam Style in a cert that featured guest perform- could possibly do,” he said. were lost, and now we need to the show, the 35-year-old singer clear nod to the singer’s newfound ances by other popular K-pop acts “I made the song feeling enor- pay attention to these values described the division of the global audience. such as 2Ne1 and G-Dragon. mous pressure,” he added. again.” values are not related to this or Korean peninsula as a “tragedy” “Let me tell you about myself. Long known at home for his Gentleman went straight into People are certainly paying that religious system. However, and said he wanted North Korean I’m such a charmer with guts, flamboyant, wacky stage per- the top five of the iTunes charts attention: since the book’s US some people in society, some reli- people to share in the “fun and vigour and humour,” Psy sings in sona, he even delivered a dance in South Korea and other Asian release last week, it has rapidly gious groups try to say ‘no, my happiness” of his music. Korean before launching into the performance of Beyonce’s “Single markets like Singapore, Hong climbed the best seller ranks, religion is the best one.’ I think “Tonight me and 50,000 Korean song’s English catch-line: “I’m a Ladies” — clad in a skin-tight, Kong and Malaysia, but could only and is now No. 2 on the New York every religion is heading toward manage 90th spot in the crucial Times best seller list for hardcover the same light and that light is US equivalent. fiction. God.” In Britain, it rose quickly to Critics have been less enthusias- Asked if his book is relevant for number 25, but elements of the tic. Stuart Jeffries of The Guardian those who do not believe in God British music press were scathing wrote, “the treacly narratives of or practice religion, Coelho said in their assessment. such novels as The Alchemist and that how people live their lives is “Like a seven-year-old on a Eleven Minutes have been excised paramount. Casio,” was the judgement of but the clichés remain.” “What counts is what you do the Times newspaper, while the Despite this, the Brazilian nov- and not what you express spiritu- underwhelmed Guardian critic elist continues to collect endorse- ally or empirically,” he said. “At called it “a fairly standard issue, ments from luminaries like Bill the end your life it is not what God pop-dance single”. Clinton and Madonna, and has more you believe in, but how did you live Already an established artist than 7.5 million Twitter followers. your life? You may not believe in in South Korea with six albums Coelho, 65, values his readers God, but you believe in love, and under his belt, Psy has been build- highly — so much so that he asked love goes beyond everything.” ing and polishing his own style of them to share their questions and Coelho is critical of hypocrisy, quirky, explosive music and his fears over Twitter so that he could which he defines as presenting flamboyant stage persona since address them in his book. The an image that is not consistent his debut in 2001. product is more a philosophical with one’s behaviour. On the other “I’ve been doing this for 12 treatise than a story, with apho- hand, he embraces contradiction, years. Would it be fair to call me risms taking precedence over plot. which he calls “part of our inner a one-hit wonder just because Through the figure of the Copt, nature.” He hopes that his book my next song falls flat?” Psy said he sermonises on topics such as helps his readers to accept their Saturday. the differences between defeat own contradictions. “I gained international fame and failure, the nature of love, “I would not classify this book almost by accident but that does victimhood, beauty and elegance, as a book about wisdom, but a not mean that I will make des- and death, which he refers to as book about accepting our con- perate efforts to maintain that the Unwanted Visitor. tradictions,” he said. “We live in global popularity. I will just con- Coelho believes there are com- a world where our lives are full tinue to do what I have been mon values shared by all and that of different reactions to different doing for all these years. If it people should pay more attention circumstances. We cannot just satisfies people’s appetite it will. to them instead of religious dogma. flatten everything and say, ‘okay, If not, it won’t.” “I think that everybody shares I’m always going to act like this.’” Psy performs during a concert in Seoul yesterday. AFP universal values,” he said. “These REUTERS Sunday 14 April 2013 4 Jumada II 1434 Volume 18 Number 5669 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Premier to open Three economic zones coming up Qatar business forum in Berlin 50sqkm facilities will provide ideal environment for industrial development, says new CEO DOHA: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E DOHA: Supported by the gov- New Port Project, just south of “The State of Qatar is definitely under decision No. 272 in 2011. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin ernment, the Economic Zones Wakrah, focused on value added poised to be among the world’s EZC is owned by the Qatari Jabor Al Thani will inaugu- Company (EZC) Qatar has manufacturing including major most modern societies. Economic Government and it is represented rate the two-day ‘Business and embarked on the development sectors such as downstream Zone Company is among the key by Small and Medium Enterprise Investment in Qatar Forum’ of three economic zones in and metals, downstream petro- drivers of Qatar National Vision Qatar. The authorised capital of tomorrow in Berlin, Germany. around Doha. With the com- chemicals, maritime and other 2030. EZC is QR5bn. Organised by Qatar’s Ministry pletion of the project, the total industries. “With a clear vision of becom- EZC is the main arm of Small of Foreign Affairs, the forum will area of these zones would be 25 These zones will provide an ing one of the region’s leading and Medium Enterprise Qatar bring together a large number of percent larger than Doha’s cur- ideal environment for the devel- economic zones for ease of doing with regard to the management ministers, businessmen , decision- rent Industrial Area. opment of various industries with business and corporate govern- and development of economic makers from Qatar and their EZC’s covers three locations: the following competitive advan- ance structure, we will definitely zones allocated by the state. Its German counterparts along with Qatar Economic Zone One is tages: Prime locations around provide the most efficient and mandate is to develop an inte- a number of officials and business about 4.01sqkm adjoining the Doha, leading edge infrastructure sustainable economic zone com- grated plan for the develop- leaders from the two countries. Hamad International Airport, and services networks; synergy mercial environment to support ment of special areas of existing The opening session will be targeting high value technology with existing/developing indus- the business activities of clients and future projects, in line with attended by German Chancellor and manufacturing, regional and trial and commercial players, and further attract more compa- development plans and goals of Angela Merkel. It aims at pro- domestic logistics services. such as the Messaied Industrial nies to set-up their businesses in the state. moting the role of Qatar in busi- Zone Two covers the devel- City, the New Doha Port, the new Qatar Economic Zones,” Al Kaabi The Minister of Business ness and investment domains and opment of about 11.95sqkm airport, the Doha Industrial City; the appointment of Fahad Rashid said. and Trade H E Sheikh Jassem highlighting the opportunities it just south of the current Doha and a professional business and Al Kaabi (pictured) as new CEO The EZC is a sharehold- bin Abdulaziz Al Thani is the offers to foreign investors. Industrial Area; and Zone Three administrative environment. of the company to push forward ing company established by the Chairman of the company. Qatar is emerging as politi- is about 33.52sqkm adjoining the The EZC yesterday announced the project. Minister of Business and Trade THE PENINSULA cal, economic and cultural centre of the Middle East and intends to pursue its ambitions to be a knowledge-based econ- omy through a well-planned strategy as laid out in the Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar is working to build a strong and Next Greek aid progressing economy through the establishment of advanced infrastructure to serve the vari- ous economic sectors. This stems tranche soon from the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to achieve sus- DUBLIN: An inspection team approved last December,” he told tainable development in various of international lenders has reporters. Greece has received economic sectors. finished its review of Greece’s about ¤200bn in rescue loans Qatar is one of the most invest- reform progress, paving the way since its first bailout in May in ment-friendly countries in the for another ¤10bn aid payment, 2010. But despite imposing a world, providing great and diver- a source with knowledge of the 75-percent debt cut on private- sified opportunities for invest- talks said yesterday. sector bondholders and receiving ment by local, Arab and global The deal reached on Friday, debt relief from its official lend- private sectors. concludes the first review by the ers last year, it is still far from The Assistant Minister for so-called “troika” of the European returning to bond markets. Foreign Affairs and International Commission, the International The recapitalisation of Greece’s Cooperation Affairs, who is also Monetary Fund and the European banks and shrinking the country’s Chairman of the standing com- Central Bank since they unlocked spendthrift public sector had been mittee for organising confer- fresh aid in December, staving off key issues on the agenda of talks ences H E Sheikh Ahmed bin a chaotic bankruptcy. with the troika, which resumed Mohamed bin Jabor Al Thani, In exchange for the December its visit in Athens earlier this said in a press conference held deal in Greece’s ¤240bn bailout, month. recently that Qatar pays due Athens passed a fresh round of Plans for Greece’s National attention to investment which austerity measures. Bank to integrate its newly has developmental and strategic “The third review mission of acquired rival Eurobank were sus- dimensions. the programme was completed pended this week after the troika Protesters gather in front of the Greek parliament yesterday during a demonstration against a Canadian gold last night in Athens with a staff raised issues over the size of the mining investment in the northeastern region of Halkidiki. G20 to consider level agreement,” one delegate merged entity and the banks said with knowledge of the discussions they were unlikely to raise enough cutting debt to told Reuters. capital to stay private. Protests in Greece against The official added the Lay-offs are also a sensitive below 90pc of GDP Eurogroup of euro zone finance issue in Greece where unemploy- ministers and the IMF’s board ment has hit a record high of 27.2 DUBLIN: Financial leaders of would each likely discuss the percent and the economy is now Canadian gold mine project the world’s 20 biggest econo- agreement in May, a condition in its sixth year of recession. mies will consider next week in for the money to actually be With the country’s constitu- Washington a proposal to cut paid. tion protecting state workers ATHENS: Thousands of Greek Canadian firm Eldorado Gold, trying to halt the project since their public debt over the longer Klaus Regling, the head of the from dismissal, Greek Prime protesters yesterday rallied the demonstrators chanted: “We 2011, when the Greek government term to well below 90 percent of euro zone’s rescue funds, said on Minister Antonis Samaras said against a Canadian gold mining want forests, land and water, not gave Hellenic Gold permission to gross domestic product, a docu- Friday the European Financial in an interview with a newspaper project under way in the north- a grave made out of gold.” dig in the region. ment prepared for the meeting Stability Facility (EFSF), under on Saturday that the government eastern region of Halkidiki, “Fields full of cyanide and While the investment is expected showed. which Greece’s rescue is handled, could reduce staff by scrapping which locals say will cause arsenic, that is what remains to create hundreds of jobs in the The proposal, prepared by the stood ready to disburse ¤10bn job positions. irreversible damage to the from gold” was another slogan. recession-hit country—where the co-chairs of the G20 Working ($13bn) to Athens once conditions “There is no doubt we need a environment. They also called for the release unemployment rate has topped Group on the Framework for were met. smaller but also better public sec- About 2,000 people took part in of two people who were arrested 27 percent—opponents say it will Growth, follows agreement of the “Greece would get ¤2.8bn after tor,” Samaras said. “The constitu- the march in Athens and another earlier this week in connection drain and contaminate local water leaders of G20 countries in June the milestones have been met. In tion doesn’t ban the dismissal of 1,500 in Greece’s second-largest with a sabotage attack carried reserves and fill the air with haz- last year to set ambitious debt addition ¤7.2bn is available in state workers whose position has city Thessaloniki. Carrying ban- out on the mining work site two ardous chemicals including lead, reduction targets beyond 2016, bonds to recapitalise the banks. been scrapped.” ners against the project run by months ago. cadmium, arsenic and mercury. when, under an earlier agreement This is based on a tranche already REUTERS Hellenic Gold, a subsidiary of Citizens’ groups have been AFP from Toronto in 2010, debt was to stop growing. “The co-chairs proposed that: ‘over the longer-term, G20 mem- bers should gear their fiscal policy towards achieving a debt level that is well below 90 percent of US puts Japan on notice in currency report GDP,” a document prepared for European Union delegates for the meeting said. WASHINGTON: The Obama second-biggest economy a cur- rates. The US move followed com- yen and has not intervened in cur- growth of domestic demand. The “We take note of the proposal administration yesterday put rency manipulator. ments by Japanese officials that rency markets, according to the Bank of Japan launched a mas- made by the co-chairs on fis- Japan on notice that it was It has been more than 18 years suggested they were targeting a congressionally-mandated report. sive bond-buying program ear- cal objectives as a good basis for watching its economic policies since the US Treasury has desig- weaker yen. “We will continue to press lier this month to try to shock discussion,” said the document, to ensure they were not aimed nated any country a manipulator. Treasury’s report highlighted Japan to adhere to the commit- the economy out of two decades of endorsed by EU finance ministers at devaluing the yen to gain a China was labeled a manipulator statements made by Japanese ments agreed to in the G7 and stagnation. The policy has sharply yesterday and seen by Reuters. competitive advantage. between 1992 and 1994. officials last year who said they G20... and to refrain from com- undercut the value of the yen - The European Union itself, In a semi-annual report on cur- The US Treasury said it would wanted to “correct the excessively petitive devaluation and targeting ending the dollar to another four- however, has a more ambitious rency practices of major trade press Japan to adhere to the com- strong yen,” and also some pro- its exchange rate for competitive year high against the Japanese debt ceiling of 60 percent of GDP partners, the US also said China’s mitment it made in February as posals to ease monetary policy by purposes,” the report said. currency on Thursday - and refu- for its 27 members and will sug- currency remained “significantly a member of the Group of Seven purchasing foreign bonds. The Treasury also said it elled a debate about competitive gest a lower target for the G20 undervalued,” but again stopped and Group of 20 nations to let But since then, Japan has was closely monitoring policies devaluations. would be better, too. short of labelling the world’s the market determine exchange mostly avoided commenting on the in Japan meant to support the REUTERS AGENCIES SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Govt spending to be higher than budgeted Qatar revenue to reach $74bn: QNB Group

DOHA: With oil prices expect- While capital spending lagged ing to go up against the original in 2012/13, the current ramp up in assumption of Qatari budget for projects will lead to an increase of the current fiscal, the QNB Group an estimated 29 percent in 2013/14. estimates that the country’s rev- Capital spending in the budget can be enue would reach around $74bn broadly categorised into three areas: during 2013-2014 fiscal. infrastructure, education and health. The Ministry of Economy and The allocation for infrastructure Finance in its budget for the fiscal year development went up by 28 percent 2013/14, has assumed an oil price of and it accounts for 54 percent of the $65/barrel, the same as last year. On capital spending budget. This spend- this basis the ministry assumes reve- ing will mainly be directed towards nue of $60bn, of which it plans to spend the rail network, roads, real estate, $58bn. However, QNB Group expects new Doha Port and the expansion of oil prices to be higher, averaging $107/ the utilities network. barrel for the fiscal period and leading Qatar Rail is an estimated $35bn to estimated revenue of around $74bn. project with initial phases set for com- This will leave room for significantly pletion by 2020. It involves a 300km higher spending than planned. of railways, including passenger and Tasdeer officials during a meeting with plastic industry representatives. Qatar, as with most GCC coun- freight, and a metro and light rail tries, tends to spend considerably network in Doha. The initial phase more than budgeted as budgets involves the core elements of the Doha 12 firms to join Tasdeer at Plast Expo in Morocco are based on conservative oil price metro and light rail network. There assumptions. In the fiscal years from is around $12bn currently being ten- 2009/10 to 2011/12, Qatar’s actual dered for 62km of underground struc- DOHA: Qatar Development Bank’s Promos and group pavilions from China, and Tunisia will attend to discuss business. spending was, on average, 20 percent tures and 30km of elevated structures. (QDB) export development agency, South Korea and Taiwan. Mansour bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, CEO more than budgeted. The road projects are mainly being Tasdeer, yesterday announced to have Tasdeer recently championed a market of QDB said: “At QDB, we are mandated Furthermore, there are indica- led by Ashghal, the public works laid the first stone for Qatari plastic prod- study of Morocco to pinpoint lucrative with developing Qatar’s private sector tions from recent trade and popu- authority, which has two major ucts exporters to tap into North Africa’s opportunities for Qatari exporters. by continuously spearheading those pro- lation data that project activity has projects. Firstly, the $14.6bn local most vibrant market, Morocco, said a For the very first time, the French Trade grammes and activities that aim at estab- been picking up since the end of 2012. roads and drainage programme, press statement. Nearly 12 industry play- Commission Ubifrance organised an official lishing a multi-faceted and world-class The government’s spending growth mainly upgrading the network of roads ers will join Tasdeer at Morocco’s largest pavilion consisting of major French com- export industry in the country. Morocco’s slowed in early 2012 as it consolidated in Doha, with completion expected in plastic products fair, Plast Expo 2013 to panies active in plastics machinery and Plast Expo is a superb platform to promote expenditure plans and adopted a new 2016. Secondly, $8.1bn of projects to foster potential expansion and business equipment. Qatari plastic exporters to new and promis- medium-term budget framework. build the Doha, Lusail and Dukhan opportunities in the country. Qatar is set to take part at the event at ing markets in North Africa.” However, spending is now likely to highways with completion expected in Plast Expo will be held at the International an exclusive pavilion spanning 144 square In the running to the event Tasdeer will be ramped up as major infrastructure 2016. There are a number of additional Fair Grounds of Casablanca between June 19 meters of space with a strong presence from organise a series of planning and preparation plans are being tendered in order to smaller road projects, amounting to and 22, and will see over 2,800 delegates and companies such as Al Bayader Pack Qatar, meetings with the participants, the first of be completed within the timeframe over $1bn with completion expected more than 150 exhibitors from across the Haya Plastics, Asima Plastics, Doha Plastics, which was recently held at the QDB premises required for the 2022 World Cup. between this year and 2016. globe showcasing their product and services Gulf Plastic Factory, Hepworth PME Qatar, with the presence of Hassan Khalifa Al Therefore, QNB Group estimates The $5.5bn Musheireb real estate line-up to scores of potential importers and Qatar German Medical Devices, Qatar Mansoori, Executive Director of Tasdeer. that actual government spending will regeneration project in the centre trade visitors. Polymer Industrial Company, Orient Plastic Morocco offers large market for the be around $66bn in 2013/14, leaving of Doha will also receive alloca- Plast Expo is a bi-annual event which Containers Factory, Uniplast and Universal plastic products and there is good growth a budget surplus of $8bn, or around tions from the government’s capital positioned as the Euro-Mediterranean gate- Wrapping Manufacturing. For the 2013 edi- expected in this sector. The customs duty four percent of GDP. QNB analysts budget. The development is expected way to Africa. Seven groups were present tion, Maroc Export will put a hosted-buyers’ charged by Morocco for the products manu- estimate that about 30 percent of total to be completed in 2016 and house at Plast Expo 2011 including the Austrian program into effect. As a result, high-profile factured by Qatari companies is zero per expenditure will be on capital projects. over 27,000 residents. It also includes pavilion “Expo Austria”, AVEP from Spain, trade visitors from Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, cent owing to the Gafta agreement. The largest category of budgeted commercial, retail, cultural and the Milan Chamber of Commerce through Ivory Coast, Jordan, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal THE PENINSULA current spending is government sala- entertainment areas. ries, which accounted for 35 percent Education accounts for 28 percent of the total in the 2013/14 budget. of the capital spending allocation. The The remainder is mainly non-sal- development of schools will receive ary items for government depart- a major portion along with other ments, such as general supplies, educational facilities such as Qatar external services and debt interest. Foundation’s Education City project. Two big banks post record earnings The largest department is General Health accounts for 18 percent of the Administration followed by defence 2013/14 capital spending budget. NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase and is one of cutting expenses and maintaining for a refinancing, because of changes to their and security, education and health. THE PENINSULA Wells Fargo, bellwethers for the bank- revenue rather than turbocharged growth. personal finances, and others might not be ing industry, reported record earnings on For both banks, analysts homed in on a able to afford one. Friday, but those numbers masked trou- slowdown in the mortgage business. For When homeowners refinance their mort- bling declines in revenue. the past several quarters, the banks have gage, they get a lower interest rate that Revenue fell slightly at both banks, enjoyed a boom in mortgage refinancings as helps them save money over time. But get- and the earnings gains came largely from homeowners lined up to take advantage of ting a refinanced loan also can cost money slashing expenses and related measures. low interest rates. That pace now appears upfront, in fees to the bank. JPMorgan socked away less to cover poten- to be stalling, if not slowing. Analysts questioned whether the home- tial lawsuits and released some of the money At JPMorgan, mortgage applications fell owners most motivated or most qualified to set aside for bad loans. Wells cut back on about eight percent over the quarter to refinance already have — “the low-hanging office space. $60.5m. They were also down about eight fruit,” as FBR Capital Markets analyst Paul The results show that in an era of slug- percent at Wells — to $140m. Compared with Miller put it. gish loan demand and increased government a year earlier, applications at JPMorgan Tim Sloan, chief financial officer at Wells, regulations, banks must stay lean if they were up just one percent. For Wells, how- estimated that 25 to 30 percent of Wells’ want to boost earnings. The industry has ever, applications were down 25 percent. mortgage borrowers were still eligible for come a long way since the panic of the finan- Standards for getting a mortgage are still a refinancing. cial crisis, but the pattern it’s settled into tight. Some homeowners might not qualify AP UAE economic delegation to visit Sweden ABU DHABI: A UAE economic and commercial delegation is set to travel to Sweden tomorrow for a three-day visit, during which opportunities of bilateral cooperation will be explored. Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, who heads the delegation, said the visit provides an opportunity to enhance economic and investment cooperation, increase trade with Sweden, and highlight the UAE as an attractive environment for foreign investments, state news agency WAM reported. He added that the visit will also bolster links between the business com- munities of both countries and see them discuss coop- eration aspects in manufac- turing, tourism, transport, knowledge and innovation. Trade between the UAE and Sweden surged by 19 percent from $609m in 2010 to $725 in 2011. QNA SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Austria defies Spaniards protest eviction pressure on bank secrecy EU ‘big six’ pledge to work together

DUBLIN: Austria defied for simply for tax fraud,” he said. growing pressure to follow “The fight with tax fraud will Luxembourg in ending bank be all the more effective if it is secrecy, after a group led by conducted on a European and Europe’s six biggest countries even global level — that’s why we pledged to work together to joined.” tackle tax havens. Announcing the cooperation, Late on Friday, the finance George Osborne, Britain’s finance ministers of Germany, France, minister, had said he was push- Britain, Italy, Spain and Poland ing for more transparency from announced their desire to jointly the UK overseas territories of push for more bank transparency, the Cayman Islands and British a message they will take to the Virgin Islands. meeting of the Group of 20 top “They are in no doubt about global economies in Washington what we expect,” he said. “The next week. places that you can hide are get- “Nobody can deny that bank ting smaller and smaller.” secrecy is outdated, that we need The announcement adds to an efficient system to tackle eva- pressure on Vienna to sign up sion strategies,” French Finance to EU rules for the automatic Minister Pierre Moscovici told exchange of information on bank reporters, flanked by his coun- depositors. terparts from the other countries. It follows Luxembourg’s deci- “Our mission is to create sion this week to share foreign Anti-eviction activists take part in an “escrache” (denunciation) protest near the house of Spanish Parliament Chairman Jesus Posada in Madrid. momentum. When these six bank account details with EU Spanish protesters seeking to stop a wave of evictions have resorted to embarrassing politicians at their homes over harsh mortgage laws that major capitals of Europe move governments from 2015, bringing have multiplied the pain of a property crash in the recession-hit country. together, it creates a strong signal it into line with all other member which nobody can resist.” states bar one — Austria. Yesterday, three other coun- But Austrian Finance Minister tries — Belgium, the Netherlands Maria Fekter stuck to her ear- and Romania — joined the initia- lier position, dismissing such an tive, the European Commission’s exchange of information as an Germany puts brakes on EU bank union official in charge of tax policy, invasion of privacy. Algirdas Semeta said. “We will fight for bank secrecy. DUBLIN: Germany said stabilise the euro and prevent policy independence, Germany it facing the bill for reckless lend- “It’s about allowing member We are no tax haven,” Fekter told European banking union will taxpayers from footing bills for on Friday persuaded EU coun- ing by foreign banks. states to make the right tax reporters, placing her country in a require changes to EU law, in a bank rescues. tries to sign a political declara- Schaeuble said the country of a choices for them without being minority of one during discussions call that could slow completion “We will not be able to take tion committing to future treaty bank in financial difficulty must affected by the malpractices of on the issue among 27 EU ministers. of the plan designed to underpin any steps on the basis of a doubt- change. first inject fresh capital before others,” Semeta told journalists, She defended Austria’s practice the euro currency. ful legal basis,” Schaeuble told Schaeuble also made clear legal direct support from the European on the sidelines of an EU minis- of imposing tax on interest paid Speaking after a meeting of reporters. “That’s why it’s also change would be necessary for the Stability Mechanism (ESM) is ters’ meeting. “In a nutshell, it’s to foreign savers, money collected European Union finance minis- crucial that we strengthen the unified scheme for tackling failed possible. about fairness.” and returned to their home coun- ters yesterday, Germany Finance network of national restructur- banks. Spain’s Finance Minister Luis Poland’s finance minister told try’s government — but with no Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said ing funds and authorities.” Changing the Lisbon treaty, de Guindos said member states Reuters that he joined the group names attached. The European the EU’s Lisbon treaty had to be As a first step towards the which underpins the bloc’s law, would pay a minimum 4.5 percent to ensure foreign multination- Union wants information about changed to allow common rules union, the European Central would be a drawn-out process as of capital for troubled banks. als do not abuse tax regimes for accounts to be given. on shutting troubled banks — a Bank is set to start supervis- it calls for the agreement of all “From that point, there profit. Such companies are par- “Our neighbours get their fair central element of the union. ing euro zone banks from July member states — some of which would be a burden sharing to ticularly important for central tax delivered,” she said, claiming “Banking union only makes 2014. require referenda. converge towards 10 percent and eastern Europe. that any automatic exchange of sense... if we also have rules for This should be followed by a It would raise particular prob- paid by the member state,” de “The scale of the problem is information would lead to an over- restructuring and resolving so-called bank resolution scheme lems for Britain, where euroscep- Guindos said. “This means the smaller in Poland than in western load of data that would not be used. banks. But if we want European to close or salvage struggling tics have argued that the country ESM will pay for around 90 Europe but some of the techniques “It’s much more sensible to institutions for that, we will need banks as well as pay for the costs should quit the bloc. percent and the member state used in western Europe to evade deliver the money rather than a a treaty change,” he said. involved. The third and final Schaeuble has long had res- for 10 percent.” taxes are being transferred to graveyard of data,” she said. “That Designed to ensure vulnerable step would be a coherent frame- ervations about banking union, Schaeuble also emphasised Poland too,” Jacek Rostowski said. brings more money quicker into countries do not have to tackle work across Europe for deposit which would be a step towards German opposition to the crea- “Citizens must have full con- the tax coffers and is genuinely financial problems alone, the plan protection. allowing the euro zone’s rescue tion of a joint deposit guarantee fidence that the system is not tackling tax evasion.” for banking union was one of the Worried the supervisory role fund to directly assist banks, a scheme. being abused to evade taxes or REUTERS bloc’s biggest political steps to could compromise ECB monetary move Germany fears might leave REUTERS Saudi Savola first quarter net profit Indian minister heads to US, up 21.8 percent Canada to woo investors AL KHOBAR: Savola Group, the Saudi Arabia-based food con- NEW DELHI: India’s finance minister heads last year to revive India’s stumbling economy, glomerate, posted a 21.8 percent to Canada and the United States this week- was slated to leave today on his tour that will year-on-year rise in its first- end to seek investment to plug a gaping hole also take him to Ottawa, New York and Boston, quarter net profit to SR295.2m in public finances and raise money to overhaul a finance ministry statement late yesterday said. ($78.72m), it said yesterday, the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. His trip comes as Asia’s third-largest economy exceeding analysts’ expectations. The investment roadshows, which kick off in faces the biggest fall in direct foreign investment The company attributed the Toronto tomorrow, are the final leg of Finance (FDI) in over a decade amid waning global risk increase in profits to higher rev- Minister P Chidambaram’s tour which began appetite and domestic growth at a decade-low enues from food, especially edible in January of major global financial hubs that level that makes India a tough sell. oil, growth in sales and increasing included Japan, Hong Hong, Germany and The FDI slide leaves India dependent on vola- its retail market share, it said in Singapore. tile foreign flows into stocks and bonds, that are a statement on the Saudi bourse. Chidambaram — a veteran politician men- far more prone to dry up in the event of economic It said sales grew 9 percent to tioned as a potential prime minister if the embat- crisis, to fund a record current account deficit. SR7.2bn in the first quarter. tled ruling Congress party wins the 2014 elections “The (deterioration in the) quality of flows is The firm, which owns the — is being accompanied by top finance ministry concerning,” Nomura economist Sonal Varma Middle East’s biggest sugar and central bank officials. said in an investors’ note. refining business, said it expects “This is a very important trip to attract invest- India’s current account deficit hit $32.6bn in to make net profit of 365m riyal ment,” a senior government official, who did not the December quarter or 6.7 percent of gross in the second quarter. Analysts wish to be named, said yesterday. domestic product (GDP), due to high gold and oil expected Savola to make profit “He will interact with top business leaders, imports and weak exports—far above the central of SR265.11m in the first quarter. pension, insurance and sovereign wealth funds bank’s comfort level of 2.5 percent of GDP. In a separate statement, Savola and his government counterparts, talking about The public finances crunch has prompted the said it plans to pay 0.50 riyal per what India is doing to increase investment and government to move more aggressively to seek share in dividends. speed up infrastructure projects,” the official said. foreign investment. REUTERS Chidambaram, reappointed to the finance job AFP Salini eyes foreign growth after Impregilo merger • Bullion - Mumbai MILAN: Italian builder Salini, taking over larger rival Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29390 Impregilo (IPGI.MI), expects the merged group to double Silver (1 kg) Rs. 53060 revenues over the next three years helped by expansion in • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.86 the Americas and Australia, its head said in a newspaper interview. Family-owned Salini, which has built a stake of 86.5 • Sensex percent in Italy’s biggest builder after a takeover bid ended on BSE 18242.56 Friday, told Il Corriere della Sera yesterday he may consider NSE 5528.55 listing the future merged group on more stock markets. • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return “It will depend on which markets will offer us more opportuni- p.a. (in dollar) ties of raising capital. An option could be a flotation on more mar- • Housing loan from HDFC LTD kets, with London among the possible options,” Chief Executive • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, Pietro Salini said. The takeover of Impregilo is part of plans by Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. Salini to create a global construction player focused on large civil • Advise on Indian Income Tax matters for NRIs. engineering projects from roads to hydroelectric dams in more Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] than 60 countries. REUTERS SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every

Fitch cuts China yuan debt Sunday rating on local government BEIJING: Fitch Ratings Ltd. cut OECD says UK will return to normal French housing market stumbles China’s long-term local-currency growth of 2pc this year PARIS: House prices in Metropolitan France debt rating, citing rising risks to the LONDON: The Organisation for Economic Canada February building permits up 1.7 fell by 1.63pc in 2012 from a year earlier, the country’s financial stability given the Co-operation and Development (OECD) lack of transparency in the increased percent as housing softens third consecutive quarter of year-on-year expects the UK to recover and reach its declines, according to the National Institute borrowing of local governments. OTTAWA: The value of Canadian building long term growth rate of two per cent for Statistical and Economic Studies (INSEE). Fitch lowered its assessment by one permits rose by a weaker-than-expected 1.7 later this year. The think tank said that When adjusted for inflation, house prices step to A+, the fifth- highest grade, percent in February as a sharp decline in its analysis, which estimates where the actually dropped by 3.12pc over the same the London-based company said in an plans for multi-family housing partially offset economy will be at in six months time period. House prices dropped by 1.27pc e-mailed statement yesterday. strength in other types of residential and non- shows that the UK will return to growth of (-1.51pc inflation-adjusted) in Q4 2012 from residential projects, Statistics Canada said on “around trend.” the previous quarter. Tuesday. The increase followed a 1.8 percent gain in January and was below the 4.3 percent gain forecast by market players for February. ADB expects India to expand 6pc News Analysis: Indonesia takes this fiscal year steps to cut logistics support costs South African consumer confidence NEW DELHI: The Asian Development Bank JAKARTA: Indonesia is undertaking slumps to nine-year low Tuesday forecast India’s economic growth measures to solve the high cost of would accelerate to 6pc in the current logistics support, particularly in JOHANNESBURG: South African the manufacturing sector, which consumer confidence slumped to a fiscal year, but said the country needs to take steps to overcome infrastructure has affected the country’s overall nine-year low in the first quarter as competitiveness in the international slower economic growth, job losses and policy hurdles if it wants to return to growth levels of over 8pc. market. This led to high disparity and higher inflation curbed households’ of growth between the eastern and finances. The FNB/BER index fell 4 western regions, the minister said. Brazil industry activity not yet points to minus 7, Johannesburg- showing firm recovery based First National Bank (FSR) and RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian industry is the Bureau for Economic Research said Australian jobless rate rises to 5.6pc seeing an erratic recovery in early 2013 in an e-mailed statement today. The SYDNEY: Australia’s jobless rate jumped that may demand further government index has slumped from a peak of 13 in to 5.6 percent in March, its highest rate measures to put local manufacturing the third quarter of 2010. in more than three years, data showed in a more competitive position amid a Thursday, adding to the chances of a further still tough global economic environment. interest rate cut. The Australian Bureau of According to the latest CNI data, use Statistics said the unemployment rate was of industrial capacity declined on a up 0.2 percentage points from February, seasonally adjusted basis to 82.6% in defying analysts, who had broadly tipped February following a surge to 84.5% in the rate to remain steady. January.

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Supply of chemicals, fertilizers & 10% of 16 Apr 2013 Sale & removal of Nissan diesel cargo 29/04/2013 DGC/ 20 ST13MT0088 QR 2,000 Free 40 Miscellaneous course materials at Doha Tender QR 500 not later than truck with palfinger crane reg. No. 96831 (12:00hrs) GCM/2013-1 Doha Golf Club Golf club value 4:00 p.m. SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 LeBron leads Heat past Celtics NBA: Lakers keep play-off hopes alive with hard-fought victory over Golden State

MIAMI: LeBron James led team’s last six games to rest an had a “probable torn Achilles.” with 20 points and nine assists ailing hamstring. “Bryant will undergo an MRI in a 109-101 win over Boston as Wade missed six games because examination tomorrow to confirm the Miami Heat benefited from of an ankle and knee injuries and the diagnosis,” Black said. having their big three reunited Bosh had missed the previous The all-star guard and future for the first time in two weeks. three games with a knee problem Hall of Famer went one further James also had six rebounds, and an illness. insisting he already knows the Chris Bosh finished with 17 points Wade bumped his sore knee extent of the injury and his sea- and seven rebounds and Dwyane against the Celtics and will son is over. Wade chipped in with 11 points receive more treatment today. “I can’t walk. I tried to put yesterday for the Heat, who have Miami host Chicago tomorrow pressure on my heel to see if I a franchise record 63 wins on the in the third-to-last game of the can do it that way and there is season. season. nothing there,” Bryant said. Because of injuries, Miami’s “I’m not at 100 percent,” Wade “I had no Achilles, that is the magic trio has been in and out of said. “I haven’t been at 100 per- sensation. MRI, surgery and then the lineup in recent weeks weeks. cent in a long time.” recovery.” “It was good to have most of Rashard Lewis chipped in 19 The Lakers still managed to our guys back tonight,” Heat head points for the Heat in the win secure the victory at Staples coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We over the under-manned Celtics. Center arena without Bryant, as have to keep moving forward.” Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford Steve Blake made two free throws The Heat, who have already paced Boston with 25 and 20 with 42 seconds remaining before clinched home-court advantage points, respectively. they held off Golden State to stay through the playoffs, also wanted Green hurt his left elbow dur- in the hunt for a post-season spot. to give them a rest as the regular ing the game but said afterward With just three games left season winds down. he was OK. in the season heading into the Heading into today’s contest, “I had the nerve go numb and contest, the fifth leading scorer James had missed four of the it wouldn’t come back as fast as in NBA history had been on a I wanted it to,” Green said. “I’m punishing pace trying to carry fine.” the Lakers on his back down the NBA Results The Celtics played without stretch. Toronto 97 Chicago 88 their two leading scorers as Paul He tried playing entire quar- Philadelphia 97 Washington 86 Pierce and Kevin Garnett sat ters yesterday without taking a Brooklyn 117 Indiana 109 with lingering ankle issues. break and it finally caught up to Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade (left) looks in as Boston Celtics’ Terrence Williams (centre) passes away from Miami Atlanta 109 Milwaukee 104 Courtney Lee opened the sec- him in the third quarter when he Heat’s Rashard Lewis in the second half of their NBA game in Miami, Florida, yesterday. Miami 109 Boston 101 ond quarter with a three-pointer injured his knee and foot on sepa- to give Boston a 30-17 lead at rate plays. Detroit 113 Charlotte 93 American Airlines Arena. Miami never trailed in the sec- the rest of the way. Meanwhile, to the outside with just over three But he stayed in the contest NY Knicks 101 Cleveland 91 Miami answered with a 17-4 ond half and took an 87-75 lead Kobe Bryant declared his season minutes left in the fourth quarter until 3:08 in the fourth when he LA Clippers 96 New Orleans 93 run to level the score and took into the fourth thanks to Lewis’ over after scoring 34 points before of yesterday night’s tight National collided with Barnes, drawing a Memphis 82 Houston 78 their first lead of the contest on three-pointer in the final minute leaving the game with a likely Basketball Association contest. foul. Dallas 108 Denver 105 a Norris Cole three-pointer with of the third. torn Achilles tendon, as the Los “I felt like I got kicked. It is a He hobbled to the stripe and San Antonio 108 Sacramento 101 just under five minutes left in the Lewis also nailed a three- Angeles Lakers kept their play- move I make a million times and sank two free throws to tie the second. pointer on the first possession of off hopes alive with a 118-116 win pop,” Bryant said. game 109-109 and then limped off Utah 107 Minnesota 100 The Heat led 58-50 at halftime the fourth while being fouled. He over Golden State. “Just a freak situation I guess.” the court for the final time and Oklahoma City 106 Portland 90 after Wade hit a field goal at the missed the free throw but it didn’t Bryant said he felt a “pop” as Lakers’ spokesman John Black headed straight to the dressing LA Lakers 118 Golden State 116 buzzer to cap a 41-point quarter. matter as the Heat kept rolling he tried to beat Harrison Barnes said after the game that Bryant room. AGENCIES

Baseball Results Chicago Cubs 4 San Francisco 3 Reyes hurt as Blue Jays beat Royals 8-4 Cleveland 1 Chicago White Sox 0 NY Yankees 5 Baltimore 2 KANSAS CITY: Jose Reyes clubhouse after an 8-4 win over said. “Doesn’t matter if he’s on in sliding or standing, and made of the MRI exam may not be Atlanta 6 Washington 4 heard a pop in his left ankle as the Kansas City Royals , on his our team or another team, in the late choice to hit the dirt, known until today, and while the Pittsburgh 6 Cincinnati 5 he awkwardly slid into second way to have an MRI exam. the baseball world - the baseball his trailing ankle twisting cru- initial diagnosis was a sprained Philadelphia 3 Miami 1 base. After that, everything else The sound of general manager community - your heart goes out elly beneath him. Reyes slid over left ankle, the GM acknowledged Toronto 8 Kansas City 4 was a blur to the Toronto Blue Alex Anthopoulos on the phone to whoever it might be. In this the bag, and then rolled around Reyes is headed for the disabled NY Mets 16 Minnesota 5 Jays yesterday. with other GMs, already trying case, he’s one of the top guys in on the dirt, screaming in pain. list and that it could be months. St Louis 2 Milwaukee 0 The trainers lifted their star to make a deal for a replacement the game.” Trainers for both teams ran out “You never want to see it, but Arizona 3 LA Dodgers 0 shortstop onto a cart, and the amid the sobering news that Reyes had just driven in two to help him while a green cart was at the same time, you’ve been Houston 5 LA Angels 0 cart drove through the bullpen Reyes could be out up to three runs with a base hit when he was driven in from the outfield. through enough to know it’s going Oakland 4 Detroit 3 gate in right field. The sight was months. attempting to steal second base in “It didn’t look good, obviously,” to happen over the course of the Seattle 3 Texas 1 of Reyes, his ankle heavily band- “It’s on everybody’s mind,” the sixth inning. He appeared to Blue Jays starter JA Happ said. season,” Anthopoulos said. aged, being pushed out of their Blue Jays manager John Gibbons be indecisive about whether to go Anthopoulos said the results AGENCIES Colorado 7 San Diego 5 Blackhawks clinch division title

CHICAGO: The Chicago Blackhawks locked up the Central division. Now, they have their sights set on wrapping up the top seed in the Western Conference play-offs. Brandon Saad scored in the fifth round of the shootout, after Jonathan Toews tied the game late in regulation, and the Blackhawks clinched the Central title with a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. With St. Louis losing to Columbus earlier Friday, the Blackhawks claimed the division crown for the first time since 2010 when they won the Stanley Cup. Chicago also increased its lead to seven points over Anaheim in the race for the top seed in the West, but what the Blackhawks really want is home-ice advantage through- out the postseason. They lead the East-leading Pittsburgh Penguins by four points. “This is a great building to play in,” goalie Corey Crawford said. “There’s a lot of energy when we play here. We want to play the majority of our games here in the playoffs.” The energy certainly was there on Friday, Chicago Blackhawks’ Brandon Saad scores the game winning goal on Detroit Red Wings’ Jimmy and with a packed arena, the Blackhawks Howard during the shoot-out of their NHL game in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. gave their fans plenty to cheer about. The shootout was tied 1-1 when Saad beat Viktor Stalberg sprinted down the right to score goals. They have netted two or fewer Jimmy Howard with a backhand shot. Corey wing and tried to center the puck to Patrick in seven of eight games. Crawford then stopped Johan Franzen, seal- Kane. The puck appeared to hit a Detroit “(The Blackhawks) tied it up late there ing the win and giving the Blackhawks a defender, and Howard swept it aside. in the third,” Red Wings forward Henrik four-game season sweep over Detroit. “When you have the confidence to be able Zetterberg said. The Blackhawks were trailing 2-1 when to come back in games like this, that’s a huge “After that it was kind of like a tight game Howard made a big pad save on Michael thing going into the playoffs,” Toews said. all the way to the shootout. Unfortunately we Frolik in the closing minutes of regulation. Whether the Red Wings will get there couldn’t score more than they did.” The puck ended up at the left point, and remains to be seen. Stalberg beat Howard with a wraparound Johnny Oduya’s shot hit traffic in front. They are eighth in the West and are fight- shot early in the second period. Two quick Toews then fired in the loose puck for his ing to make the postseason for the 22nd goals by Franzen and Cory Emmerton late 20th goal, tying it with 2:57 left. straight season. It is an unusual spot for in the period gave Detroit a 2-1 lead, but Chicago then a franchise that has won four Stanley Cup the Blackhawks answered down the stretch, had a 2-on-1 rush, titles during this run. winning their final game against the Red NHL Results but Bryan Bickell’s “To me, you know, strange is living in the Wings as division foes. Ottawa 2 New Jersey 0 shot with about 50 past,” coach Mike Babcock said. “You guys The teams have played 725 times, more Columbus 4 St Louis 1 seconds remaining are talking about other teams. They wear than any other two NHL teams, but the Dallas 5 Nashville 2 hit the left post. the same sweaters, but other teams. You are rivalry between the Original Six franchises The Blackhawks what you are. This is what we’ve earned this will have a different look next season because Chicago 3 Detroit 2 had a chance late year, and this is what our team is.” Detroit is headed to the Eastern Conference. Calgary 3 Phoenix 2 in overtime when What they are is a team that is struggling AP SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

QAF honour athletes and officials during the 14th GCC Athletics meet in Doha

The top athletes from GCC region who were honoured by Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) during the 14th GCC Athletics meet in Doha, pose for a picture along with QAF President Dahlan Al Hamad and other QAF officials on Thursday. Among those honoured by QAF were Roqaya Al Gassra, Bahrain’s top female sprinter, and Mohamed Salman Al Khuwalidi, the long jumper from Saudi Arabia. Qatar’s Talal Mansour and Mutaz Barshim, the London 2012 Olympic Games bronze winner in high jump, were also honoured. Prince Nawaf bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Saud, President, Saudi Arabia Amateur Athletics Federation, and former QAF chief Abdullah Al Zaini were also honoured with medallions. CENTRE: Former QAF chief Al Zaini (left) receiving his medalllion from QAF President Dahlan. RIGHT: QAF President honouring Barshim.

Korir faces fast field in Boston Djokovic gambles Marathon

BOSTON: Defending champion Wesley Korir, who recently won on injured ankle a seat in Kenya’s parliament, said his goal in today’s Boston Marathon will be to make his countrymen proud with another Monaco to meet Isner in Houston semis victory, but he will face a fast field of fellow Kenyans and MONTE CARLO, Monaco: for an unprecedented ninth a break point and broke Ginepri Ethiopians on the way. Novak Djokovic tested his dam- straight title in the principality five times on the clay court at the “My first priority now is to rep- aged right ankle yesterday with where he continually dominates. River Oaks Country Club. resent the people of Kenya well a quick exhibition hit with Andy The Spaniard ranked fifth “From the beginning, I had a and they would be very happy to Murray in front of the famed and seeded third flew in after a good feeling,” Monaco said. “I was see me first,” Korir said yesterday Monte Carlo Casino before three-week rest in the wake of his serving well. about his race strategy. deciding to take a chance and Indian Wells title last month, the “Every game I got more con- “For that I will have to run very play in the ATP Masters 1000 climax to his comeback to ten- fident. I played very well. Maybe hard. The best in shape will win starting today. nis after a seven-month pause for Robby didn’t have a good day. the race.” The Serb world number one knee injuries. I have great memories on this As Korir and a handful of fel- Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal poses in front of a picture of the 2012 rolled his ankle last weekend as he Meanwhile, defending champ court.” low east Africans -- Kenyans led his nation into the Davis Cup Juan Monaco crushed Robby Monaco said he hopes to carry final of the Monte-Carlo tournament, in Monaco, yesterday. The 2013 ATP and Ethiopians have dominated semi-finals over the USA, then Ginepri 6-1, 6-0 in the quarter- the momentum over from Friday’s Masters Series Tournament of Monte Carlo will start from tomorrow and Boston’s notoriously grueling flew back to his Monte Carlo base finals yesterday of the US Clay win to the semis. will end on April 21. marathon course for a quarter for intensive rehab and treatment Court Championships, setting up “John is a great player. I’ll have century -- make final prepara- after a scan showed no ligament a re-match of last year’s final with to play like today or even better over the Italian 6-4, 6-4 in their Hidalgo 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-4 in just tions for Boston’s 117th running, damage. John Isner. tomorrow if I want to beat him. centre court match. under two and a half hours. talk swirled about Korir’s fitness. Djokovic takes the top seeding Only this time Monaco and I have to be focussed. When I get The 27-year-old Spaniard The 22-year-old Williams fin- Since sweating through high at the most picturesque venue in runner-up Isner will meet in the the opportunity, I can’t miss it.” Almagro blasted nine aces, had ished with five aces and won 58 temperatures to win here in two the sport as he heads the field Houston semi-finals after Isner The other semi will see top seed one double fault and won 75 per- percent of his second-serve points hours 12 minutes and 40 seconds with Murray second. booked his spot with a 6-3, 3-6, Nicolas Almagro battle 144th- cent of his first-serve points. compared to just 39 percent for last year, Korir, who earned his Missing from the non-obliga- 6-3 win over Ricardas Berankis ranked Rhyne Williams. Lorenzi hammered five aces the Spaniard. college degree in Kentucky, said tory event will be number three earlier in the day. Almagro capitalized on all and had three double faults in the The fifth-seeded Isner blasted the campaign and now his work Roger Federer (pre-planned The third-seeded Monaco, of three break point chances as he 81-minute centre court match. 19 aces and won 89 per cent of his as a lawmaker have taken time training break) and Spain’s David Argentina, needed just 56 min- beat seventh seed Paolo Lorenzi Almagro next faces American first serve points to advance past away from racing. Ferrer (thigh injury). utes to dispatch American quali- in straight sets. wild card Williams, who reached the Lithuania’s Berankis, who He insists he has had plenty of Multiple champion and king of fier Ginepri in their first contest Almagro, who has won all 12 of his first-ever ATP semi-final by beat second seed Tommy Haas in time to train, however and said: clay Rafael Nadal will be bidding in five years. Monaco did not face his ATP Tour titles on clay, rolled outlasting Spain’s Ruben Ramirez the previous round. AFP “I’m about to see how much time being in parliament took away from running.” Nipping at his heels for a chunk of the $806,000 prize purse will Abdel Rahman advances at be Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa Benti, 23, who boasts the field’s fastest time, having won his first-ever marathon in Dubai in January InterContinental Squash in two hours four minutes and 45 seconds. “On paper this is a great field,” said Amby Burfoot, DOHA: Abdel Rahman Al Malki defeated editor-at-large at Runner’s World. Yasser Al Gazzar to move into the next round REUTERS of the InterContinental Squash tournament organised by Qatar Squash Federation and played at Khalifa International Tennis and Australia target Squash Complex and at InterContinental Doha Bay Club. top five at 2016 Abdel Rahman won in straight games to advance in the five-day tournament which Games in Rio will end tomorrow. The tournament is spon- sored by InterContinental Hotel and Galaxy Sports. The semi-finals and finals will be played SYDNEY: Better use of at InterContinental Bay Club from today and resources rather than more tomorrow. government funding will help Results: Australia return to the top Professional: Abdel Rahman Al Malki bt five Olympic nations, Australia Yasser Al Gazzar 11-5, 11-5, 11-3; Fadi Zohair Olympic Committee president bt Mike Simpson 11-5, 11-2, 11-2; Ahmed Noor John Coates said yesterday. bt Mark Murad 11-3, 11-7, 11-2; Alex Rosca bt The AOC has set another top- Khalid AlHindawi 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9; Fabian five target for the 2016 Rio de Chenais bt Francis Saliba 11-2, 11-2, 11-4; Azlan Janeiro Olympics after Australia Amjad bt Ahmed Hamdi 11-5, 11-5, 11-2; Faheem slipped to 10th in the medals table Zaman bt Ehab Amin 11-5, 11-5, 11-7; Ahmed Al at last year’s London Games. Tamimi bt Ahmed Abdel Fattah 11-2, 11-3, 11-2. “This is not the time for Level A: Ahmed Noor bt Ahmed Hamdi 11-4, national federations, or the AOC 11-3, 11-3; Graham Hearman bt Ehab Amin 11-2, Action from the InterContinental Squash at Khalifa on their behalf, to be going cap in 11-5, 11-2; Alex Rosca bt Mohamed Rashad 11-2, International Tennis and Squash Complex and at hand to the federal government,” 11-1, 11-1; Haytham Goudah bt Mark Murad InterContinental Doha Bay Club. Coates wrote in the AOC’s annual 11-5, 11-5, 11-8; Khalid Al Hindawi bt Faheem report, released yesterday. Zaman 11-1, 11-2, 11-1; Fabian Chenais bt Osama Zeyad Ahmed Ali 11-2, 11-7, 11-9; Youssef Essam “Our objective again is to finish Al Sherbeeni 11-2, 11-4, 11-2; Umair Zaman bt bt Abddul Rahman Al Khalaf 11-8, 11-6, 11-6. in the top five nations on the gold Tanay Srivastava 11-2, 11-4, 11-8; Filip Babovka Under-11: Waleed Zaman Bt Yousef Essam, and overall medal standings.” bt Mike Simpson 11-0,11-0, 11-0. 11-5, 11-4, 11-3; Ahmed Al Obaidli Bt Ahmed Australia, who also targeted Level B: Sadam Mehawesh bt Ahmed Bassam, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2; Mohamed Tarek Bt Ali a top-five in London, won seven Hamdi 11-5, 11-2, 11-4; Haytham Goudah bt Al Qahtani, 11-2, 11-3, 11-5; Yousef Al Sakka Bt gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze med- Adil Nastar 11-7,11-7,11-4; Garham Herman bt Ebrahim Darwish, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5. als at the Games to finish 10th in Tanay Srivastana 11-5, 11-4, 11-2; Waleed Emam Under-13: Abdul Aziz Al Ishaq Bt Mohamed the medals table. bt Mohamed Al Roobi 11-8,11-2,11-8; Amin Al Saadi, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6; Yousef Al Sakka Bt They were seventh in terms of Mohamed bt Eric Mavpin 11-3, 11-4, 11-7; Abdel Tameem Alaji, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1; Waleed Zaman Bt overall medals won. Aziz Omairah bt Wessam Saad 11-5,11-3,11-6; Ali Al Emadi, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4. Their swimmers, a tradi- Amer Al Samadi bt Waleed Emad 11-8, 11-8, Under-15: Ahmed Al Hemaidi bt Garah tional strength of the Australian 7-11, 11-9; Abdel W Ishaq bt Osama Al Sherbeeni Al Neimi, 11-2, 11-2, 11-1; Abdul Aziz Khaled Olympic team, won just one gold 11-2,11-5,11-1. Mohamed bt Rashid Ali, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2; Mayar medal, six silver and three bronze Under-9: Mohamed Tarek bt Yossef Al Kubaisi Al Sakka bt Jassim Salah, 11-5, 11-8, 11-3; Abdul in London -- their lowest tally in 11-8, 11-5, 11-6; Salem Al Malki bt Khaled Aziz Omeirah bt Mohamed Zeyab, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6. the pool since 1992 in Barcelona. Moustafa 11-5, 11-3, 11-6; Nguel Mancho bt THE PENINSULA AFP SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Amateur Guan Tianlang of China (above) and Jason Day (right) in action during second round play of the 2013 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Second-round scores at Augusta Day seizes one-shot lead AUGUSTA, Georgia: Collated scores after the sec- ond round of the 77th Masters at par-72 Augusta National Golf Club: 138 Jason Day (AUS) 70-68 139 Fred Couples (USA) 68-71, Marc as 14-year-old makes cut Leishman (AUS) 66-73 140 Angel Cabrera (ARG) 71-69, Jim Furyk (USA) 69-71, Brandt Snedeker (USA) 70-70 Augusta Masters: Swirling winds test the golfers on the second day 141 Adam Scott (AUS) 69-72, Jason Dufner (USA) 72-69, David Lynn (ENG) 68-73, AUGUSTA, Georgia: Jason and rebounded back into the pond that sent him crashing to one- Lee Westwood (ENG) 70-71, Justin Rose Day put himself in prime posi- fronting the green. under-par 143. (ENG) 70-71, KJ Choi (KOR) 70-71, tion once again to end Australia’s Woods, who up until that point A damp and dreary start to Tiger Woods 70-71 Masters jinx when he fired a was the only player of 93 in the the play gave way to sunshine 142 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) four-under-par 68 to seize the field without a bogey in his round, and roars with eagles and bird- 68-74, Bernhard Langer (GER) 71-71 lead at the halfway mark of the hit his fifth shot within three feet ies flying, before swirling winds Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-76, Rory McIlroy year’s first major championship. to save bogey. thoroughly tested the golfers. (NIR) 72-70, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) Day curled in a 13-foot birdie A three-putt at the 18th gave Day was stymied by the wind at 71-71, John Senden (AUS) 72-70 putt at the par-three 16th hole world number one Woods another the par-three 12th where a sud- 143 Trevor Immelman (RSA) 68-75, Steve to break a three-way tie and fin- bogey for a 71 that dropped him den change in direction contrib- Stricker (USA) 73-70, Dustin Johnson ish at six-under-par 138 on a dif- to three-under 141, three shots off uted to his hitting the ball on the (USA) 67-76, Matt Kuchar (USA) 68-75, ficult day of swirling winds and the pace. bank short of the green, where it Bill Haas (USA) 71-72, Ryan Moore tricky pin placements at Augusta The 14-times major winner, trickled down into Rae’s Creek on (USA) 71-72, Luke Donald (ENG) 71-72 National. looking for his first major triumph his way to a bogey-four. 144 David Toms (USA) 70-74, Michael The 25-year-old Day, a runner- in five years and first Masters win The Australian recovered with Thompson (USA) 73-71, Scott Piercy up in the Masters and US Open since 2005, was not dismayed. a birdie at the par-five 13th. (USA) 75-69, Rickie Fowler (USA) 72-68 in 2011, wielded a hot putter to “My ball striking was so good Sergio Garcia of Spain teed off notch 10 one-putts in his quest today,” a confident Woods said. with a share of the lead after his 145 Ernie Els (RSA) 71-74, Bo Van Pelt (USA) 71-74, Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 72-73, to become the first Australian to “Even my misses were on top of 66, but soared to a 76 to finish on Sandy Lyle (SCO) 73-72, Richard Sterne claim a green jacket. flags.” two-under 142. (RSA) 73-72, Zach Johnson (USA) “Obviously there’s a lot of pres- Angel Cabrera of Argentina, Day’s missed birdie chance at 17 69-76 sure on my shoulders, being from the 2009 Masters champion, saved the day for China’s 14-year- Australia and no Australian has made a sizzling finish to join a old Guan Tianlang, who posted a 146 Paul Lawrie (SCO) 76-70, Thomas Bjorn ever won the event,” said Day, who three-way tie on four under par 75 that included a penalty stroke (DEN) 73-73, Henrik Stenson (SWE) withdrew from last year’s Masters with Jim Furyk (71) and Brandt for slow play that put him at four- 75-71, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 72-74, Keegan because of an ankle injury. Snedeker (70). over 148. Bradley, (USA) 73-73, Brian Gay (USA) “It’s all how you look at it. If Cabrera birdied four in a row Guan squeezed into weekend 72-74, Kevin Na 70-76, Carl Pettersson you look at it as pressure, you’re and five of the last six holes for play by being within 10 shots of (SWE) 76-70, Tim Clark (RSA) 70-76, going to worry about it more. If his 69. the lead. Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 74-72, you look at it as a challenge and Joining Woods on 141 were The youngest competitor ever Stewart Cink (USA) 75-71 an opportunity to be the first and Australian Adam Scott (72), at the Masters, Asia-Pacific 147 D.A. Points (USA) 72-75, Nick Watney stay positive with it ... that only Britons Lee Westwood (71), Justin Amateur champion Guan became (USA) 78-69, Phil Mickelson (USA) motivates you to play well.” Rose (71) and David Lynn (73), the youngest player to make the 71-76, Martin Kaymer (GER) 72-75, Day’s right-to-left putt at 16 American Jason Dufner (69) and cut at a major championship and Robert Garrigus (USA) 76-71, Peter snapped a three-way tie at five- K J Choi of South Korea (71). clinched the silver cup awarded to Hanson (SWE) 72-75, John Huh (USA) under with compatriot Marc Day nearly extended his lead by the low amateur at the Masters. 70-77 Leishman and 1992 champion a stroke to seven under par when Also advancing to the last two 148 Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 78-70, Guan Fred Couples atop an impressive he gave himself a birdie chance at rounds was 2012 winner Bubba Tianlang (CHN) 73-75, Lucas Glover leaderboard. the 17th hole, but the Australian Watson who shot 73 for his 148 74-74, Branden Grace (RSA) 78-70, The smooth-swinging Couples, slid his putt just by the edge of total. John Peterson (USA) 71-77, Ryo 53, birdied the last for 71, while the cup. Sixty-one players made the cut. Ishikawa (JPN) (71-77), Bubba Watson Leishman, the overnight co- Long-hitting Dustin Johnson Among those missing were (USA) 75-73 leader after an opening 66, shot actually did reach seven-under former US Open winner Graeme 149 Martin Laird (SCO) 76-73, Jamie 73 to join him on 139. after birdies at the fourth, ninth, McDowell (149) and his fellow Donaldson (WAL) 74-75, George Tiger Woods was part of a four- 10th and 13th holes. Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter Coetzee (RSA) 75-74, Matteo Tiger Woods of the US reacts during the second round of the 77th way logjam at five-under when he A bogey for Johnson at 14 was (151), former British Open winner Manassero (ITA) 75-74, Yang Yong-Eun Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Woods is suffered a cruel bit of bad luck followed by double-bogey at the Louis Oosthuizen (150) and US (KOR) 72-77, Larry Mize (73-76), Ted part of a four-way logjam at five-under. as his third shot into the par-five par-five 15th, bogey at 17 and Open champion Webb Simpson Potter (USA) 76-73, Webb Simpson 15th struck the stick on the fly another double-bogey at the last (149). REUTERS (USA) 73-76, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 73-76 Chinese prodigy Guan makes 150 Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 74-76 Woods’ charge at Masters 151 John Merrick (USA) 74-77, Ben Curtis more history at Masters (USA) 76-75, Mark O’Meara (USA) 74-77, Mike Weir (CAN) 72-79, Nicolas AUGUSTA: Chinese schoolboy Guan Tianlang rocked the golfing Colsaerts (BEL) 74-77, Ian Poulter (ENG) halted by freakish bounce world by making the cut at the 77th Masters despite being penalised 76-75 one shot for slow play in the second round. 152 Michael Weaver (USA) 78-74, TJ Vogel AUGUSTA: A freakish bounce His approach struck the pin, it from, but I went two yards fur- But he needed to endure an agonising wait of several hours until the (USA) 77-75, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) cost Tiger Woods the chance but rather than drop into the hole ther back and I took, tried to take final grouping came in to be sure that he had survived. 79-73 to finish higher up the leader for an eagle or fall safely for a two yards off the shot of what I The 14-year-old from Guangzhou, who is the youngest player in 153 Russell Henley (USA) 72-81, Kevin board in the second round of birdie putt, it ricocheted straight felt I hit. Masters history, was sanctioned as he played the 17th hole. That meant Streelman (USA) 76-77, Padraig the Masters but he remained on off the flag stick and rolled back “I felt that was going to be the he came in with a three-over par 75 and stood at four-over 148 after Harrington (IRL) 78-75 course for a shot at winning a across the green into Rae’s Creek. right decision to take off four 36 holes. 155 Francesco Molinari (ITA) 74-81, Nathan fifth green jacket. “The sun was in my eyes, so right there. And I did, it worked Making the cut were the top 50 and level plus all players within 10 Smith (USA) 77-78 The world number one was on I knew I started the ball on the out perfectly.” strokes and with the halfway lead later established at six-under 138, the charge late in his round, grab- flag,” Woods explained. “I didn’t Woods dropped another shot Guan was safely through, right on the limit, to play at the weekend. 157 Tom Watson (USA) 79-77, Steven Fox bing a share of the lead and with know if I cut it enough, but evi- with a rare three-putt on the final He will be the youngest to play third and fourth rounds at the (USA) 76-81 the Augusta National galleries dently it was a really good one. hole to finish with a 71 to reach Masters and he is the first player from mainland China to make the 158 Craig Stadler (USA) 79-79, Hunter roaring him on. Instead of picking up a shot, the halfway point at three-under cut in the year’s first major. Guan is also certain to win the Silver Mahan (USA) 76-82, Ian Woosnam He looked certain to take the Woods was forced to replay the par, three behind Australian Cup, which goes to the top amateur who completes 72 holes, as his five (WAL) 80-78 outright lead on the par-15th hole shot and try to salvage a bogey, leader Jason Day. amateur rivals all failed to make the cut. 160 Alan Dunbar (NIR) 83-77 when he played a near-perfect which he did with a brilliantly “I really swung the club well The Asian prodigy became the youngest player in the history of the third shot, when the golfing gods executed chip then putt. and didn’t really get a lot out of Masters on Thursday when he carded a one-over 73 that included four 164 Ben Crenshaw (USA) 80-84, Hiroyuki turned against him. “I went back to where I played this round,” he said. REUTERS birdies and five bogeys. REUTERS Fujita (JPN) 79-85 SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Team orders Hamilton takes first pole will stay an option, say Mercedes SHANGHAI: Controversial for his new employers ‘team orders’ remain an option for Mercedes despite the storm caused by their use in Malaysia last month, principal Ross Chinese Grand Prix: The Briton to start for Mercedes from front row Brawn and executive director Toto Wolff said yesterday. The clarification came after Chinese Grand Prix SHANGHAI: Lewis Hamilton grid after opting to start on the Niki Lauda, the Formula One swept to his first pole position slower but longer-lasting medium team’s non-executive chairman Starting Grid for Mercedes at the Chinese tyres rather than the new soft and stakeholder who has appeared Formula One Grand Prix yes- compound used by Hamilton. at odds with Brawn since his SHANGHAI: Starting grid terday, with Kimi Raikkonen of Vettel did not set a time in the appointment, told reporters they from the Formula One Chinese Lotus lining up alongside and final session after locking a wheel would no longer be used. Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit today Red Bull well down the starting under braking. Mercedes used them at Sepang grid. “I lost the brake pressure and to keep Nico Rosberg behind 1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) In only his third race for the had to abort the lap,” he said. third-placed Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes team he joined at the end of last Webber, barely speaking to the who qualified on pole for today’s 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) season from McLaren, 2008 world German after Vettel defied team race in China, and ensure nei- Lotus - Renault champion Hamilton celebrated orders in Malaysia and passed ther driver ran out of fuel with 3. Fernando Alonso (Spain) the 27th pole of his career at a him to win, was sidelined by a fuel so many points at stake. Ferrari circuit where he has won twice problem during the second phase Red Bull also tried to apply 4. Nico Rosberg (Germany) before. of qualifying. them in Malaysia but world cham- Mercedes Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso The Australian was 14th fastest pion Sebastian Vettel ignored the 5. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari will start third, with Red Bull’s but was sent to the back of the call, triggering a furore by over- 6. Romain Grosjean (France) Sebastian Vettel ninth and his grid for having insufficient fuel taking team-mate Mark Webber Lotus - Renault team-mate Mark Webber start- in the car to drive it back to the to win. 7. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) ing from the back of the grid due pits and provide a mandatory one “I’ll have to speak to him so he Toro Rosso - Ferrari to a fuel problem. litre sample. can explain,” said Brawn, smiling, “Today is such a blessing to The governing FIA said in a when asked about Lauda’s com- 8. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren be here up front because it (the statement that there was only ments. “In fairness, Niki like all move to Mercedes) was such a 150ml left in the tank. of us wants to see his drivers race. 9. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) change for me,” Hamilton, last “The amount of fuel that was “None of us as sportsmen like Red Bull - Renault on pole with McLaren at the required to be put into the car team orders. 10. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) 2012 Brazilian season-ender, told from the fuel rig was not fully “It is something for us that in Sauber - Ferrari reporters. “It’s just an incredible delivered. This was due to an error rare circumstances, I must say, 11. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force feeling. I’m so happy to have our with the fuel bowser that meant it we decide that is the best decision India - Mercedes first pole for some time. I’m just under delivered 3kg of fuel,” said for the team. And in very rare 12. Sergio Perez (Mexico) ecstatic really. The lap was great.” team principal Christian Horner. circumstances I am sure we will McLaren Mercedes, uncompetitive for Webber, who had feared a reach those conclusions again.” 13. Adrian Sutil (Germany) most of last season, were last “double-whammy”, put a brave Austrian Wolff, speaking to Force India - Mercedes on pole a year ago at the same face on his situation and agreed reporters separately, agreed with 14. Pastor Maldonado race with eventual winner Nico it was “not the optimum starting Brawn and said there were two (Venezuela) Williams - Renault Rosberg. The German - whose position”. clear circumstances where such 15. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) pole was the first by a Mercedes McLaren’s Jenson Button, orders would be necessary. Toro Rosso - Ferrari works driver since 1955 - qualified whose car was off the pace in the British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG GP One was if the team became celebrates winning the pole position after qualifying session of the 16. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) fourth this time. first two races, found himself in aware of a problem with the cars Williams - Renault Ferrari’s Alonso will start the unexpected position of start- Chinese Grand Prix that will take place today. and wanted to make sure they fin- ahead of Felipe Massa for the ing ahead of both Red Bulls in ished and the other was towards 17. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari first time this season, denying eighth place and on the harder the end of the season when one the Brazilian the honour of being tyre. the track for the first eight and than most people. But we have of the two drivers might be out 18. Jules Bianchi (France) the first team-mate to out-qualify “This was the best we could do a half minutes while teams kept good race pace. I expect a tough of the title reckoning. Marussia - Cosworth the Spaniard for five consecutive with what we have,” he said. “We the number of laps to the bare race but I hope we can maintain “There is one order in the 19. Max Chilton (Britain) races. don’t really have the pace of the minimum. position.” team: that is that we would like Marussia - Cosworth “The biggest threat could come front-running cars yet.” “These tyres are very tricky Raikkonen, winner of the sea- to see our guys race,” said Wolff. 20. Charles Pic (France) from Raikkonen as the Lotus has There were few thrills in the this weekend,” said Hamilton. son-opener in Australia, echoed “We are not racing for ourselves, Caterham - Renault shown it manages its tyres well,” session as a whole, with the “Making the option tyre last his thoughts. but we are racing for the specta- 21. Giedo van der Garde said Alonso. quick-wearing soft tyres creating is almost impossible, so it’s prob- “I think the gap is quite big still tors and fans and we must never (Netherlands) Caterham Massa will start fifth with a situation where drivers opted ably going to be a short stint at and we don’t have that speed right forget that. But there could be a - Renault Romain Grosjean sixth for Lotus. to preserve their sets for today’s the start apart from for this guy now. So, second is not bad, I think situation where we have to inter- 22. Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull’s championship leader race. (Raikkonen), who seems to be it’s the best that I’ve been with the vene from the pit wall, as harmful Red Bull - Renault Vettel will line up ninth on the The crowd saw no cars at all on able to look after tyres better team ever,” he said. REUTERS as it is for the sport.” REUTERS

Schleck hoping Amstel Gold Black Caviar claims 25th career win heralds return SYDNEY: Australian cham- pion thoroughbred Black Caviar banished any remaining doubts to form of her place as the world’s top female sprinter with a storming THE HAGUE: Former Tour finish to claim her 25th win in de France winner Andy Schleck as many races in the T J Smith will be hoping to use the Stakes at Royal Randwick Ardennes classics this month to yesterday. complete his return to the top. Roared on by a sell-out crowd Luke Nolen (centre) Schleck will line up today at of 25,000 Sydneysiders, the six- rides Black Caviar the Amstel Gold race, the first of year-old mare also confirmed to win the TJ Smith three Spring Classics in the hilly her status as one of Australia’s Stakes at Royal Ardennes region that will be fol- greatest horses alongside 1930 Randwick racecourse lowed by the Fleche Wallonne and Melbourne Cup winner Phar Lap then Liege-Bastogne-Liege. and triple Melbourne Cup winner in Sydney yesterday. And although Schleck may Makybe Diva. Roared on by a sell- still be some way from the best The victory yesterday gave out crowd of 25,000 he showed in winning the Tour in Black Caviar the Australian Sydneysiders, the 2010 (after Alberto Contador was record for Group One race wins six-year-old mare stripped of his original victory for with 15, eclipsing the mark held also confirmed her doping), he is hoping the rugged, by Kingston Town since his last status as one of lumpy terrain of the Ardennes outing in 1982. Australia’s greatest will help him rediscover his legs. “She’s a marvellous horse, horses alongside 1930 But he admits there may yet be what can you say?” trainer Peter Melbourne Cup winner some way to go. Moody told reporters at track- Phar Lap and triple “Things are progressing slowly,” side. “Twenty-five straight, 15 Melbourne Cup winner he told Luxembourger magazine Group Ones. Makybe Diva. Le Quotidien. “I’ve had the wind in “I’m just really proud of her, my face, as we say in cycling, but putting on a great show for that will change. Sydney. Sydney hasn’t seen her “I think I’m on the right track.” as much as other places. It’s been a tough last 12 months “Let’s hope we see her run for Schleck, who also twice fin- again a few more times.” ished second on the Tour and won This was Australian Derby day Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2009. at Royal Randwick but there was He broke his sacrum - a trian- no doubting who was the star of gular bone at the base of the spine the show. - in a crash at the Criterium du Black Caviar’s colours of salmon Dauphine last year, forcing him pink with black spots were ubiqui- jockey Luke Nolen moved her out- three lengths from Epaulette. No Sydney but she still kicked their “We’ll get her home and have a out of the Tour. tous on everything from baseball side in search of a bit more room. one was going to win a fortune (backsides).” chat with the team and see where Ever since he has been unable caps to ties, expensive millinery Some rival trainers had sug- backing her - a $1 bet returned It was the second time she we go from there,” he said. to recapture anything like his to miniature flags. gested racing in New South Wales $1.10 - but there could not have had won the race after 2011 and And if there was any linger- previous form. There had been some doubt would be more difficult than in been a more popular winner Moody said postponing her retire- ing doubt about whether Sydney “I don’t know when I will be earlier in the week whether she her home state of Victoria. as the crowd savoured a small ment long enough to return to the would embrace Black Caviar well, I don’t know if it will be this would run, Moody saying he would There, they suggested, Black moment of history. A$1m ($1.05m) race next year as much as her home city of year or next year,” he admitted. not risk her in heavy conditions, Caviar had been deferred to in “She’s still pretty unbelievable would be a “dream”. Melbourne, the loud cheers as she “I now realise that it wasn’t but brilliant Autumn sunshine some races. but she had to earn it,” Nolen That might also mean another made her way back to the grand- possible to go from almost noth- erased those fears. There was certainly no defer- told reporters. “If there’s still trip to Britain and Royal Ascot, stand swept them away. ing to top level in just six months She got under way comfort- ence in Sydney, but once Black any knockers out there after this, where she won the Diamond “The whole of Australia are because with an injury it’s not like ably enough from the inside stall, Caviar got a clear line there was they can come and see me and I’ll Jubilee last year, but Moody said behind her,” said part-owner Neil being able to keep training.” taking the fence for the first 200 no stopping her and she stormed sort them out. they would take their time decid- Werrett. “She’s a national horse.” REUTERS metres of the 1.2 km race before down the straight to victory by “They didn’t protect her in ing on future plans. REUTERS SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Arsenal sink Norwich Emphatic 41-run win for Mumbai

MUMBAI: Mumbai Indians In reply, Pune could only man- moved to the top of the Indian age 142 for eight in their allotted with late comeback Premier League (IPL) table overs with Mitchell Johnson pick- with a convincing 41-run vic- ing up three wickets for the hosts. tory over the Pune Warriors at Mumbai have six points from Gunners keep Champions League qualification on track the Wankhede Stadium here four matches, having won three yesterday. and lost one, the same as Royal Electing to bat, Mumbai posted Challengers Bangalore and LONDON: Arsenal scored Mark Bunn turn a Podolski shot a daunting score of 183 for three Sunrisers Hyderabad but top the three times in the last five min- onto the crossbar as they pushed with Rohit Sharma (62 not out), table due to a better run rate. utes to beat Norwich City 3-1 at for an equaliser. Dinesh Karthik (41) and Sachin Pune have lost three of their the Emirates Stadium and leap It looked destined to be a frus- Tendulkar (44) all chipping in four matches and are in eight to third place in the Premier trating afternoon for the home with crucial runs. position with just two points. League table yesterday. side, but Kei Kamara’s tug on Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar and Michael Turner’s header Giroud allowed Arteta to equal- Scoreboard Ricky Ponting (14) got Mumbai looked to have consigned Arsene ise from the spot before Bassong off to their best start this year Wenger’s men to defeat, but Mikel turned the ball into his own goal MUMBAI INDIANS with a 54-run partnership. Arteta equalised with an 85th- from Podolski’s cut-back. R T Ponting c Nayar b Yuvraj Singh ...... 14 Ponting played the sheet minute penalty before a Sebastien Podolski sealed victory in added S R Tendulkar c Marsh b Finch ...... 44 anchor role while Tendulkar was Bassong own goal and an injury- time, beating Bunn with a low K D Karthik lbw Marsh ...... 41 the aggressor. time strike from Lukas Podolski shot from Walcott’s lay-off. R G Sharma (not out) ...... 62 The Indian batting great’s completed the comeback. “I thought we wouldn’t give in K A Pollard (not out) ...... 19 innings was a throwback to the Victory takes Arsenal above and would fight until the end,” Extras (W-2, NB-1) ...... 3 yester years, where he would Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, said Arsenal manager Wenger. Total (for 3 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 183 demolish bowling attacks single- neither of whom play in the “No-one could predict we would Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-60, 3-115. handedly. Tendulkar plundered league this weekend, and with score three goals, but we have Bowling: A J Finch 2-0-11-1; B Kumar 2-0- Ashok Dinda for 17 runs in the eight wins in nine games, their great attitude, spirit and desire - 16-0; A B Dinda 4-0-63-0 (1nb, 1w); R Shar- second over setting the tone for push for Champions League quali- and it got us there. We deserved ma 4-0-27-0; A D Mathews 4-0-29-0; Yuvraj the rest of the innings. fication is firmly on track. to win but we were against a Singh 2-0-13-1; M R Marsh 2-0-24-1 (1w). Tendulkar was in a aggressive The hosts had the best of the strong side and needed something PUNE WARRIORS INDIA mood and took on the Pune bowl- first half but the closest they special.” A J Finch b Johnson ...... 0 ers dominating them with some came to scoring was an Olivier Norwich, 1-0 victors over R V Uthappa b Johnson ...... 7 lusty blows juxtaposed with his Giroud header in the 23rd Arsenal at Carrow Road in P Taylor (run out-Rayudu) ...... 4 signature back foot and front foot minute that came back off the October, have now won just once Yuvraj Singh c Dhawan b Pollard ...... 24 cover drives. crossbar. in 16 matches and remain only T L Suman c Pollard b Harbhajan Singh ....23 Ponting fell to an innocu- Turner put Norwich ahead in four points above the relegation A D Mathews c Sharma b Ojha ...... 19 ous delivery from Yuvraj Singh. the 56th minute, ghosting in to places. M R Marsh c Dhawan b Johnson ...... 38 Tendulkar didn’t last too long meet Robert Snodgrass’ inswing- News of Arsenal’s late rally was A M Nayar c Pollard b Malinga ...... 6 either caught by Mitchell Marsh ing free-kick with a close-range a blow for Everton, who closed to B Kumar (not out) ...... 6 on the long on boundary off the header. within three points of the top Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski celebrates after scoring the 3-1 lead during R Sharma (not out) ...... 10 bowling of Aaron Finch. Arsenal, who recalled Jack four after winning 2-0 at home the English Premier League match against Norwich City in London, Extras (LB-1, W-4) ...... 5 Mumbai’s two top scorers, Wilshere and Theo Walcott after to second-bottom Queens Park Britain, yesterday. Arsenal won 3-1. Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 142 Karthik and Rohit Sharma, injury, saw Norwich goalkeeper Rangers. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-13, 4-38, 5-71, then got together and strung Darron Gibson broke the 6-89, 7-120, 8-127. a 55-run partnership for the deadlock in the 40th minute at a Europa League place.” QPR and curled a shot against the post. Bowling: M G Johnson 4-0-33-3 (1w); P P third wicket. English Premier Goodison Park with a deflected remain seven points from safety Aston Villa spurned an oppor- Ojha 2-0-20-1 (2w); Harbhajan Singh 3-0- Karthik was the aggressor of shot from 25 yards, with Victor but they have played two games tunity to haul themselves out of 20-1; S L Malinga 4-0-22-1; R Dhawan the two but Rohit Sharma took League Results Anichebe flicking in a Sylvain more than third-bottom Wigan the relegation picture in a 1-1 4-0-27-0; K A Pollard 3-0-19-1 (1w). the initiative after the former fell Distin knock-down 11 minutes Athletic, who faced Millwall in the draw at home to Fulham. in the 16th over. IANS Aston Villa 1 (N’Zogbia 55) Fulham 1 (Delph into the second period. FA Cup semi-finals today, and a Charles N’Zogbia put Villa 66-og) “We played well at times. The game more than fourth-bottom ahead 10 minutes into the second Arsenal 3 (Arteta 85-pen, Bassong 88-og, pitch is very poor at the minute Sunderland. half with a high finish from an Podolski 90) Norwich 1 (Turner 56) and that is not helping us, but Reading are still bottom of Andreas Weimann cutback, only Everton 2 (Gibson 40, Anichebe 56) QPR 0 we got the goals that mattered,” the table but they drew level on for Fabian Delph to inadvertently Reading 0 Liverpool 0 said Everton manager David points with QPR after withstand- head Bryan Ruiz’s corner into his Southampton 1 (Ramirez 59) West Ham 1 Moyes, whose side visit Arsenal ing a Liverpool onslaught in a 0-0 own goal 11 minutes later. (Carroll 66) on Tuesday. draw at the Madejski Stadium. “The point keeps the momen- “I think if we beat Arsenal Chris Gunter headed an early tum there,” said Villa manager Playing today in mid-week we can talk about Luiz Suarez effort off the Reading Paul Lambert, whose side are Newcastle vs Sunderland (1100GMT) the Champions League, but if goal-line, while Philippe Coutinho three points above the bottom Stoke vs Manchester Utd (1405GMT) we lose, we are talking about saw a goal ruled out for offside three. AFP PSG continue march towards French title PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain recovered the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, without Gameiro’s day was brought to an abrupt end from their midweek Champions League whom PSG had failed to record a league vic- on 64 minutes as he was hauled off with Thiago heartbreak as they continued their march tory this term. Motta taking his place. towards a first Ligue 1 crown in 19 years Kevin Gameiro, making a rare start in A visibly frustrated Gameiro made his dis- with a 1-0 win at basement side Troyes place of Ibrahimovic, squandered an excel- pleasure known, muttering: “It’s always the yesterday. lent chance to put the visitors ahead inside same thing, always the same thing,” after Blaise Matuidi broke the deadlock at Stade five minutes as he was thwarted by Troyes blanking Ancelotti on his return to the dugout. de l’Aube on 65 minutes with the game’s only goalkeeper Yohan Thuram after escaping the His uncharacteristic outburst could not have goal as PSG opened up a provisional 10-point last defender. proved more ill-timed though as Matuidi, who gap over Marseille, who travel to in-form Lille The hosts almost grabbed an unlikely lead missed the second leg in Barcelona through on Sunday, at the top of Ligue 1 with just seven shortly after through Stephane Darbion as his suspension, put PSG ahead barely 60 seconds games remaining. angled attempt struck the frame of the PSG later. Gregory van der Wiel’s hopeful cross Mitch Marsh of Pune Warriors holds on to a tough chance near the The possibility of a European hangover goal before Salvatore Sirigu was forced into a eluded the home defence, allowing Matuidi boundary to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar of Mumbai Indians during their loomed large following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw pair of smart saves to repel both Fabien Camus to sneak in at the far post and slot beyond IPL match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, yesterday. Mumbai won with Barcelona at Camp Nou that saw the and Benjamin Nivet. a helpless Thuram for his fourth goal of the by 41 runs. Parisian outfit bow out of the quarter-finals Thuram then had to be alert to deny campaign - and the second this season against on away goals, especially with the absence of Ezequiel Lavezzi just after the restart, while his former club. AFP Super Kings clinch Griffiths fires Hibs into Scottish Cup final dramatic victory GLASGOW: Leigh Griffiths and Eoin Doyle’s follow-up. scored a sensational extra-time Griffiths made amends when he CHENNAI: A last-ball howler immediately as Ravindra Jadeja winner as Hibernian fought made it 3-2 in the 78th minute by Rudra Pratap Singh gifted (38 not out) edged it straight from three goals down to seal a with a close range strike before Super Kings a tight four-wicket to third-man, but it was only remarkable 4-3 win over First Doyle’s long-range effort hauled win over Royal Challengers short-lived as Rudra Pratap had Division Falkirk to reach the Hibs level. Bangalore in a thrilling Indian overstepped. Scottish Cup final yesterday. The young Falkirk side were Premier League (IPL) encoun- Super Kings got a single for the Falkirk, in manager Gary Holt’s tiring and Griffiths had the ball ter at the MA Chidambaram no-ball and took a run while the first match in charge, made a fair- in the net in the first-half of Stadium here yesterday. catch was being taken to snatch Hibernian’s ytale start with three goals in the extra time but it was ruled out Chasing a target of 166, Super the match from the jaws of defeat Leigh Griffiths first half-hour. for offside. Kings needed two runs off the with still a ball to spare. celebrates Craig Sibbald fired them into The on-loan Wolves striker was last ball. Celebrations broke out IANS scoring the a sixth minute lead before Jay not to be denied though and with winning goal Fulton doubled their advan- five minutes remaining he sent Scoreboard against Falkirk tage with an 18th minute diving an unstoppable swerving strike during their header. past McGovern from 20 yards to ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE M Vijay c Arun Karthik b Rampaul ...... 2 Scottish Blair Alston had a simple seal a remarkable comeback, a C H Gayle c Dhoni b Morris ...... 4 S K Raina c Kartik b Syed Mohammad ...... 30 Cup semi- tap-in for the third on 30 min- result which seemed improbable M A Agarwal st Dhoni b Ashwin ...... 24 S Badrinath c Agarwal b Syed Mohammad . 34 final match utes and only the outstretched at half-time. V Kohli c Dhoni b Morris ...... 58 M S Dhoni c Arun Karthik b Rampaul ...... 33 leg of Ben Williams denied Lyle Hibs manager Pat Fenlon at Hampden A B de Villiers c Bravo b Nannes ...... 64 R A Jadeja (not out) ...... 38 Taylor a fourth on the stroke of praised the character of his side Park Stadium D T Christian c Raina b Morris ...... 2 D J Bravo lbw Rampaul ...... 8 half-time. after they clinched their place in in Glasgow, R Rampaul c Dhoni b Bravo ...... 0 C H Morris (not out) ...... 7 Hibs hit the post and had the final for the second year in K B Arun Karthik (not out) ...... 5 Extras (LB-1, W-4, NB-3) ...... 8 Scotland, a penalty claim turned down a row. yesterday. Extras (LB-1, W-6, NB-1) ...... 8 Total (for 6 wkts in 19.5 overs) ...... 166 before a fine strike from Alex “It was an unbelievable game Total (for 6 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 165 Did not bat: R Ashwin, D P Nannes, M M Harris pulled one back in the 51st and I’ve never been through Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-51, 3-133, 4-135, Sharma. minute. anything like that before and 5-138, 6-165. Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-10, 3-66, 4-78, 5-137, The Easter Road side were never want to be again,” Fenlon Bowling: D P Nannes 4-0-31-1 (1nb, 1w); C H 6-146. awarded a 72nd minute pen- admitted. Morris 4-0-40-3; M M Sharma ....2-0-13-0; R Bowling: R Rampaul 4-0-31-3 (2w); R P Singh alty when Stewart Murdoch “The players from half-time Ashwin 4-0-28-1 (1w); R A Jadeja 2-0-20-0; D 3.5-0-41-0 (2nb); R Vinay Kumar 4-0-36-1 brought down substitute Daniel onwards showed some real char- J Bravo 4-0-32-1 (4w). (1w); D T Christian 2-0-13-0 (1nb); M Kartik Handling but a superb double acter to keep going and a great CHENNAI SUPER KINGS 3-0-29-0; J Syed Mohammad 3-0-15-2 (1w). save from Michael McGovern victory in the end and great to be M Hussey c Agarwal b Vinay Kumar...... 6 Player-of-the-Match: RA Jadeja (CSK). kept out Griffiths’ spot-kick back in the final.” AFP Sunday 14 April 2013 4 Jumada II 1434 Volume 18 Number 5669 Sport Price: QR2

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Al Sadd players and officials celebrate after winning the Qatar Stars League (QSL) title after they beat Al Kharaitiyat in round 21 at Jassim Bin Hamad 13th13th titletitle triumphtriumph forfor DohaDoha giantsgiants Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Sadd won 3-1 and now have an unassailable tally of 50 points. One one round remains in the ongoing campaign. QSL Results DOHA: Results from all the round 21 matches in the Qatar Stars League (QSL). Al Khor 1 : 0 Al Wakra at Al Khor Stadium Al Arabi 4 : 4 Al Rayyan at Grand Hamad Stadium Al Sadd 3 : 1 Al Kharaitiyat at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Al Sailiyah 4 : 1 Al Gharrafa at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium Lekhwiya 4 : 1 Umm Salal at Lekhwiya Stadium ElJaish 0 : 3 Qatar SC at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium

Coach Hussein Amute “It is a historic achievement. The moral of the players was always high after our fine start (9 wins at the start of the sea- son). The credit goes to the players. They never allowed the momentum to slip.” Al Sadd crowned QSL champions The ‘Wolves’ lift Qatar Stars League title with commanding win over Al Kharaitiyat

BY RIZWAN REHMAT Two minutes later, Al Kharaitiyat defender Domingos Raul Gonzalez DOHA: Football giants Al Nascimneto blocked what looked It is an honour to win this title Sadd yesterday crushed Al like a threatening move from Al with Al Sadd. It was an impor- Kharaitiyat 3-1 to seal their Sadd’s Raul inside the visitor’s tant match and it was great to Qatar Stars League (QSL) title box. see the players deliver a great win with one round still to play. A couple of minutes later, performance. We are happy. Playing on home soil, Al Sadd Nabeel Anwar of Al Kharaitiyat This is no time to give inter- rallied from a goal deficit for their weaved his way past three Al views (laughs). This is a time first title win in six attempts. Sadd defenders and took aim at to celebrate. I give credit to my Coached by Hussein Amute, the goal. players. They played their roles Al Sadd owed their 3-1 win to a The ball swung in the air and with devotion and hard work. double by Abdulkarim Hassan (55 kissed the crossbar before going and 70) and an own goal by Al away as Al Sadd averted the Wisam Rizq Kharaitiyat’s Turki Aman (53rd). danger. It was a tough campaign. Al For the losers, the only goal was With tension rising among Kharaitiyat played a good game, scored by Alain Dioko in the 36th the players, Al Kharaitiyat’s giving us tough fight. But our minute. Timothian was repeatedly tar- coordination was very good. Al Sadd, champions for a record geted by Al Sadd players. This was the decisive factor in 13th time, now have an assailable The Armenian-Iranian - a our win today. The team started tally of 50 points with just one feisty character at the best of with lack of experience but the inconsequential round to go. times - was once brought down players are catching up real fast. Defending champions Lekhwiya by Al Sadd’s Hassan Al Haydos have a tally of 45 points while with a crippling hit on his shin. Khalfan Ibrahim third-placed Eljaish have 40. Ten minutes from time, Al Sadd I dedicate this win to my father. It was Al Sadd’s first major striker Khalfan Ibrahim eased This is a win from a son to football triumph since their past a couple of Al Kharaitiyat his father (who was a former spectacular title win in the AFC defenders before slipping a back- national team player). We have Champions League in November heel pass to Nadir Belhadj. the title and that makes me 2011. The Algerian fired a bullet Al Sadd captain Raul (11) and team-mates celebrate with the QSL Shield at Al Sadd Stadium in Doha really happy. Al Sadd struggled at the start from the edge of the box but the yesterday. Saud Al Mohannadi, Secretary General, Qatar Football Association (QFA) handed over the Shield. of the match as Al Kharaitiyat ball was punched away by Al PICTURES: SALIM MATRAMKOT Hassan Al Haydos put pressure through well coor- Kharaitiyat goalkeeper Khalifa I thank my team players and dinated moves up front. Ndiaye. the backroom staff for this In the 4th minute. Anranik A minute later, Al Kharaitiyat tow but Dioko fired a low-range saved by Al Kharaitiyat goal- great win. We played as a unit. I Timothian of Al Kharaitiyat went stunned the Al Sadd faithfuls shot that went through the hands keeper Ndiaye. A minute into the Past Champions hope we can continue this form long range with a bullet around 40 with a goalkeeper’s gaffe adding to of the home team goalkeeper Saad second half, Al Kharaitiyat goal- 1997-98 Al Ittihad and go on to win more trophies. meters from the Al Sadd goalline. the confusion for the home fans. Abdulla to leave the home fans keeper brought down Al Sadd 1998-99 Al Wakra The ball swerved away with- Dioko picked up a header from shocked at the clumsy mistake. striker Yousef Ahmed with a rash 1999-00 Al Sadd Abdul Hassan out causing damage but Al Kebe just outside the Al Sadd box. A couple of minutes later, Al clip on the knee but the referee 2000-01 Al Wakra The pressure was on us because Kharaitiyat started showing The tall striker charged into Al Sadd forward Ibrahim produced ignored pleas for a penalty from 2001-02 Al Ittihad we had to deliver in front of our threatening intent. Sadd box with two defenders in a snap-header which was expertly Raul and the home fans. 2002-03 Qatar own fans. We were not worried Al Sadd, however, managed to 2003-04 Al Sadd about the oppositions. We played bring delight in the home camp as a team. The team spirit was 2004-05 Al Gharafa 2012-13 Qatar Stars League Points Table with the equaliser in the 53rd great in this campaign. I thank 2005-06 Al Sadd DOHA: Here is the points table in the Qatar Stars League (2012-13) after matches played in Doha minute. my coach who gave me the yesterday. Belhadj curled in a long-range 2006-07 Al Sadd chance to prove myself. Team Matches played Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against Points shot from close to the corner- 2007-08 Al Gharafa Al Sadd 21 16 2 3 45 21 50 kick flag. Raul and Ali jumped 2008-09 Al Gharafa Younis Mahmood Lekhwiya 21 14 3 4 40 20 45 together for the deflection but Al 2009-10 Al Gharafa It was a team effort. All of us Eljaish 21 13 1 7 24 21 40 Kharaitiyat’s Aman sent the ball 2010-11 Lekhwiya played with heart. We were des- Al Rayyan 21 10 4 7 47 36 34 into his own net. 2011-12 Lekhwiya tined to win. I am not saying we Umm Salal 21 8 4 9 29 37 28 A minute later, Hassan pro- are the best but we worked hard 2012-13 Al Sadd Al Gharafa 21 7 6 8 24 28 27 duced a deft header - off an all the way. We achieved positive Al Khor 20 6 8 6 25 23 26 Ibrahim free-kick - to send Al Al Sadd’s wins results. We are not supermen Qatar SC 21 7 5 9 31 32 26 Sadd into a 2-1 lead. Winners (13 times): 1971-72, but tactically we were really Al Wakra 20 6 5 9 25 29 23 Hassan added one more in the 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, good. We are heading in the Al Kharaitiyat 21 4 8 9 21 25 20 70th minute to seal a spectacular 1980–81, 1986–87, 1987–88, right direction. The competi- Al Arabi 21 3 8 10 24 38 17 night for the home team. 1989–89, 1999–2000, 2003–04, tion was tough. Al Sailiyah 21 2 4 15 27 52 10 THE PENINSULA 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012-13,