ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Wednesday 29 May 2013 19 Rajab 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5714 Price: QR2

VW agrees pay Zidane to deal for German lead new workers Real project

Business | 19 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

PM visits Cityscape expo Reforms to increase New guidelines foreign investment in real estate sector DOHA: Qatar has launched a number of studies to assess the for worksite feasibility of introducing legal and administrative reforms to help encourage foreign invest- ment in real estate, said the head of Barwa Group, Abdullah labour camps Al Subei. Reforms are needed so as to promote new and innova- tive ways of real estate financ- Double-decker beds banned ing in the country, as also to encourage partnerships between BY AZMAT HAROON for construction companies to the private and the government compulsorily follow or face the in that sector. DOHA: Double-decker beds music. The guidebook is to be Al Subei was speaking at a in makeshift labour camps on handed to each construction and seminar on real estate on the construction sites have been contracting company and they sidelines of Cityscape-2013, the banned and construction com- must sign a written undertaking exhibition of real estate here panies have been asked to follow at the time of submitting formal yesterday. Legal and administra- global norms in housing work- requests to recruit workers. tive reforms are needed if foreign ers on project sites. Dr Mohammad bin Saif Al investment is to be wooed in the The move is part of Qatar’s Kuwari, member of the NHRC local real estate sector and bring resolve to substantially improve board of directors, told The the laws on a par with global workers’ rights as the country is Peninsula yesterday that as for standards. THE PENINSULA The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani is briefed about real launching a slew of mega infra- existing construction projects, the estate developments during his visit to Cityscape 2013, yesterday. Report on page 2 structure development projects companies will be given one month No change in dollar ahead of the coveted FIFA World to change the workers’ accommo- Cup fixture in 2022. dations at worksites as per the peg now: Governor The country’s human rights guidelines or face consequences. “As watchdog has developed extensive for ongoing construction projects, Catch your own fish from the farm DUBAI: Qatar may change its guidelines on how construction the companies will have to change peg to the US dollar when the workers must be housed at work- the accommodations according to economy becomes less dependent sites, which the developers, contrac- this guide. We will give them one DOHA: A large fishing farm, of Qatar’s fishing industry on the aquaculture business here is on hydrocarbons and local finan- tors and construction companies month after our visit to make arguably the first commercial catches from the sea is spread that you need experts to set up cial markets deepen, although must follow or their requests to necessary changes, and if they are aquaculture facility in the coun- over 50 acres. Its owner says farms and there is a severe short- no changes are currently being recruit foreign workers would be found violating the rules, we will try, has come up with a novel idea state support is needed to raise age of fish feed, Al Naimi told considered, the Central Bank turned down by the government. immediately report them to the to sell its produce — customers the production capacity. local Arabic daily Al Raya in an Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah No more than four workers Ministry of Labour,” Al Kuwari can visit the farm and catch their “We breed several species of interview published yesterday. bin Saud Al Thani said. are to be housed in a room in said. own fish and pay on a piecemeal fish, including Al Balti, Al Bayah, There is a shortage of fish feed Full report on page 17 a makeshift labour lodging at a He said during routine visits basis, not by kilogramme. Al Buri, Al Basit and Al Safi, locally and it needs to be imported construction site and the area by NHRC officials, many labour If you catch just one fish, you among others,” said Mubarak from Saudi Arabia. allocated to each worker in the camps were found accommodat- pay for one, said the owner of Rashid Al Naimi. “We need at The authorities should allot Today’s edition of shared room must at least be ing more than four workers in a the farm which is located in Al least five aquaculture facilities more land for fish farming and The Peninsula includes an four square metres of free space, room and in more serious cases, Jamiliya, close to Al Shahaniya, to meet the growing demand for provide facilities such as help in eight-page supplement on says the National Human Rights some companies were delaying some 40km north of Doha, and seafood in the country in a bid recruiting aquaculture experts Committee (NHRC). wages and not providing hygienic produces roughly 25 tonnes of fish to support the state food security and skilled workforce to breed The above two prerequisites are facilities at camps. a year. programme but without govern- fish on the farms, said Al Naimi. EDUCATION among a dozen conditions speci- THE PENINSULA The farm that seeks in its own ment support we cannot survive.” THE PENINSULA fied by the NHRC in its guidebook Continued on page 6 way to reduce near-total reliance The other challenge that faces Continued on page 6 WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Many not happy with HMC PM visits Cityscape outpatient services: Survey DOHA: Patients are less satisfied with the services at the Hamad General Hospital, especially its outpatient depart- Barwa Real Estate Group, UDC and HMC win Cityscape Awards ment, compared to other hospitals run by the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), shows HMC’s latest patient survey. DOHA: The Prime Minister The telephone survey conducted among 5,000 patients and and Foreign Minister H E their families revealed an impressive 86 percent overall satisfac- Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem tion rate across HMC hospitals. bin Jabor Al Thani visited The results, however, indicate that a sizeable segment of the Cityscape Qatar 2013 yesterday visitors - about 14 percent - are not happy with services of public at the Doha Exhibition Centre. hospitals in the country. He visited stands of leading Al Khor Hospital topped the HMC facilities in terms of patient Qatari companies such as Ezdan satisfaction, followed by National Center for Cancer Care and Holding Group, Qatari Diar, Al Research (NCCCR), Rumailah Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital and Bandary Real Estate, Mazaya Heart Hospital. Qatar Real Estate Development, Hamad General Hospital and Women’s Hospital, the two old- Mall of Qatar as well as the win- est and busiest hospitals in the country came at the bottom of ners of the Cityscape Awards the list. held at the Four Seasons Hotel Patient satisfaction with inpatient care ranged from 86 percent on Monday. at Women’s Hospital to 92 percent at Al Khor Hospital, with On its second year, the awards slight variations in other hospitals. recognise outstanding individuals Rumailah and NCCCR came close to Al Khor Hospital each and companies who are leaders in scoring 91 percent. delivering exceptional real estate In the emergency setting, Hamad General Hospital scored 80 developments in the fast develop- percent and Al Wakra topped the list at 89 percent. Al Khor and ing Qatari market. Heart Hospital each scored 88 percent while Women’s Hospital “The Cityscape Awards were had a score of 81 percent. created to incentive the indus- In outpatients, Hamad General Hospital had a 77 percent try in their continued pursuit of satisfaction rating while NCCCR and Rumailah Hospital each excellence, the ceremony high- achieved an 88 percent rating, the highest among all the facili- lighting and rewarding outstand- ties. Women’s Hospital was just above Hamad General Hospital, ing projects in Qatar’s real estate with an 81 percent score. industry,” said Deep Marwaha, About 97 percent of the respondents said that they would Group Director, Informa choose to visit an HMC hospital again. Some 95 percent of Exhibitions. patients said they would recommend HMC hospitals to friends “Cityscape Awards offer inter- and family. national architects and leading The survey was conducted by HMC’s Regulatory, Accreditation real estate developers a prestig- and Compliance Services Department during April and May ious platform from which to com- The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani visiting the Cityscape this year. municate a shared vision for the Qatar 2013 exhibition at the Doha Exhibition Centre, yesterday. “The survey results provide a benchmark for tracking future future, from culturally integrated improvements. And this is especially important as HMC trans- city skylines to sustainable urban “With Barwa Commercial bagged two awards including the major urban mixed-use develop- forms itself into a highly dynamic academic health system which communities,” he added. Avenue scheduled to open by the Residential Project Award and ment, and that it is at once a resi- puts the patient at the centre of our care. We are grateful that Numerous nominations were third quarter of the year, this the Retail, Leisure and Tourism dential destination, a retail haven our patients took the time to provide their feedback. Their views received from industry profes- award further reinforces the Project Award for The Pearl and a beautiful resort bringing will help shape future HMC policies and improve the patient sionals and companies that have importance of the development Qatar. the ambiance and lifestyle of the experience,” said HMC’s Managing Director Dr Hanan Al Kuwari. shown outstanding real estate within the border community’s “We are delighted to have Mediterranean to the heart of The survey also sought comments and suggestions from the developments for both com- economic development. We are received these two prestigious Arabia.” patients. pleted and planned projects in confident that this visionary awards and to have The Pearl- Hamad Medical Corporation All their comments have been recorded and will be followed up the country. 8.5km iconic mixed use develop- Qatar internationally recog- won the Community and Culture by senior leadership and multidisciplinary teams in the hospitals Winners included Barwa ment will transform the indus- nised for excellence and quality,” Project Award for the Skilled and across HMC, said a statement yesterday. Real Estate Group, United trial area into what will become said Roger Dagher, Director of Nursing Facility which is the first Dr Badriya Al Ali, who led the project, said the survey was Development Company-UDC and Doha’s new commercial, indus- Corporate Communications at of its kind in the Arab region; it conducted by a team of 19 specially trained staff. The aspects Hamad Medical Corporation. trial and lifestyle destination,” United Development Company, was established to provide long- examined by the survey included admission and registration, Barwa Real Estate Group said Head of Communications, the Master developer of The term nursing care, rehabilitation, patient room and hospital environment, treatment and health- won the Commercial and Mixed Barwa Real Estate Group, Hamed Pearl-Qatar. and other services to patients in a care professionals, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, discharge Use Project Award for Barwa Rashed Al Kuwari. “The two awards clearly high- more flexible and home-like set- and other healthcare facilities. THE PENINSULA Commercial Avenue. United Development Company light the island’s positioning as a ting. THE PENINSULA

www.renault-me.com RENAULT'S SUMMER SENSATIONS IT’S HOTTING UP AT RENAULT THIS SUMMER WITH SAVINGS ACROSS THE RANGE.

SAFRANE STARTING FROM FLUENCE STARTING FROM 63,000 QAR* 52,000 QAR* MEGANE HATCH UNTIL JUNE 30TH 2013 STARTING FROM 3-YEAR or 60,000 KM FREE SERVICE** 55,000 QAR* FREE REGISTRATION* Permit no. 2013/294

Leasing, Trade-in and in-house finance are available. Test Drive your favourite Renault today.

*Terms & Conditions apply.**Whichever comes first. Offer available to retail customers only. Valid on 2013 year models and below.

Main Showroom: Showroom Timings: Visit our website: www.renault-me.com Salwa Road, Tel. 4428 3333 Sat - Thu: 8:00 am - 9.00 pm Fri: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Qatar Airways moulding future leaders CEO outlines carrier’s job nationalisation programme

DOHA: Qatar Airways is hir- scholarship students — to join different disciplines within the ing Qatari nationals to train the organisation, is in line with airline and our subsidiaries,” and develop them as future the country’s 2030 vision for a said Al Baker. leaders in the industry, the sustainable future, he added. “English is a second or third airline’s CEO Akbar Al Baker The two-day conference language for the majority of has said. brought together over 40 senior Qatar Airways’ workforce, so Addressing the 64th Annual human resource management undoubtedly proving a chal- Conference of Airline Personnel delegates from airlines around lenge as English is the working Directors’ Council (APDC) the world to discuss issues and language across the industry, here, Al Baker said, Qatar challenges facing HR practices Qatar Airways HR department Airways’ job nationalisation pro- in their respective businesses, works hard to address these gramme has focused on design- as well as those that affect the challenges because as a Qatari ing development programmes industry collectively. organisation that proudly pre- for Qatari students, graduates Al Baker highlighted some serves its Arabic culture and Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker (second left) with Airline Personnel Directors’ Council outgoing executive and professionals. of the human resource chal- heritage, Qatar Airways is ulti- vice-president, Manfred Merz (left), incoming executive vice-president, Bernhard Rikardsen (second right), and The drive to hire more lenges faced. “Our workforce of mately a global network airline,” Qatar Airways’ Chief Human Resources Officer, Elizabeth Johnston, at the APDC’s annual conference in Doha. Qataris — both graduates and over 150 nationalities work in he added. THE PENINSULA

Qatar to get cyber crime law soon Local firms discuss CSR activities DOHA: The Minister of Justice H E Hasan bin DOHA: The fourth Conference on Abdullah Al Ghanim has Corporate Social Responsibility said that a new law on cyber (CSR) being held under the crime will be issued soon. patronage of the Minister of Speaking on the sidelines Business and Trade H E Sheikh of a seminar organised by General Manager of Fahd bin Jassim bin Mohammed the Ministry of Justice on MEED Cost Indices, Emil Al Abdurrahman Al Thani, has Monday, he said that some Rademeyer, addressing the brought together local organisa- of the clauses of the draft Qatar Transport Conference. tions across various sectors to dis- law deal with cyber crime SALIM MATRAMKOT cuss CSR activities. and database security. The Over 300 take part in the two-day law seeks to secure the use of conference held at the Four Seasons Internet in the country. Contracts are a Hotel in Doha. A Ministry of Interior Sponsored and organised by the official earlier said that the hurdle for mega Ministry of Business and Trade, the draft law on combating cyber conference aims to raise awareness crime has been referred to the projects: Expert on the role of both the public and Cabinet for approval. private sectors in the field of CSR The government is report- DOHA: Despite the huge and unify the efforts of the Qatari edly taking the issue of cyber opportunities Qatar’s businessmen in a way that serves crime very seriously and strict multi-billion dollar the goals of the economic and social legal action is being mulled projects provide, many development in alignment with the against hackers and those contractors find it hard Qatar National Vision 2030. General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar, Bart Cahir, and Qatargas Chief Executive Officer, Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, involved in defaming, insult- to be successful because Under the directive of the at the Corporate Social Responsibility conference yesterday. ing or harming the interest of of problems with regard Minister of Energy and Industry, others on the Internet. to contracts, says an H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al A key element in this area is our is committed to being a respon- and activities to deliver positive THE PENINSULA expert. Sada, Qatargas is supporting the pledge to conduct our business in sible member of the community, impact at a local and regional “International contrac- conference as ‘Diamond’ sponsors. a manner that embeds CSR across supporting a range of programmes level. THE PENINSULA tors have found it very Qatargas Chief Executive Officer, the Company and promotes continu- hard to be successful, many Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani deliv- ous improvement in all our business reported problems due to ered a keynote address at the opening practices and operations,” he said. contractual issues,” said ceremony. Addressing the audience ExxonMobil Qatar, one of the par- Emil Rademeyer, General comprising heads of national compa- ticipants at the event, emphasised Manager of MEED Cost nies, public and private institutions its CSR activities across its global Indices, on his presenta- and CSR leaders and other senior operations by its General Manager tion at the three-day Qatar executives, the Qatargas CEO high- Bart Cahir. Transport 2013 conference. lighted the company’s commitment “At ExxonMobil, we recognise the Contracts in Qatar, towards the communities and envi- extent of our responsibilities as an Rademeyer said, “are not ronment in which it operates. organisation and stakeholder, and generally very contractor- “We in Qatargas are committed incorporate this across our global friendly and tend to favour towards promoting and protecting operations. But even as a global the client.” the environmental, social and eco- organisation, we are part of a local He was citing some nomic interests of the communities community. We are neighbours and of the challenges faced we operate in. This commitment fellow parents. We are consumers by contractors amid the underpins our firm belief that we of local goods and services. And we opportunities the trans- have inherited the resources we are part of Qatar’s workforce,” Cahir portation and infrastruc- enjoy today from our older gen- said. ture market of Qatar erations and we are committed to With more than 80,000 employees offers. preserve these resources for our in 77 countries around the world, However, experienced children and for future generations. ExxonMobil is a global business that contractors active in Qatar who can provide qual- ity projects and technical expertise can potentially thrive in the market by distinguishing themselves from lower cost and less regionally experienced competition, he added. Slow decision making in public and private projects and logistics issues are among the other chal- lenges he mentioned. In the last decade, Qatar has been the third largest capital projects market in the GCC, said Rademeyer. “Between 2006 and 2012 there had been around $120bn of awards, peak- ing in 2006 at $26bn,” he noted, adding major- ity of the $90bn worth of announced and planned projects not yet awarded are in the transportation sector which involves the Doha metro, passenger and freight rail, Doha Bay crossing and expressway programme. In particular, the rail projects have the biggest share of infrastructure spending from 2010 to 2020, he said. A Rail roundtable was held focusing on interna- tional best practices in design, engineering and technologies of Qatar’s integrated rail programme as well as asset manage- ment strategies for rail schemes and encourag- ing people to use rail transportation. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Road diversion in Al Khor from today AlA Thah khk irra roounundadabob utu Top honours for QNCC National Convention Centre named Best Events Venue at Dubai show

DOHA: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) won the Best Events Venue award at the annual Middle East Event Awards 2013 held in Dubai last week. The annual ceremony recognised the region’s top event and exhibition compa- nies based on votes from a panel of events’ industry experts. QNCC, which is a member of Qatar Foundation, has attracted a number of DOHA: Two lanes of high profile events in the 18 months since the road leading to opening. Al Thakhira rounda- Adam Mather-Brown, General Manager bout and Al Khor of QNCC, said: “We are incredibly proud of industrial area will the recognition bestowed by our peers within be closed for 10 days the region’s events industry. This award is beginning today. a testament to our team work approach Light vehicles, in with our clients. Delivering international both directions, should best practices requires a special relation- use the other two ship between clients, event planners, staff lanes of the same road. and local partners and this formula allows Trucks must use the us to align ourselves to compete globally.” diversion shown in yel- “We applaud Qatar Foundation’s vision- low on the illustration. ary leadership in developing QNCC to be THE PENINSULA one of the world’s most sophisticated con- Officials at the Middle East Event Awards 2013 in Dubai. vention and exhibition centres. It is a phe- nomenal product and the award exemplifies the organisers in meeting their objectives, Congress and Convention Association the nation’s vision towards becoming a how to overcome challenges and to ensure (ICCA) announcement a week ago that world class meetings’ destination,” he added. that events operated smoothly. An example Doha has strengthened its ranking among In the award submission, the centre cited was the cooperation with the Qatar the world’s most popular convention desti- showcased its versatility by highlighting team during the United Nations Climate nations. The city moved up by 49 positions the various types of events that took place Change Conference (COP18/CMP8) which to share the 111th position with Florence, in QNCC as well as the range of services saw 17,000 delegates in attendance. The Riga and San Juan, in a list of over 360 available to support an event. event is touted as one of the most logisti- named cities in the recently released by As part of the entry, QNCC also demon- cally complex events in the world. ICCA’s 2012 Rankings. strated the ability to work successfully with This award follows the International THE PENINSULA

CEO of EQ, Noora Al Mannai, and SDC MD, Amal Al Mannai, signing the MoU. EQ, SDC research on micro businesses

DOHA: Enterprise Qatar (EQ), an Understanding (MoU) to strengthen arm of the Ministry of Business and and support micro enterprises in Trade dedicated to promote small busi- Qatar. nesses, and Social Development Center Under the agreement, a joint EQ-SDC (SDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, team will also be formed to conduct a yesterday signed a Memorandum of comprehensive research study to help micro businesses in join- ing the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector. The MoU was signed by Noora Al Mannai, CEO of EQ, and Amal Al Mannai, Managing Director of SDC. The initiative sets out a process that will commence with a detailed assessment and lead to a National Strategy for micro enter- prises that will improve and increase the services currently provided to micro enterprises. Activities will include the development of databases, situational evaluation and follow-up systems that will assist Micro Enterprises grow to enter the SMEs sector in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The partnership will see the creation of a project team with staff from both the organisations. The scope of work will begin with an assessment of the micro enterprises sec- tor and the creation of a comprehensive database. A baseline report on the current situation will be published, followed by the setting of clear goals and creation a national strat- egy. Al Mannai said that the partnership with SDC would provide for the shar- ing of expertise and know- how, and result in better services and a more sup- portive environment for micro enterprises. The impact of the mem- orandum is expected to be far reaching. The 2010 census, carried out by the Qatar Statistics Authority, revealed that 50 percent of enterprises in Qatar employ between one and four persons and can be classified as micro. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Friends and well-wishers of Villaggio fire victims gather to pay their respects during a memorial service on the first anniversary of the blaze, at Aspire Park yesterday. SHAIVAL DALAL Villaggio fire victims remembered A year on, parents of victims say they are committed to seeking justice and making Qatar a safer place BY FAZEENA SALEEM newspapers by email, expressing respects to the victims, observ- understand that as time passes, safer place.” Many of those who are always with the children and their grief on the occasion of the ing a minute of silence and offered memories fade. Today, we ask you came to the event were families their families. DOHA: A number of friends first anniversary of the devastat- prayers. A purple ribbon was worn to pause and remember,” said a with small children, who felt for “We hope justice will be there and well-wishers of the Villaggio ing incident. by the mourners symbolising chil- statement from the families of the victims, a majority of whom at the end,” she added. Mall fire victims gathered at Flowers were laid and candles dren, bravery and solidarity. the children who died at Villaggio were children, and some of them Another well-wisher of a family the Aspire Park yesterday to lit at the foot of a giant screen The names of the victims were Mall fire on May 28, 2012. had been their playmates. which lost their child said: “We express solidarity and a desire where a message of solidarity was written on 19 candles and bal- “We, as a group of grieving A friend of the Weekes family still wonder what and how it hap- to seek justice, although none of displayed for the families who loons were released to mark the parents, are committed to ensur- who lost their triplets in the fire pened. It’s nice to see many peo- the parents of the children who lost their loved ones in the fire dead. “It has been 12 long months ing that our children’s memories said: “My children and the tri- ple here to show their solidarity. died in the tragedy turned up at which killed 19 people, including since the death of our beautiful continue forever. We are commit- plets were in the same play group. And, of course, we hope that we the event. 13 children. children… As families, we are now ted to fighting for justice. And we Obviously, we were in complete will find justice some time next But they issued a statement to Everyone who gathered paid spread around the world and we are committed to making Qatar a shock on that day. Our prayers month.” THE PENINSULA

US documentary to highlight Cinematography workshop set DOHA: Doha Film Institute’s Nimri has trained under top cine- Qatar’s growth (DFI) Gulf Film Development will matographers including Doug Liman, host the fourth instalment of ‘Akkas Ben Seresin, and Reinhart Peschke. DOHA: Recent develop- Cinema: DFI Cinematography He began shooting student short ments in Qatar’s expand- Workshop’ from June 9 to 12. films at a young age, winning awards ing economy will be The workshop, led by acclaimed across several film festivals. Nimri highlighted in a new doc- Jordanian Cinematographer Samer holds a master’s degree in Cinematic umentary airing on Fox 5 Nimri, will teach the vital skills sur- Arts from the Red Sea Institute for New York in the US later rounding camerawork and lighting, Cinematic Arts and has worked on this year. with a detailed lesson plan exploring projects including When Monalisa The documentary all the key topics of cinematography, Smiled, Fair Game, Captain Abu Raed is being made by US necessary to help build a new gen- and Transit City amongst others. Television, an independent eration of film technicians in Qatar. Part of DFI’s all-round education production house that spe- Participants will learn how to use and training strategy, the cinematog- cialises in producing busi- state-of-the-art, professional cam- raphy workshop is a regular feature ness documentaries. era equipment. through 2013. THE PENINSULA A team of journalists have been in Qatar the past few months preparing the programme and iden- tifying key sectors of the economy to be highlighted. “A lot has happened since we were last here in 2008,” said Marijana Guduric, a programme coordinator from US Television. “The American audi- ence has a strong inter- est in Qatar, and there are developments, invest- ment potential, and trade opportunities they need to be updated on.” US Television has pre- viously produced three reports on Qatar in 2005, 2006, and 2008. In addition, the company has produced successful programmes in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dubai. Keynote speakers in the programme will include Dr Saleh Al Nabit, Secretary General of the General Secretariat for Development Planning, Robert Hagger, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, and Dr Hessa Al Jaber, Secretary General of ictQatar, among others. While the programme’s chief goal is to highlight investment opportuni- ties and business develop- ments, it will also define Qatar’s important strategic international relationships, sustainability initiatives, and cultural heritage. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Four new cinemas ahead of Eid Al Fitr Century 21 Qatar unveils plans BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB Peninsula on the sidelines of the press conference. DOHA: Four new cinema West End Park is a vision- theatres, each with 500-seat ary project spread in a large capacity, in addition to a host area of 671,000sqm. It is being of commercial and recreational developed in collaboration with facilities, will be operational Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammad by this Eid Al Fitr, Chairman bin Thani Social Welfare of Century 21 Qatar, Mana Foundation (JBM) and Qatar Ibrahim Al Mana, announced Property Management (QPM) here yesterday. to deliver a variety of multi-cul- Century 21 Qatar, promoter of tural exposure. the upcoming ‘West End Park’, a In addition to four cinema mixed-used ambitious project at theatres, the first phase of the FROM LEFT: MD of Green Facility Management, Amer Maqboul, GM of Grand, Abbas Mohammed Khan, Chairman of Regency Group Grand Mall, Mesaimeer, held a press confer- multi-purpose project will have Shamsudheen bin Mohideen, Chairman of Century 21 Qatar, Mana Ibrahim Al Mana, Senior Project Consultant of West End Park, Ahmed Al Shaer, Acting ence to introduce the partners a shopping mall, an open-air GM of Century 21 Qatar, Garen Kolajian, and PR Manager of Atlas Polyclinic, Ala Faouzi, during the press conference yesterday. ABDUL BASIT who will manage its different amphitheatre (14,500 seats), commercial facilities including sports club comprising one foot- a mall, hypermarket, polyclinic ball ground, four cricket pitches a capacity to house nearly 80,000 activities of the ‘West End Park’ Clinic Center by Doha Health Gulf region. Through the opening and the cinema theatres. (for practice), one international people, mainly from the lower project took effect with the sign- Care (Qatar Apollo), and the of this shopping centre we aim to “The first phase of the project, cricket stadium (13,000 seats), and mid-income group. ing of an agreement governing maintenance services will be meet the population demand of which includes hypermarket four badminton and eight bas- The cinemas, run by Qatar the management, operation and taken care of by Green Facilities approximately 430,000 living in and pleasure area, will open in ketball courts, kids’ theme park, Bahrain International Cinema investment of the three major Management (GFM), a sister close proximity, and provide a phases. The hypermarket and bazaar and garage sale, venues Co (QBICC), will cater to diverse activities — namely the commer- company of QPM. range of products at competitive the clinic will be operational to host international events, res- cultures and different lan- cial, entertainment and recrea- The hypermarket, owned by prices,” added Abbas Mohmmed before Ramadan followed by taurants and a host of recrea- guages ranging from Hollywood, tional real estate — which will Grand Mall Co, a division of Khan, General Manager of the opening of cinemas during tional facilities, including radio Bollywood, East-Asian, and provide a quality environment Regency Group, is located at the Grand Mall Co. Eid. While Bazaars will open in and television channels. Arabic movies. QBICC operates and facilities for middle to lower basement of the amphitheatre, A number of other firms have October and the shopping mall Al Mana added that under the cinemas at Villaggio and City income citizens of Qatar. occupying an area of 10,000sqm. been awarded contracts to pro- will open either by the end of second phase of the project, West Center, as well as various cin- According to the agreements, “Grand Mall Co is a lead- vide banking, currency exchange, this year or in the first quar- End Park will have about 25,000 emas in Bahrain. the hypermarket will be man- ing company in this field with restaurants and other services for ter of 2014,” Al Mana told The to 30,000 residential units with The launching of the main aged by Grand Mall Co, the Atlas numerous branches across the the visitors. THE PENINSULA

Ashghal announces two traffic diversions on Dukhan Road SIS students

DOHA: The Public Works cameras will be operational on both excel at CBSE Authority (Ashghal) has announced roads. Ashghal has also announced a traffic diversion on Dukhan Road that the two ramps (B) and (C) con- DOHA: Students of the between the existing interchanges necting Al Huwaila Link road to Al Shantiniketan Indian School at Al Wajba and Al Shahaniya Shamal Road will reopen by the sec- (SIS) fared well in the CBSE heading to Dukhan from tomorrow. ond quarter of 2015. International (CBSE-i) There will also be another diver- The closure which took effect on Class X examinations held sion on the same road in the direction May 18, is part of the foundation work recently. heading to Doha starting from June at Al Huwaila Interchange area and Of the four students 2, said Ashghal. the construction of a Directional who took the examination, The diversion (road) in the direc- Link. Mohammed Imaad topped the tion of Dukhan covers a distance The fast lane of Al Shamal Road school securing A1 grade in all of approximately 6km opposite the will be closed so that equipment and subjects with CGPA of 10. Umm Al Afaei Petrol Station, while workers can have access to the cen- Mohammad Aathif came the diversion in the direction of Doha tral median. During this period, the second scoring A1 in Social will be stretched over a distance of North Road can be accessed through Science with a CGP of 9. The approximately 2km (as shown in the some alternative roads. other two students Raghvini illustration). Ashghal said the works were part Gollaand, Rizwan Aarif also The two diversions will remain in of the North Road Enhancements scored over 80 per cent in service for the coming nine months project which will cover 95.2km in the examination with a CGP as part of construction works on total length. of 8.4. the Dukhan Road between Rayyan The project includes the con- This was the second batch Stadium Roundabout and Al struction of service roads along the of class X students from SIS Shahaniyya Interchange. North Road corridor starting from since the introduction of the Ashghal has advised motorists to Al Duhail Interchange all the way to CBSE (i) curriculum. abide by the speed limit of 80 km/ the city of Al Shamal in the north of THE PENINSULA hour on the two diversions, Speed Qatar. THE PENINSULA

NHRC’s bilingual guide to help employers Continued from page 1 In urgent cases that need immediate attention, the NHRC committee visits the workers’ site and notifies the Labour Ministry the same day, whereby the Ministry calls the sponsors or sends the cases to the court. Previously, many companies got away with violating safety standards by pleading igno- rance as they said they were not familiar with the rules and regulations, which were prima- rily in Arabic. The NHRC’s new 20-page guide, available in both English and Arabic, aims to make it eas- Dr Mohammad bin Saif Al Kuwari, member of the NHRC board of directors, at the press briefing yesterday. ier for everyone to understand the standard for workers’ tem- the Ministry of Labour visits workers exceeds 500 in a make- distribution of the guide among porary accommodation, which a camp, companies will not shift labour camp. The guide has all the companies in Qatar soon. are based on Qatari law as well be able to plead ignorance on been prepared in coordination The temporary workers’ as the international human safety standards,” Al Kuwari with representatives from the accommodation standards also rights standards. said. Ministry of Interior, Ministry outline specifications on kitch- “If a company now seeks to The guide also outlines of Municipality Urban Planning, ens, dining rooms, food prepara- employ 100 or 200 labourers, details of first aid and medical Supreme Health Council, tion facilities, water, electricity they will first have to sign this services that requires compa- Ministry of Labour and Social and sewerage systems as well as guide. This will serve as an nies to establish a clinic room Affairs and the Qatar Chamber the ventilation and air-condi- agreement between them and manned with a dedicated doc- of Commerce and Industry. tioning system in camps. us, so that if an inspector from tor and nurse if the number of NHRC will also begin the THE PENINSULA

Govt financial support will boost fish industry

Continued from page 1 will help boost this business.” fish from the farm free, but Egypt and Bahrain to breed in “I don’t think there are other “We have a unique offer for later it was extended to others my farm. We produce only four fish farms like that of mine in customers in a bid to provide for commercial purposes. species of fish for commercial the country but some people them fresh fish. They can catch Most customers are purpose but we breed more fish have small farms for their per- fish directly and get whatever Egyptians and Syrians, said Al species as well as prawns. We sonal use,” fish they want from the farm. Naimi, and their favourite fish have started it recently and the “A lot of people are keen to The charges are levied per piece is Al Balti that is easier to breed experiment has been encourag- enter the aquaculture business and not by kilogrammes, said Al compared to other fish like Al ing.” The farm may, thus, soon and some ask me about my Naimi. Bayah and Al Buri. begin commercial production of project. So, I am sure financial The offer was initially for “We import larva and juve- these species, the farm owner support from the government school students who could catch nile fish from hatcheries in said. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Iraq cabinet holds 124,000 foreign workers leave Saudi talks on security; Riyadh pursuing sweeping labour reform; queues of more than 24 hours for exit visas more than 500

RIYADH: Tens of thousands cannot attract Saudi workers. — only SR600 ($160) a month. I to the low cost of foreign labour. system, under which a sponsor killed this month of foreign workers are trying Earlier this year, the kingdom came here yesterday afternoon, The kingdom has large numbers allows workers to find alternative to leave Saudi Arabia after the began to crack down on the many slept on the ground and didn’t of workers from India, Pakistan, employment but charges them a BAGHDAD: Attacks killed 16 government said they would be foreign workers who violated their eat anything. But when I got to Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the commission to renew their resi- people in Iraq yesterday, offi- forgiven any fees or fines for visa terms with surprise inspec- the front of the line they said Philippines, Indonesia, Yemen, dence permit or seek an exit visa. cials said, as the cabinet dis- visa violations such as overstay- tions on streets and in company my papers were incorrect,” said Ethiopia and other Arab states, The Labour Ministry started cussed how to curb violence ing or switching jobs. offices, followed in some cases by Dinesh Kumar Sar, 25, a labourer. many of which benefit from high cracking down on such practices that has left over 500 dead this Riyadh is pursuing sweeping the deportation of offenders. Local media quoted the spokes- levels of remittances. after imposing rules last year to month and raised fears of all- labour reform that would tackle Saudi Arabia, whose total man for the Saudi passport office Saudi law says expatriates must force companies to employ more out sectarian conflict. domestic unemployment by push- population is 28 million, has long as saying 124,000 people had left work for a designated Saudi spon- Saudis, with fines and hiring The UN envoy to Iraq mean- ing firms to hire Saudi nationals turned a blind eye to the impact the country since early April sor in the professional field regis- restrictions imposed on firms that while urged the country’s feuding — who now hold only about one of its rigid foreign worker laws, when the government announced tered on their residency permit, do not meet localisation quotas. leaders to meet to resolve long- in 10 private sector jobs — instead resulting in a huge black market a three-month grace period for ille- or iqama. Expatriates brought in Local newspapers quoted the running political crises that have of some of its roughly 9 million for expatriate labour. gal workers to rectify their status. to work for Saudi companies often labour minister as saying the new paralysed the government and foreign residents. Yesterday, thousands queued The economic impact of such complain they are paid much less rules had localised 600,000 jobs so been blamed for its inability to The disproportion of foreign- in blazing sunshine outside the a foreign exodus is not yet clear. than was promised or are denied far. Many expatriates have just reduce the violence. ers in jobs arises, some firms main passport office in Riyadh to Arab News said that roadworks in exit visas by sponsors who hold decided to return home. Officials As of yesterday, 519 people say, from the fact Saudis demand secure exit visas, with many peo- Riyadh had been delayed because their passports. Many subse- have said if they leave within the have been killed and over 1,300 higher wages and are harder to ple saying they had waited in line of a foreign worker shortage. quently break the law to find work grace period, they will be allowed wounded in May, making it the sack than expatriates. Other for more than 24 hours. However, economists in the king- with a better employer. to apply for another visa to work deadliest month in at least a firms, particularly those in fields “I just want to go back to Nepal dom have previously said Saudi Another common illegal prac- in the kingdom. year, according to AFP figures involving manual labour, say they because my salary is no good companies tend to overemploy due tice is the so-called “free visa” REUTERS based on reports from security and medical sources. May is the second month in a row in which more than 400 peo- Kuwait MPs demand action ple have been killed, for a total of almost 1,000 dead in less than two Libya’s congress chief months — a toll that continued to mount. In the deadliest attack, a bomb exploded on a bus in Sadr City, steps down after ban killing five people and wounding at least 26. In Tarmiyah, north of TRIPOLI: The head of Libya’s and actually became instrumental Baghdad, a suicide bomber driving national assembly said he was in toppling Gaddafi. an explosives-rigged truck killed stepping down following the pass- An economist and former four people and wounded eight, ing of a law banning anyone who ambassador to India under while gunmen killed two Sahwa held a senior post in Muammar Gaddafi, Magarief was born anti-Al Qaeda militiamen and Gaddafi’s regime from govern- in 1940 in the eastern city of wounded two more near Tikrit. ment, regardless of their part in Benghazi, where the 2011 uprising And four police died in clashes toppling the dictator. broke out. He lived in exile from in Mosul, while a bombing near the In a televised speech to con- the 1980s and became a leading northern city killed senior police gress, Mohammed Magarief figure in Libya’s oldest opposition intelligence officer Lieutenant announced his resignation after movement, the National Front for Colonel Faris al-Rashidi and the passage of the “political isola- the Salvation of Libya. wounded three other police. tion” law, which critics and diplo- He was elected to the General AFP mats fear could strip government National Congress on the ticket of experienced leaders, further of the National Front Party, an Five new Sars-like complicating the transition to an offshoot of his old opposition orderly democracy. movement, in Libya’s first free cases in Saudi “The people’s representatives elections for decades last July. have expressed their word — the His tenure has not been smooth RIYADH: The Saudi health political isolation law — and it — protesters have stormed ses- ministry said yesterday that it Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah (centre) attending a parliament session at national must be respected,” he said, add- sions several times as well forced has recorded five new cases of a assembly in Kuwait City yesterday. MPs demanded criminal action against former oil minister Hani Hussein ing he was the first to conform to the assembly out of its head- deadly Sars-like virus in the east a day after he resigned to avoid grilling in parliament over the payment of a $2.2bn penalty to Dow Chemical. the new law, which comes amid quarters for a month. In March, of the kingdom. It identified those worsening security in the North gunmen in a crowd of protesters affected as elderly people aged African country. calling for the new law shot at his between 73 and 85 who had been “I place my resignation in your car. This came after he survived grappling with chronic illnesses. hands. I leave with my head held a gun attack at his home in the The announcement came high and my conscious clear.” remote desert south in January. as France’s first victim of the UAE building second N-power plant The law was adopted on May 5 Armed violence and lawlessness nCoV-EMC novel coronavirus at the demand of armed factions caused in part by militia groups — a cousin of the Severe Acute who helped end Gaddafi’s 42-year who often do as they please has Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) — DUBAI: The United Arab Construction began in mid-2012 licences for Units 3 and 4 in rule in 2011. Analysts fear the hobbled governance in wide areas died yesterday. The 65-year-old Emirates has started construction on the Barakah-1 reactor, which March 2013. Soaring energy decision to hold the vote under of the oil-producing state. man is thought to have contracted of its second nuclear power plant will be the first serving a Gulf state use and inadequate gas supplies duress could embolden armed Magarief received a standing the virus in Dubai, and a man who and expects it to begin commercial when it starts up in 2017. have spurred the UAE and Saudi groups to use force again to assert ovation from congress members shared a hospital room with him operations in 2018, the Emirates “With the construction of our Arabia to look to nuclear power their will over congress. after his speech, which touched in France is also affected. Nuclear Energy Corporation second plant now underway, we to diversify their energy supplies The heavily armed groups had on his exile and opposition to Saudi Arabia counts by far (ENEC) said yesterday. have reached another important for decades to come. besieged two ministries before the Gaddafi and which paid tribute the most cases of the new virus, The UAE awarded a South milestone in our mission to bring The UAE hopes that once the passing of the law, which comes to the former rebel fighters who with more than 30 confirmed Korean consortium led by Korea safe, clean, reliable and efficient four reactors are up and running into effect on June 5 and prohibits ousted the dictator. infections and 18 fatalities. Electric Power Corp a contract nuclear energy to the UAE,” in 2020 they can help avoid emit- former officials from holding any Congress members say the law Cases have also been detected in to build four nuclear reactors to ENEC Chief Executive Mohamed ting 12 million tonnes of climate- high position. could be applied to more than 20 Jordan, Tunisia, the United Arab meet rapidly rising demand for Al Hammadi said in a statement. warming carbon per year. It does not make provisions for people in the congress of around Emirates, Germany, and Britain. electricity. ENEC applied for construction REUTERS those who spent decades in exile 200 members. REUTERS AFP

Iran candidates clash over N-talks approach

DUBAI: A former Iranian nuclear negotiator who is running for president used his first television appear- ance of the campaign to reject accusations he had been too soft in negotiations with world powers. The most prominent moderate candidate in an election dominated by hardliners, cleric Hassan Rohani, nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005, oversaw an agreement to suspend Iran’s fledgling uranium enrichment-related activi- ties. Iran has since stepped up the nuclear programme that many countries, particularly in the West, fear is aimed at acquiring weapons capability, something Tehran denies. Hardliners see the nuclear programme as a sign of national pride and any concession to outside pressure an affront to Iran’s sovereign rights. The current nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, is running for president on his record of giving no ground in talks. Western powers are watching the June 14 election to see whether President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s succes- sor will set a new tone in talks — several rounds of which in the last year have failed to defuse tensions over the nuclear programme which Israel has said it could use military force to stop. In a spirited exchange on state television on Monday evening, Rohani said allegations he had halted nuclear development were “a lie” and suggested his interviewer was “illiterate”. “It’s good if you study history,” a smiling Rohani, dressed in the traditional clerical garb, told the besuited interviewer. “We suspended it? We mastered the (nuclear) technology!” The 64-year-old argued the Islamic Republic had expanded uranium enrichment during his tenure while demonstrating the programme’s peaceful nature and pre- venting a US military attack. “We didn’t allow Iran to be attacked,” he said, referring to the US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. “They (the US) imagined tomor- row or the day after, it would be Iran’s turn.” Nuclear policy is ultimately decided by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and all candidates emphasise Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and deny that it plans to build nuclear weapons. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial

Peres’ peace offer Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

obody is thinking about a jump-start in the stalled peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis after the announcement by the Israeli President It is possible to shut down NShimon Peres that the two-state solution is workable. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Dead Sea city of Al Shunan in Jordan, Peres said that the time should not be wasted in search of peace Guantanamo prison and called it ‘a real possibility’. He also warned of losing the opportunity as it would be a great disappointment. The BY JONATHAN POWER remarks came after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas returning home. This was supposed But despite the withdrawal from told the forum a day before that peace is still possible as to happen some years ago but put on Iraq, the announced withdrawal he set three conditions: To end the occupation, evacuate UANTANAMO has become hold when a single attempted ter- from Afghanistan and the support settlements and free prisoners. a symbol around the world rorist attack on the US originated in for the Arab Spring, the combination “ Gfor an America that flouts Yemen. of Guantanamo and lack of progress The positive move by Peres, however, received a setback the law”. Did you say that? Did I? No. Buck McKeon, the Republican on creating fair boundaries for a with Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz openly It was the President of the United Chairman of the House Armed Palestinian state have undermined criticising him, saying that it is the government which takes States of America, Barack Obama, Services Committee, said he was his standing. policy decisions and he didn’t know when the president speaking last week. willing to discuss Guantanamo with He still has three years to redeem became government spokesman. The minister’s comment How come the most powerful man Obama, but first he needed to know himself but he has to be extraordinar- in the world cannot open the locks of what the president would do with ily forceful on the Palestine issue and resembles the stance taken by Prime Minister Benjamin this unlawful prison? “terrorist detainees who are too dan- Guantanamo. Netanyahu and his party that there will be no Palestinian How come the prisoners can’t be gerous to release but cannot be tried”. I advocated a long time ago in state with a border based on the pre-1967 Green Line and its transferred for trial and, if convicted, But why can’t they be tried? World Policy Journal, an influential capital in East Jerusalem. imprisoned in the US? Because in US courts, as in all civilised US foreign policy magazine, that if Israel’s adamant attitude against Palestinian statehood, The simple answer is that countries, evidence produced during the prisoners were blocked from which has the tacit support of the Republicans, joined by some torture is not admissible. And under being taken for trial in US domestic Democrats in Congress, have con- president George W Bush, the US courts then the courts should come the close ally the US, is the bone tinually blocked Obama. While it tortured many of them until Obama to Guantanamo to replace the slow- The positive move of contention in the Middle East is true that his stopped it the day he was sworn in. moving military commissions based in peace process. Last year, the US hands were tied One must deduce from all this that the prison which have done an ineffec- by President Peres, tried to block Palestinians from during his first the Republicans will insist that all the tive job in trying to replace the federal however, received gaining the status of non-member term, he hasn’t prisoners stay in Guantanamo until court system. (Six prosecutors have observer state in the United tried again since they die a natural death. (Sotto voce resigned in protest.) a setback with a Obama still he was re-elected they whisper that if some of them kill For four years I haven’t heard a Nations, which was approved by — until last week, themselves as a result of the hunger whimper about this idea. But earlier minister criticising more than two-thirds majority has three years when in a speech strike that will help things along.) this month an article on the opinion him, saying that it of the 193-member world body. he made some The only way Republican policy page of the New York Times by Yale US led Israel and seven allies to to redeem remarks on the could be overturned would be for the University law professors, Bruce is the government oppose the resolution in the UN issue, including Democrats to win well in next year’s Ackerman and Eugene Fidell, devel- himself but my opening line. Congressional elections (well enough oped my suggestion. which takes policy General Assembly Obama has to have enough votes to overpower The president, they argue, can Netanyahu is busy saving his he has to be been prodded to their own pro-Guantanamo bloc) — order this on his own say-so without decisions. coalition as one of the main raise the issue or at some future time, when another recourse to Congress. partners, Yesh Atid, threatened extraordinarily again because of Democratic president comes to power “Previous presidents have estab- to quit unless the cabinet agreed forceful on a hunger strike with a congressional majority to go lished federal civilian courts on terri- to a proposal to end wholesale military draft exemptions for by most (about with it. tory under American military control. the Palestine 100) of the 166 Some of these prisoners are danger- The clearest precedent was set in Jewish seminary students. If Yesh Atid’s 19 members were inmates. ous men. But others like Khalid Al postwar Germany.” to exit, the government would be left with 49 seats, 12 fewer issue and It is still Odah from Kuwait, incarcerated for 11 This doesn’t solve the problem of than the 61-seat majority needed to govern. rather unclear years and the Financial Times recently the handful of detainees deemed too The government is also under pressure after an academic Guantanamo. what he proposes highlighted and who claims he was dangerous ever to release. boycott of a major annual conference to be held in June, in to do to break teaching in Afghanistan at the time This can be dealt with another day protest against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Last week, the Republican of his arrest, has never been accused as there are no quick answers. At the headlock. of being a member of Al Qaeda or the least they should be transferred to a government inquiry claimed that the symbol of second In January, not long after his inau- Taliban. jails within the US and given normal Intifada in 2000, a 12-year-old-boy Muhammad Al Durrah, guration, the Republicans extended At the beginning of his term, visiting rights and legal advice. was not killed by an Israeli soldier’s bullet and the footage and strengthened the limits for trans- Obama’s persona was riding high in But right now we need a promise showing the boy cowering in terror next to his father in ferring detainees out of Guantanamo. the Muslim world. from Obama to transfer some federal a Gaza street by a French channel was fabricated. It was Nevertheless, apparently Obama But that admiration, made possible courts to Guantanamo immediately is going to lift the moratorium on by there being, after eight years of and then to close the prison once another attempt by the government to falsify a well-known the sizeable number of prisoners Bush, a fresh and liberal voice in the these courts have done their job. truth after 13 years• from Yemen that stops them from White House has slipped away. THE PENINSULA

The other side Quote of Japan boosting presence in Myanmar with leverage of economic aid the day

APAN has come out with a reform efforts, and said Japan is willing generation plant, an electricity supply investment in Myanmar by Japanese massive assistance package to “support Myanmar’s nation-building grid and a high-speed communica- companies. Blessed with an abun- for Myanmar, a Southeast endeavors by extending all possible tion network. Following its transition dance of natural resources, including If South Sudan JAsian country pushing forward assistance from both the public and to a democratic government in March natural gas, and a high-quality labor with democratisation and economic private sectors.” 2011, Myanmar has been draw- force as well as high market growth provides any reforms. This is part of Japan’s strategic Specifically, Abe pledged to forgive ing attention from all over the world potential, Myanmar has often been arrangements for carving out a new 300 billion yen ($2.9 billion) of the debts as an attractive investment destina- dubbed Asia’s “last frontier.” assistance to the market in Asia. Prime Minister Shinzo Myanmar owes Japan, and offered 91 tion. Competition has been intensify- Japan’s cooperation for improving Sudan People’s Abe visited Myanmar and held talks billion yen in official development assist- ing between many nations, including Myanmar’s straggling infrastructure Sunday with President Thein Sein in ance for such purposes as developing the United States, seeking to make will likely give a major boost to the Liberation the capital, Naypyidaw. an industrial park that will become a inroads into Myanmar’s market. Abe development of its economy. Abe Movement-North Abe’s official visit is historic because hub for Japanese companies in the has played the role of “top salesman” told reporters the government hopes it is the first to Myanmar by a Japanese swiftly emerging country. to help Japanese firms expand their “Japan’s infrastructure-related exports (SPLM-N) or to the prime minister in 36 years. The last Abe expressed the government’s business to Myanmar. to Myanmar, like those to Russia and rebels in Darfur, we prime minister to set foot there was readiness to work in tandem with the The Myanmar president was quoted the Middle East, will lead to growth in Takeo Fukuda in 1977. private sector to develop Myanmar’s as expressing gratitude for Japan’s gen- Japan’s economy.” will completely close Omar Hassan Al Bashir Abe praised the Myanmar president’s infrastructure, such as a large electricity erosity, and stressed the importance of The Washington Post the pipeline. Sudanese President WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Syria contagion strikes deep into Lebanon

“Those who want victory for The two-year-old conflict has the Syrian regime and those who want victory for the opposi- tumbled into Lebanon’s Bekaa tion should go and fight in Syria instead. Leave Tripoli to itself,” Nasrallah said. Valley, exploding into deadly street Lebanon, a Mediterranean state of four million people, fighting in its northern city of Tripoli. made up of Christians, Sunnis and Shias, is struggling to cope with an estimated million Syrians BY DOMINIC EVANS said Julien Barnes-Dacey, sen- including refugees, labourers and ior policy fellow at the European their families. wo rockets fired at Council on Foreign Relations. Still saddled with a heavy Hezbollah-controlled “It’s spiralling out of control, debt burden from its post-war southern Beirut bring moving deeper and deeper within reconstruction and suffering Syria’s escalating civil Syria but now across Lebanon and a sharp slowdown in economic war deeper into the the region.” growth, Lebanon is also in politi- Theart of Lebanon and closer to No one claimed responsibility cal limbo after the resignation of unrestrained regional conflict. for Sunday’s attack but it was Prime Minister Najib Mikati two The two-year-old conflict in widely assumed to be a response months ago. Syria has tumbled into Lebanon’s to Nasrallah’s speech by Syrian Mikati’s successor, Tammam Bekaa Valley, exploding into deadly rebels or their sympathisers. Salam, has so far failed to form a street fighting in its northern city One Syrian rebel described it Lebanese security forces inspect the damage after two rockets exploded in Shia, a southern suburb of Beirut. new government and squabbling of Tripoli and driven half a million as a warning to Lebanese authori- over a parliamentary electoral refugees across the porous border ties to rein in the Iranian-backed the Lebanese border, which have the “low thousands”, Barnes- within its borders. law means next month’s election to escape the bloodshed. Shia group, armed and financed strengthened Assad’s hand ahead Dacey said, with plenty more “When Hezbollah sent fighters will be delayed — threatening the But Sunday’s rocket attack, by Iran, or face consequences. of planned peace talks which in reserve. Nasrallah said on to Syria and occupied Sunni vil- country with political vacuum. which wounded five people in a By dropping any ambiguity Damascus is ready to attend in Saturday Hezbollah could sum- lages, that provoked the Sunnis,” Druze leader Walid Jumblatt Shia neighbourhood of Beirut, about Hezbollah’s determination principle. mon “tens of thousands” with a said Sunni preacher Sheikh said parliament should be marked the first apparent target- to keep Assad in power, Nasrallah Kamel said Hezbollah’s impact couple of words. Salem Rafei, referring to the area extended for at least a year, since ing of Hezbollah’s stronghold in may have been laying down a on the civil war was not as dra- “I don’t think Hezbollah would around Qusair where Hezbollah political stability was a priority the south of the capital and raised marker to the Syrian leader’s matic as believed in some Western leave themselves exposed in their fighters and the Syrian army are if Lebanon was to overcome its memories of years of civil war in Western and Arab foes that any capitals and reorganising Assad’s backyard to secure Assad, but waging a week-long assault to security challenges. the city. increase in support for rebels armed forces, most likely on the they have a significant fighting drive out rebels. “There is still some minimal The rockets struck hours after would be futile. advice of his international allies, force and could increase what “Our brothers in Qusair level of commitment by the main- a defiant Hezbollah leader Sayyed The EU has lifted its arms to confront the rebels had been a they are sending to Syria to quite appealed for our help, so it was stream Sunni, Shia and Christian Hassan Nasrallah vowed that embargo on Syrian rebels and a greater factor behind his recent a large degree before they have our duty to call on those who parties not to let Lebanon become his guerrilla group, waging war US Senate panel voted last week battlefield gains. to make those choices,” Barnes- could do so to perform jihad to a battleground,” Kamel said. “But alongside President Bashar Al to arm them — though it is not “There has been a strategic Dacey said. support them,” Rafei said in this has become a regional con- Assad against rebels, was fight- clear if any such bill could get plan to restructure the Syrian Assad’s Western foes are reluc- Tripoli. flict, so the risk of uncalculated ing for victory whatever the cost. through Congress. military and its divisions to make tant to commit to intervention or Banners in a Tripoli square scenarios has gone up.” Both events were milestones in “The message Hezbollah is try- them more effective for urban military support for the rebels, celebrating the “martyrdom” of For now, Hezbollah’s unques- the creeping contagion of a con- ing to send is a signal that Iran warfare and establish new forces,” who include Al Qaeda-linked local fighter Ahmad Al Shihab tioned military ascendancy in flict which has killed 80,000 people and Hezbollah are willing to he said, referring to units formed groups equally hostile to the US in Qusair highlight how the two Lebanon itself means that the within Syria’s borders and fuelled match any increase in support to out of local militias and added and Europe as they are to the towns are effectively twin battle- group which fought Israel to a sectarian tension from Beirut to rebel groups,” said Ayham Kamel, up to additional forces of tens of Syrian president. grounds in the same war. “There’s standstill in a 34-day war seven Baghdad. It has sucked in regional Middle East analyst at the consul- thousands. Closer to Syria, Assad’s ene- no doubt that what is happening years ago is unlikely to face a sus- rivals Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, tancy Eurasia Group. “If the con- “The restructuring is impor- mies are less constrained. Sunnis in Tripoli is an echo of what is tained challenge from domestic Qatar, Iraq and Israel and polar- flict is expanded, Hezbollah and tant... the additional forces have from the Lebanese port of Tripoli happening in Syria, especially rivals. ised major powers — the US and Iran are willing to support the been important, and I’d put cross into Syria to fight Assad Qusair,” Rafei said. But its deepening war in Syria Europe siding with the opposition regime no matter where it leads”. Hezbollah third on that list. All while their city has endured a Rafei and Nasrallah urged may prove more challenging than and Russia and China with Assad. Nasrallah’s comments follow are indispensable for the regime, week of fighting in which 25 peo- Lebanese fighters to keep their anything it faced in three dec- “It is hugely alarming. It points weeks of counter-offensives by but there are different levels,” ple have been killed, showing how battle within Syria, reflecting ades fighting Israeli troops, said to the fact that there are a Assad’s forces around the capital, Kamel said. Syria’s neighbours can simultane- near universal anxiety in Lebanon Peter Harling of the International decreasing number of brakes that in the southern province of Deraa The number of Hezbollah fight- ously suffer from the spread of to avoid a repeat of its ruinous Crisis Group. can be applied to this situation,” and around the town of Qusair on ers in Syria was likely to be in the conflict and fuel the fighting 1975-1990 civil war. REUTERS Iran’s nuclear games demand Cameron’s relaxation may be his downfall BY MELISSA KITE a tougher US approach be trying to make a virtue of a trip that really has nothing to re you relaxed? Have recommend it apart from per- BY DENNIS ROSS and DAVID you been enjoying the sonal enjoyment. A still more MAKOVSKY sun and chilling out on potent puzzler is why Cameron Athe bank holiday? Not is able to chill out on a beach this s the conflict in Syria rivets inter- worrying too much about terror- week. It seems that no matter national attention, Iran’s nuclear ists, I hope. I trust you have been what happens, be it European programme continues apace. “carrying on as normal”, despite Union revolts or terror attacks, AUnfortunately, while the Iranians the fact that an off-duty soldier the briefing from No 10 is always install the next generation of centrifuges — has been murdered by fanatics the same: “The prime minister is machines that can produce enriched uranium on a London street. I don’t expect relaxed.” three to four times faster than before — the for a moment that you have been He is starting to remind me “P5+1” negotiations on Iran’s nuclear pro- fretting about what could happen of a horse asleep on its feet. You gramme have ground once again to a halt. next. admire the trick, but wonder how While economic pressures impose a cost I assume all this because the on earth they pull it off. There are on Iran, so far they have failed to alter its prime minister is relaxed. And he those who praise this relentless nuclear programme. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the figurehead for the nation. imperviousness to any notion that may acknowledge that sanctions are “brutal,” David Cameron is setting an he has to prove himself. but he also seems to feel that Iran has endured example to us all by going on I find it offputting. One should worse. In light of President Obama’s objec- holiday to Ibiza and being photo- not rehash the old Old Etonian tive of preventing the Iranians from acquiring graphed smiling in the sun with row about privilege and entitle- nuclear weapons, something has to give. At a his wife. Aides of the prime min- ment too much. But it is inter- minimum, the supreme leader must be made ister underlined this point when esting that Cameron’s modus to feel that when the US says the time for they explained that Cameron had operandi is the exact opposite of diplomacy is running out, we mean it and that gone on a week-long break with what a chippy former grammar the consequence is likely to be the use of force. Iranian short-range missile Tondar test-launched during war games. a small staff because he had “not schoolboy might do. Perhaps because of US hesitancy on Syria, had a holiday since Christmas”. A chippy type who had reached or our withdrawal from Iraq, or our transition While one does not want to be Downing Street from humble ori- out of Afghanistan, or talk of the US “pivot” would take 30 to 40 days for it to produce if Iran is prepared to alter its nuclear pro- begrudging, or insinuate that the gins might work night and day to to Asia, Iranian leaders seem not to believe weapons-grade fuel. gramme in this fashion, we should be prepared PM does not deserve downtime, prove himself. He might cancel that we will use force if diplomatic efforts fail. With Iran expanding its number of first- to lift the harsh economic sanctions. But the it is only stating facts to point holidays in order to show he was Obama insists that he means what he says on and second-generation centrifuges, even if its Iranians cannot get the latter unless they do out that not having had a holiday worthy of the trust that had been preventing Iran from having nuclear weap- medium-enriched uranium were capped or the former. since Christmas is not exactly the placed in him. ons and that he will do whatever is necessary. shipped out of the country as part of some inter- Apart from taking away Iranian excuses, definition of hardship these days. But an Old Etonian knows he The Iranian misreading of this determination national agreement, the Iranians could surge to an endgame approach to the nuclear issue Cameron, his aides explained, had is worthy. He doesn’t need to try could put us on a fast track to conflict. weapons-grade almost as fast with their four also has the benefit of creating far greater not been abroad with his children too hard. While Labour criticises If diplomacy is to be given a final chance, the to five bombs’ worth of low-enriched uranium. clarity in Iranian minds. It would signal that since last summer. Yes, well, one the PM publicly for his laid-back US needs to shift its negotiating strategy away Iran continues to stall talks under the cover we mean what we say — that time is indeed bucket-and-spade holiday a year attitude, it is also a cause of sim- from the confidence-building “step-by-step” of not ostensibly crossing a “red line.” The US running out. By offering Iran what its lead- is kind of the deal for every father mering resentment among the approach — which only deepens Iranian per- and its allies must change gears. It may be best ers have claimed to want, civil nuclear power, in Britain, if they are lucky, dur- already restive Tory right. After ceptions that they can string us along until we to do so before Iran’s June 14 elections — not the US could expose Iran’s true intentions ing a recession. all, they worship the hallowed tra- acquiesce. Instead, the US needs to establish because a deal is likely to be reached before the to the world, including its own people. Were But let us assume it is unfair dition of pulling themselves up by greater clarity about what we can and cannot vote but because the Iranians will need time Iranian leaders to turn down the opportu- to attack the prime minister for their bootstraps and getting on live with regarding Iran’s nuclear programme to contemplate the meaning of an approach nity to have civil nuclear capability, their real being out of touch because he can their bikes. and give further credence to the administra- geared more towards a nuclear endgame. aims of acquiring nuclear weapons would be afford to take a family of five on They go misty-eyed at the tion’s statements that the time for diplomacy This approach would involve defining an revealed. In such circumstances, the US would a half-term foreign break. Let us memory of Lady Thatcher, sitting is running out. acceptable civil nuclear capability for Iran be far better positioned to make the case to take that sort of dog-in-the-man- up all night writing long letters to The confidence-building approach, which — something that the confidence-building the international community that military ger, class envy out of the equation. bereaved Falklands service fami- seeks to reach a limited agreement in a bid to approach has largely avoided. It could mean action is warranted. What really niggles is the rest lies because she felt the need to buy time for a wider deal in the future, cannot accepting limited enrichment but with strict Coercive diplomacy succeeds when threats of their explanation. It was all show hands-on leadership in dark do that. Even if it were possible now, it is not and verifiable restrictions. This would prevent are believed and the game-playing and manipu- right for the PM to go on holiday times. They want a more proac- clear that such a tactic would be in US inter- Iran from being able to break out and present lation stop. Offering a credible endgame pro- days after Lee Rigby was mur- tive, edgy prime minister with the ests. A limited deal is based on the notion that the world with a nuclear weapons fait accompli. posal could convince the Iranians that time is dered, the aides argued, because sheer hunger that will be required capping Iran’s “medium-enriched” uranium Practically, there would need to be limits on truly running out — and that we are setting Cameron “had urged everyone to to drive the effort to win the next at 20 percent enrichment will guard against the number and type of centrifuges, maximum the stage for the use of force if diplomacy fails. carry on as normal”. election. They do not understand it being able to upgrade its fuel to weapons- level of enrichment and amount of enriched We should give Iran a clear diplomatic way out To my mind, there is some- the notion that when the going grade enrichment. Yet if Iran has a bomb’s uranium that could remain in Iran. Each of — and Iranians should understand the conse- thing vaguely distasteful about gets tough, the tough go to Ibiza. worth of uranium enriched to 20 percent, it these amounts would have to be small. Clearly, quences if they don’t take it. WP-BLOOMBERG this. Downing Street should not THE GUARDIAN WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Egypt to submit Israel warns proposed NGO law to senate

CAIRO: Egypt’s presidency Russia against said yesterday that it will sub- mit a proposed law regulating civil society groups to the sen- ate, insisting it reflects the val- ues of the country’s democratic arming Syria uprising despite accusations it is restrictive. The bill regulating foreign and Moscow to send air defence system local non-governmental groups would be submitted today to MOSCOW/JERUSALEM: make-or-break moment, which the senate, which also acts as Russia has said it will supply would have to lead to practi- an interim parliament, Walid one of its most advanced anti- cal steps towards the creation of Zoghby, who helped to draw up aircraft missile systems to the transitional government without the draft legislation, said. Syrian government hours after Assad and his closest entourage, Presidential adviser Pakinam the EU ended its arms embargo unlike the first round of Geneva Sharkawi said the draft law on the rebels, raising the pros- talks last year. “reflects a balance between... the pect of a rapidly escalating He said the key factor would objective of defending national proxy war in the region if peace be the US position on backing security and that of defend- talks in Geneva fail next month. the rebels if Geneva failed to ing the freedoms of civil society Israel quickly issued a thinly bring progress. At the moment, groups”. The move comes after veiled warning that it would bomb Washington is providing only non- fierce criticism of other proposed the Russian S-300 missiles if they lethal assistance to the FSA, but laws regulating non-governmen- were sent to Syria, as such a move the Turkish official said that in US tal organisations, including one would bring the advanced guided President Barack Obama’s meet- that gave security agency rep- missiles within range of civilian ing this month with Turkish Prime resentatives oversight of NGOs. and military planes over Israel. Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “I confirm this draft law com- Israel has conducted three sets Obama showed readiness to change pletely removes the security role,” of air strikes on Syria this year, policy after more than 80,000 peo- Zoghby told a news conference. aimed at preventing missiles being ple had been killed. Workers unloading humanitarian aid sent from Russia to the Syrian government yesterday. Two planes loaded Sharkawi, speaking at the same brought close to its border by the However, while the White with 30 tonnes of aid arrived at Al Bassel Airport in Lattakia City. event, insisted criticism of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. House appeared to welcome draft law, which the presidency “The shipments haven’t set European moves to arm rebel has not yet made public, was inac- out yet and I hope they won’t,” groups in Syria, a spokesman said Opposition, rebels cautious on EU arms curate and reflected past versions. Moshe Ya’alon, the Israeli defence the US remained sceptical about A presidential aide said the minister, said. “If they do arrive the merits of further intervention. draft law guarantees representa- in Syria, God forbid, we’ll know The opposition Syrian National move; three Lebanese soldiers killed tion of civil society groups on the what to do.” Coalition is holding fractious committee, but the minister who Russia’s deputy foreign minis- internal debates in Istanbul over DAMASCUS: Syria’s opposi- 2 that Russia and the United spokesman for the joint command heads the committee may choose ter, Sergey Ryabkov, argued that its leadership and whether to go tion reacted cautiously yester- States are trying to organise as of the Free Syrian Army said. other members as he sees fit. the delivery of the S-300 system to Geneva, but Turkish officials dya to an EU decision ending early as next month. “We need anti-aircraft rocket AFP had been previously agreed with say they are confident there will an arms embargo on rebels, as Britain and France pushed launchers and anti-tank missiles.” Damascus and would be a stabil- be opposition representation at fighting spilled over the border for the move, while Austria, the Russia, a staunch ally of Assad’s One killed, 20 hurt ising factor that could dissuade the talks. into Lebanon, where three sol- Czech Republic, Finland and regime, criticised the EU’s deci- “some hotheads” from entering It is unclear, however, whether diers were shot dead overnight. Sweden were reticent about more sion. “This directly harms the in Tunisia clashes the conflict. That appeared to be Iran will attend amid determined “Definitely it is a positive step, arms pouring into a conflict that prospects of convening an inter- a reference to the UK and France, Saudi opposition to their partici- but we are afraid it could be too has already cost some 94,000 lives. national (peace) conference,” TUNIS: One person was killed who pushed through the lifting pation. Riyadh has threatened to little, too late. The Syrian people The final decision is up to each Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei and 20 were hurt yesterday in of the EU embargo on Monday boycott the talks if Iran attends, are disappointed. They thought member nation whether to supply Ryabkov was quoted as saying by clashes in the Tunisian town night and are the only European officials in Ankara have said. that democracies care about those arms to the rebels. the ITAR-TASS news agency. of Bizerte between police and countries considering arming the Russia and some Syrian opposi- who seek democracy,” Louay Safi, To send arms is “against the On the ground, meanwhile, street vendors angry at being rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). tion groups argue Tehran must a spokesman for Syria’s main principles” of Europe, which is the conflict again spilled over the moved from the downtown, res- However, London and Paris be included, in view of its heavy opposition National Coalition, a “community of peace”, said border into Lebanon. Unknown idents said. said they had not yet taken the involvement on the conflict. said on the sidelines of an opposi- Austrian Foreign Minister gunmen killed three Lebanese sol- Hundreds of vendors hurled decision to send arms, and would Expectations of significant tion meeting in Istanbul that has Michael Spindelegger, a longtime diers near the frontier overnight, rocks and petrol bombs at the not do so until after the Geneva progress in Geneva are slight. been stalled by internal divisions. outspoken opponent of the move. an official said. police, who responded with tear peace talks, tentatively scheduled Western officials say that with “We need to provide protec- But a French official in Paris gas, Interior Ministry spokesman for mid-June. unyielding backing from Russia, tion for civilians, for the Syrian stressed that “this is a theoretical 15 INMATES DIE Lotfi Hidouri said. They also set British officials said the lifting Iran and Hezbollah, there is little people. Weapons would be one lifting of the embargo. In concrete Meanwhile, at least 15 prison- fire to the market and burned of the embargo had a political incentive for Assad to make any element but also we would like terms, there will be no decision on ers were killed over the weekend tyres in the road. Three radio purpose, increasing the pressure concessions. to have a more serious position any deliveries before August 1”. in clashes between rebels and stations said a 70-old man died on President Bashar Al Assad and For its part, the opposition has taken, a firm decision taken by The delay is intended to allow troops at the central prison in after inhaling tear gas but the his supporters, Russia and Iran, agreed to drop its demand for the European Union.” peace efforts to proceed, but Syria’s northern town of Aleppo. Interior Ministry was unable to to make concessions at Geneva, Assad to step down as a precondi- The European Union agreed on Syrian rebels on the ground criti- The Syrian Observatory for confirm this. most importantly to agree not to tion for talks to begin but is highly Monday to lift the embargo, but cised the delay. “Why wait until Human Rights said “at least 15 Officials said that Bizerte play a role in a transitional Syrian unlikely to accept a transitional no member state intends to send August? Why wait another two prisoners were killed in shelling authorities had allocated a new government. government in which the Syrian any weapons immediately for fear months? So that the Syrian peo- of the prison, which rebel fighters market for the street vendors but In Ankara, a senior Turkish leader or his family is involved. of endangering the prospects of a ple continue to be subjected to have besieged”. they had rejected the move. official portrayed the talks as a THE GUARDIAN peace conference dubbed Geneva genocide?” Qassem Saadeddine, AFP REUTERS Iran decries Yemen unrest Bahrain move to ban contacts with Hezbollah

TEHRAN: Iran yester- day said that it regret- ted Bahrain’s move to ban the kingdom’s opposition groups from having contact with Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Shia militant movement and close ally of Tehran. “Bahrain’s stance towards Hezbollah is regretful,” for- eign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said at his weekly press conference. A man walks past banners with images of detainees in Sana’a yesterday, as hundreds of Yemenis staged a Bahrain on Monday sit-in for the release of dozens of activists detained during the uprising against former president Ali Abdullah banned opposition groups Saleh, some of whom have gone on hunger strike. from all contact with Hezbollah in a bid to limit the movement’s perceived influence on its restive Shia majority. Last month the state branded Hezbollah as 20 people on trial for US embassy a “terrorist organisation”. Hezbollah, like Iran, is backing the regime of Syrian President Bashar attack in Tunis insist innocence Al Assad against rebels. The group has fighters on the TUNIS: Twenty people impli- protest or attacking the embassy Saif Allah bin Hussein, a former ground alongside the Syrian cated in a deadly attack on the and the police. Al Qaeda fighter in Afghanistan army. Hezbollah fighters US embassy in the Tunisian Defence lawyers strongly crit- known as Abu Iyadh who heads are currently engaged in a capital last year insisted they icised the trial and demanded Tunisia’s main Salafist movement fierce battle against rebels were innocent as their trial the charges be dropped, saying Ansar al-Sharia, of orchestrating for control of the central opened yesterday. the process was a result of the the embassy attack. Syrian town of Qusayr. Hundreds of angry Islamist Tunisian judiciary bowing to pres- Abu Iyadh has been on the run Araqchi said Hezbollah protesters attacked the US mis- sure from the West. from the police since September, has an “undeniable” role in sion in Tunis on September 14 “These protests were part of a but none of the movement’s ensuring Lebanon’s security after an American-made film spontaneous reaction through- leaders have been tried for the and stability and accused mocking their religion was pub- out the (Muslim) world against embassy attack. Bahrain of “deflecting its lished on the Internet. attacks on our sacred symbols,” Tunisia has been rocked by domestic problems on foreign Four of the assailants were said one of them, Slah Barakati. waves of violence blamed on radi- groups”. Relations between killed and dozens wounded in the “These Tunisians are in court cal Islamists since the 2011 revo- Iran and Bahrain have been violence, which saw protesters to please the United States and lution that overthrew the regime strained since February storm the embassy and torch a the European Union,” he told of strongman Zine El Abidine Ben 2011 when Tehran backed neighbouring American school. the judge. Another lawyer criti- Ali. Earlier this month one person anti-regime protests there Questioned individually by the cised the “confessions extracted was killed and about 20 wounded which were led by the Shia judge, the accused, nine of whom by the police under pressure and in clashes between police and political opposition. have been remanded in custody, threats”. Ansar Al Sharia supporters. REUTERS denied having taken part in the The government has accused AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Gangs’ truce Kenyan MPs Joblessness vote to hike pay NAIROBI: Kenyan mem- bers of parliament, already among the world’s best-paid can tear apart lawmakers, voted yesterday to increase their salaries to more than 130 times the min- imum wage in defiance of gov- ernment plans to cut them as part of spending reforms. EU: Germany Lawmakers on both sides of the house voted over- whelmingly for higher pay. Warning of revolution if welfare cut Lawmakers argued they needed high wages because PARIS: German Finance Minister Enrico Giovannini said. constituents expected them Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble Rajoy said both the European to provide charitable support. warned yesterday that fail- Investment Bank and European Some also said MPs could be ure to win the battle against Central Bank should do more to vulnerable to bribes if their youth unemployment could tear help credit flow to small firms. salaries were set too low. Europe apart, and dropping the Small and medium-sized continent’s welfare model in companies in Spain and much Belgian ban on favour of tougher US standards of southern Europe pay much would spark a revolution. higher rates for loans than their headscarf goes Germany, along with France, counterparts in the north. Youth Spain and Italy, backed urgent unemployment in Spain is above BRUSSELS: The Belgian action to rescue a generation of 57 percent as layoffs continue in city of Ghent has scrapped its young Europeans who fear they a deep recession. A gang member carries weapons to be handed over to authorities as part of a truce between the two most ban on civil servants wearing will not find jobs, with youth “With all respect for its inde- powerful gangs in El Salvador, in the capital San Salvador. The truce aims to reduce violent crimes. headscarves after its Socialist unemployment in the EU stand- pendence, I believe the ECB can and Green majority scrapped ing at nearly one in four, more and should do more,” Rajoy said a measure imposed in 2007 than twice the adult rate. in a speech at the end of the con- when centre-right parties “We need to be more successful ference, also saying funds chan- dominated the city council. in our fight against youth unem- nelled to small firms via the More than 10,000 adult citi- ployment, otherwise we will lose EIB should be boosted to €30bn US weapons designs hacked zens, or about five times the the battle for Europe’s unity,” ($38bn) a year. number required to call the Germany’s Schaeuble said. He called for “some kind of WASHINGTON: Chinese conclusions help explain recent the V-22 tilt-rotor Osprey, the vote, had signed a petition While Germany insists on the common European debt” and hackers have breached net- US warnings to the Chinese Black Hawk helicopter and the calling for the prohibition to importance of budget consolida- said Europe should temporarily works containing designs for government. Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship. be lifted. In practice the ban tion, Schaeuble spoke of the need exclude social security subsidies an array of advanced US weap- Precisely how much sensitive A public version of the report prevented Muslim women in to preserve Europe’s welfare for youth hiring from its calcu- ons programmes, from stealthy technical information the hackers disclosed in January had warned headscarves from sitting at model. lation of member states’ budget fighter jets to missile defence may have obtained was still uncer- the United States was ill-pre- public counters in city offices. If US welfare standards were deficits, a proposal that will likely systems, officials said yesterday. tain, said a defence official who pared in the case of a full-scale introduced in Europe, “we would meet resistance. The breaches were part of spoke on condition of anonymity. cyber war. Ethiopia starts have revolution, not tomorrow, but Aside from Rajoy’s proposals, a broad Chinese campaign of The latest revelations of sus- The Pentagon said yesterday on the very same day,” Schaeuble ministers offered few concrete espionage against US defence pected cyber espionage came the department had “growing diverting Nile told a conference in Paris. plans, insisting Europe must be contractors and government before China’s President Xi Jinping concerns” about cyber espionage. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy pragmatic and work on various agencies, according to a Pentagon was due to meet President Barack The spying posed “a global ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia of Spain, where youth unemploy- strands. Schaeuble said this was report, said officials, confirming a Obama in California next week. threat to economic and national began diverting a stretch of ment is among the highest in why Germany had also decided to Washington Post account. White House spokesman Jay security from persistent cyber the Nile yesterday to make Europe, called for the euro zone to strike deals with countries such The Defense Science Board, a Carney told reporters yesterday intrusions aimed at the theft way for a $4.7bn hydroelec- triple aid to small businesses and as Spain and Greece. senior advisory group with gov- cybersecurity will feature in the of intellectual property, trade tric dam that worries down- allow governments to subsidise the German ministers said Europe ernment and civilian experts, leaders’ talks. secrets and commercial data, stream countries dependent hiring of younger workers without must continue on the path of concluded digital hackers man- The list of weapons pro- which threatens the competitive on the river for water. sanctions for overspending. structural reforms to boost its aged to gain access to designs for grammes affected was outlined edge of US businesses like those The Horn of Africa coun- In recent weeks Germany, wary competitiveness as well as make two dozen major weapons sys- in an undisclosed, secret section in the defence industrial base,” it try has laid out plans to invest of a backlash as many in crisis- good use of available EU funds, tems critical to missile defences, of a previously released report by said in a statement. more than $12bn in harnessing hit European countries blame it including €6bn that leaders have combat aircraft and naval ships, the Defense Science Board. If the report is accurate, “it the rivers that run through its for austerity, has taken steps to set aside for youth employment according to a Pentagon docu- The designs hacked included means the US military is less highlands, to become a power tackle unemployment in the bloc, for 2014-20. ment cited by the Post. the advanced Patriot missile sys- effective and the Chinese mili- exporter. Central to the plan striking bilateral deals with Spain In March 2013, nearly 40 per- The cyber spying gave China tem; a US Army system for shoot- tary is more effective,” said James is a dam being built in the and Portugal. cent of under-25-year-olds in access to advanced technology ing down ballistic missiles and Lewis, a cybersecurity expert Benishangul-Gumuz region “We have to rescue an entire Portugal were jobless, and in and could weaken the US mili- the Navy’s Aegis ballistic missile at the Center for Strategic and bordering Sudan. It is eventu- generation of young people who Greece youth unemployment tary’s advantage in the event of a defence system. International Studies. ally expected to have a 6,000 are scared. We have the best- shot to a record 64 percent in conflict, the report said. The cyber spying also targeted Lewis, a former US government megawatt capacity. educated generation and we are February, while it was below 8 The Pentagon advisory report designs for combat aircraft and official, said it was not clear when putting them on hold. This is percent for Germany and Austria. stopped short of accusing Beijing ships, including the stealthy new these breaches took place. Georgia slams not acceptable,” Italian Labour REUTERS of stealing the designs, but the F-35 fighter, the F/A-18 warplane, AFP Russian barrier TBILISI: Georgia yesterday lashed out at arch-foe Russia over the construction of a Soldier murder suspect in custody Digital money system new barrier along its disputed frontline with the breakaway LONDON: Police yesterday separate London hospitals under and express our profound shame region of South Ossetia. began questioning one of the armed guard until they were well and distress that this has brought The building of the “wire prime suspects in the bru- enough to be questioned. to our family.” shut due to criminal links fences by the Russian occu- tal murder of a British soldier Following his discharge last They said they “wholeheartedly NEW YORK: US authori- was not connected to Bitcoin. pation forces across the in London, six days after the afternoon, Adebowale was taken condemn” terrorism, and “fully ties revealed yesterday they Along with the five arrests, Tskhinvali region’s occupation Islamist attack, following his into custody at a south London expect” that the soldier’s killers had shut down a Costa Rica- prosecutors filed charges against line” was a “blatant violation” release from hospital. police station, Scotland Yard said. will be brought to justice. based money transfer company two more company employees, of both international law and Michael Adebowale, 22, was Detectives have 24 hours to Meanwhile, counterterrorism they said helped cybercrimi- who are at large in Costa Rica. a ceasefire agreement signed formally taken into police custody question him before they have to police launched an investigation nals around the world launder According to an indictment filed in 2008 to end a brief war as the family of his co-accused, apply for an extension. yesterday after a guard at a maxi- around $6bn in illicit funds in a US District Court, Liberty between Georgia and Russia, Michael Adebolajo, issued a state- Adebolajo remains in stable mum security prison was taken using digital currency. Reserve’s currency unit was a statement said. ment expressing their “profound condition in hospital. hostage and injured by three In a statement, officials said called the “LR.” The company’s shame and distress” over the In a statement, his relatives inmates reportedly inspired by authorities in Spain, Costa Rica users opened accounts at Liberty Irish cigarette murder. sent their “heartfelt condolence” the murder of Rigby. and New York arrested five peo- Reserve giving only a name, Soldier Lee Rigby was hacked to the family of the murdered The guard was held hostage for ple on Friday and seized bank address and date of birth that packs go plain to death last Wednesday near 25-year-old, which includes nearly four hours at Full Sutton accounts and Internet domains the company made no attempt to a barracks in Woolwich by two his two-year-old son Jake. prison near York in northern associated with the company, verify. Once a user had a Liberty DUBLIN: Ireland is to men who later spouted Islamic “Nothing we can say can undo England on Sunday, until riot Liberty Reserve. Reserve account, he or she could become the first country in extremist rhetoric at passers-by. the events of last week,” they said. officers managed to free him. Costa Rican prosecutor José use cash to purchase LRs from the European Union to ban Both Adebowale and Adebolajo, “However, as a family, we wish He suffered a broken cheek- Pablo González said Liberty third-party exchange merchants, branding on cigarette pack- 28, were injured in police firing to share with others our horror at bone in the attack. Reserve and related businesses which traded LRs with each other ages by using plain packag- at the scene and were held at the senseless killing of Lee Rigby, AFP were used to launder funds from in bulk and charged fees to make ing and uniform labelling, the child pornography websites and the exchanges between LRs and government said yesterday. drug trafficking. hard cash. All trademarks, logos, colours Digital currency is made up Liberty Reserve users could and graphics will be removed Celebrating life of transferable units that can transfer the digital currency from tobacco products sold in be exchanged for cash. Over the units called LRs to each other, Ireland under the new rules, Cuba to expand past decade, its use has expanded. to be redeemed in different parts the Health Ministry said. The The most widely known dig- of the world for cash using the brand name will be presented in Internet access ital currency is called Bitcoin. third-party exchange companies. a uniform typeface in packs of Liberty Reserve’s currency REUTERS one plain neutral colour, which HAVANA: Cuba will expand has yet to specified. limited public access to the Internet next month by open- ing up another 118 places where 12 missing people on this communist-run island can surf the Web for a Stockholm back to normal after tug sinks fee, authorities said yesterday. Set to start on June 4, the STOCKHOLM: A hand- unrest, which began May 19 in LAGOS: A tugboat con- extension takes advantage of ful of cars were torched in the Stockholm suburb of Husby, tracted by oil giant Chevron an undersea fibre-optic cable Stockholm’s immigrant-domi- where 80 percent of inhabitants has sunk off the coast of from Venezuela and will gradu- nated suburbs early yesterday are immigrants. Nigeria, leaving 12 sailors ally be rolled out further — but but police said the situation had It was apparently triggered by missing, an official said. not to homes, according to a returned to normal after a week the police shooting and killing of Corrie van Kessel, a spokes- Communications Ministry reso- of riots and unrest. a 69-year-old resident who had woman for Sea Trucks Group, lution published in the Official “Now we’re back to normal. wielded a machete in public. which owns West African Gazette and local media. There was no rioting, and only Local activists said the shooting Ventures Limited, operator of Members of the public will be a few torched cars, under 10,” sparked anger among youths who the vessel, could not confirm able to access the Web for $4.5 Stockholm police spokesman Kjell claim to have suffered from police the nationalities of the sailors an hour, down from the current Lindgren said. brutality and racism. aboard the Jascon 4, which $6 an hour, or check their email There were no reports of unrest The unrest began to ease sig- sank off southern Nigeria’s for an unchanged $1.50. There are A girl plays with soap bubbles during the Share Drive of Life charity in other Swedish towns either. nificantly on May 24, when police Escravos, the site of a Chevron more than 200 public Internet event organised by a motorcycling club for children with autism in a More than 150 cars and doz- reinforcements were called in oil terminal. rooms in hotels on the island. park in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. ens of buildings have been torched from other parts of the country. AGENCIES AFP in the past week of nightly AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Taiwan checks Dialogue hope to settle sea row shooting video MANILA: The Philippines yesterday allowed Taiwan The Philippines says it will not give up sovereignty over territories claimed by China experts to see video foot- age of the fatal shooting of MANILA: After repeated for- She also stressed that while other places, in fact, the BFAR Philippine territory like what it forum; and from where we stand, a Taiwanese fisherman by ays into Philippine waters by Filipinos are being encouraged to (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic did in Mischief Reef. we cannot take any action that a Filipino coastguard ves- Chinese vessels, the govern- fish elsewhere, the country is not Resources) has also encouraged Recently, the UN committed to may tend to exacerbate the situ- sel, officials said. It was a ment is still hopeful of seeing giving up sovereignty over territo- them to find alternative fishing look into the Philippine case and ation apart from the approach key demand by Taiwan to the matter resolved through ries being claimed by China. grounds,” Valte said. appointed judges for an interna- that we’ve already taken,” Valte settle the controversy. The international arbitration while “We have consistently reiter- The Philippines recently filed tional arbitration court. said. Taiwanese were also allowed encouraging Filipinos to find ated that ‘what is ours remains a diplomatic protest over China’s Manila hopes to have the inter- “Yes, we have taken the peace- to examine the Filipino vessel other fishing grounds. ours.’ But there is a deliberate incursion into Ayungin Shoal national body compel China to ful way. We have opted for a and will be given access to the “We’ve chosen to take it to the choice to avoid or to not respond — the latest of the numerous respect the Philippines’ 200-mile diplomatic resolution. We have guns used, said Alex Lactao, arbitration tribunal and we are to any provocative actions,” Valte encroachments into Philippine exclusive economic zone. opted to avail of a rules-based Chief Information Officer of pursuing that particular action,” said, adding that livelihood assist- territory by Chinese vessels. “I cannot stress this enough approach that we believe is the the Philippine justice depart- deputy presidential spokesperson ance is being offered to displaced There are also fears that that if you notice our response best way to push for our inter- ment. The team is looking Abigail Valte said. “We’ve decided local fishermen. China is planning to build per- to maritime disputes, we have est,” Valte said. into how the Taiwanese, 65, to take it to the proper forum.” “It does not mean there are no manent structures in areas within always taken it to the proper THE PHILIPPINE STAR was shot dead on May 9. The Philippines has insisted the boat intruded into its waters Drug suspect held and coastguards were forced to open fire when it tried to ram their vessel. But Taipei said the boat was within its 23 missing after economic zone. President Aquino has apologised for the shooting but Taiwan has rejected it as inadequate. The Borneo boat flips Chinese Taipei Basketball Association, which hosts the KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty- Bakar said no deaths have so annual William Jones Cup, three people were missing in far been confirmed. said it had decided not to remote Borneo after a boat He said the boat, which set off invite the Philippines to the overloaded with holidaymak- in Belaga, was heading down- international event in July. ers heading home for a festival stream and was believed to have capsized yesterday in treach- struck a rock while navigating Pillay invited erous rapids on a jungle river, one of many sections of rapids on Malaysian police said. the 560km waterway. by Sri Lanka The accident occurred on The accident took place deep Malaysia’s longest river, the in the wild and sparsely popu- COLOMBO: The UN High Rajang, which flows from deep lated interior of Sarawak, one of Commissioner for Human in the rugged interior of Borneo two Malaysian states located on Rights Navi Pillay has been island in the state of Sarawak. Borneo. invited to Sri Lanka in Bakar Anak Sebau, police chief Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest August, the foreign ministry of the remote town of Belaga near state by area but also one of its said yesterday, months after the site of the mishap, said the least developed. Colombo reacted angrily to boat’s capacity was just 74 pas- Rom Kulleh, an aide to a local her request for a war crimes sengers but that 181 people had Belaga politician, said that he saw probe. Pillay has been invited been rescued after the accident the overturned and mostly sub- as part of Colombo’s “contin- yesterday morning. merged boat in the river while fly- ued, transparent and proac- “Twenty-three people are still ing over the area in a helicopter. tive engagement” with the missing,” Bakar said. “The boat was stuck in the UN, the ministry said. She Most passengers were believed water. It was upside-down,” he will visit Sri Lanka from to be heading home for the coming said, adding that some of those August 25 to 31. A UN report weekend’s Gawai festival, a major rescued were plucked from the in February said Colombo cultural and religious observance water by passengers aboard other had failed to honour a com- An Indonesian woman drug courier (left) holds a bag containing 2.8kg of “crystal meth” (methamphetamine for indigenous Borneo tribes that boats plying the river. mitment to probe rights hydrochloride) worth 3.8 billion Indonesian rupiah ($387,600) at the customs office in Padang in West Sumatra triggers heavy travel in Sarawak. AFP abuses and allegations that province yesterday. Authorities said the drug originated from the Philippines and was destined for Jakarta when thousands of civilians were the suspect was arrested. killed in the final stages of its ethnic war that ended in 2009. Bombs thrown UN envoy attends Myanmar talks with rebels No HIV tests for at Bangladesh China teachers YANGON: A senior UN envoy government met yesterday in the Min Zaw Oo, a director of ceasefire between the government minister’s home yesterday attended the first Kachin state capital Myitkyina the EU-funded Myanmar Peace and the rebels broke down in the BEIJING: A Chinese prov- talks between Myanmar’s gov- for the first time since the conflict Center who also attended, remote, resource-rich northern ince is likely to abolish man- DHAKA: Three small home- ernment and Kachin rebels resumed, a government official described the meeting as “very region. datory HIV tests for teachers, made bombs exploded after since a deadly ethnic conflict said on condition of anonymity. good”. The military’s use of air strikes the first region on the main- being hurled at the home of flared up nearly two years ago, Previous rounds of talks had “We mainly discussed the proc- against the KIA in December land to do so, state media Bangladesh’s foreign minister an official said. been held across the border in ess of starting political dialogue. caused an international outcry. said yesterday. HIV carriers early yesterday but no one was The bloodshed in the northern China. Also we talked about how to coop- While the rebels reacted cau- are excluded from civil serv- injured, police said. state of Kachin bordering China This time UN Secretary erate with the observer groups to tiously to subsequent government ice jobs, including teaching Dipu Moni is in London but has — along with sectarian General Ban Ki-moon’s spe- enable a ceasefire and the reloca- pledges to end the military offen- and policing, in many prov- her family was at home when the unrest elsewhere in the country cial adviser on Myanmar, Vijay tion of IDPs (internally displaced sive, fighting has eased in recent inces, leading to accusations bombs were thrown, spokesman — overshadowed widely praised Nambiar, also joined the meet- persons),” he said. months. of discrimination from rights Monirul Islam Kabir said. political changes as Myanmar ing as an observer, the official The talks were expected to The Kachin, who are fight- groups. But China Daily said “The three cocktails were emerges from decades of mili- said, along with representa- last three days, according to ing for greater autonomy, say HIV tests had been removed hurled from outside and exploded tary rule. tives of China and other ethnic participants. any negotiations should address from a draft list of health at the roof of the foreign minis- Representatives of the Kachin minorities. Tens of thousands of people their demands for more politi- standards for teaching can- ter’s house in the capital,” said Independence Army (KIA) and UN officials in Yangon declined have been displaced in Kachin cal rights. didates in Guangdong in the Kabir, referring to the crude President Thein Sein’s reformist to comment on his role. since June 2011, when a 17-year AFP south. homemade bombs popular among protesters. US jet crashes “Her husband and their two children were in the house at the off Japan time of the explosion,” he added. Deputy commissioner of Dhaka S Korea shuts down two TOKYO: A US military jet Metropolitan Police Maruf based in Okinawa crashed Hossain said that police recovered in waters off the prefecture, evidence of at least two bombs more nuclear reactors Japan’s News Agency (Kyodo) from the roof. reported, adding there were SEOUL: South Korea yes- more than 35 percent of national no casualties. The govern- Australian guards terday shut down two nuclear electricity needs. ment has received informa- reactors and delayed the sched- The Nuclear Safety and tion that an F-15 fighter jet lose German jewel uled start of operations at two Security Commission (NSSC) plunged into waters east of more, prompting government said it had shut down two reac- the prefecture, Chief Cabinet thief in Bangkok warnings of “unprecedented” tors — one at the Gori nuclear Secretary Yoshihide Suga power shortages. complex and another at the said. “There was no human SYDNEY: Australian immi- Part of a widening investiga- Wolseong plant — after learning suffering. I heard the jet was gration officials confirmed yes- tion into a scandal involving parts that both had used parts supplied in a training area. We are terday that a German jewel thief provided with fake safety certifi- with forged warranties. gathering more information.” transiting through Bangkok cates, the latest move means 10 The scheduled resumption of under escort managed to escape of the South’s 23 nuclear reactors another reactor under mainte- This frame grab taken from AFPTV footage shows rescue workers breaking 5 Thai security his guards and flee the airport are currently offline for various nance at Gori, and the start of away bits of a pipe to remove a newborn boy. in an embarrassing bungle. reasons. a new reactor at Wolseong were personnel killed Carlo Konstantin Kohl, was “Power shortages on an unprec- postponed for the same reason, being extradited to Germany via edented scale are feared this the commission said. Parts used Newborn rescued from toilet pipe BANGKOK: Five Thai secu- Thailand when bad weather forced summer,” the Ministry of Trade, at all four reactors would have to BEIJING: A newborn boy was rescued from a sewage pipe in rity personnel were killed in an extended stopover at Bangkok’s Industry and Energy said in a be replaced, it added. an apartment building after becoming stuck down a toilet, police rebel attacks the government Suvarnabhumi airport and his two press statement, adding that All parts supplied for use in said yesterday. The unmarried mother, 22, hid her pregnancy from yesterday blamed on insur- Australian guards decided to take replacing suspect parts could take South Korean reactors require neighbours for fear of being ostracised, in Jinhua in the eastern gents seeking to disrupt a him to a transit lounge. up to four months. quality and safety warranties province of Zhejiang. fragile peace process. Despite During the overnight layover Blackout alerts, triggered auto- from one of 12 international She gave birth unexpectedly when she went to the lavatory on two rounds of talks since Kohl, convicted in Australia of matically when power reserves organisations designated by Seoul. Saturday, and the baby fell into the squat toilet. She telephoned her March, near-daily bloodshed stealing opals, drug trafficking dip below a certain level, were Yesterday’s ministry statement landlord, claiming she heard “weird noises” in the pipe, and the pro- in the deep south near the and wanted for skipping parole highly likely, while power short- said further criminal and civil law- prietor called in police after spotting the infant. border with Malaysia has in his native Germany, managed ages could be “very serious” in suits would be filed against any Attempts to pull him out failed, so rescuers sawed away a section raised questions over how to give his escorts the slip and August, the statement said. organisation or individual found of the 10cm diameter conduit with the baby inside and took him to much control rebels hold over escape the airport. The ministry said it would responsible for forging documents. hospital. Firefighters and doctors spent nearly an hour taking the tube militants. The rangers on Immigration department chief “strongly” enforce measures to “Criminal investigation will apart piece by piece with pliers and saws and recovered the newborn, patrol were shot dead in an Martin Bowles confirmed the May reduce energy consumption, also be requested for wrongdoing whose placenta was still attached. From the time he was found until ambush in Pattani province, 15 incident but denied Thai media including rescheduling working by suppliers, testing agencies and when he was taken out, the baby was stuck in the tube for two to three police said. The nine-year-old reports that the two guards, from hours to stagger demand and organisations in charge of verifi- hours. “The woman admitted (she was the mother) when we asked her,” insurgency has claimed more a private firm that runs Australia’s limit damaging peaks. cation,” including the state-run police said, adding they were looking for the boy’s father. The 2.3kg than 5,500 lives in the region. immigration security, were asleep At proper capacity, South Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power boy suffered some cuts and was put in an incubator, but the mother AGENCIES when he got away. AGENCIES Korea’s nuclear reactors supply Corporation, it added. AFP was in a serious condition due to complications from the delivery. AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Seven cops killed by dinner guests 16 perish in separate attacks in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR: Suspected US-led foreign forces. responsibility for the attack. Taliban militants killed “The two men asked police- Five Afghan soldiers were seven policemen in southern men to let them spend the night killed in the northern province of Afghanistan after persuading in their post. The policemen Badakhshan in a militant assault, the officers to invite them into accepted and gave them food,” the ministry of defence said, while their checkpoint for dinner, offi- Jawed Faisal, spokesman for the two were killed in an explosion in cials said yesterday. Kandahar provincial governor, Kandahar. The killings came during a said. Nine soldiers were killed during bloody 24 hours for Afghan forces, “After dinner, the men grabbed separate attacks, including five with another 16 soldiers, police- the guns of the policemen and in the remote northeast prov- men and bodyguards killed in shot dead seven and wounded one ince of Badakhshan and two in different attacks, underscoring and fled.” Kandahar. concern about government forces Kandahar Afghan National In other attacks, at least three as foreign troops prepare to leave Police chief Abdul Raziq said the policemen were killed by a road- and Taliban insurgents increase two police officers had defected side bomb, also in Kandahar, and attacks as part of their annual to the Taliban months ago but a bomb killed four bodyguards of “spring offensive” launched last returned several days ago ask- the head of a private communica- month. ing to rejoin. They were accepted tion company in the central prov- The two attackers fled the back. ince of Parwan. checkpoint after shooting the Ghorzang Afridi, a Kandahar Concern is mounting over how seven men in the province of police spokesman, said that the the 352,000 members of security Kandahar, a hotbed of the mili- men escaped in a police jeep with forces will cope after most foreign An Afghanistan National Army soldier inspects the body of a Taliban fighter in Panjwai district of Kandahar province tant campaign that targets secu- several stolen weapons. Nato-led combat troops leave by in southern Afghanistan yesterday. rity forces and officials as well as The Taliban claimed the end of next year. AGENCIES

Pakistani new Court sacks corruption Tragedy Pakistan has nukes London mayor ISLAMABAD: A British Pakistani has become the watchdog chairman youngest ever Pakistani but no power, says Sharif mayor in Britain after being ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court sacked the head of the elected as Mayor for the state-run anti-corruption agency yesterday because of his faulty LAHORE: Pakistan’s incoming In a speech marking the 15th said his government would build London Borough of Waltham selection, officials said, a move likely to slow down an already prime minister Nawaz Sharif anniversary of Pakistan’s first more dams to exploit Pakistan’s Forest. shoddy accountability process. yesterday admitted it was a successful nuclear weapons test, huge hydroelectric potential, as Councillor Nadeem Ali, who The leader of the opposition filed a petition against Fasih Bokhari’s “tragedy” that a country with a Sharif — who was prime minister well as more coal-fired power sta- is aged 30, is the youngest ever appointment as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) nuclear arsenal was crippled by at the time -- said it was shame- tions, and would seek help from Pakistani origin mayor who in October 2011, saying he had not been consulted as required by law. chronic electricity shortages. ful that the country struggled so allies China and Turkey. will remain in his position for The court ruled that Bokhari’s selection violated the constitution. Years of mismanagement, badly just to keep the lights on. He said foreign firms setting up a year. Congleton’s George “The chairman is not happy with the Supreme Court’s decision, but underinvestment and corruption “It’s a tragedy that a country power projects in Pakistan would Hayes, 21, is Britain’s young- he has accepted it and is going home,” a NAB official said. in the power sector have led to with atomic weapons is deprived be allowed to repatriate profits, est mayor but Nadeem Ali has The sacking may slow down the accountability process, given that a Pakistanis suffering blackouts of electricity and has no electric- but warned against expectations the distinction as he was the new government that emerged from a May 11 election will have to be of up to 20 hours a day in the ity for even 20 hours a day. How of a swift end to the crisis. youngest ever Deputy Mayor sworn in and fresh consultations held between the government and the blistering heat of summer, when can a country develop in such a “Please do not expect that we of the same Borough and was opposition before a new NAB chairman can be appointed. temperatures reach up to 50 deg situation?” he said. will solve this energy problems in elected straight to the position “As per the law, NAB cannot take decisions on any pending cases Celsius. The hated power cuts, known days,” he told an audience in the of Mayor. unless the chairman signs off on them,” said Ahmed Safdar, a bureau Sharif vowed to build new euphemistically as “loadshed- eastern city of Lahore. His parents originate from spokesperson. “We can’t move forward on any cases until we have a power plants to tackle the prob- ding”, were arguably the single “We will try our best and will Andrah in Pakistan. new head, which will take some time.” lem, which acts as a huge drag biggest voter complaint in the use all our resources to solve this The agency is investigating several high-profile cases, including on the economy, shaving up to run-up to the May 11 general problem but you will have to show 7.5pc rise in charges against former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on suspi- four percent off GDP accord- election, which Sharif’s party won patience. I cannot give you an cion of receiving kickbacks in power projects and three accusations of ing to the Planning Commission, — a far bigger daily concern than exact timeframe but I will strug- salaries likely graft against Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif. Both men deny any but he warned there would be no Taliban violence. gle and will do my best.” wrongdoing. REUTERS quick fix. Wealthy steel magnate Sharif AFP ISLAMABAD: The incom- ing federal government of Pakistan is likely to propose a salary increase of 7.5 per- cent for employees and a higher relief for pensioners Pakistan Railways in the next budget of the year WHO suspends polio campaign 2013-14. A senior government official said that because of the tight may double fares fiscal position, the finance min- istry would recommend five to after shooting in Peshawar RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Railways is ready seven per cent salary increase to drop a bombshell on its passengers when the in view of six per cent infla- PESHAWAR: The World Health sterilise Muslims. Asian nuclear-power nation. new government led by Nawaz Sharif will take tion. If government decided to Organisation suspended its polio The United Nations in Pakistan Critics say the attacks on the health reigns of the country in the first week of June this be more generous, he said, it eradication campaign in a Pakistani pulled all staff involved in the cam- workers are a prime example of the year. might increase the salaries by city yesterday after two young work- paign off the streets last December. government’s failure to formulate a Credible sources revealed yesterday that the rail- up to 10 percent. ers were shot as they administered Immunisation continued in some areas decisive policy on tackling militancy, way authorities have moved a summary with the He said that one percent sal- drops, the latest attack aimed at the without UN support although many despite pressure from key ally the federal government demanding an increase in fares ary increase would translate UN-backed operation. workers refused to go out. United States, the source of billions of by 100 percent. into Rs2bn per year while 7.5 The victims of the shooting in the “They were administering polio drops dollars in aid. The summary has been forwarded one week back percent increase would have an violence-plagued northwestern city of when they were attacked,” police officer Polio crippled thousands of people to seek the nod of the government in this regard. annual fiscal impact of Rs15bn Peshawar were aged 18 and 20. Police Siraj Ahmed said. every year in rich nations until the Briefing on the plan of the railway authorities, which and 10 percent increase would said both had died, but medical sources WHO spokesperson Maryam Younas 1950s. As a result of vaccination, it is would have an adverse effect on the train passengers, take it to Rs20bn. said one had died and one was seriously said they were temporarily suspending now only endemic in three countries sources said that an increase in fares by Rs1 per AGENCIES wounded. the vaccination drive in Peshawar. — Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. kilometre per head has been sought. No group claimed responsibility for “Operations will remain suspended UN officials say there are about The distance between Karachi and Rawalpindi Bomb claims the attack, though many Islamists, in Peshawar until the security situation 161,000 children in North Waziristan is 1,400km. So there would be 100 percent increase including Taliban militants, have long returns to normal,” she said. district alone who have not received a in train fares between the two cities, if the plan is five policemen opposed the campaign, convinced that The latest violence has raised fresh polio vaccine since June last year. implemented. the anti-polio drive is a Western plot to questions over stability in the South AGENCIES AGENCIES PESHAWAR: Pakistani police said a roadside bomb- ing had killed five police officers in the country’s northwest. Senior police officer Abdullah Khan said the attack targeted Karachi lawyer, two sons the vehicle of Khan Bahadur, Deputy Superintendent of Police, killing him. It took place near the village of Periani in the Shangla district. die in ‘sectarian’ attack Khan said the remote-con- KARACHI: Attackers shot dead a lawyer and political violence. Shias make up around trolled detonation of the bomb and his two sons aged 12 and 15 in Karachi 20 percent of Pakistan’s population, which is planted in the mountainous yesterday in a suspected sectarian attack, dominated by the Sunni. They are increasingly terrain destroyed the vehicle police said, the latest in a wave of violence coming under attack. and killed four other officers. against Pakistan’s Shias. A car bomb in a Shiite neighbourhood in They were returning from the The men, on a motorbike, gunned down Karachi in March killed 50 people, the fourth funeral of a fellow officer killed high court lawyer Kausar Saqlain and his sons in a series of major attacks on the community in an ambush a day earlier. Owais Abbas and Mohammad Abbas as he took since January 10 that killed more than 250 No one has claimed respon- them to school. people. sibility, but Islamic extrem- “Apparently it seems a sectarian killing,” Lawyers boycotted proceedings of the pro- ist militants operating in Iqbal Mahmood, the Karachi police chief, told vincial High Court on Tuesday to mourn and Pakistan’s northwest are AFP, though he said the case was still under condemn the death of Saqlain and his two sons. suspected. investigation. “We strongly condemn the killings of our They have claimed many Karachi, a city of 18 million people, con- colleague and his two sons and we called off recent attacks on security A man comforts a relative mourning lawyer Kausar Saqlain and his two sons who were tributes 42 percent of Pakistan’s GDP but is activities at the court,” said Mustafa Lakhan, troops and police. killed by gunmen in Karachi yesterday. rife with murders and kidnappings and has president of the Sindh High Court Bar AGENCIES been plagued for years by ethnic, sectarian Association. AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Spot-fixing linked to Dawood Ibrahim Calls for BCCI president to resign grow stronger

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI/ of Mumbai police, was also the disciplinary committee that is SRINAGAR: Calls for Board chief executive of Chennai Super probing former IPL chairman of Control for Cricket in India Kings, owned by Srinivasan- Lalit Modi, said Srinivasan, whose (BCCI) president N Srinivasan’s headed India Cements. term expires in September, can resignation just got stronger Scindia became the second come back and take over after his amidst revelations by Delhi highly influential member of the son-in-law is absolved of all the Police that fugitive don Dawood BCCI after its former president charges. Ibrahim allegedly had links to Inderjit Singh Bindra to call for “If he and his family mem- the Indian Premier League (IPL) Srinivasan’s resignation. bers, or rather his son-in-law, is spot-fixing scandal. Srinivasan, however, got sup- absolved, then surely he can come The suspected links with mafia port from another BCCI colleague back. But considering the envi- were confirmed by Delhi Police, Farooq Abdullah, who went to ronment that cricket is in today, who told a Delhi court that the the extent of saying that betting I do think that if you combine IPL spot fixing scandal was alleg- should be legalised in India. the fact of a conflict of interest edly linked to fugitive underworld “Tomorrow, if my son-in-law is and his own family member being don Dawood as bookie Ashwini found involved in something why involved in an ongoing investiga- Aggarwal alias Tinku Mandey was should I be blamed,” Abdullah, tion, it is in the fitness of things in touch with him and his aides. also the union renewable energy and more from a spirit point of The court also rejected minister, said when asked if view and propriety point of view, Rajasthan Royals cricketer Srinivsan should resign. I do believe that he should step Ankeet Chavan’s plea seeking Scindia, chairman of BCCI’s aside,” said Scindia in Delhi. bail to get married June 2 and finance committee, however, Meanwhile, India skipper along with him sent co-accused strongly felt that Srinivasan Mahendra Singh Dhoni, during a Sreesanth and Ajit Chandila to should step aside until the investi- press conference in Mumbai, was judicial custody till June 4. gations reached a conclusive end. bombarded with a volley of ques- Along with Sreesanth and “Let me say this that I, for not tions on spot fixing but he evaded Chandila, the court also sent two even a moment, am assuming or them all with a smile. bookies Ashwini Aggarwal and saying that anyone is guilty. But Dhoni was also asked if he per- Chandresh Patel to judicial cus- considering the environment that sonally knew Vindoo Dara Singh, Cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (right) is taken to court in a police vehicle in New Delhi yesterday. tody till June 4. is around cricket today, consider- but he answered with a smile as Meanwhile, puncturing ing the fact that we do need to a board official seated next to the during the IPL and also if the spot custody of Vindoo. Additional Cements, owners of Chennai Srinivasan’s claims that no cleanse the sport in every single India captain said “next question fixing scandal will have any affect Metropolitan Magistrate A M Super Kings and Jaipur IPL Pvt board member has asked him meaning of the word, I do believe please.” on the players in the Champions Padwad also granted similar Ltd, owners of Rajasthan Royals, to resign, Jyotiraditya Scindia, that it would be in the fitness Vindoo, who is in the custody Trophy, but he chose to ignore extension of police custody of had a role in spot-fixing. a union minister and an influ- of things if Srinivasan did step of Mumbai police, was often pic- them all. Dhoni also refused to bookie Prem Taneja and hawala The other two members of ential board member, asking the aside until this matter reached tured with Dhoni’s wife Sakshi, answer when asked if fans can operator Alpesh Patel, who were the commission are T Jayaram board chief to step aside pending a conclusive end in terms of an cheering for Super Kings during have faith in the Indian team in arrested in the same case. Chouta, former judge of the the enquiry into his son-in-law inquiry,” Scindia, son of former the IPL matches. the Champions Trophy in the The BCCI also set-up a three Karnataka and Tamil Nadu High Gurunath Meiyappan’s links with BCCI president late Madhavrao Dhoni was also asked why was midst of the scandal. member panel that includes board Courts and R Balasubramanian, spot fixing. Scindia, told Times Now. he keeping mum and skipped A Mumbai court yesterday secretary Sanjay Jadgale to probe former judge of the Tamil Nadu Gurunath, who is in the custody Scindia, who is also on the two pre-match press conferences extended till May 31 the police Gurunath’s role and also if Indian High Court. IANS

Indian gets death in UAE Navigation centre for satellite system opens

DUBAI: A 28-year-old Indian man told him to come back after her hus- BANGALORE: The state-run Indian with high precision atomic clocks and “The 1,425kg navigational satellite will has been sentenced to death by a band returned. However, the accused space agency yesterday opened a navi- transmit navigation signals to multiple provide terrestrial, aerial and marine nav- court in the United Arab Emirates fooled the victim into giving him a gation centre near here for a proposed users round the clock. Union Minister of igation services and help in disaster and for murdering a housewife last year. glass of water and entered the house. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) fleet management across the region, after The court of first instance in Dubai When she returned with a glass of System (IRNSS), a constellation of seven V Narayanasamy inaugurated the cen- it is positioned in geostationary equatorial found the accused, an accountant water, the accused took her by sur- spacecraft that will enable users to know tre in the presence of ISRO Chairman K orbit about 36,000km away from the earth,” by profession, guilty of killing the prise and slit her throat with a knife their location and time accurately. Radhakrishnan, other space scientists and Radhakrishnan said on the occasion. woman by slitting her throat in her he had bought earlier in the day. Located in the Deep Space Network officials of the space department. The navigation centre will also be respon- house at Bur Dubai here and then The man, who was facing dire finan- (DSN) complex of the Indian Space The first of the navigation satellites sible for the time reference, generation of decamping with jewellery, a UAE cial conditions, then decamped with a Research Organisation (ISRO) at Byalalu, (IRNSS-IA) will be launched in the wee hours navigation messages and monitoring and daily reported yesterday. bagful of jewellery. The incident was about 40km from here, the navigation cen- of June 12 onboard the space agency’s home control of ground facilities, including rang- According to the report, the man, reported on September 26 last year tre will function as the main ground station grown rocket (PSLV-C22 XL) from its spa- ing stations. “Key to the global positioning whose identity has not been revealed and the man was arrested later from for the satellite system. ceport at Sriharikota off the Bay of Bengal in system (GPS)-based navigation support in the report, had gone to the wom- the Al Raffa area of the city. He can The satellite system will be equipped Andhra Pradesh, about 90 km from Chennai. is the time reference to which all ground- an’s house in September last year and appeal the verdict within 15 days. If based systems and satellite clocks are syn- asked for the purchase receipt of a the verdict becomes irrevocable and chronised. The time reference is generated second-hand washing machine that he the ruler of Dubai upholds it, he will by the high precision timing facility at the had bought from the latter’s husband. be executed by a firing squad. navigation centre, which is equipped with The woman, however, refused and IANS high stability, high precision atomic clocks,” Radhakrishnan said. A network of 21 ranging stations located across the country will provide data for the orbit determination of the satellites and monitoring of the navigation signal. The data from the ranging and monitor- ing stations is relayed to the data processing facility at the centre on real-time basis to generate navigation messages, which are in turn transmitted to the satellites through the spacecraft control facility of the space agency at Hassan in Karnataka (180km from Bangalore) and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. “The IA satellite will be tested in its geostationary orbit for about six months before commissioning for operational use. It will have a 10-year lifespan. The remaining six satellites of the IRNSS constellation will be launched by 2015 at the rate of every six months,” Radhakrishnan said. The navigational satellites will provide an accurate real time position, navigation time Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation work in the Indian Regional Navigational (PNT) services to users in air, sea and land Satellite System control room at the Indian Deep Space Network, located at Byalalu village, on a variety of platforms under all weather about 50km from Bangalore city, yesterday. conditions. IANS

80pc polling for assembly Blind CBSE topper opts for US varsity seat in Karnataka NEW DELHI: Denied a chance to complicated mathematical equations from BANGALORE: Around 80 percent of over appear for the IIT-JEE exams because the question paper,” Sawhney asked. 160,000 eligible voters in the Periyapatna he is vision impaired, an 18-year-old who “I had to fight to get a course like com- assembly constituency in Karnataka yet- scored 96 percent in his Class 12 CBSE puter science in my Class 11 as the CBSE serday cast their ballot and the result May has opted to study at Stanford University was objecting,” Sawhney said. 31 is keenly awaited by the ruling Congress. in the US. A student of Delhi Public School, R Periyapatna did not vote May 5 when “I would love to pursue my studies in my KPuram, in south Delhi, Sawhney scored assembly election was held as polling was country, but the depressing guidelines of 99 in computer science and 95 each in math- countermanded there following the death IIT-JEE last year have made it impossi- ematics, English, physics and chemistry. He of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. ble for blind students to appear in the JEE scored 479 out of 500. “The polling was peaceful and around 80 (joint entrance exam),” Kartik Sawhney, Urging that the education system should percent voting has taken place,” a spokes- who scored 479 out of 500 in the Class 12 be more sensitive and tolerant towards person for the state election authorities told exam conducted by the Central Board of the disabled, Sawhney said: “We need to reporters here. The Congress is comfortably Secondary Education (CBSE), said. embrace change and the examination body placed in the 225-member assembly having Till last year, blind students were was simply not willing to change the guide- won 121 seats in the May 5 poll. exempted from visual input in JEE and lines. They said they would not allow a However because Periyapatna is in Chief had to attempt only the theory questions. scribe with a science background, saying Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district of However, a change in regulations disallowed that he would help me cheat. I said I would Mysore, winning the seat is seen in politi- visually impaired students to attempt the pay for the invigilator or an IIT professor to cal circles as a matter of prestige for him. theory questions and they were not allowed be my scribe, but they did not agree.” The battle is mainly between K Venkatesh to use assistive technology. Sawhney will be getting nearly $66,000 a of Congress and K Mahadev of Janata Dal- “The new policy also prescribed a scribe year in scholarship from Stanford University Secular though R T Satish of the BJP and and reader only from humanities or com- on the basis of his economic status. He five others are also in the fray. IANS merce streams. How could he read out leaves for Stanford on September 2. IANS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Maoists claim BJP expels responsibility for attack RAIPUR: The Maoists claimed responsibility yesterday for an attack that killed 24 people, say- Jethmalani ing local political leaders were targeted for their role in police offensives against the rebels. The bloody ambush on Saturday, the deadliest attack in three years, was to avenge kill- for 6 years ings by security forces during the long-running conflict in the central state of Chhattisgarh, said the outlawed Communist Party of Breach of discipline cited India (Maoist). “We have taken revenge for the NEW DELHI: The BJP yes- Sinha as the Central Bureau of killing of over a thousand people terday said that it had expelled Investigation director. by the hands of Salwa Judum senior lawyer and MP Ram BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and goons and government security Jethmalani from its primary Sushma Swaraj had told Prime forces,” the group said in a four- membership for criticising then Minister Manmohan Singh that page statement sent to the BBC party president Nitin Gadkari the appointment of the CBI broadcaster’s Hindi service. and other issues. director should have been done Among those targeted in the Citing “breach of discipline”, through a collegium. attack was former state home BJP general secretary Ananth “You had made several false minister Mahendra Karma, the Kumar said in a letter to allegations against the function- statement said, who set up a con- Jethmalani that the decision was aries of the party,” the letter said. troversial anti-Maoist militia group taken on Monday by the party’s “You have raised some irrele- in 2005 called the Salwa Judum. parliamentary board. He also vant issues relating to the police Hundreds of heavily-armed indicated further action against commissioner of Delhi... rebels ambushed a convoy carry- Jethmalani, 89, for violating the “You have failed to respond to Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (centre) and his wife Akie (right) welcome Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at ing local leaders of India’s govern- party whip. the charge of making statements Abe’s official residence in Tokyo, yesterday. ing Congress party as it travelled “The central parliamentary embarrassing to the party... through the forested Sukma area, board, after considering all your “You have again failed to show about 345km from here. replies, responses and letters, was any sufficient cause for challeng- They detonated a land-mine of the unanimous opinion that you ing the authority and legitimacy Japan strategic partner, says PM before opening fire, spraying 25 have indulged in a breach of dis- of the party by stating that the cars with bullets, then dragged cipline,” the letter said. party has no guts to take action TOKYO: Stressing the need for and International Friendship Singh said: “India and Japan are people out and killed them, “The parliamentary board, against you.” defence and strategic coopera- Exchange Council here. The focus among the major actors in this police said. The Maoists said yes- therefore, decided to expel you The BJP said Jethmalani defied tion between Japan and India, was on strategic partnership with region. It is our responsibility to terday they regretted the death for six years from the primary the whip of the party on May 6 by Prime Minister Manmohan Japan, which also has territorial foster a climate of peace, stabil- of any “innocents” or civilians in membership.” not voting for the election of mem- Singh said yesterday that both disputes with China. ity and cooperation and to lay an the attack. Jethmalani had in November bers of the committee on public countries had a major role to “This region faces multiple enduring foundation for security The statement also accused last year demanded Gadkari’s undertakings. BJP spokesperson play in regional stability. challenges, unresolved issues and and prosperity.” the slain Karma’s family of being resignation over allegations of Prakash Javadekar said the decision “We see Japan as a natural and unsettled questions. Historical In recent years, the prime min- landlords who “engaged in severe financial wrongdoing in compa- on expelling Jethmalani was final. indispensable partner in our quest differences persist despite our ister added, political and secu- exploitation of tribals”. nies linked to him. The vocal Jethmalani resigned for stability and peace in the vast growing inter-dependence; pros- rity cooperation between the two The guerrillas, who claim to Jethmalani had then claimed as law minister in the Atal Behari region in Asia that is washed by perity has not fully eliminated countries has gained in salience. be fighting for the rights of poor that party colleagues Yashwant Vajpayee government following the Pacific and Indian Oceans,” the disparities within and between “Japan is the only partner with tribal minorities and farmers, Sinha and Jaswant Singh backed differences with then Attorney prime minister said a day before his states; and there are continuing whom we have a 2-plus-2 Dialogue have waged a decades-long battle his demand. General Soli Sorabjee. He con- bilateral summit meeting with his threats to stability and security,” between the foreign and defence across central and eastern states This led to Jethmalani’s sus- tested the 2004 Lok Sabha elec- Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Manmohan Singh said, without ministries. We have also begun to overthrow state and national pension from the Bharatiya tion against Vajpayee from He was addressing an event naming any country. bilateral exercises with the Japanese authorities. The government Janata Party. Jethmalani had Lucknow and lost. He was elected organised by the Japan-India Calling for strengthening of Maritime Self Defence Force. We describes the rebels as the coun- also criticised the BJP’s denuncia- to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP can- Association, Japan-India regional mechanisms between have shared interests in maritime try’s most serious internal secu- tion of the appointment of Ranjit didate in 2010. IANS Parliamentary Friendship League New Delhi and Tokyo, Manmohan security,” he said. IANS rity threat. AFP

A boy washes himself with water to cool down, in Amritsar yesterday. Heat wave continues, more than 500 dead since April NEW DELHI: Heat wave con- Celsius, two notches above aver- recorded 45.2 degrees Celsius, ditions, which have seen over age, while the minimum settled Hamirpur 45.2 degrees, Agra 500 people losing their lives at 30.2 degrees Celsius, three 43.3 degrees, and Allahabad 45.5 since April due to heatstroke, notches above average. degrees, making these the hottest continued across the country Heat wave conditions contin- cities in the state. yesterday, an official said. ued to prevail in the desert state The temperature in Lucknow According to the Department of Rajasthan with the mercury hovered around 44 degrees of Disaster Management, 524 Tuesday hovering between 40 to Celsius, a meteorological depart- people have died of sunstroke 45 degrees celsius. Churu at 45.2 ment official said. There was no since April 1 across the country. degrees Celsius was the hottest in likelihood of any respite from the However, unofficial sources have the state and Sri Ganganagar was heat nor any chances of rain in put the toll at over 600 during last also close at 44.4 degrees celsius. Uttar Pradesh, the official added. four days itself. State capital Jaipur was scorch- Rainfall in parts of Andhra After a cloudy and windy ing at 41.9 degrees and the mini- Pradesh provided much-needed Monday, it was back to being mum temperature was at 32.4 relief to people from the intense scorching hot in the capital yester- degrees Celsius, almost five degrees heat that has kept the southern day as the maximum temperature above normal. Bikaner was also hot plateau sizzling for weeks. settled three notches above aver- at 41.9 degrees Celsius. Several parts of Srikakulam age at 43 degrees Celsius. The India The heat wave continued to district in north coastal Andhra Meteorological Department (IMD) roast Uttar Pradesh with the mer- Pradesh and some parts of East has forecast similar weather today. cury soaring to 45 degrees Celsius Godavari, West Godavari, Guntur The maximum and minimum in some parts of the state Most and other districts of south coastal temperatures are likely to hover people stayed indoors as humidity Andhra received rains. around 43 and 28 degrees respec- and long hours of power outages The sky remained cloudy in tively. Yesterday’s minimum tem- and cuts added to people’s woes. most parts of Telangana and perature was 29 degrees Celsius, Etawah remained the hottest Rayalaseema regions, officials two notches above average for this place in Uttar Pradesh at 46.2 said. Rains or thundershowers are time of the season. degrees Celsius, four degrees likely in a few places in the state Monday’s maximum tempera- above the normal temperature during the next 24 hours. ture in Delhi was 42.6 degrees for this time of the season. Banda IANS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Online retailer News in Numbers ECONOMIC GROWTH Asos recalls CHART: 1 PERFORMANCE 6 Fajr (Dawn) 3:17 Shorook (Sunrise) 4:44 radioactive Zuhr (Noon) 11:31 belts Asr (Afternoon) 2:56 LONDON: Online fashion Maghrib (Sunset) 6:19 retailer Asos has recalled a Isha (Night) 7:49 batch of belts after US customs officials discovered they were radioactive, the company said yesterday. WEATHER A spokesman for the London- listed retailer said the belts, which are made of leather and covered Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: with metal studs, were being held Clear Clear Clear at a radioactive storage facility Slightly dusty. after testing positive for Cobalt-60. First-quarter growth of 24.3pc was followed by a more moderate 11.9pc in the Asos — which counts US First Lady Michelle Obama among its second. The gap between real or volume growth and nominal growth is explained High: 38° High: 39° High: 39° fans — sold around 50 of the belts Low: 28° Low: 29° Low: 28° by changes in the price of Qatar’s output basket, particularly by gains in prices to customers in some 15 countries before the recall in January, when of hydrocarbons and petrochemicals. Higher international prices for crude oil, to US customs agents found traces which the price of Qatar’s hydrocarbon basket is closely tied, lifted income in the of the radioactive substance in oil and gas sector. In nominal terms, output of oil and gas rose by over 17pc in DOHA - SUN & SEA one of the products. Asos confirmed that an inter- the first half, compared with a volume expansion of just 2.7pc. Manufacturing, in SUN TIDE SEA nal company report said the belts, which downstream refining and petrochemical activity features prominently, also SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND which were made in India, could benefited from higher prices, with nominal output climbing by 21.7pc against cause injury if worn for more than 04:44 18:19 07:15 & 20:45 03:15 & 12:45 15-25/35 KT 500 hours. “The good thing about volume expansion of 11.1pc. being an online retailer is that it THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW was very easy to contact people HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER who had ordered the belts so they Quarterly GDP growth, nominal and real (pc) could be sent back — a lot easier MUSCAT 35/20 Clear 38/30 Clear than if they were sold in a shop,” MAKKAH 45/30 Clear 44/30 Partly cloudy an Asos spokesman said. “This is Nominal Real KUWAIT 40/27 Clear 40/25 Clear a completely voluntary recall by BAHRAIN 36/30 Clear 36/29 Clear Asos,” he added. “The risk from SANAA 29/14 Partly cloudy 29/15 Partly cloudy this product is pretty low.” RIYADH 38/25 Clear 38/25 Clear He stressed that no other Asos DUBAI 38/28 Clear 37/27 Partly cloudy products were affected and that BAGHDAD 37/23 Clear 38/24 Clear the company was in contact with the belt supplier “to ensure a sat- THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW isfactory outcome”. Asos’ internal report, quoted HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER by The Guardian newspaper, said: “Unfortunately, this incident is ATHENS 32/21 Clear 34/21 Clear quite a common occurrence. India WASHINGTON 31/22 Partly cloudy 32/22 Partly cloudy and the Far East are large consum- SYDNEY 22/11 Partly cloudy 23/13 Partly cloudy ers of scrap metal for their home LONDON 14/12 Chance of rain 17/11 Chance of rain and foreign markets. “During the PARIS 17/12 Chance of rain 17/11 Chance of rain refining process of these metals, ISTANBUL 32/20 Partly cloudy 27/20 Partly cloudy orphaned radioactive sources are MANILA 34/26 Chance of storm 34/26 Partly cloudy sometimes accidentally melted at DHAKA 30/25 Chance of storm 31/25 Chance of storm the same time. This in turn (con- DELHI 42/28 Clear 42/28 Clear taminates the process) and traps the radioactivity in the metal as ISLAMABAD 36/22 Partly cloudy 39/22 Partly cloudy an alloy or in suspension.” Source : http://www.qsa.gov.qa/ AFP Wednesday 29 May 2013 19 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5714 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar Exchange No change in currency peg soon: QCB hosts Investor More exchange rate flexibility may be desired in future, says Qatar Central Bank Governor Relations

DUBAI: Qatar may change its day change its dollar peg, although fluctuations in recent years. the lowest level since June 2012, in April, the highest level since Conference peg to the US dollar when the Sheikh Abdullah emphasised that “With our emphasis on greater on his comments. They have at least 2009, fuelled by rising economy becomes less depend- nothing was currently in the works. economic diversification, we recovered most of the losses since rental costs. The International DOHA: Qatar Exchange (QE) ent on hydrocarbons and local “We continue to reiterate our aspire to develop the non-hydro- then, floating at around 65 points Monetary Fund sees it edging up in its efforts to improve inves- financial markets deepen, faith in the dollar peg and (are) carbon sector over a period of bid yesterday. gradually to reach 5.0 percent in tor relations (IR) standards and although no changes are cur- not contemplating any change for time so as to reduce our reli- Sheikh Abdullah said the argu- 2017 and 2018. encourage the adoption of inter- rently being considered, its cen- the time being,” he said yesterday ance on the hydrocarbon sector. ments for a greater monetary Sheikh Abdullah said it would national best practices once tral bank chief said. in written answers to Reuters’ Till such time, our exchange rate policy independence had their be premature to comment on again partnered with Middle Asked which economic condi- questions. framework would continue to be limitations in Qatar’s case. whether pegging to a basket of East Investor Relations Society tions needed to be met for Qatar “The dollar peg provides a cred- characterized by the dollar peg,” “Since our financial markets currencies, Alkhater suggested as (ME-IR Society) to host the to consider changing its currency ible anchor for our monetary policy he said. are in a formative stage and the an option, would be a good alter- 4th Annual Investor Relations regime, Central Bank Governor as almost all of Qatar’s export con- Qatar adopted a currency peg monetary transmission mecha- native to the dollar peg. Conference that opened here H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud tracts and invoicing are done in the after in 1971. It has kept the riyal nism is yet to evolve fully, it would While pegging to a currency yesterday. Al Thani said: “With increas- US dollar. Thus, a stable exchange pegged at 3.64 riyal to the dollar constrain the effectiveness and basket would reduce monetary The conference, which was ing integration in international rate renders stability to our foreign since 2001. efficiency of an independent mon- policy dependence on the United attended by Qatari listed entities trade, services, and asset mar- export earnings, the main compo- The world’s top liquefied natu- etary policy,” he said. States, it has a disadvantage that and capital market participants, kets, a higher degree of exchange nent of government revenue.” ral gas exporter had been ques- Imported inflation pressures in traders would have to bear the featured panel discussions and rate flexibility may become more Qatar and other Gulf Arab tioning merits of the peg in 2008, Qatar have been restricted due to exchange rate risk, he said. presentations on a range of rel- desirable to ensure external sta- states adopted fixed exchange rate when it reeled under a record 15 limited low pass-through effects “In a relatively underdevel- evant IR topics. bility and international competi- regimes in the past to stabilise percent inflation, and in 2009. achieved through price controls oped financial market, hedging Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, Listing tiveness of our exports. their currencies and import low Last week, the central bank’s on select items, Sheikh Abdullah exchange rate risk would be dif- Director at QE, said: “We are “Moreover, our financial mar- inflation from overseas. Spiralling Research and Monetary Policy added, pointing to a modest infla- ficult and costly.” continuously working with listed kets would have to deepen and inflation in 2007 and 2008 put the Director Khalid Alkhater told a tion recently. Out of six Gulf Arab oil produc- companies in Qatar to improve develop further in order to pro- viability of pegs under fire at the forum that Qatar and other Gulf “Therefore, we are confident of ers only Kuwait does not peg its IR standards and encourage vide the appropriate instruments time. states should consider moving our abilities in keeping inflation currency to the dollar. Its dinar the adoption of international for hedging of risk in a more flex- Sheikh Abdullah said, how- to a more flexible exchange rate under check and anchoring infla- has traded against a basket of best practices within this field. ible exchange rate environment.” ever, that the economy benefited regime to better manage inflation tion expectations even with the undisclosed trading partners’ cur- Conferences such as these are It was the first time a Qatari from the dollar peg for most of risk in the next decade. dollar peg,” he said. rencies since 2007 but is believed therefore very important in policymaker has publicly sug- the time and inflation remained One-year riyal forwards Inflation in Qatar climbed to to be heavily dollar dominated. bringing companies and IR gested that the country may one modest despite the greenback’s dropped 45 points to 30 points, 3.7 percent on an annual basis REUTERS experts together so that man- agement teams may continue to advance and contribute to the development of an IR centre of Al Sada meets Maltese minister excellence in Qatar.” Paul Reynolds, Chairman of the ME-IR Society and Managing Oil rises ahead of Director at Rothschild, said: “The Qatari market is very active when it comes to encouraging its par- ticipants to pursue international Opec meeting standards of IR and this confer- ence underlines yet again how importantly IR is viewed by the NEW YORK: Brent crude rose toward year highs, the mar- authorities in Qatar. The ME-IR more than $1 yesterday as US ket seems to back off of it,” Society is proud to be a partner consumer optimism and signs said Gene McGillian, analyst at and provide support as Qatar con- of easier monetary policy from Tradition Energy in Stamford, tinues this positive development.” central banks pushed stock Connecticut. The conference agenda featured markets higher, while increas- “We’re still in that pattern, panel discussions and presentations ing Middle East risk also sup- where we’re being pushed back on a wide rage of topics including ported oil. and forth on headlines,” he said. the Role of IR in Capital Markets, Brent and US crude oil headed Yesterday, buoyant investor How can Qatari Companies Deliver for their biggest one-day rise sentiment overcame pressure on Effective IR to their Various since early May, with gains of oil prices from a stronger dol- Stakeholders?, The Impact of more than one percent. lar and worries about ample oil The New Commercial Law, and US stocks rallied after central supplies. The Investor Point of View: How banks reassured investors that Analysts also cited a geopo- Companies are Evaluated and the they will keep policies designed litical risk premium in oil prices Significance of Global Best Practice. to foster global growth. stemming from worries that the The conference was also pre- The Conference Board’s US escalating war in Syria might ceded by a two-day training pro- consumer confidence index spark more strife in the Middle gramme on ‘Investor Relations rose in May to its highest level East, which accounts for almost a The Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, yesterday met Konrad Mizzi, and Corporate Communications since February 2008, suggest- fifth of the world’s seaborne crude Minister of Energy and Conservation of Water of the Republic of Malta, and his delegation. They discussed Best Practice’ organised by the ing demand for oil could rise oil supplies. means to enhance cooperation in the energy sector. ME-IR Society. as the economy shows signs of Attempts to renew a European improvement. arms embargo on Syria failed on Brent for July gained as much Monday and Britain and France IMF board voices as $2 a barrel and was up $1.80 at are likely to start supplying $104.42 per barrel by 1.20pm EDT Syrian rebels with weaponry later confidence (1720 GMT), while US crude rose this year. Al Noor Hospitals plans London $1.16 to $95.31 per barrel. The stock market rally took the in Lagarde “The consumer confidence focus away from oil market sup- number was a big factor here, ply-and-demand fundamentals, WASHINGTON: The and the overall strength of the which have looked fairly gloomy listing to raise $150m International Monetary Fund’s equity markets added to the tenor in recent weeks. executive board yesterday reit- of demand outlook, which should According to preliminary data ABU DHABI: UAE health- ... growth opportunities,” Alom In December, Reuters reported erated confidence in Managing be picking up,” said John Kilduff, last week, US factory activity care provider Al Noor Hospitals said on a conference call with that the consortium which owns Director Christine Lagarde partner at Again Capital LLC in slipped to a seven-month low Group aims to raise some reporters. half of Al Noor planned to revive after a French court grilled New York. in May. US crude oil stockpiles $150m through an initial public The company plans to issue a sale of its stake through a stock her over a state payout to a Kilduff said the confidence are near all-time highs, while offering (IPO) of shares on the new and existing shares to secure market listing in 2013. disgraced tycoon when she was numbers and equity markets US petrol reserves are rising at London Stock Exchange (LSE) a free float of readily tradeable The group operates three hos- finance minister. formed a “positive feedback loop”, a time when seasonal demand to finance planned acquisitions. shares of 30 to 45 percent of the pitals and nine medical centres “As we have said before, it would with the wealth effect from strong is traditionally nearing its peak. The Abu Dhabi-based group, total. It gave no further detail on and has the largest market share not be appropriate to comment on equity markets making consum- US petrol stocks are close to their the largest private healthcare the pricing and number of shares among private healthcare provid- a case that has been and is cur- ers more optimistic. highest for this time of year since provider in the oil-rich emirate, to be sold. Al Noor chose to list in ers for both outpatients and inpa- rently before the French judici- The price climb comes ahead 1999. is looking at several acquisition London to gain access to interna- tients, according to the Health ary,” the board said in a statement. of Friday’s meeting of the Market participants were opportunities within the UAE, tional investors, Alom said, add- Authority of Abu Dhabi’s latest “However, the executive board Organisation of the Petroleum beginning to focus on Opec’s bian- including a $50m speciality treat- ing bookbuilding for the IPO and report. has been briefed on this matter, Exporting Countries, at which Opec nual meeting in Vienna at the ment centre, said Sami Alom, listing would be in the latter half Al Noor achieved revenue of including on the outcome of the will decide its production policy. end of this week, said Carsten Chief Strategy Officer, declining of next month. $324.4m in 2012, netting a profit recent hearings before the Court Oil trading has been choppy in Fritsch, senior oil analyst at to provide further details. Deutsche Bank AG and of $60.5m. of Justice of the Republic in Paris, May. Consecutive up days have Commerzbank in Frankfurt. The Al Noor is the second UAE Goldman Sachs are mandated Abu Dhabi, wealthiest of the and has reaffirmed its confidence alternated with streaks of down group is unlikely to alter its out- healthcare company to launch an joint sponsors and global coordi- seven emirates which make up in the Managing Director’s ability days, keeping Brent and US crude put targets, delegates say. IPO and list on the LSE. In 2012, nators, with HSBC Holdings as the UAE federation, is invest- to effectively carry out her duties.” largely within ranges of $6 and $7 “Let me tell you this, this is the NMC Healthcare raised £117m joint bookrunner for the IPO. ing billions of dollars in industry, Lagarde was interviewed by respectively. best environment for the market. ($186.9m), joining a growing list of Al Noor is owned by Ithmar tourism, healthcare and infra- the court on Thursday and Friday Brent is down more than 12 Supplies are plentiful, demand Gulf companies seeking overseas Capital and its affiliates with structure to diversify its economy as judges sought to determine percent from its year high in is great, balanced -inventories listings in preference to moribund 50 percent, and its two founders, away from oil. In recent years, whether to prosecute her over February of over $119, while US are balanced,” Saudi Arabian regional equity markets. Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti it has initiated moves to privatise a ¤400m ($517m) state payout crude has lost nearly three per- Oil Minister Ali bin Ibrahim Al “Demand for healthcare is set Al Hamed and Chief Executive the healthcare sector, bringing in to controversial businessman cent from its January high above Nuaimi told reporters on his to grow rapidly in the United Officer, Dr Kassem Alom with international companies to man- Bernard Tapie, decided when she $98. arrival in Vienna yesterday. Arab Emirates (UAE) (and) the 35 percent and 15 percent age its hospitals. was finance minister. “Every time we go up REUTERS IPO is to pursue expansion and respectively. REUTERS THE PENINSULA/AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS IMF hopes to Renault Clio 3 on production line agree loan for Yemen Growth disappointing: Deputy director

DUBAI: The International than $2 a day, and unemployment Monetary Fund hopes to agree is around 35 percent. a new longer term loan for Shafik said it supported the impoverished Yemen by the end government’s effort to phase out of 2013 and mobilise aid from the subsidies in a gradual man- international donors which has ner and put in place mechanisms been slow to arrive. to shield the poorest people from The IMF has not decided yet price increases. on the exact size of the pro- “It is up to the Yemenis really gramme, a central bank official to decide how fast they can go. has put at as much as $500m, as it We do not have a deadline but depends on the financing gap and what we would like to see is a how much money it will be able clear plan over time and eventu- to get from the donors, Deputy ally to get to the place where price Managing Director Nemat Shafik increases are more automatic and said yesterday. less politicised.” “That’s a sort of an order The IMF expects Yemen’s magnitude. We have made quite budget deficit to widen to 5.8 per- a lot of progress,” she said in an cent of GDP this year, the biggest interview. gap since 2009, from 5.5 percent “I think there will be one more in 2012. visit before we finalise something. Last year wealthy Gulf Arab I hope by the end of the calen- states, Western governments dar year we will get something and other donors pledged $7.9 bil- An employee inspects a Renault Clio 3 on the production line at the Renault automobile factory in Flins. agreed.” lion in aid over several years to An IMF official said last Yemen, but only a small fraction week that the government first has so far arrived. needed to agree on its economic Shafik said that Yemen needs programme. a predictable medium term sup- Russia pipeline could doom Europe’s Nabucco Economic recovery remains port from its donors to be able fragile in the second-poorest to transform its budget and move Arab state after Mauritania with away from subsidies, which the VIENNA/BRUSSELS: research firm IHS. The decision listened to at the Vienna opera would be $500m cheaper, but frequent attacks on oil pipelines IMF is trying to secure. Europe’s grand plan for a gas between TAP and Nabucco is house in 2002. Nabucco might bring access to denting vital budget revenues. “We want to see medium term pipeline from the Caspian Sea expected in June from partners Although the plan, led by more markets. Yemen’s gross domestic prod- pledges that are actually realised. that would make its eastern in the Shah Deniz consortium, led Austria’s OMV, was scaled back “Both have advantages and uct grew by mere 0.1 percent in That’s what Yemen needs at the states less reliant on Russia by gas field operator BP and Azeri to a 1,300km version linked to disadvantages,” said Gulmira 2012, the IMF estimates, after moment,” she said. may have been fatally under- state energy company Socar. a Turkish pipe, it had kept the Rzayeva, a leading research fel- shrinking 10.5 percent in 2011 The IMF is also ready to sign mined by Russia’s even bigger The European Union won’t favour of both Brussels and low at the Center for Strategic when political unrest crippled a $4.8bn loan agreement with project. have a direct say in the choice, but Washington. Studies under the President of the economy. Egypt before or after parliamen- As Azerbaijan nears a decision its recent switch to “project neu- That was not least because the Republic of Azerbaijan. Shafik said economic growth tary elections but it is up to the on which pipeline to choose for trality” from support for Nabucco ‘Nabucco West’ would cross All of which makes the politics has been “a little bit disappoint- government to move forward, its future exports, the Nabucco could make a big difference. It former eastern bloc countries even more important. ing”, making state energy sub- Shafik said. plan that was long the European now says it would be happy with that depend the most on Russia Choosing TAP, which does sidies, which are as high as five “Whether that comes before Union favourite could lose out to either pipeline or even both. for energy — even though initial not cut through territory that percent of GDP, the main area of the election or after the elec- the more modest Trans Adriatic “There has been a dramatic Azeri gas supplies will account for Russia traditionally dominated, concern. tion it’s really more up to them Pipeline (TAP) across Greece to shift,” TAP’s External Affairs a mere 2 percent of EU needs. could be politically expedient “Yemen is a very poor as to when they are ready to take southern Italy. Director Michael Hoffmann said. The TAP pipeline is only 800km, for Azerbaijan, which is broadly country and they need huge their measures and show that In a complex equation based Nabucco spokesman Christian including a stretch under the sea aligned with the West but has no investments in education, there is a political consensus,” on politics as much as econom- Dolezal, however, said his project to southern Italy. Its sharehold- interest in conflict with its former infrastructure and health. she said. ics, TAP is in the ascendancy over retained strong political support. ers are led by Swiss AXPO and Soviet overlord. There is no room in the budget Negotiations with the IMF have the Nabucco pipeline to Austria in Europe’s original plan was one Statoil, which has a stake in the Russia began building South to do that unless we deal with stumbled repeatedly over the the face of Russia’s $39bn South 3,900km pipeline all the way from Azeri gas fields. Stream in December and hopes to the subsidy problem.” Islamist-led government’s resist- Stream plan. Azerbaijan, across Turkey and The business case for the two deliver gas to Europe well before Removing energy subsidies ance to the austerity measures “The question is: ‘Is Nabucco up through the Balkans. It was appears relatively balanced. 2019, when the Azeri gas is due is a politically sensitive issue in needed to get Egypt’s soaring fis- viable if South Stream is built?’” named Nabucco after the epic Nabucco would be estimated to start flowing to the European Yemen, where a third of the pop- cal deficit under control. said Andrew Neff, Moscow-based Verdi opera, with its rousing cho- to cost less than $8bn with one Union. ulation of 25 million live on less REUTERS principal energy analyst with rus, that the founding parties had Azeri expert reckoning TAP REUTERS Saoud Abdullah Auditing Firm joins US home prices accelerate Russell Bedford, NEW YORK: US home prices accelerated by even as there have been hints that tighter fiscal the most in nearly seven years in March while policy is starting to bite in the broader economy. rebrands as RBSA consumer confidence surged in May, suggest- Across-the-board US government spending cuts ing there were areas of resilience for an econ- of $85bn went into effect in March, while the DOHA: Qatar’s Saoud Abdullah omy that is facing the pinch of belt-tightening payroll tax holiday expired at the beginning of the Auditing Firm has been re- in Washington. year, raising taxes for many Americans. branded as ‘RBSA Audit Firm’ The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 The data suggested both segments were per- on joining Russell Bedford metropolitan areas climbed 10.9 percent year forming better than the overall economy, said International, a global network over year, beating expectations for 10.2 percent, Sam Bullard, senior economist at Wells Fargo of independent firms of account- the survey released yesterday showed. This was in Charlotte, North Carolina. ants, auditors, tax advisers and the biggest increase since April 2006, just before “There are some individual circumstances business consultants, a press prices peaked in the summer of that year. that are helping to propel both of these a little statement said yesterday. Prices in the 20 cities gained 1.1 percent in bit stronger than what the actual underlying The new firm will provide March compared to the month before on a sea- strength would suggest,” said Bullard, pointing accounting, audit, tax and man- sonally adjusted basis, topping economists’ fore- to the effect of higher stock prices on consumers, agement consultancy services to casts for a 1 percent rise. and investor demand for homes in beaten-down companies and organisations in The housing market turned a corner in 2012, regions lifting prices. the manufacturing, real estate, several years after its far-reaching collapse. The Economists expect the pace of growth likely tourism, banking, insurance, recovery has picked up since as inventory has cooled in the second quarter, partly due to tighter services, government and not- tightened, foreclosures eased and historically low fiscal policy, but the second half of the year is for-profit sectors, and to inbound mortgage rates have attracted buyers. Separate seen regaining momentum. Investor attention investors seeking to establish or data showed consumer confidence picked up in has turned to when the Federal Reserve might grow their presence in Qatar. May to its highest in more than five years. start to slow its economic stimulus efforts. Alan Bezzant, CEO of Russell Housing and the consumer have shown strength REUTERS Bedford, said: “The Middle East and Gulf markets are a crucial area for us, and we are delighted to establish our presence in Qatar with one of the leading firms in this market. We look forward to working closely with RBSA in supporting the needs of our mem- ber firms in the region.” Hani Mukhaimer. Managing Partner, added: “After several years of sustained growth it was clear to us we needed the mar- ket presence and resources of an established international network to continue to support our clients in their domestic and cross-bor- der expansion.” Established in Qatar in 2004, Saoud Abdullah Auditing Firm has developed into a full-serv- ice firm specialising in audit, tax, corporate finance, merg- ers and acquisitions, insolvency, estate planning, and transaction support. THE PENINSULA A single family home is shown for sale in Encinitas, California. WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Bankia stock Egypt to cut plunge hits small natural gas shareholders MADRID: Shares in bailed-out Spanish finance group Bankia plunged yesterday, angering small stakeholders who said exports they were losing out after being cheated into making risky investments in the bank. Bankia issued ¤11.5bn ($14.8bn) Cairo looks to Qatar for LNG supply in fresh shares on the Madrid stock exchange yesterday as part LONDON: Egypt will cut of tourism, culminating in a cur- of its restructuring after it was exports of natural gas and tell rency crisis. nationalised last year. major industries to slow output Cairo now relies on large loans The new regular shares were this summer to avoid an energy from friendly countries, notably issued to replace high-risk invest- crisis and stave off political Qatar, which allow it to buy diesel ments held by existing Bankia unrest, the chairman of the and petrol on the open market. stakeholders. Egyptian General Petroleum For crude oil, it has turned to The bank had promised these Company (EGPC) said. Libya and Kuwait but the vol- stakeholders the new shares Tarek El Barkatawy said Egypt ume is still not enough to run would be traded at ¤1.35, but they was counting on top liquid natu- its refineries at full capacity and were down to ¤0.546 ($0.70) in ral gas (LNG) exporter Qatar to meet summer demand. yesterday’s trading on a Madrid obtain additional gas volumes in “We know that demand is more market that was up by more than summer, while encouraging fac- than supply. We are relying on Volkswagen employees working on a VW Passat at the construction line of Volkswagen plant in Emden. two percent overall. tories to plan their annual main- imports,” the chairman said. ADICAE, a campaign group tenance for those months of peak Hopes of Iraqi oil arriving in representing the small sharehold- demand. Cairo will also need to time for summer are dwindling. VW agrees pay deal for German workers ers, says 200,000 Bankia custom- source more oil to meet seasonal Back in March, Iraq’s oil ministry ers were cheated into converting driving demand. said it was willing to supply four their savings into shares. A restructuring of its huge sub- million barrels per month. HANOVER, Germany: then by another 2.2 percent from together with low unemployment It branded a “fraud” the agree- sidy programme will reduce smug- “It is static. It has not been Volkswagen granted its German July 2014 — matches an agreement are likely to boost it further. ment by the FROB, the govern- gling by thieves who now siphon agreed yet, I cannot say when it factory workers an inflation- negotiated earlier this month by VW had urged staff to settle ment body set up to restructure off a fifth of subsidised fuel to sell will be,” El Barkatawy said. busting pay rise yesterday, the IG Metall union for Germany’s for a “moderate” pay increase as Bankia. “The shares that Bankia at profit, El Barkatawy said. Under At the heart of the fuel problem the latest hefty wage hike in 3.7 million engineering and metal a prolonged global slump in car and the FROB forcibly imposed the new scheme, subsidies would is the subsidies, which account for Germany as union demands workers. Inflation is currently sales hurts sales and profits. on those affected... at a price of be applied only at the retail stage, around one fifth of Egypt’s GDP meet support from politicians running at just 1.2 percent. “We’re pushing the envelope of 1.35 euros are actually worth 0.55 leaving fewer opportunities for and could reach 120bn Egyptian seeking both to woo local voters “This and other similar wage what’s feasible, given the difficult at the most,” the group said in a theft in wholesale and shipping. pounds ($17.4bn) for the year end- and underpin the wider EU. deals will encourage Germans to market situation in Europe and statement yesterday. The new chairman of the main ing in June as Egypt’s fuel needs Germany faces federal elec- spend more, supporting German tough international competition,” It said Bankia customers risked state oil company took the top are forever rising. tions in September which have economic growth but also help- VW human resources chief Horst losing three quarters of their job last week after incumbent Egypt produces its own energy emboldened unions to press for ing euro zone rebalancing,” said Neumann said in a statement on investment if they sold their Sherif Hadara became oil minis- but became a net oil importer in salary increases popular with the Christian Schulz, an economist at the pay deal, which will apply to stake. Bankia cited press reports ter. Previously, El Barkatawy was 2008 and is rapidly becoming a public. But Berlin is also hoping Berenberg Bank. 97,000 workers at its six western claiming that banks had carried under-secretary at the oil minis- net importer of natural gas. The the round of salary increases can By increasing labour unit costs German plants and 5,000 employees out advance trades in the stocks try and has worked for foreign oil government pays for Egyptian encourage Germans to spend more the deal at VW — Europe’s larg- at the financial services division. — known as short selling — affect- companies. drivers to buy fuel for as little as on goods and services from weaker est carmaker — and others will Deliveries of VW’s main name- ing the price ahead of yesterday’s He arrives at a strained time 15 US cents for a litre of diesel. euro zone economies, evening out reduce German competitiveness sake brand tumbled 10.9 percent launch. in Egypt as the country has been Cairo’s new leaders worry that imbalances and boosting the bloc and level the playing field with in the German home market Spain’s stock market authori- struggling to buy fuel since the cuts to subsidies would risk politi- as a whole, after the International countries still struggling to fire up between January and April and ties said they would investigate revolution that toppled President cal and social unrest, but without Monetary Fund pressed the their economies following the debt fell 7.9 percent across auster- the trading of huge volumes of Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Egypt’s cuts the International Monetary German government to act. crisis. Private consumption almost ity-strapped western European Bankia shares to see if they were economy has floundered with Fund will not agree to a $4.8bn. VW’s pay deal — which lifts exclusively drove German growth countries. legal. political uncertainty and the loss REUTERS wages 3.4 percent from September, in the first quarter, and wage hikes REUTERS AFP Moody’s raises Chinese city bans outlook on US banking anti-refinery protest system BEIJING: The government of online chatting systems, text the southwestern Chinese city messages or similar methods to NEW YORK: Moody’s yester- of Kunming yesterday banned incite, plan or to attend illegal day upgraded its outlook of the residents from protesting next gatherings, demonstrations or US banking system for the first week against planned chemical protests to disturb the expo or time since 2008, citing improv- production at a refinery, the ban social order,” the statement said. ing US economic conditions coinciding with the opening of “It is forbidden to spread that more than make up for the an important trade fair. rumours or messages designed challenges of low interest rates. An increasingly affluent urban to cause terror,” it said, warning Moody’s raised its outlook on the population has begun to object to that those who violated the rules US banking system to “stable” from a China’s policy of growth at all would be “severely punished”. “negative,” changing an outlook costs, which has fuelled the econ- Chinese media have said that had stood since the financial omy for three decades, with the Kunming authorities have begun crisis. “Sustained GDP growth and environment emerging as a focus demanding people show identity improving employment conditions of concern and protests. cards before buying face masks, will help banks protect their now- There have already been two in an effort to identify those who stronger balance sheets,” said Sean large protests in Kunming against may attend future protests. Jones, a Moody’s associate manag- the production of paraxylene Last November, the eastern city ing director, in a statement. (PX), a chemical used in making of Ningbo suspended a petrochem- “In addition, after another year fabrics and plastic bottles, at the ical project after days of street of reducing credit-related costs planned plant. Organisers have protests. Big protests also forced and restoring capital, US banks are taken to the Internet to call for the suspension of a PX plant in now even better-positioned to face the next protest on June 6. the northeastern city of Dalian the any future economic downturn.” The government of Yunnan’s year before. More recently, heavy Moody’s projected US gross provincial capital is concerned pollution that has blanketed cities domestic product (GDP) growth protests could overshadow the including the capital, Beijing, and to be in the 1.5-2.5 percent range opening of the first China-South scandals over food have added to in 2013-2014 and a decline in the Asia Expo, which senior Chinese the sense of unease. unemployment rate towards 7.0 per- leaders are expected to attend. China National Petroleum cent. The jobless rate stood at 7.5 In a statement on one of its micro- Corp, the country’s largest oil percent in the most recent monthly blogs, the Kunming government and gas producer and supplier, US jobs report. Moody’s said the low described the June 6-10 expo as “an announced in February that interest-rate environment would be important task handed to Kunming the National Development and the “single most important issue” and Yunnan by the Communist Reform Commission (NDRC) had driving financial performance in the Party and State Council”. approved the refinery project at next 12-18 months. “During the expo, it is banned Anning, just outside Kunming. AFP to use the Internet, microblogs, REUTERS

EU urges reform of Bulgaria energy sector

SOFIA: Brussels recommended This “creates distrust among measures to facilitate exports, yesterday far-reaching reforms system users and raises concerns market liberalisation, more to Bulgaria’s troubled energy of mismanagement, abuses and transparency, and the possible sector as well as measures like widespread allegations of corrup- decommissioning of inefficient better insulation, as a solution tion,” it noted, adding that sector plants as well as the independ- to high electricity bills that reforms that were started were ence of the price regulatory have prompted public anger in “largely incomplete.” commission. the EU’s poorest country. Power bills doubled in January It also advised Bulgarian The European Commission from December, sending thou- authorities to seek ways to make review, requested by Sofia in the sands of people into the streets. production more efficient, and aftermath of massive street rallies Slumping demand and exports improve building insulation. that ousted the conservative gov- also exacerbated problems, In a separate assessment ernment in February, criticised prompting authorities to curtail released Tuesday, the World Bank the “complex and non-transpar- production capacities. found that 61 percent of Bulgarian ent structure and functioning” of To improve the system, the households were energy poor. the electricity sector. Commission recommended AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Pakistan govt India growth accelerates plans $5bn debt for power Aim to boost output by a quarter

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s new A “100-day roadmap” for the government plans to sell $5bn in energy sector, due to be unveiled treasury bills to pay off a chain by Sharif on June 5, and made of debt choking the country’s available, also calls for an over- power sector and its economy haul of a decades-old system of and boost electricity output by a subsidies that is considered one quarter — all within its first 100 of the root causes of the crisis. days in power. “It makes no sense that you The incoming administration subsidise electricity at the same of Prime Minister-elect Nawaz rate for the person who drives a Sharif has identified widespread Mercedes and the poor guy who blackouts that last up to 20 hours rides a bicycle to work,” said Asif, a day in some areas as its top who briefly served as minister for political and economic challenge. petroleum and natural resources The deepening power short- in 2008 and headed a privatisa- ages have sparked violent protests tion body in a previous Sharif and cost hundreds of thousands cabinet in the 1990s. “People who of jobs in a country already beset can pay more for power will pay by high unemployment, a failing more. That will be the hallmark of economy, widespread poverty, sec- our government’s energy policy.” tarian bloodshed and a Taliban That, alongside a promised insurgency. push to tackle electricity theft A worker monitors ice cream production at Vadilal Industries Ltd at Pundhara village, around 60km from Ahmedabad yesterday. India’s industrial Several key members of the and a growing mountain of unpaid output accelerated by a surprise 2.5 percent in March, fuelling hopes that a sharp economic slowdown could be bottoming out. incoming government’s energy electricity bills, can set the new team interviewed by Reuters over government on a collision course the past few days said that out of with the country’s rich and influ- a long list of challenges ranging ential elite. from lack of investment to elec- While hooking up a cable to Ex-RBS Mideast tricity theft, plugging a Rs500bn overhead electricity wires is the Darty’s new chief plans job cuts ($5.08bn) financing hole was the common man’s way of getting and Africa CEO most pressing task. power without paying for it, well- PARIS: Electronics retailer accounts for 70 percent of group staff representatives on Friday to Sources in the new administra- connected businessmen, politicians joins First Darty plans to cut costs in its sales. present its cost-cutting plan for tion said these funds would be raised and even government departments core French market to cope Darty is looking to sell its oper- France. Planned cuts would affect through sales of 3-month, 6-month simply refuse to pay their bills. with the weaker economy, which ations in the Czech Republic and mostly administrative functions and 12-month treasury bills. The incoming government’s Gulf Bank could entail job cuts but no store in Slovakia but has set no time- and posts at its headquarters By breaking a vicious cycle response is to pick competent closures, its new chief executive table for the sale. “We are looking at Bondy, a Paris suburb. It has of withheld payments running managers to run power distri- DUBAI: Royal Bank of said yesterday. for the best solution” Schultz told already quit a second building in through the entire power-gener- bution companies and give them Scotland’s former chief execu- Regis Schultz, who joined as a news conference in Paris. the heart of Paris. ation chain from end consumers revenue and other perform- tive of its Middle East and CEO on April 23, said Europe’s Last year Darty sold its stores Activist investor Knight Vinke, to electricity distributors, power ance targets. “The priority is to Africa business is joining Abu third-largest electronics and in Italy and in Britain, where it which owns 25 percent of Darty plants to refiners who can’t appoint professional management Dhabi-based First Gulf Bank appliance retailer behind Media- traded as Comet. and has a seat on its board, has import enough oil because of in power distribution companies, (FGB), the Abu Dhabi-based Saturn and Dixons Retail is not Darty, which posts full-year been pushing the company to unpaid fuel bills, the team hopes and sack political appointees and lender said yesterday. up for sale and relations with 2012/13 earnings on June 19, had accelerate the pace of change. to bring immediate relief. cronies of the previous govern- Simon Penney, who resigned top shareholder, activist investor an annual turnover of nearly ¤4bn Speculation over the future of “In the first three months of our ment,” said Suleman Shahbaz, from RBS in March, will join FGB Knight Vinke, were good. in the previous year. Earlier this Darty heated up last month after government, we plan to add 2,000- Nawaz Sharif’s nephew who runs as head of its expanding wholesale Schultz, who previously headed month it reported a 0.8 percent French daily Le Figaro said the 3,000 megawatts to the national the party’s economic think-tank. banking division in July, a spokes- French furniture and electricals fall in like-for-like revenue in the group had been put up for sale. grid and at least 16,000 megawatts The sector has long been man for the bank said yesterday, chain BUT, has a mission to steer fourth quarter, including a 2.7 But Knight Vinke has said it had in the medium term,” said Khawaja plagued by waste and allegations confirming an earlier report by a turnaround plan at Darty, for- percent decline in France. not hired banks to handle a pos- Asif, who is due to take the energy of endemic corruption with public Reuters. At RBS Penney was merly known as Kesa, as it bat- Darty France outperformed the sible sale of its Darty stake. portfolio in Sharif’s cabinet that funds lavished on poorly-run state replaced by James Miller. tles weak consumer demand in market in the quarter, with mar- Schultz told Reuters on will be sworn in on June 5. power firms while more efficient While Western banks have Europe and intense competition ket share gains in all major prod- Tuesday that the sale of Darty “is Pakistan’s power sector now independent power producers scaled back their operations in the from online retailers. uct categories, though the French not an issue now” and that rela- generates about 8,000MW, with were starving for cash. region mainly due to issues back Darty, which has more than TV set market is expected to fall tions between Eric Knight, the needs estimated at 15,000. REUTERS home, local banks, who are flush 450 stores in Europe, has sold 22 percent in fiscal 2013 and 10.3 CEO of Knight Vinke, and Darty’s with liquidity, have been aggres- loss-making operations in Spain percent the following year, after board were “very good”. sively expanding and increasing and is focusing on its core mar- French households bought large Darty shares have gained 24 QATARI MARKET their market share in investment kets of France, Belgium and the numbers of TVs to match new percent this year, giving it a mar- Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P banking activities. Netherlands. digital terrestrial standards in ket capitalisation of 373 million Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 103.81 0.69 % Aa2 AA Banks such as Qatar National France, where Darty employs previous years. pounds. Bank and Dubai-based Emirates 11,500 and has 230 stores, Schultz said Darty was meeting REUTERS Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.44 1.58 % Aa2 AA NBD have also acquired some of Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 123.63 2.23 % Aa2 AA the assets of European lenders in Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 116.13 2.59 % Aa2 AA the last year to diversify region- Russia hydroelectric power Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 111.13 3.03 % Aa2 AA ally and attracted several senior Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 171.50 3.95 % Aa2 AA bankers from global banks. Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 129.50 4.49 % Aa2 AA Last month National Bank of Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 119.50 4.53 % Aa2 AA Abu Dhabi named Alex Thursby, the former chief executive of inter- Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.25 1.48 % Aa2 AA national and institutional banking Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 113.50 2.89 % Aa2 AA at ANZ, as its chief executive. Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.25 1.38 % A1 A- Meanwhile QInvest, a Doha- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.25 2.22 % A1 A- based bank, appointed Michael QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.75 1.79 % NR NR Katounas, previously with Swiss QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 1.57 % Aa3 A+ lender Credit Suisse, to run its QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.50 2.11 % Aa3 A+ investment banking division. FGB, the second-largest bank in Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.25 2.32 % A2 A- the United Arab Emirates by market Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.38 1.73 % A2 A /*- value, expects its loan book to grow Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 128.50 2.72 % A2 A /*- by 10 percent in 2013, its chief finan- Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 110.88 3.15 % A2 A /*- cial officer said in February. The Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 109.00 4.07 % A2 A /*- bank posted a 12 percent increase in Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 105.50 1.34 % Aa3 A first-quarter net profit on the back Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 107.88 3.32 % Aa3 A of higher net interest income. Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 110.13 3.71 % Aa3 A RBS sold its retail opera- tions in the region to Abu Dhabi SOVEREIGNS Commercial Bank in 2010 and Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P withdrew from the mergers and Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 104.00 0.80 % Aa2 AA acquisitions business as part of a Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 127.00 1.87 % Aa2 AA global plan in 2012. In the region, it focuses mainly on debt prod- Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 109.88 2.36 % NR NR A general view of the dam of the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station on the Yenisei River some ucts, risk management and trans- 520km to the south of Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, yesterday. It is Russia’s largest hydroelectric power station. Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.00 3.00 % NR NR action banking. Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 124.38 3.90 % NR NR REUTERS Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 116.88 4.17 % NR NR Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 104.69 1.11 % Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 116.25 3.03 % NR BBB GDF Suez to buy 9pc stake in Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 109.63 3.88 % NR BBB Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 89.00 7.84 % Caa1 CCC+ Nabucco West gas pipeline Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.88 3.58 % NR BBB- *Periodic Distribution Amount • Bullion - Mumbai VIENNA: France’s GDF Suez said yesterday that it agreed to buy IMPORTANT NOTE: Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 26530 from Austria’s OMV a nine-percent stake in the planned Nabucco Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Silver (1 kg) Rs. 43660 is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services West gas pipeline. OMV said this was a “clear sign of the broad pan- • Indian Rupees QR1 = 15.15 Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary European backing for the project,” which also involves Bulgaria’s data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising • Sensex BEH, Turkey’s BOTAS, Hungary’s Transgaz. out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not BSE 20030.77 GDF Suez said the deal, financial details of which were not dis- take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds NSE 6083.15 can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant closed, “re-asserts its position as a key player in European natural liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent gas.” Initially the Nabucco project aimed to transport some 30 billion a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and return p.a. (in dollar) cubic metres of gas per year from the Caspian Sea to Europe. It is one consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. • Housing loan from HDFC LTD of two proposed pipeline to bring gas from a huge new Caspian Sea • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, gas field in Azerbaijan being developed by the Shah Deniz consortium. Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. Originally planned to run through Turkey to Austria via Hungary, • Advise on Indian Income Tax matters for NRIs. Romania and Bulgaria, the 3,900km pipeline has been plagued by prob- Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] lems that have repeatedly delayed the start of construction. AFP WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Austerity could Markets take revenge only ever carry on central bankers BY JAMES SAFT of new policies, as with the BoJ. But in oth- more speculative bets, as well as potentially Europe so far ers, like the Fed’s, they have been pursuing imperilling bank lending and capital ade- or months, markets have been the same policy all along. quacy. As for the Fed, there really wasn’t BY LÁSZLÓ ANDOR dancing to central bankers’ tune, The Bank of Japan, with strong support much in Ben Bernanke’s congressional but that may now be changing. It from the new administration of Prime testimony or in the release of the Federal conomic prosperity and social progress are key European must have been fun to be a cen- Minister Shinzo Abe, has successfully Reserve minutes that should have changed Union goals. But for the past five years it has delivered tral banker in the early part of inflated Tokyo share markets, while at the minds in the market, but nonetheless it did. neither. It has been in a double-dip recession since mid- F2013: You say “jump” and Mr Market says same time deflating the yen. While Bernanke did say in answer to a E2011, with unemployment now at a record high of 11 per- “how high?” The Fed, which has explicitly followed a question that if the data merits, the Fed cent and no tangible improvement in sight. European shares suffered their worst day policy of inflating assets to generate eco- “could take a step down in the next two The crisis has lasted longer in Europe than in the US or the rest in about 10 months and even the perpetual nomic growth, has enjoyed the support of meetings,” he also balanced that, as he has of the world mainly because of poorly designed monetary union, paper wealth machine known as Wall Street the metronome-like equity market, which in the past, by noting that premature tight- without an appropriate framework of rules for banks and other fell, with the S&P 500 down by as much as has risen 13 percent so far this year with ening could slow or end the recovery. financial institutions or sufficiently robust budgetary instruments. 1 percent before levelling off. little volatility. He further gave no indication that he So far the EU has only deployed the minimum collective The re-introduction of this kind of two- Even the European Central Bank, which regards the recovery as self-sustaining, thus response necessary for the euro’s survival: conditional emer- way risk, both for markets and for policy- faces serious structural issues in the single making the promise, or threat, of an early gency loans to troubled countries, conditional bond-buying by the makers, highlights some of the difficulties of currency zone, has seen a satisfying fall in taper somewhat empty. Of the two issues, European Central Bank, tougher economic policy co-ordination, the heavy reliance on asset-pricing markets effective sovereign interest rates, in part in Japan and the US, the threat of rates in and tighter restrictions on governments’ debts to assure markets as a policy tool. because markets themselves have given full Japan is far more serious. of countries’ responsibility. “The tremors we have seen in stocks and credit to Mario Draghi’s “whatever it takes” Theoretically, Bernanke can and will keep In the past year the EU policy debate has rightly shifted currency markets yesterday and today are pledge to defend the project. the bond purchases coming, thus neutral- towards growth, as opposed to “austerity only”. But we still lack a sharp reminder that while the Fed can So was Thursday simply a bad day for ising and reversing a destabilising market a robust recovery strategy worthy of the name. fine-tune its exit from QE, moving gradu- markets, or does it presage more difficult tumble. It is the fact that markets in Japan Such a strategy would require a new policy mix based on the ally and adapting to economic developments, conditions for policy makers, the economy were tumbling because its bond market following elements. it cannot control the markets’ reaction, and investors? wasn’t reacting as wanted to BoJ purchases First, we must urgently set up an EU-level banking union to which is likely to be a lot more sudden and Japan’s situation is particularly com- that is scary. restructure or close down failed banks. Companies need access to disruptive,” said Marco Annunziata, Chief plex. While the BoJ and central bank head In the case of the Fed we can debate more credit, under better conditions, to invest and grow. Europe’s Economist at GE in San Francisco. Haruhiko Kuroda paid lip service to con- whether or not its policy is having the financial sector must cut its debts faster, including through greater “Market reactions are a lot harder to cerns about spiking interest rates, of note needed economic impact without losing debt write-offs and shaking up banking structures. manage than inflation expectations — no was that actual bond buying didn’t stop faith in its ability to influence asset prices. Second, consolidation in weaker member states needs to be matter how careful the Fed is, the exit will 10-year JGB rates from hitting 1 percent for In Japan, with its heavy debts, the fear is balanced by higher consumption in stronger EU countries. The not be smooth.” It all makes quite a contrast the first time in two years.The BoJ launched that authorities are losing control in a more monetary union cannot rely solely on squeezing troubled coun- from the earlier part of the year. a 2 trillion yen fund supply operation, as profound way. tries, which depresses overall demand. “Symmetrical rebalancing” Central bankers worldwide appear to well as two bond-buying efforts totalling What is true in Japan has meaning eve- requires structural measures in stronger countries, such as allow- have enjoyed rare power and respect in 810 billion yen. rywhere, which is perhaps the best explana- ing wages to catch up with productivity and adequate minimum financial markets, in some cases a function The worry is that spiking yields will draw tion for the global sell-off. REUTERS wages to prevent in-work poverty. Third, if weaker member states are to regain competitiveness while keeping the euro, they need investment in the real economy. This must be based on sophisticated industrial policy and support for entrepreneurship, so that restructuring produces sustainable business models. If used wisely, EU funds such as the European social fund can be a major source of financial support, together with the European Investment Bank. Fourth, Europe’s monetary policy must become more expansion- ary. The ECB has bought Europe time through its bond-buying pledge, turning itself into a conditional lender of last resort. That is to be welcomed. But it is becoming increasingly clear that Europe’s financial crisis cannot be overcome in a deflationary environment, so a different inflation outlook is necessary. We must rethink the ECB’s role and powers. Fifth, Europe must invest in human capital — creating oppor- tunities for people. EU ministers have agreed a youth guarantee, to ensure that every young person gets a job, apprenticeship or learning opportunity within four months of becoming unemployed. Now individual member states must put it into practice. Similar “social investment” must be boosted across the board — for exam- ple, through the provision of quality childcare and the re-skilling of older workers. The target must be full employment. European leaders should focus on finding a systemic, long-term solution to the crisis, restoring each country’s growth potential and convergence within the monetary union. Europe should con- vene a Bretton Woods-type conference to put in place an economic and monetary arrangement for the coming decades. For such a lasting arrangement, a grand bargain between surplus and deficit countries is needed, ensuring a sustainable economic future for each. Some pooling of government debt and cross-country automatic stabilisers should be seriously considered for Europe’s monetary union. Rebalancing through aggressive reduction of government spend- ing and similar measures in deficit countries is, without higher domestic demand in the surplus countries, a recipe for long-lasting recession and disintegration. There is no solution to the crisis without reconstructing Europe’s economic and monetary union, and without shifting the focus on to people’s needs and potential. Austerity could only ever bring us so far. We must now move to the next stage. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Money laundering distorts Colombia’s economic comeback BY HELEN MURPHY and Colombia’s bid to reinvent itself as office in northern Maicao, as he drug trade, waging a US-backed retail, exports, imports and agri- example, are looking to sell off NELSON BOCANEGRA a thriving economy after decades inspects ingots of aluminium on war against Marxist rebels, right- cultural output may be different and get out because they cannot of political and drugs violence. an 18-wheeler crossing the bor- wing paramilitary groups and from those reported due to fake or compete with the low livestock otting wooden planks In complicated schemes, der from Venezuela. “We don’t cartels. But gangs have become overstated sales from laundering. prices on offer. “You can tell from heave as dozens of bare- Colombian traffickers receive have human resources to check more wily in duping authorities. The problem for ordinary the price of beef in some rural foot Wayuu Indians drug money from overseas deal- everything.” There are three main ways Colombians, Ortega says, is areas when a gang is selling its Rcarry washing machines, ers in the form of goods, often Exports also part of the laun- gangs clean their money: that laundered goods are mostly stock of cattle,” Suarez said. fans and stereos on their backs shipped along with legitimate dering business. Fake paperwork Smuggling undeclared physical sold at below-market prices, Farmers are intimidated into from the hull of a cargo ship merchandise. Once the goods are is created for overseas sales that cash across the border; through which elbows out and shutters selling their land and offered cash docked on the tip of northern sold and a sales receipt given, the do not exist. Once the paperwork the financial system; and via competitors. they can’t refuse, according to a Colombia. Throughout the night, drug money is clean. is filed at the customs office, cash contraband. Conversely, it can create price cattle rancher with land in Meta. they unload thousands of boxes The amount of money laun- from international drug deals can It is not the proceeds from drug bubbles in certain sectors when “It’s hard to refuse the drug piled 30 feet high and haul them dered from the trafficking of enter without raising suspicion. trafficking, about $8.8 billion a criminals pay excessive amounts dealers,” he said. “We also face down the battered ramp to wait- drugs, arms and human beings in Colombia’s annual gold exports year, that gets laundered. Money for goods like farms or bill extra herds of cattle coming in illegally ing trucks. Colombia is estimated by experts are reported to be about 70 earned from corruption, gun run- through restaurants and stores. from Venezuela as contraband By torchlight, Customs Director to be about $17 billion a year, more tonnes, national tax agency ning, prostitution and illegal gold “For a poor country, the social that slashes the price of the beef.” Claudia Gaviria rips open a box than 5 percent of the economy’s head Juan Ricardo Ortega said, mining also needs to be cleaned. impact is brutal,” Ortega said. “It The government says the FARC at the makeshift wharf at Puerto total value and total foreign direct although the industry produces Once it makes it into the $330 limits growth and destroys oppor- is among the biggest owners of Nuevo on the La Guajira penin- investment last year. 15 tonnes. While there is a con- billion economy, it can inflate tunity for legitimate business.” cattle — assets that are easy to sula. She counts the number of Much of the merchandise siderable amount of artisanal gold growth numbers by several basis Cattle ranching, for example, is turn into cash to buy weapons fans against documents supplied. unloaded, the bulk of it legitimate, that could account for some of the points, said Luis Edmundo Suarez, a common financing vehicle along or food and clothing for their “If there’s more than the paper- will make its way to the desert extra, Ortega suspects the bulk is head of the UIAF, a government with drugs for left-wing rebels of 8,000-strong force. work says, we will seize the mer- town of Maicao, a Wild West type fictitious sales. body that looks into suspicious the Revolutionary Armed Forces While detecting smuggled chandise and investigate because of place that sells cheap designer While Colombia continues money movements and sends of Colombia, known as FARC, and goods has proved tough, authori- it could be contraband or money items at half the retail price. to transform its image from a them for investigation. “The laun- other drug cartels. They often pay ties have turned to accountants laundering,” said Gaviria. “We Last year, $128 million worth of violence-plagued nation to an derer is interested in injecting the above value for cattle farms and to catch the smugglers, just as found some doctored papers on contraband was seized by authori- investment magnet with boom- money into the system,” Suarez that pushes up prices for neigh- US authorities did with legendary this ship.” ties, less than 10 percent of the ing oil and mining industries, the said. “It creates suffering, distorts bouring property. Then they liq- gangster Al Capone in the 1930s. Contraband smuggled into amount estimated to come into economy is skewed by the money the economy and alters reference uidate assets, the cattle, to receive “If we can’t pursue them for con- Colombia is part of multi-bil- Colombia, according to govern- laundering of traffickers’ cocaine prices as he doesn’t care if he quick cash, cutting the price of traband or laundering, we’ll pur- lion-dollar money laundering ment data. sales abroad. loses money, just that it’s cleaned.” livestock in the area. sue them for tax evasion,” Claudia operations that damage legiti- “It’s an impossible task,” said Colombia has for decades strug- Ortega reckons a large range of Many agriculture businesses Rincon, head of the tax office’s mate businesses, undermining Luis Carlos Canas, head of the tax gled to reduce crime linked to the data from inflation to real estate, in central Meta province, for legal department, said. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 9,067.56 0.05 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 12,955.46 0.05 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,746.38 0.02 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,309.34 0.03 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,140.08 0.01 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4950.604 12.021 0.24 5229.8 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,555.19 0.13 % QR161.9649 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4046.6 51.44 1.29 4058.73 3584.38 QE All Share Industrials 3,148.25 0.27 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4724 QR 5.5490 QE All Share Insurance 2,309.06 0.23 % Dj Indu Average 15303.1 8.6 0.06 15542.4 12035.1 QR 2.6149 Euro ...... QR 4.6828 QR 4.7486 QE All Share Real Estate 1,733.29 0.36 % CA$ ...... QR 3.4893 QR 3.5580 QE All Share Telecoms 1,270.01 0.32 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7354 QR 3.7886 QE All Share Transportation 1,633.88 0.38 % Hang Seng Inde/D 22924.25 238.2 1.05 23944.74 21423.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0353 QR 0.0360 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.4948 QR 3.5641 Iseq Overall/D 4101.71 22.34 0.55 4084.18 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0645 QR 0.0658 28-05-2013 27-05-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 21501.72 542.86 2.59 21620.54 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0366 QR 0.0374 Index 9,067.56 9,071.90 BRENT Change 4.34 15.00 Nikkei 225 Index 14311.98 169.33 1.2 15942.6 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0861 QR 0.0878 % 0.05 0.17 $ 103.52 SL Re ...... QR 0.0285 QR 0.0291 YTD% 8.48 8.53 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1687.18 1266.74 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 7,166,817 8,981,225 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0405 QR 0.0413 Value (QAR) 248,647,079.81 284,816,944.02 Straits Times/D 3406.08 14.78 0.44 3464.79 3160.83 Trades 3,461 4,298 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3715 QR 0.3788 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 101.13 Up 15 | Down 16 | Unchanged 05

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 28-05-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1244.25 1.5 11218 Colgate-A/D 1473.1 -17.75 70290 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.86 -0.07 1429 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2018.45 0.05 15236 Ruchi Soya-B/D 69.35 0.3 8596 Legal & Genera/D 182.3 2.3 3169822 Aban Offs-B/D 308.35 4.6 93827 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 37 -1 1423 Hind.Petrol-A/D 289 3.2 98029 Lloyd Metal-B/D 11 -0.2 2700 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 437.3 6.05 5473 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 61.076 0.98 57665998 Ador Welding-B/D 122.95 3.3 1886 Dhampur Sugar-/D 43.2 0.55 16009 Hindalco-A/D 109.95 -0.55 622160 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.67 0.02 8100 Tanfac Indust-/D 10.22 0.47 3100 Marks & Sp./D 484.807 9.8 2749676 Aegis Logis-B/D 147.45 1.5 5959 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2113.55 23.8 49078 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 920.15 -7.7 130323 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 13.85 0.2 16327 Thirumalai-B/D 93.9 -0.1 1045 Next/D 4681 101 231361 Alembic-B/D 20.3 0.65 35678 E I H-B/D 58.2 0.05 7935 I F C I-A/D 27.45 0.25 1337892 Lupin-A/D 753.65 -6.35 81863 Timexgroup-B/D 12.05 -0.21 10947 Pearson/D 1240 17 736632 Alok Indus-B/D 8.54 0.1 2084581 E.I.D Parry-B/D 148.95 3.35 17028 Idbi-A/D 86.05 0.6 119902 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.41 -0.44 3129 Tinplate-B/D 41.9 0.3 21016 Prudential/D 1156 12 1592123 Andhra Paper-B/D 264.1 0.45 31932 Eicher Motor-A/D 3781.35 146.1 3612 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 82.6 1.7 4644 Mah.Seamless-B/D 230 0 1448 Ub Engineer-T/D 19.6 0 1745 Rank Group/D 148 1.8 57880 Apollo Tyre-A/D 90.2 -0.05 129171 Electrosteel-B/D 16.9 0 38797 India Cement-B/D 72.25 1.85 887458 Mastek-B/D 122.25 0.05 1552 Ucal Fuel-B/D 49.4 0.9 2593 Rentokil Initi/D 92.95 0.45 595056 Ashok Leyland-/D 23.9 0.1 226071 Emco-B/D 19.85 0.2 40478 India Glycol-B/D 136.05 -2.05 1582 Max India L-A/D 217.85 1.65 15615 Ultramarine-B/D 54.5 -2.6 6175 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1214.7247 25 891210 Ballarpur In-B/D 16.2 0 18201 Escorts-B/D 65.25 4.5 465837 Indian Hotel-A/D 53.35 0.2 90588 Mrpl-A/D 43.45 0.8 72947 Unitech P -A/D 26.15 0.15 4114619 Rsa Insrance G/D 114.688 1.2 3553502 Sainsbury(J)/D 382.7 4.7 1487169 Bata India-A/D 832.45 4.1 26335 Essar Oil-A/D 78.85 0.05 374419 Indo-Bcount-B/D 12.11 -0.61 9855 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 14.27 -0.73 1400 LONDON Schroders/D 2474 42 131329 Bayer Crop-B/D 1341.35 37.15 3733 Eveready Indu-/D 17.7 -0.35 28888 Indusind-A/D 523.4 -5.8 95284 Nahar Spg.-B/D 79.55 -0.05 11646 Severn Trent/D 2049.75 -21 339558 Beml Ltd-B/D 167.55 0.9 31036 F D C-B/D 88.95 0.3 60697 J.B.Chemical-B/D 82.7 -1.85 20299 Nath Seeds-T/D 4 0.12 1705 3i Group/D 358.7 4.1 408993 Smith&Nephew/D 789.5 7 464381 Bharat Bijle-B/D 458.45 7.9 1955 Federal Bank-A/D 455.9 -0.7 4987 Jbf Indu-B/D 104.9 0.9 5499 Nation Alum -A/D 34.85 0.3 247390 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1945 13 216728 Smiths Group/D 1380 25 305434 Bharatgears-B/D 39.7 1.95 4512 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.74 -0.14 35244 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.39 0.01 6187 Navneet Pub.-B/D 62.05 0.95 7254 B Sky B/D 797 16.5 901622 Standrd Chart /D 1562 24.5 1932698 Bhartiya Int-B/D 228.35 0.35 2703 Finolex-B/D 134.75 -0.6 146764 Jct Ltd-B/D 0.87 -0.01 34076 Nepc India-B/D 2.08 0 15992 Barclays/D 327.1 10.1 16045946 Tate & Lyle/D 880.883 5.5 251061 Bhel-A/D 203.25 6.5 888101 Gail-A/D 326.55 0.75 228408 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.79 -0.02 14612 Neuland Lab-B/D 100.75 0.75 2091 Bg Group/D 1215 21 1778591 Tesco/D 385.95 6.1 6121916 Bom.Burmah-B/D 128.45 0.75 20225 Galada Power-B/D 4.67 -0.24 1500 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 120.65 3.1 59386 Nrb Bearings-B/D 36.25 -0.2 3073 Bp/D 482.55 6.15 9100998 Unilever/D 2902 40 746554 Bombay Dyeing-/D 80.85 1.7 141666 Gammon India-B/D 21.45 0.35 11612 Kajaria Cer-B/D 230.05 1.45 13028 O N G C-A/D 333.3 6.35 288671 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3785 79 1154586 United Util Gr/D 784 -3 1618439 Camph.& All-B/D 159.05 -3.9 2035 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.54 -0.08 2770 Kalpat Power-B/D 75 -0.15 3670 Ocl India-B/D 145.25 -0.75 303 Bt Group/D 311.064 3.3 4845041 Vodafone Group/D 197.717 3.15 24221717 Castrol Ind-A/D 341.4 0.85 18098 Goodyear I -B/D 265.65 -0.55 2361 Kalyani Stel-B/D 41.65 0.25 17662 Oil Country-B/D 36.35 -0.75 13068 Centrica/D 392.508 2.8 2690432 Whitbread/D 2877 42 219203 Century Enka-B/D 114.6 1.4 4652 Hcl Infosys-B/D 34.45 -0.1 16916 Kanoria Chem-B/D 29.95 0.55 2540 Orchid Chem-B/D 60.25 0.7 50342 Gkn/D 305.6 9.2 1764147 Century Text-A/D 301.3 -2.8 104711 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.11 -0.16 169782 Kg Denim-B/D 14.94 0.15 14952 Orient Hotel-B/D 17.5 -0.5 3500 Hsbc Holdings/D 741.925 16 7062476 Chambal Fert-B/D 46.95 0.45 116850 Himat Seide-B/D 34.95 -0.2 68449 Kilburnengg-B/D 12.6 0 2576 Radico Khait-B/D 127.15 -2.7 16007 Imperial Tobac/D 2435 28 680280 Cipla-A/D 396.55 -4.75 193942 Hind Unilever-/D 591.2 -0.4 69745 Klg Systel-B/D 7.66 0.36 5531 Rallis India-B/D 134.4 -1.25 26977 Kingfisher/D 330.1 3.1 2673115 City Union Bk-/D 56.6 0.05 35173 Hind Motors-B/D 8.9 0.33 234176 Kopran-B/D 14.2 -0.07 3620 Reliance Indus/D 389.55 1.1 113210 Land Secs Grou/D 977 16 440015 WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Baseball Results Baltimore 6 Washinton 2 Detroit 6 Pittsburgh 5 Parker-powered San Antonio Cincinnati 4 Cleveland 2 St Louis 6 Kansas City 3 Minnesota 6 Milwaukee 3 Houston 3 Colorado 2 Tampa Bay 10 Miami 6 Arizona 5 Texas 3 Spurs sweep into NBA finals Oakland 4 San Francisco 1 Seattle 9 San Diego 0 Toronto 9 Atlanta 3 Boston 9 Philadelphia 3 I am glad we are done with them. They are very physical: Parker Chicago Cubs 7 C White Sox 0 NY Mets 2 NY Yankees 1 LA Dodgers 8 LA Angels 7 MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: That will be nice.” The Spurs, who Memphis Arizona 5 Texas 4 Tony Parker netted 37 points, have never lost in the NBA Finals, Grizzlies’ his highest-scoring game of the will face the Eastern Conference power forward Darvish strikes season, and the San Antonio winner, either James and the Zach Randolph Spurs defeated Memphis 93-86 defending champion Miami Heat (from left), San yesterday to complete a play-off or the Indiana Pacers, in the best- Antonio Spurs’ out 14 but sweep and advance to the NBA of-seven championship series power forward finals. starting on June 6. Matt Bonner Rangers lose The Spurs finished a 4-0 rout San Antonio, which would have of the Grizzlies in the best-of- a home-court edge over Indiana and team-mate NEW YORK: Texas ace Yu seven Western Conference final but not Miami, won the NBA Tim Duncan Darvish struck out 14 bat- and reached the NBA finals for crown for the first time in 1999 go up for a ters but it was not enough to the first time since 2007, when over New York and also took the rebound during give the Japanese pitcher his they swept LeBron James-led title in 2003 over New Jersey, and the second eighth win of the season as the Cleveland for their fourth title in 2005 and 2007 over Detroit. half in Game Rangers lost 5-4 to the Arizona nine seasons. Coach Gregg Popovich and Four of the Diamondbacks yesterday. “It seems like forever since we Duncan, a three-time NBA Finals NBA Western With Texas leading 4-2 in the have been there,” said Spurs star Most Valuable Player, have been Conference eighth inning, Didi Gregorius hit big man Tim Duncan. “We have on every Spurs team to reach the Finals in a game-tying two run home run been driven and we’re glad to get championship series. Memphis, to chase Darvish from the mound, back there.” But this time, it might just be Tennessee, before Cliff Pennington added the French guard Parker, briefly 2007 NBA Finals Most Valuable yesterday. The winning single for Arizona in the knocked out of the game by a slap Player Parker who holds the key Spurs defeated ninth. to the face, made 15-of-21 shots to San Antonio’s title dreams. the Grizzlies to Both Darvish and Arizona from the field and had six assists “He has been amazing,” Duncan starter Trevor Cahill took no- advance to the and four rebounds in powering said. decisions. Cahill allowed four runs NBA finals. the Spurs to their sixth play-off “We have been riding his coat- over eight innings. triumph in a row. tails. He has been carrying us. You Arizona also beat Texas 5-3 “I’m glad we’re done with them. see it tonight. performance among the best he in the opener of a doubleheader They are very physical,” Parker “He just takes over.” has seen from Parker. between the teams. The American said. “Now we have a week off. Popovich ranked the “He has had a lot of very good League West-leading Rangers games. This one has to rank right (32-20) have lost three straight up there,” Popovich said. “He has games. been fantastic. People just look at On a day of interleague, intr- his scoring. He has played defence astate rivalry games, the New too.” York Mets beat the Yankees with Memphis coach Lionel Hollins late runs in a 2-1 triumph at Citi agreed that Parker was the domi- Field. nant force in the series despite After Jayson Nix gave the San Antonio a Spurs’ defence that kept the Yankees a 1-0 lead with a single Spurs’ Tony Grizzlies shooting only 37.2 per- in the sixth inning, David Wright Parker carries the cent from the field. tied it for the home team on a trophy after the “He was outstanding,” Hollins seventh-inning solo home run. Spurs eliminated said of Parker. “He controlled the Daniel Murphy delivered a RBI the Memphis whole series. He was huge. They single in the eighth to give the Grizzlies to win earned the win. They deserved to Mets victory. the NBA Western move on. I’m proud of the way our San Antonio Spurs’ owner Peter Holt (right) celebrates with Tony Parker Yankees starter Phil Hughes Conference final team fought and battled. We gave after the Spurs eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies. and Mets’ Jonathon Niese each ourselves a chance.” allowed one run in seven innings play-off series Parker, who scored 14 points and took no-decisions. in Memphis, in the third quarter, downplayed the bench to lead Memphis with quarter and within 76-73 on Tony In Los Angeles, the Dodgers Tennessee, his own role, playing up Duncan’s 22 points. Marc Gasol added 14 Allen’s layup with 9:38 to play. rallied from a 6-1 deficit to over- yesterday. 15 points and eight rebounds as points and Zach Randolph scored San Antonio answered with come the Angels 8-7 and snap the well as the contributions of all his 13. an 11-4 run to seize command, visitors’ eight-game win streak. teammates. “We’re thrilled to be able to win Duncan scoring six points in the The Dodgers scored four runs “It’s more my team,” Parker the series but Memphis was a hell spurt and Parker adding five, hit- in the fifth inning to tie the game said. “They are setting great picks of a competitor,” Popovich said. ting a 3-pointer over two defend- at 6-6, and broke a 7-7 tie in the for me. I’m always feeding off my The Spurs led by as many as ers and a jumper before being bottom of the seventh with Jerry team-mates.” 12 points before Memphis pulled briefly sent to the locker room. Hairston Jr’s RBI single. Quincy Pondexter came off within 72-66 entering the fourth REUTERS REUTERS NHL: Blackhawks down Red Wings to avoid elimination

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Bryan Bickell scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Chicago Blackhawks won 4-3 at Detroit yesterday to avoid elimina- tion in the NHL play-offs. The Blackhawks knotted the best-of- seven Western Conference second-round series at 3-3 to force a seventh-game show- down tomorrow at Chicago. Detroit or Chicago will face either defending champion Los Angeles or San Jose, whose own seventh-game showdown is today, in the Western Conference final. The West winner will face Boston or Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Final. The Red Wings’ led 2-1 entering the third period but the visiting Blackhawks scored three times in the first 10:17 of the final ses- sion to seize command and stun a Detroit crowd that hoped to see the hosts advance with a victory. “Relentless. We never give up,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. “We hung in there. We just needed that one goal. Everybody responded top to bottom.” Chicago equalised at 2-2 only 51 seconds Valtteri Filppula (51) of the Detroit Red Wings tries to get around Jonathan Toews of the Chicago into the third period on the first goal of Blackhawks in Game Six of the Western Conference Semi-finals during the 2013 NHL Stanley the play-offs for Slovakian centre Michal Cup Play-offs at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, yesterday. Chicago won the game 4-3 Handzus. to tie the series 3-3. The Blackhawks took the lead when Bickell, a Canadian left wing, took a rebound off the right skate of Red Wings goaltender special group. We don’t want to pass that the second period on a goal by Swedish Jimmy Howard and fired it into the back (title chance) up so we came out and did center Joakim Andersson, who fired a of the net for his fifth goal of the play-offs that in the third.” wobbly shot into the air. The puck flipped with 14:12 to play. Detroit pulled Howard for an extra sideways and eluded Blackhawks goaltender Chicago’s Michael Frolik was fouled on a attacker in the dying seconds and the move Corey Crawford. breakaway opportunity and the Czech right paid off when Swiss centre Damien Brunner Chicago opened the scoring on Marian wing was awarded a penalty shot. He made scored on a slapshot with 52 seconds Hossa’s backhand power-play goal just 3:53 the most of his second chance by firing a remaining, pulling the Red Wings within into the game, the fifth play-off goal for the backhand shot past Howard to give the the final margin. But the Red Wings could Slovakian right wing. Blackhawks a 4-2 lead with 9:43 remaining. not make the magic happen again, a last Detroit equalised on a goal by Canadian “You get emotional when you are down desperation shot by Brunner being deflected right wing Patrick Eaves that came with a goal and your back is against the wall wide of the goal at the final horn. only 69 seconds remaining in the first period. and it’s do or die,” Toews said. “We have a The Red Wings took a 2-1 lead 10:11 into REUTERS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Hamilton Djokovic battles past Goffin knows he Tomic retires in first round match, backs his father; Stosur, Bartoli win needs to get his act PARIS: Novak Djokovic, bid- Hanescu with a muscle tear. The ding to win a first French Open world number 61 then launched a and become just the eighth man passionate defence of his father, together to complete a career Grand and coach, John Tomic who is Slam, played a game of patience facing criminal charges in Spain LONDON: Lewis Hamilton with the Paris rain yesterday after being accused of assaulting (pictured below) is calm about and it paid off. his son’s training partner. what could happen to Mercedes The world number one only “My dad is in Paris, he’s still my if they are hauled before a got onto Court Philippe Chatrier dad and he will remain my coach. Formula One tribunal to explain just after 1830 (1630GMT) after I love him a lot,” said Tomic, who their secret tyre test, but he is a marathon women’s match and a dropped the first two sets against worried about his own form. four-hour total rain stoppage left Hanescu before quitting in the “I’m not concerned about him kicking his heels. third to hand a 7-5, 7-6 (10/8), 2-1 it, that’s for the team to worry But the top seed came out win to his Romanian opponent, about,” the 2008 world champion fired-up to beat David Goffin yesterday. said of his team’s apparent break- of Belgium 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5 to John Tomic was banned from ing of a ban on in-season testing reach the second round. attending the tournament after by putting in 1,000 km with Pirelli “Thanks to all the fans for wait- he was accused of attacking in Spain. ing. It was a good match, David is Thomas Drouet, in Madrid on “I just have to focus on myself a good player and has a lot of tal- May 4. and try and get my s**t together,” ent,” said Djokovic, who next faces Drouet was left with a broken he told reporters Guido Pella of Argentina. nose after a brawl outside the after Sunday’s “I’m happy to win and hope to hotel where players in the Madrid Monaco Grand continue like this.” Masters were staying. Prix. Djokovic, the runner-up to Highly-rated Bulgarian Grigor Hamilton Rafael Nadal in 2012, would have Dimitrov, dubbed ‘Baby Federer’ started on the been wary of the challenge posed because of his similar style to the front row and by Goffin, who made the last 16 17-time Grand Slam winner, went finished fourth in 2012 after coming through through when Colombian oppo- behind team- qualifying. nent Alejandro Falla retired with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves to Belgium’s David Goffin during the French Open first round match at the mate Nico But the world number 58 the Bulgarian 26th seed 6-4, 1-0 Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, yesterday. Rosberg who lacked the firepower to consist- to the good. won from pole. ently trouble the world number The 22-year-old Dimitrov, the It was the sec- one. boyfriend of Maria Sharapova, Dimitrov will attempt to reach The 42-year-old Japanese Bartoli, a semi-finalist in 2011, ond race in a On a day when 13 matches could face Djokovic in the third the third round of a Grand Slam lost 6-0, 6-2 to Australian ninth also saved two match points row the Briton of the 40 scheduled were held round. for the first time when he faces seed Samantha Stosur, the 2010 yesterday. had started in over until today and three were “These are the kind of matches French wildcard Lucas Pouille, runner-up and former US Open She goes on to face Colombia’s second place uncompleted, it was troubled I always want to play in. I feel the world number 324. winner. Mariana Duque-Marino. and failed to Australian Bernard Tomic who good on the big courts and play- World number 83 Kimiko Date- Elsewhere, in the rain-hit pro- Three-time semi-finalist Jelena make the podium. found himself at the centre of ing against good players,” said the Krumm, who played her first gramme, French women’s number Jankovic, the 18th seeded Serb, In Spain - where he finished attention during the cool and Bulgarian, who beat Djokovic in Roland Garros in 1989 -- three one Marion Bartoli, the 13th seed, beat Slovak veteran Daniela 12th - it was all about the tyres damp afternoon. Madrid and pushed Rafael Nadal years before Dimitrov was born needed three hours and five match Hantuchova 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) and “dropping off” dramatically in Tomic, 20, retired from his to three sets in the Monte Carlo -- probably wished it had kept on points to beat Olga Govortsova of next plays Spain’s Garbine performance, but in Monaco it first round match against Victor Masters quarter-finals. raining. Belarus, 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 7-5. Muguruza. AFP was more about Hamilton. With Mercedes deciding to pit both drivers once the safety car French Open Results had been deployed for the first Men’s First Round: Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt David Goffin (BEL) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5; Guido Pella time, Hamilton was told to keep a (ARG) bt Ivan Dodig (CRO) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 12-10; Lucas Pouille (FRA) bt Alex Kuznetsov (USA) 6-1, six-second gap to ensure a smooth stop without losing places. But he 7-6 (7/2), 6-2; Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x26) bt Alejandro Falla (COL) 6-4, 1-0 - retired; Dmitry Tursunov slowed down too much and slipped Australia’s (RUS) bt Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR x22) 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 7-6 (9/7); Victor Hanescu (ROM) bt Bernard behind Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel Samantha Tomic (AUS) 7-5, 7-6 (10/8), 2-1 - retired; Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-4, 6-4, 2-1 and Mark Webber. Stosur returns - retired; Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x16) bt Jirí Veselý (CZE) 7-6 (7/3), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2; Tommy Haas Hamilton apologised to the to Japan’s (GER x12) bt Guillaume Rufin (FRA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-3; Jack Sock (USA) bt Guillermo García-López team for the loss of what might Kimiko Date- (ESP) 6-2, 6-2, 7-5; Mikhail Youzhny (RUS x29) bt Pablo Andújar (ESP) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3; Federico have been a one-two finish and Krumm Del Bonis (ARG) bt Julian Reister (GER) 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-0, 6-4; Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) bt Florent vowed to work harder. during their Serra (FRA) 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; Denis Istomin (UZB) bt Florian Mayer (GER x28) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 - retired; French Tennis “I don’t put it down to bad luck. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x9) bt Thiemo de Bakker (NED) 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 7-5; Fernando Verdasco I just wasn’t good enough over the Open first (ESP) bt Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 weekend. The whole weekend has round match, Women’s First Round: Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ x27) bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-0, 3-6, 6-2; been a missed opportunity,” he yesterday. Marion Bartoli (FRA x13) bt Olga Govortsova (BLR) 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 7-5; Mariana Duque (COL) bt said. Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 6-2, 6-0; Jelena Jankovic (SRB x18) bt Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 6-4, 7-6 “I’ve got lots to sort out on my (9/7); Samantha Stosur (AUS x9) bt Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) 6-0, 6-2; Alize Cornet (FRA x31) bt side of the garage, and within Maria João Koehler (POR) 7-5, 6-2; Silvia Soler (ESP) bt Irina Begu (ROM) 6-3, 6-2; Kristina Mladenovic myself, and I’ll take time to do (FRA) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 6-0, 7-5; Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x16) bt Lesya Tsurenko (UKR) 6-1, that. I’m not quick enough, not on 6-4; Marina Erakovic (NZL) bt Elena Baltacha (GBR) 6-3, 6-0. it enough, so I need to get on it.” After qualifying on what remains one of his favourite tracks, Hamilton had shed more light on the problems he is hav- Date-Krumm gets all ing in his first season at Mercedes after what seemed like a lifetime at McLaren. While loving the freedom he has been given by his new team, the support from hubby and defending himself against critics questioning a lifestyle that PARIS: Japan’s Kimiko Date- includes bringing his pet bulldog Krumm says her husband has Japan’s Roscoe to races, Hamilton recog- helped her to take things less Kimiko nised he was still adjusting to his seriously and go out and enjoy Date-Krumm new surroundings. the twilight of her career. contests Despite two podiums this sea- Date-Krumm became the a referee’s son, the Briton said he had not felt third oldest woman to com- decision fully comfortable in the car since pete in the French Open when during her the opening race in Australia. she went down in straight French Open “Actually, even in winter testing sets to Australian ninth seed against I was struggling,” he said. Samantha Stosur yesterday Australia’s “The setup they have on the car -- yet she still revelled in the in terms of brake cylinders and Samantha experience -- even if she only all this kind of thing, the steering Stosur at captured two games in a 6-0, wheel, it’s a lot different to what 6-2 drubbing. the Roland I obviously experienced before, “You know, I have still pas- Garros where I was very comfortable. sion, and when I was young in Stadium “I’d been there for years so I the 90s I was not enjoying the in Paris was used to it, it was always the Tour. I only had stress all the yesterday. same. time,” explained the 42-year- “That’s been the slight weak- old from Kyoto who managed ness for me this year. Even in the to reach the third round at the husband tried to change me.” the Aussie become the first first few races, but particularly in Australian Open last January. Date-Krumm said whereas top ten player to lose to a rival the last couple, I’ve been pretty “When I went to the airport she would once over-rationalise, past her 40th birthday -- Date- poor,” he said. from Tokyo to somewhere I was her husband told her to loosen Krumm pronounced her ten- Hamilton said the problem always thinking, ‘oh, my pass- up rather than be concerned nis “not so bad” as “Stosur is was less to do with the engineers port expired ... sometimes I’m about “what time I need to eat, so strong and she’s a specialist and more for him to deal with. crying on the airplane because I what time I need to sleep, what on the clay.” Although he had struggled to get don’t want to stay out of Japan time I need to wake up, what Five of Date-Krumm’s eight heat into the tyres, it was a con- and always not happy.” time I need to start stretching titles have come in Tokyo and fidence thing. Such sentiments prompted and everything I organise.” the hardcourt specialist and “It’s just a general feeling with her to retire back in 1996 after Her spouse told her that she former world number four me,” he explained. “It’s difficult to suffering three Grand Slam had to chill out as “you need to admits that “already before the really explain it. I’ve just not been semi-final losses -- including sometimes drink wine before red clay season I decide any- on it all weekend. one in Paris -- and she mar- the match, even before the way I don’t like red clay. Not “It’s not through not being ried German racing car driver match, relax. And he tried to my surface. Everybody knows. focused, it’s not through not being Michael Krumm in 2001. change (me) like this, because I know myself also.” centred. It’s just feeling comfort- And it’s he who has encour- sometimes I am a little bit too Despite yesterday’s loss she able in the car. aged her to view the game and strict on myself,” said Date- has no intention of hanging up “At McLaren I had 100 percent her career differently since she Krumm, who came to Paris hot her racquet yet as she enjoys confidence in the car ... particu- returned to the courts in 2008. from winning the Strasbourg the final lap of her career. larly on this track where you need “After I stopped tennis, then doubles. “I try to just focus on dou- 100 percent confidence in the car I enjoy my normal life. And Even though Stosur romped bles tomorrow or day after beneath you. then I married a German guy home in just 64 minutes -- tomorrow, and then I’m already “It’s just that I’ve been strug- (and) I change myself a lot. And avenging a 2010 loss to her focused on the grass court sea- gling with getting that confi- also he tried to change me, my opponent in Osaka which saw son.” REUTERS dence.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Football: Qatar set to host Qatar coach Fahad Thani talks to Azerbaijan today his players during a DOHA: Qatar, who are undergoing training at Aspire Academy, team training are ready to take on visitors Azerbaijan in an international friendly session today. at Aspire The friendly today is part of Qatar’s preparation for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Iran on June 4. Academy Last week, Qatar crushed Latvia 3-1 in another friendly at Jassim in Doha. Bin Hamad Stadium. Qatar host Yesterday, the Qatar squad trained twice under the watchful gaze Azerbaijan of coach Fahad Thani. in a friendly “We will train for three more days after our game on Wednesday,” at Jassim coach Fahad said on Sunday. Bin Hamad Meanwhile, Qatar defender Bilal Mohammed has pledged ‘total Stadium commitment’ in their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against today. The Iran early next month. friendly On June 4, Qatar host Iran in Doha before heading to Uzbekistan today is part for the last Group A, Asian Zone, qualifying match on June 18. of Qatar’s Also known as ‘Al Anabi’, Qatar are in fourth place in Group A, Asian preparation Zone, qualifying phase behind Uzbekistan, Korea and Iran. for their “You will see us giving our maximum effort against Iran,” Bilal said 2014 FIFA yesterday. World Cup “We have enough depth in our side to beat them,” he added. “We qualifying will give a committed performance,” Bilal said. “We are ready for this game. The players are rested and feel good,” match against he said. “We have been training with intensity,” he said. visitors Iran “We are determined to pick up three points from this match. Picking on June 4. up points in this match will give us the confidence for our game against Uzbekistan,” Bilal said. “It won’t be easy. We will have to play quality football to win this match,” the Qatari defender said. THE PENINSULA Britain hands Draw against back FIFA Palace may try to loan Japan will position after satisfy 67 years Australia’s PORT LOUIS: Britain’s once- back Zaha from United untouchable position on FIFA’s executive committee will be Thompson swept away after 67 years at this Newly-promoted club still wants to keep play-off hero week’s reform-driven Congress SYDNEY: An Australia team of world soccer’s governing body. in transition would be happy England, and to a lesser extent LONDON: Crystal Palace are “I think he (Moyes) would be to snatch a draw against Japan Scotland, Wales and Northern likely to try to loan back fly- silly to give me him back. Now in next Tuesday’s World Cup Ireland, have had a love-hate rela- ing winger Wilfried Zaha from we’re up it might be realistic, but qualifier in Saitama, Socceroos tionship with FIFA from the time Manchester United next season who knows?” he told reporters striker Archie Thompson said it was formed in 1904 and none of after securing promotion to the after Kevin Phillips’ extra-time yesterday. them were among the founding Premier League. winner, which could earn Palace Leading Group B with 13 points, fathers. The south Londoners beat as much as £120m in top-flight Asian champions Japan need just This has been due partly to the Watford 1-0 in the Championship income. one more point to secure auto- permanent vice-president’s seat (second tier) play-off final on Palace, rescued from admin- matic qualification for the 2014 on the executive committee that Monday. The 20-year-old Zaha istration three years ago after a Brazil World Cup. Australia are Britain enjoys, but that seat is to won the spot kick that sealed vic- group of local businessmen took third with six points. be handed back at the Congress tory in what was meant to be his over, return to the top flight after “With Japan, they’re in a good in Mauritius. final Palace game before joining an eight-year absence and join position at the moment. They only The affable Jim Boyce of champions United. Cardiff City and Hull City, who need a point and more than likely Northern Ireland will be the last “They might want him to get won automatic promotion from they will get it and be going to British vice-president and he is experience in the Premier League the Championship. the World Cup,” the Melbourne not unhappy about the change. playing for us rather than maybe Zaha made his England debut Victory player was quoted as say- “The time has come, it was a not playing for them. I don’t know, as a substitute in the 4-2 friendly ing by Kyodo news agency. bit of an anachronism, but I do of course,” Palace co-chairman defeat by Sweden in November, “A draw would be fantastic ... not think our influence will be Martin Long was quoted as saying only the second Championship For us to come here and play a diminished in the slightest,” he by www.skysports.com yesterday. outfield player in five years to be world-class Japanese team and said yesterday. “We probably will ask.” called up by England. get a result, that would be huge FIFA has six vice-presidents New United boss David Moyes, Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez for us to go back to Australia. and the removal of the British one who will inherit a stellar squad has been given the green light to Crystal Palace’s English striker Wilfried Zaha avoids the challenge by Anything we get here would be should go some way to placating from the retired Alex Ferguson open talks with Everton after Watford’s midfielder Daniel Pudil (right) during the English Championship a bonus.” nations who have long regarded when he takes charge next sea- asking to leave his job as Wigan Play-off final at Wembley Stadium in London on Monday. Australia round off their quali- Britain, and the English in par- son, must weigh up whether Zaha Athletic manager, Latics chair- fiers with matches against Jordan, ticular, with suspicion. will get enough game time in com- man Dave Whelan announced told BBC Sport. “He has 12 have to move on now and want second in the group on seven The English Football petition with the likes of Ashley yesterday. months left on his present con- applications for the job.” Martinez points, and Iraq on June 11 and 18 Association, the world’s first, was Young and Antonio Valencia. The Spaniard led Wigan to a tract, so whoever comes in for has been strongly linked with respectively. Both group runners- founded in 1863, some 41 years Palace manager Ian Holloway, shock victory over Manchester him must pay the remainder of the vacancy at Everton created up in the Asian zone qualify for before FIFA, and is celebrating who spent a season in the top City in this season’s FA Cup final, his contract. by David Moyes’ appointment the World Cup finals. its 150th anniversary this year. flight with Blackpool in 2010/11, but the club were then relegated “He feels he’s not the man to as Manchester United manager, “We want to get a good result The British associations collec- has not given up hope of keep- from the Premier League. lead us into the Premier League. and Whelan revealed that he has against Japan because we’re at a tively dismissed the idea of join- ing his best player despite Zaha’s “He wanted permission to I’ve got to accept what he feels. authorised the Merseyside club to stage now where it’s do or die,” ing FIFA at the outset and the £15m ($22.7m) transfer. move, so I’ve given that,” Whelan He loves Wigan and the fans. We make an approach. AGENCIES said Thompson who scored a repercussions of this aloofness record 13 goals in a World Cup still resonate to this day. qualifier in 2001. Two years ago at the Congress “I think at the moment we’re in Zurich, FIFA vice-president Benitez eager to get started at Napoli in a transition phase. We’ve had a Julio Grondona of Argentina lot of players retire who were part called the English “pirates” after LONDON: Rafael Benitez said yesterday He faced opposition from the club’s fans fol- illustrious heritage like Napoli,” he wrote on of the Socceroos setup for a long they attempted to delay the elec- that he was “extremely excited” about his lowing his appointment in November, but led his official website, www.rafabenitez.com. time. And it’s been those players tion of Sepp Blatter as president appointment as coach of Napoli, vowing to the club to Europa League glory and a third- “I understand the history of the city and who we could turn to whenever for a fourth term. respect the club’s traditions and “very, very place finish in the Premier League. how the club forms a fundamental part of the we were in trouble or the results A number of delegates took special” supporters. Napoli finished second in Serie A this sea- culture and traditions of Naples. weren’t going our way. the floor to berate the English The 53-year-old Spaniard has signed a two- son, their best finish since a side featuring “I must confess that I am extremely excited “There are a lot of young play- for suggesting the vote should year contract with the Italian club and suc- Diego Maradona won the Italian title in 1990, because I can share my passion for football ers coming through and it’s just be delayed because Blatter was ceeds Walter Mazzarri, who has joined one of and Benitez said he was confident of taking with the fans of Napoli; it is proven that they a matter of time of finding the standing unopposed in the wake of Benitez’s former clubs, Inter Milan. the club forward. are very, very special. I look forward to experi- right mix and blend to get that Qatari Mohamed Bin Hamman’s Benitez will arrive in southern Italy after a “Now that the agreement is confirmed, I encing each and every one of the fans of Napoli fear back into the teams we play withdrawal from the presidential successful but testing season as interim man- can say I am very happy and very satisfied and their strong support for this project that against,” said Thompson. race in May 2011. REUTERS ager of Chelsea. for having committed to a great club with an we will begin.” REUTERS REUTERS Hodgson asks England fans for calm against Ireland

LONDON: England manager Roy Hodgson has written to fans asking them to behave in today’s friendly against Ireland, the first meeting between the rivals since English hooligans caused the aban- donment of a match in Dublin in 1995. The FA fears anti-Irish Republican Army (IRA) chanting at the Wembley fixture, especially as the game comes after the far right English Defence League gained publicity for protests against the mur- der of a soldier in London by alleged Islamic extremists. The Dublin friendly 18 years ago was stopped after 27 minutes when England fans rioted by ripping out seats and throwing them towards the pitch. Their motive was hatred of the IRA, which fought to end British rule in Northern Ireland. The IRA disbanded after a 1998 peace deal largely ended three decades of violence between mainly Catholic Irish nationalists seeking union with Ireland and predomi- nantly Protestant unionists who want to remain part of the United Kingdom. More than 3,000 people were killed. “Ahead of the Ireland fixture, on behalf of the FA, I would like to ask our supporters to please respect our opponents and welcome them in the right way,” Hodgson wrote in an e-mail to ticket holders. England follow today’s game with a friendly in Brazil on June 2 while England manager Roy Hodgson (centre) speaks to his players during a team training session at the Saint George’s Park National Football Centre in Ireland, fourth in World Cup qualifying Group C, host Faroe Islands Staffordshire, England, yesterday. England are set to play the Republic of Ireland in an international friendly match at Wembley Stadium today. in a qualifier on June 7. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Casillas delighted to win Del Bosque’s nod for Cup The Real star is ready to take part in Confed Cup in Brazil

BY DENZIL PINTO

DOHA: Real Madrid goal- keeper Iker Casillas said he is thankful to national team coach Vicente Del Bosque for keep- ing faith in him, after the two- time European Championship winner was named in Spain’s preliminary squad for the Confederations Cup that will take place in Brazil next month The 32-year-old has not played a competitive match for Real Madrid since returning from a Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (right) and Ivan Bravo, Director General hand injury having lost his place of Aspire Academy, during the signing ceremony at Aspire Academy in to Diego Lopez. Doha yesterday. But the Spanish captain, who was in Doha yesterday as his Foundation joined hands with Aspire Academy to launch a goal- keeper’s training project in Qatar, Aspire Academy, Iker said he is pleased to be included in the squad for the June 15-30 event. Casillas Foundation He said: “I am very happy to be included in the squad for the Confederations Cup. I thank Del Bosque who has given me the join hands for new much needed confidence in select- ing me. I feel I am in great condi- tion like I am a 19-year-old.” football initiative He added: “I’m looking forward to the competition and I will give Real Madrid and Spanish international goalkeeper Iker Casillas during a signing ceremony press conference DOHA: my best to the national team.” at Aspire Academy in Doha yesterday. Casillas’ honours include five Spanish La Liga titles, two Champions Aspire Academy has and sessions, including techni- The Spaniard, who became the League titles, as well as two European Championship victories and a World Cup. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL joined forces with Iker Casillas cal, tactical and physical com- first goalkeeper-captain to lift the Foundation to create the most ponents, will be carried out at European Championship title in ambitious project to date on the Aspire Academy’s facilities. 2008 has had a glittering career, can still improve on their weak- Casillas, who has won every playing in Qatar, he said: “Qatar specific training for goalkeep- Goalkeepers from different winning team and individual hon- nesses.” said Casillas. domestic title with Real Madrid, is developing their game in foot- ers which is a project for tal- parts of the world, belonging ours since joining Real Madrid in Casillas, who clinched his fifth said he is keen to stay in the game ball. When Pep (Guardiola) came, ents development which will to youth and professional cat- 1996. Spanish La Liga title in 2012, his when he retires. He said: “After many other players came too. illustrate its members on egories, will come to Doha to Among the honours are first as captain of Real Madrid, retiring, I want to continue with Everybody knows about Raul, who human values and leadership take part in the development Casillas’ five FIFA/FIFPRO added: “A goalkeeper has to have football. I want to help others has become a footballing symbol to be the future leaders of programmes. World’s Best Goalkeepers, which all the skills to succeed. Sixty on how to become a better goal- for Real Madrid and Spain, and sport. To begin with, all goalkeep- he won continously from 2008 to percent of a goalkeeper’s body is keeper because that and football he is here contributing to foot- The partnership agreement ers of various teams at Aspire 2012. based on the physical condition. is my life.” ball and helping players become was signed by Spain National Academy will receive a two-day The 2010 World Cup winner Preserving their bodies is needed Casillas praised Barcelona, who better.” Team and Real Madrid captain training course, which will be gave advice to those who want to for success as well as keeping won their 22nd Spanish La Liga With many suggesting Casillas Iker Casillas representing Iker overseen by Casillas, the reign- be successful goalkeepers. calm through crucial moments.” title this season. is one of the best goalkeepers in Casillas Foundation and Ivan ing European and World Cup “The ideal age for goalkeepers He added: “I started at the age He said: “I think every Spanish the world, the Spaniard gave his Bravo, Director General, repre- champion. to learn, and I speak for myself, is of nine and I trained for many team is different. We managed to reply of who his favourites are. senting Aspire Academy. Speaking on the partner- eight years old to develop them- hours on my physical and mental win against them (a 2-1 win in “(Petr) Cech, (Victor) Valdes, As a part of the deal, a high ship with Aspire Academy, the selves. They should maintain that strengths. Those strengths are March) but they were the best (Manuel) Neuer and (David) De performance centre will be set Spainish number one goalkeeper and by the age of 15, they will be getting better but at 32, I’m still throughout the season.” Gea,” replied Casillas. up at the academy. said: “It is for me an honour to matured. At the age of 30, they eager to learn more.” Speaking of Spanish players THE PENINSULA A project chiefly designed for work with an organisation like talent development, it will also Aspire, a leading Academy in teach its trainees the impor- sports training and the crea- Iker Casillas tance of human values and tion of values in sport as well Fact File leadership qualities. as developing programs which Zidane to lead new Real Iker Casillas Foundation foster the integration and train- Was Spain’s Number 1 for the 2002 World focuses its activities on the ing of young people in the world Cup after Valencia goalkeeper Santiago development and integration of of football.” Canizares suffered a tendon injury after he young people through sport. He added: “I want also to controlled an aftershave bottle. The Aspire Academy, boasting thank Qatar and Qataris for Represented Spain 143 times since 2000. project, says president state-of-the-art innovative tech- their contribution to the devel- Represented Real Madrid 654 times since nology and a team of specialised opment of sports in general, and 1999. MADRID: Real Madrid presi- “What happens is that when coaches will develop the train- more specifically of football.” In 2007, Casillas insured his hands for dent Florentino Perez has Mourinho makes a mistake it has ing methodology. A selection of players from €7.5m, then equivalent to $10m, with said the club’s search for new worldwide attention. It will be assessed and super- abroad will later join the Groupama Insurance. The policy covered his recruits will not start until they “Although the club thinks that vised by Spain and Real Madrid programme. mitts for injuries suffered on or off the field. have a new manager in place. Casillas is the best in the world, captain Casillas, who will also A list of 100 scholarship play- Perez confirmed last week that you can’t enter into a technical advise the coaching manage- ers from around the world will Honours Jose Mourinho would leave the decision.” ment and leadership team. be selected by Iker Casillas and Real Madrid club after three years in charge And the man that in the Aspire Academy Director Aspire every year. La Liga (5): 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, following Saturday’s match past signed the likes of Zidane, General, Ivan Bravo said: “The At the academy, they will 2007–08, 2011–12 against Osasuna with Paris Saint- Luis Figo, David Beckham and Aspire Academy is delighted to participate in a l5-day training Copa del Rey (1): 2010–11 Germain manager Carlo Ancelotti Ronaldo as players reflected on partner with one of the best programme, with Real Madrid quickly linked with the post. his failure to lure Neymar to the football players in the world, a goalkeeper Casillas attending Supercopa de España (4): 2001, 2003, However, Perez confirmed club after the Brazilian agreed to goalkeeper who has achieved three days. 2008, 2012 that whoever the new boss is, join Barcelona over the weekend. and performed both with club An intensive elite train- UEFA Champions League (2): 1999–2000, he will work alongside Zinedine “Three years ago there was a and national team at levels not ing programme, international 2001–02 Zidane (pictured) whose current this to be led by Zidane. I would chance to sign him and we wanted seen before.” young leader camp, a coach- UEFA Super Cup (1): 2002 advisory role at the club will be also like it if he was Madrid coach to take advantage of it, but then “For sure the Academy’s goal- ing academy for goalkeeper Intercontinental Cup (1): 2002 stepped up should Perez’s re-elec- some day. the club wouldn’t let him leave keepers and other from across coaches, an annual goalkeeper Country [edit] tion as president for the next four “Once the coach arrives, he and and they renewed his contract,” Qatar’s clubs will be able to world congress culminating years be confirmed next week. Zidane will look at what we can he said. learn a lot from his experience with a “Battle of Stars” are Spain “If there are no other candi- do to take a step up in quality. “He seems to me like a mag- and leadership lessons with some of the concrete plans in FIFA World Cup (1): 2010 dates (for the presidency), on Zidane will be the one entrusted nificent player and I would have Spain’s National team and Real the pipeline. UEFA European Championship (2): 2008, Tuesday we will take possession to make the new signings with the signed him if the conditions Madrid,” Bravo added. The collaboration also makes 2012 and start with the subject of coach.” wouldn’t have altered the eco- “This partnership with the Casillas the academy’s brand Spain U20 the coach,” he told radio station Perez also touched on system of the club. Iker Casillas Foundation will ambassador. Cadena Ser in an interview on Mourinho’s time in charge and “We had to negotiate with the surely benefit both sides, but He will empower the Aspire FIFA World Youth Championship (1): 1999 Monday night. was broadly defensive of the club, the father, a fund that had above all help the further growth project within the sports sector Spain U16 “First we will speak with the Portuguese coach, although he did 40 percent of his rights. For us of football in Qatar towards its worldwide and promote its com- UEFA Under-16 Championship (1): 1997 coach, because although people admit that he didn’t agree with it would have cost more than ambitious future,” he concluded. mitment towards talent devel- Individual don’t believe it, we have still not the former Chelsea boss’ decision €150m. I don’t know how much The training programme opment. THE PENINSULA spoken with anybody. We want to drop captain Iker Casillas. it cost Barca.” AFP Bravo Award: 2000 La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2000 Spanish head coach UEFA Team of the Year (6): 2007, 2008, Casillas lifts the European Vicente del Bosque (left) 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Championships trophy and captain Iker Casillas after Spain won the UEFA Zamora Trophy: 2007–08 arrive with the Euro trophy Euro 2008 in this file UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (2): at the Barajas airport in photo. Casillas became 2008, 2012 Madrid, central Spain, the first goalkeeper- ESM Team of the Year: 2008 in this 2012 file photo. captain to lift the UEFA FIFA/FIFPro World XI (5): 2008, 2009, Casillas, 32, will be European Championship 2010, 2011, 2012 aiming to add to his 143 trophy. RIGHT: Casillas caps after Del Bosque FIFA/FIFPro World’s Best Goalkeeper (5): lifts the World Cup trophy 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 included the Real Madrid next to del Bosque after goalkeeper to his squad IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper (5): 2008, arriving at Madrid’s for the Confederations 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Barajas Airport in this Cup that will take place La Liga Best Goalkeeper (2): 2009, 2012 2010 file photo. next month. FIFA World Cup Golden Glove: 2010 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010 WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 6-Red snooker format divides opinion in Doha Qatar coach Russell says he prefers the traditional game

BY ARMSTRONG VAS which has happened. The specta- But, there are some dissenting Russell, who has been coaching in tors love it. More people are get- voices. Qatar coach Mike Russell Qatar since 2007. DOHA: The 6-Red snooker for- ting hooked up to the game,” said (pictured) is one of them. “It (6-Red) is a tough game. It mat introduced by International Saleh, who also runs a snooker He is in favour of the 15-ball is a bit of a leveler. So it is more Billiards and Snooker club in Kabul. game, over the shorter version of of a tactical game. So if you get Federation (IBSF) has created 6-Red snooker is the game. your tactics right, then, you are quite a storm. A majority of the played with six red “I do not like it. in with a chance. Lot of games is players root for it over the tra- balls on the table I am a bit of a tra- tight. No one wants to take risks, ditional version of the game. as opposed to the dionalist. I like the as one miss, game over,” he added. Reigning amateur world cham- standard fifteen. proper game. I do The 44-year-old is sad that cue pion, Muhammad Asif of Pakistan The table is the not know why they sports will not feature in the next and Asian amateur champion, same size as in the are doing it, maybe edition of the 2014 Asian Games Muhammad Saleh of Afghanistan, traditional 15-red they are trying to in Incheon, South Korea. gave the 6-Red a thumbs-up. game. The format speed up the game “It is a shame (Cue sports Asif, who won the 6-Red Asian was designed to fea- a little bit,” said missing from the Asian Games). Snooker Championship in Qatar ture shorter frames, the 11-time world I was banking on the cue sports on Monday said: “It is a fast and due to fewer red champion profes- Asian giants to fight for inclu- exciting version. I like it. Many balls. sional in the game sion for cue sports in the Asian players like, as the game finishes This format is of billiards. Games. But, nothing happened. in quick time.” hoped to revive the “As for me, there Hopefully, they will reinstate cue The Afghan player echoed simi- popularity of snooker as a spec- is nothing wrong with it (15- in the next edition of the Asian lar views. tator sport, in the same way ball traditional game) anyway. Games,” said the Englishman. “The 6-Red is a good thing Twenty20 has done to cricket. So, I am a traditionalist,” added THE PENINSULA

The Asian A Kuwaiti player aims to play a shot during his team’s match against Snooker Team Pakistan in the Snooker Asian Team Championship at Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Hall yesterday. Pakistan won 3-1. Championship 2013 India’s Alok Kumar aims for Qualifying Results a shot during Group A: Qatar (A) reach quarters his team’s Pakistan bt Kuwait 3-1, match against Pakistan bt Hong Kong, 3-1, Iran bt Kuwait DOHA: Qatar (A) won both be contested by China and Iraq. Saudi Arabia 3-1, Iran bt Hong Kong 3-1 their games to book their Qatar (B), which consists of at the same Group B: place in the quarter-finals the Al Obaidli brothers, Khamis, venue. India UAE bt China 3-0, UAE bt Iraq 3-2 in the Snooker Asian Team Mohanna and Ali, suffered defeats won 3-0. China bt Mongolia 3-0, Iraq bt Mongolia 3-0 Championship yesterday. in their Group C matches. Group C Qatar (A), which consists of Qatar (B) were beaten by PICTURES Thailand bt Qatar (B) 3-0, Thailand bt Ahmed Saif, Bashar Hussain Thailand 3-0, before suffering BY: QASSIM Jordan 3-0, Afghanistan bt Qatar (B) 3-0, and Mohsin Bukshaisha beat the same scoreline defeat against RAHMATULLAH Afghanistan bt Jordan 3-0 Singapore and Saudi Arabia 3-0 Afghanistan. Group D respectively. Sixteen entries were con- Qatar (A) will join India, firmed for this compeition which India bt Singapore 3-2, India bt Saudi Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, is hosted by the Qatar Billiards Arabia 3-0, Qatar (A) bt Singapore 3-0, Iran and UAE. and Snooker Federation. Qatar (A) bt Saudi Arabia 3-0 The last quarter-final spot will THE PENINSULA Doha receives Wrestling expect to 2013 Asian Bubka joins race for Youth Games make Olympic shortlist

Virtual Torch IOC presidency post ST PETERSBURG, Russia: conditions for a swift return to Wrestling expects to make the Olympic fold. DOHA: The Qatar Olympic ST PETERSBURG, Russia: an International Olympic The federation has approved Committee (QOC), the gov- Former Olympic pole vault Committee shortlist of can- more categories for women, erning sport body received the champion Sergei Bubka didate sports for the 2020 eliminated draws and cut down Asian Youth Games Virtual launched his bid for the presi- Games as it battles to on the number of competitors, Torch 2013, after it arrived dency of the International restore its Olympic presence, as the sport, part of all-modern in Doha from Dubai, as per Olympic Committee (IOC) yes- Iinternational Federation Olympics from 1896 - apart the relay programme sched- terday, the sixth candidate for (FILA) president Nenad from 1900 - bids to return to the uled by the Games Organising world sport’s most influential Lalovic (pictured) said. Olympic fold. Committee (NAYGOC). post. “We of course expect to be in “We are being very encour- Athletes in Doha watched “This was always natural for the shortlist,” the Serbian said in aged by the reaction from the the Games Virtual Torch Relay me. Sport is in my blood, it is in a telephone interview before his world of wrestling but it does not online, on big screens installed my genes,” the Ukrainian said departure for the IOC Executive make us complacent. We have to in a number of commercial when asked about his decision to Board meeting in Russia this prove the trust of those people in complexes and shopping malls run as the youngest candidate. week. us,” Lalovic said. in Doha, as well as the VIP main The new president will be elected “We Squash, hall at the QOC headquarters. on September 10. don’t have karate, Khaleel Ibraheem Al Jaber, “I have big experience in dif- guarantees wake- the Director of Sport Affairs ferent activities, from athlete but we will boarding, Department in the QOC and to sports administrator to busi- go to com- rollersports, Issa Ali Ghanem, the Head of nessman. I love sports, this is my pete like baseball Qatar administrative delegation life,” the 49-year-old, dressed in Sergei Bubka (left), President of the National Olympic Committee on the mat and soft- to the 2nd Asian Youth Games a dark suit and a bright red tie, of Ukraine and a former champion pole vaulter, and Qatar Olympic and the ball, wushu 2013 besides some of QOC’s staff said on the sidelines of a sports Committee Secretary General Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani best will and sports received the virtual flame upon conference. at the IAAF Doha Diamond League meet in this May 10 file photo. Bubka win.” climbing arrival in Doha. “I have passion, drive, motiva- has announced that will join the race to become president of International The are the Al Jaber appreciated the tion. I want to give something Olympic Committee. IOC sur- other can- flame arrival in Doha and the back to the movement.” prisingly didates NAYGOC’s pioneering initiative Bubka joins Germany’s Thomas dropped hoping to to relay the Torch online in a Bach, Singapore’s Ng Ser Miang, breakthrough moment. Before lead the powerful International wrestling make the creative method which allowed C.K. Wu of Taiwan, Puerto Rican deciding to run for the top Olympic Committee (IOC) and from the shortlist all the nations across the world Richard Carrion and Swiss Denis Olympic post, Bubka was regarded won’t oppose it in line with list of core for the watch the flame. Oswald in a six-way contest. as one of two likely candidates to broader policies on the island. sports for September He also applauded China’s Bach, an Olympic fencing succeed Lamine Diack as head of The world boxing chief, who the 2020 vote. professionalism and organisa- champion in 1976 and a long- the IAAF. The other is London last week announced his candi- Games in February, forcing it to Wrestling also received a tional skills to host the second time sports official, is regarded 2012 Games chief Sebastian Coe. dacy to succeed IOC president join seven other candidate sports thumbs-up from the chief of the edition of Asian Youth Games. as the frontrunner. But the out- Asked why he opted to run for Rogge, said he was confident that that will battle it out for the one Istanbul 2020 Olympics bid with Likewise, Ghanem, hailed come is still wide open and could the top IOC post instead of the his long personal history with vacant spot when the IOC ses- Hasan Arat saying wrestling, a the torch relay idea online and be influenced by two other votes IAAF position given his past as China would make this a case of sion votes in Buenos Aires in national sport in his country, described the process as won- - for the 2020 Games’ hosts and a track and field athlete, Bubka “sport over politics”. September. would be good to have if Istanbul derful way to attract the youth the introduction of a new Olympic said: “I am here because of athlet- Taiwan competes at the The eight contenders will be were awarded the Olympics. across the world. sport - taking place days before ics. But today we have elections Olympics under the formulation reduced on Wednesday when “It is important for The Torch, which left Doha the president’s election. for the IOC. This is a good time “Chinese Taipei”. the IOC announces a shortlist Turkey,” Arat told reporters yesterday, will now travel to Jacques Rogge, in charge to run for the IOC presidency.” But Wu, 66, said that he was after brief presentations from in St Petersburg on Tuesday. Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, since 2001, is stepping down in Bubka backed a proposal by born in China, made a ground- the candidate sports. The IOC “Important because of our Pakistan, India, Maldives, September when his two-term Rogge that it should be a paid breaking visit there in 1989 and has not said how many will be success (in the sport). It is a Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, rule comes to a mandatory end. position. “I am not paid by the had supported Beijing’s success- short-listed. national sport but it is an IOC Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bubka won gold at the Seoul (Ukrainian) Olympic Committee, ful bid to host the 2008 Olympic The sport’s exclusion trig- Executive Board decision which Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, 1988 Olympics and is a member of the IOC or the IAAF,” Bubka, who Games. gered an angry backlash from we have to respect. Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, the powerful IOC executive board also heads his country’s national “Taiwan and China enjoy a very the wrestling fraternity with “I see they have made changes Timor Leste, Indonesia, Brunei, as well as a senior vice-president Olympic committee. good relationship and I supported several athletes returning their and hope wrestling will remain Philippines and China (host of the world athletics body, IAAF. “But I support the proposal Beijing in their successful bid to Olympic medals and some senior in the Games.” nation). Qatar will compete He broke the world record 35 because the president needs to host the 2008 Olympic Games. IOC members openly disagreeing Madrid and Tokyo, also eager in 11 sports, including football, times, won 10 indoor and outdoor be full time in the office.” He said I was born in China and moved with the decision. to see wrestling remain in the basketball, handball, shooting, world championships and took he would give his salary to charity from there to Taiwan with my Lalovic, who took over from Games due to the sports popu- squash, swimming, judo, tennis, part in four Olympics in a career if he were elected. parents at the age of one-and-a- Swiss Raphael Martinetti after larity in Japan, are also bid- athletics and table tennis. which took off in St Petersburg Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Wu half. This (candidacy) should be a the IOC axing, has led a frantic ding to host the 2020 Olympics. THE PENINSULA with his qualification for the Ching-kuo has said Chinese offi- running of the summer and win- effort by the sport to improve REUTERS 1983 World Championships, his cials “fully understand” his bid to ter Olympic Games. ” AGENCIES Wednesday 29 May 2013 19 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5714 Sport Price: QR2

SRI LANKA’S WEEKLY RAJDHANI - LARGEST SELLING NEPALI NEWS UPDATES Parker shines Qatar take on WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN QATAR PUBLISHED EVERY as Spurs reach Azerbaijan in WEDNESDAY BY LANKADEEPA MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY LANKADEEPA WEEKLY DAR AL SHARQ the NBA finals friendly match AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS IN QATAR PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY DAR AL SHARQ FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: AVAILABLE AT ALL THE LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS IN QATAR TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected] Sport | 23 Sport | 25 FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected]

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar holds Spinner Swann the hero a copy of new book ‘Sporting Times’ during its release in Mumbai yesterday. as England crush Kiwis The book documents India’s sporting story of 175 The hosts win second Test despite rain at Headingley years. Tendulkar is the most LEEDS: Graeme Swann bowled play that took place either side of wicket of the innings, and ninth of Scoreboard capped played England to a commanding 247- delays for bad weather. the match, when Southee, on 38, in Tests (198 matches) and run in the second Test against New Zealand, 158 for six over- edged to slip and this time Trott England (I innings): ...... 354 ODIs (463) New Zealand in Leeds yester- night, resumed with captain held the catch. When rain forced New Zealand (I innings): ...... 174 day with rain unable to save the Brendon McCullum nought not an early lunch, New Zealand were England (II innings): ...... 287-5 decl having scored tourists. out and paceman Tim Southee 219 for eight. New Zealand (II innings): more runs in Off-spinner Swann took six for four not out. But McCullum was Play resumed at 3pm local time P Fulton c Bell b Broad ...... 5 both formats 90, for a Test-best match return out for one when he chipped a full (1400GMT), albeit under leaden H Rutherford c Root b Swann ...... 42 of the game. of 10 for 132, as New Zealand, toss back to Stuart Broad, the tall skies and with drizzle falling. K Williamson lbw Swann...... 3 Tendulkar, 39, chasing an improbable 468 for fast bowler getting down well to Bracewell was out soon after- R Taylor b Swann ...... 70 has also scored victory, were dismissed for 220. hold the low caught and bowled wards, well caught at silly point by D Brownlie c Bell b Finn...... 25 more centuries This win gave England the two- chance. Ian Bell off Swann to leave New M Guptill c Trott b Swann ...... 3 in Tests (51) match series 2-0 after their 170- That was the cue for an eighth- Zealand on the brink of defeat. B McCullum c&b Broad ...... 1 and ODIs (49) run win in the first Test at Lord’s. wicket stand of 56 between Number 11 Trent Boult gamely T Southee c Trott b Swann ...... 38 than any other Swann’s figures topped his pre- Southee and Doug Bracewell. made a 26-minute nought before D Bracewell c Bell b Swann ...... 19 cricketer in vious Test match-best of 10 for Southee defiantly hooked fast he was last man out, caught N Wagner (not out) ...... 0 the world. 181 against Sri Lanka in Colombo bowler Steven Finn for six. But behind off paceman James T Boult c Prior b Anderson ...... 0 Tendulkar won last year. on 24 he was dropped by Jonathan Anderson’s third ball Tuesday Extras (B-2, LB-11, W-1) ...... 14 Rain, as much as New Zealand’s Trott at slip off Swann. Next ball The scale of the task confront- the 2011 cricket Total (all out) ...... 220 World Cup with lower-order batting, was the big- Southee hoicked Swann for six. ing New Zealand was that were Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-40, 3-65, 4-144, the Indian side gest obstacle to England record- Bracewell joined in by cover- asked to make 50 more than the 5-153, 6-154, 7-162, 8-218, 9-220. captained by ing a thumping win on the final driving Finn for four and pull- Test record fourth innings victory Bowling: Anderson 11.3-4-28-1; Broad 11- day at Headingley. ing him for six to bring up a fifty total of 418 for seven posted by the 3-26-2; Swann 32-12-90-6; Finn 19-5-62-1 Mahendra Singh But they grabbed the four wick- partnership with Southee in just West Indies against Australia in (1w); Root 3-2-1-0. Dhoni. ets they needed in the 86 minutes’ 35 balls. But Swann had his fifth Antigua in 2002/03. REUTERS

iPhone 5 is now available in our Ooredoo Shops

Get a 1 year official Apple warranty and full service support with your device

ooredoo.qa