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Monday 8 April 2013 27 Jumada I 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5663 Price: QR2

Doha Bank All eyes on gets nod to list Mutaz at more shares GCC event

Business | 20 Sport | 31

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Decks cleared for Qatar’s satellite launch Doha joins UN convention

DOHA: The decks are clear markets across the Middle East, for Qatar to execute its ambi- North Africa and beyond. tious Satellite Project ‘Eshail’ The selection of Arianespace to announced early last year, deliver Eshail 1 into orbit marks as the country has joined the a step forward in the EshailSat United Nations Convention programme to invest in and oper- on Registration of Objects ate a high-performance satellite Launched into Outer Space. at 25.5° East, a well-established Eshail is from the Arabic orbital position for television root word ‘Suhayl’ which means broadcast services. Canopus or the bright star Alpha The new satellite will provide in the southern constellation Argo. further Ku-band resources for The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Qatar Satellite Company, television broadcasting and will Affairs H E Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Sudanese First Vice-President Ali Osman Mohammad Taha and other dignitaries at the International Donors EshailSat, early last year selected also mark the start of Ka-band Conference for Reconstruction and Development of Darfur, at Ritz-Carlton Hotel, yesterday. Arianespace to launch its first services, opening up new busi- satellite Eshail 1 in the current ness opportunities for EshailSat quarter (April-June) on board an and their customers, according Ariane 5 launcher. to details posted on the website Qatar to help in Darfur rehabilitation The announcement was made at of ictQATAR, the country’s tel- a Satellite 2012 show in Washington ecom sector regulator. The six- DOHA: The Prime Minister displaced people and refugees to any agenda. It did not exclude requires rehabilitation of their early last year. tonne satellite will be launched and Foreign Minister H E their native places was an urgent anyone, did not favour one party original areas by building homes, The Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad from Arianespace’s space port in Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin mission. Sudanese First Vice- at the expense of another and did schools and hospitals so they can bin Khalifa Al Thani, yesterday Kourou, French Guyana, on the Jabor Al Thani yesterday said President Ali Osman Mohammad not distinguish between groups or resume their normal lives,” he said. issued a Decree (No 14 of 2013), east coast of South America. Qatar was implementing a pro- Taha, Qatar’s Deputy Prime movements, the Premier stressed. At the political level, a regional approving Qatar joining the UN Commenting on the selection gramme to facilitate the return Minister and Minister of State for He called on participants to authority has been established in Convention (XXIX) of 1974. The of Arianespace, EshailSat’s CEO of displaced people and refugees Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmad bin allocate adequate spending in Darfur, which has set up its admin- decree will have the status of Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari said, “We to Darfur. Abdullah Al Mahmoud, regional and their programmes for education istrative structures, executive and law, Qatar News Agency (QNA) are delighted that, together with The initial phase of the project international partners for peace in and said increasing awareness and legislative bodies and begun to reports. Eutelsat, we have been able to targets 150,000 people at a cost of Darfur and representatives of donor spread of education would deepen function in coordination with the In 2010, EshailSat inked a select Arianespace to launch our $31m, while the next phase cost- countries and regional and interna- the culture of tolerance and con- central authority in Khartoum contract with Space Systems / first satellite. Eshail 1 is just the ing $529m will help rehabilitate tional organisations attended. firm conviction for peace and the and the governors of Darfur’s five Loral to build Eshail 1 which will start of our mission to provide some two million people in 45 vil- Qatar agreed to head the Arab- futility of wars and conflicts. regions, the Premier added. share a spacecraft platform with high quality, independent satellite lages in five regions of Darfur. African Committee on Darfur “It is a task that needs big At the economic level, the road the European satellite operator services to meet Qatar’s national Inaugurating the International Peace out of its humanitarian and finance as there are tens of thou- network is now being built and Eutelsat. stakeholder’s interests and serve Donors Conference for Recons- ethical responsibilities as well as sands of people in Darfur living agricultural projects has resumed Eshail 1 will provide television, customers throughout the Middle truction and Development of its Arab obligations and Islamic for years in displacement camps after years of stoppage. Internet, corporate, and gov- East and North Africa.” Darfur, at Ritz-Carlton Hotel, values, the Premier said, pointing at home and in refugee camps THE PENINSULA ernment services in expanding THE PENINSULA the Premier said the return of out that it had not been driven by in Chad, and the return of those Continuation on page 6

Lorenzo wins MotoGP Woman fined for assaulting motorist

DOHA: An expatriate woman suddenly slowed down since her around her to dissuade her driver was fined QR5,000 by a victim was driving very slowly from attacking the man, but she lower court after it found her as traffic was moving at a snail’s refused to listen. guilty of physically assaulting a pace. The woman kept honking Police arrived and took both male expat motorist. but when the man did not move, to police station. The man filed The court also ordered her she stopped her car, got out in a complaint and the case was licence confiscated and car seized fury, opened his front door and referred to the Prosecution which for two months. began hitting him. filed charges against the woman. She was driving fast and Other motorists gathered THE PENINSULA

Egyptian Copts, Ezdan to build 10 residential complexes DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group, a leading real estate develop- Muslims clash ment company in the region, plans to construct 10 new residential complexes, most of them in Al Wakra. The Group CEO of Ezdan again; one dead Holding, Ali Al Obaidli, while speaking to The Peninsula on the side- lines of the company’s annual general meeting, said that the com- CAIRO: One person was pany was set to open its ‘Ezdan Mall’ at Gharafa on Sunday. The killed and 84 were wounded in Group’s audited net profit stood at QR408.7m for the financial year clashes at the Coptic Orthodox ended December 31, 2012. Full report on page 17 Jorge Lorenzo (right) of Spain, winner of MotoGP Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, and runner-up Valentino Cathedral in central Cairo yes- Rossi of Italy celebrate on the podium at Losail International Circuit yesterday. MotoGP rookie Marc Marquez terday after a funeral service QNB nets QR2.1bn profit in first quarter of Honda took a superb third on his debut in the top division. See also page 28 SHAIVAL DALAL for four Egyptian Christians killed in sectarian violence with DOHA: The QNB Group has reported net profits of QR2.1bn for Muslims, state media said. the first quarter (January to March 2013), up 6.7 percent over Q1 of Police fired tear gas to disperse 2012, the Group, announcing its financials for the first three months the crowds but clashes contin- of 2013, said yesterday. Total assets of the group increased by 22.2 ued late into the evening. Fresh percent from March 2012 to QR380bn, the highest ever achieved by Kerry, Abbas discuss reviving peace talks clashes erupted when hundreds of the bank. This was the result of a strong growth rate of 28.7 percent angry Copts came to the funeral in loans and advances to reach QR259bn, while customer deposits RAMALLAH: US Secretary March 20-22 visit and returned path forward,” the US official said service at St. Mark’s Cathedral. increased by 28.2 percent to QR280bn. Full report on page 20 of State John Kerry and alone a day later. in an emailed statement. After an emotional church service, Palestinian President Mahmoud A senior US official described While focusing on economic Christians chanted anti-govern- Car missing after given for valet parking Abbas yesterday discussed the talks, which took place after a issues, the wider talks included ment slogans and started hurling reviving Israeli-Palestinian week marked by clashes between a discussion of “how to create a rocks at police officers outside the DOHA: A GCC national who was here as a tourist lost his car after peace talks but neither side Palestinian youths and Israeli positive climate” for peace talks, cathedral, witnesses said. he handed it for valet parking at a famous hotel where he was stay- offered details on how, when and security forces in the West Bank, said the senior US official. The Some protesters, believed to be ing. When he drove up to the hotel entrance, a man in the uniform whether that might happen. as a constructive meeting but said US official said that Kerry had Copts, smashed six private cars and approached him and took his car for valet parking. Later, when the Kerry, who spoke one-on-one little about substance. asked the Palestinian officials not set two on fire, prompting an angry tourist demanded his car keys from the concierge, he was told that with Abbas for about an hour “During the one-on-one meet- to discuss the specifics of this dis- reaction from Muslims living in the there were no keys. It was discovered that the car was also miss- after a 20-minute group meeting, ing, Secretary Kerry and President cussion, a request they appear to neighbourhood, who threw home- ing. The GCC national filed a complaint with police which launched is on his third trip to the region in Abbas discussed the path to peace have honoured. made petrol bombs and stones at an investigation and questioned staff, including the supervisor of three weeks, having accompanied and they agreed to continue work- REUTERS them, a witness said. REUTERS the parking lot in the basement. The victim informed his embassy President Barack Obama on his ing together to determine the best Picture on page10 Picture on page10 which provided a lawyer to follow up the case. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Emir receives credentials of envoys Emir issues 3DS brings innovative three decrees DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday issued three decrees. technology to Qatar Of the three, Decree No 14 approved Qatar joining the United Nations Convention Over 40 students take part in entrepreneurship contest on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. DOHA: The US Embassy and ideas to a panel of experts, where Students came to the pro- Decree No 15 endorsed an Carnegie Mellon University they demonstrated real proto- gramme from a cross-section of agreement for cooperation in in Qatar (CMU-Q) partnered types for new technology startups disciplines including business, the legal field between Qatar 3-Day Startup (3DS) entrepre- in hopes of attracting investment computer science, communica- and Uzbekistan, signed in Doha neurship contest that concluded from established entrepreneurs. tions, law and design. on November 24, 2010. Decree here on Saturday. Team awards were given to CMU-Q ramped up the event No 16 approved an agreement During the 3DS ‘boot camp’, 3DS Team Hustle: Fit Right, by inviting high-profile faculty between Qatar and Malaysia over 40 students collaborated to Team Focus: Tidalal, Smooth to mentor the students through- on the avoidance of dual taxa- build innovative technology start- Talker: Sweet Story, best use of out the weekend, including tion and the prevention of fiscal ups for Qatari and international a hairdryer: Smart Clothing and Dave Mawhinney, Director of evasion with regard to income markets. 3DS is an American the Spirit of 3DS: Bayt Baytk. the Donald H Jones Center for tax, signed in Putrajaya on July non-profit organisation that Since the conception of the pro- Entrepreneurship, and Dr Milton 3, 2008. empowers the next generation of gramme five years ago, over 2,500 Cofield, Executive Director, The Emir also issued a ratifi- young business leaders. 3DS alumni from 55 worldwide Undergraduate Programmes. cation instrument, approving a From online fitting experience, events have started 39 technol- The Qatar chapter of draft agreement on commercial mobile in-flight magazines, appli- ogy companies that have collec- Entrepreneurs’ Organisation, led maritime transport and ports cation for booking taxis in Qatar tively raised $9.5m in investment by President Khalifa Al Misnad, signed with Algeria in Algiers on to a virtual market place for home capital. also mobilised successful Qatari The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani received yesterday at January 7. catering — students came up with “Once again, the youth of Qatar entrepreneurs to mentor students the Emiri Diwan credentials of four new ambassadors — Ivgen Mikitenko The Emir issued a ratification innovative solutions utilising their have shown us that if you work on doing business in Qatar. (Ukraine), Guido De Sanctis (Italy), Abubakr Al Siddiq Chourouma (Chad) instrument approving an agree- business acumen and creative hard and collaborate, everything Kenrick Fernandes, Tidalal and Wong Kwok Pun (Singapore). The Emir wished them success in ment signed with Ukraine on visa flair. is possible,”US Ambassador Susan team member and CMU-Q com- their missions. exemption for diplomatic and spe- Student teams presented their L Ziadeh said. puter science student, expressed cial passports holders, signed in his excitement about winning the Doha on January 28 last year. 3DS team focus award. “I particularly enjoyed applying 11 ambassadors moved to my computer science knowledge Emir appoints to develop an app that could have an impact on Qatar’s culture. One ministry’s headquarters envoy to Gambia thing that really stood out for me was the momentum and excite- DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani issued DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh ment that was built during the yesterday decisions to transfer a number of ambassadors to the Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani program, after Friday I couldn’t Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. yesterday issued the Emiri wait to get here early on Saturday They were Dr Mubarak Klefekh Khalid Al Hajri (Ambassador to Decision No. 22 for the year morning,” Fernandes said. the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Mohammad Kurdi Taleb 2013, appointing Mohamed The following universities Al Marri, (Mauritania), Hamad Al Hamad Al Ibrahim Al Attiyah Nasser Issa Al Kaabi as in Qatar participated in 3- (Spain), Abdul Razak Abdul Jalil Abdul Ghani Al Ghani ( Turkey), Ambassador to the Republic of Day Startup: Carnegie Mellon Salem Mubarak Shafi Salem Al Shafi (Canada), Abdul Aziz Abdul The Gambia. University in Qatar, Virginia Rahman Turki Subaie (Morocco), Nasser Rashid Mohammed Al Commonwealth University in Nuaimi (Kazakhstan), Rashid Ali Hassan Al Khater (Singapore), Qatar, Qatar University, Drexel Jassim Abdulaziz Faisal Al buainain (Yemen), Hassan Mohamed Rafae Prime Minister greets University, Texas A&M University Emadi (India) and Saeed Abdullah Hilal Alqzam Al Mansouri (Sri at Qatar, Arab Academy for Lanka). new Lebanese premier Science, Technology and Maritime DOHA: The Prime Minister Transport, College of the North and Foreign Minister Sheikh Atlantic, Stenden University, PM meets Ecuadorian Minister Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Hamad Medical Corporation, Al Thani has sent a cable of University of Leeds, TKM College DOHA: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh greetings to Lebanese Prime of Engineering and Academic Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani met here yesterday with Minister Tamam Salam on the Some of the participants in the 3-Day Startup (3DS) entrepreneurship Bridge Program. Ecuadorian Minister of Tourism Freddy Ehlers. Talks dealt with occasion of his assignment to contest. THE PENINSULA bilateral relations. QNA form a new government. QNA

MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Dubai fest to screen 6 ‘Made in Qatar’ films Sixth Gulf Film Festival begins on Thursday

DOHA: Doha Film Institute of programmes like “Made In flags, golden ornaments and lights (DFI) will showcase six ‘Made Qatar” created by DFI who — on the Corniche in Doha. in Qatar’ films at the sixth Gulf are dedicated to bringing these Acclaimed actor and director Film Festival (GFF), which shorts onto a global stage. This Hend Fakhro’s first foray into runs from Thursday to April 17 year’s line-up of films presents a film titled Esmah (His Name) at Dubai’s Media City. panorama of the country and its focuses on a Qatari woman The films, which were screened culture that will educate, inform and the unexpected friendship at last year’s Doha Tribeca Film and entertain audiences at GFF,” that is initiated with the man Festival, will present audiences at who cleans the streets of her the GFF with a unique and valu- neighbourhood. able opportunity to explore Qatar Ghazil — The Story of Rashed and its creative aspirations through and Jawaher inspired by William a series of innovative and enlight- Shakesperes’ Romeo and Juliet ening independent short films. revolves around the trials and Fatma Al Remaihi, Head of tribulations of a strict family, Programmes at DFI said the a jealous cousin and society as regional acceptance of “Made enemy set in the Gulf in the early Dancers perform on the first day of African Festival at Katara, yesterday. in Qatar” films is a testament 1900s, by aspiring filmmaker Sara to the creativity and hard work Al Derham. of emerging talent from Qatar, Established director Riad committed to expressing their Makdessi’s thought-provoking African Festival opens at Katara voices. short 8 Billlion is set in the slightly “We are incredibly proud of surreal world of Doha, a city of DOHA: Katara yesterday respect among people and bridg- culture,” he added. Other events the films that have been selected expatriates, in which two young unleashed a number of events ing various cultures. visitors to the festival can look to screen for regional audiences people find that they are not only simultaneously to launch the Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al forward to in the coming days at GFF. They exemplify what can lost in an unfamiliar culture far inaugural African Festival fea- Sulaiti, General Manager of are colourful African circus and materialise when young filmmak- said Masoud Amralla Al Ali, GFF from their families but, more sig- turing the diverse culture of 15 Katara, said Katara respects parade and concerts by well- ers are given the tools, support Festival Director. nificantly, they are lost in their countries from the second larg- culture of people regardless of know African musicians includ- and education to be able to bring First time filmmakers Robert own self-inflicted isolation. est continent in the world. language and ethnicity and it is ing Johnny Clegg, Manu Dibango their stories to life. The selected Arlo Deguzman and Kennedy Lyrics Revolt is the work of African arts fair, art exhibi- part of Katara’s strategy to reach and Cheikh Tidiane Seck. shorts will offer a glimpse into Somera explore the issues of four women directors Shannon tions, art and music workshops, out to different communities to The festival also features an the imagination and creativity of home, identity and belonging Farhoud, Melanie Fridgant, Rana urban painting, outdoor shows, promote mutual respect of the Embassies Zone highlighting Qatari youth who share a common through a series of dream-like Al Khatib and Ashlene Ramadan. live concerts, films, and food fea- diversity of culture and heritage. each country’s culture, a Cine goal to strengthen and promote the images in the compelling short This documentary delves into the tured the first day of the week- The festival, he said, sheds light Zone which will screen a total of regional film industry,” she said. Transient. lives of leading Arab artists — long festival. on the culture of Africans and 20 culturally relevant films and “We are consistently impressed Tarek Abu-Esber questions the young rappers, hip-hop artists, Organised by Katara in coop- offers an invaluable opportunity a Kids’ Zone which highlights a with the quality of the submissions daily routine of a local Qatari in and beat-boxers — who employ eration with 15 African embas- to know the creativity of Africans live size stuffed animal zoo, face from Qatari filmmakers which is the short Al Muqanna3 (Masked) the sharp political edge of hip hop sies here, the seven-day festival and how the continent contrib- painting, workshops and a large a great example of the burgeoning which follows Ahmed Al Jaber during this game-changing time is being held in alignment with uted to the culture of humanity. wall where children can express film industry in Qatar. These tal- who drives his breathtakingly for the Mena region and beyond. Qatar National Vision 2013 and “Qatari citizens appreciate and themselves artistically. ented filmmakers are testament designed vehicles — adorned with THE PENINSULA is aimed at promoting mutual respect African people and their THE PENINSULA

Global Innovators Education forum to focus on next generation technology Conference DOHA: Texas A&M University by Dr Othmane Bouhali, together and discuss educational and strategies for technology professor of mechanical engi- at Qatar, in partnership with research associate profes- and technological advancements. integration. As a peer-focused neering, said: “Technology is concludes Education City and Hamad Bin sor and director of Research The conference focuses on iden- conference, THE serves faculty, reshaping education at all lev- Khalifa University, will host Computing at Texas A&M tifying the shifts, challenges, and instructional designers, adminis- els, and this conference will be DOHA: Global Innovators the third annual Technology at Qatar, seeks to encour- opportunities for educators and trators, librarians, support per- a forum for important conversa- Conference 2013, Qatar’s first in Higher Education (THE) age attendees to explore how IT professionals as they explore sonnel, technology leaders and tions about how we can maximise international gathering on conference on April 16 and 17 to effectively meet the chal- ways to adapt and innovate their enthusiastic users of technology technology’s positive impact on technical and vocational educa- at Qatar National Convention lenges and opportunities in practice in a constantly changing who recognise the need to remain teaching and learning.” tion and training (TVET), con- Centre (QNCC). The theme education practice today while technological and higher educa- current on technology issues Bouhali noted the impor- cluded yesterday at the Qatar for the conference is ‘Today, anticipating the possibilities of tion landscape. related to the higher education tance of THE’s audiences coming National Convention Centre Tomorrow and Beyond: tomorrow. It is designed to foster learn- community. together to discuss innovations: (QNCC). Innovation in Teaching, The annual (THE) conference ing, innovation and practice in This year, the conference “The conference is designed to Hosted by College of the North Technology and Learning.’ is an opportunity for educators, IT the use of technologies in higher focuses on mobile devices in foster learning, innovation and Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q) in THE conference, co-chaired professionals, and students to get education and discuss challenges classrooms, cloud technologies, best practices in the use of tech- partnership with Qatar Petroleum virtual reality, the next genera- nologies in higher education. In and UNESCO-UNEVOC, the tion of information technology a rapidly changing world, espe- three-day conference highlighted infrastructure and many more cially in information technology, the latest research and methodol- topics of today, tomorrow and IT professionals and instructors ogies in TVET, and culminated in beyond. have to constantly adapt to these a “think tank” session for TVET Dr Hamid Parsaei, associate challenges and keep themselves leaders in Qatar. dean of Academic Affairs and up-to-date.” THE PENINSULA “In the ten years since CNA-Q opened its doors, over 3,000 young Qataris have mas- tered technical skills and moved on to challeng- ing jobs in our country’s key industries,” said Dr. Latifa Ibrahim Al-Houty, Vice Chair, Executive Committee, CNA-Q and one of the founders of Qatar’s leading technical college. “Global Innovators 2013: Leading and Learning in Technical and Vocational Education” called atten- tion to Qatar’s progress in TVET, and how this focus is helping the country to realize its National Vision 2030 and along with it, the goals of the National Development Strategy,” added Dr Al Houty. The conference gathered over 650 delegates from 42 countries including Algeria, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Central African Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, West Africa, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Occupied Palestine Territory, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Switzerland, United Republic of Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Heir Apparent with Dubai Crown Prince

The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at Al Bahr Palace yesterday Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, and his delegation. The Heir Apparent also hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of Sheikh Hamdan. SCH trains 33 nurses in leadership skills

DOHA: Some 33 nurses and 16 months and aims to develop health projects and NHS in Qatar, supporting health workers from leadership and administrative and nursing and healthcare. Hamad Medical Corporation skills of nurses and supporting The second session will take (HMC) and primary health health workers in the country. place from October 27 to 31 and centres are being trained in On the sidelines of the work- the third and fourth will be held administrative and leadership shop, Dr Nabeela Al Meer, head in April next year. skills at a programme launched of Health Services at HMC, said A group of nurses has been by the Supreme Council of there was a need to upgrade selected under the programme Health (SCH) yesterday. nurses’ skills in view of the which will be provided with the The ‘Leadership for Change’ increasing prevalence of dis- best knowledge and skills. That programme is being held at eases like diabetes, obesity and will enable them to develop their Renaissance Doha Hotel, in col- hypertension. capabilities to improve the quality laboration with International The programme includes four of health services and face critical Council of Nurses. It will con- sessions. The current one is dis- challenges in their career. tinue until Thursday. Nurses from cussing topics, inlcuding reform of The selected nurses will later Qatar Petroleum are also taking health system through Qatari and share acquired knowledge and part. global perspective, challenges of experiences with colleagues. The programme continues for health system in Qatar, priorities of THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Representatives of donor countries and aid groups during the International Donors Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur, which kicked off in Doha, yesterday. RIGHT: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud with Joseph Stafford, head of the US delegation to the Darfur conference. Darfur seeks $7.2bn pledges at donors meet Britain to provide $16.5m annually over the next three years Prime Minister DOHA: Working groups have the Qatari capital with an alliance said the people of Darfur have saying they would not return strategy on the table in Doha says meets OIC chief set priorities for rebuilding of rebel splinter groups. “high expectations” from the to their villages until peace is there will probably never be an Darfur on three major pil- Britain pledged at least £11m meeting. restored. ideal time for recovery, and delays DOHA: The Prime Minister and lars, namely reconciliation and ($16.5m) for Darfur annually over “We expect from this confer- Major insurgent groups can only make the process more Foreign Minister H E Sheikh equality, reconstruction and the next three years to help com- ence a political support for the rejected the Doha pact, which difficult. Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor economic reinvigoration. munities to grow their own food (development) strategy, accom- UN Secretary General Ban “We are aware that it is a dif- Al Thani met yesterday at Ritz Tajeddin Bashir Niam, Darfur’s and to provide skills training to panied by material and techni- Ki-moon said in January had ficult international environment Carlton Hotel with Secretary Minister of Development and help people find work. cal support, to implement the seen only limited progress in its to mobilise funds. But we believe General of the Organisation of Reconstruction, speaking on the “It is not good enough to reconstruction programme,” he implementation. that it would be a grave mistake Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr sidelines of the International simply offer more handouts,” said. A breakaway faction of the not to seize this opportunity for Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on the Donor conference for said Britain’s international The Doha meeting comes 10 rebel Justice and Equality the international community as a sidelines of the International Reconstruction and Development development minister, Lynne years after rebels rose up in Movement on Saturday became whole,” said Kuhnel. Donors Conference for in Darfur , said reconstruction Featherstone. the western Sudanese region to the second group to join the He said not all funds need to be Reconstruction and efforts needed $5bn, including “This conference is a unique seek an end to what they said peace deal. It signed a “final mobilised immediately. “We need Development in Darfur. QNA $845m for reconciliation and opportunity for Sudan and was the domination of power agreement” with the Sudanese to be able to start and receive suf- equality, whereas $1.4bn is needed Darfur to turn the destiny of and wealth among the country’s government in Doha, official ficient funds to build credibility for economic development. this conflict-ridden region,” said Arab elites. media reported. of the process and the strategy,” Darfur peace a reality Total cost of the strategy Jorg Kuhnel, team leader of the “After 10 years of emergency The development strategy calls he added. Continued from page 1 for reconstruction of Darfur UN Development Programme in assistance, it is time to start for agricultural upgrades, access The President of Sudan Justice is estimated at $7.2bn, he said Sudan. rebuilding communities in Darfur, to financing and other measures and Equality Movement (JEM) The situation at the security explaining that the Sudanese In his speech, Sudanese Vice and allowing them to start taking to help Darfuris support them- Mohamed Bishr has expressed level in Darfur in 2003 and the government is committed to President Ali Osman Taha urged care of themselves again,” Kuhnel selves under a more effective sys- thanks and gratitude to the subsequent years cannot be com- $2bn while $5.245 is expected “all armed groups to make the said. tem of local government. Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin pared with the current situation, to be pledged by the donors at historic decision to respect the Some 1.4 million people have While the worst of the vio- Khalifa Al Thani, government, he said. Peace has become a real- the two-day conference which will of the people of Darfur,” been displaced by Darfur’s dec- lence has long passed, rebel- and people of Qatar for sponsor- ity and limited and isolated opera- started yesterday. referring to militants who have so ade-long conflict. government clashes continue ing peace efforts in Darfur with tions in marginal areas of Darfur The conference, which has faced far refused to join the 2011 peace Yesterday, displaced people along with inter-Arab battles, patience and wisdom for the have failed to shake it, prompting criticism inside Darfur itself, was agreement. demonstrated in several camps kidnappings, carjackings and benefit of the people of Darfur many people in Darfur to leave ref- agreed under a July 2011 peace The head of the Darfur in Darfur, demanding that secu- other crimes. and the region’s stability and ugee camps for their villages, the deal which Khartoum signed in Regional Authority, Tijani Sissi, rity take priority, with some But the draft development security. AFP/QNA Premier noted.THE PENINSULA 17 outlets charged with selling expired tyres

DOHA: The Consumer while the validity is 30 months Protection Department for tyres of trucks, trailers and (CPD) has initiated legal other heavy vehicles, said a state- action against 17 outlets in ment issued by the Department. the Industrial Area that were In view of the high number found selling expired tyres, in of violations, the Department clear violation of the law. has advised the public to clearly The violations were detected check the expiry date before buy- during surprise raids conducted ing tyres. The year of manufac- by inspectors of the Department. turing could be seen written on Professor Heather Turner, Research Associate at the Crimes Against As per the Qatari rules, tyres the right side of the tyre and the Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, the US, of cars, buses, vans and pick ups week/month can be visible on the speaking at the conference. have 24 months validity starting left , it added. from the date of manufacturing THE PENINSULA Symposium on parenting and child well-being opens Fire at Msheireb Properties Project

DOHA: The 4th International in Qatar’s development.” Symposium: Parenting and Professor Heather Turner, Child Wellbeing: Theory and research associate at the Crimes Practice is a two-day interdisci- Against Children Research plinary event organised by QU’s Center at the University of New Department of Social Sciences Hampshire, USA opened the in the College of Arts & Sciences conference with a presentation (CAS) and sponsored by Qatar highlighting the factors which International Islamic Bank and contribute to, or help limit, men- the Social Rehabilitation Center. tal health problems in children. Concluding today, the confer- She spoke about the importance ence features keynote speakers to children of having a loving, from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the supportive, interactive and stable USA. In total, 13 separate pres- family which employs consistent entations and discussions focus and appropriate discipline. When on issues including parent-child one or more of these things do interaction, approaches to parent- not occur, it can contribute to ing and discipline, child abuse and a child’s inclination to mental neglect, social change and child health issues at the time or later welfare and child development. in life, she argued. CAS Dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi Other topics raised on the open- opened the event, followed by QU’s ing day included social change and Associate Professor of Sociology child welfare, parent training pro- Dr Kaltham Al Ghanim, who wel- grams, children’s human rights comed the international, regional and identifying and responding to and local delegates. Dr Al Ghanim child abuse by speakers from the said: “This symposium aims to align Doha International Institute for practices relating to child welfare Family Studies and Development, here in Qatar with the best stand- Hamad Medical Corporation and ards internationally, within the Weill Cornell Medical College A storage area belonging to a subcontractor working on a building at the prestigious Msheireb Properties Project caught fire last evening. Fire fight- contexts of society and culture. in Qatar, the University of New ers rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control, a press statement issued by Msheireb Properties said. Smoke was seen billowing out We are grateful to our partners Hampshire, USA and Georgia from the site close to Souq Waqif. “No one is injured in the fire and investigations are on,” the Msheireb Properties statement added. for their professional expertise State University, USA. which plays an important part THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Homs under siege for 300 days: Opposition Most of Syrian city under army as civilians suffer

BEIRUT: A siege of Syria’s central city of Homs entered Fight for Islamic state: Al Qaeda chief its 300th day yesterday, as troops loyal to President Bashar DUBAI: Al Qaeda chief (law) as the ruling system,” he Al Assad wage a campaign Ayman Al Zawahiri has urged said in his first message posted to oust rebel groups holed up rebels to fight to establish an on the Internet since last there, the opposition said. Islamic state in Syria, in an November. “Three hundred days have gone online audio message yester- “Do all that you can so that by since the start of the siege of day in which he also warned your holy war yields a jihadist the heroic city of Homs, capital France against its military Islamic state,” said Zawahiri, and beating heart of the Syrian intervention in Mali. adding that such a state would revolution,” the Syrian National “Let your fight be in the help to re-establish the Islamic Council, a key component of name of Allah and with the aim “caliphate” system of rule. the main opposition National of establishing Allah’s Shariah AFP Coalition, said. Homs, the country’s third larg- setting up checkpoints all around “Schools and hospitals have est city, was one of the first to join the rebel-held districts. been destroyed, water and elec- the anti-Assad revolt that began Daily battles rage on the edges tricity have been cut off, as have two years ago with peaceful pro- of the insurgent neighbourhoods, communications and food supply... tests but morphed into a bloody and yesterday, the army pounded Civilians are deprived of medicine insurgency after a fierce regime the districts of Khaldiyeh, and treatment,” the opposition crackdown on dissent. Qarabis, Qussour and Juret group added. Today, some 80 percent of the Al Shiyah. Activist Abu Bilal spoke to AFP city is under tight army control, “Three hundred days have gone via the Internet about life in a city and troops use tanks, helicopters by while the world has looked on... under siege. and other warplanes to bombard with all kinds of war crimes and Homs is a strategic junction, besieged rebel enclaves. crimes against humanity being linking Damascus to the major- The army and security forces committed in this city,” the SNC ity Alawite coastline. A general view of the destruction in Al Sukkari neighbourhood, by what activists said was an air strike by the began the siege in June 2012, said in a statement. AFP Syrian regime, in Aleppo, yesterday. Sudan sentences military officers to prison for plotting coup

KHARTOUM: A group of Sudanese (army) who have been accused of a coup. “a political statement not a court ruling.” the penalty was in fact relatively light as plot. “The problem is that the people military officers were sentenced to It gave various jail sentences from five The heaviest sentence of five years they could have faced the firing squad. who did this this time were hardcore between two and five years in prison years to two years against nine of the went to Brigadier Mohammed Ibrahim, “It means that President Bashir would supporters of Bashir, once upon a time,” yesterday for their role in an alleged soldiers,” one of their lawyers, Hashiem Jali said of the man who played a role like to calm the situation,” said the Gizouli said, adding that the possibility coup last year, a lawyer said. Al Jali, told AFP. in the 1989 events which put Bashir in expert, asking for anonymity. of an appeal provides room for further According to analysts, the case high- All were expelled from the military but power. “The regime is scared about (its) political negotiation. lights turmoil within the regime of a 10th accused was freed for lack of evi- He called it a “heavy punishment” for opponents.” Most of the detainees are close to a President Omar Hassan Al Bashir, who dence, Jali said, after a trial that lasted all the soldiers and said the defence team When the trial began he said that the vocal group of former volunteer mujah- himself seized power in a putsch 24 years about three weeks. would look at ways of appealing to the case against them was “not very clear” edeen fighters and an elite group within ago. “Today the military court issued Magdi El Gizouli, a fellow at the Rift military commander. and the evidence scant, with officials them called Al Saihun or “tourists for the its decision about the members of SAF Valley Institute, described the verdict as But a regional political expert told AFP releasing only vague details about the sake of God”. AFP

Egypt releases ship carrying weapons Tunisia ruling CAIRO: Egyptian authorities 14, was escorted into the port of released a ship loaded with heavy Safaga, 569km south of Cairo, on coalition weapons and its crew three days Wednesday after straying into after they were seized for enter- Egyptian waters off the Sinai supporters ing Egyptian territorial waters in Peninsula. the Red Sea, two security sources Authorities found weapons and told Reuters yesterday. ammunition, and detained the crew hold protest The Togolese-flagged ship members for investigation. named COMR, with a crew of REUTERS GAFSA, TUNISIA: Tunisian police yes- terday used tear gas to disperse supporters of the Islamist-led rul- ing coalition who pro- tested against a meeting by a secular opposition party, an AFP journalist said. “Get out!” chanted pro- testers, referring to post- revolution premier Beji Caid Essebsi, leader of the opposition movement Nidaa Tounes and a fierce opponent of the Ennahda party that heads the gov- ernment in the cradle of the Arab Spring. Essebsi’s party, which Ennahda accuses of har- bouring remnants of the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was ousted in 2011, is often the target of attacks by pro-government activists without police intervening, the opposi- tion says. At the end of December, hundreds of Ennahda activists and members of the pro-government League for the Protection of the Revolution militia attacked a hotel in Djerba in the south where a Nidaa Tounes meeting was being held. For months, the oppo- sition has demanded the disbanding of the League for the Protection of the Revolution, accusing it of brutal acts of violence, but Ennahda has steadfastly refused to disband the militia. League members were accused of lynching a Nidaa Tounes activist in autumn last year and also of attacking the head- quarters of the UGTT, the country’s largest trade union, in December. AFP MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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A call for dialogue Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HOUGH North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has succeeded in ratcheting up tension in the region with his vociferous threats of military attacks A Syrian no-fly zone is the Tagainst American and South Korean targets, there is a shroud of secrecy about his intentions. It’s has been more than a week since Jong-un started making grandiose threats, but the international community has been unable to read his moral, strategic thing to do mind. A few days ago, Kim threatened that he would not be able BY SCOTT COOPER to guarantee the safety of foreign diplomats in his country if and the tactical advantages his air force they chose to remain in their missions, but his warning failed possesses are decisive. The goal of the to create panic and the diplomats chose to stay where they SPENT a year and a half enforc- United States and its allies would be were. There is an abundance of confusion and uncertainty ing “no-fly” zones over Iraq and to lessen the continued descent into a Ithe Balkans. My experiences con- bloodbath that, over the past two-plus A no-fly zone does not about what Pyongyang will do. Kim has been talking about vinced me that the United States should years, has claimed more than 70,000 attacking his powerful rivals as if it’s as easy as launching an declare and enforce a no-fly zone over lives, displaced 3.6 million people inside address the questions internal military exercise, but the at the same time, South Syria. We would do well to remember Syria and forced about 1.3 million to of a major covert-action Korea and the US can’t ignore those threats because of the the era of no-fly zones and what they seek refuge outside of Syria. programme and those recklessness and desperation of North Korea. did and didn’t do. Americans are understandably chas- Those who oppose a no-fly zone cite tened by the experiences in Iraq and consequent risks. But it The tension in the region has reached dangerous levels and the risks: Syria has a formidable air- Afghanistan. We witness the chaos of all sides need to step back from the brink. The US decision defense network. Policymakers fear Libya after the use of air power with- can lessen the slaughter, to abandon a planned missile test in the region has helped the prospect of U.S. pilots being shot out a subsequent commitment of ground and it positions the United prevent a further escalation. Carrying out the tests would down or dragged through the streets forces, and we are even more reluctant States on the right side of have infuriated Pyongyang, which has already been provoked of Damascus. Moreover, many contend to engage. Many advocate a pragmatic, by a joint US-South Korean military that a no-fly zone will not solve the “lead from behind” style, arguing that the conflict, morally and conflict. Only by arming the rebels will we must now reason with cold-blooded strategically. exercise in the region, forcing the the tide be turned, they say, and many calculus. Such a view misunderstands As North Korea maverick regime to resort to some of those rebels our options and our ability to influence face-saving measures. The US and are jihadists with the situation in Syria. continues its South Korea must exercise more whom we do not The logic of the 1990s was that but also in our strategic interest. The sabre-rattling, restraint in their reactions to want to partner. aggressive enforcement of no-fly zones spillover of violence into Turkey, Jordan, threats. Reports say that Pyongyang Critics of a no- would aid civilians victimized by these Lebanon and Iraq is already happening. engagement is fly zone also fear conflicts, prevent escalation and, with Moreover, in a post-Assad Syria, the might test-launch a missile this Its purpose is a slippery slope the threat of air strikes, end the con- opposition will not forget which nations the only way to week as a response. It is said to have not to resolve of escalated mili- flicts more quickly. Those are limited came to its aid. That was the case in reduce tension. loaded two medium-range missiles on tary involvement objectives, but they are not insignificant. Bosnia and Kosovo, and it has been mobile launchers and hidden them in the conflict that will lead to a Admittedly, air power is no pana- the case throughout the Muslim world underground facilities near its east but to prevent quagmire. cea. We witnessed its limits during the during the recent government upheav- These detrac- Kosovo air campaign of 1999. Slobodan als. It was also the case in Iraq, until coast, raising speculation it is preparing for a provocative escalation, tors miss the Milosevic called NATO’s bluff and didn’t the occupation spiraled downward into launch. protect innocents point, which is back down after the first days of air- a chaotic insurgency that we initially Engagement with the North Korean regime has been that a no-fly zone strikes. It is important to acknowledge failed to grasp. suggested by some experts and that is an idea worth and provide is only part of the distinction between the power to A no-fly zone will provide more exploring. At the weekend, the South Korean media reported leverage to the solution. Its deny or destroy and the power to seize options in working with the commander calls from both sides of the political divide in Seoul for the purpose is not to or hold forcibly. of the Free Syrian Army, Gen. Salim negotiations. resolve the con- A no-fly zone is feasible. Yes, Syria Idriss. With established “safe zones,” administration to send an envoy to Pyongyang to lay the flict but to pre- possesses capable air defenses, but they Syrian rebels could be trained inside foundation for talks. That will be a bold and encouraging vent escalation, are no match for U.S. air power. I flew Syria. It will open the door for building step. Even if Kim Jong-un doesn’t react positively to such protect innocents missions over Sarajevo; over Pristina, governance in liberated areas. gestures, he will be forced to restrain his bellicosity. and provide leverage to negotiations. In Kosovo; over Nasiriyah and Mosul, Iraq. A no-fly zone does not address the There is another interpretation to North Korea’s essence, a no-fly zone takes away a sin- Not once during any of those air mis- questions of a major covert-action pro- belligerence – that there is a method in Kim’s madness. gle tool of violence — the use of aviation sions did I feel as threatened as I did gramme and those consequent risks. — possessed by the oppressor. than when I patrolled the highways of But it can lessen the slaughter, and it According to defectors from North Korea, his motivation is Absent the no-fly zones in Bosnia, the Iraq in a Humvee. We must not lose positions the United States on the right said to be not war, but simple regime survival, and he wants Serbs and Croats would have wrought confidence out of fear by overestimating side of the conflict, morally and strate- his future to be guaranteed by aid from the same country he even more destruction than they did. our opponent’s capabilities. gically. As Nobel Peace Prize laureate threatened with nuclear annihilation: the United States. Kim Absent the no-fly zones in Iraq, one A no-fly zone will not immediately Eli Wiesel eloquently said, “We must could also be trying to consolidate his hold on power through can imagine what Saddam Hussein’s air end the conflict, but neutralizing the always take sides. Neutrality helps the force would have done to the minor- Syrian air force will erase one of the oppressor, never the victim.” We must military means as he is left with no other options. Being new ity Kurds and Shiites. The situation in regime’s decisive advantages and lead take sides and not just pay lip service in his seat, it’s time for him to prove himself, to show that he Syria is no different. Bashar al-Assad to a major turning point in the con- to a peaceful resolution. is as strong as his father in taking the nation forward • turned his military on his own citizens, flict. Doing so is not only morally right WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Keeping Mugabe in check the day IMBABWE, which for more than Tsvangirai’s victory in the first round of spending backed by loans from China. by the BBC, police in rural areas have 30 years has suffered under the last presidential election, in 2008, The new constitution, though flawed begun confiscating radios capable of the arbitrary and autocratic prompted an orgy of violence by the in some important respects, contains receiving foreign broadcasts — pre- Zrule of Robert Mugabe, may Mugabe regime, which assaulted vil- guarantees of human rights. But there sumably so that there will be no com- We would like to see have a chance to free itself through lages that supported the opposition are signs that the regime is returning to petition for the state broadcaster during this (Israel-Turkey) a democratic vote. On March 16 and arrested and tortured many of its the same tactics that kept Mugabe in the upcoming campaign. more than 3 million of the country’s leaders. Some 200 people were killed; power four years ago. The day after the The only way to stop Mugabe and relationship that is voters turned out to approve a new Tsvangirai refused to participate in a constitutional referendum three senior the thugs around him from manipulating important to stability in constitution, opening the way — years runoff election and Mugabe claimed members of Tsvangirai’s Movement the coming election is aggressive inter- later than promised — for a new a new mandate. Only the opposition for Democratic Change were arrested, vention by outsiders. That starts with the Middle East, critical presidential election. The vote, which leader’s subsequent agreement to along with a leading human rights law- Zimbabwe’s neighbors in the Southern to the peace process could take place this summer, will join the government as prime minis- yer who later was released on bail. African Development Community, probably pit the 89-year-old Mugabe ter stopped a catastrophic economic That followed a series of raids which permitted the regime to get away itself, we would like to against his longtime rival Morgan meltdown. against civic groups and grass-roots with the outrages of 2008; South Africa see this relationship get Tsvangirai, who likely would win a free With the US dollar as its currency, the activists, like the Zimbabwe Peace and other governments must stand up and fair ballot. Zimbabwean economy is now growing Project, which investigates human against the incipient abuses before it is back on track in its full John Kerry That’s where the likely trouble starts. fast, thanks in part to heavy government rights cases. According to a report too late. The Washington Post measure. US Secretary of State MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Democrats seek infusion of new faces

right” on social and fiscal issues. Washington Post reporter was Without a He does not yet have deeply granted access to a presentation ingrained policy prescriptions. On delivered recently to donors in presidential gun control, he favours instituting Manhattan. a universal background check, but Israel’s pitch is built around on taxes he said he is still study- the idea that Republicans won contest to ing what levels of higher revenue as many as 30 seats by single- taxation he would support for a digit margins, giving Democrats compete with, broad budget deal. immediate opportunities. Another In his discussions with 22 were unique targets with Democratic leaders, Strouse said districts more favourable to Democrats also they focused on his background. Democrats in non-presidential “They’ve just liked the bio,” he years or where the party ran believe liberal said. poor campaigns in 2012. Texas Fitzpatrick, who lost the seat and Florida still have to resolve in 2006 and won it back in 2010, legal battles over their congres- mega-donors is an experienced campaigner sional maps, and Democrats who has raised $8m for his last believe the final configurations will open their three races. He spent the past will produce several more seats week explaining to local officials for them. wallets more why he supported the austere Without a presidential contest budget proposal offered by Rep to compete with, Democrats also Paul Ryan, R-Wis, but he also believe liberal mega-donors will generously attended events that appeal to open their wallets more gener- the suburban professionals criti- ously to House Majority PAC, to House cal to winning the district, such as a super PAC supporting House supporting a local effort to curb Democrats. Its director, Ali child abuse. Lapp, a former DCCC adviser, Majority PAC. He declined to comment can attend events with Israel at on Strouse, but Pennsylvania this early stage of the campaign BY PAUL KANE Republicans have privately sig- season without violating laws pro- nalled that they intend to ques- hibiting the two committees from tion whether Strouse, who grew coordinating their activities. emocratic Party up in nearby Delaware County, “The House Majority PAC is officials believe that US President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of the US Congress with Vice President Joe Biden (left) has any real connection to Bucks the super PAC dedicated to retak- Kevin Strouse is and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, on Capitol Hill in Washington. County. In his pitch to the candi- ing the House,” Israel told New exactly the kind of date, Israel gave Strouse encour- York donors, introducing them candidate who can agement but also delivered some to Lapp. Dhelp them retake the House next Strouse and others like him into spent six years in counterterror- presidential nominees. tough-minded warnings: how he All 10 of House Majority’s initial year. races. ism operations. Strouse is running “The map leans to the right. would need to raise millions of targets are suburban Republicans. He’s a smart, young former Israel’s approach is a variation to unseat Rep Mike Fitzpatrick, Their only path to the majority dollars, how his opponents would In 2012, the super PAC spent Army Ranger — good qualities for on the model used by then-Rep R, from a district directly north has got to be winning Republican come after him, how the father of $40m for House Democrats, and any aspiring politician. But what Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill, the cam- of Philadelphia, a swing area that districts,” said Daniel Scarpinato, two children under 3 would lose the budget for 2014 will be much party leaders really like is that paign committee chairman in since 1979 has sent Republicans spokesman for the NRCC. his privacy. larger. Strouse doesn’t have particularly 2006 when Democrats took over to Congress for 18 years and This landscape was created, in Israel has been busy finding So too will Republican super strong views on the country’s hot- the House in George W Bush’s Democrats for 16 years. part, by GOP-dominated state other candidates with similar PAC budgets, many orchestrated test issues. “six-year itch” midterm. Emanuel Across the country, Israel and legislatures drawing up most of problem-solving appeal. by Karl Rove, which is why Israel Immigration? Tax policy? sought out centrists and conserv- Democrats are fighting history. the House districts after the 2010 In a district stretching from the is happy to have Obama actively “Certainly I have a lot of research atives to run in rural districts, Democrats did well last year, but census. Their precision was borne New York suburbs up past Albany, working on his behalf. to do,” Strouse acknowledged in particularly in the South. fell 17 seats short of the majority out by last year’s election results: Democrats are backing Sean The president admitted to an interview on Thursday as he But after the GOP 2010 wave in the House. And only once in the While Obama beat GOP nominee Eldridge, 26, an investor married Pelosi and Israel in an election announced his candidacy in a sub- and the redrawing of district past 60 years has the president’s Mitt Romney by nearly 5 million to Chris Hughes, the billionaire co- night phone call that he had urban Philadelphia House district. lines, most of those seats have party gained seats at the halfway votes, the president won a major- founder of Facebook. Eldridge runs ignored their past requests for Strouse’s candidacy reflects an been locked away for Republicans. point of his second term. ity of votes in just 208 House dis- an investment fund in the Hudson help. “What I couldn’t do in 2012, emerging Democratic strategy What remains are a clutch of sub- The independent Rothenberg tricts to Romney’s 227. Valley and his political background I’m in big time in 2014. I am in, for taking back the House from urban seats — not unlike Israel’s Political Report rates only 50 The Democrats think their is limited to advocacy work on and I mean it,” Obama told the Republicans after the tea party own on Long Island — full of non- total seats as competitive, split strategy can neutralise some of issues such as “queer” marriage. lawmakers, according to Israel’s takeover of 2010. partisan professionals who are evenly between the two sides. the map’s built-in disadvantages. In Tallahassee, Gwen Graham recounting. Obama began his The best way to defeat the more concerned about day-to-day Republicans begin the 18-month Strouse introduced himself last announced her bid this week for first-ever concerted campaign for conservative, ideologically driven issues than ideological battles. stretch to Election Day with week as a candidate who knows a northwest Florida district. The House Democrats on Wednesday GOP, Democrats say, is to field Democrats have identified 52 209 seats safely in their cor- how to “solve problems” and who daughter of former Senator and in San Francisco, a more than non-ideological “problem solvers” possible districts where they ner, meaning they need to win “got the job done” protecting the Governor Bob Graham, D, Gwen $3.2m night that served as the who can profit from the fed-up- could flip a seat, many in subur- just nine of the 50 battleground nation. Graham’s campaign presents her first of eight DCCC fundraisers he with-partisanship mood of some ban areas where party officials seats to secure the majority for “I’ve thrived in situations where as a “consensus builder” with the plans to participate in this year. suburban areas. These districts hope to attract candidates who the entire four-year stretch of there’s a fair amount of chaos,” “skills to solve complicated prob- In his remarks, Obama credited will offer some of the few com- can break free from traditional Obama’s second term, according Strouse, a graduate of Columbia lems.” Her work as legal adviser Israel with “doing an often thank- petitive House campaigns in the partisan labels. to Rothenberg. University and Georgetown’s mas- for the local school board and less, extraordinarily difficult job” country. Strouse, 33, fits the bill. He Republicans intend to ter’s programme in security stud- school superintendent is her best with “boundless energy.” “You pick your strategic high enlisted in the Army in spring play political offence, too. ies, said in a telephone interview. credential in public service. Pelosi said that energy, along ground and force them to fight 2001. A suburban Philadelphia On Wednesday, the National Strouse only recently became No matter who runs, the suc- with a New Yorker’s hardened on it,” said Rep Steve Israel, native, he served three combat Republican Congressional a registered Democrat. “I took cess or failure of Israel’s strategy sense of reality, is why she forced D-NY, who as chairman of stints in Afghanistan and one Committee rolled out ads against with pride that I was working in will depend on money. Israel into another term trying to the Democratic Congressional in Iraq as an Army Ranger, and seven Democrats for opposing a these nonpartisan organisations,” Israel has been travelling the win back the majority. Campaign Committee (DCCC) was among the ground troops GOP-drafted balanced budget he said of the Army and CIA. country to win over sceptics, “He doesn’t sugarcoat any pros- has begun a particularly early who recovered Jessica Lynch in plan. Five of those come from Eventually, he became shocked delivering detailed, 90-minute pect that we’re on,” she said, “but effort at travelling the country the earliest days of Iraq combat. deep red districts that have sup- by “the degree to which the presentations laying out what he’s confident that we have a path and working the phones to lure He then joined the CIA, where he ported the past three Republican Republican Party moved to the he sees as a path to victory. A to victory.” WP-BLOOMBERG Are you the owner of your DNA? South American

BY JEFFREY A to examine any isolated DNA that company claims any piece of DNA large-scale cancer projects such ROSENFELD and contains the BRCA1 and BRCA2 having “at least 15 nucleotides” as the Cancer Genome Atlas have tiger begins to roar CHRISTOPHER E MASON genes. Most people have normal of the BRCA1 gene. In work we shown that BRCA1 is mutated versions of these genes, but those recently published in the journal in not only breast and ovarian DR FANDER FALCONI also reformed and re-regulated sked in 1955 whether who carry mutations of BRCA Genome Medicine, we found that cancer but also at least 21 other the banking system, expanded the his polio vaccine was usually have an 85 to 90 per- these short sequences in BRCA1 types of cancer that afflict both he jaguar is the tiger of role of co-operatives and credit patented, Jonas Salk cent risk of developing breast or also appear in 689 other genes that men and women. Myriad’s patent the South American conti- unions, and renegotiated lopsided Areplied, “There is no ovarian cancer. Doctors cannot have a wide variety of functions, means it owns the monopoly on Tnent. Living in the Amazon agreements with multinationals. patent. Could you patent the independently look at the genetic including brain development and testing DNA from any patient for rainforest, it symbolises agility, Our alternative model for sun?” With that, Salk debunked code in a person’s BRCA genes, proper cardiac functioning. any of those cancers, even though cunning and surprise. Ecuador society is based on the concept the misguided notion of patenting because as soon as blood is drawn Myriad’s claim is outrageous the company does not do work is now being described as Latin of “good living” — “buen vivir” in objects found in nature. His polio and DNA is isolated to examine but must be understood in con- on the majority of those diseases. America’s jaguar. That’s because Spanish, or “sumak kausay” as vaccine was not a new invention those genes, it is immediately the text. All of the genes in the So Myriad’s control extends far not only have we broken with the it is in Quechua, our indigenous but an inactive form of the natu- legal property of Myriad Genetics. human genome share 15 nucle- beyond just breast cancer testing, orthodoxies of the Washington Andean language. Rooted in the ral polio virus. Like many scientists, we believe otide sequences with numerous inhibiting the creation of optimal consensus but we are developing ancient societies of the Andes, Today, Salk would be shocked that these patents never should other genes. So the broad reach tests for many other cancers. innovative economic alternatives this is not a return to the past to find that your DNA belongs have been granted and that the of a patent on a single gene is Some argue that patents to of our own, born in the southern but looks to the future, rejecting not to you but rather to many genes of the human genome, like not unique to Myriad’s claims on genes are essential to encour- hemisphere. narrow conceptions of develop- companies and institutions that other natural body parts, belong BRCA1. If patents allow claims for age pharmaceutical companies Ecuador’s transformation began ment exclusively based on eco- have patents on the DNA from to their owners, not to companies 15 nucleotide sequences, then a to invest the resources required in 2007, after the electoral victory nomic growth. And it rejects the your cells. Forty-one percent of seeking to exploit monopolies. If patent that was issued for bovine to produce new therapies and to of President Rafael Correa’s so- false dichotomy between state and the genes in your genome are the court allows these types of improvement to Cargill, an agri- identify unknown genes. But the called citizen’s revolution. After market in favour of a more com- not legally yours, according to patents to stand, it will put the cultural company that provides sequencing of genetic variants is six years in office, the revolution plex interrelation of society with a long list of gene patents that endeavours of openly researching, advice on cattle breeding, covers a very small part of drug design. won a new democratic majority in state, market and nature. have been granted since the 1980s. preventing and treating lethal 84 percent of human genes, even Of course, once a pharmaceutical February, with 57pc of the vote in During the first term of the These patents cover thousands of diseases on a lower level of impor- though Cargill is interested only company has developed a novel the presidential election and two- citizen’s revolution, incomes were human genes and restrict a doc- tance than a set of ill-conceived in cows. This lack of specificity therapeutic agent to target a thirds of the seats in the parlia- redistributed and poverty rapidly tor’s ability to look at your DNA property rights. underscores why patents on short, specific disease, that treatment ment. By rejecting the neoliberal reduced. According to the UN, and plan your medical treatment. Because of Myriad’s patents, indiscriminate DNA sequences can be patented and should be recipes of privatisation, structural Ecuador cut inequality by more These patent claims contradict an any American who wants to have never should have been issued. rewarded for its innovation. adjustment and curtailed demand, than any other Latin American intuitive sense that your DNA is his or her DNA tested for the Patenting such a fundamen- Others argue that the testing we have grown by 4.3pc over the country between 2007 and 2011 — no less yours than your lungs or potentially life-threatening BRCA tal piece of the human genome company must be compensated to last five years despite the global this in a region with the greatest kidneys. mutations has to use the services has been opposed by thousands encourage it to develop new tests. slowdown. Central to this growth, concentration of social inequal- Fortunately, the Supreme of Myriad Genetics. There is no of scientists and clinicians, hun- All Americans should have the and to the reduction of unemploy- ity in the world. To do this, we Court has a chance to rectify this possibility of an independent test. dreds of medical organisations, freedom to test their DNA as ment to the lowest rate in the have prioritised our population’s genetic injustice. The justices will Myriad charges about $3,000 for and many Nobel laureates. Some their doctors deem necessary. It region, has been public invest- rights over our commitments to hear oral argument on April 15 the testing, but hundreds of clini- have likened it to patenting ele- is imperative that the Supreme ment, which at 14pc in 2011 is the the International Monetary Fund over a lower federal court’s deci- cal laboratories nationwide could ments of the periodic table. Such Court invalidate Myriad’s patent, highest in Latin America. and the World Bank. sion that human genes can be pat- do it for less than $200. patents grant an exclusive claim defend genomic liberty and make This is a key part of moving our The writer is Ecuador’s national ented. The case involves Myriad Worse, the restrictions of that covers an entire landscape clear that one’s genes belong to economy away from reliance on secretary of planning and develop- Genetics, which received patents Myriad’s patents are not lim- of rights in non-related fields. that person alone. exports and mineral extraction, to ment. in the 1990s for the exclusive right ited to breast cancer genes. The In the case of BRCA1, data from WP-BLOOMBERG one based on knowledge. We have GUARDIAN NEWS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Kerry hails Kerry urges PKK move Israel, Turkey on ceasefire ISTANBUL: US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday hailed the commitment of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ to come closer Party (PKK) to a ceasefire under a renewed push by the Turkish government to end three decades of hostilities. US won’t set terms for relations “We welcome the PKK’s com- mitment to lay down its arms,” ISTANBUL: US Secretary of partner, to apologise formally for Kerry told a news conference in State John Kerry urged Turkey the deaths aboard the Turkish Istanbul with Turkish Foreign and Israel yesterday to restore ship Navi Marmara. Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. full relations, calling this vital It was boarded by Israeli “We discussed our work to to regional stability, but said marines who had intercepted the combat terrorism in all its forms it was not up to Washington flotilla challenging Israel’s naval ... including the violence that has to dictate the conditions of blockade of the Palestinian-run plagued Turkey for three long rapprochement. Gaza Strip. decades,” he said. An Israeli-Turkish recon- Israeli Prime Minister “No peace process is easy. ciliation could improve regional Benjamin Netanyahu’s office It always takes courage and coordination to contain spillover said he had agreed to conclude determination.” from the Syrian civil war and an agreement on compensation Both countries are members ease Israel’s diplomatic isolation and that he and Turkish Prime of Nato, and the United States in the Middle East as it faces Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for several years supported the challenge of Iran’s nuclear agreed to normalise ties, includ- Ankara in its fight against the programme. ing re-installing their respective PKK on Iraqi soil. Kerry said it was imperative ambassadors. The PKK is blacklisted as a for Israel to honour its commit- An Israeli delegation is expected terror group by Ankara, the ment to pay compensation to to arrive in Turkey this week to European Union and the United the families of those who were begin discussing the details of the States. killed by Israeli marines aboard compensation agreement. Neither Jailed Kurdish rebel chief a Turkish vessel trying to break country has said, however, when Abdullah Ocalan last month a naval blockade on Gaza in 2010, their ambassadors would go back. called for a ceasefire in a move and for both countries to return Despite Obama’s having pulled that raised expectations for an their ambassadors. off a diplomatic coup — a three- end to a conflict that has cost He was speaking in Istanbul way telephone call with the Israeli US Secretary of State John Kerry (right) meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his arrival in the ‘Muqata,’ some 45,000 lives, mostly Kurdish. some two weeks after US and Turkish prime ministers, who the Palestinian Authority’s headquarters, in the West Bank town of Ramallah, yesterday. AFP President Barack Obama bro- had not spoken since 2011, some kered a thaw between Turkey and officials in Washington are wor- Israel, whose relations were fro- ried Turkey might be backtrack- zen by the killing of nine Turkish ing on the deal. citizens in that raid on a Gaza- Hours after the Israeli apol- Talks with Iran to continue, says US bound flotilla. ogy, large billboard posters sanc- “With respect to the Israel- tioned by Turkey’s ruling party ISTANBUL: US Secretary of complicating factor of an Iranian nuclear bomb, which Israel sees as be found.” The six powers want Turkey track, it is not for the mayor, appeared in the Turkish State John Kerry said yester- presidential election in June. a potential threat to its existence. the Islamic Republic to suspend United States to be setting condi- capital showing a glum-looking day world powers would pur- “Diplomacy is a painful task ... Tehran accuses Israel of threat- its higher-grade uranium enrich- tions or terms,” Kerry told report- Netanyahu next to a glowing pic- sue further talks with Iran to and a task for the patient,” Kerry ening peace in the region and ment work in return for modest ers alongside Turkish Foreign ture of Erdogan, suggesting some resolve a decade-old dispute told a news conference. refuses to recognise the Jewish relief from international sanc- Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. in Ankara were taking a trium- over its nuclear programme, Big powers suspect Iran is try- state, which is widely believed to tions, an offer Iran did not accept. “We would like to see this phalist tone. but stressed the process could ing to develop the means to pro- harbour the Middle East’s only Iran’s most powerful figure, relationship that is important to Erdogan then told a rally not go on forever. duce nuclear weapons under the nuclear arsenal. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali stability in the Middle East, criti- broadcast live on television that The six powers and Iran failed guise of a declared civilian atomic European Union foreign pol- Khamenei, who has the last say cal to the peace process itself, we the apology signalled Turkey’s again to bridge wide differences energy programme. Iran denies icy chief Catherine Ashton, who on all state matters, has shown no would like to see this relationship growing regional clout. at weekend talks in Kazakhstan, the accusation. represents the United States, sign of willingness to scale back get back on track in its full meas- But Kerry said Turkey had prolonging a stand-off that could Israeli Strategic Affairs Russia, China, France, Britain Iran’s nuclear activity. ure,” he said. responded “sensitively” and yet erupt into a new Middle East Minister Yuval Steinitz urged the and Germany in talks with Iran, “As a member of the Non- “To be back on track in its full “thoughtfully” to the apology. war. No new talks were scheduled. powers yesterday to set a dead- said the two sides failed to resolve Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran measure it is imperative that the “They have taken steps to try “This is not an interminable line of weeks for military action to key differences during the two- has the right to enrich uranium compensation component of the to prevent any sense of trium- process,” said Kerry after arriving persuade Iran to halt its uranium day talks in Almaty. ... The Islamic Republic will agreement be fulfilled, that the phalism. It has not come from in Istanbul yesterday on the first enrichment activity. “... It is important to continue never stop its enrichment work,” ambassadors be returned and that the government. In fact, there leg of a 10-day trip to the Middle Steinitz, close to Prime to talk and to try to find common the head of parliament’s Foreign full relationship be embraced, has been limited response by the East, Europe and Asia. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ground,” Kerry said. “So we hope Affairs and National Security but it’s not up to us to discuss government itself and I think it’s He said US President Barack told Army Radio action should that out of Almaty will come a Committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the timing.” Israel on March 22 important for everybody to take Obama was committed to con- be taken within “a few weeks, narrowing of some of the differ- said, according to Iran’s ISNA bowed to a long-standing demand note of that,” Kerry said. tinuing the diplomatic proc- a month” if Iran did not stop ences. We remain open and hope- news agency. by Ankara, once its close strategic REUTERS ess despite what he called the work of possible use in yielding a ful that a diplomatic solution can REUTERS

Egypt Copts attacked Tehran stops Iraq reforms law Saudi diplomat from leaving on Saddam party

TEHRAN: Iran has barred BAGHDAD: Iraq’s cabinet the civil service, and would pro- a Saudi diplomat allegedly unveiled sweeping reforms vide for pension payments for involved in a deadly drink- to a law barring members of many members of the Fedayeen driving accident from leaving Saddam Hussein’s Baath party Saddam, a paramilitary organi- the country, Fars news agency from public life yesterday as sation loyal to the now-ousted cited top lawmaker as saying part of moves to placate angry dictator. yesterday. rallies by the country’s Sunni It would also put a time limit The unnamed diplomat was Arab minority. on the law, ensuring that only “barred from leaving until the The amendment to the names blacklisted by the end of clarification of the (legal) status” De-Baathification law still needs 2013 would be restricted from of the case, Allaedin Boroujerdi, to be approved by parliament, public life. In all, the draft law who heads the parliament’s influ- where it is expected to face stiff would allow thousands of people ential foreign policy committee, opposition, but it is among a raft to either enter the civil service or was quoted as saying. of concessions to demonstrators receive pensions. An Iranian citizen was killed in who have alleged that the Shia- Cabinet also approved amend- mid-March when the diplomat’s led authorities unfairly target the ments to laws on the use of secret car reportedly hit another vehicle Sunni community. The protests informants and the seizure of on an expressway in Tehran while since December lie at the heart of property, both of which are speeding at 130kph. a political dispute that has pitted major frustrations to the Sunni Boroujerdi said that while for- Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, Arab community. “Cabinet today eign mission staff have diplomatic who is Shia, against several of his approved an important amend- immunity, “they have to observe erstwhile national unity govern- ment to the law of Justice and the country’s regulations”. ment partners, in particular those Accountability,” Deputy Prime The diplomat, he said, had also from Sunni and Kurdish parties. Minister Saleh Al Mutlak said “violated international law” as a Ministers yesterday approved in a statement summarising the field sobriety test conducted by a draft amendment that would reforms, referring to the formal the police indicated the official Egyptian Coptic Christians try to smother flames on their clothes after they were attacked by unidentified allow Baath party branch chiefs, name for Iraq’s De-Baathification had been “drunk” at the scene of people outside the cathedral in the central Cairo neighbourhood of Abbassiya, yesterday, following funeral or firqa-level members, to rejoin law. AFP the accident. prayers for four Christians killed in sectarian clashes. “Several bottles of alcoholic drinks, some of which were already open,” were found in the diplomat’s car, he added. Iran’s foreign ministry in late PM’s office under cyber attack, but Israel govt calm March protested to the Saudi embassy about the deadly acci- dent, initiating diplomatic and JERUSALEM: Hackers have ministry, the education minis- of action “because of a technical ben Israel, head of the National highly unlikely that Anonymous judicial protocols. launched an assault on Israeli try and the Central Bureau of fault which has been fixed.” It did Council for Research and was seeking to do real damage to At the time, it said the diplo- websites, but the damage has Statistics, among others, but all not elaborate. Development, said the scope of the country’s key infrastructure. mat had exceeded the speed limit, been minimal as the Jewish appeared to be running normally. Later yesterday, the foreign the damage to Israeli sites was “Anonymous doesn’t have the and the allegations of drink- state is prepared to fend off such “As of midday (0900 GMT) the ministry website was also “para- “more or less non-existent”. ability, nor is it its aim to destroy driving were only reported in attacks, one of the country’s top sites of the government of Israel lysed for a few moments before “That’s because of our prepar- the country’s essential infrastruc- the media. cyber experts said yesterday. are available to the public, as returning to normal,” the finance edness in advance,” said Ben Israel, ture. If it was, it wouldn’t have The consumption of alcohol The hackers associated with they have been all weekend,” the ministry said, warning of pos- who founded the National Cyber announced it in advance,” he said, is forbidden in Iran under its the activist group Anonymous finance ministry said in a state- sible slowdowns or temporary Bureau which operates out of the indicating the aim was probably Islamic Shariah law. reportedly hit the websites of ment. It said the education minis- cuts on official sites. Speaking office of Prime Minister Benjamin to stir debate over the Israeli- AFP the premier’s office, the defence try site had been temporarily out to army radio, Professor Yitzhak Netanyahu. Ben Israel said it was Palestinian conflict. AFP MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Welfare should Vote for me or get cursed: Maduro be linked to Hugo Chavez’s protege alleges US-supported plot to kill him during campaign contributions,

CARACAS: Venezuelan acting south-central plains and jun- says Labour President Nicolas Maduro said gles, is fertile ground for such yesterday a centuries-old curse references. LONDON: Britain’s opposition would fall on the heads of those Maduro also revived accusa- Labour Party is set to overhaul who do not vote for him in next tions of a plot to kill him, saying its welfare policies to link state week’s election to pick a succes- foreign mercenaries had entered help to individual contributions, sor to late leader Hugo Chavez. from Central America with plans countering charges by the gov- Maduro’s invocation of the to spread violence and sabotage erning Conservatives that it is “curse of Macarapana” was the the electricity grid. soft on benefit scroungers. latest twist in an increasingly sur- “The third aim is to kill me. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew real fight between him and oppo- They want to kill me because Marr Show yesterday, Labour dep- sition leader Henrique Capriles they know I can’t be beaten in uty leader Harriet Harman said for control of the South American free elections,” he said at a later people in work should go to the OPEC nation of 29 million people. rally, again alleging the complicity top of social housing waiting lists “If anyone among the people of current and former US officials and the unemployed should take votes against Nicolas Maduro, along with right-wing politicians up job offers or lose benefits after he is voting against himself, and in El Salvador. two years. the curse of Macarapana is fall- “They sent paid hitmen to kill Labour’s proposals, which mark ing on him,” said Maduro, refer- me. ... But I won’t let myself be a break from the principle that ring to the 16th-century Battle killed. I will remain on the streets certain social benefits are uni- of Macarapana when Spanish with the people.” versal, came days after the gov- colonial fighters massacred local The US government, and two ernment started overhauling a Indian forces. former Bush administration offi- welfare system that costs £200bn Wearing a local indigenous hat cials named by Maduro, have a year. at a rally in Amazonas state, a denied and ridiculed the claims A YouGov poll for The Sun largely jungle territory on the that echoed Chavez’s frequent yesterday showed 67 percent of borders of Brazil and Colombia, denunciations of assassination voters think the welfare system Maduro compared Capriles and plots against him during his does not work and needs urgent the opposition coalition to the 14-year rule. Maduro, 50, was a reform. The issue is set to play a enslaving Spanish occupiers. bus driver and union leader who major part in the next election “If the bourgeoisie win, they rose to become Chavez’s foreign due in 2015. are going to privatise health and minister and then vice president. Labour’s welfare policies would education, they are going to take In his daily campaign rallies, be fairer and founded on ensuring land from the Indians, the curse Venezuelan Acting President and presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro drives a bus during an electoral campaign Maduro has been referring con- a supply of well-paying jobs for all, of Macarapana would come on act in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, yesterday. stantly to Chavez and playing a providing stronger incentives to you,” he added. video where the former presi- seek employment, Harman said. Calling himself the “son” of dent endorses his protege last “Work should pay. Secondly, Chavez, Maduro has more than after 14 years of Chavez’s hardline right to govern this country,” he twice-told story of having seen year as his successor. Puncturing there should be an obligation a 10-point lead in most polls, socialism, and is vowing to install said at a rally in western Tachira the spirit of Chavez in a bird that Capriles’ public admiration of to take work,” she said. “There although Capriles supporters are a Brazilian-style administration state. flew over his head and sang to him Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Maduro should be support through a con- predicting a late pro-opposition of free-market economics with “I tell you here, all Venezuelans, last week. has also been playing a video of tributory principle, for people surge as sympathy wears off from strong social policies. the real curse is that little group While to some outsiders, talk the former Brazilian president putting in to the system as well the former president’s death a He ridiculed Maduro’s latest that we are going to get rid of on of spirits and curses may seem endorsing him too. At his ral- as taking out.” month ago. speech. “Anyone who threatens April 14.” absurd in an election campaign, lies, Capriles mocks Maduro as a Under welfare caps and cuts Capriles, 40, a state governor, the people, who tells the people The opposition leader also Venezuela’s mix of Catholic and cheap imitation of Chavez. coming into effect this month, says Venezuela needs a fresh start a curse can fall on them, has no continued to mock Maduro’s animist beliefs, especially in the REUTERS households will not be able to claim more than £26,000 each year in welfare. This comes as the government tries to eliminate its underlying budget deficit by the 2016-17 fiscal year, from 6.8 per- cent of gross domestic product in Nigeria militants kill 12 cops US immigration bill the current financial year. Labour’s move came after YENAGOA, NIGERIA: amnesty, threatened to restart rather than Friday. Bayelsa state Chancellor George Osborne on Nigerian militants have attacks this week in retaliation governor Henry Dickson con- by end of the week Thursday upped the temperature ambushed a police boat in for the jailing of its leader Henry firmed the 12 policemen were dead. of the debate on welfare by saying the oil-producing Niger Delta Okah by a South African court. A resurgence of militant activ- WASHINGTON: A bill to “There have been kerfuffles a man jailed for life for killing six region, killing 12 police officers, MEND said it had attacked ity would be a blow to President overhaul the US immigration along the way, but each one of of his children in a fire was the authorities said yesterday. the boat heading to a funeral in Goodluck Jonathan, who helped system would likely be com- those thus far has been settled,” “vile product” of the benefits sys- The Movement for the Bayelsa state because govern- to negotiate the amnesty and pleted by the end of this week, said Schumer, a member of the tem. In a letter to The Sun, Prime Emancipation of the Niger Delta ment forces had refused to take who is from the same Ijaw ethnic two senior US senators said group, which has four Democrats Minister David Cameron said the (MEND), the main delta militant its threat seriously. group as most of the militants. yesterday. and four Republicans. welfare system had “lost its way” group before a 2009 amnesty, “For dismissing (our state- His administration’s security Democratic Senator Charles All eight members must then and had become a “lifestyle choice claimed responsibility for Friday’s ment) ... as an ‘empty threat’, forces are already stretched by an Schumer of New York said that review the legislative language, for some”. “We are putting fair- attack, staged shortly after it had heavily armed fighters from ... Islamist insurgency in the north. senators in the bipartisan “Group he said. The US Chamber of ness back at the heart of Britain. threatened to resume its campaign MEND intercepted and engaged It would also be a major prob- of Eight” have resolved all major Commerce, and the AFL-CIO, We are building a country for of violence. However, another of government security forces in a lem for multinational energy issues in a pending deal and that the largest labour federation, those who work hard and want the armed groups roaming Africa’s fierce gunfight at Azuzama,” said companies such as leading oper- their staff is putting the bill into reached an elusive agreement to get on. And we are saying to top oil producer said it had carried an emailed statement signed by ator Royal Dutch Shell, already legislative language. on a guest-worker programme each and every hardworking per- out the ambush near the village of Jomo Gbomo, a pseudonym the contending with industrial scale “All of us have said that they’ll late last month, clearing the way son in our country: we are on your Azuzama, in which a further 38 group uses. “All oil companies and oil theft by armed gangs that saps be no deal until the eight of us for the writing of a full bill. The side,” Cameron wrote. Labour led police officers survived. the public are advised to ignore up to a fifth of Nigeria’s 2 million agree to a big, specific bill, but legislation will include an earned the Conservatives in a YouGov MEND, whose activities at the false sense of security being barrel-a-day output, according to hopefully we can get that done by pathway to US citizenship for poll of voter intention in the their peak cut oil production in peddled,” it said, maintaining that some government estimates. the end of the week,” he said on an estimated 11 million undocu- Sunday Times, by 40 percent to 30 Nigeria by around half before the the attack had been on Saturday, REUTERS CBS’s Face the Nation programme. mented immigrants. REUTERS percent. REUTERS Flood damage in Argentina put at $5bn

BUENOS AIRES: Damage press release by the Telam gov- Plata, some 60kmsouth of the set three days of national from last week’s record rains ernment news agency. capital. mourning in honour of the vic- and flooding in Argentina Officials said 59 people are Authorities said the storm tims which was due to end yes- exceeded $5bn, according to confirmed to have died in the damaged some 60,000 homes in terday. Several days after the officials, who said yesterday disaster, after two days of La Plata — about a quarter of disaster, officials yesterday were that more than 350,000 people storms unleashed torrential all the dwellings in the city of continuing to distribute water, suffered losses in property. rains which led to historic nearly one million people. food, clothing and medicine to “More than 350,000 of our flooding. The population of Buenos those in need. Flood waters neighbours were affected Flooding submerged cars Aires, where the storm damage reached two meters in some directly or indirectly by the and sent people scrambling to was not quite as severe, is about places, turning roadways into storm, which caused 2.6 billion rooftops for safety, inundating 16 million. raging rivers. pesos in damage,” according to a Buenos Aires and the city of La President Cristina Kirchner AFP Ruffled by wind

A gust of wind blows Pope Francis’ mantle at the bal- cony of St John’s in Lateran Basilica after celebrating a solemn mass in Rome, yesterday. The Pontiff officially took possession of the basilica which is his cathedral in his capacity as Bishop of Rome. MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Sri Lanka Beijing warns orders probe against creating into mass grave chaos in region COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s presi- dent yesterday ordered an investigation into a mass grave dating back to a period when N Korea missile launch likely: Seoul thousands of people disappeared during a crackdown on Marxist BEIJING/SEOUL: China Pyongyang’s warnings of nuclear rebels, his spokesman said. warned against “troublemak- war. Mohan Samaranayake said ing” on its doorstep, in an appar- Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Mahinda Rajapaksa will ent rebuke to North Korea, and addressing a forum on the south- in the next two days announce an the United States said it was ern island of Hainan, did not name expert panel to probe the grave postponing a missile test to North Korea but said no country where over 150 skeletal remains help calm high tension on the “should be allowed to throw a were found at the central town of divided Korean peninsula. region and even the whole world Matale last November. The North, led by 30-year-old into chaos for selfish gain”. “This inquiry will be in addition Kim Jong-un, has been issuing Stability in Asia, he said, “faces to ongoing police investigations,” vitriolic threats of war against new challenges, as hot spot issues Samaranayake said. the United States and US-backed keep emerging and both tradi- Forensic experts last week con- South Korea since the United tional and non-traditional secu- firmed that the grave discovered Nations imposed sanctions in rity threats exist”. North Korean soldiers with military dogs take part in drills in an unknown location yesterday. during building work could not response to its third nuclear Chinese Foreign Minister Wang be older than 1986 and not newer weapon test in February. Yi expressed similar frustration interests of every country in the “This test ... has been delayed to “Ahead of that time, a situa- than 1990, and placed it within a Pyongyang’s anger appears in a statement late on Saturday, region,” she said. avoid any misperception or mis- tion like a North Korean missile period when the then-government heightened by US-South Korean relating a telephone conversation British Foreign Minister calculation in light of recent ten- launch could occur,” Kim Haing, led a crackdown on leftist rebels. joint military exercises. But most with UN Secretary-General Ban William Hague said North Korea’s sions on the Korean peninsula,” a spokeswoman for the presiden- The Marxist JVP, or People’s analysts say it has no intention Ki-moon. nuclear ambitions had to be taken the official said on Saturday. “This tial Blue House, quoted the chief Liberation Front, had said their of starting a conflict that would “We oppose provocative words seriously. is the logical, prudent and respon- of the National Security office as members who were tortured and bring its own destruction and and actions from any party in the Interviewed by Sky News, he sible course of action to take.” saying. “As of now, there are no extra-judicially executed had been instead is out to wring conces- region and do not allow trouble said the international response He said the test had been signs of all-out war, but if a local buried at the site and have pressed sions from a nervous interna- making on China’s doorstep,” “should also be very clear, very unconnected to “anything related conflict breaks out, North Korea for a thorough investigation. tional community. Wang said, according to a minis- united and calm at all times to North Korea” and added that should be aware that it will pay The authorities initially said it The North told diplomats late try statement on its website. because it’s important not to feed another test launch could be the price.” was a burial site for those who died last week to consider leaving Yesterday, the ministry that frenetic rhetoric that we’ve expected next month. The United North Korean state television at an adjoining hospital during the Pyongyang because of the tension, expressed “grave concern” at ris- seen over the last few weeks”. States remained fully prepared showed a military training session, Second World War. However, the but embassies appeared to view ing tension and said China had Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry to respond to any North Korean with soldiers putting dogs through forensic report last week drew the appeal as more rhetoric and asked North Korea to “ensure offered to mediate, saying it was threat, the official said. their paces, including one seen fresh attention to the site. staff have stayed put. the safety of Chinese diplomats “always willing to help find a tearing to pieces an effigy of South Thousands of people disap- South Korea said it was ready in North Korea, in accordance solution, if this is the wish of the North Korea training Korean Defence Minister Kim peared during the JVP-led uprising for any kind of action that the with the Vienna Convention and parties, such as hosting meetings The South Korean president’s Kwan-jin. Soldiers were shown fir- between 1987 and 1990. Sri Lankan North’s unpredictable leaders international laws and norms”. between them”. office said the country had a “firm ing at pictures of the minister and authorities have said that nearly might make — including a possible China’s embassy, it said, was military readiness” for any even- a depiction of a US serviceman. 17,000 people were killed during the missile launch — by Wednesday, “understood” to be operating nor- US missile test put off tuality. It described as “planned “As you all know, on the Korean insurgency, a figure which includes after which the North said it mally in Pyongyang. In Washington, a defence offi- behaviour” the North’s call for peninsula, it is not a matter of rebels and their victims. could not guarantee diplomats’ Australian Prime Minister Julia cial said a long-scheduled test of South Korean workers to leave whether we will have a war or Government forces had safety. Gillard, addressing the Hainan the Minuteman III interconti- the Kaesong joint industrial park, not, but whether it will take place crushed the rebellion by wiping China, North Korea’s sole forum, said avoiding conflict on nental missile, due to take place just inside North Korea, and for today or tomorrow,” an unidenti- out its entire political leadership financial and diplomatic backer, the peninsula was vital. “There, at the Vandenberg Air Force Base diplomats to evacuate Pyongyang fied soldier said. by the end of 1989 and mopped up has shown growing irritation with any aggression is a threat to the in California, would be postponed. by Wednesday. AFP remaining activists by early 1990. However, the JVP slowly re- emerged in 1994 and has since renounced its armed struggle and entered mainstream politics. The insurgency by the mainly No more appeals on party list ruling: Philippine apex court Sinhalese JVP was unrelated to the separatist campaign in the north- east by Tamil rebels. The Tamil MANILA: The Supreme Court Te said the decision has an should therefore be enforced right appeal,” he explained. Te clarified in the court, including the reso- rebels were crushed by government (SC) will no longer entertain any “immediately executory” clause away. “The court makes a deci- that “immediately executory” is lution of MR. “In case of rulings forces in a no-holds-barred cam- appeal over its decision on the that has the same effect as that sion immediately executory when not the same as “final and execu- with ‘immediately executory’ paign which ended in May 2009. party-list system, the spokes- of a “final and executory” ruling. there’s urgency to enforce it – just tory” – a ruling that is ready to clause, the aggrieved party may Sri Lanka faces allegations of man for the high court said. He said the ruling that allows like in this case; the relief prayed be placed in the high court’s entry opt to file an appeal, but the high war crimes over the alleged kill- “It means no more appeal or groups not representing “margin- for by petitioners was urgent since of judgment. court will only act on it procedur- ing of 40,000 civilians in the final MR (motion for reconsideration) alised and underrepresented sec- there are only a few weeks left He said a final and executory ally. In all previous cases, the high stages of the Tamil war, a charge will be entertained by the court,” tors” to participate in the elections before the polls. That’s why the ruling is applied to cases that have court never reconsidered,” Te said. the government denies. SC spokesman Theodore Te said. is “immediately executory” and court will no longer entertain an gone through the appeal processes THE PHILIPPPINE STAR AFP Beijing to open disputed islands China boosts bird flu response SHANGHAI: China confirmed two more markets were closed to halt the spread of the to tourism cases of bird flu in Shanghai yesterday, as disease. authorities sought to curb a deadly outbreak Shanghai had already banned live poultry trad- by banning live poultry sales and disinfecting ing while nearby Nanjing city has followed suit BOAO, China: China is to schools. and Hangzhou culled poultry after discovering open disputed South China The announcement brought the number of infected quail. Sea islands up to tourism this recorded cases of the H7N9 strain of avian influ- Dead sparrows found in Nanjing, which month, state media reported enza in China’s developed eastern region to 20 sparked alarm after photos were posted online, yesterday, a move likely to since announcing a week ago that the virus had had tested negative for H7N9, state media said, inflame a long-running territo- been found in humans for the first time. providing some relief. rial row with its neighbours. Six people have died, including four in the com- In an editorial yesterday the state-backed The plans to allow tourists mercial city of Shanghai which has recorded 10 Global Times newspaper said farming methods to visit the Paracel Islands cases of the disease. were helping to spread the disease. before the May Day holiday Taiwan’s Centres for Disease Control said yes- “In China’s southern and eastern coastal is the latest stage in Beijing’s terday it was investigating two possible cases areas, agriculture, especially animal husbandry, development of the territory, involving people who travelled to the affected has become more intense and populations more which has previously angered area in mainland China. dense,” said the English-language edition of the Vietnam and caused concern in Shanghai’s local government said the latest paper. Washington. confirmed cases in the city were two elderly men, “There is greater chance of contact between Vietnam and China have a now receiving medical treatment. humans and animals and subsequent diseases.” longstanding territorial row over They came as China stepped up efforts yester- It called for higher standards in the agricul- the Paracel Islands. Hanoi last day to halt the deadly outbreak with state media tural industry and more balanced development, month accused a Chinese ves- saying “intense” farming methods had heightened instead of a narrow focus on rapid economic sel of firing on one of its fishing the risk of deadly diseases crossing from animals growth. boats which had sailed in disputed to humans. Chinese authorities, who have confirmed H7N9 waters in the area. The education ministry ordered schools in birds, maintain there is no evidence of human- The plan to allow cruise tours nationwide to “guarantee” the health of students to-human transmission of the virus. follows rapid development of against infectious disease, including H7N9, by “Currently, there is still no evidence showing infrastructure in a new city — ensuring the safety of food and monitoring for the H7N9 bird flu virus is transmitted between Sansha — along with the estab- symptoms of illness. people,” Shanghai health official Wu Fan told an lishment of an army garrison on In Shanghai, workers sprayed disinfectant online chat yesterday. one of the Paracels last year. in classrooms, local television showed, while AFP Tourists can only visit the islands on cruise ships as the hotels are inadequate, news agency Xinhua said, citing Tan Li, Executive Vice- Governor of Hainan. Tan was speaking on Saturday at the Boao Second tank leak at Fukushima plant Forum for Asia, which is being held in Hainan. TOKYO: Radioactive water has apparently company has faced a range of problems with leaks The report quoted a tour- leaked from another underground storage and with the plant’s cooling system. ist company as saying its cruise tank at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power Tepco said on Friday it lost the ability to cool ship was ready to take almost plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co said yesterday. radioactive fuel rods in one of the plant’s reactors 2,000 passengers on a tour of the The utility, known as Tepco, said the volume for about three hours, the second cooling system islands. “The tour prices will be of the latest leakage is believed to be small. On failure at the plant in three weeks. relatively high due to the high Saturday, it said as much as 120 tonnes of radi- The 9.0 earthquake that shook Japan on March costs of tourism infrastructure oactive water may have leaked from another 11, 2011 triggered a 15-metre tsunami that struck construction,” said Huang Huaru, nearby storage tank. the Fukushima Daiichi plant and set off the chain general manager of the Hainan- The plant’s seven storage tanks are lined with of events that caused its reactors to start melt- based agency. water proof sheets meant to keep the contami- ing down. AFP nated water from leaking into the soil. The power REUTERS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Nato air strike kills 10 kids in Afghanistan Eight militants die; six women hurt

ASAD ABAD, Afghanistan: and children were wounded in the A Nato air attack in east- attack rather than killed. ern Afghanistan has killed 10 A US civilian died in a militant children, officials said yester- attack at the scene, he said. day, the latest case of civilian The interior ministry said in a casualties which provoke great statement the attack by coalition anger in the war-torn country. forces killed six Taliban including The children were killed dur- two senior commanders. ing a joint Afghan-Nato opera- On Thursday a Nato air strike tion in the Shigal district of killed four Afghan policemen and restive Kunar province bordering two civilians during a pre-dawn Pakistan late on Saturday. clash with Taliban at a police post An Afghan official involved in in eastern Ghazni province. the operation who did not want After an air strike killed 10 to be named said air support was civilians, mostly women and chil- called in after local and coalition dren, in February, Karzai banned forces came under attack, resulting Afghan security forces from call- in the death of an American and ing in Nato air strikes. injuries to several Afghan soldiers. However, it is unclear whether The official said the force did the ban has been enforced and not know there were women and many operations are jointly run children in the houses that were by Nato and Afghan forces. hit. The latest strike came a day Civilian casualties caused by after at least five Americans, Nato forces have been one of the including a young female diplo- Supporters of Pakistan Muslim League (N) party chant slogans after the acceptance of their candidate’s nomination papers for general election in Lahore most contentious issues in the mat, were killed in two Taliban yesterday. 11-year campaign against Taliban attacks in the country’s east and insurgents, provoking harsh south. criticism from Afghan President A suicide car bomber struck Hamid Karzai and angry public a Nato convoy in the southern Musharraf allowed to contest election protests. province of Zabul on Saturday, “Ten children and eight mili- killing three US soldiers and CHITRAL: Pakistani poll impeachment proceedings and emergency rule in 2007. US ally in the “war on terror”, tants were killed in the strike, two civilians, one of whom was a officials yesterday approved his All-Pakistan Muslim League “This is a biased decision,” Afzal an alliance that became deeply six women were wounded,” female US diplomat. former military dictator Pervez party is not thought to be a serious Agha — an official in Musharraf’s controversial in Pakistan, and Wasifullah Wasifi, the spokesman Another US civilian was killed Musharraf to run for parlia- contender for power at the polls. party — said, adding that an escaped at least three Al Qaeda for Kunar province, said. in an attack in the east, making it ment in the upcoming general In the far northern town of appeal would be filed. assassination attempts. Shigal district governor Abdul the deadliest day for the coalition election, despite a litany of legal Chitral, close to the Afghan bor- Musharraf’s nomination papers Since he left power in 2008 his Zahir confirmed the death toll. since July 8 last year. challenges against him. der, officials approved Musharraf’s were also rejected in the Punjab powerbase has shrivelled and last He said people had brought the Though the Taliban have not But former prime minister candidature yesterday. town of Kasur on Friday and his bid month he suffered the indignity children’s bodies to the centre of yet announced their “spring Raja Pervez Ashraf, who applied “His papers are in order. He is to contest a seat in Islamabad was of having a shoe thrown at him the town and the wounded women offensive”, which started last year to stand in his home town of not convicted so far so we cannot also turned down late yesterday. in court by an angry lawyer—a were taken to Kunar’s central with a barrage of bloody attacks Gujar Khan, near Islamabad, had disqualify him,” returning officer There is no limit to the number deeply insulting gesture in the hospital. in early May, the traditional his papers rejected, officials said. Jamal Khan said. of seats a candidate can contest in Muslim world. Sayed Rahman, security com- Afghan fighting season is begin- Musharraf ruled Pakistan for But in the retired general’s Pakistan and it is common practice He is facing a barrage of legal mander of Shigal, said one women ning as the cold winter recedes. nine years after seizing power home city of Karachi, officials for high-profile politicians to run cases, including conspiracy to was also among the dead. “We US-led coalition forces are in a bloodless coup in 1999 and turned down his nomination on in more than one at the same time. murder. have reports that 10 children and winding down their operations returned to Pakistan from self- charges of violating the constitu- Lawyer Sajidullah Khan vowed He has been granted bail over one woman have been killed in the before a scheduled withdrawal of imposed exile last month vowing tion and sacking top judges. to challenge Musharraf’s candi- the 2007 killing of former prime air strike,” he said. the bulk of their 100,000 troops by to run for the May 11 poll in four Returning officer Ikramur dature in Chitral. “Musharraf is minister Benazir Bhutto and a A spokesman for Nato’s the end of 2014, and racing to pre- constituencies. Rehman upheld objections raised not eligible and we will lodge an Baluch rebel leader in 2006, and International Security Assistance pare Afghan forces to take over He remains a hugely contro- by his rivals that Musharraf had appeal before the election tribu- for sacking and arresting judges Force (ISAF) confirmed the responsibility for security. versial figure nearly five years violated the constitution and nal,” he said. in November 2007. strike but said up to 10 women AFP after he resigned in the face of sacked top judges by imposing In office, Musharraf was a key AFP

Afghan attacks raise fears over Taliban strength Poll campaigns turn

KANDAHAR: The death of The strikes came as the top US responsibility for security. it was parked at the Bagram air at least five Americans, in the military officer General Martin General Dempsey, Chairman of field, wounding two maintenance into digital battlefield deadliest day for foreigners Dempsey arrived in the country the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived crew. He flew out of the country in Afghanistan this year, has on an unannounced visit. They on Saturday to assess the level unharmed using another plane. KARACHI: Several main- circulated to gain maximum sup- highlighted fears about Taliban raise troubling questions about of training the US will need to US Secretary of State John stream political parties, in a port of the people in favour of their strength ahead of Nato’s with- the Taliban’s continuing strength give Afghan forces following the Kerry paid tribute to the diplo- battle for digital supremacy, party or to defame the opponents. drawal in 2014. ahead of the coalition’s with- withdrawal. mat killed in what he called the are fighting the upcoming gen- The social media user then A suicide car bomber struck a drawal in 2014. The coalition has been keen to “despicable attack” in Zabul. eral elections in Pakistan with circulates these graphics, photos, Nato convoy in the southern prov- Though the Taliban have not play up the Afghan forces’ readi- He described her as “smart, tweets, hashtags, Facebook videos and funny messages on ince of Zabul on Saturday, killing yet announced their “spring ness to take over, but Saturday’s capable, eager to serve and deeply updates and emails. their accounts. three US soldiers and two civilians, offensive”, which started last year violence came hard on the heels of committed to our country and the A majority of them, instead As compared to the 2008 elec- including a female American diplo- with a barrage of bloody attacks a devastating Taliban attack on a difference she was making for the of campaigning their own party tion, the number of social media mat travelling with Afghan officials in early May, the traditional court complex in the west of the Afghan people”. manifesto, are using social media users has increased in Pakistan. to distribute books to students. Afghan fighting season is begin- country on Wednesday. Sharifullah Naseri, spokesman to defame other parties, or to According to the data on the The nationality of the second ning as the cold winter recedes. Gunmen went from room to for Zabul governor Mohammad indulge in character assassination use of social media, Pakistan is civilian was unclear. US-led coalition forces are room, slaughtering defenceless Ashraf Naseri, said he had of the opponent party leadership. ranked 27th in global Facebook Another US civilian was killed winding down their operations civilians and killing a total of 46 planned to open a US-funded Some of the major reasons users, with about 8.6 million in an attack in the country’s before a scheduled withdrawal of people — the deadliest attack in school in the provincial capital for the increasing popularity of users, while a similar number is east, making it the deadliest day the bulk of their 100,000 troops Afghanistan for more than a year. Qalat with the American officials social media sites are certain also present on Twitter. of insurgent violence against the by the end of 2014, and racing to Last August insurgent rockets and hand out books to students. restrictions on mass level cam- “Most of the political parties coalition since July 8 last year. prepare Afghan forces to assume hit General Dempsey’s plane as AFP paigning by Election Commission are using social media not for of Pakistan (ECP), increased their political campaigning but advertisement rates for road- for the defamation of other par- side billboards, newspapers and ties and their leadership, which Poppy bloom television. is very negative,” said an active Mobile phones Many parties have constituted Facebook user Pawan Kumar social media teams or have hired Garg. He said that people have become dearer the services of information tech- their own political ideologies, nology (IT) and social media which can’t be changed by such KARACHI: Retailers across experts for this purpose, think- online campaigns. Pakistan have started charging ing that social media is the fastest However, another user Sultan new prices for mobile phones way to attract voters. Ahmed thinks that political cam- after imposition of general sales Supporters and party leaders of paigns over Facebook have great tax of Rs500-1,000 per set by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) impact, and can change the minds the Federal Board of Revenue. chief cricketer-turned-politician of many. The FBR a month back raised Imran Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Another avid Facebook user advance income tax to five per Movement (MQM), Pakistan Zafar Kumar, from Moro, a town cent from one percent on mobile Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- in Sindh said that campaigning on phone import. Mobile phone deal- N), Pakistan People’s Party social media will make no differ- ers said that they got the new (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), ence, as political parties are not price list from importers and Awami National Party (ANP) offering anything on these sites. distributors of cell phones. and PML-Q are the most active “Voters have already decided According to an official on social media. whom to vote, and others like me, announcement, issued on April The PTI, MQM and PML-N will not go for voting, therefore 4, sales tax of Rs1,000 per even have social media wings. social media has no impact on mobile phone will be charged in Moreover, party leaders and even elections,” said Kumar. case of smart phones or satellite chairpersons and presidents of Some of the people think that phones. these parties use their personal majority of the Facebook users Teletec Mobile Director Azad accounts to send direct messages. belong to small towns, where edu- Lalani said that 2G phones now Attractive graphic messages, cation rate is very low and peo- cost Rs500 more and smart jokes and funny pictures based on ple only use social media for fun, phone have become costlier by political activities, personalities therefore, online campaigning will Rs1,000. A man walks at a poppy field in Jalalabad province of Afghanistan yesterday. and their statements are made by have no affect. IANS these social media teams and are INTERNEWS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Premier urges Air Force Command jubilee more efforts to protect women Reform juvenile justice system: CJ

NEW DELHI: Days after a deal more needs to be done as far stronger anti-rape law was as offences against women are enacted, Prime Minister concerned”. The Indian capital Manmohan Singh yesterday has already seen more than 350 said while his government has rapes since the beginning of the moved fast to bring about signif- year, as against 660 last year. icant reforms in laws on crimes He also said that at a time when against women in the aftermath the demand for judicial reforms of last year’s brutal gang-rape, and change in the legal processes much more needs to be done. “has acquired a new urgency, we Speaking at a conference of must ensure that the voice of san- chief ministers and chief justices ity and logic is not suborned to the of high courts here, the prime momentary impulses of the day”. minister said the “national out- Terming India’s current ratio rage” after the December 16 of 15.5 judges per million people gang-rape forced “urgent intro- as “indeed grossly inadequate”, spection” on anti-rape laws and Manmohan Singh urged states to the justice delivery system, “but take the initiative in increasing we must not allow ourselves to be number of judges to deal with the overcome by a sense of despair at three crore pending cases across some of the demonstrated inad- the country. equacies of our legal system”. Chief Justice of India Altamas He said the government had Kabir stressed the need for moved “with expedition” to respond strengthening the juvenile jus- to the nationwide outpouring of tice system in the country, and anger in the aftermath of the rape to provide adequate protection and had “brought about significant for juveniles who are in conflict People take cover from dust as an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper lands during the golden jubilee ceremony of its Central Air Command in Allahabad amendments in the criminal law with law. “Forty-two percent of yesterday. to effectively deal with heinous our population in India are chil- offences against women”. dren. How many of us even think The 23-year-old woman was of children as the potential force raped by a gang of five men for the future?” and a juvenile on board a mov- “Large number of them (chil- ing bus in south Delhi. She died dren) do not have proper facilities Delhi to double diplomatic strength two weeks later in a Singapore despite best of our efforts and inten- hospital where she was flown for tion. This leads to number of prob- NEW DELHI: The Indian gov- former foreign secretaries He said the union cabinet had around 162 Indian missions and treatment. lems, particularly drug addiction ernment is planning to double Maharaj Krishan Rasgotra and recently approved the plan to aug- posts abroad and the various In the wake of nationwide pro- is the worst problem. To address the number of its diplomats Shyam Saran, former cabinet sec- ment the strength of the Indian posts in the ministry at home.” tests, the government promul- these, we have to strengthen the posted in the 162 Indian mis- retary Naresh Chandra, who also Foreign Service (IFS). “We have Tiny Singapore, with just five gated an ordinance in February juvenile justice system.” sions and posts abroad from the served as Indian ambassador to very few (diplomats), we need million people, has about the same to enforce harsher anti-rape laws. Chief Justice Kabir also mere 600 currently. the US, and former secretaries K many more. (The) cabinet has number of diplomats as India has The Criminal Law (Amendment) stressed the need to protect the External Affairs Minister S Bajpai, S K Lambah and Leela agreed. We can double the num- while China, with a comparative Bill, 2013, which replaces the ordi- rights of juveniles, particularly Salman Khurshid has begun a Ponappa. bers which we are in the process population, has eight times the nance, was passed by parliament underprivileged children. series of consultations on this To a question about what the of doing.” number of diplomats. Countries and signed into law by the presi- “We have children with good issue and recently met many of government was doing to address According to the Ministry of like the United States and Britain dent earlier this week. It provides education, they are from the elite the country’s retired ambassa- the shortages in its diplomatic External Affairs website: “In have many more diplomats. for increased sentence for rape con- class but what about the rest. Ten dors and distinguished diplomats strength, Khurshid had said in a recent years, the intake into the The US has 294 physical embas- victs, including life-term and death to 15 years down the line when to understand how the foreign recent interview: “We are looking Indian Foreign Service has aver- sies, consulates, and diplomatic sentence in rarest of rare cases. the new generation will take over, service could be strengthened and at just this problem. I hope that aged between 8-15 persons annu- missions across the world with The prime minister said: there might be chaos if these chil- used effectively to project Indian we will be able to push through a ally. The present cadre strength around 15,000 professionals. Britain “Notwithstanding the steps that dren are not taken care of.” policies and power abroad. very good plan to bring much great of the service stands at approxi- has an estimated 1,900 diplomats. have already been taken, a great IANS Among those he met were strength to the foreign service.” mately 600 officers manning IANS

Nuclear-capable Katju accuses media of spreading communalism Agni-II missile HYEDERABAD: Press mischievous person. This kind to ensure a decent living for every- castiest and pointed how elections and secular country. Council of India Chairman of reporting sends a message in body. “If a man is unemployed, he to various bar councils and in uni- “You can’t have a theocratic test successful Markandey Katju yesterday the country that all Muslims are will have only two options. Either versities are fought on caste lines. state in the subcontinent which said media was spreading com- terrorists, demonises the entire to commit suicide or become a Claiming that there was zero has tremendous diversity,” he BHUBANESWAR: India yes- munalism by its irresponsible community and promotes com- criminal or a terrorist. Unless the percent communalism in 1857, he said while calling Pakistan a mad terday successfully test-fired its reporting of terrorist attacks. munalism,” he said. poverty is removed, even the police said the British made Hindus and house where dozens of people get nuclear-capable Agni-II strate- He vowed not to allow the “Do you have freedom to pro- force and the military can’t tackle Muslims fight each under their killed in bomb blasts every day. gic ballistic missile from a mili- media to spread communalism mote communalism,” he asked terrorism,” he said. divide and rule policy. Katju called for an amendment tary base in Odisha, a defence in the interest of the nation. while stating that no freedom is Katju said Muslims in India He clarified that he was raising to the PCI Act to impose fine and official said. He was addressing a sympo- absolute and that it comes with had a sense of great injustice in all voice for the justice to minorities suspend licenses of newspapers The test was conducted from sium on ‘Reporting terror: How certain reasonable restrictions. sectors like bank loans, jobs and in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. violating journalistic ethics and to Wheeler’s Island in Bhadrak dis- sensitive is the media’ organised Describing poverty and dis- even houses on rent. He called Katju said the British created bring TV channels under its ambit. trict, around 200km from here, at by The Hindu in association with crimination as main causes of for following the policies of “great a fake country called Pakistan to “I met both the prime minister and about 10.20am by army person- NGO Help Hyderabad. terrorism, Katju said unless these emperor Akbar and his successor keep Hindus and Muslims con- leader of opposition in this regard nel as part of routine user-trials, “Whenever bomb blasts take two problems were addressed, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru” to keep tinue fighting each other and to but nothing has happened.” MVKV Prasad, Director of the place, within an hour or so many terrorism can’t be eliminated. the country united. prevent India from emerging as Siddharth Vardarajan, editor of Integrated Test Range, said. TV channels say email has come He said the 21st century would The PCI chairman said 80 per- an industrial giant. The Hindu, also decried the trend “The missile successfully hit the or an SMS has been received witness struggles by people for a cent of Hindus and Muslims in The former Supreme Court in a section of media to jump to target. It was a perfect launch” he from Indian Mujhideen or Jaish- decent and dignified living as 80 India were communal and this was judge predicted that India, conclusions about the identity of said. e-Mohammed or Harkatul percent of people remained poor having an impact on all sectors, Pakistan and Bangladesh would the culprits immediately after a The medium-range missile Jihad. They take some Muslim despite the potential of the modern including media. He claimed that re-unite in 15 to 20 years to bomb blast or any terror incident. with a range of over 2,000km has name. SMS can be sent by any industry to create enough wealth even elite were communal and emerge as a powerful, modern IANS already been inducted into the army, and is part of the Strategic Forces arsenal for nuclear deter- rence. The Agni-II is part of Star salute India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. 1.4 million appear for The two-stage surface-to-sur- face missile, equipped with an advanced high-accuracy naviga- tion system and guided by a novel joint entrance exam state-of-the-art command and control system, is powered by a NEW DELHI: An esti- in National Institutes of Technology solid rocket propellant system. mated 1.4 million candidates (NITs), Indian Institutes of The missile weighs 17 tonnes appeared for the Joint Entrance Information Technology (IIITs), and its range can be increased to Examination (JEE) Main in off- Delhi Technological University and 3,000km by reducing the payload. line mode yesterday across 81 other centrally-funded technical It can be fired from both rail and cities, including Dubai, Riyadh, institutes. road mobile launchers. It takes Muscat and Manama. According to Ramesh Batlish, only 15 minutes for the missile to The top 150,000 scorers in the a JEE expert, the cut-off is be readied for firing. exam will be called on June 2 to expected to go higher as the paper The Defence Research and take the JEE Advanced, which was relatively easy. Development Organisation first is meant for admissions into The JEE Main will be held tested Agni-II in 1999. prestigious Indian Institutes of online from April 8 to 25 in 29 cit- However, the Indian Army’s Technology (IITs). The results ies including three cities abroad Strategic Forces Command, will be declared on May 7. — Colombo, Kathmandu and which operates the missile, could About 47,748 students had reg- Singapore. test it only May 17, 2010 after two istered for the exam at Patna, There are 9,647 undergradu- successive failures in 2009. followed by Kanpur from where ate seats in 15 IITs, IIT-BHU and The failed tests did not meet 43,000 had registered. Indian School of Mines-Dhanbad, the mission’s desired objectives The exam was conducted by while the number of undergradu- as, on both occasions, the missile the Central Board of Secondary ate seats in the 30 NITs of the lost speed and deviated from its Actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan arrive for the inaugural Times of India Film Awards in Vancouver, Education (CBSE), which will also country is 15,678 including the flight path. Since then, it has been British Columbia, yesterday. evaluate candidates for admissions seats in the new ones. successfully tested several times. into BE, BTech and BArch courses IANS IANS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 NC reiterates demand for J&K autonomy Party mum on alliance with Congress

JAMMU: Ahead of the forth- constitutional authority other coming parliamentary and than defence, external affairs assembly elections, the rul- and communications “should be ing National Conference (NC) restored” to Jammu and Kashmir. has reiterated its demand for The NC government then “autonomy” for Jammu and headed by Farooq Abdullah passed Kashmir, and revocation of the a resolution in the state assembly Armed Forces Special Powers in June 2000 which was rejected Act from the state. by the National Democratic The National Conference took Alliance government. its stand on the two key issues The NC working committee during its two-day working com- also reiterated its resolve that mitee meet, which concluded here AFSPA should be revoked in a yesterday. It did not, however, phased manner from various take any decision on the pre-poll parts of the state, beginning from alliance with the Congress, with the areas where militancy has which it shares power in the state. been substantially reduced and On pre-poll alliance with the the security apparatus is being Congress for parliamentary and handled by the state police and assembly elections, the working the paramilitary forces. Builder Jamil Qureshi (centre) is escorted by police in Thane yesterday. Qureshi, one of two builders arrested over the collapse of the apartment block, committee resolved “to take a The party also resolved that “in appeared in court in Thane. decision on the issue at an appro- the interest of sustainable peace priate time”. in the region, a sustained and The committee meeting, pre- meaningful India-Pakistan dia- sided over by NC President logue must proceed without any Thane culprits sent to police custody and federal Minister for New impediments and that the CBMs and Renewable Energy Farooq (confidence building measures) THANE: All nine men arrested Madke, Nationalist Congress Party All the arrested have been servants, officials or civilians,” he Abdullah, passed a 10-point reso- should be further consolidated for the collapse of a seven-storey corporator Hira Patil, policeman charged with culpable homicide said. lution which expressed “full faith and strengthened”. building in Thane that killed Sayyed and estate agent Jabbar not amounting to murder. Meanwhile, 37 people continued and confidence in the leadership The working committee 74 people were sent to 14 days Patel who worked for Chavan. Raghuvanshi said preliminary to be under treatment in various of Omar Abdullah”. Omar is the resolved that the “internal dimen- police custody yesterday even A former assistant municipal investigation revealed that the hospitals in Kalyan, Thane, Kalwe chief minister of the state and also sions of the Kashmir issue should as 37 of the injured remained in commissioner, identified as only builders constructed the building (a suburb of Thane) and Mumbai. the working president of the NC. also be addressed through a proc- hospitals. Thorbole, was also nabbed yes- using sub-standard material. The condition of 12 victims, The working committee said: ess of dialogue with all shades of Thane Police Commissioner terday. Earlier, builders Jamil “As soon as the floors were who suffered grievous head and “The restoration of the autonomy opinion which stands stalled at K P Raghuvanshi said the Anti- Qureshi and Salim Shaikh were ready, they immediately handed chest injuries, was said to be continues to be the bed rock of the moment”. Corruption Bureau was also prob- arrested from Uttar Pradesh and them over to the buyers. Once “serious” by Thane police. the National Conference’s policy Reviewing the functioning and ing Maharashtra’s worst-ever Thane respectively on Saturday. people occupied the building, it Yesterday, a four-year-old mira- and agenda, and the party shall achievements of the NC-led coa- building crash as public servants NCP State President became very difficult for the offi- cle survivor of the Daighar build- continue to strive for the honour, lition government with Congress were also involved. Madhukarrao Pichad yesterday cials concerned to remove them ing crash finally opened her eyes dignity and self-respect of the since 2009, the working committee The nine include Thane announced the suspension of cor- and take action on the illegal con- and cried, much to the relief of people of the state.” “appreciated the remarkable initia- Municipal Corporation’s suspended porator Hira Patil. struction,” he said surviving relatives and siblings. The NC has been demanding tives taken by the state government deputy municipal commissioner Police said a search of Chavan’s Raghuvanshi called the Sandhya Thakur had been unable greater autonomy for Jammu to accelerate the process of develop- Deepak Chavan, assistant munic- house led to the recovery of Rs5 Thursday tragedy “a colossal to open her eyes, swollen with dust and Kashmir for almost two ment in all the regions of the state.” ipal commissioner Babasaheb lakh in cash and some incriminat- one”. “We shall not spare anybody, and due to psychological trauma. decades. It wants that areas of IANS Andhale, corporation clerk Kiran ing documents. whether they are government IANS

Fire in Srinagar ‘Trinity’ to lead Congress in Congress-free India polls: Tewari by next year: Modi NEW DELHI: A “trinity” of Manmohan Singh, Sonia NEW DELHI: The BJP will in democracy. It does not mean Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi set the agenda for the 2014 Lok two people of one family cannot will lead the Congress in the Sabha elections, emerge victo- be in politics, but unfortunately, next Lok Sabha election, party rious and the people will get a the country presently is in the spokesman Manish Tewari has “Congress-free India”, Gujarat clutches of dynastic rule,” he said. said. Chief Minister Narendra Modi Modi sought to clarify his Speaking to Rahul Kanwal of said yesterday. remarks at a book release func- Aajtak news channel, Tewari said: In an interview to TV news tion at Gandhinagar on April 4 “We will go to the people with this channel Times Now, Modi which were seen as a clear indi- ‘Trimurti’. expressed confidence about his cation of his prime ministerial “For nine years, Prime Minister Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ambitions. Manmohan Singh has given us victory in the next Lok Sabha Modi had said at the function good governance and (Congress polls, but remained tight-lipped that he was being told that he had president) Sonia (Gandhi) has over his own candidature for the repaid his debt to Gujarat and had held the party together,” he said. prime minister’s post. to pay his debt to the country. “Now, (Congress vice presi- “In 2014, the BJP will set the He had said every citizen owes dent) Rahul Gandhi has breathed agenda for polls, people of the a debt to “Mother India”. life into the youth and invigorated country will make BJP victori- “If someone heard my lecture, the grass-roots.” Tewari disagreed ous, and the way people of Gujarat the person who spoke before me with party colleague Digvijaya have formed a Congress-free said ‘you have fulfilled the debt of Singh’s observation that the dual Gujarat, people of the country Gujarat. Now fulfill your debt to power-centre experiment involv- will have a Congress-free India,” the country’. I said it is not my ing Manmohan Singh and Sonia he said. debt alone and every citizen has Gandhi was “a big failure”. Modi also termed dynastic to fulfill the country’s debt,” Modi Tewari said: “Digvijaya Singh is politics a bad trend. “Dynastic told the news channel. a senior leader of the party and he F ire fighters try to extinguish a blaze at a tourism department office in Srinagar yesterday. There was no loss politics should not be encouraged IANS has an opinion on several issues. of life or injury to anyone, police said. We are a democratic party and everybody is entitled to their views. “But the party and the govern- ment have made it clear that the nine-year-old Sonia-Manmohan Pakistanis want friendship with India: Fahmida Riaz Singh experiment has been successful. “We have struck a fine balance NEW DELHI: Leading Urdu ties because her country was India has a special place in “I was born in Meerut (Uttar Naheed, has authored Godavari, a in governance, incorporating poet, progressive writer and grappling with internal terrorism, Riaz’s heart: She spent seven Pradesh). My parents lived there. novel and translated the “masnavi inclusivity, democracy and eco- women’s activist from Pakistan growing religious fundamentalism years in the 1980s in the Indian We were brought up according (spiritual poetry) of Mohammed nomic growth. The diarchy has Fahmida Riaz has said that all and high unemployment, and did capital with her two children to Hindustani ethos. Whenever I Jalaluddin Rumi from Persian to been a huge success.” three major political parties in not want to jeopardise relations after she fled the Zia-ul-Haq come here, I feel that the memo- Urdu. Scuttling speculation of a Rahul her country seek friendly ties with India. regime, which charged her and ries are frozen in time,” she said. She translated the works of Gandhi versus Narendra Modi with India. “Rajiv Gandhi went to Pakistan her husband Zafar with treason From childhood in India, Riaz Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and faceoff in 2014, Tewari said: “We The Pakistan Peoples Party, the and met Benazir Bhutto and Atal for their liberal views in “Awaz”, moved to Hyderabad in Sindh in Sheikh Ayaz from Sindhi to Urdu won’t be swayed by the opposi- Muttahida Quami Movement and Bihari Vajpeyee went to Pakistan... a publication that the writer had Pakistan, where she stayed till her as well. She has authored more tion’s portrayal of a particular per- the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) They wanted friendship. General founded along with her second arranged marriage in 1967, that than a dozen books, among them sonality. “In 2004, we fought the — all want amicable ties, she said Parvez Musharraf came to Agra. husband, a political activist. saw her passage to Britain, where novels and anthologies of poetry. elections against (prime minister in conversation with journalists I have lived in Sindh and I have Her fans bailed her out, though she worked for BBC (Urdu). Among her best known works Atal Bihari) Vajpayee. In 2009, we at the Press Club of India here. been in touch with the people of Zafar spent time in jail before It was in London that she met is the radical feminist poetry fought against Advani. In 2014, we The Karachi-based writer, Balochistan. They have always joining her and the children in Amrita Pritam, “one of her clos- anthology, “Badan Dareeda” that will contest and win again. known to lean Leftward, and wanted friendship with India,” Delhi. Recalling her years of est allies”. took conservative Pakistani soci- “We will take our perform- active on issues pertaining to Riaz said. asylum in India, the 66-year-old “I had read her ‘nazm’ before. ety of the 1970s by storm. ance and our vision to the peo- women’s empowerment and Regretting the setback for writer said: “I was charged under Poetry brought us together, and “I began studying Sufism ple. We will portray the Congress human rights, said that if India former Pakistan president Parvez Section 124A of the Pakistan we were also politically-minded because of Rumi. I find it fascinat- ‘Trimurti’ of Rahul, Sonia and spurned Pakistan’s friendly over- Musharraf in the run-up to the Penal Code (sedition). I came and secular women,” Riaz said. ing. There is space for everyone. Manmohan before the peo- tures, it would have unpleasant elections in her country, Riaz here and my friend (poet) Amrita When her first marriage fell I think it is the only alternative ple. “And after we win, it’s the consequences for people-to-peo- said: “Pakistan’s returning offic- Pritam spoke to then prime min- apart, she returned to Pakistan. to organised religion. You cannot Congress cadre and the party ple contacts between the two ers were arbitrary in rejecting his ister (late) Indira Gandhi, who The writer, who is one of the politicise the ‘mazhab’ (Islamic which will decide who will be the neighbours. nomination forms.” allowed me to stay in India.” foremost Urdu women poets in jurisprudence) and take spiritu- prime minister.” Riaz said political parties and “This is ‘anyay’, ‘jurm’ (wrong, Her children went to school in Pakistan along with Zehra Nigah, ality out of it,” the writer said. IANS people in Pakistan wanted friendly a crime),” Riaz said. India. Parveen Shakir and Kishwar IANS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Nasa wants to News in Numbers QATAR ECONOMIC OUTLOOK tow an asteroid CHART: 1 2013 2 Fajr (Dawn) 4:01 to the moon, Shorook (Sunrise) 5:19 Zuhr (Noon) 11:36 says Senator Asr (Afternoon) 3:05 WASHINGTON: Nasa wants Maghrib (Sunset) 5:54 to grab a small asteroid and tow Isha (Night) 7:24 it into orbit around the moon, as part of a long-range plan towards establishing perma- nent manned outposts in space, WEATHER according to a US Senator. To get the project off the Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather ground, US President Barack Conditions: Obama will propose around $100m Clear Clear Clear for the US space agency in his Prospects for the global economy have dimmed further since Fine. 2014 budget, which he submits to the last QEO, but Qatar’s outlook for 2013 is more likely to be Congress on Wednesday, Senator High: 29° High:31° High:32° Bill Nelson said in a statement. influenced by domestic developments. The scene is set by a Low: 22° Low: 23° Low: 23° “This is part of what will be a large capital spending programme on infrastructure, a growing much broader programme,” the Florida Democrat explained. population, an oil and gas sector in which output has now “The plan combines the science peaked, and low interest rates. With the completion of major of mining an asteroid, along with DOHA - SUN & SEA developing ways to deflect one, investments in upstream oil and gas activity, economic growth along with providing a place to in Qatar will move closer to the norm for countries in the Gulf SUN TIDE SEA develop ways we can go to Mars.” SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND The plan calls for a robotic- Cooperation Council (GCC). spacecraft to capture the asteroid 05:19 17:54 03:15 & 16:15 10:00 & 22:00 03-12 KT and tow it back towards Earth, THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW ultimately leaving it in a stable orbit around the moon, close Real GDP of GCC countries (year-on-year change, pc) HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER enough that, within eight years, astronauts could head on over. Oman MUSCAT 27/19 Fair 28/22 Clear A similar plan was initially pro- Bahrain Kuwait MAKKAH 40/21 Clear 37/18 Clear posed in 2012 by experts at the Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates KUWAIT 33/21 Clear 31/21 Partly cloudy California Institute of Technology, BAHRAIN 28/22 Clear 30/23 Partly cloudy and the group, along with other SANAA 30/13 Partly cloudy 30/13 Clear top researchers in the field, have RIYADH 33/21 Partly cloudy 35/21 Clear since prepared a detailed study DUBAI 26/18 Clear 29/20 Clear into the project’s feasibility. “It would be mankind’s first BAGHDAD 36/19 Clear 29/16 Partly cloudy attempt at modifying the heavens THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW to enable the permanent settle- ment of humans in space,” scien- HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER tists said in their report. Obama’s goal of sending a ATHENS 20/07 Showers/clear 20/07 Partly cloudy manned mission to a near-Earth WASHINGTON 23/14 Mostly cloudy 27/15 Mostly cloudy asteroid by 2025 is impossible SYDNEY 21/12 T-storms 23/12 Partly cloudy given Nasa’s current and pro- LONDON 09/02 Sprinkles 08/01 Rain jected funding levels, expert anal- ysis has suggested. PARIS 10/05 Sprinkles 13/06 Showers/clear But using an unmanned vehicle ISTANBUL 14/08 Showers 17/05 Partly cloudy to instead bring a 500-ton aster- MANILA 34/25 Sprinkles 35/26 Partly cloudy oid close to home could change DHAKA 38/26 Clear 39/26 Clear the game and get humans to an DELHI 38/20 Clear 38/23 Fair asteroid as early as 2021, four ISLAMABAD 26/18 Showers/clear 30/16 Showers/clear years ahead of the deadline. Source : http://www.qsa.gov.qa/ AFP Monday 8 April 2013 27 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5663 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Ezdan to build 10 residential complexes Mall in Gharafa to open on Sunday

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB

DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group, a leading real estate develop- ment company in the region, plans to construct 10 new resi- All the proposed dential complexes, most of them new villages in Al Wakra. The Group CEO of Ezdan put together Holding, Ali Al Obaidli, while will offer over speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the company’s 5,000 two- and annual general meeting, said three-bedroom that the company was set to open its ‘Ezdan Mall’ at Gharafa apartments. Of on Sunday. these, nine villages All the proposed new villages will be located in put together will offer over 5,000 two- and three-bedroom apart- Wakra and one in ments. Of these, nine villages will north of Doha The Chairman of Ezdan Holding Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani and other board members during the annual general meeting at Ezdan be located in Al Wakra while the Towers in Doha yesterday. KAMMUTTY VP remaining one will be built in the north of Doha. quarter of this year. About the at La Perla, Ezdan Tower-1 and the figure of QR345.4m achieved QR408m in 2012 compared to “Under the residential section have been scheduled for opening future of the real estate market approved the distribution of 1.3 in 2011. QR345m in 2011. of the Group, we are going to on February 1, 2014 and January in Qatar, he said: “The market has percent cash dividend, at the rate The Chairman of Ezdan He added that the group will build 10 new villages for limited 1, 2015. already shown signs of recovery. of 13 dirhams per share which Holding Sheikh Dr Khalid bin continue to strive and move ahead income people. There will be over The company has three tow- And it is going to witness another was recommended by the com- Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani in in achieving its vision inline with 5,000 housing units all consisting ers under-construction located real estate boom which will con- pany’s Boar of Directors. his speech before the General Qatar’s National Vision and devel- of two- and three-bedroom apart- at West Bay, Doha’s skyline, such tinue for sometime, especially the The Group’s audited net profit Assembly said that the Group opment strategy of the country to ments,” said Obaidli. as Abdul Wahab Tower and Asia land prices. stood at QR408.7m for the finan- has witnessed a remarkable meet the growing demand of the He added that other two malls Tower, which are expected to be Ezdan Holding Group yesterday cial year ended December 31, 2012, performance, and its’ net profit real estate market. located at Al Wakra and Wukair completed by the end of second held its Annual General Meeting an increase by 18.32 percent over has increased by 18 percent to THE PENINSULA QNB Group Net Profit up by 6.7% to QR2.1 billion for the Three Month Period Ending 31 March 2013 QNB Group Key Performance Indicators

March 2013 March 2012 Growth

Net Profit QR2.1 billion QR2.0 billion 7%

Total Assets QR380 billion QR311 billion 22%

Loans and Advances QR259 billion QR201 billion 29%

Customer Deposits QR280 billion QR218 billion 28%

Total Equity QR46 billion QR42 billion 9%

Earnings per Share QR3.1 QR2.9

QNB Group Total Assets increased by 22.2% to QR380.0 billion

QNB Group, the leading financial institution in has successfully completed the acquisition of a the Middle East and North Africa region, has controlling stake in NSGB amounting to 97.12%, announced its financial results for the three months which included the full stake of Société Générale ended 31 March 2013. A net profit of QR2.1 billion – France amounting to 77.17% along with 19.95% was achieved, up by 6.7% compared to the same acquired from other shareholders. period last year, demonstrating QNB Group’s success in achieving robust growth across business This acquisition is considered one of the largest activities and the ability to record a strong growth in the Middle East and is in line with QNB Group’s in profitability for the benefit of shareholders. strategy to expand its presence in selected markets in the region that have a strong growth potential. Key indicators of the financial results for the three This acquisition is an important step for QNB Group months ended 31 March 2013 are shown below. to realise its vision of being a Middle East and These results do not include financial results of Africa Icon by 2017. NSGB-Egypt. QNB Group has recently concluded the acquisition of a controlling stake in NSGB NSGB has a solid financial position and a strong amounting to 97.12%. It is anticipated that the standing in Egypt’s banking sector, with operations incorporation of the financial results of NSGB will throughout the country. Subsidiaries & Associates of QNB Group be completed during the second quarter of 2013. The announced results of QNB Group do not include QNB Group Country % Ownership financial results of NSGB, which are anticipated to Total assets increased by 22.2% from March 2012 be incorporated during the second quarter of 2013. QNB Capital Qatar 100% to reach QR380 billion, the highest ever achieved by the Bank. This was the result of a strong growth QNB Switzerland Switzerland 100% rate of 28.7% in loans and advances to reach QR259 QNB Group has maintained its credit rating, which billion, while customer deposits increased by 28.2% is considered as being one of the highest in the QNB Financial Services Qatar 100% to QR280 billion. region, with various rating agencies affirming the Bank’s rating during the first quarter of 2013. This is QNB-Tunisia Tunisia 99496% as a result of QNB Group’s strong financial position, The Bank was able to maintain the ratio of high quality of its assets and leading position in the NSGB Egypt 97.12% non-performing loans to gross loans at 1.4%, financial sector. a level considered one of the lowest amongst banks in the Middle East and Africa, reflecting As a result of the Bank’s high credit ratings and QNB Kesawan Indonesia 70% the high quality of the Group’s loan book and the outstanding asset quality, it was selected as one effective management of credit risk. The Group’s the world’s 50 safest financial institutions by Global QNB Syria Syria 51% conservative policy in regard to provisioning Finance. continued with the coverage ratio reaching 119% in Mansour Bank Iraq 51% March 2013. Based on the Group’s continuous strong performance and the expanding international Bank of Commerce & Development Libya 49% presence, the bank is currently ranked as the most Total operating income, including the share of valuable brand in the MENA region, with a world Commercial Bank International UAE 40% results of associates, increased to QR3.0 billion, up ranking of 120. by 5.5% compared to March 2012, demonstrating Housing Bank for Trade & Finance Jordan 35% QNB Group’s success in achieving strong growth across the range of revenue sources. Net interest In line with ongoing efforts to expand the Al Jazeera Finance Company Qatar 20% income increased by 4.7% to reach QR2.4 billion, range of products and services, QNB First was with net fees and commissions and net gain from launched across all five branches in Oman. The foreign exchange reaching QR350 million and introduction of this elite and exclusive service for International Presence QR172 million, respectively, reflecting success in affluent customers is designed to meet their high diversifying sources of income. expectations, which is provided by a dedicated QNB Group’s international expansion plans have become an integral part of its strategic growth and and highly experienced team. The Group aims to the Bank is committed to delivering a comprehensive range of products and services tailored to the The Group’s prudent cost control policy and roll out this service during this year to a number of markets in which it operates. strong revenue generating capability allowed it to countries in the region where it operates. maintain efficiency ratio (cost to income ratio) of QNB Group is currently present in 25 countries around the world through branches, representative 17.7%, which is considered one of the best ratios among financial institutions in the region. With the addition of NSGB, QNB Group’s !" presence through its subsidiaries and associate companies increased to 25 countries providing a Algeria Iran Libya Qatar Syria Total Equity increased by 9.3% from March 2012 to comprehensive range of advanced products and reach QR46 billion as at 31 March 2013. The capital services. The total number of staff exceeded 13,000 Bahrain Iraq Luxembourg Singapore Tunisia adequacy ratio stood at 20.5% as at 31 March 2013, operating from over 560 locations, with an ATM Egypt Jordan Mauritania South Sudan UAE far higher than the regulatory requirements of QCB network exceeding 1,150 machines. and the Basel Committee. The Group is keen to France Kuwait Oman Sudan United Kingdom maintain a strong capitalisation in order to support The Bank continues to place high emphasis on Indonesia Lebanon Palestine Switzerland Yemen future strategic plans. recruiting Qatari nationals and provide them with dedicated training programs to further enhance their capabilities. This has resulted in the Bank having a Qatarisation ratio that exceeds 50%, the These results do not include financial results of NSGB. During the first quarter of 2013, QNB Group highest among financial institutions in Qatar. QNB Group expects to finalise the incorporation of the financial results of NSGB during the second quarter of 2013

Total Assets (QR billion) Loans and Advances (QR billion) Customer Deposits (QR billion) Operating Income (QR billion)

2.50 400 300 380.0 300 280.0 3.50 2.1 258.9 3.0 2.0 2.8 2.00 320 311.1 2.80 225 225 218.4 1.7 201.2 2.3 242.7 179.9 1.50 240 2.10 1.3 183.2 150 140.7 150 1.7 1.0 131.9 1.00 160 140.6 117.7 1.40 1.3 81.6 91.9 75 75 0.50 80 0.70

0.00 0 0 0 0.00 March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March March 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Total Assets increased by 22.2% to QR380.0 billion Loans and Advances increased by 28.7% to QR258.9 billion Customer Deposits increased by 28.2% to QR280.0 billion Operating Income increased by 5.5% to QR3.0 billion

Financial Highlights

Call +974 4440 7407 or visit qnb.com.qa CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDING 31 MARCH 2013 Independent Auditors’ Review Report on Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and Information to the Board of Directors of Qatar National Bank S.A.Q. consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all !X;X!;:!\]$ audit opinion. We have reviewed the accompanying interim condensed consolidated statement of $'*+/:; *+ !; '; >$ ?@;V?;X Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the 'XX$;YX;!Z;\';;X; X$!X'X$$ $;;]$; X X$\;`:/?j `X|$! ; 'X ^;*'_$';$$ applicable provisions of Qatar Central Bank regulations. $';X'X \;`:/?j{ `X|$! ;$$$Y' ^;'X?@;V\Y\ Central Bank regulations. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on this condensed ;X';?_XV X'XY\ were audited by another auditor, whose reports dated 4 April 2012 and 13 January 2013 $Y]$XY\X$ We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review on those statements. }!!XjV Y\'`X|`'X'X; Firas Qoussous `$:';} :Y\'X'X' X+!Z$X'$$'!X of Ernst & Young Doha - State of Qatar and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in Qatar Auditors Registry Number 236 7 April 2013

2013 2012 2012 2013 2012 Interest Income 3,111,999 2,997,481 Cash and Balances with Central Banks 15,982,422 10,957,904 19,829,576 Interest Expense (760,250) (750,937) Due from Banks 37,047,055 46,305,930 37,021,743 :474 :4:547 Loans and Advances to Customers 258,941,126 201,210,133 249,936,341 Investment Securities 49,045,940 44,080,230 50,047,924 Fee and Commission Income 390,865 369,443 Investment in Associates 5,754,100 4,737,965 5,795,307 Fee and Commission Expense (40,642) (32,219) Property and Equipment 945,131 970,377 957,056 74:: 4:: Intangible Assets 389,671 141,028 261,216 Other Assets 11,931,356 2,702,448 3,004,669 Foreign Exchange Gain 172,396 163,274 380,036,801 4547 5549749: Income from Investment Securities 15,684 19,851 Other Operating Income 3,033 1,758 ;<; :49497 :459457 Due to Banks 24,114,402 28,050,069 22,201,770 Customer Deposits 280,037,215 218,393,346 270,039,961 /}]$ (294,987) (255,856) Debt Securities 12,679,223 9,049,190 12,674,706 Depreciation (49,185) (43,754) Other Borrowings 8,053,405 6,731,744 6,836,376 Net Impairment (Losses) / Gains on Investment Securities (3,955) 1,343 Other Liabilities 9,227,971 6,862,216 7,112,327 Net Impairment Losses on Loans and Advances to Customers (242,461) (266,685) ; 334,112,216 :54954757 949574 Other Expenses (182,170) (150,784) :479 745 Share of Results of Associates 67,547 36,906 Issued Capital 6,997,294 6,997,294 6,997,294 :4949 :4949: Legal Reserve 23,086,902 23,086,902 23,086,902 Income Tax Expense (20,032) (13,274) Risk Reserve 1,750,000 1,600,000 1,750,000 :4549: :4547 Fair Value Reserve 448,161 617,840 411,403

Foreign Currency Translation Reserve (659,834) (319,679) (640,463) Other Reserves 1,752,017 1,776,678 1,751,174 Equity Holders of the Bank 2,138,213 2,004,444 Retained Earnings 11,661,358 7,702,215 13,721,522 Non-Controlling Interest 29,629 72,103 747499 454:7 449: :4549: :4547 <

Non-Controlling Interest 888,687 558,200 910,860 Earnings Per Share (QR) 3.1 2.9 74:4797 :447 49945: ; 380,036,801 4547 5549749:

Yousef Hussain Kamal Ali Shareef Al-Emadi Chairman >$€;'}]Y

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 Net Profit exceeded QR2.1 billion, up by 6.7% from same period last year  Total Assets stood at QR380 billion, up by 22.2% from March 2012 2013 2012  Total Loans and Advances up by 28.7% from March 2012 to reach QR259 billion :4549: :4547  Total Customer Deposits up by 28.2% from March 2012 to reach QR280 billion

 Earnings per Share reached QR3.1 compared to QR2.9 in March 2012 4

 Total Shareholders’ Equity increased to QR46 billion, up by 9.3% from March 2012. |!€^_'|!$ (19,371) (130,397) Share of Other Comprehensive Income of Associates 843 (9,956) }Y'€;!|„'€;|\†! 32,470 25,693 Available-for-Sale Investment Securities Net Change in Fair Value 5,400 97,354 Net Amount Transferred to Income Statement (1,112) (2,165) 4 18,230 4 :4954: :4745

Equity Holders of the Bank 2,156,443 1,984,973 Non-Controlling Interest 29,629 72,103 :4954: :4745

Financial Statement

Call +974 4440 7407 or visit qnb.com.qa MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS QNB Group net profit QR2.1bn Bank’s non-performing loans lowest in Mena region

DOHA: The QNB Group has anticipated that the incorporation QR280bn. The Group was able reported net profits of QR2.1bn of the financial results of NSGB to maintain the ratio of non-per- for the first quarter (January will be completed during the sec- forming loans to gross loans at 1.4 to March 2013), up 6.7 percent ond quarter of 2013, a QNB Group percent, a level considered one of over Q1 of 2012, the Group, statement said yesterday. the lowest amongst banks in the announcing its financials for the Total assets of the Group Mena region, reflecting the high first three months of 2013, said increased by 22.2 percent from quality of the Group’s loan book yesterday. March 2012 to QR380bn, the and the effective management of The results did not include highest ever achieved by the bank. credit risk. the financial performance of This was the result of a strong The Group’s conservative policy Doha Bank NSGB-Egypt. QNB Group has growth rate of 28.7 percent in in regard to provisioning contin- recently concluded the acquisition loans and advances to reach ued with the coverage ratio reach- gets nod to list of a controlling stake in NSGB QR259bn, while customer depos- ing 119 percent in March 2013. amounting to 97.12 percent. It is its increased by 28.2 percent to The Group’s cost control policy and revenue generating capability more shares Key Performance Indicators allowed it to maintain efficiency The Minister of Economy and Finance and Chairman of QNB Group, DOHA: The Chairman of ratio (cost to income ratio) of 17.7 H E Yousuf Hussein Kamal. RIGHT: QNB Group CEO Ali Shareef Al Emadi. Doha Bank Sheikh Fahad bin percent, which is considered one Mohammed bin Jabor Al Thani of the best ratios among financial (pictured) announced that the institutions in the region. stake in NSGB amounting to East and Africa Icon by 2017. As bank has obtained approval QR2.1bn QR2.0bn Total Equity increased by 9.3 97.12 percent, which included the a result of the bank’s high credit from the regulatory authorities percent from March 2012 to full stake of Société Générale — ratings and outstanding asset to list 51,674,450 new shares at QR380bn QR311bn QR46bn in Q1 of 2013. France amounting to 77.17 per- quality, it was selected as one Qatar Exchange. The capital adequacy ratio cent along with 19.95 percent of the world’s 50 safest financial These new shares have been stood at 20.5 percent as at March acquired from other shareholders. institutions by Global Finance. issued to Doha Bank’s exist- QR259bn QR201bn 31, 2013, far higher than the regu- This acquisition is considered The bank is currently ranked ing shareholders registered at latory requirements of the Qatar one of the largest in the Middle as the most valuable brand in the QE at the close of business on QR280bn QR218bn Central Bank and the Basel East and is in line with the QNB Mena region, with a world rank- February 19 during the period Committee. The Group is keen Group’s strategy to expand its ing of 120. from February 28 till March 13 QR46bn QR42bn to maintain strong capitalisation presence in selected markets in With the acquisition of NSGB, at a price of QR30 per share rep- in order to support future stra- the region that have a strong QNB Group’s total number of resenting a premium of QR20 in tegic plans. growth potential. staff exceeded 13,000 operating addition to a nominal value of QR3.1 QR2.9 During Q1 of 2013, the QNB This acquisition is an impor- in 25 countries from over 560 QR10 per share. Group has successfully completed tant step for the QNB Group to locations, with a network of 1,150 He also stated that these shares the acquisition of a controlling realise its vision of being a Middle ATMs. THE PENINSULA were oversubscribed to the tune of 93,610,520 shares which is equiva- lent to 45.3 percent of the total shares capital and comprising 1.8 times the total shares offered for Group to acquire majority stake in Egypt’s NSGB subscription. The chairman said the allot- DOHA: QNB Group, under its satisfaction in NSGB joining the country, and the capable and across different governorates and including information technology, ment ratio reached around 4.83 new expansion plan to enter QNB Group stating that this highly qualified staff, all together could see a doubling the number operation, risk management, and percent and the subscription of into the Egyptian banking sec- move represents the largest represent an opportunity to help of the network during the coming corporate communications. right shares reached to 49,546,536 tor, has announced to acquire a acquisition in the financial sec- us achieve those plans. five years. Building on its highly devel- shares out of 51,674,450 shares. majority stake (over 97 percent) tor in the Middle East and falls Concerning the Group’s plans This will require increasing the oped e-banking technology, QNB He also said the shares availa- in Egypt’s NSGB bank, a press in line with the Group’s strategy in the coming period, Al Emadi number of staff and providing seeks to share its technological ble for allotment reached 2,127,914 statement said yesterday. to expand in selected markets said the Group will work closely them with training programmes capacities with NSGB to offer and the bank has automatically Ali Shareef Al Emadi, QNB across the region. with the NSGB staff to best as part of QNB Group policy to safe, advanced e-banking services allotted 25 percent of the current Group Chief Executive Officer He stated that Egypt has implement the bank’s strat- recruit talented staff and develop to its clients through different owned shares by the shareholder presented an overall vision of the always been one of the top coun- egy, increase its activities in the their capabilities. channels including the Internet “Rights” and allotted the unsub- Group’s future plans to cooper- tries in the Group’s expansion Egyptian market, and serve dif- He added the team working and smartphones. scribed right shares among the ate with NSGB team to continue plans, due to the strategic impor- ferent economic sectors which at NSGB is more than capable Providing NSGB’s retail and subscribers on a pro rata basis. its sustainable growth over the tance of the Egyptian market and will contribute to Egypt’s eco- of managing the bank’s opera- corporate clients with more He also added that the bank coming years. He also highlighted its dynamic role that comple- nomic growth. tions to achieve QNB’s strategy channels to conduct their bank- has already approached QE to list QNB Group’s new strategy to ments the Group’s aim to be the He asserted that NSGB has to increase its presence in the ing services will give the bank the new shares and will refund enter into the Egyptian banking leading bank in the Mena region. promising opportunities for Egyptian market. a competitive edge that would the excess amounts to the respec- sector through buying a share of He added that the strong finan- expansion in the Egyptian mar- There will also be a close coop- strengthen its position in the tive shareholders who have over- 97.1 percent of NSGB. cial position that NSGB enjoys, ket through increasing its net- eration between the teams of Egyptian market. subscribed their priority rights as Al Emadi expressed his its network of branches across work of branches and ATMs QNB and NSGB in several areas THE PENINSULA of April 9. THE PENINSULA

Playing major role Mixed trading in Gulf bourses

DUBAI: Kuwait’s small-caps in Qatar, and the drain on liquid- YESTERDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS helped lift the bourse to a ity could be negative in the run- QATAR: The index declined 0.5 26-month high yesterday as up to the offer. Foreign investors percent to 8,537 points. investors bet on improving will only be able to buy the shares SAUDI ARABIA: The index eased earnings, while other regional after they are listed. 0.02 percent to 7,113 points. markets were mixed. Local investors are selling BAHRAIN: The index advanced 0.2 Kuwait’s index climbed 0.5 shares to raise money that they percent, its highest close since will invest in Doha Global, and percent to 1,091 points. January 2011. this trend is likely to continue DUBAI: The index slipped 0.3 per- Turnover in the last three gradually in coming weeks, trad- cent to 1,875 points. weeks has reached its highest ers said. ABU DHABI: The index eased 0.09 levels since early 2012, a positive “If the IPO is Islamic, there will percent to 3,056 points. sign. be a higher participation from KUWAIT: The index rose 0.5 per- Small-caps dominated trade Qatari investors,” said Yassir cent to 6,851 points. with leisure firm National Mckee, wealth manager at Al OMAN: The index gained 0.4 per- Ranges surging 14.3 percent and Rayan Financial Brokerage Co. cent to 6,133 points. International Financial Advisors “(The selling pressure) would EGYPT: The index rose 1 percent rising 6.9 percent. open up buying opportunities for to 5,033 points. In Qatar, the market halted a foreign and longer-term inves- three-session winning streak, los- tors depending on how much the Abu Dhabi’s index eased 0.09 ing 0.5 percent. Investors booked prices decline.” percent, down from Thursday’s gains ahead of a new listing in Losers outnumbered gainers 41-month closing high. May on Qatar’s exchange, which 16 to three. Industries Qatar and Any break above resistance on hasn’t seen an initial public offer Qatar National Bank decline 0.6 the February intra-day peak of since November 2009. and 0.7 percent respectively. 3,069 points would trigger a bull- Doha Global Investment Co, In Saudi Arabia, the bourse ish right triangle formed by the a new $12bn Qatari investment ended little changed. Shares in lows of the last few weeks, and firm backed by the sovereign Jarir Marketing rose 2 percent pointing up to the 3,180-point wealth fund, will offer its shares after posting estimate-beating area. to the public. first-quarter earnings. In Egypt, recent selling pres- Although in the long term its Elsewhere, Dubai’s measure sure brought in bargain hunters. Maybank Tower, the headquarters of Maybank which is one of the government-linked companies, in Kuala presence could aid the market, declined 0.3 percent, halting The index rose 1 percent, extend- Lumpur, yesterday. The government-linked companies have a big role throughout Malaysia’s economy, tak- the offer will only be open to citi- three sessions of gains. Emaar ing gains since Wednesday’s four- ing up 56 percent of the banking assets, 67 percent of the communication sector and 88 percent of utilities, zens, companies and institutions Properties dipped 2.2 percent. month low. REUTERS according to Asian Development Bank. EFG still awaiting Cairo approval for QInvest merger deal

CAIRO: EFG Hermes, the 60 percent controlled by QInvest. being studied and that a decision ousted President Hosni Mubarak, in loans and grants to help keep transaction for $165m or a fair Middle East’s top investment “If EFG does not receive a ‘no would be announced at the right on allegations of illegal share the most populous Arab country market valuation. bank, yesterday said a merger objection’ from the (Egyptian time, declining to give any details dealings in relation to a 2007 afloat. QInvest is majority-owned EFG shareholders would deal with Qatari investment Financial Supervisory) Authority or time frame. transaction. by Qatar Islamic Bank . receive a one-off dividend of 4 company QInvest will lapse on in the coming days, it will be dif- EFG issued the statement on a If regulators approve the agree- The transaction includes EFG’s Egyptian pounds ($0.58) per May 3 unless it receives long- ficult to implement the joint ven- day when Egyptian Central Bank ment, they may face criticism brokerage, research, asset man- share after the deal closes, which awaited approval from Egyptian ture agreement,” the Egyptian governor Hisham Ramez was vis- for letting executives accused of agement, investment banking and was originally expected in the regulators. company said. iting Qatar, his office said. profiting in the Mubarak era fur- infrastructure businesses. third quarter of 2012. EFG said it had received regu- The joint venture would inject The deal is politically sensitive ther their gains under the new QInvest would inject $250m The contract between QInvest latory approval from a number more than $300m of direct invest- in Egypt because both of EFG’s government. On the other hand, into the joint venture and have and EFG Hermes is due to expire of countries for the deal, under ment into the Egyptian economy, chief executives, Hassan Heikal Qatar is Egypt’s main political the right to buy the remaining 12 months after the agreement which it would initially inject its EFG said.A spokesman for the and Yasser El Mallawany, are on and financial backer in the Gulf 40 percent over a period of 12 to was first signed on May 3, 2012, core business into a joint venture authority said the deal was still trial, along with the two sons of and has pledged $5bn to Cairo 36 months after the close of the EFG said. REUTERS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Ashton seeks consensus on Egypt economy Cairo to seek more IMF funds

CAIRO: The European its liberal and leftist opponents Union’s foreign policy chief met had dimmed after recent politi- Egyptian President Mohammed cal violence. Mursi yesterday against a The opposition accuses Mursi backdrop of sectarian violence of seeking to monopolise power to encourage feuding political and muzzle independent media leaders to seek a national con- and civil society using the public sensus in tackling mounting prosecutor, the security forces problems. and a controversial draft law “This is a critical time for to regulate non-government Egypt’s transition. The country is organisations. facing huge economic and politi- Mursi’s supporters say the cal challenges,” Catherine Ashton opposition is trying to undermine said before the talks. his legitimacy and encouraging Egypt is in the midst of long- violence by refusing dialogue, delayed negotiations with the threatening to boycott parlia- International Monetary Fund on mentary elections and broadcast- a $4.8bn loan needed to cope with ing hostile propaganda. a growing economic crisis. The US, which gives Egypt Foreign currency reserves about $1.5bn in annual aid, have dwindled to less than three directed its sharpest criticism so months’ imports, the Egyptian far at the Islamist-led authori- pound has lost nearly 10 percent ties last week, citing a “disturbing against the dollar this year and trend of growing restrictions on there are warnings of power cuts freedom of expression”. and fuel shortages this summer. The European Parliament, “More than ever, Europe — as in a non-binding resolution, Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi (centre) meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Cairo, yesterday. a partner and neighbour — has urged the EU in March “not to to support Egypt in its move grant any budgetary support to towards deep and inclusive the Egyptian authorities if no the EU and a similar amount in the period from April 16-21 and said the talks were not easy. quoted on April 2 as denying that democracy. I will work hard in major progress is made regard- from the US. to receive additional funding to The minister told Al Mal Cairo had requested any change Cairo to engage with all parties ing respect for human rights and Meanwhile, Egypt is seek- cover the financing deficit until financial daily that if a deal is after a senior IMF official said to help build confidence and find freedoms, democratic governance ing to increase its previously- mid-2015,” Ashraf El Araby said not reached before May, talks the amount could be raised if common ground on both politi- and the rule of law”. requested $4.8bn loan from the in remarks carried by Al Masry will be postponed until October Egypt needed. Asked whether the cal and economic issues,” Ashton The resolution particularly International Monetary Fund to Al Youm newspaper. when parliamentary elections are loan would be increased to $5.5bn, said. criticised the treatment of Copts cover its soaring budget deficit, “There are ongoing discussions expected to start. Araby was quoted in Al Shorouk She was due to meet six main and women. the planning minister said in to increase the loan, estimated at It was the first time a minister daily as saying that figure was opposition leaders later but EU EU officials have said that if comments carried by three news- $4.8bn but it may rise, especially had confirmed that the govern- wrong without giving details, and diplomats said the prospect of Egypt reaches a deal with the papers yesterday. with the increase in the budget ment was seeking to increase the any increase would depend on the a dialogue between the Muslim IMF, it can expect an additional “Egypt will intensify its efforts deficit to $20bn,” he was quoted size of the loan. Finance Minister expected rise in the budget defi- Brotherhood-led government and $500m in financial support from in the spring meetings of the IMF as saying. He gave no new figure Al Mursi Al Sayed Hegazy was cit. REUTERS

Etihad Q1 passenger revenues up 19pc Morgan Stanley appoints

ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways new Mena chairman said passenger revenues rose 19 percent in the first quarter DUBAI: Morgan Stanley of the bank’s investment banking as Abu Dhabi’s flagship car- named veteran banker Sammy team. “He (Jabre) is inheriting a rier expanded globally through Kayello as the chief executive bigger business and a wider region partnership deals. and chairman of its business in the new role, so this is effec- The UAE carrier, which has in the Middle East and North tively a promotion for him,” the stakes in Air Berlin and Virgin Africa (Mena), replacing Kamal source said, speaking on condition Australia, competes with Gulf Jabre who is relocating to of anonymity. Morgan Stanley, the rivals such as Dubai’s Emirates London for a senior investment sixth-largest US bank by assets, is and Qatar Airways, which are banking role. trimming staff at its Dubai office, also extending their reach into Kayello, who was in charge of mainly by cutting jobs in its equi- Europe, Asia and other markets. the US investment bank’s sales ties division, as part of a global Passenger revenues at Etihad and trading operations in the plan to reduce costs, sources told totalled $900m in the first quar- region, has been with the bank for Reuters in January. ter of 2013, compared with $758m over 25 years and has been based But investment banking activity a year ago, the Abu Dhabi-based in Dubai since 2006. in the region is showing signs of airline said yesterday. A spokesman for the bank a slow revival as financial mar- Cargo revenues rose 17 per- in Dubai confirmed Kayello’s kets pick up and global companies cent to $193m in the quarter. appointment and Jabre’s move resume expansion plans. The unlisted Abu Dhabi carrier to London. Jabre, a mergers and Mergers and acquisitions trans- provided no quarterly profit fig- acquisitions banker who took the actions targeting Middle Eastern ures in the statement. Its 2012 net An Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 passenger jet. top Mena role in 2011, is relocat- firms amounted to $20 billion in profit tripled to $42m. The aver- ing to London as the deputy head 2012, double the activity in 2011, age seat occupancy, or seat factor, for the bank’s investment banking according to data. Fees from was 80.5 percent, four percentage outstripped global trends, with Revenue from code-share and revenue in the quarter. Etihad business in Europe, Middle East advising clients totalled $157.9m, points higher than the previous our strongest ever first-quarter equity partners jumped by 34 Airways under an equity alliance and Africa (EMEA). a 23 percent increase. year, despite a 12 percent increase results for passenger revenue,” percent to $182m in the first holds stakes in Air Berlin, Air Jabre will report to Franck Morgan Stanley was one of in capacity, the statement said. James Hogan, the airline’s chief three months of the year and Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Petitgas, global co-head of invest- the advisers to telecoms operator “Our Q1 2013 results have again executive said in a statement. represented 20 percent of total Aer Lingus. REUTERS ment banking, a banking source Etisalat in a block sale of its 9.1 familiar with the matter said. percent stake in Indonesia’s PT Mark Eichorn is the other head XL Axiata last year. REUTERS Zain says Iraq unit to Shuaa names head for Saudi arm DUBAI: Shuaa Capital has Also joining Shuaa Capital named Kamel Almunajjed as Saudi Arabia’s board as non-exec- complete IPO this year chairman of its Saudi Arabia utive directors are the group’s subsidiary, the Dubai-based Chief Executive Colin Macdonald KUWAIT: Kuwait’s No.1 tel- largest ever flotation. Yet much of investment bank’s latest senior and Chief Investment Officer ecom operator Zain yesterday this demand came from Ooredoo, appointment as it tries to turn Sabah Al Binali. said its Iraqi unit would com- which increased its stake to 64 around sustained losses follow- “The appointments follow the plete an initial public offer- percent from 53.9 percent as part ing the global financial crisis. successful completion of Shuaa’s ing by the end of 2013, signally of the offering. Almunajjed has previously held restructuring,” the company said a further delay in the sale That Ooredoo stepped in to senior roles at Banque Saudi yesterday. Shuaa’s shares were process. meet a shortfall in demand from Fransi and IBM Saudi Arabia and unchanged on the Dubai bourse Zain’s 2012 earnings release retail and institutional inves- has been the managing partner of at 0606 GMT. The stock has fallen states Zain Iraq would likely tors has increased doubts that Urjuan Real Estate Development 93 percent from a 2008 peak. launch an IPO in the first half Iraq’s other operators will be Co since 2005. REUTERS of 2013, but the company’s able to sell their full allotment of Riyad Bank posts 5.5pc chairman now appears to have shares, especially as Asiacell had extended that target date. first mover advantage in terms of “We are now taking the legal attracting local liquidity. procedures and we think by the Asiacell now accounts for more rise in first quarter profit end of the year we will finish the than half of the ISX’s combined public offering,” Asaad Ahmed market value of about $9.63bn RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Riyad providing further explanation. Al Banwan told shareholders at and its listing also boosted daily Bank posted a 5.5 percent Operating income for the quarter • Bullion - Mumbai the company’s annual meeting turnover to $7.1m in February rise in its first-quarter profits rose by 4.9 percent to SR1.73bn. Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29425 yesterday. from $4.6m a month earlier, yesterday, beating analysts’ Profits from special com- Zain Iraq along with rival according to data from the forecasts. missions rose by 2.1 percent to Silver (1 kg) Rs. 55260 mobile operators Asiacell, an Federation of Euro-Asian Stock The kingdom’s third-largest SR1.09bn. Loans and advances • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.81 Ooredoo (Qatar Telecom) sub- Exchanges. listed bank by market value said increased by 6.4 percent to 121 • Sensex sidiary, and France Telecom affil- Asiacell shares surged in their in a bourse statement that it billion riyals at the end of March BSE 19683.23 iate Korek all missed an August first few days of trading, but have made SR951m ($254m) in the from the same point of 2012. NSE 5945.70 2011 deadline to float a quarter of now fallen back to their IPO price three months ended March 31, In a March 26 research note, • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return their shares and list on the Iraq of KD22. Zain appears likely to compared with 901 million riyals Arqaam Capital forecast lending p.a. (in dollar) Stock Exchange (ISX). be the sole seller in Zain Iraq’s in the same period a year earlier. growth for Riyad Bank of around Asiacell is the only one of IPO, which could cut the Kuwaiti Analysts expected the bank 7 percent over the course of 2013. • Housing loan from HDFC LTD this trio to now have done so. It firm’s holding to 51 percent from to post an average of SR876m Growth will be sluggish, given the • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, debuted on the ISX in February 76 percent, according to company for the first quarter. Riyad Bank bank’s conservative approach to Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. following a fully-subscribed statements in March. attributed the rise in profits to risk and its desire to maintain net Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] $1.27bn share sale that was Iraq’s REUTERS higher operating income, without interest margins. REUTERS MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS India PM urges businesses to ‘keep the faith’ Singh promises to slice red tape

NEW DELHI: India’s govern- Congress has been losing capi- ment is appealing to corporate tal, especially during its second leaders to “keep the faith” as it stint in power which began in struggles to revive a stagger- 2009, among both domestic and ing economy, but the reply from foreign investors who have been business is they need more than seeking opportunities elsewhere. talk to win back their support. The party wheeled out a string Business confidence in the of top ministers as well as reclu- Congress party-led government sive Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (second left) speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (second right) in Boao, Hainan province, yesterday. State has nosedived, with growth at a Gandhi, often tagged India’s and government leaders from Asia and other regions are attending an economic meeting in the Chinese resort island. decade-low of five percent, stub- prime minister in waiting, at the bornly high inflation, a ballooning industry meeting as part of their deficit, policy drift and a string of charm offensive. corruption scandals. Gandhi’s appearance, however, The disenchantment is even left business leaders scratching Lagarde says euro more worrying for Congress with their heads as he lectured them 2014 polls looming and business in a rambling speech about the hailing corporate-friendly opposi- need to reduce endemic poverty tion leader, Narendra Modi, the and act with compassion, while Gujarat state chief minister, as a failing to provide solutions for low has ‘solid future’ potential prime minister. growth. “The silver lining is they Premier Manmohan Singh, recognise they have slipped up BOAO, China: International Such concerns were highlighted seeking to woo back the key cor- and it is a positive they are doing Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Friday when a US Treasury offi- porate constituency, conceded in something now, but they have only Christine Lagarde yesterday cial said uncertainty surrounding a speech to the annual meeting 10 months to turn things around,” told an audience in China that Europe’s financial woes “remains of India’s biggest industry group said Kiran Karnik, former presi- the euro has a solid future a risk to our recovery and the glo- last week there was a need for a dent of India’s flagship outsourc- and that she hopes no more bal economic outlook”. “corrective strategy” to jumpstart ing lobby group NASSCOM. countries in Europe will need The official spoke on condition growth. Business leaders said they still bailouts. of anonymity ahead of Treasury “Keep the faith and partner have high admiration for Singh’s “I think the collective political Secretary Jacob Lew’s upcoming with the government in our effort” economic scholarship. But many will.... to maintain, defend, pro- visit to the EU. to put the economy back on track say the frail Sikh is not a politi- tect and enhance the monetary Asked specifically about the for high growth, said Singh, con- cian able to deal with an unruly zone and currency zone has been prospect for further crises, sidered the father of 1990s market cabinet and navigate the hurly- largely underestimated,” Lagarde Lagarde said: “I don’t have a crys- reforms that unleashed a two- burly political landscape. said. tal ball. decade economic boom. “He’s basically an economist. “The euro has a future and has “My dearest hope is that there “We grew at an average eight What he says now is not going to a long-standing one.” is not yet another country down percent in the last 10 years and change the trend — people don’t The former French finance the line that needs to be repaired we can get there again,” Singh, have high expectations of the gov- minister spoke during a question- and that could require support who has been in power since 2004, ernment any more,” said another and-answer session that followed from both the European partners told the Confederation of Indian delegate, Anil Sultan. an address she gave at the Boao and the IMF.” Industry recently. Still, the potential opposition Forum for Asia, an annual con- She added, however, that But Singh’s commitments to candidate for premier, Modi, a pil- ference of political and economic Cyprus represented a unique case further open up the still heav- lar of the Hindu nationalist BJP, leaders held on the Chinese island and reminded her audience that ily regulated economy, dismantle remains a controversial divisive of Hainan. the country’s economy amounted investment roadblocks and slice figure for failing to halt deadly Her appearance prompted to a mere 0.2 percent of Europe’s through India’s infamous red anti-Muslim riots that inflamed questions from audience par- economy. “I don’t mean to be tape drew yawns from his audi- his state in 2002. ticipants about the situation in derogatory about this country,” ence who said they were tired of Modi’s business popularity Cyprus, where the Mediterranean she said, noting its status as a promises. stems from clean governance country struck a ¤10bn bailout member of Europe and of the IMF. “It’s like Rip Van Winkle who and effectiveness as an economic deal with the EU, the European “But it was a very specific case has woken up after nine years steward that has made Gujarat a Central Bank (ECB) and the in many respects,” she added, cit- and recognised past failures,” go-to investment destination. International Monetary Fund — ing factors such as the the size of said Ravi Chaudhry, chairman Industrialists such as Sunil the so-called troika. the banking sector relative to the of Delhi-based business strat- Bharti Mittal, Ratan Tata and Europe has struggled with Cyprus economy. egy consulting firm CeNext Anil Ambani have all voiced financial crises and the troubles Lagarde also said she hoped Consulting and Investment. admiration for Modi — prompt- besetting Cyprus are the latest European authorities would “Nobody has confidence, his ing Congress to draw a parallel in a series of sovereign debt crises learn from experiences over the words are not confidence inspir- with the German corporate sec- and bailouts — most notably in past couple of years and “decide Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde ing,” Chaudhry said. “This all hap- tor’s fondness for Adolf Hitler in Greece — that have shaken global to accelerate the consolidation of speaks at the Boao Forum for Asia. pened under their watch.” the 1930s. AFP confidence. their currency zone”. AFP BoJ ushers in ‘easy money’ France expects 0.1pc growth era, but questions abound PARIS: French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici yes- terday said that France’s econ- TOKYO: The Bank of Japan’s an asset-price bubble, a big fear in omy was expected to grow just (BoJ) huge new easing measures Japan after the last two decades 0.1 percent this year, revising mark its boldest bid yet to van- of limp growth, which followed a downward an official target as quish growth-sapping deflation, huge stock and real-estate bubble the country struggles to get but observers warn there are in the late 1980s. back on its feet. no guarantees of success for the However, even those who lauded The French government had multi-billion-dollar gambit. the bank’s efforts concede it was initially forecast 0.8 percent The central bank ended weeks a step into uncharted territory, a growth in 2013 for the eurozone’s of speculation over what its new plan that could backfire and leave second largest economy, which management team would do Japan saddled with bucketloads of continues to battle rising unem- last week, unleashing a torrent debt and little else. ployment, stagnant growth and a of measures which rival the US “We don’t know where this stubborn budget deficit. Federal Reserve’s wave of easy gamble will take us,” said Daisuke Speaking on Europe 1 radio, money, known as quantitative Uno, chief market strategist of Luxembourg says willing Moscovici also predicted growth easing. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. for 2014 at around 1.2 percent. Traders lapped up the news, Boston University professor For 2015, “I think French sending Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index William Grimes predicted that growth will get back to a cruis- skyward, while bond yields fell to the policy “will have positive to ease banking secrecy ing speed that will enable it to record lows and the yen plunged effects, but there are no guaran- create jobs,” he said, pointing to to levels that heartened Japan’s Newly appointed Bank of Japan tees. Deflationary expectations BERLIN: Luxembourg is spotlight on tax havens. Austria an expected growth of 2 percent. exporters whose competitiveness Governor Haruhiko Kuroda listens are much more firmly entrenched prepared to ease its banking and Luxembourg are the only His 2013 prediction con- depends on a weaker currency. to a question during his first regular among Japanese companies and secrecy rules and work more European Union states that do firms those already made by BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda consumers (now). Also, Japan’s closely with foreign tax authori- not share with other EU mem- the European Commission and press conference at the bank’s said his team would double Japan’s fiscal situation has become much ties, Finance Minister Luc bers the identities of EU residents Organisation for Economic headquarters in Tokyo. money supply by the end of 2014, worse.” Frieden (pictured) told a paper, with cross-border bank accounts. Cooperation and Development, jack up asset purchases and hit a Abe’s prescription for the in a comment welcomed by German Finance Minister which both forecast that the two-percent inflation target in as used to less aggressive action from economy includes big government Germany which wants to crack Wolfgang Schaeuble said he was French economy would manage many years, vowing no let-up in Japan’s central bank. spending, although that too may down on tax havens. pleased with the comments from to grow by just 0.1 percent this the battle against falling prices “Kuroda showed today that the run into a wall: Japan has, pro- Frieden told the Frankfurter Luxembourg. “I welcome every year. which have plagued the economy Bank of Japan is now different portionately, the worst debt load Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung step towards automatic infor- Moscovici already said last for decades. “We will carry out from what it was in the past,” said among industrialised nations with there was an international trend mation exchange,” he told the week that he “feared” growth in quantitative and qualitative mon- Yoshikiyo Shimamine, executive a rapidly ageing population threat- towards automatically exchang- Saarbruecker Zeitung newspaper. France would be around that fig- etary easing that is unprecedented chief economist at Dai-ichi Life ening to exacerbate the problem. ing information about depositors, Amid growing outrage over the ure, and Sunday’s announcement in its scale and quality,” Kuroda Research Institute. Meanwhile, the one-time pow- adding; “We no longer strictly scale of tax evasion, Schaeuble confirmed this. told a packed news conference. Tokyo also applauded the moves erhouse economy has been wres- reject this, in contrast to before.” said last week Berlin would push Last month, French President “Rather than doing things with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tling with falling prices for years, “Luxembourg does not rely on the EU to take legal measures Francois Hollande insisted that incrementally, we are taking all — who hand-picked Kuroda and a deflationary spiral that put clients who want to save tax,” he against tax havens. The German the country’s promised turna- the necessary steps to achieve two his deputies — saying the market the brakes on growth because it said. Last month’s ¤10bn bail- government this weekend also round was still on course, despite percent inflation early,” he added. reaction was “exactly what the encourages people to put off buy- out of Cyprus, whose banking urged several German publica- near record unemployment, a Observers hailed it as a “gigan- measures were expected to do”. ing goods in the hopes of paying system was swollen by foreign tions to hand over details they drop in household purchasing tic step” and a “brave new world” Kuroda, meanwhile, brushed off less in the future and hurting pro- deposits attracted by low taxes have obtained on suspected tax power and thousands of layoffs. with moves that surprised markets worries his strategy could set off ducers in the process. AFP and easy regulation, has put the cheats. REUTERS AFP

MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,536.63 0.47 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 12,192.7 0.47 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,570.13 0.59 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,173.35 0.39 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,038.84 0.48 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4919.296 -47.142 -0.95 5174.4 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,230.82 0.47 % QR181.8052 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3787.71 32.75 0.87 3871.58 3600.81 UK ...... QR 5.5515 QR 5.6327 QE All Share Industrials 3,014.49 0.43 % SILVER QE All Share Insurance 2,043.82 1.31 % Dj Indu Average 14550.35 -111.66 -0.76 14684.5 12035.1 QR 3.1606 Euro ...... QR 4.6878 QR 4.7826 QE All Share Real Estate 1,549.06 0.46 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5595 QR 3.6306 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,178.71 0.09 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8564 QR 3.9443 QE All Share Transportation 1,449.03 0.70 % Hang Seng Inde/D 22337.49 -30.33 -0.14 23944.74 21975.9 Yen ...... QR 0.0369 QR 0.0377 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7347 QR 3.8295 Iseq Overall/D 3936.42 -21.68 -0.55 4009.59 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0655 QR 0.0670 07-04-2013 04-04-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 18613.44 37.56 0.2 18590.25 16036.31 Index 8,536.63 8,576.86 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0375 Change 40.23 8.23 Nikkei 225 Index 12634.54 272.34 2.2 12650.26 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0870 QR 0.0897 % 0.47 0.10 $105.92 SL Re ...... QR 0.0287 QR 0.0293 YTD% 2.13 2.61 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1573.66 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0462 QR 0.0471 Volume 4,309,506 4,600,788 Straits Times/D 3307.8 -13.97 -0.42 3331.26 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0413 QR 0.0421 Value (QAR) 267,043,020.98 354,832,543.05 $104.30 Trades 2,172 2,732 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3894 QR 0.3984 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 10 | Down 25 | Unchanged 04

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 07-04-2013

ECB will not print money as economic weakness intensifies

NLY when you think you after the bank’s council meeting, blamed the holi- 56 in February. 55,356 in February but 30 percent do their own share and take ini- have seen it all, the mar- Draghi responded cautiously to day season for The New Orders higher than March 2012. Analysts tiatives, but refrained to explain Oket pushes you back into the Bank of Japan’s dramatic eas- the weakness, Index decreased continue to blame Washington’s how technically these could put humility. Indeed, the meeting of ing plan that will see it double its uncertainty over by 3.6 points to spending cuts for the increased in place. the Bank of Japan on Thursday monetary base over two years. equity markets 54.6, and the layoffs. In summary, the ECB relative proved to be a remarkable day. Currencies closed the week pressured inves- Weekly Money Market Review Employment Europe & UK decision to the Bank of Japan sug- Still the ramifications of the BOJ with a stronger euro and ster- tors to stay on Index declined Draghi Asks for National gests that the market might want action will take many weeks to ling pound. Profit taking pushed the sideline and reinforced a per- 3.9 points to 53.3 Government and Central Banks to be funding in Japanese Yen not come fully apparent. The Yen lost the dollar lower after the ECB’s ception of a US slowdown in Q2 Analysts however continued to do their Share in Euro as the ECB refuses to almost five percent of its value meeting while a short squeeze Disappointing ISM to emphasize the underlying At the last council meeting, a start printing money similarly to against the dollar in less than 24 pushed GBP up against the dol- Manufacturing, However The trend of manufacturing growth dovish Mario Draghi triggered a the Fed and the BoJ. hours after the Bank of Japan lar. After reaching a low of 1.5030 Trend Is Still Intact rather than the month-to-month Euro move down to 1.2745, but Germany Inflation Dropping just announced a new monetary on Thursday, the pound ended the As mentioned above, fears of a changes in the ISM numbers. this was quickly reversed after as the Euro Zone Retail Sales easing programme. As a result, week at 1.5336. US slowdown in growth returned Jobless Claims and ADP he stated that he was looking continue Falling Japan’s 10-year yield fell to 0.425 Euro on the other side behaved this week as manufacturing disappoint. at non-standard measures and The inflation rate in Germany percent, the lowest on record as in a much more volatile way. ISM disappointing slightly. The US jobless claims rose more will continue to debate small and fell to 1.7 percent from 1.8 per- a first response. After dropping to a low of 1.2740 Institute for Supply Management than expected last week reach- medium-sized enterprises lend- cent in February, the lowest since On the other hand, during the during Draghi’s speech, the euro Index was 51.3 in March, down ing a 16-week high. The data ing. After acknowledging the November 2010. This was driven latest European Central Bank exploded higher to close the week from 54.2 in February, however increased by 28k to 385k com- deterioration in Europe’s situ- by energy price inflation fall- meeting, the governing council at 1.2991. still above the 50 level diving from pared to expectations for a ation, Draghi’s message during ing to 0.5 percent (3.6 percent mentioned that an interest-rate In the commodity complex, growth to decline. Details of the decrease of 7k to 350k. The four- his speech was that additional prev.), while food price inflation cut is rising up the bank’s agenda. Gold continued to slide to a low report showed that the pullback week moving average however unconventional measures can- accelerated moderately from 3.1 However, the ECB decided to keep of 1,540 as investors continued to from earlier in the year was due remains at 354k an increase of 11k not be undertaken by the ECB percent to 3.7 percent. However, the main interest rate on hold at shun the metal on hope that the to slowing growth in a number from the previous week revised within the central bank’s man- with downside risks in the Euro 0.75 percentfor the ninth consec- US economy would continue out- of areas, notably new orders and average of 343k. date. This leaves the ECB with its zone growing, the risks of miss- utive month. Draghi also men- perform its peers, while forcing production. The number also Earlier in the week, ADP conventional tools only, which the ing the 2013 inflation forecast of tioned they stood “ready to act” the Fed to consider ending its QE suggested that companies con- rose by 158k from an upwardly Governing Council seems more the ECB has materialized, adding as economic weakness started program. tinue to delay hiring, spending revised 237k gain in Feb, which willing to deploy. The market to the pressure of an additional creeping further into Euro zone In summary, this week’s US and capacity. In another report, weighted also on the USD. Still, now has priced in a rate cut over interest rate cut over the next few countries unaffected by the sov- data disappointed investors as the non-manufacturing data other reports also raised concerns the next few months even with months. Adding to the pressure, ereign debt crisis. numbers ranging mainly from also grew at a slower rate than that job gains may be moderating Draghi refusing to pre-commit. Retail Sales in the Euro zone fell On the foreign exchange side, manufacturing to employment expected in March, hitting a five- and Q2 might be harder for the Furthermore, Draghi implicitly 0.3 percent in February and by 1.4 markets were extremely volatile figures came much worse than month low. The index indeed fell economy. Employers eliminated called on national governments percent on the year. on Thursday and Friday. Speaking expected. Although analysts to 54.4 in March compared to 49,255 jobs in March, down from and national central banks to THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Pujols leads James returns with a bang Angels past Texas; The Miami Heat star scores 27 points in win over visiting Philadelphia Hamilton LOS ANGELES: LeBron James returned from a three- NBA Results struggles game hiatus with a game-high Washington 104 Indiana 85 Philadelphia 27 points to help shorthanded Brooklyn 105 Charlotte 96 76ers’ Justin ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Miami pull away late and beat Miami 106 Philadelphia 87 Holiday Albert Pujols didn’t have to wait visiting Philadelphia 106-87. Minnesota 107 Detroit 101 (left) and nearly as long for his first home Rashard Lewis added 14 points Evan Turner run this year. He had to wait Milwaukee 100 Toronto 83 and Norris Cole scored 13 for the defends awhile for another chance to San Antonio 99 Atlanta 97 Heat, who were without Dwyane against swing the bat, though. Wade (ankle) and Chris Bosh Denver 132 Houston 114 Miami Heat’s Then he homered again. (knee). Norris Cole Pujols went deep in his only two Miami has won 15 straight Atlanta remains in sixth place in the first plate appearances that weren’t meetings with Philadelphia and in the Eastern Conference and half of their intentional walks to offset another swept the four-game season slipped 1 1/2 games behind fifth- tough day for Josh Hamilton in NBA game series. place Chicago, which was idle his second game back in Texas, in Miami, Jrue Holiday scored 18 points Saturday. and the Los Angeles Angels beat and Spencer Hawes added 11 In Milwaukee, Monta Ellis had Florida, the Rangers 8-4 yesterday. points and 11 rebounds for the 22 points and nine assists and yesterday. Exactly a month earlier than 76ers, who were eliminated from matched a season best with six The Miami he hit his first homer in his debut play-off contention. steals as host Milwaukee routed Heat won season for the Angels last year, In anothe game, Tim Duncan Toronto to clinch the final play-off 106-87. Pujols drove a two-run shot to collected 31 points and 14 spot in the Eastern Conference. the lawn in center field off Matt rebounds and Kawhi Leonard Brandon Jennings had 16 points Harrison in the first inning and added 23 points to help San and seven assists and Larry watched Hamilton strike out Antonio move a half-game ahead Sanders contributed 12 points, Houston fell to 1 1/2 games with 25 points. Rodney Stuckey and sparked Charlotte’s come- twice behind him after taking two of idle Oklahoma City in the race nine rebounds and six blocked behind sixth-place Golden State added 20 off the bench as the back with 13 points in the fourth of three intentional walks. for the top seed in the Western shots as the Bucks won for only in the West. Pistons fell to 0-14 on the road quarter, but it wasn’t enough to The next - and last - time the Conference play-offs. the fifth time in 15 games. Jeremy Lin led the Rockets against Western Conference keep the Bobcats from tumbling Rangers let him swing, Pujols DeJuan Blair contributed 11 Milwaukee is two games behind with 23 points, but leading scorer opponents. to their 12th consecutive defeat homered off reliever Jason Frasor points off the bench for the Spurs, seventh-place Boston with six James Harden missed eight of his In Brooklyn, Deron Williams on the road. in the sixth. who were without All-Star point games remaining. 10 shots and finished 14 points. scored eight of his 32 points in In Washington, John Wall “I think it was a smart move,’’ guard Tony Parker (neck) and In Denver, Corey Brewer scored In Minnesota, Nikola Pekovic the final 1:19 and host Brooklyn scored 37 points on 16-of-25 said Hamilton, who is 1 for 20 key reserve Manu Ginobili (ham- 22 points to lead seven players in led seven players in double fig- fended off a late comeback by shooting as Washington routed with 10 strikeouts after signing a string). San Antonio has won nine double figures and Denver tied ures with 20 points and added 13 Charlotte. Indiana for its ninth consecutive $125m, five-year contract. ‘’Albert of its last 10 home games. a franchise record with its 20th rebounds as host Minnesota won Andray Blatche scored 16 home win. Kevin Seraphin added was dominating today, obviously. Rookies John Jenkins (23) straight home win. for the third time in four games. points off the bench and Reggie 15 points and Martell Webster If I was in their situation, I would and Mike Scott (22) both posted Wilson Chandler had 21 points J J Barea also scored 20 points Evans added 14 points and 20 had 13 as the Wizards snapped have done the same thing.’’ career-high scoring totals for and Andre Iguodala added 18 and star point guard Ricky Rubio rebounds as the Nets beat the a nine-game skid against the Mark Trumbo also had a two- the Hawks, who were without points and 14 assists for Denver, overcame a horrid shooting per- Bobcats for the seventh straight Pacers. Roy Hibbert had 25 points run homer in the first against starters Al Horford (hamstring), which stands 1 1/2 games ahead formance to score six of his 10 time to move 1 1/2 games ahead and 10 rebounds, but Indiana Harrison (0-2), who gave up eight Josh Smith (knee), Devin Harris of the Memphis Grizzlies in the points in the final four-plus min- of Chicago for the fourth seed in failed in its second attempt to hits and five runs in five innings (foot) and Kyle Korver (unspeci- battle for the No. 3 seed in the utes for Minnesota. the Eastern Conference. clinch the Central Division crown. after losing to Houston on open- fied injury). Western Conference. Brandon Knight led Detroit Ben Gordon had 27 points REUTERS ing night. “The biggest thing was that first inning,’’ said Harrison, who has an 8.44 ERA through two Diego Magdaleno starts. “The balls I left up in the (right) of US fights zone were hit hard, and it just led Puerto Rico’s Roman to a four-spot in that first and put Zou Shiming us in a big hole.’’ Martinez during Mitch Moreland and Ian their WBO World Kinsler hit third-inning home Super Featherweight runs against Tommy Hanson Title match at (1-0), who gave up three runs wins on debut Cotai Arena, inside and six hits over six innings in Venetian Macao in his Angels debut after arriving in MACAU: China’s Zou Shiming “Taking part in a professional Macau yesterday. an offseason trade with Atlanta. said he was eyeing up a world fight is really a new experience. Magdaleno won the The boos were loud again for title after he won his debut As a rookie though it’s only a title. BELOW, RIGHT: Hamilton, who said before the professional fight yesterday, four-rounder, but as a rookie Former two-time game that his wife had to call over defeating little-known Mexican that’s how you get started,” the world heavyweight security during Friday’s home Eleazar Valenzuela on a unani- flyweight Zou, who had few marks champion George opener for Texas because fans mous points decision in Macau. to his face, said afterwards. Foreman smiles were shouting insults and obscen- The two-time Olympic gold “Hopefully it will be from four during the ‘Fists of ities at their family. There were medallist and three-time amateur rounds to six and to eight, and to Gold’ boxing event in no major incidents, and Hamilton world champion emerged from a the championship,” he added, via Macau. said his family planned to return tight contest over four rounds, all an interpreter. for the remaining two games. three judges giving him victory “I want to thank China as the Hamilton, a five-time All-Star 40-36. Zou reportedly pocketed country that has supported me, promoters at Las Vegas-based Top Valenzuela twice, first with a with the Rangers who went 0 for 4 $300,000 for his night’s work. and supported my success in the Rank -- who are going after the strong right and then a clubbing in his return on Friday, walked in No Chinese boxer has been Olympics. It doesn’t matter where untapped China market and its left, bringing the patriotic home the first inning ahead of Trumbo’s as successful as Zou, 31, in the I go, I will always be Chinese.” growing financial muscle -- had support to its feet. opposite-field home run to right. amateur ranks and his eagerly Wearing gold trunks, Zou, who been expecting a first-round vic- In the fourth and final round, First base was open the next two anticipated professional debut, topped the bill at the 15,000-seater tory, they were left disappointed. Zou finally showed more ambi- times Pujols came up, so Rangers in a sport once banned in China CotaiArena, which was two-thirds The second round followed the tion as he connected with some manager Ron Washington chose under Mao Zedong, was expected full, let his opponent do the work same script, Valenzuela doing the impressive body shots and hunted to pitch to his former slugger. to draw hundreds of millions of in the first round. The inexpe- work and Zou ducking and diving down a spectacular finale against Hamilton struck out both times television viewers in China. rienced Mexican came into the his way out of trouble, challenging the stubborn Valenzuela. on breaking pitches in the dirt. The “Fists of Gold” night at the fight with just two wins behind his opponent to bring on more. “It was a great fight for him. He flied out to left in the sixth and opulent The Venetian resort-hotel him. Halfway through the scheduled There’s something very different again in the eighth after another in Macau, the gambling enclave Roared on by the passion- four rounds and things were not between amateur and professional intentional walk to Pujols. close to Hong Kong which attracts ate home support, Zou grinned exactly going to plan for Zou and fights,” said Freddie Roach, the “Hamilton is not swinging China’s high-rollers, saw United broadly at one point as yet an electric home crowd, who were celebrated trainer who has taken the bat well, we had some left- States promoter Bob Arum bring another Valenzuela swing hit baying for a knock-out. Zou under his wing and has had handers out there and we just the razzmatazz of US boxing to nothing but air. But the Chinese fighter showed him training in the United States. went for the matchup each time,’’ China. But if the crowd and Zou’s plenty more in the third, rocking REUTERS Washington said. ‘’Each time we didn’t walk (Pujols), you seen what happened.’’ In his return to Texas, Hamilton is 0 for 8 with a walk Double for Semjan at Qatar ITF Futures 2013 and four strikeouts, and isn’t hit- ting the ball very hard when he does make contact. Pujols, also playing under the weight of a huge new contract at this time a year Marek Semjan ago, didn’t hit his first homer of (right) singles 2012 until May 6 at Toronto. Odds Ulster’s wing winner at the 1st were pretty good he would go deep Andrew Qatar ITF Futures at Rangers Ballpark, where he has Trimble (left) four multihomer games in his 2013 tourna- jumps for the past 15, including a three-homer ment poses for ball against outburst in Game 3 of the 2011 a picture with Saracens’ World Series with St Louis. AP his doubles hooker partner James Schalk Brits Marsalek (left) Baseball Results during the and Qatar Tennis Toronto 5 Boston 0 European Federation offi- Chicago White Sox 4 Seattle 3 Cup rugby cials at the prize Washington 7 Cincinnati 6 union quarter distribution cer- NY Mets 7 Miami 3 final match at emony at Khalifa Twickenham Detroit 8 NY Yankees 4 International Stadium, LA Angels 8 Texas 4 Tennis Complex, southwest of St Louis 6 San Francisco 3 on Saturday. London. Minnesota 6 Baltimore 5 Semjan com- Philadelphia 4 Kansas City 3 pleted a grand double by winning Arizona 9 Milwaukee 2 title partnering Atlanta 6 Chicago Cubs 5 Marsalek. Oakland 6 Houston 3 Tampa Bay 6 Cleveland 0 Colorado 6 San Diego 3 LA Dodgers 1 Pittsburgh 0 MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Lorenzo storms to Qatar victory Yamaha Factory Racing secure 1-2; Rossi grabs second spot in spectacular finish

BY RIZWAN REHMAT Qatar Grand Prix DOHA: World champion Jorge Results Lorenzo yesterday stormed Losail, Qatar: Collated results of the season- to his second successive win opening Qatar motorcycling Grand Prix here in Qatar as Yamaha Factory yesterday: Racing completed a stunning MotoGP 1-2 at the season opening race 1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha 42min at Losail International Circuit. 39.802sec, 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) Lorenzo finished the 22-lap at 5.990s, 3. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) race ahead of nine-time world 6.201, 4. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 9.473, champion and team-mate 5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) 18.764, Valentino Rossi who moved from 6. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) 22.148, the seventh spot on the grid to 7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 24.355, win his cat-and-mouse battle with 8. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 24.920, 9. third-placed Marc Marquez. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Ducati) 37.124, 10. The 25-year-old Spaniard Ben Spies (USA/Ducati) 44.908, 11. Aleix repeated last year’s performance Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 49.809 in Qatar - winning pole position and the race - with a time of Moto2 42mins 39.802 for his 24th career 1. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Pons Kalex) 40min MotoGP victory. 31.782sec, 2. Scott Redding (GBR/Kalex) Rossi, the master of bends and at 0.844, 3. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Kalex) tough conditions, secured his first 12.098, 4. Dominique Aegerter (SUI/Suter) podium of the new season ahead 18.910, 5. Mika Kallio (FIN/Kalex) 18.933, of 2012 Moto2 world champion 6. Julian Simon (ESP/Kalex) 19.018, 7. Marquez who eventually finished Simone Corsi (ITA/Speed Up) 19.230, 8. third for Repsol Honda Team. Alex De Angelis (RSM/Speed Up) 19.452, 9. The 34-year-old Italian fin- Esteve Rabat (ESP/Kalex) 20.219, 10. Xavier ished 5.990secs behind team-mate Simeon (BEL/Kalex) 20.972 Lorenzo who had claimed pole on Moto3 Saturday. 1. Luis Salom (ESP/KTM) 36min Twenty-year-old Marquez - 26.859sec, 2. Maverick Vinales (ESP/KTM) who remained in second place Jorge Lorenzo (centre), winner of MotoGP Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar is flanked by runner-up Valentino Rossi (left) and third place winner at 0.417s, 3. Alex Rins (ESP/KTM) 0.423, 4. behind Lorenzo for most of the Marc Marquez at Losail International Circuit, yesterday. RIGHT: Jorge Lorenzo celebrates with the trophy after winning the Commercialbank Grand Alex Marquez (ESP/KTM) 0.701, 5. Jonas race - ended the opening round Prix of Qatar. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL Folger (GER/Kalex KTM) 0.916, 6. Zulfahmi 6.201secs behind the Spaniard. Khairuddin (MAL/KTM) 17.489, 7. Miguel Dani Pedrosa, the Honda Oliveira (POR/Mahindra) 17.566, 8. Arthur Repsol star who started form the pole position throughout the A couple of minutes later, Rossi Yamaha that we won like this,” he was a great race.” Sissis (AUS/KTM) 19.355. 9. Niklas Ajo third spot on the front row - fin- 42-minute battle - received the went past Marquez like a shadow added. Rossi seemed pleased with Meanwhile, Stefan Bradl’s wait (FIN/KTM) 28.966, 10. Efren Vazquez (ESP/ ished in fourth place, 9.473secs off trophy in front of 9,704 fans, the to sit at second place and retained his performance that ended his to become the first German on a Mahindra) 28.995 the pace set by Lorenzo. highest tally ever at Losail Circuit the position until the end. podium drought after five races. MotoGP podium since 1989 will World Championship Standings Britain’s Cal Crutchlow failed staging the 10th edition of the After the thrilling race, cham- “I had a good feeling in the continue as the LCR Honda rider MotoGP in his maiden podium bid but nev- Grand Prix of Qatar. pion Lorenzo was congratulated warm-up,” Rossi said. “I knew if crashed out in lap eight while tak- ertheless the 27-year-old emerged After watching Lorenzo scorch by QMMF President Nasser bin I get momentum, I can fight in ing a bend. Bradl flew off the bike 1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 25 points, fifth fastest, 18.764secs behind Losail Circuit, sixth-placed Rossi Khalifa Al Attiyah before he the race. I moved ahead step-by- and hit the gravel before walking 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 20, 3. Marc Lorenzo. turned things around after lap received the winner’s trophy on step and I had a great battle with off the track. Marquez (ESP/Honda) 16, 4. Dani Pedrosa GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s 10 when he jumped to fifth the podium. Marc. Minutes earlier, Britain’s (ESP/Honda) 13, 5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/ Alvaro Bautista (+22.148), spot to shadow the top four of A smiling Lorenzo said: “I knew “I am happy for Yamaha. It Bradley Smith also crashed out, Yamaha) 11, 6. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez and it was going to be a tough week. was a great 1-2. We can fight (for leaving headaches for Monster 10, 7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 9, 8. (+24.355), team-mate Nicky Crutchlow. It was very difficult and all I did the championship),” the Italian YamahaTech 3 with plenty to Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 8, 9. Andrea Hayden (+24.920), Energy T I With momentum on his side, was push myself, giving my 100 added. think before the next round. Iannone (ITA/Ducati) 7, 10. Ben Spies Pramac Racing’s Andrea Iannone the veteran Italian squeezed past percent.” MotoGP rookie Marquez said: Bryan Staring, Karel Abraham (USA/Ducati) 6, 11. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/ (+37.124) and Ignite Pramac Crutchlow on lap 18 to go fourth. The Spaniard praised team- “It is a dream come true to be and Daniel Petrucci also crashed Aprilia) 5, 12. Randy de Puniet (FRA/Aprilia Racing’s Ben Spies (+44.908) A lap later, Rossi slipped past mate Rossi’s performance. here (in the top three). I got a lit- out by lap 14. Aspar) 4, 13. Hector Barbera (ESP/FTR) 3, completed the top-10 riders at diminutive Pedrosa to go third in “I am happy for Valentino who tle nervous before the race. When The next round will be held in 14. Yonny Hernandez (COL/Aprilia) 2, 15. Losail Circuit. a riveting show of perfection on didn’t have that kind of fast rid- I got past Pedrosa, I told myself Austin, Texas, in two weeks’ time. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN/FTR) 1 Lorenzo - who remained in two wheels. ing in two years. I am happy for to relax. I got good experience. It THE PENINSULA Moto2 1. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Pons Kalex) 25 points, 2. Scott Redding (GBR/Kalex) 20, Pol Espargaro (centre) 3. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Kalex) 16, 4. winner of the Moto2 Dominique Aegerter (SUI/Suter) 13, 5. Mika class of Commercialbank Kallio (FIN/Kalex) 11, 6. Julian Simon (ESP/ Grand Prix of Qatar is Kalex) 10, 7. Simone Corsi (ITA/Speed Up) flanked by second place 9, 8. Alex De Angelis (RSM/Speed Up) 8, winner Alex Redding 9. Esteve Rabat (ESP/Kalex) 7, 10. Xavier (left) and third place win- Simeon (BEL/Kalex) 6 ner Takaaki Nakagami Moto3 at Losail International 1. Luis Salom (ESP/KTM) 25 points, 2. Circuit yesterday. Maverick Vinales (ESP/KTM) 20, 3. Alex RIGHT: Jorge Lorenzo Rins (ESP/KTM) 16, 4. Alex Marquez (ESP/ (left), and former Spain KTM) 13, 5. Jonas Folger (GER/Kalex KTM) international and current 11, 6. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (MAL/KTM) Al Sadd football player 10, 7. Miguel Oliveira (POR/Mahindra) 9, 8. Arthur Sissis (AUS/KTM) 8, 9. Niklas Raul, congratulates Ajo (FIN/KTM) 7, 10. Efren Vazquez (ESP/ Lorenzo on his win. Mahindra) 6 Espargaro roars to first win of the new season in Moto2

DOHA: Spain’s Pol Espargaro Bradl in 2010. Technomag carX- a tricky and fast last lap. I had with my team,” the Spaniard said. yesterday started capped a spec- pertSuter’s Dominqiue Aegerter clutch issues in the warm-up but Vinales, 18, said: “I improved tacular run of form across two of Switzerland (+18.910), Marc my team did a great job to fix that. as the race went on. It was really seasons by winning the open- VDS Racing Team’s Mika Kallio It has been a great start for us.” crazy in the first lap but I settled ing round of the 2013 Moto2 of Finland (+18.933) and Italtrans Nakagami said: “I am happy down afterwards. I think it was a World Championship at Losail Racing Team’s Julian Simon to be on the podium for the first really fast race.” International Circuit. (+19.018) finished in fourth, fifth time. It was difficult as there was For 21-year-old Salom, yester- Espargaro, riding a Kalex bike, and sixth spots respectively. good speed from all riders. Third day’s race was an improvement overcame a pulsating challenge For home fans, there was dis- place makes me happy.” from last year’s fourth-place fin- from Britain’s Scott Redding, to appointment and delight in equal In Moto3, Luis Salom clinched ish at Losail Circuit but Vinales seal his win with a time of 40min measure. the issue with a sensational finish dropped a notch after winning the 31.782secs. QMMF Racing Team rider in the first race of the new season. race in Qatar last season. Riding for Tuenti HP 40, the Anthony West crashed out of the The KTM rider - trailing from Rins, just 17 years of age, fin- 21-year-old quelled a stiff chase by race in 11th lap after starting the first lap of the race - recov- ished 10th last season but yester- Redding who finished just .844secs from the 15th gird. ered in fine fashion to seal his win day the Spaniard claimed his first slower than the Spaniard. West’s team-mate Rafid Topn in 38mins 26.859secs. It was the podium of the new season. For Redding, riding for Marc Sucipto of Indonesia completed Spaniard’s third Moto3 win of his Alex Marquez of Spain (.701secs VDS Racing Team, it was a week- the race in 26th spot after six rid- young career. adrift of Salom) was fourth while end to remember in Qatar as the ers retired mid-way the season Salom - who was the pole win- Jonas Folger of Germany was Briton began from the front grid opener. ner on Saturday - finished the fifth. Folger, riding a Kalex bike on row second, his best ever quali- “It was a perfect start for us,” race ahead of Maverick Vinales for Mapfire Aspar team, was fying spot. Espargaro said. “I must say that and Alex Rins. .916secs. In third place was Takaaki Takaaki made things difficult for Vinales, riding a KTM, was just Malaysian rider Zulfahmi Nakagami of Japan, Nakagami, us in the first five or seven laps,” .417secs slower than Salom while Khairuddin (Red Bull) ended riding for Italtrans Racing Team, the Spaniard added. Rins, who started the race from the race in sixth spot despite was 12.098secs off the pace set by “It was a tough weekend as the third grid, was .701secs off the starting the race from 11th grid. Espargaro in 22-degree Celsius new tyres were’t smooth. I am pace set by Salom. Khairuddin was 17.489secs adrift temperature. so happy 9with the result) and I Salom celebrate his first career off the pace set by Salom. Espargaro has now managed thank my team-mates. They did pole position with a big smile and The MotoGP family now moves five successive race starts from a great job. We will definitely be a few words at the podium pres- to Austin, Texas in the US for the pole position (four at the end of fighting for the championship. entation ceremony, second round of the 18-leg 2013 Pol Espargaro celebrates after winning the Moto2 class of Commercialbank last season), equalling the record It is good to collect win points,” “I am very, very happy,” Salom World Championship. Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail International Circuit yesterday. set by MotoGP rider Stefan he added. Redding said: “It was said. “I think I make a good job THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29 MotoGP extends worldwide TV coverage with new agreements Premier-class of motorcycle racing action to reach over 200 countries

DOHA: As the 2013 MotoGP season kicked off in Qatar, Dorna Sports has announced a raft of new TV agreements, in addition to its current broad- casters, to bring the premier- class of motorcycle racing directly into peoples’ homes in over 200 countries via over 77 TV networks. With MotoGP always looking to not only improve the show on- track, but also bring the spectacle to new audiences across the globe, new and extended agreements for this season with broadcast- ers in countries such as Belgium, Holland, Austria, Cambodia, Angola, Finland and USA, amongst others, are a welcome addition to the sport’s already extensive TV coverage. In Belgium this season, MotoGP will continue to be broadcast on the Vier channel in the north- ern region of Flanders, whilst in French speaking Belgium, both the MotoGP and Moto2 races will be broadcast live on the free-to- air RTBF channel for the first time. New broadcast agreements in Austria will see ORF broadcast both highlights of each round of the championship and live cover- age of several Grand Prix on their Luis Salom (centre), winner of the Moto3 class of Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar is flanked by second place finisher Maverick Vinales (left) and third place winner Alex Rins at Losail free-to-air ORF Sport+ channel, as International Circuit yesterday. RIGHT: Jorge Lorenzo stretches in the pits on the race day of Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail International Circuit yesterday. well as news and highlights cov- PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL erage of the Championship being available on Servus TV. In other European territo- continue its coverage of the timing and tracking data. With US audience, coincides with the Brazil will continue to show all highlights of each Grand Prix ries, an extended agreement in Championship this season with two Czech riders in the MotoGP Indianapolis GP. races live on their SPORTV chan- available for the first time on free Holland with Sport1, means all new faces in their presenter line class this season in the shape of This means that MotoGP will nels. This coverage will be com- to air television in Cambodia. qualifying practices and races up from the paddock, as their Karel Abraham and Lukas Pesek, be a central part of the Fox Sports plemented this year by renewed Across Africa, another long from all categories will be broad- hero Valentino Rossi looks to the country’s new channel Fanda, launch weekend in August and agreements with free to air broad- term agreement continues with cast live for the Dutch fans. In reignite his charge on his Yamaha. launched by the Nova TV group will then continue to be a key casters in the region. In Venezuela Supersport during 2013 whilst a Finland, a renewed agreement Additional news coverage will also last year to cater for young males, property in the Fox Sports pro- with Meridiano and in El Salvador new agreement for this season sees Nelonen Sport Pro offering be broadcast in Italy by both RAI will be showing all MotoGP races gramming line up for the remain- with Telecorporación Salvadoreña with TV Zimbo in Angola, will full coverage of the season. and Sky Italia. live with the other classes also der of the season. who will broadcast races from all see the MotoGP race from every The BBC’s broadcasts in the UK Mediaset España’s extensive broadcast on the sports channel, Alongside MotoGP other big categories on Canal 4. Grand Prix broadcast live on this this season will bring extensive coverage for the Spanish audi- Nova Sport. name leagues and sports such A long term agreement contin- terrestrial free to air channel. coverage of MotoGP Qualifying ence, on their Telecinco and In the USA, a renewed con- as Major League Baseball, US ues during 2013 with Fox Sports Furthermore, in an ground Practices on BBC2 followed by Energy channels, will this sea- tract will see MotoGP con- College Football, US College Asia, covering the whole region breaking new agreement for the coverage of all the MotoGP races, son be enhanced by a new mul- tinue to be broadcast on Speed Basketball, Major League Soccer, and complemented by additional 2013 season with Sport24, the first the following day. This will be tiscreen player, available on their TV until the launch of the Fox UEFA Champions League and coverage in individual territo- live sports channel available on complemented by full coverage mitele.com platform providing Sports channels later this year. Nascar will make up the all new ries on NTV in Japan, Trans TV airlines and cruise ships, fans of of the entire championship on fans with a fantastic new view- The exciting launch of these new Fox Sports 1 schedule. in Indonesia, Guangdong TV in MotoGP will now be able to watch British Eurosport again, mean- ing experience from every race, channels, a huge undertaking by In Latin America, ESPN will China, Ten Sports in India and the races live whilst travelling on ing UK fans won’t miss a minute including live coverage of all the the Fox Sports group, which will continue to broadcast extensive Channel 9 in Thailand. A new planes or ships, making their holi- of the action on track. action from several new camera bring the best in international coverage of the 2013 season across agreement with Hang Maes days more enjoyable. In Italy, Mediaset Italia will angles as well as access to live and American sports series to the region. Whilst Globosat in channel this season will also see AGENCIES

Takaaki Nakagami is congratulated by members of Tuenti HP 40 at the Losail International Circuit yesterday.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s umbrella girl before the start of the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail International Circuit yesterday. CENTRE: Jorge Lorenzo rides out of the pit during the warm-up race of Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, yesterday. RIGHT: Yamaha Factory Racing’s mechanics work on Jorge Lorenzo’s bike on the race day. MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Korean Park on track for Horschel leads second major championship

RANCHO MIRAGE, California: South Korea’s Texas Open Inbee Park pushed further for- ward into a three-shot advan- tage after the third round of the McIlroy within striking distance Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in California yesterday. SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Horschel told reporters. Park fired a five-under 67 to American Billy Horschel contin- Texas Open Scores “Obviously there was a lot of emo- forge ahead to 12-under for the ued his impressive recent form SAN ANTONIO, Texas: tion going on starting the day but tournament, leaving her three to maintain a two-shot lead at Leading third-round scores I felt like I hit the ball pretty well, shots clear of second-placed the Texas Open yesterday with here yesterday in the $6.2m made some key putts, missed a American Lizette Salas and a world number two Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Texas Open (USA couple coming in. But with this good round away from a second in striking distance four off the unless noted, par-72): wind blowing you just have to stay major championship victory. pace. 206 Billy Horschel 68-68-70 patient and just try to hit every Salas, who started the day just Horschel fired a solid two- shot solid. a shot behind, shot a decent round 208 Jim Furyk 69-70-69, Charley Hoffman under par 70 in the third round to “I think I did a pretty good job of 69 but couldn’t keep pace with 71-67-70 improve to 10-under 206 for the of that, there were a few loose the Korean. The two are seem- tournament, two clear of fellow 210 Ryan Palmer 71-71-68, Bob Estes ones, but all in all a good day.” ingly in a two-horse race for the Americans Charley Hoffman (70) 72-69-69, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 72-67-71 The 26-year-old leads the tour title although the six players tied and former US Open champion 211 Padraig Harrington (IRL) 68-73-70, in active cut streaks with 21 con- third at six-under will be looking Jim Furyk (69) at eight under Martin Laird (SCO) 70-71-70, Jeff secutive cuts but has yet to taste to get hot today and create some 208. Overton 69-72-70, K.J. Choi (KOR) victory. A win today would not pressure. Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, 72-67-72, Daniel Summerhays only bring the biggest result of Americans Angela Stanford searching for some form before 69-69-73 his career but also afford him an (66) and Jessica Korda (68), next week’s Masters after an 212 Marcel Siem (GER) 76-67-69, D.J. invitation to next week’s Masters. Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlam indifferent start to the season, Trahan 70-71-71 Horschel has played just one (70), Frenchwoman Karine Icher shot a scratchy 71 to set six- 213 Martin Flores 71-72-70, David Lynn major, the 2006 US Open as an (68), Norway’s Suzann Pettersen under and in a tie for fourth with (ENG) 72-70-71, Richard H. Lee amateur, but said he would try (67) and seven-time major win- Americans Bob Estes (69) and 74-70-69 his best not to be thinking of ning Australian Karrie Webb Ryan Palmer (68). 214 Jason Kokrak 74-68-72, Shane Lowry the potential start at Augusta (67) are all six shots back. Webb The former number one started (IRL) 70-72-72 National. famously shot a seven-under 65 in strong with two birdies in his “You can’t allow them the final round of 2006, including opening three holes but bogeyed just hit a terrible wedge shot and (thoughts of Augusta) in your a hole out eagle on the last, to get three of his next eight to fall back it wasn’t a very good bunker shot head,” Horschel said. into a playoff before capturing her in the pack. at the last, so it could have been “I think if you allow anything second Kraft Nabisco champion- The 23-year-old then steadied a couple of shots better. But I am about the future to get in there, ship. Park was bogey-free in the with two birdies in the run home still in a decent position going into then you are going to forget about third round showing little signs of to give himself a shot at a confi- the last day and hopefully I can the task at hand. nerves as she looks to add to her dence-boosting win. make the ground up.” “So I’m just going to do a little 2008 US Open title. “I feel like I fought back well,” Horschel, who started the year putting, get some dinner, go back “I think I played really good McIlroy told reporters. “I started ranked 312th in the world but is to my room and wake up tomor- here in the last few years but I the back nine with two three currently 132nd after a runner- row and focus on playing a solid just couldn’t putt that well on putts but to birdie 12 and 14 to up finish in last week’s Houston day. these greens but this year it sort of get it back there was nice. Open, carded five birdies and “If I can just play my game, play Billy Horschel hits his drive on the 15th hole during the third round seems I’m reading the breaks “I had a couple of chances com- three bogeys to claim his first solidly and just keep doing what of the Valero Texas Open held at the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San really good and the putts are roll- ing in I didn’t take advantage of. 54-hole lead on the PGA tour. I’ve been doing all week I’ll be just Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, yesterday. ing in so that’s been the big differ- I hit a great drive down 17 and “Today was a good round,” fine.” REUTERS ence,” Park told reporters. AFP LPGA Kraft Nabisco Ormsby claims maiden Asian Tour title Championship NEW DELHI: Australian He dropped another shot RANCHO MIRAGE, Wade Ormsby held his nerve Panasonic Open on the 12th hole but an 18-foot California: Leading third- to overcome a triple bogey and birdie conversion on the 17th was round scores here yesterday in complete a wire-to-wire victory India enough to seal his victory. the $2m LPGA Kraft Nabisco Wade by one stroke for his maiden pro- “It means so much. I’ve played Leading scores after the fourth Championship (USA unless Ormsby of fessional title at the Panasonic and final round: tournaments worldwide but to noted; par-72): Australia Open India yesterday. finally get a win in Asia is fan- 279 Wade Ormsby (AUS) 67-67-74-71 204 Inbee Park (KOR) 70-67-67 poses with Ormsby, who held at least a tastic,” the 33-year-old, who fin- 207 Lizette Salas 70-68-69 share of the lead from the open- 280 Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 70-68-73-69 ished tied 33rd and tied 20th in the win- 210 Angela Stanford 70-74-66, Karrie Webb ing round, carded a final-round 281 Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 67-69-73-72 Malaysia and Chiangmai respec- ner’s trophy (AUS) 72-71-67, Suzann Pettersen one-under-par 71 for a total of 282 Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-68-72-71 tively, told the Asian Tour. during the (NOR) 68-75-67, Karine Icher (FRA) nine-under 279 to finish a shot “I was so disappointed in Panasonic 283 SSP Chowrasia (IND) 69-69-77-68, 72-70-68, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) ahead of Thai Boonchu Ruangkit Malaysia and Chiangmai as I Open India Anura Rohana (SRI) 71-72-71-69, 71-69-70, Jessica Korda 70-72-68 (69) at the Delhi Golf Club. Digvijay Singh (IND) 71-71-71-70 played well on both weeks but at the Delhi 211 Paula Creamer 74-68-69, Caroline Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing didn’t finish them off. I knew Golf Club in 284 Richard Lee (CAN) 72-68-77-67, Hedwall (SWE) 71-68-72 (72), who had the lead briefly Shamim Khan (IND) 73-75-67-69 there was a win in there for me New Delhi, during the final round, finished and I am glad I came here.” 212 Hee Young Park (KOR) 70-70-72, Jiyai yesterday. third while India’s Shiv Kapur one-stroke advantage, Ormsby Boonchu, who was looking to Shin (KOR) 70-71-71, So Yeon Ryu (KOR) (71) bogeyed two of his last three came back strongly after the tri- become the oldest winner on the 73-71-68 holes to finish three shots behind ple bogey by sinking three birdies Asian Tour at 56, was happy to 213 Sarah Jane Smith (AUS) 72-72-69, Ormsby in fourth. in four holes from the fifth to the have been able to challenge his Hee Kyung Seo (KOR) 72-70-71, Anna Starting the day with a eighth hole. younger opponents. REUTERS Nordqvist (SWE) 69-72-72 Davis Cup: Czech Republic in semis; Serbia take 2-1 lead against USA

ALMATY, Kazakhstan: while Rosol levelled in the 10th. matches. World No. 1 and reign- lead in their Asia/Oceania Group Lukas Rosol of Czech Republic But this time the 27-year-old ing Aussie Open champ Novak I tie with Uzbekistan, after also put the defending champi- Czech was more precise in the Djokovic can send Serbia into winning his first singles match ons into the Davis Cup semi- tiebreak to clinch a 2-1 lead. the semis with a win Sunday over on Friday. finals with a tough win over In the fourth Rosol underlined American Sam Querrey, who is In Tokyo, 24-year-old Ito held Kazakhstan’s Evgeny Korolev at his clay supremacy, breaking his ranked 20th in the world. his nerve to defeat South Korea’s Astana yesterday. rival’s serve twice to win the set, The 25-year-old Djokovic has Cho Min-Hyeok 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in Rosol, who is 63rd in the ATP the match and a place in the captured two ATP Tour titles in the decisive match, after rookie rankings, won 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 in semi-finals for his team. 2013, winning 19 singles matches Lim Yong-Kyu upset Japan’s Go his first ever head-to-head meet- On Friday Rosol and Jan Hajek and losing just two. Earlier this Soeda to leave the fixture poised ing with the 25-year-old Korolev gave Czech Republic a command- year he claimed his sixth grand at 2-2. Australia and Japan now to give his team an unassailable ing 2-0 lead beating Andrey slam title by beating Andy Murray go through to the World Group 3-1 lead in the tie. Golubev 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 and in the final of the Australian play-offs in September where “It was a really difficult win Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 Open. Querrey has a 13-7 record they will try to seal a spot in the as Evgeny showed really classy respectively. this year with no titles. global team competition’s top tier tennis today and kept me under On Saturday Kazakhstan’s pair Djokovic has won five of six next season. pressure throughout the match,” of Golubev and Yuriy Schukin careers meetings against Querrey, Meanwhile, France lev- Rosol said. reduced the arrears with a including a 6-0, 7-6 (8/6) win last elled their Davis Cup World “Luckily I managed to resist the straight-set win 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 over month in Indian Wells, California. Group quarter-final tie against pressure and won. It’s our joint the Czech pair Hajek and Radek Serbia defeated the 32-time Argentina yesterday after win, the entire team’s result.” Stepanek. titlist Americans 3-2 in Belgrade Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dismantled Both players started cautiously, In Boise Idaho, Serbia took a in an opening-round tie three Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in 1hr trying to avoid unnecessary risks, major step towards reaching the years ago in their lone previous 42mins to force a deciding rubber. before Rosol snatched the opening semi-finals by outlasting the host Davis Cup encounter. The French number one also set tie-break. USA in a marathon five-set vic- Meanwhile, recalled wild child won his opening singles’ match In the second set Korolev, who tory in yesterday’s doubles com- Bernard Tomic was the hero for on Friday and a place in the is 187th in the world, broke in the petition of their Davis Cup tie. Australia and Tatsuma Ito sealed semi-finals will now be decided sixth game but Rosol broke back Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad a pulsating tie for Japan as both in the final match between world in the ninth to set up another tie- Zimonjic shocked the top-ranked countries reached the Davis Cup number 71 Carlos Berlocq and break, which Korolev won to level doubles team of Bob and Mike World Group play-offs yesterday. 13th ranked Frenchman Gilles at one set all. Bryan 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1), 5-7, 4-6, Tomic, back in the fold after Simon. Novak Djokovic of Serbia congratulates compatriot Ilija Bozoljac after The third set was almost a car- 15-13 to give Serbia a 2-1 lead in being dropped for disciplinary David Nalbandian and Horacio the doubles win over Mike and Bob Bryan of US in the third rubber bon copy of the second as Korolev their best-of-five tie heading into reasons, beat Denis Istomin to Zeballos came from behind to win during the Davis Cup tie at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho, yesterday. grabbed the lead in the fifth game, a pair of today’s reverse singles give Australia an unassailable 3-1 Saturday’s doubles. AGENCIES MONDAY 8 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31 All eyes on Mutaz at GCC event Region’s best athletes in Doha for GCC Athletics Championships which begin today

DOHA: Qatar’s London Games star Mutaz Barshim, who won a bronze in the high jump, 16 medals will be the centre of atten- tion at the 14th GCC Athletics up for grabs Championships which begin at Khalifa Stadium today. The region’s best athletes - on day one expected number to be more than 200 - have arrived for the three- DOHA: A total of 16 medals day meet that will help jump start will be up for grabs on day the athletics jamboree in the one of the 14th GCC Athletics Qatari capital in the next 30 days. Championships which opens Later this month, the Qatar at Khalfa Stadium today. Atheltics Federation (QAF) will Eight medals will be con- stage the Heir Apparent Athletics tested by senior athletes while Cup and the Emir Athletics Cup a similar number of events will events. be held for juniors (Under-17). On May 10, the QAF will On day two of the champi- assemble top names like Yohan onship - organised by Qatar Blake of Jamaica and David Athletics Federation (QAF) Rudhisha of Kenya for the one- - athletes will compete for 12 day Samsung Diamond League medals. season-opener at Qatar Sports Six medals will be won by the Club Stadium. senior athletes while a similar For the time being, Qatar will number will be up for grabs for attempt to better their tally of the juniors. eight medals picked up at the last Officials of Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) gearing up for the 14th GCC Athletics Championships which will begin at Khalifa Stadium today. Around On the penultimate day of GCC edition held in Saudi Arabia 200 athletes are likely to take part in the three-day meet. Qatar will attempt to better their tally of eight medals picked up at the last GCC edition held the championships, athletes two years ago, Dahlan Al Hamad, in Saudi Arabia two years ago. RIGHT: Qatar’s London Games star Mutaz Barshim. BELOW, RIGHT: Logo of the 14th GCC Athletics Championships. will compete in 13 events (8 President, QAF. INSET: Dahlan Al Hamad (left), President, Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) and Fahad Al Hajri, Media Director at QAF and another official during an for seniors and 5 for juniors). Mutaz is set to lead a group of inspection at Khalifa Stadium yesterday. Qatar’s London Games stars more than 50 athletes represent- Mutaz Essa Barshim will com- ing Qatar at the three-day event. pete in the long jump event on The QAF president said more including 5 golds, 1 silver and 2 second Qatari to win a medal Wednesday at 5:30pm. than 200 athletes from neigh- bronze to finish in second place in track and field events at the Barshim - who won a bronze bouring Saudi Arabia, the UAE, behind hosts Saudi Arabia. Olympic Games. medal in the London Games Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman will Abu Baker Ali Kamal clinched “Qatar will have more than 50 long jump competition - is cur- join Qatari track and field names gold medal in 3000m steeplechase athletes competing in different rently out of the country train- at the April 8-10 event. while Barshim grabbed the high events,” Al Hamad said yesterday. ing for the season. The three-day championships jump gold. Despite Mutaz being the talk Three juniors will compete will be held at Khalifa Stadium, “Mutaz will be the biggest name of the town, Al Hamad said QAF in every discipline from each Al Hamad said. for the hosts at the GCC Athletics refrains from putting pressure on participating country, QAF This will be the second time Championships,” Al Hamad said their athletes to win medals. said yesterday. that Qatar would be hosting in a press conference last month. “Our federation tries to sup- A soft opening ceremony the regional showpiece athletics Mutaz, 21, was one of three port them, prepare them for the will be held at 4:30pm today at championships after 1986. bronze winning athletes in the big events and bring the athletes Khalifa Stadium. Qatar secured second place men’s high jump final at the to the starting blocks, so as to Also today, the regional in the 13th GCC Athletics imposing Olympic Stadium on say,” Al Hamad said. chiefs in athletics will converge Championship for men and August 7 last year. The young “We don’t put them under pres- at Sheraton Doha for a meeting fourth in the GCC Athletics Qatari won the bronze in front sure. We give them every support proposed and hosted by QAF. Championship for juniors staged of 80,000 fans at the Olympic and then let them be on their own During the three-day cham- in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 2011. Stadium. Mohamed Suleiman was in competition so they are able to pionships, QAF will honour Some 350 athletes from six the first Qatari to win a medal give their best,” he added. past and present athletes and GCC nations competed in vari- at the Olympic Games, bagging a Junior athletes from the region officials who have served their ous disciplines during the four- bronze in the men’s 1500m final will also compete in various disci- countries in track and field. day championships. in 1992 (Barcelona) plines, Al Hamad said. THE PENINSULA Qatar bagged eight medals Last year, Mutaz became the THE PENINSULA QAF to honour athletes, officials during meet

DOHA: Qatar Athletics Qatar’s Mutaz became one of be respected run at the meeting of other top officials will Qatar will be making propos- Federation (QAF) is set to three bronze-winning athletes in for what he has 2008 Beijing also be held in Doha. als on creating a ‘kids festival’ honour names like Roqaya Al the men’s high jump final at the done so far,” Al Olympics and “The leadership in Qatar is for young athletes from across Gassra, Bahrain’s top female London Games on August 7 last Hamad said. the 2009 World keen to bring nations together the Middle East. The QAF is also sprinter, and Mohamed Salman year. Roqaya, a Championships through sports,” Al Hamad said keen to stage a championships Al Khuwalidi, the Saudi long The young Qatari won the popular fig- in Athletics. She during a press conference in the designed for female athletes. jumper, during the three-day bronze in front of 80,000 fans at ure for young announced her run up to the championships to be QAF is preparing for a series of GCC Athletics meet beginning the Olympic Stadium. women athletes international held at Khalifa Staidum. activities with the Heir Apparent today. Prince Nawaf bin Mohammed in the region was retirement in “This will be first step for the Athletics Cup and the Emir Dahlan Al Hamad, President, bin Abdullah Al Saud, President, one of the first 2009. regional athletics family to come Athletics Cup events scheduled QAF yesterday said Qatar had Saudi Arabian Amateur Athletics women to rep- Al Hamad said closer in this fashion. We will hold for later this month. proposed the plan last month Federation, and former QAF resent Bahrain QAF has plans discussions and make proposals,” On May 10, the QAF will and will start the proceed- chief Abdullah Al Zaini will also at the Olympic Roqaya Al to make propos- Talal Mansour Al Hamad said. assemble top names like Yohan ings by acknowledging the feat be honoured with medallions, Al Games by tak- Gassra als at a meeting “The successful agreements Blake of Jamaica and David of Qatar’s Talal Mansour and Hamad said. ing part in the of regional chiefs (athletics) dur- would be taken to the National Rudhisha of Kenya for the one- Mutaz Barshim, the London 2012 “We are also going to present women’s 100m sprint at the 2004 ing the three-day championships. Olympic Committees in the day Samsung Diamond League Olympic Games bronze winner in Mutaz Barshim with a special Summer Olympics in Athens. He said prior to the meeting of region and then possibly to the season-opener at Qatar Sports the long jump. award. We know he is an active She won medals at the 2006 the presidents of athletics bod- Asian body and the IAAF,” he Club Stadium. In a historic performance, athlete but he still deserves to Asian Games and went on to ies across the region, a separate said. THE PENINSULA Al Rayyan reach semi-finals of Emir Cup basketball

BY DANOTZKI SANTOS points, Ngombo had 18 and Erfan 16. DOHA: Al Rayyan brushed Meanwhile, Qatar Club pulled aside a lacklustre first half and a fast one over Al Gharafa in the came out strong in the last two final quarter of the first game and periods to seal an 85-77 win over ran away with an 85-81 victory to Al Arabi that sent the power- tie the latter and Al Arabi with a house club unto the semifinal 2-2 slate in Group 2. round of the Emir Cup basket- Al Gharafa were leading in ball by virtue of topping Group the early quarters, 27-18, 44-38 2 with an unblemished four wins and 64-63 until Qatar Club’s in the preliminaries. Lamont Leslie, Eugene Moliva Al Arabi had a big first half and Antonio Anderson conspired as they clobbered Al Rayyan, to unleash a 16-5 assault from a 45-36, with Mathew Rogers and 67-68 deficit to establish an 83-73 Alvin Mofunanya outplaying their advantage going into the last 2 counterparts and came out with minutes of the match. a combined output of 27 points Coach Hatem Koussay and his and 13 rebounds in the first 20 boys would then mount an 8-5 last minutes of play. ditch stand but ran out of time. Al Rayyan would wake up Leslie had a whopping 36-point in the third period as Tanguy output while Moliva and Anderson Ngombo and Jeremeo Davidson had 15 each. went on a scoring run to pull the The quarter-final round knock- Heir Apparent champions out out matches will be played on from the 9-point deficit to a 63-57 April 9, with Group 1 second best margin. Al Ahli meeting the declared Boney Harold Watson, Yaseen third best in Group 2, while Mousa and Erfan Saeed helped Group 1 third-placer Eljaish will out to preserve the win in the pit wares versus the second-place Qatar Sports Club’s La Monte Leslie (centre) breaks free from Al Gharafa’s Thomas Victor Hakim (left) and Cage Calvin Earl during their Emir Cup match at pay-off period. finisher in Group 2. Al Gharafa Indoor Arena yesterday. RIGHT: Action from the match played between Al Rayyan and Al Arabi Club at the Al Gharafa Indoor Arena yesterday. Davidson finished with 21 THE PENINSULA PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT Monday 8 April 2013 27 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5663 Sport Price: QR2 LATEST NEWS UPDATES LATEST NEWS UPDATES IN TAMIL FROM PHILIPPINESPHILIPPIN NBA: James Golf: Horschel TAMIL TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER AVAILABLE returns with a leads Texas AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS bang Open Available every Wednesdays in all leading IN QATAR supermarkets and shops in Qatar & Bahrain FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: TEL: 4465 0600 TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected] Sport | 27 Sport | 30 EMAIL: [email protected]

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Chelsea edge past Sunderland I am not worried about relegation: Di Canio;Tottenham, Everton share spoils in EPL

LONDON: Chelsea came from the Chelsea comeback 10 minutes minute after Adebayor’s shot behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 into the second half but his strike came back off the post. Man City still at Stamford Bridge yesterday was similarly fortuitous, David Tottenham finish the weekend and deny Paolo Di Canio a sen- Luiz’s strike cannoning off him in the fourth and final Champions United’s equals, sational start in his first game and trundling into the bottom- League qualifying place, but as a Premier League manager. right corner. although they are two points says Mancini Chelsea’s victory, in a game “I am not worried (about rel- above Arsenal and six points clear that witnessed two own goals, saw egation),” said Di Canio. of Everton, both their pursuers them climb above both Arsenal “When I decided to move to have games in hand. MANCHESTER, UNITED and Tottenham Hotspur into Sunderland, I knew what players Meanwhile, Shaun Maloney KINGDOM: Manchester City third place, while Sunderland were here but we have to fight scored a glorious injury-time free- manager Roberto Mancini remain just a point above the until the end of the season. kick to earn third-bottom Wigan insists his team will use today’s relegation zone. “I won’t say this was a bonus Athletic a 1-1 draw at second- derby to show they are still Appointed as the successor to game but it was a test for us to see bottom Queens Park Rangers at Manchester United’s equals Martin O’Neill amid a whirlwind what we can do. I am not happy Loftus Road. even though the Premier League of controversy over his alleged we lost 2-1, but there were posi- Loic Remy’s magnificent 85th- title is destined for Old Trafford. fascist sympathies, Di Canio had tive things I can take from this.” minute strike looked to have With United 15 points clear of dominated the British sporting Chelsea interim manager breathed new life into QPR’s second placed City, Mancini has headlines in the build-up to the Rafael Benitez said: “We needed bid to avoid the drop, only for been forced to concede his side’s game. to improve, obviously. The nega- Maloney to bend a free-kick into reign as champions is all but over. The Italian, who this week tive thing is we concede a goal, the top-right corner with practi- Yet there is still plenty to play denied he was a fascist, saw his the positive thing is we recover cally the last kick of the game. for at Old Trafford, with United side take the lead on the stroke of and come back.” QPR, who had Bobby Zamora looking to move closer to confirm- half-time when Chelsea defender Earlier, Gylfi Sigurdsson sent off in the first half, now lie ing their title triumph and City Cesar Azpilicueta inadvertently snatched a late equaliser as seven points from safety with six desperate to inflict a bloody nose hooked John O’Shea’s header into Tottenham denied Champions games to play, while Wigan trail on their bitter rivals. his own goal. League qualification rivals Sunderland on goal difference City supporters will never let Di Canio had drafted Matthew Everton victory in a 2-2 draw at alone and have a game in hand. United fans forget their 6-1 win Kilgallon into his starting line-up White Hart Lane. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s bid for at Old Trafford last season and but the centre-back accidentally Spurs went into the game aim- a European berth faltered as another victory on enemy terri- gifted Chelsea an equaliser in the ing to tighten their grip on third they were held to a frustrating tory would at least partially ease 47th minute when he diverted place and they took the lead after 0-0 draw at home to West Ham the pain of surrendering the title Oscar’s pass past visiting goal- just 34 seconds when a stretch- United. Brendan Rodgers’ side and prove they can hold their own keeper Simon Mignolet. ing Emmanuel Adebayor toed lost Stewart Downing to injury against the champions-elect. Branislav Ivanovic completed Jan Vertonghen’s cross past Tim in the first half at Anfield and “To win 6-1 is impossible,” Howard. However, Phil Jagielka their best chance saw a Steven Mancini said. “This can happen English Premier equalised with a 15th-minute Gerrard effort blocked on the line every 100 years. But we don’t header before Kevin Mirallas put by James Tomkins. deserve to stay 15 points behind the visitors in front eight minutes The result meant Liverpool United. They play well, they win a League Results into the second half with a goal to remained in seventh place, but lot of games, the last time they lost Chelsea 2 (Kilgallon 47-og, Ivanovic 55) rival his fine strike in last week- they are now seven points out- was at Norwich (in November), so Sunderland 1 (Azpilicueta 45-og) end’s 1-0 win at Stoke City. side the European qualifying they deserve to stay on the top. Liverpool 0 West Ham 0 Picking up the ball in the places having played a game more “But it is not a true table. Now Newcastle 1 (Cisse 90+3) Fulham 0 inside-right channel, the Belgian than both fifth-place Arsenal and we have eight games left. If we play Tottenham 2 (Adebayor 1, Sigurdsson 87) neatly weaved his way past three sixth-place Everton. well, we win a lot of these games, Everton 2 (Jagielka 15, Mirallas 53) opposing players before planting Elsewhere, Papiss Cisse struck maybe we can reduce this gap. This a shot in the bottom-left corner. in injury time to earn Newcastle should be our target. I don’t know QPR 1 (Remy 85) Wigan 1 (Maloney 90+4) David Moyes’ side were within United a 1-0 win at home to at this moment what my approach Playing today: sight of a fourth straight league Fulham that lifted Alan Pardew’s Sunderland’s Italian manager Paolo Di Canio gestures during the English will be. To play there is difficult Manchester Utd vs Manchester City win, only for Sigurdsson to tap side five points clear of the bottom Premier League football match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in but there is not a big difference (1900GMT) home an equaliser in the 87th three. AFP London, yesterday. Chelsea won the game 2-1. between us and them.” AFP IPL: Sunrisers beat Royal Challengers in Super Over

HYDERABAD: In a Super Over RCB bowler also bowled a no ball. hero for Sunrisers. He also picked Pakistan all-rounder Azhar finish, Sunrisers Hyderabad beat His over read 2-1-1-6-2-6-2. up the prized wicket of Gayle. Mahmood (2/19) coaxing him into Royal Challengers Bangalore by Earlier, Vinay Kumar took the In Pune, Kings XI Punjab an expansive shot and was easily five runs in their Pepsi Indian game to superover by not allow- recorded their first win with a caught by Praveen Kumar. Premier League (IPL) match at ing Hanuma Vihari and Steyn to comfortable eight-wicket win A run out gave Punjab their Cameron the Rajiv Gandhi International score seven of the last over of the over Pune Warriors India at the third wicket while Robin Uthappa White of Stadium yesterday. inning. Requiring two off the last Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium (19), who failed to get going, was Sunrisers Requiring 21 in the Super Over, ball, the batsmen ran for one to yesterday. castled by a low-keeping ball from Hyderabad RCB could score only 15 runs. tie the score at 130. Excellent bowling juxtaposed leggie Piyush Chawla (1/19). plays a shot Chris Gayle could hit only one six Local boy Ashish Reddy and with superlative fielding helped Things went from bad to worse during their and captain Virat Kohli a bound- Hanuma Vihari scored 14 off the Punjab restrict the Warriors to a for the hosts as skipper Angelo IPL match ary in Dale Steyn’s over. The over 18th over of the inning to bring meagre 99 for nine. In reply, two Mathews (4) edged an Parvinder against Royal read 2-1-4-1-6-1. their team close to the target. local youngsters from Punjab, Awana (1/16) ball straight into Challengers Cameron White hit two huge Ashish hit Vinay Kumar for a six Mandeep Singh (31) and Manan the gloves of his opposite number Bangalore in sixes off Vinay Kumar to set over long-on while Vihari picked Vohra (43 not out) finished the Adam Gilchrist. a target of 21 for RCB. White him for a boundary. game in no time with some clean With the opposition already Hyderabad scored 17 runs and Perera 2. The Vihari, with 44 not out, was the hitting. They took the game tottering at 53 for five, Gurkeerat yesterday. to their opponents finding the Singh took an exceptional one- Scoreboard boundary regularly. Pune didn’t handed catch on the square leg do their chances any good by boundary to get rid of the dan- ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE SUNRISERS HYDERABAD dropping two catches and some gerous Ross Taylor (15). Mitchell C H Gayle c Patel b Vihari ...... 1 P A Reddy b Murali ...... 23 lacklustre bowling. Marsh (15) provided some fire- T M Dilshan b I Sharma ...... 5 P A Patel c Arun Karthik b Henriques ...... 2 Punjab scored 100 for two in works for the home fans by hitting Scoreboard V Kohli c&b Ashish Reddy ...... 46 C L White c Murali b Henriques ...... 5 12.2 overs, ending the match with a boundary and the only six of the K K Nair lbw Mishra ...... 9 G H Vihari (not out) ...... 44 46 balls to spare. Adam Gilchrist innings but he too fell soon enough PUNE WARRIORS Bowling: P Kumar 4-0-31-2 (1w); R J Harris M C Henriques c White b I Sharma ...... 44 K C Sangakkara c Arun Karthik b Unadkat... 16 (15) and Mandeep Singh were the clean bowled by his countryman R V Uthappa b Chawla ...... 19 4-0-12-1; Azhar Mahmood 4-0-19-2; P Awana M A Agarwal c Ankit Sharma b Steyn ...... 7 N L T C Perera c Henriques b Unadkat ...... 7 only wickets to fall for the hosts from Australia Ryan Harris. M K Pandey b Kumar ...... 0 4-0-16-1; P P Chawla 4-0-19-1. K B Arun Karthik c Ashish Reddy b Perera .....0 A Mishra (run out-V Kumar/A Karthik) ...... 0 while David Hussey was unbeaten Abhishek Nayar (25 not out) T L Suman c Kumar b Azhar Mahmood ...... 6 KINGS XI PUNJAB R Vinay Kumar c Sangakkara b I Sharma ...... 7 A Ashish Reddy c Kohli b V Kumar ...... 14 on eight. battled on but with wickets fall- M N Samuels (run out-M Singh/Gilchrist) ...... 3 AC Gilchrist c Samuels b Mathews ...... 15 M Kartik (not out) ...... 2 D W Steyn (not out) ...... 3 Earlier, Pune, electing to bat, ing all around him never got the R Taylor c G Singh b Kumar ...... 15 Mandeep Singh b Sharma ...... 31 J D Unadkat (not out) ...... 1 Extras (B-1, LB-9, W-6) ...... 16 suffered a setback in the very first opportunity to hit the big shots. A D Mathews c Gilchrist b Awana ...... 4 M Vohra (not out) ...... 43 Extras (LB-1, W-7) ...... 8 Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 130 over of the match. Manish Pandey Pune have so far lost both their A M Nayar (not out) ...... 25 D J Hussey (not out) ...... 8 Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 130 Did not bat: Ankit Sharma, I Sharma. (0) edged a Praveen Kumar (2/31) matches in this edition and are M R Marsh b Harris ...... 15 Extras (W-2, NB-1) ...... 3 Did not bat: M Muralitharan. Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-20, 3-48, 4-81, 5-98, ball back onto his stump, set- bottom of the table with zero B Kumar b Azhar Mahmood ...... 8 Total (for 2 wkts in 12.2 overs) ...... 100 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-22, 3-42, 4-85, 5-108, 6-101, 7-124. ting the trend for the rest of the points. Delhi Daredevils too lost R Sharma (run out-Chawla) ...... 1 Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-79. 6-114, 7-125, 8-127. Bowling: J D Unadkat 4-0-24-2 (1w); M C innings. Buoyed by the wicket, their opening two matches but are Extras (LB-2, W-1) ...... 3 Bowling: B Kumar 2-0-16-0; A B Dinda 2-0- Bowling: D W Steyn 4-0-37-1 (2w); G H Vihari Henriques 3-0-14-2 (1w); M Kartik 4-0-27-0 Punjab bowlers hit the right line seventh above Pune and Chennai Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 99 28-0 (1w); A D Mathews 2-0-12-1; M R Marsh 1-0-5-1; I Sharma 4-0-27-3; Ankit Sharma (2w); R Vinay Kumar 4-0-27-1; M Muralitharan and length and made it very dif- Super Kings, who lost their Did not bat: A B Dinda. 3.2-0-24-0 (1nb, 1w); R Sharma 3-0-20-1. 2-0-17-0; N L T C Perera 4-0-21-1 (1w); A 4-0-18-1 (1w); T M Dilshan 1-0-10-0. ficult for Pune to score. first match to Mumbai Indians Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-21, 3-29, 4-33, 5-38, Player-of-the-Match: M Vohra (Kings XI Pun- Mishra 4-0-15-1; A Ashish Reddy 1-0-7-1. Player-of-the-Match: GH Vihari of (Sunrisers) Tirulamasetti Suman (6) Saturday night, due to better run- 6-53, 7-78, 8-93, 9-99. jab) was the next to go with former rate. IANS