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Thursday 21 February 2013 11 Rabial II 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5617 Price: QR2

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OPINION $100m Qatar aid to Syrian opposition Religion Britain to amend arms embargo and expand support to National Coalition, says Hague and state in DOHA: Close on the heels of came two days after European Arab Spring a decision to hand over the Union foreign ministers stopped Syrian Embassy in Qatar to the short of meeting Britain’s demand slamists Syrian opposition, Qatar pro- to lift an arms embargo on Syria Ihave taken vided financial support worth but agreed to allow “non-lethal” power in $100m to the National Coalition aid and “technical assistance” to most Arab for Syrian Revolutionary and flow to the opposition. Spring coun- Opposition Forces. “We would amend the tries fol- The aid, which comes under embargo and this will expand lowing the the directives of the Deputy the kind of practical support revolutions Emir and Heir Apparent H H we can give for saving lives of that toppled Khalid Al Sayed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al the people of Syria, in particular autocrats. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Thani, has been handed over to to the National Coalition. I will Islamists now the Humanitarian Assistance announce once we have agreed rule in Egypt and Tunisia, Coordination Unit in Syria. the exact terms of the amend- where previous regimes had Nazar Al Haraki, the new ments and once we have made banned them. Syrian ambassador to Qatar rep- the necessary decisions what People are divided over resenting the National Coalition, assistance that will be, but I’m Islamist rule. While some are appreciated the gesture, saying it determined that we will be able sceptical, saying Islamists are reflected how deeply the Qatari to send equipment that will save against democracy, others government and its people have many more lives in Syria,” Hague welcome their rise as ‘a shield’ been involved to solve the Syrian told Al Jazeera yesterday. from the chaos that has fol- crisis and reduce the suffering of “It won’t end the crisis on its lowed the uprisings, and some the Syrian people. own, but too many people are others think that Islamists are The British Foreign Secretary dying and we should do more to God-fearing people. To put it William Hague, who was in help, and we have to be ready to briefly, Arab Spring countries Doha on a short visit, said that change our policy in order to help are going through a political Britain would be amending the more,” he added. He, however, transition, and an intense arms embargo as agreed by the said the UK had no plans to send The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with British Foreign Secretary William debate is raging about secu- European Union on Monday lethal equipment to the Syrian Hague in Doha yesterday. Talks covered cooperation between the two countries and regional developments, larisation and implementation which will allow it to send mili- opposition at the moment. specially in Syria. of Shariah law. tary equipment to rebels in Syria. “We will send other equipment The truth is that what is Hague met the Heir Apparent that will help them in this situa- hand the Syrian Embassy to the sure they are properly repre- the day will come when they are happening in Arab countries and H E Khaled bin Mohammed tion. I don’t think any option at National Coalition, he hinted that sented there. I hope the day able to take over all the premises is a struggle or conflict for Al Attiyah, Minister of State for all should be ruled out to save the decision is not final. will come when they’ll have the of the Syrian government in the power, and has nothing to do Foreign Affairs, and discussed the lives of the Syrian people,” “We are working with their embassy, but that depends on the world,” he said. with ideological or philosophi- the Syrian crisis, along with sev- said Hague. (the national coalition) repre- events that happen in the next THE PENINSULA cal differences. These conflicts eral bilateral issues. The meeting Asked why the UK refused to sentative in London to make few weeks and months… I hope See also page 11 are deepening every day and solving them has become the main concern in these coun- tries, instead of seeking solu- tions to other more pressing Tunisia looking problems and having a vision Two jailed for using for the future. Speedboat race What is worrying is that for new premier more Islamist groups are get- ting involved in political dis- forged ration coupons TUNIS: Tunisian leaders began putes, instead of focusing on the search for a new prime min- social changes and improv- DOHA: The Criminal Court seal, put it on coupons and went to ister yesterday to try to lead the ‘lacked security’ ing societies. Their excessive sentenced two Asians to one a distribution centre. But an official North African nation out of its involvement in politics for year in jail for trying to buy there found out that the coupons gravest political crisis. DOHA: Several fellow racers “The Kuwaiti racers were near propagating their brand of subsidised food items using were fake and alerted police. Rached Ghannouchi, the pow- yesterday alleged that there us and rushed to save Rashid. Islam is dangerous and the forged ration coupons intended The Public Prosecution referred erful head of the main Islamist was a lack of security measures They took him out of the water fighting among themselves for Qataris. the duo to the court after charg- Ennahda party, said the group during the Pleasure Boat Race but he had already died,” he said. could ultimately lead to the They will be deported to their ing them with forging the seal of had not named anyone to replace at Katara beach last Saturday, Al Zayed claimed that there elimination of some of these countries after serving their jail the Central Tenders Committee prime minister Hamadi Jebali, where Qatari participant were no rescue teams in the water. groups. Moreover, this will term. The ration system aims to and trying to purchase basic who resigned on Tuesday, but that Rashid Al Mansoori died in an “There was only one ambulance damage Islam, making it the provide Qataris with essential supplies. he expected a new government to accident. on the beach. There should have subject of narrow political items, including rice, sugar, milk One of the convicts visited a emerge this week. The comments came as friends been a specialist rescue team in interests and can under- and edible oil, at highly subsidised shop to buy cooking oil with three “We need a coalition govern- and relatives gathered at Aziziya the water,” he said. mine various components of prices. Last year, smart cards coupons that had different names ment with several political parties to pay homage to Al Mansouri. Yousuf Al Jassim, a cham- society. replaced the traditional paper and numbers. The second convict and technocrats,” Ghannouchi told Hamad Jassim Al Zayed said pion in a previous competition In fact, this continuing coupons that were issued to claimed that someone had sold reporters after talks with secular he was very close to Al Mansoori and friend of Al Mansoori, said debate about religious and ration card holders every month. him a coupon for QR275 riyals. President Moncef Marzouki. during the accident but was una- he was watching the incident civil states is pointless. The The Asians forged an official THE PENINSULA Full report on page 11 ble to help him. from a distance and rushed to state in Islam is civil, as in “Rashid asked me before turn- save him. all other countries, and what ing his boat to lean towards the “But the Kuwaiti racers were distinguishes the state in right to avoid the strong winds. closer to him. They were the first Islam is the Shariah com- Le Printemps sale talks with Qatari investors But the wind was powerful and to take him out of the water.” ponent, as Sheikh Yousuf Al overwhelmed us. He also alleged that there Qaradawi has explained in his “Al Mansoori’s boat flipped into were no specialist rescue teams book Religion and Politics. The the air, hit him on the head and in the water, which are normally biggest proof for this is the capsized. I tried to swim to help provided during international Madinah Covenant, which was him but I could not because I had championships. agreed at the time of Prophet a fracture in my leg. THE PENINSULA Mohammed (PBUH). Continued on page 9

Qatar rejoins bid to develop Fears for health of 30 jailed former Athens airport Oman hunger strikers ATHENS: Qatar has rejoined a public competi- MUSCAT: A member of Oman’s consultative tion to develop the former Athens airport, one of council voiced concern yesterday for the health of the prized sites of Greece’s privatisation drive. 30 jailed activists who have been on hunger strike Qatar “has signed the confidentiality agreement for the past 12 days, as activists said some of them and is returning to the Hellinikon tender”, gov- were in hospital. “We are concerned, as are their ernment spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said. families, about the deterioration of the health con- Qatari Diar, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment ditions of the detainees after 12 days on hunger Authority, had pulled out of the tender in January. strike,” said Malek Al Abri, a member of Oman’s The three other bidders are Elbin Cochin Ltd elected Majlis Al Shura (consultative council). from Israel, London & Regional Properties from The council “is in contact, at all levels” with the Britain, and Lamda Development of Greece. government to allow a delegation to visit Samayl The former airport of Hellinikon was originally central prison, 60km south of Muscat, to “inquire put up for sale in December 2011. Situated 8km about the situation of the hunger strikers”, Abri said. A view of the Printemps department store in Paris, yesterday. RREEF, Deutsche Bank’s real estate investment south of Athens, Hellinikon and an adjoining 337- The hunger strike was first launched by 17 cyber unit, said that it had started exclusive talks to sell its stake in French department store group Le Printemps to berth marina built for the Athens 2004 Olympics activists. They were later joined by 13 other prison- span nearly 620 hectares and include waterfront of ers protesting their conditions of detentions, accord- Italian partner Borletti Group and Qatari investors. Printemps is 70 percent owned by RREEF and 30 percent about 3.5km. It is more than three times the size ing to activists. Their appeals will be considered by the Borletti Group, headed by Italian businessman Maurizio Borletti. of Monaco, and more than twice the size of Hyde by the Supreme Court on February 25 and a final Park in London. AFP decision will be made on March 4. AFP

THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Minister receives UK Foreign Secretary

SCH unveils oral health drive DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah received UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and a number of U K officials yesterday. Colgate’s ‘Bright Smiles, Bright Futures’ campaign for school students They reviewed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them in addition to issues of common concern. DOHA: Supreme Council of Health A number of officials from the Foreign Ministry attended the meeting. (SCH) yesterday introduced an interna- QNA tional programme to help improve oral health habits among school students.

Colgate’s ‘Bright Smiles, Bright Futures’ a far-reaching children’s oral health initia- tive, was launched because dental caries and periodontal diseases are prevalent among schoolchildren and teenagers in Qatar. Let us take your children on an adventure of a lifetime. The oral education campaign will start Let us show you a world of flavors. as a pilot project on March 1, at 30 inde- pendent schools. Over 6,000 students in Let us lift your spirits and ease you off into the weekend. grades two and three will participate in Let us pause the hustle for an afternoon and make its memory last forever. the eight-week programme. They will be provided with educational materials about oral health and encouraged to brush their teeth twice a day. The participants will be evaluated in three years. Later the programme will be extended to all schools in Qatar. Enjoy a lavish selection from the buffet and sumptuous Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani, barbecues from around the world. Kids have their own corner with fun activities and one lucky winner gets an Director of Public Health Department overnight stay at the hotel for a family of four, at SCH, and Marios Tirkides, Marketing including breakfast. For reservations, call Director, Colgate-Palmolive, Arabia and The Ritz-Carlton, Doha at +974-4484 8000 Gulf States, signed an agreement at the W or visit us at ritzcarlton.com/doha. Hotel, Doha. “Dental caries and periodontal diseases are common among children in Qatar. The ‘Bright Smiles, Bright Futures’ programme will help students improve their oral health,” said Dr Abdullah Al Emadi, Consultant, Oral Health, SCH, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony. Statistics from the GCC Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani and Marios Tirkides during the signing ceremony epidemiological studies suggest that the yesterday. (QASSIM RAHMATULLAH) prevalence of dental caries ranges between 80 and 90 percent among children. Organisation, has conducted a survey among will be released in April,” said Dr Al Emadi. SCH, together with World Health 4,200 students. “The findings of the study THE PENINSULA Qatari novelist offers creative writing class

DOHA: Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation write a historical novel but they are reluc- writing a historical novel, it is not just writ- Publishing (BQFP) and the Katara Art tant to do so due to several reasons. This ing, it is identifying the lives of a group of Centre are organising a historical Novel workshop will help them visualise what they people in a specific geographical place and Writing Workshop, led by bestselling want to write and how to achieve it,” said in a specific time. You must love history to Qatari author Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud. It Al Mahmoud. write it in the form that others will enjoy,” will take place on March 4 and 6 at the Al Mahmoud will explain how to write explained Al Mahmoud. Katara Art Centre. a bestselling novel, including identifying Those interested in taking the course Al Mahmoud, known for his bestselling the era, researching the historical context, can email [email protected] to obtain novel Al Qursan, will work with partici- structure, avoiding writer’s block, along the application form. The last day to apply pants on overcoming obstacles that prevent with many other useful methods he has is February 25. Selected applicants will be authors from writing novels. developed. notified by email. © 2013 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “There are many people who wish to “I’ve been through the experience of THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar Airways touches down in Cambodia Flag carrier opens 125th route BY ISABEL OVALLE including Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the PHNOM PENH: A few min- airline, joined dignitaries such utes past 2pm local time Qatar as the Secretary of State of the Airways’ first flight from Doha Kingdom of Cambodia, Tekreth to Cambodia landed in Phnom Samrach, and the Minister of Penh International Airport Tourism, Thong Khon, in an marking the 125th route of the event that kicked off in the warm airline and its 11th gateway in Cambodian weather with a cus- Asia. tomary local dance. Cambodian The flight was welcomed at the Ambassador to Kuwait Long terminal with an official ceremony Kem, who is also responsible for attended by numerous repre- Qatar, was also present. sentatives form the Government With this route, Qatar Airways of Cambodia and representatives becomes the only Gulf airline to of local and international media. fly to Phnom Penh. The daily Secretary of State of Cambodia Tekreth Samrach (right) presents a gift to Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker after the arrival of the inaugural flight in After the traditional water flight stops at Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, yesterday. salute, passengers of flight QR602, in Vietnam. However, the CEO announced that the compa- percent of the airline’s network 2012. Of the total number of pas- with 3.6 million visitors in 2012, ny’s goal is to have a non- is comprised of Asian destinations, sengers, 1,083,190 departed and a figure that represents a 24 per- stop flight Doha-Phnom the new addition being Chengdu 1,085,280 arrived. cent increase in comparison to Penh in the near future. in China. Cambodia Airports comprises the previous year. “Though Cambodia is one The CEO of Cambodia Airports, Phnom Penh and tourist cities Qatar grants tourist visas at bor- of the fastest growing econ- Emmanuel Menanteau, said that Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk. der points for the nationals of more omies in South East Asia, the connection with Doha is a In less than two decades (1993 to than 33 countries, not including it has an air travel market “new milestone for us.” He added 2007), there was a significant rise Cambodia. Nationals from this coun- that is highly underserved. that this flight would signifi- in the number of international try need to arrange them before- Qatar Airways is here to fill cantly enhance the connections visitors to the country, growing hand. Travellers from Qatar can get this void and we look for- of Phnom Penh to other primary from 118,000 to over two million. a visa on arrival in Cambodia. ward to working with the destinations through the air- Currently 22 international com- The carrier closed the day travel trade and our busi- line’s hub, Doha, in Europe, the panies operate in the Cambodian with a gala dinner at the Raffles ness partners to make this Americas and the Middle East. capital. In this context, the min- Hotel in Phnom Penh, attended a hugely successful opera- Phnom Penh international air- istry of Tourism highlighted that by the Prince of the Kingdom of tion,” added Al Baker. port received a total of 2,077,282 this industry is the second largest Cambodia, Thomico Sisowath. Approximately 30 passengers on 26,248 flights in income generator in the country, THE PENINSULA

Qatar Airways sponsors London career fair

DOHA: Qatar Airways continues its on offer, from technical, operational and The airline will have a stand at the drive to recruit young Qatari students marketing to sales, airport services and London event, where members of Qatar by sponsoring an annual career fair in corporate communications. Airways’ Operational and Nationalisation London this weekend. “With so many options available, Qatar teams will hold on-site interviews with The event, organised by Qatar’s embassy Airways provides a great career path both young Qatari men and women, encourag- in London, expects to attract over 150 pre- in Qatar and overseas across our over 120 ing them to apply for the global carrier’s registered Qatari students studying at UK global network of destinations. flagship talent-nurturing scheme. universities and colleges. “The annual Career Fair in the UK this Nationalisation Vice-President Dr Taking place at the Royal Lancaster week, our third presence over the years, will Kholode Al Obaidli added that there were Hotel in London on Friday and Saturday, it enable us to meet some extraordinary young three programmes up for grabs by the air- aims to provide undergraduates with oppor- people and show them what we have to offer. line at this year’s fair — scholarship, intern- tunities to secure scholarships with leading Our continued success and growth depends ship and graduate career rotation. Qatari organisations. on harnessing young Qatari talent as leaders “I hope that some of the young people we Qatar Airways, one of the world’s of tomorrow and to maintain pride in the meet at this weekend’s fair will take this fastest growing airlines, will again have country’s national airline and with it the opportunity to learn more about our unique a leading delegation from its National world-class standards that passengers all programmes,” she said adding, “whatever Scholarship Programme from head office over the world have come to expect from us.” their area of interest, if students can dem- on hand in London to provide undergrad- With the new Hamad International onstrate their commitment, ambition and uates with career opportunities in over Airport, which Qatar Airways will manage drive to gain the skills they need in the 20 disciplines. and operate, opening in Doha this year and workplace, we will do whatever we can Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker the national airline opening an exciting array to support them. Qatar Airways National said: “Qatar Airways is committed to identi- of new routes during 2013, the aggressive Scholarship Programme is central to this fying and nurturing the best young national expansion by the carrier is a strong magnet support.” talent for the wide range of careers we have to attract new recruits, added Al Baker. THE PENINSULA 350 students to take part in model UN meet

DOHA: Over 350 high school students from 20 local schools and 40 international schools representing at least 25 countries will converge in Doha today to take part in academic simulations of the United Nations. The 8th annual Model United Nations (MUN) confer- ence hosted by Education City’s Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) will take place at the Qatar National Convention Centre where participating high students will debate, consult and develop solutions to real world issues, in a re-creation of the real workings of the UN. SFS-Q Dean Gerd Nonneman said: “The opportunity to participate in the Model United Nations presents a trans- formative moment for a future generation of engaged citizens. The students will gain a unique insight into the mechanisms of effective negotiation and global conflict resolution.” Kathryn King, Associate Director of Student Development at SFS-Q, said: “SFS-Q’s MUN is run by Georgetown SFS-Q students — students leading the world in the study of international affairs. Additionally, we have the participa- tion of Georgetown faculty with expert briefs offered in our committees and sample lectures given during the event.” This year’s MUN theme, which along with the commit- tees and committee topics chosen by the MUN Student Board, is focused on the issue of sustainability. William YangUn Cha, an SFS-Q senior in international economics and the secretary-general for the upcoming SFS-Q MUN, will speak on sustainability as ‘particularly relevant to Qatar, the host country of our conference.’ On the sidelines of the conference there will be a cul- tural night, a colourful international bazaar, where each school will showcase national dress, food, flags, pictures, songs, and artefacts from their home countries. The fes- tivities not only provide an engaging social activity for students, but present yet another forum in which rela- tionship building will contribute to the atmosphere of cooperation during the more serious proceedings, in a continued microcosm of the global stage. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Al Meera to open first Geant hypermarket Outlet to open at Hyatt Plaza on Sunday

DOHA: Al Meera Consumer Goods Company will open its first Geant hypermarket at Hyatt Plaza on Sunday with a promiss to offer competitive prices to the customers. “A surprise will be revealed on the day of the opening.” the company said in a statement yesterday. The opening of Geant hyper- market follows an agreement signed between Al Meera Consumer Goods Company and professional suppliers who are in operation in the United Arab French retailer Casino to develop able to follow high standards and Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. a network of hypermarkets and specifications and are able to sup- “At Geant Hypermarket with its Visitors look at artworks during the ‘Contempoary Perspective in Middle East Crafts’ at Katara Art Centre yesterday. supermarkets under the Geant ply fresh product regularity, the array of products, customers can (SHAIVAL DALAL) banner in selected Middle East company said. be assured of a shopping experi- countries. Special emphasis has been given ence never felt before. With the The Casino, Al Meera (through to expand the products range to breadth and visibility of its fresh Creative designers and artisans present Al Meera Holding Company) and provide more choices, particu- food offerings, creation of an Retail Arabia had earlier signed a larly to increase the interest of attractive, dramatic sales environ- sub-franchise agreement allowing the expatriate population (meat, ment, pertinence of its non-food Arab-inspired works at Katara exhibition Al Meera Holding to develop and cheese, dairy product, fish, bakery offerings (textiles, decor, lifestyle, BY RAYNALD C RIVERA operate hypermarkets and super- and vegetable) and also to provide electronics, etc), transformation date back to 1200 BC Middle East Dubai 2013 fair. markets under the Geant banner more choices for local people. of the surroundings of its shopping are some of the more interesting Carwan Gallery is one of the in Qatar and Oman. The first Geant hypermarket in centres into modern, welcoming, DOHA: The creative minds of objects displayed at the exhibition. nine galleries from the Middle The Géant Hypermarket Qatar will reinforce the presence friendly spaces, Geant hypermar- international designers meet Featured designers at the month- East out of 29 galleries which will adhere to strict inter- of the brand in GCC countries, ket promises a fun-filled and com- with the expert hands of Middle long expo are Karen Chekerdjian will feature at the second edition national standards to ensure where Geant is already a leading fort shopping,” said the statement. Eastern artisans unleashing (Lebanon), Khalid Shafar (UAE), of Design Days Dubai to be held product freshness, by selecting retailer with more than 10 stores THE PENINSULA a unique set of Arab-inspired Lindsey Adelman (US), Marc from March 18 to 21. objects now on display at the Baroud (Lebanon), Mischer Traxler Presenting an exclusive preview ‘Contemporary Perspectives in (Austria), Nada Debs (Lebanon), of the fair, Design Days Dubai Fair Middle Eastern Crafts’ exhibi- Oeuffice (Canada), Paul Loebach Director Cyril Zammit said a total tion which opened yesterday at (US), Philippe Malouin (Canada) of 683 unique pieces would be show- the Katara Art Centre. and Tamer Nakisci (Turkey). cased at the event which would “We strongly believe the Middle The project was undertaken to feature installations, performances East has a great potential to bring show the compatibility of tradi- and educational programme. original design into the world,” tional craft with modern design and ‘Contemporary Perspectives said Pascale Wakim, co-founder encourage collaboration between in Middle Eastern Crafts’ runs of Beirut-based Carwan Gallery, the designers and the artisans. until April 2 at the Concept Space which is behind the project. “This shows traditional objects at the Katara Art Centre, which A chandelier made of agal can be used to create other aims to explore with Doha-based (headband used my Arab men); objects,” said Carwan Gallery audience the ideas behind design a sideboard resembling mashra- co-founder Nicolas Bellavance- and encourage experimentation, biyas (delicate wooden window Lecompte, explaining the ‘Arabi to inspire local designers and con- screens found in Middle Eastern Chandelier’ by Emirate designer nect them to the work and the architecture) and extrusion bowls, Khalid Shafar who will present a concepts of designers in the wider stool, high tray and table inspired live demonstration using pearls region and around the world. by intarsia and lathe crafts which at the upcoming Design Days THE PENINSULA

A view of the closed-down Al Fawz Restuarant on the Corniche near Sheraton Park, yesterday. (SHAIVAL DALAL) Popular tea shop on Corniche closed

DOHA: The popular tea stall coffee and sandwiches. There was no official notice near the Sheraton Park has The eatery was seen empty in- displayed at the eatery announc- been closed since Tuesday leav- side giving a feel as if it’s going ing the closure or a date for ing many of its regular custom- to be closed down permanently. re-opening. ers disappointed. When contacted by The Peninsula “Hope they will re-open it soon Al Fawaz Restaurant was the a senior official at the Doha or we will surely miss the place,” favourite place of people who visit Municipality said an eatery can said a regular customer. the Corniche and drive around be closed down for several rea- “It was a busy place and was Doha especially at night as only sons by different departments. He open day and night. Importantly a few such eateries are open 24 did not disclose whether there is the prices were reasonable,” he hours. It was popular not only for a decision by the municipality to added. its ‘karak chai’ but also for juice, close down the facility. THE PENINSULA

Over 8m scrap tyres to be removed from Umm Al Afai

DOHA: More than eight mil- ground in Umm Al Afai area will has already been notified about lion scrap tyres will be removed be cleaned soon. the issue, a report said yesterday. from a dumping ground in Umm The Ministry of Environment THE PENINSULA Al Afai area. The scrap tyres, which were being dumped in the ground for several years, will be taken care of as per contracts signed between the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning and several companies. The dumping ground has now been closed down as it contains some 8.5 million scrap tyres. At least 500,000 aban- doned tyres are accumulat- ing in the country each year, according to officials. Of the total 2,800 tonnes of the col- lection of solid waste per day, 1,800 of waste is domestic. The issue was ear- lier raised by the Central Municipality Council (CMC) member Mohammad bin Saleh Al Khairain at a CMC session. The Ministry later said in a letter to CMC that the THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com QATAR PERSPECTIVE The invisible enemy called despair

ABDULLAH AL AMADI

AVE you ever nine months — trying to con- encountered the vince his people to worship “Better luck next God. Despite this, only 15 peo- time” phrase ple reacted positively by believ- after scratching ing in God and heeding Noah’s Ha scratch ticket for a prize? As invitation. much as this phrase might seem Another great example is disappointing, it is extremely Prophet Mohammad (Peace be helpful. upon him). Muhammad kept Most of us may be using this preaching and inviting people to phrase as part of our daily rou- convert to Islam, from the time tine, but it can indirectly reflect he received God’s instructions in another value in life. We need this regard until his death. He to maintain this value, and not continued to do this even after use it just in the context of luck the people of Makkah and other and winning prizes. We need to tribes hurt him in many ways. remember it in order to be able Mohammad never despaired or to achieve our objectives in all gave up. walks of life. The Prophet kept on trying. This phrase gives us hope that He travelled from Makkah to when we fail to hit a specific tar- Madinah when he discovered Renowned American scientist and inventor get, our fortunes can be better that people in the former city Thomas Edison, who developed several the next time we try. It encour- were not responsive to his invi- ages us not to feel disappointed tation. God then gave him vic- devices that changed human lives around or let despair conquer us. tory and glory by softening many the world. Edison used to say, “Genius is Failure often opens the way hearts to embrace Islam. one percent inspiration and 99 percent for the despicable demon called Let us cite a Western exam- despair to enter our minds, espe- ple as well. It is of the renowned perspiration”. He failed so many times to cially when our hard work fails American scientist and inventor develop the electric light bulb. Whenever he to bring the desired results at the Thomas Edison, who developed failed, Edison would try to find out the reasons right time and place, and in the several devices that changed desired manner. human lives around the world. for the failure. The great scientist would never Despair is a deadly and Edison used to say, “Genius is have managed to make his great inventions if stealthy enemy; it only has the one percent inspiration and 99 power to demolish, not construct percent perspiration”. He failed he had allowed despair to overcome him. anything. This makes it neces- so many times to develop the sary for each and every one of us electric light bulb. Whenever he to never allow despair to over- failed, Edison would try to find come us. We should not give up out the reasons for the failure. trying until we achieve our goals. The great scientist would never Prophet Noah was a per- have managed to make his great pushes them to despair. When to explain is that you must be Imagine what would have us to always keep the following fect example of optimism and inventions if he had allowed this happens, people stop trying. your own backer; you must have happened if these great figures verse from the Holy Quran in our patience, an example of working despair to overcome him. Sometimes other people gloat the motivation to achieve your had given up trying after failing minds: “Never give up hope of hard until noble objectives are Most people despair after over your failure, and you start objectives in life, taking lessons the first time. Today we would Allah’s mercy. Certainly, no one achieved. failing to do something the first hating the objectives you had from our great prophets. These have been without many creative despairs of Allah’s mercy except Noah spent more than nine time. Worse still, the surround- strived to achieve. prophets never despaired on the ideas, inventions and religions. the disbelieving people” (Yusuf centuries — not nine years or ing environment sometimes The moral of what I am trying way to reaching their goal. This is why it is necessary for (12:87)).

AHMED AL MOHANNADI Minister sets example Sensible mourning AY all Muslim souls rest in peace. In Qatar, people usually offer condolences over three consecutive days. Those who Mknow the deceased pay a visit of condolence to the grieving family, seeking reward from God. by consulting people Qataris are known for supporting each other in times of misfortune. In some Arab countries, people offer condolences between sunset and the night prayers. People may also offer condolences at funerals O MY surprise, I read hearken to their Lord and offer or in the evening in other Arab countries. two reports last month DR. MUHAMMAD AL KUBAISI regular prayers; who (conduct) But it is different in Qatar. Condolences may be offered for three about amending trade their affairs by mutual consulta- days following the burial, even during lunch breaks. Relatives of the Tand social security laws. tion; who spend out of what We deceased mark the three-day mourning leaving their businesses and The first bill was initiated by H E bestow on them for Sustenance even their families to receive guests. Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, the (Chapter 42 verse 38). God also It is unnecessary for all the relatives of the dead, if they are co- Minister of Business and Trade. said in Chapter 2, verse 159: workers in one department, to be present over the three days of The second was proposed by “and consult them in affairs (of mourning, in order to keep the flow of work going. H E Yousuf Hussein Kamal, the moment). Then when thou hast The relatives of the dead, however, are tried by being present all Minister of Economy and Finance. taken a decision put thy trust in the time during the sombre The bill proposed by the Allah. For Allah loves those who occasion. Sometimes, chaos Minister of Business and Trade put their trust (in Him).” reigns at funerals. Worse aims to upgrade the corporate law In the aforementioned verses, still, few people show con- in a bid to facilitate setting up of God tells Prophet Muhammad sideration for the feelings of businesses. Al Thani called on all (Peace be upon him) to con- the family of the deceased. parties concerned to share their sult with Muslims over matters Some funerals turn into views about how to make business that concern their everyday life. mere occasions for exchang- easier in this country. “All the sons of Adam are sin- ing pleasantries. Some peo- He invited everyone to put ners,” said Prophet Muhammad ple attending burials forget their suggestions on the minis- (PBUH). Therefore, the Prophet that they too will be dead try’s website so that the new bill used to seek advice from his one day. While attending would meet the market’s needs companions. the burials, they keep talk- and ensure a perfect business Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the fourth ing on their phone, track- environment. caliph, also said that a strong ing news of their shares Meanwhile, the Minister of front is based on consultation. in the stock exchange, for Economy and Finance said the The concept of shura or consul- example. new bill for retirement and pen- tation in Islam has been fruitful In our country, some sions would plug loopholes in the throughout Islamic history as the relatives of the dead pre- present law. The bill, drawn up Prophet’s followers and scholars pare banquets for the by the General Retirement and applied it. people coming to offer Pension Authority (GRPA), will Consultation has a number of condolences. According to Condolences should bring about the best insurance benefits: Sunna, however, it is the system in the world, Kamal said. • It unifies people and wards off visitors who should pro- be delivered in ways I have tried in vain to get the rumours. vide the relatives of the bill’s draft from the GRPA, the • It mobilises efforts and ends dead with food. Some of that do not harm Ministry of Economy and Finance duality. these relatives have little the interests of and the Ministry of Justice. The • Provides good training and money for banquets, and Minister of Economy and Finance preparation sometimes have to borrow the public. This is has made many statements reit- • Talents of individuals are dis- money. erating that the amendments aim covered and their potential is Women are not obliged why I suggest that to ensure a decent living stand- unleashed. to attend the first three condolences be ard for all pensioners and their • It leads to the best and most days of mourning. They families. Well said! But, does the applicable solution. have the freedom to offer delivered between minister feel the suffering of a If officials consult with expe- condolences at any time. pensioner? The retirement bill Consultation is crucial to rienced individuals over matters But it is important for the midday prayer does not apply to ministers, who drafting a retirement law that that affect people’s everyday busi- everybody to deliver their and the last prayer never feel the loss of bonuses and nesses, the public will be satis- condolences during the allowances, especially the housing fulfils the needs of everyone. fied. It would be unlikely to have burial. Condolences can of the day. allowance. errors. And if there appears an also be delivered during Consultation is crucial to draft- In my opinion, if the retirement error, decision-makers will not be working hours. ing a retirement law that fulfils bill applies to everybody, blamed for it alone. The point I want to make here is that condolences should be the needs of everyone. In my opin- As Qatari citizens, we thank the delivered in ways that do not harm the interests of the public. This ion, if the retirement bill applies including ministers, we will Minister of Business and Trade is why I suggest that condolences be delivered between the midday to everybody, including ministers, for his trust in us to contribute prayer and the last prayer of the day. This will help the relatives of we will have the best regulations have the best regulations that to upgrading the country’s com- the dead lead a normal life before they receive those who want to that please us all. please us all. mercial law. We pray to God that share with them their grief. Allah, the Almighty, said in his fellow ministers see him as a the Holy Quran: “Those who role model and do the same thing. THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Love also has rules of sovereignty

MARIAM AL KHATER

OVE is like a homeland political science and international that does not accept relations, which have their roots either partition or in history, which has also laid disunion; it does not the cornerstone of diplomacy. It accept the concepts of erected the pillars of all the coun- Linternational politics to be applied tries in the world and taught the to it. It wants to remain unified citizens of these countries to fight and strong against assailants and against whoever tried to lay his enemies. hands on their land. Love is totally against internal I seek canonization from geog- and external divisions. It will do raphy, which managed to spread whatever it takes to prevent the its wings everywhere, but opened separation of the heart and body. the way for the elements to be It will fight tooth and nail to pre- divided by boundaries. vent the dissociation of body and I want to get concurrence from soul. It will launch a battle against geography, which allowed these all attempts to separate heart and elements to have their own dif- mind. ferent traditions, agreements, I ask for a carte blanche from and conventions that seek to keep history, which records the details violators at bay. I ask for authori- of the establishment of mighty zation to speak from geography, empires and nations. I ask for which created international acquiescence from history, which institutions and organisations to has denounced from its dawn protect them, giving them names aggressions against the sanctity such as United Nations, Security of lands at the time of major con- Council and international court. quests, invasions and geographical In their bid to give us com- exploration. fort and hope, these elements rather mean this beautiful and against aggressors and violators. allow the separation of their in breaking the body into parts, People of those invaded lands gave other organisations inspir- transparent science of human In all these cases, international upper parts from their lower regardless of whether a long, bru- still reel from the partition of ing names with words such as souls. It is the kind of science that laws and conventions did not help. parts. They will not be divided tal war is waged to this end. their territory. They still cry justice and amnesty, before they allows souls to meet in a world These laws and conventions could into minor states or open the In doing this, love acts like the because of the occupation of called others criminal, even as full of love, cleanliness and whole- not deter aggressors and viola- way for internal wars or divi- love of a courageous fighter who their lands and the destruction these organisations took sides ness. It is a world that criminal- tors against killing the innocent sions in them like the Sykes Picot never forgets the principles of of their rights. The condition of with some countries against other ises partitioning. and violating the sanctity of their Agreement did to countries. lands and national unity, which these people is little better than countries and allowed the division The rules and theories that land. Bodies will not give the mind underline the need for dignity and that of species that are dying out, of some countries but opposed the apply to lands can apply to human The rules of sovereignty in freedom to love whoever it likes, wholeness. It seeks to bring eve- although they are human beings partition of others. beings as well. These rules and international politics are identi- or its selfish desires to have rybody separated from the home- who should be enjoying all their This is the blanket theory his- theories also apply to everything cal to the rules of sovereignty in favourite beings. They will not land and displaced this homeland rights. tory has imposed on whoever made by humans that has the love. They are similar to the rules allow their instincts to have the to the Promised Land, a land I ask for allowance from the thinks of committing violations smell or touch of their souls. of sovereignty applied by bodies upper hand in choosing who that is detested by all the rules free lands that go up against who- or aggressions. This is the old The rules and the theories of and souls. Bodies are like lands should be close and who should of international politics. ever thinks of violating them or and general rule which history, politics and diplomacy were cre- that cannot be split up. They are be kept away. Enjoy love and the people who taking parts of them out. I seek geography and geopolitics have ated after years of hard work by like lands that cannot reconcile Dignified lands must remain harbour it. In this love there is the stamp of approval from these imposed on human geology and humans, often involving hardships themselves with aggression or united and whole. They are like no difference between crimes and lands, which cross swords with the science of the souls. and bloody wars that claimed aggressors. love, which does not allow divi- criminals. It knows for sure that all forms of manipulation and By the science of the souls, the lives of a limitless number Bodies are like lands that can- sion to happen. It only wants to there is no difference between a occupation. I do not mean witchcraft, for I of innocent people who were out not allow aggressors to take away be dignified and whole. criminal of war and a criminal I strive for empowerment from am totally against witchcraft. I to fight to protect their borders some parts of them; they cannot Bias in love can never succeed of love.

AMAL ISSA AL MOHANNADI Democracy should not lead to tyranny of majority

he situation seemed Franco (Spain) in 1939, Augusto so static, sometimes Pinochet (Chile) in 1973, Saddam Digital Qatar lifeless, yet what was KHALID AL JABER Hussein (Iraq) in 1979, Zine El Tunthinkable or impos- Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia) in sible to imagine oozed out like 1987, Mohamed Hosni Mubarak musty secretions. decision-making is only based on a result like the aforementioned (Egypt) in 1981, Bashar Al Assad What is right before our eyes is the number of votes in any given one can determine many things. (Syria) in 2000, Ali Abdullah far less than what is invisible; cur- situation. This is called the tyr- But the bottom line is that this Saleh (Yemen) in 1978 and many tains were raised on the conflict, anny of the majority. This tyranny result can in no way give the win- more tyrants in Africa, Asia and giving an open invitation for every constantly does away with every ning party or candidate the right Latin America did. faction to join in the turmoil. chance to realise democracy in any to suppress freedoms or meddle in While criticising the term Every single term we used to human society. people’s personal life. “majority”, Tarabichi asked, hear, such as freedom, democracy The simplest definition of The majority may become the “What would have happened if and equity, has given way to bitter democracy is the rule of people. minority through the same ballot the Hindus had imposed them- realities. We rapidly became feud- In reality, however, the term boxes. This is why the majority of selves on the culture of the Indian ing sects and tribes demanding might have more than 300 defi- today does not have the right to society claiming that they are the each other’s heads. nitions. Regardless of definitions, suppress the right of the minority majority?” This can apply to Iraq; Syria; real practice is what counts, as to become the majority one day. “What would have happened Yemen; Egypt; Tunisia; Morocco, practice may lead to success or Until the majority learns how to if the Hindu nationalist party, and Jordan. It can also apply vice versa. respect the minority and acknowl- Bhartiya Janata Party, had to some gulf countries between When we take a glimpse at suc- edges its rights, there is no democ- announced that it would not Arabs and Kurds; Muslims and cessful democratic experiences, we racy according to Syrian writer organise a coup, it would just HE Internet nowadays plays a key role at all Christians; Sunnis and Shias; gov- can find that the common factor and intellectual George Tarabichi. stand for elections for the sake of levels, i.e. government, corporations and indi- ernment and opposition; Muslim among all these experiences is the Tarabichi used to clarify that if democracy, but since the Hindus viduals. As the Internet has become the fast- Brotherhood and Salafists, and ability to manage differences in democracy is misused it will back- are the majority, their language, Test growing facility in the history of mankind, liberals, leftists, secularists and the light of compatible constitu- fire and may become one sort of culture and religion should pre- children are now called the ‘digital generation’. nationalists. tional and civil mechanisms and tyranny. It can turn into a “dicta- vail, and the Islamic minority ictQatar has done a survey of Internet penetration Concepts got mixed, and guarantees. torship of numbers” like Indian- should succumb?” and computers in this country. perhaps we could not under- Customary democracy is a civil American journalist and author The biggest lesson in democ- A random sample of 1,880 people from all walks of life stand the concepts since there contract whose first clause is the Fareed Zakaria puts it. racy that the Arab world should was surveyed. I mention some of the facts from ictQatar’s were included Arabic language devolution of power through the Democracy got Socrates exe- learn is that revolutions erupt survey, “Landscape 2013: Households and Individuals”. dictionaries. ballot box. However, getting 50 cuted. It was exploited by tyrants to prevent monopolies of power, The survey shows that people in Qatar prefer smart- Some people believe that percent of votes plus one vote and dictators as Benito Mussolini regardless of who makes these phones, which enable them to communicate easily every- democracy is only about election does not give any party or can- (Italy) in 1922, Adolf Hitler monopolies: one person, one where. Therefore, smartphones and iPads have eclipsed turnout. Tragedy befalls when didate the majority. Despite this, (Germany) in 1933, Francisco group, or one party. all other competitors. Roughly 25 percent of Qatari fami- lies have at least one iPad as individuals have become more and more interested in the cyberspace. The use of Internet has grown in this country as much as in countries such as South Korea and the United Kingdom, according to the survey. More than just a football victory E-mail topped all Internet usage in 2012, according to the survey. Instant messages and social media came second, it said. UR national football team is he outlined a ‘national road map’, The survey revealed the following points: a living example of patriotic KHALID ABDULLAH AL ZIYADA depending on sound planning, • Roughly 85 percent of Qatari families have access Ocitizens who have a mission which made victory easy. to broadband connections, against 80 percent in 2010. to accomplish: a sports victory for Let me here delve deeper into Broadband subscriptions for mobile services have shot the sake of our country, something course, they will keep on backing the atmosphere of that game. up, but the speed is rather low. that makes everyone happy. our sincere players as long as they Apart from being a mere soc- • Around 97 percent of young people, ranging from 15 The loud cheers of Al Ennabi maintain their high spirits. cer match, it was more than a to 24 years of age, have computers. (auburn shirts of Qatar’s national For starters, the line-up was Qatar’s match winner-loser encounter. We have • Qatari women and old people have poor digital team) fans during the Qatar- excellent and impressed every- been defeated by weak teams as knowledge. Malaysia decider last weekend at body. Coach Fahd Thani led the versus Malaysia we underestimated them. Qatar’s • Although one-third of Qatari citizens said they know Jassim bin Hamad Stadium was a team that thrashed Malaysia 2-0 put an end to our match versus Malaysia put an end nothing about e-government services, the Qatari peo- do-or-die thriller. in their opening match of the to our frustration due to disquali- ple, in general, remain the most aware of such facilities. The relentless cheers boosted AFC. The victory, along with the frustration due to fication from the first round of the For instance, many people here pay their traffic tickets the players’ morale. The players splendid performance, has made disqualification from Gulf 21 tournament. The exit sad- through the Internet. were eager to please fans by win- the man in the street trust the dened us much. The players and Finally, I need to send due thanks to the Supreme ning the game. We all keep our fin- national team. the first round of the the coach pleased all fans by their Council of Information and Communication Technology gers crossed that the ‘auburn team’ Perhaps the participation of outstanding performance, giving in Qatar for carrying out this survey, which has made will win all the coming matches. seven players who have been Gulf 21 tournament. us hope of more victories to come. headlines in Arab and international newspapers and From the beginning, all fans absent for a long time was the websites. supported the team in their open- most wonderful thing about the ing encounter in Group D of the match. Their debut has brought The views expressed in the articles on this AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 high spirits back to the players. strategy. As the coach knows the page do not reflect the viewpoint of the qualifiers at Al Sadd Stadium. Of The coach also applied a new psychological aspects of his players, newspaper. THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Accor to open Tax benefits Kuwait National Day celebrations two hotels in for non-Qatari Doha by 2015 investors Pullman under construction Cabinet reviews draft law on aquaculture encourage foreign investment BY RAYNALD C RIVERA high-end brand, displays unique DOHA: The Deputy Prime architecture and reflects herit- Minister and Minister of State in Qatari market via exempt- DOHA: Accor, Europe’s larg- age, history and aesthetic quality for Cabinet H E Affairs Ahmad ing the share of the non-Qatari est hotel operator, is set to distinctive to the city where it is bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud pre- investors in profits of corpo- open two of its upscale brands located. sided over the Cabinet meeting rates and funds whose shares in Doha in 2015 as part of its MGallery Doha in Msheireb at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. and units are raised for trading aggressive expansion strategy Downtown will draw a parallelism Following the meeting Al on the Qatar Exchange from in the Middle East. to architecture rooted in Qatari Mahmoud said that the Cabinet income taxand as exempting The France-based company history and heritage on which the considered topics, including their share in profits realised would launch Pullman Doha ambitious development has been approving a draft law regulating from the trading of all securi- West Bay and MGallery Doha based. the practice of Haj and Umrah ties, including units of invest- Kuwaiti Ambassador Ali S Al Haifi with Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa Al Thani and Minister of Msheireb after two years, accord- With the emergence of major (lesser pilgrimage) services and ment funds, listed for trading Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad Abdulaziz Al Kuwari cutting a cake to mark Kuwait’s National Day at Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday. Dr Yousuf ing to Philippe Seguin, Vice- international brands, the hospi- referring it to the Advisory on the stock exchange. Al Qaradawi and several diplomats also attended the function. (KAMMUTTY VP) President of Sales, Marketing and tality industry in Qatar has been Ocuncil. The Cabinet approved a pro- Distribution, Middle East. vibrant in recent years, Seguin The draft law includes condi- posals to allow use of electric- “Today we have huge ambi- noted. tions for granting licence to Haj ity by productive farms to be tions in Qatar. We have a Pullman “All the international chains and Umrah contractors, provid- less than the cost price. It aims under construction and we will are now in Doha. There are a ing safety and welfare to the pil- to support and develop farms Salvador First Lady visits Qatar Foundation open as well MGallery, which lot of developments on corporate grims and Umrah performers and registered with the Ministry of would be an upscale hotel in the market and the leisure sector has overcoming any obstacles imped- Environment and to implement new Msheireb Downtown,” Seguin become more and more important ing performance of their rituals modern farming methods in agri- DOHA: Qatar Foundation told The Peninsula during the 11th as well, making Qatar an emerg- A section of the visitors to the 11th Accor Middle East Road Show at the Diplomatic Club. (KAMMUTTY VP) fully. cultural production. for Education, Science and Accor Middle East Road Show at ing international market in the The draft also provides for the The meeting approved a Community Development hosted the Diplomatic Club on Tuesday. leisure sector. I think the future is By 2015 Accor will have had 82 boost our partnership with key Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, the “The main idea is for them to formation of Qatar Haj Mission draft law of the Minister of Vanda Pignato, First Lady of El An upscale Accor international very bright for Qatar definitely,” hotels or over 19,565 rooms in 11 and strategic operators and Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, present their products, share if and setting its functions. Environment concerning the con- Salvador, yesterday. A welcom- brand, Pullman, has presence in he said. countries in the Middle East, in agents in the region as well Thailand, the UAE and the US. they have new renovations or The Cabinet agreed on a draft trols and terms of aquaculture. ing committee led by Qatar major cities around the world and Accor has a network of 58 all segments. as develop business from this “We have invited hoteliers from opening new hotels in their coun- law amending some provisions of The draft law organises the Foundation’s Deputy Director caters to cosmopolitan and sea- hotels in the Middle East and In line with its strategy, Accor region to the rest of the world,” Accor brands worldwide to come tries and some leads from our Law No. 20 of 2008 exempting the licencing procedures for aquac- of Communication, Rashed Al soned travellers. plans to expand its portfolio in has been holding a series of Road he said. and discover the region, especially partners in the region, especially share of the non-Qatari investors ulture and terms for establishing Qurese, received the First Lady It targets particularly the cor- the region by opening 24 hotels in Shows, particularly in the Middle The road show witnessed this year’s three main destina- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar in profits of some Qatari joint fish farms, imports and transfer and her delegation at the Visitors porate and MICE sector in the 2015 in six key countries, includ- East, where the hotel chain has the participation of 32 hotels tions which are Saudi Arabia, which are key emerging markets stock companies from income of the produce. Centre. Dr Pignato was briefed region. ing Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi seen fast growth. from 13 countries, including Qatar and Kuwait,” explained in the region,” he added. tax. The Cabinet endorsed the about the vision and mission of MGallery, which is another Arabia and the UAE. “We are doing this to further Austria, Bahrain, Egypt, France, Seguin. THE PENINSULA The amendment aims to memorandum of understanding Qatar Foundation. (MoU) on cooperation “Qatar Foundation today is a in health field between prime example of modernity and the governments of excellence in the region and is Qatar and Bulgaria. leading the Middle East towards The meeting also a better and brighter future,” said endorsed a draft con- Pignato. “I salute Her Highness vention on coopera- Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for tion in security field all of the revolutionary projects between the govern- underway on campus, as they pro- ments of Qatar and vide a source of pride for everyone Jordan. Vanda Pignato and her delegation watching a 3D scale model of the buildings and future construction projects ataround the world.” QNA Qatar Foundation. THE PENINSULA Extremists revealing their ignorance of religion

Continued from page 1 This covenant gave equal rights to all segments of people in Madinah, irrespective of religion. A civil state strengthens peace, tolerance and equality. It safeguards the rights of all citizens according to the law. Also, it does not antagonise religion. Religion remains a positive factor in the propagation of ethics and in driving progress. However, the civil state rejects using religion to achieve political objectives. The exploitation of religion contradicts pluralism, which is a pillar in a civil state and is supported by Islam. Islam is a divine faith that cannot be dragged into politics. Some groups are calling for a religious state to manipu- late people in the name of God. They brand opposition to their view as infidelity, bringing back memories of Europe in the middle ages. This will lead to another revolution, and in that revolution, secularists will be the winners. The Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties and other early Arab governments in the history of Islam were not clerical regimes. By all means, these were the golden ages of Muslim and Arab civilisation, where science, arts and architecture boomed. In fact, extremists are revealing their ignorance and wrong understanding of both politics and religion. They have become Machiavellian in their attitudes and are even killing people. Islam is a religion and culture for the whole Arab nation. For Muslims, Islam is a faith. For non-Muslims, it is a culture. Our faith as Muslims does not order us to erase other cultures in the name of Islam. THE PENINSULA Qtel Group to take part in Barcelona GSMA meet

DOHA: Qtel Group will be in the limelight at the upcom- ing GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, as the global communications leader is set to unveil a series of new initiatives, the company said in a statement yesterday. Qtel Group is aiming to demonstrate its credentials as an innovative, community-focused company as it continues to expand its reach and services to more than 89 million cus- tomers in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The GMSA congress will be the largest communications event in the world this year, with more than 70,000 expected visitors. The event, which will kick off on Friday at Fira Gran Via will focus on the “New Mobile Horizon”. The delegation from Qtel Group will be led by Qtel Group Chairman, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, along with teams working in markets including Qtel in Qatar, Asiacell in Iraq, Indosat in Indonesia, Nawras in Oman, Nedjma in Algeria, Tunisiana in Tunisia, and Wataniya in Kuwait, the Maldives and Palestine. Dr Nasser Marafih, Group CEO of Qtel Group and Chairman of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, will focus on the challenges and the lessons learned by the group in his keynote presentation titled “Connecting the Next Billions to the Internet.” He will be joined on stage by Gary Kovacs, CEO of Mozilla Corporation, Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and Joint MD, Bharti Airtel, and Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Whose destruction? Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

fter North Korean leader Kim Jong un took over the reins of the country after the death of his father Kim Jong il, the international community sat up to notice. Berlusconi rise evokes recurring AAmid the brouhaha generated by the death of Jong il, a virtual patriarch of the reclusive state that revels in controversy around adversity, world powers saw some hope of the Communist state entering the international mainstream. A young leader nightmare for Italy’s left with amiable looks was now at the helm. The possibly Western- educated Jong il’s looks lent him a conciliatory aura, much BY STEVE SCHERER removed from his father’s serious visage. There was some hope with many voters. Monti in the charisma stakes and shown of the new leader reaching out to the West and courting major Most pollsters nevertheless believe remarkable energy and dynamism for powers. However, the excitement dampened a few months later ilvio Berlusconi’s remarkable the centre-left is still on course to win his age. when the North’s hubris started to show. fightback ahead of Italy’s elec- by 5-6 points, although a big surge by In addition, the centre-left appears tion has revived a recurring anti-establishment comedian Beppe to have thought that their best tactic The nuclear device tested by Pyongyang recently in defiance Snightmare for the country’s Grillo is adding to uncertainty, raising was to sit tight on their lead and leave of all United Nations sanctions and world opinion challenged centre-left — that they can throw away chances of an inconclusive result that the other candidates to make mistakes the notion that North Korea has changed. Then came Tuesday’s a commanding lead in the final days could destabilise the euro zone. in a bitter campaign. bluster. A North Korean diplomat participating in a UN before the weekend vote. The most likely result, pollsters say, is Another mistake seems to have been disarmament conference saw the ‘final destruction’ of South Little more than two months ago, the that Bersani will have to form a govern- to leave it until the last minute to roll centre-left led by Pier Luigi Bersani was ing pact with outgoing technocrat Prime out Matteo Renzi, the youthful mayor of Korea, Pyongyang’s sworn enemy. The comment, a profoundly riding high with an apparently unassail- Minister Mario Monti, although there Florence, a lively orator who mounted undiplomatic one in the least, drew a sharp reaction from almost able lead of 10 points against a demor- are concerns the economics professor’s a credible challenge to Bersani for the all quarters. Jon Yong Ryong also threatened the South with alised centre-right, which looked close own lacklustre electoral performance party leadership in December. further action after the nuclear test. The Koreas went to war to disintegration. will fall short of enough votes for this The suspicion is that the formerly in the early 50s which ended in an armistice. However, since But in December a rejuvenated scenario. communist left wing of Bersani’s no peace deal was signed, the two are Berlusconi stormed back into the race Leading elections expert Roberto Democratic Party dislikes Renzi, who with an extraordinary media blitz in D’Alimonte also says polls underesti- is considered too much to the social Pyongyang’s technically at war. And it shows. Not on which he rushed from political rallies to mate Berlusconi’s support because peo- democrat right. the battlefield but on the battleground television studios, ple are reluctant to admit they will vote However, Renzi has recently made foreign policy, of diplomacy and international affairs. adopted a home- for him, given his reputation for scandal appearances, perhaps reflecting party if there is Coming out strongly against Washington, less puppy, told and allegations of promiscous parties alarm about the polls, and was to share the North Korean diplomat said that off-colour jokes that offend conservative and religious the stage with Bersani at a rally in any, seems the United States had carried out most Berlusconi, backed and promised to voters who otherwise like his policies. Palermo yesterday. by an immense abolish a hated All this is putting nerves on edge “We have to make a final push,” to be veering nuclear tests and satellite launches in new property tax. among centre-left supporters, frus- Bersani told supporters on Saturday as towards a history and its policy of pursuing UN personal fortune This week he trated that Bersani has not led a more he heightened the urgency of his tone Security Council resolutions against the and a media outraged his oppo- dynamic campaign and tormented in the southern city of Lecce. “The right pernicious North was a “breach of international law nents by mailing by memories dating back to the 2006 must not be underestimated.” and the height of double standards.” empire including official-looking election which is burned into their The resurgence of Berlusconi was a agenda. three TV channels letters to millions collective psyche. surprise to many. Pyongyang’s foreign policy, if there of Italians prom- Berlusconi, who learned to work Weakened by a lurid scandal, he was is any, seems to be veering towards and a magazine ising to reimburse crowds as a singer on a cruise liner on forced from power and replaced by a pernicious agenda. The North might be unable to do even a publisher, skilfully payments already his youth, used the same showmanship Monti in November 2011 as Italy slid fraction of what it threatens, but the pugnacity of the state made under the to close a 10-point gap then, forcing the towards a major debt crisis. He spent shows it on a path to brinkmanship. exploits his image levy. left’s Romano Prodi to form a weak gov- the next year in the shadows, demoral- Instead of finding ways of feeding its malnourished population as a flamboyant Between ernment that collapsed two years later. ised and depressed, before surging back December and Berlusconi returned to power for his in December. and fighting poverty, the North Korean leadership is embarking joker and lovable February 8, when fourth term with a record majority. He has been hounded by magistrates on a dangerous course of riling major powers. rogue that still a pre-election “I have good news. We are ahead and for two decades on a string of fraud and The North Korean population is known to live in a state ban on publish- we will win,” Berlusconi told ecstatic corruption charges and is currently on of acute poverty and malnourishment. There are no mobile attracts many ing opinion polls fans at a rally in Milan on Monday, a trial for amorous acts with an underage phones in the country that has in its vicinity the technological ordinary Italians. took effect, the claim that cannot be verified because of girl at “bunga bunga” parties in his villa prowess of the Japanese, the Chaebols of South Korea, and 76-year-old bil- the pre-election polling blackout. outside Milan. However, Berlusconi, lionaire had Bersani, the son of an auto mechanic, backed by an immense personal fortune the manufacturing might of the Chinese. There is hardly any halved the gap with the centre-left. The is a famously bland if worthy candidate and a media empire including three TV Internet penetration in the country of about 2.5 million. colourless Bersani seems to have been with a good track record as a minister channels and a magazine publisher, skil- Pyongyang, led as it is by a young leader, should try to instill stuck in his tracks, unable or unwilling under Prodi. Although his spontane- fully exploits his image as a flamboy- a sense of purpose in its policies. Even though very less is to respond to the crowd-wooing tactics ous remarks, delivered in a distinctive ant joker and lovable rogue that still known about the inner workings of the administration in the of his opponent, a born showman. accent from the northern Emilia region, attracts many ordinary Italians. His mockery of what he calls impos- can be sharp and humorous, his scripted The centre-left says it has learned country, a will to reconcile the demands of the nation with the sible election stunts by Berlusconi have speeches are often sleep-inducing. its lessons and will avoid the disunity requirements of wise governance in domestic and foreign affairs been low key and delivered in his famil- In contrast the livewire, wisecracking which tore it apart in the 2008 election. would likely launch the North firmly on the path to progress • iar deadpan voice, failing to hit home Berlusconi has outclassed both him and REUTERS The other side Quote of Spoonful of sugar won’t help this medicine go down the day

T IS hard to argue with the they apply to fats and sugars. It’s also forgivable because eating Notable among the council’s com- propositions behind the new What’s more, Australians tend to be and exercising is a very personal thing. ments supporting the new guidelines is Australian Dietary Guidelines. sceptical of rules. “Adherence to dietary Results of the Australian Health an insight into why people don’t realise IObesity is costly. Eat more good recommendations in Australia is poor,” Survey 2011-13 are due in May to the consequences of their eating. Merkel fears the foods and fewer unhealthy ones. the council says. give a better indication of how much The most contentious change is to Exercise more. However, the new guidelines are an more exercise Australians need to do “limit intake of foods and drinks con- consolidation “For the majority of the population opportunity for more Australians to take to become healthier. The latest figures taining added sugars”, whereas the … overweight and obesity are major notice and change their lifestyle. show two in three adults and one in 2003 version suggested “consume of parties from problems and require a reduction in The government must also play a three children don’t do enough exercise only moderate amounts of sugars and energy intake,” the National Health and supportive role on behalf of all tax- to improve their health. foods containing added sugars”. The the left ... I don’t Medical Research Council says. payers who face the growing cost of While environmental factors such as council in essence argues people tend think she has The problems arise because con- obesity-related health problems. urban development and technological to consume drinks replete with added sumers are easily confused by argu- Chances are Australians rely more devices can work against exercise, sugar without realising how much they any wish to see ments of the vested interests within on diets and self-help than medical national campaigns offer hope, as Life are drinking. They also do not feel as industry and some in the scientific advice in trying to be healthy. Be In It showed in the 1970s. full as they would if they were eating the PD arrive in world. They argue about the evidence That’s understandable given the Getting Australians to change their something solid with the same energy. Mario Monti behind the guidelines, especially as competing claims out there. eating habits is more difficult. THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD government. Italian Prime Minister THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 It’s final now, Egyptian Tunisian leaders cops can look for new grow beards

CAIRO: An Egyptian court ruled yesterday that police- prime minister men may grow beards, ending a decades-old convention bar- ring them from making what is New government expected this week often seen here as a display of Islamic piety. TUNIS: Tunisian leaders began is named, we will enquire about its Dozens of police officers the search for a new prime min- intentions/mandate,” an IMF spokes- were suspended from work in ister yesterday to try to lead the woman, Wafa Amr, told Reuters in an February for breaking the de North African nation out of its email. “Once the political situation facto ban on beards introduced gravest political crisis since an is clarified, we’ll assess how best to under deposed President Hosni uprising that inspired a wave of help Tunisia.” Mubarak. They had protested Arab revolts two years ago. Standard and Poor’s lowered its outside the Interior Ministry, Rached Ghannouchi, the powerful long-term foreign and local currency calling on Islamist President head of the main Islamist Ennahda sovereign credit rating on Tunisia on Mohammed Mursi — who is party, said the group had not named Tuesday, citing “a risk that the politi- bearded himself — to secure anyone to replace Prime Minister cal situation could deteriorate fur- their reinstatement. Hamadi Jebali, who resigned on ther amid a worsening fiscal, external Cairo’s High Administrative Tuesday, but that he expected a new and economic outlook”. Court rejected a request by the government to emerge this week. Marina Ottaway, senior scholar Interior Ministry to let it suspend “We need a coalition govern- at the Wilson Center’s Middle East officers who defied the unwrit- ment with several political parties Program in Washington, said the eco- ten rule. “The court ruled ... that and technocrats,” Ghannouchi told nomic woes of countries like Tunisia police officers have the right to reporters after talks with secular and Egypt could not be solved in the grow beards,” judge Maher Abu President Moncef Marzouki. short run. El Enin said. Jebali quit after his plan for an apo- “There will remain unfulfilled Mubarak used the police to litical technocrat cabinet to prepare expectations and a lot of economic crush Islamist groups he saw as for elections failed. He had proposed hardship, but the major cause of Israeli M K Dov Khenin (left) listens to a Palestinian woman next to her house at Al Shuhada Street, in the enemies of the state. During his it after the assassination of opposi- instability now is a struggle for power rule, sporting any kind of beard West Bank town of Hebron, yesterday after Palestinians were forced years ago to move out of the old tion leader Chokri Belaid on February between Islamists and secularists.” precluded Egyptians from holding quarter by the Israeli army to allow for the Jewish settlers to move securely into the area. 6 shocked Tunisia and widened No one claimed responsibility for senior government posts. Islamist-secular rifts. Belaid’s assassination, the first in Yesterday’s decision backed a Eventually it was Jebali’s own Tunisia since 1952, but it deepened similar ruling by a lower court Ennahda party that scuppered the the misgivings of secularists who and the decision makes the ver- Israel’s Supreme Court rejects idea, extending a political impasse accused the government of failing to dict final. The Interior Ministry’s that has cast a shadow over the North rein in the sometimes violent activi- spokesman was not immediately African state’s fledgling democracy ties of Islamist hardliners. available to comment. and ailing economy. Three days of unrest followed the Men across Egyptian society hunger-striker’s appeal “The crisis deepens,” ran the killing, straining the Islamist-secular wear beards, including many left- headline in the independent Assarih coalition government and prompt- ists, but the pressure for ending JERUSALEM: Supreme the evidence was kept secret. Writing in Haaretz newspa- newspaper, which said Ennahda’s ing Jebali to propose a non-partisan the police ban came from reli- Court yesterday rejected an Yesterday’s appeal had per earlier this week, Amira efforts to keep its cabinet posts cabinet to avert further strife. gious officers who wish to emu- appeal by a hunger-striking sought to challenge the pro- Hass said the order meant that and the collapse of Jebali’s initia- Secular parties mostly supported late the Prophet Mohammad Palestinian prisoner, saying visions of military order 1677, former detainees could be very tive had “returned the country to his idea, but Ennahda, the biggest (PBUH). it was not authorised to over- under which Sharawna was easily rearrested on the basis square one”. party in the assembly, rejected it, Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood, rule the restrictive military rearrested. of the smallest infraction, or on Tunisia began a transition to fearing it would be sidelined from the state’s most organised order under which he had But Boulos said the court the basis of evidence which was democracy after the peaceful over- power. Jebali, who has been in office Islamist movement, has come to been jailed. had rejected the appeal, saying kept secret. throw of President Zine Al-Abidine for 15 months, may be asked to carry power through elections since The appeal was lodged by it was “not authorised to get “According to the order, Ben Ali in January 2011, electing a on as caretaker premier. the popular uprising that toppled Jawad Boulos, a lawyer for the involved in Sharawna’s case the condition for release is National Constituent Assembly to Ghannouchi has said he wants Mubarak in February 2011. Ramallah-based Prisoners’ because he had been arrested that the prisoner commit no write a new constitution, and then Jebali to head a new coalition, but The ruling is expected to Club, on behalf of Ayman by virtue of a military order offence where the penalty is forging a deal under which the mod- the outgoing leader said on Tuesday raise worries among minor- Sharawna, a 36-year-old related to the prisoner swap three months’ imprisonment or erate Ennahda agreed to share power he would need assurances first on ity Christians, liberal-minded detainee who has been inter- deal.” more,” she wrote, saying offend- with its secular rivals. the timing of elections and a new Muslims and others who fear that mittently refusing food for over Order 1677 governs the free- ers could be forced to serve out But disputes have delayed the con- constitution. emboldened Islamists will try to seven months. dom of movement of certain the remainder of their original stitution and the failure to tackle “Jebali will probably refuse to force their beliefs and customs on Sharawna was arrested in former detainees, allowing for sentence. unemployment and poverty in a head a new government as Ennahda society. 2002 and sentenced to 38 years them to be rearrested if they “So, a traffic violation, par- country that relies on tourism has wants,” said political analyst Youssef Mursi said during his cam- behind bars, but released in move outside of a certain geo- ticipation in a demonstration dismayed many Tunisians and led to Ouslati. “If Ennahda does not open up paign for the presidency that October 2011 under terms of a graphic area close to their home or illegal presence in Israel frequent unrest. more, it will be very isolated.” he had no objection to members prisoner swap deal. But he was without special permission. will send the prisoner back Negotiations on a $1.78bn loan from Ghannouchi has previously said of the security forces growing rearrested three months later It also says they can be rear- to jail for 20 or 30 years,” she the International Monetary Fund it is vital that Islamists and secu- beards. and charged with violating the rested on the basis of secret wrote. cannot be concluded amid the latest lar parties share power now and in REUTERS terms of his release although evidence. AFP uncertainty. “Once a new government the future. REUTERS Syria rebels threaten to shell Hezbollah DAMASCUS: A commander of the rebel cannot accept.” The commander said the of plotting attacks on political and religious Free Syrian Army warned yesterday rebels were giving Hezbollah a 48-hour figures in Lebanon. Samaha, a Christian that his forces would target Lebanon’s deadline to stop the attacks and “as soon as politician with close links to the Damascus Hezbollah unless the powerful militant the ultimatum ends, we will start respond- regime, was accused of stoking sectarian group stops shelling territory held by the ing to the sources of fire”. strife in his country. insurgents. Rebels in the Qusayr area would be On the ground in Syria, rebels managed The ultimatum, which expires today, backed by FSA fighters “equipped with long- to shoot down a warplane in Hammuriyeh, came after the outgunned rebel fighters range weapons from other areas,” he said. after an air strike on the central town killed shot down a regime warplane following a Hezbollah has repeatedly denied send- 20 people, including a woman and child, a deadly air strike that killed 20 people in a ing fighters into Syria, though its leader watchdog and activists said. Damascus province town. Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged in October Amateur video shot by activists and General Selim Idriss, the FSA chief of 2012 that party members had fought Syrian distributed by the Syrian Observatory for staff, told AFP that Hezbollah had long been rebels but said they were acting as individu- Human Rights showed a warplane firing taking part in hostilities in Syria, but had als and not under the group’s direction. from the sky and then going down in flames gone too far by shelling villages near Qusayr Lebanon is sharply divided over the after apparently being hit. in Homs province from the Bekaa valley Syrian conflict, with the Sunni-led March “It’s gone up in flames... Free Syrian in Lebanon. 14 movement supporting the revolt and the Army air defence battalions have hit a MiG “Hezbollah is abusing Lebanese sover- Shia Hezbollah and its allies backing the warplane!” cried the cameraman. eignty to shell Syrian territory and Free regime of President Bashar Al Assad. Lacking sophisticated weaponry, rebels Syrian Army positions,” said Idriss. Yesterday, a Lebanese military judge have frequently used heavy machineguns “In the past week... Hezbollah has demanded the death penalty for former to shoot down warplanes deployed to strike been shelling into villages around Qusayr minister Michel Samaha and Syrian secu- insurgent enclaves across the country. from Lebanese territory, and that we rity chief Ali Mamlouk, who face charges AFP

Yemen police arrest two Syrian footballer killed in mortar strike DAMASCUS: A Syrian footballer was killed and four oth- ers wounded yesterday when two mortars smashed into a separatist leaders in south stadium in central Damascus, a sports official told AFP. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, named the dead ADEN: Police arrested two sep- meeting urging protests in Aden, footballer as Yussef Sleiman, aged 23. aratist leaders in south Yemen the ex-capital of the formerly ahead of planned rival rallies independent south, a security Bomb blast sets on fire Iraq fuel pipeline marking the first anniversary official said. The arrests come on of ex-president Ali Abdullah the eve of the first anniversary BAGHDAD: A bomb set fire to a pipeline carrying fuel oil Saleh’s ouster, an official and today of the uncontested election from Iraq’s largest refinery to a province north of Baghdad activists said yesterday. of President Abdrabuh Mansur yesterday, the second attack in less than a week on the same Qassem Askar, a leader of the Hadi which ended Saleh’s 33-year pipeline, the oil ministry said. hardline faction of the separa- autocratic rule, following a year- tist Southern Movement, was long deadly uprising to topple the World powers to make Iran ‘new offer’ arrested early in the morning in former president. southern port city Aden, activist Supporters and opponents of LONDON: World powers will make Iran an offer with “sig- Yasser Al Yafie told AFP. “He was Hadi, himself a southerner, have nificant new elements” in a bid to resolve the dispute over taken to an unknown location.” said they will hold rallies today, its nuclear programme at talks next week in Kazakhstan, Southern cleric Hussein bin prompting fears of possible a western diplomat said yesterday. The next round of talks Shouaib was arrested late on clashes in Aden — a stronghold with Iran under the ‘5+1’ format will be held on February 26 Tuesday after he chaired a of southern separatists. AFP in Almaty after a long gap. THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Pistorius fought with lover before killing her: Witnesses PRETORIA: Witnesses claimed hear- “heard talking that sounded like non- and had received death threats. But the Magistrate Desmond Nair said he amputated below the knee when he was ing arguing, a woman screaming and stop fighting from two to three in the state prosecutor said the athlete would could not rule out that there was some a baby. Pistorius revealed he earned 5.6 gunfire at the house of “Blade Runner” morning”, hours before she was killed, face an additional charge of possessing planning involved in the killing, which million rand ($640,000) a year and owned Oscar Pistorius the night he shot dead Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said. Another wit- unlicenced .38 special calibre ammunition. may be considered as a premeditated the $570,000 house where the killing took his model girlfriend, police told a South ness reported hearing gunshots, screams A police search of his home also found murder, setting a high bar for bail. The place as well as two other homes. African court yesterday. and then more shots, police said. testosterone and needles in a dresser in bail hearing was adjourned until today. But his career has been put on hold Pistorius’s defence team undermined “We have the statement of a person his bedroom, Botha said, amid specula- Pistorius, who off the track has had since the shooting, forcing him to cancel the reliability of the claims as the South who said after he heard gunshots, he tion that performance-enhancing drugs a rocky private life with stories of rash races in Australia, Brazil, Britain and the African sporting hero sought bail for the went to his balcony and saw the light may have influenced his mental state. But behaviour, beautiful women, guns and United States between March and May. Valentine’s Day killing that he insists was was on. Then he heard a female scream- his defence lawyer, Barry Roux, said the fast cars, has built up a powerful team But two of his American sponsors, a horrible accident and not intentional, as ing two-three times, then more gun- sex hormone was an acceptable supple- of lawyers, medical specialists and public Nike and sunglasses maker Oakley, prosecutors aim to prove. Police also said shots,” Detective Hilton Botha said. But ment. “It’s a herbal remedy and he can relations experts for his defence. announced they were dropping Pistorius Pistorius had previously been arrested at Pistorius’s legal team disputed these use it and he has used it before,” he said. In 2009, Pistorius spent a night in jail from their advertising campaigns, which his Pretoria home for assault, although accounts as police said the witnesses were The International Paralympic after allegedly assaulting a 19-year-old have earned him millions of dollars in he was not charged, and faced further 300 metres from the house. Committee (IPC) announced that he was woman at a party. He runs on carbon- endorsements. French cosmetics firm charges of possessing an unlicenced gun. Pistorius, 26, said he kept a firearm drug-tested before and during last year’s fibre blades, which inspired his nick- Clarins said yesterday that it was drop- A woman who lives in the same highly under his bed at night because he had been Paralympic Games in London and on name, after being born without the ping a fragrance advertising campaign secured Pretoria complex as Pistorius a victim of violence and burglaries before both occasions the results were negative. fibulas in both of his legs which were featuring Pistorius. AFP Two charged in Germany with Bulgarian government resigns exporting drone engines to Iran BERLIN: Germany’s federal prosecutor said yesterday that it had filed charges against two men over the alleged illegal export to Iran Parliament to approve PM’s resignation today; polls likely to be pulled forward of dozens of aircraft engines for use in drones. It said a 30-year- old German-Iranian man identified as Iman J L and 54-year-old SOFIA: Bulgaria’s govern- Iranian citizen Davood A were suspected of having contravened the ment resigned yesterday after law on foreign trade. They allegedly exported to Iran 61 aircraft mass protests against high engines for use in unmanned robotic drones without official per- power prices and falling living mission between October 2008 and September 2009, the prosecutor standards, joining a long list said in a statement. It said the exported engines were “suitable for of European administrations operating the ‘Ababil-3’ type drone which are used by the Iranian felled by austerity during four armed forces as target simulation-, reconnaissance- and combat years of debt crisis. drones”. The exports were falsely declared to get around German Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, customs, the federal prosecutor said. an ex-bodyguard who took power in 2009 on pledges to root out Ex-lawmaker Jackson Jr admits fraud graft and raise incomes in the European Union’s poorest mem- WASHINGTON: Former US congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, the ber, faces a tough task of propping son of the well-known civil rights leader, pleaded guilty yesterday up eroding support ahead of an to misusing $750,000 in campaign funds, including by buying him- expected early election. self a gold Rolex watch. The admission capped a stunning fall from Wage and pension freezes and grace for the Illinois Democrat who was once a rising national star tax hikes have bitten deep in a but resigned under a cloud in November after 17 years in the House country where earnings are less of Representatives. Prosecutors said Jackson used some of the than half the EU average and siphoned funds to buy children’s furniture, fur capes and a $43,350 tens of thousands of Bulgarians gold-plated Rolex watch. His wife, former Chicago alderwoman have rallied in protests that have Sandy Jackson, was expected to plead guilty to submitting false tax turned violent, chanting “Mafia” returns. Jackson, 47, faces up to five years in prison on charges of and “Resign”. conspiracy, making false statements, and mail and wire fraud, but Moves by Borisov on Tuesday his lawyer told reporters that he hoped for a lenient sentence. to blame foreign utility compa- nies for the rise in the cost of Kidnapped French hostages now in Nigeria heating homes was to no avail Supporters of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov applaud in front of parliament in Sofia, yesterday. and an eleventh day of marches YAOUNDE/DAKAR: The Islamist militants believed to have saw 15 people hospitalised and 25 up on the capital’s rutted streets businesses. “He made my day,” parliament, which is expected to abducted a French family of seven, including four children, in arrested in clashes with police. to oversee the repair of pot-holes. said student Borislav Hadzhiev approve his resignation today. Cameroon have taken them into Nigeria, a Cameroonian minister “My decision to resign will not be But critics say he has often in central Sofia, commenting GERB’s popularity has held up said. The abduction highlights the growing risk of attacks on French changed under any circumstances. skirted due process, sometimes to on Borisov’s resignation. “The well and it still led in the latest nationals and interests in Africa since Paris sent forces into Mali I do not build roads so that blood the benefit of those close to him, truth is that we’re living in an polls before protests grew in size to oust Islamist rebels occupying the country’s north. Speaking on is shed on them,” said Borisov, and his swift policy U-turns have extremely poor country.” last weekend, but analysts say the French television, Joseph Dion Ngute, a junior minister at the for- who began his career guarding the wounded the public’s trust. Borisov’s interior minister indi- opposition Socialists should draw eign ministry, said the kidnappers had put the hostages on motor- Black Sea state’s communist dicta- The spark for the protests was cated that elections originally strength from the demonstra- cycles after their car broke down. “They then took another woman tor Todor Zhivkov. high electricity bills, after the planned for July would probably tions. The leftists, successors to hostage with her car and fled into Nigeria,” he said. It was not clear A karate black belt, Borisov has government raised prices by 13 be pulled forward by saying that Bulgaria’s communist party, have what had happened to the additional female hostage. cultivated a Putin-like “can-do” percent last July. But it quickly his rightist GERB party would not proposed tax cuts and wage hikes image since he entered politics spilled over into wider frustration take part in talks to form a new and are likely to raise questions Putin ally quits House in US property scandal as Sofia mayor in 2005 and would with Borisov and political elites government. A small crowd gath- about public finances if elected. connect with voters by showing with perceived links to shadowy ered in support of Borisov outside REUTERS MOSCOW: An ally of Vladimir Putin resigned from the Russian parliament yesterday to fight accusations that he failed to declare ownership of property in the United States and to protect the repu- tation of the president’s party. Vladimir Pekhtin, who had already stepped down as head of parliament’s ethics committee, denied Pope was advised to owning real estate abroad despite documents posted by bloggers on the Internet showing his name on the deeds of property in Florida worth $2m. The documents posted by anti-corruption bloggers limit air travel: Report online show Pekhtin’s name on the deeds of three properties in Florida, one of which was bought for about $1.3m. The law does VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI is nearly blind in one not prevent officials from owning property overseas, but Pekhtin’s eye and was advised by his doctor to limit air travel because of critics say he neglected to include the real estate in declarations he his high blood pressure, the website Vatican Insider reported made for the State Duma on his property and income. yesterday. The report also said the 85-year-old pontiff often has problems sleeping and has fallen out of bed several times Biden’s tip for self-defence: Get a shotgun in recent years on foreign trips, making him tired in public appearances. WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden’s advice for The report was based on indiscretions from papal aides that self-defence: Buy a shotgun, not an assault rifle. Biden, who is Vatican affairs specialist Marco Tosatti said he had promised spearheading a push for President Barack Obama’s gun con- to keep secret until the end of the pontificate on February 28. trol proposals, dispensed this off-the-cuff tip for protecting life The report cited the pope’s doctor Patrizio Polisca saying and property during an online question-and-answer session on two years ago that Benedict’s blood pressure was having “major Facebook on Tuesday. The vice president has not one but two jumps” and insisting that he spend “as little time as possible in a shotguns that he says he keeps in a locked cabinet at his house plane because of the dangers”. Tosatti added that Benedict had in his home state of Delaware, and he has given his wife, Jill, been expressly advised not to make the transatlantic flight to explicit instructions on how to deal with any would-be intruder. Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day later this year. “We live in an area that’s wooded and secluded,” Biden said. “I In his report, Tosatti also said the pope could “almost no said, Jill, if there’s ever a problem just walk out on the balcony longer see” out of his left eye and therefore had to be helped up here ... put that double-barreled shotgun and fire two blasts out- and down steps. The report said Benedict even began using a side the house. I promise you whoever’s coming in is not gonna,” walking stick to get around his own residence last year because Biden said. “You don’t need an AR-15 (assault rifle). It’s harder his left hip and knee were hurting. to aim. It’s harder to use and in fact you don’t need 30 rounds to AFP protect yourself. Buy a shotgun,” he said. AGENCIES Horsemeat scandal spreads to HK and Czech Republic PARIS: Europe’s horsemeat scan- horsemeat which has not undergone tests all removed meals from shelves. The Czech dal spread yesterday to Asia where an for veterinary drugs”. The ParknShop chain, authority noted that horsemeat is sold for imported lasagne brand was pulled from owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing, has about 280 human consumption in the country, but that the shelves in Hong Kong, as Czech offi- stores in Hong Kong and Macau. if not mentioned on the product label it was cials ordered similar action on frozen In Europe, the Czech Republic became misleading to consumers and could lead to a meals mislabelled “beef”. the latest country embroiled in the affair, fine of up to 3m koruna ($159,000). A host of top players have been caught up with food inspectors ordering Tesco to with- Spanghero, the French firm that sparked in the spiralling scandal including Nestle, draw Nowaco brand frozen “beef” lasagne the food alert by allegedly passing off 750 the world’s biggest food company, top beef after detecting horsemeat. tonnes of horsemeat as beef, was on Monday producer JBS of Brazil and British super- The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection allowed to resume production of minced market chain Tesco. Authority said it had found horse DNA in meat, sausages and ready-to-eat meals. But Hong Kong authorities ordered two samples of the Nowaco meals manufac- the company, whose horsemeat found its ParknShop, one of the biggest supermarket tured by the Tavola company in Luxembourg. way into 4.5 million “beef” products sold chains in the city, to remove lasagne made Inspectors “ordered the seller to immediately across Europe, will no longer be allowed to by frozen food giant Findus, one of the firms withdraw the products from its network,” the stock frozen meat. at the centre of the scandal. The product authority said in a statement. Under the ban it cannot act as middleman was imported from Britain and made by Supermarkets in Belgium, Britain, between slaughterhouses and food-process- French firm Comigel. Denmark, Ireland, Finland, France, Austria, ing companies, the situation which allegedly Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety Norway, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, allowed it to change labels on horsemeat said the item “might be adulterated with Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Slovenia have from Romania and sell it on as beef. AFP THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 ASIA/PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 China throws out hacking allegations Mandiant’s claims have no factual basis and there is no consensus on what qualifies as hacking, says Army

BEIJING: China’s defence the 12-storey office building in amounted to cyberspying. the initials “Advanced Persistent respond directly to a question complex, while another interna- ministry yesterday rebuffed Shanghai identified by Mandiant He reiterated previous argu- Threat” —was a branch of Unit about whether Washington had tional news agency photographer a report linking its People’s as the headquarters of the mili- ments by Beijing officials that 61398 and had stolen hundreds discussed the issue with Beijing. was also briefly held. Liberation Army to sophis- tary cyberspying Unit 61398, with attacks traced to Chinese IP of terabytes of data from at He said instead that both sides Six Chinese soldiers in uni- ticated cyber attacks on US officers temporarily detaining addresses did not necessarily least 141 organisations across 20 “have maintained communica- form pulled the photographer firms, saying there was no journalists in the area. originate in the country. industries. tion” and referred reporters to out of a car and brought him internationally agreed defini- Defence ministry spokesman “Cyberattacks are by nature The US said in response to the the defence ministry statement. to the guardhouse, where they tion of hacking. Geng Yansheng said in a state- transnational, anonymous and document that it regularly raises Security outside the building searched his bag and seized his The 74-page analysis by the ment that Mandiant’s claims had deceptive, and the origin of hacking concerns with China, in Shanghai’s northern suburb of camera’s memory card before American Internet security firm “no factual basis” and insisted attacks is highly uncertain,” he with State Department spokes- Gaoqiao that was said to house allowing him to leave with a Mandiant provided one of the there was no consensus on what said. woman Victoria Nuland saying the military-led hacking group warning. most detailed accounts of large- qualified as hacking. “It’s widely known that using it comes up “in virtually every was tightened Wednesday after Speaking in English, the scale hacking operations that “There has been no clear inter- stolen IP addresses to carry out meeting we have with Chinese it became the object of media apparent leader of the group many Western experts have long nationally agreed definition for hacking attacks is happening officials”. attention. told him no photography was believed receive official Chinese ‘cyber attacks’,” he said, add- practically every day.” At a regular press briefing An AFP photographer was allowed since it was a military support. ing that the report “subjectively In its report, Mandiant alleged yesterday, China’s foreign minis- detained for half an hour while installation. Security was stepped up at deduced” that online activities the hacking group “APT1” —from try spokesman Hong Lei did not shooting video outside the AFP

Playing with Cobra N Korea’s video shows Dhaka loan deal for metro rail DHAKA: Bangladesh yes- Obama, troops in flames terday signed a loan deal with Japan International SEOUL: North Korea has nuclear deterrent to safeguard Cooperation Agency (JICA) released a new propaganda our sovereignty,” one caption to build a metro rail system, video showing US soldiers and read. costing $2.8 billion, to ease President Barack Obama burn- The video showed images of Dhaka’s traffic jams. The ing in the flames of a nuclear Obama waving and preparing 20.1km (12.5mile) ground and blast. to deliver his State of the Union elevated railway will stretch The footage was uploaded on address — all superimposed across Dhaka from north to YouTube on Monday, two weeks against a background of rising south, with 16 stations and after a separate video that showed flames. will ferry four million com- New York city in flames after an It ended with an animated muters daily. Work will start apparent missile attack. sequence of a nuclear bomb being in 2016 and end in 2021. The Both videos were uploaded detonated in an underground government may seek invest- by the North’s official website, bunker and the message: “The ment from other donors for Uriminzokkiri, which distributes whole world is now watching. The the remainder of the cost. news and propaganda from the US must answer now”. state media. The earlier video posted by Boy’s public act The latest effort came with a Uriminzokkiri had to be with- series of Korean-language cap- drawn, after it emerged that the irks Hong Kongers tions, arguing that North Korea footage of a burning New York HONG KONG: A mainland had been forced into conduct- was taken from the “Call of Duty” Chinese mother who asked ing its latest nuclear test — on video game. The makers of the her son to relieve himself in February 12 — by US hostility game, California-based Activision, a bottle in a crowded Hong A US marine holds a cobra during a jungle survival programme as part of the annual combined military exercises, “The North’s high-level nuclear filed a copyright complaint. Kong restaurant sparked Cobra Gold 2013, at a navy base in Sattahip, yesterday. The exercise included the US, Thailand, Singapore, test aimed at US invaders, is the AFP online anger. The Standard Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. newspaper said the incident occurred over the Lunar New Year holiday. The mother, who had been enjoying a meal with her family, allowed her son to answer nature’s call Philippines on ‘right track’ over Beijing’s challenge in a bottle she carries for such purposes. “But a female waitress saw us and spoke MANILA: The Philippines “We will follow the process the Law of the Sea, a 1982 treaty announced it had rejected the action that magnifies and compli- loudly, saying there is a toi- said it was on “the right track” whether they agree to it or not,” signed by both countries. Philippines’ call for UN arbitra- cates the issue,” foreign ministry let upstairs,” she wrote in an in seeking to have a UN tribu- Alemndras told reporters. The Philippines wants the tri- tion, insisting on bilateral nego- spokesman Hong Lei told report- online forum. “She repeated nal strike down China’s claims “Of course, we are of the opinion bunal to declare Chinese claims to tiations with its less powerful ers in Beijing. it five times until everyone to most of the South China that we are on the right track... most of the sea, which is believed neighbour. Under the UN convention’s was staring at me. My fam- Sea, after Beijing rejected the we would not have started it if to sit atop vast natural resources Although China has recently rules, the arbitration can pro- ily and I were so depressed process. we did not think that we would and is home to rich fishing sent ships into the South China ceed even if China declines to thanks to Hong Kongers’ President Benigno Aquino’s have enough basis to file all these grounds, as unlawful. Sea to enforce its claims and participate. discriminating against main- chief aide, Rene Almendras, said issuances.” But China says it has sover- established a local government to China can choose to ignore any landers.” But her complaints the government expected China The Philippines announced last eign rights over nearly all of the rule over the contested waters, eventual ruling by the tribunal. met with little sympathy in to ignore the plan to bring the month it had applied for its dis- South China Sea, even waters it warned the Philippines not to Nevertheless, a UN verdict that Hong Kong, where locals have matter up at the United Nations pute with China over the South approaching the coasts of the increase tensions. its claims were unlawful would be expressed a growing unease and stressed the case could still China Sea to be arbitrated under Philippines and other Southeast “The Philippine side (should) a diplomatic blow. about their relationship with proceed without Beijing’ approval. the United Nations Convention on Asian nations. On Tuesday China keep its word not to take any AFP the mainland. Myanmar holds talks with groups BANGKOK: Myanmar’s Taiwan to remove soldiers Japan urged to pay for damaged boat reformist government yes- terday held talks with a federation of ethnic groups from islands near China TAIPEI: Taiwanese activists The fishing boat was badly The disputed islands, in an to resolve issues, including yesterday demanded Tw$5m damaged during the encounter area where the seabed is believed the conflict in the north- TAIWAN: Taiwan plans to sign of improving ties between ($173,000) in compensation on January 24, they said, adding to harbour valuable mineral ern state of Kachin. The withdraw troops from two islets Taiwan and the mainland,” Lee from Japan for allegedly dam- that it would cost an estimated reserves, are known as the United Nationalities Federal near the Chinese mainland said. aging a boat they sailed near Tw$3m to repair or replace two Senkakus in Japanese and the Council, formed by about a and will turn them into tourist The islets, together with an disputed islands during a pro- engines and some electronic and Diaoyus in Chinese. dozen groups, including the attractions, officials said. area of one square kilometre (0.4 test last month. wooden equipment on the boat. Coastguard vessels from Japan Kachin, met the Minister of Tatan and Ertan form part of square mile), are about 4km from The boat, which carried seven “We also demand an additional and Taiwan also exchanged water the President’s Office, Aung the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Xiamen at the nearest point. people, abandoned a plan to land Tw$2m for the emotional distress cannon barrages in September Min, and other officials in island group off southeast China’s While they may soon be emp- on the East China Sea islands after we endured as the Japanese ships after dozens of Taiwanese boats the northern Thai city of Xiamen city and are manned by tied of soldiers, there is no indi- being blocked by Japanese coast- attempted to ram into our boat to were escorted by patrol ships into Chiang Mai. The group said around 120 soldiers. cation Taiwan will terminate its guard vessels which fired water bully unarmed Taiwanese people,” the islands’ waters. the “frank and friendly” talks Kinmen County Magistrate Lee garrison on much-larger Kinmen cannon at it, the activists said. said activist Tony Huang. AFP aimed to map out a frame- Wuo-shih discussed the plan for island soon. The exact number of work and timeframe for dia- the islands with the Minister with- soldiers there is a secret. logue and pledged to hold out portfolio, Lin Cheng-ze. Lee hoped that reminders of a Jamaat-e-Islami protest another round of discussions “The minister has in princi- fierce 1950 battle on the two forti- within two months. ple agreed to our plan of troop fied islets would lure visitors from withdrawal. Once the plan is com- Taiwan and the Chinese main- Thai arrested for pleted, it will be another crucial land. AFP rape of Scottish BANGKOK: Thai police said they had arrested a man yesterday for the rape of a Scottish woman, 20, who had Ex-Nepal prince suffers heart attack hoped to work as an English BANGKOK: Former Nepalese crown prince Paras Shah was teacher in the country. The in intensive care in Thailand after suffering a heart attack, the Thai suspect, 25, was arrested Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok said yesterday. at his house in the city of Shah, 42, who has been living in Thailand, was admitted to hospital Nakhon Si Thammarat based late on Tuesday, acting Ambassador Dornath Aryal said. “Doctors said on CCTV footage and witness his condition is improving and he needs a full examination.” accounts. “He confessed that Shah, who as crown prince was unpopular for his playboy lifestyle, he raped her twice. Medical was arrested for cannabis possession on the Thai resort island of examinations confirmed that Phuket in October. He was detained again in December for smashing she was raped,” police said. property at a luxury apartment in Bangkok. On both occasions he The victim told police she denied the charges and was released on bail. was raped by two of four He became heir to the throne in 2001 after his cousin, former crown Protesters on Shahbagh Square release balloons into the air to commemorate the ‘Martyrs of the Liberation War’, men who attacked her after prince Dipendra, killed nine members of his family, including the king in Dhaka, Bangladesh, yesterday. Protests against Jamaat-e-Islami have been held in the capital for more than leaving a bar in Nakhon Si and queen, in a drink-and-drugs-fuelled rampage before apparently two weeks, with demonstrators demanding the party’s leaders be executed for war crimes committed during Thammarat on Friday. turning his gun on himself. the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. AGENCIES AGENCIES THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Anger, scuffles as Shias bury dead Blast victims laid to rest after three-day protest

QUETTA: Scuffles broke out and screaming, initially refused to responsibility for both attacks. yesterday as Pakistani Shias bury the dead. The government said four men buried the 89 victims of a sec- Mourners pelted stones at the were killed and more than 170 ond major bomb attack in five car of a government official, as the arrested, including a purported weeks, which has highlighted burials got under way, prompting mastermind of Saturday’s attack. the government’s inability to security forces to fire into the air. But mourners said they thought stem sectarian violence. No one was hurt. nothing would change. Shia leaders called off a three- As the bodies, wrapped in white “We are in severe shock, we day nationwide protest, demand- shrouds and placed in wooden want the government to take ing army protection after the coffins, were buried in a row visible steps,” said college student government promised those of graves, volunteers formed a Kazim Ali, mourning a relative. responsible would be arrested in a human chain in a symbol of soli- “The army is our last hope. We “targeted operation” and relatives darity and protection. want a comprehensive military of the dead compensated. Shias, who make up around operation.” But for many mourners, the 20 percent of the mostly Sunni Security forces frequently deal was insufficient. Muslim population of 180 mil- detain people after major bomb- Around 1,000 people, shout- lion, are facing record numbers ings but few, if any, are charged. Shias prepare to burry the victims of the bomb blast on the fourth day, after they announced to end their protest ing anti-government slogans and of attacks, raising questions Courts have repeatedly detained in Quetta, yesterday. beating their chests, quarrelled about security as nuclear-armed and released the head of LJ, Malik with community leaders who Pakistan prepares to hold elec- Ishaq, on bail, most recently last agreed late on Tuesday to call off tions by mid-May. September. here? The government will have demanded to know why the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. I am at a their sit-in on a main road in the The 89 people were killed when Ali Raza, 35, asked how up to to take serious steps.” authorities had failed to arrest LJ loss to understand why the law southwestern city of Quetta. a massive bomb tore through a 1,000kg of explosives were smug- Soldiers from the paramili- culprits and took no action after enforcement agencies have been Similar protests were held market in the Quetta suburb gled into Hazara Town, the sub- tary Frontier Corps and police the attack. unable to arrest these people,” he in other major cities, including of Hazara Town on Saturday. urb where the attack took place. were deployed in all markets and Chief justice Iftikhar said on Tuesday. Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, Suicide bombers killed 92 at a “Why are they killing us? What on roads in Quetta city as the Muhammad Chaudhry sum- After the January attack, Shias paralysing key routes and Hazara snooker hall on January is our crime?” Raza said, shovel- burials took place, while troops moned senior officials to explain had refused to bury their dead for neighbourhoods. 10 in another area of Quetta. ling mud onto a grave. searched every vehicle heading to why they had failed to act on a four days until Prime Minister In Quetta, an angry mob of Outlawed militant group “How did terrorists transport the Hazara Town. purported intelligence report. Raja Pervez Ashraf sacked the young people and women, crying Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) claimed such a huge amount of explosives Pakistan’s top judge has also “Just go and get this provincial government. AFP

BRIEFLY Education can end oppression, says rape victim GENEVA: A Pakistani gang account of her grim story. She Mai acknowledges that she at for girls in the southern Punjab While oppression of women and rape victim who became an was illiterate. first had planned to follow tradi- region as well as a shelter home rape exist everywhere, she said international icon for daring to A village council had ordered tion and take her own life. for women, she says the family’s they were especially rampant in stand up to her attackers insists the gang rape as punishment “I got a threat from those peo- attitude has changed. her own country and neighbour- education is the key to ending after her 12-year-old brother was ple who physically abused me “Now they all support me,” she ing India, where the fatal gang- the oppression of women in her accused — wrongly, according to and they said that if I went to said. rape of a student in New Dehli country. a later investigation — of having the police they would kill me,” Not all is rosy however. In April in December sparked outraged Karachi elite flying “Education is really most illicit relations with a woman she said. “My intention was that 2011, Pakistan’s Supreme Court protests. important,” Mukhtar Mai, who from a rival tribe. I would go to police so that they upheld the acquittal of five men “The problem is that the laws abroad as has founded several schools in According to tradition, Mai could kill me and I would leave sentenced to death for her attack, in Pakistan and India are weaker. unrest continues Pakistan since her ordeal over should have killed herself or at this world.” and commuted the sentence for They don’t give us justice,” she a decade ago, said in an inter- least run away to protect her fam- Before that could happen the main accused to life behind said, adding that while laws do KARACHI: After the flight view on the sidelines of a human ily’s honour, but she did neither. though, she met some “highly bars. exist to protect women they are of resources, elites of the rights summit in Geneva this She took her attackers to educated” people who convinced Mai also said she still often often not implemented. Karachi city have also start- week. court and used the compensation her she would be better off “doing receives threats, and expressed Despite a dire lack of funding ing going abroad due to ongo- Mai, who is unsure of her exact money she received to start her something for other people, so this horror at the Taliban attack on for her schools, Mai said she was ing unrest in the city. age but thinks she is “around 40”, first school for girls, becoming in didn’t happen again, than dying.” 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai, an intent on giving the nearly 1,000 A club situated in Defence should know. the process an inspirational figure While her mother supported education activist who was shot girls there the basic tools they will has found that 30 per cent of After she was brutally gang who has spurred other victims to her decision, she says the rest of in the head by the Taliban in the need to stand up for themselves its members, mostly rich peo- raped in June 2002, the police choose the same route. her family was outraged. One of northwestern district of Swat and push for change. ple, have gone abroad over the she turned to for help “wrote “I feel really proud that because her brothers had even threatened last year and is recovering in And at home, where she has past eight months. whatever they wanted” in their of me, other women don’t run to kill himself if she didn’t take England. a three-year-old daughter and The club found this devel- report and got her to sign with a away or commit suicide, but her life. “But I won’t stop my work,” a one-year-old son, “I’m trying opment while investigating thumb-print. instead go to the police or to But in the years since then, as Mai said. “We should always to give more importance to my why its monthly income has She had no way of verify- court,” she said, speaking through Mai earned herself an education be hopeful that the situation in daughter,” she said. dropped by $7,000. ing that they gave an accurate an interpreter. and opened two primary schools Pakistan will change.” AFP The report mentions that 1,380 of its members have informed them via email and Prosthetic leg other sources that they have shifted abroad. It said 90 percent of the Pakistan ranked 31st 1,380 members have gone to the UAE and others to the US and Canada. It says many of the club among black markets members reside in Karachi but have shifted their families KARACHI: Pakistan stands Iraq despite the fact that Iraq is outside the city. 31st out of 91 countries in the broken by external and internal Upon questioning, residents world with more than $6bn wars for the last decade. It is wor- of the posh area say they are black market value, accord- risome that even Iraq has better fed up with the unrest and ing to Havocscope. The website security situation than Pakistan are disappointed at the gov- listed the countries ‘by their regarding black market. ernment’s failure to maintain estimated black market crime On the other hand, India peace in the city. value’. stands 18th out of 91 countries According to the website, in the world with the black mar- Plastic bags banned Havocscope Black Market Value ket estimated value of $16.84bn, is the estimated value of the glo- more than double as compared to in Islamabad bal black market. This figure is Pakistan. ISLAMABAD: The determined by combining the Yet, India is better in many Ministry of Climate Change total value of 52 black market areas than Pakistan consider- has imposed a ban on produc- products and activities with the ing mentioned security risks. tion, sale and import of plas- total value of the black market The drug trafficking figures of tic bags within the limits of activity in 91 countries. Pakistan are quite alarming as capital Islamabad with effect World crime statistics and they are much higher against from April 1 and anyone values are gathered from law Indian figures. To the horror of found violating the restric- enforcement and security agen- the government, Pakistan has tion would be fined from $102 cies, international organisations, more than double drug traffick- An Afghan man practises walking with his prosthetic leg at an International Committee of the Red Cross to $10,204. industry lawyers and representa- ing rates from India despite much hospital for war victims and the disabled people in Jalalabad, yesterday. Talking to mediamen in tives, and news articles. low population figures. Islamabad, Federal Minister The website stated that Meanwhile, India’s estimated for Climate Change Rana Pakistan black market’s esti- value in prostitution is $8.4 billion Farooq Saeed said use of plastic mated value is $6.12bn per year while the website did not show Private sector hesitant to obey outgoing govt bags will be stopped and steps with cocaine price in Pakistan any figures regarding this sec- will be taken to introduce the at $118.7 per gram; heroin price tor in Pakistan. It doesn’t mean PESHAWAR: With less than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has slowed Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, the ones made of environment- $3.0 per gram; price paid to that prostitution is not practiced one month remaining before the down implementation of its project provincial bureaucracy has been friendly material that perish human smugglers $22,000; and in Pakistan, but the fact is that sitting coalition government’s plans, risking falling behind the extra cautious for the past six within three months. human traffickers’ price is $342. prostitution is included in un- five-year constitutional term deadline. months. He said presently 55 billion Similarly, book piracy in Pakistan reported crimes in Pakistan due ends, an atmosphere of caution The result could be delay in the In an era of judicial activism, plastic bags are being produced is estimated at $55m; counterfeit- to which international monitoring and reluctance is all pervasive project. things have become more diffi- per year in 8000 units across ing $358m; cigarette smuggling institutions face problems in col- in the provincial officialdom of The organisation is waiting cult for many in the provincial the country and that there was $116m; drug trafficking $4.8bn; lecting data. Pakistan. for an interim set-up to come in. bureaucracy. no longer a need for installa- and gas and oil smuggling is esti- The credibility of these statis- Bureaucracies of private sector Its current policy is that of ‘wait Apart from discharging their tion of a different technology mated at $66m. Havocscope fur- tics is not questionable because development organisations and and see’ as the outgoing rulers day-to-day official duties, some to make environment-friendly ther stated that heroin trafficking Havocscope’s website collects their international donors have are exerting pressure to get their of them have to appear before bags, which can now be pro- in Pakistan is hovering around data from credible public sources also switched on ‘the go slow but- supporters accommodated against Peshawar High Court regularly duced only by changing the $1.2bn; illegal logging $782m; including newspapers, govern- ton’ to avoid complications. several of the low-cadre project in connection with a number of chemical. This way the work music piracy $25m; and software ment reports, and academic The management of a private posts and in smaller business important cases that involve the force will also not be rendered piracy stands at $278m. journals. Every single data point sector entity that is executing a entities that would emerge. provincial government at the jobless. It is worth adding that is listed with its original source. foreign-funded multi-million euro According to a member of receiving end. INTERNEWS Pakistan has bad record against INTERNEWS project in northern districts of the ruling party in Khyber INTERNEWS THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Shinde regrets ‘Hindu terrorism’ remarks

General strike hits normal life NEW DELHI: A day ahead of parliament’s budget session, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde yesterday withdrew his Two-day protest by 11 trade unions seeks concrete measures to check inflation, ensure jobs “Hindu terrorism” remark that threatened to stall the func- NEW DELHI: India’s financial tioning of the house and was sector was crippled and trans- Key demands of roundly criticised by the BJP port hit as large parts of the and other organisations. country ground to a halt yester- trade unions “Since my statement created day in response to trade unions controversy, I express regret,” calling for a two-day strike to The demands of the 11 central trade Shinde said in a statement. demand concrete measures to unions that have called the nationwide Meanwhile the Prime Minister check inflation, ensure jobs and shutdown: Manmohan Singh yesterday enforce labour laws. hoped that parliament’s budget Day one of the nationwide 1. Controlling inflation and price rise session beginning today would protest saw trains stopped in 2.Concrete measures for employment run smoothly. some places like Bihar and roads generation “This session of parliament is blocked elsewhere but it was all going to transact important finan- mostly peaceful, with the excep- 3. Strict enforcement of labour laws cial business before the house and tion of violence in Uttar Pradesh’s it is our sincere hope that we will 4. Social security for organised and Noida and Greater Noida areas, have a productive, constructive unorganised sector workers close to the national capital, debate leading to agreed solu- where mobs attacked factories 5. Stopping disinvestment of central tions to the many national prob- and set fire to vehicles. and state public sector undertakings lems that our country faces,” In Ambala, a Haryana Manmohan Singh told reporters Roadways employee was killed 6. Paying wages and benefits to after an all-party meeting. accidentally Wednesday when he contract workers similar to regular came under the wheels of a bus workers as authorities tried to forcibly ply 7. Amending the Minimum Wages Act Undertrial shot dead, services. The banking sector was the 8. Removal of ceiling on payment and cop injured inside court worst hit in the strike called by eligibility of bonus and provident fund NEW DELHI: An undertrial 11 major trade unions including was shot dead and an escort- 9. Assured pension to all the ruling Congress’ Indian Trade ing Delhi Police constable was Union Congress (INTUC). The 10. Compulsory registry of trade union injured when two men opened A fire engine in flames after it was set afire by protesters during the strike in Noida, near New Delhi, yesterday. strike impacted normal life across within 45 days fire in a city court yesterday. wide swathes of India. One of the attackers has been The charter of demands include and buses. And that was how it too. In the most populated state Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bharat arrested, police said. concrete measures for containing (AIBEA). In the financial capi- was in many parts of the country. Uttar Pradesh, 10,000-odd gov- Earth Movers Ltd, Indian The firing was the outcome of inflation, steps for employment tal Mumbai, all banks, insurance The shutdown was pretty much ernment-run buses stayed off Telephones Industries and a gang war, police said. generation, universal social secu- companies and commercial insti- total in Kerala, where the Left the roads leaving commuters Hindustan Machine Tools Ltd The attack took place in the rity and making the minimum tutions remained shut, organisers is not in power but has signifi- stranded shut down. Rohini court compelx in north wage `10,000 per month along said. cant influence, and in Left ruled And in West Bengal, where Normal life remained unaf- Delhi around noon when police with daily allowance. “The banking and financial sec- Tripura. flight services were normal and fected in most Karnataka towns. presented Naveen, 25, an under- The protest, ahead of the tor is 100 percent closed not only Most markets, shops and busi- trains plied despite minor disrup- Amongst the most affected trial in a murder case, in the budget session of parliament that in Mumbai and Maharashtra but ness establishments, government tions, buses, taxis and auto rick- were students. In Bihar, the gov- court for hearing, a police official is likely to see Manmohan Singh all over the country,” AIBEA vice offices, educational institutions, shaws largely kept off the roads. ernment has postponed the Class said. government cornered by the president Vishwas Utagi said. banks and financial institutions Coal production and trans- 12 examination scheduled for Feb “Mukesh, 28, a member of opposition on a range of issues, Attempts were made to halt were shut. Barring private vehi- portation were impacted in 20 and 21 in view of the strike. Naveen’s rival group, was arrested found wide resonance. buses in Mumbai and trains in the cles, public transport remained Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Officials said the exams will now from the spot. Two country-made Around one million bank- western suburbs but police foiled off roads. Chhattisgarh. The strike also hit be conducted in the first week of pistols used in the crime have ers struck work, affecting the most of these efforts. “The price rise is unbearable. the Vishakapatnam Steel Plant in March. The change in schedule been recovered,” said Deputy clearance of around four million Commuters had a tough time in There has to be a way out,” said Andhra Pradesh. will affect 800,000 students. Commissioner of Police B S cheques valued around `250bn, the national capital with cabs and Kerala’s Agricultural Minister K In the tech hub Bangalore, And while the strike organisers Jaiswal. “Some more people may estimated C H Venkatachalam, autos off the roads, leaving them P Mohanan, who belongs to the software majors like Infosys and looked ahead at day two, analysts be involved in the crime. Several general secretary of the All India with no option but to either miss ruling Congress front. Wipro worked normally but state- totted up the losses. people are being questioned,” Bank Employees Association work or pack into metro trains Life was disrupted elsewhere run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, IANS Jaiswal said. IANS

Air India pilot’s rap rant lands Rehearsal him in hot water

NEW DELHI: An Air India pilot faces the wrath of his bosses after appearing in a YouTube video rapping about bad pay, ageing female flight attendants and cancelled flights at the airline. Titled “Air India Rap”, the homemade track starts with the pilot putting on his uni- form before the start of his shift — only to be told that the flight has been cancelled at the last minute. The lyrics, set to a looping hip-hop soundtrack, are replete with expletives and take potshots at the airline’s cabin crew. Crew are often criticised by passengers for being A ‘Black Tiger’ Light Combat Helicopter performing a flypast during a full rude and the managers are dress rehearsal for the Indian Air Force’s Iron Fist 2013 military exercise blamed for the airline’s dis- in Pokhran, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, yesterday. mal reputation. “How do I fly with women in their sixties. They call them air hostesses, we call them aunt- ies,” goes the lines penned by Cameron offers regret, but no the pilot. “People work here for a lifetime, they never retire, seeing old faces everyday gets apology for colonial massacre my ass on fire,” he sings in the video, which has garnered AMRITSAR: British Prime He later defended his decision 44,011 views so far. Minister David Cameron vis- not to say sorry, explaining that it State-run Air India is the ited the site of a colonial-era happened 40 years before he was country’s fourth-largest air- massacre yesterday, describing born and “I don’t think the right line by market share. But it the episode as “deeply shame- thing is to reach back into history has been hit hard by rising fuel ful” while stopping short of a and to seek out things you can prices and fierce competition public apology. apologise for.” which have added to its legacy On the last leg of a three-day “I think the right thing is to of labour problems, crushing trip aimed at forging deeper eco- acknowledge what happened, to debts and a costly merger in nomic ties, Cameron took the recall what happened, to show 2007. bold decision to visit the city of respect and understanding for A two-month strike last year Amritsar and tackle an enduring what happened,” The Guardian by its pilots further dented scar of British rule over the sub- newspaper quoted him as saying. the image of the so-called continent, which ended in 1947. The number of casualties at “Maharajah” of the skies, Dressed in a dark suit and bow- the Jallianwala Bagh garden is which once enjoyed a dominant ing his head, he laid a wreath at unclear, with colonial-era records position. the memorial to the victims at showing about 400 deaths while The rapper pilot signs off Jallianwala Bagh where British Indian figures put the number with these lines: “I am gonna troops opened fire on thousands killed at closer to 1,000. serve you Air India forever — of unarmed protesters in 1919. S K Mukherjee, the secretary this ain’t a lie — coz I hope to In a message in the visitors’ of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial see you get out of this mess book, he wrote: “This was a deeply trust, spent half an hour guiding before I die.” shameful event in British history the British leader around the site, The Times of India quoted a and one that Winston Churchill showing him a well into which 120 senior Air India manager as rightly declared at the time as people jumped to their deaths as branding the song “an imma- ‘monstrous’. well as bullet holes in the walls. ture act”, and adding that the “We must never forget what Mukherjee said Cameron had airline would examine the happened here. And in remem- struggled for words but had told pilot’s record “before taking a bering we must ensure that the him he was “regretful and this final view” on whether to dis- United Kingdom stands up for the should not happen ever again” as cipline him. AFP right of peaceful protest around he left the memorial which has the world.” 20,000 visitors a day. AFP

Thursday 21 February 2013 11 Rabial II 1434 Volume 17 Number 5617 Price: QR2

Qatar key market for Lufthansa

Business | 19

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

QIIB lines up $2bn sukuk programme Doha Bank to raise capital by 50pc DOHA: Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) is looking to set up a $2bn sukuk pro- Subscription will be open from next Thursday until March 13 gramme. The Bank’s Board has submitted its recommen- DOHA: Doha Bank, Qatar’s 4.5 per share. In the meeting, dation to the general assembly fifth-largest lender by market the Chairman disclosed that Al for authorising it to go ahead value, will go ahead with its Khaleej Takaful Group, repre- with the programme. QIIB plans to increase its capital. The sented by Khalid Abdul Aziz Al is scheduled to hold its AGM Bank chairman Sheikh Fahad Baker, was elected as a new mem- on Sunday, March 10, 2013. bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al ber of the Board of Directors. The In the absence of a quorum, Thani yesterday announced new membership shall expire at the alternative meeting will that the Extraordinary General the end of the term of the cur- be held on March 13, 2013, a Assembly approved the Board’s rent Board. Qatar Exchange filing noted. decision to increase its capital The Bank’s assets rose by 4.7 THE PENINSULA by 50 percent. percent reaching to QR55.2bn In the first phase, the bank will and total portfolio of loans and increase its capital by 25 percent advances rose by 8.9 percent. of the current paid-up share While total customers’ deposit Qatar Exchange capital through the issuance rose by 8.5 percent, the share- to function at new of 51,674,450 new shares to the holders’ equity rose by 6.6 per- existing shareholders at a price cent reaching to QR7.6bn, Sheikh office from March 4 of QR30 per share representing Fahad noted. a premium of QR20 in addition “We achieved a growth rate of DOHA: Qatar Exchange (QE) to a nominal value of QR10 per 5.1 percent in net profit whereas has announced that its head- share. the net profit….,in addition to Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani (third left), Managing Director, Doha Bank, addressing quarters will be moving to Al Subscription will be open a growth rate equivalent to 3.6 the shareholders meeting at the headquarters of the bank in Doha, yesterday. Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin Dana Tower, West Bay, opposite from next Thursday till 1pm on percent in total operational to City Center Shopping Mall on Wednesday, March 13. Jabor Al Thani (second left), Chairman; Ahmed Abdul Rahman Yousuf Obaidan Fakhroo (fourth left), Vice Chairman; income. These robust results were March 4, 2013. The last working The remaining 25 percent Sheikh Falah bin Jassim bin Jabor bin Mohammad Al Thani (left); Hamad Mohammad Hamad Abdulla Almana reflected in strong performance day for QE in its current build- would be raised in the second (second right); and Dr R Seetharaman (right), Group CEO are also seen. SALIM MATRAMKOT ratios particularly the return ing shall be on February 28. phase through the issuance of on average shareholders’ equity QE will occupy the first five new shares, in the form of Global granted the Board of Directors Assembly of Shareholders 31, 2012. It also endorsed the and the return on average assets floors of the main tower (Al Dana Depositary Receipts (GDR), to be full authority to execute the endorsed, the Balance Sheet and recommendation of the Board which were 20.6 percent and 2.42 Tower) along with the 1st and held by a strategic shareholder second phase including the date the Profit & Loss Accounts for the of Directors to distribute cash percent respectively”, he said. 2nd floor of the annex adjacent being the depository bank, and of issuance of these shares, the financial year ended on December dividends to shareholders of QR THE PENINSULA to the main building. A temporary the Global Depositary Receipts amount of share premium and hall in the 1st floor of Al Dana to be listed on the London Stock the related terms and conditions, Tower will be equipped to host the Exchange. provided that the share price, investors until a permanent and Doha Bank’s existing share- inclusive of premium, shall not be more comfortable one has been holders shall waive their pre- less than 90 percent of the market prepared and equipped for that emptive right to subscribe these price of the Company’s ordinary purpose. Most of the licensed bro- new shares to allow the deposi- shares as traded on the Qatar kerage companies will gradually tory bank to directly subscribe for Exchange at the date of issue. open offices on the 1st floor of the such shares. In a separate meeting yester- main tower. THE PENINSULA The shareholders meeting day, the Bank’s Ordinary General

Airline staff strike

An airline worker holds up a sign with the colours of the Spanish flag during a protest outside the Iberia head- quarters in Madrid, yesterday. Iberia staff are holding three five-day strikes in February and March to protest against management plans to axe jobs and cut salaries at the loss-making airline. Indian business delegation holds talks with QCCI officials

DOHA: A delegation repre- businessmen in these vital sec- to promote export of chemical senting Qatar Chamber of tors. He also offered QCCI’s sup- and allied products. Formerly Commerce and Industry (QCCI) port to bring together the views known as Chemicals and Allied held a meeting yesterday with of the businessmen in the two Products Export Promotion a 12-member delegation of countries. Council, it is one of India’s old- CAPEXIL, an indian business Sasi Kumar, the Deputy Chief est trade bodies with 4,000 mem- support organisation for promo- of Mission at the Indian Embassy bers consisting of both SMEs and tion of export. said: Both countries are closely large corporate organisations The meeting, attended by a connected with historical and The Indian embassy in Doha number of Qatari businessmen strong relationship. Indian com- said the visit is being coordinated and their indian counterparts, munity in Qatar is the biggest in by it with the active support of aims at exchanging views on trade number and the volume of trade QCCI and Indian Business and opportunities and prospects of exchange between the two coun- Professionals Network. cooperation between the two coun- tries recorded $13bn in 2012. The delegation is scheduled tries in numerous fields including The Indian delegation, led by for interactions with local com- sawn timber, garnet sand, illumi- CAPEXIL Deputy Director I panies, aimed at expanding busi- nate and polished granite slabs, Rajamannar arrived in Doha on ness in various sectors of mutual among other sectors. a three-day visit to tap trade interest. Members of the busi- Remy Rowhani, the Director opportunities in the country. ness delegation will be available General of QCCI said during the CAPEXIL is a non-profit for a ‘Buyer Seller Meet’ today. meeting that the Qatari market is making organisation setup in The QCCI is also organising a expanded enough to accommodate March 1958 by the Ministry of business event at its premises real partnerships with the local Commerce, Government of India tomorrow. QNA THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Wall St slips after rally; oil falls Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 104.88 0.78 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.81 1.59 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 124.75 2.21 % Aa2 AA European stocks mixed; London gains on prospects of BOE cash stimulus Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 118.00 2.41 % Aa2 AA NEW YORK: Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 112.94 2.85 % Aa2 AA Global equity index of top European shares was raise its output in the second said. At closing, London’s FTSE markets faltered yesterday as down 0.15 percent at 1169.96. The quarter to satisfy higher demand 100 index of leading companies Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 174.00 3.85 % Aa2 AA a mixed reading of US housing benchmark S&P 500 has gained from China and drive economic gained 0.26 percent to 6,395.37 Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 132.75 4.33 % Aa2 AA data took the edge off this year’s more than 7 percent so far this recovery elsewhere, oil industry points while Frankfurt’s DAX 30 Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 123.50 4.32 % Aa2 AA stock rally, while oil prices fell year, giving some investors pause. sources said, but the exact rise in dipped by 0.30 percent to 7,728.90 Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 105.25 1.29 % Aa2 AA as the prospect of increased US residential construction volume was unclear. points and in Paris the CAC 40 Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 115.75 2.65 % Aa2 AA Saudi supply offset optimism fell in January but a jump in per- April Brent crude futures were fell 0.69 percent to 3,709.88 points spurred by an improving world- mits for future home building to 66 cents down at $116.86 a bar- “The apparent shift towards Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.75 1.62 % A1 A- wide economy. a 4-1/2 year high offered hope the rel after posting their first gain more easing by the UK central Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.25 2.29 % A1 A- A measure of world shares rose housing market recovery remains in four sessions on Tuesday. US bank was sufficient to lift the QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.75 1.99 % NR NR above a peak set in May 2011 to on track. The Dow Jones indus- crude fell 81 cents to $95.85. FTSE 100 over the 6,400 mark, QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.38 1.85 % Aa3 A+ trade at highs last seen 4 1/2 years trial average was up 7.22 points, US Treasury debt prices eased, revisiting this level for the first QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.38 2.23 % Aa3 A+ ago, before paring gains. Investors or 0.05 percent, at 14,042.89. The tracking falls in German bonds time since January 2008,” said were cautious with minutes from Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was after a weak auction, although Chris Beauchamp, an analyst at Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.13 2.43 % A2 A- the Federal Reserve’s most recent down 3.25 points, or 0.21 percent, the market was seen range-bound IG trading group. Asian markets Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.50 1.81 % A2 A meeting due for release later in the at 1,527.69. The Nasdaq Composite before the release of minutes of mostly climbed yesterday, with Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 130.38 2.62 % A2 A day. Global equity markets have Index was down 5.98 points, or the Federal Reserve’s January dealers taking a positive cue from Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 111.50 3.11 % A2 A surged over the last seven months 0.19 percent, at 3,207.62. policy meeting later in the day. Wall Street and Europe, following Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 111.50 3.84 % A2 A as major central banks repeat- The Dow edged higher on gains The benchmark 10-year US a surge in investor confidence in edly delivered monetary support by Boeing Co, which has found a Treasury note was down 1/32 in eurozone powerhouse Germany. Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 107.13 0.99 % Aa3 A to weak economies. MSCI’s all- way to fix battery problems on its price to yield 2.0295 percent. Japanese shares posted healthy Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 108.50 3.31 % Aa3 A country world equity index hit a grounded 787 Dreamliner jets, a European stock markets gains as the yen softened and data Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 112.13 3.47 % Aa3 A session high of 359.37 before paring source familiar with the US com- diverged yesterday, with London showed exports rose for the first SOVEREIGNS gains to trade at 358.21, 0.04 per- pany’s plans said. Boeing shares gaining on an increasing pros- time in eight months in January, cent higher on the day. rose 1.8 percent to 76.01. pect of more cash stimulus from although the country still posted Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Wall Street was mostly lower Saudi Arabia, the world’s top the Bank of England, while Paris its worst ever monthly trade defi- Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 105.75 0.35 % Aa2 AA and the FTSEurofirst 300 index exporter of crude oil, expects to dropped on profit-taking, analysts cit. REUTERS Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 127.00 2.04 % Aa2 AA Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.75 2.45 % NR NR Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.63 2.95 % NR NR Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 125.13 3.91 % NR NR Zambia seizes control Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 118.38 4.04 % NR NR Memac Ogilvy opens Qatar office Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 105.50 1.07 % Aa2 AA of Chinese-owned mine Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 115.19 3.35 % NR BBB LUSAKA: DOHA: Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 109.50 3.95 % NR BBB The Zambian gov- Memac Ogilvy, one of ernment has seized control of the top marketing communica- Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 94.50 6.73 % B3 /*- B- a Chinese-owned coal company tion agencies in the Mena, for- Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.25 3.70 % NR BBB- due to poor compliance with mally opened its doors in Qatar *Periodic Distribution Amount safety and environmental stand- yesterday. Memac Ogilvy is IMPORTANT NOTE: ards, the mines minister said part of Ogilvy & Mather, one of Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which yesterday. “Collum Coal mine the largest marketing commu- is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary has had a history of poor safety, nications networks in the world. data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising health and environmental com- The Qatar office is the 15th out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not pliance,” Mines Minister Yamfwa Memac Ogilvy office and is take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds Mukanga said in a statement. headed by SamerAbboud. The can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant “In view of this, my ministry Office is located in West Bay busi- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not has with immediate effect can- ness district. a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. celled all three small scale mining “I’m proud to open our 15th licenses held by Collum Coal Mine.” Mena office, in Doha. Starting “Government has also taken over from one office in 1984 in Bahrain, the running of the mine and will we have grown to become not continue to run them until a suit- only one of the biggest agencies able investor is found.” AFP in the Mena region, but also the FROM LEFT: Turkish Ambassador Emre Yunt, Edmond Moutran and Sheikh most creative agency in the Arab Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani during the formal opening of Memac Ogilvy world,” said Edmond Moutran, Qatar Office, yesterday Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Memac Ogilvy & Samer Abboud, Managing The office, open since mid-2012, Mather Holding Middle East & Director of Memac Ogilvy Qatar counts several local clients on North Africa. “We’re pleased to said: “We’re offering a unique its roster in addition to provid- bring our history, expertise and proposition to the Doha market, ing support to Memac Ogilvy’s award-winning team to the Qatar integrating communications that regional client relationships. A market. It’s a country with big keep the business ambition ahead team of 15 advertising, public ambitions, visionary leadership of channel focus. That keeps us relations and social media special- and companies that are looking focused on creativity that’s effec- ists are on staff, bringing global beyond Doha to tell their story. tive, drawing inspiration from experience from the US, Europe, That’s a good fit for the Memac David Ogilvy’s line – ‘If it doesn’t Asia, the Middle East and Gulf Ogilvy brand.” sell, it isn’t creative.’” Region. THE PENINSULA

StanChart names head of mergers and acquisitions for Mena region DUBAI: Standard Chartered announced yesterday the appoint- ment of Tom Emmet as Head of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Tom officially assumed his role on Monday, replacing Apoorva Shah who has decided to leave the bank to pursue other career opportunities. Tom will be based at the Bank’s regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and will report to Andrew Suckling, Global Head of M&A, and Daniel Azzi, Regional Head of Global Markets & Co-Head Wholesale Banking, Mena and Pakistan. Tom Emmet joins Standard Chartered from the Royal Bank of Scotland where he was Head of Corporate Finance and Equity Capital Markets (ECM) for Middle East and Africa. Prior to that, he was a long term mem- ber of ABN AMRO’s EMEA Investment Banking team. “Tom’s strong M&A advisory knowledge and on-the-ground experience in the region will be inval- uable in building on our existing M&A team’s deal track record,” Andrew Suckling said. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Volvo Cars to shed 1,000 jobs: Report STOCKHOLM: Volvo Cars, which is owned by Chinese auto maker Geely, Qatar key market for Lufthansa is to cut up to 1,000 jobs by the end of the year, the company’s chief execu- tive told Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT yesterday. “You have to adjust to reality,” Haakan Samuelsson said in an interview. A spokesman for Number of passengers to Doha at all time high last year the company, Per-Aake Froeberg, told Swedish radio that “by the end of the year, there will be 1,000 fewer of us.” AFP DOHA: Europe’s leading car- industry standards as well in rier Lufthansa has strength- other areas. The airline has ened its position in Qatar during successfully concluded the trial 2012. The number of arriving use of biofuel in regular flight passengers to Doha on busi- operations for just under six ness or leisure purposes was months. In all, a total of 1,187 an all time high last year and biofuel flights were oper- strengthened the Lufthansa ated between Hamburg and service which operates on a Frankfurt from 15 July to 27 daily basis, Carsten Schaeffer, December 2011. An Airbus Lufthansa Vice President Sales A321 completed eight flights & Service South East Europe, a day between Hamburg and Middle East and Africa said Frankfurt. One of the air- here yesterday. craft’s two engines was oper- “Qatar has developed as one ated with fuel containing up of the fastest growing markets to 50 percent of biosynthetic for premium travel in the GCC. FROM LEFT: Peter Pollak, General Manager UAE and Director Gulf, kerosene — the maximum mix Our growth numbers in First Afghanistan & Iraq, Randa El Massry, General Manager, Passenger permitted — produced by the Class are especially impressive Sales, Qatar, and Carsten Schaeffer, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Finnish petroleum company — the volume has nearly dou- Services Southeast Europe, Africa and Middle East at the Media Neste Oil. bled within one year. This is a roundtable event at the W Hotel, yesterday. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH Lufthansa operates more clear sign that our strategy to than 100 weekly flights to 13 invest into brand new First and we have continuously grown UAE and Director Gulf. destinations in the Middle Business Class products as well this service with additional “The fourth runway in East. In the GCC Lufthansa as the world’s only dedicated flights and larger aircraft. Over Frankfurt and the new A pier serves Dubai, Abu Dhabi, First Class Terminal is paying this period of seven years, the with easy connections and five Doha, Bahrain, Muscat, Kuwait, off. Lufthansa’s ratings for the capital of Qatar has become premium lounges have increased Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam premium travel classes have a strong pillar in our Middle our overall punctuality and from Frankfurt. In addition developed more than positively, Eastern network and Frankfurt will push Frankfurt fast for- there are flights from Dubai, he said. a preferred hub for custom- ward on its way to become the Jeddah and Riyadh to Munich, “Since we added Doha to our ers,” commented Peter Pollak, most efficient and reliable hub Lufthansa’s second hub. global network in January 2006, Lufthansa’s General Manager in Europe.” Lufthansa has set THE PENINSULA

Air Asia and India’s Tata • Bullion - Mumbai propose joint airline Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29860 Silver (1 kg) Rs. 57140 MUMBAI: Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia yester- day announced plans to invest in an airline joint venture • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.75 with India’s giant Tata conglomerate and another inves- • Sensex tor. “AirAsia through its investment arm has applied to BSE 19642.75 the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) seeking NSE 5943.05 approval to invest 49 percent into a proposed joint venture • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – with Tata Sons and Telestra Tradeplace,” the statement said. which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN “Indian aviation has enormous long-term growth potential Card/Demat Account not required. and is expected to produce tremendous upside for first movers.” • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return The three parties have signed an agreement and will apply to p.a. (in dollar) the civil aviation regulator for a flying permit, it added. • Housing loan from HDFC LTD Tata Sons was not immediately available for comment. The joint venture plans to operate from the southern Indian • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, city of Chennai and boost connectivity between smaller towns Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. for Indian travellers. AFP Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Index 8,801.31 0.24 % QE Total Return Index 12,031.22 0.24 % RATE QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,594.6 0.45 % QE All Share Index 2,135.92 0.19 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,048.3 0.22 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5114.396 13.432 0.26 5114.396 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 4,954.94 0.14 % QR186.6464 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3729 -6.82 -0.18 3793.26 3601.05 UK ...... QR 5.5343 QR 5.6114 QE All Share Industrials 2,823.51 0.01 % SILVER QE All Share Insurance 2,018.99 0.06 % Dj Indu Average 14035.67 53.91 0.39 14044.8 12035.1 QR 3.4094 Euro ...... QR 4.8432 QR 4.9105 QE All Share Real Estate 1,628.37 0.68 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5584 QR 3.6292 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,185.72 0.17 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9254 QR 3.9809 QE All Share Transportation 1,435.2 1.23 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23307.41 163.5 0.71 23944.74 22860.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0386 QR 0.0393 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7237 QR 3.7978 Iseq Overall/D 3682.54 -6.55 -0.18 3701.2 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0667 QR 0.0680 20-02-2013 19-02-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 17947.07 129.36 0.73 17941.73 16036.31 Index 8,801.31 8,779.90 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0368 QR 0.0376 Change 21.41 14.77 Nikkei 225 Index 11468.28 95.94 0.84 11498.42 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0888 QR 0.0906 % 0.24 0.17 $115.68 SL Re ...... QR 0.0283 QR 0.0289 YTD% 5.29 5.04 S&P 500 Index/D 1530.94 11.15 0.73 1530.94 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0457 QR 0.0466 Volume 9,086,492 8,063,455 Straits Times/D 3308.89 13.12 0.4 3319.19 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0420 QR 0.0428 Value (QAR) 302,024,613.12 328,837,212.43 $113.24 Trades 3,314 3,771 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4069 QR 0.4149 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 20 | Down 16 | Unchanged 04

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 20-02-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A B G Infra-B/D 97 2.2 9250 Colgate-A/D 1354.2 4.7 9238 Hind.Petrol-A/D 317.65 6.1 194253 Lloyd Steel-B/D 13 0.25 92846 Ruchi Soya-B/D 66.05 -1.25 10176 Land Secs Grou/D 844.25 -1 262288 A C C-A/D 1311 13.6 26324 Dcm Financia-B/D 1.44 -0.02 5806 Hindalco-A/D 111.7 -0.5 862159 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 19.2 0.35 14700 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 457.3 1.8 14531 Legal & Genera/D 157.1 2.5 4328151 Aarti Drugs-T/D 199.25 1.55 1503 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 42.4 0.2 3484 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 819.75 -2.4 66034 Lumax Ind-B/D 370.95 -2.55 2141 Saur.Cem-B/D 26.3 -0.7 1835 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 55.75 0.49 30349302 Aban Offs-B/D 320.1 -3.55 49848 Dhampur Sugar-/D 47.95 -0.95 25496 I F C I-A/D 32.5 0 2821993 Lupin-A/D 595.25 -4.5 27252 Sterling Tool-/D 107.25 0.3 2451 Marks & Sp./D 387.7 1.6 708821 Aegis Logis-B/D 149.2 1.8 12686 Dr. Reddy-A/D 1827.4 3.95 16468 Idbi-A/D 99.85 -0.5 145651 Lyka Labs-B/D 11.02 0.3 6205 Thirumalai-B/D 112.85 -1.4 5345 Next/D 4223 23 75869 Alembic-B/D 16.85 -0.15 37573 E I H-B/D 67.2 0.25 9321 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 100.95 2.95 7192 Maha Scooter-B/D 492.95 72.8 19149 Timexgroup-T/D 18.45 0.25 18329 Pearson/D 1215 10 406479 Alok Indus-B/D 10.06 0.04 1161683 E.I.D Parry-B/D 170.45 -1.4 14592 India Cement-B/D 83.7 -0.5 84081 Mangalam Cem-B/D 145.85 -1.25 3426 Tinplate-B/D 48.1 0.15 7412 Prudential/D 983 13.5 1399774 Andhra Paper-B/D 219.95 2 30086 Eicher Motor-A/D 2815.45 -23.3 2433 India Glycol-B/D 139 0.05 7539 Maral Overs-B/D 12.63 0.27 2972 Ub Engineer-B/D 22.15 -0.95 58062 Rank Group/D 163.328 0 84197 Apollo Tyre-A/D 89.05 0.85 157761 Electrosteel-B/D 22.55 0.05 680803 Indian Hotel-A/D 60.9 0.5 48003 Mastek-B/D 141.45 0.6 4462 Ub Engineer-B/D 22.15 -0.95 58062 Rentokil Initi/D 92 1.4 841606 Asahi I Glass-/D 50.5 0.4 2611 Emco-B/D 25.95 0.05 10762 Indo-Tcount-T/D 14.69 0.65 3214 Max India L-A/D 243.65 1 4487 Ucal Fuel-B/D 61.8 0.05 4210 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1050.64 7 1691040 Ashok Leyland-/D 23.4 0.35 462880 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.05 -0.05 2317 Indusind-A/D 439.25 -3.5 51120 Mrpl-A/D 60.2 0.4 79801 Ucal Fuel-B/D 61.8 0.05 4210 Rsa Insrance G/D 117.3 -19 73252228 Bajaj Hold-A/D 976.45 6.3 1473 Escorts-B/D 64.85 0.35 110651 J.B.Chemical-B/D 83.55 1.2 5714 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 18.75 -1.3 5136 Ultramarine-B/D 54.8 1.75 12064 Sainsbury(J)/D 334.7 2.4 1117677 Ballarpur In-B/D 19.45 -0.25 31277 Essar Oil-A/D 90.35 0.2 1041163 Jagson Phar-B/D 12.02 -0.18 1851 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 18.75 -1.3 5136 Unitech P -A/D 30.05 -0.85 13937491 Schroders/D 2009 34 63285 Bata India-A/D 769.15 -17.4 23433 Eveready Indu-/D 20.1 -0.4 47957 Jamnaauto-B/D 84.5 -1.15 1705 Nahar Spg.-B/D 76.25 1.35 2002 Severn Trent/D 1616 10 140088 Bayer Crop-A/D 1147.05 27.25 11246 F D C-B/D 92.85 -0.45 21564 Jbf Indu-B/D 105.7 0.45 12748 Nath Seeds-B/D 4.87 0.21 4309 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 705.655 3.5 441462 Beml Ltd-B/D 244.05 1.35 8141 Federal Bank-A/D 500.15 -4.75 10277 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.58 0.03 24408 Nation Alum -A/D 46.45 0.15 13506 Smiths Group/D 1261 12 181680 Bharatgears-B/D 44.35 0.55 2276 Ferro Alloys-B/D 6.3 0.12 42920 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.26 -0.04 28001 Navneet Pub.-B/D 63.55 -0.35 5553 3I Group/D 309.8 3.8 479214 Standrd Chart /D 1762 -9 1351316 Bhel-A/D 210.8 -1 230585 Finolex-B/D 86.3 -0.15 201973 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 3.31 0 3450 Nepc India-B/D 2.42 0.11 23556 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1873 21 272594 Tate & Lyle/D 812.5 13 363995 Bom.Burmah-B/D 119.95 1.6 25869 Gail-A/D 337.8 3.3 51186 Jik Indust-B/D 1.64 0.07 4415 Nrb Bearings-B/D 34.1 -0.1 3619 B Sky B/D 831.5 4.5 893154 Tesco/D 374.518 5.45 5138583 Bombay Dyeing-/D 100.25 1.45 250728 Gammon India-B/D 29.7 0.9 78972 Jindal Drill-B/D 234.05 -12.3 12416 O N G C-A/D 328.95 -1.3 433813 Barclays/D 320.2 -4.8 15880435 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Cable Corp.-B/D 19.15 -0.5 5157 Gangotri Tex-T/D 2.34 0.02 5715 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 115.15 1.7 4573 Oil Country-B/D 45.25 0.1 2392 Bg Group/D 1163.6652 16.5 1538420 Unilever/D 2662 51 956808 Canfin Homes-T/D 154.7 -0.3 1803 Garden P -B/D 57 -0.05 1569 Kalpat Power-B/D 86.65 3.45 30434 Onward Tech-T/D 44.6 0.2 2619 Bp/D 448.9227 2.6 8370034 United Util Gr/D 732.5 7 753820 Caprihans-B/D 47 -0.3 1479 Goodricke-B/D 145 4.05 16209 Kalyani Stel-B/D 50.4 -1.5 19237 Orchid Chem-B/D 73.75 -0.25 56150 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3447 57 707263 Vodafone Group/D 162.6 -0.9 33112099 Castrol Ind-A/D 312 1.7 17804 Goodyear I -B/D 293.35 -0.55 1480 Kilburnengg-B/D 14.5 0.5 4207 Orient.Carb.-B/D 100.55 1.4 3553 British Airway/D 276.4574 0 0 Whitbread/D 2689 8 91501 Century Enka-B/D 115.75 1.6 8053 Hcl Infosys-B/D 35 -0.05 23293 Kin.Motor-B/D 9.66 -0.12 4649 Orient.Carb.-B/D 100.55 1.4 3553 Bt Group/D 280.4 3.5 3850330 Century Text-A/D 378.15 -0.2 47553 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.53 -0.2 337660 Kinetic Eng-T/D 104.2 1.75 2360 Patspin India-/D 7.24 -0.45 38980 Centrica/D 352.635 0.9 1765448 Chambal Fert-B/D 64.5 -0.35 112205 Himat Seide-B/D 35 0.85 32235 Kopran-B/D 17.05 -0.3 18282 Radico Khait-B/D 139.4 -1.1 11721 Gkn/D 265 3.1 1702713 Chola Invest-B/D 282.55 2.15 1804 Hind Motors-B/D 9.57 -0.02 41018 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2099.4 8.7 1558 Rallis India-B/D 124.35 -0.75 12999 Hsbc Holdings/D 734.6 5.8 7185308 Cipla-A/D 381.85 -5.1 100796 Hind Org Chem-/D 15.75 0.45 22007 Lgb Broth-B/D 237.45 2.6 1491 Rallis India-B/D 124.35 -0.75 12999 Imperial Tobac/D 2418.795 11 530745 City Union Bk-/D 58.35 0.15 55828 Hind Unilever-/D 476.7 -0.3 81815 Lloyd Metal-B/D 14.55 -0.15 5640 Reliance Indus/D 410.7 7.55 189223 Kingfisher/D 276.1 0.7 1883931

THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Hawks beat Johnson shines as Canucks to equal NHL Nets edge Bucks record

CHICAGO: The Chicago Blackhawks matched a NHL NBA: Gallinari proves golden for Nuggets record start to a season yes- terday, beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 to post their 16th BROOKLYN, New York: Danilo Gallinari made a vital con- consecutive game where they Guard Joe Johnson hit the NBA Results tribution on his return to action earned at least one point. game-winner at the buzzer in Toronto 96 Washington 88 as the Italian forward led the Chicago is now 13-0-3 this overtime to lift the Brooklyn Charlotte 105 Orlando 92 Denver Nuggets to a 97-90 victory season and have tied the 2006-07 Nets to a 113-111 victory over over the Boston Celtics yesterday. Anaheim Ducks’ record of points Brooklyn 113 Milwaukee 111 the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday. Gallinari had missed two games from consecutive games. Memphis 105 Detroit 91 Johnson carried the Nets on through illness but with the regu- The Blackhawks host the San his back down the stretch at the Chicago 96 New Orleans 87 lar season resuming after the All- Jose Sharks on Friday where they Barclays Center arena by nailing Denver 97 Boston 90 Star break, his 26 points, laced will have an opportunity to beat a three-point shot near the end of Utah 115 Golden State 101 with four three-pointers, helped the record. Chicago’s Andrew regulation to send the game into San Antonio 108 Sacramento 102 the Nuggets snap a three-game Shaw beat Vancouver goaltender overtime. Phoenix 102 Portland 98 losing streak. Cory Schneider with a nifty high He shot 10-of-18 from the field With the game tied 84-84 mid- backhand shot in the third round and finished with 24 points for and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, way through the fourth quarter, of the shootout. Canucks forward Brooklyn who snapped a 13-game who are 12-11 in the first game Gallinari drained his final three- Ryan Kesler was the next shooter losing streak to the Bucks. after the mid-season break dating pointer and the home Nuggets and had a chance to extend the Point guard Deron Williams back to the 1989-90 season. rode the momentum with a 10-2 shootout, but Blackhawks goal- had 19 points with nine assists Lopez is fresh off his perform- run that put them in position to tender Ray Emery made a glove as the Nets emerged from the ance in the all-star game where close out the win. save to give them the victory. National Basketball Association he had three points and five Ty Lawson matched Gallinari’s “I guess you can get some all-star break to earn their third- rebounds in just over 10 minutes 26 points while Kenneth Faried pretty ones once in a while,” Shaw straight win. of playing time. added seven points and 16 said. “I heard my name and I was Andray Blatche and CJ Watson Brandon Jennings had a game- rebounds for Denver (34-21). nervous. But I won’t forget this.” came off the bench to score 14 and high 34 points and Ersan Ilyasova “I’m just attacking, not think- Slovakia’s Marian Hossa 11 points respectively for the Nets contributed 21 points and nine ing about whether I should shoot had two goals while Canadian in front of a crowd of 17,334. rebounds for Milwaukee, who lost it, not second-guessing my shot,” Patrick Sharp also scored for the “It’s huge. When our bench their fifth in six contests. Lawson, who has averaged 27.5 Blackhawks, who have now won comes in and plays like that, we Larry Sanders returned after points in his last four games, told three straight. are a tough team to beat,” said missing four games and finished reporters. There was disappointment for Johnson. with 14 points, eight rebounds and “I’m just trusting myself and the Blackhawks however when This was Williams first game six blocks in the loss. Sanders has it’s been working out for me.” star forward Hossa was injured back after missing two straight at least one blocked shot in his The Celtics (28-25) had won in the third period, after tak- with an ankle injury. He has last 34 games. seven of eight games since the ing a forearm to the head from been one of the Nets top scorers The Bucks suffered their first loss of Rajon Rondo to a season- Vancouver’s Jannik Hansen, and this season, averaging 16.7 points loss to the Nets since March of ending knee injury but once they had to leave the game. per game heading into Tuesday’s 2009. The Nets improved to 20-10 fell behind in the final quarter, Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward (20) is defended by Golden State Hossa, who has a history of contest. at home this season. they were unable to stay in touch Warriors’ forward Andris Biedrins (15) during the second half of their concussions, will be checked by Brook Lopez also had 19 points Meanwhile, sharp-shooting with the Nuggets. AGENCIES NBA game in Salt Lake City, Utah, yesterday. team doctors on Wednesday. Sweden’s Daniel Sedin, Kevin Bieksa and Alexander Edler scored singles for the Canucks, who have lost their last three con- tests. Chicago led 3-1 with three Indian official expects global amateur ban to be lifted minutes left in the third period. But Edler and Bieksa both scored MUMBAI: Indian International Randhir, Indian Olympic “I have my fingers crossed.” “We never stopped training, not disclosed. In making the on slapshots to tie the game with Olympic Committee (IOC) Association (IOA) secretary gen- The IOA was kicked out of the hoping there will be some solu- announcement, Mayweather one minute left in the period and member Randhir Singh is con- eral during the previous regime, Olympic family for allowing gov- tion some day.” also confirmed a May 4 fight with force the overtime. AFP fident the world amateur boxing said he asked AIBA chief Wu ernment interference in its Dec. 5 Meanwhile, eight-time world Robert Guerrero which will mark federation (AIBA) will soon lift Ching-kuo to lift the ban on the elections, which also saw a tainted champion Floyd Mayweather has the fighter’s Showtime debut. NHL Results its ban on the country’s pugil- country’s boxers when he spoke to official being elected to a key post. left HBO in favor of a 30-month, Widely recognized as boxing’s Winnipeg 2 Buffalo 1 ists, the official said yesterday. the Taiwanese official yesterday. Vijender Singh, whose middle- six-fight deal with Showtime and top pound-for-pound fighter, The AIBA suspended the Indian “I spoke to Wu and told him weight bronze at the 2008 Beijing its parent company CBS in what Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) has Montreal 3 NY Rangers 1 Amateur Boxing Federation that the boxers should not be Olympics helped raise boxing’s is being called the richest pact in been a part of boxing’s four big- Ottawa 3 NY Islanders 1 (IABF) in early December for made to suffer for no fault of profile in India, was glad to hear boxing history. gest non-heavyweight pay-per- Tampa Bay 4 Toronto 2 “possible manipulation” of its theirs,” Randhir said by phone. news of a development. Financial terms of the deal view events. San Jose 2 St Louis 1 elections, in the wake of a wider “I will be sending an official let- “That’s great news, all our between the undefeated boxer The 35-year-old fighter was Nashville 4 Detroit 3 Olympic ban that has sent shock- ter today. I am very hopeful that boxers will be very happy. I have and Showtime/CBS, announced listed as the highest paid athlete Chicago 4 Vancouver 3 waves through sport in the South AIBA will lift the ban on the play- always said that the boxers should yesterday in a statement by in 2012 by Forbes after earning Los Angeles 3 Edmonton 1 Asian country. ers and let them participate. not be penalised,” Vijender said. Mayweather Promotions, were $85m. AGENCIES

2013 Qatar Open Table Tennis Championship qualifying rounds

Qatar’s Ahmad Al Mohannadi prepares to serve during his match against Asuka Sakai of Japan in the Qatar Open Table Tennis Championship at the Women’s Sport Committee Hall at Aspire Zone, yesterday. The qualifying rounds of the 2013 ITTF World Tour Super Series event began yesterday. The main draw matches will begin tomorrow and the finals will take place on February 24. RIGHT: Qatar’s Fahed Al Mughanne makes a return during his match against Zhikang Wu of Singapore. PHOTOS BY: KAMMUTTY VP

Hissa Al Hamad of Qatar in action against Dina Meshreef of Egypt. CENTRE: Hussain Kholoud of Qatar before her match against Alexandra Privalova of Bulgaria. RIGHT: Aia Mohamed of Qatar gets ready for her match against Ganna Gaponova of Ukraine. THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Pistorius Woods set for Match Play dope-tested twice at Games: IPC after presidential victory PARIS: Oscar Pistorius was drug-tested before and during last year’s Paralympic Games in London, the International Playing with Mr. President was pretty cool, says world number two Paralympic Committee (IPC) said yesterday, adding that on MARANA, Arizona: Two “He’s a pretty good athlete, 2003, 2004 and 2008. “The whole both occasions the results were days after winning a friendly and as we all know he played a idea is just to beat one guy at a negative. match with his playing partner lot of hoops (basketball),” said time. “Oscar was tested twice in President Barack Obama, Tiger the 37-year-old American as the “There are times where I’ve London. First on 25th Aug in an Woods said he felt in good shape wind began to strengthen at Dove played well in matches and I’ve out of comp (competition) test for this week’s WGC-Accenture Mountain. “He’s a lefty, but to see lost, and other times where I’ve and then also 8th Sept in an in Match Play Championship, an him out there hitting shots, he hit played poorly and advanced. It’s comp test. Both negative,” IPC event he has won three-times. it well. potluck.” director of media and communi- The American world number “And we didn’t play under the Woods will be playing Howell, cations Craig Spence said. two has not competed on the PGA easiest conditions. He’s got amaz- who is known for his workaholic “He’ll also have been tested by Tour since clinching his 75th title ing touch. He can certainly chip approach to the game, for the IAAF (International Association at the Farmers Insurance Open and putt. first time in this format since he of Athletics Federations) and four weeks ago, taking time off to “After these four years triumphed over his compatriot in South African anti doping agency be with his children before getting (Obama’s final term on office), if the quarterfinals of the 1996 US last year,” he added. down to some serious practice. he ever spent more time playing amateur championship. The details came after “The last couple of weeks, I the game of golf, I’m sure he could “His work ethic has never police investigating the death started getting back into it. The get to where he’s a pretty good changed, never waned,” Woods of Pistorius’ girlfriend, Reeva last week really hard,” Woods stick.” said of the 33-year-old Howell. Steenkamp, at his home last week told reporters on Tuesday out- Like many of his predecessors, “He’s out there working all the told a court in Pretoria that they side the spacious clubhouse at Obama has escaped the pressures time. He’s trying to get better. I found testosterone and needles in Dove Mountain’s Ritz-Carlton of the Oval Office by taking to the admire guys who put in that kind his bedroom. Golf Club. “And playing with Mr. golf course. He has played more of work. Pistorius, who made history President was pretty cool. than 100 rounds as president and “It’s not easy to do. He’s imple- last year by becoming the first “He’s just a wonderful person typically tees it up with a group mented some swing changes over double-amputee to run in the to be around. We won.” of close-knit friends. the years, but his tireless work ethic Olympics, is accused of deliber- Obama, an avid weekend golfer, Woods will take on fellow is something we all look up to.” ately gunning down Steenkamp and 14-times major winner Woods American Charles Howell III in Asked if he had a favourite on Valentine’s Day, February 14. played together on Sunday for Wednesday’s opening round at memory from his matchplay The first drug test in London the first time at the exclusive Dove Mountain and is taking career, Woods replied: “I’d have to was four days before the Games Floridian Yacht and Golf Club, nothing for granted in the noto- say probably all of my finals in the opened while the second would which was surrounded by a cor- riously unpredictable format of Am (US amateur championship). have been after he retained his don of security. matchplay golf. “I was down in the final all T44 400m title for single and Woods, who lives about an “Anything can happen in 18 three (US) juniors and all three double below-the-knee amputee hour south of the Floridian holes, and it’s imperative to get Ams and came back and won all sprinters on the last full day of club in Jupiter, said he had been off to a positive start,” said Woods, six of them. It’s something I’m Tiger Woods of the USA talks with the media during his press conference competition. impressed by the quality of who won the elite World Golf pretty proud of. Not one stands prior to the start of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play But he appears not to have been Obama’s golf. Championships (WGC) event in out.” AFP Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana, Arizona, yesterday. tested after winning silver in the 200m race or after coming fourth in the blue riband 100m event. Drug-testing came under the spotlight at the Paralympics after organisers said that unlike at the Olympics that preceded it, they Medallists urged to lobby IOC for wrestling would not drug-test every medal winner. TOKYO: Japanese wrestling Saori Yoshida of Japan, are being promised to mobilise all medal- It will remain on the pro- and softball, squash, karate, The president of the IPC’s anti- chiefs yesterday urged Olympic asked to gather in the Russian lists, including Karelin,” he said. gramme for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro roller sports, wakeboarding, sport doping committee, Jose Antonio medallists the world over to join city of St. Petersburg when the Fukuda said he had also pro- but faces a fight against seven climbing and the Chinese martial Pascual, said at the time that ana- forces to save their sport from International Olympic Committee posed the heads of all 180 national other sports for inclusion in 2020, art of wushu. lysing samples from every medal- the chop at the 2020 Games. (IOC) executive board meets on wrestling federations write a a Games that Tokyo is bidding to Representatives of these sports list would be impossible, as there Tomiaki Fukuda, vice president May 26-31. letter to IOC president Jacques host. are due to make presentations to were 503 golds on offer compared of the international wrestling fed- “I have proposed that they Rogge asking him to help keep the The St Petersburg meeting is the board. with about 300 at the Olympics. eration FILA, said in Tokyo he lobby the IOC executives and hold sport part of the Games. expected to narrow the number Yoshida, who won the women’s Pascual insisted, though, that had proposed the lobbying plan rallies to state our case there,” Earlier this month the 15-mem- of sports -- possibly to three -- 55kg freestyle gold at last year’s at least one medallist would be in letters to all executives of the Fukuda, also president of the ber IOC executive voted to drop that should be put forward to the London Games for a record 13th tested, alongside random testing organisation. Japan Wrestling Federation, told wrestling from the Olympic pro- 100-plus IOC members in Buenos straight Olympic or world cham- of other competitors, which he The medallists, including a news conference. gramme. The sport has been part Aires in September when they pionship title, told the same news maintained was a strong enough three-time Olympic champions “We have been insufficient of every modern Olympics, apart select just one survivor for 2020. conference that she might go to St deterrent to prevent doping viola- Alexander Karelin of Russia and in lobbying the IOC. Russia has from in 1900. The other sports are baseball Petersburg. AFP tions. AFP

Trickett urges National Sport Day at Mesaieed Industrial City healing after ‘toxic’ Games

SYDNEY: Australian swimmer Libby Trickett yesterday called for healing within the sport after reports exposed a “toxic” atmosphere at the London Olympics including drunken- ness, deceit and bullying. Swimming Australia has vowed to restore its standing with the public after the country’s much vaunted swimmers disappointed at the 2012 Olympics and inquir- Khalid Ibrahim Al Mansour, Senior Supervisor for Club and Leisure, Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC) is ies into its culture revealed dis- seen with players who took part in the six-a-side hockey tournament organised by MIC. Qatar Hockey cipline was loose and the squad Federation emerged as winners, while Wanderers bagged the fair play trophy. Other teams that took lacked leadership. part were QAFAC, GAS Operations, QP Refinery and MIC. Trickett, who has won four gold medals at three Olympics, welcomed the news that officials would further investigate allega- GCC Paralympic Athletics Championship tions against the team, includ- ing that some athletes misused prescription drugs as a prank in London. “That issue has been left unre- solved and it needs to be dealt with in order for us to move on,” she told the Australian newspaper. “It probably has gone too long without being dealt with. It cer- tainly does need to be addressed because... if we let this one go, it’s a precedent for the future.” She said all swimmers had been “under a cloud” because no indi- viduals had so far been named. “But if names are named, we will need to support them through the difficult times that lie ahead for them -- and they will be difficult,” she said, The Australian reported. “We need to come together Paralympic athletes who competed across a range of track and field disciplines in the GCC Paralympic again as a team and what better Athletics Championship pose for a picture during their stay at the Grand Heritage Doha Hotel and Spa. way to do that than by embracing Athletes representing Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman competed in the championship. these swimmers?” AFP THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 South Africa retain Du New stadium is a step Plessis as T20 captain JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have retained Faf du Plessis (pictured) as captain of their T20 squad for the two-match cricket series against Pakistan starting on March 1 after AB de Villiers asked not to be considered for the role. De Villiers will remain in charge of the in right direction: ACC one-day international (ODI) set-up, giving South Africa different skippers in all three formats of the game. Du Plessis was in charge for the 2-1 Top cricket official inspects ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities T20 series victory over New Zealand last month. Cricket South Africa announced their BY RIZWAN REHMAT squads for the shortened versions of the Iqbal Sikander, game yesterday, with the side also set to DOHA: The new cricket sta- the ACC take on Pakistan in five ODI matches in dium in Qatar ‘is a big leap for- March. Development ward for the development of the “Handing Faf the T20 captaincy is an Manager, is seen sport in the country’, a top offi- exciting option for us to explore our leader- cial of the Asian Cricket Council with QCA officials ship resources,” coach Gary Kirsten said. (ACC) has said. Manzoor Ahmed, “He showed a lot of potential during the Iqbal Sikander, the ACC Malik Nazar series against New Zealand in both the T20 and ODI formats, and this Development Manager, who vis- Mohamed and will be another great opportunity for him to work on his role as a leader. ited the new stadium along with Gul Khan Jadoon “Having three captains also allows us to spread the resources Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) at the new cricket amongst our three formats, with Graeme (Smith) and AB also provid- officials, said: “(To have) such a stadium in Doha. ing the ideal support in the Test and ODI formats. This is an important big stadium in Doha for cricket BELOW: QCA year for our limited-overs squads and this new direction is an exciting is a big achievement. I congratu- officials are seen step forward.” late Qatar Cricket Association with Sikander Morne Morkel should be sufficiently recovered from his hamstring for getting the help and support at the Mesaieed injury to play in the ODI series but will be replaced by new cap Kyle of the Qatar Olympic Committee cricket ground. Abbott for the T20 matches. (QOC).” South Africa have rested Jacques Kallis from both their ODI and Last year in October, the QCA T20 squads, while Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn have been given time hosted a ACC Development off for the T20 series as well. Manager Bandula Warnapura to visit in three years - I find a big South Africa ODI squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, showcase the growing infrastruc- change. Number one, the Qatar Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, ture of the sport in the country. Cricket Association is much more Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Aaron Sikander urged QCA to take proactive. They are working hard Phangiso, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. the initiative of hosting an event on the plans they have charted South Africa T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, for under-16 or under-19 players out. They have plans to add more Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, representing GCC countries. tournaments including events for Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Chris Morris, Justin The former Pakistan interna- women. Their plans also include Ontong, Robbie Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. tional - who was a member of the introducing more events to har- REUTERS side that won the 1992 World Cup ness the talent at schools level. under captain Imran Khan - said: They have started having discus- “We could have an under-16 or an sions with schools in Qatar. So all Kohli replaces Afridi back in under-19 event sanctioned by the in all, that’s a big improvement ACC. I have requested the QCA from what I saw three years Vettori as Royal Pakistan ODI to initiate a Youth GCC Cricket ago. Apart from that, I am very Tournament.” happy to see that Qatar has a new Challengers squad for South Sikander added: “You could cricket stadium. And to be honest, invite teams from the Middle I wasn’t expecting that the new more matches on the pitches to that, yes the new stadium is East to come here and participate stadium would come up so fast. I make sure the pitch settles down. good enough for any country to captain Africa series in your event. Doing that would was thrilled to see the new facil- I say that because if ACC decides come here and play international help QCA to show the ACC or ity. I would say it is state-of-the- to stage an event in Qatar, then cricket. So all of this brings me to BANGALORE: India’s star LAHORE: Pakistan yesterday the ICC that they have staged a art. There are five turf pitches. these pitches should be ready-to- a very valid point: hosting interna- batsman Virat Kohli has replaced recalled Shahid Afridi to its one- proper cricket event at the new My request to QCA is that they use tracks. tional cricket. I say if QCA could Daniel Vettori as the skip- day squad for the series in South facility involving teams from the should make the maximum use Question: You also visited the host a GCC event for juniors and per for the Royal Challengers Africa, with the country’s selec- region.” of the pitches they have at the cricket facility in Mesaieed. an ACC tournament in the next Bangalore for the forthcoming tors saying the all-rounder has Excerpts from a detailed chat new stadium. I have discussed Answer: Yes, the second thing year and a half, then the feedback season of the Indian Premier a last chance to prove himself. with Sikander, who is in charge this with (QCA President) M A that delighted me was that they on these two events would be fod- League (IPL), it was announced The 32-year-old was omitted of the game’s development in Shahid and his team. I agree that have another ground in Mesaieed. der for the Asian body to consider yesterday. from last year’s one-day series in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Singapore, this would take time for the pitch Over there also the stadium, the bringing an international match Vettori, former New Zealand India after his performance with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. area to settle down. This proc- outfield and the facilities are or two to Qatar. For example, if skipper, had led Royal Challengers both bat and ball slumped. Question: We believe you ess takes at least three months to superb. I feel the pitch over there all goes well for QCA, then ACC in the last two seasons of the IPL. But Pakistani cricket offi- visited the cricket stadium, take shape. I say this because the needs matches on it. It is slightly could host a match or two of their “We are delighted to announce cials said he would return to the newest addition to Doha’s pitch area is relatively new. The uneven, I would say. That surface next Asia Cup edition in Qatar. Virat as our captain. His hunger the 16-man one-day squad, and sporting infrastructure. Tell us surface could be a little uneven needs to be rolled and matches ACC would like to move the Asia to learn, lead, motivate and set he also retained his place in the about your views. but this could be sorted out. played on it immediately. If you Cup out of the Test playing coun- an example is unquestionable,” 15-man squad announced for the Iqbal SIkander: Let me start What’s your overall view roll the pitch and don’t play on it, tries and give an opportunity to team owner Vijay Mallya said in Twenty20 internationals. with a bit of personal history. about the new stadium? then the surface becomes uneven. non-Test playing nations so that a statement. Squad (Twenty20): I have been coming here since Answer: Overall the ground Playing matches on any new sur- they have a taste of international Kohli has been playing with Mohammad Hafeez (captain), 2003. And ever since I have been condition is superb. You can face is a must. I would say they cricket. Now, it is not a given that Royal Challengers right from Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, making my visits to Qatar, what compare the new stadium to any must practice on those pitches we would have all the matches the inaugural season in 2008 as Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, I have noticed is that initially ground in the world. I would say it and then roll them for matches. in Qatar. It is possible that the an U-19 player and his elevation Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, the progress was slow. The pace is a great new facility for cricket So, these are the two develop- ACC management decides that to the captaincy was only a mat- Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal, Umar of progress wasn’t like what we lovers. My advice to QCA is to ments that I have given me the one match would come to Qatar ter of time. Gul, Ahmed Shahzad, Umar thought it should have been. But play lots of cricket at the new sta- conviction that I could recom- and another may go to, let’s say, “Glad to be appointed Captain Amin, Zulfiqar Babar, Asad Ali, what I have seen now - my first dium. They should have more and mend to the ACC to bring one Kuwait. Similarly, we could have of RCB!,” Kohli said. Junaid Khan of their tournaments to Qatar in another match in the UAE. Such “It’s a great feeling… Being Squad (One-day): Misbah-ul 2014. The ACC calendar is booked possibilities are there. So the drafted as an u-19 in 2008 and Haq (captain), Mohammad and confirmed for 2013. So next point is that QCA must look at now to be considered to lead Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Nasir QCA working on ACC advice year, we can start off by playing a the kind of base they would like the side of great players, is a big Jamshed, Kamran Akmal, Umar DOHA: The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) is working on the junior event at the new stadium. to work on to bring international honor... I thank the owners for Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid advice and suggestions of the Asian ruling body to improve the We could have an under-16 or an cricket to this country. reposing their faith and I am Afridi, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, infrastructure of the game in the country, a top official said. under-19 event sanctioned by the Question: Besides the expert looking forward to the challenge Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab M A Shahid, President, QCA, who recently hosted Iqbal Sikander, ACC. Any ACC tournament usu- help, does ACC provide any and the responsibility to carry the Riaz, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Development Manager with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said ally is contested by teams from other kind of assistance to Team to greater heights.” IANS Irfan, Junaid Khan AFP the game was moving in the right direction. eight to 10 countries. QCA? Sikander, a member of the World Cup winning Pakistan national What are the others sugges- Answer: Both ACC and the side in 1992, is in charge of the game’s development in Kuwait, tions or advice that you have ICC go out of the way to help Henriques to debut for Afghanistan, Singapore, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. given to the QCA? develop cricket in Qatar. That In October last year, QCA hosted Bandula Warnapura, the then Answer: I have requested the is in terms of technical support ACC Development Manager, and won rave reviews about the new QCA to initiate a Youth GCC - like how I have come to make Australia in Chennai Test stadium in the country. Cricket Tournament. In such an inspection of what’s happen- “We feel he (Sikander) is part of our team because he gives valu- event you could invite teams from ing - and then we send curators; CHENNAI: All-rounder Moises Henriques is set to make his debut able points so that we improve our game,” Shahid said. the Middle East to come here and we help them conduct umpiring for Australia against India in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy “He has travelled across the Asian region overseeing cricket devel- participate in your tournament. courses. Next time when I would Test match commencing here tomorrow as Cricket Australia (CA) opment. He advises us, tells us what to do. He gives us tips on how Doing that would help QCA to come to Doha, I would be looking announced the squad yesterday. to make things better at grass-roots level,” Shahid added. “With his show the ACC or the ICC that into conducting a Level 1 coaching The team led by Michael Clarke is, however, subject to change before experience, our coaches and players have learned a lot,” the QCA they have staged a proper cricket course. Then if you ask what else the toss. president said. tournament at the new facility we do at ACC, then I would say In a radical selection, Australia will play four pacers on a spin- Shahid thanked the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) for their involving teams from the region. yes, we also offer financial assist- friendly M A Chidambaram pitch here. ‘invaluable support’. He said sponsors and cricket lovers in general The main emphasis would be to ance. I would say ACC is investing The wicket is clay-like in appearance and is so conducive to spin were showing ‘interest’ in the growth of the sport that is played by show that the event was staged a substantial amount of money that the hosts are considering deploying four spinners. millions across the world. THE PENINSULA on turf pitches. Then the mes- in the game in this country. We The 26-year-old Henriques, Australia’s 432nd Test player, will be part sage would go out internationally also provide playing equipment, of a pace quartet comprising Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James ground equipment like rollers, Pattinson, who was given the nod over Mitchell Johnson. grass-cutting mowers etc. So ACC This leaves Nathan Lyon with the daunting task of taking on Indian is there to help and we are here trio Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh as to promote cricket. Australia’s only recognised spinner. Question: Don’t you feel that Henriques claimed 1/30 in the recent tour match against India A, the new stadium is a massive clinching the prized scalp of Gautam Gambhir, and 4/12 against the head-start for QCA in terms Indian Board President’s XI to open the tour. of developing the sport in the His call-up comes at the expense of Maxwell and Usman Khawaja, country? whose frustrating wait for a return to the Test side continues. Answer: It is a wonderful With Shane Watson unable to bowl, the Australians wanted a fourth head-start. A big, big leap for- seam option which brought in Henriques. ward. (To have) such a big sta- The Portugal-born averages 30.61 with the bat and 27.07 with the dium in Doha for cricket is a ball from 39 First Class games. big achievement. I congratulate In other selection news, opener Dave Warner will partner Ed Cowan Qatar Cricket Association for despite a thumb complaint while Clarke has recovered well from a getting the help and support of slight hamstring problem. the Qatar Olympic Committee. India will be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni who plays for IPL Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) President M A Shahid (centre) is seen with Iqbal Sikander (second right), the Now is the time for them to take side Chennai Super Kings at the same venue. ACC Development Manager, during a meeting at the QCA headquarters in Doha. QCA officials Manzoor Ahmed the next step forward. The QCA Following is the Australia squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Ed (second left), Secretary General, QCA, Malik Nazar Mohamed (right), Technical Adviser and Senior Coach, and needs to take care of these two Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade Gul Khan Jadoon, Head of Domestic Affairs, are also seen. PICTURES: KAMMUTTY V P grounds and hold matches at both (wicketkeeper), Moises Henriques, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James venues. THE PENINSULA Pattinson, Nathan Lyon. 12th man: Glenn Maxwell. IANS THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Pele slams Del Bosque Chelsea eye long Europa Neymar, fears cools talk of for Brazil Real return

SAO PAULO: Brazil legend MADRID: Spanish national run; Liverpool on brink Pele has criticised the showings football team coach Vicente of youngster Neymar from his del Bosque said that he old club Santos when playing doubts whether his former Holders Atletico aim to overturn 2-0 deficit in Russia for the national team, express- club, Real Madrid, misses ing fears the team will not do him and he believes current well at next year’s World Cup Madrid coach Jose Mourinho PARIS: Last season’s and then to score as many as we on home soil. is “aggressive”. Champions League winners can.” “I am very worried by the Del Bosque left the club Chelsea headline the four Meanwhile, Gareth Bale’s brace Brazilian side. We had three years under controversial circum- English clubs vying for a berth ensured Tottenham travel to Lyon with (coach) Mano Menezes and stances in 2003 when club in the last 16 of the Europa leading 2-1 on aggregate. did not obtain any benefit from president, Florentino Perez League today, as several high- Two stunning free-kicks from those three years,” said Pele, 72, failed to renew his contract, profile names stare at the exit the Wales international handed in an interview with Estado de Sao despite leading Real Madrid to door. Spurs a slender advantage, but Paulo daily published yesterday. the league title, reports Xinhua. Chelsea go into the second leg the Londoners stressed their Pele reserved some of his Perez said at the time that of their tie with Sparta Prague approach would remain the same toughest criticism for Neymar, he believed the club needed at Stamford Bridge holding a 1-0 at Stade Gerland. who has been linked with a trans- a more modern coach and advantage thanks to Oscar’s late “We are a team that normally fer to Europe and is touted as the Real Madrid have since gone strike a week ago in the Czech score away from home so we hope Selecao’s big star of the future if through 10 different coaches, capital. to cancel out their advantage - we he can live up to the hype. with current coach, Mourinho “We still have to concentrate to will set out the same way to try to “Neymar, every time he plays arriving at the Santiago make sure we get the right result attack,” insisted manager Andre for the Selecao, he becomes an Bernabeu Stadium in the sum- but we’re in a good position now Villas-Boas. ordinary player,” complained “O mer of 2010. so we have to follow it through,” Former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Rei” (the king), who recently Del Bosque meanwhile said midfielder Frank Lampard. Lloris again appears set to miss returned from a hip operation became Spanish national coach Despite the ignominy of becom- out against his old club with and who has spent recent weeks in 2008 and led the country ing the first Champions League Villas-Boas likely to opt once tucked away at his house in to its first ever World Cup winners to bow out at the group more for reserve custodian Brad Guaruja, a coastal town near Sao trophy in 2010, before seeing stage, Lampard, who is just three Friedel, while England striker Paulo, where he has been compos- his country become the first goals shy of Bobby Tambling’s club Jermain Defoe remains sidelined Rubin Kazan’s team players warm up during a training session in Moscow’s ing songs - including one for the ever to retain a European record tally of 202, insisted more with an ankle problem. Luzhniki Stadium, Russia, yesterday. World Cup. Championship after winning a European success was still firmly Newcastle will be greeted by “In all the games abroad he World Cup, in 2012. on Chelsea’s radar. sub-zero temperatures as they played badly. They all think he His success contrasts with “If it’s hard (to focus on the make the trip to Kharkiv for Europa League can solve the Selecao’s problems Madrid’s fortunes, despite Europa League after dropping their second-leg fixture against (but) Neymar is not ready to Madrid winning least season’s out of the Champions League) Metalist. shoulder this pressure. He does title and many fans would then we’d better change that very Alan Pardew’s men were left to Fixtures not play abroad. European foot- probably be delighted to see PARIS: quickly because we’re in this com- rue their profligacy as they were Europa League round ball is different from the Latin him return, although Del petition now so we have to get our held to a goalless stalemate by the of 32 second-leg fixtures today American game. Bosque doesn’t believe that is attitude right. Ukrainian outfit last time out. (All 1800GMT kick-offs unless stated “We from Santos say he is the case. “The Europa League is a fan- However, the Magpies could be otherwise) the best in the world but he is “I don’t think that they miss tastic competition to try and win, boosted by the return of France Rubin Kazan (RUS) vs Atletico Madrid (ESP) aready more concerned with me: they are one of the best so that’s what we have to do.” international Hatem Ben Arfa (1700) media appearances than playing clubs in the world and have, Three-time UEFA Cup winners from a hamstring injury that Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) vs Newcastle United for the team. He is preoccupied together with FC Barcelona, Liverpool will need to overturn has kept him out since early (ENG) with changing his style, his hair- have maintained an incredible a two-goal deficit against 2008 December, while January recuit Genk (BEL) vs VfB Stuttgart (GER) cut,” Pele complained of his young level, which allows us to enjoy UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa says there compatriot during the interview their football,” he said, before At Cluj-Napoca, Romania Petersburg to prevent a prema- is plenty of reason for optimism. yesterday. speaking about Mourinho. ture end to their European cam- “It’s fair to say we did have CFR Cluj (ROM) vs Inter Milan (ITA) Watching recent Brazil games “Mourinho appears to be paign at Anfield. our chances to come away with At Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine on television, legend Pele further a very aggressive coach, on Fresh from Sunday’s 5-0 bat- victory (at St. James’ Park) but Dnipro (UKR) vs FC Basel (SUI) observed that in his view the team the other hand, I am calmer tering of Premier League rivals unfortunately we couldn’t,” said Lazio (ITA) vs Borussia Moenchengladbach “has no structure, no harmony.” and there is a world between Swansea City, Spanish defender the former Montpellier centre- (GER) Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led these two extremes, but the Jose Enrique hopes Brendan back yesterday. Lyon (FRA) vs Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) Brazil to the 2002 World Cup in most important thing is that Rodgers’ side can replicate that “However there were a lot of (All 2005 GMT kick-offs) South Korea and Japan, returned the group of players works as performance today. positives to take out of the match in early December after Menezes’ a team. Everything else is of “It was a good reaction from and we’ll go away in the second Viktoria Plzen (CZE) vs Napoli (ITA) sacking to work alongside another secondary importance,” said the team,” he said. leg, try and get one or two goals Hanover (GER) vs Anzhi Makhachkala (RUS) former coach in Carlos Alberto Del Bosque. “It was a really hard game and come away with a victory.” Chelsea (ENG) vs Sparta Prague (CZE) Parreira and has, in Pele’s view, The Spain coach made a plea against Zenit so it is good for us to Two goals from Rodrigo Palacio Fenerbahce (TUR) vs BATE Borisov (BLR) “already radically changed the for some sectors of the press have this result because now our at the San Siro helped Inter Olympiacos (GRE) vs Levante (ESP) Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (left) team. to focus their attention on confidence is there for the next Milan to a 2-0 first-leg advantage Liverpool (ENG) vs Zenit (RUS) runs with Jamie Carragher during “But the experience has to be football. game, which it is really important over Romanian side CFR Cluj, undertaken with new players. We “They are always looking Bordeaux (FRA) vs Dynamo Kiev (UKR) a training session at the club’s we win. but a steep task awaits holders Melwood training complex in already know how the experi- for the bad side of football and “They (Zenit) spent a lot of Atletico Madrid in Russia after Benfica (POR) vs Bayer Leverkusen (GER) enced ones, such as (the recalled) that is not good,” the Spaniard Steaua Bucharest (ROM) vs Ajax (NED) Liverpool, northern England, money so they have good players the Spaniards suffered a 2-0 home yesterday. Ronaldinho play,” he said in the said. IANS so we have to keep a clean sheet defeat to Rubin Kazan. AFP interview. AFP Querrey advances in Memphis Sailing: India

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: dominate on Sam Querrey beat Alejandro Falla for the second time first day in less than a week, defeat- ing the Colombian 6-3, 6-3 in a first round match at DOHA: India dominated on the US National Indoor day one of the Sail the Gulf the Championships yesterday. John Isner of International Regatta of Qatar Querrey, who won the the US follows Sailing and Rowing Federation. Memphis title three years ago, through on his In the individual event of hammered six aces and won 74 serve to Denis Optmist Class, Indian sailor percent of his first-serve points Istomin of Mahesh Balachander finished the as he needed just 58 minutes to Uzbekistan in first day of the four-day champi- eliminate Falla. their first round onship at Doha Sailing Club lead- Fourth seed Querrey also match in the ing a pack of 39 sailors. beat Falla in the quarter-finals US National Balachander is followed by of the San Jose tournament on Indoor Tennis Ondrej Muller of Czech Republic Friday. Championships and Vishnu Saravanan of India. Querrey, who is the No. 2 In the Optmist Team event, at the Racquet ranked American on the ATP India has taken an early lead Club of Tour, advances to the second and is followed by Norway, Czech round where he will face the Memphis in Republic, Norway, Qatar-1 and winner of a match between Memphis, Qatar-2. Japan’s Go Soeda and Marinko Tennessee, Indians also dominated in the Matosevic of Australia. USA, yesterday. 29er class with Varsha Gautham Defending champion Jurgen and Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan Melzer crashed out of the joint taking the lead and are closely fol- ATP and WTA tournament, lowed by Ganapathy K Chengappa and Varun Ashok Thakkar. Around 220 sailors from 21 ATP-WTA US Indoor countries are taking part in the championship which ends on Championships February 23. losing his opening-round match American veteran James Elsewhere, Caroline Comiskey Results in straight sets at The Racquet Blake defeated German Florian Olsen of Norway leads in Laser Club of Memphis. Mayer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. 4.7, with Saleh Telfat of Qatar MEMPHIS, Tennessee: The left-handed Austrian On the women’s side, second and Ebrahim Showaiter Results yesterday from the lost to Dutchman Igor Sijsling Slovakian seventh seed of Bahrain in third place. $1.58m ATP and WTA US 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Magdalena Rybarikova reached In Laser Radial, Ahmed Ragab Indoor Championships (x Sijsling advanced to a sec- the third round by ousting of Egypt has the lead with Daoud denotes seeding): ond-round match against American Lauren Davis 7-6 Abdulla of Bahrain and Salim Men’s First Round: Michael Russell (USA) Croatian top seed Marin Cilic. (7/2), 6-2. Qali of Kuwait closely following bt Alex Bogomolov (RUS) 6-2, 6-4; Igor Melzer, who was playing with France’s Claire Feuerstein the leader. Sijsling (NED) bt Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-4, a broken toe, defeated Milos upset Czech fifth seed Lucie Alexander Maximilian Ries of 7-6 (7/3); James Blake (USA) bt Florian Raonic in last year’s final, snap- Hradecka 6-3, 6-4 while Germany has the top position in Mayer (GER) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Sam Querrey ping the Canadian’s win streak German third seed Sabine the Laser STD. (USA x4) bt Alejandro Falla (COL) 6-3, 6-3; at nine straight matches. Lisicki reached the second Hussain Said Al Jabri of Oman Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Benjamin Becker In the late match, Japanese round with a 7-5, 6-3 victory and Ebrahim Duaij of Bahrain, (GER) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Kei Nishikori (JPN x5) fifth seed Kei Nishikori cruised over American Madison Keys. are second and third. bt Ilya Marchenko (UKR) 6-4, 7-5. past Ilya Marchenko 6-4, 7-5. AFP THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 United chief Arsenal’s misery continues executive Gill to step down

LONDON: David Gill is to step down as chief executive of Manchester United on June as Bayern register big win 30, the English football giants announced yesterday. In a statement on the club’s FC Porto extend unbeaten run to 20 matches after 1-0 win over Malaga official website, the 55-year-old Gill said his post-season exit would allow the Premier League PARIS: Bayern Munich leaders to “refresh themselves deepened the sense of cri- Bayern Munich’s with new management and ideas”. sis at Arsenal on Tuesday and Thomas Muller United added that executive took a huge step towards the (centre) celebrates vice chairman Ed Woodward Champions League quarter- with team-mates would replace Gill. finals with a comprehensive 3-1 Gill is a vice-chairman of after scoring away win over the English outfit England’s governing Football against Arsenal in their last 16 first leg clash. Association and one of his coun- Another former European during their try’s most highly regarded football champion Porto also won, inflict- Champions administrators. ing Spanish side Malaga’s first League match United co-chairman Joel Glazer defeat of their maiden Champions at the Emirates said Gill, who will remain on the League campaign with a 1-0 Stadium in London board at Old Trafford, was step- win in Portugal to extend their on Tuesday. ping down in part to advance his unbeaten run to 20 matches in all RIGHT: Porto’s bid for election to the executive competitions. Joao Moutinho committee of European football’s Bayern took a firm grip of their celebrates after governing body, UEFA. match early on with goals from scoring against Gill himself made no comment Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller, Malaga during about his future, saying only it and although compatriot Lukas their Champions had been a hard decision to end 16 Podolski reduced the deficit, League match years of day-to-day involvement Croatian Mario Mandzukic added at the Dragao at Old Trafford, having joined the a deserved third late on to leave Stadium in Porto. club as financial director in 1997 Arsenal staring at an eighth suc- before becoming chief executive cessive season without a trophy. in September 2003. It will heap even more pressure “I’ve experienced some incred- on their manager Arsene Wenger, the back of an FA Cup exit to had no doubts about itself. We Arsenal are a good side and we “Our first objective was to win, ible highs, such as the Treble who had gone into the match on Championship side Blackburn saw that their players are confi- had to work hard. But even under the second not to concede a goal,” in 1999 and the League and Rovers and a tetchy perform- dent, which is not the case with pressure we held our nerve,” he said. Champions League double in Champions League ance in the eve-of-match press our players but things can turn added the veteran coach, who will “We achieved both and we are 2008, and lows, like losing the title conference. around rapidly.” be replaced by Pep Guardiola at happy. We played really well and with the last kick of the season Results However, the esoteric His Bayern counterpart Jupp the helm next season. it is a pity that we didn’t score a last year,” he said. Frenchman was gracious in Heynckes praised his side’s per- Porto just about deserved their second goal.” “But that is what makes this PARIS: Champions League defeat, accepting that they had formance and was especially com- victory over a Malaga side that Malaga’s Chilean coach Manuel club and this sport so compelling. last-16 first leg results on been well beaten and that they plimentary about Mandzukic’s played safe, but despite Joao Pelligrini said that each person It has been a very hard decision Tuesday: faced a tough task to overcome display. Moutinho’s goal for the hosts, was entitled to their own opinion because I love this club and, as At Porto, Portugal the deficit in the second leg. “We scored two goals really the Spanish side can approach the as to whether they had done well. the fans’ banner says, it is, ‘more Porto (POR) 1 (Moutinho 56) Malaga (ESP) “I cannot hide from the fact quickly, which made things eas- return leg optimistic of extending “Whether it is a good result or than a religion’. 0 that it will be extremely difficult ier for us,” said Heynckes, who their dream run. not we will see at the end of 180 “However, I have always been in the return leg,” he said. guided Bayern to the final last Porto’s Argentinian playmaker minutes,” he said. conscious of the fact that, as a At London “But we just have to play to our season only to lose to Chelsea on Lucho Gonzalez said that, while “To lose is never good but los- member of staff, I was always Arsenal (ENG) 1 (Podolski 55) Bayern best and hope that gives us some penalties. the performance was satisfying, ing by just the one goal is the just a temporary custodian of this Munich (GER) 3 (Kroos 7, Mueller 21, confidence. “We were really good in the first a second goal would have given best thing we can take from the marvellous institution,” he said. Mandzukic 77) “We played against a side that half. After the break we saw that them more to play with. game.,” he said. AFP AFP Beaten Wenger accepts Bayern superiority

LONDON: Arsenal manager at home and try to change the it was difficult to create chances.” Arsene Wenger admitted his score. The third goal makes it He added: “In these moments, side had been outclassed in very difficult, but we will try.” you have to insist very hard and their 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich Goals from Toni Kroos and try to persuade the players that and said it seemed “impossible” Thomas Mueller put the visitors success will come through our to turn the Champions League 2-0 up by the 21st minute and play. last 16 tie around. although Lukas Podolski replied “I still have confidence in my Eliminated from both domestic early in the second period, Mario players and my team. Results like cup competitions and 21 points off Mandzukic galvanised Bayern’s tonight show there’s work to do.” the pace in the Premier League, grip on the tie with 13 minutes Wenger also returned to the Arsenal know the Champions to play. theme of Monday’s pre-match League represents their only Wenger admitted that his team press conference, when he had chance of picking up a first piece had been “a bit nervous”, but said angrily lashed out at British jour- of silverware since 2005. there was no shame in losing to nalists over newspaper reports However, with Bayern in form a team who have reached the that he was close to agreeing a that has seen them assemble a Champions League final in two new contract. 15-point lead in the Bundesliga, of the previous three seasons. “You (journalists) have two it always seemed likely to prove a “You have to give them credit missions -- to give opinions and Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi and Argentinian midfielder forlorn hope, and so it proved on for their class,” he said. “In to inform people,” he said. Javier Mascherano look at the 2013 official Adidas Champions League a chastening Tuesday evening at patches in the first half, Bayern’s “When you give wrong infor- Arsenal’s French manager Final ball during a training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions the Emirates Stadium. play was of a different quality to mation, you cheat people who Arsene Wenger holds his head League football match against AC Milan at San Siro Stadium in Milan “Let’s not hide the truth: it will ours. buy newspapers. You can check in his hands as he watches the on Tuesday. Yesterday’s match marked the first time AC Milan and be very difficult and we will try “In the second half we were (stories) with me, check with the UEFA Champions League round Barcelona played with the ball which will be used for every match this to make the impossible possible,” getting close and becoming dan- club. But if you read something of 16 football match against Wenger told ITV. gerous, but then they changed and in the paper, you expect it to be season. Bayern Munich on Tuesday. “We will try to play like we do began to play more defensively, so true.” AFP Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle No Mercedes

Mechanics push the DTM seat for East set to make return at Losail car of Ferrari’s Formula One driver Fernando driver Kubica Alonso of Spain into the DOHA: The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle showcasing the best racing talent in the Middle East. East is set to make a return to the Losail In Qatar the facilities are fantastic and the circuit garage during a train- PARIS: Formula One driver International Circuit, Qatar for Rounds 9 and 10 is very demanding which will only add to the occa- ing session at Circuit Robert Kubica, seriously injured on March 8 and 9. sion,” he added. de Catalunya racetrack in a crash in February 2011, will The fourth edition of the series has been one of “Reem brought out the very best in this series in Montmelo, near not as suggested be competing the closest in the championship’s history and after with so much action, drama and incredible racing. Barcelona, yesterday. in Germany’s touring car cham- producing two clinical performances in Rounds 7 I expect the same in Qatar as the drivers will be BOTTOM: German pionship (DTM) this season. and 8 at the Reem International Circuit to move to pushing themselves and their Porsche GT3 to the driver Sebastian Vettel The 28-year-old Pole had tested the top of championship standings, all eyes will be limits. It’s going to be intense with everything still of Red Bull Racing for Mercedes in Valencia this focused on new leader Clemens Schmid of Dubai- to play for in the individual and team standings,” team steers his car dur- month but his possible drive in the based Al Nabooda Racing. explained Lechner. ing the second day of German team’s 2013 DTM line-up The young Austrian’s recent performances have Last year’s debut event in Qatar was the first the pre-season training has gone instead to Spain’s Dani seen him claw back a12 point deficit to overtake Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge night racing event session. Juncadella. Saudi Falcons Abdulaziz AlFaisal. staged anywhere in the world since the one-make Kubica’s plans for this coming The result allowed him to move six points clear in championship was introduced seven years ago, run- year are unclear, but a campaign a two-horse race for the title with only four rounds ning initially in Brazil, New Zealand and the United in the European Rally champi- to go in the leading one-make championship series States of America. onship has been mooted for the involving the region’s most promising drivers, The introduction of the Qatar circuit on the driver. As drivers reach the critical end of the season schedule last year also marked another milestone Kubica, with the Renault F1 attention now turns to the Losail International for the one-make series by uniting all five if the team at the time, suffered life- Circuit in Doha for the next two rounds, a circuit region’s top race circuit’s, having already become threatening multiple injuries that only made its debut in Porsche GT3 Middle East well acquainted in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and in an accident at the Ronde di Cup Challenge last season. Saudi Arabia. Andora Rally two years ago. Walter Lechner, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Last season also saw Saudi Falcons Abdulaziz Al The 27-year-old’s right-hand Middle East, said: “It is a great honour to bring the Faisal secure his second title in three years at the was partially severed in the crash leading one-make series to Qatar for the second year Losail International Circuit. in northern Italy when he hit a running. Last season was spectacular when we raced Having won Round 9 the previous day, the Saudi safety barrier and had to be cut under lights and this season promises the same again finished in second place behind Austrian Clemens free from his car. with the championship poised nicely. Schmid in Round 10 to acquire enough points to give He also suffered serious injuries “It was always our aim of taking the Porsche him the outright driver’s title with two rounds to go. to his shoulder and leg. GT3 Cup Challenge across the entire region and THE PENINSULA AFP Thursday 21 February 2013 11 Rabial II Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5617 Sport Price: QR2 %-%!%&.-"&/0"/,#"%-1&,23!"!,*!04-%35,# *.$")"*6 LATEST NEWS UPDATES IN TAMIL Johnson shines Chelsea eye TAMIL TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Middle East Edition as Nets edge long Europa

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 AFC chief Cook guides England to calls for joint efforts to tackle easy win over New Zealand match-fixing KUALA LUMPUR: The Taylor’s century in vain as the visitors win by eight wickets in Napier ‘cancer’ of football match- fixing is a pandemic which is too big for one organisation NAPIER, New Zealand: dominated by Ross Taylor’s 100, to tackle alone, AFC act- Alastair Cook’s patient knock his seventh one day international ing president Zhang Jilong of 78 anchored a well-executed century, and a brutal 74 from 36 warned as the regional body England run chase of 270 to deliveries by captain Brendon and INTERPOL kicked off a beat New Zealand by eight McCullum, but it was well short two-day seminar on the issue wickets in the second one-day of a ground that consistently An England yesterday. international at McLean Park, yields innings in excess off 300. batsmen plays World soccer was rocked ear- levelling the three-match series “I think we were probably 20 a shot, as lier this month when European at 1-1 yesterday. runs under par,” McCullum said. New Zealand’s police said a Singapore-based England’s bowlers, particu- “At 270, I thought we were still Brendon syndicate had directed match- larly James Anderson, had done a chance if we got early wickets McCullum fixing for at least 380 soccer a superb job to dismiss New but we weren’t able to get them... (left) looks games in Europe alone, with Zealand for 269 in 48.5 overs at (and) they played brilliantly to on during documented profits of eight a small venue with short square knock off 270 reasonably com- their second million euros ($11m) believed boundaries, where a score of at fortably,” he said after yesterday’s One-Day to be just the tip of the iceberg. least 300 was needed to set a com- defeat. Zhang, who served as International petitive total. Taylor, who was dumped as the chairman of the Asian match at Joe Root (79 not out) then captain by coach Mike Hesson in Football Confederation’s picked up from where Cook left December and chose not to tour McLean Park Finance Committee during off when the captain was dis- South Africa, had barely played in Napier, the final years of Mohammed missed by Tim Southee, while any cricket since and had looked yesterday. Bin Hammam’s reign as AFC Jonathan Trott finished on 65 rusty in his return to the inter- president before the Qatari not out as England easily chased national scene. was banned for life by FIFA down the total for the loss of two The 28-year-old took a little for corruption and bribery, said wickets in 47.4 overs. time to get into his stride and co-operation was required to “I thought the way we bowled also curbed his attacking instincts tackle the problem. up front was outstanding,” Cook to anchor the innings after “We are ready to work hand said. “Steve Finn and James Anderson and Finn had put the McCullum’s dismissal then Scoreboard in hand to eradicate this can- Anderson bowled really well hosts under immense pressure. sparked a collapse with the final cer from the game,” Zhang told and we gave them nothing, took Taylor combined with Kane five wickets falling for 26 runs as NEW ZEALAND Bowling: Anderson 9.5-2-34-5; Finn 10-1- reporters in Kuala Lumpur in some wickets and put them under Williamson (33) in a 72-run Anderson returned to mop up the B Watling c Cook b Anderson ...... 7 33-1; Woakes 10-0-68-3; Broad 9-0-69-1; his opening speech. pressure. partnership. tail and finished with impressive H Rutherford c Cook b Anderson ...... 11 Swann 10-0-62-0. “Match-fixing is too compli- “We knew that 270 was below The former captain then held figures of five for 34. K Williamson b Woakes ...... 33 ENGLAND cated and widespread for one par on that wicket and that if a 52 run partnership with Grant “I’m delighted with the way I R Taylor c Buttler b Anderson ...... 100 A Cook c&b Southee ...... 78 organisation to fight it alone. we kept our heads while batting, Elliott (23) for the fourth wicket bowled,” Anderson said. G Elliott c (sub-Bairstow) b Finn ...... 23 I Bell c Rutherford b Williamson...... 44 “No continent is now left and kept wickets in hand then, before the latter was dismissed “I think we bowled pretty well B McCullum c Woakes b Broad ...... 74 J Trott (not out) ...... 65 untouched by this disease. as it proved, it was quite an easy by Finn in the first over of the as a unit. J Franklin c Root b Woakes ...... 1 J Root (not out) ...... 79 Match-fixing is now a pan- chase.” batting powerplay to leave New “It’s a good pitch... and we knew N McCullum c Buttler b Anderson ...... 7 Extras (LB-1, W-3) ...... 4 demic in the world football.” England’s victory ensured the Zealand struggling at 143-4 in the that if we hit our areas then we T Southee b Woakes ...... 2 Total (for 2 wkts in 47.4 overs) ...... 270 The lack of arrests in the glo- series finale at Eden Park in 36th over. would get some rewards. K Mills (not out)...... 3 Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-149. bal match-fixing case, that has Auckland on Saturday would be McCullum, however, then “We got some early wickets T Boult c Woakes b Anderson ...... 1 Bowling: Mills 6.4-0-43-0; Boult 9-1-55-0; been reported on in Singapore a decider after New Zealand won thrashed nine fours and four and just stuck to our tasks... and Extras (LB-3, W-3, NB-1) ...... 7 Franklin 5-0-32-0; Southee 9-0-54-1; N Mc- newspapers for years, have led the first match in Hamilton in sixes in a 44-minute knock that kept them under 300 (which) we Total (all out in 48.5 overs) ...... 269 Cullum 10-0-46-0; Williamson 8-0-39-1. to criticism but FIFA director the first match of the series on included a 100-run partnership knew we could chase down,” he Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-19, 3-91, 4-143, Result: England win by eight wickets, levelling of security Ralf Mutshke said Sunday by three wickets. with Taylor, 77 of which came in told reporters after yesterday’s 5-243, 6-245, 7-254, 8-261, 9-267, 10-269. the three-match series 1-1. that the issue was above their New Zealand’s innings was 5.5 overs. match in Napier. REUTERS jurisdiction. “This is a question basically for law enforcement on one side and a problem which politicians have to solve,” he said in his address. “This is a criminal case. It Serena withdraws from has nothing to do with our responsibility.” Zhang has been in tempo- rary charge of the AFC since June 2011 and is expected to Dubai, focuses on Miami run for the full presidency post during the elections in May. DUBAI: Serena Williams has These absences are a hammer The experienced Chinese pulled out of the $2m Dubai Dubai WTA Results blow to a popular tournament administrator said no stone Open, partly to consolidate her Results from the third day of the which had already been without was being left unturned in remarkable return to world Dubai WTA Open here yester- the sport’s two highest earn- battling the crisis affecting the number one two days ago by day (x denotes seeding): ers, Maria Sharapova and Li Na world’s most popular sport. focusing on her home tourna- (according to Forbes magazine), “I can assure this conference Second Round: Nadia Petrova (RUS) bt Carla ment, in Miami, in the second and is now without any of the that AFC will not rest until Suarez (ESP) 6-1, 6-0; Agnieszka Radwanska half of next month. (POL x3) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 7-5, 6-3; sport’s marquee names. this blot is completely stamped “I am just not well - it’s my Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x8) bt Jie Zheng (CHN) Meanwhile, it increases the out in Asia,” he said. back,” Serena explained. “All ath- 6-0, 6-1; Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Angelique Kerber chances of Agnieszka Radwanska “We need to understand how letes really get this. (GER x4) 7-5, 6-1; Samantha Stosur (AUS x7) making a successful defence of match-fixing works in order to “I really can’t move. It would bt Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) 6-4, 6-0; Petra Kvitova her title which began with the prevent it. We need more infor- be a horrible performance for (CZE x6) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 7-5, 7-6 (7/1); world number four from Poland mation on how crime syndi- you guys. It’s just really sad for Marion Bartoli (FRA) bt Serena Williams (USA making a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 win cates operate. all of us. I hope to continue here, x2) - retired; over Yulia Putintseva, a highly “We want the result of a Poland’s Agnieszka but unfortunately it won’t be this promising 18-year-old wild card match to be beyond the shred Radwanska year.” entry who broke serve to lead 4-3 of a doubt and we will do eve- returns the ball to Yesterday’s belated and unex- The 15 times Grand Slam win- in the first set. rything possible to make this Kazakhstan’s Yulia pected withdrawal follows that of ner also made it clear that having The other front runners appear happen.” Putintseva during Victoria Azarenka two days ago, regained the pinnacle after two- to be Caroline Wozniacki, the Also speaking was their WTA Dubai which ensured that Williams and-a-half years during which her former world number one from INTERPOL’s Director of Open tennis match would hang on to the top spot at life and career were threatened Denmark, and Petra Kvitova, the Capacity Building and Training, in Dubai, yesterday. least until the end of the Miami following a freak 2010 foot injury former Wimbledon champion Dale Sheehan. BELOW: Serena event on March 31. which resulted in a pulmonary from the Czech republic. “Criminals can make mil- Williams of the US Azarenka, who beat Serena to embolism it is no longer her main Wozniacki won the title here lions in illicit profits from defend her Qatar Open title last goal. two years ago, and again seemed match-fixing with little risk of looks on during a Sunday, cited a bruised heel as her “OK, I have done it, let’s focus comfortable in cool conditions by being detected and will exploit press conference. reason for pulling out. on my next goals which are the trouncing Zheng Jie, the former every opportunity. By bringing Serena announced Williams competed last week Grand Slams. I really want to Wimbledon semi-finalist from together partners we are rais- yesterday she has with back and ankle injuries and continue doing really well in China, 6-0, 6-1. ing awareness and understand- withdrawn from the a bad cold, but said Tuesday that those,” Williams said, admitting She now plays Marion Bartoli, ing of the problem,” Sheehan Dubai Open. she felt “so much better already,” that she already had at least half who enjoyed her second piece of said yesterday. before revealing she would not be an eye on the French Open in good luck with her walk-over REUTERS appearing. Paris, starting on May 26. against Williams. AFP