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Sunday 3 March 2013 21 Rabial II 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5627 Price: QR2

No upside risk Djokovic beats to inflation Berdych to win scenario: QCB Dubai Open

Business | 17 Sport | 28

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 World Cup can be Social work as ‘Education a victim of conflict’ held in winter: Fifa GENEVA: H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser yes- terday said that education continues to be a vic- EDINBURGH: FIFA General tim of conflict and millions of children are denied Secretary Jerome Valcke yester- punishment for education in conflict zones around the world. day confirmed the 2022 World Sheikha Moza made the case for the role of the Cup in Qatar could be moved right to education in development while address- to the winter if research shows ing a high-level panel of the Human Rights Council holding the tournament in the (HRC) at its 22nd regular session in Geneva, in region’s intense summer heat minor offences presence of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. would be dangerous for players. She pointed out that the Secretary-General has Qatar’s tournament organisers the challenge of seeking global agreement on a vision have been dealing with a barrage Landmark decision issued for a sustainable future, noting that the scale of this of questions about the suitabil- task is immense, but so is the scale of the problems ity of staging the World Cup in DOHA: In a major initiative, government departments have that still plague the world today. In Gaza, for exam- searing June and July tempera- several ministries and govern- now been authorised to mete ple, the impact of the blockade continues to have tures. But speaking at a meeting ment organisations in the coun- out punishment in the form of a crippling effect, especially on education. Schools in Edinburgh, Valcke became the try have been authorised to put social work as specified in the have been damaged and supplies— from chairs to first senior FIFA official to admit their employees on social work new decision. textbooks and pencils — cannot get in. Since 2009, that the event could be moved if for a specific period as a punish- For example, the Ministry of the Al Fakhoora programme has been working his organisation received strong ment for some minor offences. Awqaf and Islamic Affairs can ask with the UNDP to enable young people to pursue medical advice that it needed to Attorney General Dr Ali bin an employee who has been found higher education, helping to reconstruct education do so. AFP Futtais Al Merri yesterday issued committing a minor offence to buildings, providing psycho-social support, Sheikha See also page 25 a decision based on the amend- memorise verses from the Holy Moza said. Today, 28 million children across the world H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser with UN Secretary- ments in the penal law. The Heir Quran or help others to do that. are denied schooling because of conflict. Yet, educa- General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the high-level Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin The offenders can also be put on tion is one of the most powerful tools that can break panel discussion on human rights at the UN Human Hamad Al Thani had issued a law cleaning and maintenance jobs in the cycle of conflict, she added. THE PENINSULA Today’s edition Rights Council in Geneva, yesterday. (No 23 of 2009) amending some mosques for short periods. Continued on page 2 includes provisions of the penal law no The Supreme Education a four-page special 11 of 2004. Council (SEC) has the authority The amended law stipulates to punish the offenders by forcing supplement on social work as a punishment them to help in efforts to eradi- Sheraton Hotel to be renovated Fake healers cause concern for some minor violations as an cate illiteracy. Employees of the alternative to jail or fine. The rule Ministry of Interior involved in DOHA: Sheraton Doha Hotel would soon DOHA: With a reported increase in the number applies to offences that are pun- minor offences could be asked to undergo a major renovation, an official of Katara of people seeking spiritual healing in Qatar, fake ishable with imprisonment of not take care of juveniles or assist Hospitality has said. The 31-year-old iconic five- practioners are allegedly making a fast buck. more than one year or fine of not civil defence personnel in their star hotel would be renovated with a budget of Some are also said to be dealing with their women more than QR1,000. work. THE PENINSULA QR500m to QR700m. customers in an indecent manner, according to an Several ministries and Continued on page 3 Full report on page 2 Al Sharq report. Full report on page 5 SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Attiyah visits jewellery exhibition

The Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah yesterday visited the 10th Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) at the Doha Exhibition Centre. MoI forum to discuss cultural differences Three-day meet to tackle generation gap

DOHA: A forum on cultural due to generation gap, especially programmes and outreach at the differences among generations among teenagers and adults, in International Centre for Missing is set to begin today at the different segments of the society. and Exploited Children (ICMEC) Crowne Plaza. The forum will also highlight in Alexandria, Virginia, US. The three-day event is organ- the opinion of youngsters on the Later in the day, Thomas Joseph ised by the Juvenile Police issue and how certain conflicts from Ireland will present a paper Department of the Ministry of and disorders can be resolved. on “Analysis of Psychological Interior (MoI), in collaboration The official inauguration of Behaviour between Generations with the Childhood Cultural the forum titled “Cultural Gap and its Impacts”. Centre, QatarDebate and Al between Generations” will be take On the final day, Jonathan Jazeera children’s channel ‘Al place at 8am today, which will Patrick from Australia will Baraim TV’. be followed by workshops and a present a study on “Role of media Lectures and workshops by debate session. and cultural policies in making several organisations will be held Tomorrow, Guillermo Galarza a positive relationship between on the sidelines of the forum in from the US will present a paper on generations”. the context of cultural differ- “Religious and Different Cultural On the same day, Dr Gilles M ences, changing legal grounds, as References and its Impacts Aoumet from Canada will also well as the issues that emerge due on Projecting the Problems of present a paper on the “Role to generation gap. Intellectual Difference among the of Educational Institutions in H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser giving the keynote speech at a high-level panel discussion at the UN Human Rights The Juvenile Department Generations” at 9am. Creating Positive Relationship Council in Geneva. aims to address issues related to Galarza is a Programme between Generations’. behavioural disorders that emerge Director, responsible for training THE PENINSULA Educate A Child supporting a Sheraton Doha to get a makeover million children: Sheikha Moza Continued from page 1 “Our discussion can bring a val- record, but also its commitment to DOHA: Sheraton Doha Hotel new exhibition centre located in at the meeting of the Board of She expressed hope to see the uable contribution to the process. human development for all, she said. would soon undergo major ren- front of the hotel is completed, Directors of the hotel, but the future sustainable development We are not starting from scratch. “That is why it is now so impor- ovation, an official of Katara the project would start so the management of Sheraton will goals take a more ambitious The Millennium Development tant that we uphold this principle Hospitality has said. schedules of hosting conferences remain under Starwood after approach to education. Goals are still unfinished business of universality in the Universal The 31-year-old five-star would not be affected, said Al renovation.” “That is why I launched the and we must complete them,” she Periodic Review,” HH Sheikha hotel would be renovated with a Mulla. The project basically aims to Educate A Child initiative last stressed. Moza said. budget of QR500m to QR700m. The project aims to rebuild improve the grade of the hotel year. It is working with expert Sheikha Moza underlined that The MDGs are one of the most The development of Sheraton all facilities including floors, so of course the name will be partners, from UN agencies with strengthening the human rights ambitious programs in the history park into an international wall decorations, furniture and changed. words will be added global reach, to NGOs with local dimension in the development of the United Nations. She urged park is part of the project that conference halls, so it is not with the name Sheraton, he roots,” she said. goals is the best way to ensure the Council to use all appropri- would be implemented with possible to renovate in phases. said. Sheikha Moza noted that the that these goals will also be ate measures to ensure that this the cooperation of Qatari Diar, The entrance of the hotel from The distinguished design of initiative is already supporting enforceable. Review continues to be an equal Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, Chief Sheraton roundabout to marine the hotel will remain unchanged half a million children in the An accountability mechanism, process. Executive Officer (CEO) of beach would be upgraded. and some features will be added most difficult circumstances gain similar to the Universal Periodic Crucially, Sheikha Moza said Katara Hospitality told Al Sharq. Regarding the re-branding to make it marvellous and more access to schooling, and “We are Review, would reduce the scope that combining human rights and The hotel would be closed dur- of Doha Sheraton, he said: beautiful. still seeking out innovative part- for violations, by drawing scrutiny development will bring mutually- ing renovation. As soon as, the “This subject will be discussed THE PENINSULA nerships to help us reach millions from the global community — not reinforcing benefits. more children.” only over a country’s human rights THE PENINSULA Thousands visited Kahramaa to celebrate Arab Katara in February Water Day DOHA: Thousands of A series of events people visited Katara are also lined up DOHA: Qatar General in February to attend for March. Live HD Electricity & Water Corporation a string of activi- screenings of a perfor- (Kahramaa) is celebrating the ties which included mance of Parcifal star- Arab Water Day today. The cele- a moving lecture by ring Jonas Kaufmann bration will be held Arab League’s Yusuf Estes, attended in the title role will theme, “Water is our life and the by some 3,500 people, kick start today at future of our generations, Let us and the Iraqi Folklore 8:00pm. The screening act to keep its sustainability” held in partnership with the will be followed by Zandonai’s com- This celebrations reflect the Iraqi Embassy. pelling opera, Francesca Da Rimini importance of preserving water The world premiere of Romeo on March 16 at 7pm. Both events resources in achieving water and Juliet, presented in partner- are expected to be screened at security and to bolster the inte- ship with the British Council and Katara’s Drama Theatre, Building gration of the Arab world’s devel- Globe Education, as part of the 16. opmental plans related to water Qatar UK 2013 string of initia- Another highlight in March resources and food security. tives, was another highlight of the includes the 10-day Halal Hal, the Kahramaa stressed its com- month. second annual halal Qatar festi- mitment to sustainable devel- “At Katara, we are truly com- val which celebrates traditional opment and preservation of the mitted to educating and enter- Qatari culture through arts and environment to cooperate with taining the community while crafts, food and entertainment, ministries and national institu- building cultural bridges. I would such as Qatari games and folk tions concerned with upgrading therefore like to thank all those songs. Starting March 22, the and development of the water involved in making each of these festival will also bring to life a sector under the umbrella of the events a great success and look rare insight into Qatar’s sheep Standing Committee of Water forward to welcoming everyone and goat industry and allows the Resources in an effort to achieve to future events,” Dr Khalid public to look into this aspect of the objectives of the National Al Sulaiti (pictured), General Qatari tradition. Development Strategy 2011 2016. Manager of Katara, said. THE PENINSULA QNA SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Qatar, Philippines to sign investment pact soon Mission opens new chancery in Jelaiah area; Philippine officials due in Doha to discuss labour issues

Philippine Ambassador Crescente R Relacion and Khalid Abdullah Al Aulaiteen, Vice-Chairman of Al Sulaiteen Group, opening the Philippine Embassy building in Jelaiah area, yesterday. Yassin Aman Mohamed, General Manager of Al Sulaiteen Group and other officials are also seen. Right: The embassy staff and guests singing the national anthem. (KAMMUTTY VP)

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA including one on investment more investments from both that matters.” Four more staff have also joined Employment and Philippine which included a plan to estab- sides, he added. The new embassy located on the embassy to beef up consular Overseas Employment DOHA: The soon to be signed lish a $1bn joint investment fund. Since the embassy moved to Street No. 860, Zone 68, Jelaiah department, the ambassador Administration are coming to agreement for reciprocal pro- “With the signing of the agree- a new location in January, it area, has more space where added. Qatar to discuss labour issues motion and protection of invest- ment on reciprocal protection and has accommodated more peo- people can comfortably wait Meanwhile, Relacion said a with their counterparts. ment between Qatar and the promotion of investment, the $1bn ple availing of various consular while their requests are being joint commission meeting on The meeting would address Philippines could boost invest- joint investment would material- services. processed. labour matters would be held concerns from both sides on the ments between the two coun- ise and expedited,” Ambassador “On the first working day we Compared to the previous within this month. deployment of Filipino workers tries, Philippine Ambassador Relacion said yesterday during processed 200 passports for the embassy premises which only The meeting, he said, is an including the issue on household Crescente R Relacion said. the formal inauguration of the first time. We used to process had two areas for consular annual meeting between Qatar service workers, he said. During the visit of the Emir new Philippine chancery. around 100 to 120 passports services, the new building has and the Philippines, which first Specifically the issue on the H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa As the title of the agreement a day at the former embassy,” separate halls for various serv- took place in 2009 in Bohol, $400 minimum wage for house- Al Thani to the Philippines last suggests, it would assure both said Relacion adding, “it’s not ices such as passport processing, Philippines. hold service workers would prob- year, a number of memoranda parties’ investments would be really the volume but the com- assistance to nationals and visa Representatives from the ably be on the agenda. of understanding were signed protected and thus encourage fort that the people experience processing. Department of Labour and THE PENINSULA Arab Summit in Doha to discuss Qatar, UK sign reforms, Joint Arab action air transport agreement CAIRO: The Arab League has underscored the importance of 24th session of Arab summit scheduled to be held in Doha at the end of DOHA: Civil aviation authori- this month. ties in Qatar and the United Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab League Ambassador Ahmed Kingdom signed a memoran- Ben Helli, in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), said the dum of understanding (MoU) Doha summit would focus on reform and development of joint Arab to enhance cooperation in air action, and will discuss efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis and the transport. developments of the Palestinian cause, as well as the development and The MoU allows the national restructuring of the Arab League. flag carriers of both countries Ben Helli’s remarks came before the departure of an Arab League to operate unlimited number delegation headed by its Secretary-General Dr Nabil El Araby from of flights (passenger and cargo) Cairo to Doha to discuss the arrangements to convene the Arab summit. between Doha and most British He added that the Arab League General Secretariat will move its cities. The two sides also agreed meetings to Doha from March 22 to prepare for the summit which to update some of the terms of the will be held on March 27 and 28. The outcome of these meetings will air transport agreement between be referred to Arab leaders. them in line with the policies of Dr El Araby will present at the summit a detailed report prepared modern global transport. by the Arab League Development Committee Chaired by Lakhdar Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Brahimi. Authority Abdul Aziz Mohammed Ben Helli said that the Doha summit will see proposals put forward Al Nuaimi and head of civil avia- by Libya, Somalia and Palestine, and that Iraq will report on its presi- tion in the United Kingdom Mark dency of the Arab summit. Bosly signed the MoU. Ben Helli stressed on the importance Arab Ministerial Meeting that QNA will be held next Wednesday to discuss the 139th session of the Arab League Council to be convened later. The meeting will particularly Erring staff must do discuss the agenda of the 139th session, in terms of political, economic and social issues. It will also deal with the schedule of the Arab Summit community service in Doha, Ben Helli added. On the Syrian crisis, he said that it was the top priority of all Continued from page 1 Arab League-related meetings as the council pushes for a political The Hamad Medical solution. He confirmed that Arab ministers meeting will present Corporation (HMC) has been their proposals on Syria to the Arab Summit in Doha, and will also authorised to temporarily employ discuss the outcomes of the Friends of Syria Conference in Rome. their erring staff for jobs like They will discuss Syrian conflict, the Palestinian cause and the situ- transferring patients from one ation in Somalia. ward to another or assisting in QNA administrative jobs. The social work specified for the Ministry of Environment is British minister for universities cleaning the beaches or other activities supporting preservation and science arrives today of the environment. Cleaning streets, roads and DOHA: The British Minister for Universities and Science Dr David squares and planting trees and Willetts will be visiting Doha today and tomorrow. saplings and maintenance of pub- The visit is part of a regional tour covering UAE and Saudi Arabia, lic parks is the kind of social work besides Qatar, said a statement issued by the British Embassy that can be assigned to employees yesterday. of the Ministry and Municipality In Doha Dr Willetts will meet senior officials to discuss possible and Urban Planning. partnerships and collaborations in education and research. Its erring staff can also be put He will hold a roundtable discussion with senior representatives of on clerical or driving jobs in the Qatari higher education institutions, including Qatar University, to food monitoring section. encourage new Qatar/UK collaborations. The Ministry of Culture, Arts He will visit Qatar Foundation, branch international campuses at and Heritage can force its erring Education City, Qatar/UK research and innovation partnerships at employees to organise, clean and the Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Qatar/UK biobank maintain public libraries. project at the Hamad Medical City. According to the law, the maxi- He will also meet Qatari alumni of UK universities to gather views mum duration of alternative pun- on their experiences and to seek their advice on ways to strengthen ishment can be 12 days. If the Qatar-UK links offender refuses to accept the In Dubai, Willetts will be attending the British Council Going Global punishment, he will be jailed for Internationalising Higher Education Conference which runs from a week for each day of his refusal March 4 to March 6. to serve the alternative penalty. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME EQ to launch Technology Incubator Strategic partnership with TechWadi

DOHA: Enterprise Qatar (EQ) announced a new strategic partnership with TechWadi to launch a “Technology Incubator” during a workshop held last week in the Four Seasons Hotel. The incubation Major stakeholders with inter- programme est in technology and research participated in the workshop. aims to create a Representatives from the Qatar healthy business- Experts during the regional consultation on energy and environmental law at Qatar University. National Research Fund, Qatar entrepreneurial Computing Research Institute, The General Secretariat for ecosystem in QU holds regional consultation on energy law Development Planning, ICT Qatar, Qatar; build bridges Qatar Foundation, Selatech, Qatar Science and Technology to Silicon Valley DOHA: Qatar University’s aims are aligned with QU’s over- representatives from Qatar’s legal international academics and Park, Qatar First Investment through mentorship, (QU) Centre for Energy, all mission to enable collaboration community specialised in com- local industry. It is a new con- Bank, Al Jazeera, Microfsoft, I education, and Environmental and across sectors, to share knowledge mercial and energy fields, includ- cept in the Arabian Peninsula Horizon, Qatar University and Sustainability Law and Policy and build capacity. ing Sultan M Al Abdulla from which will be vital for building Carnegie Mellon Qatar University financing and (CEESLP) and the Commercial The four-day programme was Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners, regional expertise in energy and have also attended the workshop. accelerate the Law Development Programme taught by two internationally Neil Brimson and Joanna Addison environmental law among the The incubation programme progress of of the US Department of acclaimed experts in oil and gas of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, participants from the concerned to be launched in April aims to Commerce (CLDP) concluded a law, Professor Owen Anderson Hussein Damirji and Nicholas countries,” CEESLP Director create a healthy business-entre- thousands of four-day regional consultation (University of Oklahoma) and Barclay of Patton Boggs, Dario Rudiger Tscherning said. preneurial ecosystem in Qatar; local and regional on energy and environmental Professor John Lowe (Southern Arias of Qatar Petroleum “CEESLP’s strong partnership build bridges to Silicon Valley law at QU. Methodist University, Dallas). Legal Department and Rudiger with CLDP, and the continuation through mentorship, education, entrepreneurs. Hosted by CEESLP and CLDP, The consultations also included Tscherning of CEESLP, as well of a series of regional consulta- and financing; and accelerate the the consultations focused on an intensive information exchange as James Filpi and Sana Akili as tions on energy law, will form a progress of thousands of local and improving the legal environment by way of a roundtable discus- technical experts from CLDP. key pillar of the center’s regional regional entrepreneurs, trans- for business in the energy indus- sion, sharing Qatar’s expertise in “CEESLP’s platform plays capacity-building initiative,” he forming Qatar into a regional hub said that the strategic impor- try within the Arabian Peninsula energy law. an important role in enabling added. for technology entrepreneurial tance of the initiative is to add and South East Asia. The centre’s The roundtable included information exchange between THE PENINSULA ventures. to the nation’s prosperity, since Select entrepreneurs from technology is a key resource for around the Arab region are invited economic growth. “Enterprise to join the incubator and benefit Qatar is dedicated to creating an Kulluna campaign at Katara from a state-of-the-art ecosystem entrepreneurship and innovation built on four key pillars: infra- ecosystem that can support the structure (workspace facilities, growth of the Qatari economy in support and connectivity), net- line with the National Vision 2030. works (partnerships, mentors, and Our incubation programme will promotion), business expansion catalyse would be entrepreneurs (legal, accounting and marketing and SMEs with genuine potential services), and training (regular but that need to adopt best prac- CEO talks, community meetings, tices to flourish. To that end, we workshops, quarterly mentor boot- are partnering with Silicon-Valley camps and investment forums). based TechWadi to help us with Every year, two groups of 5-10 mentorship, business acceleration qualified entrepreneurs will be and access to capital. Enterprise given the opportunity to access the Qatar is the first in the region to world’s leading technology experts establish such a program” she says. in a branded Qatari Pavilion in “We are delighted to be partner- Silicon Valley. Graduates from the ing with Enterprise Qatar” said acceleration programme are eli- Dr Ossama Hassanein, Chairman gible for subsequent seed financ- of TechWadi. “Our philanthropic ing from EQ and local venture endeavours are largely dedicated to capital partners to expand their assisting Arab youths and entrepre- businesses across Qatar and GCC. neurs address the most challeng- In line with Qatar Vision 2030, ing aspects of building successful EQ is committed to build a knowl- technology companies. Start-ups edge-based economy. It aims to are the seeds of innovation that develop a smarter business base not only create jobs but also create in Qatar, raise companies’ effi- wealth and help improve the glo- ciency and improve chances of bal standard of living. Enterprise success for emerging, dynamic Qatar’s is a laudable initiative; we Visitors to the ‘Kulluna’ campaign organised by Hamad Medical Corporation at Katara yesterday. Families were educated on the use of car seats for technology businesses. are committed to help it succeed.” children, which help reduce the risk of child injuries during road accidents. (KAMMUTTY VP) Noora Al Mannai, CEO of EQ, THE PENINSULA Education Excellence Day celebration today

DOHA: Under the patronage of the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is also the President of Supreme Education Council (SEC), the SEC is celebrating the Education Excellence Day today. The ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) will honour toppers in the Secondary School Certificate Examiniation, university gradu- ates, students holding PhD, distinguished teachers and the outstanding schools including those which have achieved the best results in the overall educa- tion assessment. The student winners of the scientific excellence research awards also will be honoured. The winners of scientific excellence will be given plati- num and gold medals and certificates in addition to cash prizes. Sheikhs, ministers, senior state figures and a group of educational leaders and academics, school administra- tors, teachers and parents and students will attend the celebration . The ceremony held annually is aimed to contribute to the promotion of innovation and entrench a culture of scientific excellence in the Qatari society, especially in the field of education. QNA SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Fake spiritual Finnish premier arrives healers make quick bucks Ruqyah practised without permission

DOHA: With a reported increase in the number of peo- ple seeking spiritual healing in Qatar, several fake practition- ers are allegedly cashing in on the demand to make some quick A bottle of water is bucks. sometimes sold at Some are also said to be deal- ing with their women customers QR100 and some in an indecent manner, according “healers” charge to Al Sharq. as high as QR600 The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has permit- for items that will ted “ruqyah”, a form of spir- not cost not more itual healing using words and verses from the Holy Quran than QR50, said and authorised some 18 clerics the daily, quoting to perform this. several concerned No others are allowed to prac- citizens. tise any type of spiritual healing. Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen arrived in Doha yesterday on an official visit. He was received at Doha International Airport by Chief of the Prime However, some people are doing Minister’s Protocols H E Ahmed Jassim Al Mulla, Qatar’s non-resident Ambassador to Finland Ahmad Seif Al Mudhadi and Finland’s Ambassador to this without an authorisation Qatar Semela Alcabeca Antiro. from the ministry, cashing in on the high demand for the service not permitted by the rules. from citizens and expatriates, said Qatar has prohibited spir- the daily. itual healing being performed There are many ways of by soothsayers and black magi- CHI Al Shaqab offers surprises for families exploiting customers. Some are cians, in line with Islamic guide- said to be selling water, perfumes lines, but some citizens who and some herbal products like appreciated the positive aspects DOHA: Al Shaqab will host top at the event, which is why we present-day heritage,” he added. and saw Qatar and Saudi Arabia olive oil and black seed to their of ruqyah expressed fears it can riders and teams from around created such a large specta- The inaugural event will take qualify for the series final. customers at high prices attribut- easily deviate into such unIslamic the world in the international tors’ zone,” said Fahad Saad Al place at Al Shaqab’s state-of-the- Al Shaqab will host competi- ing some spiritual powers to such practices. equestrian competition, CHI Al Qahtani, Al Shaqab Director art facilities at Qatar Foundation tions in three equestrian disci- things. “Spiritual healing has many Shaqab 2013 from March 27 to andCHI Al Shaqab President. for Education, Science and plines spread over four days: Show A bottle of water is sometimes positive sides but there are peo- 30. Throughout the, a 17,000sqm “Designed with the family in Community Development. Top Jumping CSI 5 and CSI 3, Dressage sold at QR100 and some “healers” ple who are practising it without spectator plaza will be open to mind, the plaza will boast a fashion regional and international teams CDI 4 and Endurance CEI2. charge as high as QR600 for items permission and exploiting their the public who wish to celebrate exhibition, market, a food court, have been invited to compete, and CHI (Concours Hippique that will not cost not more than customers. There should be strict Qatar’s rich heritage in equine a dedicated ‘kid’s zone’ featuring special guests include a collection International - International QR50, said the daily, quoting sev- monitoring to prevent such prac- culture and sport. pony rides and horse shows and of VIPs as well as leading digni- Equestrian Competition) is eral concerned citizens. tices. The Ministry should set up “CHI Al Shaqab 2013 will raise an array of cultural presentations. taries from around the globe. the official title given by the Women form majority of those a hotline to receive complaints the standard and level of compe- The festivities we are organising A dedicated team from Al FEI (International Equestrian seeking the service and some from the public,” the daily quoted tition of equestrian events in the will highlight Qatar’s long history Shaqab recently visited the Federation) only to international “healers” are said to be attending a citizen named Fahad Al Merri region. Held for the first time in of equestrian excellence and ensure Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Al equestrian competitions with to their female customers, in the as saying. the Middle East and Asia. We are that Arabian horses continue to Ain, Abu Dhabi. The event was three or more equine disciplines. absence of male relatives, which is THE PENINSULA expecting a significant turnout remain central to the country’s the first leg of the Super League, THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Unanswered questions Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE SRI LANKAN government of Mahinda Rajapaksa has been facing criticism from both inside and outside. From suppression of dissent From builders to managers: Tand freedom of expression to alleged war crimes committed by government troops in the north toward the end of the civil war in 2009, which wiped out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the government is finding Educating China’s leadership that it has to answer a lot of charges. The trouble is that if its answers aren’t convincing, the international community BY IRENE JAY LIU and DAVID is likely to get restless, and ask more uncomfortable LAGUE posts in the provinces, and family ties to be good managers and eventually good questions and demand action, which, at some point of time, former leaders also matter a great deal. administrators,” says Tsinghua’s Gong. the government will be forced to respond to. The other PhD holders in the current “I think it will improve the governing The screening of a documentary on Friday in Geneva, UN ZHENGCAI earned his Politburo are party leader and incom- quality in China.” PhD from China Agricultural ing President Xi Jinping, who studied In the early 1980s, then paramount purporting to show alleged war crimes by Sri Lankan University in 1997, experi- China’s rural markets at Tsinghua leader Deng Xiaoping directed the party army in its fight against the LTTE, is the latest to rile the menting with different fer- University. Li Keqiang, expected to to foster a generation of better educated government. The documentary “No Fire Zone: The Killing tilizers for crop rotation in become Premier after the National cadres who could accelerate China’s Snorthern China, according to his doc- People’s Congress in March, has a PhD market reforms. China’s subsequent rise Fields of Sri Lanka” is the third by British journalist and director Callum Macrae about the final stages of the nearly toral thesis. For the world’s biggest in economics from Peking University. as a major trading nation and growing grain grower and consumer, this type of Liu Yandong studied China’s political military power is also increasing pres- 30-year civil war. The Sri Lankan envoy protested against research is crucial for improving yields. development at Jilin University, and sure on the party to select better edu- its screening at a UN building. But it was an unlikely qualification for fellow Politburo member Li Yuanchao cated and more worldly leaders, political It is not only the war that is under spotlight. The post- political leadership in China where engi- explored socialist art and culture in his analysts and education experts say. war actions too have invited criticism. It is said that instead neers have traditionally held many of thesis at the Central Party School. “Because the country is changing of devolving power, the Colombo government has centralised the top posts. The current Politburo also features and the world is changing, it requires it. The president is more powerful than ever, the kind of Sun represents one of the more far nine members with masters degrees and a more sophisticated understanding of reaching changes in Chinese politics. three with other higher degrees. That the issues,” says Yu Maochun, an expert unrestricted power that an elected leader rarely revels in. Highly educated leaders in a broad range stands in stark contrast with members of on Chinese politics and a professor at Recently, the government got rid of disciplines are rising to the top of the the 14th Politburo formed in 1992. Only the Annapolis, Maryland-based United itself of a chief justice who had ruling Communist Party, according to Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, who became States Naval Academy. Some experts The Sri Lankan upheld provincial rights, despite data from Connected China, a Reuters China’s top leadership duo a decade later, question whether academic qualifica- government of mass protests from the lawyers database application that tracks the had graduate degrees in that group. The tions are as important as loyalty and community. The army is said to connections and careers of China’s lead- change in the breadth of education has family ties in a political system where Mahinda Rajapaksa ers. Sun, 49, who joined the Politburo at also been dramatic. Ten years ago, 15 of many senior leaders, including Xi is under pressure be still dominating the north, November’s Communist Party Congress, the 20 college-educated members of the Jinping, are “princelings”, children of instead of demilitarising it. And is one of five PhD holders in a body in Politburo were trained in engineering or senior party veterans. to act on allegations instead of accepting criticism and which all 25 members have at least a the physical sciences. At the very top of Data from Connected China shows of war crimes by the dissent, it has suppressed both. junior college education. China’s hierarchy, engineers were even an increasing emphasis on provincial- So far, the government has Some education experts explain the more heavily represented. level party leadership experience for state. rise of this more highly educated lead- In the nine-member Politburo Politburo members. In 1992, only nine of vociferously denied the charges ership class as a product of the increas- Standing Committee appointed in 2002, 23 Politburo members served as a pro- against it. It has accused the UN ing complexity of China’s economy and eight members of the party’s top deci- vincial or municipal-level party chief. In human rights chief Navi Pillay of being biased against it society. It also reflects an evolution in sion-making body were engineers and the current Politburo, 19 of the 25 have and asserted that Western countries have fallen prey to lies the Party. A generation of revolutionary one was a geologist. Of these, four were held or currently hold a provincial post spread by former members of the Tamil Tiger movement. soldiers gave way to technocratic engi- engineering graduates of Tsinghua. The at this level, including Sun Zhengcai Colombo is to host a summit of former British neers who guided the following period current Politburo has only four engineers. who is party secretary in Chongqing. of industrialization. The engineers are They are outnumbered by colleagues Many of the engineers who held top Commonwealth countries this year and several non- now handing over to leaders better quali- with training in economics, finance and posts, including President Hu Jintao, governmental rights organisations, including a Geneva-based fied to run the world’s second-biggest business management. It also shows a spent long periods working in unrelated “rule of law” group, the International Commission of Jurists, economy. sharp increase in members educated in fields. “They are not really engineers are already campaigning for the 54-nation Commonwealth “As the society matures, it is always law, humanities and social sciences. The in the Western sense,” says Yu. “They to cancel the high-profile gathering. beneficial to have a leadership with seven-member Standing Committee has are really political hacks. Their career In the coming weeks, pressure will mount on the diverse backgrounds,” said Gong Peng, only two engineers; Xi Jinping, who has paths were not devoted to science but a Professor at Tsinghua University’s an undergraduate degree in chemical concentrated on the political system.” Rajapaksa government to act on the charges leveled against Centre for Earth System Science. engineering and Yu Zhengsheng who Despite the increasing diversity of it. It is true that television documentaries do not constitute “They bring different thinking and worked in missile guidance. education at the upper levels of the proof, but they raise questions that need answering. Just skills to the administration.” The data For some Chinese educators, the party, one feature of China’s leadership denying the charges and making counter allegations from Connected China shows far more presence of fewer engineers at the top remains virtually unchanged since the against the UN bodies and rights groups will not help. The Politburo members now hold PhDs and is a welcome development after decades revolutionary period - the domination graduate degrees than earlier leadership in which technocratic leaders, often of men. Only two women are in the cur- government must act credibly to dispel the doubts of foreign generations. It also shows that educa- Soviet trained, dominated decision- rent Politburo, Liu Yandong and Sun organizations, launch independent probes and punish those tion is not necessarily the only path to making in Beijing. “Engineers who do Chunlan, and none are in the Politburo guilty, if anyone is found guilty. • power: loyalties forged during political not learn about management may not Standing Committee. REUTERS The other side Quote of Optimism over Iran talks the day HE two-day talks between Iran country to keep a limited amount of the gaps in their stances in the com- drastic move could easily squander and the P5+1 powers - Britain, highly enriched uranium and offers to ing weeks. the relatively positive atmosphere that China, France, Russia, the lift some trade sanctions. Nonetheless, it is still too early to exists at the moment. TUnited States plus Germany The US State Department on gauge whether a breakthrough can be The already chaotic situation in - over Teheran’s disputed nuclear Wednesday said it welcomes Iran’s made in the foreseeable future as the some countries in the Middle East In the next election, program concluded on Wednesday in interest in the proposal. Iran’s chief talks have now entered the stage where requires that the diplomatic path remain Almaty, Kazakhstan, without yielding nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili called each side should make concessions to the first choice for resolving the dispute, President Assad, any major progress. But the obvious the world powers’ attitude toward its break the long-standing stalemate. The because what is certain is the negative optimism that the parties concerned nuclear issue “more realistic”. lack of any political will to compromise impact a war would have on regional like others, will take have expressed so far should shore up Compared to the three rounds of has been the reason why the issue has security and the world economy. confidence that a consensus might be negotiations held last year, the mes- remained deadlocked for more than a Hence, all parties should display part, and the Syrian within reach if all parties continue to sage from the latest round of talks decade. flexibility and sincerity while accom- people will elect build on this desirable momentum. is more positive. Both Iran and the Israel’s repeated threat of attacks on modating each other’s concerns, so Marking a significant shift in their Western powers have softened their Iranian nuclear facilities also presents that the good momentum that has whomever they previous hard-line policies, the world tone. This has helped create a better a major uncertainty to the future of the been achieved can be maintained and want. powers have reportedly offered Iran atmosphere for negotiators to ponder talks and the world’s mediation efforts. further progress secured in future talks. Ali Akbar Salehi a new plan, which allows the Islamic the proposal and find ways to narrow Before negotiators meet again, any CHINA DAILY Iranian Foreign Minister SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Bradley Manning: The face of heroism

“Wearing his Army dress uniform, a some government officials have repeat- The 25-year-old composed, intense and articulate Pfc. edly concluded that any actual national Bradley Manning took ‘full responsibility’ security harm from his leaks is mini- Army Private, Thursday for providing the anti-secrecy mal if it exists at all. To this day, the organization WikiLeaks with a trove of documents Manning just admitted hav- classified and sensitive military, diplo- ing leaked play a prominent role in the this generation’s matic and intelligence cables, videos and ability of journalists around the world to documents. . . . inform their readers about vital events. Daniel Ellsberg, “Manning’s motivations in leaking, he The leaks led to all sorts of journalism said, was to ‘spark a domestic debate of awards for WikiLeaks. Without question, the role of the military and foreign policy Manning’s leaks produced more signifi- pleads guilty to in general’, he said, and ‘cause society to cant international news scoops in 2010 reevaluate the need and even desire to than those of every media outlet on the some charges and engage in counterterrorism and counter- planet combined. insurgency operations that ignore their This was all achieved because a then- explains his actions. effect on people who live in that environ- 22-year-old Army Private knowingly ment every day.’ risked his liberty in order to inform “Manning explain[ed] his actions that the world about what he learned. He BY GLENN GREENWALD drove him to disclose what he said he endured treatment which the top UN ‘believed, and still believe . . . are some torture investigator deemed “cruel and of the most significant documents of our inhuman”, and he now faces decades in n December, 2011, I wrote an time” prison if not life. He knew exactly what Op-Ed in the Guardian arguing “He came to view much of what the he was risking, what he was likely sub- that if Bradley Manning did what Army told him — and the public — to jecting himself to. But he made the choice he is accused of doing, then he is be false, such as the suggestion the mili- to do it anyway because of the good he a consummate hero, and deserves tary had destroyed a graphic video of an believed he could achieve, because of the aI medal and our collective gratitude, not aerial assault in Iraq that killed civilians, evil that he believed needed urgently to decades in prison. At his court-martial or that WikiLeaks was a nefarious entity” be exposed and combated, and because proceeding this afternoon in Fort Meade, “Manning said he often found himself of his conviction that only leaks enable Manning, as the Guaridan’s Ed Pilkington frustrated by attempts to get his chain of the public to learn the truth about the reports, pleaded guilty to having been the command to investigate apparent abuses Bradley Manning bad acts their governments are doing in source of the most significant leaks to detailed in the documents Manning secret. WikiLeaks. He also pleaded not guilty to accessed” Heroism is a slippery and ambiguous 12 of the 22 counts, including the most Manning also said he “first approached in order to assure him of confidentiality Iraq War he had once thought noble, and concept. But whatever it means, it is serious - the capital offense of “aiding and three news outlets: the Washington but then instead reported him. In those this caused him to re-examine all of his embodied by Bradley Manning and the abetting the enemy”, which could send Post, New York Times and Politico” chats, Manning explained that he was prior assumptions about the US govern- acts which he unflinchingly acknowledged him to prison for life - on the ground that before approaching WikiLeaks. And he leaking because he wanted the world to ment. And he extensively narrated how he chose to undertake. The combination nothing he did was intended to nor did it repeatedly denied having been encour- know what he had learned: “I want peo- he had learned of serious abuse and ille- of extreme government secrecy, a supine result in harm to US national security. aged or pushed in any way by WikiLeaks ple to see the truth … regardless of who gality while serving in the war - including media (see the prior two columns), and a The US government will now almost cer- to obtain and leak the documents, thus they are … because without information, detaining Iraqi citizens guilty of nothing disgracefully subservient judiciary means tainly proceed with its attempt to pros- denying the US government a key part of you cannot make informed decisions as other than criticising the Malaki govern- that the only way we really learn about ecute him on those remaining counts. its attempted prosecution of the whistle- a public.” When asked by the informant ment - but was ignored when he brought what our government does is when the Manning’s heroism has long been blowing group. Instead, “he said he took why he did not sell the documents to a those abuses to his superiors. Daniel Ellsbergs - and Bradley Mannings established in my view, for the reasons ‘full responsibility’ for a decision that will foreign government for profit - some- Manning is absolutely right when he - of the world risk their own personal I set forth in that Op-Ed. But this was likely land him in prison for the next 20 thing he obviously could have done with said that the documents he leaked “are interest and liberty to alert us. Daniel bolstered as he spoke for an hour in years — and possibly the rest of his life.” ease - Manning replied that he wanted some of the most significant documents Ellberg is now widely viewed as heroic court about what he did and why, read- This is all consistent with what the information to be publicly known in of our time”. They revealed a multitude and noble, and Bradley Manning (as ing from a prepared 35-page statement. Manning is purported to have said in the order to trigger “worldwide discussion, of previously secret crimes and acts of Ellsberg himself has repeatedly said) Wired’s Spencer Ackerman was there chat logs with the government snitch who debates, and reforms”. He described how deceit and corruption by the world’s most merits that praise and gratitude every and reported: pretended to be a journalist and a pastor he became deeply disillusioned with the powerful factions. Journalists and even bit as much. THE GUARDIAN Iraq must not blind us to How not to withdraw from Afghanistan BY JIM MCDERMOTT to nonmilitary initiatives, includ- AND LAWRENCE Blair’s skill and seriousness ing promoting free and fair elec- WILKERSON tions, fighting corruption, and BY MARTIN KETTLE and the alternatives obvious and protecting the rights of women. straightforward. The only people leven years of costly Another lesson is that recon- ony Blair inevitably cuts a who benefit from that closure of war have confirmed struction efforts should focus more much-diminished figure the mind are the conservatives of that there is no military on sustainable investments than on these days. It is eight left and right. Esolution in Afghanistan. short-term stabilisation. In Iraq, Tyears since he last fought The historical aspect of the As one US commander in American planners prioritised an election, and nearly six since Blair era matters because it has Afghanistan retires and another immediate results, while sacrificing he left British politics. He, we and become fashionable to treat it takes his place, it’s time to focus development initiatives that would the world have all moved on, thank merely as a continuum from the on a political and economic tran- benefit Iraqis in the long run. goodness. Partly by choice, partly Thatcher era which preceded it. sition to Afghan rule. It’s time to The US Institute of Peace’s 2005 through circumstance, he leads This simply was not true. The finally bring US troops home. report on economic reconstruc- an existence remote from the Blair era – and we are really talk- In his State of the Union tion in Iraq confirmed this, argu- world the rest of us still inhabit. ing here about the Blair-Brown address, President Barack Obama ing that the US-led coalition should He no longer matters much in era – was much more an attempt announced that 34,000 American have “immediately begun work the dynamics of British politics, to reassert social values and new soldiers, airmen and Marines will on long-term projects to rebuild and the remoteness means this is forms of solidarity in the after- indeed leave Afghanistan this major infrastructure, restructure unlikely to change. math of Thatcher than an attempt year. But he provided few details state-owned enterprises, create The 10th anniversary of the Iraq simply to embrace Thatcher’s pos- about the withdrawal strategy. As sustainable jobs and promote pri- invasion has inevitably thrust Blair sessive individualism. Tony Blair he weighs the options for trans- vate sector growth. But long-term briefly back into the national con- And it was widely understood ferring security responsibility development projects were not an versation. Even so, his Newsnight by Labour, then and throughout to Afghans and decides on what initial coalition priority.” interview on Iraq this week felt the period of the Blair and Brown and whose demise, in my view, would fail in our own. Blair and form the US presence will take The United States has made an oddly ghostly affair, with Blair governments, as the only serious made New Labour, or something Brown wrestled with these ques- beyond 2014, he and his advisers similar mistakes in Afghanistan, going through the motions of the progressive strategy for the party. like it, necessary – then as now. tions, week in, week out. And so would do well to remember the where much effort has been old arguments, a bit like an ageing There wasn’t a coherent alterna- This brings us to why Blair’s must we. There is, as they say, no Iraq war as a cautionary tale. expended to produce visible, rock star rehashing his back cata- tive on offer and, even if there had choices and dilemmas still mat- alternative. First, the US experience in short-term results without the logue, but unable and unwilling to been, not enough people would ter today and why they must No European progressive party Iraq showed that focusing too support needed to sustain them. say the one thing he should say – have voted for it. not be dismissed as a discredited can be blind, either, to the con- narrowly on a military solution According to Oxfam, which oper- that he got Iraq wrong. Doubtless There is also the matter of or shameful agenda. Of course, tinuing decline of the old soli- comes at a high cost. The United ates in 20 of Afghanistan’s 34 the same thing will happen when personalities. Does anyone think much has changed in the post- darities and cultural habits of States prioritised the buildup provinces and has vocally criti- the Chilcot inquiry finally sees the Labour would have succeeded bet- Blair years, above all as a result the industrial era. These things of the Iraqi Army, often at the cized Nato’s short-term outlook light of day. ter after 1994 under the leader- of the financial crisis, the decline aren’t coming back, not in the old expense of funding for crucial in Afghanistan, “Far too much aid In many respects it feels per- ship of John Prescott than Blair? of western economic growth and forms anyway. So Labour still has civilian programmes in areas such has focused on ‘quick fixes’ and verse and even masochistic to Or Margaret Beckett than Blair? the pressure on low and middle- to modernise and to win parlia- as infrastructure support, govern- band-aid approaches rather than write about Blair once again. Or even Gordon Brown than income households. But not eve- mentary seats in places other ance and democracy, agricultural on what will produce positive and Yet it needs to be done. Iraq may Blair? I didn’t think that then, rything has changed. And it hasn’t than the old cities and former development, rule of law and anti- lasting results for Afghans over have been Blair’s great mistake, and I don’t think it now. changed in ways that makes the industrial heartlands. That still corruption initiatives. the long term.” While short-term failure, crime – choose whatever You can certainly argue that political task easier, as struggling means the need to appeal to vot- Similarly, in Afghanistan, the gains are important, the last word you are most comfortable there was too much continuity in centre-left parties across Europe ers in southern England, in places United States and Nato have stages of the war should take into with – although it needs saying in particular respects between the are finding, most recently in Italy. like Eastleigh, in terms of the focused on creating a large and account developmental and eco- passing that, judging by Tuesday’s Thatcher and Blair eras. And too Being against austerity is not lives these voters actually live, just capable Afghan army. But insuf- nomic issues, including food and Newsnight special, there is a fair much caution, certainly. Within enough. The centre-left has to as Blair did. And it means recog- ficient attention has been given water insecurity, the drug trade amount of good news coming out the confines of a newspaper col- have a reform agenda, too. nising the need to make political to nonmilitary initiatives, such and the Afghan economy’s limited of Iraq these days, as well as the umn it is perhaps simplest to sum Yet no European progressive compromises and coalitions too. as promoting political reconcilia- ability to generate revenue. bad stuff. But it is wrong to allow this up by saying that Blair never party can ignore the relative Excoriating Tony Blair is easy. tion among opposing factions and Making these investments will Iraq to overshadow or corrupt adequately fulfilled the slogan decline of the west or the hollow- But in the end it is both scurrilous strengthening the rule of law. certainly be difficult, particularly everything else he did. It is lazy to New Labour, New Britain which ing of the industrial base which and stupid. He got some things This repeat of recent history at a time when many other needs say that because Blair was wrong dominated Labour publicity in the formed the context for the choices wrong and a lot of things right. is even more worrisome given at home and abroad command about Iraq he was wrong about runup to 1997. He did the New of the Blair years on things like To pretend that he was and is that US attempts at buildup of America’s ongoing attention and everything else, because actually Labour bit. He was less successful education reform. No progressive essentially beyond the pale turns the Afghan National Army have resources. But withdrawing from he wasn’t. with the New Britain bit. party, today as then, can credibly politics into grandstanding. It met with mixed success at best. Afghanistan without continuing It is important to discuss Blair There were lots of reasons promise Scandinavian levels of makes the political dilemmas The Defence Department found commitment to its critical civilian for three reasons. First, because for this. But that does not mean social services and public goods, which face any centre-left leader in December that, despite years of tasks would be shortsighted at best. the Blair era needs to be better nothing was done, or that Blair especially on the basis of US lev- into a permanent self-fulfilling training, only one of 23 Afghan bri- Finally, Iraq highlighted the understood historically. Second, and Brown merely managed the els of personal tax. With health, narrative of failure and betrayal. gades can operate independently. flaws of a US-centric reconstruc- much more importantly, because Thatcherite settlement in those welfare and pensions budgets And it ignores the complexity, On the other hand, how- tion approach that pays too little many of Blair’s political choices 13 years. The depiction of the eating up so much of GDP, the thoughtfulness and nuance about ever, Western investments in attention to local needs. American and dilemmas still matter today Thatcher and Blair eras as a only options are to improve pro- the real world with which serious Afghanistan’s civilian sector have planners in Iraq frequently pushed and in the future. And, third, continuum is mischievous. It is ductivity and modernise systems politics must engage and which, as had some notably positive results, for sweeping reforms that were because it does no favours to any designed to say that we can forget of delivery, as Blair tried to do. it happens, most of the Newsnight particularly in education and poorly coordinated with what serious political project of the left about all that and get back to the Just as socialism in one country audience displayed so well when health care. In the final phase of Iraqis needed, wanted and could to continue to behave as though old socialist verities of an indus- failed in our grandparents’ era, so discussing Iraq this week. the transition, we must build on sustain without American support. Blair was simply unspeakable, trial Britain that no longer exists social democracy in one country THE GUARDIAN these successes by giving attention WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Iran says Assad will take part in 2014 polls Syrian army seizes control of key road linking airport

DAMASCUS: Syria’s close Muallem was in Tehran yester- Assad took over as president ally Iran said yesterday that day for talks on the nearly two- in 2000 following the death of his President Bashar Al Assad will year conflict which has killed at father Hafez who ruled Syria with take part in next year’s presi- least 70,000, according to UN an iron fist for 30 years, and has dential election and that it is up estimates. repeatedly rejected opposition, to the Syrian people to choose At a news conference with Western and Arab calls to step their own leader. Muallem, Iranian Foreign down. On the ground, at least 16 Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said A new constitution adopted in rebels and 10 soldiers were killed “in the next election, President February 2012 stipulates that he in a ferocious dawn battle on the Assad, like others, will take part, can run for the presidency twice outskirts of a strategic city near and the Syrian people will elect from 2014, which means he could the Turkish border as the army whomever they want.” stay at the helm until 2028 if said it had recaptured an impor- The “official position of Iran is re-elected. tant highway leading to second that... Assad will remain legiti- In January, Deputy Foreign city Aleppo. mate president until the next... Minister Faisal Muqdad told the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid election” in 2014, Salehi said. BBC that Assad should be allowed to stand in 2014 like any other candidate, and that it is up to the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (right) with his Syrian counterpart Walid Al Muallem in Tehran, yesterday. Syrians themselves to decide their UN offers to broker talks future leadership. GENEVA: The United Nations is prepared to broker peace talks “We are opening the way for announcement by US Secretary allow the army to deploy fresh in Aleppo province, including the between Syria’s regime and opposition, the world body’s chief democracy, or deeper democracy. of State John Kerry on Thursday reinforcements and send sup- international airport and Nayrab, Ban Ki-moon and his top envoy for the conflict Lakhdar Brahimi In a democracy you don’t tell that Washington would provide plies to the area near the airport, which are located southeast of said yesterday. somebody not to run,” Muqdad $60m in “non-lethal” assistance where fighting has raged since Syria’s second-largest city. “The United Nations would welcome and be prepared to facilitate said. to support the Syrian political mid-February. They have since captured Al a dialogue between a strong and representative delegation from the Salehi yesterday also backed a opposition. “In collaboration with honour- Jarrah military airport as well opposition and a credible and empowered delegation from the Syrian call by Damascus for talks with “When the US (says it has) able citizens, troops carried out as several other air defence com- government,” a joint statement said. the armed opposition, calling the allocated $60m to the opposition a special operation and restored plexes and nearby checkpoints. It said such a dialogue “can take place according to an agreed initiative a “positive step,” but and this opposition is killing peo- security and stability to villages But Observatory chief Rami agenda”. Ban and Brahimi met in Switzerland and discussed “recent reiterated that Assad’s regime ple, I don’t understand this initia- on the airport road,” the military Abdel Rahman said that if the statements by the Syrian government and the opposition indicating has “no choice” but to keep fight- tive... Are there any weapons that said in a statement published by army succeeds in keeping control their willingness to engage in dialogue,” the UN said. ing rebels. do not kill people? Who are you state news agency SANA. over the road “it will change the “Both expressed deep frustration at the failure of the international “We believe that the crisis has kidding?” Muallem asked. “This achievement shows the course of battles” around Aleppo community to act with unity to end to the conflict which has left no military solution and only a Damascus has repeatedly commitment of our forces to and Nayrab airports “and even over 70,000 dead and resulted in a massive human displacement Syrian political one,” he said. blamed foreign-backed “terror- continue to fulfil their sacred Aleppo”, Syria’s second city. within and outside of the Syrian borders.” “Iran firstly wants a stop to the ists” for the violence, using the national duty, repelling killings While rebels have taken over Ban and Brahimi also warned that both Syrian President Bashar bloodshed but the Syrian govern- term to refer both to rebels and and aggression targeting our large swathes of territory and Al Assad’s regime and opposition fighters “have become increasingly ment has no choice but to fight peaceful opponents ever since people and our country,” said the a number of key military garri- reckless with human life” as the two-year-old conflict rages on. against the terrorists and we the outbreak of a popular revolt statement. sons in Aleppo province, fighting They said perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against human- cannot ask the Syrian govern- against Assad in March 2011. The Syrian Observatory for in the city has been at stalemate ity must be brought to justice. ment not to do so and leave them Meanwhile, the Syrian army Human Rights confirmed the for months. Ban, who was in Switzerland for an annual meeting with the heads alone.” said it has seized control of a key report and said the army will Abdel Rahman said that clashes of 30 UN peacekeeping and political missions worldwide, warned Muallem’s visit comes after road linking the central province now be able to deploy fresh troops around the airport road continued Friday that the conflict was breaking Syria apart. a week of intense international of Hama to Aleppo international and supplies in the area and the despite the army’s capture. There is a “very small window of opportunity” for peace that may diplomacy aimed at ending the airport, scene of weeks of fierce nearby Nayrab military airport. Aleppo international airport soon close, he said. AFP bloodshed. battles with rebel fighters. Rebels launched last month an has been closed since the start of He condemned the The capture of the road will all-out assault on several airports the year. AFP

Elections in Iraq Turkish captives Al Qaeda magazine issues to be released by Kurdish rebels tips to would-be militants RIYADH: Al Qaeda in the tips on how to set fire to parked ISTANBUL: Kurdistan Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), cars, including advice such as Workers Party (PKK) rebels the Islamist movement’s most “don’t get petrol on yourself”, and are planning to release a group active branch, has released an suggests spilling oil on road bends of captured Turkish officials English-language magazine to cause crashes. within the next 10 days as advising would-be militants on An editorial in the magazine part of a broader peace deal, how to torch parked cars and warned France to end its military the state-run Anatolia Agency cause traffic accidents. intervention in Mali, citing the reported yesterday. The magazine, released on mili- US experiences in Afghanistan The PKK has been fighting tant websites, also warns France and Iraq, which it said made Turkey’s central government to pull back from Mali and lists 11 “them bite their fingertips in since 1984 and is negotiating public figures in the West, includ- regret”. with the authorities to try to end ing author Salman Rushdie, who The magazine also called on a conflict that has claimed some it says are “wanted dead or alive militants to attack 11 public 40,000 lives. for crimes against Islam”. figures in the West, including Anatolia quoted a Turkish poli- AQAP, based in the impov- Rushdie, whose 1988 novel The tician, Gultan Kisanak, as telling erished, lawless state of Yemen, Satanic Verses was seen by many a news conference in Arbil, north- has previously plotted to bring Muslims as blasphemous. ern Iraq: “”I hope these (public) down international airliners and Among others are Dutch politi- officials will reunite with their is seen by Western governments cian Geert Wilders and Canadian- families soon.” as a danger to oil-producing Gulf Somalian activist Ayaan Hirsi It said Kisanak, co-chair of states and major crude shipment Ali, both strong critics of Islam, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peace People walk past a campaign poster featuring Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and announcing the provin- routes. and US pastor Terry Jones, who and Democracy Party, delivered cial elections near Tahrir Square in Baghdad, yesterday. The elections will take place in April amid a political In a section entitled “open staged a public burning of copies a letter from jailed PKK leader source jihad”, the magazine gives of the Quran. REUTERS crisis that has pitted Maliki against several of his erstwhile government partners while tensions have been Abdullah Ocalan who has been heightened by protests. negotiating the outlines of a peace deal with the Turkish government since last October. Kisanak handed the letter to Murat Karayilan, the de facto IAEA to discuss deadlocked Iran talks leader of the PKK. Sudan violating sanctions Turkish media reports over VIENNA: Deadlocked talks The agency also conducts regu- the past week have said that the with Iran will be in focus at lar inspections of Iran’s declared PKK would release some 16 cap- a meeting of the UN nuclear nuclear sites and its quarterly tured officials soon, in a first move agency’s board from tomor- reports routinely outline advances with Darfur air strikes: UN towards peace. row, together with a possible in its atomic programme in spite Ocalan, imprisoned on an new term for director general of UN Security Council resolu- UNITED NATIONS: Sudan’s made public on Friday, the panel The arms embargo does not island near Istanbul since 1999, Yukiya Amano. tions calling for a suspension. government has violated UN said Sudan violated a Security ban supplying military hard- is proposing to withdraw his Western powers, however, are The latest report, issued sanctions on the Darfur region Council resolution and written ware, but countries must have fighters from Turkey by August expected to refrain from upping February 21, said that Iran had by carrying out air strikes and pledges to Belarus and Russia to a Sudan government guarantee if Ankara pushes through reforms the ante against Tehran at the begun installing at its Natanz using aircraft from Belarus not use aircraft purchased from that equipment and arms will not to end the insurgency, according meeting in Vienna in order not plant more advanced centrifuges and Russia despite pledging not them in Darfur by carrying out end up in Darfur. to Turkish media. to jeopardise parallel diplomatic to speed up uranium enrichment, to in the vast arid area in the “aerial bombardments and intimi- The Security Council warned Under his plan, the rebels efforts by six world powers, dip- a process at the heart of the inter- country’s west, UN experts say. dating flights.” earlier this month that foreign would begin a formal ceasefire lomats said. national community’s concerns. The UN Security Council’s “The panel received reliable military support such as spare on March 21, the Kurdish New “My own instinct is that there Enriched uranium can be used independent panel of experts — information that the Sudanese parts, weapons systems and other Year, said the Sabah and Star won’t be an Iran resolution,” for peaceful purposes but also, in who monitor sanctions imposed armed forces had conducted sev- materiel may be used in Darfur newspapers, which are close to from the 35-nation International highly purified form, in a nuclear on Darfur in 2005 — also said eral offensive military overflights to support the aircraft deployed the government. Atomic Energy Agency board of weapon. Iran denies this is its aim. it was investigating whether and bombardments in Darfur there in violation of Darfur The PKK is estimated to have governors, one diplomat said. “But Tehran says that the IAEA’s Sudanese troops had violated using Antonov aircraft, Mi-24 sanctions. around 2,000 fighters in Turkey, it’s not definite yet.” conclusions about the “possible the sanctions by using Iranian attack helicopters, MiG-29 air- The panel of experts report with several thousand more in This is despite the fact that Iran military dimensions” of its pro- armoured personnel carriers in craft and Su-25 aircraft,” said the said that Sudan had started bases in northern Iraq. refuses to give the IAEA access gramme are based on flawed infor- Darfur. report, which covers most of 2012. using a new weapons system - The guerrilla group originally to sites, documents and scien- mation from Western and Israeli Mainly African tribes in The panel said the Sudanese S-8 air-to-ground rockets - that took up arms to carve out an tists involved in what the agency spy agencies, information that it Darfur took up arms against government told them that the Khartoum had purchased from independent Kurdish state, but suspects were efforts, mostly in says it has not been allowed to see. the Khartoum government in aircraft “had only limited-scale Belarus in 2011 and promised not it has since moderated its goal to the past but possibly ongoing, to At a stormy IAEA board meet- 2003, complaining of political use and were in conformity with to use in Darfur in violation of autonomy. develop nuclear weapons. ing in November, Iran’s envoy and economic marginalization. the rights of a sovereign state” the arms embargo. “The panel Ethnic Kurds make up about 20 More than a year of meet- Ali Asghar Soltanieh said that African Union peacekeepers were and that “it emphasized that it observed many locations in the percent of Turkey’s population of ings, the latest on February 13 in no “smoking gun” had ever been deployed in 2006 and replaced in would never use, nor had it pre- general area east of the Jebel 76 million and live largely in the Tehran, have failed to agree on a found and that the West wants to 2008 by a joint AU-UN force. viously used, its Darfur-based Marra massif where remnants of southeast of the country. so-called “structured approach” hijack the IAEA for its own ends. In a report to the Security aviation assets to target its own these weapons are present,” the REUTERS to address these allegations. AFP Council’s committee on Sudan, people.” report said. REUTERS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Kerry pushes for political consensus in Egypt Protesters torch police station as top US diplomat arrives

CAIRO: US Secretary of State of unrest and clashes that have that comes from the US, the EU, John Kerry was in Cairo yes- left dozens dead, with protesters from the Arab states and from terday to push for a way out denouncing the president for fail- private investments,” the State of Egypt’s violence-wracked ing to address political and eco- Department official said. political impasse, underlin- nomic concerns. “It requires an IMF deal.” ing the need for a consensus to During the visit, Kerry will In order for there to be an overcome a crippling economic stress the “importance of build- agreement “there has to be basic crisis. ing consensus,” a US State political agreement among all the As Kerry arrived from Turkey, Department official said, after a various players in Egypt” as well protesters torched a police sta- call by the main opposition coali- as “basic economic consensus on tion in the canal city of Port Said, tion to boycott upcoming parlia- reforms to support the IMF deal.” reflecting the size of the task mentary elections. Morsi has called for stag- facing the secretary of state in Kerry will “not tell them what gered parliamentary elections Egypt, which has been rocked by to do,” the official said. to start on April 22. The NSF, months of unrest. He will emphasise that “if they which groups mainly liberal and The interior ministry said want to engage, if they want to leftist parties and movements, about 500 protesters threw ensure that their views are taken said it would boycott the polls, stones and petrol bombs at the into account, the only way to do expressing doubts over their police station, setting it on fire, that is to participate. transparency. and then blocked fire engines “They can’t sit aside and just The opposition, less organised from approaching the blaze. assume that some how by magic than the Muslim Brotherhood, Kerry is due to hold talks with all of this is going to happen. insists the president appoint a Islamist President Mohamed They have got to participate,” the new government before the elec- Morsi, as well as political par- official added. tion. The presidency says the new Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al Arabi speaks with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Arab League ties, business leaders and civil But two leading opposition fig- parliament should have the right headquarters, in Cairo, yesterday. society groups during a two-day ures have refused to engage with to appoint the cabinet. AFP visit that is part of a world tour. Kerry. “He is working to touch base Mohammed ElBaradei and with the government, with the Hamdeen Sabahi, of the National military, with people involved in Salvation Front (NSF) coalition, the new Egypt: the political lead- said they would not meet him Opposition heads turn down Kerry meeting ers, NGO leaders, the business after Washington called for them people,” a US State Department to reconsider a boycott of next CAIRO: An Egyptian opposi- channel. “We want to send a mes- Egyptian people in terms of participate. It has complained of official said. month’s elections. tion head said he and colleague sage that we reject American their democratic aspirations what it sees as US support for Kerry went into talks with A political consensus would Mohammed ElBaradei have pressure,” Sabahi added. and looking at some of the eco- Morsi, whom some NSF mem- Arab League chief Nabil Al pave the way for a crucial loan turned down invitations to meet An aide of another NSF leader, nomic challenges they have,” bers backed in last June’s elec- Arabi before a meeting with from the International Monetary Secretary of State John Kerry former foreign minister Amr State Department deputy acting tion against ousted leader Hosni his Egyptian counterpart, Fund, which in turn will unlock when he visits Cairo because of Mussa, said Mussa would also spokesman Patrick Ventrell said. Mubarak’s last prime minister, Mohammed Kamel Amr, set for several pledges of aid for Egypt’s US pressure. not attend a meeting with Kerry “We’re a friend of the Egyptian Ahmed Shafiq. the evening. battered economy. Hamdeen Sabahi, a leader of at which the opposition could be people, and he looks forward to But they now accuse Morsi Egypt has been deeply divided Egyptian officials have said the National Salvation Front pressed to reconsider its boycott. meeting a variety of Egyptian of having betrayed the values of since Morsi, elected in June as they will continue talks with the (NSF), said late Thursday that “We see that there is not way interlocutors from a variety of the uprising which overthrew part of the transition that fol- IMF on a much needed $4.8bn he and ElBaradei objected to we can participate in the election, walks of life.” Mubarak in early 2011 and having lowed Hosni Mubarak’s ouster loan, which has been delayed Washington’s call for the opposi- this is an NSF decision, and the The opposition has sought to sidelined liberals and Christians in early 2011, issued a decree in amid political unrest and might tion to reconsider its boycott of unity of the NSF is our number ratchet the pressure on Islamist since he took power. November expanding his pow- possibly be signed after a parlia- Egypt’s parliamentary election one priority,” the aide told AFP, President Mohamed Morsi with US President Barack Obama ers and paving the way for the ment is in place in July. in April. on condition of anonymity. a combination of street protests last week told Morsi in a phone adoption of an Islamist-drafted “It will be important for the “I received an invitation and He said Mussa would instead and a boycott of the election, to conversation that he welcomed constitution. government to make an agree- turned it down, and Dr ElBaradei send a representative. be held over three months. his “commitment” to represent Morsi rescinded the decree ment with the IMF not only to received an invitation and he “The secretary is looking for- The NSF had demanded guar- all Egyptians but encouraged him under intense pressure, but the bring in the IMF money... but turned it down,” Sabahi said in an ward to... his visit to Cairo to antees that the election will be and the opposition to find com- political turmoil has fueled weeks also to unlock the other money interview with ONTV television see what we can do to help the transparent as a condition to mon ground. AFP

PFLP anniversary

A Palestinian supporter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Palestinian Marxist- Leninist and revolutionary leftist organisation founded in 1967, shouts as he celebrates the 46th anniversary of its foundation in Gaza City yesterday. Security Council to lift Somalia arms embargo

UNITED NATIONS: The UN the development of the security are concerned about the security Security Council is consider- forces of the federal government risks involved with removing the ing lifting an arms embargo on of Somalia and to provide security arms embargo and one council Somalia’s government for one for the Somali people.” diplomats said the proposed move year so it can beef up its army It says that these weapons and “sends shivers down the spine.” to combat Islamist fighters, equipment “may not be resold to, The Security Council’s according to a draft resolution transferred to, or made available Monitoring Group on Somalia that is due to be voted on by the for use by, any individual or entity and Eritrea, an independent panel divided council on Wednesday. not in the service of the security that reports on compliance with The Somalia government has forces of the federal government UN sanctions, have warned that asked for the arms embargo to of Somalia.” the Islamist militants in Somalia be lifted and the United States The 15-member council are receiving weapons from distri- has been pushing the council to imposed the arms embargo in bution networks linked to Yemen agree, but Britain and France 1992 to cut the flow of arms to and Iran, diplomats have said. have been wary of removing the feuding warlords, who a year A UN diplomat also said the ban in a country already awash earlier ousted dictator Mohamed UN monitors had reported that with weapons, diplomats say. Siad Barre and plunged Somalia some Al Shabaab militants had The draft resolution, drawn into civil war. Somalia held its infiltrated units of the Somali up by Britain appears to propose first national vote since 1991 last security forces. a compromise: lifting the arms year to elect a president and The council is scheduled to embargo for one year but keep- prime minister. vote on the draft resolution on ing restrictions in place on heavy UN Secretary-General Ban Wednesday before the mandate of weapons such as surface to air Ki-moon earlier this month sug- the 17,600-strong AU peacekeep- missiles, howitzers and cannons. gested the Security Council con- ing force, known as AMISOM, The draft resolution says the sider lifting the arms embargo to expires on Thursday. The reso- arms embargo shall not apply to help rebuild Somalia’s forces and lution would renew AU peace- the deliveries of other “weapons consolidate military gains against keeping force for one year and or military equipment or the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab reconfigure the UN mission in provision of advice, assistance militants. the Horn of Africa country. or training, intended solely for But some council members REUTERS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL US, Russia adoption row flares Thousands march in Moscow after death of adopted Russian boy in Texas

MOSCOW: Russia yester- the Shatto couple. “Certain steps Meanwhile, thousands of peo- abnormal for Russia. Until we day said it was concerned by a are being taken to bring back ple, including activists from pro- ban them (foreign adoptions), US ruling that the death of an (Kirill),” Dmitry Peskov told Kremlin children’s advocacy our people will be putting their adopted Russian boy in Texas Dozhd, a private television chan- groups, braved a temperature hopes in foreign adopters and was an accident, fuelling a dip- nel. “There are very complicated of minus eight degrees Celsius good Samaritans,” added Oxana lomatic row as several thousand legal circumstances related to the to march through Moscow urg- Garnayeva, head of the charity people marched in Moscow possibility of such a return.” ing authorities to ban all foreign group Russian Birch. demanding an end to all foreign According to the autopsy adoptions and demanding the Moscow police said around adoptions. results, the boy died from a lac- return of Max’s brother. 12,000 people had participated in Russia’s foreign ministry said erated artery in his bowel due “Our children are not a com- the march. it had learned of the US coroner’s to blunt force trauma in his modity,” one demonstrator The co-organiser of the march findings, which clear the boy’s abdomen. chanted through a loudspeaker Bergset said 20,000 people showed parents of wrongdoing, “with con- The coroner’s report also noted as crowds carried national flags, up for the march and a subse- cern” and called on US officials that the child had a mental dis- icons and pictures of children who quent rally, adding that law- to provide Moscow with the nec- order that caused him to hurt died after being adopted in the makers from the ruling United essary documents, including the himself. West. Russia party and other parties death certificate of three-year- Officials in the US cleared the “Our main demand is to bring also participated. old Max Shatto (born Maxim boy’s adoptive parents Laura and Kirill home and ban Western Late last year, Russia intro- Kuzmin), to help shed light on Alan Shatto of homicide but the adoptions,” said Irina Bergset duced a ban on all American the case. couple could still face negligence from the Russian Mothers move- adoptions in retaliation for a US “Only an examination of these charges for leaving the boy alone ment, who helped organise the bill targeting Russian officials documents will enable meaningful in their backyard, where he was march. with sanctions over the prison conclusions to be reached about found unconscious in January. Bergset said she considered the death of Russian lawyer Sergei the circumstances surrounding The Kremlin children’s rights results of the US autopsy to be Magnitsky. the Russian child’s death and envoy Pavel Astakhov reacted to “American propaganda.” In January, at least 20,000 determine our possible future the US findings with scepticism. She said the march participants Russians led by the anti-Krem- steps,” the ministry’s rights rep- “The triumph of justice?” he had written a letter to Putin ask- lin opposition marched through resentative Konstantin Dolgov wrote on Twitter, adding that the ing him to facilitate the return of Moscow to protest the Kremlin said in a statement. boy had become a “victim of big the adopted boy. ban they dubbed the “law of President Vladimir Putin’s politics.” Bergset said the protesters also scoundrels”. spokesman added that efforts The two Russian boys were wanted a ban on all foreign adop- According to official estimates, were under way to try to bring born to an alcoholic mother and tions by French nationals. “They US families have adopted more home Max’s two-year-old brother, were placed in an orphanage legalised same-sex marriages in than 60,000 Russian children over whose Russian name is Kirill when their mother was stripped France,” she said. the past two decades, 21 of whom People march during a rally in Moscow yesterday. and who is also being raised by of parental rights. “What’s normal for France is have died. AFP

BRIEFLY Mugabe denies violent campaign ahead of elections

BINDURA, Zimbabwe: (53 miles) north of the capital 2008 with inflation over 500 per- said Mugabe had prostate cancer Zimbabwe’s President Robert Harare. “Our rivals are running cent, food shortages and unem- that had spread to other organs. Mugabe yesterday denied scared, ridiculously blaming us ployment over 80 percent. According to the cable, he was his ZANU-PF party had for every incident of violence in Mugabe was forced to share apparently urged by his physician launched a violent campaign the country, pinning every death power with Tsvangirai’s MDC to step down in 2008. to intimidate rivals in elections on us to get sympathy from four years ago after violent and Mugabe made no reference to expected in July, which he abroad and especially from their disputed elections in 2008. his health when he addressed Sweden makes hopes will extend his 33 years Western supporters,” he added. One of Africa’s longest-serv- thousands of ZANU-PF support- in power. Mugabe, who has ruled ing leaders, Mugabe has been ers yesterday, focusing on party new push to solve Addressing a rally to mark his Zimbabwe since its independence endorsed as ZANU-PF presiden- unity, defending his policies of PM’s 1986 murder 89th birthday last week, Africa’s from Britain in 1980, has become tial candidate despite concerns seizing white-owned farms for oldest leader denied accusa- a pariah in the West, blamed over his age. blacks and forcing foreign-owned STOCKHOLM: More than tions by the rival Movement for running a once-prosperous The veteran ruler accuses the firms to sell majority stakes to 100 people have answered a for Democratic Change (MDC) country into the ground, human West of plotting his downfall as locals. new police appeal for leads of Prime Minister Morgan rights abuses, and violent, rigged punishment for his seizure, since “We make no apology whatso- into the murder of Swedish Tsvangirai that ZANU-PF was elections. 2000, of white-owned commer- ever for our policies because they prime minister Olof Palme playing dirty ahead of the presi- Political analysts say cial farms to resettle landless are designed to achieve wealth 27 years ago, the Swedish Robert Mugabe (right) cuts his dential and parliamentary polls. ZANU-PF faces a stern chal- blacks. and total independence for us as TT news agency reported birthday cake with his children “We are going to win these lenge from the MDC in the next Although he appears spritely, a people,” he said to a cheering yesterday. Chatunga Mugabe (left) and Bona elections, and we are going to polls as many Zimbabweans there have been rumours about crowd in a speech in which, as The police on Thursday, the Mugabe (centre) yesterday. win them peacefully,” Mugabe blame Mugabe for a decade-long his health. A June 2008 US diplo- usual, he also denounced Western anniversary of the premier’s told the rally in Bindura, 85 km economic crisis which peaked in matic cable released by WikiLeaks critics. REUTERS death, opened a telephone line for information about the case, prompting dozens to come for- ward, some for the first time, the news agency said. The officer in charge of the Leftist leader seeks deal case, Dag Andersson, said “some of these testimonies are interesting” for the investiga- tion, according to TT. to break Italy deadlock “We will study them and determine what are the new ROME: Italy was locked in helping the poorest and cutting pieces of information and those a damaging political impasse government costs — echoing at which have not been verified,” yesterday as rival party lead- least some of the demands made he was quoted as saying. ers attempt to form a coalition by the grassroots, Internet-based Palme was shot dead by a government following inconclu- Five Star Movement. lone gunman on the evening of sive elections, with the rest of But since the centre-left coa- February 28, 1986, shortly after Europe looking anxiously on. lition did not gain majorities in leaving a cinema in central An initiative by Italian leftist both houses of parliament, a new Stockholm to walk home with Pier Luigi Bersani on Friday to government of this type would his wife Lisbet. The murder form a minority government was depend on the support of other has never been solved despite swiftly turned down by the rogue parties in the upper house -- an hundreds of thousands of leads party whose votes he most needs. arrangement analysts warn would over the years. The Democratic Party leader prove unstable at a time of acute said he wanted to form “a gov- economic crisis for Italy. ernment of change” that would New official figures out on Congo troops retake focus on key reforms and issues Thursday showed Italy’s economy that the party has in common with shrank by 2.4 percent last year territory left by rebels the anti-establishment Five Star and public debt rose to 127 percent KINSHASA: Congolese Movement. of gross domestic product (GDP) government troops have re- “I am calling it a government from 120.8 percent in 2011 -- the Supporters of Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga take part in a rally at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium yesterday. occupied eastern towns for of change, which I would take highest level in the eurozone after the first time in eight months the responsibility of leading,” the Greece. after rebels weakened by an Democratic Party leader told La The Fitch ratings agency internal power struggle with- Repubblica daily after his party warned that the political deadlock Kenyan poll race enters final lap drew and turned their weap- won the most votes but failed to was adding downward pressure on ons on each other. win a majority in elections earlier Italy’s sovereign credit rating. The advance is the first sig- in the week. “It has the potential to disrupt NAIROBI: Kenyan presiden- Backers of Odinga — who in Odinga’s rally between security nificant progress by Congo’s “The country needs a govern- policy making and reduce policy tial hopefuls made a final bid 2007 narrowly lost the contested and reported opposition support- army since a series of defeats ment. We cannot be adrift in front continuity, and to weigh further on to woo voters yesterday on the presidential polls in which over ers, the gatherings were over- last year, but raises fears of of Europe and the markets,” he an already weakening economy,” it last day of campaigning for the 1,100 people were killed and more whelmingly peaceful. fresh clashes with M23 fight- said. But in a post on his popular said in a statement. tightly fought elections tomor- than 600,000 forced from their Campaigning has been intense, ers who are intent on reclaim- blog, Five Star Movement leader Markets were jittery in trading row, the first since deadly post- homes — packed the national with outgoing President Mwai ing the same areas after peace Beppe Grillo insisted that his on Friday, with the Milan index poll unrest five years ago. sports stadium. Kibaki, stepping down after two talks stalled. party would not take part in any plunging 1.54 percent — the worst Tens of thousands of cheer- Both Kenyatta and Odinga said terms in power, making a “pas- Troops moved into the towns “horse-trading”. performer among major European ing supporters dancing to music they were confident of a winning sionate plea for all of us to vote of Rutshuru and Kiwanja on Not everyone in Grillo’s move- stock markets. gathered in central Nairobi for an absolute majority, necessary to peacefully” in a message broad- Friday night to protect the pop- ment agrees with him, however, The euro also dropped, down to giant rallies of the top two front- avoid a second-round run off. cast on Friday. ulation from bandits and armed and the idea of a loose kind of alli- $1.3027 from $1.3062 late Thursday runners, Prime Minister Raila “I want to promise you that we In one of the most complex groups who had taken advan- ance with the Democratic Party is after momentarily dipping on Odinga and his neck-and-neck will change Kenya for the better,” polls Kenya has ever held, voters tage of the M23 rebel pullout being debated. Friday below the $1.30 barrier for rival Deputy Prime Minister said Kenyatta, who danced on tomorrow will cast six ballots for to prey on civilians, a spokes- Italy’s new parliament has the first time since December. Uhuru Kenyatta. stage alongside his fellow ICC- the president, parliament, gover- man for the army said. “Since to meet by March 15 at the lat- Another possibility mooted on Loyalists of Kenyatta — who indicted deputy William Ruto. nors, senators, councillors and a last night, those areas are under est, after which formal talks the political front in recent days with his running mate faces a “Bring even the sick to vote,” special women’s list. government control. (M23) left with Italian President Giorgio is a technocratic government like crimes against humanity trial at Odinga urged, after releasing a Some 23,000 observers, includ- those areas and it is for us, Napolitano are scheduled to the outgoing one led by former the International Criminal Court white dove to symbolise peace, ing 2,600 international monitors, the regular forces to take our begin on the formation of a new European commissioner Mario (ICC) for violence after the 2007 adding that the elections were will be deployed, according to responsibilities and secure them government. Monti, who won praise abroad but polls — dressed in his party’s red the most important since Kenya’s the Independent Electoral and ... against the pillaging, rape and Bersani said his government became increasingly unpopular in colours in the sprawling Uhuru independence from British colo- Boundaries Commission (IEBC) killings,” Colonel Olivier Hamuli would have key aims, including Italy because of austerity cuts. park, meaning, like his first name, nial rule 50 years ago. chairman, Ahmed Issack Hassan. said. AGENCIES easing austerity, creating jobs, AFP “freedom” in Swahili. While scuffles broke out at AFP SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Rise of UKIP Furlough notices sent to thousands spooks Britain’s Conservatives Obama orders $85bn spending cuts; military’s 800,000 civilian employees to be hardest hit LONDON: Once a marginal WASHINGTON: The US gov- on Friday, after Democrats, who group of anti-Europeans, the ernment has begun notifying control the White House and UK Independence Party (UKIP) its vast and varied workforce to the US Senate, and Republicans, is now a force to be reckoned prepare for reduced hours and who control the US House of with after its best-ever national slashed paychecks over the next Representatives, failed to agree election result spooked Prime seven months as big budget cuts on a way forward. Minister David Cameron’s that were once an abstraction Notices of “intent to furlough” Conservatives. became a reality. have gone to many of the unions UKIP took 28 percent of the President Barack Obama reluc- representing government employ- vote in Thursday’s by-election tantly ordered an $85bn auster- ees, with whom officials of each in the southern English seat of ity drive that could slow the US agency are required to consult as Eastleigh, coming second behind economy and slash jobs. Obama they plan the reductions in work junior coalition partners the complied with his legal obliga- days designed to achieve the sav- Liberal Democrats and pushing tions and initiated the automatic, ings mandated by Congress in the Tories into a humiliating third across-the-board cuts in domestic August, 2011. place. Although the anti-Brussels and defence spending. The Department of the Army party has yet to win a seat in the The President signed an order informed unions that all civil- British parliament, the result is bringing the arbitrary cuts into ian units may need to schedule its best in a string of good per- force, saying they should be made up to 176 “non-contiguous hours” formances in mid-term votes in in “strict accordance” to US law, of furlough, equating to 22 eight- recent months. and a report by his Office of hour days between April and the UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Management and Budget (OMB) end of the government’s fiscal it was part of a trend. “What detailing the cuts to each agency. year in September. The military happened here in Eastleigh was The measures could mean long employs roughly 800,000 civilians, Members of the US Navy Blue Angels fly in a tight formation while performing during the Andrews Air Show at not a freak result. Something is lines at US border posts, reduced and with half the $85bn in cuts Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in this May 19, 2012, file picture. Blue Angels shows scheduled in more than two changing. People are sick and military readiness, cuts to special concentrated on defence, those dozen cities between April and September are expected to be cancelled as part of the cuts, according to the tired of having three social dem- needs education programmes, and workers are expected to be among team’s spokeswoman Lieutenant Katie Kelly. ocrat parties that are frankly will trim the resources of some the hardest hit. indistinguishable from each emergency services, according to Defence Secretary Chuck or could turn the US military into officials, no employees will be for the Port Authority of New other,” he said. White House officials. Hagel vowed to preserve US mil- a second-rate power. taken off the job before then, York and New Jersey. The reasons for UKIP’s success Some 115,000 employees of the itary effectiveness. He said the “America ... has the best fight- though hiring freezes are already “Right now that plan looks like in Eastleigh are manifold, and Department of Justice — includ- Pentagon would place a priority ing force, the most capable fight- in effect at many federal agencies it could be as much as one day not limited to the anti-European ing prosecutors across the country on protecting spending for the ing force, the most powerful in anticipation of the cuts. out of every 10 would be unpaid cause around which it was cre- — were among the first to get the Afghanistan war. Hagel said the fighting force in the world,” he The White House and heads of vacation day. The impact of that ated. Immigration, the economy official word in notices that actu- department would issue prelimi- said. “The management of this top agencies in Washington have is not completely clear to us or and general dissatisfaction with ally started going out last week but nary notification later this month institution, starting with the Joint said that if the cuts continue for to customs at this point,” he said. the government all played a part. were made public late on Friday. to thousands of civilian employ- Chiefs, are not going to allow this the full seven months mandated Though Washington is the But the result has hit the They were told they would be ees who will be required to take capacity to erode. We will man- under the law, the furloughs seat of government, only about Tories hard, not just because furloughed for “no more than 14 unpaid leave. age these issues. These are adjust- could disrupt virtually every 370,000 of the nation’s 2.7 mil- they should have done better in workdays” between April 21 and Hagel said the cuts meant that ments. We anticipated these kinds federal activity in the country, lion federal workers are in the Eastleigh, where the vote was September 30. The full scope of four US Navy air wings would of realities, and we will do what from patrols along the borders to Washington metropolitan area. sparked by a Lib Dem scandal, the cuts may become clearer after gradually stop flying, the Air we need to do to assure the capa- inspections of meat in plants to The others are spread around but because it feeds into growing the White House budget office Force would immediately cut fly- bilities of our forces,” Hagel said. the movement of cargo and people the United States and the world, fears that UKIP is eating away at issues further instructions to ing hours and the Army would US ports of entry, with thou- through airports and customs. with the heaviest concentrations its support. agencies on how to implement it. reduce training. sands of immigration, customs Theoretically, the sequestration in California, Illinois, New York, The Tories have not won a The across-the-board cutbacks Officials said later that idling and transportation-related could continue for another nine Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio. parliamentary majority since were mandated by an August, 2011 an air wing would affect about 70 employees will also be heavily years under the law establishing The average federal worker, 1992 and many in the party fear deficit reduction law, structured aeroplanes and some 2,500 service impacted. The full extent of the the cuts, though that is consid- according to a study by the UKIP is syphoning off the anti- to be so disruptive that Congress members. While warning about disruption the furloughs might ered unlikely. Congressional Budget Office, European, anti-immigration vote would ultimately replace them the impact of the cuts, Hagel cause won’t be clear for some “What we’ve basically been told is 47 years old with 16 years of that they will need to ditch their with more targeted savings. struck a more moderate tone weeks, as federal rules require is that every employee in customs service. Slightly fewer than half Lib Dem coalition partners and Congress postponed them for than many other defence offi- that 30 days pass before they can and border protection is subject to had college degrees. Their average win outright in 2015’s general two months in the January “fiscal cials, who have said the spending be implemented. being furloughed,” said Richard M annual pay is about $40,000. election. cliff” deal, but that delay ended reductions would be devastating According to government Larrabee, port commerce director REUTERS AFP Brazil to get its first nuclear subs

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil is ambitious ProSub programme “This alliance (with France) set to join the select group of launched in 2008. Under the must be carefully watched by all countries that have nuclear- scheme, France will supply those who are taking part because powered submarines, President Brazil with four conventional our mission is to ensure that this Dilma Rousseff said. submarines and help develop the technology is transferred to us in Rousseff stressed Brazil was non-nuclear components of the line with the contract,” Rousseff committed to peace but also South American powerhouse’s said. The 75-meter-long Scorpene needed its defence deterrent, as first nuclear-powered attack is a diesel-electric attack subma- she inaugurated a naval shipyard submarine. rine built by France’s DCNS naval in Rio de Janeiro state where the Brazil already has the uranium defence firm for a variety of mis- country’s first nuclear-powered enrichment technology required sions, including anti-submarine sub is set to be built in partner- for producing nuclear fuel and warfare, special operations and ship with France. wants to use it to power the sub- intelligence collection. “We can say that with these marine. The 7.8bn reais ($3.95bn) France is also vying to win a installations we are entering ProSub programme aims to protect contract valued at between $4bn the select club of countries with the country’s 8,500km coastline and $7bn for 36 multi-purpose nuclear submarines: The United and huge deep-water oil reserves. combat aircraft to modernize States, Russia, France, Britain The defence ministry said the the Brazilian air force. The Rafale and China,” said Rousseff. first of the four conventional fighter, built by French firm Known as the Metallic Scorpene-class subs will be deliv- Dassault Aviation, is up against Structures Construction Unit, ered to the Brazilian Navy in 2017, US aviation giant Boeing’s F/A-18 the factory in the city of Itaguai while the nuclear-powered vessel Super Hornet and Swedish manu- near Rio de Janeiro is part of the will be commissioned in 2023. facturer Saab’s Gripen. AFP

British queen rests up Two held in UK over New York in favourite castle ‘cannibal’ case LONDON: Queen Elizabeth to Swansea. The queen was “as II was resting up at Windsor usual, spending the weekend in LONDON: Two men have been Castle yesterday, after the Windsor”, the spokeswoman said. arrested in Britain in connection 86-year-old monarch fell victim No decision has yet been made with the ongoing case of a New to a bout of gastroenteritis. on the queen’s trip to Rome York policeman accused of plot- The sovereign had been due scheduled for Wednesday and ting to kidnap and eat women in to attend a military celebration Thursday, when she and her the US, police said yesterday. in the city of Swansea to mark husband Prince Philip are due Gilberto Valle, 28, an officer of St. David’s Day, the national day to meet Italy’s President Giorgio six years’ service in the New York of Wales. Napolitano. Police Department, is charged with But after coming down with The queen had been due to conspiracy to kidnap and illegally gastroenteritis — an infection present St. David’s Day leeks — a accessing police criminal databases of the stomach and bowel whose national emblem of Wales — to to research potential victims. symptoms commonly include members of 3rd Battalion The A spokesman for police in the vomiting, diarrhoea and dehy- Royal Welsh, of which she is county of Kent said two men aged dration — she instead spent the colonel-in-chief. 30 and 57 from the Canterbury area weekend at Windsor Castle, west The ceremony went ahead had been arrested on February 21 of London, as she often does. as planned with the Lord for conspiracy offences and pos- The medieval fortress is Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, session of child abuse images. The considered home for Queen Byron Lewis — her personal spokesman said the two men had Elizabeth, while Buckingham representative in the county — been released on police bail while Palace in the capital is more her undertaking the duties. enquiries continue. working base. The queen had on Thursday According to prosecutors at Britain’s head of state is known presented honours to a group his trial in a Manhattan federal for her robust health and devotion of stars from the London 2012 court, Valle made elaborate plans to duty, and rarely misses engage- Olympics, including gold-medal- to drug and carry off women, who ments. A Buckingham Palace winning heptathlete Jessica would then be roasted on spits spokeswoman said there was “no Ennis, during a ceremony at or put in ovens and eaten. No change” since a statement say- Buckingham Palace. women were harmed by Valle. ing the queen would not be going AFP AFP SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Malaysia warns of ‘drastic’ steps in siege No grace period, says PM; Sabah police chief says intruders should surrender immediately or face action LAHAD DATU: Malaysia holed up on Borneo island, sur- store, but his comments echoed has been embarrassed by the about national security,?” he said Local residents were staying threatened yesterday to take rounded by a massive Malaysian growing Malaysian impatience security breach, said in the shoot- in a statement late on Friday, indoors and the usually bustling “drastic action” against intrud- police and military cordon, since with the situation. out’s aftermath that he told police adding that the government coastal town of Lahad Datu was ing followers of a self-pro- landing by boat from their nearby In Manila, Philippine President and armed forces to take what- must explain what transpired in quiet with most shops closed claimed Filipino sultan after a Philippine islands to insist the Benigno Aquino urged the gun- ever action was necessary to end the bloody clash that claimed two yesterday. tense standoff erupted into a area belongs to their Islamic men to surrender immediately. the impasse. Malaysian lives. Georgina Paulino, a 50-year-old shoot-out that killed 14 people. leader. “To those who have influence “Now there is no grace period Muslim-majority Malaysia had street vendor, complained that Twelve followers of the little- “We want them to surrender and the capacity to reason with for the group to leave,” he was previously avoided tough talk, her business had been badly hit. known sultan of Sulu and two immediately. If they don’t, they those in (the affected town of) quoted as saying by Malaysian expressing hope the intruders “People are afraid they could be Malaysian security personnel will face drastic action,” Hamza Lahad Datu, I ask you to con- media, blaming the intruders for would leave peacefully. shot if they come out,” she said. were killed in Friday’s firefight, Taib, police chief of the Malaysian vey this message: surrender now, sparking the violence. But even if they give up, they The Filipinos, who are esti- police said, as the more than two- state of Sabah, where the drama without conditions,” he said in a But the deadly clash drew will face Malaysian prosecution, mated to number between 100 week-old siege in a remote corner was taking place, said. statement. criticism from opposition leader Hamza said, after he met with and 300, sailed from their remote of Malaysia turned deadly. He declined to provide details Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia’s home minister and islands to press Jamalul Kiram Dozens of Filipinos have been of what security forces had in Najib Razak, whose government “Why is our government lax other top security officials. III’s claim to Sabah. AFP

Five held for murder of Media dismay over proposed Bangladeshi blogger Myanmar ruling YANGON: Media groups DHAKA: Police arrested five of those killed since the tribu- reacted with dismay yesterday students Saturday on charges nal delivered its first verdict on over a proposed law to regulate of murdering an anti-Islamist January 21 to 57, according to the press that has raised fears blogger, as four people were police. the government could be roll- killed in fresh protests over the The trials of a dozen Jamaat ing back on promises to loosen sentencing to death of an Islamic and main opposition Bangladesh its grip on the long-shackled party leader for war crimes. Nationalist Party leaders have industry. The students allegedly con- opened old wounds and divided The printing and publishing fessed to hacking to death blog- the nation. bill, drafted by the ministry of ger Ahmed Rajib Haider after he More unrest looms today in information, has listed a number helped organise protests against the impoverished South Asian of restrictions — including report- leaders of the biggest Islamic nation, when Jamaat is due to ing on clashes between ethnic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, who are hold a nationwide general strike groups and producing articles being tried by a war crimes court, to protest against the trials. that “violate” the junta-drafted police said. In yesterday’s violence, police constitution. The students, all enrolled at said they killed three people out- The proposed legislation, which the elite private North South side the port city of Chittagong also laid out strict penalties of up University, targeted Haider, 35, when they opened fire on Islamists to six months in jail for those “because of his allegedly blasphe- protesting against the death pen- operating without valid accredita- mous writings against Islam and alty given earlier in the week to tion, came as a shock for the coun- the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH),” Jamaat vice president Delwar try’s interim press council, which Dhaka police deputy commissioner Hossain Sayedee. is drafting a separate media law. Masudur Rahman said. The 73-year-old firebrand “It’s an annoyance for us. We A police van passes a vehicle set on fire by activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party during a clash with police in “They tracked him by his preacher was the third person think the penalties are much Dhaka yesterday following a joint rally with Jamaat-e-Islami. Facebook account” and “on the to be convicted by the tribunal, harsher than necessary,” council day of the murder they played whose verdicts have been met by member Zaw Thet Htwe said. cricket in front of his home and outrage from Islamists who say clashes between Jamaat support- part of pro-Pakistani militias after the United States called waited for his return”, he said. the process is more about settling ers and police in at least half a blamed for much of the carnage for calm. “While engaging in a The arrests came as police scores than delivering justice. dozen towns and cities, while in -- charges they deny. peaceful protest is a fundamen- NBA’s Rodman lauds firing claimed four lives during Another protester was shot Dhaka police said they fired rub- Independent estimates put the tal democratic right, we believe street protests over the sentenc- dead when border guards fired ber bullets and gas at protesters. death toll from the war in which violence is never the answer,” US North Korea’s Kim ing of Islamist leaders for crimes on more than 1,000 Jamaat dem- The government, which says Bangladesh won its independence State Department deputy acting SEOUL: Former NBA star committed in the 1971 independ- onstrators in northern Joldhaka the 1971 independence war from Pakistan at a much lower spokesman Patrick Ventrell told Dennis Rodman lauded North ence war. town, police said. claimed three million lives, 300,000 to 500,000. reporters in Washington. Korea’s new ruler as an “awe- The deaths bring the total toll Police and media reported accuses Jamaat leaders of being The fresh violence came a day AFP some kid” and his father and grandfather as “great leaders” at the end of his basketball diplo- macy mission to Pyongyang. Kim “is like his grandfather and his father, who are great Thai tourism ‘driving’ elephant smuggling Beijing rejects Hong Kong leaders, he is an awesome kid, very honest and loves his wife so BANGKOK: Smuggling the football or performing in paint- Just 2,000 of the animals much”, China’s state-run Xinhua world’s largest land animal ing contests employ almost 4,000 remain in the wild. visitor flooding complaint news agency quoted Rodman as across an international border domesticated elephants for the Prices have exploded with saying before he left for Beijing sounds like a mammoth under- amusement of tourists. elephants now commanding BEIJING: A senior Chinese Hong Kong experienced some dif- on Friday. His comments were taking, but activists say that Conservation activists accuse between 500,000 and two million government official yesterday ficulties, and hoped that main- recorded in a statement by the does not stop traffickers sup- the industry of using illicitly- baht ($17,000 to $67,000) per baby, rebuffed growing complaints land compatriots would continue New York-based VICE media plying Asian elephants to Thai acquired animals to supplement estimates suggest. from Hong Kong that a flood of to go to Hong Kong to increase company, which organised tourist attractions. its legal supply, with wild ele- The number of baby elephants visitors from mainland China tourist revenue,” Lu said, ahead Rodman’s trip. Unlike their heavily-poached phants caught in Myanmar and “coming into the system” is far was overwhelming the tiny ter- of Sunday’s start of the advisory African cousins — whose plight sold across the border into one of higher than would be possi- ritory, saying it was natural for body’s annual session. is set to dominate Convention around 150 camps. ble “from actual breeding”, said people to want to visit a part of “Due to inadequate facilities or Fungal pneumonia on International Trade in “Even the so-called rescue Roberts, whose group decided to their country. infrastructure, Hong Kong could Endangered Species (CITES) charities are trying to buy ele- stop buying elephants seven years Last year, more than 30 million not cope with that many mainland killed largest croc talks in Bangkok next week — phants,” said John Roberts of the ago and now has 26 residents. mainland Chinese visited Hong tourists, which created a series MANILA: Pneumonia from Asian elephants do not often Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Between 50 and 100 wild baby Kong, almost four times the city’s of problems, and many mainland fungal infection caused the make the headlines. Foundation. or young female elephants are population, stoking concern about tourists complained too,” he said. death of “Lolong” the largest But the species is also under Domestic elephants in Thailand sold from Myanmar each year, the ability of the city’s infrastruc- “What I want to stress here is crocodile. threat, as networks operate a — where the pachyderm is a according to estimates by British ture to cope. that Hong Kong is China’s terri- Director Mundita Lim of the rapacious trade in wild elephants national symbol — have been charity Elephant Family. Hong Kong residents blame tory. It was a British colony for Protected Areas and Wildlife to meet the demands of Thailand’s employed en masse in the tourist Demand is also hitting popula- Chinese visitors for pushing up more than 160 years, but now has Bureau (PAWB) said yesterday tourist industry. trade since they found themselves tions in Thailand’s other neigh- prices and congestion, and the returned to the motherland,” he fungus infected Lolong’s lungs Camps and zoos featuring ele- unemployed in 1989 when logging bour Laos. issue has fed unhappiness with added. and stress aggravated the prob- phants tightrope walking, playing was banned. AFP the city’s leader, Beijing-backed Despite the public pressure on lem after he was taken out of the Leung Chun-ying. Tens of thou- Leung, Beijing has so far publicly Agusan Marsh. sands protested against him on endorsed his administration. He “Even before Lolong’s capture, New Year’s Day. has also tried to address the anger it was already not feeling well, and But Lu Xinhua, spokesman by, for example, seeking to limit taking the crocodile from its natu- for the Chinese People’s Political mainland Chinese from buying ral habitat to a new home made its Chan’s China appointment draws HK ire Consultative Conference, a body property in Hong Kong. condition worse,” Lim said. that advises the government but Hong Kong was guaranteed The fungal infection made HONG KONG: Hong Kong China’s growing clout over the does not have any legislative pow- a degree of autonomy when it breathing difficult for Lolong and action star Jackie Chan this past decade has seen actors from ers, said it was natural mainland returned to China under a deal affected its heart, leading to con- week joins China’s top political Hong Kong and Macau drafted Chinese would want to visit. that ended British rule in 1997. gestive heart failure, she added. advisory body in a move ana- into patriotic movies that glo- “After the 2008 financial crisis, REUTERS Tests showed that Lolong had lysts say highlights Beijing’s rify the country’s past, from the been exposed to mercury. growing “soft power” efforts to mighty Han Dynasty to the early project unity between itself and Communist Party era, Ho added. the former British colony. The appointment of the martial Motorcycle bomb kills But the 58-year-old actor faces arts star, however, was met with a backlash in his hometown where derision online in Hong Kong, Japanese bullet train derails two in Thai south the mainland is viewed with where Chan’s reputation has BANGKOK: Suspected insur- increasing suspicion. taken a nosedive in recent years TOKYO: A Japanese bullet footage of railway officials check- gents detonated a motorcycle According to professor Sonny over his pro-Beijing stances such train carrying about 130 pas- ing the wheels of the train bound bomb in southern Thailand Ho, co-director at the Centre for as calling for limits on the right sengers and crew derailed in for Akita station. yesterday, killing two military Greater China Studies, Chan was to protest. heavy snow in northern Japan NHK said the driver had rangers and wounding 11 peo- selected to appear at the Chinese Dissatisfaction towards Beijing yesterday, although there were brought the train to an emergency ple, the second serious attack People’s Political Consultative has risen in recent years over a Jackie Chan no reports of injuries, media stop after hearing a loud noise. in as many days after one of Conference (CPPCC) because his range of issues from alleged politi- reports said. The cause of the derailment the Muslim rebel groups oper- stardom could help promote ties. cal interference to an influx of The first car of the “Komachi” has yet to be confirmed, but heavy ating in the area agreed to hold “Jackie Chan is acting under mainlanders blamed for driving popular?” one user posted on the No. 25 bullet train came off the snow may have resulted in the peace talks. the soft power and united front up property prices. Sina Weibo microblog site. rails on the high-speed Akita accident, local media said. The blast on a road in Yala of the PRC (mainland) govern- The announcement of Chan’s Pro-democracy Hong Kong Shinkansen line in Akita, Japan’s East Japan Railway, which province, in which two civilians ment,” he said. appointment was greeted with lawmaker Emily Lau said his national broadcaster NHK and operates the line, said on its web- were among the wounded, followed The “united front” strategy, he online derision. “Yet another appointment was more evidence other media said. site that bullet train services in a motorcycle bombing in neigh- said, was a campaign to promote movie star turns into a CPPCC that Beijing was not prepared to But there were no reports of the area had been suspended due bouring Narathiwat province on a strong and peaceful homeland, member. Since when did this take the city’s concerns seriously. injuries or casualties following to heavy snow. Friday that wounded six people. unified with Taiwan. negative social trend become so AFP the accident, NHK said, showing AFP AGENCIES SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Musharraf to Arrested Taliban face courts if he returns Ex-leader has warrants against him

ISLAMABAD: As former mil- its confiscation. She also said in itary dictator Pervez Musharraf her application that the money in prepares to come good on his their bank accounts was reserved pledge to return to Pakistan for the welfare of the general pop- ahead of parliamentary elec- ulation, hence the accounts could tions, a string of cases await the not be frozen. ex-army chief. After toppling the Nawaz Besides the security issue relat- Sharif-led government in 1999, ing to his unconditional alliance Musharraf got himself elected as with the United States in the the president of Pakistan in an war against terror and pending army uniform and stepped down court cases in connection with the from office in 2008. Since then, Lal Masjid operation, the former Musharraf has been in a self- president can be arrested for the imposed exile and the cases in murder of two political heavy- which he is an accused are being weights: former prime minister pursued in several courts in the Benazir Bhutto and Baloch tribal country. Musharraf is now chair- chieftain Akbar Bugti. man of his own political party, All Arrest warrants have been Pakistan Muslim League. In the issued against Musharraf in con- past, he has said that he would nection with the two murder contest elections from Chitral. cases. Though Musharraf has pledged Musharraf was at the helm to return to Pakistan a week of affairs when Bugti was slain after the interim government during a military operation in is installed, he will have to face 2006. Since then, peace has not the independent judiciary for returned to the restive province. legal recourse. He twice deposed Taliban fighters are led by police as they are displayed to the media at a police headquarters in Jalalabad yesterday. Seven Taliban insurgents have A court in Balochistan issued Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar been arrested with their weapons by Afghan border police during an operation in Ghani khel District of Nangarhar province. arrest warrants for the military Chaudhry, who was reinstated as ruler in the Bugti murder case. the result of a lawyers’ movement. Barely a year after Bugti’s Article 6 of Pakistan’s consti- death, the twice elected prime tution, dealing with treason, can Pakistani Taliban minister Benazir Bhutto was be invoked against Musharraf Nato troops kill two Afghan children assassinated in the garrison city for unconstitutionally imposing threaten to bomb of Rawalpindi. In 2011, during a martial law — despite the apex KABUL: Nato said yesterday and condolences to the fam- for provincial governor Amir trial of the Benazir murder case, a court’s restraining order — and its forces had accidentally shot ily of the boys who were killed,” Mohammad Akhundzada said. Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court sacking judges of the Supreme dead two Afghan boys, in the Dunford said. Australian forces deployed in mobile phone shops (ATC) declared Musharraf a pro- Court, including the chief jus- latest of a series of reports of “The boys were killed when Uruzgan said earlier there had PESHAWAR: Pakistani claimed offender. tice. Musharraf’s unconstitu- civilian deaths at the hands of Coalition forces fired at what they been an “operational incident” in Taliban have threatened to Musharraf’s bank accounts tional move was thereby termed international troops. thought were insurgent forces,” the province’s northwest but gave bomb a mobile phone market were frozen and his property was ‘Emergency Plus’. The two boys were shot dead he said, adding that a team of no details except that no soldiers in the northwestern city of attached on the court’s orders. His Recently, a commission inves- when they were mistaken for Afghan and ISAF investigators were harmed. Peshawar for the “shameless” spouse Sehba Musharraf’s appli- tigating the Lal Masjid incident insurgents during an opera- visited the village yesterday and On February 13, a Nato air selling of video clips, ring tones cation against the court’s order is issued a notice to Musharraf tion in northwest Uruzgan on met local leaders. strike requested by Afghan forces and accessories, officials said yet to be entertained. Sehba said asking him to appear before it. February 28, ISAF commander, “They saw two young children killed 10 people — including five yesterday. since her husband had gifted their However, he refused to abide by US General Joseph Dunford, said who were apparently listening to children and four women — in the Some 60 shopkeepers received farmhouse in Islamabad to her, the notice. in a statement. a radio and they shot them — it eastern province of Kunar. letters in the post ordering them the court had illegally ordered INTERNEWS “I offer my personal apology is not yet clear why,” a spokesman REUTERS to burn the offending stock, including memory cards and speakers for MP3 players, and stick to selling only mobile phones and essential accessories. DVD and CD shops have in the past been bombed by mili- Altaf, Imran’s parties not yet eligible for polls tants who deemed the businesses “un-Islamic”. ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Pakistan Tehreek Insaf and elections. The official further said In one of the letters, the mili- Qaumi Movement of Altaf Altaf Hussain’s Muttahida Qaumi that the MQM had not submit- tants wrote: “Do not compel Hussain and Pakistan Tehreek Movement, have not been able to ted details of its assets and party us to send a bomber... stop this Insaf of Imran Khan have still secure eligibility due to different funds to the ECP, and due to this shameless business in one week to qualify for the upcoming gen- reasons. the party had yet to qualify for and burn the shameful stuff. Just eral elections, it has been learnt. A senior official at the ECP the elections. sell mobile phones, batteries and Only about 123 out of the 227 said here yesterday that the total The ECP official explained chargers. registered political parties in number of political parties in the that in the next 10 days the “Your markets have become the country have so far qualified country was 227, and so far only Commission would invite appli- centres of shamelessness... Our to contest the upcoming general 123 of them had completed for- cations for the issuance of election mission is to stop this shameless elections. malities for contesting the general symbols, and the PTI and MQM business and if you do not stop Those that have qualified elections. still had the opportunity to sub- it yourself then we will make an include major political parties, Some 104 political parties have mit the details of intra-party elec- example of you and your market.” like Asif Zardari’s Pakistan not been able to meet the differ- tions and details of their assets Officials and police acted People’s Party, Nawaz Sharif’s ent obligations announced by the and party funds. quickly to minimise the threat Pakistan Muslim League-N, ECP to qualify for the general After receiving the applica- from would-be bombers. Shujaat Hussain’s Pakistan elections. tions for the election symbols, the “We have immediately closed Muslim League-Q, Asfandyar The ECP official said the PTI chief election commissioner would down the shops doing ring tones Wali’s Awami National Party and had so far not met the condition invite the main representatives and video clips business, after Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema of holding intra-party elections, of the political parties and would about 60 shopkeepers received Islam. although it was in the process of hold discussions on a number of threatening letters from Taliban However, two other major doing this. This is the sole rea- issues. Imran Kahn by mail,” local market association political parties, Imran Khan’s son keeping it ineligible for the INTERNEWS secretary general Shakil Ahmed said. He said parking spots for Border crossing motorcycles — which are some- times packed with explosives and Pakistan to automate detonated — had been moved away Russians abandon winter from the market and police had scrutiny of candidates been asked to increase security. Senior police official Faisal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan offi- ascent of ‘Great Tower’ Murad said patrols had been cials have agreed on an online stepped up around the market in central automated system ISLAMABAD: A Russian continued, adding they hoped for Peshawar, which sits on the edge (OCAS) for fast scrutiny of mountaineering team has better luck next time. of Pakistan’s tribal region — a nomination papers of election abandoned its winter ascent of The team’s departure was haven for Taliban and Al Qaeda- candidates. Amin Brakk, the ‘Great Tower’ confirmed by Karrar Haidri, a linked militants. The proposed system is based in the Nangma region of the member of the Alpine Club of AFP on software, to be prepared within Karakoram Range, after an Pakistan’s Executive Council and a week after formal approval by avalanche buried much of their also its media coordinator, who Pakistan lags behind the Election Commission, which equipment. said Amin Brakk was a particu- will be installed at the ECP Serguey Grachev, Alexander larly difficult climb, as the wall in health expenses Secretariat. The commission Shabunin, Eugeny Dmitrienko and was complex and extended. PESHAWAR: A report will now meet again on March 6, Andrew Glen left for Amin Brakk’s Last year, a group of British researched and presented by wherein it is most likely to accord base camp on February 7. climbers had considered an ascent Pakistan Medical Association approval to this mechanism. Planning to climb until March but found it too dangerous and (PMA) has revealed that the To this effect, a meeting was 7, they intended to follow the focused on another wall, Nawaz federal government has only held at the Election Commission 5,850-metre Sol Solet (red) route Brakk. spent 0.23 percent of the Gross Secretariat here under the ECP in their ‘alpine-style’ ascent, using Alpine Club records attest to Domestic Product on healthcare Director General Elections, Sher only light and essential gear. the difficulty of an ascent of Amin during the fiscal year 2011-2012. Afgan, attended by representa- According to the team’s blog, Brakk, one of the best known rock The state of child health is tives of the four entities. they had fixed nine pitches and walls in the Nangma Region. The appalling and serious efforts are These will report to the elec- made deposits. The night before first attempt on the mountain needed by the government to save toral body on the representatives they were to begin, however, ‘a was made in 1996, when Basque lives of children who die from pre- of the four entities. These will huge avalanche buried all our gas, climbers Jon Lazkano and Adolfo ventable diseases, the report says. report to the electoral body on the food, and the majority of our gear,’ Mdinabeitia were forced by bad Public health expenditure is far A family crosses into Pakistan at the Chaman border as Nato trucks scrutiny of nomination papers on Eugeny Dmitrienko said. weather to turn back only 300 lower in Pakistan than in neigh- wait for clearance, yesterday. a day-to-day basis. All four team members will metres from the summit. bouring countries, the report adds. INTERNEWS be reporting to their homes, he INTERNEWS INTERNEWS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Over 200,000 lost and found at Kumbh Mela February 9 saw 38,587 people getting lost

ALLAHABAD: Those who with their families till February and Mrs Bahuguna Seva Smriti in thought the Bollywood saga of 28 since the Kumbh began on Sector 4 have been working since “lost and found in mela”, rooted Makar Sankranti on January 14. the start of the Kumbh, helping in the Kumbh, is perhaps long This included 179 children. people find their lost relatives or over, could mull over this. This year, old timers say, inci- friends. At the ongoing Maha Kumbh dents of lost pilgrims was the Sans any government support, in Allahabad, more than 200,000 highest, largely because the turn- except 70 tents to house the lost people got separated from their out was also mammoth. ones, these NGOs have not only near and dear ones in the last Seventy-three people, who were managed the reunions but also month and a half, and an equal traced after a fortnight, were sent spent large sums on the upkeep number were reunited — thanks back home on trains with the and feeding of the lost people till to the ‘Khoya-Paya Shivirs’ (lost Kumbh administration paying for their families are found. and found camps). the tickets. Over 20 quintals of wheat flour, The reunions have been bring- Officials told IANS that more four quintals of rice, five quintals ing relief to the otherwise hassled than 47 people were yet to be of sugar and over 75 litres of ker- mela administration, which, for reunited with their families and osene has been spent on feeding ages, has been criticised for doing efforts were on to ensure the these people, the additional mela little to ensure people are not lost, reunion. adhikari told IANS. and if they are, they are united The computer network of Uttar The most number of people with their families. Pradesh Police, run by Datanet lost on a single day was February Supporters of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) shout at a candlelight vigil in Srinagar, the summer According to officials at the Technology through its six com- 9, eve of the Mauni Amavasya, capital of Jammu and Kashmir, yesterday. They were demanding the return of the mortal remains of Afzal Guru mela’s lost and found section, over puters, has done a great job too, when more than 38,587 people and Maqbool Bhat, founder of JKLF, to their families. 200,000 people were registered on officials say. got lost, closely followed by 35,729 a new computerised system as Company director Dhananjay on Mauni Amavasya when more ‘lost’ and were later reunited with Singh says they reunited more than 35m people took a dip at the Militants kill two Kashmir cops their families through time-tested than 31,000 people. Sangam in Allahabad. efforts such as announcements on Mela ‘adhikari’ (administrator) The same day, 37 people were public address systems, display of Mani Prasad Mishra, admitting killed in a stampede at the SRINAGAR: Suspected mili- who were on duty near Handwara Indian-administered Kashmir pictures and details on nine LED that dealing with surging crowds Allahabad railway station. tants yesterday shot dead two bus stand this morning. They following his execution to contain screens put up on the sprawling was indeed challenging, thanked The number of people lost policemen in Kashmir, a dis- were shifted to hospital where unrest which claimed three lives, 58 sq km campus, and identifica- the arrival of the cellphone, which between January 17 and February puted Himalayan region which they were declared dead,” a police including that of a teenaged boy tion posters. helped relocate many a lost ones 21 of the last Maha Kumbh in has been tense since the hang- spokesman told AFP. shot by security forces. This time too, camps to locate easily and quickly. 2001 was 143,000, Ranjeet Pandit ing of a separatist last month, The Kashmir valley has been Many in the Muslim-majority lost ones were ‘outsourced’ Officials also thank octogenar- of Bharat Seva Dal said. police said. tense since Mohammed Afzal region believe Guru did not to private organisations and ian Raja Ram Tiwari who has With nine days to go before the The assailants fired at two Guru, a Kashmiri separatist, was receive a fair trial and there are social service help groups, an been at the forefront of happy 55-day Hindu religious congrega- paramilitary policemen from close hanged in February at a jail in fears his hanging could fuel fresh official said. reunions at the Kumbh since 1994. tion touted as the biggest on the range in the attack carried out New Delhi for his involvement in violence in Kashmir, where a At the lost and found centre, He says he has so far helped earth, come to an end, the Kumbh near a bus stop in Kupwara dis- a 2001 attack on India’s parlia- separatist conflict has claimed an run by Bharat Seva Dal in sec- more than 1.1m people reunite is headed for another record trict, north of the region’s main ment which killed 10 people. estimated 100,000 lives over the tor 4 of the mela campus, more with their families. of sorts in the lost-and-found city Srinagar, police said. A curfew was temporar- last 20 years. than 165,000 people were reunited NGOs such as Bharat Seva Dal category. IANS “Militants fired at policemen ily imposed in major towns of AFP

High fashion Himachal Rio to meet governor Karnataka elections to form Nagaland vigilance to by May: Poll panel govt for second term probe phone BANGALORE: The Election including, national, regional and KOHIMA: The Democratic Commission of India is brac- new entities to conduct fair and Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) ing to conduct elections to the peaceful poll. We will consider has unanimously elected Chief tapping Karnataka legislative assembly their suggestions and inputs to Minister Neiphiu Rio as its leg- by May as the five-year term prevent malpractices and viola- islature party leader and he is SHIMLA: Less than a day of the present House (13th) tion of the model code of con- likely to meet Governor Nikhil after the completion of a probe ends on June 3. duct (MCC) that will come Kumar soon to stake claim for into the alleged mass phone tap- “We will soon announce the into force the day polling dates forming the next government ping during the previous BJP date(s) for holding election to are announced in due course,” in the state, NPF leaders said regime in Himachal Pradesh, the state assembly after final Sampath said. yesterday. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh consultations in New Delhi with The state has a 41.9 million While Rio’s Naga Peoples Front yesterday said that the investi- the authorities concerned, includ- strong electorate and 50,446 poll- (NPF) — the main constituent of gation would be handed over to ing the Union Home Ministry on ing stations. Around 99 percent of DAN — has won 38 seats, other the state vigilance and anti-cor- the availability of central forces voters across the state have elec- partners — the Bharatiya Janata ruption bureau. for deploying in the state on the toral photo identity card (EPIC). Party (BJP) and Janata Dal- “The government is going polling dates,” Chief Election “All the parties have assured United bagged one seat each, tak- to hand over the probe to the Commissioner V S Sampath told us to extend full cooperation to ing the total strength of the ruling vigilance and anti-corruption reporters here yesterday. conduct the poll in fair, free and alliance to 40, or two-thirds in the bureau,” the chief minister told The three-member poll panel, peaceful manner. On our part, we 60-member House. reporters here. including Election Commissioners will ensure strict enforcement of “A meeting of the party legisla- “Strict action would be ini- H S Brahma and Nasim Zaidi has the MCC and stringent action tors have unanimously re-elected tiated against those officials been in the city since Friday to will be taken against distribu- Rio as the NPF legislature party who were involved in this act,” assess the preparation for the tion of money, liquor and other last night,” said Rio’s press secre- he added. ensuing assembly election and inducements. We expect offi- tary Abu Metha. “This followed “The privacy of certain political ascertain views of the political cials deputed on election duty to another meeting with the DAN leaders was infringed upon. The parties and top officials. maintain neutrality till the entire partners — BJP and JD (U). Rio number of phones tapped clearly Of the 225-member assembly process ends,” Sampath said. was also elected as the leader of indicated the malafide inten- seats, 224 are elected from across As some of the parties have the DAN in the combined legisla- tion of the then government,” the state and one member is nom- requested that the election be ture party,” he said. “Rio’s name Singh said. He alleged that even inated to give representation to held on one day than in phases, was proposed by veteran leader his phones had been tapped and the Anglo-Indian community in the CEC said the poll panel would from Mon, Noke Konyak, and rooms bugged when he was in the the state. take a call after ascertaining with supported by Roads and Bridges opposition. “We had constructive discus- the Home Ministry the availabil- Minister G Kaito Aye in the first Singh said the names of peo- Actress Chitrangada Singh arrives to attend Christian Dior’s Fall/Winter sions with seven political parties, ity of forces. IANS meeting,” said Metha. IANS ple who were under surveillance 2013-2014 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris. would be made public after the probe. The second and final report into the illegal phone tapping released, allegedly at the behest of the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led Most Indians prefer arranged marriage: Survey government, on Friday said 350 telephones were tapped in six months, ahead of the assembly MUMBAI: Despite the growth percent of young people in north favourite of all pre-wedding func- percent in the west. Post-wedding, 80 percent elections November last year. of social networking sites and India prefer arranged marriages. tions followed by the “sangeet” As for the three most impor- respondents preferred honey- The total number of phones online matrimonial sites, a The survey, conducted by ceremony at 81 percent and other tant aspects of a wedding, the moons at conventional romantic tapped, mainly of Congress lead- majority of Indians still swear IPSOS, in which 1,000 young peo- religious functions trailing at respondents put 73 percent (77 destinations within a week of the ers, government functionaries by the traditional arranged ple aged between 18-35 in 10 cities 71 percent. percent of the women and 69 per- marriage. Goa ranked first in the and journalists in violation of the marriage, a new survey has were interviewed, also found that Indians have adopted west- cent men) for the wedding attire, list, followed by Ooty and Srinagar Indian Telegraph Act, was over revealed. both men and women prefer the ern styles like bachelor parties 65 percent for the wedding day (Kashmir) on the domestic hon- 1,100, said officials. Around 75 percent of Indians, first marriage proposal in private. and cocktail parties, for which and the wedding feast coming at eymoon circuit. The reports, prepared by the including 82 percent women While 33 percent of Indians the preferred venues (for bach- 48 percent. On the international front, state forensic science laboratory, and 68 percent, are conservative in western India preferred a elor parties) were 34 percent at South Indian and Chinese cui- while 46 percent of men pre- were on the basis of data retrieved and prefer arranged marriages, straight-forward proposal with- a resort, 30 percent at a deluxe sine ranked the most preferred ferred European destinations for from seized computer hard disks according to The Taj Wedding out frills, 21 percent from the hotel and 13 percent opting for for weddings at 56 percent, and a honeymoon, 36 percent women of the Criminal Investigation Barometer, a survey conducted south (both male-female) wanted farmhouses. Women considered the rest preferring north Indian selected the US, though 25 per- Department (CID) and vigilance by the Taj Group of Hotels, women to initiate the proposal, bridal grooming very important, cuisine. A majority said they cent of all women preferred buy- bureau. Mumbai, which was released here against the national average of 10 with 47 percent choosing it as an would serve five-15 dishes to their ing a wedding-cum-honeymoon Chief secretary Sudipto Roy yesterday. percent who felt men should take integral part for the pre-nuptial wedding invitees. package from a five-star or told reporters here that the While women prefer their the first step. preparations. On the number of guests, 500 seven-star hotel. The Taj Group’s reports comprised conversations parents’ and family members’ However, 13 percent of all men Facials topped the grooming was the magic figure, with the senior vice president, sales and recorded during different periods. decisions in deciding their future wanted women to initiate the package at 46 percent, followed ideal guest list between 50-500, marketing Deepa Misra-Harris He said the government would life-partner, men tend to take an proposal compared to only eight by spas and beauty treatments at though men from south India pre- said that weddings at the hotel try to complete the probe into independent decision about their percent of women who expressed 23 percent. As many as 50 per- ferred 1,000 guests. On the other have always been iconic and “most phone tapping within three future spouse. the same view. cent from the south gave more hand, women from the north and enduring’, having a special place months. Compared to the national After the proposal, the engage- importance to facials compared west preferred a smaller wedding in the hearts of the guests since IANS average of 74 percent, nearly 82 ment ceremony was the top to 46 percent in the north and 31 guest list between 100-250. a century. IANS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Two abducted Devotees’ reaction kids found dead in Delhi Victims were brother and sister

NEW DELHI: Two siblings, tried to calm the agitating people who went missing three days and promised action in the case. ago, were found dead near a “Their mother would usu- railway track in central Delhi, ally get the children back from police said yesterday. Three school, but on that day (when people were detained after the children went missing) someone victims’ father raised suspicion had locked her inside the house. about a neighbour’s involvement. After the door was opened by Victims’ father Manoj Kumar, neighbours, she went to the school who works in a share-brokerage only to learn that a motorcycle- firm, received about seven ransom borne man had already take the calls demanding Rs3m after his children,” the minors’ grandfa- school-going children went miss- ther, Sundar Singh, said. ing, a police officer said. According to him, the chil- “The bodies of Mansij and his dren’s mother, Yogita, informed sister Yashvi, aged seven and five her husband Manoj Kumar about respectively, were recovered from the incident. near the railway track in front of Sundar Singh said that the Pragati Maidan power station at first ransom call was received on around 9.30am yesterday morn- Yogita’s mobile phone on Tuesday ing,” a police officer said. evening after the children went Kashmiri Muslims react on seeing a relic of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, a Sufi saint, being displayed to devotees in Srinagar. Thousands gathered The children had been miss- missing from the school. at the shrine of Jeelani, also known as Shah-e-Baghdad (King of Baghdad), on his 873rd death anniversary on Friday to offer special prayers. ing from their school, Mother “By Thursday night, the family Convent School, in the Mandawali received about seven phone calls area of east Delhi since February from the abductors, demanding 26 afternoon. money for the release of the two The bodies were decomposed children,” Gupta said. Kerala court rejects rape victim’s petition and some parts seemed to have “The calls were made from sep- been bitten away by animals, arate local phone booths located police said. around the two kilometre house,” IDUKKI: A Kerala court here Kurien’s name never appeared The sex scandal took place acquittal in 2005 by the Kerala “Their identification was done he said. yesterday refused to take up a in the list of accused and in the at Suryanelli in Idukki district High Court of all but one of the on the basis of their school dress,” The victims’ family members petition filed by the victim of late 1990s after a special court in January 1996, when the then 35 accused convicted by a special said an officer, adding that three alleged school’s negligence behind the infamous Suryanelli sex found more than 42 people guilty, 16-year-old victim was threat- court. Last month, the victim people had been detained, he said. their abduction. case demanding further inves- the victim then filed a private ened, abducted and abused by a approached police in Kottayam Following the recovery of bod- “Their mother used to pick tigation against Rajya Sabha complaint against Kurien in a bus conductor and was later con- district, where she lives, asking ies, people staged a protest out- them daily from the school for Deputy Chairman P J Kurien. court in Idukki district pointing fined and sexually assaulted for 45 for a fresh case against Kurien. side the Mandawali police station the past one year. But the school The court of Peerumedu first that he had exploited her at a days by 42 men. The director general of prosecu- and demanded justice for the fam- teachers handed over the children class magistrate said since the guest house. The case was back in the spot- tion was of the opinion that there ily and arrest of the accused. to a person, who was unknown,” case was earlier considered by it, He got a discharge in the case light after the Supreme Court was nothing new in her petition D K Gupta, additional deputy said Amit, an uncle of the siblings. the private petition by the victim from the Supreme Court in that ordered a retrial in the case on and a case could not be registered. commisioner of police (East), IANS could not be taken up again. petition. January 31, while setting aside the IANS

Intellectuals Three anti-Posco of Bengal hail Praise for Modi at BJP national meet activists killed in NEW DELHI: Gujarat Chief Minister an individual. It is a new record in BJP’s his- explosions Narendra Modi, favoured as a prime min- tory,” Rajnath Singh said. Bangladesh isterial candidate by many in the BJP, International community including the US BHUBANESWAR: At least hogged the limelight at the national council and European Union were praising devel- three anti-Posco activists were movement meeting here yesterday even as president opment and “good governance” in Gujarat, killed and another injured in Rajnath Singh asked the party ranks to be he added. The BJP chief again lauded Modi explosions yesterday in Odisha’s KOLKATA: Describing the prepared for early Lok Sabha polls. while praising party chief ministers for their Jagatsinghpur district, police Shahbag protests in Dhaka Meanwhile, the national executive author- achievements even as party workers clapped said. The activists said it was an demanding death penalty for ised Rajnath Singh to reconstitute the parlia- loudly each time Modi’s name was taken. While attack by the project’s supporters war criminals as a new dawn, mentary board, clearing the way for induction Modi got the bulk of the praise, Chhattisgarh’s but police termed it accidental. writers, singers and artists of Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Raman Singh got praise for strengthening the The explosions occured in Patna from West Bengal yesterday Shivraj Singh Chouhan in BJP’s highest deci- public distribution system (PDS) and Chouhan village, considered an anti-Posco hailed the movement. sion-making body, said party sources. for increase of agricultural productivity in bastion. “The three deceased Thousands of protesters, mostly Modi got a standing ovation at the meet- the state. Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel almost were probably making the bombs youths, have been staging protests ing as Rajnath Singh garlanded him to loud demanded that Modi should be projected as which exploded,” Superintendent in Shahbag area of the Bangladesh cheers from the gathering, which included prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok of Police Satyabrata Bhoi told capital demanding capital punish- senior party leaders, and referred to him as a Sabha polls. “Though the prime ministerial IANS. However, a spokesman ment for Jamaat-e-Islami leader “popular chief minister”. candidate will be chosen later it appears as if of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Abdul Quader Mollah and all oth- “Narendra bhai was successful for the third he (Modi) is the PM. Decision has not been Samittee said the three were Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi (right) ers charged by the International time. Every worker, leader was filled with joy taken (to project Modi for the post as prime killed after some supporters hugging industrialist Mukesh Ambani in this file Crimes Tribunal of committing when it happened (December last). The party ministerial candidate but) every child wants of the project attacked them photograph. genocide, war crimes, and crimes had not seen such success under leadership of it,” he said to applause. IANS with bombs. IANS against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. “The Shahbag movement surely is a proof that it is the youth which shape the future of a country. It is a lesson for the world, and the world indeed is NRIs may participate in infrastructure boost taking notice. It’s time we told our brothers and sisters on the other part of the border that we s was only to be expected, investors was reduced in the last debentures issued by govern- tax-free securities in 2012-13, pledged to “remove any appre- are with them,” writer Sirshendu there has been no Budget from 20 percent to 5 per- ment entities to individuals and of which it has already raised hension or distrust in the minds Mukhopadhyay told IANS. Aannouncement in India’s cent. The Finance Minister has institutional investors to mobilise Rs11bn. A section of the media of investors.” Mukherjee, born in union budget 2013 that directly now extended the same benefit to funds needed for projects in the quoted sources at SEBI to state In this, he spoke about giving Bangladesh’s Mymensingh and impacts non-resident Indians investment made through a des- infrastructure development sec- that the company is also consider- a push to the highways sector equally popular as an author in (NRIs) in any significant manner. ignated bank account in rupee tor. So far this year, organisations ing the raising of funds via private and road projects, the planning the neighbouring country, hoped But for the raising of duty lev- denominated long term infra- including Indian Railway Finance placements of the bonds in one or of ‘smart’ industrial cities, people from this side of the border els for bringing in gold jewellery, structure bonds. Co Ltd, Power Finance Co Ltd, more tranches during the proc- strengthening of the rural sec- would come out openly in support Finance Minister P Chidambaram The finance minister has Rural Electrification Corp Ltd, ess of the present issue. The issue tor, the establishment of two of the movement. did not spell out anything with announced that infrastructure closes on March 15 and would be new major ports, and other such It all began on February 4 NRIs in mind. This was a pre- debt funds (IDFs) are encouraged THE NR EYE for a period of 10-15 years offer- developments in waterways and when Mollah flashed a victory election budget. In its present to promote investment in infra- ing an interest rate between 6.88 the power sector. sign after being sentenced to life form, impractical sop of giving structure. A staggering amount of percent and 7.54 percent. In the oil and gas sector, in imprisonment. voting rights to NRIs has kept Rs55 trillion has been earmarked Moiz Mannan According to some media particular, he said the govern- Calling the punishment “mild”, overseas Indians out of the poll for infrastrucutre in India’s 12th reports, the finance ministry has ment would move towards a people from all walks of life, equations. Thus, the UPA prob- five-year plan. An amount of Housing and Urban Development also approached the Reserve Bank transparent revenue-sharing including youth, children, musi- ably did not feel compelled to Rs 250bn via tax-free bonds will Co Ltd and Indian Infrastructure of India for a sovereign bond issue. model, approve blocks that have cians, artists and writers, joined please NRIs in any way. be raised in FY13. And some Finance Co Ltd have raised at Times News Network said it was also been awarded under the New in the movement demanding Having said that, one must companies can issue tax-free least one tranche of funds via examining the possibility of state- Exploration Licensing Policy. He death penalty for Mollah as well consider the many indications of bonds upto Rs 500bn for infra- such bonds. These are long-term owned entities, which have the also said that the Dabhol LNG as other alleged war criminals. developments that would be ben- structure. Four IDFs have been in nature with maturity periods backing of the sovereign, raising terminal, with a capacity of 5 mil- The Shahbag area — the epi- eficial to NRIs in the medium and registered with SEBI and two ranging from 10 to 20 years. The funds through rupee-denominated lion tonnes a year would be fully centre of the protests — has been long term, particularly in terms will be launched soon, the FM coupon rates are linked to the debt overseas. These rupee-denom- operational in 2013-14. now christened as “Projonmo of investments. The overriding announced. prevailing 10-year government inated bonds would be tradeable on A company investing Rs 1bn Chottor” (Generation Circle). importance given to infrastruc- The first Infrastructure Debt security yield. The interest earned overseas exchanges. or more in plant and machinery “The youth of Bangladesh have ture development is one such. Fund was launched with an initial by investing in these bonds is tax In his budget speech, the during 2013-14 would be entitled shown the world the way towards Chidambaram has indi- size of Rs 80bn. For the year 2011- free and at present the range of Finance Minister was clear about to deduct an investment allow- building a nation devoid of any cated the introduction of rupee 12, tax-free bonds for Rs300bn coupon is around 7-7.6 percent India’s determination to improve ance of 15 per cent of the invest- fundamentalism. The movement denominated bonds to attract were announced for financing per annum. Less than a fortnight infrastructure drastically with ment in addition to the current is no more confined to Shahbag NRI investment. With a view infrastructure projects and the back, the state-run Power Finance public participation. “The key to rates of depreciation. So, there is but has reached and awakened the to attract investment in long Budget proposed to double it to Corporation (PFC) launched a restart the growth engine is to a lot to read between the lines for whole world,” artist Suvaprasanna term infrastructure bonds in raise Rs600bn in 2012-13. Rs1bn issue of tax-free bonds. attract more investment, both individual NRI investors, for NRI told IANS. foreign currency, the rate of tax Tax-free bonds are secured, The issue is part of its plan to from domestic investors and businesses abroad as well as for IANS on interest paid to non-resident redeemable, non-convertible garner Rs50 bn by way of issuing foreign investors,” he said and foreign investors.

Sunday 3 March 2013 21 Rabial II 1434 Volume 17 Number 5627 Price: QR2

Falling yen not to herald currency war

Business | 18

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 No upside risk QSA to launch second Foreign Investment Survey DOHA: Qatar Statistics outward, in particular, foreign (48.1 percent of GDP) as against US (26.4 percent), Netherlands Authority (QSA) is set to launch direct investment (FDI). The the corresponding figure of (26.1 percent), the UK (11.3 per- the 2013 Foreign Investment survey results will also help in QR125.6bn (29.9 percent of GDP) cent), UAE (7.8 percent), Japan (FI) Survey today. This will the setting up of the appropri- in 2008. The survey found that (7.0 percent) and South Korean to inflation be the second FI survey in the ate environment to attract more the stocks of foreign direct invest- (3.6 percent), which together State of Qatar. The first FI sur- investment and enhance develop- ment (FDI) were at QR94.3bn at accounted for over 80 percent vey was conducted in March ment of existing investments. the end of 2009, which showed a of the total FDI. 2010 covering 2008 and 2009. During the data collection growth of 45.7 percent when com- Further, the survey had The main objective of the period, enumerators will be visit- pared to QR64.7bn in 2008. revealed that total direct invest- scenario: QCB month-long is survey is to collect ing a large number of companies. A key finding of the first ment of Qatari private sector at comprehensive data on foreign QSA relies heavily on the coop- Foreign Investment Survey the end of 2009 recorded QR38.9bn investment positions and trans- eration of all respondents for the was that despite the decline of compared to QR27.2bn by the end Qatar’s economy diversifying: Governor actions for the years 2010 and supply of reliable and accurate liquidity in global markets in of 2008. Qatari private sector 2011, and summary estimates data on their foreign investments. 2009, Qatar continued to wit- invested mainly in four sectors - DOHA: The Qatar Central for 2012. The QSA’s first Foreign ness foreign investment flow by “Finance, Insurance, Real estate Bank (QCB) will make sure The results of this survey will Investment Survey found that QR45.7bn during the year. Five and Business Services”; “Mining that the country’s booming real help improve the quality of sta- Qatar’s total inward foreign top countries that contributed and Quarrying”; “Construction”; estate sector is not exerting tistics on the different types of investment increased by 36.4 per- to inward foreign direct invest- and “Manufacturing”. any significant pressure on the foreign investment inward and cent in 2009, reaching QR171.4bn ment stocks in 2009 were the THE PENINSULA headline inflation rate. The QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah Saoud Al Thani noted that the demand-supply imbal- ance in the housing market will Qatar third major be corrected before rental prices exert any major pressure on infla- contributor to GDP tion over the medium term. “As of now, we do not see in the Gulf region any significant upside risk to the inflation scenario in 2013. DOHA: The nominal gross With prospects of weaker global domestic product of the GCC commodity prices and a firmer region reached a new record high US dollar, headline inflation is of $1.56 trillion in 2012, up from expected to stay benign in 2013 QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah $1.44 trillion the previous year. due to the persistence of excess Saoud Al Thani With a share of $192bn (12.3 per- supply in the real estate sector. As cent), Qatar is the third biggest infrastructure related construc- He said the QCB is working contributor to the GCC’s com- tion activities picks up and the on to develop a local debt market bined GDP, Al Sharq reported expatriate labour force increase, that would enhance options for quoting an international bank the demand-supply imbalance domestic financing and reduce research note as saying. has to be corrected”, the QCB reliance on foreign funding. A Saudi Arabia continued to be Governor told specialised banking strong domestic debt markets the major contributor, with 47 magazine Banker Middle East in can bring in important benefits, percent of the total GDP of the an interview. including rising funding for the region. UAE accounted for second On Qatari banking sectors’ large infrastructure investment largest contributor with its share reported expansion plans Sheikh programme as Qatar advances its of 23 percent. The report noted Abdullah said: “After moderation diversification agenda. that Qatar may become the sec- of growth in credit demand from A broader market participation ond largest economy in the GCC, the private sector in 2010, the through a diversified set of pro- next to Saudi, should Qatari GDP year 2011 witnessed a pickup in fessional institutional investors continues to grow at the rate of private sector credit, even though such as investment funds, pen- five percent for next five years. it has lagged behind the credit sion funds and insurance compa- THE PENINSULA growth witnessed in the public nies will help secondary market sector. Although credit growth development. QCB is also taking UK firms to have more was somewhat lackluster in 2012, the lead in setting up a domestic Showroom attendants polish a vehicle at a Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Mumbai. it appears that with the peaking credit rating agency and a cen- presence in Qatar of hydrocarbon output, credit tral securities depository as steps growth will rebound. “ toward further developing the DOHA: Lord Mayor of the City Sheikh Abdullah noted that debt market. of London Alderman Roger Jaguar Land Rover studying the future drivers of Qatar’s Speaking on Qatar’s interest Gifford said his two-day visit growth are likely to come rates, he said the country’s cur- has resulted in several invest- from sectors like healthcare, rent interest rate structure is ment opportunities that will be education and services. This appropriate. On the issue of “hot addressed in the future. Gifford full production in India means Qatar’s economy is well money”, he said Qatar has taken praised the economic relations on the path to diversification. several measures since 2011 which between Britain and Qatar. MUMBAI/LONDON: Jaguar Mumbai-based spokesman for the trend of sluggish demand for Amidst these dynamic develop- has largely insulated the financial He anticipated the number of Land Rover (JLR) is investigat- the company, told Reuters. “We European carmakers. The com- ments, banks would need to be system form speculative capital British nationals to increase ing the potential of manufac- continue to examine options pany has repeatedly stressed that proactive to improve their risk flows. “We continue to monitor and British firms to have more turing cars in India, company to expand our range of locally its overseas ambitions will not management skills, in order to the developments and would take presence, particularly those sources said, as the British lux- assembled products,” he said, lead to job losses in Britain. JLR cope up with the challenges of appropriate action, if necessary.” offering legal, financial, training ury carmaker looks to build on referring to India. employed close to 24,000 people at financing large-scale projects. THE PENINSULA and education services. QNA its growth in emerging markets JLR will exhibit a new 9-speed the end of March last year. with the help of Indian parent automatic Evoque and an electric- Earlier this year JLR started Tata Motors. powered version of its Land Rover the assembly of the 2.2-litre JLR, which has ridden a wave Defender at the Geneva Motor diesel version of the Jaguar XF Electric truck of surging demand in China and Show next week. saloon at a plant in Pune, west other emerging markets to post Bought by Tata for $2.3bn from India, tucked away in a corner of record profits over the past year, Ford in 2008, JLR has defied a sprawling production site where is “actively exploring the possibil- those sceptical of its future under Tata builds its heavy duty trucks ity” of building cars from scratch Indian ownership to roar back and hatchbacks. in India, said one company source. into profit over the past three Screwed together using engines “The idea is being looked into, years as the main growth driver and components shipped from with the (Jaguar) XF and (Land for its now-struggling parent. JLR’s Castle Bromwich plant in Rover) Freelander the obvious Continued growth in emerging Birmingham, central England, the candidates,” said another source markets such as India and China, company has also been assembling with knowledge of the matter. which accounted for 22.3 percent of its Land Rover Freelander 2 in The British brands, which its sales in the December quarter, Pune since May 2011. already assemble two models in is key for JLR as it embarks on an The XF and the Freelander 2 India using parts and engines expensive overhaul of its produc- are JLR’s best-selling models in shipped from factories in the UK, tion and product clout. The car- India, where it sold 2,288 cars in will also begin assembling its pop- maker is investing $1.7 billion with the year to March 2012, up 157 ular Range Rover Evoque in the local partner Chery Automobile Co percent from the previous year. country soon, the first source said in a factory in China. The carmaker, which warned without providing details. JLR lags rivals BMW AG, in January of negative free cash Building cars in India, which Volkswagen AG’s Audi and flow next year as it invests in pro- has developed into an emerging Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz in duction facilities, is also exploring market export hub for many glo- assembling cars in India, where the feasibility of a factory in Saudi bal carmakers, would allow JLR the luxury market is expected to Arabia. After the signing of a deal to skirt high import taxes on swell by around six times by 2020 with JLR in December, the Saudi luxury cars, which the country’s to 300,000 cars a year, according commerce and industry ministry finance minister proposed raising to business consultancy Frost said the $1.2 billion plant would to 100 percent from 75 percent in & Sullivan. start making vehicles by 2017. Toyota Motor and its subsidiary Hino Motors display the new electric trucks, a one-tonne capacity and his budget speech last week. JLR, with sleek saloons “At the moment, we’ve signed equipped with compartments to keep products cool and frozen, in Tokyo. The EV truck, including its refriga- “Jaguar Land Rover has favoured by British prime min- a letter of intent to do a study,” tor and freezer, is powered by Li-ion batteries, meaning it generates no emission during operation. Japan’s ambitious plans to expand its isters and luxury SUVs born of Kenneth Gregor, JLR chief finan- manufacturing footprint and desert and jungle combat, has fac- cial officer, said last month. “That delivery company Yamato Transport will start trial use of two EV trucks from middle of this month. increase production in markets tories working around the clock in is and remains a study.” outside Britain,” Del Sehmar, a England to meet demand, bucking REUTERS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

US-EU trade deal Falling yen not to herald currency war is best stimulus, Major countries focused on using monetary tools to manage domestic demand: QNB Group says De Gucht WASHINGTON: Europe’s top DOHA: The sharp deprecia- This partly explains why some trade and intensifying the Great trade official said yesterday tion of the Japanese yen this countries which have not engaged Depression. that a proposed trans-Atlantic year has contributed to growing in QE, such as Brazil, have seen However, according to QNB trade pact would be the best concerns about the outbreak of their currencies appreciate in Group, the evidence so far sug- way to boost the sagging econo- an undeclared currency war. recent years. The strong Brazilian gests that the major countries mies of both the United States However, although loose mon- real has harmed exports and con- are much more focused on using and European Union. etary policies could spark fur- tributed to a sharp slowdown in monetary tools to manage domes- “On both sides, we are still suf- ther shifts in exchange rates, its economic growth, leading to tic demand than on influencing fering the effects of the earth- QNB Group does not expect accusations against countries exports through exchange rates. quake that hit our economies in that countries will compete to like the US that they are gaining Indeed, analysis of countries’ 2008,” EU Trade Commissioner devalue their currencies. an unfair trading advantage as a macroeconomic profile suggest Karel De Gucht told an audience Since 2008, when the global cri- result of QE. that Japan and the UK are among at Harvard University. “This is sis led to a major drop in growth However, currency devaluation the countries least likely to ben- the cheapest stimulus package rates, there have been suspicions is generally a side-effect, rather efit from currency devaluation, you can imagine.” that countries might seek to boost than the intended consequence, given their high levels of foreign On February 13, Washington and exports by attempting to weaken of QE or other monetary eas- currency debt (which becomes Brussels announced the start of their currencies. A weaker cur- ing measures, such as a lowering more expensive in the event of talks on creating the Transatlantic rency enables a country to sell its of central bank interest rates. devaluation) and relatively low Trade and Investment Partnership, exports more cheaply than com- Instead, the purpose of QE is to ratios of exports to GDP. a trade and investment pact that petitors with stronger currencies; boost domestic liquidity and bring The issue was significant would create the largest free the US has long accused China of down long-term interest rates, enough to make the agenda of trade zone in the world. The keeping its currency artificially enabling businesses to borrow, the finance ministers of the G20 aim is to have negotiations done weak for this reason. These con- expand and create jobs. who met in Moscow on February by 2014, before a new European cerns have been fed by unortho- The current currency debate 16. The G20 issued a statement Commission is seated. dox monetary policies pursued by intensified after the Japanese pledging that its members would “Trade is an indispensable many central banks to stimulate elections last December. The new not engage in competitive deval- ingredient of prosperity,” De their economies, such as quantita- Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, ini- uation, and significantly, did not Gucht said. “It brings new cus- tive easing (QE), which involves tiated a major shift in monetary criticise Japan’s recent actions. tomers for our exporters, cheaper central banks buying bonds. policy which has caused the yen Their acceptance of Japan’s action components for our producers The increase in money supply to depreciate sharply, losing about is reminiscent of the Plaza Accord and more competition to make resulting from these bond pur- 14 percent of its value against the had been appreciating during July, has raised concerns about in 1985, when other major econo- all our companies more efficient. chases tends to cause deprecia- dollar since the start of December. most of the previous five years, the competitiveness of European mies acquiesced to depreciation in “For Europe, the income tion against currencies with more Abe has increased the central strengthening from 123 to the exports which led France to talk the US dollar which, like the yen effects of the deal that we are constant supplies. This relation- bank’s target rate of inflation from dollar to just 76 in early 2012. about a more managed exchange recently, had become significantly now trying to achieve should be ship was clearly demonstrated 1 percent to 2 percent, in order This should help Japanese rate policy. These are some of the overvalued. between 0.5 percent and 1 per- on February 20, when minutes to enable a looser monetary. He exporters versus the competitive- warning signs of a potential cur- Even if a currency war was to cent of GDP, meaning hundreds from the monthly meetings of the is also nominating a new central ness challenges they faced when rency war. develop, the Gulf countries would of thousands of jobs.” committees responsible for set- bank governor more supportive of the yen was strong. As a result, If countries were to begin be somewhat sheltered from the De Gucht said the path will be ting monetary policy in the UK stimulus measures. The currency it has led to sharp criticism from actively competing to achieve impact. If the dollar was to weaken difficult, given many differences and US were released. The UK markets actually began to shift some of Japan’s trading competi- the weakest exchange rate, then (leading to similar depreciation of on products like US exports with minutes showed more support in advance, indeed even ahead of tors such as South Korea. that would have very negative pegged currencies in the Gulf), genetically modified organisms, than expected for increasing QE the election, in anticipation that After the yen, the British pound consequences. The most serious then the price of oil would tend which are rejected in Europe. purchases, and the British pound Abe would be successful in imple- has been the worst performing instance of this came in the 1930s to increase, boosting hydrocarbon “This negotiation will not be depreciated on the news. The US menting these polices. The latest currency this year, losing nearly when the US and UK ended their revenue and partly offsetting the straightforward. And after it is minutes, by contrast, suggested devaluation, to around 92 yen per 7% of its value against the dollar, currency peg to gold, ushering a impact of any increases in import concluded the political process to that its QE might be scaled back, dollar, returns the exchange rate partly because of its ongoing QE period of competitive devaluation costs on government finances and ratify it will not be straightfor- leading to appreciation in the US to its early-2010 level. However, programme. The partial recovery that created price uncertainty the balance of payments. ward, either,” he said. dollar. putting this in context, the yen of the euro, since its low point last for companies, harming global THE PENINSULA AFP

China’s natural gas drive likely to cut oil demand BEIJING: China’s drive to fuel Yu works in Jiuquan, a city of more vehicles with cleaner- 400,000 people, where all 800 burning natural gas could municipal taxis run on gas. A first reduce oil demand by nearly a filling station was built three years tenth — equivalent to Turkey’s ago, Yu said, and a fourth is under total oil consumption — and construction. “The money I save is may help ease its cities’ toxic the money I make,” the 32-year- smog problem, too. old cabbie said. While a gas engine The country’s rise to become can cost almost twice as much the world’s biggest car market as a diesel engine, the payback has seen rapid growth, too, in oil through using cheaper fuel is demand over the past decade, and just 8 months, said Shao Sidong, has contributed to the heavy pol- president of Westport-Weichai, a lution that chokes its cities. China diesel engine maker which now is now the world’s second-largest also manufactures gas engines. Officials pose for a group picture. oil consumer after the United The push to natural gas comes States, burning some 9.6 million also as efforts by Beijing to develop barrels per day (b/d) — more than the electric car market, through Commercialbank steps up private banking strategy a tenth of global demand. heavy subsidies, have failed to A Beijing-coordinated cam- spark, partly because battery DOHA: Commercialbank has enhance and broaden the scope are able to strategise and offer Al Rayes said: “At paign to fuel more vehicles with costs remain high and charging stepped up its private banking of its private banking business, as sound advice to help them select Commericalbank, we are com- natural gas — part of a drive to facilities are few. Experts say elec- strategy for its network of cli- well as further strengthen exist- their preferred options from the mitted to always provide unpar- reduce costly oil imports and tric cars lack mass appeal as they ents and prospects. The bank’s ing relationships with the bank’s best banking services available, alleled personal attention and a dependency on coal — could are either too costly for many or private banking business will key customers in Qatar. or develop tailored solutions to an exceptional range of prod- increase gas consumption to as not stylish enough for the wealthy. be managed by an experienced Commenting on the capabili- manage, protect and grow their ucts and services to our Private much as 55bn cubic metres by China last year had 1.48 mil- team under the leadership of ties of the newly assembled team, wealth — all of which are core Banking clients. We will actively 2030, predicts energy consultancy lion vehicles driving on natural Khalifa Nasser Al Rayes, who Khalifa Nasser Al Rayes said: elements of a private banking seek ways to evolve and innovate Wood Mackenzie — about equal gas, up 48 percent on the previ- was recently appointed to head “We have in place today a team relationship.” our client’s banking experience, to 840,000 b/d of oil. That’s about ous year, and a huge jump from the bank’s private banking of highly specialised profession- Commercialbank is known for all the while embodying the 10 times more natural gas than is just 6,000 in 2000, according to division. als who are able to dedicate time personalising the banking experi- principles of integrity, tradition, used in vehicles today, and close to China National Petroleum Corp’s The private banking team is and effort to look beyond the ence with ‘best in practice’ bank- trust, and excellence, so that 9 percent of China’s oil demand. research institute. well equipped to offer bespoke obvious and really understand ing technology and standards. we continue to earn the privi- Taxi drivers have been quick The vehicles — mainly taxis, investment products and bank- our clients’ banking and wealth The bank has a long-standing lege of long-term relationships to see the financial benefits, too, buses and trucks — run on both ing solutions for the bank’s select management needs. By under- history and reputation in Qatar with valued clients within our of switching to natural gas. The compressed natural gas and liq- client base. This move will allow standing our clients’ unique cir- for offering a high level of com- community.” cleaner fuel is 50-70 percent the uefied natural gas. LNG, gas that Commercialbank to continue to cumstances and requirements, we mitment to its clients. THE PENINSULA price of petrol and a third cheaper is super-chilled to liquid form, is than diesel — savings that have more efficient and can nearly tre- encouraged rapid take-up of natu- ble a vehicle’s driving range over ral gas among drivers, and enough CNG, say experts. At the end of to make people like Yu Binghua last year, there were 70,000 LNG queue for up to five hours to fill vehicles on China’s roads and 400 Stocks face roadblocks on Wall Street this week his Volkswagen Jetta taxi. LNG stations. REUTERS NEW YORK: If Wall Street needs to climb labour market could jostle the market, though miss out on gains, they’re picking up compa- a wall of worry, it will have plenty of oppor- US job indicators have generally been trending nies that are less likely to decline as much as tunity next week. Major US stock indexes in a positive direction. high-flying names — if a market correction will make another attempt at reaching all- Small- and mid-cap stocks hit lifetime highs comes. The Russell Value Index is up 7.6 per- time records, but the fitful pace that has in February. Now the Dow Jones Industrial cent for the year so far, outpacing the Russell dominated trading is likely to continue. Average and the S&P 500 are racing each Growth Index’s 5.7 percent rise. Within the • Bullion - Mumbai Next Friday’s unemployment report and other to the top. The Dow, made up of 30 realm of the S&P 500, the consumer staples the hefty spending cuts that look like they stocks, is about 75 points — less than 1 per- sector led the market in February, gaining Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29605 about to take effect will be at the forefront. cent — away from its record close of 14,164.53, 3.1 percent. Silver (1 kg) Rs. 55865 The importance of whether equities can which it hit on October 9, 2007. The broader There is some concern that growth-oriented • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.84 reach and sustain those highs is more than S&P is still 3 percent away from its closing names are being eclipsed by defensive bets, • Sensex Wall Street’s usual fixation on numbers with high of 1,565.15, also reached on October 9, said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strate- BSE 18918.52 psychological significance. Breaking through 2007. The advantage may be in the Dow’s gist at Schaeffer’s Investment Research in NSE 5719.70 to uncharted territory is seen as a test of court. So far in 2013, it has gained 7.5 per- Cincinnati. “This isn’t a be-all and end-all • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – investors’ faith in the rally. cent, beating the S&P 500 by about 1 percent. sell signal by any means, but we would feel which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN “It’s very significant,” said Bucky Hellwig, much more comfortable if some of the more senior vice president at BB&T Wealth THE REALITY CHECK aggressive areas, like technology and small Card/Demat Account not required. Management in Birmingham, Alabama. “The The Dow’s relative strength owes much to caps, would start to gain some leadership • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return thinking is, there’s just not enough there for its unique make-up and calculation, as well here,” Detrick said. p.a. (in dollar) an extended bull run,” he said. “If we do break as to investors’ recent preference for buying Signs that investors are becoming con- • Housing loan from HDFC LTD through (record highs), then maybe the charts value stocks likely to generate steady reliable cerned about the rally’s pace is evident in • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, and price action are telling us there’s some- gains, rather than growth stocks. the options market, where the ratio of put Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. thing better ahead.” But the more defensive stance illustrates activity to call activity has recently shifted in Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] Flare-ups in the eurozone’s sovereign debt how stock buyers are getting concerned about favour of puts, which represent expectations crisis and next Friday’s report on the US this year’s rally. While investors don’t want to for a stock to fall. REUTERS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Britain’s Rolls, Bentley fight luxury battle for German owners

LONDON: British carmakers Rolls- by recovering demand in the United “Rolls and Bentley are direct competi- of south east England-based Rolls, is con- ruled different segments of the ultra- Royce and Bentley will unveil new States and strong growth in Asia, where tors and are like the last men standing fident the new model will “draw superla- luxury car market. vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show customers are increasingly attracted by in the ultra-luxury, high-end segment so tives” when it is unveiled in Geneva. Rolls had tended to focus on making next week, joining battle in the fast- the history and status of brands such as the fight for attention of the super-rich Bentley claims its redesigned Flying larger, more luxurious cars such as the growing luxury end of the market on Rolls-Royce and Bentley. in Geneva will be fierce,” he added. Spur, which has a 6-litre, 12-cylinder Phantom. But with the 2009 launch of behalf of their German owners. The United States and China have Company insiders say the Wraith, a engine generating 616 horsepower and the Ghost, Rolls has looked to take a BMW’s Rolls-Royce will debut a two- traded positions as Rolls and Bentley’s name first used by Rolls in 1938, will pro- capable of reaching a top speed of 200 slice of the market for sportier luxury door coupé version of its Ghost model, largest markets in recent quarters. duce as much as 600 horse power from a miles per hour, will set “a new luxury per- cars, which Bentley dominates with its known as the Wraith, which the company “The Wraith, along with the Ghost, twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 engine. formance sedan benchmark”. The Spur Continental range. says will be its most powerful vehicle yet. is there to compete with Bentley’s So far only two “teaser” images of the has a lower, wider appearance than its Some critics say the German influence Meanwhile Bentley, part of the Continental GT, which at a slightly lower Wraith have been released, showing a predecessor with sharp lines and gently has led Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars to Volkswagen empire, will unveil its price has been a huge success,” said IHS shallow-sloping “fastback” design similar curvaceous surfaces, according to Crewe, lose their British character. Yet sales have updated Flying Spur, its speediest ever automotive analyst Christoph Stürmer. to that seen on smaller sports cars, while north west England-based Bentley. flourished - Rolls sold a record 3,575 cars four-door model. “Bentley is looking for success with its the rear appears similar to the Ghost, Bentley was owned by Rolls-Royce for last year, up from 1,002 in 2009. Bentley, The two German-owned brands hope Flying Spur, which is an all-new vehicle, with the addition of large exhaust tail- some 70 years, during which time the pair meanwhile, delivered 8,510 cars in 2012, 22 the new launches will extend an upturn because the predecessor didn’t deliver the pipes at either side of the vehicle. offered similar models. However, since percent more than the year before. in their markets, which has been boosted sales they were looking for.” Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive the two parted ways in 1998 they have REUTERS Qatar hosts Natural Gas Conversion Symposium today

DOHA: The 10th Natural Gas Conversion Symposium (NGCS) will begin here today. The five-day NGCS will be attended by over 300 researchers, scientists and industry experts from 32 countries. Sasol and Oryx GTL are platinum sponsors of the symposium. “Sasol is pleased to sponsor this event, bringing world leaders in the gas production and conversion fields to Qatar,” said Marjo Louw, President of Sasol Qatar. “Working with QP on Oryx GTL, our GTL joint venture here in Qatar, we are redefining success and driving the commercial acceptance of GTL around the world. We look forward to the discussions on global energy challenges and how we can contribute to the solutions through Sasol’s technology innovations in gas conversion.” Abdulrahman M. Al Suwaidi, CEO of Oryx GTL, said: “We welcome the opportunity to sponsor the event in this, the century of natural gas, in the State of Qatar, the world’s GTL capital. Oryx GTL welcomes thought- provoking symposia such as NGCS that advance the sci- ence and business of gas conversion and which are helping shape the future of our industry.” Since 1987, the Natural Gas Conversion Symposium has brought together the world’s leaders in synthesis gas production and utilisation to share information on the latest trends in research and technology development in these fields. The agenda of the NGCS is set to cover leading-edge topics on the latest research and development, as well as technology solutions relating to the conversion of fos- sil resources. These topics include biomass and waste to syngas, energy, hydrogen, liquid fuels and chemicals. Sasol and Oryx GTL specialists will give presentations and speeches at the symposium. THE PENINSULA

US review gives boost to Keystone oil pipeline WASHINGTON: The Keystone XL oil pipeline got a boost on Friday when the US State Department said the project would not likely change the rate at which Canada’s oil sands are developed, discounting fears it would be responsible for additional greenhouse gas emissions. The report is far from the last word on Keystone. The environmental assessment must be finalized after the public comment. Then federal agencies will have 90 days to work with the State Department to determine whether the pipeline is in the national interest. TransCanada Corp’s proposed project is “unlikely to have a substantial impact” on development of Alberta’s oil sands, the world’s third-richest oil deposit, the Department said in a long-awaited report of more than 2,000 pages. It said the pipeline would result in “no sub- stantial change in global greenhouse gas emissions.” The more than 800,000 barrel per day pipeline would have little environmental impact on most resources along its proposed route, provided the company takes certain measures to make it safer, the review added. Supporters of the project, which would bring oil to Texas refineries, have dismissed concerns it would lead to additional greenhouse gas emissions, saying the oil would reach markets regardless of whether the pipeline is built. President Barack Obama rejected the line in 2011 on concerns about its route through ecologically sensi- tive regions of Nebraska and after several high-profile spills on lines carrying Canadian crude. Subsequently TransCanada issued a new route for the pipeline, which Friday’s assessment took into consideration.

PUBLIC TO SHAPE DEBATE The State Department stressed that the report did not judge the project. The public will have 45 days to comment during a review starting next Friday. A final decision by the Obama administration on the project that has been pending for more than four-and-a-half years is not expected until July or August. TransCanada Corp Chief Executive Russ Girling said that construction of the pipeline could be complete by late 2014 or early 2105 if a final decision by the Obama administration comes by midsummer. State Department Assistant Secretary Kerri-Ann Jones repeatedly refused to address whether the report offered support for building the pipeline, instead telling reporters on a press call that it would be premature to draw conclusions from the environmental assessment. Many environmentalists oppose the project because, from wells to wheels, oil sands are more carbon-intensive than average crudes refined in the United States. They had been cheered by recent strong speeches by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry on the need to take action on climate. REUTERS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday UK manufacturing suffers German Jobless Unexpectedly Declines shock contraction in on Growth Revival: Economy February: PMI BERLIN: German unemployment unexpectedly LONDON: British manufacturing fell in February amid signs that Europe’s US economy slows but jobs up shrank unexpectedly in February biggest economy is returning to growth after WASHINGTON: THE US economy barely and new orders dwindled, a a contraction at the end of last year. The China raises fuel prices for first Japan factory output rises grew in the fourth quarter, although a survey showed on Friday, making number of people out of work fell a seasonally time this year for second month slightly better performance in exports TOKYO: Japan’s industrial it likely the sector will put a adjusted 3,000 to 2.92 million, the Nuremberg- BEIJING: China raised government-set and fewer imports led the government output rose for a second drag on economic growth in based Federal Labor Agency said today. fuel prices on Monday for the first time to scratch an earlier estimate that straight month in January, the first quarter. The Markit/ Economists had predicted unemployment to this year to reflect changes in global showed an economic contraction. offering some evidence that the CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing be unchanged, the median of 33 estimates in crude prices, the top economic planning Another report showed a drop in new export-reliant economy may be Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 47.9 a Bloomberg News survey showed. body said.The benchmark price for claims for unemployment benefits last emerging from a mild recession from a downwardly revised 50.5 in petrol will rise 3.5 percent to 8,830 week, adding to a string of data that due to a pick-up in global January, confounding forecasts for yuan (1,416) per tonne while diesel will suggests the economy improved early demand and the weaker yen. a rise to 51.0. increase 3.8 percent to 8,010 yuan per this year. tonne, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement Spain’s bailed-out Bankia late Sunday. posts 19 bn euro loss MADRID: Bailed-out Spanish Global crisis affects India’s exports banking giant Bankia suffered a NEW DELHI: The government said global loss of 19 billion euros ($25 billion) economic crisis has adversely impacted in 2012, it said in an earnings demand for India’s exports. “India’s exports Brazil economy seen improving statement Thursday. It said the grew by 4.2% during April 2012 and again losses were as expected after the grew by 0.8% during January 2013 over the slightly at end of weak 2012 Spanish government nationalised corresponding period of last year. The global SAO PAULO: Brazil’s economy probably Air New Zealand Soars to 2-Year High Bankia in May, turning it into a economic crisis, the sovereign debt crisis picked up slightly in the fourth quarter on Result: Wellington Mover symbol of Spain’s banking collapse. in Europe and the economic slowdown in but continued to grow at a sluggish AUCKLAND: Air New Zealand Ltd. (AIR), the developed economies has adversely impacted pace, with services and consumer nation’s largest carrier, rose to a two-year demand for India’s exports spending offsetting weak investments South African economy stays sluggish high after more than doubling first-half profit and industrial output, a Reuters poll JOHANNESBURG: Agriculture, manufacturing and and saying that second-half earnings would showed. financial services helped propel South Africa’s beat the corresponding period last year. economic growth for the fourth quarter slightly et income rose to NZ$100 million ($83 million) above analysts’ expectations to 2.1 per cent. But in the six months ended Dec. 31 from NZ$38 Africa’s largest economy produced sluggish growth million a year earlier, the Auckland-based for the year, with gross domestic product for 2012 company said in a statement today. The expanding by 2.5 per cent. This was in line with shares rose to NZ$1.40, their highest close forecasts, but down from 3.5 per cent in 2011 and since Feb. 18, 2011. below faster growing African peers and reflects South Africa’s exposure to the Eurozone crisis.

TENDERS

COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT TENDER TENDER CLOSING COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT TENDER TENDER CLOSING BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE

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Wrestling James leads Heat to victory champ goes on hunger The defending champs beat Memphis 98-91, extend win streak to 13 strike over MIAMI: LeBron James scored 24 points and grabbed nine 14 points in the fourth quarter rebounds, while Mike Conley and Games axe as the Miami Heat extended Zach Randolph had 14 points each their win-streak to 13 games for the Grizzlies. MOSCOW: Double Olympic with a 98-91 victory over the “We wanted to win (the game) wrestling champion Armen Memphis Grizzlies yesterday. and we couldn’t pull it off,” said Nazaryan has decided to go on a James finished with 18 points, Gasol. “They made a couple of big hunger strike to protest against 10 assists and eight rebounds and plays in the end. LeBron made a Miami Heat’s the sport’s possible exclusion had a clutch three pointer late big three.” LeBron James from the Games. in the fourth for the Heat, who The Grizzlies eight straight (left) drib- “I’m protesting against the rec- snapped the Grizzlies win streak wins tied their most in franchise bles against ommendation to drop wrestling at eight games. history dating back to their days Memphis from the Olympics,” Nazaryan, “I am just feeling good about as the Vancouver Grizzlies. Grizzlies’ Quincy 38, was quoted as saying by the picking my spots and just being Miami coach Erik Spoelstra Pondexter in Russian wrestling federation on aggressive and mix in going to said Grizzlies used their size effec- the first half of its website (www.wrestrus.ru). the basket and shooting my out- tively to prevent the Heat from “Wrestling has always been their NBA bas- side shot,” said James. “I am in generating scoring chances. part of the Olympic programme ketball match in a groove right now from that “They are a big team,” Spoelstra and it’s not right to exclude it standpoint of my confidence and said. Miami, Florida, from the Games. I’m starting hopefully I can stay locked in for James, who carried the Heat on yesterday. my hunger strike and from now a while.” his back for most of February, got on I will drink only syrup,” said Miami’s Dwyane Wade finished some help this time. He started Armenia-born Nazaryan, who with 22 points and eight assists slowly yesterday and for awhile won gold in Greco-Roman wres- in the win. it looked like he might be held to tling at the 1996 Atlanta Games, Marc Gasol scored a game-high under 10 points in a game for the competing for his native country. first time in over six years. He then switched his allegiance The defending NBA champions, to Bulgaria, winning his second NBA Results the Heat have won 11 in a row at Olympic title four years later in Indiana 93 Toronto 81 the AmericanAirlines Arena. opening half, as they turned Sydney. Nazaryan also won three NY Knicks 96 Washington 88 Yesterday’s results also yesterday’s contest into a clas- ‘Magic’ Johnson offers $1m if world titles for Bulgaria from Houston 118 Orlando 110 improved to 25-3 at home and sic matchup of Miami’s explo- 2002 to 2005. REUTERS have the Eastern Conference’s sive offence and Memphis’ stingy Boston 94 Golden State 86 best home record this season. defence. James takes part in Dunk contest Miami 98 Memphis 91 The Heat haven’t lost since Heading into yesterday’s game MIAMI: Earvin ‘Magic’ LeBron, get in the dunk contest. US, Iran leaders LA Clippers 105 Cleveland 89 dropping a game in Indiana to the the Grizzlies were allowing an Johnson will boost prize- I’m going to put up a million dol- Dallas 98 Brooklyn 90 Pacers last month on February 1. average of just 89.5 points per money for the NBA dunk con- lars,” Johnson said. unite to fight New Orleans 100 Detroit 95 So far, Miami’s .923 winning game, best in the league. test from $100,000 to $1m if “A million dollars from Magic San Antonio 130 Sacramento 102 percentage for February, last Memphis have won eight in LeBron James took part he to LeBron. Please get in the dunk Olympic ouster Utah 98 Charlotte 68 month was its third-best in fran- a row twice this season. The said yesterday. contest. I go every year. I want chise history. Grizzlies lost their season-opener James has never competed to see you out there. A million to Phoenix 92 Atlanta 87 The Grizzlies gave the Heat a then won eight consecutive games in the showcase event. “Please, the winner.” AFP COLORADO SPRINGS: Denver 105 Oklahoma City 103 scare though, especially in the from November 2-17. AFP Wrestling leaders from political foes Iran and the United States have united as part of a coali- tion of nations trying to keep the sport from being dumped Armstrong faces two new lawsuits from the Olympic lineup. Together with Russia and other world powers in freestyle LOS ANGELES: Lance Armstrong spokesman Mark and Greco-Roman disciplines, the Armstrong (pictured) was fac- Fabiani said the Texan and his US and Iran came together last ing two more lawsuits yesterday advisers had no comment on month when the Americans com- spawned by his admission that the suits, which are just the lat- peted in the World Cup at Tehran. all seven of his Tour de France est legal woes to spring from In a symbol of their common victories were fueled by banned Armstrong’s disgrace. quest to avoid being ousted from drugs. The US government has joined the line-up at the 2020 Olympics, The Nebraska-based a “whistle-blower” lawsuit seek- the US team shook hands and Acceptance Insurance Company ing help the US Postal Service posed for photographs with Iran sued Armstrong and Tailwind recoup “tens of millions” paid to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sports Corporation claiming he Armstrong when it sponsored as sporting diplomacy trumped committed fraud by concealing his team with more than $30m, a political issues. his use of performance enhanc- lawsuit that could deliver a triple- “We have to bond as a world- ing drugs during the 1999, 2000 damages blow costing Armstrong wide community to keep wres- and 2001 Tours. more than $90m. tling in the Games,” said US 2012 “By his cheating and decep- That lawsuit was first filed by Olympic bronze medalist Coleman tion, Armstrong committed fraud. US Anti-Doping Agency deter- Armstrong’s disgraced former Scott. “It was outstanding to see Taiwan’s Lin Che-hsuan (24) slides to second base while Australia’s Brad This suit seeks repayment of $3m mined he was the key figure in a team-mate Floyd Landis, who they are just as passionate about Harman catches the ball during the third inning of the World Baseball in undeserved an unearned pay sophisticated doping program on claims Armstrong and team man- the sport as we are. Classic qualifying first round at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Lance Armstrong obtained by his US Postal Service team. ager Johan Bruyneel defrauded “The people in Iran have the Stadium, yesterday. Taiwan defeated Australia 4-1. fraud,” stated the lawsuit filed in He finally made a belated taxpayers and the government by same feelings we do. They were Travis County Court in Austin, admission of doping in a televised having Armstrong and other rid- just as devastated as we were Texas. interview with Oprah Winfrey in ers use performance-enhancing when they heard the news.” The payment cited was a $3m January, in which he said he used drugs. USA Wrestling executive direc- Wang stars in Taiwan’s bonus paid to Armstrong for his a combination of blood-doping Armstrong is also being sued tor Rich Bender has shown how first three Tour victories. transfusions, blood-boosting EPO by Texas insurance company sport can unite even the hardest Acceptance claims that and testosterone throughout his SCA, which paid him $12.1m in of rivals. Armstrong’s lies void the policy career. bonuses for multiple Tour victo- “The outpouring of support win over Australia under which the money was paid Armstrong was also sued ries. In Britain, he is being sued internationally for this cause and out. Thursday in federal court in Los by the Sunday Times, which is effort has been nothing short of TAIPEI: Taiwan’s star pitcher board, narrowing Taiwan’s lead In October, Armstrong was Angeles in a class-action lawsuit seeking repayment of the £1m miraculous,” he said. “The coali- Wang Chien-ming led the island to 4-1. stripped of his Tour titles as well claiming Armstrong and FRS -- ($1.6m, 1.2m euros) libel settle- tion we’ve built with countries to a 4-1 victory over Australia in Taiwan was shut out in prelimi- as all other results from August maker of nutritional supplements ment Armstrong won against the round the world is strong and the first game of the 2013 World naries in the 2006 and 2009 World 1998 and banned for life after the -- engaged in false advertising. newspaper in 2006. AFP continues to build.” AFP Baseball Classic in Taichung Baseball Classics. Hopes are high city, central Taiwan. that the island would prevail this Wang, cur- year by enlisting rently a free some top base- Former Wallaby agent after an World Baseball ball talents such NHL: Blackhawks edge Jackets injury-plagued as Wang and season with the Classic Results Kuo. captain Elsom Washington Pool A (Fukuoka, Japan) Taiwan have CHICAGO: Brent Seabrook Nationals, threw a 0-2 record scored with 1:37 remaining Japan 5 Brazil 3 signs for Toulon six shutout against South in overtime as the Chicago innings in front Pool B (In Taichung, Taiwan) Korea, 0-1 Blackhawks extended their of a cheering Australia 1 Taiwan 4 against Japan PARIS: Former Australia cap- record points streak with a 4-3 home crowd of and 1-1 against tain Rocky Elsom has joined victory over the Columbus Blue 20,000. China in the Toulon as a replacement for Jackets yesterday. Team captain Peng Cheng- previous two tournaments, while the injured Stephane Munoz, Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan min knocked in Taipei’s first run Australia have a 1-5 record over- the French Top 14 leaders said Toews chipped the puck past with a single in the first inning all, never having played an Asian yesterday. Blue Jackets defenceman Adrian and added a solo home run. team before. Elsom, who has played 75 tests Aucoin then fed Seabrook with a Kuo Hong-chih, another former Two teams will emerge from for the Wallabies, has been dogged cross-ice pass that the Chicago Major Leaguer, pitched in relief the five-day Asian second round, by injuries during the last two defenceman blasted into the open for Taiwan and hurled a perfect starting in Tokyo next Friday, and years and will start training with side of the Blue Jackets’ net for inning. will fight it out with the top sides his new club from tomorrow. the winner. Australia’s Stefan Welch from Pool C and D, held in Puerto “I am very happy to join Toulon Chicago stretched their crushed a solo home run to right Rico and Arizona, in the final ... it’s a big club with big ambi- National Hockey League record field to get the country on the series in San Francisco. AFP tions,” the 30-year-old said in a season-opening points streak to statement on the club’s website. 21 games (18-0-3). They have The blindside flanker was play- earned at least one point in 27 Tim Erixon (20) of the Columbus Blue Jackets stops a shot by Marian ing for Japanese club Kobe Steel straight games dating back to last Japan’s Shinnosuke Hossa (81) of the Chicago Blackhawks in front of Steve Mason (1) at the since leaving New South Wales season, the third-longest run in Abe (right) celebrates United Center in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. The Blackhawks defeated Waratahs last year. league history. the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime. with his team man- It will be Elsom’s second stint in The 1977-78 Montreal ager Koji Yamamoto Europe after he played in Ireland Canadiens had a 28-game after he hits an RBI where he helped Leinster win the point streak and the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers own the NHL and has now won all nine of his single in the eighth Heineken Cup in 2009. record at 35 games. games this season. inning at the World “He is a very good player. He NHL Results Chicago have won eight- Columbus were without Baseball Classic has been troubled with injuries, straight games and the last half defenceman James Wisniewski, (WBC) qualifying first but he has come back from them St Louis 4 Edmonton 2 dozen victories have come by one- who was placed on the injured round, yesterday. and his signing will be a good Chicago 4 Columbus 3 goal margins. list after breaking his foot last boost for us,” the club’s manager Goaltender Ray Emery got the Sunday against Chicago. Anaheim 3 Minnesota 2 Bernard Laporte said. AFP start ahead of Corey Crawford REUTERS SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Nadal breezes Guthrie takes lead in Florida into Mexican Open final Bogey-free round for leader; Woods scrambles late to avoid missing cut ACAPULCO, MEXICO: Former world No. 1 Rafael PALM BEACH GARDENS, Earlier, while talking to report- Nadal continued his domina- Florida: American PGA Tour Honda Classic ers as he headed to his car, tion over countryman Nicolas rookie Luke Guthrie shot a McIlroy did not mention a tooth- Almagro yesterday to book his sparkling seven-under 63 for a Scores ache but instead talked of being spot in the Mexican Open final one-stroke lead after the second in a “bad place mentally.” against three-time defending PALM BEACH GARDENS, round of the Honda Classic yes- While much will be made of the champ David Ferrer. Florida: Leading scores yes- terday while world number one inconsistencies and manner of the The 26-year-old Nadal, who is terday after the second round Rory McIlroy abruptly with- defending champion’s departure, seeking his 52nd career ATP Tour of the $6m US PGA Honda drew citing a toothache. fans of the popular 23-year-old title, defeated Almagro 7-5, 6-4 in Classic (USA unless noted, Tiger Woods struggled to a sec- should perhaps be more con- their one hour, 48 minute semi- par-70) ond consecutive even-par 70 that cerned about his form. final match. left him one shot from missing 131 Luke Guthrie 68-63 Struggling with his swing, Nadal has now reached his the cut and nine strokes behind 132 Michael Thompson 67-65 he was eliminated in the open- third-straight final after missing the lead going into today’s third 133 Boo Weekley 66-67, Graham DeLaet ing round of last week’s WGC- more than seven months with a round. (CAN) 65-68 Accenture World Match Play left knee injury. Guthrie, 23, was flawless as 134 Lee Westwood (ENG) 66-68, Geoff Championship in Arizona after “I started the match a little he carded seven birdies at PGA Ogilvy (AUS) 68-66, Doug LaBelle missing the cut at the Abu Dhabi bit nervous. I have not touched National to move into the driver’s 66-68, Charles Howell 67-67, Sean Championship in January. the ball as clean as in previous seat with a one-stroke lead over O’Hair 66-68, Justin Rose (ENG) 68- With McIlroy gone and Woods days and I played shorter than I compatriot Michael Thompson 66 out of contention, there was an would have liked, but I also faced (65). 135 Graeme McDowell (NIR) 67-68, unfamilar look atop the leader- a player who hits the ball very Canadian Graham DeLaet (68) Robert Streb 65-70, Brian Stuard 66- board, and those concerned with hard,” said Nadal, who is look- and American Boo Weekley (67) 69, Nicholas Thompson 69-66, Lucas ratings will hope some of the sea- ing for his 38th clay court title were a further shot off the pace. Glover 69-66, Tom Gillis 67-68, Billy soned names can put themselves today. But the attention was all on Horschel 66-69 in the frame for Sunday’s final “In the second set I attacked McIlroy, who pulled out on his round. Britain’s Lee Westwood a little more and I could lead my 136 Daniel Summerhays 69-67, Chris Kirk ninth hole after a nightmare (68) and Australian Geoff Ogilvy shots a little better.” 68-68, Keegan Bradley 68-68, Rickie start to his second round, drop- (66) put themselves in conten- Nadal won this event eight Fowler 65-71, Jeff Klauk 67-69, ping seven shots from his opening tion as they are part of a group years ago in his only previous Branden Grace (RSA) 65-71 eight holes with a triple-bogey, a of six players sitting three shots appearance. double-bogey and two bogeys. WD Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70, Brian Davis back of Guthrie.Westwood said he In today’s final, he will square The Northern Irishman, who (ENG) 78 was taking a cautious approach to off against top seed Ferrer, who before the tournament conceded “It began bothering me again the challenging course, which on needed three sets to beat Italian he was adjusting to his Nike clubs last night,” said McIlroy. Friday remained very soft with Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 after switching from Titleist in “It was very painful again this frequent mud on balls. in the other semi-final. January and had also complained morning, and I was simply unable “It’s a tough setup and it’s one Nadal claimed his victory on of swing troubles, released a to concentrate. It was really both- of the more demanding tests of Tiger Woods of the US waits to putt on the 3rd hole during the third round his first match point against third statement saying he had severe ering me and had begun to affect the year,” said the Englishman. of play in the Honda Classic PGA golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, seeded Almagro, running his win wisdom tooth pain. my playing partners.” REUTERS Florida, yesterday. streak over the fellow Spaniard to a perfect 9-0. Almagro hit a forehand into the net to set up match point, then Nadal won it when Almagro hit Na-Yeon, Lewis head the leaderboard another forehand wide down the line. SINGAPORE: World number today’s final round. “I think that shots back from the leaders. with Choi, only for the South Nadal finished with two aces, two Choi Na-Yeon emerged frees me up for tomorrow. I think Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, 17, Korean to retake the lead with three double faults and saved all HSBC Women’s from a two-and-a-half-hour I can remember that feeling for Danielle Kang, Yoo Sun-Young birdies on 10 and 14. four break point chances he faced. storm delay to birdie the last tomorrow,” she said. “I mean, I and Azahara Munoz are the But on the next hole, the par- Almagro fired seven aces but had Champions Scores hole and dramatically snatch finished strong and that putt, I closest challengers to the top four 15th, Lewis stormed back his serve broken twice. a share of the HSBC Women’s hit it pretty solid. trio, lying three strokes behind into the lead with a snaking Almagro, a two-time winner SINGAPORE: Leading Champions lead alongside Stacy “I was a little nervous for the Creamer on nine-under-par 207. birdie putt, while Na left her- here (2008 and 2009), was mak- scores yesterday after round Lewis yesterday. third shot, I don’t know why. A Tseng’s 107-week reign as self too much to do for par and ing his ninth career appearance in three of the HSBC Women’s Choi, who is eyeing the number lot of people were waiting, I didn’t world number one cannot end in took bogey. As they teed off on this event. He is now 26-7 overall Champions at Singapore’s one ranking of Taiwan’s Tseng expect that. But I made it really Singapore, and it was just as well 18, Lewis looked certain to claim in the tournament. Sentosa Golf Club (par 72): Yani, holed a 10-footer in front well and I feel great.” as the frowning “Pride of Taiwan” the clubhouse lead -- until the Defending champ Ferrer 202 Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 69-66-67, Stacy of a big gallery on the damp 18th Lewis, the world number four, bogeyed four out of eight holes siren sounded to halt play, as dark needed two hours and 23 minutes Lewis (USA) 67-66-69 green to card five-under-par 67 had remonstrated with officials around the turn before finishing clouds loomed. Creamer, playing to eliminate Fognini. 204 Paula Creamer (USA) 68-67-69 for a total of 14-under 202 at when play was suspended and with 71 for 212, 10 shots off the one group ahead, finished her Meanwhile, John Isner 207 Danielle Kang (USA) 68-69-70, Yoo Singapore’s par-72 Sentosa Golf bemoaned a “very frustrating” lead. round with a sizzling birdie, and advanced to the semi-finals by Sun-Young (KOR) 67-68-72, Azahara Club. day after she gave up a two-shot Tseng, now into her third year in the nick of time. avenging a loss to defending Munoz (ESP) 65-70-72, Ariya The putt ended an engross- overnight lead, finishing with a 69. at the top of women’s golf, started “My goodness gracious. We champ Kevin Anderson at the Jutanugarn (THA) 69-66-72 ing day-long duel between Choi “It was very frustrating. We the season positively with top- saw it (the storm) coming and ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Tennis 208 Jessica Korda (USA) 72-68-68 and America’s Lewis, who was waited all day, the pace of play three finishes in Australia and we’re thinking okay, we’ll prob- Championships yesterday. 209 Karine Icher (FRA) 70-71-68, Nicole incensed when play was halted was not very good, and it’s frus- Thailand but a poor final posi- ably all just finish, but honestly Top seed Isner won in straight Castrale (USA) 69-71-69, Candie with the final group already on trating,” she said. tion today will put her number I’m shocked that they didn’t get sets, beating South Africa’s Kung (TPE) 69-71-69, Chella Choi the 18th fairway and with her “Three fast players are in the one ranking in serious jeopardy. the last hole in,” she said. Anderson 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) in one of (KOR) 68-67-74 narrow one-shot lead in the back there, and we had to sit Lewis started the day two shots The American, ranked 13th in four quarter-final matches that balance. there and wait.” clear, but two bogeys in her first the world and with nine victories featured three formers winners. 210 Morgan Pressel (USA) 70-71-69, Lexi When they finally resumed, Choi and Lewis will play the three holes immediately plunged to her name, closed with a pre- Isner, who is the last American Thompson (USA) 73-68-69, Shin after a torrential downpour, last round with America’s Paula her into a dogfight with Choi, who cision wedge into the last green left in the draw, hammered 17 Ji-Yai (KOR) 71-69-70, Pornanong Choi fired closest to the flag and Creamer, who continued to make opened with two birdies to go top. which span back within two feet aces, had one double fault and Phatlum (THA) 67-71-72 steadied herself to drain the psy- light of whiplash injuries from a Lewis hit back with birdies on of the hole, earning her a fifth won 85 percent of his first-serve 211 Lizette Salas (USA) 67-74-70, chologically important birdie, car crash in Thailand last week seven, eight and nine and another birdie against two bogeys for 69. points in the 79-minute match. Catriona Matthew (SCO) 70-69-72 which left her beaming ahead of when she scored 69 to lie two on 12 as she twice pulled level AGENCIES AGENCIES Abdullah in semi-final Basketball: Narrow wins of Qatar Junior Open for Qatar SC, Al Rayyan

DOHA: Qatar’s Abdullah Al BY DANOTZKI SANTOS Tamimi defeated compatriot Ahmad Eleyan in three straight DOHA: Chauncey Leslie sank games to coast into the semi- a buzzer-beating try to mas- finals of the Qatar Junior Open termind a come-from-behind tournament. 101-98 win by Qatar Sports Braimoh Yesterday at the Khalifa Club over Al Wakra in the Heir Suleiman International Tennis and Squash Apparent Cup. (right) of Complex the top seed registered Yesterday at the Al Gharafa Al Rayyan a 11-3, 11-7, 11-8 win to set up a Indoor Hall, Qatar SC bounced SC and Ali last four clash with Pakistan’s back from a defeat at the hands of Mohammad Noman Khan in the Under-19 defending champions Al Arabi the Abdullah category. other day and registered a much of Shamal Khan defeated Musaab Kassim needed second win to boost their Sports Club of Sri Lanka 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 in the chances for a place in the next in action last eight clash. round. during In the other semi-final clash, Al Wakra dominated the black their Heir Shaun Kwan Ka Junn of Malaysia shirts almost throughout the Apparent will take on Ali Nasir of Pakistan. game, pulling away by as much Cup 2013 Nasir walked his way into as 20 points on several occasion Basketball the semi-final against Iraq’s in the first half and getting the match at Mohammed Ferman Hasan. upper hand until the dying sec- Ka Junn’s on the other hand onds of the match. Al Gharafa defeated Absar Ahmad of Wakra took the first two quar- Indoor Hall Pakistan 11-3, 11-7, 11-3. ters, 38-15 and 54-34 and were yesterday. Both the semi-finals will take Action from the Qatar Junior Open squash tournament of Qatar Squash still ahead, 76-72 at the end of the place today at 7.00pm, while the Federation at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, yesterday. third. Qatar crawled back to tie PICTURE final will be held tomorrow at the The semi-finals of the all the categories will be held today. The finals will the game at 84-all midway in the BY: SALIM same time. be held tomorrow. PICTURE BY: IBRAHIM KUTTY final quarter but Wakra regained MATRAMKOT The event is an Asian Squash control in no time and finally won Federation Junior Super Series Participants will receive WSF and U-11 categories. The Qatar 101-98. Silver event and a World Squash ranking points in Under-19 and Junior Open will be followed by Meanwhile Erfan Saeed fired Federation (WSF) World Junior ASF ranking points in all other Doha Junior Open which will be a long try to beat the buzzer and Circuit event and is organised categories. Competitions are held held from March 6 to 10. hand Al Rayyan a 72-70 win over by Qatar Squash Federation. in the Under-19, U-17, U-15, U-13 THE PENINSULA Al Shamal. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Kagawa’s hat-trick sinks Norwich; QPR beat Saints Chelsea edge West Brom 1-0; Liverpool thrash Wigan

LONDON: Shinji Kagawa hit a hat-trick as Manchester United warmed up for the visit of Real Madrid with a 4-0 rout of Norwich City yesterday that sent them 15 points clear in the Premier League. Reims’ midfielder Diego Rigonato (left) vies for the ball with PSG’s United will resume their last- defender Gregory Van der Wield during the French L1 at the Auguste 16 tie against Madrid on Tuesday Delaune in Reims, yesterday. following a 1-1 draw in the away leg and Kagawa’s first United tre- ble ensured they will approach the game brimming with confidence. “He is a good finisher,” said PSG suffer shock United manager Alex Ferguson of his side’s match-winner. “His injury in October, November set him back a bit, but defeat at Reims he’s getting his form back slowly and gradually. His second and third, in particular, were terrific.” PARIS: Paris St Germain Even against lowly teams, PSG Ryan Giggs was made to wait slumped to a second defeat in like to play on the counter-attack, for his 1,000th senior appearance three Ligue 1 games, losing 1-0 a philosophy that does not always after being left out of United’s at 10-man Stade Reims yester- produce dividends in their pursuit match-day squad, but Ferguson day as they prepared for their of a first league title since 1994. selected his first-choice strike Champions League clash with They had their chances, with pairing of Robin van Persie and Valencia in the worst possible Ibrahimovic’s fierce shot from Wayne Rooney. way. just outside the box in the 13th The hosts dominated the first Grzegorz Krychowiak netted minute blocked by goalkeeper half at Old Trafford but they had the only goal two minutes after his Kossi Agassa after the Swede was to wait until first-half stoppage Liverpool’s Luis Suarez (front) celebrates after scoring against Wigan Athletic during their English Premier League team mate Christopher Glombard set up by Blaise Matuidi. time to take the lead. match in Wigan, northern England, yesterday. RIGHT: Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa (right) scores the third was sent off on the hour. However, it was Reims who Japan international Kagawa goal past Norwich City’s Mark Bunn during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester. PSG, who host Valencia in came closest to opening the scor- claimed the goal, beating Norwich their last 16, second leg match ing when Anthony Weber’s 34th goalkeeper Mark Bunn with a on Wednesday having won 2-1 at minute effort was cleared off the near-post volley after van Persie After criticising Chelsea’s sup- after Loic Remy’s 14th-minute sank to a third consecutive loss the Mestalla, looked nothing like line by Marco Verratti. had helped on Antonio Valencia’s porters in mid-week, Benitez was opener was cancelled out by in a 3-1 defeat at Everton. the side who handed out two 2-0 PSG’s resulting counter-attack inswinging right-wing cross. greeted at Stamford Bridge by Gaston Ramirez’s clever dinked Marouane Fellaini broke the defeats to arch rivals Olympique saw Ezequiel Lavezzi through Kagawa doubled United’s tally banners bearing the words ‘Rafa finish on the stroke of half-time. deadlock with header, with Steven Marseille in Ligue 1 and the one-on-one with Agassa but he 14 minutes from time, sweep- Out’ and ‘The Interim One’ -- a “It was a big result for us,” said Piennar’s fine goal making it 2-0 French Cup in the past week. missed the target. ing home from Rooney’s square reference to beloved former coach QPR manager Harry Redknapp. just before the hour. Yesterday’s result sets the stage Reims’ Gaaetan Courtet then pass, and completed his treble in Jose ‘The Special One’ Mourinho. “It’s a difficult place to come Pienaar then created Everton’s for a nail biting run-in to the skied a header over the bar from the 87th minute by racing onto a Oscar and Juan Mata both and Southampton are a good third in the 66th minute with a Ligue 1 season as second-placed a cross by Odair Fortes. Rooney lay-off and coolly lifting went close for Chelsea in the team, but that’s what you get through-ball that was converted Olympique Lyon can move level Glombard was sent off after the ball over Bunn. early stages before Demba Ba when you all work hard.” by Kevin Mirallas, before Hal on points with PSG by winning getting two yellow cards in 14 Rooney got on the score-sheet scored the only goal in the 28th Luis Suarez claimed a hat-trick Robson-Kanu replied for the at Stade Brest today. minutes but the home side contin- in the final minute with a beauti- minute, hooking home from six as Liverpool cruised to a 4-0 win Royals. PSG have 54 points from 27 ued to press and were rewarded ful strike into the top-left corner yards after David Luiz headed at Wigan Athletic that moved Sunderland, meanwhile, came matches with Lyon on 51 from 26. when Krychowiak latched on to from outside the box to further Oscar’s deep cross from the left them to within five points of the from two goals down to draw 2-2 Reims eased their relegation Mohamed Fofana’s downward amplify the task facing second- back across goal. European places. at home to Fulham in an open fears as they moved up to 15th header. place Manchester City, who visit Bottom club Queens Park After Stewart Downing opened game at the Stadium of Light. on 27 points, four points above the David Beckham, in his third Aston Villa tomorrow. Rangers gave their bid to avoid the scoring with a second-minute A Dimitar Berbatov penalty safety zone. PSG appearance since joining as Chelsea drew a line beneath relegation a huge shot in the arm header in the day’s late kick-off, and a Sascha Riether strike put Marseille, who host ES Troyes a free agent on Jan. 31, replaced interim manager Rafael Benitez’s by winning 2-1 at Southampton Suarez struck three times to the visitors 2-0 up but Craig AC today, have 46 points ahead of Verratti four minutes later but attack on the club’s fans by to close to within four points of take his tally for the season to a Gardner immediately reduced the Nice on 45 and St Etienne with his introduction did little to help winning 1-0 at home to West safety. league-high 21 goals. arrears and Stephane Sessegnon 44. PSG. AFP Bromwich Albion to reclaim third Jay Bothroyd tapped in the Reading, second from bottom, claimed a 70th-minute equaliser. place from Tottenham Hotspur, winner from Park Ji-sung’s cross received another setback in their West Ham United beat 1-0 who host Arsenal today. in the 77th minute at St Mary’s, fight to avoid the drop as they Stoke City 1-0. AFP Celtic hold off St Mirren, English Premier reach Cup semi-finals Chelsea fans League Results hold placards GLASGOW: Celtic remain on Forrest once again the supplier showing their Chelsea 1 (Ba 28) West Brom 0 course for a domestic league for Anthony Stokes to bullet a discontent with and Cup double as they pro- header past Samson at the far Interim manager Everton 3 (Fellaini 42, Pienaar 59, Mirallas gressed to the last four of the post. 66) Reading 1 (Robson-Kanu 84) Rafa Benitez Scottish Cup with a narrow 2-1 A superb save from Samson before the Man United 4 (Kagawa 45, 76, 87, Rooney quarter-final win away to St denied Gary Hooper after the English Premier 90) Norwich 0 Mirren yesterday. break while Fraser Forster pro- The Hoops made a flying start duced heroics to keep out sub- League match Southampton 1 (Ramirez 45) QPR 2 (Remy between Chelsea as James Forrest crossed for Joe stitute Graham Carey’s fierce 14, Bothroyd 77) Ledley to head past Craig Samson free-kick as Celtic held off a late and West Stoke 0 West Ham 1 (Collison 45) in the fifth minute, but a mistake St Mirren rally to gain revenge Bromwich Albion from Emilio Izaguirre gifted St for January’s League Cup semi- at Stamford Sunderland 2 (Gardner 37-pen, Sessegnon Mirren an equaliser in the 11th final defeat by the Buddies. 70) Fulham 2 (Berbatov 16-pen, Riether 35) Bridge in London, minute as Esmael Goncalves nod- Celtic manager Neil Lennon yesterday. Swansea 1 (Moore 85) Newcastle 0 ded home from close range. said the win would give his side a A move direct from the train- boost heading into the second leg Wigan 0 Liverpool 4 (Downing 2, Suarez 18, ing ground restored Celtic’s lead of their Champions League last 16 34, 49) in the 21st minute, however, with tie against Juventus. AFP Qatar must hold Yesterday’s Lewandowski winter World Results scores brace in Al Sadd coach wary of Al Khor DOHA: Al Sadd coach Hussein number Lazlo Boloni insists Al Cup, says Platini Bundesliga Dortmund’s win Amotta said his players will be Qatar Stars League Khor, who are fifth in the stand- expecting a tough match when ings with 24 points, will go into Dortmund 3 (Lewandowski the Qatar Stars League (QSL) the game full of confidence. 8, 21, Schieber 72) Hanover 1 Today’s Fixtures BERLIN: The 2022 World Cup BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund points leaders visit Al Khor The Romanian said: “We are (Abdellaoue 40) in Qatar must be held in winter striker Robert Lewandowski today. Al Wakra vs Eljaish, 6.00pm at Soud bin preparing with plenty of confi- Abalrahman Stadium in order to protect players and VfL Wolfsburg 1 (Olic 50) scored twice in a 3-1 victory After losses to Eljaish and Al dence for this game. Before the fans from searing desert heat, Schalke 4 (Draxler 33, 63, over Hanover 96 yesterday as Rayyan, Al Sadd got back to win- Al Khor vs Al Sadd, 8.00pm at Al Khor game, on paper Al Sadd should European football boss Michel Farfan, 79, Huntelaar 86) Juergen Klopp’s side quickly put ning ways in Round 18 with a 3-1 Stadium beat us. We know their strong Platini said yesterday. their midweek German Cup exit victory over Al Wakra. Despite Qatar SC vs Al Sailiyah, 8.00pm at Suhaim points and we’re working to deal The finals were awarded to Werder Bremen 0 Augsburg 1 to Bayern Munich behind them. their win, their patchy form has bin Hamad Stadium with it.” Qatar by world governing body (Werner 29) Dortmund, who host Shakhtar seen Amotta’s side’s lead at the He added: “I will be happy FIFA in 2010 and are due to be Donetsk in the Champions League top reduced to four points. must not commit any more mis- if this a tactical battle because Nuremberg 1 (Simons 33-pen) held in the summer months when Freiburg 1 (Schmid 83) for a place in the last-eight this Speaking in a pre-match press takes if Al Sadd want to win the with our tactics we will have a the temperature can reach more week, were desperate for a con- conference at the QSL head- the QSL title. better chance of balancing the than 40 degrees Celsius. Hamburg 1 (Beister 21) Furth fidence-boosting win that would quarters yesterday, Amotta said: “If we want to win then we game. I am sure they have a key “I am in favour of Qatar under 1 (Djurdjic 14) simultaneously consolidate second “Every team is like a cup final must be more motivated than player but I will not talk about two conditions,” the told Bild place in the Bundesliga. for the teams who play against them – especially in front of goal. the opposition. They have good newspaper. Bayer Leverkusen 2 Lewandowski, on the pitch only us. Looking at Al Khor’s results We cannot afford to make any experience of these games but “Because of the heat the World (Kiessling 82-pen, L Bender after he had his initial three- recently, we know it is going to mistakes because we can’t afford we will focus on our players and Cup will need to be held in the 86) VfB Stuttgart 1 (Ibisevic game suspension for a red card be a very tough game.” to drop points, not if we want to how we get the best from them winter. With over 40 degrees 12-pen) reduced to two matches late on He added: “Al Khor are very win the league,” he said. in this match.” (Celsius) playing football is impos- Scottish Cup Results Friday, fired the hosts into an organised and aggressive. They “We want to be champions so Meanwhile, in another QSL sible and for the fans it would also eighth-minute lead from close have very good players but have we have to manage this pressure. match today, Al Wakra, who are be unbearable. Quarter-finals range after a cutback from Kevin a lot of collective quality as well. To do that you have to give respect in ninth position with 20 points, “Also, the neighbouring emir- Grosskreutz. This is one of the hardest games to every opponent and make sure host third-placed Eljaish at ates must be included so that the Hamilton 1 (Ryan 74) Falkirk The Poland forward, linked that we have to win this season.” your players are ready for every 6.00pm. In the 8.00pm kick-off, World Cup is staged throughout 2 (Alston 44, 71) with a transfer to Bayern added Amotta, who took over the game,” he added under the pres- Qatar SC, seventh in the QSL the entire region,” he added in the St Mirren 1 (Goncalves 13) another in the 20th to go top of coach’s role after the end of last ence of Yusef Ahmed. standings host bottom side Al interview yesterday. Celtic 2 (Ledley 5, Stokes 21) the league’s scorers’ list with 16. season has stressed his players Meanwhile, Amotta’s opposite Sailiyah. THE PENINSULA REUTERS AFP SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Cairoli stars in historic season-opener at Losail Six-time world champion wins opening round of the World Championship

DOHA: Six-time world cham- in the Super Final was Australia’s pion Antonio Cairoli of Italy Dean Ferris (Yamaha) while powered KTM to victory in Frenchman Romain Febvre the season’s first Super Final (KTM) was third best rider. race in the opening round of Ferris finished 13th in the the 2013 MX1 Motocross World Super Final while Febvre was Championship. 15th. Cairoli, who finished third in “I was tired but overall I am the first MX1 race of the open- happy with the result,” Cairoli ing world championship round said. a couple of hours earlier, exhib- “It is a long championship so Glenn Coldenhoff of Standing ited his liking for the newly-built we will see how things move,” he Losail MX Track with his second added. Construct KTM in action. podium of the night. “I pushed hard (in the Super The Italian dirt track star Final) and I managed to stay FIM World Motocross clocked an impressive time of ahead. It is not easy as we don’t 38mins 01:816secs to seal victory know what the other riders would Championship - Results at the 1.6km circuit bathed in do,” the Italian said. “It is a good artificial light. format (the Super Final) but not Grand Prix of Qatar It was the first time that a easy,” he said. MX1: 1. Desalle, 2. De Dycker, 3. Cairoli, 4. Motocross World Championship Earlier at Losail MX Track, Paulin, 5. Bobryshev, 6. Strijbos, 7. Searle, round was held in the Middle Desalle topped the MX1 race 8. Simpson, 9. Goncalves, 10. Guarneri, 11. East and that too under lights. while Herlings won the first MX2 Nagl, 12. Frossard, 13. Boog, 14. Leok, 15. Cairoli (3rd and first in the two race of the new season. Roelants, 16. Barragan, 17. Van Horebeek, races) finished the Super Final Desalle, 23, powered his Suzuki 18. Philippaerts, 19. Dougan, 20. Van Dueren race ahead of Belgium’s Clement RM-Z450 to victory in the MX1 MX2: 1. Herlings, 2. Coldenhoff, 3. Charlier, Desalle (1-2 for the night), the race, wining the first round of the 4. Febvre, 5. Ferris, 6. Lupino, 7. Tixier, 8. winner of the first MX1 race. new season with a time of 40mins Leiber, 9. Pocock, 10. Butron, 11. Petrov, Desalle of Suzuki finished 02:285secs at the 1.6km track that 12. Banks Browne, 13. Desprey, 14. the feature race of the opening was set up in just three months. Kullas, 15. Tonkov, 16. Olsen, 17. Fors, 18. round just 08:032secs slower than The Belgian finished the open- Nicholls, 19. Monticelli, 20. Rauchenecker Cairoli. ing round of the season ahead of Last Chance: 1. Jens Getteman, 2. In this place was Kawasaki’s compatriot Ken de Dycker who Max Anstie, 3. Valentin Teillet, 4. Dylan Pauli Gautier (4-3 for the night) was just 8:309secs behind Desalle. MX1 riders Antonio Cairoli (centre) of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Clement Desalle (left) of Rockstar Energy Ferrandis, 5. Jason Dougan, 6. August who was 09:487secs adrift of the Motocross giant Cairoli finished Suzuki World MX1 and Gautier Paulin of Kawasaki Racing Team during the victory ceremony of Super Final Justs, 7. Kenny Van Dueren, 8. Roberts night’s top rider from Italy. the first race of the new season in Race of 2013 FIM Motocross World Championship Grand Prix of Qatar at MX track at Losail yesterday. Justs, 9. Pascal Rauchenecker, 10. Honda rider from Russia third spot, 9:774secs slower than PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL Viacheslav Golovkin (top two from each Evgeny Bobrhyev placed fourth Desalle. class transfer MX1 Getteman and Dougan with a time of 38:13.808, only French star Paulin crossed the and MX2 Anstie and Teillet) 11.992secs slower than Cairoli. finish line in fourth spot on his freshly-inaugurated layout, just Compatriot Glenn Coldenhoff the fastet lap time of 1:48.195. Super Final: 1. Cairoli, 2. Desalle, 3. Bobrhyev finished in fifth spot in Kawasaki. Paulin was 11:672secs outside the capital of Doha and a powered his KTM bike with pur- Frenchman Febvre, on a KTM, Paulin, 4. Bobryshev, 5. Searle, 6. Strijbos, MX1 earlier in the evening. behind Desalle. stone’s throw from the first turn pose finishing 31:544secs behind finished in fourth spot, 44:961secs 7. erlings, 8. De Dycker, 9. Frossard, 10. The best MX2 rider in the Bobryshev was fifth fastest on of the MotoGP track. 18-year-old Herlings. behind the ‘Flying Dutchman’. Philippaerts, 11. Goncalves, 12. Boog, 13. Super Final was Dutchman his Honda. Bobryshev was timed Earlier in the first MX2 race, In third spot was Christophe Australian rider Ferris, riding Ferris, 14. Roelants, 15. Leok, 16. Febvre, Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) who fin- 13:348secs slower than Desalle. Herlings led a Dutch 1-2 at Charlier who was riding a his Monster Energy Yamaha, was ished seventh fastest, 25:216secs Desalle - with 11 Grands Losail MX Track. The ‘Flying Yamaha. Charlier of France was 59:726secs slower than the night’s 17. Simpson, 18. Barragan, 19. Nicholls, 20. slower than Cairoli. Prix wins prior to yesterday Dutchman’ clocked a time of 32:888secs adrift of Herlings, who first winner at Losail MX Track. Tixier, 21. Butron, 22. Nagl, 23. Coldenhoff, The second fastest MX2 rider - dominated the show on the 39mins 51:449secs. proved his credentials by clocking THE PENINSULA 24. Charlier, 25. Anstie Raynard wins round 2 of Losail MX Championship

DOHA: South African rider Anthony Raynard yesterday won the second race of 2013 Losail MX Championship round 2 at Losail MX Track. The Yamaha rider crossed the finish line 36.830secs ahead of round 1 winner Dennis Stapleton of the US. Stapleton, who won race 1 of the second round on Friday, led the race in the first two laps but gave way to Raynard in the third. The South African rider main- tained his position and crossed the finish line ahead of 30 other riders. A total of eight riders reg- istered for the race but did not start. The third rider to cross the line was Livia Lancelot of France. Lancelot was 1min 13:285secs adrift of Raynard. The Rockstar Bud Racing Kawasaki rider and Raynard were competing in the MX2 category whereas Stapleton rides in the MX1 category. In the MX1 category, the win- ner was Stapleton. Sean Gaugin from the UAE and Olivier Eveleigh of Great Britain finished Sean Gaugin in action at the second race of 2013 Losail MX Championship round 2 at Losail MX Track, yesterday. South African rider Anthony Raynard won the second race of 2013 Losail second and third respectively. MX Championship round. RIGHT: Round 1 winner Dennis Stapleton of the US in action yesterday in Losail. “The track was unbelievable today. I had some bike troubles so I didn’t qualify for MX 1,” Raynard said after his win yesterday. “Next time I hope to make it. It was good though. I enjoyed my session,” he added. Stapleton said: “I and Anthony had a good battle. It was not a bad weekend for me in Qatar.” In the MX2 category, the win- ner was Raynard while Lancelot placed second, a notch ahead of Ross Runnals of South Africa. In the MX2 overall standings, Hassan Ahmed of Bahrain leads the pack with a tally of 85 points after two rounds. Abdullah Al Shatti of Kuwait is second with 82 points while Barak AlJasmi, also of Kuwait, is third with 75 points. In the MX1 overall standings, Stapleton leads the points race with a tally of 100. Moath Al Ansari of Kuwait (77) and compatriot Mishary Abou Shaibah (74) are second and Raynard in action at the second race of 2013 Losail MX Championship round 2 at Losail MX Track, yesterday. CENTRE: Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of Qatar Motor and third respectively. Motorcycle Federation poses for a picture along with a female rider at the Losail track yesterday. RIGHT: Livia Lancelot of France in action. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

2013 MX1 Motocross World Championship at Losail MX track

Christophe Charlier of Monster Energy Yamaha negotiates a corner during the MX2 Grand Prix Race of 2013 FIM Motocross World Championship Grand Prix of Qatar at MX track at Losail, yesterday. RIGHT: Clement Desalle of Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 negotiates a corner during the race. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL Losail MX track a step in the right direction, says Geboers I think they (QMMF) did a great job: Former champion

DOHA: Five-time world cham- races),” the 51-year-old Belgian experience for us. It will give a today. He said he wanted to come pion Eric Geboers feels the new added. Geboers is a former moto- special effect to the pictures. and watch the race but he has to Losail MX track is a step in the cross champion from Belgium. Something new is always good travel. Tommy Searle right direction after motocross Nicknamed ‘The Kid’, he was the to get attention from the public, “He told me that the place is of CLA-Monster made history under lights in first person to win world cham- especially from people watching at nice and that the circuit is very Energy Kawasaki Qatar last night. pionships in the 125cc, 250cc and home on the television,” he added. good,” the Italian added. Pro Circuit in action The Qatar Motor and 500cc divisions. He retired from When asked about team Youthstream President at Losail yesterday. Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) international competition after Suzuki, the promoter in Geboers Giuseppe Luongo echoed Cairoli’s yesterday hosted the opening his victory in Namen, Belgium, said: “We had only one mechanic sentiments. Youthstream is the round of the 2013 MX1 Motocross on August 5, 1990. who was sick here, on the way (to body that controls motocross. World Championship at the $1.6m When asked about the night Doha). That was the case for the “The feedback that I have from circuit that was built from scratch race, Geboers said the spectacle last three days but he is fine.” the riders is that they feel this is within just three months. made for great television viewing On Friday night, Italian moto- a well settled track despite being “I think they (QMMF) did a across the globe. cross giant and MX1 world cham- new,” Luongo said. great job. We are ending with “It is again something new. pion Antonio Cairoli said he was “They know it is a tough track more and more facilities like this We will know about it (after the given a heads-up by MotopGP and it requires a great deal of one. It is an upgrade for the sport race). There were some doubts star and friend Valentino Rossi skill to do battle here,” he added. in general and for the teams,” about the lights, how it will be. about the facility in Qatar. “We have had no problems here Geboers said in an interview. We have this in supercross (in the “It has been four days for me in because Nasser (bin Khalifa Al “We must please the fans with US) and they know how to man- Qatar. I have enjoyed my time as Attiyah) has a very professional nice accommodation because age it,” Geboers said in an inter- (a) tourist,” Cairoli said. “I hope bunch of people who do a great it is very important that fans view posted on www.mxlarge.com. I get to come here more often. I job,” he said. can keep coming (to watch the “But this will be a new was speaking to Valentino Rossi THE PENINSULA

Clement Desalle (right) talks to Kevin Strijbos after the MX1 Grand Prix Race. RIGHT: A section of the crowd watches as Clement Desalle walks away after the race.

A B C D

A: Kevin Strijbos (22), Ken De Dycker and Evgeny Bobryshev (777) during the MX1 Grand Prix Race. B: Gautier Paulin negotiates a corner. C: Glenn Coldenhoff of Standing Construct KTM in action. D: Ken De Dycker (right) and Clement Desalle negotiate a corner. Sunday 3 March 2013 21 Rabial II Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5627 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Djokovic beats Berdych to claim Dubai Open title The world No.1 extends winning streak to 18 matches

DUBAI: Novak Djokovic won his fifth title in six tournaments and extended an unbeaten run to 18 matches as he clinched a fourth Dubai Open title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych yesterday. The world number one from Serbia underlined his pre-emi- nence in the world game with an Serbia’s Novak athletically aggressive perform- India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after dismissing Australian ance against the world number Djokovic poses batsman Moises Henriques in the second Test in Hyderabad, yesterday. six from the Czech Republic, who with his trophy knocked out Roger Federer, the after beating Czech titleholder, in the semi-finals. Republic’s Tomas Berdych had chances to take Berdych 7-5, 6-3 control of the first set after mak- at the ATP Dubai India on top despite ing the first break of serve, but Open final in Dubai, missed three chances to consoli- yesterday. date it, and also narrowly failed to convert three crucial break points Clarke’s brave knock in the following game. These moments suggested that HYDERABAD: The first ses- Scoreboard the biggest difference between the sion belonged to Bhuvaneshwar two men is a mental one, some- Kumar, the last to Ravindra Australia (I innings): thing indicated again near the Jadeja and the middle to end when Djokovic coped with a Michael Clarke, who struck a David Warner b Kumar ...... 6 time violation warning from the strokeful 91 and then surpris- Ed Cowan lbw Kumar ...... 4 umpire as he was serving for the ingly declared the Australia’s Phil Hughes c Dhoni b Ashwin...... 19 match. first innings at 237 for nine on Shane Watson lbw Kumar ...... 23 Djokovic was clearly delighted the opening day of the second Michael Clarke b Jadeja ...... 91 to triumph in his first tourna- in front to relax into overdrive. cricket Test against India here Matthew Wade c Kumar b Harbhajan ...... 62 ment since successfully defending He made the first break at 2-3, yesterday. Moises Henriques b Jadeja ...... 5 the Australian Open title. and having lost it in a game of Clarke tried to play on the Glenn Maxwell c Dhoni b Jadeja...... 13 “To prevail like this and to be four deuces, almost got another minds of Indian openers by Peter Siddle lbw H Singh ...... 0 the last one standing is thrilling when he chiselled out three break squeezing in three overs before James Pattinson (not out) ...... 1 for me,” he said of his 36th career points in the ninth game. stumps, but openers Virender Xavier Doherty (not out) ...... 0 title. Had he converted any of these Sehwag and Murali Vijay saw Extras (B-9, LB-4) ...... 13 Total (for 9 wkts decl) ...... 237 “It was a very close match Berdych would have been serving the day off scoring five runs at Fall of wickets: and could have gone either way. for the set, but he missed his best the Rajiv Gandhi International 1-10, 2-15, 3-57, 4-63, It was never going to be an easy chance at 30-40, with a forehand Stadium at Uppal. 5-208, 6-217, 7-233, 8-236, 9-236. Bowling: final because Tomas is a fantas- pulled wide, while Djokovic typi- Kumar revelled here on a pitch Bhuvneshwar Kumar 15-2-53-3; tic player. He’s been on the tour a cally played two fine rallies on the with variable bounce to dismiss Ishant Sharma 17-5-45-0; Ravichandran long time and is very experienced. others. three of the top-order batsmen. Ashwin 15-6-41-1; Harbhajan Singh 22-2- “He beat Federer in an incred- Djokovic also hung tough in the David Warner played on to 52-2; Ravindra Jadeja 16-4-33-3. India (I innings): ible match,” Djokovic added. crises. Berdych, by contrast, was became Kumar’s first Test victim, Djokovic also believes that his occasionally at his most fallible Ed Cowan was leg-before to sharp Murali Vijay (batting) ...... 0 victory on Dubai’s fast courts when it mattered most. inswinging delivery that appeared Virender Sehwag (batting) ...... 4 will stand him in good stead with He allowed Djokovic’s break to pitch a shade outside the leg- Extras (W-1) ...... 1 Total (for no loss) ...... 5 the year’s opening Masters event back for 4-4 after sneaking him- stump, while Shane Watson was Bowling: getting underway at Indian Wells self into a great position to make done in by one that swung in and James Pattinson 2-1-1-0; Peter next week. a stolen volley, only to miss the kept a trifle low. Siddle 1-0-4-0. “I haven’t always been the shot. Then when he was serving Then came the familiar Clarke player who loves to play on the to save the set at 5-6 he played his act as he continued to dominate with Australia’s best fifth-wicket fast, super-fast surfaces (like worst game of the match. the Indian attack and give sub- partnership of 145 against India this one), but I’m happy because The second set hinged on a stance to the Australia’s batting. by seeing through the second ses- during the week I can also work break at a psychologically dam- Seeing a rash of wickets fall at the sion adding 104 runs to go to tea on my aggressivity, coming into aging time. other end, he was the ninth to be at 187 for four. the net, using my serve better,” When Djokovic steepled up out nine short of his 10the hun- It was Kumar who effected he said. an enormous, but short lob and dred as captain. He was bowled by the breakthrough, this time by There were certainly moments Berdych hammered it wide, it put Jadeja going for a big swipe. sprawling to his left a splen- when it seemed that Berdych, a the favourite 5-3 ahead and later Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his men’s singles Clarke and wicketkeeper did catch to dismiss Wade and player sometimes troubled by ten- clinched match for the the title final match, yesterday. Matthew Wade (62), raised Australia quickly lost the remain- sion, might get himself far enough victory. AFP hopes of a stupendous recovery ing five wickets. IANS Late Ramos strike gives Real win over Barca

MADRID: Barcelona’s recent Ramos rose highest to power predictable until they quickened after the break and nearly found slump continued as Sergio home Luka Modric’s corner. the pace and equalised with their their way through with a trade- Ramos’ header nine minutes Jose Mourinho had signalled first effort on goal 12 minutes mark move as Messi picked out from time handed Real Madrid that Tuesday’s Champions League later. Alves on the right and then just their second win over the clash with Manchester United A nice through ball from Dani failed to get on the end of the Catalans in five days. was clearly his priority as he Alves put Messi in behind the Brazilian’s dangerous cross. Karim Benzema had given made seven changes to the side Madrid defence and he turned Another moment of magic the hosts the perfect start as he that started the 3-1 win over onto his favourite left foot to from Messi then played in Villa stabbed home Alvaro Morata’s Barca in the Copa del Rey semi- score for the 16th consecutive moments later but a wonderful cross after just six minutes, but final second leg in midweek with league game. recovering challenge from Varane Barca were level just 12 minutes Ronaldo’s absence being the most The game then settled down denied the Spanish international later when Lionel Messi equalled striking. into a familiar pattern with Barca a clear effort on goal. Alfredo di Stefano’s record for However, even without their happy to pass the ball around Mourinho then unleashed goals scored in Clasicos as he talisman Madrid made the perfect without overly threatening, but Ronaldo along with Sami Khedira rifled in his 18th strike in clashes start as Barca’s defensive woes Messi did have a good chance with just over half an hour to play between the two. of late continued when Morata when Raphael Varane failed to Ronaldo came close again as he The rest of the first half was swung in a delightful cross from cut out a pass from David Villa fired into the side-netting at the then played out at a rather pedes- the left and Benzema was on hand on the edge of the box just after end of a solo run past three Barca trian pace but the introduction to prod the ball home from close the half hour. players, before Morata had an Real Madrid players celebrate after Sergio Ramos scored the team’s of Cristiano Ronaldo from the range. This time, on his right side, excellent chance to win the game second goal during their La Liga match against Barcelona at the Bernabeu Madrid bench livened up mat- Barca weren’t just slow to he couldn’t generate the power However, the youngster’s miss Stadium, yesterday. ters after the break and Madrid start at the back as their play needed to trouble Diego Lopez. mattered little six minutes later eventually found the winner when going forward was also decidedly The visitors started brighter when Ramos scored. AFP